Life's A Beach
Chapter 8
A/N – Thanks for sticking with this despite my somewhat crazy posting schedule. This week is the end of the semester, so it should be a bit easier to keep up with this! As always, all things Twilight belong to Ms. Meyer.
The sun peeked its earliest rays over the horizon, turning the sky from the blue-grey of night to a mixture of pale blue, white and gold. As its rays spread across the surface of the ocean, the small swells seemed to glow with the morning light. On the slightly chilly beach, just starting to warm for the day, Bella sat with her arms wrapped around her knees watching the sunrise and sending every positive thought she could muster north to Chicago. She had two more days on her beloved Hilton Head Island before heading back to New Jersey, the cold, and her final semester of college. Instead of partying or even just relaxing, all she could think about was the beautiful bronze haired boy so very far away. Unable to sleep, she had made her way to the beach earlier than usual this morning. The ocean always amazed her. So powerful, its waves pushing into the shore but so gentle, depositing the tiniest of seashells undamaged on the beach. It was the same way she felt about this love, so new, but so powerful. Strong enough to make her rethink everything she thought she knew about her future and gentle enough to make her skin feel warm at the memory of his touch.
"Miss Bella" said a voice, and she looked up to see Jasper and Aro approaching. Bella threw her arms over her head as Aro, of course, knocked her over into the sand and shook ocean water all over her. Jasper laughed, making no attempt to call off the enthusiastic puppy. "Sorry to disturb your thoughts."
"You are not sorry and don't even try to pretend that you are" she said, wrestling the puppy to sit in the sand next to her.
"Mind if I join you?"
Bella patted the sand next to her. "You're more than welcome, though I'm not sure I'll be the best company. Are you sure you wouldn't rather go wake Alice up? I'll warn you, she can be all kinds of grouchy when she first wakes up."
Jasper laughed. "I found that out the other morning." His eyes went wide as he realized what he just said.
"Jasper Whitlock, have you been sneaking around with my best friend?" Bella teased.
He blushed uncharacteristically. "Guilty as charged, ma'am." He settled next to her. "I don't know what it is about you northern beauties, but you've managed to charm the three of us right off our feet."
"It's mutual" she said. "Jasper, I'm worried about Edward. What do you think is going to happen?"
Jasper ran a hand through his hair. He stared out at the water and watched the sun as it continued to climb in the sky. "For most other guys, this would be an easy decision. Follow your dream, that's the easy answer. But family has always been important to Edward, more important than skating, more important than anything."
"What happened with his dad? He said they were close, that he could talk to his dad about anything."
Jasper nodded in agreement. "Always. Don't misunderstand, Uncle Carlisle was always successful, driven, always wanted the best for Aunt Esme and Edward. He worked hard to give them a good life and a good home, and that meant a lot of hours at the office. But he loved them, no doubt about it. He was so excited for Edward, was always there when he skated no matter what. Something changed though, once Edward was in college. Suddenly, it was all about Edward going to law school, and nothing else seemed to matter."
"But Edward still skated?" Bella rubbed Aro's ears and the puppy laid his head in her lap.
Jasper smiled at the way the dog adopted Bella the same way as he'd adopted Edward. Dogs always knew who loved them, he thought. "He did, even though he had to balance school and skating. But he made it work and just kept moving up the ranks. It makes him happy, but I don't know if he thought he'd ever have this kind of chance. The Olympics, I mean. I'd hate to see him pass it up."
Bella dug her toes in the sand. "I just want him to be happy and I wish he didn't have to choose. Is that a bad thing?"
Jasper gave her hand a squeeze. "No, darlin', it's the best thing you could want for him right now." He stood, brushed the sand from his shorts. "C'mon Aro, let's go pay a visit to Miss Alice."
Bella drew her knees up again. The sunrise comforted her, and so did Jasper's words. Her parents had always been supportive of her, too, and she couldn't imagine defying them in any way. Even though her mom was gone, Bella always felt like she was still there for her, helping her find her way. "I love him, mom" she whispered. "I wish you were here, and could tell me how to help him."
In Chicago, Edward woke up, stretched, and reached for his phone. He grinned when he saw the selfie Bella had sent early this morning. Her hair was tangled and draped over one shoulder, as if the breeze had blown it to the side. The ocean and the rising sun were in the background. His heart clutched as he read the words she'd written. "It's a new day, and I'm thinking of you." Once again, he wanted to reply by declaring his feelings, but he'd decided that should – and would – happen in person. He wasn't sure when, but he'd make it soon. In a few more days she would be back at school, he knew. Either way, it wasn't Chicago. He'd have to go to her, so it didn't matter where she was. He knew he'd go anywhere to see her again.
He dragged himself out of bed and showered. He had a meeting with his father at the law office at 10 AM. Edward frowned at the idea that what he considered a family discussion would take place at the office. Obviously, his father was looking at this as a business decision, not a personal one. Out of deference to his father and his partners, Edward dressed in grey wool pants, a navy blazer, white shirt and a conservative tie. If he was going into the lion's den, he might as well look the part.
Edward smiled when he reached the kitchen and saw that his mother had prepared breakfast for him. He walked up behind her and kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks, Mom. You didn't have to do that."
"Let me spoil my boy for a while, won't you? Who knows how often I'll get the chance over the next few months, between the time you'll be spending in class and studying and the time you'll spend…."
"Don't say it" Edward frowned, knowing that the next word out of her mouth would be "skating." He took a seat at the table and helped himself to fresh fruit, eggs, and toast. They talked about school and what he'd be taking his final semester. Finally, he sat back, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and sighed.
"What do I do this morning, Mom? You know him better than anyone. What do I say?" Edward looked at her with the sad eyes of a little boy, and it nearly broke her heart. "I don't understand him, and he can't understand me. How did we get here, and how do we get back? I love you both so much…."
Esme stood, walked to the counter, and picked up something from a pile of papers. She slid it across the table to Edward, and he saw it was a photograph. It was a speed skater, a man, in the pose that Edward knew so well, one that was as natural to him as standing. One toe up at the start, the other leg poised to push off. The picture was taken from behind the skater, so he couldn't see the face. He didn't remember ever seeing it before, but could think of only one reason why his mother would have it. "Is this me?"
"No, Edward." She ran her finger over the edge of the picture. "It's your father."
Edward was completely floored. Sure, his father had taught him to skate, took him to speed skating practice and events, got him into the sport. Obviously his dad knew technique, helped him practice, but Edward had developed quickly and Carlisle turned him over to a coach by the time he was 7 or 8. He never, not once, mentioned that he'd been a competitive speed skater himself, but this picture was the evidence. In the background, Edward could see crowds of people. This was no little event. "What? How…" He gathered himself. "Dad was a competitive skater? Why didn't he tell me? Why didn't you tell me?"
"It was before I knew him" Esme replied "and he never said much about it. But he was thrilled when you started skating, so it must have been important to him. Take the picture with you, Edward. You'll know how best to use it." She got up and started washing dishes.
"Thanks, Mom" Edward said, and tucked the picture in his jacket before heading out.
Bella made her way back to the house as the beach began to fill with early morning walkers and a few sunbathers. She opened the door and found Alice and Jasper sitting at the table. Aro lay under the table, having apparently been hosed off to remove the sand and salt before coming in the house. "Well, well, well" she said. "If it isn't the sneaky couple."
Alice gave her a puzzled look. Jasper took her hand. "I may have spilled the beans about knowing how grouchy you are when you first wake up." Alice just laughed. "That's nothing" she said. "Edward and Bella…."
"That's enough out of you" Bella cut her off.
"Let's just say they aren't quiet when they wake up" Alice said with a smirk.
"I'll add snitch to your long list of qualities" sniffed Bella.
"You know you love me" retorted Alice.
"I do, don't I" said Bella.
"And so do I" said Jasper, obviously amused at their conversation.
Alice whipped around to look at him, while Bella started to laugh. "Ladies and gentlemen" she said, copying Jasper's tone at the bar when he called Emmett out "I believe we have a declaration of love for Miss Alice."
"Alice, I…." Jasper stammered, as red as Emmett had been when he inadvertently admitted his love for Rose.
"Did you mean it?" Alice demanded.
He sat with his mouth open for a second or two, then seemed to collect himself. "Yes" he said. "Yes I did."
Alice jumped in his lap and kissed him like he was the last man on earth.
Bella threw her hands over her head and grinned at her friends. "My work here is done." She grabbed her phone and trotted up the steps to her room. When she got there, she checked her messages and was delighted to see Edward's response to her picture.
The picture he sent back made it clear that he had just woken up. His hair was messy, messier than usual and his eyes still had a sleepy look that she found incredibly sexy. She read his message.
"I wish I was waking up next to you."
Someday, she thought. Someday.