"Hi!" I squeaked out, feeling a lump in my throat. For the first time, I realized how Alice must have felt after she had her first vision.
"I'm Beatrice, but people call me Betty." She offered me her hand for shake.
"Uh, my name's Isabella, but I prefer Bella," I told her with a smile as I shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you."
"Oh, I'm so happy to have another girl around! You're going to stay, right?" she asked eagerly.
I glanced at Mrs. Jones and shrugged.
"Of course, she will stay! What were you saying about my son?" Mrs. Jones asked raising an eyebrow.
"The ball again," Betty answered with an exaggerated sigh. Was she theatrical or was she like some bimbo from my days?
"Oh, Betty, you should just put him out of his suffering and answer," Mrs. Jones chided her.
"But it's so much fun to see him whine!"
"Uh, what are you talking about?" I found myself asking.
"The ball! The summer ball!" Betty exclaimed excited. "We need to find someone to go with you!"
"Betty, Bella could go to the ball without a date. Did you attend these in Seattle?" Mrs. Jones asked me.
I shook my head feeling dazed. Ball. I repressed a shudder. "I really wouldn't go if…"
"You must. You will meet everyone! There are people that go there just for the party," Betty explained. "Show me your dresses!" She clapped exuberantly before taking my hand and dragging me up the stairs.
If I didn't know better, I'd say she was Alice's reincarnation. With one last terrified look to Mrs. Jones, I allowed Betty to drag me to my new room.