A/N: Thanks for reading, story alerting, favoriting, and anything I'm leaving out. Happy reading!
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns the characters, I own the basics of the storyline.
Monday. Turns out the movie project was a bust. I was a little embarrassed to have my name attached to the project—an Indie adaptation of a teenage vampire romance novel—but it would give me the money. I still longed for enough money to buy me my own boutique of Alice Cullen Originals. But that was just a dream and on Monday, I spent my time taking notes on whatever the producers gabbed about, who didn't know the difference between cotton and silk or aqua and teal.
"I think I can figure something out," I replied when they finished their long-winded speech. I turned to look at them across the conference table that stood in front of the cork-wall filled with sketches of the storyboard. "So tomorrow I'm taking measurements?"
"Yes, bring in some sketches of a few ideas you're cooking up and we'll go over what suits each male actor on Tuesday. We'll deal with the girls on Thursday, that way you have the weekend to cook something up," one of the producers, a portly balding middle-aged man, advised. Hmm, middle-aged men working on a teen romance project. I wasn't here to judge, I was here for the paycheck. "It's a pretty low budget," he continued. "We're here to save money, not spend it, so the budget we gave you is the maximum." What? "Try to use synthetics or—"
Did he know what synthetic was? Oh God… I went back to my hotel room after the long day, kicking off my boots and putting my feet up on the coffee table. I quickly grabbed my cell phone looking to see it blink 'ONE NEW VOICEMAIL.' Jasper!
It was Edward. I sighed, dialing the number and listening to the message.
"So you were right, she said yes… She's against the whole 'Alice Cullen wedding' idea, but I think I can convince her," I shuddered when he laughed. "Hope you're having fun in the middle of nowhere. Again, if that guy breaks your heart, I'm kicking his ass—" I heard Bella chime in the background, "as if you could!"
I laughed before I heard Bella squeal and that was my cue to shut the phone. I turned my phone over in my hands, wondering if I should call Jasper. He said he'd call me if "Rosalie" let him out of the house. What about Annabelle?
Before I knew what I was doing, I dialed his number and heard the phone ring. Ring… He won't answer. Ring… he's too busy with Annabelle. Ring… Just leave it alone, Alice. Ring… It's not even worth it. Ring… He's so worth it.
"Hey, it's Jasper," his voicemail picked up. "I'm busy, can't answer the phone, or I just don't want to answer your calls, Emmett," he laughed. "Leave a message." Beep.
"Hi, um… It's Alice, I thought I'd just call and see how you were doing—" I paused, tucking my legs underneath me as I hugged a pillow to my chest. "I had a shitty day and Edward's too busy with—well, I couldn't think of anyone else to call. I was going to go get a drink and didn't really want to sit there alone, but—" God, I sounded pathetic. "You said you'd call me and I'm being really clingy right now, so I'm just going to hang up and… yeah."
My face was bright red and I could feel the heat radiating off my cheeks from embarrassment. I sat there for the next few hours, waiting for him to call back, but he never did. I checked his number to make sure it was right about fifty times before I passed out on the couch. This was going to be a long week.
Tuesday. I woke up with a crick in my neck, rolling over and falling off the couch. I groaned and rubbed my forehead, grabbing my phone to check to see if he—he didn't. I sighed, getting up and going off to work.
I sat in the corner of the trailer on set, eyeing each actor as they conversed easily, giggling and gossiping with scripts in their hand. I was interrupted when a producer blocked my view.
"Let me see the sketches you've done," shit. I'd been so busy moping around, waiting for Jasper to call, that I hadn't even picked up my sketchbook. I was lucky I brought it with me today.
"I, uh, they're not done yet. I wanted to sketch them out with you here once I see the actors. Maybe the actors will give me a little spark," I covered quickly. The producer eyed me for a second, but I shrugged. "It's how I work. I need a model before I can really grasp the wardrobe." He nodded skeptically before walking over to the actors.
"Alright, everyone, you're here for some measurements. I'd like you all to meet Alice Cullen, our costume designer," he motioned to me, curled up in an artists' chair with my sketchbook propped up. I had a measuring tape beside me and a pen and pad to take notes. The actors all waved in their own goofy ways and I smiled back. "She'll be taking measurements and discussing your characters, wardrobe, etcetera. Daniel, you're up first," he motioned toward a tall bronze haired male in the back of the group, hidden beneath thick-rimmed glasses and a beanie.
I hopped down from the chair and sighed when Daniel approached. "Does anyone have a stool for me?" I asked with a light laugh.
"It's all right, I'll just bend down," Daniel replied with a smirk and I giggled.
"Take your hat off," I ordered and he obeyed, running his fingers through his hair. "Alright, you'll be in dark blues," I said absently, writing in my pad. "Gray and black—you're the vampire guy, right?" He nodded. "Yeah, all right, so I'm keeping you in darker colors, make your skin paler…"
Wednesday. No call from Jasper. I spent the day patching costumes together with the producer's assistant, who was just there to oversee my work. Instinct took in and it was pretty easy to patch together costumes for everyone. I was still distracted, though—constantly glancing at the clock and my cell phone to see if he would—he wouldn't.
Thursday. Nothing. No text message, no call. I had resorted to ice cream for dinner the past few days. The housekeeping maid was probably pissed off when she came to my room everyday. Cartons of ice cream were strewn across every surface and I hadn't really had the time to dispose of them myself. Lucky for me I had a fast metabolism.
But I was also tired on set. I could barely keep my eyes open from the nights of dairy binging and staring at my mocking cell phone. But god, this wasn't me! I'm not the kind of girl who just mopes around waiting for a guy to call! It's so stupid! I'm Alice Cullen, for goodness' sake! I don't need a guy to make me happy even if he is as romantic and sweet and—no!
"Alright, ladies." Today I would be measuring the female actresses for their costumes. I had a feeling today would be—fun. Plus, the girls were closer in height to my 4'11" stature rather than the 6'5" guys that wandered set. "This is Alice Cullen, she's the costume designer, she'll be taking measurements for you all today. Vera, help Alice with taking measurements, will you? Nicole, you're up."
I hopped down from my artist chair, taking my measuring tape and pen and pad out to start making notes. Vera, the brunette beauty, was a whopping 5'8" and held out her hand to shake mine. Her bubbly personality was suffocating in my depression, but I smiled and went through the motions, measuring and meticulously taking notes on Nicole's skin tone and hair color to aid my color choice. She didn't play a vampire, so it was easy to dress her, not masking her in dark hues.
The hour went on and I seemed to be going through everyone. Vera kept me company the whole time and we began talking about New York, where I was staying (hotel wise) and how I was doing with the project.
"You're from New York?" Vera asked, staying by my side as I measured a few more women.
"Yeah, bit of a stretch, huh?" I replied with a smirk. "Thanks, Jessica," I said as I finished the last actress. The thin-as-a-rail blonde nodded and walked off to her co-stars.
"Did you leave a boyfriend behind?" she asked with a knowing smile. I sat back on the stool and opened up my sketchbook; beginning the drawings of a dress I believed the last cast member would sport nicely.
"Excuse me?" I asked rolling my eyes as I nervously tapped my foot.
"I don't know, you've got this distracted look in your eye. I know I left my husband and baby boy at home, but the bills got to get paid and I wanted to be a director. I thought Assistant Director was a stepping stone, but it's just made me buy an apartment across the country and take up being a lap dog," she said with a laugh. "I get what you're going through, being so far from home."
"Vera!" the director snapped and she jumped up.
"Coming," she called over her shoulder before turning to me. "Look, my friend is coming up from LA to visit and I was going to go head out to the bar tonight. Do you want to come?"
"I don't know—I," couldn't think of an excuse.
"You said the Plaza hotel?" Vera asked with an I-got-you smile and I nodded reluctantly. "I'll pick you up around eight."
When I got back to the hotel, I showered and changed into a signature feminine every-girl-should-have-in-their-closet black dress. It was a simple cotton baby doll dress without much flare to it. I paired it with silver accessories, a thin silver chain, a silver bangle, and red heels. A bit too dressy for a night at the bar in Portland, but maybe I would see Jasper there… Who was I kidding? I didn't eve know what bar we'd be at let alone if I'd see him.
My phone buzzed and Vera told me her car was parked right outside the lobby. I smoothed out my dress in the elevator, walking to the car to see Vera in tight dark wash skinny jeans and a navy blue blouse. I was overdressed… again. I sighed and Vera smiled, telling me I looked great. I sighed, bracing myself for the evening and I slipped in the passenger seat of her car.
"Alice, I'd like you to meet Rosalie Hale, the friend I was telling you about," Vera said and I looked over my shoulder dumbfounded. Rosalie Hale, Jasper's sister… She had come back early. Had Jasper been lying or had he—I—
Her hair was the same brilliant blonde as her brothers, matching intensity in her emerald eyes and a face any female model would kill for. Her floral strapless Dolce and Gabbana dress clung to her curves and her thin chain held a locket at the end. Her nude pumps just walked off the runway and she smiled sweetly, waving my way. She looked down at my outfit, eyeing me up and down like any model would. I immediately felt small. Had Jasper mentioned me? Did she know who I was?
"Rose, this is Alice, the one with—" Vera began, but Rosalie cut her off.
"The one with guy troubles?" she asked and I blushed, looking forward again. "With a fashion sense like yours, the guy isn't worth it," she said with a laugh. "Nice to meet you, fashion goddess. Finally someone in this town who knows how to dress! No offense, Vera."
"Nice to meet you, too," I managed with a smile. Vera drove off to Henry's 12th Street Tavern, just as I hoped and dreaded. Would Jasper be here? I had a feeling Rosalie wasn't the kind of person to invite her brother, but—where else would he be?
We took a table in the back corner, giggling and opening up pretty easily. Rosalie was star struck when I said I was from New York. Being a model, she longed to go, but she never had the chance. She related to my "guy troubles" with her boyfriend, Emmett.
He lived in Portland, but she commuted back and forth to LA. He would go with her some times, but always found that sticking around Portland was where he wanted to be. He didn't like California. Lucky for her, her manager was in Portland and would just send her out to California when absolutely necessary.
I told her about my dream to open my own boutique, designing my own clothes, the work. She shared my enthusiasm, saying I definitely had the drive and the fashion sense to make it. She was nice, funny, smart, and beautiful. It was a little weird to be sitting with the sister of the guy I had slept with and had me distracted, but I guessed it was okay.
"So, who's this guy who's got you crazy?" Rosalie asked, leaning across the table. Vera was off grabbing us another round of drinks. I shrugged and Rosalie shook his head, giving me a familiar smile, but her smile lacked those cute dimples he had—God, I'm pathetic. "Come on, Alice, spit it out."
"I met him the other night here. We hit it off and I haven't seen him since. I keep calling, but he doesn't—" my voice trailed off and I shrugged again, toying with the paper umbrella in my empty glass. "I don't know, it's stupid 'cause I won't be here for more than a month, so he has it right by keeping his distance, you know?"
"Wrong," Rosalie disagreed. "I've been with Emmett for a year and a half. Yeah, times get tough and it hurts to be apart, but we deal. Look, if you felt something with this, then keep trying. If it doesn't work out, then it doesn't, but you can't say you didn't try. Besides, we're young, we have a while to screw things up before we get it right."
I smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Rosalie."
"You can call me Rose," she replied as Vera sat down, passing the drinks along the table. "Hey, Vera, can I crash at your place tonight?" she asked before taking out her phone and checking the time.
"Yeah, sure. Why, what happened with Emmett?" Vera asked. I looked toward Rosalie casually and she shrugged.
"Emmett is up hunting with some friends, I don't want to ruin his trip," she said with a sigh.
"What about Jasper?" and Annabelle? Mention Annabelle!
"He didn't expect me home so early and Annabelle trashed the place. I'm giving him time to clean up before I stay at his house," she said with a smile.
"I miss Annabelle! We should all go to the beach again once Emmett comes back," Vera said with a reminiscent smile. "Alice, you should come, too! When is Emmett getting back anyway?"
"Next week. I'll go stay at Jazz's Monday, I guess. Maybe he'll finally clean the house," Rose said with a grin. Yeah, maybe he'll clean up Annabelle's mess…
I smiled with Rosalie and took a long chug of my martini. Rosalie was right. I felt something with Jasper; I should try to make it work. I should at least confront him about the whole Annabelle thing. It wasn't fair to just cut the ties and plus, it would be awkward later on when I would be with his sister throughout the trip.
After I got home, I pulled out my laptop and went on yellow pages to find out just where Mr. Jasper Hale and his Annabelle lived. I wrote down the address and planned to visit the liar tomorrow after work. It would be some Friday.
Happy Fourth of July (well, technically it's the 5th, but whatever). Thanks for reading and the more reviews I get, the quicker the next chapter goes up.