Two chapters in one day! Lucky you. Thanks so much for not hunting me down and torturing me for not updating. I can't ever get on the computer long enough to write except on weekends. I try to write the old-fashioned way during study hall, but It's a long process. Thanks for understanding! Make sure to vote in my poll. I need it to write this next chapter.
APOV
"Alice!" Bella's voice carried from across the store.
"What?" I answered, trying to look innocent and convincing as she limped over. It didn't work.
"No one needs that many outfits," Bella declared, rolling her large, brown eyes.
"But I don't know when you'll ever give in again and let me make over your life," I explained with a huge smile. She was mine now.
"You are going to let me use my money, right? I don't want you spending money on me," she said, blushing and staring at her old tennis shoes – which I would soon replace, of course. Well, shoe, really. That stupid cast was so annoying; it limited my clothing choices for Bella to skirts and dresses.
I sighed, pretending to be disappointed.
"Give me your money," I conceded, pointedly ignoring her last request. That was just silly. What else was I going to spend my money on? I mean, what was the point of having all of this money if I couldn't spend it on what I wanted? She'd never know. Suspect? Probably, but never know. And if Edward told her, I would. . . I would paint his piano bright pink!
Bella handed me two hundred dollars. That would buy one jacket, and only if it was on sale. Thank goodness the price was on the rack, not the clothes. If I gave them to her while she was on the dressing room, she'd never know how much I spent.
XxxxX
We shopped almost all day, the cashier staring in disbelief at the huge pile of purchases. His confused look disappeared, though, when I paid in cash before he could call out the price. His eyes widened, and then he seemed to rethink our odd mannerisms and teasing. Because we appeared rich, or craziness was renamed quirkiness.
I laughed at his expression, both to dazzle him and to distract Bella from the amount of change I was given – much more than two hundred dollars. I succeeded on both counts, and I carried the majority of the bags to the Porsche, already plotting makeup and hairstyles as the awestruck cashier stared.
XxxxX
I drove to Bella's house, thankful that Charlie was out fishing. I flashed upstairs as I put the mountain of clothing in Bella's room. I ran down brought Bella up, too, not wanting to wait any longer.
Bella turned to look at me, her expression as if she were awaiting execution.
"What now?" she asked quietly, wincing.
"Aww, don't be scared. You'll love it. I know you will. I have to run home and grab some things. I'll be back in. . . a minute and twenty-three seconds." With that, I was gone.
Once in my bathroom at the house, I grabbed a handful of hair products, a box of makeup, and a fake nail kit.
"you're mine now!" I cackled gleefully as I returned. Bella had no clue how much fun this would be for me. From the minute I knew he was keeping her around, I had been planning this exact makeover. At long last, I was allowed to carry out those plans. I steered Bella into the bathroom to begin on her hair.
I kept her from boredom by telling her stories about Edward. Occasionally, I would tell her how I was doing something and what effect it would have. I hoped that she would see the final product and want to recreate it every day.
I laid my nail stuff out on the meticulously clean bathroom counter in order to be close to a vent. Already, the coconut shiner I was using on Bella's hair was giving me the ominous beginnings of a headache. I was telling her about the time Emmett dragged Edward to a St. Patrick's day celebration, when I finally turned on the fan and the vent. (I didn't write that story, but if you want to read it, it's at /twilight/viewstory.php?sid234)
"I won't be talking much when I do your nails; acetone may smell bad to you, but it makes me want to rip out a window. You'll have to supply the conversation while I hold my breath," I explained as I filled a bowl with warm, soapy water.
Bella's only reaction was to sigh and attempt to twist around to see herself in the mirror. I silently took her hands and put them in the water, prodding her to speak with my eyes while blocking her from her reflection.
"Tell me about your friends. I never hear about them," I requested as I moved her hair out of the potentially dangerous vicinity of the nail polish lined up behind her.
I took a deep breath, even though it was unnecessary for anything but talking, and promptly ceased to inhale. The nail restoration had begun. Heaven help us. Bella's nails were extremely short and nail-bitten. Thankfully, I could remedy that with plastic and acrylic until she broke the habit.
"Well . . ." Bella started, "They drive me crazy." I raised one eyebrow as I looked up at her, a million questions in my eyes.
She was lost to her storytelling while I buffed and painted coat after coat onto her nails.
XxxxX
I threw Bella into the bathroom after taping paper over the mirror, and threw in the perfect dress that I found in the fifth bag. I constantly reminded myself to think things that would keep Edward out of my head. If he tried, all he would get for his efforts was a long line of Macy's commercials, starting from the early eighties. In between commercials, I sent the message Edward, if you ruin this, I will murder you. Ok, maybe not, but I will personally scar you for life. I will think things about Jasper that you will need centuries of soap to remove from your mind.
At long last, she was done. Without even letting her see herself, I dragged her to the Porsche, ignoring her questions as I drove down the road.