Special thanks to Kaylee1038! I looked over Jasper's actions, and literally laughed out loud at their absurdity. Thanks so much! And I will try to write longer chapters. They look a lot longer on Word than they do online :)
"Are you sure you're alright, Edward?" Esme asked me again, hovering anxiously about my chair.
I glanced up at her, sure that annoyance was written over my face. Ever since the previous day's encounter with the new girl – Bella – I had become increasingly irascible and bad-tempered.
Why did she have to come to Forks, of all places? We had arrived specifically to avoid humans, and here she was, threatening to destroy the control I had accumulated over the years. I knew it sounded terribly childish, but it just wasn't fair.
"Yes, I'm fine," I replied, a bit more tersely than I had intended. Alice glared disapprovingly at me.
"I know what he needs," she announced. "A shopping trip!"
"Alice," I grumbled. "Seriously, I don't need a shopping trip, okay?"
"Actually," Carlisle interrupted. "That doesn't sound like a bad idea, Alice. Jasper, why don't you go along, too?"
He gave a small sigh, and put down the book he was reading. "I suppose," he said.
Alice looked up at him, her expression hurt.
"Just kidding," he quickly backtracked. "I don't mind."
Alice laughed. "I was just teasing you, Jasper. But, if you really don't mind coming..." she trailed off.
"All right," he said, grinning back at her. "I suppose I could take some time out of my busy schedule for you."
Carlisle turned to me, suppressing a smile. "And you probably just need to get outside, Edward," he said reassuringly.
Somehow, to me, it seemed condescending, and I suppressed an urge to snap back with a retort. I still hadn't told any of them about what had happened. Alice, mysteriously, had seemed not to have noticed anything, either. I'd assumed that she'd have seen my struggle in the classroom, but she'd made no mention of it so far.
"So, it's settled then," Carlisle declared. "You three are going out shopping." Alice looked at me triumphantly before bounding over and giving him a hug.
"Thanks, Carlisle. I'm going to get ready!" She leapt up the stairs and vanished out of view. I scowled at the back of her head.
"Hey, what about me?" Emmett complained. "What if I want to go shopping?" Rosalie rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"Oh, Emmett," she sighed. "Let's go somewhere else together. I know you wanted to see that car show, right?"
His eyes lit up like a little boy's. "Yeah!" he exclaimed. He jumped up and followed her out the door. I saw them reach for each other's hands, and Emmett gave her a small kiss on the cheek.
I shook my head, still unable to understand the bond between the two of them. Jasper and Alice, especially, amazed me. They seemed to share such a deep connection, one that I couldn't comprehend. I had never felt that way towards anyone else, and I wasn't lonely for it, either. I knew that Esme worried about me, but I just wasn't in love.
Alice ran down the stairs, interrupting my reverie. "All ready!" she trilled. She took Jasper's hand and then pulled me up from my armchair. "Let's go!" She led the way to the car, and I grudgingly sat down.
"Thanks for your support," I growled at Jasper. He shrugged.
"Sorry," he replied. "I guess Alice is in charge." They exchanged smiles. I sighed and looked out the window.
We made it to the mall in a few minutes, with Alice chattering all the way and singing to the radio. She proceeded to yank us out of the car and into the mall, talking about the latest fashions.
Once there, she rushed us to store after store, forcing us to hold her bags. It seemed to drag on interminably, and my arms were even starting to feel the strain.
"Are we finished now, Alice?" I pleaded, but she didn't seem to hear me.
"Calvin Klein?" she gasped, gazing at yet another store window. "I haven't been here in so long!"
A young saleslady with bleached hair gave us a leer – I mean, a smile – as we approached. "Can I help you?" she asked.
"Yes, actually," Alice said cheerfully. "Can you help my brother find a nice shirt to wear?" The lady's gaze wandered to me, and her smile widened.
Ooh, he's single? Nice. Much hotter than my last boyfriend… I winced.
"Actually, I think I'm fine without help, thank you," I said shortly, and walked away.
Hmm, wants to play hard-to-get, does he? she thought to herself. That won't last long. She strode over to where I was standing.
Disgruntled, and not at all in the mood to deal with someone like her, I tried to look fascinated with the shirts on display. She stood there impatiently for a moment before clearing her throat.
"Are you sure I can't help you with anything?" she asked, trying to look up at me flirtatiously.
"Yes, I'm sure," I replied curtly, not even bothering to return her gaze.
"I could help you pick out your size," she persisted. I felt a flash of immense irritation. Couldn't she take a hint?
"No, I'm sorry. Now, if you'll excuse me…" I walked as far away as possible, ignoring her petulant thoughts. It was then that I realized something.
Bella's thoughts had been nothing like that. She, at least, had been thinking in complete sentences. And as I looked back on it, none of her thoughts had been crude or lustful.
I mulled this over in my mind. She had actually been rather distinguished, especially for her age. It was comforting to know that the world's people were not completely undignified.
Alice approached me then, and said quietly, "By the way, don't think that I don't know about yesterday." I looked up at her quickly.
"And?" I asked, eyeing her warily. She shrugged, smirking.
"Oh, it'll be fine," she replied. I glared at her through narrowed eyes and tried to read her thoughts, but she was determinedly envisioning a kitten gamboling about in the rain. I quickly backed out. All that happiness was rather nauseating.
"Alright, fine," I said. "Can we go now?" She looked at me in mock horror.
"Oh, no!" she said. "We still have so many places to go!" With that, she hurried out of the store. Jasper trailed behind, beginning to look a bit weary under the weight of the bags. I scowled as I followed them out.
Hey, so what did you think? I tried to make it longer than the other chapters. Sorry if Edward is being too angsty. Please review!