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Without further ado, here you go.
Rose and I had shouted at the same time. Edward was Alice's brother. Alice was Edward's sister. And this revelation was provoking a peculiar feeling in me.
Once Alice's laughing fit finally subsided, my roommate resumed the conversation while Rose got back to doing my hair.
"Bella, did you really think Edward was my boyfriend?"
"I already told you: you jumping on him didn't allow to assume anything else."
"I guess… I was just so surprised and happy to see him that I couldn't help myself! I hadn't seen him in over a year, so…"
"That's understandable." Rosalie agreed.
A long silence ensued, during which the girls did all sorts of things to my hair. Alice finally broke it after a few minutes, speaking to me.
"So Bella, you find Edward cute?" she asked with a sly smile.
I started stuttering without managing to articulate anything coherent. My two friends burst out laughing.
"It appears that way!" Rosalie commented.
"Well, you'll be glad to hear he'll be there tonight!"
"WHAT?!" I brusquely turned to face Alice.
"That's right, Bella. Edward will be at the welcoming party tonight!"
My breathing quickened. I was going to see him again. I was going to get to admire his perfect features again. I was going to meet his emerald gaze again… I couldn't wait. I smiled at the enticing prospect of getting to watch him for an entire evening.
"You're going to have to introduce, Alice." Rose replied.
"What?! No!" I immediately protested.
"Why not? I want to meet him after all the good you've told me about him!"
"That's out of the question, Rose."
My friend sighed loudly and exchanged a quick glance with Alice who was smiling inconspicuously. I didn't have a good feeling about that look…
There were several reasons for my refusal. One, considering the state he'd met me in this morning, I'd rather be discreet. Two, with Rose by my side, I would go completely unnoticed by Edward. My friend was a perfect beauty, just like him. And I did not want to see him devouring her with his eyes. Three, such a handsome creature could not be single; therefore, he would probably show up at the party with his girlfriend, and I did not care to see that either.
As if she had read my mind, Rose asked the burning question that had been at the tip of my tongue since Alice had revealed Edward was her brother.
"Does your brother have a girlfriend, Alice?" she asked, wrapping a strand of my hair around a curler.
"I don't believe so…"
My heart skipped a beat.
So those beautiful eyes didn't shine for anyone? That smile didn't belong to anyone? That heart didn't beat for anyone?
Bella, you are so ridiculous! You'd better forget about this boy right now or you're going to get hurt.
Rose seemed satisfied with my roommate's answer. Was she happy for herself or for me? She'd never even seen him, so she couldn't possibly… Ugh!
"Um, so what about you, Bella? Is your brother… I mean is he… Will he be at the party tonight?"
Rose's mouth stretched into a triumphant smile.
"I knew it! You have a crush on Jasper!" She exclaimed, pointing her manicured index finger towards Alice.
"Well…"
"Did you buy all that lingerie earlier for him?" she cut her off.
Alice shrugged her shoulders, which Rose and I assumed to mean 'yes". We chuckled.
"Bella, you must find a way to get Jasper to the party so we can properly introduce him to Alice. Last time doesn't count. As for you, I suggest you change your mind about Alice introducing you to her brother.
"Rose, I will gladly do my best to get Jasper to the party. But regarding Edward, the answer is no, and that's final." I declared firmly.
"But why, Bella?" Alice tried.
"I have my reasons. I don't want to, that's all."
"Are you sure?" Rose asked again, threateningly.
"Absolutely."
"Very well. In that case…"
I turned around towards her and motioned for her to continue.
"In that case, it is Rosalie Hale he will have the honor of being introduced to."
The daggers I shot at her served no purpose. Rose's decision was made, and she seemed determined…
"These heels are way too high!" I complained as we walked towards the huge gymnasium where the event was taking place.
"Nonsense, Bella. You look perfect." Alice assured me.
I glanced at my own reflection in a mirror near the entrance. Ok fine, the little black off-shoulder dress that my two hysteric friends had pushed me to buy was quite stunning, and the high-heeled pumps were a perfect match even though they made me wince at every step. I also had to admit Rosalie had done an amazing job with my hair and that Alice's light makeup suited me rather well. Still, I paled into insignificance next to my two friends. In one word? They looked mag-ni-fi-cent. I couldn't help but think that if they went through with their plan, Alice would have no trouble seducing Jasper (who I had managed to talk into coming), and Rose would have every chance with… Ugh!
I immediately shut the thought away from my mind. I didn't want to, or rather, it was unbearable for me to think about that.
Just because you're a fool doesn't mean Rose has to be.
Psssshht.
As we entered the gymnasium, I couldn't believe it. The place was simply splendid, and hundreds of students were already making full use of the dancefloor that a 70s mirror ball was illuminating.
I found myself searching for Edward. But after a quick look around the room, I concluded he wasn't here. I couldn't help but be disappointed.
Bella, please stop. You're pathetic.
We crossed the room, heading for the bar. As expected, Rosalie was attracting every gaze. Although she was a freshman, she looked more like a woman than all the schoolgirls present at this party. With her red dress slit up to her thigh, her plunging neckline, her sky-high heels, and her golden hair falling down to her back, several girls had to pick their boyfriend's jaw off the floor.
The bar was crowded. Everyone seemed determined to enjoy the festivities to the fullest with lots of beer. To our big surprise, one of the waiters was none other than Jacob who we'd met earlier in the day.
When he noticed us, he waived at us and flashed me a smile that made me blush like never before.
Bella, if you keep blushing so intensely every time someone looks at you, you will look like a profound moron.
Discreetly, Jacob motioned for us to come behind the bar and slid us three Tequilas before returning to the counter.
"How generous!" Alice appreciated.
"That's because he has a crush on Bella!" Rosalie replied nonchalantly.
"Rose!" I chided, outraged. "Besides, you know full well I don't drink."
"Oh no… Please, not the return of Prude Bella." Rosalie said, rolling her eyes.
"Prude Bella?" Alice asked, bringing her glass to her lips to take a sip of her drink.
"That's been my nickname for Bella since we were 16. See, that's typically the age you start acting out. It's the rebellious age -at least for normal people… You smoke, you get drunk, you slide your tongue in someone's mouth… even though personally, I started that much earlier! And if need be, you sneak out of your house.
Alice nodded, a grin on her lips. She was most likely recalling a fond memory.
"Well, Prude Bella here never did any of those things. An actual nun… hence her nickname." Rose finished.
Grrr!
Apparently, she had decided to get on my nerves tonight: first, Edward, now, this ridiculous nickname. Was she trying to push me to my limit or something?
Not willing to give her the pleasure of making fun of me any further, I drank down the Tequila offered by Jacob in one gulp before my friends' astounded eyes. Rose's lips curved into a smile and she had a second drink brought up to me, which I also gulped down. It really wasn't that bad. Truth be told, it was actually quite good.
Clearly enchanted by the fact I was finally letting loose, Rose and Alice ordered a tray full of shots of Tequila which we took one after another.
At the third shot, I felt the buzz starting to kick in.
The fourth had us giggling uncontrollably for a reason that was unknown to me.
By the fifth, we were taken by an irrepressible desire to dance. Alice, who was in Olympic form, led us to the dancefloor where we went wild and amazingly enough, big first, I didn't trip once.
After half an hour of frenzied dance during which Rosalie drove half the guys in attendance crazy with lust, we went back to the bar where I was glad to find Jasper who oddly enough was all dressed up. Did Alice have something to do with this? He frowned as soon as he noticed me. Not a good sign.
"Bella, you told me to wait for you at the entrance at 9 pm. I stood around alone for 40 minutes!"
"I'm sorry, Jasper, but…"
"No, I'm the one who's sorry, Jasper." Alice cut in, a contrite smile on her lips. "I really wanted to dance, so I dragged the girls with me, and we lost track of time. Will you please forgive me?" She added with an irresistible pout.
"Oh well, it's -it's ok. Don't… No worries!" My brother stuttered, dismissing her apology.
Alice smiled broadly at him in appreciation.
"Thank you."
In any case, as soon as they were properly introduced by Rose and me, they didn't not leave each other's side all night. I had the feeling Alice was going to become much more than just my roommate… They were gawking at one another like two fools, silly smiles stuck to their faces.
"Well, introducing them was certainly a good idea!" Rosalie commented, proud of herself.
"Obviously! Look at their silly grins! It was the best idea!"
Alice and Jasper didn't even seem to notice we were talking about them. I continued…
"If they keep this up, I'm going to have to find a place to crash tonight…"
"Unless you want to hear them scream all night long…"
"Oh God no! Rose, since your roommate still hasn't arrived, would you please let me crash with you?!" I asked loudly.
Still no reaction. The room could have burst into flames that those two wouldn't have noticed. They were quite literally eye-fucking.
"I can't promise you anything, Bella. Who knows? Perhaps, I'll find a companion for the night too."
"What about your bathtub? Can I have it?"
"Ohhh, I don't know… If I bring someone home, we may just do it in every room if you know what I mean…"
"Yeah, kind of like Mike and I did it in every room in Charlie's house…" I replied casually.
Even that huge lie had absolutely no effect on my brother's behavior, he who was usually so protective…
"Rose, do you think they're having a mental conversation or something?"
"If they are, it seems to be a fascinating conversation!"
We burst out laughing and ordered another round of Tequila shots. By the time, we paid for our drinks and turned back around, they has disappeared. After a few minted, we spotted them enjoying a slow dance in the middle of the dance floor. Damn!
"Love really does make one pathetic!" Rose remarked, not sounding too convinced.
"I know, look at them… They look… Ugh, they're just pathetic." I added.
We quickly glanced at each other and spoke at the same time.
"I wish it were me!" I said.
"I want to find the one!" Rose sighed.
We laughed before clinking our glasses and gulping down our drinks yet again.
"I'm glad to see Prude Bella has found the exit."
"I promise she has officially left the building." I declared solemnly.
"Glad to hear that!" she went to order two more shots.
If I kept this up, I was going to drown my lungs in alcohol and fry my brain before glasses even began. But I had to admit intoxication was rather nice. I felt good. Light. A little sad that Edward wasn't here but glad to spend the evening with Rose and Alice, even though the latter seemed to prefer my brother's company to ours.
"Ok, that's it. We need to find cute guys. We are not spending the evening by ourselves." Rose stated firmly, assessing the crowd.
Rosalie Hale was a woman on the hunt. Everyone beware.
After a few minutes, a smirk lit up her face.
"I think I've got a target…"
"Who?"
"That guy!" She answered, pointing towards the object of her desire.
Once I saw who she was referring to, the fire that started in my stomach had me thinking I was about to throw up all the Tequila I'd ingurgitated so far.
It was him.
He was here. Just a few feet from us. Just across the room.
Edward.
So what are your thoughts on the chapter? Our lovely girlfriends? Alice/Jasper? Jacob's crush on Bella?
Any predictions for next chapter? Will drunk Bella make a fool of herself in front of Edward?
Stay tuned in to find out.