Bella POV
I was still crying when I heard Charlie's cruiser pull into the drive way. I pulled the chicken casserole out of the oven as I heard Charlie open the door, his boots hit the floor and his feet making the hall way squeak.
"Smells good Bells. Jake going to be joining us tonight?" He asked while sitting down.
"No, actually someone else is coming over. This has to sit for five minutes, so why don't you change and this special person will be here by the time you get down here." I'm sure that Alice was sitting outside my house just waiting for her chance to bust in.
I heard him drag his feet upstairs and when I turned around I saw that Alice has taken his place.
"Bella, maybe that smells good to Charlie, but to me it smells like rancid chicken. Ew."
I put the hot pads down, and ran over to Alice and crawled into her lap. I wanted to cry to her and tell her how much I was hurting but the words wouldn't form. I couldn't let her know how much I missed her brother, how much I still loved him, it just wasn't fair to Jake.
"Oh Bella what am are we going to do with you?" She kissed the top of my head and rubbed her hands up and down my back. She was trying to sooth me.
I didn't have time to reply before I heard Charlie's feet on the steps. I ran to the bottom and held up my hands to stop him.
"Hold on dad, it's a surprise! Close your eyes." I put my hands over his eyes and lead him down the hall.
"One, two, three!" and I lifted my hands. I saw a huge smile break out along his face and he put his arms up, waiting for a hug. Charlie was not one for emotions, but Alice was like another daughter to him. A daughter that was lost and now found, back in his arms.
"Oh Charlie! I'm so happy to see you! I've missed you so much! I'm so happy to be back!"
"Alice Cullen. I have not seen you in so long! How are you? Are you here to visit….did you come alone?" We both knew that the real question was did Edward come back.
"Oh Charlie no we moved back! Esme hated LA and Carlisle missed the small town hospital, so we're all back! Well except Emmett and Rose, they're across country at school still. But oh well." she said waving her hands.
The small talk continued to the table and over dinner. Charlie wanted to hear all about the big city life and where she applied to college and how the family was doing. After dinner was over, I cleared the table, put the leftovers away and told Charlie that we were going to see a movie with Angela.
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Alice drove Angela and I to Port Angeles, while only the radio was playing in the background. I knew that both of them were itching to ask me about Edward and what I was going to do now with Jake, but neither of them had the guts to.
Finally Alice broke the silence.
"So Alice, is Edward going to be at the party tomorrow?" Angela asked.
"I don't think so, Emmett is coming home and Jazzy said something about male bonding. I try not to get involved when it comes to video games and drinking beer." Ok we both knew the last part was a lie. Vampires don't drink…well except blood.
"How bout Jake, Bella? Is he coming?" Angela asked bringing me into the conversation.
Sometimes I wish that I could just have a normal girly conversation, or that I could just tell Angela about Jake and the Cullens. I could never pull her into this world though, it was too dangerous for humans.
"Nah I don't think so. He wanted to, but he promised his friends that he'd do something with them."
"So, are you going to ask anyone else to go with you? I mean I know you won't cheat on Jake, but I thought you'd try the whole friend thing with Edward?….." Luckily we were at the dress shop and I got to put that conversation on hold.
Three hours and over a hundred dresses later, Angela, Alice and I walked out of the store each carrying two bags. One with a dress in it and one with a pair of shoes. I tried replaying the whole trip in my mind, so I would start thinking about him.
We were all getting annoying because we couldn't find anything. Prom season was only months away so the only thing left was either to long, too short or just too flashy. We were just about to give up when we found this cute little dress with a sale on cocktail dresses.
We all grabbed a hand full of dresses and marched into the dressing rooms. We all took turns trying on dresses while the other two sat down in big stuffed chairs. We would score each other, clap and applaud and boo if we hated it.
Angela went first. She tried on three black dresses, and a very short pink strapless number. Then she came out wearing a blue strapless dress that went right below her knees and was decorated with a gold bow and circles. (picture on profile!) It was perfect, but it took us fifteen minutes to talk her into getting it. Concerned that it might be a little too revealing, she also bought a blue sweater to go over it and blue flats to go on her feet.
Alice was next. Always the flashy one, she tried on a couple long prom dresses and some short black cocktail dresses. She finally decided on a yellow and black sequence dress. (profile!) It surprisingly had straps and barely brushed her thighs. To gather some height to her little pixie body she got black stiletto heels, that gave her six more inches.
After shuffling through racks and racks of cocktail dresses, it was my turn to go into the dressing room. I found a couple casual black cocktail dresses, and Alice and Angela picked out some overly flashy ones. I had my mind set on just going in sweats and a flannel button down when Alice pushed another dress into the dressing room.
The dress was red with white poke a dots. It had a poke a dot flower that gathered at the waist. It was strapless, and the mesh underneath made it come right above my knees.
It fit perfectly, so I decided to do a cat walk, walk down to the three way mirror and twirl in the thing. It was a little too sexy for a house party, but I figured I'd fit in with every other girl in Forks. Alice and Angela appeared behind and kept telling me this was the one! Alice had picked out some bright red three inch heels for me, and I knew they would be the death of me.
It was a beautiful dress, but I was worried about the attention I would be getting from it. The boys in Forks haven't been hiding their feelings for me and I'm afraid the might get the wrong idea when I show up without Jake. But on the other hand, I was really hoping that Edward would crash the party and realized what he was missing. What would never be his again. That thought alone was enough inspiration to buy the damn dress.
"Everyone can meet at my house tomorrow, so Rose and I can do hair and make up!" Alice squealed pulling me out of my thoughts. I heard Angela agree, so I just nodded my head. Great maybe Edward would get to see me in the dress. Plus I would get to see the rest of the Cullens again!
There was complete silence on the way home, just the background noise of the radio and the trees passing us by. Before I knew it, we were in front of Charlie's.
"How about you girls keep your dresses with me. Bella I know Charlie would freak if he saw it. I'll keep them nice and safe!"
"Thanks Alice, he would freak out. I'll see you guys tomorrow ok? Night Alice. Night Angela."
I hurried into the house and noticed that Charlie was passed out on the couch with the TV still on. I helped him up and into bed then turned towards my bed.
I called Jake and told him that I hung out with Angela all night and did some homework. I didn't want to say anything about Alice, because I didn't want the pack to know that the Cullens were back just yet.
Soon sleep consumed me and all my dreams were filled with Edward Cullen.
Song that inspired this chapter was:
You were everything I wanted
But I just can't finish what I've started
There's no room left here on my back
It was damaged long ago
Though you swear that you are true
I still pick my friends over you
A/N: Hey guys, this chapter was kind of a filler. I'm having some personal problems, my gram went into the hospital two days ago and it isn't looking good, so I don't know when I'll be able to write again. So please bare with me. So anyways, sorry about the downer, the next chapter will be the party and I can't wait for everyone to see the drunk, silly Bella. So please review and check out the pictures/ play list on my profile!