A/N: Due to a weird work schedule, I have a hard time updating on a regular basis. However, I am going to try and update at least once a week. Of course, reviews always help the process along. Hint Hint Also, I know this chapter is a little shorter than the others, but I wanted to get something out there. So to make up for it, the next chapter will be longer. Promise!

Love Story

Chapter Two

To say that the sound of the voice had startled me would have been an understatement. For a brief moment, I felt as though my heart as stopped. I turned on my heel, my hand flying up to my chest as a gasp caught in my throat.

She was standing there, her head cocked slightly to the side, a pretty smile on her face. She was easily the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She had cropped, inky black hair that was styled in a way to look as though she'd just rolled out of bed, however I knew that a lot of effort had gone into making it look that mussed. She had beautiful, clear, pale skin, paler than I had ever seen. However, it was her eyes that were the most remarkable. They were a dark honey color, standing out brilliantly against her white skin. The only flaw I could find with her face was the dark purplish color bruises under her eyes, however they did nothing to detract from her beauty. Simply put, she was stunning.

A musical laugh escaped from her perfect lips as she crossed the room, closing the gap between us. "You're Chief Swan's daughter, aren't you?"

For a moment, I didn't think I could find my voice to speak. I stared at her dumbly, fumbling for the words before I found them. "H-how do you know that?"

Another laugh. "Your father is very proud of you, you know. Your graduation announcement was in the paper a few weeks ago. I recognized you from your picture. Isabella, right?"

"Bella," I corrected automatically.

She didn't speak for a moment, her eyes scanning my body from head to toe. I shivered involuntarily at the feeling that I was being sized up. I was relieved when she gave a brief nod, and the smile returned to her face. "I'm Alice Cullen. It's nice to finally meet you."

"What did you mean earlier? When you said you'd been waiting for me?"

"Alice, are you trying to scare the poor girl?" I jumped again at the sound of the new voice. I turned, and was met by another woman. She was older, that much I was sure, but her beauty rivaled that of the dark haired girl called Alice. They had the same pale skin, same honey colored eyes. However, there was something softer about this one.

"I was only teasing with her a little," Alice responded, though there was no sign of remorse in her voice. I caught the look shared between the two.

"You'll have to forgive Alice, dear," said the other woman, smiling kindly at me. It was difficult to feel uncomfortable in her presence and I immediately felt the tension leaving my body as I attempted a smile in return. "Your father mentioned your arrival to my husband. We wondered when we would have the privilege of meeting you. That's all Alice meant by her earlier comment," she clarified. Another glance in Alice's direction. "Now, is there anything I can help you with darling?"

"Yes ma'am…" I hesitated slightly. "My truck broke down, a few miles down the road. I was hoping you had a phone I could use?"

"Absolutely," she said, giving me another smile before she turned her attention to Alice. "Darling, would you show Bella to the phone?"

"Sure. Come on Bella," Alice said, before she pranced off towards the back room, leaving me to follow.

xoxoxoxox

After getting in touch with Charlie, Alice led me back out to the main room of the gallery. I was pleasantly surprised that I hadn't gotten yelled at, but at the same time, I was fairly sure that I was going to get a stern talking to when Charlie arrived. After we were alone, of course.

"Would it be okay if I took a look at the paintings while I waited?" I asked Alice.

"Sure," she said, giving me a casual shrug as she made her way behind the front counter. I could feel her eyes on me as I made my way over to the closest wall. I paused at the third picture in the row. While the other paintings were bright and vibrant, this one was dark in contrast and sad somehow, though to me, it was more beautiful than anything I'd ever seen.

It was a young man, perhaps not much older than I am, sitting at a piano, his fingers poised over the keys. His eyes were closed, his head thrown back just slightly in concentration, his mouth turned down in a frown. I couldn't tear my eyes away from it. It was beautiful.

"That's Edward." I jumped at the sound of Alice's voice. She had come to stand beside me, though until she spoke, I had no idea she'd even been there. "My brother."

"This picture is… there are no words."

She gave me a soft smile. "It's Esme's favorite too. She painted this one, you know."

"Esme?" I asked, confused.

"My mother. The lady that was just out here."

"Oh. That's your mother?" I asked incredulously. "She doesn't look old enough to be your mother."

Another tinkling laugh. "I'm sorry. I forgot you aren't from here. She's my adoptive mother. She and Carlisle were unable to have children, so they took us in. There's five of us now."

I felt a blush creep up on my cheeks. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have–"

"It's fine Bella," she said, giving me a sincere smile. I felt her gaze settle on me once more. "Would you do me a favor Bella?"

I turned, startled slightly. "Um… sure…?"

"On Friday, Esme is having an open house, so to speak. She's getting in a few new pieces. It's mostly going to be colleagues of Carlisle's. A few stragglers from Port Angeles too, I'm sure. Do you think you would be interested in coming?"

I wasn't sure what she had been prepared to ask me, but this was not it.

"The rest of the family will be here of course," she said, and immediately, I felt my eyes return to the portrait of her brother. Again, a blush crept onto my cheeks. "But it's usually a boring function. I wouldn't bother if I thought it wouldn't hurt Esme's feelings, but I thought if I had someone closer to my own age, that it would be more tolerable than usual."

"I would have to clear it with Charlie," I reminded her. "I don't think he'll object but after today, I can't really be sure."

I caught a smile on her face, and couldn't help but grin in return. It was infectious. "I'd be willing to bet that Chief Swan won't have a problem with it," she said, and laughed as if she'd said something funny. "But please do check with him. I would love for you to come."

Almost as if speaking about Charlie conjured him up, I heard the horn from the cruiser blare outside. I turned back to Alice. "Should I call or…?"

"I'll swing by later in the week!" She volunteered. "You aren't hard to find."

"Oh. Uh… do you want my phone number?"

"No," she said with a shake of her head. "I know how to get in touch with you." Again, that impish smile.

"Uh… okay. Well, I guess I'll see you around."

"Don't forget to check on Friday!"

I gave her a nod and headed to the door. "Please thank your mother for me."

"Of course. I'll see you later Bella."

xoxoxoxox

I was pleasantly surprised with Charlie. He was able to get the truck started again, at least for long enough to get it home. And though I was sure I'd at least get a lecture, he managed to restrain himself from that as well. All in all, it had been a good day. I still hadn't gotten my curtains, but that could wait I supposed.

"Uh… dad?"

He glanced up at the sound of my voice, having just popped a bite of pizza in his mouth. He struggled to swallow the bite before he responded. "What's up?"

"Well… today… at the uh, at the gallery. I met a couple of people there."

"Oh yeah. That's Mrs. Cullen's place, isn't?"

"Yeah. Yeah, it is."

"She's a nice lady. Only met her a hand full of times, but she seems like a good woman. Her husband's a good guy too."

I felt encouraged. "Well, this Friday, they're having an open house at the gallery. Alice… er… Mrs. Cullen's daughter invited me. Do you think I could? Uh… go, I mean. Could I go?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, that's fine."

I gave him a grateful smile before I turned back to my own dinner. I was enjoying the comfortable silence when the shrill ringing of the telephone sliced through the air. "I've got it." I pushed my chair back and grabbed the phone.

"Hello?"

"Did he say yes?"

It took me a moment to place the voice. "Alice?"

"Yes," was the clipped response. "Did you ask him? He said yes, didn't he?"

"Uh… yeah. It's all good. He doesn't have a problem with me going."

"Good," she responded and though I could hear the smile in her voice, she didn't seem surprised at the news. "I thought he might. Do you think you could come with me tomorrow? I'm going up to Port Angeles. I need a new outfit for Friday and I could use some company."

"Sure. I need to get a couple things anyway, and I don't know that my truck could survive the drive just yet."

"Great. I'll see you tomorrow then Bella."

And with that, she was gone. I looked at the phone for a moment before I shook my head and replaced it on the receiver. Definitely overzealous. But regardless, I could see that Alice was going to be quite an interesting friend to have around.