[Disclaimer] Stephenie Meyer owns everything Twilight. I just like to mess around with her characters and turn them into lesbians.

[A/N] Today's update is dedicated to my reader BellaAlice4E

3

The creek house had stood empty for a long time. It was too far out of town for most people's liking. I wondered why a single woman would have picked a place like that as her new home. Maybe she was a loner and didn't care for company. A friendly, neighborly welcome would be appreciated though, I hoped. I flattened the hem of my dress and smiled. Then, I reached out my hand to knock on the porch door.

"Hello?" The lady who opened the door a minute later greeted me. She was young, much younger than I had expected her to be. She was about a head taller than me. Her hair was thick and of a reddish-brown color. It was longer than the current fashion requested but beautiful and silky shimmering. Her complexion was freckle-less and since she was dressed completely in black, it made her skin appear almost translucent. I had never seen a more graceful person in all of my life. "Hello, Miss?" she repeated her greeting again. "Did you lose your way?"

I stared at her. It was ill-mannered to stare, but I just couldn't help it. Her face was fascinating to me. The curve of her eyebrows were perfect. The thick lashes on her eyelids emphasized the color of her iris. Were they brown? No, the color was much lighter. Her mouth was red. So red, that I wondered if she had put lipstick on. I didn't know of any fine lady who dared to wear make-up. Mother insisted it was only for common women and movie starlets.

My father didn't seem to mind common women's company. I have seen Julianna trying to wash out reddish stains from the collar of his shirt way too often. Sometimes, when I closed my eyes I could see him with a young woman and a little boy by his side. I didn't know what to make out of that vision.

"Miss, can you hear me? Are you alright?"

I curtsied awkwardly and reached out my hand. "Excuse my manners. My name is Mary Alice Brandon. My family owns the jewelry store downtown."

"Oh, then we are neighbors." She said, taking my hand. Her fingers felt cold even through my gloves. "I am Isabella Cullen. I moved here from Chicago."

"It's my pleasure to make your acquaintance." I rubbed my hands together and reached for the top button of my dress. I unbuttoned it and closed it again for about three times. I wanted her to like me, and I had never before wanted anybody to like me. "It's going to rain soon."

He mouth curled into a smile. There was a weird, fluttery sensation in the pit of my stomach. I smiled back at her. She was so very beautiful.

"Would you like to wait here with me until the storm is over?" she asked. I nodded eagerly. Far away it thundered again. This time, lightning flashed through the darkened sky.

"Thank you, Mrs. Cullen." I told her, taking my hat off. It had gotten a bit dirty from falling down earlier. I tried to wipe off the dust. "That is very friendly of you."

She guided me into the house. When I walked past her, the sweetest, most heavenly wave of perfume entered my nose. Only that it smelled better than any bottled scent could ever be like. It took all my self-control not to press my face against the fabric of her dress. How could anyone smell this good? I inhaled a bit deeper. The scent was intoxicating.

"Please take a seat." Mrs. Cullen pointed to the couch. "May I ask a favor? Please call me Isabella, not Mrs. Cullen." She sat down next to me. "And may I call you Mary Alice, Miss Brandon?"

My mouth felt too dry to speak. Why was I feeling so nervous around her? I coughed and slapped my chest a bit before I stuttered. "Alice. Just Alice, please."

She smiled again. Her teeth were very white against her red lips. "Just Alice it is then." I held my breath when she took my hand and lifted it to her lips. I have seen men kiss the back of mother's hand. I had never experienced it myself though. Much less, I had never seen a woman attend to another woman in such a gesture. Isabella's smile widened. Her nostrils flattered as she held my wrist under her nose and tugged down my glove. "You smell like a meadow in spring, Alice." She sighed and turned her head to the side. When she looked up again at me, her eyes looked different. It had to be the bad light in here.

"My maid told me you are a widow." I cleared my throat. "I am sorry for your loss."

"Thank you. That is very considerate of you. It was a long time ago though. I am sure my late husband has his peace now." She smiled at me. "What about you, Alice?" she asked, shifting a bit closer to me on the small couch. "Has a young man caught your attention yet?"

I blushed. It was embarrassing to speak of such matters. I have spent more times in hospitals and sanitarium than attending social occasions. Father was strict about to whom I could talk or with whom I was allowed to dance at parties. I had no desire to spend more time than politeness requested with a young man. "There is nobody," I told her. "I am alone."

Again, she smiled. This time the tip of her tongue swiped gently over the right corner of her mouth. "So, it looks like we are both alone, doesn't it?" She reached for my hand again and the cold of her fingers didn't bother me in the slightest.