Bella
Charlie slammed the door behind himself when he arrived home last night. I sighed. I was hoping for a good night. Char and I spent the afternoon up to our elbows in cooking for Charlie. I was hoping he'd be in a good enough mood to appreciate it.
Char was a blast to cook with. She joked and played around. I'd definitely like to cook with her again. Maybe we could take food and drop it off at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and the like. I taste-tested too, The results were excellent. It had been a first-class day. The evening didn't appear that it was going to be as fine.
"Bella," Charlie shrieked through the house.
"Yeah, dad," I said coming down the stairs.
"You get those damn vampires out of my house." He screamed.
"Do you know anything about keeping a secret Charlie? You can't go screaming vampire at the top of your lungs if you want to live very long."
"Whose gonna touch me, you? You're not going to do a damn thing your grounded."
I just sighed, no Charlie, I'm not. I've been trying to be nice and wait till it was time to go to college to leave. Ya know, go to prom, give you good memories and all that jazz but you aren't cooperating."
"Cooperating with you, I don't think so."
"Dad come sit down with me. I know this is a lot of information to take in but I can explain everything to you. I can..."
"You're some sort of undead whore. First, it was Edward Cullen, and now his brother. I've been researching those Cullens today and after tomorrow there isn't going to be a safe place in the world for them. Forged identities, falsified employment records, going to high school, and corrupting innocent girls. I'm going to have every law agency in the world on their asses, there won't be any safe place to hide."
Suddenly Jasper was standing in front of me and then I felt so incredibly tired. I fell into his arms, but before my eyes closed I saw my dad hit the ground.
I woke up on the couch in the Cullen house. "Jasper," I said but it was Char who appeared in front of me.
"You understand that we can't let your dad go through with revealing vampires to the whole world don't ya?" Char said sadly.
"Yeah, I know. Tell 'em I understand." Char nodded and lifted the phone I hadn't noticed in her hand back to her ear. They talked too fast for me to hear. I tried to listen but I was overcome.
Tears filled my eyes and pain filled my heart. I cried because I'd lost my dad. I cried because of the horrible things he'd said to me. I cried because there was nothing else I could do. Char tried to comfort me but for the first time, it didn't work. I cried until I fell into a restless sleep.
When I woke Char had scissors in her hand of all things. "How do you want your hair done?" she asked me. Surprisingly I'd been thinking about this ever since I saw the bottle of hair dye. Shoulder length, layered in the front, side bangs, I said. She patted the stool in front of her and I sat up on it. It took maybe five minutes for my hair to be cut in a very classy style. I ran my fingers through it and admired Char's work for a moment before I was back on the stool and the red dye was going on.
No matter how fast she applied the hair color, it still had to sit. "Peter blew up your house. Made it look like you were in there, I have no idea how. He must have gotten a body from somewhere. Jasper put a virus on your dad's computer at work that will erase the last week of data. Now we're getting you ready to go. What's your name?" She asked suddenly.
"Liz," I replied mechanically. I knew what was expected of me here.
"Good, Char said Liz who?"
"Elisabeth Dalton" I replied.
"We'll work on the whole history another day, Liz, I know you're barely hanging on by your fingernails."
"What's your excuse for why your eyes are red?" Char asked me.
"My dog just died," I replied. I didn't know where it had come from but it was a genius excuse.
"Did he suffer?" I asked hesitantly.
"No little dolly he didn't. Jasper put him to sleep so he didn't feel anything. Jasper never touched him though. He refused to do anything that could cause you pain, so if you have to blame someone, sugar, blame Peter."
"Why would I blame Peter it wasn't Peter's fault. It was the elder's fault."
"I tend to see it that way too sugar but it's time to rinse your hair out. Take your emergency bag and wash and condition your hair with your new shampoo. Use your new body wash and lotion. We gotta little more work to do to make you look perfect."
I nodded and went to the guest bathroom on the first floor where I felt like I belonged. I let the shower poor down on me and washed and scrubbed and conditioned until the hot water ran out. I was wrapped in a towel when Char bustled back in. She dried my hair and the new look was amazing. She handed me the glasses with a try em on and see if they fit. Our luck held and they did.
I took the glasses off and Char spent about five minutes with makeup. When she was done I looked in the mirror and sure enough, I didn't look a thing like myself. I was Liz I thought. Maybe that would make the loss easier to bare. I was someone else I thought when I looked in the mirror, but then I frowned.
You look fabulous little doll it's good enough to get us out of here. Put your skirt outfit on. I didn't bother waiting for Char to leave I just changed on command. She sat me against a wall and took out her cell phone. She sent them somewhere and then messed my hair up a little bit so it looked different.
"When were you a beautician?" I asked.
It's been years and years dolly but you wanted a pretty classic style it wasn't that hard to do. Occasionally I cut hair for a year or so just to keep my hand in. You'll find lots of different things that interest you over the years as time passes. My favorite thing to do is to make my jewelry. I'll show you sometime.
"I don't know what I want to do yet but assuming we get out of here safely, I'll have a little time to decide."
"Put your shoes on now Liz. As soon as I clean up it's going to be time to go. Where is Jasper, what is he doing?"
"He's remodeling your ID with your new picture. He'll bring your purse back to you when he's done."
"Where is Peter?" Oh, dolly he's just keeping Jasper company staying out of your way for a little while.
"He'll be in the living room while I clean this room so no one ever knows we've done all this in here. Go on out, He'll be there for ya."
I ran out into the living room and straight into Peter's arms.
"Now don't cry little darlin' till we get out of here, then you can go catatonic for a few hours if you really need to. Char and Jasper are almost done with their work, then Char's gonna help Jasper pack the necessities into the new SUV. We ain't coming back here no more little darlin'.
I got ya a little moving present while I was out. I wasn't sure what you'd like exactly but look in that box by the couch. "You got me the Harry Potter series, and new copies of my old books, and hey I've not seen some of these."
"That's the point Liz ya need something new. And we've got a long drive." I didn't want ya to get too bored and I didn't know how upset you were going to be. Let's get your books packed in the SUV we're almost ready to go. You got your emergency bags?"
"Jasper has the one and Char has the other."
"Good, you're thinking about em. I still want you to keep your purse on you. We ain't out of the woods yet dolly. Which book do you want to read first?"
"The second Harry Potter. I haven't read it yet."
"Here you go," Peter said handing her the book.
"I'll take the rest of these out to the car."
When she turned back around Jasper was there. She threw herself into his arms and he kissed her forehead.
"You aren't angry at me are you darlin'?" Jasper asked.
"No, Jasper, I couldn't be angry with you. I'm sad and I'm upset and I'm mourning but none of that is your fault."
"Did you get everything packed you needed to?" I asked.
"I did. My mementos and ID-generating equipment are in the SUV" Jasper said.
"We're all going to have to go shopping for clothes and such. We'll stop and look in Seattle and get you some comfortable clothes for the trip."
"Then we'll get other things closer in."
"Here are your bags, Liz," Char said.
I took them.
"C'mon little darlin'" Peter called from the door.
I reached out and Jasper's hand was there for me to clasp. We crawled into the back seat. The windows were darkened enough that no one could see in. She curled up in his arms and fell into a light doze.
They arrived at a mall in Seattle. I got out of the SUV put my glasses back on and ran my fingers through my hair and walked in. Our first stop was Victoria's Secret. Char and I both loaded our little shopping bags with underwear and bras we liked. I also got a few satin nightgowns and short sets.
As the attentive staff inquired whether I would like credit I said no automatically then I got out my own credit card and ran it. It went through without a problem and I picked up my pretty pink bags and prepared to go to the next store. Jasper was waiting for me just outside of the store. He said, "If anyone needs it the pin on your card is zero nine one thee. I figured you'd remember your real birthday."
I nodded and then went into the next store. I picked comfortable pants and a sweater. Sweater dresses, and other trendy but comfortable clothes. I couldn't believe the totals at the checkouts but I tried to act as if I wasn't phased. In the shoe store I picked out flats in different colors to match my outfits then I picked one pair of tennis shoes. In the last store, I allowed myself to get a few tee shirts and a few pairs of jeans. However comfortable the jeans were they looked like they were poured on, having a lot of lycra in the fabric. I'd never worn anything like them.
I looked around for Jasper and as if he knew I was there he was by my side taking my bags and kissing my forehead.
I was exhausted, worn out, and mourning. I was ready to go. I was having trouble keeping a smile on my face when I saw the eyeglass store. I went in and got a pair of nonprescription, designer sunglasses. I slipped my glasses off and the sunglasses on and felt comfortable
Then I thought I saw a store that I always walked by and practically dragged Jasper in. I looked at the different features and different models that were available. I got an iPod, A charger, and at Jasper's urging a pair of high-quality Bluetooth headphones. Jasper swore I would be able to tell the difference in sound quality later. Then Jasper surprised me with a dark purple diary to record everything that had happened and everything I can remember about my past. I threw my arms around his neck. He cautiously put his arms around me and I leaned my head on his chest.
Just when I was about to ask where they were Peter and Char appeared beside us. I closed my eyes and sighed in relief. It was time to go. Still, it had been a productive trip. She had clothes now and she even had a new journal and iPod.
Jasper looked funny carrying all the bags while she just had a few. She took some of the bags from Jasper. He smiled gently at her. They headed back to the SUV but when they passed the food court her stomach growled. She blushed but wondered if you could tell with all the makeup she was wearing. That was a plus of makeup she guessed.
She started to go to McDonald's but then she saw a hibachi place and decided that she'd try something she'd never tried before. She chose chicken and watched as they cooked her meal in front of her with such speed She tried to get to her credit card but Jasper was faster. She took her food to a bench and scooted in. Jasper sat beside her and Char and Peter sat on the other side of her. She was planning on eating quickly but the new tastes were tantalizing on her tongue. She ate slowly, savoring each bite. When she was finished Jasper picked up all the bags leaving her with her iPod bag and her new journal to carry.
When they got into the SUV Bella got out her journal. She examined the texture of the pages and the texture of the leather cover. She changed back into her regular glasses and Jasper smiled reaching into his pocket, pulling out a pretty purple pen. While Peter drove Bella opened up her journal to the first page and wrote Dear Diary and every detail of the day poured out of her.