BPOV
"Is that really you? ALICE!" I yelled and ran over to my favorite little pixie.
"Ali!" Jake came up and wrapped us both in a hug. Everyone was looking at us confused.
"I can't believe you're here! How was Seattle? How are you? I've missed you so much! What's new?" I asked.
"Wait, you know each other?" Edward asked.
"Of course we know each other, silly goose! This is my old friend that we came to see, duh!" Alice said happily.
"We used to be best friends, the three of us, before she moved to Seattle which I guess is where she met you. Us three were inseparable, did everything together. Then she moved, and we drifted apart. Me and Jake are closer then ever, but it's never been the same without Ali!" I explained to him and his brothers.
"So, are you two still together?" She said, raising an eyebrow at me.
"No, we broke up a while ago. It was mutual. It's still the same, without the physical stuff, for the most part at least." I said and squeezed Jake's hand. "We decided it was better off just friends. And you're dating the Jasper guy, right? He's treating you well?"
"Of course he is. I don't know what I ever did without him. Well, the guys have a concert tomorrow not too far away, what would you think about coming?"
I looked at Jake, he shrugged. "I don't see why not." And then I added sheepishly, "I've never listened to them before though."
"Oh, it doesn't matter! I'm just glad to have my friends back!"
BPOV
I agreed to going to the concert before I knew what I was getting into. Alice had showed up at my house at noon, forcing me in the shower.
Now, she was playing Bella Barbie against my complaints. Nothing changed about her at least. Still that hyper, all-knowing, fashion-crazy pixie.
"Alright, now go put this on," she said shoving an outfit in my face.
She might've not changed at all, but I sure had. When she left, I was a shy little girl that hated showing too much skin.
Nope, now I knew fashion. High heels or cute wedges were part of my daily wardrobe. I knew what I had, and how to flaunt it. I wasn't that timid little girl, to say the least. I was outspoken and confident.
Tonight, Alice had me in black skinny jeans, a purple tank top with a black design, and purple stilettos. She let my hair curl natural and let it lay around my shoulders. I did my makeup. Mascara, eyeliner, and some lip gloss. Even if my wardrobe improved, I didn't wear very much makeup. That wasn't my thing. I didn't paint it on.
"So, I saw that Edward had a little bit of a thing for you," Alice said innocently.
"Don't even start. He came up to me and started talking to me when I didn't even know who he was. I let my sarcasm shine through, and I'm pretty sure I extinguished his feelings," I said happily.
"Oh, don't you like him too? He's a really nice guy once you get to know him. Sure, he's a little rough around the edges, but so are you, hun. He just has problems with girls wanting him for the fame, not wanting to get to know him. Edward got used before, a girl that just wanted the publicity and tricked him."
"Really? I didn't know that. Poor guy," I replied honestly.
"Yeah, and that's probably why he likes you so much. Even if you're a little hard to get, you didn't even know who he was! That gives him the chance to win you over the good ol' fashion way, to get to know him. Give him a chance, Belly."
"Do you guys not understand that I hate that name? I'll try, Alice. Tonight, I'll dial back on the sarcasm a little bit. I'm not making any promises though. Jake's gunna flip. He's been a little overprotective lately."
"About that, I need to be filled in on what's going on with that."
"Where to start… Alright. You left at the beginning of sophomore year. So, when you left town… Jake and I were all each other had. Of course, we had our other friends, but it wasn't the same. You were a part of us. About two months after you left, that's when me and Jacob started dating. It didn't change much. We had always been pretty physical with each other, that's just how we were. You know that. Anyway, I gave him everything."
I saw the question look she gave me.
"Yep, everything. We dated all of sophomore year, but ended up breaking up at right before junior year started. Wow, that was so long ago. While we were dating, that's when I changed. My wardrobe got a lot better, as you can tell. I became more sure of myself, thanks to Jake. I also started playing volleyball hardcore, and got good. His sarcasm and honesty caught on to me, too.
"Then a few months into junior year, that's when I met James. He was new, but all the girls were in love with him. Just like our Jake. But, he liked me. Jake warned me, told me he was no good. But of course, I didn't listen. The hot guy liked me, and Jake supported me even if he knew better. He was the perfect boyfriend, Alice. I promise you.
"It was nearing the end of junior year, and we were going out for a date. He took me back to his house after, but that was nothing new. We did and we'd make out and stuff. I'd never gone past second base with anybody except Jake. But that night, it changed.
"I didn't want to do it with him. He made me. He threatened me that if I didn't, he would spread rumors about me at school and ruin me. I couldn't deal with that, Alice. So I did. I told him to stop, but he wouldn't. I remember what he said when he was done like it was yesterday.
'If you tell anyone about this, I'll kill them and then you. Including that little Jake of yours. I know you were cheating on me with him.'
"I didn't do anything with Jake while I was with him, I promise. I'm sure he made it up to make it sound like all of it was my fault. He slapped me, and punched me in the gut a few times. I cried, but it didn't change anything. He kept going. This repeated a few more times before he threw me out of his house and told me to get lost. I called Jake sobbing and he was there in three seconds flat. I had to stop him from going in the house and killing James.
"I spent the night at Jake's house and cried in his arms while I told him everything that happened. The week later, James was gone. Disappeared. No one had heard from him, and I was glad to see him gone. It wouldn't have stopped if he had stayed. He'd just push me around some more. And the week after that was the pregnancy scare. I was late, and called Jake crying again. He got four pregnancy tests, and they were all negative. Thank God. I couldn't have had a baby. I wasn't strong enough for that, especially since I had been raped.
"After that was when mine and Jake's relationship took a whole new level. Not romantic wise, but like we were one person. We never dated again, every once in a while we might kiss and we're always holding hands and have our arms around each other. He was, and still is, the only guy I could bear to have close to me. With others, I would break down. I'm getting better now, but that's also why I'm so rude to everyone now. Put up a barrier between me and people. That's why I acted like that to Edward.
"And there's my story."
By now, I was shaking in Alice's arms with tears running down my face. Thank God for waterproof makeup.
"God, Bella. I'm so sorry. I don't even know what to say. I swear, I could kill that guy. I'm surprised Jacob didn't," Alice said, crying.
We just laid like this for an hour or so, before Jacob walked in and saw us on the couch.
"Are you okay? Oh, I guess you told her?" He guessed.
I just nodded my head, and he came over to hug both of us.
"Alright, ladies! Time to cheer up, even though we know how much I want to kill that guy. We're going to go to this concert and have a great time," Jake said, being his positive self.
