Hi guys! Sorry I haven't updated in so long, Christmas then exams, you know how it is. I've got most of the story written though so they'll be coming in fast now. Please review and let me know what you think- it's so nice to get reviews xx
"So where do you want to go tonight, Bells?"
Instead of listening to Alice I had been glancing anxiously at the doorway to the cafeteria, and her question caught me off guard.
"Huh?"
Alice sighed, taking another bite of pizza.
"It's the end of your first week at Forks High and tonight we're celebrating with some drinks. Question is whether we slum it in Forks or take a trip somewhere."
"So, like.. who's 'we'? Is Jasper coming? And... Jessica?"
Alice didn't even bother calling me on my lame attempt to subtly ask if Edward was going.
"Yeah, Edward's coming" she replied, as if that's the question I'd asked.
A blonde beauty came into the hall, flanked by the broad guy I had seen with Edward the previous week. This was Rosalie Hale and Emmett McCarty, who were, as I had learnt, an infamous couple at Forks High. On my first day they'd had a blazing public row in the cafeteria at lunch, promptly followed (I found out from Alice) by an inappropriate make-up session in the janitor's closet.
"Alice. Bella." Rosalie nodded as she sat down. Emmett reached for a slice of Alice's pizza and she batted his hand away.
"Hey, cool cats. Drinks tonight. Meeting at mine at seven." Alice stated.
"Kay. I'll take the SUV and we can all ride together. I'm not drinking cos I have a game next week" Emmett said through a mouthful of my fries.
Rosalie snorted. "Is that why you're trying to eat healthily then?"
"Enough of the lip, you" Emmett replied, flicking a fry at her.
But I was momentarily distracted by Edward coming through the cafeteria door. At last- I'd been staring at the door for the last fifteen minutes waiting for him.
A week of seeing him everyday and I still hadn't got over how unusually beautiful he was. As he spotted me and Alice and sauntered over towards us I watched how his charcoal coloured tee clung to his chest. He wasn't too broad or bulky but he was obviously strong, and I could see the definition in his arms as he casually tossed an apple from one hand to the other. His hair was everywhere, and his lips were very slightly pouty. I wanted to bite them.
"Sup sis. Rose, Emmett, Bella."
"Edward. You're coming out for drinks tonight, right?"
"Sure" he said, reaching across and stealing a fry from my plate.
"And Jessica? Is she still grounded?"
Emmett snorted and I allowed myself a little smile. Things had blown up on Tuesday when Lauren finally found out about Jessica and Edward, and a full on cat fight had ensued in the hallway in between class. As a result both girls were suspended from school, and Jessica had been grounded.
"Yeah, I guess she's grounded" Edward shrugged, taking another fry. I couldn't help noticing that he didn't really seem like he cared.
"Two chicks fighting over you. That shit is hot, bro" commented Emmett.
Rose snorted. "Not when they're both idiots. Seriously, I can't believe you managed to date two of the nastiest girls in school within days of each other, Edward. Don't you have standards?"
"They might be dumb but they put out" Emmett commented. Alice, Rosalie and me shot him dirty looks and he widened his eyes innocently- "what? I'm only being objective about why Edward's dating Jess."
"Guys, you've cleaned out Bella's fries" tutted Rosalie disapprovingly, as Edward took the last one.
"Sorry Bella" said Emmett, still donning his puppy dog eyes.
"Yeah, sorry Bells" Edward chimed in.
"Go get her some more. She's like a stick as it is, you want to deprive her of lunch?" Rosalie snapped. Edward got up, smirking, and stretched, his tee rising to reveal several inches of tone and light dusting of hair trailing down into his jeans. I bit my thumb, swallowing.
"Anyone want anything?" he asked.
"Yeah, an apple. Emmett, you go with Edward" Rose said, pushing a bemused Emmett out of his chair. The boys slouched off and suddenly Rose and Alice were leaning in conspiratorially.
"I wish I was a French fry" I blurted out, confusingly.
"Bella. This is an intervention" Alice announced.
"An intervention?"
"Yep. You have a problem. An Edward problem, to be precise" Rosalie stated, and Alice rolled her eyes.
"Whaa? Nuh uh. I don't even know what..." my eyes glazed over as I saw Edward across the cafeteria. Alice snorted disparagingly.
"You're, like, so into him Bella. You practically melt everytime you see him."
"Oh shit" I muttered. "Am I that obvious? Crap. Do you think he knows?"
"Don't worry babe. It's just cos we have super observation skills. He probably just thinks you're shy. Or a bit odd." Rose said, helpfully.
"Anyway" Alice interjected "we're here to help. Since it would be useless to tell you to get over him because he's a dick-
"a self obsessed, arrogant wanker.." Rosalie added
"a heartbreaking, smug player. But since it would be useless to tell you this, because you obviously are totally into him, we're going to help you make it happen. Plus, I'm really sick of Jessica." Alice wrinkled her nose.
"Make it happen? Er, come on, there's no way. I'm totally not his type. He barely knows I exist" I protested.
"He notices you more than you think. I heard him telling Emmett that you were funny. And, well, I think he meant funny-ha-ha..." Rosalie contemplated.
"All you need is to let me do my thing. Stop holding me back, Bella! I have so many dresses for you... and the things I could do to your hair..." Alice was already clawing at it, and I sank my head into my hands.
"Fine! Ok! I'm at your mercy. I take it you're going to want to start tonight" I said, resignedly, and Alice laughed gleefully.
"You got it. Both of you are coming back after school. Magic is gonna happen."
It was seven o'clock that evening and I was already exhausted. I had been prodded, plucked, trimmed, pulled and painted on to within an inch of my life, and Alice was still surprisingly chipper, replenishing our energy with glasses of wine and crackers.
"You can't be drinking on an empty stomach" she chided, doing something to my eyes with metallic powder. "Plus you need energy for dancing"
I laughed. "Good one. I don't dance. Anyway, I thought we were only going out to a bar for a couple of drinks?" I protested.
"Some drinks, a bit of a dance, a bit of clubbing, maybe go back to someone's house..." Rosalie commented from Alice's bed where she was curling her hair.
"Jeez, I thought Forks was supposed to be dead? Where is this underground party life?"
"It's the people who make the party, babe. Now, we need to find you something to wear." Alice was already rifling through her wardrobe, picking out dresses and tops and chucking them onto her bed. "Here, try this" she said, holding up a gruesome orange dress.
I hesitated.
"Don't be shy Bella, just try it on for goodness sakes" Rosalie chipped in, and I resignedly pulled off my tshirt and jeans. "I hate you both" I snapped, and grabbed the dress. "And orange really doesn't suit my skin tone."
At that moment I heard a door slamming down the hall, and a shout of "Alice, what the fuck have you done with the whisky?"
The door swung open and Edward appeared, frowning. My mouth was open and my eyes wide, as Edward spotted me frozen in my underwear.
"Oh. Shit. Hi Bella. Er.. hi Rosalie."
Rosalie was laughing quietly but almost hysterically, and Alice shoved a Jack Daniels bottle at Edward and pushed him out the door. Rosalie was still laughing as I buried my face in the orange fabric, mortified.
"Oh relax, Bella" Alice said, exasperated. "And you're right, orange really isn't for you."
After I had recovered from the shock of Edward seeing me in my underwear (at least I'd worn matching today) I was finally ready, dressed in a little black number that was laced up with ribbons at the back and hugged in all the right places. Alice had cajoled me into some crazy gold heeled pumps ("you can take some ballet pumps in your bag or something") and I was tentatively trying to walk in them when the door rang.
"That must be Jasper and Emmett. Come on guys!" Alice dashed out the room. I checked the mirror one last time. I had to admit that I actually looked quite pretty- Alice had done a good job. My hair was loosely tousled round my shoulders and my eyes were all smoky and dark.
"Come on, vain girl, it's time to go" Rosalie chided, and I grabbed my back and hurried out, nearly slamming into Edward in the hallway.
"Sorry!" I gasped, as he grabbed my arms to stop me from falling. A slow smile was forming on his face, and I realised our faces were only a few inches apart. I could see the flecks in his eyes, and feel his breath on my face.
"That's ok" he said in a low voice. "I guess you're pretty clumsy, huh?" I blushed, disentangled myself and slowly made my way downstairs, teetering on my heels, with Edward behind me.
Emmett was waiting at the door, and he wolf whistled when he saw me. "Damn, Bella, I think I just got a semi. Nice dress." Rosalie punched him good naturedly in the arm, and I heard Edward snicker. "What? Just being objective."
"Oh, I don't know" Edward said with a smirk. "I think I liked what you had on earlier better."