Disclaimer: All recognisable characters are the intellectual property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.
AN: Thanks for all the favourites and reviews! I know it's been a while, and I'm sorry to say the next chapter will take a while too. Real life can be a pain in the bum; the same goes for writer's block. Thanks to Julix121 for your review. I really hope you'll like this chapter as well. I would have responded to you personally but you have PMs turned off. I really do respond to all reviewers, so feel free to ask me questions! And now, on with the show …
Once Upon A Cinderbella
Chapter Two: Fairy Tales
"So, Bella. How has your day been so far? Have any Bella moments?" Yet again, I blushed. "Ooh, goody. I can see a story there. Now spill!"
There was no avoiding Alice when she was on a fact finding mission. I thought that the crowded restaurant would afford me a little protection but to no avail. Alice's shrill voice was attracting strange stares from the surrounding tables. I was certain that my cheeks matched the blood red curtains. The waiter was looking at us speculatively and approaching the table. It was time to do damage control.
"Alice, please! Lower your voice," I begged.
"No way! Not until you start giving me details."
"Alright, I will, but please just lower your voice a few decibels! I'll tell you after we order okay?" Alice nodded and proceeded to bounce in place. At least she was quiet. Mission accomplished. At that moment the waiter arrived at the table.
"Hello ladies. My name is Tyler and I'll be your server this afternoon. What would you like to order?" Tyler's voice was as oily as his black hair. He smiled in what I assume he thought was a seductive manner but only served to make him look constipated. I rolled my eyes. Alice giggled.
We placed our order and Tyler left but not without saying "Be sure to call me if there is anything else I can help you with," and a suggestive wink. I felt like throwing up.
"He so liked you!" Alice squealed, "But you could do so much better. However, he was good looking in an unusual way and if you were just after a little fun..."
"Alice, for the love of all that's holy, please stop," my cheeks were flushing again. In fact I wasn't sure that they had ever stopped. "I am not interested. Honestly he isn't that good looking, at least not in comparison to ..." I stopped abruptly. I didn't mean to make that slip. I really didn't want to tell Alice about my klutzy moment that morning as she would be yelling at me for not getting the guy's number, or name for that matter. Then she'd start plotting how to run into him again, and that led to picking out china patterns. Obsession, thy name is Alice.
"In comparison to who Bella? Did you meet someone? Oh, look at that blush! This has to do with the Bella moment you were embarrassed about earlier doesn't it?" Alice was practically vibrating with delight and her voice got higher and faster with each sentence. We were attracting attention again. In fact, the elderly couple one table over were glaring at us. I smiled apologetically.
"Alice. If you don't control yourself I will gag you and I will never give you any gossip ever again." Alice frowned at the gag comment, but gasped when I mentioned gossip, and sat bolt upright and still in her seat. She looked hurt. Oh, dear. Here came the puppy dog eyes. I was never going to keep this story to myself now.
"Bel - la," Alice whined. "You know I love you and I want what's best for you. I care, that's all. If you really don't want to tell me that's fine but I thought we were friends." Her bottom lip trembled. Damn. I forgot about the guilt trip. I sighed. Better just get it over with.
"I know Alice. I'm sorry. I love you too. I'm just a bit embarrassed, that's all, and I really don't need to have everyone in the restaurant look at us while I'm telling you this." Alice smiled. She knew it was only a matter of time before I caved.
At that moment, Tyler returned with our meals. He began to cast another appreciative glace my way, but was suddenly distracted by something over my shoulder. I turned to look. Rosalie was making her way to our table, heels clicking on the floorboards and hips swaying. She flicked a long blond tress over her shoulder then bent to kiss me on the cheek, elbowing Tyler out of the way. That girl had skills.
"Afternoon ladies." Rosalie sat down. She peered at Tyler's name tag. "Tyler is it? I'll have a Caesar salad and an orange juice please." Tyler just stood there gaping. She threw him a withering glance and he scampered off to place her order and probably dish out to the kitchen staff that he had actually seen a Victoria's Secret angel in the flesh. Men.
"Hi Rose. I didn't know you were joining us. We would have waited," I said, relieved. Maybe this would take the heat off me.
"I wasn't, but I got a text from Alice a few minutes ago telling me that you had news. So I hereby call this gossip session to order. Now dish." I glared at Alice. She smiled back serenely. That pixie really didn't play fair.
"Fine. But I only want to say this once, and no paying out on me afterwards!" I had to admit, they were excellent listeners. As I recounted the events of the morning, they gasped, rolled their eyes and looked sympathetic in all of the right places. They wanted a detailed description of the "super hottie", as Rosalie so effectively put it, and both cursed me to high heaven for not getting his number.
"But I was so embarrassed!" I wailed when Alice raised the issue again.
"You could have done worse," Rosalie mused. "The whole 'Call me Cinderella' thing was great. Really mysterious. Who knew Bella Swan had it in her?" I smiled.
"I was kind of proud of myself for that. At least I didn't stammer over my own name!"
"Yes, yes, very sexy Bella, but now how is he going to get your number? Sometimes I can't believe I'm friends with you!" Alice pointed out. The pixie was mad and on a rampage.
"Now Alice, no picking on me remember? It doesn't matter. I was just happy to escape with some of my dignity intact."
"Well, one thing's for sure," Rosalie said slowly and deliberately. "If he meets you again after this I will truly believe in magic and fairy tales!"
We erupted into laughter and I could see that Alice had forgiven me. The topic didn't resurface for the rest of lunch. Instead, the conversation became more dangerous. Well, from my perspective anyway. Alice began talking about the release party.
"So what's the theme Bella? I know you're doing all the planning for this. I need time to make us look perfect!" Alice simply lived to play Bella Barbie.
"Alice, breathe. Give the girl a chance to respond! We all know anything you create will be perfect anyway." Rosalie added. That woman had rescued me from Alice's clutches more times than I would like to count. I really owed her a nice Christmas present.
"I can't believe you don't know the theme Alice," I was completely shocked. Alice always knew everything. "It was your brother who requested it after all! Did you even look at the invitation?"
Alice's jaw gaped in horror. "I knew when the date was and trust you to tell me the rest. It's always formal anyway. No! Don't tell me that moron set the theme! He could have picked something completely awful! He never does anything right, it will be a total disaster." I decided to cut in before she began hyperventilating.
"It's okay. I like the idea. We're having a masque ball, to resemble the one in his book."
Alice stopped babbling, and then started bouncing at hyper speed. "Yay! I knew I would rub off on him eventually. This is going to be excellent. The gowns, the masks. I can see it now." She grabbed a napkin and started sketching.
Rosalie leaned towards me. "Who gave her caffeine?" she stage whispered.
"I heard that!" Alice didn't stop sketching. We laughed and left her to it.
The rest of lunch passed in a very pleasant manner. Rose, Alice and I chatted about possible dresses and Alice worked furiously on her sketches becoming more and more excited about the creations that she had dreamed up. Suddenly, she looked up with a devilish gleam in her eye.
"You know what, Bella?" Alice started.
"What?" I asked in trepidation.
"You'll need an escort to the ball, and so will my brother, it will be perfect! How romantic, a masque ball, music, lights..." I cut her off before she launched herself into orbit.
"No, Alice!" I all but shouted. The patrons at several tables turned to glare. Rose dropped her cutlery and stared, and Alice actually whimpered. At this stage, I couldn't care. It was time to set the meddling pixie straight. "I will NOT be set up on another blind date, especially not with your brother. It's bad enough that you constantly want to interfere in my love life..."
"Or lack thereof" muttered Rose. I shot her an enraged glare and she backed off.
"...but I will not be made to look like a fool in front of my colleagues." My train was steaming away and I wasn't stopping for passengers. "Your brother is an established author whose books are published by the company that I work for. I am currently organising the release party for his next soon-to-be-bestseller. It would be a conflict of interest of epic proportions if you were to introduce him to me in a romantic capacity. Can you imagine what Mike would say? I am not, under any circumstances, going to jeopardise my career simply because you think that your brother and I would make a cute couple. I have worked too hard to let it come to that. You will not put me in that position. This is the last time that we will even discuss this. Do I make myself clear?"
There was silence. Then Alice nodded.
"Wow Bella. The mouse can roar." This came from Rose. I turned, eyes blazing.
"Don't you start on me Rosalie. You can be just as bad as Alice and you know it. I am not going to take the 'let's set little Bella up because she's so pathetic she can't find a guy for herself' routine anymore! I will make the decisions about my life in my time!"
"Whoa! Down girl! I meant it as a compliment. We're sorry, aren't we Alice? We'll leave you to look after yourself, won't we?" Rose looked to Alice, who merely nodded. I was worried that she was stunned for a minute, but then she launched herself at me in a hug.
"I'm so sorry!" Alice wailed. "I didn't know you thought of us like that. We didn't mean anything I promise. I love you to bits and I solemnly swear I won't interfere again, unless you ask, of course."
"We really are sorry, Bella. We love you and want the best for you and sometimes we might go over the top. We'll back off, really." Rose looked at me apologetically. The two girls looked so sad and sorry I felt horrible. I couldn't believe I had just exploded, that was definitely not my usual style.
"I'm sorry. I know you want what's best for me. I don't know what came over me."
"Whatever it was, it should happen more often. That is what we call releasing the inner bitch. Well done Bella!" Rose crowed, and with that we all degenerated into giggles, friends once more.
The plates were cleared away and we cheerfully squabbled over the check. Tyler ogled us again on our way out the door. We rolled our eyes and laughed. It was always so pleasant spending time with the girls. I'd completely gotten over my embarrassment from the morning and was looking forward to the rest of the day. Perhaps life wasn't so bad after all.
"Okay girls," Alice started. "Time to head back to work. I'll call soon so I can fit you for the dresses for the ball. They're going to look spectacular!"
A gleam came over Rose's face. She started to speak slowly.
"A masque ball, meeting 'Prince Charming' this morning, your co-workers the evil stepsisters and Alice the pixie godmother. Hey, Bella. If you don't watch it your whole life will become a fairy tale!"
I did my best tomato impersonation and we all laughed. We bid our goodbyes and headed back to work. If only my life were a fairy tale. At least then I would be guaranteed a happily ever after.