Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the characters in this story.
A/N: Please don't gather your pitchforks and hunt me down for not updating since like November but I have exams this month and I've just been crazy busy revising and working :( Anyway, I promise I'm going to try get back to regular updating after my exams but just be patient – please? I love you guys!
CHAPTER SEVEN (BPOV)
"A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you" – Elbert Hubbard
I have been beside myself with excitement since Friday night. It's now Tuesday and tomorrow night I am going on a date with the hottest man on earth. Or on any other planet for that matter. I've tried not to think about exactly why he wants to take me out. But there's always that pessimist in me that thinks negatively about everything. I have tried to reason with myself, I'm not the ugliest person that ever lived. Just the second ugliest. Anyway, Edward seemed interested in me - he definitely didn't want to stop kissing me if that's any indication.
After we had reluctantly pulled ourselves away from each other, I checked my phone and realised that I had a million and one missed calls from Alice and Rose. I rang them back and found out that they had been tempted to call the police and report me missing. Jesus. I hadn't even thought about how worried they would be. I apologised profoundly and said I would make it up to them. I haven't decided what to do yet but part of my payback begins tonight. Alice is forcing me to go shopping with her to get clothes for tomorrow. I'll need a vodka shot before I go. I make a mental note to visit Asda after work.
A customer comes in then and I'm pulled out of my daydreams by the chimes above the door. I work in a local book shop that has old latticed windows and a wood sign outside where "Cover to Cover" has been worn away by the weather. Yes, it's been here that long, probably before dinosaurs. I love this place though. Cover to Cover is a family run business. I've spent hours listening to Esme tell me about how the shop started. It used to sell only used books but as the business grew, Esme began to sell new books alongside the used ones. I've only been working here a few months but already it feels like a little family. Esme is like my adopted English grandma, she's helped me so much.
The customer buys a used copy of Sense and Sensibility and a cute bookmark that has a beautiful quote on it. At the end of my shift I head back home and remember just as I begin to climb the steps that I need to get vodka. Need. I turn back down the steps and begin down the street to the convenience sized Asda at the gas station.
They only stock the small 250ml bottles. I huff and puff but buy it anyway. I buy chocolate as well because who can resist a 3 for 2 offer? Not me. Once I get home, I pour myself a drink in a coffee mug because there are no clean glasses. Yep, uni life is so glamorous. I relax for literally 2 minutes because as soon as I open the dairy milk chocolate wrapper, I get a knock on the door. It's Alice, obviously.
"Bella, you ready to go?" Either she's on drugs or she just ate a too many blue Smarties because she is so hyped.
"Well I was just about to indulge in some chocolate but you've interrupted now anyway so I guess I am" I stick my tongue out at her.
"Bring it with you! Come on, the taxi is waiting outside."
I get my bag, shove my feet into my converse and grab the chocolate bar. The taxi driver is one of those weirdo men that my dad has warned me about since I was about 12 and old enough to walk home on my own. He tells me his name is 'Larry' and that he's been a cabby for over 10 years. I raise my eyebrows and nod because how am I supposed to interact with a paedophile? He grins at me and his teeth are all blackened and rotted. I swallow down some sick. Remember when I said I was the second ugliest person on earth? Yeah. I think about advising him on how to brush your teeth but I don't want this to turn into a dental hygiene car ride and I certainly don't want him to ask me to demonstrate.
Alice and I huddle on the back seat together, maybe Larry will think we're gay and leave us alone. Doubt it. We survive the ride, pay the cab fare and scramble out as quickly as possible. We head into the big shopping centre and I stop walking because I'm totally not a shopping person and there are too many friggin' shops in this place. Alice sighs and grabs my hand.
"Let's go then, we haven't got a lot of time, it's already half three and the shops close at eight!" My hand nearly gets tugged away from my wrist as she drags me to the first shop. For someone so small, she's actually quite strong.
Alice whisks me around the whole shop in less than 10 minutes. She holds up dresses and tops, jeans and jumpers, skirts and jackets and picks up multiple sizes of every item, she grabs bags and jewellery off the stands and eventually I find myself in a changing room with an excited Alice looking at me expectantly.
"Do I need to dress you as well as pick out your clothes?" She asks sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"No, I can dress myself" She leaves the cubicle and closes the curtain behind her. I strip down to my underwear and Alice hands me the first outfit. It's a structured peplum black dress and a massive gold tribal necklace, even Mr T would be proud of that thing. I put it all on and pull the curtain back to show Alice.
"Mmm, I like that one but maybe with a big clutch bag. Try the next one on first, I might change my mind"
"Yes, your majesty" I nod solemnly and take the next outfit out of her hands. I take the dress off and hand it back out to Alice with necklace. I now have a different dress on but this one is a corally-orange colour and has an A-line skirt. I step out into the dragon's den.
Alice nods, "Oooh, maybe with a belt!" She rummages in her pile of clothes and pulls out a matte black belt. She puts it on for me and instructs me to turn around. "This is definitely a keeper. Next" She claps her hands as if she is impatient so I go back in the changing room and try on another outfit. This carries on until I have tried on every single thing. Apart from the mini skirt she gave me, no way in hell am I wearing a mini skirt. We go into about 10 more shops and find nothing that we both like and can agree on. The last shop is a department store with 5 floors.
"Please can we get something to eat?" I beg. I'd get on my knees if this weren't such a public place. "It's almost 7, pleasepleaseplease?" I flutter my eyelashes.
"Okay but we have to be quick, no more than half an hour"
"Urgh, you're so bossy" Alice just laughs and we head over to this little restaurant that apparently sells, and I quote, "the best burgers EVER". Alice's words, not mine; I've never been here before. Obviously we both get a burger but I get mine with cheese and bacon. It's gone in less than 7 minutes. Alice wasn't joking when she said they were the best. They are fucking amazing. Definitely coming back here again.
After we finish and pay, we head back over to the department store and go up the escalators to the first floor where all the clothes are. I try on everything in the store and Alice gives me accessories to try on with the clothes. I'm getting tired of looking. I'll just wear something I already have. I try on another outfit, this time it's a forest green skater skirt and a cream sleeveless shirt that I am told by Alice to tuck in. I step around the curtain and spin for her. She's grinning at me like the Cheshire cat and I can't help but smile too. I actually like this outfit.
"That's the one"
A/N: Thank you for sticking with me and reading this chapter. I would really appreciate it if you left reviews and let me know how you're finding the story so far, would you like some chapters from different POV's? Is the story moving along too slowly? Any feedback you have would help me so much :)
Love Emily x
