Hello all! Welcome to chapter 11!

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I hope you enjoy the latest chapter to Riptide!

This dress was itchy. The sleeves were scratching my arms and I crossed them in frustration. Mom picked this dress out. I hated black. I wanted to wear my lavender dress instead. I stood there pouting as Mom finished putting on her lipstick.

"Mom, I hate this dress. I want to change." She whipped around on her vanity stool and gave me a cross look.

"Isabella Marie, stop complaining. We need to leave." Mom almost growled. She stood up, her black dress swooshed around her. She grabbed my hand roughly and pulled me downstairs and to the front door. Daddy was sitting on the bench, dressed in a black suit I've never seen him wear with his head in his hands. As we approached, heels and patent mary-janes, he looked up tiredly.

"Straighten your tie, Charlie." Mom said, voice lacking emotion. I pulled free from her grip and ran to Daddy as he stood up. I gripped my Daddy's large hand with both of my small hands. We trudged to the car to drive to the church, where we usually go for Christmas and Easter but never any other times. I buckled up just as the rain started to pour.

Inside the church, we were greeted somberly by Auntie Irina whose eyes were red and puffy. I ran to her when I saw her and Mom let out an exasperated sigh. Auntie gave me a watery smile and a tight hug. Why was everybody wearing black and dark colors? Auntie loved colors as much as me!

A man also wearing black, but he had a white square on his collar, led us into the chapel with lots of benches and a large wooden box at the front of the room. The box was shiny and had metal on it. There were flowers in a few vases around the box too. Mom said we were here to see Riley, but I looked all around at the people and I didn't see him.

I hadn't seen Riley in a whole entire week and three days. I missed him. Tears sprang to my eyes as I realized he wasn't here. I tugged on Auntie's hand.

"Where is Riley, Auntie? I miss him." Aunt Irina gave my Mom a look and pulled me to the back corner of the room.

"Bella honey, Riley went to Heaven." Her eyes had tears in them too.

"Why did he go without me?"

"Isabella," her voice broke, "Remember we talked about what happened? I explained to you how Riley can't come home and how he didn't want to leave you or your family, honey."

"I don't want to believe you!" I tore myself from her embrace. Mom and Daddy glanced over at me, Mom looked cross again, Daddy looked worn and tired... Auntie only opened her arms wide to me and I ran into them once more.

"Bella, today we are going to say goodbye to your brother. His spirit is not on Earth anymore. He will always be with us in our hearts though." She gingerly tapped my chest where my heart was and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"Where do I get to say goodbye to him?" My tears blurred my vision and my voice quivered.

"You and your parents are going to go up to the casket and you will get a chance to see him one more time. He will look different, almost like he is sleeping. But his heart is not beating and he is not breathing anymore." Aunt Irina's voice was quiet and full of emotion.

"Simba's daddy looked like he was sleeping."

Mom then pulled me from Auntie's arms and held my hand. "It's time to say goodbye, Bella," Mom's voice was heavy and slow. I looked back at Auntie and she gave me a watery yet encouraging smile. Daddy met us in the middle of the aisle and took hold of my other hand. We three walked to the box where Riley was. Part of it was open, but I couldn't quite see into it because I was too short. We stopped right in front of it, and Mom dropped my hand, bringing her hands to her face to cover it while sobbing. I looked up at Daddy and he had tears streaming down his face.

Tugging on his hand, I whispered, "I can't see, Daddy." He lifted me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck.

Inside the box, or casket as Auntie told me, Riley lay still and silent against a white pillow with his eyes closed. Auntie Irina was right, he did look like he was sleeping, but something was just weird. His hair was styled all wrong, just like Mom would beg him when it was Thanksgiving or Christmas. He would always complain about having to use sticky gel to style it. He wore a navy suit jacket and white dress shirt with a black tie. It was all wrong.

Riley hated his suit. He called it his "monkey suit" and he would curse every time he had to wear it for special occasions. He would say bad words and I would never tell Mom because I knew he would get in big trouble. Riley hated wearing ties too. He said he looked silly and it hurt his neck. His hands were folded across his stomach, face a weird shade of his usual tan, and lips almost in a frown. Riley loved smiling, I didn't understand why he wasn't smiling. This Riley looked so different from my Riley.

"Riley," I whispered. "I miss you." My lips quivered. "I'm sorry I forgot my lifejacket. You told me not to forget but I did!" I cried out. "I want you to come back from Heaven and tell me you forgive me. I'm sorry. I love you, Riley. I'm sorry I was so annoying to you, if you come back, I'll never annoy you again! I'll never knock on your door when Diego is over ever again, or steal the remote to watch a show you hate, I promise. Just please come back!" Sobs took over my body and I buried my face into Daddy's neck. I felt his tears wet my hair. My Mom was next to us, sobbing as well.

I didn't see her, but Auntie came and took me from Daddy, carrying me to a bench in the front of the chapel. I continued to cry until she took out some crayons and paper.

"How about you draw your brother a picture, so he can take it to Heaven with him?"

I nodded, sniffled, and accepted the crayons from her hand. I drew him and me on the beach, making a sand castle like we always used to do. When I was finished, I noticed the room had filled up. The man from earlier came out and spoke and so did my Daddy, but my attention stayed on the casket where my brother, my best friend lay.

My mother and I have an interesting relationship. Of course, I love her and I know she loves me. When she and my dad divorced, she began to act less like a parent and more like an overbearing friend. She controlled how I dressed, what friends I could have, my high school job, and ultimately the college I attended. She "encouraged" me to enroll as an education major, but I changed my major during the second semester of my freshman year to art. She was absolutely furious and hurt.

She tried to control every aspect of my life, but not as a parent, as a toxic friend. Having more freedom in college away from her reign, I began to realize my life wasn't truly mine. I was merely living a lie to please my mother.

A few days after graduation, I packed everything from my dorm into my truck and moved into a studio apartment, knowing I could not live with my mother again. After working at a bookstore for a year, I had made to move to Clear Lake. I had the space I needed to grow and find out who I really was. My mother claimed I moved out to Florida because I knew she would never come to visit or step foot in Clear Lake again, but in reality, I terribly missed this small seaside town. I thought it would be a good place to establish myself and return to my roots.

I was currently cleaning the house for my mother's arrival. She would be here by five, and I had six hours to prepare. Edward would be swinging by soon with a pizza, and I hope he will help me calm my frazzled nerves.

A swift knock sounded on the door and I scurried to answer it. Opening the door, Edward stood there in all his glory with a grin on his face.

"Hi, Bella," He said, leaning down and planting a chaste kiss on my lips.

"Hi, Edward," I replied, stepping aside to let him inside.

I collected my straw bag and we walked hand in hand to the beach. I set down a beach blanket and we sat side by side, as close as we could get to each other. He kissed my cheek and opened his book as I began collecting my sketchbook and colored pencils. We sat in comfortable silence until the nervousness bubbled up in my stomach.

"Edward?"

"Hmm?" He hummed, turning the page.

"Can we talk about something?" His brow furrowed and he dog-eared the page he was on before closing the book and taking my hand.

"Is everything okay?" Concern laced his gentle voice.

"Well, I hope it will be…" I chuckled nervously.

"Bella…" He trailed off anxiously.

"Um, my mom is going to be here on Saturday."

"Your mother?"

"Yes. She will be here for five days. She's leaving on Wednesday. I wanted to let you know because I'm not able to spend too much time with you while she's here." I blushed.

"Will I get to meet her?" He asked, his face revealing his anxiety.

"Uh...if you want to. Let me just warn you...my mom is a little...much."

Edward rolled his eyes. "Have you met my sister?" He said sarcastically.

"She's different from Alice. She may come off as a little a standoffish."

"Bella, I deal with standoffish people all the time at work, I think I can handle her." He smirked.

"Yeah, I sure hope so," I responded, looking out into the horizon.

I had just finished making the bed in the spare room with fresh linens when I heard a knock at the door.

"Coming!" I called while fluffing the last pillow.

Edward stood on the porch, carrying a square pizza box. He kissed my cheek briefly and set the pizza on the kitchen table.

"Hey," Edward's voice was smooth and silky as he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into him.

"Hi," I squeaked, staring into his dazzling green eyes. His lips met mine, and I moved my lips frantically against his. He met my energy and one of his hands moved to the small of my back.

Kissing Edward was one of my favorite things to do now. His lips were always so soft and warm. I loved the way his hands felt on my waist. He was a damn good kisser.

Our tongues met and I moved my hands to his hair, weaving through his locks. His hand on my back now rested on my hip, and I moaned against his mouth. His passion behind his lips sent tingles throughout my body. I stepped in between his legs and felt him-all of him-constricted by his jeans against me. I pulled myself closer to him, the top of my thigh brushing his sweet spot.

He suddenly froze and tugged his lips away from mine. His hands met mine still tangled in his hair and slowly removed them from the copper mess placing them between us.

"Bella," He whispered breathlessly.

"Sorry," I muttered, out of breath.

He lifted my chin to look into his eyes. "Don't apologize. I didn't want to get too carried away. Believe me, I want to." His eyes darkened and voice deepened.

"But we have to wait."

"Yes, we have to wait." He kissed my forehead. "Besides, the pizza is going to get cold."

After eating, Edward helped me move some things around in the spare bedroom in order to make the space look more like a bedroom. I had been using the room to paint small pieces when I was home and didn't want to go to the studio. Edward even offered to help me mow the front yard while I weeded the landscaping in the front.

We had come inside after finishing our tasks, ready for the cool air.

"It's so fucking hot," he moaned while chugging his water. I wiped my face with a cool towel and gulped my water down.

"In Arizona, it's 108 degrees right now. My Mom told me before she boarded the plane."

"I don't know how you lived there, Bella. I would melt." He chuckled.

I handed him a damp towel to wipe his face. "What do I tell my mother about us?" I asked gently. He wiped his face and threw the towel over his shoulder.

"What do you want to tell her?" He smirked, diverting the question away from him.

"I mean...we haven't really put a label...on what we have." I chose my words carefully.

"Well, I care about you, and I hope you care about me," I bobbed my head quickly in reassurance and grabbed his hands. "So I guess that makes me your boyfriend." He gazed at me with nervousness in his eyes.

"I guess that makes me your girlfriend," I grinned. He returned my grin with a brilliant smile and kissed me gently.

"Come sit with me," He said, pulling me gently towards the couch. I obliged and sat with him on the couch. He laid down, resting his head in my lap. My hands landed in his hair again, and I played with the waves once more. "I have a new work schedule," he began. "Since I've learned the ropes of the hospital already, now I will work alongside my father in his practice. I will have less taxing hours, without twelve-hour shifts."

"That's great, Edward!" I leaned down to kiss his forehead.

"My Dad's practice is open from eight in the morning to five, Monday through Friday. I will have more time now, and I hope to spend more time with you."

"I would like that too," I smiled.

He sat up slowly and turned to face me. "Good," He said quietly and kissed me fervently. I felt like I could melt into a puddle onto the hardwood floor I had just cleaned. This man had instantly become such an important part of my life and now I couldn't imagine it without him.

Our lips parted and he sat back against the couch, keeping my hands in his.

"Your birthday is coming up," I said, feeling a small pang in my heart.

"It is." He nodded slowly. "I know that day must be a hard day for you."

"You remembered," I said softly, eyes on our joined hands.

"If you need me to be there for you, I will be." He said seriously.

My eyes met his. "My Mom wants to visit St. Petersburg that day. To see him."

"If you want to be alone with your mom, I understand."

"I want you there." My voice was tiny.

He squeezed my hands. "Then I'll be there." I maneuvered myself to sit in his lap, my shoulder resting against his chest.

"Is this okay?"

"More than okay." His arms encircled my waist and he buried his face into the crook of my neck.

"Thank you, Edward," I said sleepily. "You have become an important part of my life, and I can't imagine life without you."

"You are my life now," His breath tickled my neck as his nose skimmed along my neck.

I felt my eyes droop with sleep and I sighed contently against Edward's chest.

Loud, irritating knocks on the front door startled me awake. I was still against Edward's chest, and I felt the vibrations from his groan as he was also rudely awoken.

"Shit!" I exclaimed, looking at my watch. It was five fifteen! Edward must have moved us into a lying position as I slept. I rolled off the couch on to the ground to stand and poked Edward. "Edward!" I whispered loudly, "Get up!"

The rapping on the door intensified. "Shit, shit, shit!" My hands tugged through my hair in an attempt to comb it and I adjusted my shirt. "Edward! Get up! My Mom is here!"

His eyes burst open and he shot up. "Fuck!" He whispered just as loudly as me.

"Stay here...I wanted to introduce you two later...but here goes nothing. Are you ready?"

He pulled down his button up that had ridden up to reveal his toned stomach and he fixed the buttons that had come undone at the collar.

"Isabella!" Mom called through the door while continuing her obnoxious knocking.

Edward gulped, "I guess I'm ready." He ran his hands through his hair a couple of times.

I kissed him quickly. "Stay on the couch…" I ran to the front door, swinging it open exposing my mother with her fist raised in a mid-knocking position.

"Bella!" Mom squealed, wrapping her arms around me. She was only a couple inches taller than me. "I missed you!" She pulled back, nervously eying the house.

"How was your flight?" I could tell in her eyes seeing the house was hard for her.

"Oh, fine, fine…" She trailed off. Her eyes narrowed on the copper mess sitting anxiously on the couch. "Who is that?" She threw her thumb in Edward's direction. Edward's head whipped around and their eyes met. He stood suddenly and flashed her one of his dazzling smiles that always left me feeling slightly woozy.

"Mom...this is my boyfriend, Edward Cullen."

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