BPOV
An art exhibit, huh? This should be interesting. Don't get me wrong, I love art. But everyone has a different idea of what art is, and everyone has different tastes. Please, please, please let me like it so I don't have to pretend the whole thing. That's all I ask.
And "a little more than business casual" didn't really clear things up much. I guess I had to go shopping, oh darn. Twist my arm. Ouch. Does this really mean a trip to Seattle? Yep, I think so.
Fortunately my Challenger, Francesca, would make this trip much quicker.
As anticipated, the drive to Seattle was painless and shorter. Yeah for me! Once I got to the mall, I headed for my churches outside of church, Neiman's and Bloomie's. Up, up, up the escalator I went and took a deep breath to take in the scent of new clothes. Ah, a happy place. I was strolling through the racks of heaven when I heard a high pitched squeal, clapping, and the sound of someone running toward me. I turned to see if I needed to protect myself and I saw Alice bounding toward me and she attacked me. Well, she hugged me violently, how's that? Alice was one intense person.
"Alice, let the girl breathe. We haven't broken her in to your ways yet. Sorry, Bella. She can get a little carried away sometimes." I was supposed to look for clothes with Rose here? That would be like asking ME to act alongside freakin' Helen Mirren. C'mon, Bells, you can do this. Just breathe.
"Hi Alice, Rose, how's it going?" Maybe if I didn't engage them fully in conversation, they would let me go about my shopping experience on my own. Oh, but it was not to be. Of course.
"Hi Bella! What are you shopping for? Are you going out? You HAVE to shop with us!" And there it is. Do I tell them I'm going out with Edward? Would that be weird? I'll just try to keep my answers as non-descript as possible. Sigh.
"Yeah, I am actually. I was invited to an event in Port Angeles and I felt like getting something new." Crap, was that too specific? Who knew with Alice, really?
"An event in Port Angeles, huh? Hmm, the only thing I know about up there is an art exhibit that Edward really wanted to go to. Did he ask you to go with him? Oh I just knew he liked you! We've all been waiting to find out when he'd finally ask you out…" And Rose clapped her hand across Alice's mouth and held it there but Alice was still trying to talk. All we could hear was mumbling but that didn't seem to stop her.
"Sorry, Bella, there goes the element of surprise, I guess. Damn it, Alice, keep a lid on it!"
'Oh what, Rose? Like she didn't know! Here we'll help you pick out something that will make him drool over you!" Now THAT made me a tad uncomfortable. Edward's sister was going to help me find something to wear that he wouldn't be able to resist. That's kinda gross, right? Just a little weird? Well, this is Alice. Add this to my mental Alice-profile.
"Um, ok. I kinda found a few dresses that I liked but I was going to look around some more." I grabbed the dresses from the rack and they were inspected.
"Damn, Rose, she has good taste! A Herve Leger strapless? Let's go try all these on." We went to the dressing rooms and they sat out on the squishy chairs waiting for me to model each dress. Some got a thumbs-down, others got an "eh." I saved the strapless one for last because I just had a feeling about it. It was black, had horizontal seams with a thin vertical panel down the center of the front and back of the dress which was VERY form-fitting. I even looked at myself and thought, Damn, girl. This won't make him drool, this will kill the man.
I walked out of the dressing room and both of their jaws dropped, motioned with their fingers for me to spin, and just nodded with goofy grins on their faces.
"Guys, say something! I know I like it. This is my choice. What do you think?" Rose was the first one to speak which was a surprise.
"Bella Swan, you will kill Edward with that dress. You know what you should do?" I could see the wheels turning in her head. She looked at Alice without a word and they both nodded. Rose jumped up from her chair and ran from the room. She returned with a cream Tory Burch double-breasted form-fitting trench coat.
Rose didn't wait for me to try it on before she bolted out of the dressing area without a word again. She came running back in with a shoe box and a black cashmere wrap. Loubontin's. F'in black and cream two-toned Christian Loubontin's. Alice finally chimed in.
"Ok, Bella, picture it: your hair in a loose up-do, you open the door and all he sees is this gorgeous trench, these hot shoes, and simple pearl earrings. Keep it closed the whole drive and don't take it off until you get there. Make him help you take the coat off and I'll bet you $100 he drops it when he sees you in that dress and those killer shoes." Now I knew that I was going to really like these girls. I really wanted them to be right too.
We made it to the counter to pay for my ridiculously expensive outfit. It looked good though, gotta admit. We said our goodbyes and I made my way back to the car daydreaming about my night to come with Edward. The butterflies were starting to take off in my stomach at the thought of it. Ok, what we need is the feel of your glorious machine that is your car and listen to some Blank Blue. That'll mellow you out. Awesome idea. That's the only record I've ever listened to in the car that made me miss my exit on the freeway because I was so mellow. But I'd be sure to pay attention this time.
On my way home, I had to backtrack a little bit because I missed my exit (I know, I know. Let's just drop it). I hit the market for the makings of chicken stir fry. Yumbly in my tumbly. Walter and I cuddled on the couch after dinner and watched Mad Men with an agreement to not stay up too late. I was exhausted from the driving, the shopping, and the anticipation.
PJs and bed, please.
Yes, ma'am.