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Chapter 2- Spending Time With Alice

Bella's POV:

It's the next day, 5:30 A.M. I'm an early bird and I rise with the sun. I'm lying in bed, when someone knocks on my door.

I call out, "Come in!"

Alice skips in giddily and sits at the edge of my bed. "I didn't think that you'd be awake. It's usually just me that's up this early," She chirps.

"I'm a morning person," I reply in explanation.

She nods and I sit up. I ask, curious, "Did you need something from me?"

"Well… Esme's taking me shopping today at Port Angeles and I was just wondering if you wanted to come with us. I already asked Esme, yesterday night when you were sleeping, and she thought it was a good idea," she asks eagerly.

Hmm, should I go? The bigger question: Did I have a choice? Of course you have a choice, Bella. You're considered a normal family member. Ok, a more reasonable question for my current situation: Did I want to go?

Yes, yes I did. I didn't know what the shopping experience was like and was genuinely curious.

"Ok, sure Alice!" I reply enthusiastically.

She squeals. "Yay, this is going to be so great! The perfect mother-daughters experience! We're leaving at 9:00 and we have breakfast with the family at around 8:30. Now, I have a question for you. Esme tells me you have no clothes… at all."

She looks horrified at the very thought and I chuckle. "That's true," I reply.

She gasps and asks, "Was your orphanage that cruel? These days, orphanages are kind and provide for the children. Is that not true?"
I don't know how to answer to that. I didn't come from an orphanage, obviously. Compared to where I used to live, orphanages are palaces; places of luxury.

I clear my throat uncomfortably and reply, "Umm, my orphanage desperately wanted to buy me some more self-maintenance materials, but I vehemently refused, claiming that two outfits were enough. I left my other outfit there."
"If I were you, I would've never rejected offers for clothes," she scoffs.

I smile and she gets up, dusting imaginary lint off of her stylish, violet, pleated skirt. "Well, I will leave you here to get ready or whatever you want to do. Nice talk. It showed me two things. One, I was right: you desperately need a shopping trip and two, you're an agreeable person."

As soon as she leaves, I realize that I don't have underwear or clean clothes for today. Not that I was used to laundered clothes, but I think that the Cullen's would be a little more than just grossed out that I hadn't changed my clothes for the day. I'm about to go ask Alice what I was to do when I notice that there are clothes on my bed and a folded pair of underwear. There's a bright pink post it on top of the pile and it says in silver sharpie: You can thank me later. I know I wouldn't want to walk around clothes I wore more than once. Gross! Hugs, Alice, your soon to be favorite sister.

I smile. Alice was certainly sweet and she was probably going to be my favorite sister. I take a shower, but not before admiring the grandness of it all. Afterwards, I put on the clothes and look at myself in the mirror. Even though Alice was shorter than me, I was definitely skinnier. These clothes were most likely hers, minus the underwear, and they were big on me.

The blue top was short sleeve and had a panda on it. The white shorts were a little bit big on me but Alice left me a belt, knowing that I was too skinny for my own good. The sneakers had a star logo on the side and it said: Converse. I put my short hair into a small braid and look at the outcome.

My usually dull brown eyes have a bit of sparkle in them and my pale skin is bound to become tanner living with the Cullen family. My brown hair: I want to grow that out. Jessica always had all of the orphanage kids have their hair cut by stylists. She wanted to keep her helpers attractive.

I turn away from my reflection and decide to read one of the books in my shelf until breakfast time.

Breakfast with the Cullen's is lively and chatter fills the air. Esme can't stop obsessing over my skinniness and she's currently ranting.
"Bella, you need to eat a lot here, okay? You're just so thin. Look at those arms. Look at those legs!"

"Mom, stop bothering her, she's fine," Edward cuts her off.

Esme frowns but leaves the topic be.
"Anyway, heard Alice is taking you shopping, Bella," Emmett says with a wicked smile.

I raise my eyebrows. "Yeah?"

Emmett replies, "Well, Pixie here, loves shopping and turns into some kind of maniac when she's in a mall. I'm just warning you."
"It can't be that bad," I reply.

Boy, was I wrong. For the first hour or two, it's fun and we get to know each other a little better. And of course, they bought me tons of clothes. I protested vehemently, of course, but they ignored me and bought everything a 12-year-old girl could possibly ever want in her closet.

We were heading to the food court, when Alice spotted a store that she apparently liked. She squeals loudly, attracting stares and pulls me to the store. I look up and the sign reads: Victoria's Secret. Why was a store named after a girl named Victoria and her secret?

I voice my question to Esme, who laughs. "Dear, Victoria's Secret is just the name of the store. Don't take it too literally."

I'm disappointed. "So there's no secret?"
She shakes her head lightly and Alice snorts. "Bella, let's not mope about this and let's shop. Now here's a question that is really important. Do you wear a bra?"
I blush a deep, crimson red. "Err, not yet, but I know what they are."

Alice looks confused. "Obviously, why wouldn't you?"
Panicked, I reply, "I just said that because… umm… pre-teens tend to be a little clueless about that kind of stuff."
She narrows her eyes but continues on, "Well, Bella, I think that it's time that you do. Don't you agree, mom?"

Esme looks… there… and nods her head. Determined, Alice and Esme drag me into the store. As soon as we walk in, I gasp and consider running away. Everywhere, I see undergarments and all of them look like they're made for adults only.

I ask Alice, timidly, "Umm, Alice, isn't this for adults only?"

She looks stumped for a second. "True, I never get my bras from here. I get mine at Justice. Man, I was excited because Esme always comes here."

Esme laughs and says to Alice, "I was waiting you to figure out that small…crucial fact."

Alice pouts but brightens up considerably as a thought dawns on her. "After we eat, let's head to Justice and Bella can start a new epoch of her life there!"

I groan and think: When will this day ever end!

Alice calls out, "Edward, Emmett, Jasper, Carlisle! Come out and be men. Carry our shopping bags inside!"

The boys walk outside followed by a smiling Rosalie. They all look a bit disgruntled and when they see how many bags are inside of the trunk, they groan simultaneously; even the always polite and compliant Carlisle.

They each take out 10 bags, with five in each hand, and walk inside. Soon, the deed is over and we're all inside of the house. The boys are doubled over and the girls are watching the boys happily.

Alice chirps, "Well, that was a hero deed each of you brave souls did! Now, why don't you carry it to Bella's room and she can try the outfits on for me!"

Mumbles fill the air and before we know it, the bags are in my room and it's just Alice and me. She grins at me and grabs the closest bag she can reach. She pulls out the clothing inside and hands it to me.

Thus, the fashion show begins.

Later on, after I had tried all the clothes on and thanked Alice profusely, she and I are laying down on my bed basking in the comfortable silence. I'm the first one to break it. I've been wondering about school for a while and I'm wondering what the experience will be like. When the time comes, I want to be prepared.

And Alice seems like the best person to ask as of now. She's the only one that I really spent a lot of time since yesterday, when I arrived here. And although Esme was there today, shopping with us, Alice has first hand experience with school.

"Alice, what's school like?"

She looks surprised. "Didn't you go to school before you had to go to the orphanage?"
I don't know what to say. I guess I should make up my backstory right now. "Well, when my parents passed away, I was 3 so I didn't go to school."
She nods, understanding and sad at the same time. "Okay, I'll tell you about it. One thing you should know: there's no reason to be scared at all. We'll be right next to you and Edward and Jasper are in the same grade as you. Rosalie and Emmett are in 8th grade, one year older than you and I'm just one year younger than you. And we're going to a private school, so there won't be any major bullies or rude people just strolling around the hallway. There's good lunch and it's extremely luxurious. But I have a question for YOU Bella."
"Go on," I say.

"Well, Esme told us that at the orphanage, they only taught you literature and social studies. And not math and science. How are you going to keep up with the rest of the 7th graders?" She asks.

Good point. "Um, I don't really know. I'll ask Esme later. So, there aren't any bullies… at all?"
She scratches her head. "Well, there are the cliché mean girls who have lame quips like: "Your name should start with L… for Loser! And: Where'd you get those clothes? The dumpster? And my personal favorite: I know you are but what am I?"

I giggle and she gently says, "Bella, you're cute and you're sweet. Everyone's going to love you. And besides, I'll appoint Edward as your personal bodyguard, if it makes you feel better. Okay?"

"Ok, sure." I answer sarcastically.

"Okay, Bella, I'm going to my room now. I'm going to go to sleep now. I'm exhausted! See you tomorrow, Bella!"
"Bye Alice, good night."
"Sweet dreams, Bella."

Okay, so that was just some quality time between Alice and Bella! Next up: Esme and Bella combined in one chapter with Carlisle and Bella time!

Thanks for reading!