Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight.
Thank you to all those fuckingtastic reviews, and especially to Chrissy Masen Magnitude for hanging in there with me!
Something like that.
It was something like that.
"Bella belongs to the 99% statistics of women who love roses. Tell me, why does a woman love it so much when a man buys her roses? Does she actually like the rose? Or does she like the fact that her man bought it for her? You know what I've learned about women? It's one thing to give a woman a diamond and it's quite another to give her a dozen roses. Don't you think?"
"What nonsense are you saying now? Hahaha. Stop talking and kiss me."
Yeah. It was definitely something like that.
The memory came in droves.
It was intoxicating – even for Bella- and she was the one that was remembering it. Although the memory was completely irrelevant to what was going on in her life right now, Bella couldn't help but remember it.
It was the type of memory that no matter how much one tried to oppress it – tie it down in chains and locked away in a room with no windows – it still finds a crack to seep through and haunt.
It was that type of memory.
Within hours of receiving such a rosy gesture from Mike, Bella was swinging on the tanned hammock out on the quaint balcony of her luxury apartment condo. The evening wind felt nice against her skin while she munched on a bag of chips, idly staring at the sky. Below and far-stretched from the balcony was the view of the sparkling city. Twilights of red, blue, and yellow dots glinted and shimmered all around Bella, but she was too preoccupied to notice.
With Mike's sentimental note in her left hand and his cell phone in her other, Bella leaned into the hammock swinging in a rhythm. Tucking her index finger-nail into the bottom of her lip, she stared up at the sky.
Emotionally: she was neutral.
Feeling: she was uneasy.
Thought-wise: she was blank.
* * * *
"Are you eating well?"
"Yeah."
"Are you sleeping well?"
"Yes."
"How is Anthony?"
"He's good."
"How's his sister? Is she okay with you two staying at her place?"
"Yes, mom."
"Is she a nice girl?"
Jacob paused, but not because of his mother's question from the other side of the phone line. Something had caught his eye.
Retracting his footsteps, he moved back toward his bedroom window. He had passed it too quickly due to his habit of walking back and forth during phone conversations. But Jacob had caught something interesting.
Leaning against the large window sill, Jacob stared down at the first floor's balcony. Now that it was nearly 11:30, the city lights were shimmering and glittering as the backdrop of the night sky. The hammock swayed slightly when the night wind whipped around balcony.
"Jacob, are you still there?"
"Yeah. Sorry mom, can you hold on?"
Jacob stared and realized that there was someone on the hammock. Taking a closer look, he realized it was Bella. Spread across in the hammock, with a bag of chips on her stomach and some other items in her hands, she was fast asleep.
Staring at her for as long as he dared to, Jacob moved toward his bed where the baby blue blanket was still folded. Wrapping it underneath his right armpit as he turned to his bedroom door, Jacob answered, "Yes, she's nice, mom."
* * * *
*Ding Dong*
*Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Ding Dong*
"Shit!" As he rushed down the staircase with just blue boxers on and tousled hair, Anthony let out an irritated groan when his left foot caught at the bottom. It was only eight in the morning and the house was bombarded with the door bell. Taking a quick glance through the hallway, to the living room, Anthony could see his sister fast asleep on the sofa facing the TV – wrapped tightly in a baby blue blanket.
Because she was a light sleeper, Bella stirred on the sofa. Without opening her eyes, she knew it was Anthony from the way he pounded down the staircase; he was the only person she knew that always tripped on the last step of any staircase.
*Ding Dong Ding Ding Ding Dong*
The bell rang incessantly again.
"Fuck!" Agitated, Anthony made a face as he opened the door. "HEY– do you know what . . . ."
"Morning!" Alice Hale's brightly lit morning face grinned at him from the other side of the door. Dressed in a tight blue and black spandex outfit, her hair was wrapped in a tight ponytail.
In her hand, she was holding onto two large tanned mats.
Anthony, struck by the sight of one of his sister's friend, stood rooted his spot. He didn't even notice he was half-naked until Alice poked at his upper-abs. "Hey honey, Angela was right. You did grow up!"
Still rooted to his spot, Anthony could feel his heart picking up speed and running. Awareness slammed into his face, but not hard enough to snap him out of his daze.
Alice was standing just on the other side of the door, looking so breathtakingly beautiful. Of all the friends that Bella had, Anthony definitely liked Alice the most. From the way she smiled, to the way she looked, and to her personality – Anthony always went gaga when she was around.
Because he had not seen her for the last two years, Anthony could feel his feelings washing over him as if they had never faded.
"Yo – half-pint, are you gonna let me stand out here?"Alice, completely oblivious to Anthony's puppy-crush on her, snapped him out of his trance.
Only half-blushing, half-mumbling, Anthony stepped aside. "I didn't know you were coming over Alice."
"I always come over on Sundays. Your sister and I do our Yoga on Sundays." Stepping into the rose-infested hallway, Alice gasped. "Oh my god, who threw up roses in this place? Whoa– is Bella opening up a flower shop or something? Where's your sister?"
Anthony retracted into the living room. Then, leaning sideways, he pointed out in the direction – never taking his eyes off of Alice.
Wrapped up in her blanket, Bella slowly got up from the couch. Once she was introduced, Bella shuffled into the hallway to greet her friend. Asking a useless question, Bella still asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Don't you look like the perfect nightmare." Alice scanned Bella's poofy hair to her morning face. "Mind telling me about the rose-littered place? Did you have a toga party and didn't invite me?"
Bella let out a sigh, realizing she had forgotten it was Sunday. Wrapping the baby blue blanket tighter around herself, she headed down the hallway to the bathroom. "I'll be back."
As Bella walked away, she heard the distinct conversation between Alice and her brother – Alice did most of the talking of course. "Wanna help?" Alice turned on Anthony, grinning as she held up the mats. Without waiting for him to answer, she threw them at him anyway. "You'll help."
Closing the bathroom door behind her, Bella hung the baby blue blanket next to the towels before she undid her sweatpants. After relieving her full-bladder, she turned toward the sink.
Staring at her morning reflection, Bella groaned lightly. She did look like a nightmare. Touching her right eyelid, Bella realized that they were puffy. Quickly abolishing all thoughts from her mind, Bella sucked it up. Performing her usual morning ritual, Bella managed to brush her teeth, gurgle some Listerine, wash her face, and apply some deodorant before stepping back out into the hallway.
"Morning Bella."
". . . Morning."
Staring up at Jacob, Bella could see the boy staring intently back at her. It was taking Bella some time to get used to his presence.
Bella wasn't quite used to seeing someone else other than her brother in her apartment. She hadn't had time to actually get to know Jacob – she had always remembered him as Anthony's friend – nothing more. But to see him now standing in front of her, greeting her, Bella's social skills reared their blunt heads.
"Were you out here the whole time?" Bella spoke up first – the thought of Jacob standing outside, hearing her pee was a little unnerving.
"Huh? . . . Oh . . . no. I – I just got here." Jacob looked down at the wooden floor, as if something interesting was there.
Bella followed his gaze. The corners of her lips turned in amusement. ". . . Well – it's your turn."
Jacob nodded. "Thanks."
Bella stepped aside, letting him get past her. God, he's so tall, Bella thought when Jacob 's shoulder brushed against hers when he went into the bathroom. But just as he was about to close the door behind him, she turned. "Hey."
Abruptly turning, Jacob looked back at her.
Pointing to the baby blue blanket that still hung next to the towels in the bathroom, Bella pointed, "Thanks for that last night."
Looking at the blanket and then turning back to Bella, he couldn't stop the blood from rushing to his cheeks in time. Blushing, Jacob managed a faint, "Oh – I saw that you were asleep outside and it was getting cold so I – "
But before Jacob could finish his sentence, Bella had turned on her heels and walked away. "It's a blanket Jacob. You just say, 'you're welcome'."
Jacob watched Bella's retreating back, not quite sure what to think of her – yet sure enough to think.
* * * *
"Inhale – exhale. Now relax your shoulders as you extend your right leg."
Trying to keep his balance as well as he could, Anthony failed with style when he landed on his right backside with a thud on the tan mat. "Oof! OUCH!"
"Are you okay?!" Letting go of her pose, Alice turned to him immediately. Reaching out, she clutched his right ankle with her left hand. Extending her right, she placed it against his pulsating cheeks. "Hahahaha . . . I have never seen anyone fall during the first position."
"I – it," stammering, Anthony tried to think of something clever to say.
But all he could think was, "Alice Hale is touching my ankle and my cheek! AHHHHH! I hope I did break something!"
"He falls all the time."
The sliding doors to the balcony suctioned as they departed. Bella, refreshed from her morning routine and having changed into her black-and-white yoga outfit, stepped outside. The bright morning sunlight hit her face, giving her some peace.
Making her way over to where Alice and Anthony had sprawled out the yoga mats, Bella walked past them toward the hammock. Right where she had left them last night, Mike's cell phone and note were still there.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Alice was asking Anthony in the background.
"I'm fine. Just a little slip. " Anthony stood up, hopping around and then started into some jumping-jacks to prove his point.
"Hahahaha. Maybe your sister and I should do some cardio warm-ups before yoga," Alice laughed, joining in.
Ignoring the ruckus they were causing in the background, Bella picked up the blinking cell phone.
Flipping it open, Bella noticed that it was low on batteries before seeing the text message: Did you receive the roses? I hope they smell nice; I ordered them scented. Are you busy tomorrow night?
Gripping the cell phone as she read his message, Bella felt the rush of nerves vibrating through her. Letting out a sigh as she flipped the phone shut, Bella threw it back onto the hammock.
"Get lost Anthony. We're gonna do some yoga." Turning back to where he and Alice were goofing off, Bella stepped onto her yoga mat.
The smile fading from both of their lips caused them to realize Bella wasn't in the best mood. Lowering his head, Anthony muttered bye to Alice before turning back towards the sliding doors.
"Why are you so mean to him?" Taking a seat next to Bella on her own yoga mat, Alice leaned over to her friend. "You okay? You're more moody than usual."
Extending her arms into the air as she crossed her legs Indian-style, Bella closed her eyes to suck in deep air. The cool morning air burned her lungs until she finally released. Bringing her extending arms back down to chest level, Bella placed her palms together. ". . . You know where the roses came from?"
". . . A flower shop?" Alice joked, breaking into neck roll first.
"Mike," Bella replied simply.
"Mike? Wow, I never knew he was so romantic," Bella mumbled, still in her trance.
"He's got it in his mind that our night-thing is blooming into a relationship. I don't want anything more than what we did." Bella stopped stretching to look at her friend.
"You want my advice?" Seeing the serious look on Bella's face, Alice's asked.
"Don't I always?" Bella replied. It wasn't the first time she asked Alice's advice on how to get rid of clingy guys.
Alice shrugged. "Give the guy a chance. If he still wants to hang out, then hang out."
Bella scoffed, nudging Alice's side. "Did your Seth buy you some romance novels?"
"Bella, I'm serious. What's the harm in hanging out? At least he gave a shit to send roses. How many one-night stands sent you roses? During this time and age, it only means one thing," Alice cracked her knuckles.
Bella, watching her moves, did the same thing. "You speak with confidence. Angela tells me you guys knew him a long time ago huh?"
Alice shrugged. "Yeah, but I didn't personally talk to him a lot. From what I've heard, Mike's a pretty good guy. It's a shame you didn't meet him two summer's ago at Rosalie's party. And if he's interested in you, that's something right? He's successful with the Mike nightclubs around the world – you know about the one in L.A. right?"
Bella narrowed her voice. "Aren't you full of information. He's the owner of the Mike nightclubs chain?"
"You . . . didn't know?" Alice drawled, rolling her eyes with a sharp gasp. "God Bella – the clubs are named after the guy for god-sakes."
"Great." Bella rolled her own eyes back. "No wonder he has all the time in the world to stalk me."
"Hahaha . . . look, give the guy some credit. He's trying hard."
"Yeah well – "
"Trust me. He's a good guy."
Eyeing Alice as if she knew something she didn't, Bella went on, "Tell me more about this Mike guy."
"I don't know much," Alice replied. "I really don't. But you would've met him last week if you hadn't miss Rosalie's dress-fitting. After he disappeared to Canada for two years, he kinda disappeared from New York. But I still remember hearing only good things about him. Would I lie to you?"
"I don't know, would you?" Bella raised an eyebrow.
"Why would I? I'm trying to help my single friend hook up with a hot guy. It's called doing a good deed." Alice made a face at Bella as she burst out laughing on her own.
Bella took in the information, but was still suspicious about Alice's attitude. "How do you know he's a good guy –"
"Is that the friend Anthony was telling me about? You got him living in your place too? Why did you not tell me?!" Alice was no longer paying attention to Bella when something had caught her eye. Twisting her body, she was staring through the glass-sliding doors into the living room where Jacob was talking to Anthony. "That guy's fucking hot!"
"You have your Seth, remember?" Bella followed her gaze, reminding Alice of her boyfriend. "Your boyfriend?"
"That doesn't mean I can't look . . . "
* * * *
"Is she still looking?"
"Yeah."
"I think she wants me!" Giggling as he picked up a handful of rose petals, Anthony threw it at Jacob who had to dodge the fluttering petals.
"Dude! Are you out of your mind?" Jacob turned back, staring out at the balcony. He saw Bella's friend, Alice, raising up a hand to wave at him while Bella yawned before turning her back on them.
Anthony, still thinking that Alice was staring at him, decided to wave back to her. He was disappointed when Bella had spun her back around – forcing the boys to stare at their backs. Jutting out his lower lip, he cursed silently how his sister was always spoiling his chances of flirting with her friends – especially Alice.
"You think she's hot?" Anthony asked, flopping down the side of the couch where he could keep an eye on Alice.
Jacob shrugged, taking the opposite seat. "I guess."
"You guess?" Anthony scoffed, picking up a throw-pillow and aimed it at Jacob. "Here, maybe smacking some sense into you will change that answer. Alice is the hottest woman to ever walk the planet."
Jacob dodged the intended pillow. "There are hotter women," Jacob mumbled, looking back to see Bella and Alice standing tall with their arms extended full length – reaching all the way down to their toes in a fleeting position. "What are they doing out there?"
"Yoga," Anthony replied, staring at Alice's form.
"And they do that?" Jacob, having only heard of Yoga once or twice, wanted to laugh at the strange poses Alice and Bella were displaying out in the balcony. But he had to give it to the girls for holding onto the strange poses with grace.
"Yeah, they stretch the entire time. It makes their bones grow or something like that," came Anthony's simply reply. "God, she's hot. I wonder if she has a boyfriend. She's always had a boyfriend. I think she's never been single."
"Bella?" Without really thinking, Jacob blurted out.
"Eww gross!" Anthony choked, leaning forward from his place on the sofa. "Dude, I'm talking about Alice! Why would I call my own sister hot? That's some hill-billy incestuous comment."
"Haha – sorry." Jacob only apologized. Getting up from his place on the couch, he turned back to Anthony. "Let's head to the gym or something. Get the day started. You wanna get some breakfast and bounce?"
Anthony, never taking his eyes off of Alice, shook his head. "Nah . . . ."
"Dude, focus." Jacob nudged his friend's shoulder, turning back to glance at Alice and Bella. The two girls were now in another strange pose, making an angle that made Jacob grimace in pain if he ever attempted.
"Dude . . . you do not understand that she's my dream girl. She's – " Anthony quickly shut up when he saw that Bella was heading back inside. Alice was still in her yoga stance outside, completely immersed now.
"Hey Bell– " Anthony started to say when Bella slid open the glass sliding doors. Without glancing at Jacob or Anthony, Bella headed toward the kitchen. Within seconds, she came back out with two water bottles.
Without glancing at Anthony, Bella said clearly, "Stop staring at her you creep. And yes, she has a boyfriend."
"How – what – sh – " Anthony hissed, but not loud enough for Bella to hear. He watched in utter defeat as Bella slid back the sliding doors, walking back out to the balcony. When she reached Alice, she handed her one of the water bottles while saying something that caused Alice to burst out laughing, spitting her water everywhere.
Jacob laughed as he watched the scene.
"What are you laughing for?!" Anthony asked, looking at his friend in surprise. His ears started to turn red from embarrassment. Leave it up to Bella to always embarrass him. How as she able to read his lips from all the way out there?
Jacob only continued to laugh.
Scoffing, Anthony stood up from his place from the couch. As he headed into the kitchen, Anthony said under his breath, "Why are you laughing at me when you're the same way too?"
Abruptly, Jacob stopped laughing to watch Anthony's retreating back. "Huh?"
Different Mike from the normal world eh?
Hint: Jacob is actually A LOT closer to Bella than you think. *smiles*
Drop me a review and I'll give you all chocolate cake with chocolate icing with chocolate milk. =)
