Disclaimer: I still don't own Twilight or any of the plots or characters. I can only take credit for the scenarios I have envisioned on my own.
I also don't own rights to the songs at the beginning and end of every chapter. A good rule of thumb is that if it is in italics, then I can't take credit for it. :)
Enjoy!
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Say it ain't so, I will not go,
Turn the lights off, carry me home
Keep your head still, I'll be your thrill,
The night will go on, my little windmill
-All The Small Things, Blink 182
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I sighed as we exited the thirtieth, or was it fortieth store, of the afternoon. Hell, I'd lost count how many stores Alice and I had been through until that point; the chair massage I had gotten earlier in the day seemed like a distant luxury. I groaned as she slowed in front of another store. "Alice, you've got enough new outfits to last you through the summer…and you bought me a month's more clothes than I agreed to!" I protested and drug my feet as her eyes danced across the window displays.
Alice looked at me and rolled her eyes. "That's an exaggeration, but, even if it were true, there's nothing wrong with being prepared." She said with a grinned.
"Coming from the girl who can see the future," I muttered.
"And that is precisely why you should trust my judgment when I say we need to go in this store." She countered smugly. "Besides, maybe you'll have a better appreciation for clothes after Carlisle changes you. One can hope at least." She added as she walked into the store. "Come on Bella." She called in a sing-song voice from inside the store.
"Gah!" I groaned and walked into the store, looking around the racks of expensive items for Alice's spiky hair. I couldn't believe I was letting her spend this kind of money on me; I had refused to look at the tags of the items she shoved towards me, knowing it would just make me sick. "Alice?" I murmured, knowing she would hear me.
"Over here Bella!" I heard her wind chime voice and saw her hand wave from a rack in the back corner. "Which color do you like better, baby blue or emerald green?" She asked, holding up two pairs of silk pajama pants.
"I have a choice?" I asked curiously, I hadn't really played a role in the selection point so far, except for the cream mock neck top I picked out earlier. I thought it was kind of interesting how the neckline was made of a ribbon that tied behind the neck. Alice had actually complimented my choice, "Not bad" were her exact words.
"You're right, the baby blues." She said, moving on to the next rack to pick up a white cami.
"Wait, why do I need these? The public doesn't see my pajamas, why do they matter?" I whined.
"I see your pajamas and that's enough." She made a face at the image. "Seriously Bella, it's time to let the sweats rest in peace." She said solemnly. "Besides, I may have accidently thrown them out this morning while you were eating breakfast." She added with an innocent grin.
I grumbled incoherently and moved to an empty chair to wait for Alice, maybe I should have just pushed through the rest of the day at school, it couldn't have been worse than this, could it?
I must have fallen asleep in the chair without realizing it because the next thing I was aware of was Alice's melodic voice in my ear. "Come on Bella…the store is closing." She giggled.
"Closing? What time is it?" I asked, blushing as I stood up quickly, swaying slightly from the sudden moment.
"It's only ten." She shrugged. "We'll be home well before midnight." She added with a gleeful smile as we placed the bags on the ground besides her Porsche.
"Are these all going to fit?" I asked, eyeing the bags suspiciously.
"Silly Bella, just get in the car." She giggled and had the bags loaded before I could fasten my seatbelt. I smirked as Alice slid behind the wheel of the car, caressing the leather steering wheel fondly as the engine purred to life.
"How long does it take to get from Olympia to Forks?" She asked absently as she left the parking lot…I could have sworn I saw her teeth glittering as she smiled.
"Three and a half hours, I suppose." I shrugged, confused as to why she would ask.
"Not tonight!" She squealed, unleashing the power of the engine on the open road as I sighed and sunk down into my seat…no matter how often I rode with the Cullens, I could never adjust to their need for speed.
About 90 minutes later were pulling into the Cullen's driveway. Alice was still giggling with sheer glee, I, however, was thankful that the trip was almost over.
"That was so great!" She squealed. "Don't you think Bella?" She looked at me after she had pulled the car into the garage, practically dancing out of her seat.
"Sure, I'll make sure I thank Edward for getting you the car." I said with weak sarcasm, glad to finally put two feet on the ground.
"Oh Bella, it wasn't that bad! You know I'd never let anything happen to you!" She sung as she unloaded the bags. "Because then, if something hadn't happened to the car in the process, Edward would surely mangle it beyond recognition." She said, visibly upset by the thought. I gave her a humorless smile at the comment and she giggled in her high tone. "I'm only teasing Bella." She said, dancing over to kiss my cheek before leading the way into the house.
Rosalie and Esme were watching Sex and the City in the living room when we walked in. Alice dropped the bags she was holding. "I want those shoes!" She squealed and plopped down onto the couch besides Rose in one graceful motion, her eyes fixed on the characters on the screen.
Esme smiled over at me as I sat down in the chair next to the couch. "Did you have fun?" She asked with a knowing, motherly smile.
I just grinned in response. "If I didn't know Alice as well as I did, I would think we would be done shopping for the rest of the summer." I sighed. "Unfortunately, I know her better than that." I added. "But at least I've done my time…now it's someone else's turn to play tag-along." I grinned
Esme giggled at my comment and Alice rolled her eyes. "It wasn't that bad, I took it easy on you Bella!" She protested. "And I even let you take a break to get a massage!" She added with a pout.
I looked over at Rose and swore I saw her smile, but she was still a little cool towards me, so I wasn't sure if I really had seen her smile.
"The massage was nice." I agreed with a teasing smile and then stifled a yawn, which didn't go unnoticed by my super-sensitive extended family. Esme smiled at me again. "Why don't you go up to bed, dear?" She suggested gently.
Alice perked up. "I'll clear out some space in Edward's closet for your clothes while you get ready for bed. You should probably keep some clothes here in case you would need them, and we can't let them get wrinkled!" She said as she jumped up and disappeared up the stairs with all of the bags that I assumed held the clothes she had picked out for me.
I moved much more slowly and less gracefully than Alice, hugging Esme goodnight and smiling at Rose before heading upstairs. Alice already had my clothes put away and my new silk pajamas lying on the end of the bed. "Good night Bella." She said and kissed my cheek before floating back down the stairs to finish the movie. I slipped into the pajamas and walked over to the windowed wall, looking out over the darkened forest, the aching in my chest becoming stronger. I missed him the most at night-when I felt the most alone; I shuddered as I thought back to the horrible months I had spent without him, thinking he had never loved me. I closed my eyes and forced the thoughts away, I couldn't think about those times. I never wanted to feel such pain ever again in my life. I didn't blame Edward for the pain; I knew he had done it thinking it was for the best and he had experienced just as much pain during the time. I smiled as I thought about him and thought about spending all of eternity with him; however, I had to get through tomorrow first. What's a few more hours when you had all of eternity? I ran my hand along his c.d. collection, wondering how many times Edward had touched the same c.d.s.
Gah! I was being so pathetic; I forced myself to walk back towards the bed. I stopped and opened the closet door, shaking my head as I saw my new clothes Alice had put beside Edward's. I fingered one of his sweaters as his smell poured forth from his clothes. I pulled the sweater off the hanger and slipped it on before climbing into the bed, wrapping my arms around myself and breathing in Edward's sweet scent as I drifted off to sleep.
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Every time I look at you, baby, I see something new
That takes me higher than before and makes me want you more
I don't wanna sleep tonight, dreamin's just a waste of time
When I look at what my life's been comin' to
I'm all about lovin' you
-All About Lovin' You, Bon Jovi
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