I'm a horrible procrastinator. Please read and review, though.
APOV:
I've seen the car arriving in a vision long before Edward pulled over his silver Volvo in the driveway.
I've been waiting for this moment to come for ages! Leaving Forks without saying goodbye to Bella was the worst idea Edward had come up. It did not only make him and her unhappy, but the rest of us as well. And he calls himself smart and logical. Huh.
In the months we had been away, Bella apparently had sunk in a depression, befriended werewolves, encountered a bloodthirsty vampire, and pursued dangerous hobbies, aside from the 'alleged' cliff diving accident I saw in a vision.
Not that we'd learned all this from Bella. I 'discreetly' asked Charlie about this, even though he was kinda cold to me. I don't blame him. Bella had been keeping mum about what had happened in those months. I think she would like to spare us the pain of knowing what our leaving had done to her. She's sensitive like that. Bella might act sarcastic on the outside, but anyone who truly knew her can see what a big softie she is on the inside. Just look at what she did in the 'James and the Ballet Studio' incident. I still think how foolish she was for challenging a human-drinking vampire alone, but I really admire her for her readiness to sacrifice and die in the place of those she love.
Maybe that was what drew us to her in the first place. She was both vulnerable and strong; a protector and a 'protectee.' Loyal and sacrificing. She wasn't afraid of our vampiric natures, and accepted us for who we are, heedless of what we are.
Bella is the best friend anyone could have, and I am glad to have the privilege of calling her that.
Just as I am happy about the upcoming sleepover!
Technically, it wouldn't be a real sleepover. Vampires can't sleep, after all. And Bella would be too busy playing Bella Barbie with me to do something as boring as sleeping. Oh, the possibilities!
I think I began to laugh too evilly in my mind because I heard Edward's disapproving growl from the car. I would bet my new Prada shoes that he's trying to strangle me from a distance and, for good measure, incinerate me with the heat of his glare, too.
Please, Edward. I'm too young to die! Oh, wait – I already did that. Maybe what would be more appropriate is something like: Please, Edward, I'm too young to be obliterated from existence!
Yes, Edward, I tell him through my thoughts, rolling my eyes. I know. No discomforting the human with my shopping obsession if she doesn't like it.
I'm sure that I could convince Bella to shop with me. She always falls for my 'Bambi eyes,' a weakness of hers that I exploit very shamelessly.
What was taking them so long, anyway? Why is Edward hogging her to himself so much? Alice Cullen wasn't meant to sit all day long alone in the living room waiting for her brother and his girlfriend to alight from his car. Alice Cullen had no patience for that.
And yes, I was the only member of Bella's welcome party. Carlisle had work, as usual, and Esme went with him. Rosalie, of course, doesn't want to meet 'that human' – Emmett accompanied her to a hunting trip. My Jasper was too guilt-ridden to come face-to-face with the human he had gotten close to killing and chose to go with them. I think we all are feeling guilty and I was the only one brave enough to meet Bella.
With nothing else to do, I eavesdropped on the conversation in the car.
"Bella says no kissing. Yet," I heard Bella say.
I snickered. Getting no action, are you Edward? Poor Eddie-poo.
Edward's answering growl assured me that he had heard me perfectly well and that I was going to pay for my teasing later.
I wasn't that worried about his payback. Bella will protect me, won't she? She loves me too much to allow Edward from 'obliterating me from existence,' right?
Right. Keep telling yourself that, Alice. Never mind that a little bit of dazzling from Edward, Bella would be outright goo in his hands and would do anything he would ask…
But Edward can't blow me into smithereens just yet. Not because of brotherly-and-sisterly love (though I'm sure that he's fond of me even if he calls me his annoying pixie of a sister), but because he needs me -and subsequently, all of us - to protect Bella.
What Bella doesn't know is that the sleepover had ulterior motives, aside from endless shopping sprees and makeovers. Edward – and the rest of us, including Rosalie even-though-she-won't-admit-it – wanted to keep our precious human safe.
Lately, an army of rogue, newborn vampires had sprung up and started attacking humans in a nearby town. It's a wonder that the Volturi hadn't find out about them yet.
Edward thinks it has something to do with Bella. We told him that maybe those were only random attacks, but I am beginning to se the necessity of keeping Bella close where we could keep an eye on her. And my reasons for wanting her near are not borne of mere paranoia!
I often trained an 'eye' over my family and Bella. I would know of their every step, every little nuance, and every small breath. I would see a dozen possible futures, but only one would come into fruition, depending on the decisions and reactions of people involved. It was like watching reruns of your favorite TV show – you know what would, or would not happen next.
But since we left Forks, Bella had completely disappeared from the range of my sight, much to my consternation. Edward might have forbid me to do so, but a determined Alice always gets her way! When he was locked in his room, moping, or outside, doing god-knows-what, I tried to check on my best friend from afar. Tried to, no to avail. Watching Bella with my sight was like watching TV with a bad reception – I only get distorted images, hazy and blurry ones that made my head spin dizzily.
At first I thought that returning to Forks would 'repair' my sight, but it had gotten worse. Bella's werewolf friends might've been the problem, but I still couldn't see her now. I only saw the arriving car because Edward was with her – but even that vision wasn't clear. I think it was a glitch when I saw the cliff-diving accident of hers.
It was as if someone was deliberately blocking her from me.
Was Bella unknowingly doing it? She can shield her thoughts from Edward's power with ease. Maybe she could block me the way she could block Edward. But why only now? Had our leaving triggered something in her?
So many questions and not enough answers.
The door banged open and in a flurry of skirts and limbs, the most adorable human burst inside with unrestrained vigor and vivacity.
"Hello, everyone!" she greeted, jumping up and down and executing what I was sure a pirouette – something clumsy Bella couldn't do. "Bella's glad, so glad that you're back, back, back!"
Her announcement was followed by a series of complicated steps which made me raise my brow. Did Edward feed her too much sugar? There was no way that Bella could be that coordinated.
My brother came after her, carrying her satchel, and wearing a disappointed look on his face.
Poor wittle Eddie-poo, I taunted silently. Didn't get his kissy-kiss, did he?
The glare he sent me promised a thousand ways to die again. It made me fear for me and my wardrobe's safety, especially when his glower suddenly turned into a smirk. Crap! I just gave him a payback idea!
Oh no you don't, Edward, I thought fiercely back at him. Just try to come near my closet and I'll tell Bella about those websites you were visiting!
His smug grin faltered and I could've sworn he grew flustered. Boys would be boys...
Another point for Alice!
I really should stop goading him so – but then again, maybe not. It was a vice too fun to give up.
"Where's everyone?" Bella asked pitifully. "Didn't they want to meet Bella?"
I turned to her, mental debate with my brother soon forgotten. Her, sad, soft tone made me want to coddle her to death. But Edward wouldn't like that.
"Hi Bella!" I greeted warmly, and jumped to my feet, Alice-style. And yes, it's patented.
She was wearing a cute little knee-length white dress with a blue hemline. A blue sash was wrapped around her tiny waist, and tied at her back. A neat baby-blue ribbon was perched jauntily on top of her unbound, beautiful brown hair, and a pair of off-white sandals was on her feet.
Two words: SO CUTE!
Bella looked like the kind of porcelain doll any self-respecting little girl would beg their parents for. No wonder Edward wanted a kiss! Judging from the visions running through my head, he wanted to get her alone to have one.
Fat chance, bro. I get to have her all to myself! Cue in my evil laugh!
"I love your dress, Bella!" I said, giving her a careful hug.
"Bella knows!" Bella replied cheekily. She looked around curiously. "Where's everyone?"
"I'm sorry. Bella," I replied. "They won't be back before nighttime."
Bella visibly deflated and slumped on the sofa gloomily. She looked up at me and then at Edward, who stood by the doorway with an unreadable look on his face.
"They didn't miss Bella?" she asked, and to my horror, her big, doe eyes swam with tears. Sarcastic Bella, I could handle, but a Weepy One? I didn't even know she possessed tear ducts, for I've never seen her cry before. I met Edward's gaze, panicked.
"Oh, no. They – I mean, we-" I corrected. "-all missed you, Bella. But they had to do something first." And they're still too ashamed of themselves to meet you this soon, I added silently.
"But they'll be back to meet Bella in person?"
I frowned slightly at her new habit of referring to herself in the third person.
"Yes."
All earlier traces of disappointment gone, she jumped to her feet excitedly. "Great! What do we do now?"
"We could always go shopping," I suggested slyly.
Bella always had an adversity to shopping. I don't understand why – what could be better than splurging hard-earned cash in clothing and accessories? The items alone did not make it worthwhile – if I bought things just for the sake of having them I would've just ordered from EBay. What I like best about it is the thrill of mixing and matching outfits, the heady excitement of visiting different stores, and the feeling of beauty and power only the right outfit could give you.
Sadly, only a few people understood the importance and necessity of shopping and, apparently Bella wasn't included in this elite club.
But, nevertheless, it was fun dragging an unwilling Bella to my shopping trips.
I expected her to groan, roll her eyes and say, "You know I hate shopping, Alice!" in her usual sarcastic tone. And I was prepared to unleash the full potency of my incorrigible 'Bambi eyes' until she gave in.
So, imagine my surprise when, she clapped her hands and started her complicated jig again.
"Oh, I was hoping you'd say that! What are you waiting for? Come on, Alice! Those poor shops are waiting for us!"
I felt my jaw drop. Did she say what I think she said?
Without so much as a glance at Edward, she rushed out the door. I felt my jaw drop farther. No goodbye for Edward? Was she mad at him or something?
I met his somber eyes. He hadn't even hurried after her. Were they avoiding each other?
He shrugged, reading my thoughts.
"I don't know," he replied quietly. His golden eyes stared out agonizingly to where she had been. It was so like Edward to torture himself silly for what he thought was best for Bella. Didn't he even think of asking her of her opinion? He was such an emo. What did Bella ever see in him?
He shot me another heated glare.
"Woah there, Edward. Don't blow a gasket. It's bad for the blood pressure," I snickered at my joke. My brother just rolled his eyes. Didn't he get it? Humph.
"Take care of Bella, will you Alice?"
It was my turn to roll my eyes. As if he needed to tell me that.
I skipped outside, excitement slowly but surely building up inside me. Shopping with a willing Bella? Dreams do come true! No that I dream, of course. I need to sleep to do that.
In the days to come, I would look back and wonder if this incident was the first time I suspected that something was wrong with Bella
Terribly wrong.
"Try this one on, Bella!"
Rushing in the umpteenth store we'd visited (I lost count after twenty), I was conscious of an effervescent feeling bubbling in my gut. The sensation was all in my head, but suffice it to say that I was having so much fun!
I handed her a pretty bottle green dress, and took it with an approving smile on her lips and went to the dressing room.
I'm sure that the same smile also wreathed my face. It was a wonderful, wonderful day! If I didn't think that Bella wasn't perfect before, she was now. I mean, what more could I ask for than a future sister-in-law that was as shopaholic as me?
I glanced down at the numerous bags in my grasp. The weight was nothing to me, but they proved to be an impediment to 'quality shopping.' Damn. I should've left them in the car. But I was in a hurry to reintroduce Bella to the magic and splendor of the world of shopping.
How long would it last, though? Had she missed me and merely wished to spend time in my company? Or had she truly developed a love for shopping when we were gone?
I was leaning on the latter theory. Bella had an excellent taste in fashion. I don't know why I haven't noticed it before. She couldn't fake that. In my opinion, elitism in apparels was innate – borne from a genuine love of the art of shopping.
I strode towards the dressing room, excited to see her in my outfit selection. I knew that Edward would've preferred something bluish, but puh-leaze? Blue's all well and good, but variation is the spice of life, or so I've heard.
It made me wonder what exactly she had done in the months we've been gone.
"What are you doing?"
I would've jumped out of my wits if I wasn't a vampire.
The sharp, reprimanding tone seemed to come from one of the stalls. Seeing as we were the only customers at the moment, it must've come from Bella's room.
Although I didn't think it was she who spoke.
I could sense three people in Bella's occupied stall, but I could only hear one body constantly giving out a rhythmic breathing, which was presumably Bella. Had someone come in when I was lost in my thoughts?
"I did nothing wrong," I heard Bella protest in a soft tone that would've managed to make my heart melt, if it was still alive.
Was Bella in danger? Her heartbeat was jogging in a constant, steady pace.
"You're making her suspicious," another voice hissed. Calm and dangerous, this time.
The word Dangerous overcame my hesitations to barge in. Turning the doorknob, I was prepared to deal with the intruders who were harassing Bella.
"Bella? What's going –"
The sight that greeted me made me stop short and look on in horror.
There was no one else in the room. Bella's eyes met mine through the mirror, and my utter shock was reflected in them. Her dress was unzipped, and her back faced me, and I could see the two parallel gashes running down the length of it. She zipped up her dress, blocking my view of them.
I could've felt sick. They look newly healed, and so accurately straight that someone must've used a ruler when he or she hacked through the skin, tearing her muscles –
"Bella?" I asked in a choked tone. "What-happened?"
Her eyes darted sideways, seeking escape. "I – fell?"
Her response sounded more like a question, as if she was also trying to convince herself of it. Bella might've acquired shopping skills, but it seemed that lying abilities wasn't included in the package. My eyes narrowed, and in the mirror, I saw that I resembled the predator I truly am.
"What happened?" I repeated. Firmly, this time.
Her heart stuttered madly, and jumpstarted into a frenetic rhythm.
"N-nothing…Th-this is nothing."
I raised my brow. "Try again, Bella."
She started shivering, and I would've softened my tone in the next minute if Bella did not straighten her quivering pose, turned to face me, and looked at me directly in the eye. Fiercely, so unlike sweet, cowering Bella a second ago.
"This is none of your goddamn business, Alice," she hissed in a commanding voice, sounding so much like one of the voice I heard earlier. "Now leave me the f*ck alone."
I blinked. Bella never swore. She never changed attitudes so quickly before, too.
"Don't ever think of mentioning this to anyone, will you, Alice?" she continued, voice growing softer and colder. "Never."
I had never felt so…scared of Bella. Her eyes compelled me to look into hers, and I could've sworn they flashed red in a second.
As swiftly as it had come, she dropped her gaze to the floor and her whole frame sagged. When she looked up at me her brown orbs were full of curiosity.
"What are you doing here, Alice?" she inquired as if she hadn't threatened me a minute ago.
I swallowed. It felt as if my throat had gone dry.
"I thought I heard voices – " I heard myself say reluctantly. Everything felt surreal, like I was a mere spectator watching from the sidelines.
She laughed with the guileless quality of a young child.
"Bella had no idea vampires could hallucinate, Alice" she replied chidingly, reverting to her third-person point of view speech. "You should ease up on those elks and grizzly bears."
I frowned, attempting to retrieve my bearings.
"But-"
"As you can see, we're the only people here," Bella made a show of looking outside the door and to the other stalls. "Maybe you heard me talking to myself. You know I do that a lot. Wait for Bella outside, please. I want to try this one on."
Ten minutes later, I pegged the whole incident down to overactive imagination.
We returned home, happy, a few dollars lighter, and with a car full of bags of clothing and accessories that would probably last a person for a lifetime.
"I really had fun today, Alice," she said, heading up to the porch with me. We had gone to many shops, but it looked like she still have a lot of pent-up energy because she was faintly bouncing in her step.
"Bella, having fun on a shopping trip?" I asked in mock-horror. "Who are you and what have you done with Bella?"
I meant it lightheartedly, but the smile died on her face and she looked at me with a frightened expression - like she was expecting me to pounce on her any second.
I frowned again, something I was doing more frequently in the presence of Bella.
"It was a joke, Bella."
Her answering laughter rang hollowly in my ears. Fake. But I shoved the matter into the furthest corner in my mind, and focused on the house. Huh. It seemed like everyone was there.
Bella, in un-atypical Bella-like fashion, burst open the door like she did earlier and wrapped everyone in warm hugs, including Rosalie. Based on the look on her face she probably didn't enjoy being hugged by 'That Human' so much.
Bella's unusually cheery disposition quickly dispersed any awkward moments, and soon she was horsing around with Emmett who seemed very happy to see his 'little sis.'
Soon, our human's stomach grumbled and she laughingly stood up and headed for the kitchen, telling everyone to 'stay put where they were because they still have a lot of talking to do.'
I sat down beside my Jasper, who looked at me with a smile, the shadows veiling his beautiful eyes vanishing on seeing how Bella had forgiven him for what he had done. I clasped his hand in mine and he tightened his hold comfortingly. I leaned my head on his shoulder resting myself from the very eventful day. He always calmed me down. Already I could feel my chaotic emotions dwindle to an inner peace I knew only with him.
"She's very happy," he told everyone. "Ridiculously so. I hadn't thought that a human being was capable of such joy. I couldn't tone it down."
Rosalie sniffed disdainfully. "Typical human."
"I'm glad that she's happy," Carlisle said, seated beside Esme on one couch. "Goodness knows how sad she must've been."
Esme smiled wistfully into his eyes. "We all were."
Rosalie sniffed disgustedly again and I saw Edward cringe in guilt.
"I've been meaning to tell you," Carlisle said, addressing everyone at large. "I'm inviting a colleague for dinner."
The reaction was instantaneous. We all sat up straighter and began talking all at once, attempting to be heard above the noise. It was a miracle Bella hadn't come and investigated what the ruckus is about yet.
"What? Why? You can't invite another human. Soon this place would be crawling with them," Rosalie said, glaring angrily.
"Rosalie is right, Carlisle," Esme commented, frowning at her husband. "What if this colleague of yours learns of our secret?"
"It's gonna look weird at the dinner table," Emmett put in his two cents. "Can we pull pranks on him or her?"
I rolled my eyes at his juvenile thinking. Jasper and me remained silent. Inviting a human for dinner here? Carlisle surely have his reasons for doing so.
"I don't want to leave Bella again," Edward said quietly.
That silenced all complaints. It seemed as if all of us wished that.
"We won't be going anywhere," Carlisle assured in his steady tones. "And I would never suggest something that could jeopardize the fragile standing of this family. This colleague of mine is a very peculiar character. Brilliant mind, for such a young age. I suspect that either is she one of us, or that she is not completely human. Albeit I could detect no hint of malice in her. Plus, Dr. Alaisabel Cygne resembles- "
CRASH!!!
All of us snapped our attention to the noise.
Bella stood in the doorway of the kitchen, wide-eyed and pale, the remnants of a salad bowl smashed into a million tiny pieces at her feet. But her eyes were focused on Carlisle.
"What-what did you say?" she asked weakly.
"Dr. Alaisabel Cygne," Carlisle repeated calmly. "Do you know her?"
We were waiting for her reply expectantly, wondering what could've triggered such a reaction from a normally calm Bella.
"No." Bella replied. Too quickly.
It fooled no one.
"So in that case," Carlisle continued smoothly, turning to us again. "No one has any objections if I extended invitations to her."
"NO!" Bella spoke before anyone else. She stumbled over the shards of glass, the first graceless act I've ever seen her do today. Thankfully she did not get cut. "Don't invite her! She's an evil witch-in-disguise!"
We knew that witches did not exist. Bella was too rational to believe in such things. But her unexpected, telling reaction to the name…
Carlisle and the rest of us frowned.
"I thought you said that you didn't know her."
Bella blushed, caught in her lie. She fiddled with her hands, and stared down at her foot toeing some nonexistent dirt on the ground. Her posture reminded me of a little child caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"I might've met her," she mumbled. "Somewhere."
Did the doctor have something to do with the scars on her back?
I blinked at myself, confused.
What scars?
Edward thankfully didn't hear that thought. I couldn't have explained it myself. It was a memory drifting teasingly in front of me, only to retreat when I made a move to grasp it.
Needless to say, it was the start of startling revelations ahead.
But if these revelations were good or not, it was too early to tell.
'Dr. Alaisabel Cygne' is not an OC. You might know her with a different name. Plus it's too obvious, right?
Sorry if there are grammar mistakes or if it seemed rushed. At least it's longer than the previous chapters.
Bella seems OOC for a reason. The chapters to come would explain her behavior. You've seen her childish side, and on the next chapter, you'll see her seductive one. Which spells trouble for Edward.
The marks on her back is pretty obvious too. I warn you beforehand that this will be a ridiculously powerful Bella fic. If you don't like that theme, well...
I know nothing of fashion. So please forgive me if the characters clothing sounds horribly vague. Or horribly mismatched.
Please review!
