A/N: Again, so sorry for the late update. Since I posted the author's note I've had a few favourites and alerts, which is great, but I'm a bit bummed that I haven't gotten any reviews. If no one reviews what I write I take that as a sign that no one likes my writing. I'm not whoring for reviews, just thought I'd let you know. Anyway, on with the show =)
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of the characters, Stephenie Meyer owns everything.
The Air I Breathe
Chapter 4
"Alice, no!"
She pouted, and tried to give me the puppy eyes. Well, tough luck missy. I'm not falling for them this time. "Please Bella."
"No! There's no way in hell I'm going shopping with you on Black Friday,"
"But," she stuck her lower lip out even more. "Pretty clothes."
It was the night before Thanksgiving, and Alice had just arrived from Seattle. I was laying on my bed, toying with the hem of my shirt while Alice was sitting Indian style on the floor.
"You can go with Esme, or Rosalie. I'm not going." I stood my ground. I'd gone with Alice to the Black Friday sale last year, and it was something I'd never, ever, ever do again. Shopping with Alice was normally a pain in the ass, and that was just for two, three hours. Last year we'd gone shopping from 4 am until almost noon. I wasn't able to walk for three days after that, my feet were so sore.
Alice huffed loudly. "Fine, you don't have to go. I have one condition though,"
"What Alice?" I asked, yawning and rolling over on my stomach.
"You let me dress you tomorrow."
I hesitated. Knowing Alice, she'd stick me in a dress and high heels. "If you promise that I can change if I absolutely hate it,"
A bright smile lit up her face. "Deal." Then a more serious look came onto her face. "Have you thought anymore about Edward?"
Her question took me off guard, that's for sure. But, I decided to play the oblivious card. "Edward who?"
"I'm not buying it, Bella," Alice's voice was stern. "You know you can't lie to save your life, so don't even try."
I sighed. "I haven't thought about him much really." The look Alice gave me was doubtful. "Knock it off, will ya? I'm never going to see him again anyway, and to be honest I can barely anything about him. I was piss drunk, remember?" Another lie. I might have been very drunk, but I could still remember some things about that night. Things that made me blush just to think about them.
"Fine, fine," Alice complied, sounding put out but the twinkle in her eyes told me that she was only teasing.
I smiled at her as I sat up and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. "Come on you crazy pixie, let's go and see if dinner's ready."
A glazed over look appeared in her eyes. She loved Esme's cooking, and always ate more than one could think for someone her size. "Let's go," she ordered, bouncing up and dragging me by my hand downstairs and into the kitchen.
Esme looked up from her place at the stove and smiled when she saw us. "Just in time girls. Alice, could you set the table please, and Bella can you go upstairs and let Carlisle know that dinner's ready?"
"Off course Esme," Alice beamed. "It smells delicious, I'm starving,"
I shook my head slightly, fighting off a smile. "You should have seen her upstairs Esme, she nearly took a bite out of my arm."
"Very funny Bella," Alice snorted, sticking her tongue out at me.
"Just keeping it real." I winked before going up towards Carlisle's office. I knocked on the half open door and stuck my head in. Carlisle was sitting behind his desk, and he looked up when he heard me.
"Dinner's ready,"
"Thank you Bella. I just have to finish this, I'll be down in a minute."
I smiled and went back downstairs. Esme shook her head slightly when I gave her Carlisle's message. I knew what she was thinking; he was working too much.
"Well, how about you and Alice go and watch some TV, and I'll let you know when it's done."
Alice, who loved our Plasma TV and surround sound more than she loved me, almost skipped of f to the living-room. I chuckled at her child-like manners before I followed her, popping down on the couch next to her. she had already claimed control over the remote and was watching some crappy reality show on MTV. I was probably the only one under the age of 20 who didn't like those reality shows.
"I'm hungry," she complained, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes at her.
"Carlisle wil be finished soon, and then we can eat."
"Do you like him?"
"Who, Carlisle?" Alice nodded. "He's cool. He makes Esme happy, too. Why the sudden interest in my feelings for Carlisle?"
Alice had that look on her face that meant trouble. The last time I saw that look was before I went home with Edward at the bar. But off course, the little pixie tried to play innocent. "Nothing. Just curious."
"Mary Alice Brandon, tell me or I'll make sure you don't get any food."
She narrowed her eyes at me. "Fine! Carlisle has an adoptive son. A single adoptive son."
"Alice, please. That's disgusting, we'll be siblings soon."
"Step siblings." She waggled her eyebrows at me at the same time Esme called that dinner was ready. I stood up and shook my head.
"You're a sick person, Alice,"
"What? It's not like your blood related. You didn't even grow up together. Now that would have been gross. If he's hot, I'll do him."
"What about Jasper?" I smirked, sitting down on the right side of the table.
"Ah, he'll live," she said and sat down next to me.
"Who'll live?" Esme asked as she sat down, Carlisle following behind her.
"Jasper's miserable at his parents house," the lie rolled off Alice's tongue easily, and I stifled a giggle. Alice shot me a look though that unleashed the laughter that was bubbling up inside of me, and soon we were both leaned over the table laughing our asses off.
--
The next morning I was awoken early by a small dark haired hurricane that jumped on my bed. I vaguely remember being pushed out of bed and into the bathroom with instructions to shave my legs. I was so tired I nearly fell asleep standing. Luckily the warm water helped waking my body up. Doing as the small pixie told me, I shaved my legs and actually managed not to cut myself, a rare thing for me. Feeling like taking a long shower but knowing Alice would murder me if I did, I quickly washed up and left the bathroom.
In the 20 minutes I'd been gone, my room had been transformed into a beauty salon. I looked at Alice with wide eyes. "Come on Alice, is this really necessary?"
"Yes Bella, it is. This is the first Thanksgiving you all celebrate together as a family, you have to look extra nice."
I sighed. "Fine." Dressing up might not be such a bad idea after all, when I thought about it. The few times I'd met Rosalie she was always dressed impecibly, and she always managed to bring my self esteem down a notch or two without even trying. Alice squealed and sat me down on my desk chair, twirling it so that the mirror on my wall was obscured from my vision.
My long hair was blow dried and then Alice put some floral scented stuff in my hair before whipping out her straightening iron.
"We have to do a big New Year's eve party this year."
"Why are you thinking about New Year's, it's only November?"
"It's New Year's, Bella! It's like the biggest party time of the year. I was thinking about having a ball or something."
I only half listened as Alice started talking about hotels, ballgowns and God knows what.
"There, your hair is done," Alice said after a while. "I'm gonna jump into the shower, and then we'll get breakfast. It's gonna be a quick one since we have to get ready in like an hour. Now be a good Bella and get dressed." She went off towards my bathroom and I realized that I was still in my bathrobe.
"Stupid pixie," I mumbled for the millionth time as I rummaged through my closet. Grabbing my comfy sweatpants I paired them with my Severus Snape t-shirt and pulled on a pair of knitted socks at the same time Alice came out from the bathroom, looking too good for this early morning.
She gave my shirt one glance and let out a deep sigh. It was no secret that she hated that shirt as much as I loved it, and she had threatened many times to cut it up while I was sleeping. I'd countered with the promise that I'd burn up her her most precious pair of Jimmy Choo's if she touched my t-shirt, so she had put her threats to rest for now.
"I can't believe you're still wearing that shirt," she shook her head, a disgusted look on her face. "Snape is the worst character ever. He's evil. He killed Dumbledore!"
"Severus Snape is a deeply misunderstood and complex character, Alice. Just read the books will you."
"I don't have the patience for reading books, you know that. Come on, I'm starving."
Esme was already in the kitchen when we came down, doing the stuffing for the turkey. She greeted us with a small smile as we took out bowls and a box of Lucky Charms from the cupboard.
"Do you need help with anything?" I asked after swallowing my last mouthful of cereal, and Esme shook her head.
"No dear, it's fine."
"When is everybody coming?" Alice asked, drinking the last of her coloured milk. Some of it dribbled down her chin, but she wiped it away with her hand.
"Emmett and Rosalie are coming at 11, but Edward aren't coming until noon." Esme looked nervous, and I pushed my body off the stool. Though she had met them both before, this was the first holiday we were spending together, and I could tell she wanted everything to be perfect.
I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, squeezing her body reassuringly. "Today's going to be perfect,"
She smiled. "Thank you Bella. Why don't you and Alice go and get ready? I'll take care of the dishes."
"Thank's Esme," Alice smiled brightly and then dragged me up towards my room again. I'd almost forgotten what it was like to get ready for a "formal" event with Alice. It always took at least two hours, if I was lucky. This time however, it couldn't take as long time since my hair was already done. Or so I thought.
Three hours later, and both Alice and I were completely done. As much as I hated the primping Alice always insisted on doing to me, I'd have to admit that I looked good.
Alice had put me in a navy chiffon dress with thin straps and a satin waistband. The dress reached my knees, and I was glad she hadn't stuck me into something short. With it I had on a pair of white flats with a pattern of silver flowers, a silver flower pendant Esme had bought me for my 16th birthday and a braided hairband. My make up was done light, the way I liked it.
"We should get downstairs, it's almost 11," Alice said from over the mirror, and I faced her, taking a moment to check out her outfit. She was dressed in a strapless dress with geometrical patterns in black, purple and pink. With it she had on a pair of black leather pumps and the rhinestone chain bracelet she had bought in a small vintage store when we went spent a week in Los Angeles last year.
For the first time in a while I allowed myself to think about my parents, and I could feel my stomach clench up, like it always did when I thought about them. This was the 8th Thanksgiving I would be spending without them, and it didn't get any easier each year. I was always reminded of my mother's failing attempts of cooking the Turkey, my laughter as dad swung me around in the air and just the sheer happiness and love that was always present in that house. I snapped myself out of my daze when I felt someone grab my arm, and when my eyes focused again I saw Alice standing there, looking at me with a sad expression on her face. She knew where my mind went when I got that look, and she was always there to snap me out of it. Pushing all thoughts of my parents away, I gave her a convincing smile. "Let's get downstairs, someone has to protect the food once Emmett gets here."
Like it? Loathe it? Love it? Let me know. (I know I promised that Edward would be in this chapter, but this was a good place to cut it, so I'll have him appear in the next chapter instead.)