Chapter 14: Declarations

Forced awake, I was resentful and grumpy. However, as the sleep wore off, my eyes caught purple. A huge smile spread across my face, and then only grew when I remembered what day it was and why I had set an alarm for a Saturday morning. Throwing the purple comforter off me, I was enthusiastically excited and jittery. Immediately I started getting ready, wanting to ensure that I would impress Mike when he picked me up.

Bella had little makeup in her bathroom bag. I assumed that her Dad didn't like her having makeup and that she hid it somewhere, but after examining every nook and cranny of Bella's room multiple times, I had found nothing. It made no sense to me! What kind of girl only has one mascara, one eye liner, and one tip gloss? Her mother must be an au-natural woman and taught her to be the same was the only reasonable answer.

Clearly, It was something to remedy in the future. The problem was money. I already knew the cheapest brands at the drug store asked for a pretty penny. Perhaps I could speak to Chief Swan about giving me some cash. He was her father after all, and it was a parent's job to make sure their kids had what they needed. Not that my parents did that. Instead, my parents talked about things being tight and the cost of grandma's funeral, and how expensive basics were. It seemed like an excuse, since Mandy's mother didn't work and she had more of everything than me.

Despite the lack of what Bella had, I wanted to make the most of it. Her complexion was so different than what I was used to that it took multiple times to get a look that worked. Good thing I had set the alarm early enough to overcome these small hiccups. At the end examining myself in mirror, I decided that it had come out well. Having been Mandy's best friend and staying over at her house all these years had actually helped, as she often talked about her makeup and stuff. I smirked at the idea of using Mandy's own techniques to demonstrate to Mike how much I cared about him and making sure he got the message that we were meant to be.

Through all of my struggles to tame Bella's hair, it was obvious that she had terrible products for the bit of curl she did have. Nonetheless, using what I had heard Mandy's mother tell her and a bit of what my mother had taught me about her own hair, I had turned it into something slightly sultry.

Putting on the bra and underwear I had purchased yesterday along with jeans and the new shirt, I examined myself in the mirror, deciding that the person looking back at me looked good. Trusting Leah's words that boys were primarily fuelled by what they saw, I smiled confidently at myself, settling my nerves.

As he had promised, Chief Swan had forgone his fishing trip in order to greet Mike.

When I came downstairs, Chief Swan opened his mouth and seemed to choke a bit. "You look nice, Bells," he finally uttered.

"Thanks," I told him nonchalantly, while inwardly proud of myself. Whatever nerves had remained were cooled by his compliment and reaction.

Hopefully my appearance would have an even greater impact on Mike.

I was almost finished eating my breakfast of eggs and toast when the there was a knock on the front door.

Chief Swan got it and invited Mike in. It sounded like an interrogation and some threats, but since it was about the same as my father would have done, I ignored it, giving Chief Swan this, and enjoying just a little the ways in which he reminded me of my father. It was a little sad, since I missed him more than I had expected, but nothing that would get me down.

I ended up washing my dish just about the time when their voices became quiet.

Drying my hands, I went out to greet Mike, letting him sweat a little, filling with confidence that I could use this body to show him how great we would be together.

His jaw dropped when his eyes caught me. It took him a few minutes to find his voice. "You look nice, Bella."

"Thanks," I told him.

"Remember what I said," Chief Swan stated threateningly.

"Yes, sir," Mike stuttered back.

Grabbing my coat, I made sure my keys were in my bag. Opening it a little to check that I had everything, my eyes caught a can of mace.

Shaking my head a little and smiling, I looked at Chief Swan and told him, "Thanks for the can."

He grinned, which stole a little of the seriousness he was trying to project to Mike.

"Sure thing," he replied. "You remember your lessons?"

"Yes, sir," I answered with a genuine smile, remembering the ones my dad had given me.

Mike was a gentleman, who after putting back on his own coat, held the door open for me, and then the car door.

"I was thinking the café in Port Angeles," Mike told me.

"Sounds good," I agreed, making sure to sound exuberant.

A fancier place than a café would have been a better indication that everything was working to plan, since Leah told me that you could tell how much a guy is into you by how much they're trying to impress. Then again, this was a first date and breakfast. Those were more dinner types of places. I was confident that he would pull out all the stops eventually.

After getting out of the neighbourhood and onto the road to Port Angeles, Mike put his hand down between us. Trying to be casual and not in too much of a hurry, I put my hand on top of his.

"How's that game with Eric going?" I asked, disliking the silence between us.

For the rest of the ride Mike rambled on about it. I made all the right sounds at all of his pauses.

When we got to Port Angeles he parked and came around and opened my door. I smiled at his efforts to be a gentleman. Chief Swan and my Dad indicated this showed that a guy cared, which is what I wanted.

We went into the café. It was cute on the outside with little Eiffel Towers and cute funny signs along with adorable images of coffee and pancakes. Yet, everything seemed a little faded, like it was a little rundown.

"Can we get the table by the window?" I whispered to Mike.

He shrugged, but then asked the host for it when we arrived at her podium.

Fortunately, the table I had eyed wasn't taken yet, and as luck would have it, she took us right to it. I mean, it was right next to the window, so she'd have to be dense to have seated us elsewhere. Even still, it was nice to get what I hoped for. Its location made me a little chilly, but the perfect position for everyone to see me out with Mike, so I made sure to make it seem like it was ideal and touch him a ton, while expressing my gratitude. I even told her thank you.

Once we ordered, I asked Mike, "Do you like to people watch?"

He looked confused.

"It's a game my mom and me used to play when I was younger. You pick a person or group of people and tell a story about them, who they are, what they're doing, how they're feeling, anything," I explained. "Shall I go first?" I questioned in response to his hesitant look.

"Sure," he answered and tried to look like he didn't care.

Waiting a few seconds, I spotted a woman pushing a stroller. She had shoulder length brown straight hair and an oval face. She was of a medium height. She was scowling, dressed in jeans, rain boots, and a heavy wintery raincoat. The stroller looked like the over used kind, like she had bought it at Goodwill or something.

"That woman over there with the stroller," I started. He hummed like he saw her, so I continued, "before she left her house she had a terrible fight with her boyfriend, who doesn't make enough money, thus the second-hand stroller. She had threatened to become a prostitute if he cannot provide for her and their child. When she was at the store picking up a few essential items, she put her son down on the ground. He crawled away. While in her angry state she put the bag of flour in the stroller. So right now she's still mad, pushing around a bag of flour, while her son is crying, a lost kid at the store."

Mike's chuckles turned into laughter and then a hard belly laugh. It took him a few minutes to calm down before he uttered, "Oh, that was good, Bella. Okay, my turn." He took a few minutes clearly trying to look for someone that would fit his imagination. "That guy over there," he pointed to a thirty-something wanna-be with long black hair pulled back in a ponytail, a narrow face with a pointed chin, jewellery littering his face, black pants, long black leather jacket, and black combat boots. "He works at the record and gaming store, and is a super dork, but dresses like some punkrocker to keep people from making fun of him. He just had the best night of his life, as he lost his virginity to the stud of a man following behind him."

At those words my eyes moved to the giant of a person walking a few steps behind. Sure there was a light drizzle, but I was almost certain that the mammoth of a man was none other than Emmett Cullen. At even the possibility that might be the case I started busting out laughing.

"But since they're in the closet, afraid of losing their jobs due to the gossip, they're walking as close as they dare."

It took me many minutes to slow my breath. "That was a good one, Mike," I praised him, taking his hand that had been resting on the table and covering it with mine. "Thanks for that. I needed a good laugh."

"Sure," he said softly, staring at me. Out of nowhere he blurted out, "I'm really glad you said yes."

"I'm glad you asked," I replied.

"I think you're really hot," he told me, his words blending together. "And I'd like us to make a go of it, you know, be a couple and everything."

"Really?" I checked, working at not squealing.

"I'm a lucky guy if you say yes," he told me.

"Yes," I answered with a smile. "I'd like to be your girl."

"That means no going on dates with anyone else, right?" he asked with a tone like he was threatening me.

"Of course," I agreed easily. "I said that I'd be yours."

His whole body seemed to relax, and he smiled warmly at me. "Good, good."

There were a few minutes of silence. Wanting to fill it, I wondered, "What time do you have to start your shift?"

He looked at his watch. "I have about three more hours."

Smiling at him, I replied, "That's good."

Almost right as he said that the food had arrived. We both started eating, so the silence between us seemed more normal.

As Mike finished, he chuckled a little. "Guess I was hungrier than I thought."

Smiling at him, since I had my mouth full, I continued to eat while he complained about the different teachers and our homework. I agreed with him and added my own comments. Once I was finished he seemed restless, he paid for the meal, and we left.

"I thought we'd walk the pier," he suggested.

"Sounds good," I agreed, glad that he clued me in to why he had wanted to leave the café.

He took my hand and we started veering towards the water. Despite us both wearing gloves, my heart was beating so fast and it was hard not to smile from ear to ear. I might as well have been walking on clouds.

When we got to the guardrail, we both leaned over it. My hands were in cloth gloves that only slightly helped against the temperature of the metal, as I moved them back and forth a little. The rail wasn't smooth, because at times I could feel little divots or rivets under my fingertips. It was a comforting thing, as this rail had been like this since I was a little girl and my father had brought me here for the first time.

My reflections and remembering my father brought my mind to my purpose.

"Jessica is mad that we're dating," I told Mike with some seriousness, so he would know this was no joking matter.

"Yeah?" he asked, sounding surprised.

"I said I would be yours and not date others. I expect the same. You make sure Jessica knows that you picked me and you're not interested in her," I stated emphatically, so he would know I was serious.

"Makes sense," he replied, but his tone was distant.

Afraid that I had put some idea in his head and might be already losing him, I moved in closer to him, put his arms around me, and placed myself in front of him. His breath, which had turned rapid, was on my neck and down my coat, as my jacket's hood had fallen down in my movement. I shivered from the sensation in a pleasant way, even though it had chilled me slightly. From my toes to the top of my head I felt like a Christmas tree sparkling and shining in every way.

My movement must have triggered something in him, because he halted and moved his pelvis away from me a little. Taking his hands, I wrapped them around me. Our arms were intertwined with his left hand resting on the top of my right breast. He moved himself so his pelvis was out more and his head leaned on mine protecting me from the drizzle.

"Jessica is a sloppy second to you Bella Swan," he muttered into my ear. "I might be a jock, but I'm not stupid."

"Then, I don't have to worry about her being put in her place?" I checked.

"I'll make sure she gets the message," he assured me.

"Good," I told him, beyond pleased.

We stood there a few more minutes before he asked me to skip stones with him. Wanting to be agreeable, I said yes.

For most of our remaining time at the waterfront we laughed and had fun as a result of his suggested activity. It was far better than I had imagined. Twice he had wrapped his arms around me in the guise of showing me how get the rock to skip multiple times. Each time that being a Christmas tree feeling would return. My lips tingled and my feet were warm. It was delightful and suggested that what would come next would be even better.

We walked the streets some, looking into shops, going into the comic book store he wanted to check out, and when his time was running out, he drove me home.

"I had a great time, Bella," he told me at my doorstep.

"Me too," I agreed, then going onto my tippy toes, I kissed his cheek, and then leaned into a hug. "My dad's probably watching, otherwise I'd kiss you."

"Better not get shot," he agreed and chuckled. Moving a step back from me, he told me, "We'll have to do this again."

"For sure," I agreed, imagining what it would be like to kiss him and more.

"See you Monday," he promised.

"Monday," I repeated, disappointed and excited at the same time.

When I closed the door behind me, Chief Swan had the T.V. muted, so I knew he was serious, and questioned, "How was your date?"

"Delightful," I answered with a huge smile. I gave him the highlights and detailed what a gentleman Mike had been.

"He better remain so," he threatened, and then went back to watching sports.

It seemed like he was done speaking his peace, so I let him be.

I was too jazzed up to study, so did some laundry and cleaning. A few hours later I ran out of chores, even after organizing her clothes and closet, so reluctantly started on math. Eventually I gave up trying to make sense of it and asked Chief Swan for help.

"You've never needed it before," he challenged me, looking at me concerned.

"It's this concept that totally has been confusing," I offered as an explanation, trying to cover quickly, noting to never ask him again or anyone who knew Bella's skills.

He grunted, but said no more on the issue, and instead started trying to explain. He might be good at teaching people how to be cops, as I had heard my father speak highly of him more than once, but he sucked at explaining math.

After an hour or so, he admitted, "It's been a while since I used these things."

"Then why do I have to learn them?" I whined.

"Who knows?" he replied with a smile, "but you do. Is there tutoring offerings at the school? There was in my day."

"Probably," I agreed, "but I don't want to go. I'll try and figure it out."

"Nothing wrong admitting you need help," he told me, after I had already started walking away. Then after a brief pause, he added, "I'll order pizza."

"Thanks," I answered.

Giving up on Math, I started on Biology. That went worse.

When food arrived I paused my homework and ate with him in front of the T.V. At a commercial, he told me, while his eyes were on the screen, "You dating is a part of being a junior, Bells, but I'm too young to be a grandpa."

I almost choked on my bite.

"I'd rather you keep yourself from boys altogether, but if you and Mike, or anyone else, start to get serious, then I can take you to the doctor. I'd rather you take something than ruin your future with a kid. You're a bright girl, Bells. You deserve to go off to college and a baby will get in the way of that," he warned. By the end he resembled a tomato.

"No babies," I repeated. "Got it."

"Good," he stated tersely, with a sigh of relief.

He was far easier going about the whole thing than my own dad. I think my father would have whipped me before taking me to the doctor's for birth control.

Despite his warning, as I lay in bed, my eyes closed, my mind reviewed my date with Mike, and I fell asleep with the delightful image of him touching me under my clothes.