5
I arrived at Alice and Jasper's apartment and Jasper opened the door for me.
"Good morning!" I exclaimed, grinning broadly. Jasper raised one eyebrow with a suspicious look.
"You are awfully cheery this morning," he said, as he let me inside.
"I'm just in a good mood. Hello, Alice!" I said as I saw Alice sitting on the couch in the living room. She waved and smiled, also slightly weary.
I gave them a reassuring smile and sat down. My eyes glanced at the phone and a small smile spread across my face. Before they could ask, I started asking how their day had been.
We continued this light-hearted conversation for about an hour. Alice was about to say something as the phone finally rang. I sighed, hoping it was Rosalie or Emmett. I watched Alice as she answered the phone. The moment she said 'Hi, Rose,' I smiled and leaned closer to her.
She was silent as Rose was talking and suddenly Alice started screaming and dancing around on the spot where she was standing, for she was still holding the phone. Jasper looked surprised and questioned me.
"You'll hear," I told him, smiling as I watched him looking at me.
"This is why you were so happy right?" I nodded and we both looked at Alice again. She had now calmed down a bit and she gave me an accusing look. I shrugged and giggled.
Alice talked to Rosalie for a while and then hung up.
"Jasper, you'll never guess what Rose just told me! They're getting married!" Alice squealed, as she sat back down again. She was jumping up and down on the couch with an excited look in her eyes.
"Rosalie and Emmett?"
"Of course Rosalie and Emmett!" Alice said, shaking her head and smiling incredulously.
"That's fantastic! We should go over there tomorrow to congratulate them."
"Yes, we should. Bella, would you like to come along?" Alice asked me.
"I would love to. What time do you think of going?"
"Oh, I don't know. I suppose around three o'clock. I'll call Rosalie back this afternoon to see if that's fine with her."
"Bella, do you want to stay here for dinner?" Jasper asked me, a little while later that day.
"Yes, absolutely. I have nothing left in my fridge, so I think I'll go shopping tomorrow morning, before we go to Rose." Alice had already called Rosalie and she had told us that three o'clock would be perfect.
Surprisingly, Jasper made the dinner for us and Alice and I stayed in the living room.
"So, Bella, did anything happen at work this week that is worth mentioning?" Alice asked me.
"Edward asked me to book a flight for him to New York. He left this morning."
"Do you know why?"
"I have absolutely no idea. Although the most logical thing seems to me that he just went to New York to help his father."
"Yes, I suppose so. Has he been grumpy during the week?" she asked, chuckling.
"He has, a bit. It is getting better slightly, but it's still worrying. Oh, I suddenly remember. During lunch, I was talking to Madison and somehow we got to the subject of me not having a boyfriend. Well, I told her this and heard Edward choke on his drink and, as I turned around, I saw him looking at me. I suppose it is nothing, but I just remembered it and thought you might like to know," I told her. I saw her frowning as she was thinking.
"Hmm, his behavior is a bit strange and suspicious. I wish I could see it for myself, so I can make an accurate observation." I burst out laughing as she was saying this, with a serious look upon her face. As I started laughing, she shot me a confused look. "I wasn't joking, you know. "
"I'm sure you'll get the opportunity to observe him sometime." She nodded and sipped from her wine.
"Guys, dinner is ready," we heard Jasper say from the kitchen. We got up and helped Jasper with putting everything on the table.
"Thanks, Jazz. It looks delicious," I told him. Alice agreed and gave him a quick kiss.
I stayed there for another few hours and eventually went home and almost immediately fell asleep. I was looking forward to seeing Alice go crazy about the wedding. I had already bought a few wedding magazines to bring along to Rosalie, and I had also seen a few magazines at Alice and Jasper's apartment.
I got up quite early, just so I could so some grocery shopping before I would go to Rosalie and Emmett.
I went to the shop and quickly bought some groceries, so I would have enough for at least this week.
I stood on my tiptoes as I tried to grab something from the top shelf. I almost had it, when the cardboard boxes all fell down, a few of them on my head. I quickly sheltered my head with my hands and waited for it to stop. Eventually it did and I looked at the damage I had done.
Quite a few boxes had fallen down, but, luckily, none of them had broken or been severly damaged. As I was wondering how I could ever get those back up there, I heard a deep voice behind me.
"Let me help you with that." I quickly spun around and saw a tall man standing in front of me with a big grin. He had slightly brown skin and long, black hair. He was very muscular and had bright white teeth.
I blushed and thanked him as he easily put all the boxes on the top shelf.
"No problem," he said, still grinning. I estimated him at about the same age as me.
"I'm Bella," I said, smiling back at him.
"Jacob," he said.
"Thank you, again, for that. I'm quite clumsy," I told him, chuckling.
"That's fine. Have you got what you needed?" he asked me. I looked in my trolley and saw that he had put every box back, but that I actually needed one for myself. I told him this and he reached over and grabbed one box and handed it to me.
"Thanks." He smiled widely again and leaned on his trolley.
"It was nice meeting you," I told him and I was about to turn around to leave. His smile suddenly got a bit smaller and I thought I saw a slight blush on his cheeks. He suddenly seemed at least five years younger.
"May I have your number?" he asked softly. I smiled at him as I wondered if that would be a good idea. I told myself to be at least a bit adventurous and I gave him my number, after which he gave me his. We said goodbye and I left the store, after paying for my groceries.
I smiled widely as I put the groceries in my car. My heart was still beating and I realised how exciting I had found it. I should really get out and date more, I told myself.
I took a deep breath to calm myself down and got in my car. I looked out of the window and saw Jacob leaving the store. He noticed me and waved. I waved back and started the car. He seemed like a really nice guy and it would be nice to go out with him. If that's what he would want, of course. Perhaps he just wanted my number so we could be friends. I sighed and decided to ask Rosalie and Alice's opinion.
I went home and put the groceries away in the kitchen and immediately went to Rosalie and Emmett's, when I saw I was already half an hour late.
I arrived there and saw Jasper's car on the drive. I walked up to the door and knocked. Inside I heard a lot of excited voices and it immediately made me excited. Emmett opened the door and let me in.
Everyone was gathered in the living room. I laughed as I saw all the magazines and books about weddings spread around Rosalie and Alice, who were sitting on the floor in the middle of the living room. They waved when they saw me enter and beckoned me over.
I noticed how Jasper and Emmett were sitting on the couch, talking and looking at the girls with an amused look.
"Bella! Look at this! Isn't this the most beautiful colour you've ever seen?" Alice exclaimed as I sat down beside them. I looked at the piece of fabric she was holding and saw it was a very soft colour, it seemed crème and light pink at the same time.
"That is absolutely gorgeous! What are you going to use it for?"
"We don't know yet, perhaps the tablecloths or the curtains," Rosalie said.
"Do you have a dress yet?" I asked her. She shook her head sadly.
"No, I have paged through these magazines, but none of them seem to be the one. And I do want the dress to be perfect."
"Yes, of course. Why don't we go shopping together next week and visit every shop where they might have a dress?" I suggested. Alice and Rosalie were quiet as they looked at me. They were looking amazed, surprised and confused at the same time.
"Wait, hold on. You're suggesting to go shopping? What's wrong with the universe?" Alice exclaimed, looking towards the sky.
"What? I just want Rosalie to have the perfect dress," I told them. Rosalie smiled widely and threw her arms around me.
"You don't know how much it means to me to know that you wouldn't mind going shopping just so I will get a dress. Thank you," she said. I laughed and hugged her back. Was I really that bad when it came to shopping? I wondered.
"Do you have a date for the wedding yet?"
"Also no. Although I do know that I want it to be in the summer," Rosalie told me. Alice nodded, agreeing. I suddenly thought of something.
"Who is going to be your maid of honour?" I asked, slightly weary. Rosalie looked up, slightly shocked.
"I forgot about that," she said softly.
"I think Alice should be your maid of honour. After all, she will be the one who will have to suffer to get the wedding arranged in time."
"No," Alice said quickly. "Bella should be the maid of honour. If I'm planning the wedding, I won't have time to also be the maid of honour. And even if I could, Bella should be involved too. She would make the perfect maid of honour, don't you think?" Alice asked Rosalie.
"I think she would be great," she said, smiling at me. "Well then, Bella, will you be my maid of honour?" she asked.
"Of course I will," I told her. "Thank you, Alice." She waved it off and smiled at me.
"Guys, I need to tell you something, although I hate to take the attention off Rosalie," I said, suddenly. Rosalie dismissed this as she leaned forward with a curious expression. "I went grocery shopping this morning and after a whole load of boxes had fallen down because of me, this guy, Jacob, helped me pick them up and asked me for my number," I said quickly.
"What did you do?" Alice asked.
"I gave it," I said shyly. Alice and Rosalie both squealed. From the corner of my eye, I saw Jasper and Emmett exchange a confused look.
"Really? That's great!" Rosalie exclaimed.
"But what do you think he wanted? Did he wanted to be friends with me, or to perhaps go out with me?" I asked.
"Go out with you, of course!" Alice said.
"Do you think so?"
"Yes, absolutely," Rosalie said, determined.
The next day, I was working at my desk, when I suddenly heard someone on heels walking in my direction. I looked up and saw the girl I had seen with Edward at the restaurant walking towards Edward's office. She had put her long, blond hair in a bun and was wearing business-like clothes. Wearing her heels, she was very tall and slightly intimidating. I watched her pass by and for a short moment her eyes crossed mine. A look of recognition flashed in her eyes, only to be replaced by haughtiness, after which she quickly looked away and ignored me as she entered his office.
Why would she enter his office? Perhaps she wasn't his sister or girlfriend, but just someone he worked with. I ignored the fact that I was feeling slightly relieved as I thought that and concentrated on the hallway from which she had come. Would Edward be back from New York? Or did she come here on her own and was she allowed to just walk in and out of his office?
I leaned towards the door of his office slightly, trying to hear anything, but I didn't.
I sighed and continued my work, although I couldn't quite concentrate.
After a while, she left his office. She didn't look at me and left through the hallway she had come from.
About an hour later, I was surprised when I saw her walking in again. Only this time, Edward was walking by her side. She was chatting to him and he was nodding, looking slightly absent.
As he saw me, a look crossed his face, which I couldn't quite describe. Anyway, it made my heart beat faster and a blush spread across my face. I looked down and heard them pass me by and enter his office again.
How come he made me feel like that, when he had been nothing but rude? I shook it off and made myself concentrate on work.
However, within a few minutes, the woman left his office with an annoyed look upon her face and she stormed off. I watched her go and then turned back to look at the Edward's office. She had left his door open and through it, I saw Edward sitting behind his desk with a slightly hopeless look upon his face. He saw me watching him and quickly stood up to close the door. I frowned and looked back at my desk. Opposite of me, Emma was also looking confused at Edward's door. We shared a look and then went back to work.
At the end of the day, Edward left his office. He was about to walk past me, but somehow I felt the need to talk to him. So I blurted out, "How was your trip, Mr Cullen?". He had already walked passed me and now whirled around, looking surprised.
"It was… interesting, thank you," he said.
"Did you return this morning?" I asked. He seemed uncomfortable and he was looking around, as if looking for an excuse to leave. I smiled inwardly.
"Yes, I did…" We were both silent for a while and looked at him expectantly, making him realise it was his turn to ask or say something. It seemed as if it was very hard for him to have a normal conversation.
"Did you have a… nice weekend?" he asked, frowning slightly as he put his hands in his pockets.
"Yes, it was wonderful. My friends are getting married this summer," I said, secretly enjoying the fact he was feeling so uncomfortable. It was a sort of revenge for him acting so rude and, besides that, it was just fun to tease him.
"Really? Congratulations," he said. I decided it was enough and smiled politely.
"Thank you. Goodbye," I said and watched how relief crossed his face as he turned around and quickly walked away.
Emma burst out laughing after he had gone.
"That was hilarious, you could just see him squirming. He's so bad at social things." I agreed and chuckled.
"Emma, do you know the woman he was with?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"No, although I have seen her here a few times. A few times they seemed to get on really well, but sometimes, just as today, they seemed to be having some sort of fight," she told me.
I nodded thoughtfully and started gathering my stuff.
"I'll see you tomorrow," I said to Emma and I saw she was also getting ready to go.
I smiled as I thought back to the conversation I had with Edward. My job was getting more and more fun, I realised.