A/N: I have been totally engrossed in reading Fan Fiction and of course waiting for the Twilight DVD to be released! So I really have no excuse for this update being so late except for my undying love for Stephenie Meyer's Twilight world and of course my silly crush on Robert Pattinson, as if . . . Now I feel like Bella and am still swooning over the GQ pictures . . .
As always I own nothing Twilight, SM does. I only own my Twilight Books, movie stub, and now my Twilight DVD! Oh, I also claim the character of Beca and a tiny portion of the Rob's character and my plot, which is of course based on SM's Twilight Saga but is all-human.
Also I have had some requests wanting to know where Bella got her jeans . . . I'm sorry I can't help you on that one. I hate shopping for jeans myself as I bet Bella does too now. Maybe Alice knows, hmm . . .
Also, a huge thanks to my wonderful Betas Twilightzoner and Cydryna Marie, who are helping me to become a better writer for all of you.
Please remember to REAR! (Read, Enjoy, And, Review) - Reviews help inspire me to write more and update sooner, since I already have the next few chapters outlined!
Chapter 9
BPOV
Ugh! It wasn't a dream. As I rolled over to turn off my alarm before it went off, I saw the dreaded object of my nightmare - the hated jeans! They were still wadded up and stuffed into my trashcan from yesterday's debacle. They still mocked me as they peered over the edge of the can. My dreams from last night had featured those jeans, and I woke up feeling trapped. In reality, I was just twisted in my sheets again.
Beca had said the jeans looked sexy on me and showed off my assets. Does feeling sexy mean feeling naked, exposed, and tingling all over? I mean no one else could be making me feel that way. Right? It had to be the jeans.
I was now resolved to find something to wear today that could hide my body and hopefully avoid the now infamous 'jean incident'. I picked my favorite old pair of baggy jeans with tattered cuffs and an oversized sweatshirt, maybe I could hide inside the shield of my clothing and disappear for the rest of the week.
I almost succeeded in disappearing, but Alice caught up to me after school by Wednesday.
"Hey are you ready?" Alice practically squealed as she took a hold of my arm and dragged me to the parking lot. "Come on Bella, we're going to have fun! What could be better than picking out a whole new wardrobe?"
I inwardly groaned. I knew Alice was looking forward to shopping, and to be honest, I was looking forward to decorating my room a bit and maybe going to Barnes and Noble, but not clothes shopping. "Ok Alice, I am yours to mold this weekend, starting this evening with going through my drawers. I know how you can't wait to get your hands on my bras and panties!"
Alice giggled and embarked into a tirade of matching sets of bras and thongs. " . . . and I saw a set of silk midnight blue bra, panty, and garter set that will look absolutely wonderful with your skin tone . . . oh hi, Edward."
The sound of Edward's name made me stop suddenly, and my bag slipped off my shoulder. We had arrived at my car, which was parked next to Edward's Volvo. He was standing there with that wicked crooked grin on his face. I looked away and tried to busy myself with opening the doors.
"Edward, remember I am going to Bella's this evening, so I don't need a ride. I'll just go with Bella. You don't mind taking me home later, do you Bella?"
"Sure, sure that's fine, Alice. I don't mind." I stuttered, when I caught a glimpse of Edward.
Keeping my gaze off Edward, I got in the car to wait for Alice.
"He's such a grump! You'd think he had been given a permanent wedgie at birth!" Alice sighed, as she got in the passenger seat.
"What do you mean? Is he okay, Alice?"
"Yeah, he's just been an absolute weirdo these last couple of days. It's like the tiniest thing just sets him off. He was all moody because he waited for me, when I already told him this morning I was riding with you. He sometimes gets worked up when he is blocked in his composition writing. He gets so focused on what he is doing that he'll do anything to save it. Like his composition is going to die a torturous bloody death or something." Alice laughed.
"Well, maybe it just means a lot to him." I ventured.
"I'll tell you what mean's a lot, getting you into some fashionable clothes that you won't freeze your butt off in during this winter! Do you know how hard it can be to be fashion forward when you have to bundle up?!"
"I don't want to be fashion forward, just warmer is fine with me. I just want to feel comfortable in my own skin."
"Don't worry - by the time I am done with you, you will feel so comfortable in your own skin that you won't even know you're fashionable! You're going to knock the wind out of Rob, when I am done with you!"
"I don't know if I want to knock anybody down, Alice. I already do enough of that all on my own, with my two left feet. I wouldn't want to kill anyone. Just think of the carnage that could occur."
"I won't let you kill anyone, but maybe you can break a few hearts. We are going to have so much fun!"
Alice was right. I would have fun, even if it was like being on an episode of What Not to Wear.
"What are these?" Alice was holding up my favorite pair of tattered Converse sneakers, as if they were made of nuclear waste.
"No, Alice, give me those. They are my favorite!" I was trying to grab them back, but Alice got a gleam in her eye.
"Okay, you can keep them, if we can get you a new pair and get rid of this hideous sweatshirt that hides all your curves."
"Fine, Alice. I give up. Just as long as I get to keep my sneakers."
"Oh, and the cotton panties have got to go, too!"
"Geez Alice! I promise to get some new lingerie, but I have to have some cotton ones, too, okay?"
"Well, only if they're thongs or bikinis, no granny panties!"
"No one is going to see my panties, Alice!"
"Well, you never know, and you'd hate to be caught in that situation in a pair of old granny panties! I absolutely refuse to allow it! You can be comfortable and fashionable at the same time, ya' know, Bella."
"I give up Alice! Let's just see what I have in the budget first, okay?" I laid out all the gift cards that Charlie had given me. I was still stunned at his generosity, and I didn't even have to beg him for help. "Okay, here, let's see what gift cards I have: Barnes and Noble $100, Helly Hansen $300, Nordstrom $200, and two $500 cards for Pacific Place Shops." Wow, I hadn't realized how much Charlie had spent on gift cards. I was still in awe.
"Ooohh, that is excellent, Bella! We can get everything we need to start at Pacific Place in Seattle. It's like one stop shopping for everything that is beautiful in the world. Plus, we can see a movie at the theatre! Oh, but we may have to go to University Village, too, if you want to go to Crate and Barrel and Target."
"What do you mean start . . . ?
"Nothing, nothing. It's just perfect, and we'll have a great time! Just us girls."
"Hey, Bells! Are you home!?" Charlie bellowed from the bottom of the stairs.
"Yeah we'll be right down!"
"Will you stay for dinner, Alice, and meet Charlie? I think he's excited to cook for someone other than just us tonight."
"Sure, I'd love to see a guy that can cook. Emmett can eat his way out of the kitchen but only if someone has already cooked, and Edward makes the best spaghetti you'll ever have! Now he can cook!"
"Yeah, I bet, Alice. Come on." I rolled my eyes. The last thing I needed to think about was Alice's cousin, after we had just talked about who might potentially see my new lingerie wardrobe.
"Hey, Dad. This is Alice Cullen. She and I are going to go shopping this Saturday and put my gift cards to good use. Alice, this is my Dad, Charlie."
"How are your folks and the boys, Alice?"
"They are all fine, Charlie. And Mom and Dad can't wait to meet Bella. Can she come spend the night on Friday, so that we can get an early start to Seattle for our shopping extravaganza? We have so much to do, and I want to make sure that Bella is properly outfitted for winter. I don't want her to get frostbite or anything!" Alice laughed.
"Oh, sure, anything for you, Alice. I know that Bella needs some supplies. You two will have a good time, but be careful, too, and don't come back too late."
"Oh, well, it will be three of us since Rosalie Hale is also coming with us. If it's okay with you, then maybe Bella can stay over Saturday night, too. Then we can do makeovers!"
"Yeah, you girls have fun. Now for dinner . . . how do fish tacos sound to you two?"
As Alice kept charming Charlie, I just shook my head. I had the feeling that if Alice had asked Charlie to take me to Milan and Paris to go shopping, he would have let us go. It seemed like Alice had Charlie wrapped around her little finger. In less than the span of five minutes, she had gotten him to agree to let us go to Seattle for the day and spend two nights at the Cullen's house, never mind the fact that there were also going to be teenage boys there, too. Charlie must really trust the Cullens.
Dinner was uneventful. Charlie just reveled at telling Alice how he had caught the fish. I swear Charlie only knows how to make food that has fish as the main ingredient. Alice just beamed at Charlie and praised his cooking, and before I realized it, the kitchen clock on the microwave read 9pm.
"Uh, Dad, I really should get Alice home. We have school tomorrow."
"Sure thing Bells. Now Alice, you tell Esme that the next time I see her I will bring her a fresh catch of fish."
"Of course, Charlie. I'm sure Mom will love that."
"Bye, Dad. I'll be back soon." I practically had to drag Alice out of the house.
We got into my little VW, and I started the engine. "How did you do that Alice?"
"Do what?"
"You completely dazzled Charlie! He'd have let us go to Europe to shop, if you had asked him!"
"Really, you think so? Because maybe this summer . . ."
"Alice, be real here, okay?" I rolled my eyes.
"We'll talk about summer later. Now that I know exactly what you have and don't in your wardrobe, which is nothing practically Bella, I don't see how you have been dressing yourself! We are going to have so much fun!"
As I ground the car into third gear, Alice winced. "You do know you are driving a stick, right?"
"Yeah, but I never really learned how to drive a stick, and I haven't gotten around to asking Charlie yet. I'm lucky that I can get this little baby to school and back."
"Well, Edward could teach you. I'll mention it to him."
"No! No. You don't have to do that. The last thing I need is to learn how to drive with a grumpy composer." I frowned.
"You're right. Maybe Rob could teach you. He totally has his eyes set on you, ya' know."
"What? No. I mean he has just been friendly, that's all. Really."
"Bella, Bella. You don't see how the guys look at you! I could dress you in a potato sack and Rob would still drool over you."
"Don't be silly, Alice."
"Whatever . . . just you wait."
"Wait till what Alice?"
"I can see it now . . . they will be falling all over themselves to get near you."
"Alice, I swear you're crazy!"
"Bella, I know what I'm talking about. I just feel it. Oh, turn right at the next driveway!"
"What driveway?"
"This one, stop!"
I slammed on the brakes and then I saw the driveway that was nearly hidden with brush. I turned onto the driveway, which seemed to twist and turn deeper into the woods. Then I saw the house. It was a beautiful huge white house with what looked like entire walls consisting of windows. I was stunned. I never knew this house was even here. You couldn't see it from the road at all.
"Well, this is me. I'll see you tomorrow and then you're all mine for Friday and Saturday, Bella!"
Alice gathered her things and danced toward the house. As I looked up at the house, I swear I saw Edward looking down at my car through one of the huge windows on the third floor. Well, who wouldn't notice the sound of my loud engine? If the Cullens even had neighbors, I'd have woken them up, too.
A/N: Ok you know the drill REAR! (Read, Enjoy, And, Review) Hmm, should we hear from EPOV next? It seems like Bella's head really isn't in school right now . . . I bet Edward has been paying attention at school . . .
By the way does anyone know how to explain driving a stick? I don't know how, so if you do I'd love your advice to use in an upcoming chapter. So please PM me, if you want to teach me to drive a stick via email, so Bella can learn too . . .
Neonapple © Melting Heart
Based on Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga
Chapter 9
Edited: 03/30/2009