With little to do and too much free time, the rest of the week slowly carried on.
Bella took advantage of a few dry, sunny days to lie outside, reading and relaxing. It was unlike anything she'd done since first meeting Edward. On the first day, Bella went out in a tank top and shorts with a blanket and a cup of coffee. She spread the blanket on the grass in direct sun and lay down on her stomach. Bella propped herself on her elbows to read, her bare feet in the air with her ankles crossed. She hadn't been there ten minutes before her cell buzzed in her shorts pocket.
Cop Dad: What the hell are you doing?
She snorted and tossed her cell onto the blanket. Bella raised onto her side and stuck her middle finger in the air, facing the Caldwell house. She laughed to herself as she got comfortable again. She barely started reading before her phone buzzed.
Cop Dad: Grounded?!
Bells: From what? Where do I go?
Cop Dad: Oh yeah.
Bells: I'm reading outside like I used to. Your girlfriend is N-O-S-E-Y.
Cop Dad: Nosey is not my girlfriend.
Bells: Well, we need to find you one, so she'll get out of my ass.
Cop Dad: Haha!
Bella laughed and went back to her book.
When she went inside later, she couldn't help but smile at the healthy pink glow to her skin. It would quickly fade, leaving behind a slight tan, as it always had. She hoped it made her at least look healthier than she felt lately.
Still considering a trip to Florida, she expected the amount of sun she would get there and hoped she could gain a decent tan in between. Why had Bella been so willing to give up the sun's warmth for Edward? It wasn't the first time she'd asked herself this question. Her thoughts trailed to Jacob and their last few days together, ruining her good mood.
The following day was warmer and sunnier. She repeated her process, choosing a spot far from their neighbor's view. It was partially shaded and not as warm as the sideyard, but still better than being stared at.
Taking advantage of the privacy, she slid off her shirt and unclasped her bra to let the sunlight kiss her back. No longer sore from her self-injury, the bruises were fading. She gingerly moved her bra strap back up when it fell to keep it from pressing against the bruise on her upper arm from Jacob's too-strong grip and let herself get comfortable.
After a few minutes, despite knowing she was out of view, Bella couldn't help but feel there were eyes on her. She scanned the treeline carefully but found nothing.
Bella, you're fucking paranoid. She closed her eyes, sighed, and lay still as she tried to relax. The next thing she knew, familiar laughter made her eyes flutter open. Immediately forgetting the sound, Bella looked up and realized she'd slept for hours. Bella reached behind her to re-clasp her bra without reshifting the strap and hissed as it dug into the bruise.
Leah said, "Ouch. That looks like it hurts." Leah's voice startled Bella, and she hurried to pull her shirt back on as she sat up.
Bella said, "I think you have a sixth sense that tells you when my shirt comes off."
Leah cackled as she stepped closer and held her hand up to help Bella stand. "Maybe I do, Swan. Who knows?" Leah lifted Bella's shirt sleeve to look at the bruise again as Bella rolled her eyes. Leah slowly lowered the material, frowning.
"I'm gonna slug Jacob when I see him again. That's obviously a handprint, you know? And it sure as hell wasn't there before you went to Billy's. Has Charlie seen it?"
"It was an accident," Bella grumbled as she picked up her book and blanket. Changing the subject, Bella told Leah about the incident with the neighbor the day before as Leah followed her into the house.
Leah watched Bella prep supper before having to leave for work. As Bella stood by the kitchen window, cleaning up after supper, she again sensed someone looking at her. Bella tried to ignore it and hurried through washing the dishes, wondering if all the alone time truly was making her paranoid.
The rest of the week was similar except for Leah texting Bella and reminding her to 'Eat and watch out for those weirdo neighbors.'
Angela called Bella on Friday to remind Bella about the party, but she hadn't needed reminding, having spent far too much time wondering if Paul would be there and what she should do about it if he tried anything. She considered discussing it with Leah but didn't want it to seem like she had expectations.
Besides, she reminded herself. It was Paul. Her childhood beach bully had become a fully grown jackass. Very attractive and an incredible kisser, but a jackass nonetheless. Of course, those thoughts inevitably reminded her of how different kissing Leah had been. Bella went to bed that night in a huff, frustrated with herself and her fluctuating feelings about Leah.
Why couldn't anything be simple?
Saturday began with a surprise call from Quil. The sun was just beginning to rise as the shrill sound of his ringtone pulled her from sleep. Bella rolled over, slapping at the nightstand incoherently until her hand landed on her phone. The light from the screen nearly blinded her as she looked at the time and huffed.
Still, it was Quil, and groggily she answered, "Hello?"
Quil chuckled at the sleep-roughened sound of her voice and asked, "Awe, Bells. Did I wake ya? I'm sorry, honey."
"S'kay," she mumbled, flopping back onto the bed and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
He teased, "I know it's early, but I promised to call soon, and it's been almost a week. I didn't want you to think I blew you off again."
She chuckled, happy that he'd remembered despite feeling the need to tease her about it. Recalling Angela's request to 'bring some friends,' she hoped the party was the perfect opportunity to see him.
She asked, "Um, what are you doing tonight? Do you have plans?" When he remained silent for too long, she said, "You can't tell me, huh? Probably something to do with Jake or Sam, I'm guessing?"
He scoffed. " Something like that. Why? What are you up to?"
"Party at Angela's," she said as a yawn escaped her. "I'm going to let myself get hammered and probably make poor decisions. That's what I'll be up to."
Quil laughed. "Go back to bed, Bells. I'll talk to Embry later and see if we can sneak by Angela's tonight. Where does she live?"
Immediately excited by the idea, she asked, "Really?"
Laughing again, he said, "Now, I'm not promising. I'm just saying I'll try. I don't want you to be upset if we're not there. Believe me. We'd rather hang out with you, I'm sure. Okay?"
"I get it. I'm not five," Bella teased. "Angie lives about a block from Tyler's. Ask Embry. He'll remember how to get there."
"I can find it," Quil huffed, making her laugh.
"I miss you guys."
"We miss you too, Bells. If I can't make it tonight, I'll call soon. Go to sleep."
"I will," Bella said through another yawn and laughed. "Hey, Quil?"
"Yeah?"
"Love you guys."
"Love you too, Bells," Bella heard Embry say from somewhere, in the background. Her eyes immediately filled with tears as a shuddering sigh left her. She held her breath to keep from crying, but it was pointless.
At the first sound of a sniffle, Quil grumbled, "Shit, Embry. Now ya did it."
"Oh, hush," she said and laughed. "I just miss you guys. I'm thinking of going to visit my mom, maybe. It would be good to see you guys first. If I even go. I haven't decided."
"It might do you some good," Quil said. "You haven't seen her in like a year. That's gotta suck."
"Uh, yeah," she said, nodding to herself. She missed her mom.
'You haven't even asked her if she'd be up for a visit yet,' she reminded herself. She needed to call Renee. "I'm kind of a shitty daughter, Quil."
"Nah," he said. "You've had a lot on your mind. Besides, they say the first year of marriage is the hardest. I bet she's been pretty preoccupied, too. You know, reading Phil's tarot cards and shit."
Bella cackled. More than the joke, Quil's optimistic, happy tone made her happy. Obviously, Embry made him happy, too.
"What about me, Little Duck? Don't I get any love?"
She could have sworn she heard Quil growl. Simultaneously, Bella sat straight up in her bed and hollered, "Paul?" She couldn't help but laugh at her own dramatic reaction. " What the Hell, Quil? Am I on speaker or something? Warn a person!"
She could hear Embry and Paul's laughter despite Quil's cackling into the phone. "You're not. My phone is just loud, like me."
"I'll say."
It suddenly dawned on her that Paul would have heard her mention Angela's party. Her pulse quickened as she thought of seeing him. It was a frequently annoying occurrence lately.
Impulsively, she said, "Wear pants."
Paul howled with laughter in the background, and she grinned. It only confirmed he'd been the one to drop off her stuff and Jacob's letter.
Sounding suspicious, Quil asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just a little inside joke," she said. "Don't worry about it. I'll talk to you soon?"
"Sure, Bells. Bye."
She shook her head as she hit the end button and put the phone back on her nightstand. What are they even doing this early in the morning?
Daylight spilled into her room through the open window, filling it with a foggy haze. Bella lay back and closed her eyes, going over the memory of the brief phone call. She couldn't help but wonder if they had been alone or if Sam and Jacob had been listening, too. If they had, she hoped they minded their own business for once.
She rolled over and closed her eyes, falling into a dream-laden sleep filled with glimpses of Leah, Sam's 'gang,' and several massive, angry wolves.