Chapter 103
Bella
We set off late afternoon, Peter in the lead as he knew of a great place to camp the first night, close to a river and with plenty of elk and bear. Em was happy as a pig in muck at the idea of some bear hunting while Rose and I just wanted to get away from the tension that had hung over us all at the house. The sun was still bright when we got to the river and Peter and Emmett stripped off and dived in, creating huge spouts of water that soaked the rest of us. I'd never quite got used to the guys stripping off without a thought for the others in the party and I still tended to look away. Char saw this and laughed,
"You'll get used to it eventually Bella. Peter never gives a damn anyway and Em has nothing to be ashamed of."
Rose looked at her, arching one eyebrow,
"Been looking have we Char?"
"Its difficult not to when he runs past you screaming Cannonball."
"True, he's never been very subtle. What about you Bells, want to join us?"
She started to undress and I shook my head,
"No, I'm going to sit with Jazz for a while, take in the peace"
As I said this there was a mighty roar from Em as Peter dive bombed him,
"See what you mean" said Char as she turned and dived gracefully into the water followed a few seconds later by Rose.
Jasper
I found a comfortable spot by a huge boulder still radiating heat from the day's sun and leaned against it closing my eyes and filtering out the noise of the others horseplay in the water. I felt Bella sit down beside me and lifted my arm so she could cuddle in.
"You OK Jazz? You look tired."
"Just thinking of our options."
"So he is coming for us?"
"Yes he will, it was a foregone conclusion anyway"
"You think he has a way round my shield don't you?"
"I think he's unlikely to attack without."
"What are we going to do?"
"Wait and hope one of our contacts can tell us what he's got."
"Do you think they'll find out?"
"It's difficult to keep things quiet in Volterra. Too many factions, too many spies, so yes. I just hope it will be in time for us to do something about it"
"And if not?"
"Then we go down fighting, its all we can do"
"Do you think Marcus might help us again?"
"He might. It depends what's in it for him. He'd like to see Aro destroyed."
"Why? What has Aro done to make him want his brother dead?"
"It's a long story Bella but basically Marcus was married to Aro's sister and they wanted to leave the Volturi and go off alone. Aro wasn't prepared to let Marcus go so he arranged for her death and keeps Marcus loyal using Chelsea. But, now Chelsea is working for herself I'm not sure she'll keep Marcus loyal any longer. If Aro goes there's only the two of them to rule us all."
Do you think Marcus would work with Chelsea?"
Maybe, or maybe he'll let her take over completely and do what he's wanted to do for centuries now"
"What's that?"
"Join his wife"
"Oh I see"
"Don't you want to swim?"
"I'm happy to be with you, do you want to?"
"No, I only swim when were alone. My ah...scars tend to put others off."
"Rubbish, I doubt they even notice them. Peter and Char must have seen them often enough and the others, you lived with them for long enough.
"I love you for your complete faith in me but no. Peter has true, he was with me when I got a lot of them but Char not so much. She's seen me a few times without a shirt but she usually just turns away. As for Rose, I don't think she's ever seen me undressed or Em for that matter. Alice didn't like my scars so I kept them covered."
"Even swimming and...in bed? Sorry, I shouldn't have asked that."
"No. I have no secrets from you Bella. I usually swim in a tee-shirt and yes, even making love."
"But not with me"
"No. I don't feel self-conscious with you. You see beyond the scars to the man under them. The scars to others are a sign of danger and I hate seeing the uncomfortable looks I get."
Bella
"Would you like to swim with me?"
He pulled me close and kissed the top of my head,
"I like to do anything with you."
I pulled him up,
"Come on then. It's about time the others grew up. They know you, they know you aren't a threat to them."
As I pulled him still reluctant to the river I saw Peter eyeing us speculatively,
"You two coming in or is the water too cold for your delicate little bodies. We promise not to laugh at your saggy boobs Bells"
I looked at him in disgust,
"Well that's good because I always try not too look at your tiny little pecker Pete."
Rose and Char dissolved in giggles and Peter splashed water at me but I jumped back,
"Too slow Peter. Still I guess that's what comes of getting old."
Peter
I was trying to keep the atmosphere light because I knew what she'd done. The Major was coming in and I knew he was really self-conscious of his scars. I watched Rose and Emmett's faces as he stripped off. As soon as he pulled his shirt over his head Rose gasped and looked away. Emmett merely looked and nodded, I think he saw them as proof of Jasper's resilience. Bella glanced at our faces then stripped off herself and dived in pulling Jazz with her. Once in the water he was less self-conscious although they showed up worse with the water streaming down the uneven contours of his skin. Bella climbed on his back and he threw her into the air to cannon ball next to Emmett who shouted in outrage and swam after her. Jazz swam over to me and I noticed Rose edging closer to Charlotte.
"So she got you in then"
"She gets me to do anything she wants"
He smiled as he said that.
"You OK?"
"Yeah fine. Roses reaction is normal, I'm hoping she'll get over it in a while."
"They do make you look one mean mother fucker. Good job we all know different"
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, I know you're a pussy inside."
He looked at me then dived under the water and pulled my legs away so I went under with a huge splash."