AN: Round two here we go!
Disclaimer: Sorry, forgot to do this the last two times. All thing Twilight belongs to the big SM. Yup Stephanie Myers. Good for her.
Chapter 2
"Bella. Bella! Bella! OhmyGod! It's me! Alice!" shouted the figure beside Jasper. She was definitely Alice. Beautifully styled jet black hair, petite figure, rocking body, unparalleled style. Alice was now bouncing up in the air and squealing like an overgrown doggy toy.
Before I knew it, I ran toward Alice and tackled her into one of the best hugs I had given in a while. "Alice, I missed you so much," I said into her shoulder.
"I missed you more, Bella. I felt so lost without you," cried Alice.
"Don't tell me you came here with Jasper," I hoped she didn't, but I knew. Shit just got a lot more complicated. I usually avoided complicated, but not tonight.
I laughed and before I knew it, just like old times, Alice was laughing with me. I was drunk and was just reunited with the person I love the most. No one could blame me for my outburst. I wasn't just drunk on alcohol though, I was drunk on happiness.
I dragged Alice over to Rose. "Rosie, this is Alice, my long lost best friend. Alice, this is my boss at the company I work at, Rosie." There. First time awkwardness gone. After I was introduced with Jasper, drinks were plenty all around and the four of us began laughing like old friends.
"Oh! And remember the time when we watched Final Destination together! What were we? Like fourteen. And then I hid in the dark and jumped out. I scared the shit out of you!" I pointed at Alice. Laughing drunkenly at the memory.
"Yeah well, Belly, if I recall, you couldn't sleep alone for days!" Alice countered, her face flushed from alcohol. She cackled. Truly crackled. It was going to be hell in the morning.
"I remember Final Destination, too! I had nightmares," added Jasper. He visibly shivered.
We all laughed our asses off. This evening turned out a lot better than expected. I was having a lot of fun.
Until-
"So Bella, you seem to be pretty close to Rosie," Alice giggled. She smiled suggestively toward me and to Rose and back to me again.
"You should know that Bella is sooo hot. She comes into work everyday swinging her lush brown curls, her skirt nice and tight, and don't get me started on those red pumps." Rose was past drunk now. "But just so you know, I'm not like that. I don't swing that way. It was worth it when I saw Jazz's face." Rose opened up her eyes really wide and made a perfect "o" with her mouth to imitate Jazz when he first saw his sister getting it on with another woman. She broke into a fit a laughter, but who wouldn't?
"Yup. Me neither. I am not like that, nor will I ever will be," I slapped my hand against the counter top to further prove my point. I glanced sideways to Alice and Rose, only to see that they were both sniggering.
"Okay whateveeer," said Alice.
"So Alice. How is your brother?" I asked, hoping to change the topic.
Alice thought for a moment before responding. She tapped her chin thoughtfully for a moment. "I don't know actually. I haven't talked to him in ages. I think he's doing good."
"Sounds interesting," I mused.
There was a moment of silence before Rose exclaimed, "Let's dance!" She grabbed mine and Alice's hand and pulled us onto the dance floor.
Unfamiliar music pounded all around me. Vibrations that reached my core. Lots of sweaty bodies were grinding into each other. I felt Rose start grinding behind me. Well, I could do that, too. Rose stepped in behind me and started to move. I let my hips gyrate in slow circles.
Rose's hands were now resting on my hips. I squinted into the dark and saw Alice in her own little bubble, dancing with Jasper. More like having sex with clothes on.
There were women all around me, grinding against each other, slithering, curving, bending. Wow it was like a massive orgy or a man's dream come true, or both.
I needed a breather.
We all sat down again, breathing hard. Rose ordered a round of drinks again. I need a drink.
"Rose you can read my mind." I laughed at how silly I must have sounded.
Then Alice tried to excuse herself to go to the ladies room when she barely took a step, swerved and crashed into Jasper's lap.
"I think it's time we wrap thing up," I said a little too loudly. I didn't want to be the party to end, but I knew Alice was about an hour away from collapsing. I had too much to drink myself.
We all stumbled through the late night crowd into the cool Seattle air.
"The tab!" I slapped my forehead in exasperation. It must have been huge and I let my boss pay for it. "Rose, let me pay for the tab. Or at least half of it."
"No, no Bella. I can't let a sweet thang like you pay for an eight hundred dollar tab. And, I was the one who invited you." Rose giggled and gave me a peck on the check.
"Thanks Rose, I owe you." I responded. I turned to Alice. "Alice, call me tomorrow. We have a lot to catch up on missy."
"Belly, I can't call you if you don't give me your number." Alice whined. But she had a point. I handed her my Blackberry and she gave me her iPhone.
"Alice, really? An iPhone?" But I wasn't here to criticize her phone. I quickly punched in my number and gave it back to her.
"Tomorrow, okay?" I asked. But Alice and Jasper were already in the cab. Alice blew me a kiss through the open window as they were driven away.
I gave Rose a quick hug before clambering into a cab. More like flew when my heel caught on the door frame, either way I was in.
"56 Columbia Street, please." I told the driver.
I relaxed in my seat and let the Seattle night life fly by me. It was beautiful. All the lights. Like stars.
/
There were a thousand little knives, stabbing my brain over and over. I wanted the light to go away. It burned like hell. I groggily opened my eyes and tried to open my mouth. It felt like it was filled with cotton. The display on my alarm clock read 11 AM. Then I realized I needed to take a piss.
"Shit," I cursed out loud. I was still in yesterday's clothes and I heard a very loud rip. I stepped into my bathroom and after finishing, stepped out with a satisfied sigh.
I looked toward my door and saw my shoes scattered on the floor and my jacket carelessly tossed on the floor. My bags were dumped on my couch.
"Aspirin. I need Aspirin." I grabbed two pills and swallowed them down. I needed a lot of things. A clear-thinking brain. An easy button in life. Food. More Aspirin. A shower.
I ruled that taking a shower was most important. I stripped and hopped into the shower and let the hot water run down my back, loosening my aching muscles. I squirted some shampoo into my hand and lathered it into my head, making sure I got all the knots out.
After I got all cleaned up and got dressed, I called Alice.
Ring. Rin-
"Bella?" Alice's voice was too high. A new wave of pain crashed through my head.
"Alice, I forgot you were a morning person," I grimaced. I heard her bell like laugh.
"Bella, I forgot how much you were not a morning person. Anywho, we should meet for lunch. I have so much to tell you!" Alice squealed.
"Sounds perfect. I'll come pick you up at your hotel, if that's okay?" I asked.
"I'm staying at the Hilton. Meet you at the lobby at 1!" and the line went dead.
Damn, I only had twenty minutes to get ready now. I slipped on some black skinny jeans, a plain t-shirt and my grey wool jacket. I hoped I didn't dress too casually.
I put slapped on some lip gloss and mascara, grabbed my bag and headed out. I fluffed up my hair on my way out just in case.
When I stepped into the lobby, I expected to wait at least ten minutes. But no, Alice was already there. She flew over and gave me a bone crunching hug. I guess I wasn't the only anxious one too.
"Hello to you too, Alice!" I giggled. Alice was dressed in a fashionable pair of dark wash jeans and what I presumed to be a stylish black top. She had a Coach bag swinging haphazardly on the crook of her elbow.
"Bella, you look great!" Alice said excitedly. She smiled her radiant smile at me and looked at me with her wide, sparkly green eyes.
"You too Alice," I replied. "There's an awesome pizza place a few blocks from here. I know how much you love that cheesy goodness." I elbowed her ribs.
"Mmmm, sounds good." And with that, we marched out the door, arm in arm.
We made small talk our walk there.
"So Doc is still at the hospital?" I asked, curious.
"He's the general manager of the hospital now. He runs everything, makes sure everything is running smooth. He's still a doctor, though," She spoke with so much respect and admiration for her father, it was really touching.
"What about you Bella? What's going on with Charlie?" she asked, genuinely concerned.
"He's officially retired. Fishes at Forks River every other day, drinks beer while watching sports, and orders take out every night. He's doing good," I smirked. He was the definition of a true bachelor.
I told Alice about my degree in English literature. My failure of a college social life. Moving to Seattle. Then finding a job in the city. Now that I though about it, my life was boring. It left a bitter taste in my mouth.
We entered the restaurant, sat down and ordered a large "everything" pizza. I enjoyed the relative intimacy of this parlor. The lights were slightly dimmed and there were dark red and gold booths with poufy seat cushions.
"You seem to be doing well, my friend," Alice told me.
Now that we were in our seats and there was enough light, I looked at Alice. Truly looked at her. I looked past her eyes and tried to take a peek into the very depths of her soul. To see what ten years did to her.
She had her raven colored hair cut short in a stylish shag. It suited her, made her look like she meant business but at the same time preserved her freshness, her youth. Thick eyelashes framed a pair of beautiful green eyes. A petite nose and a petite mouth filled with laser straight, white teeth that gleamed when she smiled. Full lips covered in lip gloss. Beautiful.
"So how did you meet Jasper?" I asked. I didn't remember too much from last night, but he seemed pretty cute. Tall, lanky, and a mop of dirty brown hair, but with the facial structure of an Armani model of course.
"Well…" Alice stared off dreamily into space and I knew I was in for a good story.
"I was walking along NYU's main campus, right? And I was just enjoying my day, it was a cloudless August day and I knew I was already accepted and enrolled to go there that fall. Like I said, I was wandering and not really looking where I was going, then I walked right into this handsome stranger. He jumped down and grabbed my things and as he handed my books to me, he smiled and drawled out 'Sorry, lil' miss'"
Alice sighed and her smile brightened as she went on with her little story.
"He stared at me with those piercing blue eyes and smiled, turned and left. I felt a connection with him, Bella. I knew he was the one. I just felt it. But I was standing there like a gaping idiot. I didn't even know his name! I kinda drifted through the next few months until I walked into the campus Starbucks and guess who I see, working the register? My mystery man. I gave him my order and from that day on, he would have the same drink ready whenever I came, which was everyday. The rest is history."
After letting the silence linger for a few moments, I responded. "Wow Alice, that's amazing. Jasper seems good for you and he seems like he genuinely cares for you. I only have two questions," I said.
Alice raised her perfect eyebrow, "What can it be?"
"One, how did you get that story out in four breaths and two, what kind of drink was it?"
She shook her head and burst into a fit of giggles.
"Bella you are ridiculous, but maybe that's why I love you so much."
"Oh whatever, you know I love you too, probably for the same reason,"
We laughed and enjoyed ourselves until our cheesy order arrived.
After finishing the entire large pie, I escorted Alice back to the Hilton. I hugged her tightly before letting her go.
"I'm going to miss you, pixie," I called Alice by her old nickname. "When are you flying out to New York again?"
"We have a flight scheduled for tomorrow morning," she replied solemnly. She rolled her eyes up to stop the tears from flowing down her face. "I wish we had more time together. We only got to hang out for a day. I already miss you."
I gripped her hand tightly before I let her go. Before turning to leave, she kissed me on the cheek, very tenderly.
"Come to New York soon, okay?" Alice asked me before the elevator doors closed. Her eyes were opened wide and her bottom lip was pouting out.
I wanted to go to New York, to live near my best friend and to spend all day with her shopping and eating and gossiping and shopping. But my job chained me here. I wouldn't last out east without a decent job. I would get ripped up to little pieces and swept away by the current of people that strived in the city.
/
Thanks for reading!