Chapter 12

Ah the Torture of Alice

As Bella reclined in the back seat of Rosalie's M3 she noticed another car following behind them at the same speed. When Bella turned around she saw Carlisle's black Mercedes'. "Hey Rose who is in Carlisle's car?" Bella asked confused. Rose glanced into the rear View mirror. But it was Alice that answered first. "I decided that since Esme is going to run into problems with the plumbing in your bathroom that we would make another stop in our shopping trip. Bella suppressed a groan and tried to sound as excited as she could. "Really where else are we going?" Alice narrowed her eyes catching on to the false enthusiasm in Bella's voice. "We have a change of plans Esme wants us to keep you in Seattle for the next three days, so Jasper is coming with us so that he can take most of our bags home for us." Alice looked smug for she had a whole list of places that she would be dragging Bella to shop for clothes, shoes, and lingerie. There would also be time for Bella to buy her pesky books that she loved so much, and time for a new bedroom suite. Bella sighed in the back seat resigned to the torture that would soon follow. "Alice I hope you at least donated my old things instead for just throwing them out." Bella grumbled though she had gotten used to the expensive life style that seemed to be part of being a vampire it never stopped bothering her how much or a waste it would be to get rid of perfectly good clothes just because Alice didn't like her style.

Alice sighed which only made Rosalie laugh and grip the steering wheel hard to keep from swerving as she watched the argument unfold between her sisters. Rose pondered how Alice and Bella had become such good friends when they were exact opposites. Alice was a fashionmonger who liked nothing more than to play Bella the make up Barbie. Alice could spend the rest of her eternity shopping day and night as long as the stores kept stocked with the latest fashions. Where as Bella was conservative by nature almost and loved nothing more than to curl up with a good book and lounge all day in a pair of ratty old comfy sweats. It was amusing how often Bella would be forced almost to the point of being tied down to the chair in Alice's bathroom for the make up Barbie secessions. And how Alice would have to go and take away all of Bella's clothes more often than not to make sure Bella had no choice but to go shopping with her.

Rose was broken out of her thoughts as Alice snapped back a retort to Bella's whining about the waste of throwing out perfectly good clothes. "For your information I took them down to the salvation army now stop whining we are almost to the mall now and I don't want to be forced to make Jasper drag you along behind us got it!" Alice was bluffing Jasper would most likely take Bella's side after all there were only a few people that could take Bella's pouting without giving in and Jasper wasn't one of them. Rose smiled as she watched Bella's lower lip jut out slightly further than her upper lip in an adorable pout that would have melted most any human male in the vicinity and a fair few of vampires as well. Emmett himself couldn't resist when Bella did this as a human and Rose had no doubt he would be even more at a loss now that she was a vampire. Alice of course closed her eyes so that she could not see what Bella was doing, and determinedly thwarted Bella's poor attempt to get out of the shopping trip unscathed. As Rose pulled into an empty space in the parking lot of the huge mall Bella sighed in defeat. Jasper pulled in along side the girls car and already had Alice's door open and offering her a hand getting out of the car. Once Alice was out of the car Jasper offered the same hand to Bella helping pull her gracefully out of the car.

Alice turned with a wicked grin. "Oh Bella I forgot to tell you I threw away all of you underwear they were highly unfashionable and so we will just have to get you all new stuff from Victoria Secret." Rose put her fist into her mouth and bit down hard to stifle the bubbling laughter that threatened to escape her mouth and give away her amusement. Oh yes this was definitely going to be a very eventful day and time would tell only how amusing it was going to get. Bella looked horrified at Alice's words and her hand now had a death grip on Jasper's, which she had forgot she was holding from getting out of the car and now forgot to let go of when Alice had made her intent known to Bella. Bella's jaw was practically touching the ground and she hadn't moved and had stopped breathing all together in her shock.

Jasper's rolling laugh that sounded from deep in his chest is what made poor Rose lose the fight in trying to not embarrass Bella further. With Rose and Jasper laughing and shaking from their merriment seemed to be all that Bella could handle. Alice turned on her heel and ran at a human speed into the mall closely followed by Bella who was doing her best to run without causing suspicion after Alice. Rose and Jasper followed close behind them. Alice ran through the mall and into a store letting Bella see where she had ducked into hide from her. Bella was blind to anything other than Alice and she only thought to catch up to the pixie and make Alice pay for what she had done. Bella didn't even take notice anything in the store only that her prey had her back to her. Stalking in with as much grace as a lioness hunting. Alice suddenly turned around just as Bella went to grab her. "So which do you like better the black with red lace or the blue with the G string and see through front?" Alice asked looking innocently and speaking loud enough that the sales clerk could hear. Bella stood stunned looking at the thongs that Alice held in her hands. The price tag was bigger than the rest of the material that made up the garment. Bella registered that she should turn and run but not before she heard a voice that made her wish the floor would open up and swallow her.

"Well if you want my opinion I think pink would be better but I am kind of partial to the see through blue one" a smooth honey voice with a slight southern accent said from behind Bella. Bella wished she could die right then and there. She did not need to turn around to know that Jasper was just inches from her right ear and had his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. Bella knew that she could no longer blush but that did not matter when the empathy was right there knowing damn well that she would be scarlet with embarrassment. And Bella didn't get a break either because that would mean fate had left her alone of course not it could never be that easy for Isabella Swan. "Are you ladies finding everything alright? And Miss we have the same style lingerie that your boyfriend likes in many different colors including shell pink, bubble gum pink, and ladies in pink shades." The sales clerk was now standing next to Bella offering assistance that was only making Bella wish once again and not for the last time that she could be invisible. Bella stared at the wall and said very quietly. "No thank you my friend is more than enough help thank you please leave me alone" the sales clerk looked confused but did not drop her smile. "Alright just come to the counter and I'll ring you up when your done and please don't hesitate to ask, if you need any help." Bella whimpered. Alice grinned maliciously before choosing her next words carefully. "Bella you know that I love you don't you? Well how about we make an agreement if you will? I will only make you come into this store today and if you need anything else from here I will get it for you, if you do not complain for the next three days what I spend on your clothes and furniture, and you can not complain about what I get you either, and lastly you must make me believe that you are not just pretending to like shopping with me. After all of that I will let you spend as much time as you need in the bookstore and get as many books as you like. Do we have an agreement?" Bella didn't trust her voice she looked even paler than she had when she arrived at the mall but she nodded her head and was only hoping to get out of the store as fast as she possibly could. Jasper wasn't sure if vampire speed could have been fast enough for her to get out of there. "Bella I want an answer please". Alice asked as innocently as she could. "Yes Alice I agree to not give you any trouble and to be your favorite shopping buddy." Bells had spoke so fast that Rose and jasper were caught off guard. Rose laughed. Alice had clearly won and Bella was now doing her best to look interested in the skimpy thongs Alice held merely two inches away from Bella's nose. Jasper looked like he was fairly interested in what type of underwear Bella picked this puzzled Rose but she decided to not comment.

Bella wanted to run as fast and far away from Victoria Secret as she could get but Alice was not about to have any of that she moseyed around the store with two baskets and Rose had her own basket no doubt with new goodies to seduce Emmett. Poor Bella had her own basket clutched in shaking hands and Alice loaded it up with pair after pair of lingerie in various colors and designs. Bella was exceptionally grateful to see Alice put several pairs of booty cut panties in the basket along with a few sport bras and form fitting ones and not just corsets and see through nightgowns. Bella refused to watch the total that was rang up for the offending items. Jasper took the bag that was offered to Bella for her when she looked like she thought the bag was a six-headed snake that was trying to bite her. Jasper smiled and let a wave of calm float to Bella whom returned the smile with one of her own grateful smiles. Alice dragged Bella and the rest from the store and headed from that store to the next the next was nowhere near as bad as the first. Alice allowed Bella to go pick out any out fit she liked but she also made Bella put back all of the sweat outfits and replaced them with trendy jogging outfits that fitted snuggly to Bella's figure. Bella had relaxed now that she was away from all the lingerie but though she hated to have Alice spend so much money on her there was no way in hell Bella was going to complain seeing as the punishment would be to return to the store of torture. As the time they spent in the mall increased with every store they went to Bella became more and more anxious to leave.

Finally with a last call that the mall was closing the group left and went to the hotel not far away. The Days inn that they were staying at had an exercise room, heated Jacuzzi and pool. Once in the room Bella had hoped she would be left be but to her complete dismay Alice threw some things that looked like only strings. And pushed her into the bathroom demanding that she change. Bella look thoughtfully at the garment that she was holding and her worst fears were answered. It was a bikini. It was shell pink and very revealing. "Oh no Alice please don't make me wear this, come one Jasper is here too so please I don't want him to be uncomfortable around me after all you are his wife!" Bella begged it did no good though in fact it made matters worse. Bella only briefly noticed the door to the bathroom had been opened. And did not register that Alice had came in and in the same instant grabbed and ripped the shirt and skirt Bella had been wearing. Bella's mouth fell open. "Bella remember our agreement you said you would not give me any trouble remember. Also Jasper and I are no longer married. So put on the swim suite Rose, Jasper and I are waiting to go to the pool." With that Alice left the room and in her wake was a stunned Bella. Bella stared at herself in the mirror Alice had destroyed her clothes and the only thing that Bella had to wear was the bikini and she was not looking forward to this not in the least.

JPOV

I sat on the bed that neither my sisters or I planned to use to wait for the girls to get dressed to go swimming when I heard a distinctive whine that was getting more and more familiar as this shopping trip went on. . "Oh no Alice please don't make me wear this, come one Jasper is here too so please I don't want him to be uncomfortable around me after all you are his wife!" Bella begged it did no good though in fact it made matters worse. I faintly heard the door open and slam shut again, there was the sound of something ripping "Bella remember our agreement you said you would not give me any trouble remember. Also Jasper and I are no longer married. So put on the swim suite Rose, Jasper and I are waiting to go to the pool." I chuckled to myself as I could only imagine what Bella was thinking right now.

Normal POV

The next two days passed in similar fashion as the first Bella was dragged from one outlet to another instead of the mall. She did not dare refuse or complain. No even once when Alice forced her to pick out furniture for her room. Or the types of towels she wanted for in her bathroom. All the furniture had to be sent ahead of us back home so the Esme and Emmett could put them in Bella's room for her when she returned home. Jasper as the days before helped keep Bella calm. An on the day they were to head home Jasper loaded Carlisle's car close to over flowing so that they could go home.

As the two cars pulled into the driveway Esme cam out the door closely followed by Carlisle and Emmett. "Well hey babe I missed you let me get your bags for you did you bring me any treats for me?" Emmett asked Rosalie as he opened her door for her and kissed her softly. Bella shook her head trying to keep the idea of what "TREATS" Emmett would mean. As all the shopping bags were brought inside Esme took Bella's hand and lead her up the stairs to the third floor where her bedroom was to be.

Bella sniffed the air trying to make sure that Ed- HE would not surprise her. Esme raised an eyebrow and then as if reading her spoke to reassure her. "Bella honey there is no need for you to be to up tight he is out hunting at the moment are you going to be ok?" Esme smiled uncertainly. Bella hated making her worry. "Of course I am fine I just didn't want to be surprised by him that's all". Esme squeezed her hand lightly. And opened the door to Bella's room. Bella's mouth gaped out "Oh mom this is so great thank you! This room is perfect you knew exactly what I like! I absolutely love it!" Bella was so excited the she ran swiftly into the room to look around. Esme was beaming from the doorway. "Im glad you like it I will help bring up your new clothes and put them on your bed ok? Take your time to get to know your room and your very welcome I am so happy to have you home again!" Esme was glowing with happiness as she descended the stairs. Bella turned around to admire the beautiful room Esme had given her. Along the length of one wall were all glass windows, with thick curtains that were various colors of blues. Starting from a very light baby blue to a dark midnight blue. The bed Bella had picked out was pushed up against this the glass that over looked Esme's garden and part of the surrounding woods. The other walls where a hazy blue with flecks of pale pinks reminding Bella of sunsets. The ceiling was a cream color and matched the room well. One whole wall was nothing but books shelves and DVD and CD rakes. The night stands held to small lamps, and an alarm clock. The opposite wall from the bookshelves sat a large wooden computer desk. There was a brand new Dell computer, printer, and scanner already set up. As Bella turn to look at the bed again she noticed a mountain of soft pillows and that it was a light blue and sliver comforter. And at the foot of the bed sat a cedar chest with a remote on top as Bella pushed the button that said open there was a soft hum and then the cedar chest opened and a flat screen TV rose out of it to revealing a entertainment center. Bella noticed another door by the computer desk when she opened it she was in a closet that looked as big as Alice's the was a long shoe rake that ran low around the room and above it was long bars to hang her clothes and above them a rake for storage. At the end of the room was another door this one led into a very large elegant bathroom. In this bathroom the countertops were dark marble. The sink was made out of a raised glass bowl with a concealed drain. Wall to wall mirrors ran around the room so that Bella could see her self from almost any angle. There was a big bathtub that looked like it could fit three people in it comfortably. Bella heard some one chuckle behind her turning around she found Jaspers amused gold eyes staring at her. "Do you like it the TV was Emmett's idea."? Jasper asked. Bella ran to Jasper throwing her arms around his neck "I absolutely love it thank you all so much." Bella gushed she then released a very surprised Jasper and raced back down the stairs. Jasper smiled to himself again oh yes having Bella back in the family made life interesting again for sure.