Heya,

So, as promised, we're going shopping with the Swan and Brandon ladies…Renée doesn't exactly know about her daughter's date. That should be interesting. I want to say thank you to Helen – my wonderful beta reader – and all of you for reading my story.

I don't own any of the Twilight characters or material. I just make them go shopping with their moms.

Chapter 17: Shopping for the Essentials

So far we had been to Forever 21 to look for a 'little black dress', The Disney Store for Nessie's wand and costume, JCPenney's for the boys' handkerchiefs, and Sicilian Delight for some pizza.

"How is the pizza, girls?" My mom asked, laughing at three of mouthful thumbs-ups. Nessie and I had gotten our usual, one white slice with ricotta and a garlic knot, and Alice had got Veggie with a knot.

"So, where to next girls?" Mrs. Brandon asked. I was hoping for the car, but we all knew Alice was running the show today. To be fair, we both wanted our first high school dance to be perfect. We just had vastly different ideas of what would make it perfect. We had already spent $150 including the money Edward and Jasper had given us for their things. Overboard was an understatement.

"We both need special bras for our dresses, so Vicky C's" Allie stated. My mother's eye's shot open and she laughed at Alice 's directness.

"Oh, you're right, Sweetie! Halter top dress for Bell and strapless for you, right?"

"Yes, Marmee."

"Okay, Vicky C's it is!" My mom said, recovering and apparently ignoring me mouthing 'help me'. "Alright, we should go if we're going. You girls still have more homework, right?"

"Yeah, just the chapters for English I think," I answered.

We got up and threw away our garbage. We made sure we had all of our purses and phones and made our way to the dreaded store. I had needed a bra since the third grade. My mom and Gran had taken me to Maiden Form to be measured. Three years later and I still didn't like going into these places, never really feeling confident enough about my body to talk openly in the store, especially not yelling over the door in the fitting room. In the fourth grade, I was made fun of for "developing early", now girls hated me because of it, wishing they had. Everyone was right, puberty sucked.

"Why haven't you told your mom about Edward yet?" Alice whispered.

"I was waiting for the car. Why?" I replied.

"Oh, so it's not because you're scared?" she pursed her lips and raised her brow.

"Scared about what, sweetheart? You can tell me anything! Hold off on the boy stuff around your father, but you can say anything to me. I would rather know beforehand than have to kill someone later," mom said, only half-joking. I jumped and cursed Allie out in my head. I hadn't realized that mom and Cynthia were that close behind us. With a sigh, I spilled my guts.

"Just that Edward asked me to the dance as his date. Alice thought that I was scared to tell you, but I was just waiting for the car, so it was just the five of us," I answered.

"Aww! I thought maybe! Oh, my – oh well, our little girls have their first dates, Cynthia," mom cooed, pretending to wipe away happy tears with Mrs. Brandon.

"Oh, I know. It's all down-hill for Andrew and Charlie now, Renee," Mrs. Brandon answered and they both laughed until they cried real tears.

"I thought Edward liked you, sissy," Nessie said with a giggle. "He always sits with you when he comes over to the house. And, good for you, he's really cute."

"He's not my boyfriend, Ness. It's a date to a dance."

"For now. He has to like you, or he would have asked somebody else," Nessie concluded matter-of-factly.

This is exactly why I was waiting for the car," I said as I pushed past them. I hear them rush to catch up. My mom came up behind me pulling me to her side.

"Oh, Sweetie. We mean well. This just means we'll have to find you an amazing bra, that's all."

"MOM!" I said, only really half upset. We were always like this. Like Rory and Lorelai Gilmore and I never wanted that to change.

"What? We don't want any wardrobe malfunctions on the first date!" she answered, and I was pretty sure that I entered Victoria Secrets redder than the bra on the mannequin outside.

End Note: Next up…We finally get to see Halloween Morning. Bella and Nessie's bus rides and nearly everyone's costumes.