I'm so sorry about the wait. My computer crashed, and took all my documents (including half this chapter) with it. My dad had to fix it before I could finish.
OME!!! You guys are the best! That last chapter got over 30 reviews! You guys never cease to amaze me!
I was thinking of submitting this story to ramblings-and-thoughts(dot)com. Their next submission period is next week. I'm a bit nervous about submitting this. What do you guys think?
I was thinking of submitting Smileazf to my-beta-is-better-than-your-beta(dot)com. What do you guys think? (J.K. But I totally would if that site were real) XD
Disclaimer: If I were Stephenie Meyer, I wouldn't be writing this right now. I'd be too busy hyperventilating about the upcoming Twilight movie. (Well, I am doing that, but still…) XD
Bella POV:
The impact sent me flying across the room, pinned down by whatever had just jumped onto me.
My eyesight was still blurry, and I opened my mouth to scream, but whatever it was beat me to it first.
"BELLA!" It screeched. "I missed you so much! You wouldn't believe how much I've missed you!"
I'd recognize that voice anywhere. "Alice!" My breathing hitched in odd places, but I couldn't find my lungs to control that. In fact, my entire chest was currently trapped against the ground.
"Alice, I've missed you so much, too. But could you please get off of me and let me breathe?" Alice laughed, and I smiled at the familiar sound of tinkling bells. For so long I had longed to hear that sound, to see her head shaking with the laughter that trickled out of her little pixie form.
She disentangled herself from my body and grabbed me up, wrapping her skinny arms around my waist. When she let go, I almost asked her to hug me again. Because looking at her now, it brought back so many memories of happier times.
She grabbed my hand, leading me over to the couch and pulling me into her side.
I was shaking with emotion when I began speaking.
"Alice, you don't know how great it is to see you again. I thought you were gone forever. I didn't think we'd ever get to have a proper goodbye." I was blubbering, but I didn't really care. "If I'd known you guys were leaving, I would have forced him to let me say goodbye to you. You were ― are― my best friend, Alice. I'm so sorry."
My voice broke on that last word. Alice smiled at me sadly before speaking.
"Bella, it's not your fault." God, how great it felt to hear her speak my name in her high soprano. "My brother was stupid. He wouldn't let us say goodbye to you. I'm so sorry about that. I should have come to you regardless. But, no. 'We can't interfere with her life anyone; a clean break would be better for us all.'"
She imitated his velveteen voice so perfectly; I could feel my heart breaking all over again.
I tried to talk around the lump that had formed in my throat, but found it was impossible. And I didn't really want to speak. I could feel the warm tears sliding mercilessly down my face. It felt so good to be here with Alice again after all this time. So natural; the silence was a comfortable one. I didn't want to ruin the moment with my babbling.
So I just sat there, letting my emotions overcome me, letting the tears fall from my eyes. I sat there in Alice's arms, and she stroked my hair and murmured how everything was going to be alright.
I wanted to believe her, I truly did. But how could everything be alright? I had finally just gotten the Cullens back into my life, and soon they'd be leaving me again.
I didn't know if I'd be able to live through it again this time.
That reminded me of why I'd come here in the first place.
I had wanted to speak with Edward so I could finally move on. Thinking about it now gave me a burst of self confidence. And being here with my best friend again gave me the courage that I needed to do this. I was ready.
I sat up slowly, twisting my body so that I could look her straight in the face.
"Alice, where's the rest of your family?" She gave me a knowing look, and I knew she knew what I was really asking. But she answered, nonetheless.
"They're still out hunting. I had a vision of you coming here, so I left to see you. But I didn't exactly let them know that I was leaving." She looked guilty, like a child getting caught stealing cookies before dinner. She continued, giving me a mischievous look. "And I suppose that Edward is still on his way to meet them. I saw that he'd meet up with them somewhere near South Africa. So I ―"
I cut her off with a startled look. "They were hunting in South Africa?!"
She looked at me like the answer was obvious. "Well, yeah. Where else can you get fresh cougar like that?"
I rolled my eyes. "But of course. What was I thinking?"
She laughed and I quickly joined in.
"So, as I was saying," she continued, still smirking widely at me, "I presume they should be back here soon, probably by sometime tomorrow. That idiot brother of mine will fill them in as to why I ran off like that.
I hadn't really listened to the last part of that. I was too busy hyperventilating over the fact that in less than twenty-four hours, I would be seeing everyone again.
Their faces flashed by in my head, one by one― burly, fun Emmett; sensitive, smart Jasper; stubborn, tenacious Rosalie; loving, gentle Esme; caring, guiding Carlisle. The family that I had once considered mine. The family that I had once longed to join, that I still longed to join. It felt weird remembering how close I'd come to almost reaching that dream.
But that was all it ever was― just a dream.
The hyperventilating returned as I thought about being face to face with them after all this time. What would I say? I wondered if they had even missed me at all.
Alice seemed to sense my worries.
"Bella, calm the hysterics. Don't make me slap you." She giggled. "They've missed you so much. I know they can't wait to see you."
"But, Alice," I asked, "how do you know that?"
"Silly Bella." She shook her head in mock indignation, then tapped her long, pale fingers against her temple. "You should know better than to bet against me."
I chuckled briefly at my ignorance and then once again leaned into her side.
"Even Rosalie kind of wants to see you."
I twisted again in her arms to stare with disbelief at Alice's tiny, innocent looking face.
"Rosalie… wants to see me?" The words felt strange coming from my mouth. I couldn't imagine Edward's other sister actually wanting to be in my presence. The idea was shocking, and admittedly even a bit unnerving. For some reason, Rosalie had never really taken a liking to me… and that was pretty much putting it lightly.
It was getting pretty late now; I had to get back to my dorm or Amber would get worried. Plus, I had a short paper to write for English.
I voiced this to Alice, who pulled me off the couch and walked me towards the big wooden door.
"Promise me you'll be here tomorrow when I come back?" I asked, the hope so very evident in my voice. I had Psych as well as Science tomorrow, but then I'd be off for the rest of the day.
Hopefully by then, the Cullens would be home. The thought sent my heart aflutter.
But I was almost afraid to leave Alice― nervous that if I let her out of my sight, all of this might disappear.
"Bella, I promise you I'll be here." She took a once-over of my outfit before continuing. "Plus, it really looks like your wardrobe could use my help; you can't expect me to leave you to fend for yourself in the shopping department." She feigned horror at the idea, and I couldn't even get mad at the fact that she obviously intended to spend a lot of money on me.
I laughed, and the sound was slightly hysterical. Alice caught on to this and lowered her voice significantly to a softer tone before speaking again.
"Geez, Bella, seriously… how have you been? You don't look too hot…"She trailed off and I knew exactly what she meant. My voice took on a sour edge as I answered her.
"I'm trying. It's been difficult, but I'm dealing."
"I knew we should have never left. It wasn't good for you." She sighed.
I looked at her curiously. Why did it matter how I had turned out? Edward had left for his own reasons; I was barely a factor in the matter.
Unless… maybe Edward had left for other reasons. What Alice had said had hinted at this. Maybe… maybe he still had feelings left for me….
No. I knew the truth. I shook my head, trying to dispel those dangerous, misbehaving thoughts from my mind.
Alice took my head-shaking as a sign of my disagreement towards her words.
"No, Bella, It wasn't the right decision… no matter what you say." When she said this, her golden eyes finally looked as old as her real age.
I just shrugged; she could come up with whatever theories she liked― I knew the reality of the situation.
I turned around to go out the door, and I felt Alice's hand flutter and come to rest on my shoulder. She hesitated before speaking. I turned around halfway to look at her.
"Bella, you know…." She looked away nervously for a moment. When she looked back, she didn't meet my gaze, instead focusing on the spot right over my left shoulder.
"Alice, what is it?
"Well, I was wondering… if you'd like, you could always spend the night here. We have plenty of computers that you could use for your homework. And you could stop by your room to get your stuff and to tell your roommate that you'll be out for the night." By the end her little speech, she was looking right at my face. She was practically jumping up and down, and she looked as if she'd just about burst from enthusiasm.
I couldn't deny Alice her excitement, and the idea just sounded too tempting.
"Sure, Alice, I'll spend the night. Just let me get back to my dorm room. I'll be back in half an hour."
"Oh, Bella! It will be so much fun! Just like old times!" Alice smiled, and the expression was wistful. She looked like a perfect angel; she'd outshine any figure on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
I turned back around after giving her an answering grin, and I reluctantly left the Cullen mansion behind me, driving the ten miles to campus a bit faster than was necessary.
I ran up the stairs to my dorm almost as fast as I had run down them this morning. But the difference between this morning and now was that now, I wasn't running to find something before it was too late. Now, I was running to get back to that something.
And that feeling was pure ecstasy.
I ran into my room and looked around, searching for any sign of Amber. She wasn't here, but there was a note on my pillow.
Bella, it read.
I'm spending the night studying at Nicole's dorm. I'll see you in the morning. Love, Amber
I was a bit relieved. I wouldn't have to lie to Amber's face about where I was going tonight.
I took one more look around the room and was surprised to notice something that I hadn't before. Apparently, Amber had decided to clean the room before she left for Nicole's. Some of my stuff was moved around, but I was still grateful for the fact that she had taken the initiative in keeping our dorm clean.
I went to my dresser, digging through my shirt drawer to find my green cable knit sweater. I couldn't find it. I could have sworn I had packed it. Oh well, I guess I'd just have to get it next time I visited Forks. I settled instead on a red longed sleeve shirt, and shoved the rest of my outfit into an overnight bag. I grabbed my toiletries from the bathroom, and then I scribbled a note to Amber onto the back of a napkin.
Amber,
I went out tonight, too. Thanks for the heads-up. Love, Bella. P.S. The room looks great!
I ran all the way back to the parking lot and got into my car. I drove back to the Cullen's house, smiling the entire way.
Song for this chapter: With Me by Sum 41
I really love this song! I suppose it could also represent Bella and Edward in the woods right before he leaves…
Please review guys! I love all, and you totally make my day with some of the things that you write.
And here's a little story that will make you guys smile a bit, or possible start sharpening your pitchforks… XD
When I saw High School Musical 3 on Friday, in the middle my friend (who had just finished New Moon) turns to me and says, "I totally think that Zac Efron should play Edward." And I was all: :O!!! And then I slapped her. XD I did it a bit hard, so I felt a bit bad, until I remembered what she had said. XD
Xoxo,
Michelle (:
P.S. Remember to ask for a teaser of the next chapter in your review if you want one. It will arrive as soon as I start making the chapter. XD
