Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 7: Girls Night In

It had been four days since I left the hospital, four long boring days. Alice had taken Dr. C's advice to heart. I had not been allowed out of my bed unless I showered, went to the bathroom, or was driven, yes driven, to Mason Medical. Dr. Denali turned out to be a very nice, charming man. He reminded me a lot of Dr. C. Therefore, I called him Dr. D.

Tonight was Alice's idea of freedom. We were having a girl's night in. Alice was coming over to hang out with Rosalie and me. She was bringing movies, make-up, and dessert. Rosalie was cooking dinner, the best spaghetti in the world as she called it. I was put in charge of gathering blankets and pillows to create a 'sleepover' atmosphere in the living room. Sometimes I wondered if she ever really grew up, but I loved her for it. She had chosen today for the sleepover because the weather was getting dire. The news station had said they were 80% sure tonight's ice storm would stick around long enough to cause schools to be cancelled the next day. I wouldn't be going to work, Rosalie's full day of classes would be cancelled, and Alice's work could be put on hold since she did it from home.

It was nice to be up and walking around again. I scoured the apartment for pillows and blankets with a smile on my face. I had worried I would forget how to use my legs. I piled my gatherings on the sofa before finding Rose to see if I could help.

"Hey," I said as I entered the kitchen. It was funny to see Rosalie in an apron. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Absolutely not," she said as she dumped the noodles in the boiling water. "I was threatened within an inch of my life and told not to let you help. I'm not risking it. That little pixie is a spitfire." I laughed as I took a seat on one of the barstools. I liked that she had picked up on the nickname I had given Alice.

"Don't worry. I won't put you in danger. So what's been happening in the world? I feel like I've been living under a rock." We both laughed.

"Nothing much that I know of. Obama's mother-in-law is going to live in the White House temporarily, he got additional bailout money from Congress, and he's closing Guantanamo Bay."

"I really have missed a lot. Grr! Alice." She had kept me away from the news in an attempt to 'keep me in good spirits.' I hated to feel uninformed.

"In more important news, Rick is letting me run the shop by myself now twice a week."

"Rose, that's fantastic! Congratulations."

"Thanks." Her muttered gratitude did not have much enthusiasm. She seemed almost nervous about the prospect, and Rosalie Hale was never nervous.

"Isn't that a good thing?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yes. It's a great thing. I'm just worried, because I know that Rick is planning on retiring in the next couple of years. He has hinted around at asking me to take over the shop."

"Hello, ladies!" Alice called from the front door. She came into the kitchen setting four bags on the ground. "What are you two chatting about?"

"Rose here got some great news." Alice looked at her expectantly.

"Rick is letting me run the shop by myself twice a week." Alice squealed, jumping in place while clapping.

"Rose, that's wonderful. Oh, we should celebrate. We can go shopping." Alice stopped when she looked at Rose's not-so-enthusiastic face. "Why do you look sad?"

"Rick has hinted at asking me to take over the shop when he retires in a few years."

"That's amazing, Rose. You said you want your own shop. It's just going to happen sooner than you thought. Isn't this what you want?"

"Not exactly. I want my own shop. I want to build it from the ground up. I want to design the building. I want to buy all the supplies. I want Alice to decorate the office and break room." We had to cover our ears when Alice squealed in excitement. "I want to worry about the money and have to work late into the night getting it ready to open.

"I have been given everything on a silver platter my entire life. I don't want to rely on someone else to get what I want. I want to do it all so that I can say it's truly mine. Am I being dumb?"

"No. That's perfectly reasonable. I'm proud of you for taking the high road. How are you going to tell Rick though?"

"I don't know. I want to tell him soon so that he makes plans accordingly. I just don't want to disappoint him; he's so excited about it all the time."

"He'll understand." Alice placed her hand on Rosalie's arm to offer reassurance. "He's a reasonable guy from what I can gather. He'll be sad, but not disappointed."

"I guess. I'll try to talk to him next time I go in."

"Do you really want me to decorate?" I could tell she was trying to contain her excitement, but she was humming on her feet.

"Yes. I do. I want it to be cliché. It's going to be called Rose's Garage. I want it to be in pink's and red's, and I want the office and break room to be super girly." Alice was bouncing around the room by now.

"Oh, Rose. It's going to be great. We can get someone to paint a huge rose on the big doors."

"They're called bay doors."

"Yeah. Those things. I'm thinking we can-"

"I know you're really excited, and so am I. However, dinner is ready, and the shop won't exist for quite a few years. You've got plenty of time to plan. Let's plate up and go into the living room for the first movie."

"Fine." She huffed before plating her dinner.

We went into the living room to rearrange. We pushed the couch to the edge of the room, piled all the pillows where it once was, and laid the blankets out in front of them. We sat down and got comfortable while Alice put in the first movie. She sat down between us as the previews began. We chatted about classes while we waited for the movie to start. It was nice to have that. Things had been so hectic and crazy. To have a night with friends, pretending there were no worries in the world, did wonders for my mind. I was excited to see she had chosen Dane Cook: Vicious Circle. He was one of the few comedians I liked.

We watched the show in a fit of giggles. This show was one of my favorite one's. My favorite bit he does was about the Kool-Aid man though. My favorite part that night of watching the show was when he did a bit about breaking and entering. I finished eating and took my plate back into the kitchen. I had just returned when the joke began.

"And you know that family, every few months, for years, from time to time, whatever it is they're doing they would just stop, stop and look at each other and go... what the f*** did they take?"

Rose, whom had never seen it before, proceeded to not only laugh but spit out her drink as well. I doubled over in laughter. Alice fell to her side laughing as well. Roses glared at us both as she stood up to take her plate to the kitchen. She was grumbling as she went. Alice paused the dvd so we wouldn't miss anything. Rose came back in with some paper towels muttering about how disgusting it was to have pop all over her blanket. She cleaned it as much as she could then replaced it with a clean one.

"Well," she said, "I am going to get out of these now dirty clothes and change into pajamas. Why don't y'all change as well?" Still laughing, Alice and I walked to my room to change. We joined Rose in the living room soon after and finished the show.

Alice said we could join her in the kitchen while she fixed our desserts. She had brought everything to make banana splits. At least, she thought she brought everything. She searched every bag then looked through our freezer. When she didn't find it, she pulled out her phone, put it on speaker phone, and called Jasper. He answered after two rings.

"Hello, Tink," he answered. He had nicknamed her Tinkerbell back when they first began dating. It was a nickname only Jasper was allowed to use. After a few years, he shortened it.

"Baby," she began in a cautious voice. "I forgot something."

"I helped you pack. What did we forget?"

"We forgot the ice cream." There was a short pause before we all started laughing. Who forgets ice cream when making a banana split? "Could you do me a big favor?"

"You want me to bring you ice cream don't you?"

"Would you please, baby? We can't have banana splits without ice cream, all of us are in our pajamas, it's late, and it's dark outside."

"There's no need to beg. You know I will. What flavor do you want?"

"Vanilla."

"Chocolate."

"Vanilla Bean." We all giggled at the outburst. We obviously had very different tastes.

"How about I get a pint of each? Will that be enough?" Jasper was the perfect man in my opinion. I did not have a desire to be with him. I saw him more as my brother, but I always secretly hoped I could find someone like him. I knew that if I ever started dating, I would be comparing each man to Jasper.

"Oh! That would be perfect. Thank you, Jazzy," Alice said excitedly. She never calmed down.

"You're welcome, baby. I'll be there in about thirty minutes."

"Bye!" We all chorused out. Alice put everything away to wait for Jasper. We went back into the living room when Alice declared she and Rose would begin my makeover until dessert arrived. I groaned at this revelation. Makeovers were not my favorite thing.

I sat as they played what I had recently dubbed 'Bella Barbie.' Rosalie was turning out to be very different from what I expected. She could definitely play the part of ice queen, but she was showing us her softer side, too. It didn't escape me though how crass she was. It was such a contrast but showed her complexity.

"Let's talk about boys!" Alice exclaimed unexpectedly. I hated these conversations. "C'mon. It's a classic sleepover ritual. I'll go first. There's this boy I like. He has curly blonde hair, gorgeous blue eyes, nice, strong arms. They can wrap around me and pull me up off my feet until I'm the perfect height to kiss his soft, needy lips. Oh, and when he-"

"Alice! That's enough," I interrupted her. "I refuse to listen to you talk about your sex life. He's practically my brother." I blushed a deep crimson; the topic always causing this reaction.

"Bella," I could hear Rosalie giggling. "I wouldn't mind hearing. Since I don't have a man right now to fulfill my needs, I can live vicariously through Alice."

"You're single?" I don't know why I had never considered this before.

"Unfortunately."

"I don't mean to imply anything. I just figured there would be plenty of guys dying for a chance. You'd have your pick."

"Oh, there are plenty of guys to choose from, but I'm picky. I have an idea of my perfect man. I'm also looking for a committed, long-term relationship. Not a lot of people in college are looking for that; definitely not my exes." She had finished brushing my hair and was now straightening it.

"Tell us about them."

"Well, I've only really dated four people. I mean I have been on dates with more, but I've only been in committed relationships with four people. I don't actually count the first one. It was high school, and we didn't know what relationships meant. It was four months.

"The second one was my first real one. His name was Ronnie. We dated for seven months. I was in the relationship 100%. He wasn't. He had a missus on the side. I don't know whether to blame him or not though, because his father did also. It was a learned behavior. He saw it as natural. I still kicked him to the curb, literally; in my red stilettos no less.

"The third was a huge mistake. It only lasted a month. He finally realized that I meant it when I said I was looking for long term. The last was horrible. His name was James. He was the picture perfect boyfriend for the first four months. I thought I had finally met someone with possibility. He started changing slowly. I realized I was the trophy on his arm. He had never cared for my idea of opening an Auto Shop. He said it was a man's job. He discouraged me from pursuing my education. 'I will take care of you. That is my job. There is no need to work,' he would say.

"I guess at first I ignored the jab towards my dream because it was a common reaction. I told myself his need to take care of me was genuine and that he only wanted it to be easy for me. I finally saw it for what it was, control. I've seen women in controlling relationships before and always thought them weak for it. After James, I see how it can happen. It's subtle and manipulative.

"It took a while, but I was able to break from it. We were together for ten months. I've been single since. That was nine months ago. I didn't want to jump back into the dating scene, making sure I was absolutely ready for that step. I am now, and it's so frustrating to want someone and be scared to have someone at the same time. Know what I mean?"

"Absolutely." She had hit on so many familiar thoughts and feelings. It was a shock, the stunningly beautiful, intelligent Rosalie Hale had dating fears. "What's your perfect man like, then?" She got a glazed over look in her eyes. I could just picture him in my head as she talked.

"He's tall with dark hair. He's romantic, funny, and crass; loves cars and having fun. He has to have a job and goal in life, not just be coasting by.

"I want him to be close with his family and want a big family; I want three children. I want my man to be proud of me and not intimidated. He has to love everything about me; every quality and every flaw. Those are the basics."

"He sounds like a big teddy bear," Alice said as she covered her mouth to stifle her giggle.

"Sure, if a teddy bear can give mind-blowing orgasms and make my engine rev with just one touch."

"There's the Rose I've grown to love," I said while laughing.

"Now for something happy; Alice, tell me about how you met Jasper."

"I can do that!" she exclaimed. She stopped working on my makeup to give the story her full concentration. "Jasper and I met the first time when I was seventeen. Bella had just moved to Forks, and she was wearing…well, that's a story for another time. Anyways, she had just moved to Forks so I took her shopping. We were in Port Angeles, had just finished shopping, and decided to get dinner before driving home. We were walking over a bridge when our favorite klutz bumped into someone, effectively knocking them into me.

"I fell flat on my butt. Whoever knocked into me offered a hand to help me stand. Once I was steady I looked up to thank them and saw the most piercing, mesmerizing blue eyes. It was Jasper. He apologized with this sexy southern drawl and called me ma'am. He insisted it was his fault and wanted to buy us dinner in return. After some arguing we agreed. We spent the hour and a half dinner talking. Bella seemed to be off in her own world-"

"I think that was you and Jasper," I interrupted.

"Same difference. He said he and his family were moving to Port Angeles. They didn't have the house phone set up yet, and he didn't have a cell phone so we made plans to meet up the following weekend at the same bridge. I was there the next weekend, and he never showed."

"What?!" Rosalie sounded shocked.

"That was my reaction too, but I wasn't too worried. I knew Jasper and I were meant to be, so we would find each other again when it was the right time. The right time happened to be three years later at Seattle U.

"I went to the Counseling Center one day to talk about joining the Student Helpline staff. I talked with a few of the workers to get some first-hand knowledge and turned to leave. I bumped into someone, and was knocked flat on my butt. They helped me up, and when I went to thank them I was staring at those same blue eyes. He smiled and said, 'I'd say I'm sorry ma'am, but I'd be lying. I've been dreaming about bumping into you for three years.' Our first date was the next night."

"Only you, Alice; only you could find your soul mate and fall in love in one day and then wait three years for them. That's the most adorable story I have ever heard," I could hear Rosalie's wistful tone. "From the first day I met you as a couple, I felt like you had known each other your entire lives. You fit each other perfectly, like you were made for each other."

"We were. It's that simple. I was just lucky enough to figure it out quickly. He's my perfect man."

"What about you Bella? Who's your perfect man?"

"Better yet," Alice began, "tell us about Edward." I blushed when she smiled knowingly. Rose looked intrigued. I hadn't told her about Edward yet. I let out a long breath knowing I couldn't escape this conversation. "Hold still. Do you want to look like a clown?" She went back to working on my makeup.

"Edward is the EMT that helped me at the accident," I said to clue in Rosalie. "He was very helpful."

"Ohh, a paramedic; how sexy. How was he helpful? Give us details."

"An EMT, not a paramedic. We had a conversation about the difference between the two." Alice smiled a sly smile. "Anyways, I almost fell when I first got out of the truck, but he caught me. He carried me to the ambulance because I couldn't walk; I was too weak. When his partner/brother Emmett, was starting the IV he held my hand and-" I abruptly stopped talking. I hadn't planned on revealing what I almost said.

"And what?" Alice was a hound. She would not give up.

"I had my eyes scrunched close waiting for the needle. He caressed my forehead to get me to relax." My cheeks tinged pink.

"What?!" I knew this reaction was coming. "Bella, you've never let any man get near your face." My blush deepened. "What is it about him that made you allow that?"

"I really don't know. I felt instantly calm and relaxed around him. I trusted him, and that both scares me and makes me feel euphoric. I've never felt comfortable with hands near my face. It makes me very uncomfortable. Then when he did that, I felt myself melt under his touch. I didn't cringe away, I didn't break into a sweat, I didn't think. It felt amazing. It made me feel as if maybe there is a chance for me; maybe I can be comfortable around men at some point.

"But then again, I don't know anything about him. I shouldn't feel comfortable around him. I should be nervous and scared. I should be breaking into a sweat and having a panic attack. I only know his first name for Pete's sake."

"Do you want to know more about him?" Rosalie asked.

"Wait! What?" That question threw me off.

"Do you have a desire to get to know him better?" she repeated her question.

"Well, sure I do. I'd love to. He was great, but I don't know how to find him. He probably doesn't even remember me. I was just another patient. He was trying to make his job easier. Don't read too much into it."

"Give me all the dirty details of this encounter. Start from the beginning."

For the next ten minutes, I rehashed the events of that day. I didn't leave anything out. I figured full disclosure was the best route. They both listened attentively. If they suspected I was editing or leaving something out they would ask me to clarify. The more I talked about it the more reasonably I could look at the situation. Everything he did, all that he said, it was part of his job. Whatever gave you the impression he wanted more? If he did, he would have asked for you number. I shook my head to clear it.

"Oh, who was I kidding?" I said exasperatedly. "He didn't want anything more to do with me. Otherwise, he would have asked for my number."

"Don't be ridiculous," Rosalie said. "The man wants you. That, my friend, was some hardcore flirting. You probably scared him when you told that Newton guy to leave the number in the report."

"Well, it doesn't matter. If I could go back in time and change things, I would. However, I can't. I have to live with that. So, let's forget it ever happened and move on."

"I can take a hint. You want a change of subject."

We never moved to a different topic because just then there was a knock on the door. We all got up and trudged to the door. It was Jasper of course. We let him in and followed him to the kitchen. We insisted he stay and at least have a banana split. He stood next to Alice as she prepared the dessert, a hand resting on the small of her back. They were the sickeningly adorably cute couple that everyone pictured as the perfect romance. In the four years since they had began dating, I had never found two people that complemented each other as well as these two; not that it took four years. Anyone could have seen it within the first weeks.

I wanted what they had. I wanted the man that would balance me, that would be my missing puzzle piece. I longed for that comfort of having someone to rely on. I wanted to feel…to feel…to feel. I had been living in numbness for years. After Phoenix, I knew any touch would feel sullied. After everything that happened, there was no way a man would want me. I was tainted, incomplete…and broken. I had chanced it once, allowed myself to believe I was wanted. It took me a while to realize Jacob…shudder…had only wanted sex. Then when I wouldn't sleep with him and he…

I always tried to keep these thoughts at bay; they hurt. Every once and a while though, when I wasn't busy enough to not have time to dwell, or when I saw what I yearned for most being flaunted, unknowingly of course, in my face, the floodgates would open. I could feel the tears gathering at the edge of my eyes as my vision became a bit blurry. I couldn't stop them, so I turned and went to the restroom. I locked the door, turned on the tap, and sat on the toilet lid. I didn't want them to hear me cry.

You can't do this. You can't get your hopes up just to have them crushed. Get a hold of yourself, and put that wall back in place. It's there to protect you. There was a soft knock at the door. I used some toilet paper to wipe my eyes clear and turned off the water. I would have to get back out there soon or I would cause worry.

"I'll be out in just a moment," I said, the raspiness of my voice evident.

"Honey, come on out here," I smiled at Jasper's voice. That endearment was mine and mine alone. He had called me 'Honey' one day when he had been dating Alice for about a month. It had remained ever since, and never once, Alice told me, had he called her by that name. It made me feel good; special was more the word I was looking for. I didn't want Jasper in that way. He was and always would be Alice's. I did and always would see him as the older brother I always wanted. But to have that endearment from him, and for it to be my own personal one, meant a lot. I cracked the door slowly and smiled weakly out at him. "Hi."

"Hello, beautiful." He always knew how to make me blush. I opened the door completely and stepped into the hallway. He placed his hands on my shoulders and waited until I looked at him.

"Are you okay?" I could see and hear the genuine concern.

"No, but I will be." His smile grew wider. He pulled me into him for a quick, tight hug then leaned back again.

"Do you realize that's the first time you've ever admitted to not being okay?" I lowered my head, my hair falling around my face and effectively blocking my blush. I did realize it, and it was a hard thing to do. He lifted my chin until I was looking at him. His gaze was tender. "That's a great place to start, admitting you're out of balance. I promise I'll do everything I can to help you. You will get better."

"Starting next week."

"Yes, starting next week." We had set up my first appointment the night we returned from Forks. Tuesday was the ominous day. I was both excited and terrified of it. "Let's get back in there. Alice says your ice cream is going to melt." I laughed because I knew he wasn't kidding. We walked back into the living room where the couch had been returned to its original position.

"I was getting tired of the floor," Rosalie offered with a shrug.

We ate our dessert while having a lighthearted conversation. It was nice to just be around friends. Before long, Jasper had finished his banana split and took his dishes to the kitchen. He came back in and offered to rearrange furniture to our liking. I laughed. He had a protective streak, and making sure we didn't injure ourselves unnecessarily was part of it. I appreciated it more than it bothered me. That's just how Jasper was. There was no underlying meaning in it.

"Okay, I'm heading out," he said. "I hope y'all enjoy the rest of your night, but please get some sleep as well. You don't want to be dead as a door knob tomorrow."

"I agree," I said. "I should have taken that sleeping pill an hour ago. I feel exhausted already without it though."

"That does not mean you can stop taking it. Dr. C said to take them until there aren't any more."

"I'll take it. I promise." He smiled.

"Goodnight, Rosalie. You ladies be safe tomorrow. If you want to go anywhere, please call me before you go. I would like to know you're being safe."

"Will do, Jazz," Rosalie said as she rolled her eyes. She had picked up my nickname for him. I giggled at her eye roll. She felt like she could take care of herself, but she would indulge him.

Alice followed him to the door so she could say goodbye then lock us in for the night. I pulled my sleeping pills out of my bag from beside the couch. I didn't like the fact that I had to rely on medication, but it did help tremendously. I had slept through the night, every night, since returning to Seattle. I had only used the anxiety pills twice. There were probably more times when I should have, but I was still afraid to take them.

Alice came back to living room after a few minutes. We all agreed that it was time to go to bed. Rosalie went to her room. I insisted Alice sleep in my bed while I took the couch. There was a little bit of resistance from her, but I'm a stubborn person. I got my way and off she went. I pulled a few pillows from the ground and covered myself with a heavy blanket. It was going to be a cold night. I set my phone alarm for 6:30. I would need to get up and call into work to confirm school had been canceled.

I turned over to sleep and found my mind drifting towards Edward. I had managed to push him to the back of my mind, but tonight's conversation had brought him front and center. I knew I would never find Edward, but he still gave me hope. If I could feel the way I did with Edward, then it was possible I could feel that way with someone at some point in my life. The thought both made me hopeful and sad. I couldn't lie to myself; I wanted that someone to be Edward. However, I had to be realistic. The chances of finding him in a city of over half a million were less than slim to none. I sighed and shook my head to clear it. It didn't take long for the pill to kick in and take effect. I was out like a light bulb in less than two minutes.

AN: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I wanted more of Alice/Jasper and needed to know more about Rosalie. She's new to the gang having met them only a a few weeks prior. This was a good opportunity to learn about her and what she's looking for in a man (although we know who she'll get). Leave a review, let me know what you think, and I'll send you a sneak peek of the next chapter.

There are still a couple chapters before Edward and Bella meet so I have a question about that. Who's POV do you want when they meet? Next chapter will set up their meeting. Someone, you can try to guess who, is going to do it for them. Who knows them both and can do that? Also, the next chapter will have my attempt at suspense. I don't know if it's going to work, but I'm trying my hardest. I hope y'all like it.