Gathering: Summer Party

[concierge]

Outside of the Nexus Hotel, waiters and hotel staff had begun to set up the umbrellas and the tables in the middle of the day. Soon, it became clear that something was happening in the shadow of the Nexus. White tablecloths were draped on the tables and drinks and food were brought out with the help of several waiters and servers, staffing tables with hot and cold foods beside bartending stations. Summery drinks in bright, neon colors are laid out one by one and soon, the afternoon light casts a radiant look on the scene.

Music plays faintly in the background and a note at the front desk invites all the Nexus guests to head outside and join in on the summer party, which promises to continue going as long as there are people to stay and continue keeping the warm atmosphere rolling.

On the lawn, social games had been set out -- lawn bowling, croquet, and tables were set up with chairs for anyone who didn't quite have the will or the spirit to get into such games. Soon, a small number of people had begun to mill around, but as with all parties, there's always room for more.

Comments

[powerof_water]

Adam didn't think that anyone would care much about two teenagers making out at a summer party, even if one of said teenagers was actually an immortal, supernaturally beautiful vampire. Still, he kissed her quickly and tugged at her hands.

"Want to go to the maze? Less likely to get caught in there."

[vampire_shield]

"Did I mention that I like the way you think?"

Bella slipped her hand into his and tugged. "Lead the way."

[powerof_water]

The maze was a group of hedges, high and private, and Adam liked to walk through it whenever he got the chance. Right now, with his hand in Bella's, it seemed like the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon.

"I hardly ever get to see you in sunlight. I like it."

[vampire_shield]

Bella held her free hand up to the light. "You like seeing me like a glitter factory exploded all over me?"

[powerof_water]

"It's beautiful," Adam said, touching her hand a little. "And it's not what I've ever been told about vampires back home. You're perfectly unique."

[vampire_shield]

Bella gave him a shy sort of smile and looked away - the expression that would have held a blush in her human days. "I like being unique, I think, but I'm never really sure what to do about being called beautiful. I'm glad you think I am, though?" She offered the last, raising her eyes to his.

[powerof_water]

"Someone has to have told you that before," Adam said, utterly incredulous. "Because Bella, seriously."

[vampire_shield]

Bella heard a voice, faint and fuzzy, and smiled. "My dad. Charlie. I remember him telling me I looked beautiful. I can't remember the occasion, but I remember his voice."

[powerof_water]

"Have you seen him since you were a vampire?" Adam imagined it would be difficult to maintain a relationship with a human after you weren't one any longer but he didn't know with Bella's particular type of vampirism.

[vampire_shield]

Bella did the thing where her mouth opened, then closed again - like she'd known the answer, but when she couldn't find it in her memories, the words wouldn't come. "I don't remember, but I think I might have?"

[powerof_water]

"Hope so. It's hard to not have parents," Adam said. He never knew his. They were only stories told to him by his grandmother and he had no memory of his mother or father at all.

[vampire_shield]

"I don't really remember them," Bella said, then took his hands in hers, keeping the touch soft. "You don't either?"

[powerof_water]

"They died when I was a baby," Adam explained. "My grandmother raised me but she eventually just...kind of lost her mind. I ended up taking more care of her than she did of me but I know she loved me. She just wasn't all there anymore."

[vampire_shield]

"Oh, Adam," Bella responded and put a hand to his cheek. "I'm so sorry. That must've been very difficult to watch happen. And I'm sorry about your parents, as well."

[powerof_water]

"It's not something I think about much anymore. Something...happened to the parents of my friends. They were a coven and they got tangled up with a bad witch," Adam explained. "So I wasn't the only one alone."

[vampire_shield]

"Sounds like you came here from some sad times," Bella commented.

[powerof_water]

"Don't we all? It's relative," Adam said. "I'm not going to say my life was fantastic but there were parts of it that were and there were parts of it that were terrible. I think that's true for everyone."

[vampire_shield]

Bella shrugged. "I'm not really sure about mine. I don't remember much about before I came to the Nexus. I know my human memories were always a little murky, but now? There's not much there. I remember Jacob, and that he's my best friend and that the pack mate he has here, Leah, hates me, but I don't remember why."

[powerof_water]

"I don't know how anyone could hate you." Adam is completely incredulous about that. Bella was pretty much the anti-vampire, considering the lengths she went to in order to control her bloodlust and he couldn't imagine her getting on the bad side of anyone.

[vampire_shield]

'Yeah, well, she really, really does," Bella shrugged. To the point that if I sense her around a corner or something, I'll do pretty much whatever I can to stay out of her way. Even if that means ducking into a room somewhere."

[powerof_water]

"I would say that I would do something about that but using magic to make people miserable is always a bad idea," Adam said, grinning at her. "It usually backfires and you end up worse off than you were before you started."

[vampire_shield]

Bella raised on her toes to kiss him softly. "That's okay. This is definitely one of those times where it's the thought that counts."

[powerof_water]

"I would do bad magic on the girl who hates you except not? I think it's better as a thought, too," Adam said, kissing her back. "But I still don't see how anyone could hate you. You...you're a gift, Bella. Truly."

[vampire_shield]

Bella chuckled, worry completely out of her face now that the talk of her non-existent memories had passed. "And I think you're a little big biased, Adam." Another light peck, her tongue flicking out to touch his lips. "But I'm not complaining."