August 23, 2010

“That’s it, focus on the tree,” I told her.

“Here, check this out,” she said and stepped back from the camera to let me look through the lens.

“Gorgeous, you got it. Now snap,” I said. We were out on the lake, early in the morning, watching the sun rise. The fog rose from the water, mixing with the cooler air temperature giving everything an ethereal, mystical look. I half expected to see a unicorn walk up through the trees across the small, marshy body of water.

Bella’s shutter clicked and clicked away as the light changed every minute or so. At one point it streamed through the Spanish moss in visible, slanted shafts.

“I hope you got that one, that was the money shot right there,” I said, snapping my own pictures free hand, Bella was using a tripod.

We continued on in relative silence, taking pictures and laughing quietly to each other. The assignment was a nature shoot, so we decided to drive out to the water and set up shop near the beach on one of the inland lakes. Of course walking out was an adventure in and of itself, carrying all our gear, trying not to trip and having to swat the tall grasses that lined the slim path in case there were any snakes out. Living in the South near water, we were used to snakes, but it didn’t mean I wanted to meet one.

“Do you think you’ve got enough?” she asked. “I’m starving, I want to get something to eat before we have to get to school.”

“Yeah, Mr. Banner will have to be happy with at least one of these. I must have over a hundred pictures,” I said, pressing the button on my camera, flipping through the images. I had managed to get one of the ducks lifting off of the water.

We gathered all our stuff and made our way back to Bella’s truck. It had been dark when we came out, but now that the sun was over the horizon, I could feel the humidity creeping back into the air. It was going to be hot, but September was still a summer month as far as I was concerned, so I wasn’t hoping for cool air anytime soon.

Bella drove us across the island to grab some breakfast and then on to school. We were seniors at St. Fredericka’s Academy and were taking photography as an elective. I had known Bella my whole life, growning up together on St. Simon’s and were best friends. Summers were spent hanging at the beach, on the pier and driving in to Brunswick to avoid the tourists that filled our little island from May through August.

“Hey, Mr. Banner, I think we got some pretty good shots this morning,” I said as I walked in to homeroom.

“Good morning Jasper, I have some new students I want you to meet,” he indicated a girl and boy sitting in the front two desks. “Alice and Edward Cullen, this is Jasper Hale, Student Body President and all around great guy.”

I rolled my eyes at my favorite teacher, “Yeah, whatever.” I sat down next to the new kids, extending my hand, “So, where are ya’ll from?”

Edward smiled and stuck his hand out to grip mine, “We just moved up from Jacksonville. Our dad is taking over as Chief of Staff at the hospital in Brunswick and he wanted to live here on the island.”

“Awesome,” I said. “Well, our school is pretty small, we’ve only got something like thirty kids in the senior class; Jacksonville is probably huge compared to here.”

“Yeah, so far, we’ve only seen a few other people,” Alice said. She was small, petite almost with short, dark hair and huge, dark green eyes. The school uniform didn’t look as ridiculous on her as it did on other people, and I swallowed down a lump.

“So, are you guys twins?” I asked.

“Actually, we are…fraternal, obviously,” Alice said with a smile. My stomach flip-flopped a little. Just then, we all looked up at the sound of a huge crash in the doorway. I bit back my laugh as I realized Bella had stumbled her way into the classroom and had dropped the tripod and all her books; her camera though, was safe in its bag slung around her neck, thank God, our project was on it.

Edward leapt up to help her and I let him. “That is Bella,” I snorted. “She’s awesome, you’ll love her.”

“Well, my brother seems to,” she smirked. I looked up to see a beet-faced Bella being helped to her feet by Edward. He almost looked like he was going to kiss her hand.

“Hey, Grace,” I called to Bella, “that’s Edward, this is Alice. They’re gonna hang with us today, okay?”

“Okay,” she stuttered, turning even more red, if that were possible. I just chuckled to myself.

“You should stop laughing at her,” Alice said, “that’s not very nice.”

“Oh, she knows I’m just teasing, I’ve known her practically my whole life,” I said.

“Whatever,” she said, waving me off with her hand, getting up to take some of Bella’s books from her.

“Hey, Bella,” she said with the most beautiful smile, I just watched her walk gracefully over to Bells and take some of her books. “We’re gonna be great friends, I can tell.”

“Rosalie, would you mind driving the others?” I asked my erstwhile sister and groaned as her thoughts on my stupidity hit me.

“Do I have a choice?” she grumbled. I can’t believe you’re falling for a human. How romantically tragic. Her thought was snide and full of derision, but I didn’t care. After all, I was already at my car, pulling out and on my way to pick up Bella.

What I couldn’t escape was Alice. She was standing at the end of the driveway, waiting for me. With a sigh I stopped the car and let her in, knowing she would just hop on top until I did anyway. “Why are you coming along?” I asked, hoping my tone carried enough frustration to let her know that I wanted to be alone with Bella, but trusted her all the same.

“To help you focus,” she quipped. “I’d rather have a sister-in-law than lunch, thank you very much.”

The car skidded to a stop on the highway, the lack of other ‘voices’ letting me know we were alone. “Am I a fool?” I asked her, fear tightening my chest. “Will I just end up killing her anyway?”

“Not with me along, but that isn’t your biggest worry.” I looked at her, trying to read what she was obviously hiding in her mind, but she wouldn’t have. “Don’t bother looking because I really want a sister-in-law and a brother. I know you’ll be frustrated, but it’s better this way.”

“So what am I supposed to do exactly?”

“She knows you’re interested, but until you decide whether or not you’re going to eat her or date her, I’m tagging along.” She got a very satisfied smile on her face. “Besides, if you recall we’re going to be best friends. Now drive.” She said the last with a little wave of her hand, her imperious tone causing me to laugh.

“So I don’t get any alone time with her?” I asked as the car reached my favorite cruising speed.

“Not until I’m sure it’s safe,” she answered, already opening the door since I was almost in the girl’s driveway. “Wait here. Her dad will be much happier about her going with me than you.”

“Do I have a choice?” I asked, aware that my words mirrored Rosalie’s, and grimacing as a result. It was difficult to sit still in the car, listening to Alice ‘help’ Bella get ready for school, laughing at the fact that Bella didn’t realize we could understand what she was muttering under her breath. “Alice, you’re going to have to tone down the clothes bit; she’s not liking it,” I said, knowing she could hear me.

I know that, Edward, but her clothes are just so plain ! she thought back, all the while trying to convince her to try wearing her skirt.

Footsteps sounded on the porch and I looked up to see the chief coming out of the house with a smile. He noticed me, and his thoughts swirled with amusement and gratitude. He tapped on my window so I rolled it down to speak to him. “Girls making you wait on them?” His tone was friendly, as if he was trying to develop camaraderie.

I decided to play along. Giving a huff of impatience I rolled my eyes. “With my sister, you’d think I’d be used to it by now,” I huffed, sounding like an annoyed brother.

You’ll pay for that later Alice trilled in her thoughts while stating her frustration with Bella’s wardrobe and being told in no uncertain terms that Bella thought her clothes were just fine.

Charlie just chuckled. “You have my sympathies.” He wanted to say more, and his sense of gratitude grew. Clearing his throat he seemed to get a little misty-eyed. “I, um, just want to thank you and your sister for being such instant friends with Bella. I really want her to like it here.”

“Bella is very appealing, I know most of the student body is happy to meet her,” I replied, cringing at my own choice of words and hoping I had covered it up. Her father reacted a bit as well, only his thoughts were more on what I thought was appealing. It was a good thing he had no idea all I thought appealing. Alice was laughing, causing the girl to ask what was so funny.

“Yes, well, um, she’s still young,” he answered, his tone taking on a bit of a threat while his thoughts turned once again to that of protection. “As are you.”

I chuckled, thinking once again that he wouldn’t want to know that particular truth. What would he think if he found out I was older than his father? Either way, he was right. I was too young when I was turned, as Esme often thought, and I would never do that to his daughter. Hell was always being thought a child. “Yes, sir, we are young,” I agreed, wanting to assuage his fear. “There is college ahead of us, or at least high school graduation. I’d imagine we would want to wait until then before having an, um, adult relationship.” He seemed to calm a bit, and I hoped he understood my meaning as well as I understood his.

“And perhaps even longer than that,” he retorted, even though his tone had lost some of its gruffness.

“I assure you, I will act the perfect gentleman,” I promised. I just hoped I could keep that promise, and that it included not succumbing to the lure of his daughter’s blood.

“I’ll hold you to that, Edward,” he agreed, clapping me on the shoulder. It was impossible not to chuckle when he felt just how solid my body was.

Bella came out just then, shooting daggers with her eyes at my sister, who was trying to convince her that giving in to her selection had been the right thing to do. Help, please Alice begged and so I smiled as I hopped out of the car to open the door for her.

“You look beautiful,” I told her, smiling down at her, feeling Charlie’s displeasure. “I do hope my sister wasn’t too much of a pain.”

Alice stuck her tongue out at me, but Charlie came to her rescue. “You do look great, Bells. Have a good day at school.”

“Thanks, dad, Edward,” she blushed, climbing in the car as I held myself still, not breathing in the siren call of her.

I knew it would be a bad idea to say anything, lest I lose what little breath I had, so I nodded to her father as I climbed into the car. Alice, seeing my problem started talking up a storm as I turned the car and pointed it toward school.

–

She said

–

Rose paused, her fork in mid-air. Always a dramatic one, she was. “What?”

“It was him. He has some sort of vendetta against me. I’m serious,” I said, feeling the anger bubble through my veins again.

“What? Why?” She asked, finally taking her bite.

Taking a deep breath I launched into my story – and my theory as to why my neighbor would pull such a prank.

I couldn’t murder Edward- that was illegal and would weigh my conscience – but I could make his life a living hell. Oh, yes. That I could do.

It had all started with the trash. Our neighborhood had an issue with raccoons getting into it and time and time again Edward’s would end up scattered not just in his yard, but in mine. I couldn’t understand why he didn’t just buy a garbage can with a tighter fitting lid. Or why he didn’t just do what I did and take it to the curb early in the morning instead of putting it out the night before.

Then there was the nude sunbathing, God help me. Thankfully I’d only caught glimpses of his backside but still. There were his friends who came over at all hours and parked in front of my house when there was no more space in front of his. The weird, pungent smells, almost like chocolate and skunks.

But I’d put up with it.

Until the day I’d woke him up with my gardening. Granted, it hadn’t been my intention at first but when I saw his sleepy little face I couldn’t help myself. All those times I’d gritted my teeth and dealt with his garbage – literal and figurative –came to me and I just had to exact a smidgeon of revenge.

Only now he’d done it back, much worse.

Rose was silent for awhile after I’d finished speaking. She took another bite of Caesar salad, chewing thoughtfully. Finally she brought her eyes to mine. “You know what you need to do, right?”

“Get back at him?”

“Damn skippy.”

“But how?”

“I went to summer camp for nine years straight, honey child. I have my methods.”

I stood and walked to the kitchen window, the one facing Edward’s house. He didn’t appear to be home.

“You do want to, right?” Rose pressed.

Shrugging, I turned back to her. “Yes. Even if it is juvenile.”

Rose smirked, joining me at the window. “Hey, he started it.”

–

He Said

–

I drained the last of my beer, amused at Emmett’s laughter and bright red face.

“You’re an idiot,” he gasped finally, trying to get a grip.

“Yeah, well, she had it coming.”

“Still… ” He lifted his bottle and clinked it to mine. “To a job well done.”

“For sure.”

It had been a full day since I’d pulled my pranks and Ms. Priss had yet to make another appearance. I felt good, like maybe peace and chillness were once again within my grasp. Things had been just perfect before that neurotic woman had moved in next door and now maybe they could be that way again.

“You coming by for that game?” I asked, leaving money on the table as we stood.

Emmett nodded. “Yeah, why not.”

–

She Said

–

“Focus,” Rose snapped, flicking my ear.

“Ow! I am focused, dammit!”

“Good. Now, which days do you usually see him out there?”

“I don’t know, Rose! It’s not like I keep a schedule of when he decides to, to be a pervert!”

She cocked her head. “Is he cute?”

I guess my stupid blush tipped her off because she leapt off the couch, clapping. “Ha! So now, tell me. When. Does. He. Tan?”

“Saturdays, if it’s not cloudy,” I mumbled.

She grinned, biting her lip.

–

“This is not going to work,” I hissed, my heart pounding anxiously. “He’ll probably catch me and… and I don’t know!”

“Shush,” Rose said, swatting at me. She straightened, adjusting Alice’s jumpsuit. “He’ll never know.”

“You can so do this,” Alice said, nodding vigorously. “I’ll keep him out front for as long as I can but you’ll have to hurry.”

I wiped my sweaty palms against my jeans.

“Let’s make sure he’s still out there.”

We jogged upstairs and sure enough, there was Mr. Nudey Pants, soaking up the rays in his backyard.

Alice pinched me. “Ready?”

“Yeah,” I croaked. We went back downstairs, where she went out the front door while Rose and I crept out the back.

I peeped through a crack in the wooden fence separating the two yards. On cue, Edward sat up, obviously having heard the doorbell in the front of his house. Cursing lightly, he quickly pulled a swimsuit on and jogged inside.

“Now!” Rose whispered, hoisting me over.

I was so nervous I felt like I would surely puke. I ran over to the glass of whatever he had beside his lawn chair and dropped the two Dramamine in, then ran back to the fence.

Crap! How the hell was I going to get back over?

Panicking, I looked around for something I could stand on, but there was nothing.

“Rose!” I whispered.

“What?”

“I can’t get back over!”

She was quiet. Not a good sign.

“Well… I guess you’re gonna have to sneak alongside his house and as he comes back you’ll have to go up front. He’ll never see you.”

“Oh my gosh but what if he does?” I cried hoarsely. Why, oh why had I let Rose and Alice convince me to do this?

At that moment I spied big, ugly planter by the porch. Without another thought I lugged it over and climbed up, scrambling over the fence again. I landed with a soft crash.

“That was close,” Rose commented. “Alice is already on her way back.”

I nodded, still on the grass, trying to catch my breath and calm my heart.

Minutes later we were all back upstairs, staring from my bedroom window into Edward’s yard. If he’d noticed the planter, he hadn’t reacted.

“So you said you’ve taken Dramamine, right?” I asked.

Rose nodded.

“How long do you think he’ll be out for.?” Alice asked.

“Hours. Let’s see what kind of a tan he has tonight.”