Song: Nobody's home, Avril Lavigne
Edward's P.O.V
Eric came around to the front door and we all climbed in to the limo. I glanced at Bella who was sitting stiff with her mouth hanging slightly open. I suppressed a laugh.
"No. Freaking. Way. You have a limo?" she breathed. I smiled and nodded. She nodded too, although it looked more like she was nodding to herself.
"So, Edward, what do you think. Should we go with classy, or in fashion?" Alice asked out of the blue. I wasn't really concentrating on that part. I was thinking more about Bella. The reason I came on this trip was so that I could observe her a little more, see her flaws and remedy them. Like I said, I would work on her. She was not a lost cause.
"Ummm, the second one," I said, not really having paid attention to her. Alice nodded and the car went back into silence. It was awkward, and uncomfortable, so when we saw the mall three audible sighs of relief were heard.
"Alright, we are headed straight to Dolce and Gabbana first," Alice squealed. I saw the relief wash off Bella's face and shock creep on in its place.
"D and G? Are you freaking serious? How much are you planning on spending? I thought we were getting a whole new wardrobe! We can't shop there!"
"Of course we can! And we will!" Alice exclaimed with a determined look on her little face. The creases on Bella's face deepened and I had an urge to smooth them away with my thumb. They were irritating and irrational. I had plenty of money and I wasn't running out anytime short. Instead of following through with my actions, I decided to voice my thoughts.
"Bella, don't be ridiculous. If you are living with me then you are going to wear appropriate clothing. I have more than enough money," I said sternly. She glared at me and huffed. The car came to a sudden stop at the front doors and we all hopped out, Bella more reluctantly than me and Alice.
"Ready?" Alice asked excitedly. Only Alice would take such a little job so seriously. Bella nodded and followed her into the mall. It wasn't the everyday mall where teenagers and such would go to enjoy their Saturday afternoons, but more a wealthier place to shop. It was a small building, holding grander shops like Giorgio Armani and Gucci. Places that Alice and I shopped at.
We slowly walked – Bella dragging behind – to the first of many places that Alice wanted to visit. I kept my head down, hoping no one would recognise me. We arrived outside D and G and entered without hesitation. It was easy, natural. We had done it so many times. We continued walking when I glanced around – out of habit – and realized that Bella was not with us. I stopped and pivoted around to see her still standing at the front looking horror stricken. I sighed and strode towards her. I grabbed her arm and yanked her inside. She kept throwing nervous glanced everywhere while we were catching up to Alice who was sorting between two blouses of the same colour.
"Edward, I can't do this," Bella whispered tensely. I looked down at her and furrowed my eyebrows.
"Why? I already told you if this –"
"It's not about the frickin money," she harshly interrupted. Her annoyance gave way quickly to the uneasy look that spread across her face as she sighed.
"I don't – I'm not –Well... I don't belong here. People are looking at me. They keep shunning with their eyes. And their right, this isn't my quarter. I am a freak amongst them. Can't we go to a less... costly place?" she whispered. I was taken aback. I glanced around and noticed all the females staring at her with disgust. Was this why she had been averse to coming here? Because she was afraid of rejection?
"Once we get you cleaned up you'll look like you fit in, you'll show them," I reassured.
She let out a shaky breath and looked close to tears. I watched as she checked her eyes to make sure that she hadn't freed any. She lightly brushed her hand under her eye and checked her finger tips. I scrutinized her face. I looked beneath the layer of cosmetics to see what she truly looked like. She could be pretty, if she just left her lips their natural colour and didn't look as if someone had gotten a black permanent marker and drawn on two thick lines top and bottom of each of her eyes, she could look very pretty, aesthetically pleasing even. But of course, I didn't know. I was just guessing. For all I knew, the caking of makeup was to hide something disastrous. But I didn't think that was possible. No amount of covering you do could hide something like that. It could help, but do no more than that.
"But that's just it. I'll only look like I fit in. Only I know I don't. No wait, scratch that. You and I will know, and you'll treat me the same as ever. You aren't blind to the truth like all these people will soon be. I don't know why you think changing my clothing will change me. It won't." I hadn't known I was holding on to the false hope that it would but when she had spoken the words, It adorned on me that I had. I tried to smile but it didn't reach my eyes. Bella looked away uncomfortably. Alice called for her and she used that as her escape from our little conversation and scurried toward her. She was thrown multiple skirts, blouses, jackets and dresses before being shoved into the changing rooms.
Alice talked through some instructions with her before bouncing back to me.
"Edward, you stay here and wait for Bella to come out. I told her that she has to show me everything that she wears. But since I'm ducking out, she has to show you. So go sit down on those chairs –" she pointed to a pair of nice, expensive chairs, "– and be a good boy. I am going to go get some make-up remover to get rid of that disgusting paste she has on her face she thinks is aesthetic. Just tell her whether it looks nice or not, it's pretty simple." I rolled my eyes and muttered as I sat down on the chairs like a good little boy.
Not a moment later, the door swung open and revealed Bella in a white pencil skirt and Blazer. She looked around – probably for Alice – Before she spotted me. Her artificial rosy cheeks darkened into a more natural red as she closed the door, blocking her from my view. I sighed and rose out of my chair, softly knocking on the door.
"Bella?" I called gently. I was unsure if her reaction was because she was embarrassed or because she was still sensitive to our discussion earlier.
"Bella? Please come out. Alice told me that I had to approve your clothing." I waited for an answer but received none. Sighing, I tried again, knowing what the silence was for.
"I'm sorry for making you so insecure before, they were the wrong choice of words. It doesn't matter about what they think; they are just stuck up, rich, arrogant air-heads who think of themselves higher than anyone. I know changing your attire won't change who you are, that's not the goal here. No one wants to change you, just help you." I stood in silence when I heard the door creak open again. She attentively stuck her head out and smiled.
"Thank you." She stepped out of the dressing room and let me have a proper look at the ensemble. It was nice, but the white made Bella's skin look flushed out. She noticed the apprehensive look on my face and darted back into the change room, coming out seconds later with the same thing on it black. I smiled. It looked very classy on her. It made everything stand out, especially the slight sun kiss in her skin. I nodded and she grinned, turning around into the small cubicle again.
A routine formed of her showing me her next outfit every three minutes, and I would judge. It felt like only minutes had passed when Alice came back with the necessary formulas to rid her of her make-up.
"Hey Edward. Did you manage to sort me out a decent pile? Or was that too hard for you?" she teased. I rolled my eyes and kept quiet, not wanting to say anything that could get me in trouble. She ignored my cold shoulder and kissed my cheek before slipping passed the door to help Bella.
A few minutes passed by, which consisted of me glancing around the shop and ignoring appreciative stares I got from sales ladies, when I heard the lock on the change room door jiggle. I heard the click as it unlocked and opened to expose Bella in a knee length golden dress. The bottom half under the bust was pleated while the top half was decorated with artistic swirls. The two halves were joined together by a giant gold bow. The dress was held up by two thin straps. (Pic on profile).
"How do I look?" Bella asked nervously.
She looked... gorgeous. Her old face was wiped clean bringing a sort of light to her natural face. Her cheeks were slightly red, her eyes were deep brown fringed with already long dark lashes and her lips were a smooth flawless pink. Her hair was still out, cascading over one shoulder and impeccably strait and her hand were held shyly behind her back.
"Y-you look st-stunning," I stammered, bringing a smile to her face. Alice peeked out her head from the cubicle and gave me a knowing look. But I had no idea what for. Had I done something wrong?
"Thanks. I really kind of like it, How much does it cost though?" she asked, more to herself. She tried to reach around to the tag of the dress but it was too short. She gave up quickly and surrendered herself back to the dressing room. While she slipped in Alice slipped out. The door closed behind her and Alice dropped her light weight self sideways onto my lap.
"She is pretty isn't she?" Alice asked with a glint in her eye. I nodded and turned back to the front. Pretty was an understatement. Only moments later Bella came out with very stern look on her small delicate face.
"This. Is. Too. Freaking. Much." She seethed. I smirked; she must have looked at the price. Alice bounded off my lap and into the mirrored cubicle, coming back with an armful of clothes Bella had recently tried on. Not wanting her to see the total price, I dragged Bella out of the shop and into the corridor of the mall. I noticed she was getting a lot less disapproving looks now that she was rid of all that make-up.
"Edward, like hell you are going to be spending that much on me. Wait till hell freezes over. I feel really shitty making you spend that much on me when you gave me a freaking house to live in." And under all that wording, she still had good intentions, which made me smile. Alice pranced out of the glass doors with manifold bags in her little hands. Knowing what she was going to ask me, I grabbed the bags and headed toward the limo.
"We'll be at chanel!" Alice called.
Bella P.O.V
I watched Edward stride away before I unleashed my fury on the seemingly innocent pixie that stood so calmly before me. As I opened my mouth to speak she stopped me. With her hands raised she apologized.
"I know you didn't want us to spend so much on you but it's not only for you, okay?"
Huh? That confused me. Who buys somebody something for them to use, but it's not for them? What?! I was really confused. Before I could voice bewilderment I was hauled off to another shop. It was like the last one and I glanced up at the two interlocking 'C's. I stepped inside with Alice when I heard a sharp intake of air. I looked over to see an old stringy woman with tiny black rimmed glasses. Her greying blond hair was twisted up into a tight bun and her Lips were pursed into one thin strait line.
"Excuse me, we don't allow people like yourself here in this vicinity." She spat. She pointed to the door as if expecting us to move, and by us I mean Alice.
"What do you mean? I'll have you know, I have been a customer of Chanel for twelve years!" Alice asked incredulously. The old hag face turned surprised.
"Oh, not you Mrs. Whitlock. I know you are a proud customer of Chanel. I was talking about the tramp that followed you in here behind you." That hurt. She didn't even know me.
"Excuse me? You did not just call Bella a tramp! You don't know her! You can't just go round throwing names at people and judging them on their physical appearance!" Alice yelled. But I knew the shop owner was right. I was just a tramp. I tuned out their conversation and went outside. I let my back hit the wall and I slid down. Who was I kidding? I could never be like them .All that Hope Edward gave me was false. I would never fit in and always be looked down upon. I saw a greasy man approach me, decked with his mates.
"Hey gorgeous," he smiled. He sat down next to me and put an arm around my shoulder. I instantly shifted away from him, pretending that he wasn't beside me. He looked at me questioningly before putting his arm around my waist. I grabbed his hand and threw it back to him.
"Can I have your name?" he asked, voice drooping. It was disgusting. His breath wafted over my face and I had to resist from barfing. Had this guy ever heard of a toothbrush?
"Haven't you already got one?" I asked, unenthusiastically. It took him a few minuted to realize it was a fancy way of saying 'no'.
"Well, let's go to your house and I'll spend the night with you," he said in that disgusting voice as he moved his lips closer to my ear. Did this guy realize we were in the middle of a public area? I think there were little kids around. I swung my hand around and pushed against his cheek, effectively moving him away.
"Sorry, I gave up baby-sitting years ago." I got up to go back inside the shop where you could still hear Alice arguing with the shop owner.
"Whatever. I just needed a quick fix and you looked cheap." I whipped my head around to the source of the voice and found the greasy man starting to stand. He saluted me and walked away laughing with his mates, probably at my face which was sained with tears. I'll never be good enough for this society. I don't belong here. I slumped back down to my earlier position against the wall and just cried. I didn't care who saw me, I was too hurt.
Edward's P.O.V
I reached the car in just under fifteen minutes. That's how long it took me just to get to the limo.
"Hello sir, Would you like me to take these back home for you?" Eric asked politely. I smiled and shook my head.
"No thank you. I don't know when Alice is going to make me come back again," I laughed. He chuckled slightly and came out to help me. Once the bags were secured in the trunk, I searched through the glove compartment in the back for something that would help pass the time while Bella and Alice were busy. I pulled out my IPod and started back toward the building.
I walked back in while scrolling through the songs, finally picking my favourite, Claire de Lune. I was walking back to the Chanel shop where the girls promised to be in when I saw Bella sitting against the wall with tears streaming down her face. Her hands were around her knees and she shook ever so slightly. I glanced in the window of the shop and saw poor, tiny Alice having a heated argument with the shop owner. I rushed over to Bella and knelt down to her level.
"Bella, what's wrong?"
I tilted her head upwards to meet my gaze and smiled a little, showing her that it was okay.
"I'm sorry miss, but we can't allow her in a shop like ours! We have a reputation you know!" I heard some strangled voice call from inside.
"She. Is. With. ME! Of course you can let her in! What the hell is your problem? Oh and whatever it is that is eating your head, it must be suffering horribly." I heard Alice argue. I looked back down at Bella and watch her face cringe at the sound of her refusal. I caught the gist of the argument and started seething. I pulled Bella up and dragged her inside of the shop fuming. I could feel her resisting against me but I was too strong and heated. I marched passed Alice with my hand still firmly grasped around Bella's wrist.
"Is there a problem here?" I asked, not bothering to hide the venom in my voice. I couldn't care less if this woman was offended. She looked at me with relief and smiled.
"Oh, thank goodness. Mr Cullen, could you please remove that vile creature that's standing behind you and ask you sister to stop arguing or I will be filing a law suit against her? I'm sure you know how it is."
"No. I don't. And I think that if I ever hear of you pulling another stunt like this, you can bet your house and job will be gone, and you will owe a large sum of money to the banks. Never in my entire life have I heard of someone refusing a customer. You are lucky I don't just sue your ass right here and now. Next time you see Bella in here, you will serve her. You don't know anything about her."
She smirked and smoothed a falling piece of hair into her too tight bun. It looked like the hairs were pulling against her forehead, giving her a free face lift.
"I know that she is probably someone you just picked off the street. And tell me, why Mr Cullen, are you defending her? Is there something special about this girl, hmm? Something so special that the press would like to hear about it?" I knew what she was doing.
"I would love for the press to see her. I'm not ashamed." I grabbed Alice's wrist with my free hand and strode back to the front automatic sliding door.
I glared at nothing in particular for fifteen minutes in silence. We hopped in the limo, Alice decided she wanted to be away from my fuming so she sat in the front, and after another five minutes a small voice broke the silence.
"Edward, I'm sorry." My head whipped around so fast that I became a little dizzy.
"What for?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady and not scare her. She looked really fragile and delicate in that moment, like she was going to break even if it were words thrown at her. She wiped away a falling tear and sniffed softly. She looked so breakable.
"I didn't mean to do that. I should just go, I'll never fit in. I'm sure there are heaps of people that want this job, heaps of people that would do anything to work for you. I didn't mean for you to have to resort to lying." I looked at her confused.
"You're... leaving? Because of that?! That's ridiculous Bella! One person, she was one person in a crowd of thousand! You can't leave!" I grabbed her out of her seat and pulled her onto the same side as me. I spun her around so she would face me. She looked so vulnerable; she was in need of a lot of convincing. She was worth it. She was not a lost cause.
"Bella," I grabbed her chin like minutes ago and pulled it up so I could smile at her, "I wasn't lying. I'm not ashamed. Yes, I was this morning, but that was because I didn't know you. Just like the woman inside the shop. The difference is she wouldn't give you a chance. I did, and I don't regret it. You are worth it." She looked up at me with her big brown eyes, filled to the brim with moisture. I wiped away a few escape tears that had fallen and wrapped my arms around her, giving her a source of comfort. I knew what it was like to be rejected...
"Mummy! Please don't leave me!" The little bronze haired boy cried. His mother turned around and struck her hand across his face.
"Would you stop crying for once in your life? For the last four years that's all you have done! Whinge and cry! Just shut up!" She grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him to the front door of her best friend's house. The little boy held onto his stuffed bear as if it would provide protection for him from his evil mother. She tightened her grip when she felt her son trying to pull his hand away, resulting in painful bruises around his wrist. She knocked two hard knocks before she could hear scurrying on the other side.
"Coming," a sweet trilling voice called. The little boy started to cry again. The mother rolled her eyes and pulled a cigarette out of her purse.
"M-Mummy, d- don't you l- love m-m-me anym-more?" The little boy cried. His emerald eyes held tears that had no hesitation to spill over.
"No."
The door was wrenched open to reveal a smiling woman with caramel coloured hair waving down to her shoulders with a small girl with two tiny spiky pig-tails on either side attached to her hip.
"Elizabeth! What a surprise to see you!"
Elizabeth nodded without emotion. "Esme." Esme noticed the boy crying and stooped down to his level, leaving the small spiky haired girl on the ground.
"What's wrong Edward? Did you hurt yourself?" She asked sweetly, just like how a mother should.
He shook his head and tried not to cry. He didn't like people seeing him cry, crying was for girls.
"What happened then?" she asked again before a bag was thrown in her face.
"Here, he's yours, I don't want him," Elizabeth said. She turned around without saying goodbye to her son and jumped in her car, speeding toward Las Vegas.
"Wh-what?!" spluttered Esme. She looked down to the boy who was gripping his Mr. Fuzzlewuzzle tightly and picked him up.
"Why did your mummy go Edward?" she asked in her special voice reserved for kids.
He sniffled and whispered, "She said because she doesn't love me."
We pulled back up to the house and I helped Bella out. She walked beside me with her arms wrapped around herself. As soon as we had passed the garden and walked through the door, she ran up the stairs and into her room. I heard her door shut with a bang and sighed, running a hand frustratingly through my air. How could someone be so cold hearted? To just... refuse her like that! They didn't even know her! They didn't know the good she still possessed. She could be changed.
"Would you like me to retrieve the bags master?" Mikes voice called from behind me.
"Uh, yeah," I muttered, distracted. Mike walked outside and returned minutes later with several bags. He noticed my pacing and placed the bags down, walking toward me.
"Sir would you like to talk about it?" he asked quietly. Mike was about my age, I think a year younger maybe. Would he understand? I decided I would take the chance.
"While Bella was shopping today the shop owner in Chanel refused to let Bella shop there because of... Well, her appearance. She bluntly insulted her in front of her face and didn't feel ashamed of it. She wouldn't even give her a chance! She doesn't know her!"
"And you do?" he countered. "With all due respect sir, you have only known her for a day, and at first you rejected her. She probably feels as if she will never be accepted into this life of luxury. Two rejections in one day is pretty big on anyone. Especially since both people were of a higher ranking than herself, she probably feels inadequate" Did I say he was maybe a year younger? I thought about what he said. It did seem possible. But she was not a lost cause, I would work on her. Everyone would see my little project and be proud of her.
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