The Twilight Twenty-Five

thetwilight25[dot]com

Prompt: Parking Lot

Pen Name: maxandmo

Pairing/Main Character(s):ExB

Rating: M

Multi-chapter

Photo prompts can be viewed here: thetwilight25[dot]com/round-six/prompts

I don't own Twilight. Extra special thanks to Twilly for encouraging me to write and Sarah for beta'ing! Luv ya's! (maxandmo on Twitter and Maxandmo Fanfiction on FB)

12. Parking Lot

Bella and Esme walked for a bit until they settled in the shade at the edge of the cafe parking lot. Esme looked pale and when Bella inquired, she told her about the cancer.

Esme felt like she could talk to Bella, and talk she did. She told her how the doctors had basically given up on her, even though she hadn't given up on herself. She came on the trip to enjoy herself in paradise and to come to terms with her demise.

When Bella saw the look of pure joy on Esme's face as she spoke of Carlisle, she couldn't help but smile.

"Life's too short, Bella. And sometimes not fair. I mean, I'm dying, and I meet the love of my life. Go figure."

Bella thought about what Esme said. You just never knew what type of curve ball life would throw you. She certainly never thought she'd be a lifer at Newton's, not to mention being married off to their sleazy son.

Bella felt like Esme was someone she could confide in, but before she could say anything, Paul came out with a cup of tea for Esme. "Here you are. I was looking for you girls. One minute you were eating, and the next you disappeared."

"Paul, let's face it, you lost sight of us the minute Jake walked into the room," Esme joked.

"Guilty as charged," he said with a grin.

Bella couldn't help but smirk. After all, the little man was a looker.

"Esme, Carlisle said he would see you this afternoon but instructed me to make sure you drank all of your tea. I'm heading back with Jake," he said motioning across the parking lot where Jake was waving from his golf cart.

"Care for a ride on da cart?"

"That sounds great," Esme replied.

"I think I'll just hang out here for awhile. I really don't feel like going back yet."

"Are you sure, Bella? I can wait with you."

"No, Esme, you go ahead. I'm fine, really."

Bella sat in the parking lot in silence. She wasn't sure what was on the agenda for the day, but she was anxious to find out. There was no way she was going to sit by the pool all day and watch Mike get drunk again.

She smelled him before she saw him, musky and all man, Edward.

He sat down next to her on the parking block. "Hey, it wasn't your fault, Bella."

"Edward, thanks for trying to make me feel better, but I dropped the banana and didn't pick it up. How is it not my fault? She has to hate me for sure now. First her robe, and now her ankle."

"Bella, a banana is a pretty big piece of fruit, yes?" he nodded, but did not wait for an answer. "So, she should have seen it on the ground and avoided it, yes?" he nodded again, and she couldn't help but smile. "Therefore, it was her fault she slid on a banana in the middle of the floor."

It was as if it was Edward's job to make Bella feel better. They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes until they heard the rumble of Jake's golf cart.

"Hello, my friends!" he exclaimed. He was in a jovial mood, and Bella smiled, as she knew it had something to do with Paul.

"Hello," they said in unison.

"I better get going. For some reason," he looked at her and continued, "she doesn't feel like she can walk back and sent me out here to 'fetch' the golf cart." He smirked when he said 'fetch', and Bella had to suppress a giggle. "I'm guessing you don't want to ride along with us," he asked with a crooked grin.

"Um, no. Walking sounds much better to me!"

Jake winked at Bella, having just overheard their conversation and walked inside with Edward. Bella was ready to walk back when she heard Jake and smiled to herself. "Jessica, I've been told to come and fetch you. Da golf cart awaits."

Once Bella reached the main house she went to her room to change into her swimsuit. She was relieved to find that Mike was not there. When she pulled it out of her suitcase, she took a good look at it. It didn't look like a leotard to her, though it was a rather conservative one-piece bathing suit.

She shrugged and put it on. It was no wonder girls like Jessica attracted all of the attention. When Bella reached the pool area, the rest of the couples were already there. She spotted Mike on one of the lounge chairs, and when he spotted her, he shot her a dirty look.

Carlisle came out with Jake nipping at his heels. "My friends, I hope you enjoyed your breakfast. We have a few options for today. A couple of you have requested massages. I have those all set up and will give you the details shortly. Those of you who want to relax by the pool can do so, and the rest of you can accompany Coach Clapp to the beach where he will take you on a snorkeling adventure."

The couples were left to decide amongst themselves for a few minutes and then were instructed as to where and when to meet. Esme and Paul were settled under the veranda by the pool, while Jessica sat in a chair with her ankle propped up.

The big guy, Emmett, along with his beautiful wife, Rosalie, were lined up for the snorkeling trip with the tiny, pretty girl and her boyfriend with the shaggy, longer hair.

Edward was sitting next to Jessica staring longingly out at the beach, while Bella made her way over to Mike. "What do you want to do today?"

"Oh, feeling better I see?" He leered at her, and it made her want to vomit all over him again.

"Mike, can't we just forget that happened? It's not like I did it on purpose or anything. I'm sorry."

"Isabella, next time you're going to do it right. In fact, I might find someone to suck me off in front of you so you can learn how the fuck you're supposed to do it."

Carlisle's stellar hearing allowed him to listen to Mike perfectly from where he was standing. He was absolutely disgusted. Bella did not deserve such treatment, and he wondered why she put up with it. There just had to be more to their story, he thought.

"I didn't come over here to fight with you. What do you want to do today?"

"I want to chill by the pool. I had a Bloody Mary and think I could start really drinking soon."

"Do you mind if I go snorkeling then?"

He looked around to see who was in line for the excursion. When he spotted Edward at Jessica's side, he said that he didn't care where she went.

Bella loved the ocean and was excited to see what was underneath the surface.

Who likes to snorkel? I swear I almost drowned. My tube went underwater while I was breathing, and I choked on saltwater for freaking ever! Bleh!