A/N: Hello guys, I just wanted to say that if you´re having problems with seeing the quotation marks when someone´s speaking... It´s horrible, I know. I don´t know why they disappear, but they only disappear when you´re on the app. On the desktop version and on AO3, you still see them... Anyways, thank you very much for reading nonetheless :)
Bella's Preparation
¨I´m telling you, it doesn´t fit,¨ Bella shouted desperately at her bedroom door. She looked down at her bra and sighed. She wouldn´t let anyone see her like this. Not Alice, not Rosalie and certainly not Edward. She knew that their second date would probably be the last time she would ever see him again, but still. She looked absolutely and utterly ridiculous. It was a total disaster.
¨It´s supposed to be tight. Let me see it, maybe I can alter it a bit,¨ Alice sighed at the other side of the door.
¨You know I love you, but even you cannot perform these kinds of miracles.¨
Alice laughed and her bubbly happiness sent a pang of guilt to Bella´s stomach. After all, it wasn´t Alice´s fault Bella was bloated and could barely fit into her dress. ¨Bella, Bella, Bella, have a little bit more faith in me, will you?¨
¨I´m sure it´s not too bad,¨ Rosalie said, siding with Alice, but Bella had not expected otherwise.
After all, when Bella woke up that Friday morning and went to the bathroom real quick, she heard there was already someone in it. At the same time, she heard Alice´s soft humming from down the hall, so Bella instantly knew what happened and did what any normal grown-up would do; she rushed back to her own room, saving them both from the embarrassment. She took her phone from the nightstand and quickly texted Alice to ask if the surprise visitor was who she thought she was and if she was alright. Receiving back only a thumbs up and a smiley, Bella sank back into her pillows and bumped her fist into the air.
Only two hours after that encounter, Bella didn´t feel like bumping her fist into the air anymore. Her dress would probably tear down in two if she moved more than one muscle or take more than one deep breath.
Bella looked into the mirror. Alright, alright, deep breaths, deep breaths, she could do this. She took the dress´ zipper and tried to pull it up ever so slightly. Deep breaths. It went a couple of centimetres up and Bella let herself smile. Her smile hitched when the zipper got stuck again. Deep breaths.
It was no use. She sighed at the purple mess that was stuck somewhere behind her thighs. Purple complimented her skin tone if the dress would fit.
Bella figured she needed to open the damn door at one point, otherwise, Alice would barge in, so she opened the door and gestured dramatically at her outfit.
Alice, the little minx, tried to hide her laugh behind her hand while Rosalie, bless her heart, smiled encouragingly.
¨It´s hopeless,¨ Bella sighed.
¨It really is,¨ nodded Alice. ¨I thought you were being… you know, you. But even I can´t work with this.¨
¨Gee, thanks.¨
¨I´ll call ´em like I see ´em.¨ Alice stepped forward and grabbed the dress´ label. ¨And why would you even buy a size 4?¨
¨It was on sale,¨ Bella snapped while she tried to hold both the seems of the dress, and her dignity.
Alice crossed her arms in front of her and looked at Rosalie. ¨What do you think? Care for a little shopping trip?¨
Rosalie put her arm around Alice´s waist, and Bella suddenly felt the need to look away at this small display of affection she took no part in.
¨Always,¨ Rosalie beamed.
¨You heard the lady, Bella. So get ready, we´re going out. My treat,¨ Alice grinned.
¨Treat of threat?¨
¨Depends on how you behave.¨
Bella rolled her eyes. ¨Give me five minutes to put something on. Something that fits me. And I have to be back in two hours because I still need to finish my paper.¨
¨Speaking of clothing,¨ Alice turned and quickly dashed to her room. ¨I have something you might enjoy,¨ she shouted.
She came back with a blue top and a khaki skirt. ¨Here, put this on.¨
¨Ay, captain,¨ Bella laughed. Rosalie looked away, but Alice knew no shame and watched Bella like a hawk. Once she put on her outfit, Alice started beaming with pleasure.
¨Oh Bella, it´s perfect!¨ she exclaimed.
¨Perfect? You can practically see my bra with how tight this top is!¨
Alice rolled her eyes. ¨That´s how it´s supposed to look.¨
¨Are you sure?¨ Bella snorted out. ¨I´m pretty sure I was supposed to breathe.¨
¨Beauty kills,¨ Alice smiled wickedly. ¨Now get your ass out of your room, we´re going.¨
Bella quickly grabbed her bag, stunned at how Alice sometimes both amazed and scared her at the same time. She glanced at Rosalie, who only looked at Alice with pure adoration in her eyes. Her throat dry, Bella swallowed.
Alice gestured them both out of the apartment and they made their way downstairs. An unfamiliar yellow sigh caught Bella´s attention.
¨Hey, did you know our next door apartment is for sale?¨ she asked Alice.
Alice looked at the sigh and grinned. ¨Finally! Hopefully, our next neighbour will be better.¨
Bella nodded. ¨It certainly can´t get any worse.¨