Chapter 2: What was I thinking. . .
Once I was up in my room, I felt completely safe to let myself cave in on myself. Being away from my friends and family was killing me. Although Charlie was less than 3 hours away, it still didn't do justice to the loneliness I felt deep inside my heart. I went reluctantly into the enormous bathroom and started to run a hot bath. I went back into the room and got my bathroom bag and my pajamas. I went back in and got into the tub. It was just what I needed. I heard the phone ringing in the background. I got out and sighed, started to drain the water and walked out into the cool room. "Hello?" I asked, immediately I knew who it was. "OH MY GOODNESS! Hey Girl! How are you?" Angel screamed into the phone. I smiled and started to chat with him about my new roommate and how beautiful it was here.
"Oh, girlfriend, I'm so glad you are having a blast! We miss you like crazy here. Roger, Mark, Mimi, Collins, Me OF COURSE!, Maureen and Joanne -whenever they can tolerate to care about someone other than themselves-" I smiled to myself and kept the conversation up. I heard Alice come into the room noisily. "Angel, Hun, I'm going to have to call you back later on this weekend. I'm bushed from the flight and being with the family and everything. Say hello to everyone -Maureen and Joanne specifically- when you see them next. Send my Love to everyone, hugs and kisses. Uh-huh, Bye" I hung up then and immediately felt lonely again. It was wearing on me, what with not be within a 100 foot distance of one of my family/friends.
"Bella…" Alice called hesitantly from outside the door to the bathroom, "…Are you alright?" worry was readable in every word she spoke. "Yeah, I'm fine Alice, give me a minute please." "Okay…" she seemed complacent enough for the moment. I came out a few seconds later wearing my comfy sweats and a tattered Alvin and Ailey t-shirt. She looked even more beautiful than I remembered, sitting there on her bed in a silky ocher colored camisole top and matching bottoms. I immediately was self conscious about my tattered usual bedtime clothing. "So, How was the rest of your evening?" I asked her. She smiled sheepishly, "Oh Bella -she sighed- I'm so sorry about how my brother Edward behaved tonight. It's just that … he can lose his temper at times and everything. He will come around to it one of these days. I mean look at you -she waved her hand in awed silence at me- You're gorgeous, who wouldn't come around?" I couldn't help but laugh at her. I didn't just laughed, I cracked myself up to the point of tears. She joined in after a while, but then her face went serious.
"What are you going to do tomorrow?" she asked me in a non-interested voice. I stared out the window a long moment before answering. "I don't really know, why? What do you have planned?" she smiled again and I couldn't help but smile back, but then I felt stupid so I looked down and picked at a loose strand of fabric on my quilt. "Hmm… -she tapped her finger on her chin- I was planning on going shopping. But I don't have a partner. You see… Rosalie and Emmett are celebrating their 2 year anniversary -she sighed warily- and well, I was hoping that maybe you wanted to go with me?" an eager smile flashed across her face. "Uh… Well you see… - I couldn't believe that I was at a loss for words- Sure, why not. I need to get out and about." I smiled back at her, it was easy enough to please Alice.
Then there were three quiet raps at the door. I frowned "Who could that be?" Alice stayed put and pretended to be doing something. "Fine… don't move - I laughed at her- I'll get the door." I walked over and opened it slowly, watching Alice's face, she just merely sat there -almost bouncing out of her clothes- watching me… waiting almost, like a kid on Christmas morning. I turned quickly to the door and BAM!
Edward stood in my doorway, tall handsome and oh so mysterious. I felt my pulse begin to speed just looking at him. He was like a perfect sculpture, an Adonis in the flesh, standing before me. I felt a blush coming along, but then I realized that I hadn't been breathing.
"BELLA! Bella? Bella, are you okay?" I couldn't tell where the voice was coming from, but it sounded like Alice. I tried opening my eyes, but everything was blurry. That's when I saw him. Edward was leaning over me, worry and fear in his eyes. Alice was sitting next to him with a glass of water. "She's fine Edward, yeesh. You completely act out of line at dinner, now you're like Mr. Save-a-Life because she fainted." I heard a growl, Was it a growl? I don't know, I opened my eyes and relief washed over both of their faces, I tried to sit up, but before I was even on an elbow, I was whisked up into the air. The movement made me dizzy and I felt as if I was going to hurl. "Put me down!" I protested, but no one listened, then I was set gently onto my bed. I scurried up toward the head of my bed, pulling my legs up to my chest and sitting there. Alice sat in front of me and help out my medicine bag -How did she..?- I let the thought go. I took the water and took the pills I needed. Edward sat on the other side of the room, his face was contorted as if he didn't know what he was going to actually do. I watched him for a few seconds, and this his eyes met mine. I tried to look away, I really did. But something -some kind of unseen force- was holding me there. Alice got up and gracefully threw herself at Edward mock hitting him -as far as I could tell- he laughed and Alice all but threw him out of the room physically. "Go! Edward, leave. You can talk to Bella once she has slept some. I just stared at the surreal scene. Maybe I was dreaming… Maybe I had died after I saw him -ridiculous- I got up and poured the water out. "I'm sorry Alice, I don't know what got into me back there." I tried to smile, but it felt wrong on my face. "It's okay, I was just glad that you are okay. Are you still up for our shopping trip tomorrow?" I thought about it for a moment, then replied, "I said I was in, didn't I?" and with that we both burst into a spell of hysterical laughter.
I don't remember exactly when I fell asleep, but it must have been gradual because I felt well rested. I awoke to Alice talking to someone… the other voice sounded familiar but I wasn't quite sure. I peeked from underneath my bedspread quilt, and sure enough, there sat Edward, at our tiny table talking animatedly to Alice. I decided I was going to play sleep until he left, but I was under sudden attack a few moments later. Alice was sitting on top of me. "Eek! Bella, I'm so glad you're finally up! Come on silly, get up and get dressed. We'll grab breakfast off campus today" she said, her smile stretching across her face from ear to ear. I heard Edward let out a low chuckle. I glowered at him and got up and grudgingly went into the bathroom. I came out no more than 30 minutes later. "Oh! Bella, please, please, Please? Can I do your hair today?" I moaned, then sighed and nodded. "Good luck with that idea Bella." Edward said, chuckling again. I wanted so bad to smack him. But I wasn't a violent person.
I walked into the closet and allowed her to do my hair. "I hope you like it -she beamed- I think it does wonder for your beautiful brown eyes" I gasped as I look into the mirror, I was stunning -no doubt- "Wow, Alice, this is… amazing!" I shrieked and jumped up to give her a hug which she returned with just as much enthusiasm. I walked out and Edward's jaw dropped. Then he snapped it shut quickly, muttering something unintelligible under his breath and he ran out slamming the door behind him. My face fell and Alice noticed. "Don't worry Bella, He's always grumpy when he is hungry" I tried not to laugh but I couldn't help it. We walked out of the room -arms linked and laughing- and down the hall to the elevator. "I'll be right back Bella, I want to go say good bye to Jasper really quick." I nodded and went and sat down in the chair next to a wide open window in the lobby. "Listen New girl -I turned to see a skankish looking girl with a too low shirt and pants so tight they could be another layer of skin on- I'm the boss of this school. I'm the minds and envies of every student in here. What I say goes and that's final, got it?"
I stared at her for another moment, then replied, "The name is Bella, got it? Or do I need to spell it out for you? And you may be the whatever of this school, but I'm pretty sure they only notice you because of the horrific clothes you're wearing now. No one would be caught dead wearing that-" she cut me off with a grunt and walked away. I smiled to myself -Well done Bella, Well done-. Just then Alice came bouncing to my side "Ready to go?" I smiled "Ready as I'll ever be" and we walked outside into the darkened mid morning light. The air outside was warm, but there was a cool breeze. It was very pleasant, and the view of everything outside the building was glorious, even in the dim light of the spring day. Alice was in an exuberant and it wasn't long after that I began to feel the same way. We skipped along the sidewalk and out into the parking lot. That's when I saw him. His beauty struck me even more each time I looked at him, a perfect sculpture-Adonis in the flesh was all I could manage to think. Then aggravation quickly covered any previous emotion that could be seen on my face -An open book is what my mother used to call me, because I was so easy to read from my appearance- and I immediately wanted to turn around and leave. Edward looked up from his hands and moved away from the shiny silver Volvo he was leaning against so casually. I stopped dead in my tracks when he started to walk toward me. He flashed a grin and Alice tried to pull me forward, but my feet wouldn't budge. I did an about face and walked swiftly away.
That's when I felt something cold grab my arm. I turned around ready to scold Alice for not letting me be. I stood there staring at him -like and idiot with my mouth hanging wide open- as he smiled down at me. I shivered and he dropped my hand. "Hello, Bella. How are you doing this morning?" he asked me so casually. "F-fine, And yourself?" I asked, I quickly snapped my mouth closed as I heard a snicker come from somewhere behind him. I peered around him to glare at Alice and she pursed her lips and looked away. "Bella, I'm terribly sorry about this morning -he paused- and last night as well. It was rude of me to behave with such manors. Will you-" his voice was so seductive, like sweet velvet, it was truly mesmerizing. I interrupted him "Don't worry about it, no harm." I threw in a friendly smile and began to walk away. "Please… let me make it up to you
-he paused slightly- Could I take you out to lunch or something?" I stared at him dumbfounded but then felt offended that he had the audacity to try and be nice to me after the way he had treated me. I had done nothing wrong to him.
I felt my eyes narrow, "Thanks, but no thanks. I appreciate the offer Edward, but I have plans today. Maybe another day. Have a nice one." I waved and walked off toward Alice, blushing the whole way. I don't think there was a pause between each blush, although I could feel each one as if it were just starting. Alice saw me and began to get into a yellow Porsche. "W-o-W!" I said, "This is your car? Geesh, you parents MUST be loaded" I said with a laugh and a shake of my head as I got into the passenger side. It was a nice ride, no doubt, but I didn't know much about cars. I looked out the mirror and saw Edward standing in the parking lot where I had left him, staring out after the car, his face looked hurt… but I couldn't feel sorry for him. No, I wouldn't feel sorry for him because I deserved none of what he gave to me. Although he did apologize…
"So where do you want to shop today? What's your favorite store?" Alice asked as we were pulling up into the parking lot the mediocre shopping mall that Seattle had. "Uh… Alice, well… lets just shop where you like. I don't really have the money to go shopping. I need to save it up for school, food, and necessities." she grimaced, "If you haven't noticed, my parents are loaded and you are my friend so I would like to treat you. Please? -puppy dog eyes- It would make me very, very happy if you would let me shop for you today." I couldn't help but laugh at her, "OH fine Alice, but I get some say in what you want to buy." With that we got out and strode into the mall, arm in arm.
It didn't take as long as I had expected it. Pretty much anything that my hands touched, Alice bought. I learned quickly that it did no justice for me to argue so I tried to touch simple things, but she wasn't having any of that. "Bella -she wined- Please let me buy you something gorgeous and complicated. You're so simply it basically burns my eyes to look at you" she said with a bell-like laugh. I grimaced and nodded. She did have good taste in clothes. It was easier shopping with Alice than it was with Renee. Renee wanted to look at any and everything, try on everything even if it wasn't her size. She thought that it was the best part of shopping - to make fun of yourself and hanging with the ones you love- it made me sad to think about her. Alice picked up quickly on my mood, "What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?" I shook my head, "Nah, I'm just sort of tired is all. How much longer?" I was growing more and more aggravated with the whole shopping ordeal. I really wanted to go back and read or go to the facilities at school and stretch… maybe get a little dancing in.
It didn't take as much talking as I thought it would to convince Alice that it would be best if we went back to the dorm and hung out then until dinner or something. She agreed happily and off we went.