After I had agreed to let Alice stay with me, she admitted that that's what she had planned before she'd made the trip up here. Which meant that she had brought all her stuff with her, ready to not take 'No' for an answer. And by all her stuff, I mean as much of it as she could fit in her tiny little car.

"Now, remind me again why you could possibly need this many bags of makeup?" I asked as I lugged a third bag full of mascara, lipstick, and eye-shadow through the doorway. Alice simply shook her head. "And don't you roll your eyes at me you little pixie!" I knew she was, though but she giggled and I gave up on that frown I was planning on giving her.

"Seriously, Bella, when you work for the fashion world, you kind of have to look like you work in the fashion world. Besides, makeup is one of the essentials that I need to survive! It's girly, it's fun, and you can make yourself into anyone you want to be. And don't think you can escape from me, little lady, when it's GNO night – because you can run, but I'll trip you and tie you down so there's no chance of hiding." I turned to face her with an incredulous look on my face.

"Um, seriously Alice? Need you resort to violence? And what the heck is GNO night?" I stood with my hands on my hips, facing Alice who had been lugging yet another suitcase through the door. She let it go and stood, mirroring my stance.

"GNO, please Bella – how long have we known each other? It's "Girl's Night Out" night! For goodness sakes!" I scoffed.

"You seriously have that initialized? You just got here, heck I practically just got here. I can't be thinking about going out when I have all this stuff to take care of!" I gestured at the piles of boxes and sheets and her luggage. Alice didn't seem phased.

"Bella, every girl needs a night when she can just let loose. And from the looks of this sty, you need one bad. I don't care if we're in the middle of remodeling here. We're going to go out Friday and we're going to have some fun. You do remember what fun is, Bella?" She cocked an eyebrow. I snickered at the look on her face.

"Bella?" she chimed again and I shook my head.

"Alright, alright Alice – You win, we'll go out. But if you're going to stay here and enact such ridiculous, unnecessary rules as that then I'll just have to make you help me clean this place. And don't think I care about you're dislike of getting dirty." I pointed my finger at her, my voice serious and she sight.

"Right, right – of course I'll help Bella." And with that settled, we finished the job of brining in the rest of the luggage. It totaled up to about ten different suitcases. I looked through the window at her Mini Cooper and scratched my head.

"It's like a clown car!" I exclaimed and Alice laughed. "Seriously, Alice, I don't know how you managed to fit all of this," I gestured at her things, "into that." Alice shrugged.

"What can I say – I'm a magician! I work wonders!" I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, well now it's time you work your cleaning wonders and help me get this place fixed up!"

***

There hadn't been any incidences of the house's wrath as Alice and I worked our way through each room – straightening, dusting, adjusting the furniture, adding my furniture, tossing out furniture that was no longer suitable to be used, and painting. Practically every room needed a fresh coat of paint and Alice, with her fashion sense, helped me choose colors, which she loved. But I made her help me paint, which she hated. But we got the task done. Alice and I bought new drapes to replace those old wooden shutters that seemed meant to block out all light. Once we did, the place looked so much lighter and so much more livable. Some movers helped us bring in my couch, chairs, dining table, washing machine, dryer, and kitchen appliances, thankfully, so now my kitchen was fully equipped and my living room and dining room presentable. Alice was particularly grateful for the washer and dryer.

"Now we can wash our clothes properly, though we must go in town at some point and find a dry cleaner, because this dress will not be subjected to home wash," she informed me.

At the moment, we were working on the upper floor and Alice was helping me dust the gigantic armoire, beautifully adorned with wood carvings.

"You know, you could fit so many clothes in here, Bella! I am so jealous!" I giggled at her seriousness.

"Honestly, Alice, I don't have nearly enough clothes to fill this thing up. Really, I like it more because of its beauty. The room looks so old fashioned that it would be out of place without this piece!"

"Oh, Bella, I'll help you stock it up, alright. One of these days, after the house is ready and everything, we're going shopping and I'm going to help you out."

"Alice, right now I can't afford to go shopping. I'm low on funds and as soon as this house is finished, I'm going to be getting a job. You know, a job – like one that pays and that most people have as their main source of income!"

"Don't think I can't detect your sarcasm, Bella. I know you need a job. But I'm still making quite a bit of money no problem, and I can help you out in the mean time. You're my friend and I'm not afraid of sharing." I smiled at her but shook my head.

"You know me, Alice, better than anyone. So you should know that I don't like people buying things for me! You know I wouldn't be able to repay you for some time and I don't like being indebted." Alice shook her head back at me.

"Really, Bella, I wouldn't expect anything back from you. I'm your friend and I wouldn't dream of demanding repayment. Just look at it as Alice's way of looking after her best friend in the entire world! You know how much I love to spoil you!" she chided me and I just laughed and continued with my work.

After the armoire, we worked on the vanity, which had the biggest mirror I'd ever seen inside a home before. Alice looked at it adoringly and I almost offered that she put it in her room, but I stopped myself. I knew she'd never take it. The bed was a whole nother story.

Alice looked at the largeness of it with shining eyes while I was more than daunted.

"You know, Bella, this bed needs proper dressing. Let's go to Seattle this weekend and go bedding shopping!" She clapped her hands. I just shrugged.

"Fine, but I want something inexpensive and simple. The bed's gaudy enough for me. Well, I guess beautiful is more the word…I really couldn't picture adding anything else to it." I was still looking at the bed when Alice exclaimed,

"Oh my gosh!" I turned and quickly looked around to find Alice. She was standing, staring up at the gigantic portrait of Edward Masen that I'd yet to show her or let her know anything about. I'd artfully arranged a sheet over the portrait before we'd started working on the room – an action which left the house shaking as if a large gust of wind were sweeping through, but which I'd ignored. Alice, it seems, had removed the sheet herself and was now standing frozen in place, clearly in awe of the same beauty that captured my attention whenever I looked upon it.

"Who is this!?" I sighed.

"That is the builder, Alice. He designed the home and died in it apparently…That is Edward Masen." Alice turned to look at me.

"He's dead? What a shame! He's gorgeous!" I could only nod in agreement.

"That he is," I sighed, looking away. "I was thinking of moving the portrait, though. I don't know how I'd feel with him staring down at me all the time," I admitted. Alice nodded but didn't say anything. I waited for a response from the house but there was none.

"Well Bella, I think it's time we take a break," Alice announced after tearing her eyes away from the portrait. I sighed.

"You want a snack?" I asked, looking at my watch. It was almost 7 o'clock at night. Time really did fly by when you weren't paying attention. "I could make you something…"

"No Bella. Tonight is the night," she announced. I merely looked at her, then it dawned on me.

"Oh no, Alice – Not tonight! I'm tired and sweaty!" But Alice was already grinning and advancing on me.

"We just finished cleaning up this room – we have a beautiful, big mirror, we have all that makeup just sitting down there waiting to be used!" Alice went on and I took a step back as she continued to advance. "And do you know what tonight is?" she asked me. I wracked my brain but I couldn't come up with anything, so I shook my head.

"Tonight is Friday!!!"

***

After spending an excruciating amount of time under the care of Alice Brandon's salon inspired fingers, she deemed me perfect.

I had lost the Friday Girl's Nigh Out fight and subsequently I was forced before the vanity and was subjected to layers of applied makeup, hair product, and fashion tips that were meant to be jabs at my apparent lack of fashion sense. Alice always made me painfully aware of my non-girly habits and lack of fashion knowledge, but she did it in good spirit. I tried to be a good sport about it, but I couldn't always mask my displeasure at being made into a Bella Barbie.

Alice, after finishing with my physical appearance, rushed off to get my outfit for the evening. Of course I couldn't pick out what I was to wear, and of course I couldn't wear any of my clothes either, they were all unacceptable.

As I was waiting up in my room, my eyes wandered over to Edward's portrait. He looked as severe as ever, but as always whenever I looked at him, I felt my insides twist and my breath leave me. His eyes held such power – even if they were just oil on canvas…I really should track down the artist, because whoever they are, they have amazing talent. Alice quickly interrupted my thoughts, though by bursting into the room, a dress draped across her arms.

"Here it is!" she sang approaching me. Alice held it out for me to look over. The dress looked simple enough, which I was grateful for, and was a silvery-blue color. It had a silver bow on the front, just at the bust level, and a high waist (A/N: picture on profile).

"Alice, it's beautiful," I sighed. She smiled.

"I knew you'd like it and I bought it just for you! I saw it back in Phoenix and it just screamed you!" I rolled my eyes. Boy, I was doing a lot of eye rolling today.

"Alice, just let me put it on," I sighed. She handed over the dress.

"I'll go get myself ready and I'll meet you downstairs in 10 minutes!" she said quickly before rushing off.

"Ten minutes!?" I called after her, "how could you possibly be ready that…fast…" but she was already gone. I shook my head and went into the connecting bathroom to change, being mindful of my hair, which Alice had piled on top of my head in a neat looking way…pinning it with bobby-pins that had little pearls at the ends. I caught a look at myself before leaving the bathroom in the oval bathroom mirror – I looked beautiful…which, of course, only Alice was capable of doing. I had to thank her before we left.

As I was heading out the room I swore I heard a loud sigh coming from the room. I turned quickly, my eyes searching, but I couldn't tell where the sound had come from so I shrugged and headed down to meet Alice.

***

We dined at the only bar in Forks – a run-down place that was pretty sparse as far as bar's go, and Alice was disappointed at the lack of excitement. However, what made up for the disappointment was the appearance a certain blonde doctor by the name of Jasper Whitlock.

Alice had fed the jukebox, and the Ting Tings came on – I rolled my eyes but she made me dance with her. We were the only people in the place dancing and of course we looked like maniacs, but Alice didn't care. About mid-dance, however, a young man with thick, wispy hair and deep blue eyes approached us – or should I say Alice – and asked her to dance.

I spent the rest of the night sitting at our small table watching Alice enjoy herself more than she'd ever expected in this run-down bar. It took me quite a bit of cajoling to get her to leave – it was midnight and I was tired from all the work we'd done that day. But Alice wouldn't leave without getting the man's name and number and an assurance that he'd call her the next day. Only Alice could find herself a beautiful hottie in a place like Forks. Oh the irony!

I now found myself wandering around my bedroom upstairs. It was Alice's idea that we each spend the night in our prospective rooms, though we were still in sleeping bags. I sighed. It had been a long night.

Slipping into my sleeping bag, I looked one last time at Edward's portrait before closing my eyes and attempting to drift off to sleep. The word is attempt because an hour later I was still wide awake and desperately counting sheep, praying for sleep to come. But it didn't. I just couldn't get over the fact that Edward Masen was staring down at me from his lofty position on the wall. Before it had been an awe-inducing fact, but now it was getting on my nerves.

How dare a dead guy – a portrait of a dead guy, no less – keep me from sleep! So huffing to myself, I threw off the covers and got up, approaching the portrait with every intention of removing it from the wall. It looked heavy but I knew that with my determination I wouldn't let that stop me.

I had my hands on the frame and was preparing to lift when I heard something that made my blood chill and my stomach wrench.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a velvety voice told me and it did not belong to Alice. I turned around slowly and just about fainted at the sight before me.

It was Edward Masen, apparently in the flesh, standing in my bedroom.

Playlist:

The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let Me Go

The Who - Blue Red And Grey

The Beatles - Any Time At All

Oh No Oh My - I Have No Sister

The Kooks - Sway

Sorry! I know it's a major cliff hanger, but I needed to end it at some point and I wanted to give you guys something to look forward to next chapter because yes, Edward is going to make his appearance, finally! Please, please, please review – it gives me incentive to write much faster and get things out to you! Cheers!