chapter 2 'Cause you never gave a warning sign (I gave so many signs)

exile - taylor swift, bon iver

you're going on a date with Alice's twin?

my breath caught in my throat as I read the text pop up on my laptop.

It was from Rose.

I guess Alice, or Jasper, blabbed to Rose.

Jasper could be a worse gossip than his girlfriend or sister.

I chewed on my lip and sent my reply, yeah, I finally gave in to her pestering. it'd be cool to meet someone new.

The texting bubble popped up, she was responding. Then it disappeared.

All of a sudden my phone started ringing, it was Rose requesting a facetime.

Should have seen this coming. Rose is notorious for cutting texting convos short for facetime.

Making sure I looked somewhat presentable I pushed my glasses back up off my nose and answered, "Wow, twice in one day I get to see your face. What's up?"

Rose was in her kitchen with a glass of white wine and she had a similar pair of glasses gracing her face.

I assumed she was face timing from her own laptop as she was hands-free.

She narrowed her blue eyes at me, "What's the rush to get back into the dating scene? Last time I checked you were too busy to hang out with your friends, now you wanna date?"

My eyes popped open, well she wasn't beating around the bush. "Alice called me after I left you in the park and mentioned her Edythe again, and wanting to set us up so I said yes."

Partial lie, I called Alice but she doesn't need to know this.

Yes, it seems a little out of character for me right now, but it was a moment of impulsiveness.

I just wanted to feel something other than sadness. Is that a crime?

Alice's twin sister Edythe, or Edy as she affectionately called her, was her twin sister, older by 5 minutes so goes the legend.

No one had met Edythe as she's been studying in London all this time and rarely came back to the states. Much to her siblings and parents' chagrin.

Alice has been meaning to introduce everyone but apparently, the girl can be a bit of a loner.

She was just accepted to a Ph.D. program here in New York and decided to move back.

"You're great at evading Alice, why now?" She continued her questioning despite my response.

What is up her ass tonight? I didn't give her the Spanish inquisition when she started dating Kate. I was way too supportive even.

Sighing I replied, "Rose do I have to justify my every move to you? Look I'm sorry I've been a shitty friend lately but TAing this semester has been a lot. The professor excepts me to basically be the professor for the class. Things have gotten away from me."

Partial lie too, but the professor I was working with this semester was nice but he thought having a TA meant he was a lecturer only. Grading wasn't his forte.

So here I am on a Tuesday night, grading papers debating if the US was an empire or not.

Her eyes softened at my tone, "I'm sorry Bell, it was just unexpected. Alice had facetime me all excited she was basically planning your wedding and you had just told me you had so much going on it made no sense."

Ah, so it was Alice.

I'll be calling her after.

"Rose, you can't take Alice for her word. She would have married me off to Emmett if she could." I laughed, trying to distill the tension.

Rose snorted, "Yeah I remember that freshman year. That was hilarious, she had no idea you only batted for the ladies."

I smiled at the memory too, Emmett had become tho one of my favorite people.

"Looking back now, it is hilarious. However, at the time? Hell no, I wanted to kill Alice's ass."

Rose laughed, "I remember when you came back and threatened to burn her channel and she begged for forgiveness on her knees."

This time I snorted, "If only that threat worked now."

Alice knew I'd never hurt her or her precious material possessions no matter how mad I was. So threats were never taken seriously anymore.

"So... are you excited to meet the mysterious Edythe? She seems hot."

Edythe was gorgeous.

I had only seen a few pictures of her through the years and every time I saw one I was always amazed.

She was way taller than Alice, and me I assume, she looked like she had their Dad's height but their mom's coloring but a little more cooper and piercing green eyes.

They looked like emeralds. The last time Alice went over to England and tagged her in the photos I was struck by how different they were from each other, being twins and all.

I let out a nervous chuckle, "She's drop-dead gorgeous Ro, I feel like she'll drop my ass quick for whatever other person walks in the bar tomorrow night."

"Isabella Marie Swan, what have I told you about devaluing yourself? I-"

I cut her off, "Yes I know I'm beautiful, intelligent, and smart but come on Edythe Cullen is in a whole class of her own."

Rose huffed and sipped her wine.

"You're being a dumbass in my opinion. Anyone would be lucky to pull your ass."

My heart warmed, Rose always knew how to boost an ego. But also there was pain there too, why couldn't I pull you?

I laughed, "You always think I'm being a dumbass. But I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow. I've already got my fashion orders from Alice."

"Oh, what did Miss Fashionista order you to wear?" Rose inquired.

Alice was everyone's personal stylist, she majored in Fashion and was currently getting her MBA so she could make her own fashion house.

Anything involving clothing, she had an opinion on.

"She told me to wear my blue corset, black jeans, and black booties. She didn't tell me what jacket to put on top but I'm thinking my leather blazer."

Rose's eye bugged out, "Sounds like Alice wants to get you laid not dating."

"We're going to a bar Rose, people wear that attire to bars." I defended as I switched locations with my laptop.

I settled onto my bed as Rose began speaking again, "I just worry about you. I don't want Alice's mysterious sister to hook up and dump you."

In our decade of friendship I've only had three brief relationships, Alice believes I never gave anyone a chance because I had feelings for Rose.

I was the one who was breaking hearts and not the other way around.

"Rose, I really do appreciate the concern, but don't you know by now I'm always the commitmentphobe running for my life? In any case, Alice should be worried about Edythe."

She hummed in agreement, "But Bell, eventually there is gonna be a time where you do get hurt."

I swallowed, Rose if only you knew.

"That's life, unfortunately. I feel like if anything Edythe and I will become friends. So I don't think anyone will be getting hurt in the near future." I said, trying to end this conversation.

Rose nodded, "Hopefully, let me know how it goes tomorrow, ok?"

"I will Ro, I'll text you when I get home or facetime you the deets if there are any." I laughed.

"Alright, night Bells."

"Night Ro." I hung up the facetime.

That was weird, and she said nothing about Kate at all...

What the hell did Alice say to her?

So I decided to facetime the gossiping Pixie herself.

She picked up on the second ring, "Bella! My future sister-in-law, how are you?"

I groaned, oh boy.

"Alice, tomorrow is just drinks. It's not a marriage proposal."

She shook her head, "Bella, you don't understand I have that feeling, that intuitive feeling that Edythe will be perfect for you and you for her."

Alice was known to have feelings about things and a lot of the time she was scarily accurate. She claims she's got powers.

Emmett just says she's "a know it all, pain in the ass"

I tend to agree with Emmett.

"Is that why you've been so insistent on introducing us? But you also had a feeling about me and Emmett and I'm a whole lesbian."

Alice laughed, "Yes! Well in my defense I had a feeling we would officially be sisters, the sibling you married wasn't clear so I jumped the gun with Emmett cause he lived in nearer. Also, I was a freshman, I didn't have a good radar for who was queer and who wasn't."

Emmett went to Yale, on a football scholarship, and Alice, Rose, and I visited him a bunch when we were in college until he graduated.

The first meeting was a set up by Alice. However, after that epic fail, we all became really close.

I've been sort of adopted by the Cullens because my parents live so far away in bumfuck FOrks and it's a hassle to go home for every holiday cause of the cost.

Their mom Esme was a divine cook and let me be her helper since Alice burnt toast and Emmett would just want to eat everything before it was served.

My mom was never the cooking type so its nice to have that experience now.

"So if Edythe doesn't work are you gonna set me up with your cousins?" I quirked a brow.

Alice glared at me, "Isabella Marie Swan, it will work, I have a feeling. Plus she's said to me she finds you attractive. So there's a good starting point."

My cheeks flushes, a goddess like Edythe, thought I was attractive, "Really?"

"Yup! Every time we facetime or when I visit her, you're the only friend of mine she remembers or asks about. She said you looked beautiful on our girls' trip to the Bahamas last year. For Edythe to ask about someone, that's a sign she likes you."

I remember Alice posting nothing but vacation photos on Facebook and spamming Instagram.

I guess she had to have seen some. But to hear that she thought I was beautiful, that's a damn ego boost.

"Wow. I'm amazed. Your sister is like insanely gorgeous I'm surprised I'm on her radar."

Alice furrowed her brows, "There will be no Bella bashing on this call, and yes she is but so are you. Plus, you're the only one of my friends she really wants to meet."

I smiled but then thought, "Wait what about Rose?"

Alice grimaced, "She's not the biggest fan of Rose. I gotta be honest."

This was news, "Wait why? They've never even met before?"

Alice got up from her place on the couch and went into her bedroom. I assume Jasper was home or would be home soon and she didn't want him to hear.

"She thinks Rose has been stringing you along in your friendship, that she knew you were into her and used it to her advantage. I had ranted to her about your reaction to the engagement party cause I was upset for you and I didn't wanna bash Rose in front of Jasper cause that's his sister. But I think Rose could have been more considerate of your feelings in general too."

I gulped, I couldn't fault her for sharing something with her sister, it wasn't like she was gossiping it was a heart to heart.

This aversion to Rose is new for Alice, usually during my venting sessions about Rose and my feelings she's just supportive and doesn't say anything negative about Rose.

"I doubt Rose knows I have feelings for her. But what did you tell her though on the phone? She was weirdly hot and cold on facetime before."

Alice smirked, "I might have rubbed it in her face that you had a date with Edythe and I may have gone a little overboard with the future in-law stuff."

"Alice! Why would you do that?" Oh god, no wonder Rose was concerned, Alice was practically marrying me off.

The all-knowing Pixie glared at me, "Bella I've been friends with you seven years, I've seen how she treats you versus you treating her. I love Rose, but she can be a narcissist at times and all about Rose. Plus I feel like she took your goodness for granted. When you called this afternoon I figured it was because of her, and low and behold it was. She told me about running into you and getting coffee. I know you've been actively avoiding her to avoid seeing her and Kate. I hate that you're suffering. The group isn't the same without you and Kate is kinda annoying."

I laughed, "Wait she is? I thought she was cool?"

I liked to hear gossip, especially about Kate.

"You know how she's like 34? Well, she acts like she's our mother when we go out for trivia nights. Like excuse me but I don't need another mother, she's on the Upper Eastside thank you very much."

This made me laugh so hard.

I had gotten a vibe about Kate, but I was terrified to ask more about her in fearing of hearing good things.

"Oh wow, I didn't know this was a thing. But wait is this just a you thing against Kate?"

Alice giggled, "Actually.. it isn't Jasper sometimes mumbles about a cougar dating his baby sister. Tanya will make passive-aggressive comments in front of her but will rant to me after gatherings."

Damn, Tanya liked everyone for her not to like someone that was.. interesting.

"Wait has Emmett met her yet?" I asked.

She shook her head, "No he's been so busy coaching at Yale he hasn't had a chance. He's coming in this weekend though, we should all go out and you can bring Edythe!"

I liked the sound of not being alone in a group setting, finally being a part of a couple. BUt also Emmett was also single so I wouldn't be the only single person.

"That actually sounds nice, I'm down. What are you thinking of doing?"

Alice squealed, "Ah finally! You're back! I needed my number one chicka! I think we'll go bar hopping or that place with all the games? Tanya sent me the name of it before but I forgot the name."

I laughed, "Ok cool, just text me the details and I'll be there. I should probably go now I have like 20 more papers to grade."

"I seriously don't know how you TA, that would drive me insane." Alice shook her head.

I bit my lip, "Well it's what the future holds for me, being a professor and all and eventually I'll have my own TAs! But I will be treating them way better."

"Oh I know you will Bella, you'll be an amazing professor. Now I gotta go cause Jazz just came in and I have a dick appointment to get to."

I groaned, "TMI Ali! TMI. Go have fun, see you tomorrow."

Alice laughed while I hung up.

As I sat down to grade the remaining papers, I thought over my conversation with Rose.

"I don't want you to get hurt." Why would she be so worried about me getting hurt from one date?

She's already inflicted pain that has left its own scar tissue.

Including on my birthday last year. We were drunk, oh so drunk. She was kissing me, as she does when she's drunk, I let her because I knew I would never get her affection anytime else.

She said to me that night, "I'm so happy I have you when I need a good makeout."

I was about to drunkenly profess my love. But she beat me to it before I made an absolute fool of myself, thank god.

I knew then I would never mean to her what she means to me.

Author Note: Hey guys here's chapter 2, I wanted to jump right to Edythe but I wanted to lay more groundwork between Bella and Rose and Alice. Their friendship is so important in this story and how Rose navigates Bella's feelings. Also, I wanted to flesh out Bella's feelings since we've met her at a crossroads where she's ready to feel better and move on. Do you think Rose knows? The next chapter will be the first meeting between Edythe and Bella. Let me know your thoughts!