Hi everyone! Sorry it took a bit longer for this update, just been one of those weeks :)
Steph M owns blah blah blah
Onwards with the story...
~Bella pov~
"Technically I'm Alice Mary Cullen" Alice beamed at me and I forced myself not to shield my eyes from her blinding, supermodel-white smile.
This conversation was jumping around all over the place and I found myself struggling to keep up.
"And you are?"
I was confused for a second before I realised that I still hadn't introduced myself.
"Isabella Marie Swan."
"Oh pretty please can I call you 'B'? " Alice squealed and for a moment it looked like she was going to throw herself across the table at me in a fit of excitement.
"We can have nicknames for each other!"
"Uhhhhh" I stalled, not sure about this new instalment. "Sure I guess…"
"Awesome!" Alice shrieked happily, before turning serious and scrutinising me.
The mood swings of this girl…
"If we're going to be friends we have to get to know each other." She declared.
I allowed myself a small piece of hope that maybe Alice wasn't completely insane, and was just one of those people who has too much energy and feel like they need to share it with those around them.
Alice reminded me of a girl, Samantha, whom I worked with back at the office. Sam was actually very sweet once you realised that she really was happy, all the time.
Another thing that got some people a bit cynical at first was that her sometimes overwhelming and endless kindness was real and yet she never expected anything in return.
Everyone in the firm loved her, you just couldn't help it, and I didn't know one person Sam hadn't gotten along with.
I suppose Alice seems harmless enough, and lord knows that I could do with a friend around here for the next few weeks. I speculated, my thoughts returning to the present.
"Right!" I decided, cheering up slightly and beginning to feel more confident thanks to my inner ramblings.
"I'll start. My name is Isabella Marie Swan and I'm 23 years old. I'm currently working as a PA at a law firm in NYC and I'm also beginning an apprenticeship at the same firm working towards becoming a family lawyer. I was born and raised in Forks and moved to NYC when I turned 18. My mum left my dad and me when I was eleven, and my dad, Charlie, is the chief of police here in Forks."
I finished my speech and stuck my hands out in a sort of 'ta da!' gesture. Then motioned for Alice to speak.
She didn't need telling twice.
"My name is Alice Mary Cullen, but you already know that." She giggled.
"I am 22 years old and have just moved to Forks from Alaska with my parents, two older brothers and my boyfriend Jasper. She paused.
"Uhhhh lets see what else? Both me and my brothers are adopted and as you can tell I'm currently working at this place." She gestured to the surrounding café.
"But I'm trying to get a job as a French teacher at Forks High school."
I couldn't help myself.
"Ah bonjour mademoiselle Alice! Mon singe est dans l'arbre! I said seriously, using an over the top French accent, in my limited one-year-at-high-school French.
Alice threw back her head and let out a tinkling laugh.
"Oh wow." She gasped, moments later, wiping her eyes and still giggling. "I think your pronunciation could use a little work and also the fact that you just said you have a monkey in a tree…"
She broke off into giggles again, which caused me to do the same. I just couldn't help it. Alice's happiness was contagious.
"Yeah well that was the only thing that I could remember ok?" I snickered. "Don't judge me!"
Alice grinned at me for a second. "You took French classes?"
"Yes but only for one year." I told her, smiling at the memory. "I was so bad that in the end the teacher had to kindly tell me that, and I quote - 'French might not be my thing'".
Alice chuckled for a bit and then an idea seemed to dawn on her. She looked ready to burst with excitement so I laughed and told her to "spit it out already".
I had spent barely an hour with this girl and for some reason I felt like I had known her much longer.
It seemed Alice felt the same, that or she was just super friendly to everyone.
"Heywhatareyoudoingthisevening?" She rushed all in one breath and I had to pause in order to decipher the sentence.
"Um." I considered this. Other than dropping the groceries of at Charlies house, and having a bit of a mid-winter-spring clean I didn't really have anything else planned.
"Nothing that I know of."
"Well my parents are having a casual dinner planned for this evening and my brothers are coming over, but Jasper's away and I need someone to help get me through it!" She begged, turning her puppy eyes on me.
Ohhh man, now I know what Ben feels like.
You just can't say no.
Geez I wonder how Jasper, her boyfriend survives?
"Ahhh sure ok that sounds fun." I found myself agreeing.
Isabella Marie! What are you doing? You barely know this girl!
The annoying voice in my head kept scolding me, however I had an uncanny knack for measuring people and my gut was telling me that Alice had the all clear.
This was good enough proof for me as my gut intuition hadn't failed me yet.
Plus Charlie will be over the moon that I've made a new frien-
My train of thought was cut off along with my air supply as Alice seemed to transport herself across the table to my side where she promptly flung her arms around me in a hug.
For a small girl she was a lot stronger than she looked.
Probably growing up with two older brothers. I mused.
"Ah thank you thank you thank you!" She sighed in relief, relaxing her hold on me and enabling me to take a huge gulp of air. "You honestly don't know how much of a favour you are doing me right now!"
"Your family can't be that bad." I grinned, happy that I could now breathe again.
"Oh it's not my parents I'm worried about." Alice snorted. "It's Dumb and Dumber who are the problem."
Dumb and Dumber? I raised my eyebrows.
"Well to be fair Dumb's not that bad. It's Dumber who is the root of the problem. He seems to find endless joy in teasing me mercilessly and Dumb is usually sucked into it as well."
"Dumb and Dumber are your brothers I assume?"
"Yes unfortunately. Luckily we don't share anything other than a last name. I praise the lord everyday that I'm not genetically related to those two imbeciles."
Alice exhaled in a huff, however I caught a glimpse of fondness in her eyes so I deduced that 'Dumb and Dumber' couldn't be too bad. Probably just the typical sibling play-teasing that usually ended up with the youngest getting picked on.
In this case, the unlucky victim seemed to be Alice.
"Well I've just got to go drop my groceries of and do some bits and pieces around the house but I can meet you at yours this evening?" I questioned.
It was settled.
After a quick number switch as well as the address and time, I said goodbye to Alice and found myself strangely looking forward to the impending evening.
I hopped back into 'my car', (I kept forgetting it was Jake's) and proceeded to drive home humming a happy little tune under my breath.
It was early evening, nearly time to leave to drive to Alice's and I was sure I was more nervous than I should be.
Charlie of course was overjoyed and enforced my already good opinion of the Cullen's as he had already met Alice's parents, Carlisle and Esme and had raving reviews about them. I practically had to fight him off as I exited the house; he was so eager to come along as well.
I felt a bit guilty but I didn't want to be rude inviting Charlie over as well seeming as I had just met Alice. However I promised him that next time I 'had dinner at the Cullen's' I would make sure to ask if he could come too which seemed to satisfy him.
Alice had texted to tell me to wear something 'casual' so I had slipped on my slightly dressier, black skinnies and a green wrap top. I had minimal makeup on as I tended not to need too much of it. A hint of mascara and some lip-gloss and I was done. I was also feeling brave so I was decided to wear my only pair of heels, if you could even call them that
They were barely half an inch off the ground but were the only pair I could guarantee I wouldn't break my neck in.
Fifteen minutes later and I was on the outskirts of Forks. I found myself driving slowly up long gravel driveway that threaded lazily through the forest.
At first I was mildly worried that I was going the wrong way but I reassured myself that so far everything had matched up with Alice's instructions.
The drive was pleasant enough, the forest scenery was quite pretty and it wasn't pouring with rain, however the sky was an ominous purple grey that held the promise of bad weather.
I drove for a few more minutes before the pine trees thinned out and I got my first glimpse of the Cullen home.
Holy smokes! I want to do whatever Esme and Carlisle do for a living!
There was a rolling expanse of perfectly manicured lawn with neatly trimmed hedges and gurgling fountains leading up to a cobbled roundabout in front of the house that signalled the end of the driveway. The whole thing reeked of money.
I cruised up the remainder of the driveway, parked my car and stepped out. Immediately the smell of roses filled my nose and I had to crane my neck back to look up at the house.
It. Was. Massive.
The house was modern looking however it had obviously been cleverly designed, as it's cedar-wood exterior allowed it to blend in seamlessly with its forest surroundings.
Wood and glass. Were the first words that popped into my mind.
I could only see the front part of the house but already I saw that massive windows appeared to be a popular theme.
I understood the idea of this as I imagined that with what little sun Forks got, you would want to let in as much as you possibly could.
Probably had to spend a fortune on curtains though.
Sighing, I nervously smoothed down my top and hair before carefully walking up the stone steps to the imposing, wooden, double doors.
I looked for a doorbell but couldn't see one. Raising my hand I knocked a bit uncertainly at first, and then, sure that no one would have heard me, banged more forcefully. I winced as I heard my loud knock echo through the house.
Way to go Bella, great way to make a good first impression.
I stiffened as I heard the distant sound of footsteps coming closer and then suddenly they stopped and the doorknob began to turn. I took a deep breath.
Here goes nothing.
_o0o_
So we all now know that Jasper is already Alice's bf *awh* but I wonder who could possibly fit the roles of 'Dumb and Dumber'? ;)
Thinking of doing an Epov next but tell me what you think!
Please please review it makes me very happy.
And we all want that...
~Sbb x