Bella and I got to know each other, and she told me about her sister, Lisa. She was 2 years older than Bella, at 25. We had agreed to meet during the week off, and she suggested that I go over to her apartment.
I was a little nervous, but I wanted to see her.
So, after telling my mom I was going out, I went over to her apartment. She had told me where she lived, while asking a few questions.
I knocked on her door, nervous. I wasn't in my chair. Well, my mom made me take it, but I knew I wouldn't need it.
She opened the door, surprised to see me standing.
"Hey, where's your-"
"I don't need it. We're not going anywhere, we couldn't."
She closed the door, and I followed her into the living room. The was a black Labrador puppy asleep on the couch. I sat down on the couch, and he woke up.
"That's Jake."
She sat next to me, looking at me. I was nervous, but I wanted to be with her. I felt her take my hand, squeezing it.
"Alice, I know this is all new to you. But, we'll take it slow, OK?"
"I know, Bella. I trust you."
That seemed to make her happy, and I meant it. I know I haven't known her long, but I do trust her. She moved a little closer to me, and I noticed Jake walking over to me. He lay his head on my knee, and I scratched the top of his head.
"He likes you."
I looked up at Bella, and she moved, putting her arm around me. She stopped, obviously thinking it was a bad idea.
"Bella, I trust you."
She puts her arm around me, and I lean back against her. She kisses the back of my head, and I turn around, looking at her.
She kisses me, leaning her forehead against mine.
I turn to look at Jake, hearing him whine.
"He's probably hungry."
Bella got up, and Jake jumped down to follow her. I stood up, leaning against the counter.
She fed him, and got something to eat. I wasn't hungry, but she insisted. I put my stuff in the sink, walking back over to the couch. Jake had curled up on a brown pillow by the couch, and Bella was laying down. She moved back a little, and I sat next to her. I still had a drink, and when I leaned over to put it on the coffee table, I felt her fingers trace the scar on my back.
I normally don't let people touch it. I wouldn't let Lucy or Arial touch it. I was nervous of how she would react, seeing it. It's not exactly a small scar.
She seemed to realise that she had startled me and sat up.
"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"
I shook my head, she didn't.
"No... I just... I just wasn't expecting it. I just-"
"You didn't want to see that did you? Not yet anyway."
I didn't answer her, and she pulled me into a hug. I felt her fingers trace the scar, and shivered.
"Alice, it's just a scar. I've Lucas' scar before. It doesn't bother me. I know I startled you, and I'm sorry. But, as long as it doesn't hurt you, that's all I care about."
I knew she'd probably seen his before, but this was different.
"It's just... I hate all these scars."
I looked away, thinking. I had that scar and a few on my legs from various surgeries.
She made me look at her, and I could see that she was upset.
"Alice, I don't care. You're you, that's all that matters. I know you have a lot of scars. I know that because of Lucas. You just need to tell me if I hurt you."
She wrapped her arms around me, kissing the top of my head. What she said... It helped relax, and I felt relieved that she didn't care about anything.
I left around 4. Jake kept trying to trip me up, so Bella picked him up. She apologised and kissed me, before I left.
I got home, and found Arial in the living room. She was happy to see me, and we went back to my room. Rose was talking to Emmett, and it had turned into them arguing. We started talking about school, and when she mentioned Bella, I got a little nervous.
"I noticed you staring at her, you know?"
I had been looking at my phone, and looked up at her, surprised.
"W... What?"
She laughed, waiting for me to say something. When I didn't say anything, she tried to get me to admit I like Bella.
"Come on, I wont tell anyone. I know you like her, Alice. There's nothing wrong with that. You know no one cares that you're gay."
I ran my hand through my hair. I couldn't tell her. If she found out, Rose would know.
"Arial, she's a teacher. I don't like anyone, like I said. I just noticed girls and not guys."
"You're not fooling anyone, you know."
She shook her head, and I sighed.
"Is it that obvious?"
"No. But, I sit next to you everyday in biology, so I can see it."
I blushed, thinking about what she'd said.
"I wont tell anyone, I promise."
I nodded, trying not to say anything that would make her realise that Bella knew how I felt and for some reason, felt the same way.
"Thanks, Arial. Think you can keep this from Rose?"
She nodded, and moved a little closer to me.
"Sure. It must be pretty hard for you. Especially if you have to stay back on your own."
"You have no idea."
She nudged my shoulder, and I looked away.
"What? Like the day you gave her the project? Alice why do I have a feeling there's more to this?"
How the Hell am I going to get out of this?
"I... I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're a terrible liar, Alice. What happened?"
Not seeing a way around this, I knew I had to tell her.
"You need to promise you wont freak out, and you wont Rose."
"Fine! Come on, what happened?"
I sat up, looking at her. I didn't think this was a good idea.
"Well, the day I stayed back to give her the project, we started talking. I started to ask her a question and she kissed me. She told me to leave. You know I ended up in the hospital. On Friday, I wanted to talk to her. I managed to get her to tell how she felt and we agreed to keep it quiet."
Arial was shocked, but not half as shocked as I was when Rose walked in.
She looked at me, and I knew she heard everything. If you're sitting on the bed, the way we were, you cant see the door. So, we didn't know she'd been listening.
"Rose, I-"
"Don't Ali'. You could've told me, you know I'll protect you."
She... She wasn't annoyed?
"I thought you'd freak out and tell mom and dad."
"You need to be careful, we'll cover for you, right Arial?"
Arial nodded, looking at Rose.
"Right."
So, they were going to cover for us. Now I just have to tell Bella...