AN: Sorry it took so long to update!

Chapter 3

I woke up the next morning to the chirp of my phone. I had had a terrible night's sleep… if I even did sleep. I kept having nightmares about my family. In every scenario I couldn't reach them. I woke up crying after every one. My phone chirped again. I didn't want to move, but I was too curious to see who it was, also nervous. There are very few people I keep in contact with by phone, so what if it's Jacob. I rolled over and picked up my phone to see I had two texts. The first was from Edward:

B- Morning, hope you slept well. I'm sorry, but Alice forced me to give her your #. Good luck & C U 2nite! –E

What was so bad about Alice having my number? I read the second message to see it was from Alice herself:

Bella! Edward gave me your #. So, I'm not working 2day. Want 2 meet up? –A

It's funny, I just met them and already I have spent more time with them, than apart. I really did like Alice, plus I needed to do this, so I agreed:

Sure, I'm not busy. Where & when did you want to meet? –B

While I waited for a reply I walked into my bathroom. I looked like crap. My reflection showed a semi-broken version of me. I realized that if I wanted to save my family, I had a lot of work to do. I was terrible at lying, I generally didn't hide my emotions, and I could love easily. I needed to stop those. Most of what I was going to be doing evolved around lies. If I can't hide or fake emotions, they will know something is up immediately. If I fell in love with the Cullen's… I couldn't… I need to save my family.

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I drove up to the diner that Alice wanted to meet at. She told me to clear my schedule for today. Little did she know that I quite college, and that her family was my schedule.

I walked into the diner to see Alice sitting at a booth with a blonde haired girl. I walked over.

"Hello Alice."

She scooted over so I could sit next to her in the booth, "good morning Bella. This is Rosalie. Rosalie, Bella."

Rosalie seemed to be inspecting me, and looked like she did not want me to be here. I shyly said, "It's nice to meet you Rosalie." She didn't reply. It seemed that she already didn't like me. Alice started talking again, "so there are a few boutiques down the road that I want to take you to. They have some of the most amazing clothes."

"Shopping?" I asked hoping I heard her incorrectly. I really did not like shopping, and plus I really did not have the money to, especially at boutiques. Well I guess I did have the money that Jacob gave me after I found out about my family… I felt the now eternal sadness come to the forefront of my emotions.

"Yes shopping. We need to get an outfit for tonight!" Alice replied excitedly. I really didn't see a way out of this. However Rosalie looked at me oddly, then Alice made a comment, "Oh, I promise whatever Edward told you about me and shopping I'm really not that bad. I promise it will be fun!" She started to frown, "if it makes you that sad to go, we don't have to." I realized that I wasn't masking my emotions. I needed to stop wearing my emotions on my sleeve.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you think I didn't want to go shopping. I mean I'm not a big shopper, but I want to go." I smiled reassuringly. "What did you mean about you aren't as bad as what Edward says?" I tried to distract them from wondering why I looked sad.

She seemed to brush it off, "oh nothing, forget I said anything," and that started to get me worried. Why would shopping with Alice be bad?

Alice kept conversation going. She would ask a question every now and then, and I would answer without giving any detail about my family. We ordered breakfast and ate, and by the time we left, Rosalie seemed to be glaring at me less. We decided to take one car, so we went in Rosalie's. She drove a BMW convertible. I was very glad I didn't offer to drive my measly little car.

We pulled up and the two of them were immediately greeted by name by an older woman with a faint accent. "Hello Ms. Brandon, and OH! Ms. Hale! How may I be of assistance to you beautiful ladies today?"

"We need casual-dress outfits for dinner this evening." Alice said while guiding me forward, "and this is Bella Swan."

The woman gave a bow of the head and smiled, "It is very nice to meet you Ms. Swan. Please allow me to take you ladies to the back room, and I will bring in some options."

Rosalie nodded, and we followed her into a large room with two very comfortable couches, and wall of mirrors. There were also 4 curtained off areas to change in. We walked over and the three of us sat on a couch.

Alice smiled and looked at me, "So Bella, what do you think? See it's not too bad is it."

I leaned back into the very comfortable couch, with a content sigh, "no it is really nice. I have never actually shopped at a boutique like this before."

Rosalie scoffed. I looked over at her and she dramatically rolled her eyes and looked away. I heard her mutter something about 'of course you haven't' and 'she doesn't belong here.' I noticed Alice scowling at her. I knew she was right. I didn't belong here. I normally wouldn't be here, but I needed to be here now. I had to figure out a way so I did belong here. I had to do it to save my family. I didn't let the sadness that returned show this time. I kept on a blank mask, and sank back further into the couch.

I quickly came to understand how it is not necessarily good to shop with Alice. After spending 3 hours at the first boutique, grabbing a quick lunch, and spending another 4 hours at a second boutique, I was exhausted. Alice however was still as energetic as she was this morning. Both Rosalie and Alice had purchased full outfits for tonight, plus more. I however, only had bought the Black pants Alice had suggested.

When we walked toward the third boutique, I became a little nervous. I recognized someone I went to high school with, through the window. I couldn't go in there. I think the girls name was Sarah. I didn't really know her all that well, but if she recognized me, and asked about my family or anything, it would bring unwanted questions from Alice, and maybe Rose, which I couldn't answer.

I stopped walking. The girls noticed and stopped walking also, "What's wrong Bella?"

"Alice, I'm sorry, but I am exhausted. Can you please just let me wear something I already own? I mean it's already 5, and I'm supposed to be at your parent's by 7. I need to go home to get ready anyways."

"Bella, we were just going from here to their house. If we each went to our own homes first, we wouldn't have time to do hair and make-up! Trust me, I was in here the other day and saw a shirt that would be perfect for you. It will only take 5 minutes tops, and then we can leave. Ok?" Alice said, trying to convince me to go into the store. They started slowly leading me toward the store again. I sighed and silently prayed that the girl wouldn't see me.

We walked into this boutique and Alice made a B-line to a rack on the back wall. Sarah was paying for her items, and turned to walk out, nearly bumping into me. She looked shocked for a second before apologizing, "I am so sorry about that… hey you look really familiar, have we met before?"

I tried to keep the nerves from making an appearance, "No I'm sorry, I don't think so."

She kept looking at me trying to place where she knew me from, "Well what high school did…" and thank God, at that moment her cell phone rang. "Sarah Braxton here." She mouthed a quick sorry and waved as she walked out the door to her car and left. I let out a small sigh of relief. Rosalie who was still standing next to me raised her eyebrow slightly when I sighed. I gave a small smile and turned to see Alice floating towards us with a shopping bag.

"Alright let's go do hair and make-up!" Alice grinned.

"You paid for it already?" I asked. It had not even been 2 minutes yet. Alice just nodded yes.

"Alice, you never cease to amaze me." Rosalie said shaking her head slightly. Alice's tinkling laugh filled the air as we walked back out to Rose's car. We decided, rather Alice decided, that it would be easier for us to all take Rosalie's car to dinner, and have Edward drop me off back at my car on his way home. She somehow convinced me to agree to this plan.

On the drive there, Rosalie and Alice mostly talked amongst themselves, which was fine with me. As I sat in the back seat staring out the window, I realized that I wasn't nervous to meet Alice and Edward's parents. I can't explain why; I guess I saw how amazing Alice and Edward are and figured they had to come from amazing parents. However, as we pulled up the tree-lined driveway, through the gates, and I saw the colossal size house, all calmness disappeared.

First, I was shocked at the beautiful home before me, which probably had been featured in magazines. Second, I started to pray that Edward and Alice's parents were not the stereotypical stuck-up rich people. And third, I realized that the con Jacob was having me do obviously had to do with money.

Rosalie saw the expression on my face when she looked over her shoulder and smirked as we walked up to the front door. The path to the front door had a little bridge that passed over a fountain and pond with koi fish in it. Rosalie just walked in through the front door with Alice and me trailing behind, which I found a little odd since it was Alice's parent's home. Alice yelled, "We're here!" as she put her purse on a table next to the door. A few seconds later, a beautiful, light-brown haired woman walked into the foyer. "Hello darlings," she said as she hugged Rosalie and Alice. "Oh, and you must be Bella. I have already heard so much about you." I couldn't help but blush. I mean, what could they have told her? She just must be trying to be nice.

"It is very nice to meet you Mrs. Cullen."

"Oh, please do call me Esme sweetheart." I couldn't help but smile at Esme. She really was a kind woman.

"Alright mom, well we need to go get ready." Alice said as she started dragging me up the lavish, curved staircase. Esme simply smiled and walked back to what I'm assuming is the kitchen, to finish cooking dinner.

Once up stairs, Rosalie went to the right, while Alice led me down a hall to the last door on the left. Inside was a large light green and light purple room. Somehow it had a hint of a tropical feel. I sat down on the canopy bed in the center of the room. I looked up to see a skylight in the vaulted ceilings. Alice walked around the corner to her closet, which was through her bathroom. I could hear her putting her purchases away. I felt out of place sitting in such an amazing room. I compared it to my old room in Forks, but quickly stopped that thought process. I looked at the patterns on the comforter to distract myself. When I looked up to see Alice gliding towards me holding a midnight-blue, satin blouse. I'm generally not that impressed by clothes, but this shirt was perfect for me. It looked very elegant, but once I put it on, was the most comfortable shirt ever worn.

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After thanking Alice for the clothes, Rosalie walked into the room, and the pampering began. I never really wear make-up, but Alice insisted that I let her apply some, as Rosalie curls my hair. I eventually agreed, and was now about to turn to see the 'new and improved me,' as Alice put it. I turned to the mirror and was pleasantly surprised. Alice put some light make-up around my eyes, and a light lip gloss. It made my plain brown eyes pop. Rosalie had curled my hair and tied part of it back, so it was soft and natural looking. I turned around and thanked them both for making me look above average. Don't get me wrong, I still wasn't beautiful like them, but I didn't feel as plain as normal either.

Seconds later I heard Edward's voice echoing up the staircase, "I'm here!"

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AN: So the night continues into the next chapter. I am working on it, but don't know an official date. Right now I am in Las Vegas, on my way to Utah, so I'm not sure how much writing I will or will not get done in the next week or so. Thank you to all the readers and let me know what you think! 3