Author's Note: Yet another snowday!!! =] (I guess sometimes crappy weather comes in handy… go North East!!) Anyway… I hope you enjoy the early chapter… and due to a few requests… I am putting together a playlist for the story. I have a few general story songs finalized, and they are listed below. Thank you so much for the reviews… I love love LOVE you all and please review the chapter! Thank you and enjoy!
Love,
Mel
Songs of Forks (General):
Ava's Song: Love, Save the Empty by Erin McCarley
Ronan's Song: Time Won't Let Me Go by The Bravery
Ronan&Avs: Careful Where You Stand by Coldplay
-- That's only the general playlist… I'm thinking of doing a chapter by chapter… I'm not sure yet. =] You can find these songs virtually anywhere. Enjoy and Review! =]
16. Shopping Spree
"Okay, so I'm thinking a light blue. Not a real flashy blue, we can't have it drown out her eyes. And dark skinny jeans." Alice said to no one in particular as she squinted at my figure as I stood on the small platform in front of the collection of lit up mirrors. Bella was sitting with perfect posture on the red, suede chair, smiling. Renesmee was browsing in the ridiculously expensive store we were currently in, holding things up to her flawless body and scrunching her nose at every price tag.
Ronan had fled to the coffee shop at the corner the split second after we parked in front of the brand-name store that, even with brand-hogging family members, I wasn't even aware existed, and told me to meet him there after I was done shopping. At this point, with Alice circling me like she would to stalk prey, it seemed as though we could be in the store all night. When Alice returned in front of me, she nodded and smiled.
"Stay." She demanded, pointing towards the ground like she would to command a dog. "I'm going to look for a few things for you. I think I have an idea of what your winter wardrobe is going to look like." She sang, dancing out of the fitting area.
Bella looked over at me then and patted her hand on the seat next to her. "She's going to be a while by the looks of it. You might want to sit."
I nodded and happily leaped off the platform to the seat next to Bella. She smiled at me warmly.
I smiled back, and then turned my head to glance towards Alice, who was vigorously searching the racks. "It's like she's on some like or death task." I chuckled.
Bella laughed along with me and nodded. "That's Alice. Shopping is her CIA mission."
I smiled, and Bella said, "She is ecstatic you actually like to shop. I would give her havoc if she was playing dress up with me right now."
I smiled and looked down. "I'm actually kind of flattered. My mom does with my sisters constantly. I'm always left to fend for myself in these overly-expensive stores."
Bella shook her head. "You'll never have to worry about that anymore. If you want to shop, Alice will probably foresee it, and she'll have the Carmella or Porsche running in your driveway, ready to go."
Bella took a deep breath then, and looked down. "Considering how precisely Alice is examining that skirt over there, I think I have all the time in the world to explain my rash toward you behavior last week."
I shook my head. "Bella, there's no need. Ronan explained everything that's happened to you and your family over the past years… I don't blame you for hating me. I basically just act as a danger magnet to your family."
Bella's eyes were sad then, but there was a small smirk on her face. "You have no idea how much you remind me of myself as a human. I'm finally remembering who I was before… before my life just turned upside down in an instant."
She shook her head. "I never meant to cause any trouble. But that's exactly what I did. I lost my head when I found out Ronan was born. I just… I snapped… and I'm still trying to figure out why.
"My mother… she was just crushed that I wasn't visiting, calling, or keeping in touch with her in any form of contact. So, that night when I was watching her sleep… Ronan was out with Rée, Phil was playing a game somewhere out of town, and Renee was all alone."
Bella looked at me then. "She cried herself to sleep over me. I realized why when I figured out it was my birthday. So, when she woke up crying after sleep talking my name frantically, I didn't have it in me to leave; I became selfish. And it meant her life… and my brother's.
"I just defied my family and waltzed right into his life and ripped it apart; even Edward… I know he loves me and always will, but sometimes he'd just be absolutely wide-eyed at my actions during that time. Giving birth at eighteen to an unexpected child to be nearly massacred by the Volturi by being accused of breaking one of their precious rules, almost killing one of my high school friends, changing two, perfectly well children into beasts, then watching their worlds fall apart… after that, Ava, I couldn't handle anymore corruption in our lives. I completely repelled it in anyway that I could, and along with that, completely forgot who I was."
She smiled, reminiscing. "The once vulnerable, clumsy human that was hopelessly in love with a vampire. That's who I was. And that's who you're helping me remember, Ava. And before I thought you were going to be the death of us, but now, I couldn't thank you enough. And on top of it, you're putting Ronan back together again. I thought I'd be looking into his empty eyes for eternity until he found you; and that is something I will forever be in your debt for." She looked up at me.
I was speechless. I put my hand on her cold one. "I completely understand, Bella. And you have already paid your debts to me by being such a good sister to Ronan. I wish I had a sister like you."
"That could be arranged." She said, smiling to show off her gleaming, sharp teeth. I automatically swallowed hard.
"Kidding!" She laughed her musical laugh loudly. "Ronan, Edward and Carlisle would personally rip me to shreds, but you would be an awesome sister."
We beamed at each other as Alice came back, her arms full of expensive clothes. She tossed them onto the chair next to Bella and I and let out a huff of accomplishment.
She nodded and rubbed her small hands together. "Okay, let's get started!" She handed me the pile pants first, and I put them on and modeled each pair for her, then she'd nod for approval or shake her head and throw them to the side when I handed them back to her. By the end, she had dark grey dress pants, black dress pants, and four pairs of jeans ranging in shades.
"So are we going to narrow it down from here?" I asked.
Alice shook her head. "Of course not! These are all coming home with us."
"What? You can't possibly buy…" I started.
Alice smiled. "Watch me." She said, waving her red credit card in front of my face, and handed me the even larger pile of dresses next.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head as I took the pile and made my way to the changing room, and Alice chuckled.
The first dress I tried on was black, and my eyes widened at my reflection once I zipped it up. I was always a little self-conscious about the curviness of my short frame, and rarely brought low-cut shirts. When I would try on dresses with my friends for date dances at the private schools I attended, they'd always get wide-eyed and scrunch their noses. I began just taking the message, and completely stopped trying curve-hugging dresses. This dress was exactly against my religion.
"Umm… Alice this one doesn't fit…" I shouted as I began unzipping the dress.
"Come on out and let me see it. Maybe you zipped it up wrong." She told me, coming closer to the door.
"No… it's alright Alice, this one's hopeless." I said, hoping she would give it up.
"I insist." She ordered me, her voice demanding.
I sighed, defeated, and zipped the dress up again. I stepped out onto the platform. Renesmee was sitting by Bella at that point, and their eyes got wide.
"Wow, Ava, that dress is stunning on you." Renesmee told me.
"Agreed." Bella said, nodding.
Alice shook her head. "This dress looks perfect on you, Ava! This one is a definite yes."
"What?" I asked. "No… no, don't think so. I mean don't I look… give you the intention I'm a…"
"A what?" Alice asked, incredulous.
I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest. "A slut?" I whispered.
Alice clucked her tongue and shook her head. "Ava, Ava, Ava. Where could you ever get that from? You look more along the lines of an elegant young lady in this dress. Like I always say, if you got it, flaunt it."
I shook my head. "Really? My friends always gave me the intention I looked like that when ever I tried on dresses with them."
Renesmee shook her head. "Jealous of how gorgeous you looked is more like it. And probably afraid you were going to steal their dates the second they laid eyes on you." Renesmee laughed and Bella and Alice joined, and I looked down.
"Thanks." I giggled. I hadn't had this much fun with girlfriends in a long time. Maybe it was because these tightly-bounded sisters really liked me for who I was, and not because I had money or talent. It felt nice.
Alice waved her hand at me to try on more dresses. "Get back in there and grace us with more of my beautiful selections. And your beauty, of course." She added.
I smiled, and pranced happily off the platform to try on more of Alice's extravagant dress selections.
***
"Alice, I think I'm seriously going to have a meltdown if you don't let me pay for this." I told her, my credit card burning a hole in my left pocket.
We were waiting in line in the third and final pricy store, and every time I heard the outrageous total of the clothes Alice bought for me, I wanted to freak out. I couldn't take the generosity. I needed to pay for something.
"Look, Ava, for the umpteenth time, this shopping spree is on me. You're the first person I've ever taken shopping that actually enjoys it as much as I do."
"And this will be that last shopping spree I go on if you don't let me pay for this." I told her.
She smiled viciously. "Oh come on. You won't be able to resist staying away from a store for that long."
"Humph." I huffed, defeated. She was exactly right.
"Please, Alice. I'm begging you." I pleaded from behind her in line. She didn't respond, or move a muscle for the matter.
"Alice…?" I asked, tapping her on the shoulder, but she stayed put. Before I could maneuver my way around her in the crowded line, she turned around to look at me then, smiling, like she knew some huge secret I didn't.
"Bella?" She called quietly to her and Renesmee, who were looking at a rack on the far side of the room. They both looked up simultaneously. My eyes widened at the fact that they could actually hear that well. I'd have to add hearing ability of vampires to my long list of questions.
After she dropped what she was looking at and made her way over to us, Alice gave her the pile of clothes and said, "Bella, make sure Ava doesn't pay for a cent of this. I need to run to another store quick." And with that, she was out the door in a flash.
Bella's flawless face creased in confusion. "What was that about?" She asked.
"I was just about to ask you the same thing." I told her. "Please let me pay for something, Bella."
She shook her head. "I can't do that, Ava. She'll know."
"Oh come on, really. How is she going to know?" I asked, doing my best to persuade her.
"Okay, first of all, she's psychic. And second, Jasper won't have any need to be in the room to calm Carlisle while he pays the bills."
I groaned. "For the sake of my well being?"
Bella chuckled. "Okay, one thing. And only because I know exactly how you feel right now."
"Oh, thank you, Bella!" I said, ripping my credit card out of my pocket as we got to the cashier. She smiled and shook her head as I snatched the most expensive item out of her arms and held onto it for dear life as we paid at the counter.
When we got another set of bags, Renesmee approached us and grabbed a few bags. She had her pod phone unfolded and off her ear, looking at a text message on the full touch screen phone. "Jake just texted me. He said he and the guys are with Ronan at that coffee shop and to meet them there."
"You mean Rosalie stayed home?" Bella asked, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Renesmee shook her head and rolled her eyes. "I guess so. I wish she would just stop being so stubborn and come here instead of just sulking at home."
Bella looked down. "I'll just talk to her when we get home. But Emmett came?"
"Yes, of course. He's been dying to meet Ronan's girl." She smiled at me.
I smiled back, eager to get to the coffee shop to see the family. "Should we wait for Alice?" I asked as we left the store and entered the humid, chilled air.
Bella shook her head. "No, she'll find us."
I was having trouble keeping up with their model-like strut down the sidewalk with my short legs, and the little black dress Alice got me in the first store and black, strappy three-inch heels she bought me and insisted I wore were not contributing to the cause.
Suddenly, my ankle twisted and I tripped forward, but two strong hands gripped my arms before I could break my wrist catching myself. "Thanks." I chuckled at my clumsiness. "Dancing I can do quite well, but when it comes to heels higher than character shoes… there's no telling of what can happen to me."
"Believe me. You should hear the stories my dad has of my mom here as a human. She tripped over air even in sneakers." Renesmee laughed, and Bella and I joined her.
Bella shrugged. "It's true."
I shook my head watching them walking in front of me, still trying wrap my head around the fact that they were mother and daughter, and Edward was the father, even though they all appeared the same age.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when then turned and opened the door to a small, deserted coffee shop. The familiar smell of roasted coffee beans enveloped me immediately when I stepped in. The coffee shop was darkly lit by small, dimmed chandeliers, and small, dark-wooden tables with matching chairs were haphazardly spread around the sitting room, and small couches surrounded the exterior. Soft jazz music was playing quietly in the background, making it was the coziest coffee shop I had ever stepped foot into. I spotted Ronan at the center table, surrounded by other familiar guys and he smiled at me as Bella, Renesmee and I made our way over.
Bella and Renesmee swiftly pulled chairs over next to their husbands as I stood stupidly next to Ronan, looking for an extra chair. He took my hand and pulled be onto his lap, and I giggled. "You look absolutely beautiful in that dress." He whispered in my ear.
I smiled, feeling the secure feeling again in Ronan's lap as his siblings looked us on.
"Well, well, well." I heard the booming voice come from the built guy sitting across from us next to Jasper. "If it isn't my Little Bronan's girl."
I smiled. "That's me." I said, raising my hand weakly.
He reached his hand out to me. "Emmett. It's great to finally meet you, Little Avs. Ronan hasn't been able to shut up about you since he stalked you in Honolulu."
I took his hand and shook, smiling at Ronan. "Well that's flattering. Creepy, but flattering." I told him.
Emmett laughed loudly. "I knew I was gonna like this girl. Now we just need to get my stubborn wife out here to meet you. She would love your flippant remarks Ronan tells me about. You two are alike that way. You should hear her and Jake over there bicker. It's pretty entertaining."
Jacob nodded as he played with Renesmee's hair absently. "Yeah. I'm running out of decent blonde jokes, though."
I smirked at this. I had an entire concoction of them prepared after the Jen and Joseph incident to throw at her and her mess of processed bleached-blonde hair if I ever needed to. "I can give you a few pointers." I told him, and he smiled nodding his head.
"I'll take you up on that sometime." He told me.
Suddenly, I heard the bell on the coffee shop door ring, and Alice bounded in. She made her way over to us with a small bag in her hand, and gracefully sat on Jasper's lap. "Hey, Jazzy." She said, pecking him on the cheek. She looked up at Ronan and I then. "You're reservation at Giorgo's is at seven. You might want to start heading over there."
Ronan looked at me. "You hungry, Avs?"
I heard my stomach rumble impatiently. "A little, I guess. Is everyone else coming?"
Alice spoke then. "No, we're going else where to… eat." She smiled, and I understood.
"Oh." I nodded. "Got it."
"Now go on." Alice said, flicking her wrist. "Get going. I didn't make reservations for nothing. I had a lot of fun with you today, Ava."
I smiled. "That had to be the most epic shopping spree I've ever been on, Alice. Thank you for coming with us, Bella and Renesmee."
Bella shook her head and chuckled. "That was actually the first time I had fun on a shopping spree."
"Same here." Renesmee chimed in.
I got off of Ronan's lap then, and he kept holding my hand as he stood up. The rest of the Cullens remained sitting. "It was nice meeting you, Little Avs. Do you mind if I call you that?" Emmett asked.
I shook my head and smirked. "Aw, what the hell. It seems like it's caught on anyway."
He let out a loud laugh again. "This girl's great! Much more fun than Bella over here." He said, nudging her hard with his elbow.
She slapped his arm hard. "Thanks, Emmett." She told him, smiling.
I laughed again as Ronan and I left the coffee shop. He was already several paces ahead of me the second we stepped onto the sidewalk, but when I tried to speed up, I tripped over my own feet, and he steadied me with a laugh. "Now I just have to get you over there without a fatality."
I rolled my eyes as he inevitably swept me off my feet and carried me swiftly down the street.
