Chapter 14
Following Alice's revelations things were awkward between me and my sister. I avoided her and Edward as much as possible, opting to spend my lunch breaks at my friend's table. I felt betrayed by her secrecy I thought we were close sisters and shared a lot until now that is.
It sort of irks me that Edward fell for Isabella but wouldn't consider a catch like me worth falling for and Alice being more enthusiastically supportive at prospect of Bella and Edward being mates than she was with me and Edward.
During school I'd catch that Isabella girl sneaking peeks at us Cullen kids. I started scrutinizing her.
What does she have that I don't? How did she do it
Where others including me failed, she captured Edward's heart?
Beauty? Mine knocks hers out the park and considering even Tanya Denali, a beautiful vampiress who used seduction to prey on humans and he's not interested? Yet he fell for some regular human girl?
Savant? She got "C's" compared my "A's" and that's before I ever met the Cullens.
Magnetic appeal? Looking at her she seemed content being a wallflower. While I'm no Kareena the gym at home is put to good use.
Saying is a Bella can be klutz would be an understatement, from what I've heard and seen there are toddlers who look better coordinated than her at times
I snapped out of those thoughts with "…they're also joining them at the Rez beach tomorrow too but I said we had plans. So are we still on?" Vera said I as looking at me as I was momentarily confused.
"For what?" I asked.
"Our arrangement this weekend." Vera said.
"Ooh!" I replied.
"We could have a rain check, considering this past week I totally get you being distracted." Vera said.
Damn it! With how crazy this week's been I forgot tomorrow's Saturday.
"No. It was my idea so we're still on for tomorrow." I said.
Thinking about how essential Alice's input is for tomorrow I realised to had to put aside our "disagreement" for Vera's sake.
With the sudden cry of the bell recess was over I wouldn't see Vera till school ended.
Later after school
I approached from behind with Alice at the parking lot at the same spot where we saw Bella nearly get crushed by Tyler's car before I got a word out…
"I know you're upset about keeping my pre monition secret but try to understand…" she said turning to face me.
"That I'm just here as a courtesy given to some human who wasn't left to her fate who doesn't know her place huh?" Like an angry slap on the face I accused her.
"No! Rosalie you are equal in our family as any of us okay! You're my sister no matter what." She said.
"A sister that's not equal enough to know the truth. I guess my sparkly new replacement will be the sister equal enough to take into your confidence. Huh?"
Losing her normally cheerful nonchalance she said: "This life isn't as easy as we make it look even me and Emmett struggled with it. I've seen how it takes a toll on Edward as hard he tries to hide it. Then I got these faint vision of him possibly finding happiness, because of Bella Swan. I kept them secret because I was afraid Edward might sacrifice any chance at happiness out of some sense of nobility." Alice said with a tinge of hope.
I could see her point, her and Emmett were the most optimistically accepting of their lives as vampires of the Cullens Carlisle, Esme made the best of the situation.
Jasper struggles with his blood lust but Edward I've seen his masochistic self loathing and loneliness, something Carlisle and Esme hoped meeting Tanya, Emmett and me would end but hadn't.
"Listen Rosalie we care that much to want him to be happy and–" As she began to say the next part she embraced me in her arms saying this in my ear, "–if it were you we'd do the same for you are too cause you're family and no matter what changes that never will."
Returning her embrace we made a truce and made plans for tomorrow
Saturday morning.
"DON'T KEEP THEM WAITING VERA! HURRY UP!" Vera's mom yelled.
Vera briskly walked into my car.
"It's alright Mrs. Mitchells…"
"Oh please call Danica." Vera's mom insisted.
Driving out of Forks an awkward icy silence that settled in my car between Alice and Vera.
"This is Washington Cost FM with your half hour news headlines leading story: police are investigating the death of a security guard at power substation in what is suspected animal attack the—
"Hey! What's the deal? I was listening to that!" Vera protested.
"It's not how I want to start our adventure, this is supposed to be a fun trip. Hey let's start on a positive note, okay?" Alice retorted but as she glanced at me with a look that told me vampires were involved.
Alice popped in a USB loaded with girl anthems ranging from late 80's to 90's to mid 00's.
The music's magic was thawing the ice as we hummed, tapped occasionally mouthing the words a bit in sync but when the Spice girls: If you wanna be my lover that broke the ice as Vera, Alice and myself were singing to that track not giving a damn we were doing it right.
Driving along as we sang all the way to the Port Angeles mall I wondered how it would've been like having Patricia here with us.
All too soon we reached the mall and Vera's intrepidation returned unlike Alice's impatience to get things started.
In a blur we hit shop after shop, with Alice insisting Vera try out a lot of clothes.
Poor Vera would model outfit after outfit sometimes to do it again in different combinations, then again upon Alice's insistence she nervously tried on a bunch of stratospheric high heels, while Vera admitted she liked how they added to her height she didn't like the accompanying fear of stumbling.
As much fun as we were having me and Vera needed a break, Alice took us out to the surrounding shops the mall we headed to a quaint beauty salon, the kind that seem to have been around for a while, passed down from a few generations even called "Shear Beauty".
The idea of being surrounded and judged by supposedly beautiful women had Vera on edge, of course personally knowing how catty girls and ladies can be, I understood her misgiving.
Our entrance into the shop momentarily made the shop quite. Looking at the women in the shop, there woman were a mixture ages and body types they weren't outrageously gorgeous Vera imaged, they had the women regular next door look but no less all beautiful in their own way, the women weren't regarding at us as intruders on their turf but just with curiosity, taking all this in Vera relaxed. Going to the desk we stated our appointment.
"Oh so you must be Alice! Welcome to Shear Beauty" The young lady behind the desk said.
"Oh that's my sister she made it on our behalf." I corrected her.
"Right that way." She gestured to a vacant station.
When to our seats Vera asked: "Do you think this'll get Jack to wanna take to prom."
"I don't guarantee it'll work but looking your best will boost your confidence."
"Sorry I couldn't help over hearing, you're trying to look good to get a prom date?" one the ladies working us asked.
Even though the conversation was between me, Vera and the 2 stylists working on us and everyone in Shear ladies was paying attention.
"Err- Well I-I-I haven't exactly gg-goten him to ask me out." Vera answered.
"Ooo-hh, ssooo there's a specific guy who's eye you want to catch? What's the deal?" The lady working on asked with a excited gleam in her eyes.
Vera and me told how we ended up at the shop, starting with the rumours, the fight we had, how we patched things up, Vera confessing her crush to our wager.
After hearing everyone there wanted to know more about Jack which Vera and me obliged with photos we had of him on our phones we passed around.
The ladies agreed Jack appealing and thought Vera and him would make a cute couple.
That placed a fire under the staff giving us our treatments as they doubled their efforts especially for Vera. That wasn't the only thing our story sparked the other staff and clients began reminiscing about prom dances, 1st loves and their school dances.
Some were hilariously funny some sympathetic misadventure and some pleasant happy endings as they gave Vera encouragement and pearls of wisdom.
As we laughed at the highs and lows we shared at the back of my mind a part wished Alice and Patricia could could've bee here with me and Vera.
With our beauty treatments done and dusted, we departed from the salon full of strangers who in a short period of time shared their stories and support of us, while there wasn't any guarantee we'd meet again or we'd be in contact the ladies wished us well and were rooting for Vera that put a small spring in her step.
Whatever brought us together to "Shear Beauty" what we had in common was we were just us women in support of each other.
The Monday morning
"We hung out with Newton's friends and those Quilette guys from the trip were there too…" As Miranda filled me on what Vera and I missed. Lucy lowering her glasses below her eyes mouthed "WOW" as Luke's elbow nudged Jack and pointedly tipped his head towards what he saw. Vera's car pulled up as she walked towards us.
Most of the people in the parking lot took in the sight of Vera strutting towards us.
While normally she'd meekly try blending into the crowd when placed in the spotlight now she basking in the spotlight as people parted like the red sea as she made a beeline to us or accurately to Jack.
Geared up in ankle boots flesh tone stockings that matched her, dark flagstone blue pleated midlength skirt, an open faux leather jacket an apricot orange sweater. It was like seeing someone new who's aura said look me at shine.
As we realised this our attention shifted to said guy, Jack acted cool, calm and collected but with a slight sashay of her hips in her steps as Vera was closing the few metres separating them.
I saw Jack throat Bob as he nervously swallowed. Stopping an arm length away, Vera tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Bashfully looked into Jack's eyes blush getting deeper she said: "So mmm, Hi…."
