Edward's POV
Alice dragged Bella and me to every store, and I mean everything. Abercrombie, Element—you name it! Bella was really suffering—more than me.
"Alice," a beautiful, tired voice said. "Are we done yet?"
"No, we are not, Bells! Stop moping! You're really bringing me down. At least, little Eddie is behaving," she said.
"That's because he's not the being tortured," Bella muttered. I grabbed her hand and rubbed soothing circles with my thumb on her soft hand.
"It's okay," I said. "At least, you're not carrying these gigantic bags. It could be bigger than Emmett!" But that could be impossible, I thought mentally.
She giggled. "Yeah, you're right!" She's happy. Good.
Alice squealed, "Bella, you are so awesome!"
Bella turned to her, looking confused—but still cute. "What're you talking about?"
"You're making me win the bet! Keep it goin', buddy!" Alice grinned mischievously at me. I rolled my eyes at her.
"Where are we going next?" I asked reluctantly. Bella wasn't the only one that wanted to go home.
Alice put a finger on her chin. "Hmmm…," she pondered. Then as if a light bulb went up on her head, she pointed her finger up. "We totally need dresses!"
Bella glared at me. "You're freaking fault," she muttered only to me. I smiled at her. Then she turned to Alice and complained, "But we—well, you—bought six dresses—why do we need more?!"
Alice sighed, "Bella, Bella…we don't only need casual dresses, beach kind of dresses, or hanging out with friends kind of dresses. We also need prom—"
"College has proms?" I asked. Bella looked like she wanted to know, too. I realized we were still holding hands, and as much as I want to hold her soft, petite hand, I need to abide to the rules. I gently slipped my hand from Bella's, but she squeezed my hand—as if she would never let me go. I mentally sighed dreamily. Whoa… Am I becoming a girl?
"Yes, Edward, we do have prom in colleges…I think. But maybe only for commemorations," she explained, a little irked because I interrupted her; she hates it when people interrupt her. "And as I was saying, we need all kinds of dresses, Bells! What if a certain someone"— she gestured her eyes towards me— "asks you out to a dance—a ball maybe—and you don't have anything to wear!"
Bella sighed. "I'll cancel then." She obviously wasn't aware of the gesture Alice did towards me.
Alice growled, "You're the most oblivious freaking person in the entire freaking oblivious people population! What the freak, Bells? Did you not see the gesture I just put?! Oblivious! Isabella Marie Oblivious Swan is your new name!"
A cricket chirped. How can there be crickets inside a mall?
"I think you need anger management classes," I teased, making Bella laugh. What a gorgeous laugh…
Alice glared at me. "And the guy who gets mad at people when they mess around with his precious piano at home speaks!" Then she grinned slyly. "Or did you just tease me—not even thinking of the consequences—to just hear Bella's laugh?"
She got me there.
Bella looked at me—her beautiful, chocolate orbs curious.
"Perhaps…," I sang. Bella blushed, while Alice giggled.
Then Alice shouted, "To Jade's Awesome Dresses!"
What a creative name, I thought sarcastically.
-x-
"Alice!" Bella cried inside the dressing room. "This thing is…is…uh…way too exposed!"
Alice groaned. "Let me see then!" She opened the door, but not enough for me to see—not that I'm a pervert or anything. I respect women's privacy, while other men don't.
"It's good enough!" Alice said.
"No, it isn't!" Bella cried.
"It hugs all your curves!"
"It shows too much skin!"
"At least it's not exposing too much skin in a stripper way!"
How does the dress look?
"But…but…it's just not me!"
"What the heck, Bella?"
"I mean…it's fit for pretty…beautiful people! Not for plain, ugly people like me!"
Alice growled; I did, too. "You freaking never see yourself clearly! It's annoying! You are totally hot, Bells! Accept it!"
"Alice—!"
"Fine, you want proof? I'll give you proof." Alice opened the door, and motioned me to come.
I walked to the front of the dressing door. "What do you want me to do?"
"Edward? Alice, why are you bringing Edward here?" Bella inquired.
Alice ignored her and told me, "Look at Bella, and tell us the truth on how she looks! That girl is freaking blind!"
"Alice, stop shouting before we get kicked out," I scolded.
She rolled her eyes at me. "Just shut up, Edward—you're not my mom. Bella—come out for a sec!"
I heard her take a deep breath. She stepped out. I stopped breathing.
She…was…beautiful. No—more than that. Stunning. No words can describe her beauty.
The dress she was wearing was strapless. A black, satin ribbon wrapped around her torso. The bottom of the dress has some ruffles to it. The dress was midnight blue—my favorite color on Bella. And Alice was right—it did hug all of her soft curves. How can Bella not see herself clearly?
"Well?" Alice asked, still waiting for my response.
"See, Alice!" Bella cried. "Edward agrees with—!"
"You look so, so, so beautiful," I complimented. She looked at me, looking shocked. Then her wonderful blush appeared.
"Ha!" Alice declared, looking smug. "You are beautiful!"
Bella smiled shyly at me. "Thank you," she whispered. I grinned at her.
"Just doing what best friends do," I said.
Alice squealed. "Like I said, Bella—keep it going!"
"Um, okay?" she said unsure.
"Now get out of that dress, so I can pay for it!" Alice demanded.
"Alice," Bella whined.
"No, Isabella! Or else it will be 24 hour Bella Barbie torture," she threatened. "I can be awake all night. And I will do something to you if you don't stay awake."
"Now, now, Alice—stop being so extreme," I said.
She stuck her tiny tongue out at me. "I'm still buying it!"
-x-
"Well, bye, Bella," Alice said. "I had a great time!" We dropped her in front of the school. Bella and I are going somewhere—as friends.
"You make it seem like I went on a date with you," Bella said. "Jasper wouldn't like that."
Alice laughed. "Drive safely! Don't take too long, Edward." Then she grinned. "I mean, take your time, Edward." She muttered—mostly sang—to herself, but I could still hear, "50 bucks here I come…"
"Did you have a good time?" I asked.
"Eh," Bella replied. "I've had worse."
I laughed softly. "True… Can I break the rules?"
"Huh?"
"Can I kiss you?" I asked hopeful. "Please?"
"No," she teased, but her I thought I heard hopefulness in her voice. "Or…"
I looked at her. "Or what?"
She gasped, "Keep your eyes on the road!" She started to panic.
I rolled my eyes at her. "Calm down, Bella. I never got a ticket."
"Just do what I say!" she commanded.
"If I keep my eyes on the road, will I get a kiss?" I asked playfully.
She smiled, still looking slightly panicked. "Maybe…"
I grinned, and then looked at the road. "Are you happy now, milady?"
"Ha, ha," she said. From the corner of my eye, I saw her lean towards me. Then she kissed me softly—but enough to make me jubilant—on my right cheek.
I laughed. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, knight in shining armor guy," she said.
"Does that mean you're the damsel in distress?"
She scoffed. "I'm not that weak!"
"That is very, very true," I agreed. I pulled up to the parking space in front of the park, where I asked Bella out. "We're here."
"Oh. So this is where you're taking me," she said. "Total déjà vu, man."
"Yeah…" I got out of the car, and walked over to open Bella's door.
"Still the gentleman," she commented. I took her hand and led her to the lake we went to last time.
"Do you want to do something while we're here?" I asked while taking a seat on the grass, in front of the pond.
"Nah," she replied. "Let's just relax and enjoy the silence." She sighed happily, and closed her eyes.
While she was relaxing, I stared at her face. Her face glowed when the sun shined on her. She looked so peaceful and beautiful at the same time. Her ruby lips looking all soft and luscious. I can never, ever forget how soft and wonderful they feel on my lips. Her pale, creamy skin…looked so…soft. Bella was just…beautiful. And like I said—her nickname speaks for itself.
Then realization dawned to me.
How could I be so stupid?
I loved hearing Bella's laugh. I love feeling her soft skin on me, her hand in mine, her lips on mine… I never wanted to let her go…me being selfish, like she was mine forever…how I felt like I could die without her with me…
Oh…my…
"Edward?" a soft voice called, breaking my thoughts, "you alright?"
I quickly composed my shocked expression. "Yes, love, I'm fine." How could I have not seen this?
"Are you sure?" she asked concerned. "We can go now, if you want."
"No, no," I quickly reassured her. "Don't let me ruin your relaxing moment."
"Okay…," she said, still looking concerned. She closed her eyes again.
-x-
I held Bella's hand while I walked her to her dorm.
"Now I'm walking you to your dorm," I said lightly.
She giggled. "You're giving me too much déjà vu, Edward." Her voice and her laugh was just too beautiful…
That's it. I couldn't take it anymore. So I picked up Bella bridal-style, and ran to her dorm.
"What—? Edward!" Bella said. "What are you—?"
"Shh," I hushed her. "Hold on, please." It's a good thing I was a very fast runner.
We arrived in front of Bella's dorm in about three minutes. We went inside. I didn't even bother closing the door. Alice wasn't here. Good—gives us privacy.
I put Bella down, and set her on her feet.
"What is this about, Edward?" she demanded. I took both of her hands, and looked deeply in her eyes.
"Bella…," I said. "I've finally realized…"
She furrowed her eyebrows. "What?"
"Bella, I—"
"Knock, knock," a rough voice said behind us.
I quickly became furious, so did Bella.
"Jacob Black," we both hissed, although Bella's voice was much more vicious than mine.
-x-
I watched Twilight! I love it! It wasn't really all that detailed, and the parts were kind of mixed up, but I still love it!
I am so totally buying it on DVD! Edward Cullen was hot! It was just...wow, man!
Oh, and don't forget to REVIEW!!
Monica-san