956Place and Time
A/N: I know. This is unexpected. I guess you just never know when your muse is going to reignite. :)
Chapter 10: Betting on Alice
It might have been a mistake to stretch out on my bed after talking with Alice. My enthusiasm for putting things away has disappeared, and soreness from today's move is creeping in. A shower is out of the question since I don't yet own a shower curtain, but a long hot soak in the tub sounds amazing.
And it is. The hot water feels incredible. While rummaging around in boxes for towels, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner, I found a bath bomb too. Now, the relaxing scent of lavender surrounds me. But I'm struggling to relax. I'm not even reading the book I grabbed. Instead, my brain has been on overdrive, and I've finally resorted to making lists on my phone.
It started with a list of things I need to buy, like a shower curtain, bathmat, mop, vacuum, cleaning supplies, and basic kitchen supplies.
Then I started a list of things I want to buy, like new towels to replace the old mismatched ones I have, a blanket and some colorful throw pillows for the couch, artwork for the walls, and maybe a couple small plants.
Then I moved on to creating my to-do list for tomorrow, but my thoughts drifted to the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night, and that made me think about my phone conversation with Alice.
She's clearly the same girl I knew in high school: bright, happy, kind, and bursting with energy and creative ideas. Now, I'm really looking forward to the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night. After talking with Rose over the past few days, and now Alice too, I've realized just how much I've missed them both.
We did a good job of keeping in touch during my senior year of high school when Rose was at U-Dub and Alice was studying at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. But the following year, when I moved to Phoenix to live with Mom and Phil while attending Arizona State, our connection began to unravel. Rose's parents had already moved to Seattle by then, and Rose was involved with Royce. And although Alice returned to Forks during school breaks, my own school and work schedules in Phoenix often kept me from visiting. Our lives went in different directions and we drifted apart. Somehow though, we've all managed to wind up in Seattle now, and I'm looking forward to reconnecting.
Of course, that will depend upon me finding a job so I can afford to stay here.
So, number one on my to-do list for tomorrow is updating my applications with my new address.
Second on that list is a wedding gift for Rose and Emmett. I have no idea what they need or want, but I imagine they're registered somewhere. I just don't know where. Or how that works. Rose is my first friend to get married, so I'm completely clueless.
But I bet Alice would know.
As Rose's maid of honor, I'm sure she's been pretty involved in the plans. So, moving on, I start a list of questions for Alice about the rehearsal dinner and the wedding.
Seven questions later, I'm done making lists, my bath has gone tepid, and it's nearly eleven.
Once I'm in my pajamas and ready for bed, I traipse around, turning off the lights, and bid the twinkling Seattle sprawl a goodnight. Shoving piles of clothing I have yet to put away out of the way, I crawl under the covers and open my book.
I'm nodding off only a few pages later when I get Dad's text.
Made it home safe and sound.
Awesome. Thanks for letting me know. And thanks again for all your help today.
Anytime, kiddo. Goodnight.
Goodnight.
I set my phone and book on the nightstand, turn off the lamp, and roll over. I'm beat.
*O*
The next thing I know, I'm waking up to a pale pink sky beyond my bedroom window. It's tempting to stay in bed, cozy and warm, watching the sky lighten and brighten. But I'm too excited to start my day in my new place, so I get up and get on with it.
Pulling on a sweatshirt and socks, I head out to the kitchen, thankful Dad and I made that trip to the market yesterday. Armed with coffee and a bowl of cereal, I sit in my sofa nook to watch Seattle start its day while I do the same.
After breakfast, I get busy updating my job applications, resending them with my new address and an explanatory email. While I'm at it, I apply to a few new job postings I find as well.
Closing up my laptop, I think about calling Alice to give her my address and ask my questions, but I'm guessing she's probably working. I'm hesitant to disturb her although I have no idea what she does. One more thing to ask her when we do talk.
I go to my bedroom closet instead and take out the dress I was planning on wearing to the wedding but could be wearing tonight, depending. It's pretty and flattering. Definitely the nicest thing I own. Then I search through my closet and pick out two runner-up dresses. Which I might wear to the dinner tonight. Depending. Because for all I know, I might need to go shopping and buy something new for either or both occasions.
Everything depends upon questions I can't answer. I finally decide to just text Alice my address now and ask her to please call me when she has a chance.
My phone rings almost instantly.
"Hey, Alice! That was quick."
"Oh, gosh, Bella, you're not backing out, are you?! Please tell me you didn't change your mind about being Rose's Guestbook Girl or about coming to the rehearsal dinner tonight?!"
"No, no, I'm still in. I promise. I was hoping you could answer a few questions about tonight and the wedding, but I really didn't want to bother you if you're working."
"Oh, no, this is fine! I'm due for a break anyway. And I'm happy to answer any questions you have. Honestly, I can probably tell you anything you want to know about the wedding! Rose wasn't really into creating a wedding website, but I told her it would save so much time since guests always have questions about directions, transportation, and accommodations. And naturally, out of town guests might want ideas for things to do and places to eat if they're staying for a few days. Plus, it's a great way to share gift registry information and even the weekend's schedule of events and suggested attire for those events. It just makes sense, you know?"
I open my mouth to respond, but as Alice continues, I realize her question was purely rhetorical.
"I mean, instead of dealing with constant phone calls, texts, and emails, guests can just check the website and get all their questions answered in one place! And it can always be updated if there's any kind of change in plans. And it's such an awesome way to share the bride and groom's personal love story in photos and anecdotes, like how they met, got engaged, and so on. So, I managed to convince Rose to let me create one for her and Emmett, and I know that thing like the back of my hand!"
"That's awesome," I tell her, uncertain I truly caught that entire flurry of information. "So, can you tell me what their website is? I didn't see anything mentioned about it in the wedding invitation."
"Oh, right! It was on a separate enclosure, but I think Rose felt it would be presumptuous to send it to you since… Well, you know... With the way things ended between you, and how you weren't speaking…. But thankfully, that's all in the past now! Anyway, I'll text you the link for their website right now. The name was totally Emmett's idea. I thought it should be something more romantic, but Rose liked it, so it stuck."
I get her text and have to laugh. "Aww… I think roseandem4thelonghaul is actually pretty cute. I'll check it out. It'll probably answer most of my ques—"
"Don't be silly! You can ask me! Seriously, what can I help you with?"
"Well, I need to get a wedding gift but I'm guessing gift registry information is on the website?"
"It is! And it's super easy. Just follow the links, browse, click, pay by credit card, the vendor delivers the gift directly to them, gift-wrapped with a note card letting them know who the gift is from. And there's no real rush. I think gifts usually trickle in for a while. Next question?"
"Um, I have some dresses I was thinking of wearing tonight and for the wedding, but since you've always been the fashionista of the three of us, and even have an actual degree to back that up now, I figured I'd better consult the expert."
She laughs. "Well, you know I've always been very happy to share my fashion expertise with you and Rose, even when it wasn't always wanted or fully appreciated."
I laugh out loud at that. Alice always wanted to modify Rose's clothing and my own into more dramatic styles. And in my case, since Alice and I wore the same size, she routinely tried to dress me in her own wild creations.
"Okay, Rose and I definitely gave you crap on occasion, and I certainly wasn't always very cooperative about modeling your creative efforts, but you have to admit, some of your sewing experiments were kind of…um…"
"Atrocious? Hideous? Completely meritless in the realm of normalcy?"
Now we're both giggling.
"Yes! All of the above! But just remember you said it, not me."
"Well, I can guarantee you my fashion sense has matured with time and the gentle direction and persuasion of professionals. And as ever, I'd be happy to loan you something of mine to wear for either occasion. Something appropriate and elegant. Sans feather boas, fake fur, plastic of any kind, glitter, or spray paint, I assure you. But you said you had some dresses you were thinking of wearing?"
"Yes, but first of all, I was wondering if my duty as Guestbook Girl means I'm supposed to match the bridesmaids?"
"Oh, no, don't worry about that. The fabric Rose and I picked was a twilight blue chiffon—kind of a smoky medium blue, which is kind of specific and probably hard to match. I mean, obviously, if I had more fabric and more time, I would make you a dress too, but at this point, I just don't have either. But if you happen to have something in a blue-gray, fine, but if not, also fine. Do you want to just FaceTime and show me what you've got?"
"Oh, sure. Good idea. But fair warning, I'm still in pajamas and I didn't even brush my hair before pulling it into a bun."
"Oh, puh-leeze, Bella. Like I would care or pass judgement!"
A moment later, Alice's face appears on my phone's screen, and we're both instantly squealing.
"Oh, my gosh, Bella! You're an adult!"
"Alice! You look stunning! Your hair is adorable!" Her usual long locks have been cut in a choppy, short bob with a fringe to match. She's all made up and looks so stylish.
It takes us a moment to get ourselves back on track, but I finally show her the floral embroidered dress with the sheer black neckline and sleeves I was planning on wearing to the wedding. She tells me it's gorgeous and gives it her blessing. Then I dig out my two options for tonight's rehearsal dinner. She immediately vetoes the aqua handkerchief hemline sundress, adding that she would be happy to fix it for me. But before I can ask what needs fixing, she proclaims the dark green wrap dress with fluttery sleeves a perfect choice for tonight's rehearsal dinner.
"Oh, my goodness! I've got to get going, Bella. I'm way over my break! If you have any other questions text me, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. And let's see… I've got your address for tonight. I should be there about 6:45, but I'll text you when I'm on my way."
"Okay. Thanks, Alice. I'll see you later."
"You're welcome! Bye, Bella!"
Once I'm off the phone, I realize I still don't know exactly what Alice does but I can ask her that tonight.
I finally get dressed in real clothes and get busy putting everything else away. I even organize the books Dad and I haphazardly put on my bookshelves last night.
I take a break to have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of milk for a late lunch, then I make a trip down to the garage to toss out the last of my empty moving boxes.
Finally, I'm back in my nook, logging onto the roseandem4thelonghaul website. I skim through the gift registry information first, making sure I can figure out how to shop on it. I'll look over the list and pick out a gift later tonight. Then I spend quite a while familiarizing myself with every aspect and posted image of Rose and Emmett's courtship and wedding plans, not to mention the logistics involved in attending the wedding, reception, and apparently a follow-up Sunday brunch. I also look over the list of things to see and do in Seattle along with the recommended places to eat. They just might come in handy with me living here now.
Overall, the website is very thorough with innumerable links. It has Alice's detailed creative touch on virtually everything.
Tonight, I'll have to ask Rose if she and Emmett contributed anything to their website, or if they just set Alice loose.
I'm betting on the latter.
A/N: :)