Quote of the day: Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present. - Jim Rohn

Chapter 22

I did it again...

Maybe it would be better if I got Carlisle to sew my mouth shut-at least then I wouldn't be sprouting out the future like word vomit. I always seemed to get myself into these horrible situations and I don't know why. Maybe it was knowing. I knew what was to come and just like someone who is watching a movie they had already seen before, I shout at the screen. I shout about the consequence of the characters actions.

I sighed, leaning back against the passenger seat of Leah's car. After Sue had over heard me, I got out of the house as fast as my unsteady legs would take me and it was only luck that I met Leah on the way. Now she was driving back to my house to get my truck and there I would be meeting Alice.

I groaned inwardly as I remembered that horrible conversation that happened only moments ago.

"Hello."
"Bella!" Cheered a high-pitched voice that was none other than Alice Cullen.
"Hi, Alice." I said uneasily.
"Guess what? We going shopping."
An un-lady like noise of disgust came out of my mouth and I blushed when I remembered that Leah was also in the car. "Alice, I can't I'm with a friend."
"NO." The word was said so loud that I had to rip the phone from my ear. "You have to go. Please, please, please, please, PLEASE!"
At this point I was beginning to get a headache. Alice was the type of person that could drive you crazy with a single word. Just as I was about to make up and excuse, I glance slyly at Leah who was in a drivers seat. I think she saw me out of the corner of her eye but she didn't say anything.
Instead she glance at me with cautious curiosity. I raised my eyebrow at her and smirked. Leah visibly gulped before turning her head back to the road.
"Okay, but my friend has to come as well."
"Great, I'll meet you at Charlie's house in 14 minutes. Bye Bella." I rolled my eyes silently cursing the psychic Pixie. 'At least she didn't include the seconds' I thought to myself.

A beep at the end of the line told me that Alice had already hung up, so I shut my phone and slid it into my pocket.

"Where are we going?" Leah voice asked cautiously.

"Shopping." I answered wrinkling my noise in distaste. I turned to Leah and saw her doing the same.

"Thanks but I'll pass. I-"

"Oh, no, no, no." I interrupted her. "If I have to suffer through the tortured of shopping, so do you. There is no way you are leaving me alone with a shop-o-holic pixie in a shopping center for the entire day. If I have to try on a dress then at least I get the pleasure of watching you try on a dress."

"Dress?" Leah squeaked.

"And heels." I sang. "So you are going?"

For a few moments it was silent and then Leah released a loud, very audible sigh. "Fine. Besides how bad can it be."

I snorted, "Ever heard of the expression shop till you drop." Leah nodded. "Well, for Alice it is shop till your dead then keep shopping." Pun was totally intended, it's a shame Leah wouldn't get it.

"Shit, what do we do?" Leah looked at me with wide, scared eyes. At least this was something we both had in common: our hate of shopping.

"Follow through and hope that we live another day." I muttered feeling the same sense for fear well up within me.

Soon Leah pulled into the parking space in front of my-Charlie's house. It looked exactly the same. On the outside it was like a normal day, coming back home. However the outside was just a facade. The outside hid the fact that whenever I walk through those door everything on the inside is different. Every time I looked at this house, I see Charlie. It forces me to remember him and gives me a slither of false hope but now... now I know that is all that this house can give me. False hope.

"Bella, are you okay?" Leah asked shaking me out of my daze. I hadn't realized that I had been staring blankly at the front door. I looked at her and saw a hint of worry and sadness in her eyes.

"Yeah," I said slowly. "I'm fine."

I turned just in time to hear the screeching of tires that usually came with one of the Cullen's crazy driving. Watching from the drive way, I saw Alice skip out of the car and heard Leah snort with disdain at the chipper overexcited woman.

"Don't fight her." I muttered through my teeth trying not to move my lips. "Trust me, it'll make her worse."

Before we knew it Alice stood, grinning joyously in front of us. "Well, what are we waiting for? We only have seven hours until the mall closes." Alice grabbed both our wrists (Leah flinched slightly at her ice cold hand) and dragged us unwillingly into the car.

"Only." Leah whined and I couldn't help but agree with her. I remembered my first shopping trip with Alice, I didn't think we would ever leave the store. At least now I had someone human who would suffer through it with me and help me convince Alice that a break, once in a while, is a good thing.

About four hours later, I ached in places that I never thought I could ache and judging by Leah's slumped form she did too. The only problem was that we have only been in three different stores but we spent over an hour in each of them. So far I have tried on skirts, trousers, tops, dresses, belts, hats, shoes and coats. Now we were trying on underwear. When Alice dragged me and Leah into the store I thought I saw a vein pop in Leah forehead but she had yet to go crazy on Alice. Maybe she did take my advice after all.

After Alice had brought both me and Leah at least 6 pairs of flashy, revealing underwear I finally decided that I had had enough.

"Alice, I want to got home now." I all but pleaded.

"But Bella, we still have three more hours and we haven't even gone to that many shops." She whined childishly.

'Who's fault is that' my mind muttered. However I thought it was best to keep that comment quiet. "Alice," I sighed. "I am recovering from a three year coma. If I don't rest I think I might fall into another one." Okay, maybe I was stretching the truth. The doctor had said I have almost fully recovered, but could you blame me? You try shopping with a hyper vampire who has so much money that a seven hour shopping spree (that entailed buying out half the store) wouldn't even leave a dent in her credit card.

"Fine." She caved with a slight pout. She looked like a child that had been told off for wanting desert before supper.

When we were on the car ride back, Alice invited us to go over to her house. Unfortunately today was Sunday which meant family dinner. I have been dreading today. Would it be awkward because I am not really part of the family? Are their dinners always awkward? Will I be excluded? Included? Honestly... I was terrified to find out.

As me and Leah walked through the front door my nose was greeted by a mouth watering smell that made my stomach rumble embarrassingly. "Mum, we're home."

When Sue and Harry come through the kitchen door to greet us, I felt the blood drain from my face as I recalled why I had ran out of the house in the first place. However it seemed like they were going to ignore our last conversation.

"Leah! Bella!" Sue called happily. "Where did you two go?"

"Shopping in Seattle Mum." Leah answered simply. I wondered why her personality suddenly shifted. Especially since just seconds ago we were laughing about how ridiculous Alice was when she demanded to label which top went with which trousers or skirt and which shoes.

"Did you have fun?" Harry asked.

"It was okay. At least we didn't die." Leah said, gaining looks of confusion from her parents and a snort of laughter from me.

"Oh, we probably would have been if we met her shop for the complete seven hours." I said.

As it turned out, the family dinner didn't turned out so bad. It seemed as if I just slipped right in. Seth was sweat and kind and I could definitely see him as my little brother. Leah was like my best friend along with Alice and, even if she won't admit it, I think she considered me and Alice her best friends as well. Sue and Harry were like my Aunt and Uncle. They were family.

Tears flooded my eyes as I thought of that. Family. Charlie was also my family. He was the best father I could have asked for. He loved me, he cared for me and he made sure that I was loved and cared for when he was gone.

I lay in bed and let the tears silently fall down my face. Then I suddenly realized that sleeping alone was lonely. For years (including my dream days) I have slept with someone beside me but now the space next to me was empty and I was alone with my sad thoughts.

Out of my throat came a strange sob as my mind continued to flood with Charlie. I remembered him smiling with Renesmee and walking me down the aisle. I remember him greeting me at the airport and rushing towards me in the hospital. Maybe this was a curse. I am forced to know about what should have been but forced to face the reality that it might never be.

At least that night I didn't have to sleep alone. Moments after my sobs were released, Leah walking into my room. She was my silent witness to my sorrow just a I was her silent witness last night. It was nice to let go of some of the pressure building inside of me. Now I know the true comfort Leah felt last night,crying in front of someone was relieving. It took a little bit off that weight that had been on my shoulders.

Hi, sorry I took longer than usual. I did try to make this chapter longer but (as you have probably figured out) i'm not very good at that. Hope you like the chapter and please reviews. I love to read what you think about my writing and and hints about the direct this story could go.