Bellas Point of View.
After such a wonderful day, I was surprised that I had such a restless night. After Edward and I got back from the lake, I fell straight to sleep. I had a wonderful dream, where I relived our night, our more specifically the time we spent in the cave. But after that I just couldn't get comfortable. Though they were stunning, those damn windows sure trapped the heat. And of course the Cullens didn't have air-conditioning. So I only really settled when I managed to attach as much of my overheated body as possible to Edwards cold frame.
But after a few short hours I was rudely awakened by Emmett, the single most tactless creature on the planet. He burst through the bedroom door and let out a booming laugh that woke me up. I was too tired to turn my head to look at him but I heard him say to Edward
"Well brother, I guess I can finally figure out why you spend every night in bed with Bella."
I looked down at myself and my face flushed. I was half dressed and literally wrapped around Edward. My shorts left little to the imagination and my top had ridden up during the night so it exposed a large portion of my torso. I wanted to bury my head under the covers, but I had long since kicked them off.
Edward let out a low threatening growl to Emmett. Who responded with a laugh but wisely exited the room. The sun streamed in the window, hurting my eyes. Edward pulled the covers up around me and lightly jumped out of the bed.
"Go back to sleep, Bella. It's only seven in the morning," he told me. Not that I needed much convincing. Even though I had napped today I couldn't have fought the tiredness if I wanted to.
"I'm going to take care of my insensitive brother." he said and was out the door before I could respond. Second later the door downstairs slammed with enough force to shake the house. My last thought before I drifted back to sleep was ' at least they're fighting outside'.
I fell into a deep sleep, but when I woke again hours later Edward was still not back. In a way it was a relief because I was definitely feeling unattractive right now. My mouth was fuzzy, my eyes were stuck together with sleep. My skin was damp with perspiration and don't even get me started on my hair. The combination of humidity, fresh water and lack of brushing and turned my usually messy mane into a wiry birds nest.
In an effort to make myself look presentable, I took a long shower with the water cooler than normal. It took me at least ten minutes to brush out my hair. I even blow-dried it, something I hated to do on a hot day. But all that left me with only a mild improvement.
Back in Edwards room, a fresh outfit had appeared on the bed, courtesy of Alice; the fashion fairy. She was taking more notice of my taste lately because this was something I would pick myself. There was a sage green tank top and a pair of cream linen trousers. Alice even thoughtfully left a pair of flesh coloured seam-free underwear that wouldn't show under the pants. She must have even seen my hair predicament because she left a matching bandana which I gladly tied around my unruly hair. I stuck my feet into my new sandals and was about to head downstairs.
But before I did I gathered up all my discarded clothes, including yesterdays and wrapped them in the towel I had just used. I left them in the corner, deciding to wash them myself later.
I must have been getting used to navigating all the stairs because I didn't trip once going down the two flights. Well, maybe I did once but I caught myself in time. I didn't encounter any of the Cullens on my way and was starting to wonder. I went into the kitchen and fixed myself a bowl of Coco Puffs. I was relieved not to have my usual audience to observe my 'fascinating' eating habits. I loved when the milk turned chocolaty. Jasper, for some reason found it hilarious and made sure everyone else did too. The end result was six or seven hysterical vampires watching me eat.
So I ate my cereal in peace and picked at some of the leftovers from yesterdays indoor picnic. I checked my messages at home. I hoped Charlie hadn't called while I was out all night. But he had left a grumbling message. I made out the phrases "police sensitivity" and "modernising the force". If he hadn't sounded so aggrieved I would have laughed. The gist of it was that he would be staying in Seattle at the police training course a few days longer.
There was also an overexcited message from Jessica about the 'amazing' night she'd had at some club in Port Angeles. I doubted it was even a fraction as amazing as the night I'd had. There was also a message from Angela, just saying hi and asking me to call her back when I got the chance.
I left a message in return on Charlie's cell. I would call Angela back later and guiltily decided not to bother calling Jess back.
I waked back upstairs to retrieve my laundry. I decided against knocking on Alice's door, afraid to interrupt her and Jasper if they were busy. I grabbed the clothes and went back down to the laundry room.
I walked into the room, expecting it to be empty. However, Rosalie was there before me doing the unglamorous chore of ironing. She had her back to me and I stood there, awestruck for a minute. The song 'Hips Don't Lie' was piping from a sleek radio and she was moving along with the music. But it was more than moving, she was dancing. Swaying and circling her hips with a rhythm that would put professionals to shame, never missing a beat.
I was entranced but also felt insignificant. She had a beauty and grace I would never possess.
Then she turned to look at me without breaking her rhythm. She finally noticed me, or more likely decided to acknowledge my presence. She didn't greet me, just looked at me. I was embarrassed at being caught staring. I blurted out
"My clothes are dirty!" How lame was that? I might as well have said I carried a watermelon. Rosalie didn't answer me just went back to her ironing. I awkwardly stuffed my clothes in the machine.
"Were you watching me dance?" she asked somewhat smugly.
"Sorry. You just looked so amazing." Flattery would get you everywhere with Rosalie. She hesitated before she spoke again.
"I could teach you, if you want."
She had never offered to do anything for me before. I was dumbstruck and briefly considered if it was just a ploy to humiliate the clumsy human. Before I answered, Alice appeared at the door.
"Yes! Excellent idea!" she enthused. "You have to learn sometime, Bella!"
In the blink of an eye, she and Rosalie hustled me out of the laundry room and into the kitchen. The music was turned up loud enough for me to hear. They ignored all my protestations.
"Dance again." Alice commanded and Rosalie complied without an ounce of humility. More than anything, she loved to be admired. She shook her hips in the same rhythmic way, better than Beyonce and Shakira combined. But her movements were slightly slower, in order to give me a better picture. Even if I had the confidence to try, I wouldn't have been able to do it.
"Your turn." Alice sang, looking at me.
"No way, I'm not able," I tried to convince her. Where was Edward to save me from further humiliation?
"Just listen to the music and it will come naturally." Alice advised. She pulled me to my feet and pushed me towards Rosalie. Rose grabbed my hands, her cold touch surprised me. I think it was the first time she had ever touched me. She was going to lead my steps and Alice stood behind me to guide my hips. I was stuck in a vampire sandwich.
They both started to move but I was frozen to the spot, I'd show them who could be as still as a statue. After a few seconds, Rosalie let out an exasperated sigh and stopped.
"It's natural, Bella. Think of when you and Edward are…wait you don't do that."
My face burned as I imagined what she was referring to.
"When your kissing Edward, your body reacts right? You don't think about it but you just know the right way to move your hips. Dancing is like that, stop thinking and just go with it."
They started moving again. I let them move me a bit but I just couldn't let go they way they did. Recognising that she was getting nowhere, Alice stopped. She was gone from the room momentarily. The music changed from the modern song to what I guessed was a rumba.
"Basics first" Alice announced. "This is a style Edward is more used to. And once you get the rhythm, you can adapt it."
She and Rosalie began to dance gracefully around the room, with Rosalie leading because she was the tallest. They moved in a perfect, elegant rhythm. They're legs twisting and pushing back and forth. I concentrated on their movements but knew I would never be able to pick them up.
They broke apart when the song ended and I steeled myself to refuse their attempts to get me to try. There was no way I was doing the rumba with Rosalie.
I tried to stare them down, like I wasn't afraid. But to my relief, a cell phone beeped causing a welcome interruption. Rosalie slid her phone from the pocket of her skin tight jeans. She read the text she had received and her face turned thunderous. She snapped the phone shut and stormed out the back door.
Alice looked at me hopefully, betraying no surprise at her sisters sudden mood swing.
Then she conceded "I guess the lessons over then." I breathed a sigh of relief. For once things had worked in my favour.
" I hope you paid attention though" she continued. " Edward will be here in five minutes." Alice flitted towards the door but left me a warning. "Call Angela back and tell her yes."
Yes to what? But I knew better than to disobey Alice so I picked up the phone and dialled. After exchanging pleasantries with Angela she asked the question I knew I had to say yes to.
"So Jess was raving about that new club and she convinced me to go with her tonight. So if your not busy with Edward I could really do with the moral support. So I was wondering if you would come to?"
I could here the relief in Angela's voice when I told her I'd see her there. It all fit in to place then, the command, the impromptu dance lesson.
Apparently tonight I would be going clubbing for the first time. And as proof that the heat was really getting to me, I wasn't completely dreading it.
A/N: Wow. Thanks again to everyone who reviewed last chapter. I've never gotten so many so please keep it up!