Chapter One: Goodbyes and Reunions
I was sitting in the backseat of the car on the way to the airport and even with all the windows rolled right down it was still overwhelmingly hot. It was a sweltering summer in Phoenix and once again I was grateful to be moving back to cold, wet Forks. My mom had made me move to Phoenix to live with her when I was 10 as she felt a needed a "woman's influence" in my life. Maybe I did but she certainly wasn't a good one. Don't get me wrong I love my mom but she acted more like a teenager than a parent. 4 months ago she met Phil and fell madly in love with him and before I knew it I had a new step-dad. Today they were leaving for their honeymoon and I was finally going home to Forks to live with my dad Charlie. Charlie was great, not too strict, took enough interest in my life without prying too much and I loved him to bits, but he was not the real reason I was so excited to be moving back to Forks, Alice Cullen and Rosalie Hale were. I had been best friends with Alice and Rose for as long as I could remember, we had always played together when we were little and we had gone to school together. It was heartbreaking to leave them but we had stayed in touch and visited each other at least every couple of months so we were still the best of friends. We arrived at the airport rushing to the terminal as once again my silly irresponsible mother forgot my plane left earlier than hers.
"Last calling for flight 45 to Seattle" the speaker called out. I'd made it just in time. I turned around to make my goodbye's to find my loving carefree mother with tears strolling down her face causing water to swell in mine.
"Oh mom don't cry we'll see each other soon don't worry. Smile your going your honeymoon today. You have to call be when you get to your hotel I'll wanna hear everything." I smiled as her face brightened at the thought of her honeymoon. As happy as I was to go to Forks I was still sad to leave her.
"I'll call you as soon as we get there. Oh honey I'm going to miss you so much, don't forget to call me and I want at least an email a week as well as a text a day" she said seriously. I wouldn't have to worry about calling her for at least two weeks she'll be too occupied with her new husband.
"I promise mom. I'd better go. Bye" I gave her a tight hug and the tears fell from my eyes. When I let go I saw Phil who was hovering in the background step forward, I gave him an awkward hug before turning around and getting on the plane. When I was on the plane I wiped away the rest of my tears pulled out my iPod and fell asleep listening to my music.
When I woke the plane was just about to arrive in Seattle. I did my best to fix my now messy hair and clothes knowing what Alice will say when she sees me. Excitement bubbled in me again as I thought of seeing my too best friends. I stumbled my way off the plane and headed into the airport. I heard their squeals before I actually saw them but once the yells of "BELLAAAAAAA!!!!!" reached my ears it didn't take me long to spot the two of them jumping up and down in excitement. It hadn't been that long since I'd seen them last but I could still see differences. Rosalie's blond hair was even longer reaching the middle of her back and she looked even more beautiful than I remembered. Alice was as small as ever but her face was even more stunning surrounded by her short spiky hair.
We sprinted to each other as fast we could not caring who was in our way and crashed into one and other falling to a heap on the floor. Giggling we pulled each other up and hugged tightly.
"Guys I've missed you so much, I can't believe we get to go to school together again" I squealed in excitement.
"I know Bells this is going to be the best year ever" Rosalie said while we broke apart. Alice who had been bouncing constantly suddenly stopped as a horrified look came over her face.
"Oh my god Bella what is that you're wearing, we need to go shopping right now"
"Nice to see you too Alice."
"Silly Bella, of course I'm glad your back." A wide grin spread over her face one that could only make me fear what evil plans she's thinking up. "Well you needn't worry about shopping today because I've already picked out the perfect outfit for your homecoming party."
"What? I said no parties Alice, oh god what have you done" if there one thing I hate, it's to be the centre of attention. Alice and Rosalie never shy away from attention but they're both confident and gorgeous whereas I'm clumsy and plain as anything.
"Oh Bella don't be such a drama queen. It's just a gathering of close friends and a few new people for you to meet."
Rose giggled at the sceptic look I gave Alice and said "Come on Bella we'd better get a move on so we have enough time to get you ready for tonight." I frowned but knowing there was no way out of it I gave in and followed them out to Rose's car.
"So what boys have you two invited tonight with the intention of capturing"
"I don't know what you mean" Rose said giving me an innocent look in the mirror before it turned into a cheeky grin.
"Who is he?"
"Who?" she asked trying to keep her grin from spreading.
"The guy who's got you smiling like the cat that caught the canary" I laughed.
"I may have invited someone"
"Rosalie Hale are you going to tell me" I gave her a serious look, "or am I going to have to beat it out of you"
"Alright Alright!" she laughed, "his name is Emmet and he only moved here last week so nothing's happened yet, but I certainly wouldn't mind getting a piece of him" Rose liked nothing more than a sexy hunk to lay her hands on.
"And what about you Alice?"
Before Alice could say anything Rosalie laughed "Alice does kind of have a thing for my brother," earning a glare from Alice.
"Just watch Rosalie, I'm so gona get you back for that" Alice threatened before turning her sweet smile to me, "Don't worry Bella we've invited someone for you" she said as if she had just done me a huge favour
"You'd better be joking Alice. Rose tell me she's joking" I begged turning to Rosalie
"It's for your own good Bella we've decided that this is the year you're finally coming out"
"I'm not gay" I said confused, sending them into a fit of giggles
"Who said you were" Alice managed to get out between her bell-like laughs
"What we mean is you're too shy Bella, you're gorgeous with a body to die for but you insist on hiding it under baggy clothes. We want you to get out there and get a little action"
"Whatever you two have planned forget it, I'm not looking for any action" I said seriously.
They just ignored me and Rosalie pulled up in front of Alice's house. Alice's parents were away for the weekend so we were staying at her house, I'd already cleared it with Charlie.
"Look Bella we're just trying to help you. You don't have to do anything you don't want we were just going to teach you to flirt a bit that's all but if you don't want to ..." Alice gave me her sad pouty look
"Fine. But if I look like an idiot I'm gona kill you" her face lit her with a huge smile and she started bouncing and clapping.
"Come on Bella let's turn you into a little sex kitten" Rosalie said as she grabbed my arm in a death grip and dragged me through the house to Alice's huge bathroom. The two of them flitted about me for over an hour curling my hair into lose curls, doing my make-up and dressing me in a dress that felt far too small. The entire time they wouldn't let me look in the mirror saying I had to wait to see "the finished product."
"Finished!" Alice declared, "Wow Bella I knew there was a sexy woman hidden in there somewhere, take a look" she went to move from the mirror she blocked
"Wait!" Rosalie screeched while shoving me out the door, "She needs to see the whole outfit at once. Alice, take her to the huge mirror in your room."
"Good idea Rose" Alice pulled me into her room, placed a hand over my eyes and positioned me in front of her mirror, "Are you ready to see the hotness that is you Bella"
"Just get it over with Alice" the sooner this night was over the better. Alice pulled her hand away and my jaw dropped. That couldn't be me in the mirror that girl was ... well she was hot, there's no other word for it. They had dressed me in a tiny black dress that showed of everything and barely covered my ass, if I bend over at anytime tonight everyone will get an eyeful which is definitely not a good thing as Rose had made me wear a tiny thong. Alice had done my hair perfect with lose curls swirling round my face and whatever Rose had done with my eyeliner it made my eyes look even bigger and they were framed with thick dark eyelashes. My eyes skimmed my chest line were I saw something that definitely wasn't there before, "I have cleavage".
I was snapped out of my daze by the fit of giggles that erupted after I said that. "Yes Bella you actually have quite good boobs you just never showed them of before" Rose laughed. "So do you like what you see? Do you trust us now?"
"That depends on what you want me to do" they may have made me look good but I'd still feel like an idiot trying to flirt with some guy I'd never met before.
"Don't worry Bells we're here to help. All we want you to do is try a little bit of flirting. There's no need to worry looking like that you could get any guy in the room" she sounded so sincere I started to believe but I still had huge knots in my stomach from thinking about trying to flirt.
"I don't know how ... I mean I've never..." I whispered embarrassed to admit I had no idea how to flirt, but they knew me better than anyone and so knew only too well my lack of experience with guys.
"That's what we're here for Bella" Rose said softly as she gave me a hug, "Does this mean you're going to let us put you out there?" she smiled.
I just nodded yes, oh god what was I letting myself in for. But they're my best friends I trust them not to make a complete fool of me.
"Yeah Bella" Alice cheered, "Don't worry you won't regret this."
"Okay first thing to remember is have confidence" Rosalie explained "not over-confident though I don't mean act smug or anything, just remember that you look drop dead gorgeous and that the guy your talking to would be lucky to get you.
"Right, confidence" I said as I made a check list in my head
"And when you're talking to a guy give him little suggestive smiles to encourage him" Alice continued "and look up at him from under your eyelashes"
"Smiles, eyelashes got it"
"Ooh if you see a guy you like tell us and we can do a little tease dancing in front of him" Rosalie giggled excitedly
"A little what dancing" I said worriedly
"Well it's pretty simple but always effective. You put on a really sexy song and dance as sexy as anything with your girlfriends right in front of him" she giggled "it's one sure way to turn him on"
"I thought I was just going to be flirting tonight you said nothing about trying to turn guys on!"
"Bells you don't have to don't worry it was just a suggestion" Alice soothed. "Come on everyone will be arriving soon lets go finish setting up downstairs"