Chapter 42
Alice stepped out of the kitchen with a glass of water, noticing immediately that Bella was trying to get out of her sleeping bag, before glancing around the room. Some of the girls were still asleep, but most were up and moving around.
Lauren and Jessica were speaking quietly in the far corner, leaning into each other as they did so. In all honesty, with the way the two acted, Alice wasn't sure why they didn't get together. Instead, June was still asleep in her bag, completely unaware of the way Lauren was leaning toward Jessica.
Alice lifted her lip in a silent sneer.
After a moment, she glanced at Bella again. It took her a moment to realize why her eyes tracked back to her friend, but as Bella was still struggling with getting free, it clicked. She dropped the glass she was holding and ran over to Bella, dropping to her knees and unzipping the sleeping bag.
Alice completely ignored Lauren's screech – most likely directed at her – and the exclamations of a couple of the others.
"Bella, you're alright," she said urgently.
"I... can't... breath," her friend gasped out between breath.
"You are breathing, though."
"I... can't."
"You're hyperventilating –" she was pretty sure that was the damn word "– you need to calm down."
Bella's breathing sped even more as she shook her head.
Just then, Rosalie knelt on the other side of the sleeping bag, and slapped Bella.