I slammed my truck door shut and shoved my hands as deeply into my pockets as I could and shook my hair until it covered my ears, hiding them from the cold.
The snow on the ground was heavy and underneath it was a thick layer of ice.
Students around me were running to their classes to get out of the cold, wet snowfall as soon as possible.
I thought about running but then realised I would probably just cause a injury to myself and others around me.
Big snowflakes were stuck in my eyelashes making it hard for me to see so I fumbled my way to the door hopelessly trying to get inside so I could un-freeze my toes by the heater.
I finally blindly found the door pushing myself against it and into the hall of shivering students.
I looked round and saw that the position beside the heater was clearly taken by Tanya Denali so I daren't go near it.
Tanya was the most popular respected girl in school it was practically a death sentence to cross her!
She was very beautiful too; she had strawberry blonde hair that spiralled into ringlets when it met the small of her back.
She had big blue innocent eyes, perfectly tanned skin and straight white teeth.
She was wearing a tight short skirt to compliment her tiny waist, and a shirt that barely covered her oversized breasts.
She was the image of perfection and a complete utter cow, she looked down on everyone as thought compared to her they were a bug stuck in some gum on a pair of her old shoes.
She saw me staring angrily so she flashed back daggers.
I muttered something about hoping that she freezes to death and her legs turn blue, when my best friend Alice skipped over beaming from ear to ear - this in my world is a very bad sign – because it usually means shopping, one of my least favourite pastimes
Alice is very short – 5,2 to be exact.
She has short, jet black hair that shoots out dramatically in all directions and big black eyes framed by long dark lashes.
She is very slim and has very fair skin.
Today she is wearing a floaty navy dress that ends just below her thigh, with black tights and warm winter boots- from the new winter collection of course!
She is obsessed with fashion, shopping and parties, and gets very annoyed about my lack of enthusiasm for all 3.
Her eyes were dancing and sparkling like fireflies waiting for me to ask her why she looked so very pleased with herself, but I wasn't going to be sucked into a scheme so I pretended I hadn't noticed that a thing was different about her.
"hey Ali" I smiled
"hey Bella!" she pulled me in for a tight hug still smiling, I could feel my ribs crushing into hers – for someone so small damn it she was strong!
"woah you're gonna crush me Alice!" I laughed as she released me – still smiling.
"oh sorry Bella, I'm just in such a good mood!" she said in voice that reminded me of wind chimes.
"what's up?" I asked instantly regretting it when I saw Alice almost bursting with excitement.
She held up a finger indicating for me to wait and began looking through her school bag until she pulled out a small white envelope and handed it to me.
I stared at it. Knowing what was coming.
"well open it then!" she squealed
I rolled my eyes and prised the envelope open- inside was a gold and extremely decorative (obviously by Alice) card.
Alice nodded at me, telling me to read it aloud
"Dear Bella" I read
"You are invited to the Cullen's annual Christmas party.."
I stopped right there and looked at Alice worriedly.
"Ali you know I don't like big parties – I will just make such a fool of myself, why don't you just come round to my house on boxing day instead and we can watch a few movies drink hot chocolate and-"
Alice cut me off quickly!
"No Bella!, you do this every year!, but not this year – this year you are going to come shopping with me for dresses , and come dancing and go on double dates with me!"
She said it so forcefully and so determined that I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Alice glared at me furiously – that just made me laugh even more.
"Alice you have known me since I was 5 years old and I think you also know that that is never going to happen."
"please please please please please please please please please please!" she whined
"Alice –I"
"no Bella I have done so much for you will you please just come, I know you will love it when you're there and if you don't have a good time then after a hour I promise to take you home so you can do read whatever book you like!"
"I don't know Alice…"
"Please" she smiled looking up at me
"OK fine" I grumbled
"YAY!" she exclaimed and pulled me into a tighter hug
"c-can t b-breeeath!" I stammered
"oh sorry", she giggled
"so I will pick you up at 5 tonight so we can go dress shopping"
"WHA-"
RING RING RING RING RING RING
Alice waved bye and skipped off to her class – she had been saved by the bell.
I muttered under my breath and trudged off out the doors and into the snow to my first class.
I was sitting at my desk in my dimly lit room trying to understand my maths homework – so far, nothing.
When the doorbell rang.
Oh no I had forgotten Alice was coming and I was sitting in my sweats and t-shirt, if she sees me like this she will skin me alive.
I could hear Charlie's footsteps going down the stairs to open the door.
I swiftly combed out my hair and tied it into a messy bun, I pulled on some skinny jeans and my favourite red shirt. I looked at myself in the mirror and tried out my best smile.
I retrieved some trainers from under my bed and put them on running downstairs to meet Alice.
"hey" Alice smiled grabbing my arm and pulling me outside only giving me 2 seconds to wave bye to Charlie before I was pulled into her porche and strapped into the seat.
"um Alice"
"we need to get their soon before all the good dresses get cleared out Bells!"
"o-ok" I gave my most convincing smile while she got into her seat and we drove away.
" do you think the red suits me?" asked Alice, who was now trying on her 14th dress that night, compared to my it looks great" is replied checking my watch.
"you have said that about all the dresses!"
"I know but Alice, they all look amazing on you- with you standing next to me I don't understand why I need to get dressed up at all, with you standing next to me no one is ever going to notice me anyway"
Alice stormed over and flicked me on the head.
"stop talking rubbish Bells! – plus there is a very good reason for you getting dressed up so nice!"
"oh really what's that?" I said, still ticked off that she had flicked me so hard.
"Edwards coming home and I haven't seen him in over a year!" Alice smiled softly
"sorry if I'm getting worked up Bella- I just want everything to be perfect for him, I want the perfect Christmas, and what would be more perfect than my best friend and my brother" she winked
"aw I'm sorry Alice you should have told me – but the whole Edward thing is not happening – I have never even met him before!" I laughed hugged her and pulled out a random midnight blue dress from the rack "does this look me?" I asked trying to cheer her up.
Alice laughed "only if you have put on 10 pounds! – its 6 sizes too big for you Bella!" she began laughing again.
She took the dress from my hands and studied it.
"Wow Bella this is actually beautiful but this size will drown you" She automatically put it back on the rack and pulled out one in my size.
She shoved it into my arms and sent me off to the changing rooms .
I struggled into the dress and walked out shyly – knowing that dresses didn't really make me look the best.
"um Alice I'm not sure if this….." I stepped out of the changing rooms and saw Alice on the phone.
"Edward its fine!" Alice groaned down the phone
"no, no I can do it Edward"
"bye see you soon" and she hung up the phone and turned to me.
"wow Bella you look stunning – I think I am going to get this dress" she said gesturing to the red dress she was in.
"I'm gonna get changed you go pay ok?" I said and went into the changing rooms to take off my dress .
We walked out the shop with our bags and put them in the car and drove off home.
"So what were you saying to Edward?" I asked curiously
"oh he wants me to pick him up from the airport because he still needs his friend Jasper to bring his car down"
"oh ok – well see you later Alice I have a English essay to do" I smiled
Alice rolled her eyes and laughed "same old Bella"
"yeh…same old me- well see you tomorrow, I will pick you up?"
"oh yes bye" she leaned over and hugged me then handed me my bags
"bye Ali see you tomorrow – tell Edward I say hi"
"will do" and she drove away