"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself."
--Andy Warhol
I opened one eye but closed it quickly upon seeing the light pouring in through the open window. I groaned and swung my arm blindly, trying to cease the song blaring from my clock radio. It continued to sound as I sat up and brought my fist down on the terrible object that told me that it was only six in the morning. It silenced.
"Good morning!" Dad greeted cheerily as I stalked down the stairs, ready for my day.
I scowled. I hated morning people. "You're not allowed to say 'good morning' anymore," I muttered, earning a confused look from him. "I find it a contradiction of terms," I clarified while he chuckled.
"What are your plans for today? It's a bit early to be up on a Saturday," he commented.
"Psh, like I want to be up this early. Alice made plans and said if I wasn't ready by seven, she'd drag me out of bed herself."
He laughed some more at me. "You could take 'er. She's, what, a head shorter than you?"
I stared at him. "Have you met Alice?"
His mouth formed an 'O' as he went back to his news program. I got myself a bowl of cereal and ate slowly, trying to figure out what was in store for me today.
How bad could it be? I mean, the worst she could do was... oh, crap. We were going shopping. She needed an early start. I was going to be broke by lunchtime.
I prayed to God that the rest of the gang was going as I got ready for the day, throwing on some jeans and a blue t-shirt.
"Bella! Alice is here."
I trudged down the stairs and out the front door, eyeing her bright, yellow car. It was too cheery for this rainy, small town.
As I got into the car, I eyed the empty back seat. I cringed internally, knowing it was just us. I loved Alice, I really did, but she was just too much sometimes.
"You ready?" she asked excitedly.
"No." Well, that was the understatment of the century. She rolled her eyes at me and let out an exasperated sigh.
"The others are going to meet us there," she huffed.
"I am slightly more ready," I told her, grinning.
"It's not that bad." I snorted as she frowned. "Come on, it's the twenty-first; it's my day." Alice had declared that the twenty first of every month she would get to pick all of the day's activities and, really, we couldn't do anything about it.
I reached for the radio, shoving one of my CDs in the player.
"You and your stupid, weird music," she muttered.
It was my turn to roll my eyes. "The Summer Set is awesome. You just don't get the awesome. You're too caught up in your Katy Perry and crap like that," I retorted.
"Yeah, I'm sure that's it."
I didn't miss the heavy sarcasm. Alice grumbled the entire way to Port Angeles and the newly built mall. I felt a smile creep onto my face when I saw the sun glint off a familiar silver Volvo. That meant no waiting with just Alice; at least Edward would be there.
Edward Masen had been one of my best friends since we were both eight. His family moved in down the street not long after we had, and we'd instantly became friends. We were the foundation of our little group. Alice moved to Forks a year later, and I met her at school. Rosalie and Jasper Hale became residents of Forks a few years after Alice moved in, followed by Emmett McCarty shortly after. Edward was excited to gain some guy friends, and I liked having my girlfriends, though I saw my best friend less and less; but still, every once in a while, Charlie and Renee's bickering would become a bit too much to bare, and I'd stay the night at his house. He'd hold me while I sniffled and cried a little about my parents and life, whispering words of comfort until I would fall asleep. He knew me the best, and I could tell you anything about him. He was the greatest friend anyone could ask for.
We got out of her car, running through the rain that had started to fall and into the coffee shop. Edward had his back to us in line at the coffee shop we visited everytime we came to the town. I ran up behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist and holding on tight.
"Save me," I whimpered as he chuckled.
"Alice scaring you?"
"I have a feeling we're going shopping, Ed."
"I have a feeling too, Bella." He turned around, looking down at me with his brilliant, green eyes. He wrapped his arms around me, sighing. "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever," he whispered.
I giggled. "I saw you a few days ago, you dork." I reached my hand up to tug on his bronze locks.
"Still too long," he muttered, turning around again to order our drinks. I stood beside him, bugging him.
"Ed, hey, Edward." I poked him in the side while he asked for his coffee. I got hyper when I didn't have much sleep. "Yoohoo, Eddie!"
"May I help you, Isabella!?" His head whipped around in my direction.
"I forget." I giggled.
He rolled his eyes, turning back to the impatient looking barista. He continued talking, ordering Alice's drink.
"Oooh! Wait! I remember!" I laughed at his annoyed face.
"You'd better."
"Can I have a hot chocolate? Please?"
"You know I was gonna get you one, weirdo." I grinned when he turned back to the barista. "And one hot chocolate for hot stuff here."
My jaw dropped.
What did he just say?
My face was probably red when I turned around and walked over to Alice, stunned.
"What the hell happened to you? Lover's quarrel?" She raised her eyebrows suggestively. For years Alice had been saying that Edward and I were going to be together. I shook off her comment, like always. Edward and I were friends. Nothing more.
"Shut up. Just forget about it." I sat down next to her, crossing my arms over my chest, glaring daggers at the back of Edward's pretty, little head, but was brought out of my trance by the bell above the shop's door, signaling a costumer.
"Why Bella, Alice! Fancy seein' you here!" Emmett's loud call caused the other patrons to stop and stare at his hulking form. "And Edward! Hi!"
I noticed Edward approaching us, winking at me.
I wanted to throttle him.
"Emmett, I invited you," Alice hissed, not wanting to attract the attention. He laughed loudly before throwing himself onto one of the couches Alice had claimed.
"Here ya go, hot stuff." Edward laughed as he handed me my drink.
I glared at the idiot as he gave Alice and Emmett theirs. Alice looked at us, a smug smirk growing on her face.
"Don't even start," I warned her, taking a sip of my drink to make the subject a moot point.
I threw my drink to the ground right after it scalded my tongue.
"SHIT!" I screamed, once again calling the attention of those around us.
Emmett laughed. Alice's eyes widened, but I could see her fighting a smile, and Edward was in front of me in a flash.
"What happened?!"
"My tongue! It buuurns!" I groaned, trying not to cry. Edward left for what seemed like seconds and returned with a water bottle. I drank it, contented as the burning subsided.
"Thank you, Edward. I'm glad I have one nice friend."
He gave me a sad smile, which I didn't understand. He cleaned up my spilled drink before taking a seat next to me on the couch opposite Emmett.
"I'm very sorry," I whispered in his ear, causing his breath to catch, which confused me.
"It's fine. I just hope you're okay," he murmured, his voice somewhat gravelly.
"I am," I assured him as I snuggled into his side, getting comfortable as we waited for Jasper and Rose.
He sighed, putting an arm around me.
Alice eyed me curiously, a small smile gracing her lips.
I suppose from outside eyes, we could look like a couple; but that was just how we were, and I was not going to change that for appearances. I closed my eyes, inhaling Edward's calming scent...
"Bella, time to go," I heard Edward's soft voice whisper in my ear.
I opened my eyes and saw that Jasper and Alice were walking hand in hand out of the shop, acting like the totally in love couple they were. I looked over Edward's shoulder to see Rosalie and Emmett making googly eyes in the corner. All the couple stuff made me want to gag. I stood up and stretched out. My shirt rode up a bit, exposing some of my stomach. I glanced over at Edward, whose eyes were fixated on me. He licked his lips. I stopped stretching, grabbed his hand and dragged him to his car.
"I'm not riding with the love birds over there." I jerked my thumb in the direction of Alice and Jasper sitting in her car, looking like they were heading to second base.
I tapped on their window, causing them to jump. Alice pushed a button, lowering the barrier, looking ticked.
"What?" she growled.
"Are we going or not? I mean, Ed and I can just go home..."
"No, no, no! We're leaving now! Meet us at the mall!" She started her car, and I jumped back as she peeled out of the parking lot.
"Holy crap! What'd you say to her!?" Edward asked when I hopped into his car.
I shook my head and urged him to drive. Rose and Emmett were just leaving the shop when we pulled out of our parking spot.
We got to the mall in no time and met Alice in the food court. Rosalie and her boyfriend got there soon after, her hair a little disheveled.
"Okay, Bella and Alice. I need to buy underwear and stuff, ya know, the pretty junk. Emmett and I got a hot date tonight." She winked at him. "You guys can do whatever."
"Lace and frills?" I asked, my face growing hot. They both nodded excitedly. I obliged. I wasn't like I was gonna use any of it.
"Men! We are not missing this!" Emmett declared. "We're coming...giving our opinions."
Edward groaned, and his voice seemed pained. Alice burst into giggles, whispered something in his ear, bounced back over to Jasper and laughed harder while he gaped at her.
"Um...okay?" he said after a long moment.
Alice clapped her hands and walked in the direction of Victoria's Secret.
This was bound to be awkward.