Hey guys I need some ideas. Read the author note at the end of the chapter for more info. Don't skip down now or you'll ruin the chapter for yourself! I'm feeling better, so yay for that. I think im at the tail end of the flu. Apparently, I've been sick with it since Jan 3, took me over a week to figure out I had the flu. Not my proudest moment.
Chapter 15
Charlie was happy to spend some time with his friends. Plus, it gave Bella a break from cooking.
Bella, on the other hand, was just glad for the distraction. The dungeon reward had driven her freaking nuts. A rubber ducky? Really?!
The dinner Sue cooked was fantastic. Spaghetti and meatballs with zucchini noodles instead of regular spaghetti and salad and bread to go with it. Harry had grumbled a bit, but admitted grudgingly to liking it after a few bites.
Bella was still worried about his health. Eating one healthy meal a day was a start, but that didn't stop him from snacking on the side or inspire him to exercise. In a few months Harry would be in an early grave.
After dinner everyone retired into the living room, but Bella volunteered to stay behind and help clean up so she could talk to Sue. Bella brought her concerns to her.
"Yes," Sue sighed unhappily, "I've tried to get him to listen or even come to the hospital for a check up, but he's so stubborn. He's convinced he is the pinnacle of male perfection, but the other day he was out of breath when he reached the top of some stairs. I'm worried about him, Bella. I have work and I can't watch over him all day."
"I'm sure we'll figure something out. I'm worried about dad too. He's been eating diner food and pizza for years." Bella looked down as she dried the last dish. "I think only his job has kept him in okay shape, but lord knows what his cholesterol levels or blood pressure is like."
"You can't make someone do something they don't want to do." Sue nodded.
"Maybe they just need a bit of incentive?" Bella still had the fishing pole for Charlie. It sat in her inventory forgotten. Then she remembered the rubber ducky. Could this be the key?
They went to the living room and saw Leah and Seth playing a game. Dance Dance Revolution aka DDR.
"Hey Bella, you want a turn?" Seth asked surrendering the mat.
Now, in the last life Bella wouldn't have even risked it. She would have broken her neck just stepping on the plastic mat! This life her dexterity was much higher so she decided to give it a go.
Three songs later and she regretted everything.
D-
YOU SUCK!
+10xp dexterity
Bella scowled at the screen and then at everybody laughing behind her.
"I'd like to see you do better." She stuck her tongue out at her dad.
"Yeah right." Charlie snorted.
"Scared old timer?" Harry grinned and nudged him with his elbow.
"I don't see you up there." Charlie shot back in good humor.
"I'm too good for that." Harry winked.
"Psh," Charlie put his beer down and stood up, "3 rounds. You and me."
"No way." Harry gaped.
"Scared old timer?" Charlie mocked him.
"You are on, Swan!" Harry slammed his beer down on the table and stood up.
The game started and Bella, Seth, Leah, and Sue were treated to the sight of two middle aged men flailing around and trying not to fall. By the end of the game both men were sweating, but laughing. Charlie had gotten a D- and Harry had gotten an F.
"You up for another round, Clearwater?" Charlie said smugly.
"Yeah, yeah. Let me catch my breath first."
Not five minutes later they were back at it again trying to one up each other.
Bella had an idea.
"Hey Sue, you got a minute?" They went into the kitchen to speak privately.
"So, earlier you said that you can't make them do something they don't want to do. What if we made it into something bigger than just getting healthy? What if we turned it into a contest?"
"A DDR contest?" Sue raised her eyebrows doubtfully.
"No, it has to be bigger than that. That'll get them maybe to exercise once in awhile. I'm thinking a large competition. Something that can include both Forks and La Push. Something just for dads. There's fitness competitions right? What if we had one geared towards dads and invited the whole town to watch? Give them a few months to train."
"Like a 5k? Harry isn't going to like that." Sue shook her head.
"No, that'd just get us a couple of people. I'm thinking something fun, interesting to watch, and slightly ridiculous. Like what's happening in there." Bella gestured toward the living room where the men were stilling playing.
"Like an arm wrestling contest?" Sue rolled her eyes.
"That's a good one, but what if it were more than that. More competitions, all with prizes. Good ones. We gear it toward events that make them more active and health concious."
"We could even make a check up part of it. Before and after to see who's improved the most." Sue smiled excitedly getting into the spirit.
"Although," she frowned, "not many people can afford the check ups."
"But what if we made it a town effort," Bella thought quickly, "what if I could get free check ups for anyone who wants to enter, or anyone that just wants one."
"Could you do that?" Sue said unsurely.
"I can make it happen," Bella said confidently, "I can get the funds. I just need the people willing to do the check ups. We might have to do house calls or set up an area to do them so we don't flood the hospital."
"I can help supply people we just need the funds and the equipment. Some people from the Forks hospital would be great if you can manage it." Sue paused. "You're really going to do this aren't you? Make this happen?"
"I am going to make this happen." Bella nodded.
"I'm looking forward to working with you, Bella." Sue smiled.
+200xp charisma
Charisma Level 7!
100xp Lv8
Charisma: You're really becoming a master wordsmith.
Long Term Quest Started: Fittest Dad Ever
It's time to bring Forks and La Push together. Let the arm wrestling and dad jokes begin!
Reward: 500xp wisdom, 500xp compassion, 100 gold coins, Unlock Forks Clan
"Woah, Forks is a clan?"
Bella collected her dad and they headed home. He smiled broadly all the way home. He'd gotten a B the last round.
Tuesday
When Bella approached the school she was given the option to enter the dungeon again, but she declined. Tuesdays were club days and she had something huge to share with all of them.
Edward didn't bother her in class although he did shoot her a few glares. His eyes were golden so she was sure he had fed right before class thankfully.
Bella kind of wanted to approach the other Cullens, but she didn't want to get drawn into that family. They had a hard time letting go and would monopolize her time. She had far too much to do and she didn't want to become Bella Barbie again. Honestly, it's not even the high school Cullens she wanted to talk to. She wanted to see Carlisle.
To keep her distance from them, she'd have to approach him at the hospital. She was sure she could get the people she needed for the check ups through him.
Bella spread the word around that she wanted to talk to all of the clubs. There were nearly one hundred students and she needed all of them involved. After school they all met at the cafeteria asking each other what was going on.
Bella stood in the middle and got their attention.
"Hello everyone. I'm sure you already know through the grapevine, but my name is Bella Swan. I am the head of the Community Service Club. Last week we started a joint effort with the Outdoor club, Business Club, and Cooking Club to provide healthy dinners once a week to all of Forks and La Push. While a good start it occurred to me that this wasn't going to be enough. I have an idea that will require not just us but outside help. I propose an all day event in the Spring with different competitions and prizes. I am proposing The Fittest Dad Competition."
The room burst into noise people asking lots of questions, she held her hand up silencing them.
"This won't be a 5k or strongest man competition. Each event will be fun and interesting. Last night I watched two middle aged men compete against each other in DDR and it was hilarious They were trying to outdo each other, but they were having fun and enjoying themselves. I want to have lighthearted contests, but geared toward fitness or health on some level. Someone suggested arm wrestling. What dad wouldn't want to be declared the best arm wrestler in both Forks and La Push?"
The students laughed some nodding and others rolling their eyes and smiling thinking of their fathers.
"Now, I mentioned that this competition would be in the Spring. This is because everyone entering needs to have a check up. The day before the contest another checkup will be done. Those who have improved the most will be highlighted and given rewards."
"Is there a grand prize?" Someone called out.
"Yes, the grand prize will be a monetary reward that will be decided later and this." Bella held up the Fittest Dad Ever rubber ducky and the room burst into excited noise.
"Anymore questions?" She asked and there were plenty.
"How are we getting funding for this?"
"I'm hoping to do another joint effort between the clubs to raise the funds. We have a few months before the event and the majority of the money will be going toward that. The Community Service Club hopes to partner with the Business Club and the Outdoor Club again to gain the funds for the initial check ups. Anyone who wants to enter will get a free checkup, heck anyone who just wants a checkup will get a free one." Bella explained and some people nodded their approval.
"Where will the contests be held?"
"I'm hoping we can have most of them at the school, in the town hall, or the largest park. It mostly depends on the contest."
"Do they have to compete in all of the contests to get the grand prize?"
"No, but the more contests they enter the higher chance they get. Once we get the contests decided I think the Math Club can figure out the details for that."
"Who will be doing the checkups?"
"The person who suggested the arm wrestling was Sue Clearwater of La Push, she's a nurse. She said if we get the funds she can provide some of the people. I am also going to speak with Carlisle Cullen and see if we can get some volunteers from the hospital."
"What other contests will be held?"
"As of now the only concrete ones are a DDR contest, since it's what gave me the idea, and the arm wrestling contest. Raise your hand if you have suggestions."
Hands flew up.
"What about a shooting contest or fishing?" A guy spoke up, Bella didn't know his name, but she was pretty sure he was a senior.
"If you can gear those more towards fitness then yes. We need to get them up and moving and not be bored out of our skulls cause remember everyone will be watching and I don't know about you, but fishing is boring. Unless, you know somebody catches Moby Fish."
Everyone chuckled.
"What if they caught the fish with their bare hands?" A browin haired girl asked. Bella thought about it a bit an nodded.
"Maybe a large tank. It means they'll have to practice so they get quick enough to catch them. You and whoever suggested the fishing contest get together. Your'e in charge of the event." The two looked at each other and blushed.
"Any amendments to the shooting idea before we table it?" Bella asked.
Someone raised their hand.
"Okay, you." Bella pointed at the girl.
"What about a paintball war? Maybe a free for all?"
"It'd be too messy," Ben countered "and paintballs hurt. What about marshmallows? They can assemble their own marshmallow guns. We can get the colorful mini marshmallows and sort them out into teams by color?"
"Sounds good to me. You guys coordinate too. I like the free for all idea, but let's save that for something else."
"Shotgunning beer?"
Everyone laughed.
"I said healthy or fitness related." Bella grinned. "Anymore ideas?"
"Epic sword fight!" Tyler shouted and everyone laughed again.
"That's actually a good idea." Bella said.
"What?" He gaped.
"I can provide blunt swords and armor to anyone who wishes to enter that contest. Depending on the interest we can either do the free for all or one on one contests. I'm serious people if I'm going to be there all day I want to see something interesting. And quite frankly watching the police chief of forks sparring the diner line cook would be epic."
Jessica raised her hand grimacing.
"God, I kind of hate to say this, but its a dad competition and..." she trailed off and sighed, "I think we need to do a dad joke competition. The worst one that makes everyone slap their head and groan wins and the one that makes everyone actually laugh wins."
Groans rang out in the auditorium, but people were nodding along in agreement.
"I see your point. It's not part of the fitness theme, but maybe we can have it during the lunch break. Alright, this meeting is getting kind of long. If you've got ideas write them down and submit them to anyone in the Community Service Club. If I see anything with potential I'll contact whoever came up with it. The flyer announcing the Fittest Dad Competition will be packed with the dinners this friday. I am looking forward to working with all of you." She dismissed them. Everyone left chatting excitedly swapping ideas with each other.
"You don't really do anything by halves do you, Bella?" Mike laughed. "This is going to be awesome."
"I spoke with the cooking club and they still have enough funds to make at least two more weeks worth of dinners. Are we going to recycle today?" Angela asked.
"Nah," Bella shook her head, "take a break and think up some ideas for the competition. Club resumes as normal next Tuesday."
"See you, Bella."
Bella went home feeling satisfied.
Charlie flipped when he found out about the fishing contest. He immediately called up Billy and Harry to share the news. Up in her room Bella could already hear him bragging about how easy it would be to catch a fish with his bare hands.
Bella grinned at got started on her homework. Charlie was still on the phone with his friends when she went downstairs to start dinner.
Afterward Charlie helped Bella clean up the kitchen.
Charlie cleared his throat.
"You've just gotten here, but I can see all of the good you have done and you will do. I'm proud of you, Bella."
"Thanks dad." Bella hugged her Charlie.
Relationship Charlie Swan is Already Maxed
Yeah, but that wasn't going to stop her from hugging him anytime soon.
Level 4
670xp until LV5
Gold: 210
Cash: $11000
Skill Menu
Strength Lv 5 (+2)
50xp until Lv 6
Dexterity Lv 3 (+2)
390xp until Lv 4
Charisma Lv 7 (+6)
100xp until Lv 8
Cooking Lv 10
400xp Lv 11
Author note: I need ideas for the dad contest people. This is what I needed your help with. Also send in your best dad jokes.
This chapter was a little wordy with zero action, but the idea kept bugging me. The contest will be many chapters from now. I'll probably have her coordinate with carlisle next and then get her back into doing fun video game stuff.