I own nothing!
7 Months
APOV
"7 months Alice!" Rosalie yelled as she chased me into the kitchen
"Lower your voice before she hears you! And yeah I know!"
"All I'm saying is this can't be healthy"
Nothing is healthy or fair about this, I thought
"Which is why we're getting her out of the house tonight!" I said as I lifted myself on to the kitchen counter. I needed to be eye level if I wanted to convince Rose to left me go through with this.
"I'm all for getting back in to the swing of things but don't you think this would be too much too soon?"
The three of us used to be social butterflies! No we weren't skanks, though Rose dressed like one from time to time, be we used to go out on the town! Dance! Go bowling! Have fun! Shop! ...my God I missed shopping. I still did! How could I not?! But it wasn't the same without bars and clubs to go to (never ever mentioned them anymore) or Bella to dress up! I don't even dare to give her clothes anymore. That would only upset her…So instead I'd simply bought clothes for her and had been keeping them in my closet for when she was feeling, I don't know, better?
"But this is your idea? What happened to baby steps?"
"First off, just think of it as a big baby step and-"
"A giant ass baby step" I glared at Rose. We were both very protective of our dear friend Bella but since everything happened Rose became even more so. I think she partially blamed herself, which was beyond ridiculous!
"And second of all you don't know if she'll even say yes"
Okay I lied. Bella would totally bite. I'd been setting up my plan for weeks now and I finally set it all in motion on Monday. A cough here, a sniffle there. Now it was Friday and I kicked everything up a notch, with a few chills here and there and now a 'severely sore throat' which meant I couldn't work to my fullest abilities tonight. Another reason for us to be quiet, if Bella heard me everything would be ruined!
I knew Bella was in pain, a pain I could never be able to bare, but she was a big hearted person and I knew she wouldn't turn me down…especially if I said my job was on the line. A job that used to be hers. I had taken over her position and mine. I was no longer a waitress but a singer on Friday nights as well. My voice was pretty good, but nothing compared to Bella's. If all else failed I'd have to use that six lettered word.
"I swear Alice-" she looked back at the bathroom to make sure Bella was still in the shower and the turned back to stare daggers at me, pointing her perfectly manicured nail in my face "I swear if something happens tonight that ruins all the progress she's made over the pass months-"
"You can have all my shoes!" Shit did I really say that? Shit!
"Screw the shoes, you're feet are too sizes smaller than mine anyway!"
The bathroom door creaked open and e both turned to see the Bella walk silently to her room. Her head down, never looking up. We sighed and looked back to one another.
"God I miss her"
"Ditto" I said as I rested my head on to Rose's shoulder.
"When was the last time she smiled? A real genuine smile, not one of those half hearted ones she does when she knows I'm worried"
"Four months six days and 17 hours but hey who's counting"
"Seriously?"
That was probably one of Bella's best and worst days. Back then she mostly stayed in her room, but had started venturing out to the kitchen to get food instead of us bring her some to remind her that she needs the stuff. She had also strung a few sentences together so I decided to be bold by suggesting a group activity- Cleaning. Hey it didn't involve leaving the comforts of our home so I didn't think it would be that big of a deal.
Everything started out fine. We managed to make some small talk with her, she asked about classes and such. I spoke with Rose before and to make sure certain topics were never touched upon
We were in Bella's room sitting on the floor when she found a box of some of her old stuff buried deep in the back of the closet. Most of them were random things, like an old teddy bear, notebooks from school (took all my strength not to pick on her for her Lisa Frank stickers), library books that were years of due, a top of mine that I thought I had lost ages ago! I don't know how I managed to control my anger when I realized not only was there a giant stain on it! But I remember searching high and low for that thing until Bella convinced me that she had given it back to me and someone must have stole it from my locker at the gym! I loved that top dammit! It was from Betsy Johnson! Ugh!
I was torn from my thoughts when I sock hit me in the face. I looked at Rosalie but before I could make a comment she mouthed 'look' and I followed her gaze to see Bella holding a glass dream catcher.
Uh oh that has to be from him
It was simply amazing. The way the glass woven and twisted together was breathtaking and the vibrant colors made it even more magical. The whole time Rose and I staid quiet, unsure of what to say if anything. As far we knew she didn't have anything that was a reminder of his
Selfish bastard, I remember thinking. It was an unfair thing to think but what he did was much worse. I was totally justified…right?
I wish you could it. She ran her fingers over it so gently, like she was scare that it wasn't real or with the least amount of pressure it shatter. She was mesmerized as the light sent the colors of the dream catcher flying to reflect on her pale skin. I saw her eyes start to fill with tears, as did Rosalie. We rose preparing for the worst when…she smiled. Bella actually smiled. They were tears of happiness. Happy tears!
We were in awe was of her. Rose touched her hand to her heart upon seeing Bella; it was both out of relief and seeing our dear friend smile for the first time in a long time. She used to be so energetic, so full of life! For this brief moment I thought things would start to get better, we were seeing a tiny bit of the Bella we'd known for years peaking out through the sadness…
Bella was holding the dream catcher up to the window to see the sun shine through the glorious colors of the glass when the phone rang. She snapped out of her thoughts and was soo startled that she jumped and dropped the dream catcher causing it to break into hundreds of pieces. Rose and I gasped loudly while Bella looked down utterly destroyed. No one moved, that is until she collapsed onto the floor- on to the broken pieces of glass.
She let out a scream- horror of having lost the one thing that he had left behind and the pain of her heart breaking yet again and ofcourse the pain of the glass slicing her skin. We rushed to her immediately but no matter what we she wouldn't stop shaking and crying.
"Bella, breathe, Bella-"
"Bells, look at me! Open your eyes Bells!" Rosalie pleaded, and then I saw the blood.
"Shit-Bathroom now!" I screamed at Rose
Bella cuts weren't that bad but there was blood…Bella + blood BAD! For soo many reasons
Of course right after I yelled to her, Bella looked down at her red hands and shins and sobbed even harder. We ran with her to the bathroom just in time. She spent the rest being sick while I cleaned cuts and Rose held her. Not the worst night we'd ever had together but it was a close 2nd or 3rd .
Back to my plan! Bella had been getting better. She no longer looked starved (though she wasn't eating as much as we liked her to) ; her nightmares were at an all time low, she actually made conversation and eye contact with us, she'd go out on runs, and walk with us to the grocery store. And! I SWEAR, though Rose doesn't believe me; I swear she had been playing my guitar the past couple of weeks!
I'd come home from work to find it in its normal spot but something was off. I knew my room, everything had its place and I could tell if something had been moved a half a centimeter. Someone had been using my guitar and it wasn't the dear musically challenged Rose. It is actually what prompted my plan.
"Just trust me on this Rose" I said to Rose who had turned to stare helplessly at Bella's bedroom door.
"Please, please promise me that you will not push her if she says no." She sighed.
I took her face into my hands "Me? Pushy?..Never" I grinned wickedly
"God you're a firefly from hell aren't you" She said and kissed my forehead
"Am I interrupting something?" Bella was wearing old pair of sweat pants and a T-shirt and was squeezing the excess water out of her hair with a towel.
"Hey Bells, how was your run?" Rose asked, she was horrible at trying not to sound concerned
"Long" she replied while grabbing the milk from the refrigerator.
I think night running had become the latest outlet for her emotions. It was better than being cooped up in her but she sometimes she'd be gone for almost 3 hours and the second she'd get back she'd jump in the shower without a word. Rose tried to run with her one night and came back looking like she was about to die. Oh and did I mention she came home alone?
"Well that was quick" I said as Rose collapsed on the couch next to me
"I haven't run that hard and that long since...never!"
"Where's Bella?"
"Still running. Hell if I was running she must have been sprinting"
"Couldn't keep up huh? I thought you were the fitness Queen"
"Well apparently there's been a coup! Now ice! Icenowpleasethankgodblessyoursoul!"
"What were you guys doing before I came in here anyway?"
"Oh" I said in my best sore throat voice "I'm still feeling under the weather so Rose was seeing if I had a temperature" Rose kissed my forehead again this time it lasted a little longer.
"You do feel a little bit warm"
"Greeeaaaa" I sneezed "Great" Rose shoved the box of tissues at me and mutter a 'bless you'.
"You're staying home, no work for you"
"Rose no I have to go, I can wait the tables" Cough/sniffle combo…my god I'm good "I just can't sing tonight. Well I could but either my voice will disappear or my it'll chase customers away"
"Why don't you just call one of the others to cover for you?" Ah ha! Bells had brought it up before I did!
"I already called but everyone who could is out of town. Shit, Lauren is going to have my ass.
"Did you try tea? That always helped me"
"We're out of tea bags. I've cleaned us out"
"Oh" I could tell Bella was trying to think of other ways to help by the way she scrunched her face up. This is it! Strike!
"Listen Bella… I know this would be big favor to ask, but do you think you could cover for me tonight?" Uh oh that look in her eyes isn't promising annddd she backing away- not good "It was your voice that got people coming to Twilight in the first place, your voice is better than mine even on my best day and Lauren is always looking for an excuse to fire me so if I don't have a replacement singer she'll probably take that as her cue" Okay she's stopped moving but she's still looking a little hesitant, time for the big guns "Please Bella it's just for this one night! Pleaaa- AHCHOOO!...Please?"
Rose's eyes were like laser beams burning holes in the side of my head, but I didn't look at her, I couldn't break eye contact with Bella…and if I looked at Rose I feel like she'd eat my soul
Never give up never surrender!
After what seemed like ages she finally looked up from the floor.
"I can't let you loose your job, you wouldn't even have to be-" I quickly got off the counter and hugged Bella and cut her off before she said it, if she did she'd fall to pieces and then none of us would be leaving this apartment tonight!
"ThankyouthankyouthankyouI promise you can pick out your own outfit, I won't even make any comments about what you wear and, and….and you get to pick what you want to sing! You don't even have to sing the entire set! An-"
"Okay Alice, she said already agreed" Rose said through her teeth as she pried me from Bella. Ow! Yeah that's gonna leave a mark. She glared at me, I was soo going to an earful later, but her face soften when she turned back towards Bella and took her into a one armed hug and lead her to her room
"Come on let's get out of here before Alice promises you her first born"
"Thanks again!" I yelled as the two of them closed the door to Bella's room.
Whoops I hope she didn't notice my non-scratchy voice just now!
It worked! It actually worked! After I did a tamed version of my happy dance, I thanked God that there were no tears involved. Now all that was left was for her to actually perform…in front of a large crowd….which she hasn't done since the night before everything happened
This has the potential to be extremely disastrous doesn't it?... I would never forgive myself if Bella ended up getting hurt tonight. It's just that she has been doing so well that I think she needs a slight nudge to get her back into some of her old ways. I know nothing will ever be the sa -Positive! Think positive dammit!...Maybe if things go well I could finally introduce her to Jasper tonight! And go shopping with Bella tomorrow! Wait forget shopping, the girl was in dire need of a hair cut!
"We leave in an hour ladies!" I said in the best hoarse voice I could muster up as I tried to hide my excitement for the good that might come from tonight.
BPOV
Shit