"You're going on this cruise, Bella, if it's the last thing you do," Renée replied to her daughters' pleas, arms crossed over her chest.
"But mom, cruises are boring. Besides, I wont know anyone on there," I continued pleading with my mother, who's heart was dead set on getting her single, twenty-three year old daughter out on a vacation from my never ending sea of paperwork.
"No, you won't. That's the point of going. You need some more friends."
"No, I don't, mother. I've got plenty of friends. Mike, Jessica, Angela, maybe Lauren…"
"Yes, sure you do, but do any of you have any time to actually do something that friends would be doing on their vacations from work?" she asked, throwing clothes into a large roller suitcase.
"… No," I admitted for the umpteenth time to her mother.
"Good, because you're going," Renée's voice ringing with finality.
"Fine. But can I at least pack my own clothes?" I asked.
Renée smiled. "That's my girl." She handed what she was holding, a bikini which was obviously too small for me, to her. She smiled before walking out of the wide set door, her hair whipping out slightly as she rounded the corner.
---
I huffed as I stood before my nearly bare closet. I had packed a two-piece deck swimming pool in the brochure, about nine pairs of shorts and tank tops, and three long sleeve shirts. I also had nearly five pairs of jeans in my bag, folded to where they were barely there at all.
I only had few more outfits; one was short sleeved to where it looked like there was nothing there, its dress part cut off at the knee, and it was a beautiful shade of dark blue, almost navy. It flared out like those dresses that professional dancers wear, but it hung gracefully to where you could tell it wasn't for a dancer.
The other outfits and dresses were too dressy for a cruise, so I grabbed and folded, as carefully as I could, the dark blue dress. It seemed perfect for a cruise.
---
I was now waiting in line on the ramp onto the cruise ship. It was fairly large and elegant, and I could hear the laughter that drifted down from the decks. I looked up at a particularly loud squeal of, "Alice!" I only looked up out of habit and saw a small, pixie like, black haired girl run up and literally throw herself up at one of the tallest blondes she had ever seen.
I blinked, mainly because the blonde seemed to be perfect: tall; beautifully sculpted face, which looked natural; long wavy, blonde hair; and the prettiest shade of light blue I had ever seen.
The pixie, Alice, was a different, but all to similar story. She was short, with spiky black hair, very much like a pixie. She had wild looking eyes, which also seemed blue, and she had the cutest face.
Before I could look forward again, Alice had looked over in my direction, and smiled.
"Hi! How are you, Bella?" I blinked in surprise while Alice just fluttered her eyelids. "What? Don't you remember your locker mate from junior year?"
"Alice? Alice Brandon? Oh my God, it's been forever!" I squealed, similar to the blonde who I wasn't familiar with, and drew Alice in for a giant bear hug. "You look so different! What are you doing here?"
"Going on a cruise with my best friend!" She gestured wildly to the tall blonde standing behind her, a small smile playing on the corner on her mouth. "This is Rosalie. We met in college in our freshman year."
"Please, call me Rose," she said in a peal of bells. Me, getting a good look at her, realized she was only tall because of the startling heels she was wearing. Rosalie stuck out a hand, which I shook, still slightly in awe.
"Rose! There you are, baby!" a booming voice floated over to them. I looked up to see a rather tall, muscle bound man with dark brown and black curls. He wrapped his arms around Rose, pulling her into a hug from behind, his head resting on her shoulder.
"Oh, Bella, this is my fiancé, Emmett."
Emmett turned to me, then, the next thing I knew, I was pulled into a hug too. "Good – to – meet – you – too!" I breathed out. My back was starting to hurt.
"God, Emmett, put her down before you snap her neck," Alice said in a patronizing tone. Emmett looked at Alice for a few seconds, then immediately, I was on my feet, a hand on my hip.
"Thanks Alice," I said, short of breath and gratitude ringing in my voice.
Emmett turned around and shouted, "Edward! Jasper! They're over here!" I watched as the most beautiful man with hectic green eyes and bronze colored hair turned around, his face breaking into a heart stopping half smile.
Oh. My. God.
Alice squeaked in a small voice, unlike her usual self. I stole her gaze from the copper haired god and looked at the man next to him. He was tall, blonde, and had startling light blue eyes. Nothing compared to the Adonis next to him, but still handsome.
"Wow."
"I know…" Alice trailed in a breathy tone, too low for anyone but me to hear her, unable to avert her gaze.
"Hey Emmett, who are they?" Adonis asked in his velvety voice.
So beautiful, so exquisite, so luscious…
"This is Alice," he gestured towards Alice the adorable pixie, me noticing the blonde blush, "and this is Bella," Emmett continued, this time pointing at me and patting me on the shoulder. "This one right here," he jerked his head in the blonde's direction, "is Jasper, and that goofball over there is Edward."
Edward, what a great name for him.
I blushed at my thoughts of someone I hadn't even met properly. Edward extended his hand towards me, shaking it feebly. I felt an alarming electric current pass between our fingertips, and I gasped as it didn't feel like it stung; oddly enough, I liked it.
He withdrew his hand, looking bewildered, just like I thought I did at the moment.
---
The horn blared from somewhere deep in the ship, I couldn't tell where. I just waved at all the people out there saying good-bye to people they love. I sighed, knowing all the people I knew on the cruise were either new to me, seemed confused, were coupled, or I hadn't met them in the past couple years.
Sure, we kept in touch, but not enough to where we sent each other pictures. I was never one for the camera, and Alice, although she loved getting her picture taken, was far too caught up in her life to get my address from me.
I felt an insistent tugging on my shirt, so when I turned around, I groaned as I saw Alice beaming and saying a loud voice so I could hear her, "We're room mates!"
I gave her my best smile. This cruise is getting better and better.
---
We had arrived at our room, which was on the third level. It wouldn't be too noisy on account of the deck, but it wouldn't be too quiet, because Alice was there. "Seriously Alice, do you need to destroy my suitcase to get to my clothes?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do," she replied, a teasing tone in her voice as I rolled my eyes. She pulled out my shorts, then my bathing suit. When she got to the bottom, she pulled out my 'dancers dress'. "Eek! This is gorgeous! Tell me you plan on wearing this!"
I sighed in defeat. Alice will be Alice. "Yes, but only on I'm guessing the last day or so."
"Guessing? Wear it tonight! They have this whole ball thing going on, and its casual, so you can wear this!"
"In case you don't remember, I'm not much of a dancer, Alice. I still have trouble with my equilibrium. I'm more of a disaster waiting to happen. If I'm lucky, I might only twist my ankle."
"Don't be silly, Miss Isabella Swan. You are defiantly wearing this tonight, and you're going to let me do your make up and hair."
I gave her my best pout. "You wont go overboard like you used to in high school, right?"
"No, of course not. I'm just going to work a mini miracle and make sure you look beautiful! More so then usual, anyway." That earned a blush from me as I turned three shades of red. "Now go and take a shower, then come back, turn around and close your eyes so I can get to work."
---
"Now you can open your eyes, Bella," Alice said in a stage whisper as I peeked through my eyelashes. I gasped at the unrecognizable me in the mirror.
Where I usually had nearly wavy hair, it was curled magnificently into large, loose curls.
Where I usually had light brown eyes were made darker by the smallest amounts of mascara on the lashes surrounding them.
And where I usually had a rather light blush, just turned darker but the surge of pleasure I got at the "Alice Miracle".
"Thanks Alice! I don't mean to sound conceited, but I look gorgeous!"
"You're welcome! Now come on, go get dressed! The ball starts in about twenty-five minutes!"
I scrambled out of the bathroom in my usual tee and shorts and ran to my suitcase, feeling slightly giddy as I pulled my dress from the top of my mixed up clothes.
---
Alice and me were walking arm in arm up to the top deck in what could be described as a fit of laughter. When we finally got up there, we quieted down, listening to out laughter echo around behind us. I blushed, which only made Alice giggle. Rosalie was waiting for us, searching for Emmett, who abruptly called out from right behind us, "Look who made it!"
That only made me blush harder before I turned around and came face to face with Edward, whose eyes had darkened somewhat. Taken aback, and surprised, I went to turn around again before I tripped in my hastiness over my own feet.
I closed my eyes, expecting to fall face first into the hard, unforgiving floor when I felt two warm, strong arms catch me by my waist, stopping my fall. When I opened my eyes, I was startled (again) when I saw concerned, forest green eyes lock with mine. "Are you okay, Bella?" I closed my eyes again, breathing in his sweet scent, before I realized he was the one that had asked me.
"Oh, I'm fine. Thanks for catching me." I smiled brightly before blushing once more and turning to Alice, who was trying to suppress another giggle. I glanced down at Edward's hands, which were still holding my waist. "Uhm…"
He looked down too, and realizing his oh so warm hands were still on my waist, took them off and put them at his sides, blushing almost as hard as I was. Alice was still trying not to laugh and walked over and linked her arm with mine.
"Shall we go dancing, now?" she asked, winking at me.
OOC: Aww, near cliffie!
Sorry, but Im working on the next chapter, so I'll most likely get it up in the next few days!
Please Review, this is my first story!
