My reflection was nothing like my mother's.
There was no sparkle in my brown eyes, no sleek shine in my dull brunette hair, no glossy shine covering my pale lips. There was nothing to stare at, even just for a while. You could glance at me for a second then never turn back, never caring to take another look. Because I was just simply me, plain and dull, though the blush in my cheeks was far too red, there was no light in my face no brightness what so ever… I was so dim, almost fading. I could wear a shadow as a mask.
I had my father's looks, once said my mother who lies about almost everything I'm almost sure. I could never know myself if I looked like the man… I had yet to meet him.
"He was plain." She sighed once twirling the golden brown strands falling over her shoulder.
I was positive she was calling me plain… it was rather obvious at the time. I was only 13 then just blossoming into a young lady, just discovering the wonders of being a woman, but that ended quickly when I found nothing and got tired of looking.
Now today, I was 16. Today was my birthday and I'd be spending it alone. I wondered idly if my mother had forgotten again, and when she left just an hour ago without saying anything even closely related to birthday's ,it had been confirmed. She had forgotten, but I didn't blame her, I was such a shadow in this house I should just move out. She would forget I even lived here, that I was even hers. She would forget everything.
But for now I'll sit in my room and look for changes in the reflection, I'll look for something nice to look at. Did my breast get bigger? Did my cheek bones get higher? Was my hair any longer? I searched and searched, and maybe my lips got a bit fuller. Just a bit fuller. Enough to satisfy me. I got tired of staring at myself and let the crying birds show me out of the house and onto the porch where empty streets and a falling sun kept me company.
I held my hands in my lap as I sat on my porch alone counting the lines on my finger and the roses on my dress.
"Hey?" A tiny voice too unique to forget approached behind me, I jumped a bit in response but only raised my head once because I knew why she was approaching me, I knew why I had drawn attention to myself.
"You alright?" She came closer to sit next to me, and put her hand on my back, I tensed immediately.
"Yeah." I answered wiping away a few tears with the pal of my hand.
"Why are you crying?" Alice rubbed my back in soothing circles, I couldn't ignore her pleasantness, and it would be such a sin. I relaxed against her when she scooted closer by my side, but I didn't answer. I stayed silent.
"Did someone hurt you?" She whispered and I raised my head alarmed, looking her in her baby blue eyes I shook my head furiously.
"No, nothing like that." I sniffed bowing my head once again. She kept rubbing my back soothingly probably waiting for me to explain but I wouldn't, not on my porch in front of my house like a cry baby.
"Why don't you come inside?" I heard the smile in her voice and I raised my head to see her wide smile stretching across her face. For some reason Alice was excited by my presence and I had no idea why, but for some reason I didn't care and I let her escort me to her door way, my hand in hers.
The steam swirled so elegantly out of the mug, dancing almost. I watched it almost possessively as it danced out of the mug in front of me.
"This is nice, just you and me." Alice smiled warmly taking a sip of her coffee. Alice had made me a cup of tea and insisted I stay a while after I explained that no one was home at the moment. She seemed like the person who would talk a lot but I had a feeling she could sense I wasn't in the talking mood. I avoided her deep gaze by glancing around the dining room area, and from what I have seen their house was much like something out of a magazine, everything coordinated, everything simple patterns. Whereas my house was much like the inside of a thrift store.
"You have a nice house." I stated abruptly but my comment distracted her I could see by the flicker of emotions in her eyes. She brushed a strand of black hair back behind her ear and took a sigh before replying in a calm cool voice that soothed me from my head to my toes.
"I tried to make it nice. Edward isn't really into that stuff so it was up to me." She took a look around herself before resting her eyes back on me.
"Edward?" I asked before I could stop myself, curiosity over powers me almost all the time.
"My husband, sorry." She explained nodding slightly, then taking another sip of her coffee.
"Where is he?" I feel comfortable to ask, she seems to like talking about herself, most people do. It meant we didn't have to talk about me and I like that.
"Work, but he should be back anytime now." She glanced at the elegant silver watch on her wrist that I stared at longer than I should have. I ran out of questions, but I searched nervously for more.
"That's a nice dress you're wearing." She smiled down at my dress and I blushed several different shades of red before the involuntary smile spread across my face.
"Thank you. I picked it out myself." I smiled, and my happiness at the most simple thing seemed to surprise both of us, Alice's eyes seemed to brighten at my smile.
"You have good taste." She laughed lightly. "Maybe one day you could see my dresses help me choose."
"I'd like that." I answered a bit too quickly but it added to Alice's happiness. We let the excitement float in the air in silence as it came down and we sat there not saying a word for a while. Alice was an easy person to talk to, but I have no one to really compare it to since I don't talk too much people especially in this neighborhood. But I was sure not everyone was this easy to please. Alice seemed unique and different even as she just sat across from me at the table, with her jet black hair in a bun on the top of her head, with strands of loose hair around her face somehow adding to her beauty.
"Why were you crying Bella?" She filled the silence in the air, her voice was soft and understanding... caring even.
"Today's my birthday." I frowned down at my cup of tea playing with the handle.
"Happy Birthday!" Alice's voice was filled with that familiar excitement.
"Thank you." I smiled at my hands.
"How old are you?" I could hear her lean forward in her seat, she was honestly interested. I shouldn't have been surprised, not everyone is as cold and low as my mother.
"Sixteen." I glanced at her quickly then back down at my tea.
"Oh that's wonderful!"
"I suppose." I shrugged, I had spoken something that should have only been thought.
"What's wrong?"
I looked up at Alice again, and her eyes had turned sad, not such a bright blue rested in her eyes and it made me want to cry.
"Nothing." I forced a smile. "I just don't like birthdays."
"Oh you're too young for that." Alice giggled returning to her normal self. I mentally promised myself I would never do anything to put that look on her face again. I might roll over and die if I ever had to see it again.
Before I had the chance to respond the light creak of the door filled the house, along with crying birds and heavy shoes. Alice looked over my head towards the direction of the noise but I didn't even turn. I kept my eyes on my cup, trying to remember why I hate birthdays just in case she asks. My feet rested in my white flats uncomfortably and I kicked a shoe off slightly to release my aching toes, I arched my foot, then relaxed.
Arch, relax.
"In here Edward!" Alice called to the man, the grin on her face made it quite clear she was happy about his coming home, while I sat there bored and uninterested. I slipped my foot back in my flat and turned my body just a bit to watch Alice's husband enter the room. The tall, lean man blinked surprised with me sitting there he surely wasn't expecting company I suppose, then he smiled a warm smile at Alice and even though it wasn't directed at me I felt my entire body warm. I could see why Alice and Edward were together. He was perhaps even better looking than her. His bronze hair was practically a mess on his head but went so well with his crystal clear jade orbs, and his fair colored skin. The man was beautiful.
"Hello." He smiled a crooked smile at me and I forgot where I was.
"Hi." I said shortly.
"Edward, this is Bella the girl I was telling you about!" She squeaked running from the table and into his arms like a ballerina, he caught her with a chuckle and they both looked down at me like a child. I hated them both for a second. Just for a second.
"Nice to meet you Bella." He put out his hand to shake.
"Likewise." I sighed shaking his hand but never looking him in the eyes.
"Well I'll let you guys finish talking, I'll just be up stairs." He kissed Alice's cheek and smiled at me quickly before leaving to where ever he was going upstairs, I looked back at my tea not wanting to watch him leave.
Alice didn't ask about my birthday again, she got the point I didn't want to talk about it and I was grateful for that. I wouldn't have to lie to her, only when she asked about my mother or my father. I didn't have to make up some stupid reason why I wasn't with my family on my birthday. Instead Alice giggled and ranted about clothes and other things I would have never brought up at all but I didn't mind. She was funny, witty and easy to listen to with all her hand gestures, she wasn't hard to look at and there was no fake smile ever forced upon her face all genuine and true. I watched her almost amazed with her. Every now and then her husband would walk past or grab something from the kitchen or ask her for something, stealing my attention. He would glance at me but never long enough to count as looking at me, he would speak in his smooth voice and I would listen like my life depended on it. Alice was oblivious to my tenseness every time he entered the room, I was glad. I wouldn't have much fun explaining that to her.
It was about 10pm when I left home wishing I didn't have to. Alice hugged me and I hugged her back. She was my friend now. When I get home my mother smiles but says nothing and I almost waited to see if she would. And when I cry myself to sleep I remind myself to never hope again.
A/N: Thank You for the reviews guys (: I appreciate it, please continue to tell me what you think!