Chapter Four

"So Bella, Are you coming this weekend?" Alice asked me as we made our way to lunch. Edward has practice so I'm spending lunch alone with Alice and Jasper.

"Uhmm…" I don't know if Edward would be mad or something if I'd say yes to something he wasn't aware or informed of.

"Oh, why do I even ask you? Of course you're coming. How stupid of me." Alice said, mostly talking to herself.

"Alice," I began, "I don't know if Edward…" I trailed off.

"Edward? What does it have to do with him?" She asked, turning to me.

"I don't know if…" I trailed off again.

"Oh c'mon. Don't worry, Edward would be there too." Alice said, as if assuring me.

"He'll be?" I asked, unsure.

I'm not sure if it is Edward's thing to come over Alice's house for the weekends.

"Of course, and we'll have a slumber party!" Alice exclaimed. Just the word 'party' could throw Alice into frenzy.

"Slumber party?" I asked Alice while raising my eyebrows. I have never been to one.

"Yeah. Is something wrong with that?" Alice suddenly turned into an angry pixie.

"Nothing," I mumbled while looking down, probably trying to shy away myself from the upcoming slumber party. And I think Alice has something in her mind…

"Oh gosh, Bella. You should try this." Alice said from the other side of the curtain, shoving another pair of lingerie inside. How many have I tried? I lost count. They were too many.

"Alice," I whined. I never wore anything like it, and now I have to wear it in a slumber party!

"No, Bella. Don't use your whining skills on me." Alice warned.

I sighed in defeat, getting the lingerie from Alice's claws.

"Alice!" I yelled.

"What?" Alice asked skeptically.

"The lingerie!" I shouted

"What's wrong with it?" Alice asked menacingly. It's a good thing I was hidden behind the curtain of the dressing room I don't know what would happen if I were face to face with Alice…

"It barely covers anything." I whispered, blushing.

And to say that it barely covers anything would be the understatement of the year. Because really, it does. And you could actually see my blush craning up my neck.

"That's the use of lingerie, Bella." Alice explained for the nth time.

"It barely covers anything?" I asked, raising an eyebrow even though she cannot see me.

"Yes." I could feel Alice nodding with a serious look on her face.

"Do I have any other choice?" I asked in defeat.

"It's that or the orange one." Alice said, probably beaming.

And she knows that I don't like the orange one.

"Fine, I'll have this." I muttered in depression.

"Yay!" Alice squealed, it was a good thing I was separated to her by a curtain.

"Alice," I whispered

"What now?" She asked in a serious voice.

"Can you get a blue version of this?" I asked, trying to find a way for me to feel some comfort while wearing it. Blue is like my comfort color.

"Sure Bella. Blue looks good on you." Alice said in a sing song voice.

I glared at the numbers in the counter while the cashier is scanning our purchases. And surprise, surprise, my very first shopping trip costs $745. 00! I almost fainted when I realized I only brought with me $200, good thing Alice was at my aid.

Even after shopping, we didn't go home yet. As much as I want to go and rest, Alice has some errands to do. With my aching feet, I dragged myself to the grocery to buy supplies for the weekend at Alice's. Turns out, her parents weren't home so she has their place all to herself. That explains the reason behind the party.

We got two of almost everything in the chips selection. Two of these, two of that.

I was even surprised when Alice got beers. Hey, I'm a cop's daughter.

She just raised her eyebrows at me when I tried to say a word about it.

"So, who are coming this weekend?" I asked her while she was driving to Forks.

"You, me, Jasper, Edward, Emmett, Rose, probably Laurent, Irina and Kate." She said without looking at me.

"Okay," I mumbled, "by the way, who's Rose?" I asked her the question I've been dying to ask.

"Em's girlfriend." Alice stated.

"Where is she studying?" I asked again. Well, if she's in Forks High, I should have seen her at the least.

"Oh, she's in Rochester. But she'll move here. Actually, I think Emmett is already at the airport by now, waiting for her arrival." Alice said as she sped off the highway.

"How long have they been together?"

"They got together when they were like thirteen and they were inseparable since."

"How did they met?" I asked her again.

"Well, it's not my story to tell, but I should warn you, it is kind of funny." Alice smiled at me.

Alice's phone beeped when we were stuck in the traffic near Port Angeles. She looked at the number timidly before answering.

"Edward," Alice said, looking at me.

I looked at her lazily.

"Uh huh." Alice mumbled.

I stared outside lazily.

"Yeah,"

"I know," Alice laughed.

"Is he?"

"No."

"Whatever, anyways, Bella's with me." Alice chuckled.

"Calm down, I'm not doing anything to her that is against her will. Right, Bella?" Alice looked at me.

I just nodded my head.

"It's true. Oh, do you want to talk to her?" Alice asked.

She waited for his answer before handing me the phone.

"He wants to talk to you." Alice told me.

I grabbed the phone from her hand and held it to my ears.

"Edward?" I asked.

"Bella?" a velvet voice from the other line answered.

"Hey," I smiled though he cannot see me. Alice giggled beside me. I looked pointedly at her.

"So you're with Alice." Edward stated.

"Yep." I said, emphasizing 'p'.

"How was it?" he chuckled.

"Are you mocking me?" I asked him.

"Maybe," he teased.

"Whatever." I glared at something in front of me.

"So, you're coming this weekend?" he asked.

"Alice said that I should." I told Edward which earned me a slap at the leg from Alice.

"Owww." I muttered.

"Let me guess, she slapped your leg." Edward laughed.

"Shut it, Cullen." I threatened.

"Oh, baby, calm down." he feigned sweetness.

"Baby?" I laughed.

"Shut it, Swan." He laughed.

"Ooh, baby's mad." I teased.

"You bet I am." He laughed.

Alice cleared her throat beside me which made me come back to reality that I am with Alice at the moment.

"Edward, I have to go now. The pixie is waiting." I feigned to whisper the latter part.

"Oh," he muttered.

Alice held her hand for the phone; I looked at her for a second before going back to Edward.

"I'll see you later. Pixie's waiting," I laughed, "bye."

"Okay, bye. Take care." Edward said.

I handed the phone to Alice and she held it to her ear.

"Edward, sorry to keep your baby away but we have to go now. I promise to take care of her. Pinkie promise. See you later. Bye." Alice smirked.

Edward said something then Alice nodded. Then she hung up.

"Your baby said that I should take care of you and you shall not have any scratches or else, he would burn my shoes. I could not let that happen, so I'm taking very good care of you or my babies will suffer." Alice told me with a huff.

I laughed at her.

"Oh now you're laughing?" Alice glared at me.

"Sorry," I mumbled, trying to stifle my laughter.

"It's okay. I mean, I know how it feels to be in love." Alice smirked.

"Pardon?" I asked, a little bit surprised.

"What do you mean you're not in love?" Alice asked, raising her eyebrows.

"What? I never said that." I stated.

"But why did you say pardon?" Alice challenged.

"Nothing." I mumbled.

"You wouldn't say pardon if it is nothing." Alice concluded.

I just sighed and looked straight ahead. If I'd continue talking, I might slip again and Edward would surely strangle me.

"Bella," Alice started. I hadn't answered her and I kept silent for the rest of the ride.

"Yes?" I asked hoarseness was evident in my voice.

"Do you love him?" Alice asked me, looking deep inside my soul.

Do I love him? Of course not! He's my partner in this revenge. But I could not say that to Alice…

"Yes." I answered with a small smile. I hope she would not see past my lie.

"Are you sure?" Alice quirked an eyebrow at me.

"Yes, Alice. I am sure." I said, looking straight into her eyes.

"Good. I expect you to be better than her last girlfriend, Tanya." She spitted the name with annoyance.

"You don't like Tanya?" I asked her in shock.

"I don't and I never will." Alice stated.

I got Alice on my side. Yay!

"So, when did you know that what you feel is love?" Alice asked me.

Oh no. Not good. Back off!

"Uhmm, you know." I muttered.

What should I say? Freak out!

"What?" Alice smiled.

"When I looked at him," I sighed. This is not good. It's going to be the end of me.

Alice quirked an eyebrow at me.

"When I looked at him, I just felt like it…?" I mumbled. Alice nodded; it must be a good sign, right? Did she buy it?

"Continue, Bella." Alice encouraged me. She must have bought it.

"You know? When I looked into his eyes, I could feel the world stop, and it was… Magic just happened. Nothing I could ever feel can be compared to it. The whole world stopped, and it was just the two of us and I knew that this is right, this is the one. He is the One." I said without skipping a beat.

"Wow," Alice muttered, "That's like the greatest love you've ever felt?"

"Yes," I whispered though I actually don't know what the hell she is talking about.

"Wow, just wow." Alice said, blinking for the first time in a minute.

"Yeah," I mumbled. I hate lying to Alice even if we were not that close. I don't even know if she considers me as her friend.

"I feel just the same as you do, Bella. I'd felt that way and I will always feel like that." Alice said with a gleam in her eyes. That must be love.

"With Jasper?" I asked.

"Of course. If it's not him, then who would it be? Emmett? Ewww." Alice laughed. I laughed at myself.

Seriously, Bella. Who do you think it would be?

"I was making sure," I chuckled.

"Well, I don't have to. I know Jasper is my true and only love." Again, with the gleam in her eyes.

Alice is lucky. She has Jasper. I don't even know if I could ever feel like what she feels. For the first time, I envied her for feeling something that I'm not sure if I could feel it for myself. After all, who would want to love a freak?

But despite the envy I feel for her, I couldn't bring myself to push it on her because I know that it really wasn't envy. I felt pity. I pity myself. I pity myself for not being beautiful enough so that the guys in school would run after me. I feel pity for myself because I cannot have an Edward Cullen that would come after me after I broke his heart. Just like what he is doing right now. He is coming after Tanya even after she shattered him into tiny pieces. He learned to pick up himself and give his love for Tanya another go even if she doesn't deserve him one bit.

Bella, when you love someone, you see past their flaws. They may not be perfect but their flaw is what makes them unique. This is why you love them so much. Because you know that you can never find a person as unique as he is. And you know that you could never love someone as much as you love him.

I choked on my silence and that is when I realized I was crying. I tilted in my seat, facing the window and drew the sleeves of my jacket to my tears, drying them off.

It was a good thing Alice was focusing on the road or else I would have been bombarded with questions about the reason behind my tears. And I couldn't lie to her again.

Alice may not treat me as her friend, but I already did count her as mine.

"Bella, are you cold?" Edward asked me for the nth time this morning.

Probably worrying about the thin shirt I was wearing. As much as I wanted to go grab a sweater and cover myself up, I couldn't. Because for sure, Alice will kill me.

"I'm not cold, it's just the wind. It's too chilly." I shivered against his side.

"Bella," Edward said, concern covering his voice.

"I'm fine." I protested.

"By fine, you mean your lips should be violet?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

Instead of answering, my teeth chattered unconsciously.

"That's it." Edward huffed, pulling me into a tight embrace.

And suddenly, there was a spark. The spark was everywhere.

"Edward," I started. As much as I wanted to stay here in his warm embrace, I have to let go. And I don't even know why.

"Bella, don't be stubborn. You're freezing. You shouldn't have let Alice force you in that thin shirt." Edward said in a stern voice.

"I'm o-"I was cut of by my own sneezing. Followed by another. Then another.

"Don't you dare say you're not cold. I have proof. Your snot is all over my shirt." Edward laughed.

"I don't!" I protested.

We were laughing our heads off, closed in a tight embrace, when we heard a familiar clicking of heels. Tanya.

I turned to the direction of the sound while Edward looked ahead. I could feel his arms go numb. This couldn't be happening again.

"Baby," I muttered, loud enough for Tanya to hear. And I did reach my goal; Tanya looked at us, stopping on her tracks.

"Baby." I said, looking at him directly, trying to divert his attention to me.

He finally got to his senses and looked at me. Understanding gleamed in his eye.

"Baby," He almost cooed. I smiled. Victory is mine.

He then started to lower his head to level it with mine. Realization came crashing down. Edward freaking Cullen is going to kiss me.

He tilted his head a little to the right but I was far too frozen. My hands on his waist stayed where they were. Not moving. And there isn't a sign that they will.

Oh golly.

I closed my eyes. Shut them off tightly.

I felt his lips touch mine. Soft, gentle lips. And they stayed where they were. Waiting for me. Then, all my nerves started to function again. I huffed in a mouthful of air then crushed his lips to mine.

Eager to make this act work. Eager to make the pain in Edward's eyes go away and never come back. Willing him to fall for me.

But I knew that a kiss cannot make a person fall for you instantly. Just because your lips touched, he would fall hard. I knew it was a process I had to perfect. Especially when I am fighting over with Tanya Denali.

I heard heels clicking away, but Edward didn't pull away or anything. Was this kiss for real? Or was it part of the act? My breathing turned ragged and suddenly I was losing my supply of air. I have to break away from the kiss to fill my lungs with fresh air.

Goodness, Edward Cullen is the best kisser I ever knew.

"Bella," Edward started with a gleam in his eyes.

"Yeah?" my voice was throaty. He chuckled. He must have known that it was the result of his expertise.

"That was very well played." He smiled in victory. Yep, it was a part of the act.

"Uhmm, thanks." I mumbled, looking down. I felt ashamed for thinking that it was something out of the act.

"So, you're coming this weekend?" Edward asked as we stalked off to my first class.

"Where?" I asked blankly.

"Alice's house. Sleepover." He reminded me. Darn.

"Yeah, I think so. You?" I asked, looking at him in the eye.

"If you'd be there, you can count that I would make my presence known." Edward beamed at me.

"Okay," I muttered.

The rest of the day was spent in a blur. Edward drove me home, reminding me of the sleepover tomorrow. I nodded; I was suddenly not in the mood to talk to Edward now. Knowing that the kiss earlier was due to Tanya's appearance.

"Bella, sleepover tomorrow." Edward again reminded me.

"I know, Cullen. I'll just have to ask Charlie about it." I said bluntly.

"Okay then. I'll pick you up by noon." Edward said, smiling crookedly.

"Okay. Bye. Drive safely."

"Yup. Goodnight, Bella." Edward said as he started the engine.

"Goodnight." I mumbled as he sped off the driveway.

I quickly went inside to make Charlie his dinner. And since I was not in the mood to be around people, I kept his dinner simple. Just some pasta and bread. I didn't bother to do something special because I was in a sour mood. Huh, my time of the month must be coming because everything just pisses me off.

"Dad," I started as I stubbed a pile of pasta with my fork.

"Yeah?" Charlie muttered, not bothering to look up.

"There'll be a sleepover at Alice's house tomorrow," I whispered.

"Alice? Alice Brandon?" He asked in surprised.

"Yeah." I mumbled.

"Your friend?"

"Yes."

"So what if there would be a sleepover at her house?" Charlie asked me.

"She asked me to come over." I said, keeping my head down.

"You. At a sleepover?" Charlie asked, probably shocked.

"Okay, I get it that you're surprised and stuff…" I trailed off.

"You can go." He simply said.

"I can?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, sure."

"Really? As in I get to stay there for the whole night?" I asked, arching my eyebrows.

"Yes, Isabella. You get to stay there for the whole night." He told me patiently.

"Oh gosh! Thanks, Dad." I said, beaming at him.

"Now, now. Don't get all girly on me." he laughed.

"I'm not girly." I huffed. He just laughed at me more.

By the time I went to bed, my sour mood has lessened. Maybe due to the fact that Charlie allowed me to really attend a sleepover. But still, whenever I would remember what happened earlier, I couldn't help but have a tight feeling in my chest. Like something inside wants itself to be known.

"Dad, you're lunch is inside the refrigerator. Reheat it. Don't use metal." I reminded Charlie for the nth time.

"Okay, okay. I get it. It's not like I'm a baby who can't feed himself." Charlie assured me.

"But still…" I looked at him.

"No more of that, Bells. Go to your sleepover." He said, turning to the television.

"I have to wait for Edward." I muttered.

"Wait for whom?" Charlie asked, whipping his head to my direction.

"Edward?" I half asked him.

"Why would you?" he asked with something in his voice.

"Because we've decided to go together to Alice's house?"

"He was in with the sleepover?"

"Yes."

"You can't go, Isabella." He told me.

All color left my face.

"But you said yes!" I accused him.

"I said yes because I didn't know that he would be in it." He told me in a stern voice.

"It's not fair. You already gave me permission." I mumbled.

"I take my permission back." He smiled smugly.

"Too bad that you can't." I challenged.

"Isabella Marie Swan." He threatened.

I heard tires flew by the driveway. Edward.

"Yes?" I asked him sweetly.

"You are not-" Charlie threatened again.

"Bye, Dad! Your lunch is in the refrigerator!" I shouted as I exited the house.

Charlie looked at me stunned but before he could say another word, I was out of the door.

I came to Edward's car, running for my life. He wasn't even aware that I was fast approaching him.

"Drive off now." I breathlessly told him as I shut the door.

"Wha-"he was cutted off when he saw Charlie busting out of the front door. Anger and irritation apparent in his eyes.

"Oh, shit!" Edward cursed, quickly starting the engine.

"Drive now!" I hissed.

In a matter of seconds, we were off of our driveway.

"What was that about?" Edward asked when we were out of my street.

"Charlie didn't know that you will be with me this whole weekend." I explained.

"He didn't know?" He asked, surprised.

"He didn't ask and I didn't tell him. It was fair enough." I stated.

"But he'll kill me!" he exclaimed.

"No worries, I won't let him touch you; not even your hair." I chuckled.

"But,"

"No more buts, Cullen." I told him.

"Bella, your father will surely kill me the moment his eyes could set on me again." Edward said in a worried voice.

"I'll protect you," I smirked at him.

"Really, Bella? Really?" he asked voice full of sarcasm.

"You know, Cullen, you could use subtle, actually." I teased him.

"I am," he stated.

"Well, practice makes perfect. But no one is perfect, so why practice?" I mocked.

"I have an exception to that saying." He grinned.

"Who?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Myself," he exclaimed.

My jaw fell; I ended up gaping at him.

"Wow, you are so full of yourself." I huffed.

"I was joking, baby." Edward stifled a laugh.

"Okay, baby. No harm done." I replied, smirking.

"Okay, so seriously talking, your father didn't know anything about the sleepover at all?" Edward asked me.

"He knows about it." I told him.

"Then why were you running for your life when I picked you up?" he asked, looking at me.

"Because I kept you out of my permission when I asked Charlie." I told him, chuckling.

"Why did you do that?" Edward asked in a surprised voice.

"Because if I told him that you'd be coming, he won't allow me." I explained.

"And you want to come?" Edward asked, daring me.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because it would be my first time to attend a sleepover." I muttered from my seat.

"Ever?" Edward asked, raising his eyebrows at me.

"Ever." I confirmed.

"Well, welcome to your very first sleepover." Edward said as he pulled out of the driveway and parking in front of a massive white mansion.

"Wow," I muttered under my breath.

"Yep, wow." Edward said as he took my hand and led me to the front door.