Chapter Eighteen

Bella

The closer it got to Alice picking me up the more nervous I got and Renee ringing didn't help matters, first off she wanted to know how school was going and once that was out of the way she told me all about the fabulous time she and Phil were having now they didn't have me to consider, great thanks a lot!

"So Bella, have you been out this weekend or were you sitting by the fire with the invalid?"

"Actually dad went to the Reservation to a party."

"And left you home alone? For heavens sake!"

"No mum, I went out too, I went to the pictures".

"Oh a boyfriend? What's he like? Is it one of the Cullen boys? Come on Bella I'm dying of curiosity."

"It was Alice Cullen actually and we had a nice evening, she stayed over."

"Oh well I have to go, Phil is taking me out to dinner. Speak to you soon, oh yes tell Charlie hi"

So that was it, no boyfriend no interest, not even in how dad was, she made my blood boil sometimes! Charlie realised I was angry and came over putting his arm round me, something he rarely did, we weren't touchy feely like Alice.

"Don't let her worry you Bella, that's Renee for you. She's only interested in the gossip and what she's doing. It doesn't mean she doesn't care."

"I know but it annoys me she doesn't ask how you are."

"Me? You'll be lucky I don't rate a mention after all these years, anyway I think that's Alice so have fun"

I looked out the window and saw her waving frantically at me so I said a quick bye grabbed my bag and ran out to join her. I was a little disappointed she was alone in the car but she smiled,

"Don't worry Bella, we're picking him up on the way. I didn't think your dad would be so happy if he saw Jazz with us."

"Thanks Alice. He is a little protective where guys are concerned."

We went a few miles down the road and I saw Jazz waiting but he wasn't alone, standing beside him was Emmett and my heart sank, was Rose joining us too?"

"Rose is out with Esme so we thought Em might like to come, you don't mind do you?"

"No of course not"

I didn't care as long as Jasper was joining us. The two guys got in the back and she set off again,

"Hey Bella, its good to see you again. You swimming today?"

"If its warm enough. I don't like the cold Emmett."

He thought this was very funny for some reason and laughed so much the body of the car shook. I had thought he was a giant but actually he wasn't much taller than Jasper, just wider in the shoulder. His muscles were more pronounced than Jaspers but they were both well built.

When Alice parked her car up we had a few minutes walk to the creek which turned out to be really clean and sparkling and it reminded me of my angel suddenly. The sun was behind thick clouds as usual but it was warm and while Alice spread out the blanket Emmett stripped off to his trunks which he'd had on ready and dived in. The amount of water that flew out as he did so was amazing and I narrowly missed a soaking which made him roar with laughter again. Alice rolled her eyes,

"He won't be happy until he's soaked us all Bella so you may as well get wet now."

I stripped off self-consciously as Alice threw her clothes into an untidy heap and grabbed my arm. For the first time I noticed how cold her grip was but the water as we both jumped in was colder and it took my breath away at first. It wasn't long before Emmett had ducked us both numerous times and it took our combined effort to repay the favour. I looked up to see Jasper sitting with his back against a boulder reading a book.

"Don't you swim?"

He looked up and shrugged,

"Sometimes, but I prefer to go in when the killer whale gets out".

Emmett scooped up huge handfuls of water and threw them at Jasper but he was too quick and avoided a soaking.

"Now bro' one way or another you're getting wet, so we can do it the easy way or the hard way, it's your choice."

Jasper

I knew I would have to go in, I also knew that Bella couldn't see my scars with her human eyes but I was still self-conscious. When Emmett had finished teasing the girls it was my turn so with a sigh I put my book down and stripped off aware that Bella was watching me and struggling to remain calm. Emmett was waiting for me to dive in so I didn't. I walked to the edge then jumped directly on him, taking us both under with a tremendous splash. He howled in outrage but the girls laughed and Bella's laughter warmed me as I broke the surface my thighs clamped around Emmett's huge neck keeping him down as long as possible. When I finally let go he erupted like a volcano from the water and I knew he was looking to get his own back without making Bella suspicious about us. Eventually he contented himself with dive bombing me a few times. Bella climbed out a little while later shivering and wrapped a huge towel around herself hiding her beautiful body from my sight. It was a pity but it did allow me to calm myself again before I joined her on the bank.

"So was the water warm enough for you?"

She smiled at me and I watched the beads of water run down her face wanting to wipe them away with a finger but resisting the temptation.

"Does he never give up?"

"Emmett? No"

He and Alice had joined us on the bank, she'd said something and he was chasing her round the boulders just a little too fast but Bella didn't seem to notice in fact she was looking at me then she shocked me by taking my hand and turning it palm up. As she examined it I realized what she was looking for, the wound from the splinter, but if course there wasn't one, my venom had healed it almost immediately.

Bella

It took all my courage to take his hand but I was curious, his palm was unmarked so I took the other one and examined it too,

"So Superman, no blood, no wound, no scar. Care to explain?"

I shook my head,

"No, not really. I don't think its time yet. I'm glad you came today Bella."

"Me too."

I looked into his eyes noticing they were lighter than yesterday, a shimmering light gold that dragged me in making my head whirl. Emmett brought me back to my senses by shaking like a dog right next to me laughing as I started then shouted at him. We sat together on the blanket wrapped in towels although I seemed to be the only one who felt the cold. Alice passed me a hot chocolate from a flask and I wrapped my hands round it shivering slightly. The next thing I knew Jasper had wrapped his own towel around my shoulders and held it close to me putting his arm around me. When he saw my look he smiled,

"You looked cold. Do you mind?"

I shook my head,

"Thank you"

Emmett was watching us and I saw him look at Alice. He mouthed something that he thought I hadn't heard and I hadn't but I had read his lips.

"Rose is going to throw a fit. Jazz?"

I wasn't sure what he meant, did he think Jasper and I were getting involved? Surely not, wasn't he treating me the same way he treated Alice?