Edward gave me a lift home from school, as usual. He left me off at the house, and then went over to his to collect Alice. They were going hunting directly after school. The only reason for that that I could think of was that Edward wasn't taking any chances with me tonight.
I smiled and waved as I watched Edward drive off. Was tonight the night? I really hoped so.
I ran upstairs to get ready for tonight. I stripped off my clothes and jumped in the shower. I scrubbed every inch of myself until I was pink, and shaved my legs carefully. I really didn't want to cut myself by accident, as that might have monstrous consequences later on tonight, no matter how well I bandaged it up.
While I was shampooing my hair, I heard the phone ringing. Typical. I knew that if I got out and rushed down to get it, it would stop ringing the minute that I reached it, so I let it ring. If it was important they'd call back.
I got out and dried myself. I sprayed myself with the perfume Renee had gotten me for my last birthday, even though technically I already smelled good to Edward. It was a comfort thing. I looked through my underwear drawer. I officially had nothing sexy to wear… I was sifting through them, deciding which were the least mortifying, when I heard the light tap on the window.
I froze. Was Edward early? I wasn't ready! Or was I…? I glanced down at the red towel that wrapped itself around my body. Not the worst think in the world to be wearing at a time like this…
"Keep your panties on, Bella, it's only me!" Alice said, climbing in my window, carrying a small package.
She loped over to my bed and sat down. "I called, but no-one answered. So I decided to come over myself!"
I wrapped my towel around my body self-consciously, and blushed. Alice didn't seem to notice my mortification.
"There are two reasons that I'm here, Bella," she began, knowing that I was about to ask that question. "The first is to tell you that our family has been invited to have dinner with Carlisle's new friend, Sergio Romulan, tonight. Edward didn't want to go, apparently he was going to spend the evening with you," she winked at me, "but Carlisle is forcing him. And, of course, it would be nice if at least one of us could actually eat the food that his wife has been preparing, so you're coming too. And the second reason that I'm here," she said, not even waiting for my response, "is to give you these," she said, gesturing to the white package that she had placed on my bed.
"Alice, you know how I don't like gifts…" I began.
"Bella, you'll thank me for these!" she squealed, and handed me the package. I reluctantly accepted it.
I removed the wrappings, to see a pair of deep blue lacy underpants, and a matching lacy bra. I immediately blushed, but was relieved at the same time. I looked up at Alice and tried to figure out something to say.
"A simple 'thank you Alice, you have the best choices, I'm so lucky to have you' will suffice!" she smirked.
"Thank you Alice, you have the best choices, I'm so lucky to have you!" I said. She smiled, and got up.
"I know Edward is very partial to that colour blue on you. I saw you bumbling round searching for something to wear, so I decided you needed my divine intervention!" she laughed. "But now, I have to go. Edward will pick you up at seven. Be ready!" she pecked me on the cheek and disappeared out the window.
Thank god for Alice. I put on my new underwear, and inspected myself in the mirror. They were just the right size, and I must admit, liked them. They hugged my curves, and the ruffled detail made me look like I had a fuller figure. I walked into my room once again and went to pick out what to wear.
How was I expected to dress for dinner at the Romulan's? What was everyone else going to wear? I decided to go casual, and wear jeans and a t-shirt. Suddenly I heard the phone ringing downstairs again. I rushed down to get it.
"Don't you dare wear that awful outfit!" Alice screamed down the phone. "Look in your wardrobe, I hung one up for you." and the phone went dead. I sighed.
I went back up to my room, and sure enough, there was a brand new outfit hanging in there, still swinging, which I was sure was not there the last time I checked. I sighed again, and put it on.
It was a typical Alice outfit. A high wasted black and grey can-can type skirt with layers of white ruffles underneath, which came to just above my knees. It was a bit too short for my liking, but I didn't want another phone call from Alice, so I just put it on. The top was a fitted black long-sleeved v-neck, which I tucked into the skirt. The outfit didn't look bad, I just felt a little uncomfortable in it.
I glanced at my clock. 5.15. I still had three quarters of an hour to kill.
I decided to do something I never usually did. I looked in the drawer where I kept the make-up that had been given to me by relatives who obviously didn't know me very well. It was all unused.
I picked out some mascara and lip-gloss. I didn't dare try any of the eyeliner, I knew I'd just make a mess of my face if I attempted to use it.
When that was done I decided to put on a load of laundry, just to kill some time. Before I knew it, I heard a knock at the door.
I skipped over and got it. To my surprise, it was Jasper, not Edward, who greeted me.
"H-hello, Jasper," I stuttered.
"Hello, Bella. Edward wants you to know that he'll be meeting you at the Romulan'. I'll be giving you a lift." he said politely.
I followed him to his car, which I had never seen him drive, and got in. I knew that it should have been a very awkward trip, but I felt comfortable all of the way. God bless Jasper and his gift.
He pulled up at a medium sized white house on the edge of town. It had a very homely look about it, enclosed in a white picket fence, and the garden was nicely tended.
Jasper parked in the driveway next to two other cars, one of which I recognised as Edward's Volvo, and the other as Carlisle's Mercedes.
Me and Jasper walked up the steps together. I knew I should be nervous, but I wasn't.
He knocked on the door twice, and it was opened by a woman who looked like she was in her mid-twenties, wearing a light blue summer dress and a pink apron. She had long, mahogany hair and vivid cobalt eyes. She smiled warmly.
"Hello, dears, you must be Jasper and Bella. I'm Freyja. You're just in time!" she sand, with a slight accent.
I followed Jasper into the house. It was spacious, and well furnished. It smelled of delicious home cooking, but I swear that when I looked over at Jasper he looked like he gagged a little. I smiled to myself. How was a dinner party going to work with seven vampires?
We walked into a large open dining room. Edward and the Cullens were already seated, except for Esme, who was carrying a large pot, and Carlisle, who was nowhere to be seen. I also saw the kids from school, Vivian, Dexter, the brown haired boy and the Latino boy, along with another, a small and pale looking girl with limp blonde hair tied into a loose bun, and sunken brown eyes. I guessed that she was the girl who had been sick for the first day. She sure looked like death warmed up.
"Sit right here, dear," Freyja said to me, gesturing to the empty seat beside Edward. "Have you met the family?" she asked. I shook my head.
"I met Dexter," was all I could manage. I could feel Vivian's cold eyes staring at me again. I blushed heavily.
"Yeah, we ran into each other, didn't we?" he joked. Freyja smiled fondly at him.
"Well this here is Vivian, and you know Dexter. Those two trouble makers over there are Vince and Rocco," she said, looking at the boys, who were arguing silently. They stopped for a moment and nodded at me. "And last, but not least, this is Pandore." The girl with the dark, sunken eyes looked up at me and smiled meekly. "She's recovering from a nasty bout of flu at the moment."
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," I choked out awkwardly. Suddenly, I heard the front door slam.
"That should be the men coming home from work." Freyja smiled as she went into the kitchen to grab a bowl.
A tall man with Mediterranean looks entered the room. He looked like he was in his early thirties, and was well built. Behind him was Carlisle. They were laughing as they entered.
"Hello kids," the tall man said in a booming voice, before giving Freyja a kiss. He looked over at Carlisle's family and me. "I'm Sergio Romulan,"
He sat down at the head of the table. Carlisle sat beside him.
"Okay, dears, dinner is served!" chimed Freyja.