Chapter 24: Down time
The week passed by in a blur and the next thing Bella knew is that was Friday. The day before prom. The human was dreading the next day like it was the plague. "Ugh!" Bella exclaimed as she ran her hands through her hair. She then laid her head on Alice's lap with her feet on the other end of the couch. Alice brought her hand down to caress her loves face. She giggled at the sound of Bella's groan at the thought of the dance tomorrow evening. "I'm glad you think this is so entertaining." Alice laughed and bent down to kiss her on the forehead. "Oh Bella, you're overreacting about the whole thing my love. It's just a dance." Bella ran a hand through her hair once more and explained. "I know. Ihatedances." She said that last part in a rush. With Alice's super sensitive hearing however, she was able to hear every word. "What's this my love? You hate dances? Why?" Bella rolled her eyes. "I've never really been into that stuff baby, but I will bear tomorrow for you. I know you really wanna go."
Bella sat up and looked her girlfriend in the eye. "I love you Alice." She said as she stroked the pixies face with her knuckles. "I love you too Bella. I promise, tomorrow will be wonderful." Alice kissed the human in front of her on the lips. "I hope so." She looked down at her hand intertwined with Alice's. "The only reason why I want to go I guess is to show everyone how much you have me wrapped around your little finger." Bella made a twirling motion with her free pointer finger as she said this and squealed as Alice shot forward and pinned her to the couch beneath them. "That's where you're wrong my dear Bella. It is you that has me wrapped around your finger." The pixie giggled at the end of the statement. She leaned down to kiss the girl on the lips, but when she was a hairs length away from Bella's mouth, Alice heard a booming voice by the edge of the room. "Damn Alice, don't stop on my account." Alice growled as she turned her sights to Emmett standing by the wall leading in to the kitchen. "Can't you get your head out of the gutter for one minute Emmett? Really a minute is all I ask." The boy chuckled and shook his head. "But it's always so much fun teasing you pixie." Then he felt a sharp pain at the back of his head. "Ow!" Emmett exclaimed covering the wounded spot. When he saw his wife passing by he said, "Ouch babe, I was only teasing them." Rosalie sauntered further away from the boy and took a look over her shoulder. A look that stated that she meant business. "Uh...sorry guys, I gotta go." He said as he chased after his wife. "Man talk about whipped." Bella whispered. Alice laughed and dipped her head knowing the coast was clear to kiss her girlfriend.
The two kissed for a long while before they separated. Alice touched Bella's cheek and looked at her lovingly. "I think it's time we got you home my love." The pixie spoke before she looked out the sliding glass door. The sun was setting and she felt the sun's rays on her face. That was one feeling she still loved even after all of these years of being a vampire. She sighed and once again turned her attentions to her girlfriend. "I love you Alice." Bella said quietly before bringing her hand up to touch Alice's cold skin. The pixie kissed the girls palm and got up off of her. "C'mon baby. We gotta get you home before your daddy doesn't like me anymore." She giggled before she held out her hand. Bella looked up into Alice's copper eyes and watched as they swirled all sorts of different colors. They went from golden brown to copper to a different color that Bella had never seen before. Pitch black covered the eyes before her. The funny thing was, she was not afraid. For a split second, the pitch black darkness covered the pixies eyes and then it was gone in a flash. The amber color that Bella had become used to was once again present. She put the sight in the back of her mind to ask her love about what she had seen later. Alice pulled Bella off of the couch and brought her to the door.
Just then they both heard footsteps coming down the stairs behind them. Edward made his way toward the pair and reached out to his sister. "Can I talk to you both for a second?" Alice nodded her head and turned to face him. Edward stood up straight and put his arms behind his back before he spoke. "I apologize to both of you for not being supportive of your relationship at first. It's just that what you and Bella have does not happen every day Alice." He turns to face Bella and adds. "I promise to you Bella, you will always find a friend in me." With Edward being relatively taller than Bella, the human wrapped her arms around the telepathic vampire's waist and hugged him tightly. He tensed up slightly at first and then relaxed and hugged the girl back. "Thank you Edward." She spoke quietly. Bella let him go a moment later. Then it was Alice's turn to hug her big brother. "I have to drop Bella off at home, I'll be back after so we can talk if you want." Edward nodded and let the two head out the door. When they walked to the car Edward searched the pixies thoughts and heard a thank you. He chuckled and walked back inside to join his wife.
When the girls arrived at Bella's home, Alice walked at human speed to the passenger side door and opened it. She held out her hand for Bella to take and she pulled her out of the car. Both of them smiled and touched their foreheads together. "Let's get you inside my love." The human nodded and took the pixies hand, leading her to the door. The front porch light was then turned on and both girls jumped at the sudden change of light. Alice heard the door unlock and open right before her very eyes. She knew who it was before Charlie walked into the threshold. Bella's eyes widened as she turned and saw her father standing in the doorway. "0-oh. H-hi dad. Alice was just dropping me off." Charlie turned his attention to the girls intertwined hands. Bella noticed this and only held Alice's hand tighter for support. Charlie was silent for a long while before he spoke. "Now what are your intentions towards my daughter Ms. Cullen?" Both girls released the breath they had been holding. Alice looked at the man with love and conviction in her eyes. "My intention sir, is to love and protect her and be her friend until the day I die." Bella's own eyes swelled with tears as she heard the words coming from Alice's mouth and sees the hidden meaning behind it. Charlie looked to be thinking over her statement but relaxed after a moment. "I'm gonna hold you to that Alice. She's my only little girl after all." He said softly.
Alice only nodded while Bella let go of her hand to go hug her father. "I love you dad." She whispered into Charlie's ear. Charlie was surprised at the contact for a moment but warmed up to the hug quickly and reciprocated. Alice envied this moment between father and daughter. She wished that she could've had this type of relationship with her own father but she knew that Carlisle was the best one she could've asked for. Her family in this life was better than any she could've asked for. When Bella and Charlie separated she went over to the girl and hugged her good night. "I'll be back before you head to sleep." She whispered too quietly for Charlie to hear. Bella just nodded and didn't want Alice to go. It took a little for Bella to release the pixie from her grasp, when she did, she looked at Alice and said, "Please come to me soon." The pixie nodded and ran over to her car, impatient to see Bella soon.
The human laughed and shook her head at the pixies behavior. Bella turned to go inside the house and was met by her father's gaze. "What?" Charlie just chuckled and turned to move further into the house. Bella followed the man and asked again "what?" Charlie turned to her and responded. "She's a keeper Bells, I hope she treats you right." Bella smiled. "Don't worry dad, I know she will."