AN: Hello there! Thanks for reading. This is my first story, so feedback is very appreciated.
Summary: Geeky and socially awkward thirteen year old Edward never had a chance with his older sister Alice's best friend, Bella. But when they reunite ten years later, what will happen? Edward isn't the same weird little boy Bella left behind. He's now dangerously charming, stunningly handsome, and filthy rich. Bella doesn't recognize him, but Edward instantly knows who she is. Attraction is evident and when Bella tires to stake her claim on Edward, he is in far too deep to back out and let the truth come out.
PROLOGUE
The sun was out, the birds were chirping, and-
"Shit! Alice! What the heck was that for?" I screamed at Alice, my soon to be ex-best friend, who still was holding on to the now empty water gun in her hand.
"Oh my, that was, that was the most hilarious thi…" Alice choked out between guffaws. She doubled over and finally dropped the offending gun.
Next thing I knew, I found myself lunging onto her tiny body and tackling to her to the hard ground. It was my turn to laugh now, but I felt, I dunno, a little guilty I guess, for jumping her like that.
That train of thought actually lasted for only about a few seconds before I started laughing. As soon as she saw me laughing, she joined in and we shared a laugh session.
That's how we were, Alice and me, always getting into some shit or another, and then laughing our asses off in the end.
"Beellllaaa," Alice whined in a sing song voice, "you got dirt on my new bag! It's a designer, Gucci, mind you, and now it's all ruined," she pouted. Yeah, she was right, it was her 15th birthday last week and although she got more presents than she could count, she held her new handbag above the rest.
"Sorry, sorry. But can't you just sweet talk your daddy to whip out the black piece of plastic to buy the same exact bag-thing?" I asked. I personally, did not see why not. Her family, the Cullen's, was super rich, and I'm not saying that because I'm jealous. I like simple and to the point. Anyways, Daddy Cullen is the only surgeon/doctor in Forks, Washington. Not only that, the Cullen's are old money, so that added another surplus to their bank balance.
Alice pouted, but I knew that she knew that I was right.
"C'mon let's go in. I'm getting cold," I suggested. My right pant leg was soaked with icy water.
"Alrighty, let's go get some supper," Alice smirked back. "I have some sweats you can borrow."
I entered quickly into the Cullen residence, a massive mansion that obviously belongs to a wealthy doctor or something. I jogged up the stairs case with Alice following right behind. I dashed into her room and did a flying leap onto her king sized pink bed.
"Alice, did I ever tell you I love your bed?" I asked. I did. It was so soft and warm and fuzzy. I snuggled into her silky comforter to make my point.
"Yeah, I think you did. Only about a hundred times," replied the owner of the magical bed with a giggle. I couldn't help but to laugh. Something about her perfectly shaped eyebrows rising up and her eyes shining with whatever only Alice had, something along the lines of "Alice Charm", made me unable to stop laughing. We were crazy. It was meant to be; Pixie Alice and Plain Bella, a match made in heaven.
I remember the day I first met her. It was the first day of Kindergarten and I was nervous as hell. I was in the corner of the room during creative play time, fiddling around with a bunch of legos, when an unfamiliar body plunked itself down next to me.
"My name is Alice, what's yours," said the now identified-as-Alice. I remember thinking Wow this girl is talking to me! I like her!
"Bella," I replied. Like I said, I was a nervous wreck.
"Look, you are going to be the bestest friends okay?" Alice asked sternly with a slight frown.
"Okay? Sure, I'll be your bestest friend, Alice," I said more confidently.
And the rest is history.
Alice threw me a pair of PINK sweatpants. I graciously took it and slithered into it. It was August, but during the night, it was still cold.
Mama Cullen decided to call for dinner at that time, so I rushed downstairs. I was always in for a feast whenever I slept over at Alice's place. Living with Charlie had its perks, but warm meals were not one of them.
"I smell roast beef!" I hollered as I bounded into the dining area. I knew to any outsider, I was being a completely rude and inconsiderate guest, but I knew Mrs. Cullen, hell even the whole family, considered me as one of their own.
"Nah! It's pot-roast!" shouted Alice as she ran into the room right after me.
"Damn it! You're right Alice," I admitted, defeated.
Alice did a mini victory dance, while I watched on with a sulking expression. I hate little pixies that are always right and rubbed it in other people's faces about the fact that they are indeed, right.
I grudgingly sat down at my usual seat at the oval dining table, next to Alice, across from Mrs. Cullen.
Then, as if on cue, Mr. Cullen came through the door, with a very happy sounding, "Honey, I'm home!" It was the perfect picture of the perfect family. Something I thought you only found on a corny TV show, until I met the Cullen's.
I waved at daddy Cullen. "How was work, Doc?" I asked, politely. I was wild, but I still had manners. I liked to think of myself as a respectful young adult.
Yeah right.
"It was quiet, for the good or bad, I don't know," he replied with a chuckle. I knew it was weird, but every time Mr. Cullen smiled at me, my knees buckled, only a bit. I mean, who wouldn't? White blonde hair, perfectly combed back, a flawless face with a hot jaw line, clear eyes, a mouth filled with perfect teeth, and okay I should stop there before I start drooling.
Then, I heard loud footsteps descending the stairs at a quick pace and I whipped my head in that direction. I laughed out loud when Tony scrambled into the room. His mushroom hair cut was a bit disheveled, and his thick horn rimmed glasses were sliding down his oily nose. He sat down with an indignant Hmph! and crossed his arms down in front of him.
Let me tell you about Tony; Tony is Alice's younger brother by two years. That meant he was in the 7th grade, which should have meant that he was growing into a young handsome man, but in fact, he still looked the same as he did 3 years ago. He was short, the shortest in his grade, he had a horrible haircut, he still had baby fat clinging to his features, he looked like he needed a long, long date with a bar of soap, and he barely spoke. I kept away from him.
We began dinner and Alice and I dug into the plates in front of us. Like usual, it was delicious, and in the end, mama Cullen brought our a very large and very tasty key lime pie.
"My favorite!" Tony and I shouted at once. I guess me and lil' Tony had the same taste.
After a very satisfied dinner and two slices of pie later, I sat back in my chair and patted my full stomach.
"That was amazingly delicious, Mrs. Cullen," I whispered. We all laughed, finding humor in the way I quietly exclaimed my praise.
After that, Alice and I excused ourselves and groggily made our ways up to her room, to get ready to sleep.
After we went through our nightly ritual, we plopped down onto the bed.
"Are you gunna go out with Mike this year?" Alice asked with wide eyes, feigning innocence.
I sighed. "No matter how many times that douche asks me, I refuse to go out with him. He has at least two air headed girls hanging off him at all times, and who knows how many STDs he carries?" I said. He was rumored to have sexed any warm body with legs and boobs, other than me and Alice and a few others who actually had a common sense.
"What about that hunky junior, Alice? What was his name? Oh yeah Eric!" I said.
"Oh yeah," Alice replied dreamily. There was a cute boy with long black hair named Eric, who had a thing for Alice. Especially since he was two years older than her, it was a huge deal. "I think he's cute and all, but I don't feel it, Bella," Alice said.
"Oh well. I heard he's part of a sucky band anyways," I said, trying to comfort Alice. "And I bet you can get any guy you want," I finished, confidently. I knew I was right. Alice had a banging body, style belonging on a runway, wide eyes, and a hot smile.
"But it doesn't matter unless I want him," muttered Alice.
"Don't worry your little head about that. I'm gunna go to sleep. G'night"
"Good night, Bella, sweet dreams!" replied Alice, but I already turned the lights off and turned away from her.
After getting home the next morning, I actually thought about going back to sleep again. Summer vacation was boring without Alice. I missed her already.
The next morning, I woke up to my cell buzzing and when I saw that it was Alice, I happily picked up.
"Morning Alice," I said groggily. She should have known I was not a morning person.
"Good morning, Bella," Alice replied softly. Right away, I knew something was off. Something about a non energetic Alice gave me the creeps. It just wasn't right.
"Tell me what's wrong, Alice," I said trying to get Alice to tell me what happened.
"I, my family- I think we're moving, Bella," Alice said.
"Okay? You gotta tell me more. I mean it can't be that bad. Right?" my voice sounded too high and squeaky.
"No, no, no, no. Bella, we're moving to New York City next week."
"What? Shit! Why?" I was crushed, actually, I was more than crushed. My only friend was moving across the country.
"They need doctors at the Children's Hospital or something. They're short staffed with doctors who have experience with pediatric care."
I could feel the tears making their appearance. "But can't they ask somebody whose not your dad to take the position?"
"The number of kids falling ill is rising, and the chairman was Dad's roommate during medical school. It was a personal favor," Alice sniffled. It killed me.
"Oh my freakin' God!" I couldn't believe it. We were supposed to face high school together. Not alone, on separate ends of the country.
"Sorry. I'm so sorry. I have to go, Bella," Alice choked out.
"Alice, whatever. I'll call you," I replied. Damn it, I was crying too.
Before they left, the morning of the flight, I went to see them one more time. I stepped into the mansion, taking in my surroundings. Everything was stripped bare, nothing left to show that once, the Cullen's lived here.
When I saw Alice, I hugged her as tightly as I could. I didn't care that I was probably squeezing the life out of her.
"Bella, can't. Breathe," choked out Alice.
"Oops, sorry Alice," and with that I let her go. "It's just that I'm going to miss you so much."
"Me too, Bella. Me too."
I felt my throat start tightening up and my nose itching, tell tale signs I was a few seconds from bursting into tears. But I sucked it up like a trooper. I wasn't going to let Alice's last image of me be horrible and covered in snot.
"Don't do anything stupid like getting run over by cars. I hear those cab drivers are insane," I warned Alice.
"Don't be stupid. I'm always careful. It's just that not many people see me until it's too late." I giggled, I mean, I couldn't help it.
We were laughing like mad women when Mrs. Cullen found us. I hugged her tightly too.
"I'm going to miss you. And your key lime pie," I said honestly. Mrs. Cullen smiled down at me.
"I'm going to miss you too, honey," she replied with a warm smile.
I then half saluted Doc Cullen and waved at Tony. They were men, they didn't need the sappy stuff. I looked them on as they all climbed into the awaiting taxi. Alice gripped me one more time and said a final farewell as she hopped in after her family.
I kept waving as the car turned out of the driveway and out of site. I probably looked pretty sad, just standing there. So I called Charlie to let him know that the Cullens were now officially gone.
I was alone. Completely alone now. But I knew I was stronger than that. I also knew that this wasn't the last time I saw Alice.
Let the games begin.
AN: This is pretty short, but it's just an introduction of sorts. I hope it wasn't too awful ;)