Chapter 19: Mall and Drama
I heard laughter erupt as I walked further into the spacious room. I gasped as I took in the room that seemed far too large to be called a bedroom, even a master. "Wow!" I couldn't help but breath.
There were three king sized beds which somewhat divided the room into three parts. The middle space was white and plain. The bed, it's covers, the nightstands framing it, lamp, and all were stark white with a space of matte black wall behind it.
I looked to the left side of the room and everything was in shades of gold. The wall in this corner were black and covered with posters of pop stars like Justin Beiber, The Jonas Brothers, Destiny's Child, Ciara, and more. The furniture was sleek and sparkly gold. On the desk sat an iPhone 4 in a gold case and an HP Laptop. I deciphered that this must be Chala's space because her favorite color was gold.
The far right of the room had black walls and furniture and accents in vibrant red shades. There were only a few posters on the wall of Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, and Star Wars. There was a red Android phone and laptop on the desk. I was still gazing around in awe when Demetri broke the silence that had begun when I had entered the bedroom.
"Everyone, this is Bella Swan, my girl- I mean, my friend." Demetri stammered. I blushed at his mistake.
"Welcome to the family." Felix grinned mischievously.
"Shut up, Felix." Demetri snapped. "Have a seat Bella." I sat down on the white bed since I figured it wasn't claimed. Demetri came and sat beside me, slinging an arm around my shoulders. I could feel the chill of his skin even through his long sleeved shirt. I wondered why his skin wasn't warm.
We all began talking, and when I looked at the clock it was 11:15. I had been here for hours. "It's getting late. I should be getting back." I sighed, resentful that my fun night had to be interrupted because of the hour.
"No, you can spend the night!" Chala piped up, her tone persuasive and enthusiastic.
"Yeah." Hannah agreed.
Demetri looked hesitant. "I don't think that's such a good idea. You will poison her mind." he said, in a tone that suggested that he was only half joking.
Hannah rolled her eyes. "No we won't."
"I'll wear my halo." Chala said sweetly with an innocent smile.
"Now, why do I doubt that?" Demetri scoffed.
Chala started to retort but I cut in quickly, trying to be the sensible one around here. "I don't have any clothes with me or anything!" I checked my watch. "And it's too late for me to go home and get some. Tori and Zoey will be asleep."
"We can go to Wal-Mart and pick you up a few things. It's open 24 hours. We can go get you some bed sheets and pajamas. I don't think you'll fit our clothes since Chala is shorter and bigger than you and I'm so tall." Hannah said.
I didn't want to sound snobbish but I couldn't help but say, "I don't buy clothes from Wal-Mart."
"So? It's just for the night. You don't need designer pajamas." Hannah mumbled with irritation. I blushed, feeling silly.
"We don't either, Bella, it's just for convenience." Chala assured me. "But if you don't want to go to Wal-Mart, we can go to the mall. It's within about the same distance."
I shrugged, finally convinced. They were making me an offer I couldn't refuse. "Okay, I'd love to stay." I relented.
"Yay!' Chala exclaimed, bouncing around on her bed.
"Calm down, Pixie." Demetri laughed. Felix stood up and grabbed a mass of keys from off a chair.
"Well, let's go. I'll drive." he said.
"Shot gun!" Chala yelled.
"Sorry, Kiddo, you're in the back." Hannah said, patting Chala on the back and following Felix out of the room. Chala took forever checking her makeup and collecting her purse but Alec finally got her out the door. When we got out to the garage beside the dorm building we could see the shadowy outlines of Felix and Hannah in the front of the car.
"Are they making out?" I asked, unable to stop myself from wrinkling my nose.
Chala, Alec, and Demetri laughed. "You'll get used to it around here, Beautiful." Demetri winked, opening the passenger door for me and ushering me inside. Felix and Hannah seemed not to hear us over the loud music. Alec cleared his throat loudly. They jumped and Hannah blushed while Felix grinned sheepishly. Alec and Chala got into the very back and Demetri and I sat in the second row behind the driver and passenger seats.
We went to Wal-Mart first where I purchased a toothbrush and some underwear. Then I picked out a bedding set, black with red polka dots. Demetri argued with me at checkout over who would pay and I finally relented under Demetri's fierce unwavering expression and tone. He insisted on carrying my things to the car as well. All of this attention was giving me a permanent and embarrassing blush.
Demetri claimed the back and pulled me back with him. We sat very close and I was immensely aware of every brush of skin between us. I snuck a peek at him out of the corner of my eye and was surprised to see him already gazing at me. He smiled softly and leaned in closer until our lips were almost touching. My breath hitched. Demetri Volturi is about to kiss me. I mentally screamed. He actually likes me back and is about to kiss me. How did I get so lucky?
Demetri touched his lips to mine hesitantly, like he was afraid of my reaction. His lips were incredibly smooth and frosty, like glass in winter. Our mouths moved softly together and before I knew what was happening, I was laying across the seat and Demetri was hovering above me. I was the first to pull away, drawing in ragged gulps of air. Demetri gazed back into my eyes adoringly.
The car erupted in cheers and wolf whistles. Apparently we weren't as quiet as I thought. I felt myself blushing.
"So are you two an item now?" Hannah asked from the passenger seat.
"I don't know, are we?" Demetri asked, never tearing his gaze away from mine. I chewed my lip and thought for a moment. I had been crushing on Demetri ever since I first laid eyes on him, and now it just so happened that he liked me too. He was kind, generous, caring, interesting, and very much a gentleman, not to mention otherworldly attractive. Maybe we were rushing things, but who cares?
"Yes." I smiled, capturing his cool face in my hands and bringing his lips down to mine again in a sudden burst of courage.
"Awwww." Hannah and Chala sighed in unison.
"Hello," I heard Chala say in a sweet voice a few moments later, "This is Chala Volturi and me and my family want to go shopping at your mall. I know it's closing, but is there any way you can reopen a few shops for us?" Felix had turned the music all the way down and everyone was very silent. I sat up and listened. Why was Chala asking if the mall would reopen for us? That was impossible.
I heard a loud and nervous voice on the other side of the line. "Oh, no need to beg. Of course we can stay open for you and your family. I'm sure I can convince my employees to stay. Now, who all is coming, if I may ask?" I stared at Chala with an open mouth, my head reeling with surprise.
"Demetri and myself, the children of Caius. Marcus's children, Hannah and Alec. Aro's son Felix and Demetri's girlfriend, Isabella. We will be there shortly." Chala answered politely.
"Alright, see you soon!" the man said, his voice still shaky and overly enthusiastic. Chala hung up the phone and Felix turned the music back up,
I sat, dumbfounded. "Wait just a minute!" I nearly shouted. Everyone whipped their heads towards me in surprise. "How in the hell did you just do that? You can't just make a mall stay open because you want to shop! What about the employees? Why would they agree to that? What-"
"Bella." Demetri laughed, interrupting me before I could fire off my next question. "I know you're new here, so we should have explained. Our fathers, the Volturi, are a sort of… royalty around here."
I gaped. "Is that why you're called the Royal Five?"
"Yes," Demetri replied. "Our fathers are very powerful members of Italian society, and very respected. And they would not take it kindly if we called and told them that the mall had refused to stay open for us. I know it's confusing and illogical to you, but you'll learn more about our family someday, perhaps sooner that you think."
Chala, Hannah, Felix, and Alec all had amused looks on their faces. I shook my head in disbelief and sighed. This was some crazy stuff.
Chala, Hannah, and I lead the way into the mall. "Where to first?" Hannah asked.
"Gucci!" Chala and I said in unison, causing us both to dissolve into a fit of excited giggles. I could tell Chala was my shopping soul sister. The guys groaned.
"Chala, watch your spending. You know what happened last time." Hannah said.
"Lighten up, cuz," Chala said with a carefree wave of her hand.
I looked between Chala and Hannah. "What happened last time?" I grinned, eager to hear the story. Everyone chuckled and shook their heads.
"Okay, so we went shopping a month before school started and Father gave her a limit on how much money she could spend because he's on this new kick on not spoiling her. Too late for that." Demetri started, rolling his eyes.
"He told her only a thousand dollars but she went over and spent 2,500. He told her she couldn't go shopping, online or otherwise, for a month." Hannah went on to explain.
"It's not that we can't afford it. We have too much to count, but Uncle Caius was trying not to spoil her. She moped around the house for a whole week." Alec said, grimacing at Chala.
"Then she goes and gets her belly button pierced, trying to be a rebel." Felix laughed.
"What?" Demetri yelled, attracting some irritated looks from the already tired and annoyed looking employees in the shops around us.
"You talk too dang much." Chala snapped at Felix.
"Pull up your shirt." Demetri demanded coldly. I was guessing this was new information to him.
"No." Chala retorted.
"Chala, pull up your fucking shirt!" Demetri ordered vehemently. I shifted my weight awkwardly and chewed on my bottom lip, feeling uncomfortable as I watched the brother and sister fight. When Chala refused to comply, Demetri reached out and snatched up Chala's shirt so fast it was a blur. I blinked just to make sure I hadn't imagined it, and then shook my head hard, trying to make some sense of the speed in Demetri's movements.
Sure enough, a small diamond dangled from her belly button, glittering.
"Why do you have to be so immature and reckless?" Demetri accused, letting go of her shirt and turning away. I guess now wasn't the time to tell him that I had my belly button pierced as well. I was glad he hadn't noticed it yet.
Everyone looked at each other, obviously feeling the tension and awkwardness of the situation. "Let's shop." Hannah said, false cheer in her voice.
We did as she said and soon our spirits raised. The boys ended up carrying heaps of bags and Demetri agreed to let me pay for half of my purchases. While the boys looked at the newest devices in the Apple Store, Chala helped me pick out one last outfit in Forever 21 that she insisted on paying for as a gift. I ended up getting a long sleeved crop top and leather leggings. Then we all met up in front of the mall and left. As soon as we walked out of the doors, lights begin to flicker out and we heard the sound of the gates that closed off each store grinding shut. I shook my head, thinking of how irritated the employees inside must be. They had been polite but terse whenever we interacted with them.
We were all quiet in the car, as the tension between Chala and Demetri was still suffocating.
We got back to the dorm and the boys carried our bags upstairs and then left to stop by their rooms downstairs to put away their few purchases. Chala and Hannah put their stuff away in the huge rotating closet that was revealed when Chala pressed her hand into a plain black square of plastic on the wall by the bathroom. The awesomeness of their life never ceased to amaze me. My mom and Phil had a lot of money but the Volturi lifestyle was outrageous. Chala insisted that I try on the outfit that she had bought for me. The boys walked in just as I had finished putting everything on. I blushed and smiled as Demetri looked me over, but the look on his face wasn't pleased. With a look down I gasped, remembering I had forgotten all about the little hanging jewel in my belly button. I turned away with a burning face.
"Looks like you got a handful on you bro." Alec chuckled. I was aware that the butterfly tattoo I had gotten back home was visible on my ankle as well.
"You're one to talk. Look who you're sleeping beside tonight." Demetri accused, flinging an arm in Chala's direction. She had sprawled across the floor and stuck a birdie up. Alec and Felix laughed. Hannah wisely kept out of the conflict. She collected her pajamas from her chest of drawers and went into the closet room to change. I nudged Chala and we followed suit. We brushed our teeth and washed our faces in the bathroom after changing and all the while the room buzzed with tension. Finally, it was time to get into bed.
"Are they staying?" I whispered to Hannah as she climbed into her bed.
"They always do on the weekends." she yawned, turning over and nuzzling into her mountain of pillows with her gray eyes already shut. Felix came over and climbed in beside her, and with a scowl I realized Chala was already cuddled up with Alec in her bed and the only bed left was being made up in my sheets and comforter by Demetri. I stood by and watched him.
"Well, are you going to get in or what?" he said, gesturing towards the bed when he was finished. His expression was cold though his voice was low and warm. I sighed and got in and was surprised when he slid in next to me. He spooned me and ran cool fingers through my hair. I smiled and nuzzled into him.
"I want you to make up with your sister." I murmured.
"First, I need to apologize to you. Sorry for overreacting." Demetri said softly.
"Apology accepted." I smiled. "But I still want you to make up with Chala."
"I will." Demetri whispered, turning over briefly to clap his hands loudly one time. The lamps all gradually grew dimmer and dimmer until they completely flickered out. "Sleep, Beautiful." Demetri murmured into my hair. I sighed and fell asleep, the sweet, intoxicating scent of Demetri filling my nose and enveloping me.