I was awoken suddenly and very abruptly when my bed started moving underneath me. Groaning I unwillingly opened my eyes to see Alice smiling so bright it could have blinded me. "Oh my gosh Bella! I know what we're gonna do today!" She exclaimed in a voice that was far too high for the morning hours. I rubbed my eyes and yawned. "Alice. That's great news, but could you get down? I would like to get out of bed now." I told her, blinking up at her trying to get my eyes to focus on my surroundings. I stared up at Alice as soon as her face lost its fuzzy lines, confused. Now that I was actually starting to wake up, my brain started working as well. What is she doing here? Why is she here?
She got down and sat on the side of my bed, but didn't stop jittering; which was rather annoying since she was wearing a couple of gold bangles on her left wrist, which made a jiggling noise when she moved. "So, Alice, why are you in my bed room? How did you get in?" I asked sitting up and swinging my legs over the side of the bed. "Charlie let me in." Alice replied with a wave of the hand, as if the answer was obvious. "So we have got to go shopping! I just got paid! And I was just looking through your clothes, while waiting for you to wake up and I must say, it was pathetic."
"Well, yeah. I only brought my winter clothes. Besides I'm only going to be here for a few more weeks." I said getting out of bed. I walked past Alice on my way out of my room and stumbled to the bathroom, still disoriented.
"Yeah but come on Bella! Don't tell me you don't want to go shopping." She said following at my heels. I grabbed my tooth brush and started brushing my teeth.
With the brush in my mouth, I went down stairs to the small laundry room and pulled out jeans from the dryer; Alice still following me.
"Actually Alice, I don't really like shopping." I said walking back to the bathroom and spitting in the sink. And as soon as the words were out of my mouth, Alice went fanatic. "You're kidding right? Because there is no way a girl can say the words "Don't", "Like", and "Shopping" all in the same sentence." Her face showed a look of horror. If it wasn't for the fact that I was butt tired at the moment I would have laughed at her face. "Sorry Alice." I said before finishing brush my teeth. I shut the bathroom door and put my jeans on. "Okay, okay. We can work around this somehow." She said through the door; I could hear her pacing just outside the door.
"You mean you can just go without me?" I asked opening the door and raising my eyebrows at Alice. All I got was a look that seemed to ask me 'Are you stupid?'. Shaking my head I walked past her and went into my room to get a shirt from the closet. "Oh no. You're still going. I'm just going to have to put up with your whining." She said as she sat on my bed with a happy grin.
I laughed as a grabbed my shirt and pulled it over my tank top. I grabbed a hair brush from the bathroom and brushed through my hair once before I made my way back to the bedroom. "Why am I going with you?" I asked as I put my shoes on. Why am I going with her? It didn't really make a whole lot of sense. We had only met each other a couple days ago. I don't know her that well. And what did she really know about me? Can I trust her? Should I trust her? Even the thought of her finding out my secret scared me.
"Because you're my friend and you love me." she said getting up from the bed."Oh and Angela is coming too." I sighed to myself in silent relief. I trust Angela, so maybe I can do this.
Taking a deep breath I headed down stairs and went for the kitchen. "You want some breakfast?" I asked over my shoulder, about to get a bowl. "No! No time!" She sqeeled grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the front door, me stubbling along behind her.
"Come on." Alice urged me, tugging on my arm to get me to move quicker. What she didn't know was that if I moved any faster it was likely that I would break my leg…or her's. "I already forgot something at the house that we have to get. And we're supposed to be meeting Angela there in seven minutes! You can get some breakfast at my house." She said opening the door. My ears perked up at her last words. "Your house? Like where your brother lives?" Suddenly I found myself rethinking what I was wearing and how I looked. These feelings I'm having are completely foreign to me. And, frankly, I'm a little scared of it. I mean what did it matter that all I was wearing was light blue jeans and a black long sleeved shirt? This is what I normally wore.
"Uh, yeah. It'll be okay. Come on! Grab your purse and lets go."
"I have to tell Charlie." I said the first thing that came to my mind. My head was scrambling in all directions. "I already told him. Come on." She said once again. I barely had time to grab my purse which was conveniently on the table right next to the front door and the keys before Alice dragged me out of my house. Then we were off to the Cullen household in a rush. My heart hammering in my chest.
The whole way to the Cullen home I was nervous. I kept smoothing my hair, making sure I didn't have any zits; and then re-smoothing my hair again. Alice was going crazy in the drivers seat. She chattered a million words a second while driving thirty over the speed limit. I was seriously starting to wonder if we were even going to make it to her house before we died. She also kept telling me I looked fine and Edward didn't care what I wore. And when I told her I was not interested in Edward that way, she laughed; which scared me because of the speed we were driving at. "I know things Bella." She would say. After the third time she told me this, I finally was able to stop myself from looking in the mirror and forced myself to keep my hand away from my hair by clasping them hard together in my lap.
The ride was not a long one, ten minutes at most, but for some reason the ride seemed to go by and before I knew it we were pulling off the main road, heading into a little dirt path that was lined with trees on both sides. I would have just past by the little grove if it wasn't for the fact that Alice had turned onto it. We road down the dirt driveway for a minute before the trees broke out wide to reveal a large circle like opening. I sat stunned as Alice slowed down and I was able to take the whole scene in.
It was beautiful! Right in the middle of the circle there was a HUGE white house, it looked to be an older one, in the way that it was made, but had been fixed up recently. It was three stories tall, with a porch that disappeared around the sides of the house, probably going all the way around back as well. There were two swings on the porch, each one about two yards away from the front door, on either side. Behind each swing was a large window, through which I was given a good view of the first room, which looked to be a living room of sorts. I was almost too stunned by the house to even notice the parking garage they had to the right of the house; it wasn't until Alice parked her yellow Porsche that I did. Hopping out of the car I followed her, still looking at the house in front of me, up the porch. Alice opened the door, I swallowed hard past the lump that had formed in my throat and we went in.
My first look through the windows didn't do the first room justice. When I walked in behind Alice we entered a wide hallway, to the right there was a archway leading into a very fine dining room where a large oak table stood, with seven matching chairs set around it. There was also a door to the left, but it was closed. At the end of the hallway, the house opened up to bare a living room. The whole room was in perfect condition. My feet stood on dark wooden flooring, the walls were painted a soft white and every other piece of furniture was centered to look great with these colors. The light tan couch, had a matching love-seat and a overstuffed reclining chair set around the room. A dark wooden table sat in front of the couch, which was facing a Plasma Flat Screen TV that hung on the wall. Directly to the left of the door there was a wooden staircase. To the right you entered what looked like a kitchen.
But even all this wasn't what made me stand awe struck; but it was the far wall. The back wall of the house was completely made of glass; giving you a perfect view of the back yard. If that's what you could call it. The word didn't seem a magnificent enough word to describe what was behind the house. For the first ten yards from the porch it was just perfectly cut grass, but then you entered what looked like some kind of garden of sorts. I wasn't exactly sure what all was growing there, but it looked quite impressive. There were all colors and shapes making up the little garden.
"Just wait a sec. I gotta go see Jasper. I need to get his credit card. I'll be back in a flash." Alice's voice brought me back from my observations and I barely had time to look up before she raced up the stairway and disappearing out of sight. Suddenly I realized that I was all alone, left in this beautiful house, and I didn't know what to do. I stood there nervously debating whether I should or shouldn't move to the couch while I waited for Alice. After a few moments of consideration I finally decided that I probably looked like a idiot standing here, bouncing up and down from nerves; but just when I turned to find the couch, I heard a faint creaking noise come from the stairwell. That's when I saw her. Coming down from the top of the stairs was a woman in her middle twenties. She had beautiful blonde hair that was a little wavy. It went down past her shoulders. She had beautiful dark blue eyes. She was tall and lean, though not wimpy like most girls you see now days that are the size on my little finger. She was wearing dark skinny jeans and a loose white shirt that tightened around the hips. She had perfect skin and was perfectly proportioned. She had light makeup on, but I would bet all my money that she would still look perfect with out any makeup on. My heart sank just a little at the sight of her. In a way, she reminded me of some reason I knew who she was. She was perfect. She was beautiful. She was Rosalie.
She stopped on the bottom step. "Hello." She said in a beautiful voice. "H-hi." I stuttered back. Something about her made it hard not to feel less about myself. "Alice wanted me to tell you that Angela is running late and that you two will pick her up." She said politely "O-okay." I said as she turned and headed off through the dining room, disappearing into another room. I stared after the girl for a moment before I shook my head and made my way to the comfortable looking couch. "Well, that wasn't weird at all Bella." I said to myself as I perched on the edge of the couch, bracing my elbows on my knees and lying my face in my hands."With you everything is weird." I heard an all too familiar voice say to my side. I gasped and sat up straight. Edward was sitting in the chair to my right.
"How long have you been there?" I asked; I was sure he hadn't been there a minute ago. But then again, the chair was facing away from the staircase and had a rather tall back. It was possible that he had been sitting there the whole time and I just hadn't seen him.
Edward smirked and chuckled. "Long enough." He said with amusement sparking his eyes.
Feeling a little off balance I said the first thing that came to my mind. "What does that even mean? 'Long enough'? People say that all the time and I have no idea what they are talking about." I rambled off in a rush; praying that I would just shut my mouth. "How do they even know when it is 'long enough'. I mean-"
"Bella!" Edward said with a laugh. I stopped mid sentence and I could feel the blush rise to my face. Jeez! Why did I have to say the weirdest things when I was around Edward? "Do I not even get a 'Hey Edward' anymore?" He asked still laughing a little.
I took a deep breath, praying that my face wasn't too red. "Hey Edward." I said, probably with a stupid grin on my face. Really what this boy can do to me was unbelievable.
Edward smiled a smile, the crooked one, the one that made my heart do that weird double thump. "That's better. So sorry about Alice. I told her you didn't shop." He said with a knowing grin. I took a deep breath, trying to get my barrings. "Oh I'm sure you did. That's why she almost had a heart attack when I told her."
"Well, maybe I didn't really tell her. But I was thinking about telling her." He told me innocently. I chuckled at that; relaxing a little more into the couch. "Yeah and you know it's the thought that counts."
"Exactly." He said laughing along with me. He had such a beautiful laugh. But it wasn't even just his laugh, or even how his face seemed to brighten when he laughed; it was his whole demeaner. Everything seemed to let loose when he laughed like this. I loved getting to see and hear it. I caught myself at mid-thought. Whoa, snap out of it Bella. No attachments. You're not staying here. You're going home. "Bella?" I heard Alice call from the stairwell. "Oh of course you'd find him." She said rolling her eyes at me as she skipped into the room. "Bella. Time is short. We only have-" She stopped to check the time on her cell phone. "Oh my shoes! We only have eight hours left before the mall closes. Bella, you know I'm all for you and my brother hooking up but there's a knew Emma Hope high heel shoe that is gorgeous and I must own it now. I have it on pre-order but they can only hold it for a little longer."
Edward and I both were taken aback by her statement. I felt my face burning and I glanced over at Edward, who was leaning over the arm of the chair so the he could look at Alice. "Alice. Just- just go." Edward said obviously slightly embarrassed. "Fine. Come on Bella We have to go get Angela. Her parents didn't get home till just now and she was watching her brothers." Alice said turning around and walking towards the door. "You owe me." I told Edward as I got up from the couch to follow Alice. He just laughed. I followed Alice to her car where we got in and drove to Angela's house.
I really really really hate shopping. My feet hurt, I'm carrying about ten bags, none of which were filled with things I picked out, and we've only been shopping for 5 hours. 5 hours! Alice is crazy! I have a feeling she really hates me; because only a person that really hates me would make me try on and buy as many things as she was making me. We have been into at least seven stores and in each one Alice would rush in, knowing exactly where she was going, have a handful of clothes within seconds and demand that I try them all on. I had tried to say no, really I had, I didn't really think I needed anymore clothes. I mean I was going back home in a couple weeks anyway. But when I had tried to tell this to Alice she had waved her hand and told me: 'anything could happen'. I wasn't sure what she had meant by that, but in my confusion she had managed to push me into the dressing-room, my arms loaded high with shirts, skirts, and pants of all sorts. The whole day past by like this; I'm pretty sure I was forced to try on more clothing today then in the rest of my life combined. But not only did I have to try on anything and everything that Alice brought me, I also had to come out of the dressing room, to show Alice and Angela each outfit. I had tried to skip some clothes, but Alice seemed to remember each thing she gave me and would call me out on it.
Angela wasn't helping much either, she mainly stood by Alice and watched in clear amusement as I was used like Alice's Barbie doll. I had tried to get her to help me, maybe convince Alice that I didn't need any more clothes then what I already had, but Ang wouldn't help me. "I think you could use a few new things." She had told me when I had given her a betrayed glare, after she had refused to rescue me. "Some of the things you own, you've had since Middle School." Unfortunately Alice heard that last bit and that had made her shop for me with a new intensity.
I'm not even sure how she shopped for herself while constantly keeping me stuck in the dressing room with new clothes to try on every couple minutes; but every time we left a store I would leave with a couple bags along with Alice. Angela bought a few things as well. Though after we made our first drop off at the car; throwing all our bags into the trunk, she declared she was done for the day. Though that was not the case for Alice; and apparently me either.
By the time we got to our last stop of the day, the Food Court, Alice had another thirty bags. I felt as though I was about to just fall to the floor and I was seriously considering cutting my arms off just so I wouldn't have to carry any more bags. It was insane how much some clothes weighed. I was more than happy when we reached a small square table and I was able to let the bags fall out of my hands at last.
"So what do you guys want to eat?" Alice asked, far too chipper for someone who had spent the last six and a half hours in the dressing rooms.
Ang spoke up immediately. "I am getting chicken." She said with determination. I could have laughed at her serious expression.
"Sounds good to me!" Alice chirped, grabbing her purse and I followed the two girls to a Chinese booth.
We returned back to our table carrying red trays of yellow rice, chicken, and eggrolls. Most of the meal past by with Alice talking at a speed that I wasn't sure was possible, especially for someone so tiny. I listened to her talk about a hundred different things in the fifteen minutes it took us to eat. Most of the things were about Jasper, about when the first met, about how he really didn't like her all that much when they first started living together, a lot of things like that. She also told us a bit about Carlisle and Esme, though by the look on Ang's face, I think these weren't exactly new stories for her.
Once we had finished eating Alice asked if Ang and I were ready to leave, or if we wanted to hit a few more places before heading out. I nearly shouted that we leave; making both Alice and Angela snicker at me.
"You guys want to hang out at my house for a little while?" Alice asked as we drove into Forks. I was looking out the side window from the back seat, watching droplets on the glass slide down the door, or get shoved aside by another drop of water. It had started raining a few minutes after we had left the mall, starting at a small drizzle and steadily getting worse. "Sorry I can't. I have plans with Ben." Angela said, looking down at her lap and blushing lightly. "I'm free." I said in a quiet voice. I was a little nervous about spending even more time with Alice, especially if Ang wasn't going to be with me. "Awesome." Alice said smiling a strange smile. Alice looked like she was planning something. It made me even more nervous.
We road for a little while in silence and I continued to watch the rain fall outside my window. Suddenly pain came to my stomach and I groaned; bending over in the seat to hold my stomach. I guess after making myself throw up for so long my stomach is out of whack. "Bella are you okay?" Alice asked with a look of concern on her face, as she glanced between me and the road. "Yeah." I said though my teeth; hoping the pain would just go away. Maybe I could at least make it home. I didn't want to throw up in front of Alice. But then suddenly everything that I had eaten at lunch came back to me and I started to feel even sicker. My stomach lunged again. "No." I changed my answer. It felt like my insides were turning inside out. "Alice you might want to pull over." Angela said, turning around in the front seat to see me. I gave her a panicked look and she nodded sadly. "It's going to be alright." She whispered. She knew what this was about. "Okay." Alice said as she pulled over to the side of the road.
I jumped out of the car and into the pouring rain. The cool water actually felt good against my clammy skin. I ran to the edge of the woods, barely getting behind the first couple of trees before I my stomach gave the worst lurch of all and out came dinner. Once the first round of retching had stopped I cried out in pain. My throat and stomach felt like they were on fire. I glanced behind me and saw Angela opening her door to come help me. I held my hand out and protested against it. Angela didn't need to get soaked too. "I'll be okay in a second." I yelled over to them; praying that it was true. Angela, looked sadly at me for a moment before closing her door. I felt my stomach lurch again and I leaned against a tree for support while more came out of my body. Once the wave was over my stomach started to calm down a little, though my throat still burned, I made my way back to the car. After hopping in I leaned heavily onto the back on the seat. "I'm sorry guys. Alice I'm really sorry for getting your car wet."
"It's fine Bella. Are you okay? I can take you to go see Carlisle." She said looking really worried. I felt a little funny, to have someone not know what was wrong with me, and to witness what had just happened; it was weird to have someone worry about me, even though they didn't suspect that I might be killing myself. It kind of made me feel a little guilty about not having told Alice that I was a Bulimic. "No, no I'm fine." I insisted. If Carlisle is as good as everyone says, which I'm sure he is, then he would with out a doubt be able to tell that I'm Bulimic. And then no doubt everyone else in his family would find out. I wasn't ready for that. I barely knew any of the Cullen family. But already I wanted them to aprove of me, to like me. My sickness would defiantly not be a good thing in their sights. No, I didn't want them to know.
"Okay." Alice said a little hesitant, pulling back onto the road.
After we dropped off Angela we headed to the Cullen house. I was more than a little nervous, I had just thrown up on the side of the road, I could still taste the bile in the back of my sore throat. I was concerned that Alice might ask more questions, about how I was feeling; I was afraid that she might somehow put two and two together and guess what was wrong with me. Even though I knew that was ridicules; there was a lot of reasons that I could have been sick. But even knowing that it was very unlikely, I couldn't stop my worrying. But Alice didn't ask anything about what happened, besides asking me if I needed to go home. I had almost said yes; but something in me didn't like the idea of being home all alone. Dad wouldn't be home for another couple hours, and that left me by myself in the house; I didn't like the sound of that. But it wasn't only that, but I kind of wanted to go the Cullen house; even though I was afraid that they might find out about me. I want to spend more time with them, especially Alice and, well, Edward. I felt my face grow a little warmer just thinking about him. I don't know what it is about him, but Edward was special. I shook my head at the corny thought; but it was true! I wasn't even sure what it was about him, maybe it was just all of him. When I am with him, things seem different, lighter almost. I know that Edward doesn't see me like that, or as anything beyond a girl from work; possibly a friend. But that was enough for me. Just to be around him was enough for me.
We road most of the ride in silence and I was left to my thoughts; though I'm still not sure whether that was a good thing or not. But as we got closer to the Cullen house I was getting a little excited because I could see Edward. I knew that it was silly, but I couldn't help it. But then I realized I was soaking wet. Of course when I mentioned this to Alice, suggesting we go by my house to clean up first; she just said she loved to do make overs. That got me a little scared. Being an only child I hadn't stopped Maddie from filling in the gaps that I had from not having a sister. She had taken the role of 'sister' and had made me feel as though we were family. She played, 'Bella Barbie Time' and she would spend hours doing my hair and make-up. I had never said anything to her about it, but I silently hated every time we had this time. But I would never have told Maddie that. She hadn't had any sisters either, and I sort of filled the gap in for her too. I know she had enjoyed that time with me; there was no way I could take that away from her. We really were sisters in every way that mattered.
When we reached the house Alice pulled her phone out of her pocket and started texting at the speed of light. I watched in amazement as her fingers zipped over the keys of her phone, before she slide the phone shut and hopped out of the car. A minute later Emmett walked out the front door and moved the to rear of the car.
"Hey Bella!" He said with a grin as he opened the trunk and stared pulling out the bags.
"Oh, I can carry some!" I said, hurrying to join Emmett.
Alice laughed and grabbed my arm before I could reach the trunk. "No, no, let him get the bags. Trust me, it will only take him one trip." She said leading me to the front door.
I watched over my shoulder doubtfully, but was amazed when staying true to Alice's words, Emmett started following us carrying ALL of our bags. "Yeah, besides, I've seen far worse." He said with a laugh.
As we walked into the house, Edward was coming down the stairs, stopping when he saw me. He clearly was trying not to laugh. He was wearing a black long sleeved button up shirt with none of the buttons done and a white shirt underneath it, with blue jeans.
"Hey Bella." He said with the cutest look on his face. Stop it Bella. You can't like this boy. You're not pretty or smart or funny. There's no way he can like you, so don't waste your time. I thought to myself forcefully. Though the memo didn't seem to reach to the butterflies tickling my stomach. "Hey." I said in a weak voice; suddenly deflated, knowing that my thoughts were true. "Whoa. Are you okay?" he asked looking even more concerned then Alice had in the car. It made me feel a little warmer on the inside. "Yeah." I said through my hoarse voice. "Come one Bella!" Alice said grabbing my arm and pulling my up the stairs, brushing past Edward. "It's make over time." She said with a look of pure glee. I looked over my shoulders at Edward.
He shrugged, a smirk on his face. I sighed deeply. I let Alice drag me up the stairs, stopping on the second floor. When we got to the last step, we walked into a open hallway, both ends had windows for walls; letting the sun shine in and lighten the area. The hall was painted a soft cream color and had two doors on each wall. Alice led me to the second door on the left. She pointed to each door as we past them. "That's Emmett's room, that's Jasper's," She said pointing to the doors on the right. "That's Carlisle and Esme's room," She pointed to the first door on the left. "And this is Rosalie's and mine!" She said happily opening up the last door. The room was painted a light blue and had a circular bed set in the middle of the room with a white comforter. The dresser and vanity were painted white, along with the closet door.
"Come on sit down!" Alice said excitingly, pulling me up to the vanity and settling me down on a cushioned stool. I looked at the impressive amount of different name brand products Alice had splayed across the top of the vanity. She had several different kinds of hair muses and sprays, four different kinds of brushes, and then she had make-up of every sort. All this made me swallow loudly. Alice leaned over my left shoulder and flipped on a little switch that was on the side of the mirror and six light bulbs that I hadn't noticed before turned on. I looked up and cringed inwardly. I hadn't noticed the mirror in front of me, but now, with the lights lighting up the space; I could clearly see the mirror, which I was sitting in front of.
I felt like bolting from the seat and rushing out of the house. I hated looking at myself in the mirror. I didn't like seeing myself in general. I hated seeing myself and the way I looked. And with these lights shining on my face I could see every side and angle of my face. I could see every blemish and imperfection. It made me sick to my stomach.
Alice clapped her hands together. "Okay!" She sounded far too excited about this. "Let's see, what to do first?"
For the next hour Alice went crazy on my hair and make up. And I was doing okay. I sat as she brushed my hair over and over again, adding some creams and things every now and then. I let her add blush to my cheeks and even let her put mascara on me. I had done this so many times before, I was almost used to it. I let her do everything she wanted without complaint. Until it was time to get dressed. I thought I was just going to change into something I had bought today. But when Alice handed me the hanger holding the thing I was supposed to change into, and shoved me into the bathroom, I started shaking my head. "Alice. No. I told you I didn't want to buy this." I said looking into the 360 mirror in horror. "Bella you looked awesome in it! It was my favorite thing you tried on today!" Alice said through the door. "Now open up so I can see it again!"
Groaning I opened the door and sighed as I leaned against the bathroom door. Alice looked at me, her palms were pressed together and were held in front of her mouth. "You look beautiful." She said, her eyes sparkling. "I knew it when you tried it on. So keep it on." She insisted. I looked in the mirror at myself again. My hair was straight and down, falling well past midway down my back. I had light make up on. The dress is what scared me. It was a yellow with small pink polka dots dress that ended too far above the knee for my liking. It was sleeveless, with two, one and a half inch straps coming up from the sides and tieing at the back of my neck. It was made of soft cotton, tight around my chest and middle before falling loosely around my hips and thighs. Really it was adorable. But did it really fit me? Did I really look good in it? No way. I'm way too fat to be in a dress like this. This is a dress that Alice would look great in. But me?
No.
I'm just looked fat.
"You look great Bella." She said with a warm smile. "All you need now is a pair of shoes." She said and headed back into her room. I glanced once more back in the mirror, cringed and then followed Alice. I walked in and saw her rummaging through the bags of clothes we bought today. "Here we go!" She said emerging from the bags holding a cute pait of pink flats. She handed them to me and I slipped them on. She looked me up and down and smiled in approval. Now come on, let's go down stairs." She said opening her door. I followed her through the large house. As I entered the kitchen, which was very nice indeed; though looking at the rest of the house one would expect no less. It was defiantly redone though, with new stove and cabinets. A woman who looked to be in her mid to late thirty's was cooking at the stove. "Hey Esme, I almost forgot. This is Bella." Alice introduced us. "Oh hello Bella! I'm Esme. I have heard so much about you." She said giving me a hug, I stiffened in surprise at the warm greeting. But I quickly recovered. "Oh, really? I didn't think Alice would talk about me all that much." Suddenly thoughts flew through my head. What did Alice say? I bet it was all bad. There's nothing good about me. Had she mentioned anything about my bad style? Or about my weight?
"Actually it's Edward that talks the most about you." Esme told me. I felt a warm feeling settle in the pit of my stomach and my heart skipped a beat. What was this feeling that I felt about him? It was rather startling. But I didn't have time to find out because Edward came into the room. It's so very strange what happens when I see him.
It's like, all of a sudden, everything is okay. And I feel different when he is around. I just haven't figured out what that feeling is. "Please, mom, don't." Edward said looking a bit embarrassed. his eyes flickered when he looked at me and he caught my eyes. He stayed there for a moment while Esme and Alice talked. I couldn't tell you what about though, because I was staring at him. And he was staring back. I wasn't sure why, but I couldn't look away. His eyes were darker than normal, dark and intense, forest green. My heart picked up speed as we stared at each other. Again he seemed to be looking right past my face, past the mask I was wearing and right at me. The real me. The one even I am scared of. The only thing that interrupted our...whatever was happening, was when a man walked between us and Alice shrieked.
"Jasper? I thought you were working tonight?" She almost screamed. "Well, I thought I would surprise you and take you out on a date." He said in a deep southern accent. He was tall, very lean and had thick dirtly blond hair on his head. He was wearing a light blue button up shirt and blue jeans. Alice stood on her tippy toes and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Where are we going?" She asked, hooking her arm through his, as they walked out of the kitchen. I watched with amusement as she walked right past me without a second glance. I laughed to myself at how easily Alice had forgotten about me when Jasper walked in. I turned back to the rest of the room, Esme was turned back to the stove and Edward was smiling brightly. "I guess you're stuck with me." Edward said with a happy grin. I smiled at him effortlessly. "I guess I am." This feeling in me was really weird. I mean I actually felt like smiling. Like actually smiling. A genuine smile, not like the ones that I seemed to be wear most days. I couldn't remember the last time I smiled when it wasn't forced.
"Oh Bella. Your dad called earlier and we invited him over for dinner. He should be here soon." Esme said sweetly. "Oh okay." I replied; wondering what Charlie would think about my new dress. I had never worn anything like this when I was around him. This would probably give him a heart attack.
Edward took a step towards me. "Do you wanna go watch TV or something?" Edward asked. Not sure whether or not my tongue would work enough to form words I just nodded my head and followed him into the living room where he sat down on the couch. He patted the spot next to him and I sat there.
Edward smile at me and using the remote he turned on the TV, Criminal Minds was on. "Is this okay?" He asked. I just nodded; I honestly didn't care what we watched, I wasn't sure I would be able to watch the screen with him sitting next to me. As it turned out we didn't really watch the TV anyway. We mostly just talked. "So if you could, could you please tell me about your family? It's just kinds confusing, I mean when were all you guys adopted and stuff." I told him. "Yeah I bet it is. Um okay well it's a long story." He told me hesitantly.
"The best ones always are." I said with a shrug.
"Okay well, when Emmett was about 9 his parents died in a car crash. So he came to live with Esme and Carlisle who were around 25 or something. Esme is his aunt. Well, then when Emmett was about 13 I came along. I was 7 at that time. Esme just had a heart to adopt so she got me." He said, not looking me in the eyes as he did, obviously not telling the whole story. I wanted to ask him about it, but I knew that if he didn't want to tell me something about himself, that was his right. I knew that better than anyone. "So then, about a year later Esme really wanted a girl so she found Rosalie. Well Rosalie and Jasper are twins so she took in both of then. They were both 11 years old. And then, finally after Rosalie begged for a sister for a year Esme and Carlisle got Alice when she was 8. So there you have it. Emmett is 25 and he is engaged to Rosalie who is 22. And Alice who is 18 is dating Jasper who is 22. And then you have me. I'm 19." He said sighing after he said it all. "Wow. Esme and Carlisle seem like awesome parents."
"You have no idea." He said softly, his face softening. "Their the best people I know." He said, his voice full of love and admiration. There was a story behind all that, I know there is. "But what about your family?" he asked.
"Oh. Well, when I was only months old my parents split up. Now my mom is remarried and my dad is living by himself. My family isn't as exciting as yours." We laughed.
"That's not necessarily a bad thing." He said with a chuckle.
After that we fell into a comfortable conversation, just talking about all sorts of things. He asked me question after question ranging from what my favorite color is, to what I love to eat, to my boyfriends.
"What about your favorite book?" He asked leaning farther into the couch.
I laughed lightly. "What?" He asked, his face confused, though his eyes sparkled.
"You shouldn't have asked that one." I told him. "I love books! If there is one thing in this world I absolutely love to do, it's reading."
Edward looked surprised. "Wow. I think that is the first time I have heard you so adamant about something."
I shrugged, my face starting to warm. "Yeah, a good book is like my drug. I just can't get enough." Edward laughed. The sound warmed my stomach.
We talked a little more about books, though I never did give him a answer. I did tell him about my fascination with Jane Austin and how I thought all the older authers were the one who really knew how to write. But in the end I still couldn't give him the title to my favorite book, because I wasn't sure what it was; which is what I ended up telling him.
We moved onto other questions. He seemed a little surprised when I told him I had never had a boyfriend. "Maddie was the one who always had the boyfriends. she actually had two boys fight over her. It was so funny 'cause she didn't even like either of them." I said laughing at the memory.
But as I laughed I thought, how is it I can talk and laugh about Maddie, only when I am around Edward?
That night was actually fun. Charlie came over and we ate meat loaf. I had been right about the dress freaking out Charlie though. He had walked in after Edward opened the door and when they had walked into the living room, where I was waiting for them, Dad just stared at me with an open mouth. It had taken him a few moments to get over it and give me a hug before he was able to let himself be led into the dinning room where dinner was waiting. We talked and had fun. Dinner past by easily, everyone talking, telling stories and just having a good time. I sat next to Edward durring dinner and when we moved to the living room, I ended up next to him on the love seat. I spent the whole night by Edward. We talked quietly to one another while our parents talked about other things and Edward picked up right where we left off before dinner, asking me question after question. It was a good night, and I didn't throw up.
Charlie and I road home in a comfortable silence. We had just walked into the house when dad finally spoke up. "Hey Bella, can I talk to you for a second?" He asked just as I was heading for the stairs. "Yeah dad." I said turning around at the base of the steps. "You seem to like it here." He commented. "I mean I haven't seen you smiling like that since.." Charlie paused and looked down at the ground. "...I'm just saying I think this place, and the people in it, is a good thing for you." He finished softly. I knew immediately what he wanted, and it made me feel a little bad for what I had to say next.
"I have to go home Dad. I can't leave mom there." I said trying to think up a better excuse. "Bella. You know that's not why you want to go back." Again he paused, only this time he was looking right at me. He looked hesitant, like he wasn't sure what to say next. He sighed. "Bells, she's not coming back." He said in a small voice. My heart start to beat a million times per-second. "You don't know that." I said in a small voice. I knew that was a dumb thing to say. Even I knew that she wasn't coming back. I had seen her, I had watched her lifeless body get taken away. I knew, but I wished I didn't. "Bells. Yes I do. I saw her body." I closed my eyes and tried to keep the tears back, and my food in. Though I wasn't sure how well that was going to work for me, my stomach was doing some really weird things and I could feel the beginnings of uncomfort I felt when I had food in my stomach."You know it too." I turned and ran up the stairs. I ran into my room, shutting and locking the door behind me. Then I grabbed some covers and slid under the bed. Curling into a little ball, I pulled the comforter close around my body and held my knees to my chest. I couldn't let those memories come back. I tried to remember Maddie's face, but all I saw was the last time I saw the face of my best-friend; bloody, cut up, broken.
That night was a good night; when I was with Edward. I got to think of Maddie and not feel sad, or sick; when I was with Edward. I smiled and had fun; when I was with Edward. That night, I cried myself to sleep; because I was not with Edward.
A/N Hey hey hey! Long time no write...So sorry about that. It took forever. Anyway I am very very excited about this chapter. I hope y'all liked it. Please please please review! They mean the world to me and they help me! um, I changed the rating to T because I just felt like it was the right thing to do. I mean, I'm over her in my twisted mind writing about a girl with a dark past who is depressed and Bulimic. Oh the things I think up...Anyway! It is summer time in my part of the world. But for a homeschooler that doesn't mean I have more time, it means I have less time to write. Anyway, everyone PLEASE give a big thanks to Vinetta-Venture our Beta Reader who always does a amazing job at Betaing my story. So thats it...Please review!
-Esmefan1-Elissa.
Hey everyone! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Again both EsmeFan1 and I both worked really hard on this chapter and would love to know what you guys think! So please read and review. Anywho hoped you liked it, have a great day/night! God Bless!
Vinetta-Venture