Sorry this is a few days late I had no internet access until today. Thank you to everyone who read and a big thank you to those who reviewed. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
BPOV – 2012
"Mom, dad I'll be fine I promise. You don't have to stay any longer than it takes to drop my stuff off, seriously." I said hoping that it would end the argument which had been going on for the duration of the drive to Los Angeles from Forks.
"Now Bella, honey, is it so wrong for your parents to want to make sure you have one last decent meal before you come home for Christmas break?" My mom asked turning slightly in her seat to fix her blue eyes upon my brown ones.
"Of course not," I mumbled turning away from her and looking out the window at the passing scenery. I say scenery but we were currently driving through Los Angeles and well that barely counts as scenery let's be honest.
"Now that that's settled, we have reservations at Volturi." My dad, Charlie, said proudly never taking his eyes off the road. My mom and dad were the most mismatched pairing I had ever known. Where my mom was changeable and absent-minded my dad was resilient and selfless, my mom loved travelling and my dad would much prefer to stay at home. They worked despite their differences because above anything they loved each other and me. My dad ran his own multi-million dollar business which meant he and my mother were free to travel whenever the fancy took them but my mother taught pre-school so that they travelled only during school holidays. It was a lifestyle which made them both happier.
"Why Volturi, that's probably the most expensive restaurant in LA." I whined; I hated showing off that I had money and didn't have to struggle especially in the current financial state.
"Yeah, but the food is supposed to be amazing. Plus it's Italian which is your favourite food." My mom pointed out smiling softly across the car at my father. I was saved the hassle of having to answer further by the car turning into the parking lot for the residence that I was to be living in for the next year.
My dad pulled the car into a spot next to the only car even close to the value of the one we had driven from Forks. You may wonder why we had driven when we could have flown or been driven, well the answer is we all wanted to spend some time alone as a family because who knew when it would happen again. I stepped out of the car as my dad switched the engine off; as soon as I slammed the car door shut I found myself accosted by a girl I assumed went to the college or at least worked here.
"Hi my name is Rosalie Hale; I'm a third year here at UCLA." She held out her hand for me to shake and as I shook it I took her in. She was easily six foot tall, with the body of a model shown to full effect in tight blue jean shorts, white vest top and white shoes. Her blonde hair was pulled loosely back from her face in a way that made it seem like it was a last minute thought for her to tie it back. It wasn't until I looked at her face that I realised how amazingly gorgeous she was, her face was perfectly flawless with lips painted a dark pink, a straight nose and eyes which made everything pale in comparison. Her eyes were the most amazing blue I had ever seen, like the bluest ocean around Hawaii or something, and they were completely surrounded by ridiculously long eye lashes. She must have been the most beautiful person I had ever seen in my life, a station held by my mother until now but even she paled in comparison to Rosalie Hale.
"Erm…sorry for staring," I spoke quietly.
"It's okay," Rosalie answered waving my apology away with a smile as we broke the hand shake.
"I'm Bella Swan, a freshman."
"Bella, Bella….Isabella Swan," Rosalie spoke more to herself as she scanned down the clipboard I hadn't even noticed she was holding.
"Yeah, that's me; I just go by Bella though." I clarified.
"Alrighty then Bella it is. You are on the second floor, room 4. Your roommate is already here, so here's the other key to the room. Orientation is tomorrow at 9, you are to meet me out here where I will take you to register, collect your ID and give you a tour of the campus. Do you have any questions?" I shook my head to indicate that I didn't.
"Just one, is it always this hot in LA?" My mom asked, dramatically waving her hand in front of her face as she and my dad started moving around to get my stuff out of the trunk of the car.
"Unfortunately for my skin, yes most of the time it is." Rosalie laughed melodically at my mother's comment before turning back to me. "Bella if you ever need anything I will be living in Room 9 on your floor," Rosalie said before lowering her voice so only I could hear, "and trust me if what I saw of your roommate is true all the time, you will need somewhere quiet to run to." With that she winked and smiled brightly at me, leaving me slightly confused and anxious. "I must be off but I shall see you soon Bella. Goodbye Mr and Mrs Swan."
"Goodbye," my parents said in unison waving at Rosalie who returned the action before sauntering off towards the dorm.
"She seems nice, really helpful." My dad spoke directly to me as he lifted the last of my bags out of the trunk and placed it down beside the others.
"She is, let's just hope everyone else is like her." I smiled ruefully at my parents.
"Come on kid; let's get all of this up to your room then." As one my parents and I bent down to pick up the five bags containing everything I would need. We carried the bags up the stairs to the second floor and along the hall to my door. It was easy to tell which room was mine because it was the only one with music blaring loudly; we had just gotten to the door of the room next door when a short, dark haired girl danced out of the room. She span quickly before dancing back into the room singing at the top of her lungs. I moved and stood blankly in the doorway with my parents on either side of me watching the girl dance around and I suddenly knew what Rosalie had meant by her comment. It took five minutes and a woman who walked out of the bathroom to shut off the music before we were even acknowledged.
"Why did you switch it off that was my favourite song?" The girl said not turning around from her position by one of the desks. I assumed that the woman stood smiling gently at me was the girl's mother but I found it hard to believe because I could not have imagined two more different people. The girl had short unbelievably dark brown hair, so dark it looked black whereas the woman in front of me had long auburn hair. Although they were of similar heights both being shorter than my five foot five by an inch or two and similar, diminutive builds.
"Because Alice, darling, I do believe your roommate has arrived." With those words the girl spun quickly around and stared at me. It was then that I had no trouble believing they were mother and daughter because they both had identical lavender eyes, eyes which were currently excited in both faces. Eyes which I would come to know as the most expressive eyes I had ever seen in one person, let alone two.
2024
"So that was how I met your Aunties Alice and Rose." I say with a flourish as I look down at my daughter who is smiling brightly up at me.
"Did you really think Aunt Rose was the most beautiful woman you had ever seen?" Jessie asks.
"Oh most definitely and I still do now, I believe even your father thought she was beautiful."
"Did you dad?"
"Of course, do you not think Aunt Rosie is beautiful?" Edward asks our daughter who puckers her lips as she considers her answer.
"Well…yeah she is beautiful, but I think moms more beautiful." I feel the blush spread across my cheeks before she continues. "What did you think of mom when you first saw her?"
"Now that is an opinion for later in the story but let me tell you it was different to what it is now." Edward whispers in our daughter's ear as his eyes meet mine over the top of her head. "But for now little princess it is time for you to go to sleep." He says as he slides off and stands up next to her bed.
"Okay, goodnight dad, goodnight mom." Jessie says as she rolls onto her side and curls up under her covers.
"Goodnight baby girl," I whisper as I slide off her bed and place a kiss on the side of her head. Edward kisses her after me and walks to the door, I move into his side as soon as I reach him and we both stand and look at our daughter. Once we have had our fill I switch off the light and close the door. He keeps his arm around my waist as we move downstairs, once we reach the living room he moves me to the couch where he proceeds to drop down pulling me with him.
"I love you," Edward leans down and whispers to me. "And I can't believe you are telling this story to Jess, I do hope you will paint me in a favourable light."
"Well I think I will tell it exactly as it happened, but don't worry it has a good ending because I love you too." I answer as I reach up and capture his lips in a kiss which quickly becomes heated.
So that is that for the second chapter. We now know how Bella met Alice and Rose but first impressions count in life and lets see what Bella's first impressions of Alice were in the next chapter.
Emmett, Jasper and Edward won't be in the story (at college) for a few more chapters but do please bear with me.
I'll try and get the next chapter up at the weekend.
