(Disclaimer: All materials used belong to their respective owners/authors. Yes, unfortunately I am not Stephenie Meyer. And I do not own Twilight. No copyright infringement intended no profit made)
Chapter 4
After brunch, I rode with them back to their house. My mother headed off with Esme, and I was whisked away to the den which seems our popular venue. The gentlemen stayed as the den as the three women went to the 'Dressing Room' as Alice put it. "Alice, you seem so fond about these room and about fashion." I commented. "She is. All this gowns and dresses are her creation." Rosalie told me. "Really?" I asked surprisedly. Alice nodded humbly. "Alice, they are amazing! Your gowns and the patterns and oh! They are very lovely Alice, I'm proud of you!" I gathered her up in my arms and Rosa came over so we were now all hugging each other.
"So, what does the lovely Rosalie's prodigy talent would be?" I asked. Rosalie laughed. "Rose here, is quite good at make-up, rouges... accessories... those kinds of things." Alice said. I laughed. "Of course! It shows too!" I chided. "Well, thank you." Rosalie said.
"Alright you two, we are going shopping today!" Alice was jumping up and down in excitement. "Why do the gentlemen seem... terrified, about... shopping?" I asked. Rosalie smirked and said, "See, Alice here quit goes overboard with shopping. The boys get terrified of it." Rosalie laughed. "You'll see though." Alice just sent her daggers. "But Alice, if you already have gowns and dresses here, why buy more?" I asked confusedly. Alice 'tsk tsk' me and Rosalie gave me a pitiful glance. "Yes, but we need cloths and fabrics and shoes! And of course, we need to walk around, I mean, how long does one stay at home for two days? Its driving me mad!" I was shocked. I mostly stayed home except when we paid calls, balls or public outings. Occasionally, mother and I would drive around or go to the park. Sometimes to Port Angeles to buy clothing materials or ask a seamstress. Even though the seamstress sewed it altogether, my mother practically designed it. I used to do that too, but my dresses were so simple that my mother designed them for me.
"And then we could get corsets. Bella, didn't you mention you liked Rosalie's?" Alice asked me. "Yes, because it didn't squeeze me to death like most of mine would." I answered. "I still can't get over the fact that you don't wear corsets. It seems so unfair, if we, ugly ladies have to suffer it would only be fair for you beautiful, slim, slender women to suffer with us."
"It's not like we don't wear corsets. We have a special one like the one you have." Rosalie said. "See it sculpts the body and hugs it without squeezing you to death. Its somewhat flexible too. Your kind though are the 'waspy' kinds. Our father is a doctor he knows that it can choke us to death." Alice said. "We just call them undergarments." Rosalie put in.
"Well, whatever it is, I like it better than my own."
"That is why, my dear Bella, that we should shop! Which we should be heading soon." Alice checked the clock. "We don't really need the boys." I told them. "Yes we do. They need their fittings done too. Its much wetter here in Forks." Alice said. "You just want some legitimate to make them go with you and actually shop." Rosalie snorted.
"Alright, we should go." Alice said. We walked off to the den. The gentlemen were bored. "There you are! Finally! We are bored to tears waiting for you!" Emmett said in his booming voice. "Well, we are ready now. Come along." we put on our coats as the maid told Alice that "The carriage will be here shortly " and so it did.
It was brighter when we headed off to Port Angeles after deciding that Seattle was too far.
We, ladies, were in one carriage, Jasper and Edward squeezed in while Emmett sat in the driver's. The two men looked utterly bored as we continued talking about fashion, the new styles, the "Amazing actresses of the plays in Chicago!" Rosalie exclaimed. "Oh yes! Ms. Rosemarie Thimble-ton makes a great Juliet!" I sighed. "And her dress! Have you seen her dress? It was exquisite! Lovely, adorable!" Alice exclaimed the giggled. When we started to talking about the actors the men drew the line.
"But Jasper, have you seen Monsieur Armallo's body? And he's clothes..." Rosalie and I giggled and we, girls, sighed dreamily at the sight. "I can take it when my sisters and my wife talk about dresses and female actresses, but sitting here listening to such vulgar comments about actors! I think my ears shall peel out! I cannot bear it! I will not!" Jasper said indignantly. "Why, Mr. Whitlock I never thought you would think so highly of me as sister, I'm glad!" I exclaimed then abruptly my eyes glazed over at a thought.
"Jasper, Bella. My name is Jasper. Of course I think of you a sister! You are practically family!" I smiled at his thoughtfulness. Edward though look like he wanted to say something but Alice interrupted. "But you never said though, what is your relation with that Mr. James, was it Rosalie?" She asked Rosalie. "Yes, a Mr. James Mallory, I believe." Rosalie told her. Then, they all turned to me with concern in their eyes. But Edward's emerald ones caught my eyes. They seemed to hold anger at the thought.
"W-we, knew each other that's all" I answered simply. Rosalie nudged me, "Come on, you know you can tell us anything at all, don't you? We'll be here." her eyes held sympathy, an ancient darkness. "And if ever that man harasses you, please don't ever hesitate to call on us, either Jasper, Emmett or me. Please tell us if he does." He held something more. If Jasper's eyes held concern and brotherly protectiveness, his were much more. Possessiveness ? His eyes were darker than usual. "Come on Bella, tell us." Alic prompted.
But I was hesitating. Do I trust them enough to actually share with them a part of me? A very big part of me. They are concerned about me, and they are my first friends. Do I trust them enough. I should. I mean, they wanted to camp outside my bedroom! How thoughtful is that? Not even the most improper of beings would do that. And then there was Edward as id his words meant another thing, a double meaning, and as if they were only meant for me. But I have only known them a few days. Although they know so much about me already.
I took a long deep breath to steady myself as I prepared to tell them the story. I opened my mouth to speak when the carriage door opened and there Emmett's wide smile. "We're here!" he said. I heard Edward mutter under his breath improper things as he stepped out. I could see Emmett begging Rosalie what he had done wrong and wondering blankly while Jasper, Alice and Edward were ignoring him. "What did I do?" he had asked.
We went shop after shop after shop. Alice was a maniac at shopping, but at least Rosalie was more composed. The boys looked as if they wee about to cry and at three thirty Emmett broke down.
"I cannot go on!" he cried. "I need sustenance! I need a manly activity or else I shall die! I shall!" he was now kneeling on the sidewalk. People were passing looking at us but they didn't seem to mind. Edward and Jasper were smirking evilly whilst Rosalie was purring and cooing inappropriate things to him. Jasper then tried to reason with Jasper. The couples were together murmuring. They look so cute that I stepped away to give them more privacy.
I found myself next to Edward. I looked over to him and found that I couldn't look away. I felt so comfortable with him, so. . . at ease. "They look awfully cute together, don't you think?" I asked him. He smirked "Yes. I find that they make themselves balanced." "How is that ?" I asked. He motioned to them with one wave of his hand. "Alice and Jasper. Jasper being the calm, collected strategic one while Alice is the spontaneous, impulsive one. Emmett is boisterous and yes spontaneous and mostly . . . improper. Rosalie perfectly balances him out." "Hmmm..." I pondered. "Its uncanny how they fit so well with each other. As if they were born to be together. Forever..." I trailed off. We were both looking at the couples. The Whitlocks were gazing into each other's eyes, words not being able to signify there affection and the funny, uncanny Rosalie and Emmett. One look from Rosalie and you'd think she was rather snobbish and more lauren. She was more proper than Alice but more fun than I am too. Emmett, you'd really like to run away from. He looks like he could smother you then get to know him better and he does smother you . . . with jokes and hilarity.
"I wonder if I'd ever find true love like them." Edward suddenly said. I sighed. "I honestly don't know." He looked at me then urging me to say more. "I told you about James. It seems as if I can never have a right relationship. Of course, he's only one of quite few, but still." "You had other relationships other than Mr. Mallory?" he asked. He looked disappointed and sad. He looked a bit hurt and behind the surface of his eyes, he looked tad bit jealous.
"Yes, I had a bit in Massachusetts. Boston gentlemen. Mr. Newton and Mr. Crowley also seem interested. You know how it is, my mother seems so eager to present me as if I'm some prize to be won! As if my heart is a prize!" I said exasperated. "I love my mother, I truly do. But why she pushes me around sometimes. I wish. . . ." I trailed off. "Bella, what's wrong, you look sad. Did Edward offend you?" I looked up from Alice's voice. "No, of course not. We were only talking about my mother and her high expectations of me. And how I wish I were my br-" I trailed off again. "Oh Bella, I know how it is. I could relate to you, you know. My mother wanted me to become a perfect lady. To marry a wealthy man." I looked at Rosalie. Her gaze far off then went back to Emmett's. "To have a wealthy, hilarious man like Emmett. I never dreamed it possible! But, alas! It is."
"Hold on, hold on. Bella, were you about to say brother?" Alice asked. I smiled sadly at her. "Yes." All of there eyes bulged out, but I felt my tears glistening. "Here, why won't we go to a cafe or a shoppe and then you can tell us all about it.
Disclaimer: None of the Twilight stuff I own. None. Nothing. Nada. Zero.
