A/N: yeah, yeah, I know my last chapter was short, but oh well! Well, my story is finished in my notebook, & I've already started on my next one, to be titled "England". Much more fluff than this one. But don't worry, there's more fluff to come in First Sight as well! I'm so happy, I'm over 100 reviews! Whoop Whoop!!! Also, my reviewers are hilarious. Silly kids.
QueenIsuralia: Lucky for you, there is more to come!
Twilightgirl1918: haha keep bouncing, here's the next chapter!
Vampire's Love: I think you are probably my favorite reviewer. You always make me laugh! I know, I think I might like girls if the girl was Alice, lol! You are so hyper, that's why I love you! Haha thanks so much!
Uncle jasper tried to eat me: ok first of all... nice pen name! wtf? haha! I'm so glad you like my story!!
Vampire Immortality: Thank you so much!!! & yes, it's hard to get so many characters in, but I do give them each some more say in the coming chapters, because I really love to portray the emotions of all the characters. Stephanie Meyer did a great job, because I'm so interested in every character, & I love writing about how they relate to each other. Thanks again!
Smileon: you'll see, you'll see!!!
Saranicole: haha Edward just needs to get over himself. There is plenty of moping to come anyway, haha. Also, I'm glad you understand why I like my chapters short... it drives you guys crazy, it's so fun! Haha. Thanks so much for reviewing!!!
Pheobesapphira: haha no worries, you're review made me smile anyway!
AnAerialView: Yeah, poor Edward & Bella, I keep pulling them away before they can have their tongues down each others throats haha. Of course it was Mike, he's so jealous! He wants Bella's hot bod but he can't have it because she's Edwards!!! muahahaha.
Emo supremo girl: haha I know, I love Alice. & Bella will tell you what she's going to do! So READ!!!
Midnight Walker: haha thanks! Sorry about the shortness... :)
-bookluver1515-: I'm going, I'm going! I'm so glad you like it!
Twilightfan21: that did make sense... fuck, I think that means I'm as crazy as you are! But yeah, no, just read!
Dimpled Blonde: muahahahahaha!!! but yeah, cliffies are great. Haha thanks so much.
Chapter 14
Bella's jaw dropped.
"In-in love?" I'm not in-" she stammered. She realized that she had no choice but to resign. "How would you know that, Alice?"
"I just know. I can tell. All I'm asking is that you don't force anything."
"I can't make him love me, Alice. You know that. I wish I could, but I can't." Bella sighed. There was no use trying to keep secrets from Alice. She was already like a sister, & she trusted her completely.
"I know that Bells." Bella suddenly felt a twinge of something, hearing the nickname that Charlie always called her. Did she miss him? She had to admit that she loved Charlie, & she wished she could see him again. But she was getting caught up with her thoughts. She continued listening to Alice. "But you can effect other things. Willing him to kiss you, or just spend time with you. You don't have to worry about it - just let it happen naturally. It will. He's in love with you too," she noted casually. Bella gasped.
"He is?" Alice laughed.
"Yes."
"He told you that?"
"Well, no. But I can tell. The two of you are painfully obvious. The way he looks at you - I can tell. I've known him for a long time, & I've never seen him like this. He adores you. He loves me, & all of us, but not like he loves you, not brotherly affection."
"Well," Bella sighed. "I'll let the chips fall where they may." The truth was, she had thought about it. There were times when they had been so close, & she wanted to place the thought in his mind, just lean in. But she couldn't do it. She would rather him not kiss her at all than a kiss that would be forced, artificial.
Did she really love him? She knew she had never felt that way before, about anyone, ever. Plus, he had killed her. But isn't that was true love is supposed to be - completely unconditionally? & did he really love her?
"Can he hear us talking?" Bella asked, suddenly nervous that Alice had given her away.
"Non, no he can't. We're too far away now." Bella was relieved by this.
"So where are we going, exactly? My mother's house? A hotel?"
"Your mom's house, if you don't mind. You can have some of your own things, & if for any reason, she decides to come home early, I'll know in advance & I can hide, but you'll be there. Also, you can call Charlie from your mother's home, & he'll recognize the number. You can tell him that Edward gave you a ride to the airport, to explain your going off with him. How does that sound?"
"Very clever. & where do we go from there?"
"Well, we'll move. We can't stay in Forks any longer, we can't risk you being seen. We'll go somewhere without much sun - maybe England."
"But still, we'll be hiding forever. It's a little conspicuous, me being with your family." Alice sighed.
"Not forever, Bella. You may not have given this much thought, but human ties are very difficult for our kind, even if we have the control to be around them without much effort." It was hard for Alice to be explaining this to her. "Everyone you know, humans that is, will eventually grow old & die. You can visit Renee & Charlie once you have your urges in check, but not for long. How would they react if you went to visit them, & you are supposed to be thirty, & you still look eighteen? We can't give ourselves away like that. We only have to hide for a generation or so, because before you know it, you won't have any human connections left from your previous life."
Bella felt as if she might cry, but the tears never came. She wasn't sure, but she supposed they never would.
Alice apparently, didn't have anything more of importance to say, or maybe she was just giving Bella some time to absorb all they had discussed. She flipped on the radio to a hard rock station, changing it only when they drove out of range.
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Edward sat at home. Well, sat wouldn't have been the appropriate word. He paced, he sighed, he reorganized his CD collection, he twiddled his goddamn thumbs. Jasper & Emmett watched him, feeling helpless.
"They're going to be fine, dude. It's not like they're running away from the Volturi or something, it's just the police," Emmett tried comforting.
"I know that... 'dude'. I just haven't been away from her since we met. I just hope she's well."
"She'll be all right," Jasper jumped in. He felt Edward's worry, but he also felt something else that Edward was feeling.
No way, he thought.
'What?' Edward mouthed.
"Come here, Edward. I want to show you something." Edward followed Jasper downstairs.
"You love her," he whispered, forgetting there was no reason to speak aloud at all.
"No, no, I'm just worried about her. She isn't strong yet, I don't want her to do anything she'll regret."
"You know it's no use trying to hide your emotions from me."
"I know that... but love? I don't know..." he drifted off. He knew it was true. There was no doubting it. She was beautiful, understanding, compassionate. How could he not? But he shouldn't. He knew he shouldn't. He killed her. "I don't deserve her."
"You deserve the best. She does too. You deserve each other," Jasper whispered. "It's perfect. Don't doubt yourself so much."
"Are you even remembering what I did to her?" he spat.
"I haven't forgotten... But let me put it this way. Do you think I deserve Alice?"
"Of course," he answered without hesitation.
"I've killed innocent people. We all have, it's a part of what we are. We're vampires, Edward."
"But you didn't kill Alice," he argued back.
"Many like her though. If Bella had become a vampire by any other means, would you have been so bothered?" Edward sighed.
"It isn't likely."
"So don't worry about it. Just do what feels right."
Edward was grateful that they had gotten past the male not-exposing-what-they're-feeling facade long ago. It was nice to have a confidant other than Alice, although she was great. Though he trusted his entire family completely, there were those he felt more comfortable exposing himself to than others. Secrets didn't last long in their family anyway, it really wasn't probable.
"Perhaps you're right," Edward said, although Jasper felt what he felt - that he wasn't good enough. Edward was the only one who didn't realize that he was, he really was.
Bella's absence made the guilt worsen, & he wanted desperately to see her again. Her presence made the feelings subside, but with her gone, he wallowed in them, feeling despicable.
Esme & Carlisle grew worried. Not about Bella - they knew she was in good hands. They hated to see their son in so much pain. She had only been gone a day & a half - they worried it would only worsen. Esme suggested that Carlisle take Edward on a hunting trip for Edward's favorite, just the two of them. Carlisle agreed that was a very good idea.
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Bella & Alice arrived at Renee's house in half the time it normally took. Bella showed her the guest room, & then went to the phone to call Charlie.
He answered his cellular on the first ring.
"Renee?"
"No, dad, it's me."
"Bella! Are you alright? What happened? Are you hurt? Why are you in Phoenix? Is everything okay?" His questions flew out like rapid fire.
"Dad, I'm fine." She sighed. She didn't want to hurt him any more. "I flew to Phoenix with my savings. It's just that... I hate Forks. I was homesick. It's too gloomy there."
"Oh, Bells..." she winced. He did sound hurt.
"It isn't you. I just... I think it's about time I found a place of my own."
"I can't stop you, Bella," was all he said.
"I'm sorry."
"I wish you would come back." For the first time, Bella really wished she could too.
"I know, Dad. But I can't."
"Bella, what are you doing to me? I don't understand you. Why don't you just come to live with me as planned. Finish high school."
"I-I just need to do this. If I don't know, I never will. Please, try to understand." She hated lying so much. "I'll come visit as soon as I can," she added honestly.
"Fine, Bella," he said, the hurt behind his words tearing at her.
"I-I love you, Dad," she whispered. There was silence on the other end. She waited as the seconds ticked by.
"Goodbye, Bella," he said & the line went dead. If she could have cried, she would have. But she couldn't, so she just whispered a sad goodbye to nobody in particular, & hung up the phone.
"You okay, Bella?" Alice asked.
"Yes, she sighed, feeling sad. "I just never really got to know him. I haven't told him I loved him since I was a little girl. He didn't answer." Alice just smiled sympathetically. The phone rang, making Bella jump, but not Alice. Bella answered it.
"Hello?"
"I love you, too, Bells. I'm sorry. I look forward to the next time I see you."
"Thanks, Dad," she said, & hung up.
"Better?" Alice asked.
"Not really."
"Why don't you go get some clean clothes on?" she suggested.
"That's a good idea," Bella agreed, eyeing the same flannel shirt & jeans she had been wearing for days. She walked into her room & sifted through her clothes. She decided on a tank top & a pair of shorts. She pulled the shorts up, fastened them, & went to reach for her shirt. She heard Alice's laughter before what actually happened. Her shorts dropped to her feet. She laughed as well. She stepped out of them & tried to shirt. It exposed her stomach, her new, um, assets, filling it out more than before. She went out into the living room in just her undies & her new ill fitting shirt, & plopped down on the sofa, pseudo-sulking.
"I think we need to get you shopping," Alice said through her laughter.
"Can I at least borrow some jeans or should I just go like this?" Bella asked sarcastically.
"Hmm. I think you should go like that. It suits your hot little body." Alice continued laughing, & Bella rolled her eyes. "Help yourself," she finally said, unable to stop laughing despite a dirty look from Bella. She pulled on a pair of Alice's jeans, tugging them up as far as they would go, but her stomach still showed.
"I look like a prostitute," Bella grumbled.
"No... but you do look like Rosie," Alice giggled.
"Except that she's gorgeous!" Bella rolled her eyes.
"Try looking in the mirror you little hottie!" Did she enjoy humiliating Bella so? Apparently she did.
"I'm borrowing a shirt, also!" She exclaimed as she started rummaging through Alice's bags.
"Oh, stop it," she said, dragging Bella toward the door. "You look great. Trust me." They got into the car & began driving out of the neighborhood. "Which way to the mall, Bella?" Bella sighed. She loathed shopping, but she couldn't borrow clothes forever, nor did she want to go around showing three inches of midriff either.
"Make a left here, then it's the first right after this light."
They pulled into a parking garage, which connected directly to the building, so sunlight wouldn't be a problem. As they parked the car, something dawned on Bella that hadn't before - there would be humans everywhere. But Alice was by Bella's side as soon as she was out of the car, & grabbed her hand. They walked in & Bella unconsciously was lured toward a human that stood in the doorway, but Alice's iron grip tightened around her hand & they kept walking.
Bella really wasn't used to physical contact. In fact, it usually made her pretty uncomfortable. But Alice's grasp, when it wasn't tight & warning, was friendly & sisterly, & it was nice.
The smell of humans though, was so unlike anything she had ever smelled. It was delicious. Although she was well fed, she wanted to sink her teeth into every person she encountered. Luckily, Alice was much stronger than she.
They walked into DKNY & started raking through clothes. Alice grabbed a pair of jeans, then dragged a groaning Bella into a dressing room.
"This is the worst part!"
"Calm down, we just need to get your size right." Bella pulled on the jeans & they fit like a glove.
"I figured you were my size - you have been wearing my clothes." Bella eyed herself in the mirror.
"What size would that be?"
"Zero."
"You're kidding." Bella's eyes were wide. "I dropped 3 sizes?"
"Yep. Not that you weren't tiny before." Alice threw the jeans over her shoulder & they continued shopping. They went to check out, & for the first time, Bella realized she had no money,
"Alice, I can't pay for all this." Alice just laughed.
"Don't be silly. We have plenty of money," she responded, as she quickly paid.
"I can't let your family pay for everything," Bella said, feeling guilty.
"It's no problem, really. Plus, you're one of the family. & we don't like to brag or anything, but literally, we're multi-billionaires." Bella's jaw dropped.
"What?!" Alice's musical laugh rang out.
"It isn't a big deal, really," Alice said, dragging her into Victoria's Secret.
"Come on, Alice, underwear?"
"You know you need it. Look at you - you're probably a C cup now. What were you before?"
"A," Bella mumbled. Okay, she thought, there are perks to being a vampire.
They finished shopping, loaded the multitude of bags into the car, & sank down into the seats.
"That wasn't so bad, now was it?" Alice asked.
"The shopping or the humans?"
"Both." They laughed.
"Torture. I grew pretty desensitized to the humans, but the shopping just got worse & worse."
"Do you need to hunt?" Alice asked, concerned. If Bella became frenzied, Alice may not have been able to stop her.
"Desperately."
"All right then," Alice said, & sped off.