It amazed Bella to see the two girls in front of her, talking about their clothing in such a way.

Now, you have to understand that 'in such a way' is basically referring to Bella's doom. YES! Her downfall! Something that even the mightiest of vampires fall to!

Being a life size Barbie doll for two grown women.

Ohhhh the horror!!!!

Yes, you must be wondering 'WTF?!'

No one can blame you either really, for I am nothing more then a babbling girl screaming out things to cure my current boredom (and avoid doing homework).

You see, currently Bella was tied down with heavy duty rope to a chair. Feet away from her were Emily and Alice, hovering over a pile of clothes, nitpicking at which would look best at her.

"But blue doesn't match her eyes very well" Emily said, taking a quick look at Bella's face to confirm it.

"Ah, yes, but it does look cute on her!" Alice argued back.

"Baby blue?"

Alice's head shook quickly, short locks whipping her face. "No no, a slightly darker color. Midnight blue?"

"Oh! That probably would look good! I might have something in that color too!"

Bella's eye caught on something as she was looking for an escape route. It was a mirror. Her reflection shown in it and she stared back temporarily, taking in the full differences between her and Emily.

So many things were different. Visibly wise, they were as different as night and day. Though, it was in other regards that she found herself seeing as their features.

It was impossible for them to mix, but she had tried so hard. They kept her at bay, yet she only provoked them most of the time. If it weren't for Sam's demands of them not hurting her, she might have already been killed.

That must have been why Jake wanted her to go. Not because he hated her, rather he wanted to protect her.

Though, she couldn't go. Not after what Edward told her. He didn't love her, he had moved on. It was so simple, she accepted it too. Acceptance, though, didn't mean that she didn't love him still.

That being said, anyone could understand her problem. She was being pushed back towards the one that loved her no more, Bella wasn't stupid enough to go along with getting her heart broken. No, that would be stupid.

But Alice didn't understand that had become clear last night... that and the fact that she had the ability to stop Alice's mind from connecting thoughts and commands together.

Maybe, she reasoned, it would be possible to get Alice to leave? Using her ability might make that possible. Though, that probably was nothing more then a false hope.

She could stop them, not control them. Controlling someone was something so unimaginably hard that it was nearly impossible. No, she would never be able to do that.

So, in the end, she would have to find another way... but how?

"AHA! A nice midnight blue summer dress!" Emily squealed, coming out from the closet.

"Good!" Alice said, heading popping out from behind a stack of makeup supplies. Bella gulped down the growing lump in her throat...

No, this was most definitely not good...

--------------------------

Edward stared at the car that glinted in the moonlight outside the window. It was placed there purposefully, he knew it. Their thoughts were clean, but the positioning of it and the keys -- which were only feet away from him-- was just too perfect.

A low growl ripped through his throat, making Emmett clutch his newspaper tighter. Yes, newspaper + Emmett...

They were playing him like a fool... Really, did they think this little of him? Or just his self control?

His leg bounced up and down off the floor in silence, his hand twitching slightly. It was all getting to him. No matter how obvious, the damage had been done.

His thoughts quickly centered on something else, anything. Jasper was watching sports. D-mn... Just like Charlie.

Rosalie sat reading a book with her legs resting on Emmett's lap. Bella loved books...

The piano caught his eye... Her lullaby seemed to endlessly repeat itself once again through his mind.

Then there was Emmett... he tried not to focus on Emmett too much. The urge to ring his giant (soon to be very tiny though) throat was becoming almost overwhelming.

You know... these things aren't that bad... Did you know that it was 52 degrees outside today? Oh, and apparently someone won this award... They're kinda ugly though... This lady cooked some really big food too...

Edward's head collapsed into his hands and he began to rub his temples to prevent the oncoming headache. "Emmett... it's called a newspaper... And really, you sound absolutely pathetic..."

Emmett's grasp tightened on the newspaper again and a low, barely audible chuckle rumbled somewhere deep in his chest. He could have sworn he saw a smile spread across Rosalie's face too, but she hid it behind her book too fast.

"Fine" Edward grumbled unhappily. He got up and grabbed the car keys. "I'm going, I'm going... happy?"

As the door closed, he heard loud cheers being emitted from the room he left behind. Sighing while shaking his head, Edward got into the car. His hand temporarily hovered over the ignition, then he plunged the key in, revving up the car.

Sometimes, in the game of Shouji, you must make certain sacrifices to protect the king...