End of Chapter 14

"How's Bella?" Emmett asked.

"How do you know it was Bella?" I asked in defiance.

"Because of the stupid grin that is now plastered on your face," he said shoving some plates into my hands.

Chapter 15: Just A Friend (BPOV)

I was working on cleaning up the breakfast dishes Saturday morning constantly glaring up at the clock that was quickly clicking towards 10 AM. Alice had already called twice. I thought about telling her that Charlie was sick or I broke my leg...anything, but then I looked over at Charlie who was so happy at the thought of me going shopping with the girls, I couldn't.

"Do you need any money?" Charlie asked again.

"No, dad, I'm good," I said. "I still have money saved up from my job in Phoenix."

"OK," he said. "You better get rolling soon. Don't want to keep the girls waiting."

"Are you trying to get rid of me?" I chided.

"Is it that obvious?" He winked.

"You got a hot date or something?" I smirked and glanced at the ceiling. He blushed and glared at me.

Sue was upstairs cleaning the bathroom. She had arrived at 9 AM to start work. I had tried to help, but she pushed me out of her way, and limited me to making breakfast and doing the dishes. As she had flitted around the last 40 minutes, she fell into easy conversation with both Charlie and I. She talked about her kids. Leah was a year older than I and was busy filling out college applications. Seth was a freshman in high school. It turned out that Mrs. Cullen had invited them over to watch the game tomorrow as well, and I was looking forward to meeting the rest of her family. She had even offered to come and pick up Charlie, since our house was on the way. I had been smirking at Charlie ever since. It felt good to be teasing each other again.

I looked at the clock again. 9:45. I better go. I had one stop to make on the way over.

"OK, I'm heading out," I said to my dad.

"Have fun, honey," he said.

"Will do, dad," I said. "Bye Sue!" I yelled up the stairs.

"Bye, sweetie!" She yelled back. "See you tomorrow!"

I grabbed my purse and headed out to Emmett's Jeep. I smiled widely. Revenge is sweet. This is one of those moments I was happy to live in Forks. Rainy Forks that caused puddles...mud puddles. I quickly hopped into the Jeep, buckled up, and headed to a certain abandoned field that was on the way to the Cullen's.

When I got to the Cullen's house, I hopped out of the Jeep and stood back and took a picture of my handiwork with my phone. I quickly sent it to Edward.

Sorry you are going to miss this! -B

LOL! You have to tell me EVERYTHING tonight! Wish I was there. -E

Oh shit...I can hear him yelling from inside. I hope I live to see you later! -B

Emmett came storming out the door the next minute, his phone to his ear.

"No, I will not promise you to be nice to her! You should see my Jeep! Well, you CAN'T see my Jeep, because it is covered in MUD!" He yelled into the phone. "What do you mean, you know?! She sent you a picture!! I got to go!"

He hung up then, and stormed right up to me so he was nose to nose with me. I was suddenly a little frightened. Brother bear was furious.

"Bella," he said in an eerily calm voice, "I believe we discussed mud running in my rules."

"C'mon, Emmett," I said sweetly. "Meyer's field was just begging to be upturned."

He closed his eyes and a growl resounded in his chest.

"You know, I will be glad to skip shopping and carefully follow Chapter 7's detailed cleaning instructions!" I said perkily.

"Ah, man, Bella!" He said throwing his hands in the air. "This is all a ploy to get out of shopping!"

"I don't know what you are talking about," I said scuffing the ground with the toe of my shoe.

"No! No way! You are going shopping!" He said pointing at me. "AND I am telling Alice to buy you whatever she wants!"

"Nooooooo...you wouldn't," I said with wide eyes.

"Prepare to spend all day in dressing rooms," he sneered.

"That's wrong, Emmett," I said. "It's just wrong."

He just pointed at his Jeep as he stormed into the garage fishing out cleaning supplies. Alice and Rosalie came out of the house via the door in the garage at that moment, and I saw Emmett lean in to talk to Alice. Their conversation was followed by a huge squeal and jumping. He came back out and smirked at me. I stuck my tongue out at him and stomped my way to Rosalie's BMW, and climbed into the back for my torturous afternoon.

***

"Alice, I swear to God, you throw one more sleeveless anything over this door, I'm walking home!" I threatened from inside another dressing room. "We live in Washington!"

"That is what cardigans and sweaters are for!" Alice yelled back.

"She's going to win, you know," Rosalie's disinterested voice came floating in from the dressing room next to mine.

"Fine," I relented.

Despite my current round of complaining, I was having fun. Rosalie and Alice were great, and they did know their way around a mall. Alice's keen eye for what would work for me. She had me trying on things I would have never picked out for myself, and emphasizing curves I didn't think I had. We made our way back out into the mall around lunch time, and plopped our load of bags down as we grabbed something to eat at the food court.

"So, Bella," Alice said as we all started eating, "what was life like before Forks?"

"Not very exciting," I said stabbing my bourbon chicken. "Not that it is that exciting now. Well, it is exciting, but for none of the right reasons."

"I don't know," Rosalie said with a knowing smile. "There looked like some right reasons going on in the window of that Jeep yesterday after school."

Alice giggled.

"What are you talking about?" I said confused.

"You and a certain brother of mine looked awfully cosy sharing your iPod," Alice said staring me down.

"We were just listening to music," I defended. "Edward and I are just friends."

"Uh huh," they both said nodding slowly. I rolled my eyes at them.

After lunch, Alice told me we had one more stop. We loaded our bags into Rosalie's car, and drove to the other end of town. Still being unfamiliar with the area, I had no idea where we were going. When Rosalie parked and we stepped out of the car, I stared shocked.

"What are we doing here?" I asked.

"To get our oil changed," Rosalie said sarcastically. "We have spa appointments. Yours starts in 15 minutes, so get to steppin'!"

"I can't afford this, and you aren't paying!" I protested.

"Oh we aren't," Alice said pushing me towards the door.

She got me inside, and checked us in. As we waited, I was informed that I was getting a massage, pedicure, facial, and my hair done. Before long, my name was being called. I felt my bones melt as the masseuse worked her magic. I hadn't felt this relaxed since...well, since before I found out Charlie's diagnosis. The facial felt fantastic, and I met up with the girls for our pedicures. I picked a color called 'Grand Canyon Sunset', because I was feeling a little homesick for Renee, and nostalgic for Arizona. My hair was trimmed up and layered a bit more, and the stylist put some soft curls in it before we left. I walked out and Rosalie whistled. Alice hugged me. I blushed.

"You look great, Bella," Alice said stepping away from me.

"You look like you lost about 20 pounds of the weight you have been carrying, too," Rosalie added with a tender smile as she took her turn hugging me.

"Thank-you both," I said sincerely. "Today was a wonderful day."

"It ain't over yet, sister!" Alice said as she bounced on the balls of her feet. "We still have tonight!"

"Let's get you home to Charlie, so you can get your peace of mind," Rosalie said, and we headed out to the car.

The drive home was spent talking about everyone's favorite purchases of the day and singing along with the radio. We were back in Forks in no time, and I waved to the girls as they drove off. I clutched my bags, and headed into the house.

"Dad!" I called out. "I'm home!"

"In here, Bells," he called from the living room. I breathed a sigh of relief. I turned the corner and his mouth gaped open as he took in the amount of bags I was carrying.

"Alice," I muttered in explanation as I headed up the stairs to deposit my bags in my room.

"Did you have fun?" Charlie asked as I came back down the stairs. His voice was tinged with hope.

"Yes," I said honestly. "It was great to spend the day with the girls."

"Good," he said nodding to himself. "And you are going over to stay the night with Alice, right?"

"Yes," I answered. "If you feel okay, and you are sure you don't mind."

"I feel just fine, sweetie," he said with a soft smile. "Go and have fun with your friends."

"Well, they aren't expecting me until after dinner, so I am going to go start ours," I said getting up.

"Okay," Charlie agreed. "Hey, Bells."

"Yeah, dad," I said turning back around.

"You look real pretty," he smiled tenderly at me. I reached up to touch my hair. I had almost forgotten it was styled up.

"Thanks, dad," I said blushing, and then turned back towards the kitchen to start dinner.

By the time we finished dinner, it was still a little early, so I decided to call Renee. I was missing her today.

"Hey, mom," I said when she answered.

"Hey, baby," she said. "How is Forks?" I knew that she was really asking about dad.

"It's good," I answered honestly. "Charlie is done with this round of chemo, and is starting to feel a bit more like himself. I went shopping today with my friends Alice and Rosalie, and tonight I am staying over at Cullen's house."

I had called my mom earlier in the week telling her about the game on Sunday, and Edward and I's presentation. She was happy to hear that I was finally making some friends, and thought that the Cullens sounded like wonderful people.

"That sounds like fun!" She said enthusiastically. "Is this just a girl sleepover?"

"Mom!" I said shocked. "Not you too!"

"What?" She asked putting on her innocent tone. "Alice does have two teenage brothers, if I remember correctly, who you are friendly with."

"Mom, Edward and Emmett are just my friends," I said exasperated. "Why is everyone trying to make more of it? I am not even thinking about that right now. I have too much to worry about still with Charlie."

"Who are you trying to convince here, kiddo? Me or yourself?" She asked.

"I'm going to hang up," I said.

"No, no, no," she scolded. "So, what about Thanksgiving? Are you still coming to Wyoming?"

"That's the plan," I said, and then continued quieter, "unless something happens with Charlie."

"Honey," she said now in her soothing mother tone. "That occurrence last week was a freak thing. Your father will be off his chemo for five weeks by the time Thanksgiving rolls around."

"I know," I said, "You're right."

"So I can buy the ticket?" She asked.

"Why are you asking me?" I said. "I know you already have."

"Okay, so I have, but the prices were really good a month ago, and I hoped," she said whining a bit.

"I am excited to see you again, mom," I admitted.

"Me too, baby," she said. "I miss you!"

"I miss you, too," I said. "I better get off, because I still need to pack for tonight."

"You have fun tonight!" She said brightly now. "Charlie will be fine."

"I know," I said. "I will. I love you."

"I love you, too, baby," her voice and words wrapped around me. "Bye."

"Bye."

I hung up and stared at the phone for a moment before setting it down on my desk. I loved being here and helping Charlie, but a large part of me missed my mom. I had spent most of my life with her, and my chest ached a bit. I didn't even realize until I tasted the salt on my lips that I was crying. I laid back on my bed and hugged my pillow. I was brought out of my cry by my phone buzzing.

Are you here yet? :-) -E

Soon. Just need to finish packing. -B

I hear you are looking great with your new hair cut. -E

I was, but I fear I killed it. -B

How so? -E

I think I might have smashed it when I was laying down. -B

Everything OK? -E

Damn, how is he so perceptive?

Yeah. Just talked to my mom. Missing her. -B

:-( -E

I'll be over soon. Keep the pixie at bay! -B

Hurry. I missed you today. -E

Me too. -B

I got up, and finished packing. I included one of my new outfits for tomorrow, and a pair of my new pajamas for tonight. I gave Charlie his medicine, and made him promise to call if anything felt off. He promised if I promised to try to have fun and relax. I hugged him good-bye and told him that I would see him tomorrow at the Cullen's house.

It was weird to be driving my truck again after a week driving the Jeep. I pulled up to the Cullen's in no time, and was climbing out when Edward bounded out the door to meet me.

"I heard you coming," he said pointing at my truck with a smile.

"Are you seriously starting in on my baby?" I asked with a tone of incredulity.

"No," he said holding up his hands, "I don't want to ruin my chance of hearing your one song."

"I was hoping you forgot," I admitted.

"No way!" He said taking my bag from me. "I've been looking forward to it all day."

"I hope you don't have high expectations," I said closing my door. "I am bound to disappoint."

"Never," he said. I scoffed. "And, Bella,..."

"Yes?" I asked as he reached over and put his arm not carrying my bag over my shoulders. "Your hair does look beautiful."

---------------------------

A/N: I was going to keep going through the sleepover, but I think I want to do the rest from EPOV. I have my reasons.

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