Chapter One

"Are you seriously wearing that?" Alice Cullen asked me, in shock. Alice Cullen was my best friend and unfortunately, she was also a classic fashionista and besides being on top of all the new trends, she never ceased to critique my own fashion sense. I knew the drill. I looked down at my oversized sweater and sweats and wiggled the toes inside my adidas for good measure.

"What's wrong with my outfit?" I teased, opening the passenger door of Alice's convertible. I flung my duffel bag onto the backseat and placed one adidas sneakered foot into the car.

"Nuh-uh," Alice slapped my leg back and lifted herself out of the convertible and nearly sprinted around the front of her car towards me.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" I protested. "This is a new high, even for you."

"I've had enough, missy," she closed the door I had propped open and began dragging me back to the house. "No way are you wearing that in my car. I've had enough! No…more. Got it?"

I laughed, amused. "Sure. Whatever you say Alice. But um, one question."

"Yeah?" Alice turned to me expectantly.

"Why are you dragging me back into my own house?" I asked, still laughing.

"We're going to get you something else to wear," Anne replied, completely serious. This made me erupt into peals of laughter.

"And – you – think --*gasp* you're going to -- find something--*gasp*-- in my closet?" I gasped between guffaws. "Honey, you don't even want to go there. My entire closet is a fashion disaster."

"You must have something in your closet," Alice asked. I slowly shook my head. "Anything?"

"Nope," I laughed at Alice's horrified expression. "Now come on, we're going to be late to school."

I dragged a very astonished Alice back to her convertible and eased Alice into her seat. I circled the car to the passenger seat and got in.

"Nothing?" Alice suddenly screeched. "How do you have nothing in your closet?"

"Of course I have something in my closet," I answered lazily. I put my elbow on the top of the door and turned to Anne. "Just not anything you'd approve of."

Alice sighed and shook her head. She turned the key in the ignition and the engine purred to life.

"How are you surprised?" I observed as we pulled out of the driveway. "We've been best friends since forever."

"Well, I just assumed since your mom's a big fashion designer, she might have bought some clothes for you against your will," Alice explained.

I rolled my eyes. "Renee knows better than to buy me clothes. She knows me. Unlike someone I know," I accused.

"Sor-ry," Alice rolled her eyes and swiftly put on Chanel sunglasses with one hand to protect her eyes from the glare of the sun. "I guess I had too much faith in Renee."

"Well, I don't really care about clothes—"

"Trust me, I noticed," Alice interrupted. I playfully slapped her, smiling.

"An-y-way," I continued. "I just don't understand why clothes are so important. I'd rather wear this than that any day." I nodded towards Alice's outfit, which consisted of a mini jean skirt and a tightly fitted red v-neck shirt.

"Hey, don't insult the outfit," Alice shot me a look. "Do you own a mirror?"

"Yeah yeah," I dismissed Alice with a wave of my hand.

"No really," Anne took off her sunglasses and shot me another look. "Look at your HAIR!"

"Ok, ok, I admit its not perfect," I checked my hair in the sideview mirror. I had pulled it into a low ponytail this morning, not bothering to brush it. I opened my mouth and checked my teeth. "At least my teeth are clean!"

Alice glared at me.

"Hey, pay attention to the road!" I screamed as Alice almost collided into a van. She swiftly swerved and avoided contact. I sighed in relief. "There could have been children in that car!"

"I have it under control," Alice mumbled.

"under control? UNDER CONTROL?" I screeched. "We almost died! And we almost killed the people in that car!"

"Honey, I think they're more in danger of dying from the sight of that monster you so amusingly call your hair." Alice retorted. I glared at her up until we pulled into the school parking lot.

"Bells, you can stop glaring," Alice checked her reflection in the rearview mirror and reapplied lip gloss. "You're gonna give me skin cancer."

"That's impossible," I scoffed, still glaring. Alice turned to me and gave me a wink.

"Anything's possible," She got out of the car and lifted her handbag from the backseat. I did the same.

"For example," Alice said as she sashayed across the parking lot. I followed her. "Mike could ask you out."

"Ha," I guffawed. Mike was the hottest and most popular guy at our school. He was the guy all the girls loved and unfortunately, I was one of them. I knew Mike before he became a hottie, and I loved him then too. We were best friends; our parents grew up together and so did we. Unfortunately, when we entered high school, Mike and I grew apart; he was the quarterback of the football team and was conceited to boot it, while I kept to myself, betrayed by my best friend and first love. The only way I got through the heartbreak was support from Alice, who never left my side. Alice and I were inseparable from then on but I never quite got over Mike.

"It could happen," Alice eyed me over her sunglasses. "If you actually made an effort."

"No, it couldn't," I murmured.

"Alice! Bella!"

Alice and I turned to see Jacob Black, our other best friend, sprinting towards us. Jacob was unusually tall and exceptionally tan, considering he lives in a beach house. His dad was paralyzed from the waist down and after his retirement, he dragged his only son to California where he bought a beach house, taking comfort in the sea. Jacob finally caught up to us and fell into step next to me.

"Are you seriously wearing that?" Jacob asked in astonishment. Did I mention Jacob was gay and as much of a fashionista as Alice?

"Yes," I glared at him.

"Ew," Jacob declared and backed away from me. He fell into step next to Alice, on her other side. "Is this a prank?"

"No Jacob," I sighed. "Honestly, you guys. You're acting as if I usually care about what I wear and this is a surprise."

"Well, no it isn't a surprise," Alice admitted. "But—"

"But what?" I interrupted.

"But this is a new low, even for you!" Jacob exclaimed. "The hair! The sweater! The sweats! The adidas! Everything! Ah, Alice, my eyes burn."

"Its okay, sweetie," Jacob leaned his head on Alice's shoulder, who patted it sympathetically.

"Honestly, you guys! You're acting as if I murdered somebody!" I exclaimed, frustrated.

"With that hair, anyone who sees you will fall dead," Jacob mumbled. Alice burst into giggles and high-fived Jacob.

"Hey!" I protested, "Fine, if you guys are so opposed to my wardrobe, maybe you should get me a new one." I huffed and walked past the couple, who were still giggling, arm-in-arm.

"Are you guys coming?" I turned around only to find Jacob and Alice frozen in their spots. "Wha—"

Suddenly, Alice got a look I knew very well. She slowly turned to face Jacob, who had the same look on.

"Oh no, I know that look—" I sighed, and started walking swiftly towards the school. "I'm not staying long enough to hear your plans this time. Last time, I nearly drowned." I could hear them swiftly following me. Suddenly, they caught up to me. They each put an arm through mine and stared at me, a grin dominating their face.

"Oh, now you're not embarrassed to be seen with me?" I accused them but they ignored me.

"You're a genius!" Alice exclaimed.

"A regular Alfie Einstein!" Jacob declared with a dramatic gesture.

"Actually, it's Albert Einstein," I corrected Jacob. "And why am I a genius again? I missed that moment."

"A makeover! For you!" Alice declared. I stopped in my tracks but they didn't notice. They just continued skipping into the school arm-in-arm, humming.

"WHAT?" I screeched.