Sadly Beautiful
Thanks for the kind words for the last chapter. After I brought it up the amount of reviews I'd been getting doubled. I mean going from two to four isn't that impressive but it's nice that they improved after I mentioned it, I won't beg for them but I do like knowing what you think. I'd also like to hit 100 soon :)
If I switch tenses or into different persons, I sincerely apologise. Just writing this authors note, I've switched tenses twice and gone from first person to third three times, I deleted it but still, not good. Apart from that, I don't think that they'll be any errors, or I'll do my best to make sure there won't be.
I will spell check and edit this chapter before I upload it, I didn't last time and I know for a fact that I'd made a few errors, ah well. Oh, and the urge to use British termonology, as opposed to America, is quite strong so if I slip from saying 'movies' to 'films' then forgive me, or any other words :)
I'ma (No that's not a word) reply to a few reviews first, interact with the people who read this story, nothing major but it's fun to do.
Dejee - Yeah I loved writing that part as well, even though Jessica and Lauren are portrayed badly in every fan fiction in the history of fan fictions, I still like it. Bella had a lot going on and didn't mention it, her father died so we'll let her off. There'll be time for that, maybe this chapter? Who knows? I hope you enjoy reading this.
Crazy heart 101 - Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad you're enjoying the story, it's becoming something that I just love to do, and I'm glad you like it. I'm glad that Rosalie could help Bella as well, there are so many stories where there is a bad relationship between the two of them, it's repetitve to read, as fun as it is. Which is why I'm trying to make it a good relationship between the two of them.
Teampara55 - Thanks, I'm glad that you like it. Yeah Charlie dying was a hard scene to write, even though it was sad I think that in the long run it will help the story progess and add some depth to the characters, they can't always be happy they have to have their lows as well. I always love writing about Lauren and Jessica getting punched or threatened in some way, it's just fun to do, so expect some in the future, those bithes don't learn? Well, the next update is right NOW!
Timelessreader - Thanks, I think it's interesting too!
Anyway, that was a long authors note... Most of you probably skipped this but ah well, I hope you like the chapter. I think that this chapter could be a good one, just a feeling I have when I'm writing it, edited this in half way through because I can. I want this one to be the longest chapter yet, it's my goal and I'm determined to reach it. As always the chapter name means nothing at all, you don't even need to read it, anyways :3
Chapter seventeen - Surreal
Bella POV
I pulled Alice into the parking lot, urging her forward occasionally with gentle tugs of her arm and soft murmers of encouragement. She didn't complain once, I was just impatient, wanting to get away from the murmuring and staring.
Now that I was away from everyone, the adrenaline had lessened and I felt guilty. I knew that I shouldn't, they deserved everything they'd gotten to them and more but I couldn't help regretting it. I'd never been a confrontational person, I'd always been more of a background kind of girl, never getting into any situation that could lead to a fight.
I guess that's another thing that's changed, my life was a long list of change it seemed. I couldn't bring myself to complain, even through everything that had happened, I still had Alice and that made everything worth it. Slightly depressing thoughts but at least I wasn't saying them out loud, I knew it would just make Alice worry about me more. I was getting better but it was hard sometimes to stop myself from thinking like this, at least I knew how lucky I was, that's got to count for something?
I shook my head to clear my brooding thoughts, I looked at Alice and ran my hand nervously through my hair. What were we going to do now, was I too sudden when I said that we should leave? Would she...
My thoughts were cut off when Alice suddenly spinned me and pressed her lips to mine, the kiss started gentle but I quickly deepend it. We stayed like this for a few minutes before she pulled apart, giving me time to breathe.
"I'm so proud of you for standing up for yourself Bella," she told me sincerely, pulling me deeply into a hug. I didn't know what to say, so I just snuggeled deeper into her, enjoying her unique scent.
After a while we pulled apart, she kissed my nose, causing us both to erupt into a fit of giggles. When the laughter had subsided, which took longer than it should have, Alice leaned close to me and whispered seductively into my ear.
"So what are we doing today then?" She ran her tongue over my ear lobe as she said this, causing me to shiver. I had to wait a moment to collect my breathing before I replied, she was staring at me expectantly, cocking her head to the side in amusement and curiousity.
"I-I was thinking that we could go somewhere and just talk or something?" I mumbled incoherently, suddenly embarrassed by my feeble suggestion and embarrassed by Alice's flirting. There wasn't even anything to be embarrassed about, she was my girlfriend but I guess old habits die hard.
She studied me for a second, confused about why I was clearly embarrassed and self concious. She opened her mouth to say something, thought about it and changed her mind closing it awkwardly. I smiled inwardly at this, I think it's endearing how cautious she is about hurting my feelings or saying something she'll regret, it's better than just blurting things out like I do.
I do wish that she would say the things she wanted to though, or at least say them at the time. She often thought about saying something and eneded up bringing it up later, I like the fact that she is able to talk to me about serious things but I wish that it was faster. I hate that she feels like she needs to treat me like I'm so fragile, I suppose that I've done nothing to show her that it isn't true, but still...
I need to do something to show her that I'm not as fragile as she thinks I am, my perfomance recently had probably painted a pretty bad picture in her mind, I needed to undo that quickly. Alice replied quickly, I'd been thinking so hard that I'd almost forgotten what she'd said, she had said it very fast and mumbled, so she was clearly shy about what she'd said. I decided to play with her a bit.
"What was that Alice, I didn't quite catch it." I said playfully.
She bit her lip shyly, she looked incredibly adorable when she did that, I felt my heart flutter. She promptly stuck her tongue out when she heard that, trying to show me she wasn't going to be played with.
"I said, that it sounds like fun but anything that I do with you is always going to be fun..." She told me shyly, I'm sure that if she could blush then she'd be bright red by now. In her defence, I was blushing furiously by now, I'd still not gotten used to her casual flattering.
"Well then, lets go!" I said enthusiasticly, walking past her to the door. I stole a quick kiss when I thought she wasn't paying attention, before climbing inside and taking my seat behind the wheel.
We both sat there for a second, before both turning slowly to each other.
"Umm..." I said lamely.
She giggled at me before poking me playfully, "We didn't exactly say where we were going did we?" she joked.
I giggled and nodded my head shyly, suddenly unsure about what we were going to do. I was still excited though, any extended period of time with Alice was sure to be one of my happiest memories.
"We could go to see a movie and then go to dinner?" I asked, nervously.
"That sounds amazing, you can choose the movie and I'll choose the restaraunt we go to?" She said enthusasticlly. I think that she was just trying to show me that I didn't have to be nervous about asking her on a date. I blushed and nodded before putting my keys into the car.
The bell rang just as I was pulling out of the parking lot. I saw Jessica and Lauren both walking slowly out of the canteen and cradiling their faces. I rolled down my window and pressed down on the horn button to get their attention, before waving cheekily and speeding away.
Alice and I both burst into a fit of laughter for a few minutes.
We drove in silence for a few minutes, both of us comfortable just to be in each others presence. After a while Alice started playing songs off her i-pod and singing along, I couldn't even compare to her voice so I just listened to her in silence, marvelling at her voice. She sung about two pitches higher than the actual song was, but this just made it sound that much better. It wasn't like most high pitched voices, painful to the ears and generally annoying, this voice sounded heavenly.
I kept listening to Alice singing but I felt my attention drifting to the movie list that I'd seen months ago, hoping that something I remember might still be showing. I remember seeing something about vampires, but I wasn't sure if that was insensitive or not. I was debating asking her whether she'd mind watching it but she spoke before I had a chance.
"Just ask the question, when you're thinking hard your tongue sticks out adorably, and you keep opening and closing your mouth."
"If you must know, I was wondering what the etiquette was for taking your vampire soul mate to see a movie based on evil vampires. And yes, you are my soul mate." I told her, trying to make my voice as stern as possible, failing miserably.
She laughed and ducked her head shyly, pausing a moment before she replied.
"I'm really your soul mate?" She asked timidly, almost fearing my response.
"Of course you are, you're my mate, my lover, my soul mate. Mine, forever." I told her seriously, before adding playfully, "Back to the important issue, vampire movie, yes or no?"
"I don't know what to say, that's the nicest thing anyones ever said to me. From the bottom of my heart I love you, you give me a reason to live. My undead heart beats for you, forever, always, together."
"Oh and yes, vampire movies are fine." She finished lamely.
I laughed but didn't have a chance to reply, because we'd arrived at the movie theatre. My hands started sweating furiously and I started fidgiting before we'd even got into the parking lot. I saw Alice look at me from the corner of her eye but thankfully she didn't say anything about my sudden anxiety.
I climbed out of the car and basically sprinted to the other side of the car to open the door before Alice did, trying to be a'gentlemen.' Alice could have easily gotten out of the car, ran around it a few times then got back in and out before I'd opened my door, but she didn't, probably wanting to let me attempt to make this date perfect, something that I was determined to do.
I linked my arm through Alice's and led her into the movie theater. I turned to her and kissed her on the cheek, before pulling her over to buy our tickets. The man behind the counter looked about fifteen and gawked openly at Alice, not even trying to be subtle about it.
Grinding my teeth in frustration, I forced myself to be polite and asked for two tickets to 'Dracula - A reimagining.' The man-boy- behind the counter nodded dumbly and handed the tickets over to me, still not looking away from Alice's face. I snatched the tickets away from his hand and laughed at him.
"You're pathetic, stop eyeing my girlfriend." As if to prove my point, I pulled Alice into a heated kiss. I didn't look back over to the 'man' behind the counter but I could feel his eyes boring into the back of the head, as well as several others.
"You probably couldn't hear it, but I think I heard his penis explode..." Alice told me, smiling warmly. I laughed along with her, happy that she hadn't overreacted to my jealousy, not that I thought that she would have.
A thought struck me, would it be inappropriate for me to get some food for the movie, or because Alice can't eat would that be rude, we're also going to dinner after this, albeit an early dinner. Popcorn, would that be rude... I don't know but I was hungry.
"This is going to sound really awkward," I started sheepishly, "but is it okay if I get some popcorn and a drink, I know that you don't need to and it doesn't smell very appealing to you and it's probably rude and-"
She cut me off, pressing her lips to mine before whispering quietly in my ear that it was fine, before dragging me to the food counter to select my food and pay. The man behind the counter was as affected by her as the last was, but he got the message not try anything when Alice glared daggers at him and laced her fingers through mine.
It's probably vain and shallow but I liked the thought of Alice showing everyone that she was mine, and that no one else was aloud to even look at her. I guess that she was, in a way, because of the whole mating process that we were in, the whole mating process that I loved.
She released her hand from mine and handed me in the popcorn and the pepsi -the drink I ended up choosing- and smirked.
"You're being the gentlemen for this part of the date, you can carry your own food."
I smiled at her childishness and couldn't resist pouting, even though I really didn't mind. She studied me for a second before reaching over and taking the popcorn from me, she held it one handed and linked her fingers through mine again.
She stuck her tongue out at me and stated plainly, "All healthy relationships involve comprimises." I laughed and ruffeled her hair affectionatly, before gently tugging her towards the door to the screen where Dracula was playing.
I stumbled inside, having tripped almost as soon as I entered the dimmed hallway. Alice managed to catch me without spilling the popcorn or my drink, something which, if she wasn't a vampire with amazing reactions, would have been very impressive. I was still grateful, it just wasn't as impressive as it could have been.
Alice led me to our seats, not trusting me to walk in the darkness apparently. We'd booked one of the 'love seats' at the very back of the theater so we could watch in private and cuddle up to each other, which I was very much looking forward to.
I sat down first, quickly putting my drink and popcorn, which I'd taken out of Alice's hands, in their respective places before pulling Alice gently into my lap, curling into her. I inhaled her scent, sighing contently, she giggled at this gesture but didn't protest, I think she enjoyed it.
We sat like this for a while, just enjoying each others company while we waited for the movie to start.
The screen dimmed and showed the words 'Dracula' in blood red writing, I hadn't even seen any trailers, I guess I'd been too preoccupied with Alice.
~XXX~
"What did you think?" Alice asked me as we stood up.
"It wasn't too bad, they didn't show the vampire as a sexy short goddess, so it wasn't accurate," I said shyly, ducking my head.
Before Alice could reply, she stiffened and stopped moving. This limited my momevement because she was holding my hand, so I just stood there dumbly. After a while, she relaxed and started moving again.
"We're going to have to cut this date short," She sighed.
"Why?" I asked, feeling rejected.
"We've got a meeting with the prinipal about our behaviours."
Much much shorter than I wanted, I've such a surreal, hectic weekend and haven't feel like doing this. Not going to spell check or anything either, forgive me?