A/N: Many thanks to the fabulous Miss Iris for being a bad-ass beta and getting this thing worked out, even when she's busy as heck! Check out the Falling into Autumn contest! Happy Birthday goes out to Cejsmomwatson who is running the Bratty-Vamp fanfic facebook page. And another Happy Birthday to my pretty, preppy, pre-reader who is destined to be my other-half whether she likes it or not- Pamela Lorraine.
CHAPTER 7
It had been easy to avoid Alice in the following days. I was very busy with work, and Alice was gone most of the time doing God knows what. But on Saturday, she needed my help getting things ready for her backyard barbeque party. I bucked up and decided to treat it like another work day, pitching in while keeping a polite distance.
"Is something wrong?" Alice asked, looking at me over the table as she tried to smooth out the wrinkles in the tablecloth she'd just laid out.
"Hmm?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
"You're really quiet today." Alice squinted her eyes and looked as though she could see right through me. I nervously shifted my feet.
"I'm just thinking about Angela's wedding and everything…"
"Ahh!" At that, Alice's face took on a dreamy sort of expression. "It's fun, isn't it? Exciting! Don't you just love weddings?"
"I guess." I shrugged.
Edward came outside just then, holding a box of napkin rings Alice had sent him to fetch. He and Alice had been bickering all morning, making me feel even more uncomfortable than I already did around the two of them. I had almost instantly regretted accepting Edward's invitation to this backyard soiree. In fact, I even worked out an exit strategy with Angela just to get me out of the whole mess. I expected her call about a "wedding dress emergency" at promptly 3:30 that afternoon.
"I can't believe you're going to all of this trouble," Edward mumbled, dropping the box he held onto the middle of the table Alice was trying to set. "It's ostentatious. This isn't us, Ally."
"Well, I like it." Alice shrugged, frowning at him. "And stop trying to use big words. You'll give yourself a headache."
"What do you think, Bella?" Edward asked. I frowned, not wanting to be pulled into their spat.
"About what?"
"Napkin things!" Edward slapped the box with the back of his knuckles. "And fancy silverware. All of this!"
"It's, uh, pretty?" I suggested, looking at the glass vase of fresh flowers Alice was currently fussing over.
"See, Edward?" Alice rolled her eyes. "His problem," Alice spoke to me, "is that he's a big ol' slob who thinks every picnic should involve red plastic cups and beer coolers!"
"I might be a slob, but you're a little snob!" Edward threw back. That was it. They'd elevated to name-calling. I was done.
"I… need to go get dressed," I excused myself. "I'll be back out soon. Okay?"
"Guests will arrive at 2:00!" Alice chirped, fluttering around the table as though totally unaffected by the entire situation.
Not particularly anxious to jump back in the middle of Alice and Edward's arguing, I spent more time than usual getting ready for the picnic. Though, I really could see where Edward was coming from earlier. Any backyard barbeque I'd ever been to before had been a casual affair. Alice seemed to have gone all out. I wasn't quite sure what I should even wear. Finally deciding on a simple sundress and sandals, I twisted my hair back into a loose ponytail and went upstairs to join the party.
"I was just coming to look for you," Edward called out when found me passing through the kitchen.
"Am I late?"
"Nah." Edward shrugged his strong shoulders beneath the soft-looking t-shirt that covered them. He'd chosen to dress comfortably in long shorts and flip-flops. "A few of the guys got here early. You look really nice, Ms. Swan."
"I wasn't sure what to wear…" I self-consciously twisted my ponytail to rest it over my shoulder.
"Nothing to worry about," Edward insisted. "Hey… I don't want you to feel nervous around these people, all right? I mean, they're all big names on the team, but they're just regular guys, like me."
"I'm not the type to get star-struck, Edward."
"Okay. It's just… you seemed a little… off earlier."
"I just have a lot on my mind," I replied truthfully. "I'm looking forward to meeting your friends."
"Good, because they're all going to love you!" Alice interrupted, walking inside to join us.
"We might have to beat a couple of them off with a stick." Edward grumbled under his breath. "Don't let Edward scare you." Alice swatted at his arm. "These boys are notorious flirts, but not
all of them are the womanizing dirtbags they have the reputations to be!"
I might've believed her if I hadn't been introduced to the womanizing dirtbag- deluxe just a few short seconds later.
"Ooh, look! Jasper's here!" Alice hopped a little before grabbing my hand to pull me outside. "I can't wait for you to meet him!"
Edward walked behind us while Alice practically dragged me across the patio to meet one of their guests who'd just arrived. He faced away from me, speaking to another gentleman, but I recognized the back of his long, curly blond head immediately. This was the same man I'd seen Alice kissing! Shocked and dismayed, I tried to compose my features as he turned to look at me.
"Bella? This is Jasper Hale, one of Edward's best friends and shortstop for the team." Alice smiled while she introduced the handsome man who grinned as he turned and reached forward to shake my hand. I put my numb fingers in his grasp for a moment, returning his greeting while struggling to keep the embarrassment I felt from showing on my face. Jasper's blue eyes sparkled and crinkled near the corners as he smiled widely.
"I'm real glad to meet you," Jasper said with a slight southern accent. "Ally's gone on and on about the great Bella Swan who's helping them out so much! It sure is a privilege, ma'am!"
I didn't even know how to respond to that. I simply nodded and dropped his hand as though it had been doused in acid. How could such a deceitful asshole seem, on the surface, so sweet and polite? Alice had introduced him as one Edward's best friends! He was like a big ball of evil wrapped up in a very pretty package. I felt sick to my stomach.
"This is Matt and his wife, Mackenzie," Edward said, keeping the introductions rolling and giving me an opportunity to focus my attention elsewhere.
"Very nice to meet you." I smiled, trying to recover for my initial awkwardness.
"Hi!"
It was a very nice group of people invited to attend the picnic Alice had put together. Most of the men had girlfriends or wives with them. A couple even brought along their children. Not one of them seemed pretentious or stuffy as some might expect them to be, and Edward kept me with him during the get together, seemingly focused on making me feel comfortable in a group of strangers. He never once made me feel as though I were simply a member of his staff; I felt like a friend.
If I had worried I wouldn't fit in, my mind was put to ease by the relaxed atmosphere and the truly considerate man beside me. And I had to admit that Alice's efforts seemed well placed in this setting; not too pompous, not too casual. Aside from the fact I knew about Alice and Edward's shortstop having a secret affair, I might've actually had a really nice time.
"Hey, y'all! Grab your seats! The food's ready!" Jasper yelled. I looked over my shoulder to see Alice holding a platter for him while he took meat off the grill. Everyone else moved to sit at the long table that had been set for their meal.
"I'm going inside to get a fresh pitcher of iced tea," I told Edward. "Do we need anything else?"
"We could ask Mrs. Waters to bring it out," Edward suggested.
"That's okay. The girls inside have their hands full. I don't mind." I smiled. "I'll be right back!"
I checked in with the women in the kitchen who were uncovering side dishes to take out to the table. As I predicted, they were quite busy and appreciated the extra hand in carrying drinks. I was very pleased to see them working together like a well-oiled machine. I was just ready to head back outside when a commotion behind me caused me to spin toward the sound.
A tall red-headed woman in a white pantsuit stood in the kitchen, shrieking at one of the kitchen staff.
"Watch where you're going!" The woman curled her red-lacquered lips with distaste. "You almost got food all over me! These pants cost more than your life!"
"Hey now…" I walked over to the scene and placed the pitcher of tea I was carrying down on the counter. "What's going on?"
"This idiot almost knocked me over!" The red-headed woman continued her tirade.
"There's no need to call anyone names." I stood up for the poor girl who clutched the bowl of potato salad in her arms as though her life depended on it. "Sarah? Take that outside, okay?" She nodded and rushed to do as I asked. "See?" I glanced up and down the woman's pristine clothing. "No harm done."
"No harm done, my ass." The woman narrowed her eyes on me. "Until Edward fires your little friend for being incompetent. If I were you, honey, I'd get back to work, or your job will be on the line, too!" Then the woman pushed past me on her way to exit through the patio doors. I kind of wished I still held the pitcher of iced tea so I could've "accidentally" spilled it over her head! What kind of dumbass wears a white pantsuit to a barbeque anyway?
"I hoped she wouldn't be here today," Mrs. Waters muttered beside me, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel.
"Who is she?" I asked, taking a moment to compose myself. I was so angry that my hands were practically shaking.
"One of the team's publicists," Mrs. Waters replied. "Nasty woman. Very rude. I don't like her."
"Well, when Sarah comes back in, please let her know she's not in any sort of trouble," I instructed. "I'll speak to Edward about it later."
"Thank you, Ms. Swan." Mrs. Waters smiled as I picked up the pitcher of tea and went to rejoin the party.
I frowned when I got back outside and saw the red-headed woman seated beside Edward. They were turned to each other, speaking, but Edward looked up when I placed the tea on the table and indicated I should sit in the chair to his right. Alice was sitting directly across from Edward at the table, and Jasper took the seat in front of me. I ignored him but carefully watched Alice, curious to see what her reaction was to the redhead who possessively laid her hand over Edward's arm as they talked. I couldn't help but notice she was frowning as she looked at the pair.
"Victoria? I don't think you've met my new right-hand person around here. This is Isabella Swan," Edward introduced. I tried to force a small smile on my face so as not to seem rude as I looked over at her.
"Oh, my God, Eddie!" The redhead spoke in a high-pitched, girlie sort of voice. "You told me you were hiring a new housekeeper! I didn't know you'd already found someone!"
"Household Manager." Alice made the correction while narrowing her eyes.
The woman reached across Edward and put her fingers out, as though she expected me to shake her hand. I reached for the iced tea to pour a glass instead.
"We've already met." I smiled coolly. "In the kitchen just now. Victoria was remarking about how good the potato salad looks!" I raised my eyebrow at the woman. She might've been fooling Edward, but I wouldn't let her off the hook for her rudeness inside.
"Vickie eats potato salad?" Alice snorted a little and offered a smile that looked as fake as mine felt. If I could judge by the look on her face, she wasn't fond of the woman, either. "I thought you were on the Diet Coke and cigarettes diet."
"Not all of us are blessed with your petite frame." Victoria sniffed a little. "Some of us have to work at it!"
"Well, pass it over this way, then!" Alice grinned. "I'm trying to put on a few pounds!"
I made sure to serve myself a large scoop of the creamy yellow salad before passing the bowl across the table. For the moment, at least, Alice and I seemed to be on the same page. Everyone took that cue to start filling their own plates. Awkward moment aside, light-hearted conversation filled the table once more, and I thoroughly enjoyed digging into my food while I watched Victoria push lettuce around on her plate.
"I like a girl with a healthy appetite." Edward winked over at me, licking a bit of barbeque sauce from the end of his thumb. Good thing for him, since Alice seemed content to eat half her body weight in the meat Jasper had prepared. I couldn't deny that the shortstop's time spent in Texas had made the man a master at the grill. All of the food was delicious!
When the table was cleared, I wasn't sure how I'd manage to eat even one bite of the fresh pies that were cooling on the counter inside. I'd probably eaten more than I should have just to show Victoria that I could. I couldn't help myself. I didn't like the woman. I didn't like the way she'd yelled at Sarah and talked down to me inside the house, I didn't like the way she dominated conversation with Edward, and I didn't like her stupid red lip gloss. In a very weird way, though, I was sort of thankful she'd come to the party. For a short time, I'd been able to focus my irritation at her instead of worrying about Alice and Edward's relationship.
All good things, however, must end.
"Well," Alice said, clearing her throat. "I'd like to take a minute to thank you all for coming to our party today."
"The host wants to speak!" Someone tapped their glass with the side of a knife. "Speech! Speech!"
"Not me!" Alice giggled. "Jasper?"
"All right." The man beside her stood from his seat. I glanced over at Edward who seemed to be staring a hole through the table in front of him. "Though I don't know how much of a speech it'll be," Jasper said, looking flushed in the face. He looked down at Alice who was smiling beside him. "And I'm sure that this won't come as much of a surprise to many of you…"
"You've finally been traded!" someone jokingly inserted, making others at the table laugh. "You're getting slow, old man!"
"Shut the hell up." Jasper wadded up a cloth napkin and threw it at the man who teased him. "Who has more stolen bases, huh?"
"Are you going to tell us what's going on?" someone asked.
"Yeah! What's the big news you promised?"
"As many of you know, Ally's been working over at my place day in and day out to get the house finished for me," Jasper continued.
So that was the project Alice had been working on nearly non-stop?
"Her work's going to be featured in an upcoming photoshoot for an issue of Elle Décor! Did I get that name right, darlin'?" he asked Alice, who nodded. Guests at the table offered congratulations and lifted their glasses in her direction.
"Excuse me," Edward said, surprising me by suddenly rising in his seat. "I need to go check on the dessert. Bella? Would you mind helping me?"
Jasper's smile faltered a little, and I looked around at the faces of the other guests as Edward strode away from the table. Most of the partygoers looked back and forth between each other, raising their eyebrows in question, apparently confused by Edward's sudden departure. I felt red creeping into my cheeks. It was rude of Edward to leave the table in the middle of a speech, and apparently, I was expected to follow him!
"I'm sorry…" I sputtered, getting up from my seat to hurry inside.
"Edward?" I asked, cringing as I stepped through the kitchen doors just in time to see Edward slam a stack of dessert plates down onto the countertop with enough force I thought he might break them all into pieces.
"Of all of the stupid, careless… Where are the fucking dessert forks?" Edward bellowed, looking up at me.
"Are you mad at me or the cutlery?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest. I walked across the room and opened a drawer to show him the items he was searching for.
"I'm sorry," Edward muttered, taking a step back to lean against the counter. "I didn't mean to raise my voice at you." He pushed his hands into his hair and closed his eyes. "I just can't take another second of those two rubbing their relationship in my face! Alice knows how I feel about all of this! But they have to choose today to—"
"Wait." I pushed my palm out in Edward's direction to stop his speech. So he knew about Alice and Jasper? I'd been critically watching them all day, and I really hadn't thought they were being very obvious.
"Don't tell me you didn't notice!" Edward scoffed, mistaking my silence for ignorance. "Anyone with eyes can see what's going on! Not that I have any say in the matter. Alice refuses to listen to me. We've been fighting about it for months!"
"Whoa," I breathed, dropping my head.
"It's clear she's made her choice. Now we all just have to deal with the consequences!"
"I don't even know what to say." I shook my head. "Edward? I'm really sorry. If there's anything I can do…"
"You can start by answering your phone. That buzzing's making me nuts."
I'd been so wrapped up in what was happening that I hadn't even noticed my phone was vibrating like crazy in the pocket of my skirt. Angela. 3:30. I felt horribly guilty for the interruption but extremely thankful for it at the same time.
"Hello?" I asked into the receiver.
"Bells? I need help! I don't know what to do!" Angela wailed into the phone, loud enough for anyone in polite distance to be able to hear her.
"What's going on?" I sighed. Edward looked at me for a moment and then went back to his task.
"My dress fitting is all wrong! I need you here!"
"Wedding emergency?" Edward suggested, saving me from having to lie myself. "Do you need to leave?"
"I think I should," I crinkled my nose. "Ang? Stop crying. I'll be there as soon as I can." I pushed a button on the phone to end the call and dropped it back into my pocket. "I'm sorry, Edward. This is a bad time—"
"Did I hear you say you were leaving?" Victoria walked into the room then. I tried very hard not to roll my eyes at her when she walked up beside Edward and wrapped her hand around his forearm. "I thought I'd come in to see if you have any champagne."
"There are a couple of bottles in the ice box," Edward told her, sighing. "Glasses are over here…"
"You can go now," Victoria dismissed me. "I'll help Eddie out."
Oooh. I'd bet she'd just love to "help Eddie out"!
Edward seemed lost in his own thoughts as he retrieved the requested stemware. I decided that maybe it was best if I did leave. It wasn't like I was needed. Only Edward could provide damage control here. His guests had to be pretty confused about what was going on. Though, if Alice and Jasper had been as obvious as Edward claimed, maybe quite a few people outside already suspected there was trouble in the Cullen household. One way or the other, he and Alice had a lot to work out. I wouldn't be able to help either of them with that. The best thing I could do was lay low and give them some space.
And so I decided to leave, to walk away from a new friend who had a very real problem in order to pretend to help an old friend with a fake problem… all while trying desperately not to consider the whole slew of other problems that were likely heading my way!
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