FreshSqueezedLemons

Feel You from the Inside

Bella POV:

"C'mon, Bella, you have to come! It'll be fun, and Rose will be there." Alice whined, in octaves only dogs and I, a very well trained best friend, could hear.

"Alice, Rose is a bitch. And, I don't do the whole 'sneaking out-underage drinking while using a fake I.D.- breaking the law- and possibly getting mugged after leaving the club in too high shoes with too short of a skirt- kinda thing'. Sorry, thanks, but no thanks. Plus, my Dad's a cop. No not just a cop, make that, Chief of Police. Just in case your memory has failed you." I rambled sarcastically.

I could see her cheeks turn a frightening shade of red and a dark look passed through her eyes. She wasn't just annoyed, she was mad.

Awesome, nothing better than a pissed off Alice to put the icing on a not so great birthday.

"Isabella Marie Swan! You are going tonight. It is your birthday; you need to learn to live a little. Besides, you're eighteen now, you're a senior, a virgin," she said the last part with contempt. I kind of wanted to slap her. Since when has not putting out been a bad thing, ever?

"And we're like, the only girls in the senior class without dates to our last high school dances! It's time for us to pair off, make the most of our last year together! Plus, if Rosalie is coming, that means Emmett will be there, and his friends will be there. Bingo! Boys! How much better could it get? Bumping and grinding up against the hottest jocks in our school? I'm thinking yes! Plus, Rose is not that big of a bitch, not anymore, and she likes you. Which is weird, because she barely even likes herself. The least you could do is give her a shot. She's changed... quite a bit since freshman year."

Rose, Alice, and I used to be best friends in Junior High. Everything changed when she developed huge boobs, grew an extra foot in height, and started dating one of the most popular guys in our grade, Emmett McCarty. While Rose had never exactly been cruel to us, she definitely didn't go out of her way to acknowledge our existence, either.

I shrugged Alice off and picked up my worn copy of Jane Eyre, praying that she'd get the hint and go on without me tonight. I really didn't feel like getting all dressed up in painful shoes, annoying polyester or silk clothing, having my face painted, or being sticky from gallons of hairspray, for nothing. I hated playing Bella Barbie with Alice. Unfortunately for me, it was her favorite way to pass the time.

I cringe every time the word "Sleepover!" leaves her mouth.

Gah... shoot me.

Alice, I'm all for hanging out with people from school, but at a club? In the city? It's so loud, and... dirty... and just... ugh... You know I get migraines." I knew I was grasping for straws here, but I really didn't want to go- and Alice is a very persuasive little pixie.

"So, take a few ibuprofen, I'm sure once you get a good buzz going you'll be just fine. A club is a social setting, where singles mingle, and couples form." She was bouncing on her toes and clapping now. It really was hard to say no to her.

I tried keeping my focus on my tattered book as long as I could, but it was hard with her jumping and dancing around in my room like an ice skater ballerina on crack. I bit my lip, and chanced a look at her under my eyelashes only to see her sticking her big bottom lip out at me, hands clasped, and puppy eyes- full force.

Fuck you, Alice Brandon, and your hazel puppy dog eyes!

"Ugh, fine, bitch. But if this is fail, you have to agree to sit home and do absolutely nothing with me on my next birthday! We aren't even going to get out of our PJ's, we'll eat Ben & Jerry's ice cream and chillax around home, or wherever we're living... All. Day. Long. Got it?"

She looked hesitant to agree, but in the end I knew she would. After all, she was ultimately getting her way.

"Deal!" her triumphant smile was almost blinding.

After raiding my closet for about fifteen minutes, Alice decided I didn't own any decent club clothes, and that it was 'imperative' that we go to her place immediately to rectify the situation. I fought an eye roll and gave into her. What else could I do? She'd just make it all more miserable for me if I didn't. I was not a glutton for punishment.

After much debate and a lot of resounding "no's" from me, Alice finally went ahead and picked out her own dress first. It was black, the skirt part flowed loosely around her body, and the waist hugged her nicely, showing off her curves. It essentially looked like a heart shaped neckline, with halter top straps around her neck, and shoulder straps as well. It was simple yet complex.

It was magnificent compared to what she stuck me in. I envied her pretty little black dress.

The dress Alice chose for me was gold, it looked like it had sequins or some other shiny shit on it. The top of the dress- or what would normally be the shoulder strap area was just sheer see through fabric it also lined the top inch of the chest area. She added a little brown belt around my waist as an accessory, which only made the dress feel shorter than it already was.

Seriously, most of my t-shirts were longer than this dress. I'd definitely be flashing my black lacey boy-shorts to some unsuspecting perverts tonight.

At least Alice's dress went past her fingertips, mine was a bit shorter.  Top it all off with a cute, but deadly, pair of gold heels and I'm a master of disaster.

Lovely. 

Since we'd spent most of the morning at the Spa in Port Angeles, there wasn't a lot we had to do in regards to getting us beautified.  Alice forced me to get some red and blonde highlights. I also got my hair trimmed, so it was still styled in waves around my face and shoulders.

She put a few curls in her hair and flipped out her choppy pixie-like layers. After we touched up our makeup we were out the door, overnight bags in hand, speeding off in her bright yellow Honda Civic to Seattle.

I personally was not happy about driving three hours just to be in hell for even longer.

After about an hour of driving and listening to music, Alice called ahead and confirmed her reservation at a hotel close to the club, after getting everything sorted out she hung up and smiled at me.

"Alice, you're lucky your parents don't give a shit." I commented lamely.

"They care, they're just… absent a lot." She shrugged.

"Well, my Dad would never let me go into the city and stay overnight in a hotel room unsupervised. Which reminds me, he thinks I'm staying at your place tonight."

I could almost hear her eyes rolling. "Bella, you are eighteen now. Free to come and go as you please. Besides, Charlie isn't that bad."

"Dude, seriously? The only reason you think he isn't that bad, is because you've got him wrapped around your little digits. Trust me, he can be a pain. I may be eighteen, but I still live under his roof. I'm not about to push my luck," I muttered petulantly.