Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or the characters... I merely borrow them for my girlish pleasure.

A/N: I am SO excited for when Bella and Alice finally meet Jasper and Edward, so I think that I'll have about four chapters out by tomorrow.. I know, Does this girl have a life? Well actually, I do, thank you for your concern. :b

Posti Di Lavoro

"Hey, Alice, what does mool-toll e-con-nomeecee mean?"

Alice broke out in fits of laughter. "Molto economici means very cheap, Bella."

I groaned. "Why is this language so difficult?" I wondered aloud.

"It's because you speak English. Now stop trying to pronounce things unless you know how to," she warned. I rolled my eyes in her direction so she stuck her tongue out at me childishly.

Italy was so beautiful- I'd noticed, although I hadn't had much time for it.

We'd been looking for jobs all morning, and unfortunately, there weren't any. That applied to Americans, I mean.

"I'm sorry, miss," said a chubby man, speaking with a thick Italian accent.

"Why?"

"Our.. eh.. jobs, you say, do not apply to Americans," he'd explained, saying Americans like it was a disgusting, disgraceful word.

"Go run a treadmill. Maybe you'll get some sense," I remarked. Alice giggled, and keeled over laughing.

We had left that shop quickly- not only because we were disgusted, but because I would've abused that man.

We were walking through little Roman allies, vespas coming out of every which way, almost hitting you but never touching a hair. "You know what's funny? He probably is wondering what a treadmill is," I pointed out. It was probably true, too.

"Maybe Ralph has some friends, you know, to refer us too?" Alice mused, completely ignoring me.

"Ralph? I asked, puzzled.

"Lauren."

I gaped at her as she pulled her cellphone out. "Dammit," she cursed, "no signal. Damn!"

"We need jobs," I started, getting cut off.

"Thanks for the info Miss Obvious!" she snapped, flinging her hand at me. I bit my lip to stifle back my laughter.

I hadn't seen Alice like this since the last time she didn't have a signal on her cellphone- which usually never happens.

I snuck a glance at her, taking in her fiery eyes, scowling grimace, messy hair, and flushed pale skin. "Wow," I murmured under my breath.

"What?!"

"Look!" I exclaimed, pointing at a random boutique, trying to change the subject.

It was a really adorable boutique- the curtains were a red-red color, with white stripes running through them. The shop was called Gioca Impasto, which was so graciously translated into Playdough.

"Oh, Bella, your so amazing!"

I stared at her now hopeful face, following the direction it was looking towards. The little boutique.

"What did I do, Alice?" I asked, bemused.

"Posti di lavoro!" she exclaimed. "Jobs!"

--

I felt like I searched for my soul today- not jobs.

I mean, when we finally found the perfect job, we weren't 'right for it'. Please.

I contemplated that while licking furiously at my first ever gelato in a huge cone.

"This helps us think," I observed.

Alice nodded, scooping her gelato out with a spoon at a hundred miles an hour.

"Today sucked," I added, trying to make a conversation.

Alice glared at me, sighing, "Yeah, today sucked a lot."

I quickly agreed, then finished my cone. "It's gone," I realized with a weird, melancholy feeling.

"Mine, too."

"Maybe... we should get more," I suggested.

"Bella! We are going mad! We're going to do something. Now. Come on, Bells. It's time we got a job," she said righteously.

I nodded enthusiastically, up for anything that would get me off of my almost-fat ass. Well, it would be if I got some more gelato. Oh my God. I need to leave.

"Italy has too many sweets," I said, annoyed at it. Stupid Italy.

Alice stopped from trudging across the parlor's deck, thinking. "Hmm. Bella?"

"Yes?" I replied, hesitating a bit.

"Are you up for a boat ride? To Venice, I mean."

I smiled and put my arm around Alice's shoulder. "Alice, let's go to Venice."

A/N: The song for this chapter... which I found a very hard search... is Mercy by Duffy.

I picked it because I like this song, haha. No, not just that. I think that the song shows trying to get out, trying to get away from abuse and stuff. Well, that's what the lyrics portray. Except in a good way, like a 'I-can-do-anything-and-I-don't-need-you-to-help-me-do-anything-because-I'm-powerful-and-a-woman-and-I-rock.'

Please R&R on all of these words I call writing!