And now something exists that we like to call: Chapter four Yay! Sorry it took so long, but it's a really long chapter (so it benefits you guys)!
To all those who reviewed, I love you and I give you hugs!
Again, I do not own any of the characters; it all belongs to Stephenie Meyers.
Of course we must all thank HappyMess for being my fantastic beta. She's amazing (round of applause).
I got some good things said about the last chapter, so I hope you guys keep them coming.
Favorite Review: AZIdolFan
"Love the story so far. I'm finding it so humorous. I loved the 13 year old Bella thing. And I think we all have days of being super insecure. Can't wait for more!"
-Thanks so much and yes we all do!
Vampiregirl9705 came as a close second (she always does) and
PeopleAreCrazy is just amazing. You should just have your own section for the amazing reviews you leave me!
You guys motivate me to write, so thank you! Remember to review and read my author's note below.
Btw: I posted this without my beta's update b/c I just couldn't wait to put it up. Some changes will be made though!
Enjoy!
Chapter Four-New Bella
"BELLABEE!"
Oh, no.
Oof. Ugh. Why? Why does he do this to me?
"Emmett, get off me."
"Aw Bella, is that how you greet your big brother back home for the holidays? I must say Bella, I'm a little disappointed!"
And even though my idiotic-ogre brother has just jumped on me, woke me up from sleep, and probably has broken a bone (or two), he can still make me smile. I try to disguise it, pretending to still be sleeping, but of course, he catches it.
"Oh, don't think I don't see that smile Bellabee."
"Okay Emmett, but would you please? I can't feel my body." I mumble into my pillow.
"Fine! You are such a grouch. Other girls don't complain."
I'm a grouch again? That's just great.
"Eww, Emmet! That's because I'm your sister!"
As I slowly sit up in bed I see that he's wearing his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pajamas that I got him last Christmas. He's obsessed with them. By the look of the pajamas, I'm guessing he got home late last night.
"What do you…oh yeah. Eww." He looks like he just realized the meaning of what he said himself. He looks so appalled, that it's hysterical.
Man, I love him. My brother is just too adorable, I can't handle it. I laugh and jump on him this time to give him a big hug.
"I missed you, Em. I'm glad you're home."
"I know, Bella." He says, as he hugs me tighter
"How do you know?"
"Because, who wouldn't miss me Bella? I'm like amazingly cool and extremely hot to boot." He bellows.
"Ah, and there you go ruining a moment, you bear." I say as I extract myself from my giant brother and slap him on his humungous bicep.
"Ow, Bella! No need to be so violent."
"You started it, brother bear."
As I roll my eyes, my eye catches the clock and it so proudly reads, 7:45. Ah, shit!
"Emmett! Why couldn't you jump on me earlier? I'm so going to be late."
"Well, I'm sorry Bella it was just you looked so peaceful with all the drool coming out of your mouth and your hair a big mess, I couldn't find it in myself to wake you."
"Emmett! Go back to school, no one wants you here."
"Not to mention, you were snoring. It was so cute."
I don't snore. "Emmett, get out, I need to change."
"All right, geez, what do people got to do to get some loving around here?" And with that my idiot brother leaves; probably coercing my mother to make him pancakes. One thing Emmett loves just as much as a Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles, is food. He eats almost everything. It's no wonder he's so huge.
My big bear of a brother stands at 6 feet and 3 inches and he's built like a bodybuilder. He's huge, but not fat. He played varsity football all through high school and now goes to UW as a double major in business and photography. Yes, my big oaf of a brother, who loves girls, laughs at the most stupid jokes, jumps on me to wake me up in the mornings, is a photographer. What most people don't know about him is that he has a huge soft spot, just like a teddy bear and that is exactly what he is. Yeah, he may take some pictures of football games and such from time to time, which he says are so much fun, however I know where his heart truly lies. He loves taking pictures of the random and the unappreciated beauty. He loves taking pictures of landscapes, but most of all he likes taking pictures of normal things. When he photographs a water bottle he makes it look like art (which he has). He actually photographed my first edition Wuthering Heights a couple years back and he made it look like it came straight out of a catalog or something. It's now hung up in my room near my bookshelf. He truly is talented. He says that everything is beautiful; you just have to figure out how to capture it. And that is what the does, he captures beauty.
I love him, even if he's overbearing at times.
As always, I quickly get dressed and my hair looks decent enough to leave down. I rush downstairs to find my Pop Tarts and tea ready for me, thank you mom. My dad already left for the station and Emmett is on the couch watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
I told you he was obsessed.
As I'm about to leave the house, I remember that I don't have a ride. I ask Emmett if he can drive me to which he declines.
"Isn't Edward picking you up Bella?" He asks looking at me, with a smirk and some milk (from his cereal) dripping down his chin.
Oh, yeah. I forget.
How do you forget that though? I don't know? I guess I'm one of a kind.
I stand there and think. Well, we did decide that I was going to be new Bella today. We decided that this Bella was going kick ass and speak her mind. She was going to be a risk taker and it was decided that new Bella would want Edward to take her to school.
"Um, Bella, you okay?"
"Uh, what?" I ask, as I see that Emmett is still staring at me to make me realize I've been staring at him slack-jawed. I had zoned out.
"Yeah, sorry Emmett. I guess I forgot. All right, I'll see you later."
Right as a step outside, I see the Volvo and I enter the passenger seat without even thinking about it. I open the door, buckle in, and I say "Good Morning Edward and Alice," with a smile on my face.
"Someone got a full head of sleep last night," I hear someone mutter from the back.
"I sure did."
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Sitting in math, I realize how amazing I was in the car today. My mojo kicked ass.
Immediately, Edward and I got into a conversation. We talked about the importance of tea and coffee. I personally hate coffee (I know, I know, don't throw things at me), but I am obviously more of a tea drinker and coffee tastes disgusting. Edward, however, can't seem to survive without coffee in the morning, or so he says. Alice says he basically sleep walks to the kitchen until he has his cup. I understand that, that's how I am with my tea. Unlike Alice, we can't all be energetic out of nowhere. To even have half of her superhero energy, anyone would need caffeine. But Edward did say that I was cute for drinking tea, he said it was very British of me. Go me!
This new Bella thing was kind of awesome. I kind of loved her. She knew how to well…kick ass.
We decided that tomorrow I would go over the Cullen house for dinner and Edward and I would have our first mini study session. To say I'm excited is an understatement. I can't wait! I can't believe that the fear is gone. It must be the new Bella thing. I now realize that if he doesn't like the real me, then there is no point. I have to be myself and allow the chips to fall where they may.
I don't know where this confidence came from. Blame New Bella.
Later in lunch, Alice starts to question me and I knew this was coming.
"So Bella, Edward's going to be home for a while."
"Mmm…" I'm really enjoying my slice of pizza.
"You two have seemed to have, I don't know, gotten really close."
"Really? You think?" I ask nonchalantly.
"Yeah, is there, like, a reason?" She asks curiously.
"Alice," I say as I swallow my bite, "I've known him for as long as I've known you. We talk. He asked me for help. Isn't that okay?"
"I'm not saying you guys can't talk, you nitwit. It just seems things are different this time around."
"I have no idea what you mean." Since when did I become a liar?
"Fine, whatever you say Bella."
And since when did people actually start to believe me?
It's New Bella! Damn, she's good. She really knows how to work that mojo.
"Alice, I don't know. I'm really staring to open up though. Maybe that's what it is. I've decided that it's time for me to go for things and risk it, you know. Like you've always been telling me too. I'm tired of being the shy girl all the time."
She doesn't look at me and just says, "Well that's good for you."
What did I do now? It's like every time she brings up her brother, she gets mad at me. Does she not want me to like him? Even though she doesn't know anything about that, but hell she's a superhero, she can sense things. Does he have a girlfriend? Oh my god, what if he does? That totally changes things.
"So, Emmett's back home?"
And just like that, she was back.
Sigh.
I just begin by telling her about Emmett's attack on me this morning, hoping to ease her nerves about me.
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When Edward picks us up after school, new Bella walks up to the car and opens the passenger door. She's so cool.
Alice just stares at me again and then shakes her head. What's with that? What are her superhero powers sensing?
"Hey, Alice. Hey, Bella."
Oh, Edward.
"Hey, Edward."
He looks so pretty again. He's in just a Northface zip up, another pair of snug fit jeans, and his black Converses. Yeah, Edward is a Converse man.
What's not to love?
"Edward, can you drop me off at Bella's? We have a biology project we have to work on together." Alice says from the backseat, with a little bit of attitude, I might add.
What's her problem?
"Alice, are you okay?" Edward asks her.
"Yup, just peachy." She replies with a little smug smile toward Edward and I and then stares out the window.
Someone's a little prissy.
The rest of the ride Edward asks about my school day. Superhero, prissy, Alice remains silent in the back. Which is odd because she's never silent. She's Alice.
After a couple of minutes or so, Edward drives up to my house and is about to drop us off, when he sees Emmett's Jeep in the driveway.
"Emmett's back home?" He asks me.
He looks at me and I just get sidetracked. Oh boy, oh boy, his eyes are just so green. He gets them from Esme. She looks so sweet and beautiful with them. But Edward, well, the color fits him. It's like you could not imagine Edward with any other eye color, it just didn't work. I couldn't even imagine him with any other eye color, it was impossible.
"Um, Bella?"
Did he ask me something? Oh yeah. Whoa, New Bella was losing her groove.
"Yes, he's back home," Alice huffs from the back. I ignore her.
"Oh yeah, sorry. Yeah, the big oaf is back." I say, giving Alice a look. She ignores it.
"Well, I guess I'll come over too. Catch up with Emmett and stuff. It'll be easier to drive Alice back."
"Oh, definitely. He would love to have someone to be all manly with since dad doesn't come till late." I joke.
Edward just chuckles as we all get out of the car.
"Yeah right; Edward, manly. Alice mumbles to herself.
I nearly glare at her this time. Seriously, what is up with her?
"Oh, Alice. You're just jealous of my manly skills." Edward sooths
"Psh, please. What manly skills? The fact that you alphabetize your CD's or that fact that you spend $50 on a bottle of shampoo because you think it makes your hair baby soft?"
I didn't know that.
It was interesting to know, don't get me wrong, but Alice was being such a meanie. Seriously. I glance at Edward to see his reaction to see that, oh my god, he's blushing! Alice really stepped over a line here. Wow.
"Alice, you sure you're okay?" He asks as I open my front door. And there he goes being all super nice. He didn't humiliate her in front of me; he just asked her what was up her tiny tushy in a nice and calm manner. He could have totally brought up the fact that she bites her nails like a woodpecker, especially when she's planning something, or the fact that she can't have egg yolks because they give her an intense amount of gas (even for a tiny person).
No, he was a gentleman. There you go folks, what else does he need to prove?
As we enter our fabulous foyer, Emmett greets the brother sister duo from the kitchen with a Pop Tart in his mouth.
Hey! Those are mine.
"Yo, the E man! How's it going? I haven't seen you in a while. When you gonna get your nose out of that textbook and come join the cool people?"
My brother is such a dork. Thank god he changed out of his pajamas.
"It's nice to see you too, Emmett." Edward replies and then they do a man hug thing. As they finish their man hug, Emmett peeks behind Edward to see little Alice.
"ALICE! Holy, I didn't see you there. Is it just me or did you get shorter?"
Alice just laughs and gives him a big hug. He hugs her back and her little feet lift of the floor, as Emmett has to pick her up to hug her.
So she's okay with Emmett. Why are Edward and I the target?
"I missed you too, Emmett. And is it just me or did your biceps deflate?"
Oh, she was good. No, she is good.
At this point, he lets he down and now looks plain sad. One thing you do not make fun of with Emmett is his muscle. He takes his gym time seriously. He really is extremely proud of his Popeye and Schwarzenegger.
"What are you talking about shrinky? My arms are awesome. They aren't smaller, hell they are bigger. See?"
And then of course, he flexes.
"Oh, I'm sorry Emmett. I probably wasn't paying attention properly."
"Hellz, you weren't."
Emmett is an insane man. I look at Edward to see his reaction to find that all this amuses him. He has this beautiful delicious smirk on his face. New Bella wanted to walk right over and kiss it off.
Whoa! I knew I liked her.
"So, you guys all came over to see me? I'm touched." Emmett says as he interrupts my love for the new me.
"Actually, Bella and Alice have a project to work on and I thought we could just catch up. I hear there's a game on." Edward so wonderfully explains.
"Dude, you're on."
Once Alice and I get up to my room I close the door to find her already sitting (Indian style) on my bed, looking at me.
"Okay. What is up?"
"What do you mean?" She asks me and actually has the decency to look believable.
Why must all superheroes be good at everything? It's not fair for the non-superhero people.
"Alice, you're obviously mad. I can tell."
"Oh, that."
"I'm sorry if I did anything wrong, I didn't think I was." I reply shamelessly. New Bella seems to lose her power around Alice too; first my mojo and now her. Alice is way too powerful.
"No Bella. It's fine. I'm sorry I was acting a bit off. It's not like you can help it. "
"Wait. What did I do?"
"It's no biggy. I swear. You didn't do anything wrong…it's just, well let's just forget it, okay?
"And Edward?"
"I was just taking it out on him, he's my brother after all, that's what he's for." She says with a smile.
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Let's go attack some bio, all right?"
"Okay." I was just going to give her some time. She'll tell me soon. She's Alice.
"So lets do some research on that squiggly thing with the little pictures in it."
"You mean the cell?"
"Yeah, that thing."
Oh boy, this was going to take awhile.
After a couple of grueling hours trying to convince Alice that the mitochondria was indeed only in a plant cell (She wanted to know why animal cells couldn't have the mitochondria with the pretty name), my mom comes home and calls us down.
"You have a message Bella." My mom tells me as she enters the kitchen with a bunch of groceries in her hands. As I go to play the message, I see Emmett and Edward emerging from the door with more groceries.
"That's all of them, Mrs. Swan." Edward tells her.
So cute!
Hey Bella and the Swans, this is Rosalie from the shop. Bella your car is ready. Again. I must say Bella, with the three thousand times you've had your car fixed this past year, and with the amount of money you've paid me, I could have probably built you a new one. I don't understand why you're so persistent with this truck? It's so old, no offense, but Bella, you're no grandpa. Poor Charlie has probably lost half the dough in the bank because of your baby. But I know you won't listen to any of this. All right, see you at Hales.
My car was not old! Rosalie is just being a meanie too . Not everyone could have a nice Mercedes like she does. Well maybe because, I didn't want one.
"Alice, I guess we have to cut our study session short. I have to go pick up the baby."
Alice just rolls her eyes while Edward looks curious.
"Hales?"
"Hale's Mechanic Shop is our go to mechanic." I answer him.
The Cullen's don't go to mechanics. Since Edward knows everything and Carlisle is a bit of a car junky they easily fix all their car troubles. When they need to go for an oil change or tune up, they head straight to the manufacturer like the classy people they are.
"Hale sounds really familiar. Do you mind if I check it out with you guys? I do need a mechanic and plus my roommate's last name is Hale and he did say his parents own a shop here in Forks."
"Oh yeah, sure, no problem," Emmett interjects," so I guess I'm taking you, right? Okay, so get in the car. I'll be ready in a couple of minutes. I'll be right down then I'll take you over. I don't think I remember where it is? Hell, I'll find it. All right, I'll see you in a second." He finishes in a rush, not even allowing me to have a word in. Then he runs up the stairs to his room at an inhuman speed.
Oh, Emmett.
"Hey! If all you guys are going, then I'm going too."
And Alice didn't want to be left out.
"The more the merrier." I tell her. "All right, let's all get in the Jeep before Em has a heart attack."
As we get in, Edward and Alice ask about Emmett's odd behavior. He wasn't exactly known for his nervousness. So, I tell them.
He has had a thing for Rosalie Hale since forever. Mark and Stephanie Hale moved from Texas with their two children a couple of years ago. When my dad's cruiser broke down last year, someone recommended Hale's and that was it. Mark is the head mechanic while his wife is a nurse. Their daughter Rosalie works with her father in the shop. She really has a knack for fixing cars, and she loves doing it too. She does have a younger brother around Edward's age, but I haven't really met him. He goes to UW as a psychology major.
The funny thing is that Rosalie isn't really the type of girl one would think Emmett would go for. The first time we met Rosalie was when my dad took Emmett and I to pick up his cruiser. The moment Emmett laid eyes on her, he was smitten. Maybe it was the intense amount of car knowledge, or her gorgeous baby blues, but Rosalie Hale had my brother head over heels. The funny thing was that, she was well, a bit of a nerd. I have no problems with nerds, I mean I'm in love with one, but Emmett's usually the cheerleader type, you know?
Rosalie's blonde hair was always up in a ponytail, she wore braces, and if she lost her contacts (which happened often) she would wear glasses. She was also bigger than most girls and was a victim of acne. That didn't stop Emmett though. He would always say that 'it's those the quiet ones that are long term material.' Whatever that meant. What Emmett doesn't know is that during the time he lost himself in college, Rosalie, well, she transformed.
The bigger side of her now accentuated the right areas and she had curves all over. Her face cleared up somehow and now her skin is flawless. The braces are gone, her teeth are straight, and she's gotten taller. She loses her contacts less than before, so she doesn't wear glasses as much. Basically, she looks like a model and even has been stopped a couple of times by scouts. But she always refuses. She says she doesn't want to sell herself. I call her my own personal Marilyn. She rolls her eyes when I tell her this but I know she takes it as a true compliment, because whenever I say it, she smiles. As of right now, she goes to a vocational school in Seattle for mechanical engineering because she (obviously) wants to be a mechanic.
Emmett used to take his Jeep to Hale's all the time, even for stupid reasons. However, since going to college these past two years, he uses a mechanic in Seattle. He never really got around to coming back to Hale's and for some reason has never found the nerve to ask Rosalie out. I mean, Emmett is one of the most forward people I know, but when it comes to Rosalie Hale, he turns into a paranoid 14 year old.
Ironically, Rosalie isn't that quiet. She was a bit shy when I first met her and even now, her shy side comes in and out, but Rosalie is a firecracker and always has been. Even back then, once you got to know her, man, she could tell you like it is. Once, I came back from a high school party to give my truck in and I wasn't feeling too good. I was having one of those insecure moments.
Don't they sound familiar?
All the girls at the party were wearing loads of makeup and they looked really nice, I just felt ugly. Rosalie asked me what was wrong and when I told her, she slapped me across the face. Yes folks, my mechanic, Rosalie Lillian Hale, slapped me across the face. Then she proceeded to yell at me call me ridiculously stupid. Rosalie thinks I'm gorgeous and still does for some reason, even though; she looks like a bombshell now. I always thought she was cute and pretty but now, she's just whoa.
She did apologize for the slap before I left the shop, but I could tell she really wasn't that sorry. That's what Rosalie's about, doing good and honestly, I really needed that slap. It got me to stop moping and see things clearly. New Bella was like the slapped out version of me, but less painful.
Once Emmett gets to the car, smelling like a pool of cologne and hair done up with too much gel, he speeds the way toward the mechanic shop.
Once we get there, we can see that Rosalie is working on the hood of a car. Her hair is up in a messy, but bouncy ponytail and she's wearing ripped jeans, a white short-sleeved t-shirt, and some black boots. Even with something that simple on, Rosalie just looks like a supermodel. Imagine if she actually tried?
She's kind of bending while working on the top half of the hood, which only emphasizes her amazing bum.
I'm a girl and hell, even I'm amazed.
She's been listening to her iPod, so she didn't hear us come in.
Emmett walks up behind me and then bumps right into me.
"Hey, watch where you're going Em." I say and turn around to find why he bumped into me in the first place.
Emmett looks mesmerized. The jaw drop and the bulging eyes kind of give it a way. If Emmett didn't have the guts to ask her out then, he sure doesn't have the guts to ask her out now.
"Who. Is. That?" Emmett asks me while eyes still trained on the blonde bombshell.
Alice and Edward are just smirking up at Emmett, considering I have already told them about Rosalie's transformation. Alice couldn't believe that Emmett actually liked a girl. She got really excited, even for her.
"That's Rosalie, Emmett. Did you forget about her?" I tell him knowingly.
"That's Rosalie Hale?"
"The one and only."
"But, but… what happened?" He asks me in disbelief. I can't help but smile.
"I don't know, Em. She grew." I say with a shrug.
"Bella?"
I turn around to find that Rosalie has spotted me, and the rest of the bunch, as well. She takes her earphones off and walks over.
"Hey Rosalie. I got your message and I came to pick up my not so old truck, thank you very much."
"Mm hmm." She just mumbles knowingly as she cleans her hands off on a rag. It's amazing how she gets nothing on her clothes. Even her very white shirt looks in pristine condition.
"Oh and this is Alice, Edward, and you already know Emmett."
She walks over to shake hands and says, "Oh, the Cullen's. I've heard a lot about you guys." And then she looks at me and winks. Since when did winking come into fashion again?
Nevertheless, she has heard about Alice through all these years and well I may have mentioned Edward once or twice and the first time I did, she called me out. She immediately figured out that I had a thing for him (how, I'll never know) and has always teased me about it even though I constantly try to dismiss it.
"Hey Emmett. I haven't seen you around in awhile." Rosalie greets when she gets to my love struck brother and a bit of shy Rosalie comes out. Emmett just response with an "uhh."
How charming.
You see folks, as Emmett has always had a thing for Rosalie, Rosalie has kind of always had a crush on Emmett. You see, I'm totally oblivious to the whole she like's you and he like's her shenanigan however, my brother and my mechanic are just too obvious. I did bring it up to Rosalie once, but she just looked so upset, I dropped it. She was also way better at dismissing things so I was never 100 percent sure. But still. Plus, she would always discreetly ask about him whenever I came over to the garage.
"Emmett, you okay?" Rosalie asks him with a bit of concern on her face.
"Oh yeah, totally. I just um, zoned out for a second. So, how are you? You a full time mechanic yet?" He asks her with his Emmett smile and dimples and I think I hear Rosalie silently swoon.
"No, net yet. I graduate soon and I'm pretty excited. But once I do, I'm totally charging Bella more for the truck." She finishes looking at me.
"Like you would. You love me. Now where is my baby?"
"Well it is because I love you that I would do that because you seriously need a new car! And it's over there." She tells me a matter-of-factly and then points to the left corner.
I get a little too excited to see my baby so I begin to half run half walk when I trip.
Of course.
And then I blush in embarrassment.
Of course.
I trip over my own two feet and then run smack into the tool tray and as I fall, all of the Hale's tools fall with me, creating a huge bang that can probably be heard from miles away. As I fall flat on my face, I hear the office door open and a very masculine voice ask, "what happened."
I look up from the floor and…my, my, my. If it weren't for Edward I'd be all over this one. I'm assuming this is Rosalie's younger brother, her extremely gorgeous younger brother. I guess good looks run completely through every family, except mine.
He walks out and once he sets his eyes on me, he stops.
"Oh, well hello there."
"Hi," I mumble as I lift myself up and start cleaning up the tools. I go to pick up a wrench to find Edward pick it up for me and then ask me how I am.
So sweet!
Once I assure him that I'm fine, Rosalie assures me that I don't have to pick up the tools and to leave them, to which obviously I don't want to listen to. Edward doesn't leave my side though so, he doesn't let me pick anything up, even though I try. He just turns to the strange man and greets him.
"Hey Jasper." Edward greets the strange guy, interrupting his odd gaze toward Alice. Wait, Alice?
"Edward? Man, is that you?"
"Yeah, small world huh? I told you I'd come and find you."
"You're such a stalker."
They just laugh and Edward lets go of me to give him a man hug.
I'm guessing this is Edward's college roommate. Who would have thought it would be my mechanic's brother?
Jasper though, is indeed a very gorgeous fellow. He is totally movie star handsome. He has blonde hair much like Rosalie, but slicked back. He's wearing jeans and a normal t-shirt, but still manages to look like a model. His eyes are so blue that you can lose yourself in them. To make a long story short, he's basically the guy version of Rosalie. Everyone was just too pretty these days.
Everyone, except me.
Edward and Jasper were catching up when Edward starts introducing everyone to his yummy roommate.
"Well this is Bella, she's my…"
"Oh, you don't need to tell me. I know exactly who Bella is." He tells me while looking at Edward. Then he reaches over and shakes my hand, "Edward has told me lots about you."
He has? What has he said? Wait, what does he mean?
"Hi. I'm guessing you're his roommate? I'm sorry but he doesn't speak much about you."
Jasper just laughs and tells Edward he likes me.
Huh.
After me, he goes to introduce Emmett, when Emmett himself interrupts.
"Edward, no need. I know the J man. I see him around all the time. So you shack up with Edward over here. I didn't know that. I've known the E man since he was a little boy, not much as changed since then though."
"I always knew I liked you, Emmett." Jasper tells him and they do an odd handshake.
"Wait a minute J. You're the Blondie's brother?" He asks nodding toward Rosalie, "How come I didn't know that?"
"Why does it matter?" Jasper narrows his eyes to which Emmett just raises his hands up in defeat and says "no reason." But before any suspicions can be confirmed, my best friend jumps in.
"Hi! I'm Alice, Edward's sister." She says proudly and then goes to hug Jasper.
I wish I had her guts.
He looks a bit surprised at first, but then he just laughs and hugs her back.
"So you're Alice?"
She just mmm's in his chest.
"Babe, you drive the boy crazy." He tells her, looking her over.
"Well then, what am I for?" she asks while batting her eyelashes.
No way! Alice totally has it for Edward's roommate. Get out of town. And if the look on Jasper's face proves anything, he has a thing for her too.
That was fast.
I guess she does have a prom date now. If I knew Alice, and I do know her, she will do everything in her power to get Jasper as her date and she's got a lot of powers, as we all know.
Man, look at her go. She was laying it on thick and he; well he was just eating it up.
At this point, Jasper and Alice are getting a bit cozy and flirty while Rosalie, my brother, and Edward are talking cars. I felt kind of left out to tell you the truth.
First, they all look like they stepped out of the latest InStyle magazine. And second, they really seemed to be getting along really well. Especially Rosalie and Edward. The insecurity starts to seep in. And again, here we go with the pity party. Ugh, I hate this feeling.
No, I was not going to pity myself. Think of new Bella, what would she do?
I just walk over to my baby and I instantly felt better. Yeah, she can break down every now and again, but she's always there for me in the end. She still can make me smile and that's what counts. I just feel like my car resembles a bit of me. She can break down very often, but she can easily be fixed. I'd like to believe I'm like that.
Right when I'm about to open my car door to look inside, I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn around to find myself staring at these green eyes.
Edward.
"So you still drive this thing?" He asks me with that smile.
Oh that smile and the things it can do to women.
"Yeah, I love her."
"Bella, I don't get it. No offense, but this car doesn't have much time left on her. You should really think about getting a new one." He tells me sincerely.
"You sound like Rosalie."
"She's right, you know? You do need a new car and plus, she does know a lot about them. Man, she's like every issue of Car and Driver in one. She really is bright, Jasper has always spoken highly of her."
The way he was looking at her wasn't making me so happy. It was like a stab in the chest. Didn't he hear everything I said in the car? Emmett is basically in love with her and visa versa. He wouldn't do that to Emmett, would he?
"Yeah, she's really great. She's one of my closest friends."
"Then, you pick good friends, Swan." He looks back at me and then smiles.
What is that supposed to mean?
"Do you include yourself in that bunch, huh Cullen?"
"I don't know, I guess that's up to you now, isn't it?"
Whoa, where did that come from? What did he mean? Why was everyone being so cryptic today? Before I can contemplate those thoughts any further, Emmett hollers that it's time to go. I guess he's embarrassed himself enough for today.
Jasper takes my truck out of the garage, hands me the keys, and says, "Here you go, pretty lady." And for the first time I hear his Southern drawl. I guess it's true what they say, you can take the boy out of Texas, but you can't take the Texas out of the boy. However, I guess you can take it out of the girl because Rosalie doesn't have an accent, at all.
As I'm about to enter my truck, Edward brings up that someone should go with me because I'll be alone. Aw. And Alice surprisingly decides to ride with Emmett, so that leaves me with Edward.
Oh, boy.
As we head out, we all say our goodbyes and Alice gives Jasper a big wave and a lazy grin stretches across his face and he waves back. They have it bad. I just lightly wave goodbye to Rosalie and Jasper, when he winks at me.
What is up with these people?
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When we get home, Alice and Edward quickly get into the Volvo to speed back to their house. Esme called and wanted them back for dinner. We had stayed at Hale's for quite some time.
When we enter, Emmett broods his way toward the couch (his spot) and sighs. I sit next to him, deciding after all these years I should bring it up.
"You should ask her out?"
His head snaps in my direction and he looks surprised. "Who? What? Bella, what are you talking about?"
"Emmett, you know exactly what I'm talking about."
He just stares at me.
"Rosalie," I say, "you've liked her for years and every time after we come home from the garage, you brood your way over to the couch and watch an intense amount of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."
"It makes me feel better," he says with a pout.
"Emmett," I scold.
He sighs, "Bella, I can't."
"Can't what?"
"What do you mean, can't what? Don't you see, I can't ask her out. I'm a big fat baby, plain and simple and now, it's too late."
"What do you mean? I don't think she's dating anyone…"
"She's not, I asked."
"Then, what's the problem?"
He looks at me with his serious face, which is only reserved for heart to hearts and taking pictures.
"Bella, after that message this afternoon I decided that Emmett Swan was going to take his head out of his ass and finally ask Rosalie Hale out on a date…."
"Then, what happened?" He just gives me a look and I let him finish.
"I saw her. That's what happened."
"I don't get it." Another look. "Sorry."
"Bella, you're not blind. I mean Rosalie's always been a sweetheart don't get me wrong but now, she's like out of this world. I can't believe you didn't warn me, since you knew."
"Sorry, I just really wanted to see you're face." I say with a little chuckle and Emmett wasn't really seeing the humor. Could you blame him?
"But Em, I still don't get what you mean." He just looks at me like I'm dumb.
"If I ask her out now, she's going to think I'm only doing it because of how she looks. Not knowing, that I've always thought she was out of this world."
Oh. My. God. My brother is such a sweetheart.
"Aw, Em…"
He just raises his hand, "Don't aw Em me. I just can't now."
"Emmett, I'm sure if you tell her…"
"Bella, can we just drop it? I got the whole lecture from Alice already."
"Wait, what?"
"Alice, your tiny push over of a friend, spent the whole ride telling me to stop being an idiot."
"And did you tell her your reasoning?"
"Yeah."
"And?"
"It shut her up," he says with a smile. I got to say, that made me smile too.
"But not for long, she decided it didn't matter and then continued to harass me."
"That's Alice."
"Yeah, it is. But Bella, how did you know? Alice told me you're the one that blabbed."
"Emmett, it's pretty obvious."
"Huh? I guess it runs in the family then," he tells me with yet another dimple filled smile.
"What is that supposed to mean, Em?"
"Bella, you know what I'm talking about." He's smirking now.
Oh, no. I know where this is going.
"No, I don't."
"Bella, your love for that Cullen boy can be read off your face like an Esquire magazine."
Hey, I' m not that obvious.
"Nice try changing the subject, Emmett." I tell him as I make a quick getaway to my room.
"Nice try running away, Bella." He yells after me.
Ugh, why does he have to know me so well?
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The next day after school, I come home to stare at my closet. Today, I'm actually putting some effort into my outfit.
After spending 20 minutes changing in and out of clothes, I finally decide on this pleated blue jean-style dress with a brown buckle in the middle, a brown cardigan to go over it, some light brown flats, and even a necklace.
I'm taking out the big guns, I know. But for me, jewelry was reserved for special occasions.
Today I am going to help Edward Cullen out with a college paper. He needed my help for some reason and for some reason I'm actually giving it to him.
The help, I mean. I'm giving him the help.
By the time I finish fluffing my hair out a bit, spritzing on some body mist, and applying some strawberry lip gloss, it's time to go.
For the past couple of days, I've actually been really excited about this little study session. The no nerve factor is somewhat surprising. I mean I'm usually not able to even form sentences around the guy. So, this newfound confidence wasn't really like me.
I guess this new Bella thing was here to stay.
As I drive up their driveway and their immense but beautiful home, I feel some nerves.
Oh, no.
I ring the doorbell to find Esme open the door when the nerves kick in completely.
Sigh. I was wondering where they were?
She informs me that Edward's in the living room so I smile and just enter to find him sitting on the couch and smile up at me and new Bella loses all her defenses.
Edward Cullen is wearing his glasses today and I think I just died.
New Bella is gone for sure.
Don't throw things at me! I'm sorry.
The study was supposed to be in this chapter, but the chapter got way too long. So it'll be in the next one. I promise. I'm sorry. But I did introduce the Hales and Emmett in this chapter, so I hope you guys like it!
If you review, I'll post sooner. It's those reviews that motivate me to write.
There are story links on my profile. There are links for each of the chapters and one of Bella's house and one of the Cullen house. So go on my profile to enjoy those! It's basically of outfits and such.
Stories you guys should be checking out:
Take the Ice by bellaMarie117 –it is honestly one of the best things I've ever read in my life. The writing is phenomenal and the story is plain magnificent. She actually is the one whose introduced me to polyvore, which is where I make the visuals for the chapters b/c she does it too. So, thank you bellamarie117 for being so amazing.
Whatever Comes Next by HappyMess-I LOVE this story. It is uber adorable and classically done. It is written by my amazing beta, so it's more of a reason to go and read it. It really is amazing. Did I mention that I love it?
Both stories can be found on my favorites. If you guys ever want me to do a favorite fic thing, I totally will b/c there are amazing ones out there where I feel like the authors should publish work!
Sorry, for making this so long. Remember to review and that I love you all. Thanks for reading….much love always,
LaTiDo