Chapter 12

"I'm sorry, Alice," I said into the phone, taking a bit of my apple. "I'm going to Anchorage later-with Hilary and Laura, remember?" The words came out muffled.

"But pleeeeese?" Alice begged. "You need to meet the mystery person-besides, Edward won't tell me, and I can't see 'cause you won't come!"

I sighed, setting my apple down on the counter and flipping the phone to my other shoulder. "I promised, Alice. They're my best friends-besides, the Sadie Hawkins dance is coming up, and the three of us are going dress shopping-and if you mysteriously show up there too, I will ignore you totally and completely!" I threatened.

"Fine," she grumbled. "But you'll come shopping with Nessie and Rose and Bella and I, right?"

"Yes, Alice, I will. But only if you don't come to Anchorage!"

"Oh, it doesn't matter. It'll be sunny later-so Bella and Rose and I can't come."

I gave a small sigh of relief. I could envision what would happen if Alice showed up-Hilary trying to tackle her, and ending up with a broken ribcage or something.

I went upstairs to change into my nicer clothes-who knew what would happen in Anchorage? Maybe Edward's mysterious someone wouldn't be necessary.

A horn blared, and I grabbed my cell phone, rushed down the stairs. As I wrenched open the door, I yelled a good-bye to my mom, then flew out to Laura's green sedan. She had already picked up Hilary, so I climbed into the backseat, and Laura started out on the snowy roads to Anchorage.

We pulled into the covered parking at the mall, and walked into our favorite store. In no time at all, all of us had a few dresses to try, and we dragged our precious findings into the dressing rooms.

Hilary had three dresses that were absolutely stunning. One was a long floor length white one, with sparkly blue swirls, and a low cut halter top. The second was a strapless one that fell to right above her knees, and was a hot pink with black edging. The third was a turquoise mini dress with spaghetti straps and a layer of crème tulle poking an inch out the bottom.

Laura was torn between two- a long strapless red one with a low cut back, and a crème halter one with a poofy skirt that looked like something out of Grease or Bye-Bye Birdie.

And mine…

I had remembered what Alice and Nessie had said about my 'colors'. Dark blue, gold, and white. So I had a poofy one like Laura's, except it was a marbleized print of different shades of blue. Two of them were floor length-one was simple, dark blue with a strapless top and gold edging at the hem, and then other was a spaghetti strap, white with blue polka dots. And the last one was a halter that came down to my knees, that was gold and completely covered in sparkles, which I shed whenever I moved.

Hilary and I encouraged Laura to go with the crème one-it was more her then the slinky red number. Hilary narrowed it down to the long strapless white one and the turquoise mini dress. I told her to go with the white one-it made her look softer and less aggressive. Laura agreed, so Hilary decided to get that one.

But we couldn't decide on mine. We did discard the blue one in the same style as Laura's-we didn't want to look alike. Hilary and Laura went to purchase their dresses. But I couldn't decide between the other three. Then I heard a musical voice.

"I'd go with the polka dots or the gold halter," Nessie told me.

"Didn't I tell Alice I didn't want to see you guys here?" I hissed under my breath.

Nessie giggled. "Actually, you told Alice if you saw her you would ignore her completely. Nothing about little ol' me."

I grimaced. She was right. "Fine," I sighed.

Just then, Laura and Hilary returned.

"So, did you decid-" Hilary's eyes bugged out when she saw the bronze ringlets behind me.

Nessie stepped forward. "Hi, I'm Renesmee. You must be the friends of Jean that she's always talking about, Hilary and Laura, right?"

Laura blushed, and nodded. Hilary glared at me.

"Yes," she said sharply. "I'm Hilary. Are you here shopping for the Sadie Hawkins Dance too?"

"Yes, I am," Nessie told her. "I love shopping! It is one of the best things in the world!"

Hilary's eyes lit up. She loved shopping.

Hilary and Nessie looked at the dresses I had.

"The polka-dotted one," they decided at the same time. Laura smiled.

As I walked to pay for my dress, a smile crept across my face. Maybe I could be friends with the Cullen's after all.