Everyone was so over-excited about our Kumbaya moment, singing old school Billy, that we almost mucked it up. Well, Emmett almost did. He kept humming it, trying to push it to happen before I saw it happening. It turned out well, though.
All we were missing were swaying beer glasses in our hands.
Now, I'm all flustered because my shopping excursion was sabotaged by He Who Shall Not Be Named and Bella has, like, one outfit. Ok, maybe I am exaggerating a bit. She may have more than a few things to choose from. The trunk of my car may have been swollen with silk and chiffon. Whatever. I still feel like a failure.
"Bella, we have been over this. Your clothes are gone. If you want to wear something blood splatter-less, then you have to choose something from here," I said while pointing to a pile of overstuffed shopping bags.
"I can't believe you threw away my clothes! It was my stuff," Bella whined.
"I was doing you a favor. That is what friends are for. Listen, can we skip the newborn tantrum? Just go shower and get dressed. I don't have to see into the future to know that you will have to eventually accept your situation."
Bella stomps her foot, lets out a huff, grabs a random bag, and then locks herself in the nearest bathroom.
No one says anything, but Kate lets a giggle slip and we all hear Bella yell, "I heard that, and it's not funny!" from the bathroom.
Everyone else is nestled around the house. You would think Tanya, Kate, and Irina would be upset having all of us just show up and crash at their place, but they're not. They are such attention whores. I'm surprised they haven't yelled out party, while turning out the lights and rolling out some makeshift dance floor.
Which gives me an idea…
I turn towards Jasper and Emmett, who have already busted out a chess set like two starving nerds.
"We should turn on some music and have a little party. Like a vampire birthday party for Bella." OK, so maybe I'm the attention whore.
Tanya and her sisters walk in from the dining room where they were secretly working on a gift for Bella. It still is a secret, except I was curious to what they were doing in there and used my talent to cheat. I guess glass painting is a traditional thing for them as well as giving flowers to someone on their birthday, so they combined the two to create a really pretty vase for her. It's actually really sweet and I am floored for a moment over their thoughtfulness. I want to cause a scene, but then I remember that I'm not supposed to know yet.
"I'm in, if Alice doesn't get to pick the music," Rosalie calmly states from the living room.
"Excuse me?" I snap.
"No offense, Alice, but you have, like, the worst taste in music," Bella replies, coming out of the bathroom.
"What? You are crazy. My music is happy, makes people happy, and motivates people to dance. How is that bad?"
"It's like regurgitated pop," Rosalie adds while flipping through a magazine. She's sprawled out on the couch like she lives here or something.
"No one asked you!" I retort.
"More like disco rock with a splash of indie grunge," Jasper adds without looking away from the game.
"It's like someone vomited colors and electronic noise…" Emmett joins in while claiming one of Jasper's pawns.
"You can all bite me. And Jasper, you listen to country. You are in no position to judge." I cross my arms and glare at everyone.
Bella closes the distance between us and whispers softly, "By the way, there were no bras in that bag… so I am kind free-balling it feminist style right now. Did you happen to pick up any before you threw away my stuff?" She has to know everyone can still hear her, right?
I point to a different bag and she grabs it and disappears back into the bathroom.
"You know you don't actually need one, right? Hell, I never wear underwear anymore… unless recreational purposes call for it," Tanya divulges freely. I know Bella can hear her because she gasps from behind the closed door.
"Nice." Emmett stresses the word. Rosalie throws her magazine, smacking him in the head. Jasper and Kate laugh.
"Oh my god, we can fill up those big fake syringes with blood and do like shots. You know, like humans do with alcohol. Oh! We should put on Vampire Weekend… oh, and like Monster Mash." Irina is laughing as she finishes the last part.
I roll my eyes even though it sounds like fun.
I walk over to the sound system and hook up my iPod. I pick a random playlist and pump up the volume. I can still hear everyone's groans over the music.
Bella comes out of the bathroom wearing a very cute outfit, if I do say so myself, but looking rather glum. I grab her hand and lead her out the back door of the house.
"Your throat hurting real bad?" I ask.
Bella sighs. "Yeah, that hurts too."
"Ah, this is about my brother." I pull her into a tight hug. I can do that now and you don't know how awesome that makes me feel.
"Does he know, Alice?" she mumbles into my shoulder. She's not hugging me back. Her arms are limp noodles (well, like, rock noodles) at her sides, but she is resting her head on my shoulder.
"No, not yet… but soon," I answer. Carlisle and Esme are being as vague as they can with Edward. It's only a matter of time though, before one of them thinks about what was said and he reads their minds.
"Do you think he will hate me?" she sighs.
"No," I answer honestly. He's going to hate me.
She pulls away from me and huffs. "It doesn't matter. He left me. Its just… it still hurts. I was hoping it wouldn't hurt so much, or I would forget once I changed or something. I thought human memories were supposed to fade. What a crock."
"Oh Bella, we don't need men. We'll be like the Beales… have just as much fun… and be just as crazy," I elate.
"Hey!" Jasper shouts from inside.
"Oh, shut up, Jasper!" I yell at the house. I bring my attention back to Bella. "We could buy a dilapidated house by the sea and, like, wear extravagant clothing and dance in the rain." It sounds cool when I say it, but I hope she's not taking me completely seriously. I do love Jasper and couldn't be parted from him for long.
I search my visions for two bitter lunatics living in a cat-infested house. I come up with nothing. Phew.
Bella shakes her head and lets out a soft laugh. "It's a nice thought and all, but I don't want to become a Miss Havisham. You'd abandon me after a week without Jasper and I'll be stuck all alone, pining for the guy who ran off and left me. And knowing you I'd be dressed in some crazy-ass lace costume with veil and all. It would be perfect."
"That's a pretty good analogy. She did die by fire. We can pretty much only die by fire."
"Yeah, even quoting her would work… to show you that I am not all stone. But perhaps you can never believe, now, that there is anything human in my heart."
"Oh! Um… I could say, What have I done! What have I done!" I cry out despairingly like I'm supposed to.
"What the hell are you two doing?" Rosalie questions from the doorway. She's standing there looking at us like we are insane.
Bella and I laugh. Of course Bella could get me to bond over literature.
"Nothing," we answer at the same time. Oh, man. This is great.
"You two are so morbid," Rosalie says and then leaves us to our giggles.
Here are some songs from Alice's playlist:
The Rapture - Out of the races and onto the tracks
New Young Pony Club - Ice Cream
YELLE - JE VEUX TE VOIR
Dr. Martens 50 - Buraka Som Sistema cover Neneh Cherry's Buffalo Stance
This would have been posted sooner but I suck and went on vacation.
Jess (because I KNOW you love it) - No matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you!