Chapter 13 - Predicting the Future

BELLA

Thank heavens my grandmother had taught my mom, and thus me, how to sew, leaving us her old dressmaker sewing machine that was still a workhorse. It was the only reason most of our clothes didn't look like Swiss cheese. I pulled it out, along with her well-stocked sewing basket, and got to work.

I spent the rest of the evening working on my dress. Yes, the dress was perfect; however, it was still a wedding dress with a train, but thankfully not a very long one. I carefully took off the bottom row of gems and released the material from its gathers before cutting off the train, and then I re-hemmed the bottom at floor length. Of course, this left me with a large piece of material, and so I decided to make myself a wrap. To be honest, I was a little nervous about wearing a strapless dress, and I couldn't see wearing one of my flannel shirts over it. The extra material was kind of perfect, especially since it was already in the shape needed to make the wrap. I trimmed a little of the edges off, so it wouldn't be so big, but it looked nice once I finished. I laid back and looked at the extra gems just sitting there next to the scraps and decided to make a choker. I didn't have any jewelry, so this would be perfect, and it would match flawlessly.

I realized the next morning that I had let the excitement of the dress get away from me. I was being stupid, spending so much time on a gown that would most likely be ruined. I shook my head in shame. I had to find a way to make sure Edward didn't get in trouble for whatever prank it was they were going to pull. I just wished I knew what they were planning, so then I would know what to watch for. I had a feeling my dad was going to be really upset when he saw whatever they did to the dress he had bought for me.

I was eating breakfast, when my dad came in and kissed the top of my head. "How are you this morning, button?"

"Good," I said hiding my grimace.

I heard some rustling and realized he was making a lunch to take with him to the hospital. I knew then where the money had come from. He had given up his lunch money, so I could have a dress. It was really starting to piss me off that Tyler was going to ruin it.

I was still pissed when Alice found me at school. She approached carefully. "Bella, I was just wondering what color your dress is."

"Red."

"Brick red, rose red, blood red, barn red…?" she rattled off proving her point.

"I don't know, burgundy wine, kind of a purple-red?"

She let out a frustrated harrumph and finally insisted she come to my house after school to see it. I agreed, because I didn't think she would not come over, no matter what I said, anyway. I dragged myself into biology, intent on getting out of it, when I saw the microscopes out on the tables. It was a lab, and I was stuck with Edward.

I moved to my seat and set everything up for the lab, making everything neat and organized, in hopes of making it quick and painless. I realized after I had finished that I should have left the table a mess, so I could have pretended to be busy and not speak to him. He slid into the seat next to me. I was doing my best to focus on the worksheet, when he leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Alice tells me you have a dress."

I nearly fell off my seat. He did a horrible job of hiding his smirk. I threw my pencil at him, but he caught it and let out a chuckle. He reached out his hand to me and pulled me straight on my seat, so I was no longer in danger of falling.

"So, I'll be coming over to your place after school. Alice wants to see what color the dress is, so I get the right flowers to go with it."

"You don't need to get me anything. It's just a waste of money," I said feeling annoyed that Tyler would be ruining my flowers as well. The first ones I would ever receive from a boy. Stupid jerk. It was making me more irritable, and I think I was taking it out on Edward.

I worked quickly, finishing up the lab, so I could escape to the library. Thankfully, Dr. Banner was always okay with me slipping out, so I could study more on animals on my own. He knew I planned on being a vet someday, and he encouraged my interest in the area. Thank heavens for good grades.

EDWARD

Something was up with Bella. She seemed irritated by me, and I wasn't sure why. I thought maybe she was having a bad day and just needed space, thinking she was worried about her mom. I didn't get it. Most girls liked to talk to me and hang around me. I was always pushing Tyler's blonde bimbo away from me. She had a whole herd of skanks who would accost me anytime I came into sight. I did my best to hide from them. I found it ironic that the one girl I wasn't hiding from seemed to be trying to hide from me.

I was pleasantly surprised when Alice found me after school, and she was very excited, because apparently Bella was expecting us. I was pretty sure my pushy little sister hadn't given her much choice in the matter, but who was I to complain. I was happy to be going. I was hoping to get some answers as to why Bella was giving me the cold shoulder.

I looked across the parking lot and saw Bella heading home on foot. I jumped in the car and told Alice to hop in fast, so we could pick up Bella on the way home. I came to a screeching halt next to her and realized I might have been a bit too eager, when she startled and fell over into a drainage ditch. I jumped out of the car apologizing.

"Oh, my god, Bella, I'm so sorry. I was just going to offer you a ride. Alice said you were expecting us, and so I thought it silly that we drive over to your place and wait for you to walk home alone."

"Ah, damn it," she cursed, and I was a little surprised. I had helped her up, but I realized she had yet to put her foot down.

"Bella, are you okay?"

"No, I think I sprained my ankle," she said and let out a huff. I scooped her up into my arms and quickly set her in the front passenger seat that Alice had graciously left open for her.

"Well, I guess you can't turn the ride down now," I said a little too pleased with myself. She grimaced and then looked away from me, not engaging in mine and Alice's attempts at conversation.

When we pulled up to her house, I quickly ran around and grabbed her door, and then opened Alice's door as well. Our dad always said we needed to treat Alice like a lady, so she would never settle for being treated like anything less. He gave me this lecture after I had shoved her out of the way, so I could steal the swing. Apparently, "ladies first" wasn't just a lame saying. It was law in the Cullen household, and so was getting the door and chair, and helping a lady with her coat. I got why my dad had made it a priority, but it sucked growing up and dealing with my spoiled little sister. Of course, I still did it now to honor my dad's wishes. No one would ever treat little Alice like less than a lady.

Bella was hobbling up the stairs, and I came up to help her, before she fell off her front porch. The girl must have had a death wish or something. She let out a sigh, as she unlocked the door, but then suddenly turned to me and smiled. "My ankle's sprained. You can't take me to the dance, because my ankle's sprained!" she said a little too excitedly.

"We'll just see about that. Let's get you inside and off of it before we make any snap decisions," I said a little hurt that she was so quick to want to get out of the date with me. I mean I was a fairly nice looking guy. I had always been nice to her.

"Where's the dress? In your room? Edward, carry her to her room. There's no way she's getting up the stairs on that foot," Alice ordered, and I was kind of glad my sister was there. Bella tried to protest, but I wouldn't have it. I was surprised at how light and thin but solid she was. It certainly wasn't evident under her oversized clothing. I pulled her body tight against mine, and she blushed and hid her face in my shoulder. I could have sworn she sniffed me, but I couldn't be sure. I was thankful I had remembered my deodorant this morning.

When Alice opened the door, there was red everywhere. I realized after a moment that it was her dress, and pieces of it.

"You cut it up?" I asked.

She huffed and crossed her arms. "Put me down already," she grumped. Alice started looking through the mess and picked up the dress, laying it out on the bed next to Bella.

"Wow, that's pretty," I said. I didn't know what she had cut off of it, but it looked great the way it was now. I noticed a pair of strappy high-heeled sandals sitting on her bed that my imagination was having a field day with, envisioning them on Bella, making her long, toned legs look even more amazing in my mind.

"You made a matching wrap with this extra material!" Alice squealed, and I flinched. I was surprised dogs didn't start barking.

"I made a choker, too. Look," Bella said pointing to the top of her little dresser. I realized she didn't have a closet. The only door in this room was to go out.

"Oh, Bella, it's beautiful. What are you going to do with the extra gems? I could use them to make matching earrings for you, and maybe a hair clip or something. Oh, you have to let me take them and do it!"

"I don't see the point now, Alice; my ankle is sprained. There's no way I can dance on this," she motioned to her foot.

"Edward, get her some ice, now! Find her some ibuprofen, that'll stop the swelling. Don't worry, Bella. We'll get your foot better, even if Edward has to carry you to all your classes." Bella groaned and flopped back on the bed. I chuckled, that was until I realized that Alice might not have been joking…