While Alice went through the clothing, I went through the small bins of accessories, especially the jewelry and hair pieces. In my previous life, my hair had begun to thin and I'd been getting a rather large spot on the top of my head that had begun balding. In this life, I'd grown my hair out and it was lovely and thick and the one thing I truly splurged on was my hair care products. My hair was hip length and curly at the ends. I found some cute jeweled hair clips and headbands, but mostly found a vast array of cute little stud and dangle-drop earrings. And one really beautiful amethyst ring that I snagged from the basket. I took my purchases to the cashier and paid for them just as Alice came and pulled me to the changing room. She shoved an armload of clothes into my hands, yanking my small bag of purchases away. "Go try those on," she ordered, pointing at the dressing room.
Knowing how futile resistance would be, I merely rolled my eyes and nodded. "Yes, Miss Alice!" I teased and walked into the changing room. I shut the door and changed into the first outfit she'd picked out. I had to admit that I loved it. It was a pair of black boot-cut jeans, with a beautiful corseted top in burgundy with black laces and blood-red embroidery done in a rose pattern. It was off-shoulder but had tiny little butterfly sleeves that ended around my elbows. The hem was longer in back, almost a triangular train. There was a light black leather jacket overtop. I felt badass when I put it on. I stepped out of the dressing room for Alice to make her decision.
"Well, what do you think, Alice?" I said. Her eyes widened.
"Wow! You look even hotter than I saw. Oh, when I do your makeup to match, you're gonna blow his mind!" she squealed.
"Blow whose mind?" I asked.
"Never you mind right now," she said. "Next outfit!" she waved me back into the dressing room. I sighed, knowing I wouldn't get an answer out of her. I returned to the dressing room, carefully removing the outfit and folding them on the chair. I pulled on the next outfit, looking in the mirror as I pulled on a lovely fifties-pinup-style dress in royal blue with bright little cherries scattered over it. I pulled it on and zipped it up the back. It was all floaty around my knees and it was super-cute. I adored it already. I stepped out of the changing room barefoot but smiling.
"Oh, I was right, that it so cute on you!" Alice said, nodding and walking around me in a circle. "I have the perfect shoes already picked out to go with it, too!" she said. "Next!"
I laughed and walked back into the changing room. I carefully put the dress back on it's hanger and hung it on the wall. I pulled on the next outfit. I was surprised to see it was a grey school-girl style pleated skirt and a white button-up blouse. "Alice?" I called.
"Just come on out!" she called. I stepped out, still looking surprised.
"What is this for?" I asked.
"It's a surprise," she said. "Ok, go grab all of those, they're definite yeses. I've already got the shoes and accessories to go with them. I also grabbed you a few of those tees you like and a few more pairs of the boot cut jeans, they suit your frame so well." I nodded and walked back into the changing room, carefully picking up the outfits after changing back into my regular clothes.
"So, where to now?" I asked.
"Stop at the food court and get you fed, then pick up Jasper and Rosalie," she said. I smiled, at least she hadn't forgotten that humans needed to eat fairly often. "Sounds great, but I hate that you have to endure the smell of the food," I said.
"We have to every day anyways, it's not so bad, you kind of learn to put it out of your mind after a while, unless something really overpowering comes out," she explained. I nodded as we headed down to the cashier. She stuffed a wad of cash in my hand, "Go choose what you want, my treat, while I pay for these. That way I only have to deal with what you eat and not the smells of everything as you wander around deciding," she teased me. I laughed and nodded. I headed down to the food court and looked around at my choices.
Since Bella wasn't there to chide me, and I'd been really good for a while as far as healthy choices went, I decided to splurge. I ordered a double-bacon double-cheeseburger with extra "special sauce", chili-cheese fries, a slice of cherry cheesecake and the biggest size of lemon-lime slushie they carried. I found a table and sat down, people watching as I cut into my burger, popping bits of it into my mouth. Alice joined me and looked down at my tray in disgust. I merely grinned at her. "I don't eat junk food often at all, I splurge when I get the chance," I explained. "Think of it as eating squirrels for months and then splurging on a cougar," I said, teasing her. She laughed. "I'll keep that in mind," she said.
I finished my meal just as Jasper joined us. He took our bags and I carried my drink with us as we stopped upstairs to join Rosalie. She was trying on one last pair of shoes, a lovely pair of heels that had ribbons that wound their way up her calf. "Those look fabulous on you. You have to get them!" I said approvingly.
"You really think so?" She said, turning her ankle left and right.
"Most definitely," I said. "They make your ankles look so trim and your calves look strong, slim and lovely," I said.
"They do, don't they. You're right, getting them," she said and took them off, putting them back in the box and gathering them with a stack of other boxes. I gasped at some of the names on the boxes. In no time, we were ready to go, Jasper loaded with more bags.
As we walked out, we passed by a high-priced jewelry store. As always, I couldn't help but look through the displays. I stopped for a moment, my eyes caught on a piece. Alice came over to look at what had grabbed my attention. "Oh, that's a lovely piece," she said. It was a choker done in three slim lines of amethysts with a diamond clasp. Lovely earrings completed the set.
"I've always loved amethysts," I admitted. "I know sapphire is my birthstone, and blue is one of my favorite colors, but how can you not love that shade of purple?" I asked, smiling.
Alice smiled and wrapped her arm around my back, leading me away. Jasper and Rosalie joined us and walked back to the car. "Thanks so much for coming, Maddie. It's so nice to have someone new to -"
"Play Barbie doll: the real game with?" I teased, cutting her off.
She playfully smacked my shoulder, making me laugh. Rosalie rolled her eyes and turned on the radio. I smiled and started to sing along to Christina Aguilera's "Reflection"
Look at me
You may think you see
Who I really am
But you'll never know me
Every day
It's as if I play a part
Now I see
If I wear a mask
I can fool the world
But I cannot fool my heart
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
I am now
In a world where I
Have to hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow
I will show the world
What's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection
Someone I don't know?
Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
There's a heart that must be
Free to fly
That burns with a need to know
The reason why
Why must we all conceal
What we think, how we feel?
Must there be a secret me
I'm forced to hide?
I won't pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
I closed my eyes and let my voice loose for the last few notes, holding it as long as I could. When I opened my eyes, all three vampires were staring at me. "That was...incredible!" Alice said. "Oh girl, you, me, Rose, maybe the boys if they can behave. We are going to the karaoke club this weekend!"
I tried to protest but Alice wasn't having it. "Nope, even if I have to kidnap you, we're going. Dancing and singing, put it on your calendar!"
I finally sighed and agreed. "Fine, fine, you overzealous little pixie! I'll go!" I said. She grinned and clapped, leaning back in her seat, images flashing in her mind. Suddenly one flashed in my mind too, of me in an incredibly short dress and on a stage. "Forget it, I'm not wearing anything that short or tight, Alice!" I said.
"But...!" she started.
I glared. "No."
She sighed and sat back. "Fine," she said and crossed her arms over her chest.
Rosalie and Jasper burst into laughter. "That was the funniest damn thing I've ever seen," Jasper said. "It was like Battle of the Psychics! It's even better than when you and Edward get into it, Alice," he drawled. Both Alice and I turned to glare at him; he smirked and raised his hands in surrender.
I looked up to see that we were pulling in to Charlie's short drive, Bella's truck parked closest to the house. Before I could even unbuckle my seatbelt, Jasper was opening my door and holding his hand out to help me out of the vehicle. Rosalie popped the trunk open as I took his cold hand and stood a bit unsteadily on the somewhat icy concrete. "I've got you," he said softly and I looked up into his eyes. They were a lovely shade of dark-honey. I smiled and nodded, feeling a wave of comfort and safety flow over me. He gathered my bags and walked me to the doorway.
"Miss Madison Swan, may I have your permission to call on you this weekend?" he asked quietly. I blinked in surprise then blushed when I realized what he was asking.
"Are you asking me on a date, Jasper Whitlock?" I asked.
"Yes, Ma'am. I surely am," he said, his drawl becoming more pronounced.
I smiled. "I'd be delighted, sir," I said, trying to mimic his drawl.
He smirked and kissed the top of my hand, making me blush even more. "I'll see you tomorrow in school then, Miss Swan," he said.
"Until tomorrow," I said softly.
