(Max's POV)
I was able to shove the Edward incident to the back of my mind and just focused on talking to Alice.
"So, how old were you when you were changed?" She asked.
"Nineteen."
"Where'd you live?"
"Oakland," I said with a smile, remembering the music scene. "I used to sneak out of the house to see shows at Gilman. What about you? How old were you?"
"I don't remember my human life. But I did some research. My name was Mary Alice Brandon and I lived in Biloxi, Missouri in 1901. I got sent to an asylum, for having visions..." (A/N: I'm going off of memory here. So I'm not sure if that year is right)
"You're physic?"
"Yeah. And Edward can read minds. And Jasper's an empath. He can feel and manipulate the emotions around him."
"Cool." I was scared shitless once again. Edward could read minds? Fucking shit! Now I definitely couldn't tell Alice anything.
But I did say, "So, yeah, Edward really seems to like Bella..."
Alice rolled her eyes. "He needs to get over her. He was dating her when she was still human and left her. Jasper was the one who kept her sane, and now their together. And they're getting married!" Her eyes lit up.
"I take it you're the wedding planner," I said, slightly amused.
"Yep! And I have so much to do!"
"I could help," I offered.
She turned to look at me. "Really? You would do that?"
I smiled. I couldn't help but smile when I was with Alice. She was just so full of life and energy. "Of course I'll help!"
"Thanks, Max. You're the best."
Alice drove to a mall in the United States, telling me they had better stores.
About an hour later, she stopped the car at a huge mall, and dragged me inside. "Where do you usually shop?" She asked.
"Hot Topic."
"Off to Hot Topic!" She pulled me by the hand towards the store and I couldn't help but laugh. And I couldn't help but notice how tiny she was! She was thin in the extreme, and at her full height she only came up to just below my shoulder. I'm pretty short compared to Edward, Jasper, and Emmett, only about five foot seven.
We got to the store and Alice went crazy! In a few minutes, my arms were full of band shirts and skinny jeans. "Um. Alice. I don't have the money to pay for all of this."
"Don't worry. I'm paying."
I shrugged and let her go crazy again. By the time we left the mall, I had twenty band shirts (all punk bands), and ten different pairs of skinny jeans. And a new pair of Converse. My current ones have holes in the sides and the soles are starting to wear out. Alice also bought me a pair of black and red checkered Vans slip-ons, new eyeliner, and five different hoodies. And she bought a shitload of stuff for herself too.
"Carlisle doesn't mind you spending all this money?" I asked, surprised, as we walked back out to the car.
"Not at all. He's the best doctor probably in the whole world and he gets a raise almost every week. And we don't spend money on any food or stuff like that. So that gives me even more money to spend."
"Cool." I'd never had that much money. I was working part-time at a record store in downtown Berkley, and skating and going to shows in my free time. All my money went into hair dye, tickets for shows, tattoos, piercings, and band shirts. I was trying to get a band together too when I was changed.
Alice asked me, "So, how can you get piercings if we're rock solid?"
I laughed. "I got these before I was changed. I have a few tattoos too."
"Nice."
"Yeah. I know." I pulled up the sleeve of my hoodie, showing off the star tattoo I had there.
"Wow."
Alice stopped in front of the house. We didn't get out of the car though. Just sat there in comfortable silence.
Alice was the one to break the silence. "Hey Max?"
"Yeah Alice?"
"I really like you."
"I really like you too." It was true. I think I might even be in love with her.
"No, I mean, I think I love you."
"I was just thinking the same thing." I turned to smile at her.
"You were?"
I nodded. And then, feeling more courageous than I ever have, I leaned over, and pressed my lips to hers.
I felt her freeze up, and then relax as she returned the kiss and pulled me closer.
I don't know how long the kiss lasted- seconds, minutes, or even hours- but it was the best one of my life. I pulled back and looked into Alice's eyes. She was smiling. "That was amazing."
"Yeah. It was," I agreed. "Should we go inside the house?"
She laughed. "Yeah. I guess we should."
We got out of the car and started walking to the house at a human pace, holding hands.
But then I let go of Alice's hand and wrapped my arm around her waist. She smiled up at me and I bent down and kissed the tip of her nose.
We reached the front door within a few minutes, since we were walking slower than even most humans.
We made our way to the living room, where Jasper and Emmett were battling it out on Guitar Hero III, while Rosalie and Bella watched. Alice and I sat down next to Bella on the couch.
I asked, "Hey. Can I play winner?"
Jasper answered, without turning from the screen. "Sure thing. Just let me kick Emmett's ass."
They were playing "Holiday In Cambodia" by The Dead Kennedys on expert, and I couldn't help but sing along. "You're a star-belly sneech. You suck like a leech. You want everyone to act like you. Kiss ass while you bitch, so you can get rich. But your boss gets richer off you. Well you'll work harder with a gun in your back. For a bowl of rice a day. Slave for soldiers 'til you starve. Then your head is skewered on a stake..."
They finished the song and then Emmett turned to look at me. "How the hell can you even understand that?"
I shrugged. "I know the Dead Kennedys. My turn."
Jasper beat Emmett so Emmett gave up his controller and passed it to me. "Which song?" I asked Jasper.
"Your choice."
I picked "Story of My Life" by Social Distortion. I've always been really good at Guitar Hero, and Jasper was probably better.
We both started singing this time. "Well high school, seemed like such a blur. I didn't have much interest in sports or school elections and in class, I dreamed all day. Of a rock and roll weekend. And the girl in the front of the room. So close yet so far you know she never seemed to notice tht this silly, school-boy crush, wasn't just pretend..."
Jasper won, just like I knew he would, even if it was by just a few points.
"I am the master of Guitar Hero!" He proclaimed, holding his controller above his head.
We all laughed at him. But then Alice got really still and stared off into space, I'm guessing she was having a vision.
After it was over, she broke into a grin. "Max, Jasper. I need to talk to both of you in private."
She grabbed both of our hands and dragged us out to the forest behind the house, out of earshot from everyone else.
(Bella's POV)
I wondered what Alice had seen, but knew I didn't need to worry. It was something good.
I smiled and watched Emmett try to play "Raining Blood" by Slayer on expert on Guitar Hero. He kept messing up at the bridge.
"Fuck!" He cursed and threw the controlled down after failing the song for the third time. "Fuck this shit." Then he went upstairs, with Rosalie following close behind.
I switched off the game and turned off the TV while I waited for Jasper, Alice, and Max to get back.
I could faintly hear the chords and notes that formed the lullaby Edward wrote me coming from upstairs. He'd been listening to that CD he made me on repeat for hours.
I was really worried about him...
"Are you worried about Edward again?" Jasper's voice in my ear brought me out of my thoughts.
I turned to see Jasper sitting on the couch next to me. He was looking at me questioningly. "Were you?"
"Yeah," I admitted.
He pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead. "Don't worry about him. He's fine." But there was something else. Something he wasn't telling me. I could hear it in his voice.
A/N: Ooooh, cliffie! XD and some fluff thrown in for good measure. Ok, so the songs used were "Holiday In Cambodia" by The Dead Kennedys and "Story of My Life" by Social Distortion. And I guess you could count "Raining Blood" by Slayer... but yeah, all show up on Guitar Hero 3.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the character Max.