Bella Swan - Forks, WA
Friday, August 27, 2004

"Do you have any idea where the turn off is supposed to be? I swear we passed it like a mile ago." I asked Angela who was staring at a map and the directions Alice had written down.

"Um, maybe. Supposed to be mile marker 43, but if that's right we passed it a mile ago." Angela shook her head while turning the map upside down, and then staring at the directions Alice gave us again. "These directions are kinda cryptic."

"Alright. Should I turn around?" I was getting a little frustrated, we had left directly from school on Alice's orders. The drive to their place was along the highway towards Port Angeles, but as far as I was aware there were no housing developments in the area.

"Nah, keep going. Maybe I have the mile markers reversed." She didn't sound at all confident, but I did as she suggested.

"I cannot believe we're doing this. Do you have any idea what Alice has planned?" I said pouting a little, I was kinda not looking forward to a girls night out. Especially not in the places we would be able to go. Forks, Port Angeles… although maybe if we pushed it, we could make it to Seattle.

"No idea, maybe dinner out at Port Angeles. She said that she would take care of everything." She emphasized the word 'everything' with a bit of dramatic embellishment.

"Everything? What does that mean?" I said with more than a little biting sarcasm.

"Um, reservations?" She guessed with an unsure shrug.

"Well, I hope it isn't too fancy because this is basically the best outfit I own." My black slacks and dark blue blouse was my best ensemble but it was hardly formal.

"There it is, I think that's the marker." Angela pointed towards a break in the road marked only with tire lines. I slowed down and made the turn relatively easily, but The Thing was a little cranky about pushing the shocks so hard. After a long winding gravel driveway the forest opened up onto a house unlike anything else in the area. I couldn't quite see the entire structure from the road but it was nestled into the forest, with wooden accents and plentiful windows.

"I knew they were wealthy, but wow." I said trying to take in the kind of wealth that could afford to build something like this in the middle of the wilderness.

"I had no idea this was here." Angela said in equal awe. "This must be like five-thousand square feet."

"Well we're here, no reason to be shy." I parked the truck to the side of the main drive, which wrapped around to the front entrance to the right of the house, and I could just make out a two story garage at the end of it. Alice opened the door as I turned off the engine, and was joined by four others. Rosalie and Emmett, were flanked by a couple that must've been their parents, which felt like a stretch, Mr. Cullen was just as dazzling as his three sons and couldn't be more than twenty-five. Mrs. Cullen looked a bit younger, and yet felt every bit the matriarch of the house. Her poise and clothes were older, more formal but tasteful and colorful.

"They make quite the picture, don't they?" Angela said with a small smirk.

"Do they ever look normal?" I said with my mouth slightly agape.

"They've only been here for a couple of years so maybe, but no not really." Angela giggled a little. We both got out after giving each other a look.

"I'm so glad you could come!" Alice practically skipped over to us and held out her hands. We each took one and she led us inside. Her hands were ice cold and for a second I felt a small shock run up my arm at the contact.

"Bella, Angela I'd like to meet my parents; Carlisle and Esme." She introduced them with joy and enthusiasm, as though she was genuinely happy we were meeting them.

"It is lovely to meet you both. We have made dinner, and then Alice has something planned." Carlisle said with a warm smile. He had an arm wrapped around his wife's waist and I could tell they were very much in love.

"Sounds great." I said, not entirely sure what we were getting into.

"Bella, I understand you're a vegetarian?" Esme asked with the kind of confidence that meant she already knew the answer.

"That's right." I confirmed with a small appreciative smile.

"But not vegan?" She continued, and her clarification was thoughtful and showed a level of interest in her daughter's friends that was nice to see.

"Nope, I could never give up ice cream and cheese." I chuckled to myself, and Esme nodded with a warm smile.

"Great! Things should be ready, let's eat." Carlisle said, clapping his hands together lightly. They led us up a short staircase through a dining room with a massive mahogany table to a kitchen that made my jaw drop. It was fully decked out with restaurant grade appliances and a refrigerator almost as big as my Dad's entire kitchen. The food looked amazing, and far more informal than I expected as the plates were set up on the kitchen island, and the tall stools were surprisingly comfortable.

The entire family sat too, with Rosalie directly to my right. She gave me a soft smile that made me feel floaty, and I smiled back widely. Then she picked up a fork, and motioned for me to dig in, which I did without looking. But then I took my first bite and I almost moaned because it was so good. Angela actually made the sound and her eyes shot open in embarrassment.

"Sorry, my mom has been doing a lot of healthy cooking, and taste isn't always a priority." Angela managed to make her frown look like a pout and shrugged it off with a smile at the end.

"Yes, this dish tastes wonderful but is hardly friendly to a wasteline." I remarked, backing her up.

"Would you prefer something else?" Esme looked mildly concerned but seemed utterly unoffended by the remark. As though it wouldn't be any inconvenience at all to make something else last minute.

"I'm good." I said taking a big bite, happily finishing my entire plate. Angela had seconds.

"Are you two done? I need to get you both ready if we're going to make it in time for the flight." Alice chimed in as soon as we had put down our utensils.

"Flight?" I asked, feeling a little shocked.

"Yup, we're going down to Los Angeles." Alice said casually, as if a trip to California was just another normal Tuesday.

"I can't go to Los Angeles." Angela shook her head, her voice meek and a bit terrified.

"Alice, I thought I said close." Esme scolded her daughter. But Alice just gave her a defiant look.

"It is close. I didn't do the Paris thing like we agreed." Alice was pouting, and crossed her arms in front of her. But there was a defiance in her posture and expression that made me believe she was going to get her way no matter what.

"Paris?" I coughed out, almost choking on the sparkling water I was drinking to wash down dinner.

"That's for next time." Alice said with a huge grin, and I honestly wasn't sure if she was being serious.

"I think she means it." I whispered to Angela who was staring at Alice in mild shock. "As much as I would love to go, I don't think it would be practical. At least not during the school year."

"Paris in spring is quite beautiful." Rosalie interjected, her eyes searching my face for something.

"I can imagine, I've… It would just be nice to go someday." I stopped myself from rattling on about my familial connections to France, because I didn't want to say too much about my past. Especially because I would have to bring up my dead grandmother, and it just felt like a bit too much for a night of fun.

"Then we shall go… someday." Rose smiled at me again, her gaze focused on me entirely.

"We need to get ready. The ride takes about an hour and while we have a private flight, it is still a couple of hours down there." Alice explained loudly, startling me out of the moment. Rosalie broke eye contact, and I heard Alice clapping her hands as she practically pulled us up and onto our feet.

"We're going to Los Angeles." Angela gasped in minor disbelief. "My mom would lose her mind."

"We wouldn't want you to get in trouble." Carlisle gave Alice a small look of what I thought was disappointment, but I couldn't quite tell.

"Angela, you'll have a lot of fun I promise." Alice's big bright smile was infectious and Angela started to smile back in spite of her worries.

"Alice is right, this will be one of those nights you remember for the rest of your life." Rosalie's voice was warm and confident and it clearly gave Angela a boost in confidence. Rose then flashed her the friendliest smile I had seen yet from her.

Dinner had made me feel a bit full and lethargic but Alice couldn't be stopped and she led us to her absolutely massive bedroom with a walk-in closet that held more clothes than the boutique store in downtown Forks. "I took the liberty of getting a few outfits each, ready for you both to try. Then we'll get you made up before we leave." Alice explained quickly as she pulled out six sets of underwear, dresses, coats and shoes.

Then she dressed us almost like we were life sized dolls. The clothes were expensive and elegant, and she embellished the outfits with a few pieces of tasteful complementing jewelry. Then she did our hair and make-up so quickly that I couldn't believe it when she turned me around and I found a different reflection looking back at me. Someone older, and far prettier. Then I caught sight of Angela and found that she was stunning, but she was obviously having trouble accepting her reflection in the mirror.

"You look lovely." Rosalie whispered from next to me, her head close to mine but not touching me. I hadn't expected such closeness from her and I met her eyes in the mirror. She was still searching for something in my features, but I couldn't really grasp what it could be.

"You do too." I muttered back, somewhat absently, but she just looked away and stood back from my chair. "Did I say something?"

"It's nothing, we should go." Rose reached out a hand to help me up, which was appreciated because of the heels. Then before I knew it, we were in the red BMW heading towards Port Angeles. Rosalie drove with a strange intensity, as though she were some kind of race car driver. I was sitting next to her in the passenger seat, and she let me have control of the radio. I was searching for a good road song when she reached over and gently placed her fingers above mine, then she made a simple twisting motion to guide me to click the dial three to the right and a station flared to life.

"Just take those old records off the shelf. I'll sit and listen to 'em by myself" Bob Seger shouted out from the expensive sound system. Then her fingers withdrew back to the wheel again, and I found myself staring at her hand. Then I flashed a look up to her face and found her watching me, which made me even more confused. Her actions had been so curious and almost intimate, that I wasn't sure how to think or feel. My attraction to her was getting out of hand, and I was sure I was close to saying or doing something stupid.

"I always loved this one, mom used to play it every weekend to make chores more fun." I added, trying not to sing along to the lyrics as I turned my attention out the passenger side window.

"Every generation has an era of music that speaks to them. I like to listen to Seger, Bowie, Elton John, Billy Joel… really any of that style of music as a distraction when I work." I could see her looking at me in the reflection in the glass, while not terribly clear, it was obvious she was waiting for my reaction.

"Me too, I have a set of headphones so I don't bother dad, but I always listen to tunes when I'm doing homework or writing. I just seem to do better when I'm half distracted." I turned to try and catch Rosalie's eyes but she had already turned back to the road, her expression flat and unreadable. That defined the rest of the short trip as we made it through security at the local airport. She parked in a special parking spot designated in a way I could tell was super secure.

Then we turned towards the aircraft waiting for us on the tarmac, it was a private jet that had no insignia on it, and I was honestly not sure if it was a chartered plane or if the Cullens were so wealthy they had their own. The flight down to Los Angeles was relatively quick, and Alice busted out some champagne. It felt relatively innocuous and even Angela had a glass.

"A toast to infinite futures, may we all have the fate we deserve." Alice's joyful words were punctuated by the sharp sound of our glasses clinking together. But then I noticed Rosalie was staring hard at her sister, as though something she said was unnerving or wrong. It bugged me for the rest of the flight, but I didn't really have any time to voice my worries or pull Angela aside to talk about it before we were descending onto a different tarmac, and this time a limo was waiting for us. The drive was hard to follow through the tinted windows, and a valet took the car and we joined a VIP line leading down into this amazing outdoor stage. It took a moment before I realized we were at the Hollywood Bowl. Rosalie ended up sitting to my left, Angela on my right and Alice sat next to Angela.

"I can't believe we're here. I've wanted to see these guys for years." Angela whispered excitedly, leaning over so we could talk over the white noise of the crowd.

"I've heard of them before, I'm pretty sure I know some of their music but I couldn't tell you a title or a band member if my life depended on it." I admitted, just to temper her expectations for my reaction, but she didn't seem to notice as the opening band came out and the audience roared.

"This will be great." She said as she pulled me into a side hug. I laughed, because I was sure she would be right. Two hours later and I was a fan of both bands. The music was all catchy and well written lyrically, and I could tell each band put in the effort. I wasn't sure how far into their tour they were, but they seemed to be in top form. Once we got backstage I was starting to realize the Cullens lived in a completely different world.

The entry had a large banner that said "Welcome to the Menagerie" which was a play on the tour name and the name of their album. We were handed bags full of swag, and tall glasses of champagne. A guard asked for our ID's and I went momentarily bug eyed realizing I had left my book bag back in my truck with my wallet. Alice reached into her clutch purse and handed the man three ID's. He glanced up at us a couple of times and nodded before handing them back to Alice. Once we were into the room I drew close to Alice.

"What was that?" I whispered hoping not to draw attention from the guard.

"It's… um complicated. I got you two a couple of fake ID's for tonight." She said conspiratorially just audible enough for me to hear.

"Can I see it?" I almost demanded she hand it over, but made it a request as it came out.

"Ah, sure." Alice seemed a bit reluctant but handed me the ID so that our backs were to the guard. I took one look and felt deeply conflicted. It was perfect, down to the holograms and other security features of a real ID. The picture was really me, but the name was different; Isabella Marie Wagner.

"Wagner?" I couldn't think of another question beyond how she had gotten something like this so quickly.

"There's a famous German opera named Lohengrin dealing with the story of the Knight of the Swan. It was written by a guy named Wagner. I'll admit it was not my finest work, but it was short notice." Alice's quick explanation was entirely too thought out to be a rushed afterthought. That kind of research took time and effort, meaning she put time and effort into this evening. I had no idea how to process that kind of generosity, and spoke to how much she valued me and Angela's friendship. In a word, I was touched.

"Why the ID?" I asked as curiosity got the better of me.

"We're going to a club after this, I wanted you two to have fun tonight. But this is just weird." Alice pointed towards the back wall where there were several large cages with real zoo animals.

"I like it." I said with mock seriousness. "Although I think they are taking the theme a little far."

"At least it's bold. The music wasn't bad either, I know Angela likes them." Alice smiled knowingly, but answered as though I hadn't been using sarcasm at all.

We wandered around for a little while and met most of the band as the members made the rounds. Then we were back in the limo heading into another part of the city. I quickly got lost trying to look at the street signs, and instead paid attention to the city itself. It was flat and dense, with some kind of shopping center every couple of blocks. For a city as big as it was, there were very few people on the streets. Then we turned onto Pico Boulevard where I'd been stuck in traffic with my father during our vacation. It let me know we were heading towards the ocean. After a few more turns I lost track again. Eventually we pulled into what felt like a random parking garage, and then we ventured out into a throng of people. They were milling about a long strip of shopping that signs indicated was called the 3rd Street Promenade.

The entrance to the club wasn't what I imagined a LA club to be like, there was a bouncer but there wasn't a massive line waiting to get in. As we approached he glanced at the four of us and asked for ID from me and Alice, waving Angela and Rosalie in without bothering. After he looked back and forth a couple of times he let us through.

It wasn't a big space, but it was packed. Two floors of people moving around each other, groping, kissing and dancing. The music was oppressive, but along the edges tinted glass panels blocked it enough that conversation was possible, and we still had a view out onto the dance floor. Two massive bars lined the back wall on each floor. The second floor had an almost magical glass floor that lit up and cast colors upwards and downwards in shifting patterns. You could just make out the feet and legs moving on the second floor, but nothing else really.

Alice ordered us some drinks, and giving into the spirit of the night I didn't really pay attention to what was set in front of me. One sip and I knew it was alcohol. Angela tried to protest, but I made no effort to refuse because there was really no point. By our second drink we were out dancing. Both men and women tried to dance with us, two in particular who seemed to be some kind of couple kept close. I had to admit there was an attraction, not so much with the guy but the woman was intoxicating. Angela was just happy to be getting the attention.

I was starting to feel like the room was spinning after a while, and I made sure Angela was alright and then made my way back to the table. Alice took my place, and Rosalie leaned in.

"Having fun?" She sounded like she was pleased I was enjoying myself. I nodded a couple of times.

"I don't think I would've ever gone out like this on my own." I felt my speech slur slightly, but I kind of liked how it felt.

"Alice has a way with adventures. She was being totally honest when she said we would hit Paris next time." She said with that same mysterious smile from before.

"I would love to go with you, spend a week in the romance city of the world. I mean what could happen?" I was getting dangerously close to letting slip that I was into her, but I managed to reign it in at the last second. Rosalie started to laugh without vocalizing it, shaking her head at some joke I wasn't privy to.

"What is it?" I asked, feeling deeply curious.

"You are not who I thought you were, Isabella. Alice, Angela… Everyone was right." She gave me a genuine smile, and it made me feel a little light headed.

"That's good, I think." I nodded with an odd exaggeration. My body was not quite moving like I wanted it to.

"It's good." She said and her smile turned slightly mysterious again.

"Fuck it. You know you are the prettiest woman I've ever seen in real life." I paused as I realized what I had just confessed, "I can't believe I said that." I felt myself sway a little, and looked her in the eyes. She met mine without hesitation, and I was transfixed by her. It lasted for just a few seconds, but I felt a bit of excitement I wasn't expecting. The kind of arousal I usually tried to ignore. "I'm sorry if you're involved with Emmett, I bet he's great."

"Emmett and I… My relationship shouldn't concern you right now. Instead, understand I am very flattered and… I am sorry but I'm not really into women. I mean, I don't think I'm gay." She sounded flustered and unsure, despite saying the words, I was almost positive they were just a denial. I wondered if maybe she hadn't realized her own sexual identity, and if that were the case I didn't want to push. Still, she seemed curious about me, and tilted her head slightly waiting for my response.

"Well, if I'm being honest you're the first woman I've ever been attracted to, so I don't know what that makes me either." I shook my head trying to get my focus back, but the look on her face was very distracting. I stared into her eyes for what felt like an hour and she never broke eye contact. Until I almost fell out of my chair and she caught me with one quickly placed hand on my shoulder.

"Sorry." I somewhat slurred out. "Is this what it's like to be drunk?"

"You are not completely drunk, but one or two more and you will be. So shall I get you another?" Her offer was strange, giving me the choice to sober up or get further sloshed.

"Why not." I replied after a few seconds, I was safe and none of us were driving for hours. She nodded once and left right away. I swayed to the music for a moment, and I felt someone take my hand which I allowed because everyone I was with was safe. They led me through the crowd and out a side entrance into an alleyway, that's when I realized the person in question wasn't any of my friends.

"Who are you?" I practically screamed out, feeling instantly clear and sober. The man was just effeminate enough that he could pass for a woman in a dark crowded space. His longer brown hair was likely the reason I didn't realize he was wrong at first.

"Your new master." The man said, as he pulled out a cell phone and clicked some kind of side button that made a shrill noise, followed by a grunt from the other end of the connection.

"Twenty seconds." The voice on the other end of the line replied, and in the next heartbeat I could hear a vehicle coming. When suddenly from behind something moved past me so quickly I couldn't track it. All I could see was a flash of blonde hair, and then the man was gone without a trace, save for a strangled scream that cut off after the first syllable. Then Rose was there, holding me up and leading me back inside.

"What just happened?" I asked as she pulled the door open and pressed me close to her.

"Just don't think about it." She said softly, as the door closed behind us. Then she stroked my hair, maybe to untangle it or maybe to comfort me, but I felt instantly safe.

"Thank you." I muttered almost incoherently as we walked together, my cheek pressed up against her shoulder.

"You're welcome, Isabella." She replied whispering into my ear, her lips a hair's breadth from my skin. Then she led me to our table just as Alice showed up. She gave us a look, but seemed otherwise completely oblivious to what had just happened. I started to tell her, but Rosalie just brushed the hair from my face and shook her head slightly. I half nodded in understanding.

"I lost Angela in the crowd somehow." Alice jumped up a little to try and peer over the crowd. Rosalie looked very worried and I just shook my head.

"She probably just went to the bathroom. Come to think of it, I should do that too. I'll be right back." I did suddenly have the sudden urge to pee.

"I'll go with you, because two sets of eyes are always better than one." Rose smiled at Alice who gave her another strange look and then nodded slowly.

It took us longer than I wanted but eventually I found the bathroom. There was a bit of a line, and Angela wasn't there. When I was done I made my way back to our table to find Angela finally returned and was laughing with Alice.

"I've never had so many people want to be near me, guys and girls and it was so much fun." Angela said as she almost fell grabbing for my shoulders, her voice a bit breathless. Then she downed one of the drinks Rose had brought from the bar that had been sitting since my little event. I took the other and in one big gulp finished it, before grabbing Angela's hand. I also pulled in Alice and Rosalie and the four of us danced for another hour before I felt like my feet were going to fall off. Rose spent most of the time dancing with me, close enough to be tantalizing, but also just far enough away to be platonic.

Once we were safe in the limo Rose backed off a little, but I could see her head was still tilted in my direction. I dozed off a little, and woke up long enough to board the plane. I must've fallen asleep at that point because the next thing I knew Rose was waking me up to get into the car back to Forks. I wasn't sure how it happened, but I somehow ended up with my head in her lap. Once we were back at the Cullens house I was finally awake enough to stay that way.

The first rays of dawn were just peeking through the dense forest surrounding the house, and the way the light passed through the various windows was simply gorgeous. Angela was just as sleepy as I was but we somehow got changed back into our normal clothes, were force fed some breakfast and coffee and said goodbye to our new friends. Alice lingered with hugs, but Rose had disappeared. I wondered if I had ruined any possibility of a friendship with her, and was dwelling on that fact when Mr. and Mrs. Cullen sent us on our way. As we got in my truck I turned to Angela who had a small happy smile on her face.

"Trippy night." I admitted, although I had this thing in my gut telling me I couldn't explain everything.

"I had so much fun. Can you believe how much we did tonight?" She had her eyes closed, but had her face turned towards the sunlight.

"Can you believe how much we drank tonight? I'm afraid dad is gonna give me a breathalyzer when I get home." I wasn't entirely serious because we had the right excuse to be out all night, a sleepover. But I didn't know exactly what he would do when I got home.

"Don't worry about it, we had planned a sleepover so no big deal." She said exactly what I was thinking and it helped placate my worry.

"I guess they are our friends now." I felt confused about the entire evening. It was strange and wonderful and utterly wild. Alice clearly cared about us, and I had no idea how to classify Rosalie. She did more for me than I could really wrap my head around, and although I didn't see it I could swear she saved my life.

"Sure seems like it. I think it's nice, no one ever tries to talk to the Cullens." Angela said with a small frown.

"After the generosity and friendship they just showed us, I cannot imagine why?" I took a deep breath and started up the truck with a pang of sadness that our wonderful night was over.