Chapter Playlist- Girls Like Me by Kellie Pickler

Previously…

No. No, I didn't like Bella in that way… but I sure as hell was attracted to her. Only physical attraction, of course; Edward Cullen didn't just fall for girls. She was pretty and it was only natural for me to be attracted to her, but that was all. And that was why I would never act on the attraction. I had my reputation to uphold, after all. And, besides, she hated me.

But none of that stopped her face being the image that stayed in my mind, carrying me into unconsciousness and dreams of the girl with chocolate brown eyes and almost permanently flushed cheeks…

The Hard Way To Learn A Lesson

Chapter 9- Haircuts and Sweet Nothings

Bella POV

I don't know why, but seeing that hurt me. I should have known that he'd be doing something like that; Edward was a player, did he do anything else?

After I had shut the door on Edward and that irritating blonde, I leant against the wall, trying to ignore the flare in my chest. Why was I feeling like this? I didn't even like the guy.

Lauren's loud voice floated through the door. "Isabella Swan is your partner?"

I had to strain my ears to hear Edward's reply. "…didn't exactly get to choose my partner, did I?"

"But… Bella Swan?" Lauren laughed cruelly. "She's, like… weird."

I was surprised to find that Lauren's comment hurt. I knew that the other girls at school saw me like that but it hurt to hear it all the same. But what hurt more was Edward's response.

"Tell me about it. She wears sweats all the time and can't stay upright for more than twenty seconds. Alice is trying to give her a make-over but, to be frank, I think it's a lost cause." He sounded mocking, nasty.

Lauren giggled again and my head span dizzily. I don't know why I had expected otherwise, but I must have done, because the ache in my chest was a hell of a lot worse than a second ago. I shouldn't have wanted Edward Cullen to defend accusations of me being weird, because he hated me as much as, if not more than, everyone else. Hell, he probably started those accusations. So why did I feel as though I had been betrayed?

No more speech came through the door so I presumed that they had resumed whatever they had been doing before I interrupted. I bit down on my lip hard and sighed, before heading back to Alice's room.

Her eyes narrowed the moment I came through the door. "What?" she asked. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing," I replied with a shrug of my shoulders. "Edward's just having a little make-out session in his bedroom with Lauren Mallory so I couldn't get my make-up."

Alice frowned.

"Still… we shouldn't expect anything different…" I said, as though it excused him from everything.

"Bella…" she said very slowly. Her eyes studied me speculatively and I didn't like it. It made me uncomfortable.

"Yes?" I said in the same tone, my shoulders rolling forward slightly in defence.

"Look…" She sighed. "Don't take this the wrong way or anything… but I'm going to ask you a question and I want you to promise me you'll give me a truthful answer."

"I don't know, Alice…" I started.

"No!" She stopped me. "We're best friends, right? Right?"

I nodded warily.

"Best friends tell each other everything… even when one has a crush on the other's brother?" She said it as though it was a question, one eyebrow raised as though waiting for a response.

It took me a while to understand what she was getting at and I stared at her. "Alice! I do not have a crush on Edward!" I almost shouted, blushing at her stupid presumption. But a small voice in the back of my head told me that it wasn't such a stupid presumption… I shut that up instantly. "No, Alice. He's not as bad as I originally thought, I'll admit. But he's still… ugh. No. I just walked in on him making out with another girl- why would I crush on him after that?"

Alice nodded and looked away, like she didn't believe me but would let it go anyway. I suddenly felt annoyed; annoyed with Alice, annoyed with Edward… annoyed with everyone.

"Look, Alice, Edward is – no one can deny it – incredibly good-looking, but that doesn't mean that every hormonal teenage girl crushes on him! Especially not one that sleeps with him!" Suddenly I realised what I had said. "Not like that," I quickly corrected myself. "Like… I sleep in his bedroom with…" I sighed. "You know what I mean."

Alice snickered. "Okay. Now, sit back down and I'll continue the make-over. Tomorrow, I'm dressing you- no more sweats."

I was about to argue, but then I remembered what Edward had said: "She wears sweats all the time… Alice is trying to give her a makeover but, to be frank, I think it's a lost cause." Well, I'd prove him wrong. Just like Alice had said- no more sweats. I'd rip them up so I couldn't go back to my old slovenly ways. And then I'd wear mini skirts and dresses and tight tops… I'd prove him so wrong that even Edward himself was drooling for me. He'd beg and beg and I could turn him down as many times as possible, telling him to jump the next slut that walked by… but he wouldn't because he'd only want me but he couldn't have me… yeah, that would show him…

"Bella?" Alice asked, snapping me out of my trance.

"Yeah. Yeah, okay," I said, nodding with conviction.

"You'll let me?" she gasped.

"Sure," I replied.

"Wow." Her face lit up like a kid's on Christmas day. Hurriedly, she pushed me back on to the 'makeover chair' and told me to stay before dancing out of the room, smile still in place.

I frowned in confusion, but shrugged it off, sitting back in the chair.

Alice was back minutes later carrying a little box. "This was Esme's from when she used to cut my hair herself," she told me. "She taught me some stuff so you should be okay. I do know roughly what I'm doing…"

"What?!" I leapt up and gaped at her.

She raised an eyebrow at me. "You did say I could do this."

Oh sweet Jesus. I was too busy daydreaming to realise what I was giving Alice permission to do. "I… I don't think that's a good idea, Alice…"

"Nonsense!" she trilled. "Look at your hair, Bella!" She held up a mirror.

"What's wrong with it?" I demanded, running my fingers through my long dark hair.

"Er… hello?" she said. "What's right with it? No offense, Bells, but it's boring. You should have about… three inches cut off and have some choppy layers added and maybe a fringe…" she was talking to herself now, frowning, staring at my hair.

"Alice," I moaned. "Please, please leave my hair alone."

Her lips puckered into a little sad frown and her eyes widened, looking so desperately sad that I wanted to hug her or something. Even her lips trembled at the corners- it was a heartbreaking expression.

"But, Bella," she whimpered and I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing what a sucker I could be for expressions like that. "I'm only trying to help," she whispered. I didn't have to shut my eyes. Her voice alone was tinted with self-pity and saturated with sadness.

I groaned. "Fine," I gave in. "But not three inches."

Alice's face lit up again, and she jumped up and came over to hug me. "Thank you thank you thank you!" she squealed.

"Just get it over and done with," I sighed, sitting back down on the chair and closing my eyes.

***

Almost an hour later, I opened my eyes again to see Alice staring at me, biting her lip.

"What?" I asked, my eyes wide. "What have you done? Pass me the mirror."

Alice reached out and grabbed the hand mirror, but then hesitated and held it against her chest. "Maybe you'd be better off having a surprise…" she trailed off.

"Alice!" I shrieked, just as the door opened and Esme came in carrying a tray.

"Girls, I've brought you up some… oh dear," she said when she saw me. I could practically see things clicking into place in her mind. "Alice, what have you done to poor Bella's hair?"

I felt my face convey my horror. "Alice, pass me the damn mirror," I said.

Alice pouted stubbornly at her mother. "You always said I was good at cutting hair when I did my dolls' hair when I was little."

"Alice, you were six and scalping your Barbies. What was I supposed to say? Sorry, dear, but hairdressing doesn't seem to be one of your many talents?" Esme suggested, laughing a little. But then she frowned again. "It might have saved some of Bella's hair though…"

"But she said I could."

Esme laughed and put the tray down on Alice's dresser. Then, she gently eased the mirror free of Alice's grasp and passed it to me. "Don't worry, Bella. We'll go straight to the hairdressers." She turned to Alice. "And you're paying."

I took a deep breath and looked in the mirror. To my intense surprise, it didn't look as bad as they were making out. A little shorter, yes, and the layers had gone a tad wrong, but it wasn't green or anything. I could possibly make this work…

"I'm sorry, Bella," Alice said meekly. "It just kind of…"

"Don't worry about it," I blew it off and held out my hand. "Pass me the scissors."

Esme blinked at me, but placed the scissors into my out-stretched hand. I passed the mirror to Alice and told her to hold it up. Then, I grabbed the end of one of my longer 'layers' and cut a few centimetres off.

About twenty minutes later, my lovely long hair was now shoulder-length and full of choppy layers. Luckily, Alice had lain off the fringe. Esme had neatened up the ends for me because I couldn't do them myself, but it actually looked okay now. Perhaps even better than it had before… sexy, even.

Alice gaped at me. "How in hell's name did you do that?!"

I shrugged. "My Mum taught me."

"Is your Mum a hairdresser?" Esme asked.

"Not really. She kind of… goes through phases. She's been a hairdresser, but she's also been a stable-hand, a checkout cashier in a supermarket, a chocolatier, a trainee teacher… you say it, Renee's been it."

Esme laughed. "She sounds like a woman of many talents. I'd love to meet her. What does she do now?"

"Nothing. Her new husband's a baseball player – strictly minor league, before you ask – so she just kind of… tags along. She invited me with her, but I decided to finish school before travelling all over continental US with her and Phil."

"Good for you," Esme said genuinely. "Now, I brought you girls up some refreshments, but I don't know if you want them- dinner will be ready soon."

"No, we'll have them," Alice said.

Esme ruffled Alice's short black hair and stood up. "I'll call you when dinner's ready." Then she was gone.

Alice offered me a biscuit, smiling sheepishly. "I really am sorry about the whole…"

"Don't worry about it," I interrupted. "It looks okay now, and I never would have dreamed of doing it before. It's a nice change."

Alice giggled slightly and then nibbled on the edge of her biscuit. She looked so guilty that I laughed at her.

"What?" she demanded.

"Oh, nothing," I said, noting to remind her of this when I wanted something from her in my head.

A while later, Esme called us for dinner. I suddenly found myself worrying about what Edward would say about my new haircut, but I needn't have bothered because he wasn't there.

When we had all finished, Edward's dinner sat untouched and cold.

Esme sighed and looked at the ceiling. "He did have a girl round," she said dismissively. "I'll put it in the fridge and he can re-heat it if he wants it."

Alice and I went back up to her room and watched movies and painted our nails, chatting over the movies, for the next few hours. Alice enjoyed herself, but I was kinda bored. These were typical girly things that we were doing and I wasn't a typical girl.

"Do you think he's quite finished?" Alice brought Edward up first. The third film we had put on had just finished.

I shrugged, staring at my bloody red nails (Alice had insisted that I wore the right colour nail varnish that would go with the dress she was going to force me into tomorrow).

"It's eleven o'clock," she muttered. "You can sleep in here, just for tonight."

"Okay," I gave in easily; I didn't want to go in Edward's room and walk in on something far too intimate for my innocent eyes…

Alice hopped off of the bed and pulled a large, dark green cotton top out of the bottom of her wardrobe. She tossed it at me, a look of disgust on her face. I snickered, holding it up against my body. "I can't imagine you wearing this Alice," I said innocently.

"I don't," she spat. "It's hideous. But I guess it's comfortable to sleep in."

"It's not for me to wear tomorrow?" I asked, faking shock.

"Gah." She pulled a face. "No way. That's almost as bad as those sweats you wear. They're so shapeless and… ugh. They don't flatter your body at all and you have a stunning figure, Bella. If you've got it…"

"Flaunt it. And I've got it," I finished for her. "Yeah, yeah, you've already used that one on me."

Suddenly she gasped. "Bella! Have you shaved your legs?"

I rolled my eyes. "I might not be the most fashionable person alive, but I am hygienic."

She exhaled in relief. "Thank God. Because I can't put you in that red dress with hairy legs."

"Oh no. Please say it doesn't show any leg."

She laughed, thinking I was joking. Then, she waved at me and hopped off to the bathroom.

***

Half an hour later, I was on the other side of Alice's huge double bed. At least Alice was more hospitable than Edward. Wait, I didn't want to share a bed with Edward. No fear.

I jumped slightly as thunder rumbled outside of the window and then whimpered quietly; me and thunderstorms had never got on. Actually, not that I would confess this to anyone, I was kinda scared of storms. That was why living in Forks was not a good idea for someone like me.

I tossed and turned restlessly as the thunder continued to rumble and lightening flashed through the curtains, illuminating the whole room. I shivered under the duvet and huddled in a ball, thinking of happy things to persuade sleep to come.

I shut my eyes and, after a while, I was seeing a familiar grin. Perfect lips surrounding a row of perfect white teeth, one-side lifting higher than the other—a familiar, perfect, crooked grin. Matched with a pair of gleaming emeralds.

I hit my head hard on the pillow, trying to force the image of Edward's face from my mind.

"Are you okay Bella?" Alice whispered through the darkness.

"I'm fine," my voice muffled into the pillow. "Just… trying to get comfy."

But no matter how hard I tried to think of something else, my mind kept going back to Edward: his hand steadying me at 'Hanging Out' earlier; his eyes laughing at me, though somehow not harshly; his hand, almost invisible little hairs starting at the wrist, running through his brilliant bronze sex hair; his gorgeous mouth puckering into an annoyed frown or a glorious smile; his stunning face twisting as the drink concoction I made him slid down his throat, his Adam's apple bobbing; his muscular arms showing through his flattering tops… just him.

And I could no longer find the conviction to stop my mind thinking of him. Because whenever there was a storm, I would undoubtedly lie awake until it passed. It was going now, and was a lot quieter, but I was still awake.

So I let my imagination run wild. I fell into a deep slumber imagining his strong arms around me, pulling me into his lap, his lips on my neck, whispering sweet nothings in my ear… And somewhere, far, far away, a piano played a soft tinkling melody, comforting me, telling me that everything would turn out okay. In the end.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Aw. Is it just me that totally loves the words 'sweet nothings'? It sounds so gorgeously romantic! (Hence the chapter name!)

And where has our lovely Eddie boy vanished to? :O Don't worry, it's nowhere too drastic. Actually, if you re-read the end of the last chapter, you could probably guess…

Right. Now I have some bad news guys and it's about updates… My cousin (or something like that) is staying with us at the moment so I probably won't be able to write as often so this might be your last update for a very long time. I will try really hard to get another chapter posted on Friday or Saturday and there almost-definitely will not be another chapter of 'Fighting Fate' anytime soon. I also go on holiday on Sunday for two and a half weeks. I will have access to internet, but not very often and I won't have as much time to write either. I'd imagine that you might get an update every week then. I actually have no idea how often I'll be able to get online so if I don't update/ respond to PMs/ whatever, then don't panic- I haven't been abducted by aliens… just Edward Cullen ;)

Also, I snuck in a line from Eclipse in this chapter… see if you know what it is :D

And now I'm off to watch Ice Age 3 at the cinema :D

I will update when I can (promise!)

PLEASE REVIEW!!!

Thanks

Steph

Wow. Some of you guys have done some scary things ranging from perverts stalking your Mum to rollercoasters and obstacle courses like the one in the story :O Lol :D

What's the most unfashionable thing you have in your wardrobe?