Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight; it is the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are mine. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Thanks to my lovely Beta Biddy429 !!!

Chapter 9

Shopping

I drove from school to the grocery store to pick up some food items. I parked the car and ran into the store, I remembered that other than milk, eggs and cheddar cheese that I had no idea what we really needed. I just decided to buy anything that took my fancy so I grabbed a buggy and started off in the fruit and vegetable aisles.

A few minutes later I realised there was no way we could possibly eat all of what I had chosen before it would spoil. I stared into the buggy wondering what we could live without. Bananas, apples and oranges were definitely staying but what was going to have to go back on the shelves, it was a hard one......cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, avocados, peppers, tomatoes, pears and mangoes. I continue to stare at the items in the buggy trying to come to a decision and no matter how long I stood there I could not make a final decision, what stays and what goes! Oh what a dilemma I have before me!

"Is something wrong dear?" a voice said from behind me and I turned expecting it to one of the shop assistants who had been watching me, probably thinking I had lost my mind! Imagine my surprise when I encountered another customer with a buggy, she was wearing what looked like a dress with a matching in a lovely shade of green. I noticed that it looked lovely especially as she was wearing a set of pearls which accentuated the colour of the outfit even more against her very pale almost alabaster skin. She must have caught me staring at her because I blushed in embarrassment.

"Oh, nothing is wrong at all, it is just that I have realised that if I buy all of what I have chosen most of it will spoil before we get a chance to eat it all. I have no idea what to buy and what to put back, it's just too hard to decide!" I said laughing at myself. She walked over to where I was standing, leaving her own buggy unattended.

The woman stood and peered into my buggy and said "Hmmm it is a lot of fruit and vegetables. How many are you shopping for?" she asked and I lamely held up two fingers. "Really, only the two of you, it looks like you are about to feed an army? A very healthy army too!" she said smiling at me. I thought to myself "who is she, why does she want to know what I am buying and how many for – what is it to her anyway – maybe that's what they do here in Forks, some people are just plain weird".

I felt the need to explain my predicament to this woman, why I could not understand, "Well, I know my dad and I will be able to do justice to the apples, oranges, bananas, carrots and cucumbers" I said moving them to the upper section of the buggy. "The main problem I have is the lettuce, tomatoes or peppers. I like salad but my old dad Charlie is a meat eater more than anything" I said and then continued again, "I love avocados, mangoes and pears but Charlie doesn't" so, you could say I'm a bit stuck!" The woman looked at me and then looked at the contents of my buggy once again.

"Well, some advice is what you need. Now, please don't take this the wrong way but is money a big concern? " she asked and I shrugged.

"No not really I'm just used to..." I told her and then realised that had had been bargain hunting! I was so used to buying what was on special or a better deal I had done it on instinct!

"Well dang! I was shopping like I did before when I only had a bit of money." I said relieved as I changed around the produce and lessened the load considerably. Removing the extras and only buying what I wanted instead of the 2 for $5 deal for lettuce and the two batches of 3 for $4 for the peppers. I adjusted a few of the other items in the buggy also and it looked like veggies for two instead of five. "Thanks, I never would have figured that out on my own" I said happily.

She smiled back said "I am just happy to have been able to help you dear" and we each continued with our shopping tasks. We spent the next few minutes looking at items on the shelves and chatted quite amiably to one another about some of the products on the shelves. Dairy was next and I started bouncing slightly. She giggled at me and I smiled.

"I have a thing for chocolate milk, it's just yummy!" I told her as I left the cart and went to grab a jug of skimmed milk and another of chocolate milk. She raised her eyebrows and I shrugged. "I could drink this myself in a day if I'm not careful" I told her and she shook her head at me.

"That may not be the best thing to boast about" She said picking up two jugs of milk, one whole and one skimmed. I looked at her questionably.

"How many are you shopping for?" I asked and she smiled at me.

"Seven including myself" She answered and my eyes must have looked as though they were about to bug out of my head.

"Wow, a lot of mouths to feed" I replied and she chuckled as we each continued to pick up various items, like butter, cheese and such. When she picked up three block of butter I knew she had to be a baker. "So you bake?" I asked she looked at me startled for a moment before nodding.

"It's what I do with most of my spare time, why do you ask?" she said looking confused that I knew she baked. I smiled and pointed to her buggy.

"You have icing sugar, castor sugar, flour and now you have lots of butter" I said and she smiled at me. "So what's your favourite that you like to bake?" I asked and she seemed to think about it as I added some items to my buggy. I have no idea how people live without making cookies, fresh cookies rule. "I like cookies... all types really but I am the best at brownies" I said holding out a couple of boxes of brownie mix.

"I am more of a cake and pie maker" She said and I laughed at the way she said that. It sounded so much like a nursery rhyme that I couldn't stop myself, realising I had just burst into laughter I calmed my self and blushed embarrassed. I hope I hadn't offended her by laughing at her.

"Sorry it was just the way you said that, it was a bit weird" I said and quickly continued, "It reminded me of a nursery rhyme... though I can't recall which one right now" She nodded at this and but didn't seem to mind my laughter. We continued to shop together until we both filled our buggies however on looking at my own I realise that I had put a lot more into my buggy than I had intended!

"You certainly have bought a lot this evening dear" She commented as I piled the food from the buggy onto the conveyor belt. I smiled and realised I had massively over bought but it would not go to waste.

"Yep but Charlie's cupboards were nearly bare when I got here." I answered and she shook her head. "A girl's got to care for the boys or who knows the trouble they could get into" I said and she laughed at that.

"I agree completely" She said as I finished loading up the conveyer belt. "I don't know what trouble mine could get into if I didn't mind after them" She said thinking of her family. I smiled at her and wondered what hooligans she had at home. She had the same pale features as the Cullens but its best not to assume things based on appearances.

Once through the check-out I waved at her and headed out into the rain to put my purchases in my car. Once I had unlocked the boot, the first things I put in were the items in boxes. Paper, cardboard and rain don't mix well so I moved as quick as I could and when I was finally finished I was drenched through. I then had to return the buggy back to the store so I ran back with it and as I did so I saw her leave the store.

"Hey since I'm already drenched through why don't I give you a hand?" I asked bouncing around trying to keep warm in the cold rain. She looked at me and being in a supergirl mood I grabbed her trolley and almost skipped to the black sedan that she pointed to. She was smiling at me and shaking her head as she ran with me to the car.

"I don't like the idea of you out in the rain dear" She said in a worried and motherly type of way and I beamed at her.

"Oh, it's okay, I love the rain!" I said actually meaning it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a cold weather person but there is nothing more natural than dancing in the rain in the summer – it's so exhilarating" Quickly noting which bags had boxes I grabbed them as she opened the trunk. Carefully I pushed them in towards the back and grabbed her bags as she turned towards me. I smiled at her cheekily and she passed me the bags and I loaded her trunk.

"Thank you for your assistance my dear" She said as I walked with her to return the buggy. I knew I had to look like a drowned rat by now and once we were under the store front I took off my coat and sweater. She chuckled when she saw my shirt and I blushed.

I smiled at her ruefully and said to her "What can I say, it's my duty" I said striking another horrible pose before giggling. Quickly I put my coat back on and wrung out my sweater. "Dang thing soaks up the water" I commented and once again she chuckled and shook her head.

"It was lovely to meet you dear" She said and I offered my hand.

"I'm Bella" I said, "it was nice to meet you too and thanks again for solving my produce conundrum" I said smiling.

"Not a problem dear, I was only too pleased to have been able to help you, oh and silly me, I'm Esme Cullen, Dr. Cullen's wife" She explained and I smiled widely at her, I had been right.

"Neat and it was lovely to meet you! I met your husband already at the hospital say 'hi' for me? " I answered as the rain decided to come down even harder. I stared at the sky for a moment. "Well that's just mean" I commented, "You could have waited until we were already in our cars" Esme chuckled and I looked at her. "Well it is just plain rude" I said smiling.

"I'm sure it wasn't on purpose dear and I'll pass your message on to Carlisle." She said and we got into our respective cars, being me I managed to slip and land on my butt just as I opened the door. I laughed as I laid back on the ground for a moment. It's a good thing I'm on my way home. Esme looked at me and nearly came over to me as I waved at her in her car.

"I'm fine!" I called giggling, "Well that's all of me dripping wet now" I said pulling myself up and opening the car door and slipping in. I started up the car and was glad for the leather interior; at least the driver's seat won't have a giant wet stain on it. I reversed out of the space and drove home very carefully making sure that I stayed in the right lane. Even with almost no one else on the road I was nervous, the rain always made me nervous when I was driving.

By the time I got home my head was hurting from trying to see through the rain. Charlie's cruiser was in the driveway and I decided to make him help me with the bags only grabbing 3 or 4 on my way in. I managed to stay upright even on the slippery walkway to the steps and front door but nearly lost it on the porch. Thankfully Charlie grabbed me before my butt could hit ground for the second time.

"Gees Bells." He said laughing and I pushed passed him into the warm house.

"You are getting the rest of the bags" I said pointing at him and began stripping my wet clothes off as I ran up to my room. On my way I also shouted "I am soaked through and in need of a hot shower" I had reached my bedroom when I heard him running out to the car and cussing at the weather. I chuckled to myself at this! With a huge grin on my face I stepped into the shower and let the hot water run over my cold skin and before long I began to get warm again.

Sometimes even Supergirl got cold and being a super hero was not all it was cut out to be! Can't have it all ways, can I?