"No way," I stared at Alice as she held up yet another rejection. This one was bright red. That wasn't the issue. The issue was that there was no back and barely a front. It was a halter with only a thin piece of fabric attaching top to bottom. There was no way I would wear such a thing, not just because this was a business party, but out of morals alone.
"Come on Bella, you aren't even trying any on. This would look killer on your body." I rolled my eyes and smile slightly.
"Even if that were true I would never wear that thing in public." She sighed and went back to the displays. I walked over to the clearance rack and slid my fingers along the fabrics. As I stepped forward I felt the most luxurious material known to the world, silk. I stopped and separated the clothes on either side. It was a deep blue color and it shined in the light. Gently I lifted it.
"Bella…" My name was a whisper on Alice's lips as she gazed at the dress I held. It had a princess neckline and shoulder straps that sat at the very edge, for maximum back exposure. But it was not obscene. It was just gorgeous.
"Would you like to try that on Miss?" A store clerk asked when Alice and I stood there for a few minutes.
"Yes," I hugged the dress to myself and hurried into the dressing room. The fabric kissed my skin as I pulled it on. I looked at myself in the mirror at every angle. Closing my eyes I twirled in my booth pretending to dance. An imaginary man emerged from the shadows to take me in his arms. We stared into each others' eyes. His were emerald and they sparked while his face was in shadow.
"Bella?" Alice called over the wall. I immediately stopped my waltz and looked at the mirror again. "Come on, I want to see!" Alice pleaded. When I still made no move to the door she barged in. "Wow, its breath taking." She spun me to look at the dress from all sides.
"How much is it?" I asked trying to shift to see the tag. Alice popped the tag off the plastic cord and walked out of the changing room. "Alice!! What are you doing?!" I demanded. She walked to the register with my tag and a dress in her hands.
"Hi there, I would like to purchase these two dresses." She smiled sweetly at the man behind the counter. Her visa was through the machine before I could change and make it to her.
"Have a nice day ladies." The clerk smiled at us both.
"Why did you do that? I can buy my own clothing."
"Yes, but I want to give it to you. It may have been on the clearance rack, but it was not a clearance price. It's a "congratulations on your new job' present." Her tone left no room to argue.
"Thank you," I said truly meaning it. "Can I see your dress?" She smiled hugely.
"Not until tonight!" She was practically dancing in the street as we walked home. It turned out that Alice lived only three blocks from me. Such a small world. "So do you need help getting ready at all?" she asked. I could see she wanted to use me as a dress-up doll but I stopped the plan quickly.
"No, I think I can handle it. Thanks for the offer though." She pouted but didn't argue. She was planning something but I could not decipher what.
"Fine then. I guess I'll see you later tonight. Want me to stop by and pick you up?"
"No, that's alright. I have something I need to do before I leave."
"Alright. See you later Bella."
"Bye Alice." I walked up my stoop and into my apartment building. I put on some jeans and a shirt to be more comfortable. My cat, Maurice, emerged from hiding as I glanced through the newspaper looking for coupons. "Hello handsome, are you glad to see me?" His green yellow eyes blinked at me but he didn't move any closer. "Yeah, yeah I know what you want." I walked to the cabinet and took out some wet food. As I popped the top I felt him rub against my legs. "I definitely know the way to your heart." I chuckled and scratched his head as he ate.
Glancing at the clock I swore to myself. I will just have to cut this visit short so I'm not too late tonight. The walk to the Assisted Living place was not too bad, but the smell of the elderly always caught me off guard.
Charlie lives in a little studio apartment in 'Greenland Fields'. He suffered a stroke last year and he just couldn't live alone anymore. He had lived with me for about two months before we were both to miserable to bare it any longer. I was still in graduate school and my coming and going to various night classes and two waitressing jobs prevented him from sleeping. Eventually I broke down and got him an apartment where he could be taken better care of.
Every other day I visit him. To think about him sitting in his room alone encourages me to come more often, but that is all my schedule can handle. "Hello there." An older lady greeted me as I passed her chair. She was petting a stuffed animal cat.
"Hi there." I tried not to stop since this conversation could last longer than necessary. She continued to talk to the cat once I kept walking. Other people sat in chairs waiting for buses home to places not even in this state. My heart beat faster but there was nothing I could do to fix their broken minds.
Charlie was sitting on his bed holding a fishing rod. "Hey Charlie," I took his hand. It was once callused from work. Now it was soft. He lost much of his speech from the stroke, not that he was ever loquacious. I basically just sat with him and told him about my day. Some days he would mumble out a question. Others he would just listen. Today was a listening day.
"So I got to meet the Seattle Seahawks today. I know how much you love sports. Would you like me to get you and autograph? I have connections now. I could pull some strings." He just bobbed his head up and down. "I'm going to a Sports Benefit tonight. I got this really nice dress." He just kept bobbing. "I brought you the paper," I said handing him the pages.
"T-anks Bells." I smiled at him. He motioned with his hand for me to leave. I leaned over and gave him a kiss on his balding head. He smiled and waved. Much of my time spent with Charlie was spent in silence. But neither of us minded.
The Benefit had started a half hour ago I thought as I quickly did my make-up. Damn. I ran a brush through my hair. I swept it up into a French twist with relative ease before I shimmied into the dress and put on some heels. Grabbing my phone and little clutch purse I was out the door. I jumped into a cab and told him the address.
There were limos parked along the street with drivers ready for a quick escape. Paparazzi thronged around the door. There was no way I wanted to go through that mess. The cab pulled over and I got out. Crossing the street away from the flashing cameras I found an alley that looked promising. There was a door propped open. I prayed it was to the right place as I stepped inside.
It was a kitchen. All the wait staff was peeking out the door into the ballroom while the chefs did their magic. Tip-toeing up to the door I peeked through the window as well. There was a man on stage. I couldn't see him very clearly through the steamed glass but his hair was a peculiar color. It was bronze. I had never seen hair that color before.
I placed my hand on someone's shoulder so I could stand a little higher, trying to get a better look. The man I touched glanced at me without interest at first until he saw my formal wear.
"What are you doing back here?" He hissed.
"I'm sorry. I got here late and the front door is mobbed." The men in front of him all tried to turn at once to see who he was talking to. They must have assumed I was a celebrity to be here so they seemed urgent. At first I just thought the man was leaning away, but then I realized to late the catastrophe. They had created a human knot that was toppling towards the swinging door.
I tried to regain my own balance so I wouldn't go down as well but it didn't happen. The first few guys hitting the floor went un-noticed but when the rest of us fell through the room took interest.
I was on top since I was in the back of the line. I was pressed against strange men but I couldn't get up. We were a tangle of limbs.
"Is that Bella?" I heard a familiar voice ask followed by Emmett's roaring laughter. The man on stage cleared his throat trying to regain attention but my fiasco wasn't over. The men beneath me
started to move. They squirmed and pushed. They were able to free themselves one by one until it was just me sitting on the floor.
"Excuse me Miss? In the blue dress? If you could please find your seat, I would happily finish my speech." The voice was velvet but the words were venom. I flushed and tried to gracefully stand. Alice and Emmett were at my sides helping me up and leading me to their table before the beautiful voice could scold me again.
"Are you ok? What was that?" Rosalie asked. She was wearing almost the exact same dress that I had rejected earlier today, but with her body she looked beautiful.
"Yeah Bella? Why do you always have to make an entrance?" Emmett chuckled quietly. My face still burned with embarrassment.
"I couldn't get through the paparazzi at the front door so I came in through the kitchen, and well you saw the rest." Jasper, Alice, Rose, and Emmett all started laughter. The beautiful voice stopped again. It cleared its throat and continued yet again. I turned to see if I had a better view now. Nope. There was a man's head directly in my way. But the tenor of the voice did set off little day dreams. Just thinking about his tongue caressing each word before his breathe gave it sound.
I tried to snap out of it but I was ensnared. Only the sound of applause brought me back. "Did you enjoy it Bella?" Alice asked as I pulled myself from my trance.
"Yeah, who was it?"
"Speak of the devil and he shall appear…" Alice whispered as someone approached the table. He sat on the opposite side of the table next to a rail thin model.
The waiters had composed themselves by now and they began to serve chicken cord en bleu for dinner. It looked delicious. I tried to inspect the new comer through my lashes when I thought he wasn't looking. His nose was perfectly straight leading to expressive lips. I couldn't see his eyes from this distance but his hair still boggled me. It looked so soft I wanted to reach out and touch it…
"Madame? What would you like to drink?" One of the waiters was asking me. He must have been on the bottom of the pile since he didn't seem to recognize me. Everyone around the table looked at me.
"Water will be fine thank you." I replied trying to be polite and proper.
"Perrier? Poland Springs? Aquafina? Evian?" The waiter prompted. Eyes bore into me again. How can there be choices of water? It came in one flavor, fresh.
"Can't I just have tap water?" I mused trying not to sound like an idiot. The waiter sniffed and walked away. The newcomer was still looking at me smirking.
"So Bella, that's Edward," Alice whispered in my ear while Edward and I stared at each other. I didn't know if I forgave him for his rudeness or if his beauty excused him. I could not decide. The stick next to him whispered something in his ear that drew his gaze from mine. "The girl with him is Fiona. She hasn't used her last name ever since she got the cover of ELLE magazine. I think she wants to be like Madonna or Cher. But she is as dumb as a brick. I can't believe Edward stays with her." Fiona's features were perfectly symmetrical and her hair was bleached blonde. I could barely hear her voice, but it reminded me of a whining child.
"Here is your tap water." The waiter put it on the table and walked away as if by carrying non-bottled water was beneath him.
Almost everyone was done eating the exquisite food, except Fiona. She had just moved it back and forth across her plate. The only thing missing was the garnish. Which I think she ate. I turned to Alice to tell her my theory only to see her on the dance floor with Jasper. It was the first time I noticed Alice's dress. It was a dark eggplant color but it suited her. It was knee length and strapless showing off her shoulders and neck.
They seemed to be made for one another as they danced. Both graceful and beautiful enough to not dishearten. I turned the other way to talk to Emmett and Rosalie when I realized that they too were on the dance floor. Emmett spun Rose so fast her hair engulfed her face. They moved together like it was a choreographed battle. I was mystified. How could I not notice the way those to couples were together? I rolled my eyes and turned forward again.
My chicken was long gone but there was nothing left to do. I felt eyes on me so I looked up. Edward was staring at me. His date had disappeared and left us sitting at the table alone. I didn't know what to do. Part of my job was to introduce myself to him tonight, but he looked ravenous.
I craned my neck to see if there were any other people I knew in the ballroom. I recognized a few players I had met today but they all had dates just like Edward. Models, actresses, or actresses/models. Rosalie, Alice, and I had to be the only women in the bunch who actually ate our meals. Turning back around again Edward was still staring at me. It was making me uncomfortable and I could feel the blush rushing to my cheeks.
He stood slowly and walked purposefully towards me. Our eyes were locked and I didn't know what to do.
"Hey Bella! Do you want to dance?" I turned to see Jacob Black looking larger than ever in a tuxedo holding a hand out to me. He didn't wait for me to find my tongue, instead I felt myself being pulled towards the dance floor. My eyes went back to Edward and he looked furious. "Did I do the right thing?" Jake asked once we were away from Edward.
"What do you mean?" I forced myself to look at Jake instead of searching for Edward who seemed to have disappeared.
"He looked like he wanted to eat you," Jacob whispered. He was joking so I chuckled, but I had the same feeling as he had. That was exactly what Edward had looked like. A predator stalking its prey. "You look amazing by the way." His eyes slide down my form. I felt myself blush as he placed his hand at the small of my back.
There was no fabric between his hand and my skin. It felt heated. It relaxed the muscles that were knotting anxiously. I stepped forward so we were closer together and place one hand on his chest and the other in his hand. Since he was so tall I had to crane my neck to see his face. A slower song began and I felt him tug me in rhythm. It was a smooth as silk jazz song so I felt my hips swaying with the words and feelings. Jake just smiled and twirled me.
I caught sight of Edward hitting on one of the other models against the wall. To think he would give up that easily. It's a pity.
Jacob and I dance a few songs until I excused myself. I wanted to get home. I made my way to our table and gathered my things. Alice bounced up next to me and kissed my cheek.
"I thought I saw you leaving. Did you have a good time?"
"Yeah it was great. But I have to go to bed." I stifled a yawn.
"Do you want me to walk you home?" She asked but I saw her glance wistfully at Jasper.
"No, I'm a big girl. I'll be ok."
"Alright I'll see you tomorrow then." We hugged and I turned to leave. Rosalie and Emmett waved from the dance floor as I passed and I smiled at them. I seemed to be the first person leaving. No one else was in the lobby. Or so I thought.
"You are leaving already without even introducing yourself," Edward stated as he leaned against a pillar. He was standing next to a window puffing on a cigarette. Normally I wouldn't condone smoking, but as he exhaled smoke his emerald eyes were ablaze. They looked so familiar… "So, are you going to introduce yourself? Or just stare at me all night." I blushed.
"I'm Isabella Swan, most people call me Bella. I work with Rosalie and Alice." I tried to be polite but my voice still trembled slightly. Normally I would have offered to shake his hand, but I could not bring myself to step towards him.
"As you probably know by now, I am Edward Cullen. Alice's brother and quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks," He stepped towards me.
"Well it's nice to meet you Edward, but I was just leaving." I took a step away again.
"Would you like company?" He took several quick steps forward and I was trapped against a column. His eyes seemed to ignite as he stared at me. Normally that kind of thing would immediately turn me off towards someone but it was having the opposite effect. I thought about having a one night stand with Edward. I wanted it. Bad.
He must have seen the warring emotions in my eyes. Deliberately he moved closer still so our faces were mere inches from one another. His breath tickled my nose and made my eyes flutter. If just standing in close proximity with him had this effect I wonder what it would be like to kiss him… No! You can't become emotionally involved with someone like it. It would be disastrous. I blinked my eyes clear and looked at him.
"No thank you Edward. Goodnight." I pushed passed him as quickly as possible trying to avoid contact. He looked surprised but I didn't give him a second thought. I rushed out the front door right into the paparazzi. The flashes disoriented me but I couldn't let it interfere with my exit.
Maurice welcomed me home with a soft mew. I slid the dress from my shoulders and into a pair of ratty shorts and a t-shirt. My bed never looked so inviting. I lay down and stretched. Maurice hopped up but my mind imagined someone kneeling on the edge of my bed. He moved closer to me green eyes burning. My lips parted in anticipation and I fell off the bed. Reaching for what isn't there generally has such a result.