Draw Me In

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Thirteen – Wednesday Evening Blues

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*~ Breathe in the light
I'll stay here in the shadow ~*

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Three days later . . .

I watch Rose get ready in the bathroom; powdering warm hues over her lids and brushing a bright red across her lips. I'm sort of fascinated as I watch the colour glitter on her skin, and then sort of sneezing as she squirts on perfume.

"Go into the living room," she chides, splashing some on her fingertips and rubbing it behind her ears.

I think for a minute, trying to remember why I came in here. Then I realise I'm sitting on the toilet and – "I need to pee."

She rolls her eyes. "You just kicked me out ten minutes ago to do exactly that."

Placing my hands semi-protectively over my lower stomach, I say defensively, "Leave my child sized bladder alone."

"Your child sized bladder is the reason you feel the need to dehydrate yourself hours before we go anywhere."

I give a little shrug, accepting, and then dig my elbows onto my crossed legs as I watch her take the straighteners off the side and sweep them down her hair. I think I like watching the ritual of Rose and Alice getting ready because it reminds me of my mum doing the same when I little; squishing my face up next to hers in the mirror and liking the smell of her perfumed skin as she leant down to kiss me goodbye (even though it made me sneeze about fifty times).

"Where are you going again?" Because I have no idea. I came home from work to find Rose and Alice dolling themselves up, all sparkle and sheen that they usually reserved for Saturday nights, not Wednesdays.

"Town."

"Duh," I say.

The corner of her mouth lifts, not quite a smirk – closer to a smile. "A restaurant in town."

My eyebrows wedge themselves into my hair.

"Don't give me that look. We don't just go to clubs, you know." She gives me a pointed stare before turning back to the mirror.

"It's not that," I say slowly, lowering my brows. "It's just – you hate restaurants." I blink at her, and then at her fancy get up. "Especially posh ones."

"Yeah, well . . . " she trails off, then gives that strange little smile again.

Meanwhile, I sit on the toilet feeling equal parts confused and needing to pee.

"You ready?"

Alice pops into the bathroom, head first, then the rest of her. Unlike Rose, who's dressed in a deep red dress, Alice is donned in silver – silver dress, silver shoes, silver eye shadow.

"Yep," Rose says, taking one last glance in the mirror before turning and walking into the living room. I follow behind them, disregarding my uncomfortable bladder for the minute.

Once there, Alice grabs a tiny sequined bag off the side and slips it around her wrist. And even though she's wearing so many bright things, the brightest thing on her is her smile.

"You guys look really nice," I say honestly, my gaze a little awed as I take in their appearances. I've never been much of a girl in any aspect, least of all clothes (I think the last time I wore a skirt was as an awkward year seven), but just because I'm not comfortable wearing things that mark me as feminine (or just as a female really), doesn't mean I can't admire how much Rose and Alice really rock their femininity.

Rose shoots me a small grin, smoothing her hands over her red wine dress while Alice bounces on the tip of her high-heeled shoes (though even in those she's still much smaller than Rose).

"I know." Alice smiles and I let out a little chuckle. "But thank you for saying so, best friend." Then she glides on over to me and gives me a hug, pulling back to say, "We'll get you in a dress yet."

I scoff. "And pigs will fly."

She grins and releases me. "It could happen."

I wave her off, but something's still bugging me. "So. You guys are going to a restaurant," I say. "For food." My eyes dart between them. "To eat."

Eye rolls from both. "You covered the last thing you said with the second."

I stare at them.

They stare at me.

"Okay," I concede, palms up. "I'm confused. You hate restaurants," I say, pointing to Rose. "And you." I turn my pointing finger on Alice. "You won't eat in half the restaurants up town because of their" – I finger quote here – "level of hygiene."

They share a look after I finish my mini tirade, and for a minute I wonder if I'm being to nosey, too intrusive . . . but then decide it must be okay on some level considering I've been living with them for the past five years.

"Alright," Rose says, raising an eyebrow. "So we're not really going to a restaurant. But we are going to town . . . and then out of it."

I squint at her, feeling more confused than ever. "Then why did you – "

"Jasper!" Alice bursts out.

My eyes grow wide. "What?"

Biting down on her bottom lip like she's trying so hard to restrain a smile, she says, "I'm meeting Jasper . . . and Rose is meeting Emmett."

I blink, and then blink again. "Huh?"

A grin finally spills across her lips. "Jasper called and asked . . . well he asked if he could see me again . . . and he's not going to be in Birmingham much longer so . . . "

"Oh," I say dumbly, my mind reeling a bit.

"And Emmett called me the other day," Rose pipes up, looking sheepish. "I suppose it just made more sense to meet up together."

"Uh-huh."

"I'm sorry we didn't tell you."

I shake my head slowly at first, and then quickly as I register what she's saying. "No! I mean . . . why are you sorry? This is good, right?" My eyes dart to their upturned mouths. "You guys seemed really chatty the other week."

Alice wiggles on the spot, shifting her weight to and fro. "We just . . . we thought for sure that Edward would . . . and he didn't . . . and we didn't want you to feel like we were leaving you out or anything."

The sound of that name startles me a little bit, but I don't let it show. I quickly shove it and him far, far away – as I've been doing for the past three days – and concentrate on my friends.

(I have been channeling my inner Scarlett O'Hara by thinking: "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow.")

(On a bloody loop).

(And, as you've probably realised, "tomorrow" has yet to surface).

My wide-eyed glance darts between them, more than a little dumbfounded.

And then I just tell them – "You two are off your bloody rockers." I add – "I'm happy for you." Because I am. I'm not a relationship-y someone, but I know they are. "Try to be happy for yourselves, alright? You don't have to worry about me all the time, you know?" I shake my head then start making shooing motions with my hands. "Now bugger off and have a nice time, will you? There's a bath and a bottle of bubbles in there with my name on it."

"Are you – "

"Oh my God," I groan, palming my face. "You have two, er, hunky – " (not really used to applying adjectives to men, I just go with it) " – blokes waiting for you and you're up here with me," I say, not even fighting the exasperation I feel. I might be incapable in many regards, but being alone isn't one of them.

I soldier on. "And maybe I can't legitimately ask this considering my own lack of experience, but for the sake of the rest of womankind . . . what is wrong with you two?"

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After I wave them out the door (peeking out the window to see them step into a limousine) I collapse onto the sofa with a sigh. I'm surprised and I'm not – Rose and Alice are all over lovely, clever, pretty people, so in that, it's not surprising that anyone should want to see them again, big music stars or no.

But in another, much more subjective aspect, it is – it always is.

So little time, I think. They've only just met.

But then, well . . . I guess that's always how these things start out.

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A/N:

off your rocker = crazy

Bella, Bella, Bella... that sounds like foreshadowing to me... but what would I know? ;)

Next update: before Wednesday! (and it's a good'un)

Thanks for reading. :) See you soon!