"For everything? What's everything? I thought I only agreed to do a cake." I said confused.
"NO! Wait, shit. I'm not going behind your back or anything, I was only thinking that you could..."
"That I could what?" I asked sharply, I did not like being used.
I looked Alice in the eyes and held her stare. Meanwhile I could feel all of the others occupant's of the room stare me down. A moment later I felt a petite hand on my wrist dragging me out of the living room and onto the back porch overlooking their garden.
"Bella, I blurted it out, I didn't mean it like that!"
"Like what?" I asked feeling forlorn, I trusted my instinct, my actions. I did not trust other people as easily. I know what my intentions are, why I do things that I do. I cannot read other people as easily. I do not trust them to look after me at first look. To be completely true- it usually takes me a few months or even years to trust someone enough to want to open up. And all these years apart from Alice might have changed her intentions towards me. We are no longer children.
"Bella? Are you listening?" Alice waved her hand in front of my face and I realized that I had spaced out. I shook my head lightly to clear it. This was Alice. Good, kind and bubbly Alice. She always had my back.
"No, but I am now. What did you mean by 'everything'?" Alice frowned and contemplated her answer.
"I only meant that maybe you could help with the sweets and different cakes for future events that we host, not that I would use you for my own gain" Here she gave me a smirk.
"I would use you for the gain of both of us."
She then smiled a wry smile.
"I usually organize the events, but lately I haven't found it very fulfilling."
"Oh?" I implored.
"So I basically wanted to make the events bigger and drag you into it." She grinned.
"How are you planning to drag me into it?"
"Not much, I just want you to hang promotional posters in your shop and gush about my amazing organizing skills in front of your customers." I had never heard of something that was more Alice.
"Why?"
"Because I want to see if I can be any good at it in a official status, and I figured I could start very slow and of course, while working the counter I could gush about myself as well."
"Is that the only reason you seemed so nervous before? Because you wanted me to hang your posters in my shop?"
"Yes, basically." I raised my eyebrows at her.
"Hey, don't look at me like that, you could have been very picky and bitchy about it, how was I supposed to know?!" She then hugged me fiercely and whispered:
"Thanks, Bella."
After letting me out of the hug Alice continued "Oh and Bella? I'm sorry 'bout Edward, I don't know what he thinks he's doing being rude to you like that."
"I don't agree with his methods, but Alice I can see where he's coming from."
"Really, do tell." She looked incredulous, I think she was expecting anger.
"Well, imagine if a stranger-"
"You're not a stranger Bella!"
"Not to you Alice, and that's my point. I never met Edward when we were younger and I think Edward feels hesitant because a stranger," I gave Alice a look that dared her to object "comes into his house upon meeting him for the first time, intruding and is instantly welcomed into the family without no hesitation. I would feel left out and not understand what all the fuss was about. Especially if I feel like I am the protector of the family and want them all safe- which I think he does. I would therefore be a risk and a danger. I just think his way of expressing said hesitation is by showing dickishness."
"I hadn't thought about it like that. I guess you're right. I should have known, he has always been protective to an annoying extent...And that's not a word."
"Now it is. So, with that solved, what time is it? I want to go home and change."
"Yes, it is about 02:55, change? what you're wearing is fine Bella, I've seen worse." I unzipped my sweater a bit, exposing my red, latex clad, barely there-cleavage.
"Because the times you have 'seen worse' I wasn't dressed as a hooker underneath - a classy hooker mind you, but a hooker non the less."
"Oh, Bella that's not hooker- that's hot!" I zipped my sweater up again as Alice put her arm around my waist and I mine around her shoulder.
"That's hooker and let's go in so I can go home and change and then I'll see you at work on Tuesday."
"Is the shop not open tomorrow?"
"Nope, no special holiday and I need a calm day thinking to recuperate from meeting your brother. And to put up posters." I winked at her to show the jest.
"Ay ay, Captain."
"Shut up you tiny pixie."
As soon as Alice dragged a contemplating looking Bella out of the room the mood got tense. I got stares. Angry stares. Long angry stares. Mom looked furious. Dad looked disappointed. Emmett looked annoyed. Jasper looked intrigued. Rose looked curious. I was fucked.
"What do you think you are doing being rude to Bella, Edward?" Esme questioned.
"I don't trust her. I don't know her and I don't trust her." That's not entirely true- I don't trust my reaction to her. She also gets under my skin and give me feelings that no one else ever has and...
"Edward! She is a part of this family whether she knows it or not!"
"Bro, just because you didn't hang out with her when we were younger doesn't mean that she isn't trustworthy."
"Son, you are absolutely wrong about Isabella."
"Dude, She's really quite amazing if you think about it, Alice told me all about her."
"Edward, she embodies the meaning of trust, just be brave enough to let her show you."
Of all the reprimands the last one got me the most. I had almost forgotten it but Rose was Bella's best friend, a person that knows her and me, when I'm not acting like a asshole that is.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Alice squeezing Bella to death. It seems that all is okay out there.
"You have got to apologize Edward. I will not have any hostility in my house."
"I will mom, but not right now. I'm going to bed."
"Why not right now? Now is usually the best time for everything!" My mom was relentless.
"Because mom I've been an asshole to her the entire night, so I think I need to work out a good ass apology, now won't I?"
"All night?" My poor mom looked surprised.
"Yep, he's been a dick head to her, starting with asking her if she really could have completed the mission by herself. It's a wonder he's still walking properly I think." I could feel my face heating up at Emmett's words, I really had been a complete dick head. But then I wondered, why hadn't she beaten the shit out of me? I deserved it.
"There you go mom, I'm a disgrace to the family and I'm going upstairs before Bella comes through that door- realizes her mistake in not killing me- and takes action. Good Night." I then ran out of the room, leaving them stunned by my admission.
I had been laying on my bed for what seemed like hours when I heard a quiet knock and then someone entering.
"Talk to me." I heard Alice's soft voice. Of course it would be her that came to talk me out of my mood. Alice and I always had a connection- we got each other without trying, that's how I knew before how she didn't mean to offend Bella before and how she knew that I needed an outlet for my thoughts now.
"I don't think I can. I don't know how to explain it." I felt the bed bend at the edge beside me.
"Tell me what has got you in a twist before I start hammering about all of the reasons you need to get a haircut." I sat up with a tense chuckle over the long standing joke and argument and swung my legs over the edge, effectively making me sit shoulder to shoulder, sorry shoulder to head, with Alice.
"I just... She makes... I met her before tonight"
"You did?" Alice sounded surprised at the knowledge.
"Well, not met... More saw. I went past her shop window one night as she was closing up and looked in and she was swaying to some music- looking so serene and happy and innocent and well... Not lethal. So seeing her today in all of her deadly glory was a bit of a chock I suppose." I was not going to tell Alice about the heated stares or the flirty exchanges- that was between me and her.
"I can understand that- but shock does not defend you acting like a asshole."
"Right, it might also be the things I think when I'm around her, I can't help myself- I question myself because I don't recognize my thoughts or feeling or actions and therefore gets defensive and that's when my asshole- side comes out.
I could see understanding dawning on Alice's face, why's that?
"You like her. You like Bella."
"No. No I don't. I have talked to her once. No." I couldn't. Not possible.
"One doth protests to much methinks."
"Aaaalice."
"Edwaaaaaaard."
"I do not like Isabella Swan."
"Fine, be in denial all you want, but she is my friend and boss and you will apologize for your dickishness."
"I was planning on it and that's not a word."
"Good. And it is now." Alice stood up and slowly made her way towards the door. When she went through it she turned around and stated "Oh and just so you know, Bella will be at the bakery alone tomorrow- perfect for one-on-one conversations don't you think?" And then she was gone.
So at least I knew when and where I was going to talk to Bella next. Now I just have to figure out what I could possible say to make the elusive and lethal Isabella Swan forgive me.