"Have I told you I love you, Bella?"
"I don't swing that way, Alice," I teased. "And I happen to know a handsome blond man who would be heartbroken to know you did."
"Hush you. Okay, drop the clothes and stand in front of the window. Wrap your arms around yourself loosely and turn so you are perpendicular to the window. I want you looking out in longing." I positioned myself like she told me to, but she still wasn't satisfied. I could tell by her expression. "There's something off about it," she muttered, stalking around me. Her tiny face lit up as she jumped and undid the clip holding my hair up, letting it cascade messily down my back, some of it falling over my shoulder. "Perfect," she breathed, bouncing back to her easel. "Now stay."
This took longer than my fist solo painting, but not quite as long as the one with Anthony, my mystery man. When she was 'done with the layer', she let me sit in the Victorian chair so she could finish that. Now that I was more comfortable- it no being my first time and all- I felt a sort of prescence near my head behind the chair. It was peaceful. I was getting tired, I let my eyes slide shut, until I was rudely awakened by the little pixie. I groaned.
"Sorry, the sun was too much. It made me feel all warm and fuzz." I stretched and realized I wasn't on the chair anymore, but on a bed with deep red sheets. A fur throw was draped around me. "What happened?" I asked, holding the throw close to me.
"You fell asleep and I was struck with another idea. I needed you asleep for it, so I had Edward move you to the bed."
"Your brother saw me naked!?"
"So? He's seen me naked."
"Geeze, Alice, you're related! This is different! Way different!"
"Bella, we've known each other for- what- five-"
"Six."
"Right, six years, keeping it a secret from our siblings. It's time you grew up. Plus, he likes you."
"Who?" I asked. Alice slapped herself in the forehead.
"My little brother Edward, of course! He's making chicken sandwiches right now- for lunch. He's grilling right now, actually. I hope you're hungry, because as long as you eat, he'll go overboard on the cooking. He's been watching the Food Network for the past three days. It's kind of funny, since the last time he watched it, it was the Mother's Day Special that he made for Esme. That turned out fine, but this smells a lot better." She turned and threw me the robe and a pair of matching panties. "I picked those up for you after seeing how short the robe was on you. Let's go, I'm hungry."
"How long did I sleep?" I asked, running down the hallway to catch up with my lovely little friend.
"About four hours. It's one fifteen now. I wanted to finish the bed picture because I wouldn't be able to get you perfect again."
"Will I be able to see it?" We were down the stairs and heading for the kitchen.
"Nope. Not until it's hanging on the wall at the exhibition, and you and Anthony come to see them at the opening. You will be blown away." We were in the kitchen and I sniffed, smelling delectable chicken, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and cheese sauce. I only vaguely noticed that I had moved to the stove where the sauce was simmering. Oh, yummy. Someone tapped me on the shoulder, and I blushed when I turned.
Hello, I signed.
Would you like some?
Yes, please, I responded. It smells delicious.
Thank you. I'll bring a plate out.
Oh, no! You don't have to do that, I said, looking him in the eye as I did so. He smiled a heartbreaking smile.
But I want to. Go relax.
I've gotten enough of that, I think, I replied, giving him a light glare to which he looked down sheepishly.
Yes, well, I was being polite, and I will bring you a plate. Go sit down. Now, he commanded. I rolled my eyes and moved to sit down, catching Emmett and Alice running to their chairs.
"We didn't say anything," I smirked. They pouted.
"We know you didn't actually say anything," Alice said. "But we still want to know what you said." At that moment, Edward came out and set a plate in front of me before sitting himself down next to me.
"Where's mine?" whined Emmett. I chuckled as I signed to Edward.
Is he always like this?
No, he responded. Usually he's worse. I grimaced and looked at Emmett before shuddering in an exaggerated fashion. Exactly. Tell him his food is in the kitchen.
"Your food is in the kitchen," I relayed. "And you're supposed to get it yourself- along with the pitcher of lemonade."
"Nuh uh!" he exclaimed. "If I have to get up, I'm getting my food. No one else's."
"Then you won't be meeting my friend," I replied smugly, crossing my arms and leaning back in my chair. He narrowed his eyes at me.
"You are too confident for this job."
"Nonsense. I am a model, currently a nude model. I need all the self-confidence I can get. I'm even willing to borrow if need be," I said, face serious.
"You can borrow confidence?" he asked, dumbfounded.
"Of course!" I exclaimed. "You didn't know? Oh, you poor thing, how have you survived?" I must applaud myself on my acting skills. And Rose said I had no talent. I had fake sympathetic tears in my eyes. I was just too good.
"I… I don't know," he whispered. "I don't know!"
"I am almost certain that I can help you," I said soothingly as I reached across the table to lay my hand on top of his. "I will teach you how to properly borrow confidence. How does that sound, hm, Emmybear?"
"Please, help me!" he cried. I was sorry for him. Utterly and completely sorry. Sorry that he was a moron, that is.
"I can. When do you want to have the first lesson?"
"Now?" he asked hopefully. I looked at Alice, who was trying to stifle her laughter. She flapped a hand at me, and I nodded at Emmett. He stood quickly, ran around the table, and pulled me away, my robe not covering my lower half until I pulled it down. But not before the two at the table had a good eyeful. We went up the staircase and down another hallway before stopping at a door, which Emmett opened and dragged me into. "What do I need to do?"
"First, I said, sitting in his desk chair. "Sit cross legged on the floor, and relax. Are you relaxed?" He nodded. "Good. Breathe in and out. Breathe in, count to two, breathe out, count to two. Breathe in, breathe out. Keep going until you are completely relaxed. When you are lean back and uncross your legs." eight minutes later, he did. "Perfect. Now, fold your hands over your stomach. Keep breathing. Now, picture a person. One real person that you have a connection with. Do you have them?" He nodded. "Now, picture them happy. Can you do that?" He nodded a few minutes later, smiling. "Now, reach out your hands like you want to hug them. Reach, and keep breathing." He reached, stretching his huge arms out to hug whichever person he thought of. "Wonderful. Now, imagine them glowing, or sparkling. Done? That is their confidence showing itself to you. Do you see it that way?" He nodded once again. "Now, hug that person. Squeeze, hard. Absorb the confidence. Take the glow into yourself. Breathe, relax. Let the glow of confidence overtake you. Relax. Breathe in, breathe out. slowly, let go. Let your arms fall, gently. Are you confident?" He nodded lazily. "I asked if you were confident! Are you confident?"
"Yes," he said.
"What?"
"Yes, I am confident!" he yelled, sitting up. "I am Emmett! I am confident I will rule!"
Wonderful job, Emmett. Congratulations, you are my best student yet. How are you feeling?"
"I feel great! Thank you Windchime! You are the bestest, most perfectest, wonderfulest, and lovelyestest art model my sister has ever had!" he boomed, picking me up and easily pulling me around so I was behind him. He lifted me and pulled my legs to wrap around his waist as I locked my arms around his neck, giving out a shriek.
"Put me down, now!" I yelled. He didn't. "Emmybear, if you don't, I'll call her and tell her not to come!"
"How are you going to get home, then?" he challenged.
"Edward will drive me home!" I said laughing.
"Yeah, right. He doesn't allow anyone in his car."
"Oh yeah? What if I can get him to give me a ride? Will you stop harassing me?" I asked.
"No. Once I meet this dream girl that you've been promising me for months, I will. But not before." He took off all of a sudden, running down the hallway and jumping from landing to landing on the stairs.
"That is it!" I screamed. "You are never meeting her!" He stopped suddenly, disconnecting my appendages, and dropping me. I closed my eyes as I prepared for impact on the hard marble stairs, but a pair of arms wrapped around me and kept me on my feet, mostly. A pair of hands appeared in front of my face.
Are you alright?
I am now, I replied. And thank you.
No problem. I don't mind catching you.
I fall a lot.
I will try and be there.
Why?
"Come on, Bella, we've got paintings to finish!" Alice cried, grabbing onto me and yanking me out of Edward's arms, pulling me back up the stairs. I managed to wave to Edward before Alice shoved me into her room. "We've got a couple more to go." She pushed me back towards the fireplace. "Strip and lay on you stomach on the rug." I did as I was told. The rug was made of white fur, which was extremely soft and comfortable. "Now, close your eyes so Anthony can come in." I did so, and had to keep my eyes from flashing open as a warm, muscled body gently lowered itself to lay on my back. "Okay, Bella, cross your arms under your head and face me. Anthony, slide your arms under hers, and put your head on her shoulder. And for goodness sake, drop your weight. She can handle it- and don't give me that look." The young man's full body weight pressed against me, and I sighed.
"Am I hurting you?" came the velvet voice, quietly.
"No," I breathed back.
"How does it feel?"
"Comforting," I replied. "Safe." We spoke no more for another two hours, when Alice told us we were done, but that I couldn't open my eyes. I yelped as a pair of arms lifted me up and carried me across the room, before we were turned, and I was lowered onto a very naked, very manly lap. Alice told me to curl into Anthony, and I buried my head in his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist, my feet tucked under his arm, which was wrapped around my knees. His other arm was wrapped around my upper torso, his fingers teasing the bottom of my breast. I took a sharp breath, and I heard him chuckle under his breath. He felt so good and warm. I breathed him in and almost drowned in his scent, it was so heavenly. "You smell good," I muttered. I felt his chest rumble, and it evoked strange reactions in my core.
"You two are great!" Alice exclaimed, breaking us out of out haze-like trance. "You look so natural together!"
"Alice," I moaned. "Don't make me blush."
"But you look so cute when you do!"
"I don't want to be cute," I whined into Anthony's chest. "I would prefer to be called beautiful, or sexy."
"You are both," Anthony's voice said, his hot breath caressing the shell of my ear, making me shiver, which brought forth a reaction from him, down south. "You are gorgeous." I still had my eyes closed, but I could tell that he was only inches away from my face. "That should tell you that I am being truthful." I smiled slightly, blushing to think that I did that to him.
"Thank you," I murmured.
"There is no need to thank me for stating a fact," he replied. "I should be thanking you for trusting me."
"You haven't done anything to warrant that I shouldn't. And plus, you seem like a nice guy."
"Do I look like a nice guy as well?" he teased. I elbowed him in the ribs, mock scowling.
"I wouldn't know, would I?"
"I should hope not," Alice snapped. "If you had, you know what happens. And than I wouldn't be happy. Remember?"
"Yes, Alice," I sighed. "I remember. Oh, hey, can Edward drive me home? I need to torture Emmett." I felt a slight shifting before Alice replied.
"Yeah, he'll drive you home. He likes you a lot."
"Alice, there is no way he could like me like that, there is nothing special about me, plus he is so out of my league."
"You seem to know Alice very well."
"I've known her for a few years-"
"And you shouldn't say things like that. Do you like him?"
"This is rather embarrassing," I said into Anthony's chest. "But yes, I do. I don't know why, exactly, but he- gets me- I guess."
"You are absolutely right. But you should try talking to him. But- oh, hey! I forgot! You aren't going home tonight! You're having a sleepover with me!"
"Really? Oh, joy. Do I actually get to sleep?"
"No. I have a few more scenes worked out. Are you comfortable after a few months?"
"I don't know, no offense to you," I muttered to Anthony. He snorted lightly.
"Would you be more comfortable with my brother?"
"Which brother?"
"The one you like. Duh. You like him, he likes you, so there."
"I don't know. I like him,, but until one of us tells the other, I won't be quite as comfortable. I like spending time with him, but I think I might feel awkward or nervous."
"You've eaten lunch with him four days a week for the past couple months. You can't be that nervous."
"I can hardly breathe. But he never really gets close to me and doesn't touch me unless it's to catch me when I fall," I explained sadly.
"Why do you think that is?"
"I don't know," I answered honestly. "Seriously. And the reason I'm not nervous right now is because I can't see the marvelous body of the yummy smelling man whose lap I am sitting on," I said with a grin.
"Thank you," I guess," Anthony said. "I've never been told that I smell 'yummy' before."
"Well, you do. Are we done, Alice?"
"Almost. Then you get to sit alone while I talk to Anthony. I need to go over a few things with him. Okay, stand up and let Tony go." I tried, really, I did try, but my body rebelled, preferring to stay on his lap.
"I can't. I'm stiff," I moaned. Arms snaked under my chest and lifted me up, then plopped me down on the now empty chair.
"Be good, will you?" Anthony asked. "And don't hurt yourself, please." I held my breath until I heard the door shut, then let it out in a whoosh.
"Dear Lord," I muttered. "I'm falling for two men."