Disclaimer: Owned and operated by Stephenie Meyer.
I was feeling petulant when I wrote this chapter. It was springtime this year and it had rained for something like 27 days straight. I needed some cheering up and shopping sprees tend to do that (I'm too much like Alice for my own good). Virtual shopping sprees are even better, because they don't cost anything!
It was the only amount of sunshine Bella would see, in fact. The rain continued to plague the Olympic Peninsula throughout the spring. In May, when the weather should have been moving towards summery, the gloom that had persisted through April just continued. It was hard not to give into depression from a lack of Vitamin D. At dinner the first week of May, Carlisle took one look at Bella and told her to start taking supplements.
It helped, a bit. But Bella was more than willing to give up the sun if it meant every day with Edward. At least in theory. But a part of her really looked forward to the end of school and her planned trip to Phoenix. If only so that she could remember what blue sky looked like.
The second weekend of May, Alice finally got her way. It wasn't a particularly nice weekend, but it was slightly less wet than the ones before. Alice announced Friday at lunch that they were going to Seattle to shop and that yes, Bella was coming with them.
Since she had been expecting this for a month and a half, Bella sighed in a resigned tone and decided it was probably best to just let Alice get on with it. The look on Edward's face said he clearly agreed, even though it meant a weekend apart.
Saturday morning, Alice picked up Bella bright and early. Rosalie had, thankfully, decided her time could be better spent with Emmett, hunting somewhere up in the mountains. But Esme was with her, since the other 'boys' had gone off on their own hunting trip, which included Carlisle.
Also, as far as Bella was concerned, it looked a bit better if she and Alice had 'adult supervision' for a weekend in the big city.
Charlie met Alice and Esme at the door, clearly embarrassed and stammering slightly. Alice had been around a few times, though thankfully never for dinner, but Charlie had yet to actually meet Mrs. Cullen.
'Um, Bella's just finishing packing. She'll be down in a minute,' Charlie greeted them. 'Um, come in?'
'Oh, thanks Chief Swan!' Alice danced inside in her usual manner of making herself at home wherever she was. Esme followed more politely, reaching out to shake Charlie's hand.
'It's so nice to finally meet you, Chief Swan.'
'Oh, please,' he blushed again. 'Call me Charlie. So, you're going shopping with the girls?' He asked her.
Esme's smile turned him beat red. 'Yes, Charlie. I'll be with them all weekend. We have a hotel suite for tonight as well. I promise to take good care of your daughter.'
'Well that's, that's good. Yes, thanks. Um, Bella?' he called upstairs.
Bella appeared a moment later, finally taking pity on him. It hadn't been difficult to overhear the whole conversation in the small house.
'Yeah, dad, I'm ready. Hi Alice! Hi Esme!' she greeted them both.
'Hello sweetheart,' Esme smiled at her. 'I'll take that bag for you,' she divested Bella of her backpack. 'Are you all ready to go?'
'Yep,' Bella told her. 'Bye dad. Have a good weekend with Billy.'
'Will do,' Charlie assured her. 'You have fun shopping and stuff. Don't spend too much!'
'Right, dad; I don't think you have to worry about me,' Bella told him, with a slight emphasis on the 'me'.
'Good. Well, you girls – um – women, have fun,' Charlie flushed again.
'Thank you Charlie. You have a lovely weekend yourself,' Esme told him, leading the girls outside to the waiting car.
Rosalie might have gone off with Emmett, but she had been pretty gracious about giving up her BMW for the cause. Bella was fairly certain Alice had guilt tripped her somehow. Either way, since it wasn't imminently about to rain, Esme had the top down on the warmest day so far that month.
Charlie gave an appreciative whistle. 'That's a pretty nice car, Mrs. Cullen.'
'Esme, Charlie, please. And yes, it's my daughter Rosalie's. She won't need it this weekend. '
If Charlie thought there was anything strange about having a daughter who could afford a sports car, or that she wouldn't need it for the weekend, he kept it to himself. It was not the first time Charlie had been presented with a few facts that didn't quite add up. Bella knew he spent most of his time pretending that was okay.
'Have fun,' he told them again, as they climbed into the car. Alice and Bella took the back seat together.
Bella gave a wave. 'See you Sunday night!' she called back as Esme pulled out of the driveway at a more sedate pace than Bella was used to from a Cullen. It didn't last long, and by the time they hit the edge of town on the 101, Esme was speeding along just as quickly as the rest of her family did. Bella pretended not to notice as they raced towards Seattle.
They took the ferry across the sound an hour later and reached downtown Seattle before mid-morning had passed. Bella was not at all surprised when they pulled directly into the parking garage for Pacific Place, Seattle's most upscale mall. Clearly Alice wanted to get in as much shopping as possible before the day was old.
'Let's start at the top!' Alice decided when she had all but dragged Bella through the underground parking into the mall. It was, on immediate sight, not Bella's type of mall. Everything was far too shiny and expensive looking.
'Alice, really, I don't think –' but Bella didn't get to say what she thought.
'Bella, please, just for once will you let me get on with things? You need clothes; don't pretend you don't. And it wouldn't hurt you to try something other than jeans and sweaters. Honestly, I know it's cold in Forks, but you can be stylish too! Please? Just, let me do this for you?' She was making the puppy dog eyes again.
Bella sighed heavily, but nodded in a resigned way. Hopefully Esme would be able to rein Alice in a bit, at least so that she didn't spend an absolute fortune on clothes she was only likely to let Bella wear once. 'Just, one thing Alice, okay?'
'Okay,' Alice agreed.
'I know you don't think much of my style,' Bella started. 'But I wear the clothes I do because they're comfortable. I know they don't look great; not compared to what you and Rosalie wear, but I like them. Just...keep that in mind, okay? I'm not saying I can't try something new, but I'm also not going to start wearing dresses to school every day.'
'Okay, I can do that. And there's a great jeans store here. We'll try there! But we'll start with some new tops. Something a bit nicer than t-shirts. And I promise I'll find you a nice warm coat for this summer.'
'Why?' Bella asked.
'Because it's going to rain a lot,' Alice told her with conviction.
'Lovely,' Bella sighed. 'Okay, lead on.' She tried not to make it sound like it was to her own funeral.
They started at bebe, a store Bella had heard of, but never walked through the door of one before. It was entirely too colourful for her liking and there was a lot of sparkles and frilly things in view. But Bella had promised to behave. She let Alice tug her around the store, pulling things off the rack before – usually – shoving them right back on. Still, by the time Alice booted her towards the changing room, there were a good dozen items waiting for Bella to try on. Esme just followed along with a smile. Bella had noticed that Alice was choosing a few things for her mother as well, though nothing for herself.
Bella tried each piece on, and then allowed Alice to see a full 360 degree view of it. Some of the tops were actually not bad. There was a bit of a peasant feel to the style for the summer season, and Bella didn't mind that at all.
In the end, they walked out with only three tops and a scarf that Alice seemed to have fallen in love with. Esme didn't buy anything. And Bella made sure to keep her comments in check when Alice handed over her own credit card without blinking. It was more than Bella had ever spent in any store.
'Second level now. We can look for jeans. And Esme can go to her favourite store. We'll meet for lunch in an hour?' Alice looked at her mother.
'You girls have fun,' Esme told them after they left the shop. 'And Alice,' Esme gave her daughter a hard look.
'Alright,' Alice said, as if her fun had suddenly been ruined. 'Come on!' she dragged Bella down to the escalator.
Jean shopping was a bit more fun. Bella was happy to try on different styles. Alice was just about to drag her to the next store, Club Monaco, when Bella stopped her.
'Can we go in there?' she pointed across the concourse to another store on the second level. It looked like an athletics store, and Bella figured she could use another pair of sweats or two.
'Oh, lululemon, sure! I think you'll like it. It's Canadian. I've shopped there a few times in Vancouver. It's really comfortable,' Alice told her as they made their way over.
It was pretty colourful inside too, but Bella ignored the pastels and bright pinks and went straight for the black sweatpants. They were a different material then anything she'd ever seen, but they looked really comfortable. Alice waited patiently while she tried a few things on, finally settling on the more relaxed style of pant. It was kind of neat that they were reversible too. Double the wear, Bella figured.
'Lunch time,' Alice announced when the salesman had run through the sale. 'Italian? Thai? Smoothies? What do you want to eat, Bella?' Alice asked as they walked outside. Esme was waiting by the elevator, an Ann Taylor bag in one hand.
'Um...Thai?' Bella asked.
'Okay!' Alice sounded excited again. They rode the lift up to the fourth floor to a brightly patterned restaurant with quaint little booths. It didn't seem very busy, considering the hour.
'Are you 'eating'? Bella asked them.
'It would look a bit strange if we didn't,' Esme told her. 'You order whatever you want dear and then you can try some of ours.'
This seemed like a good idea. They each ordered a different dish and Bella spent the next half hour after the food arrived sampling each one. Alice and Esme put up a good show of eating their own share, though Bella still hadn't figured out exactly how they managed it. It was a mystery she would have to wait to experience herself, at some point.
After Esme paid the bill, Alice announced they were going down to the Concourse to continue shopping. There was still an hour or so left before they could check in at the hotel, and plenty of stores left to occupy their time.
The first store Bella noticed when the elevator let them off on Level 1, was the Barnes & Noble. 'Alice?' Bella started in a pleading voice. 'Can we go to the bookstore?'
Alice regarded her for a moment and then seemed to catch Esme's eye. 'Sure,' she agreed suddenly. 'And we can find something for Edward!'
'Hasn't he read every book ever written or something?' Bella asked her.
Alice shook her head. 'Not really. Mostly he's just read the ones in Carlisle's library. Edward prefers to devote his free time to music, instead of reading. Though lately he's found another hobby entirely.'
Bella let that sink in and then flushed when she realised Alice was referring to the fact that Edward spent his nights in Bella's bedroom watching her sleep.
'Seriously, does everyone know?' Bella asked her. Alice grinned.
'Oh yes; Emmett thinks it's hilarious!'
'Wonderful,' Bella told her with as much sarcasm as she could muster, and then disappeared down a row full of mystery novels in a bid to escape from Alice for a moment.
Alice and Esme left her alone for a full hour, while she browsed shelf after shelf, pulling down anything that caught her eye and – mostly – replacing it, just as Alice had done with the clothes.
When she appeared at the register, Bella had a stack of half a dozen books, one of which she thought Edward might actually enjoy. 'Here,' Alice said and handed over a crisp $100 bill.
Bella glared at it accusingly, but Alice didn't relent. 'Fine,' she said, and snatched it from the vampire's hand as well as she could while still holding onto the books.
The guy at the register tried to flirt with Alice as he rung Bella's purchases through. Alice smiled at him, but refused to flirt back. She did, however, make a pointed effort to twirl her wedding ring around her finger in full view. The guy didn't seem to notice.
Bella was happy to leave the store, book bag in hand. 'Right, we'll try shoes and purses next.'
'Alice, I have a purse.'
'Yes, one, but a girl can have many. Come on; you'll love Coach!'
Bella didn't, in fact, love Coach. The first purse Alice picked up for her cost more than any amount of money Bella would ever put in it. And it was white leather, which seemed pointless in Forks. Alice finally settled for a small money purse with a shoulder strap in brown, with the well-known Coach logo, that still cost more than Bella had ever paid for even a pair of shoes. Alice bought herself a new green leather purse and Esme picked up a clutch bag in gold.
'Right, we'll try BCBG first and if we can't find anything there, then we can check Nordstrom tomorrow morning.'
'For what?' Bella asked, as Alice led her across the Concourse to what looked suspiciously like a dress store.
'A dress silly! Actually, you could use a few. I'm sure they'll be an occasion or two this summer.' The way she said it made Bella fully aware that there would idefinitely/i be an occasion.
None of the dresses appealed to Bella at all, but Alice picked out a few things. Bella dutifully tried them on, modelling with a blush for Alice and Esme in the changing rooms. Alice finally settled on a light-weight tunic style dress in a gold colour and a stunning blue cocktail gown that – Bella was thankful – reached to the knee. It flowed really nicely, but Bella felt horribly overdressed and self-conscious.
They were both over two hundred dollars each and Bella tried not to flinch when the sales woman gave Alice the total.
'Honestly, Bella, stop worrying about it! I could shop every day for the rest of eternity and never run out of money,' Alice assured her.
'Doesn't mean it's not a waste; spending $300 on a dress I'll only wear once, if that.'
'Looking good is never a waste,' Alice scolded. 'You're getting cranky again. I think we should go to the hotel. You can have a nap before dinner.'
'I'm seventeen, Alice, I don't need a nap.'
Alice just raised an eyebrow and grabbed the bag the sales woman handed over as she pretended to ignore the conversation.
'Then you can watch TV for a few hours until you get hungry again. Either way, I think you've had enough shopping for the day.'
'Plenty,' Bella agreed with her on that point.
The three of them managed to carry all the bags back to the car. Bella was unsurprised to find the hotel was only a block away. She was also unsurprised to walk into the soaring lobby that was about the size of the Cullens' entire house.
'Don't stare,' Alice elbowed her softly. She pulled her along to the wide check-in desk, where Esme handed over a credit card with a smile. The woman on the desk, impeccably dressed in a business suit of navy blue with a red scarf – probably the hotel's uniform – handed it back only a second later.
'Room 409 is ready for you and your guests, Mrs. Cullen. Will you need any assistance with your luggage?'
Alice had left all the shopping, but one bag, in the car.
'No, thank you, we can manage. It you would be so kind as to make a reservation for the steakhouse for seven, however.'
'Certainly,' the woman replied, typing a few commands into the computer. 'Please, enjoy your stay with us.'
'We shall,' Esme assured her.
Alice led the way to the bank of shiny elevators.
The room could have been worse. Bella was sure there was a Presidential Suite or something in this particular hotel, but since she would be the only one sleeping, Esme had booked a normal double room. The bathroom was pretty spectacular; Bella took one look at the Jacuzzi tub and decided she'd earned that much.
'I'm taking a bath,' she told Alice.
'Okay! I'll run the water for you. Oh!' Alice called back from the bathroom. 'There's scented soaps! How about Citrus & Sage?'
'Fine,' Bella told her in a normal voice she knew would carry. She heard the water turn on and then the clanking of bottles.
'There you go,' Alice said as she exited the bathroom. 'I made sure it's not too hot. You should let it fill properly if you want to use the Jacuzzi jets.'
'Thanks, Alice. I'll um...probably be a while,' she looked at her two companions.
'Take your time sweetheart,' Esme told her with a smile.
'We'll watch TV. Don't worry about us. Enjoy your bath!' Alice said.
Bella did exactly that. The Citrus & Sage smelled surprisingly nice. It was both soothing and rejuvenating after hours spent in the mall. Bella didn't think she'd ever spent so much time shopping before, and Alice wanted to do it again the next day. She sighed, resigned. If she wanted to be with Edward, that meant accepting Alice too. Every part of her; including the part that liked to blow vast amounts of Cullen money on clothes.
For about the hundredth time Bella allowed herself to fantasize about exactly how much money the Cullens had. It was certainly in the multi-millions. Carlisle alone could have earned that much over the decades as a doctor. But Bella knew Esme had worked as a designer before. That probably brought in a fair paycheque too. And then there was the fact that money, over time, tended to accumulate things like interest and dividends when properly invested. Bella had no doubt it was. And that Alice had a helping hand in things like that.
Bella cringed at the thought that Edward could be a multi-millionaire in his own right. The Cullens combined could be billionaires. It didn't make Bella feel any better that they wanted to spend ridiculous amounts of that fortune on her. What was wrong with the simple life?
Though, that probably didn't really apply to things like vampires. Bella's life was anything but normal these days, and she had to admit she preferred it that way. Normal was just a bit overrated. Of course, these days, not being normal meant lots of money, fast cars, and running for her life.
That last part, at least, was thankfully over. Bella knew she was a trouble magnet, but hopefully there wouldn't be any more nomadic trackers after her blood. And if there were, Bella planned to talk Edward out of any cross-country road trips.
She snorted softly, thinking about trying to talk Edward out of any decision he had already made. Especially one meant to keep her safe. It was unlikely her opinion would have much clout. Still, it was nice to dream.
The jets were relaxing the sore muscles that came with a couple of hours in a car, followed by hours walking on mall floors trying on dozens of outfits. But the water was already starting to lose its warmth. And it was certainly making her a bit sleepy. A nap before dinner would actually be nice, though it would probably mean letting Esme and Alice watch her sleep.
With another sigh, Bella climbed out of the bath, wrapping herself in the fluffy hotel robe that Alice had set on the edge of the tub and squeezing the water out of her hair with a towel. Even the towels smelled nice. She twisted the plug on the drain and opened the door. It was a bit cooler out in the room. The hot water had warmed the bathroom quite a bit.
'Ready for that nap?' Alice asked. She was sitting on the sofa, but the TV was on mute.
'Actually, I think I will. It's a while until dinner, right?'
'Yes, you've got time. But don't forget you need time to get ready too.'
Bella blinked at her. 'It's a steakhouse, Alice. How 'ready' do I need to be?'
Alice looked thoughtful. 'Well that knew tunic dress would look nice. We aren't going outside so you don't have to worry about being cold. Or wet. I brought a dress to wear too.'
'Right. Do I have an hour, at least?'
'Oh yes! I'll wake you. Do you want me to stay? Esme's gone out for a bit. There is an art dealer
not far from here she wanted to speak with. But I can stay with you. I know you're probably used to having Edward around when you sleep.'
That was true, though Bella blushed to admit it. 'Thanks, Alice.'
'I'll just stay over here,' she told Bella from her place on the sofa.