Edward

Chapter Thirteen

Slater's Beach, Massachusetts - 2006

[NOTE: This chapter is under construction]

When Jack and Edward entered a scene it was like parting water. They had a group of friends at Slaters—they'd grown up together. The beach community was an insulated teen utopia. It must have been a wonderful childhood. I can imagine a younger Carol Clark-a mom of two rambunctious boys. Mrs. Clark back then—the image in photographs. Honestly, no one would know the truth about the family from their albums. Mrs. Clark in Chanel swim suits, short, or cover ups. Evening cocktail parties on the deck or the annual Slater's clambake. I imagine it was a little children's paradise for Jack and Edward here growing up every summer on the beach.

Antoinette and I were celebrities by proxy with the slater's kids. We were on the beach one night, the dusk starting to approach. She and I had been there since late afternoon after she finished her shift at the Clark's. We'd talked and listened to music for several hours. I retained that awe for her and hung on to every one of her dramatic stories. I didn't want to be Antoinette. I wanted to be around Antoinette. It would be hours before the bonfire was lit and hours more before we headed back to the beach houses for the night.

[interaction with Antoinette]

Jack arrived first and ...

A little while later Edward entered the circle of kids that were standing around drinking beers or sitting on blankets around the fire. It was a small group, maybe twenty of us at most. Edward came in and the voices hushed enough for the sound of the crackling fire to rise up. It felt like a movie scene and the leading man had entered. Edward sat down on the blanket with us, next to Antoinette. I suddenly felt too close to them and moved away a bit, rummaged in my bag for my sunglasses case. I removed the sunglasses that were perched on my head—something to do to justify moving over a bit. Still, I remained close enough to hear them. Edward leaned over and kissed Antoinette passionately. This was an unusual display of affection for Edward. He kissed her again and this time lingered as she put her arms around his neck and kissed back.

"What are you so happy about?" Antoinette asks him.

"you." He says. He lights a cigarette and takes a drag. He looks at me. "Hi Annie. How are you?"

"Good. "I say. I don't notice him the way other people do because I know him in the context of his family and that is not idealized at all. Maybe it's this fame that gives him the perspective on his family's treatment of him.

"Good." He says affectionately, smiles and takes another drag. He blows the smoke up above, away from Antoinette who is waving the smoke away with her hands, the silver charm bracelet chiming as she moves. When she's done she puts her hand on Edward's face and wipes some sand away. "Oh look at you" she says and then moves to kiss him again.

"Come on," he says to Antoinette. He takes her hand and they stand up. They start out towards the water and I can see their silhouettes and the smoke from his cigarette only for a short distance. There was a glowing perimeter around the fire. There seemed to be no moon that night and so once they step outside that small group-towards the roar of the ocean-they are absorbed by the blackness.

[Describe Mr. Clark being there that summer. Scene with regatta trophies and Mr. Clark putting his arm around her]