Chapter Text
A few moments later, Alice pulled out her phone. "A good idea to tell them you're not dead, huh?" she laughed. "Yeah, probably," Bella agreed, looking up at Alice.
"They want you to come over for dinner at our Italy house," Alice said tentatively. "Would you like me to pretend we are not... or should we tell them?" Alice asked, worried.
"They're your family, Alice. I'm ready for anything," Bella lightly corrected her face. "Well, we might as well rip the band-aid off right away, I say." Alice gave Bella a gentle smile.
"As long as you're fine with it," Bella said. "Well, if we are going to dinner in Italy, I mean, I can get us there very fast, but we should probably get some nice clothes," Alice decided.
Bella was happy enough to comply. Later, when she and Bella were in the Cullens' old house, looking through her wardrobe, Alice said, "So sad I had to leave these behind," looking at the gorgeous things that were left.
Bella decided on a simple emerald green dress with short sleeves. It was about knee-length and was very good for spinning (Alice helped her test that). Alice, on the other hand, chose a black velvet skirt with a matching tank top and a navy blue mesh shirt overtop. She wore her signature platform Mary Janes, while Bella stuck with sneakers.
"We are gorgeous," Alice grinned, holding Bella's arm in the mirror. Bella had to agree. She loved it when Alice did her makeup; it made her feel almost as pretty as the vampires.
They took the Cullens' private plane to Italy and got there in almost 2 hours. After a short taxi ride, they arrived at the Cullens' Italy house, which was very modern and spacious, located on a cliff overlooking beautiful water. Bella decided it would be fun to swim there later.
"Are you ready?" Alice squeezed Bella's hand as they stood at the door. "Yeah, you are okay, right?" Bella asked; she could tell Alice was nervous. "I am, I am," she said, stepping up and opening the door. They walked in to find the rest of the Cullens standing around the open living room, waiting.
"Bella," Edward said, walking over, trying to reach for her, but Bella stepped back with a look of disgust on her face.
"What's wrong, Alice?" he asked. Alice was focused, trying not to think of her and Bella on that cliff. Instead, she just kept her mind occupied with everyone else in the room.
"You left me," Bella said coldly.
"It was for your good. I wanted to keep you safe. Please, Bella, forgive me. I love you and won't leave you again," he asked, trying not to sound like he was begging.
"I found someone better," she said coldly, stepping closer to Alice.
"Who?" Carlisle asked.
Alice's mind betrayed her for a moment. Alice saw what she was thinking, and Alice knew it. "Me," she said, crossing her fingers.
"What do you mean, you?" Carlisle asked, fearing the worst.
"She means I choose her. She came back for me. She loves me and will listen to me. She's beautiful and amazing. I love her. I never realized, but she is who I'm meant to be with, not Edward," Bella looked only at Carlisle, hoping he would understand.
"But that is wrong; she can't be with a girl!"
Alice looked shyly at Edward, and in doing so, he saw how much she loved Bella. Edward knew that he had to let Bella go.
"I'm sorry, Bella," he said quietly. "Alice does love you very much." He turned to Carlisle to say, "Alice truly loves Bella more than even I, which I did not think was possible. She loves Bella so much. You don't agree with it, but I will stand by them in this choice. I just want Bella to be happy."
Carlisle stood there, stunned. He turned to his wife, Esme, who simply said, "I don't know what you want me to say, Carlisle. I love you, but I disagree. I think it's wonderful they are together." She walked to Alice and lightly touched the arm of her adoptive daughter. "I myself am bi and think it's lovely."
Bella now spoke up again. "I know you all are vampires, and, well, I think that means that the Bible or your interpretation stopped applying a long time ago."
Carlisle knew he was defeated, and Bella was right. He had fought with this for years and had to accept that not everything in the Bible was literal, so maybe this was not. Maybe Alice could love Bella?
"I suppose you're right. I can't pretend the Bible is literal forever," he sighed.
"See, it all worked out," Bella whispered to Alice. Alice giggled.
"After all these years, this is what it took to wear you down," Esme laughed, kissing her husband on the cheek. His gaze softened. "It was a long time coming, I guess."
"Well, I don't want dinner to get cold. Alice, could you show your girlfriend to the table?" she winked at Bella.
"Of course," she smiled, taking Bella's arm. <3