This idea came to me last night and I read over it this morning and enjoyed it. Hope you do too.
Also, before anyone asks, yes, this pairing is Edward and Bella. Though you'll find the both of them are vastly different from the human and vampire you know. Mostly everyone and everything is in canon, except for Bella and her entire past and personality (I did keep the basics about her, though).
Boring disclaimer you can probably skip: All rights to Twilight belong to literally everyone but myself. That's an exaggeration... All rights belong to Stephanie Meyer.
I reached for the door handle only for my hand to freeze midair when a throat cleared behind me.
When I turned around, a glass half-filled - or half-empty? - was shoved in my face. I took it without a second's hesitation, downing it all in one go. The effects were immediate; the burn giving way to a tingling sensation in my throat. I chuckled ruefully, looking up and tracking the blonde with my eyes as she rounded her BMW. "Esme would not approve," I said lowly, lightly, rocking on my feet.
She was on the driver's side now, far enough away that she couldn't smack my hand when I pulled the handle to the passenger's door. She did not like anyone, let alone grubby human hands, touching her precious car. I moved quickly, not giving her enough time to try and stop me, opening the door and diving in the seat in only a second.
Already turning the key in the ignition, Rosalie Hale smirked at me as she moved the gear shift into Reverse. My body flew forward as the car moved back, thrown out of my seat, half-landing on the dash and half-melded in with the floor. From my very awkward position, where my hand dangled limply, squished above my head, I glared at the blonde beauty.
When she stopped to take a second to shift into drive, I corrected myself so that I sat like a normal, sane person. Once I clicked the seatbelt in place, a hand shot through the space between the two front seats, the nails a bright, neon pink. I grabbed the new glass, raising it in thanks before I chugged it down.
"Whew!" I said with completely round eyes. My entire nervous system felt alive and buzzing. "What is that?"
Alice leaned forward in the space between myself and Rosalie, who was glaring at the road ahead of her, trying to ignore us both. I guess she didn't like my comment about Esme. Touchy touchy. "Mountain dew and Green Apple Vodka," said Alice, laying her head on crossed arms, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "It's only the beginning."
She had somehow roped Rosalie and I into a girls night, where I indulge in as many human things as I can before… Before, you know.
Anyway, the entire weekend ahead of me was planned out, but Alice was the only one who knew the details. The only thing I knew for sure was that the fake IDs I had caught a glimpse of were definitely going to be in use.
Perhaps the thing that was most exciting about our impending adventure was the fact that no one knew except us three. Edward, god, he would somehow die of an aneursym if he found out what we planned on doing. Granted, both Rosalie and I weren't in the know, but we were aware that less, 'holier than thou,' events were going to take place.
Jasper had an inkling, I was sure, but Emmett was clueless. He had barely looked away from the game he had been playing with Jasper. The latter, unfortunately, had looked up, gave us the most suspicious look I had ever seen, before he turned his attention back to the screen just as Emmett moved to kill off his character. Predictably, the two had gotten into an argument, and we got out of there as fast as we could.
While Alice and Rosalie's mates didn't so much as bat an eye, mine was more a stick in the mud. When Alice had first brought it up, he had shot her down vehemently. Ever since he came back, there was an almost imperceptible distance between us. Almost. We both noticed, but it seemed neither of us could do anything to fix it, though Edward tried. Boy did he try. He stuck to my side like glue. We hadn't actually separated for longer than a night or for when he had to hunt. It took Alice a month to convince him. So here we are.
The boys and Carlisle and Esme believed we were going to be shopping. If I knew Alice, and I undoubtedly did, there would definitely be some shopping, but thankfully that's not what this weekend was for. It was about cramming in as many human experiences as I could before I kicked the bucket and joined the undead.
As we zoomed down the road toward Seattle and away from Forks, my phone buzzed. I pulled it from my pocket, seeing my best friend's name flash on the screen. "Hey Mike," I answered as the wind played with my hair.
"Hey, Bella," he greeted. When he didn't speak again I furrowed my brows. He had to have called me for a reason.
"Hello?" I drawled, extending the second syllable.
"Yeah. Here. Sorry."
"What's up?"
He began, his voice unsure, which was a red flag. I narrowed my eyes unconsciously. He had done something he knew I didn't or wouldn't like. "I'm um… I uh, well…"
"Spit it out." From the corner of my eye I saw Rosalie, who was great at remaining focused, glance toward the phone held to my left ear. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw that Alice was unbothered, picking at her nails and fiddling with the bracelet Jasper had given her.
"I heard from Angela, who heard it from Jessica, who heard it from her mom, who heard it from Mrs. Cullen that you and Alice and Rosalie were going out this weekend."
I sighed. Why was Esme so sociable? "We are," I admitted. "What about it?"
"Well, I just...uh-" He cleared his throat awkwardly, the staticky crackle coming through because of the crap service. "I just wanted to ask you to be safe. Rosalie and Alice too."
Coughing into my arm, having not expected the concern, I responded, "Thanks, Mike. We will." I smiled, glancing at both of my soon-to-be sisters. Rose's mouth twitched, but that was all she gave me.
I tucked my phone back into my pocket. Mike and I had been best friends since before we knew how to talk. He stepped into Charlie's role - the man was too preoccupied with work to notice what his daughter spent her nights doing - playing the disapproving father/brother/friend when I developed less than savory habits; such as smoking and drinking. Not sex, though. Or drugs. Never those. Not since… I shuddered just at the mere reminder of the memory. No.
The only good thing to come from that experience was Rosalie finally, finally warming up to me. She had been completely and totally against my presence in the Cullen house until I told her - privately, she was the only one to know, making the rest of them confused when we were suddenly friendly - which created a sort of silent understanding between us. I wasn't as close to her as I was Alice but we were getting there. Baby steps.
Despite Rose's typical Cullen speed, the sun was beginning its evening descent by the time we reached the outskirts of Seattle. Daylight savings time was stupid. Or was it over? I can never remember. Either way, having the world blink into darkness the second it passed five was one of the most depressing things I dreaded each year.
Rose pulled into the lot of a motel. We went inside, Alice signing us into our reserved room, and I dropped my small duffel bag onto the bed. The room was excessive, as I expected. There was a living room, a bathroom, a master bedroom, and a separate bedroom with two beds. I knew the Cullens liked to splurge, but this seemed to be a bit too much. Especially for only two nights.
Rosalie had claimed the separate room for herself, which I didn't mind. It meant I got to room with Alice, who eagerly tucked two entire suitcases worth of clothes into only three drawers of the dresser. As always, she made sure to leave the other three for me. I didn't have much, so everything I did have, including toiletries, as well as my clothes, fit into one drawer. I had no doubt that I would be leaving with much more than I arrived with.
I plugged my charger into the dock, attaching my laptop to the end. If I had any time, I really hoped to check my email and write back to Jake, Seth, and Leah if I could. When I first met them it had been because all of our parents were friends, thus forcing us to hang out. But after a while, genuine friendships bloomed. As Jake would say, 'It's so beautiful.' Then, of course, he'd even go as far as to whip out his fake tears and wipe one from his eye.
The few things that I didn't put in the drawer went on the nightstand; my laptop, and obviously, Wuthering Heights. I'm starting to believe my addiction to that book is worse than to alcohol. It was paperback and both covers were so frayed that I didn't let anyone touch it but myself. All of the Cullens - except for maybe Emmett - had tremendous control over their strength, but even that pales in the delicacy with which my book must be handled. I didn't dare take that risk.
I sat on the bed as I waited for Alice to finish stuffing the poor dresser with all the clothes she brought. The last time we had gone anywhere that required some kind of overnight bag, I made the mistake of asking her why all the clothes were necessary. She'd responded with a creepy, almost manic smile, her voice taking on a tone to match, 'You never know what outfit the occasion calls for.' Then she eyed my outfit and I knew I was doomed.
Alice stood, proudly looking over the drawers where not a single piece of material poked out from the edges. She turned to me. "Ready?"
I nodded, opening my mouth to call for Rosalie, but she appeared in an instant. "Let's go," she said.
We left the room, and I triple-checked that it was locked before we all piled into the BMW. In Forks, this car did not blend in at all, but here, even in a place as dull as a motel, it fit right in.
Only a few minutes later Rosalie pulled into the lot of a bar, parking her baby and dropping her keys into her bag. I stood outside her gorgeous car, which shone in the darkening sun and brightening moon, staring incredulously at Alice. The shortest of the three of us danced over, slinging an arm around my shoulder, her draping hand pressing something into my left palm. Instinctively, my fingers curled around it.
Alice walked around the front of the car, conversing with Rosalie while I dared to take a peek at what I was holding. It was a plastic ID with rounded edges and my picture was the same as my driver's license. It also said that today was my 21st birthday. "Hey!" I shouted, and Alice's eyes landed on me as I walked over to them. "How'd you get this?" My hand held the card in front of Alice's face while a finger pointed directly to the photo. I wanted to know, but also, didn't.
"A vampire doesn't reveal her secrets," she said with an air of mystique. I rolled my eyes, ignoring my silent correction of, 'Magician.' "Now," Alice smiled, her eyes once again taking on that troublesome glint. "Let day one of our Cullen girl-bond-time-outing commence!"
Both Rose and I cringed.
"This is just a casual outing," Rosalie corrected her and I readily agreed.
"Where we just so happen to have Bella experience absolutely every single human thing she can!" Alice continued cheerily, to which I groaned. "Bella, I bet by the end of the night, you'll find that you're enjoying yourself."
My ears perked up. She knew I couldn't resist a bet. Damn it. My next words damned me. "And if I'm not? If you're wrong?"
Alice smirked an all-knowing smirk. "Then you can choose what we do for the rest of the weekend. But if you enjoy yourself, and you will, I will continue choosing what we do with no complaints from you."
I knew I was walking into a trap, but I just couldn't help myself. "Okay," I said confidently.
Alice twirled as she danced her way to the growing line outside of the bar. As Rosalie passed me to catch up with her, she whispered in my ear, chuckling all the while. "Don't you know by now?" A pause as she shook her head. "You should never bet against Alice."
15 - Written: 12/4/21
Posted - 12/5/21