Seven

True Colors

Previously on Trace the Moment:

Alice turned to me, huge grin on her face. "James asked if I would help you get ready. That's what I do you know? I'm a personal stylist for my full-time job. I work with a few of the more well-known celebrities, but I can't tell you which ones. I'll be up at your apartment around 7, so be showered and leave your hair wet. I have some great styles in mind for you!" She almost squealed.

"Oh. Ok. Well that sounds good." I was a little taken aback, wondering if there was something wrong with how I styled myself.

Alice helped me lug the grocery bags into my apartment before she bid me farewell until later this evening.

I really didn't know how much time had passed before a gentle knocking woke me up. Slowly I opened my eyes and realized I had fallen asleep on the couch. The sun was setting and only a dim light filtered in through the windows, the sky a brilliant shade of pink and purple.

The knock came again.

"Coming!" My voice was hoarse with sleep and my joints cracked in protest as I jumped up from my very awkward position and bolted towards the door.

Alice was standing there with a silver case and a couple of bags, she eyed me before laughing. "Well, I guess I woke you. Go jump in the shower, I'll go setup. I'm a little early anyway."

Quickly I grabbed some clothes and headed towards the shower, I was a little nervous at the thought of someone else getting me ready. I wasn't the type of girl who did heavy makeup or really did much with my hair.

Maybe though, new city new me?

I did as Alice instructed and left my hair damp; I did run a brush through it though. I made my way out into the living room wearing my favorite fluffy robe. Alice had her area setup in the kitchen, and even had a folding chair sitting there ready for me.

"Have a seat! I'm so excited for this Bella, I have so many ideas." Alice began pulling out hair accessories, straighteners, and curling irons out of one of her bags and setting them on the counter. She pulled out a can of something and squirted some of its contents into the palm of her hands before working it through my hair.

As she worked on me my mind thought of Jake and Charlie and their upcoming visit, I was so excited to see them and couldn't wait to introduce them to Alice. I still had the rest of this week to make it through before I would see them; I said a silent prayer that it would go fast and without incident.

After she was done with my hair, Alice came around the front of the chair and pulled out a makeup bag. "Now the fun part! I have some fun colors to use on you; I've noticed you tend to stick with neutral tones to keep that natural look. I'll stay with that, since it's what you seem comfortable with but I at least want to play up your eyes."

Those words relaxed me a bit; at least she was going to let me stay in my comfort zone. Alice worked quickly and expertly and before I knew it she was handing me a mirror. "Check yourself out! I think you will love it."

Slowly I brought the mirror up to check out my new reflection, I couldn't believe it! Alice had done a marvelous job; my hair was slightly curled with a sexy bed head look. My makeup was beautiful; she had done a slightly smoky eye using brown tones. I absolutely loved it. "Wow! Alice this is great, thank you."

She took a slight bow with a huge grin on her face, "Glad you do! Now go on, get into that dress so I can go get ready. James and Jasper are going to be here soon."

She immediately got to work on her own makeup as I went back to the closet to pull my dress out. I realized that part of me wished that Jake was the one I was meeting tonight, and not James. I wondered if Alice would still be my friend when things didn't work out with James since romantic relationships never work out for me anyway.

Holding my dress to my body I made my way back to the kitchen where Alice was putting the final touches on her makeup, "Zip me please?"

Once I was secure in my dress I spun around to face Alice and she was absolutely beaming, "You are so gorgeous! Tell me, who did your makeup?" She playfully winked at me and I grinned in response.

I watched as Alice expertly finished getting herself ready for tonight, the burgundy dress was a beautiful contrast against her alabaster skin and jet black hair. While we waited for James and Jasper to arrive we packed Alice's things back up in her bags, it was shortly after 8:30 when they arrived.

I had planned on announcing Charlie and Jake's arrival to everyone over dinner.

Both James and Jasper were dressed to the hilt, both in black suites. James had a silver tie to match my dress and Jasper was adorned with a burgundy tie which was the same deep striking shade that Alice wore. I almost felt like we were attending the Forks High Prom.

"My.. my.. Bella." James took my hand kissing the back of it. "You are absolutely stunning; Alice is good at what she does." He quickly turned to her, "You are defiantly the master of any type of canvas my dear."

"Where are my manners?" I could tell James was back on his high-class trip, his eyes were crazy almost. Wide. He must have been indulging a little bit in Riley's product before dinner. "Bella this is Jasper Whitlock, Jasper this is Bella Swan."

Jasper extended his hand towards me and I shook it, "Pleased to meet you darlin'". He had a deep Southern accent; his sandy colored hair was pulled back into a small ponytail. I nodded at his words and returned his smile, "You as well."

"Shall we?" James asked as he took my hand in his and led everyone out of my apartment and downstairs to a waiting limo.

Wow. The drug business must be booming.

I regretted the thought as soon as I had it, but on the other hand it was probably true.

We all piled into the limo where James pulled a bottle of champagne out from a small refrigerator, "Tonight we celebrate!" He poured everyone a glass and then held his up for a toast, "To the success of business!" Everyone clinked their glasses together; I scanned everyone's faces to see if they knew exactly what business was successful.

Everyone was calm, peaceful, and happy.

We arrived at the restaurant where a waiting attendant opened the doors for us and ushered us in through the back entrance. James took my hand in his which caused chills up my spine; I couldn't deny myself my attraction to him.

I was at war with myself over this whole situation. I decided I was going to enjoy this evening if it killed me.

We were seated in the VIP section of the restaurant; our table had a wonderful view of the bay. The waitress brought us two bottles of champagne and took our orders, it was all on James and he made sure to let everyone know this was his special treat.

Jasper and James were having an animated conversation about some new building that was being built across town. I was waiting for my opportunity to bring up the news about Charlie and Jake's visit.

My chance came shortly after the waitress brought us our entrees. The conversations died as soon as food was placed in front of them.

Typical men. I had to laugh because Charlie was the same way. James looked up at me, quizzically.

"Sorry. Just thinking about something. Oh, I did want to tell you guys that my father and my best friend from home are coming to visit me this weekend." I was purposely leaving out that my best friend was a guy.

James smiled, "Wonderful! I would love to meet them both. Perhaps we can do dinner somewhere on Saturday?"

I nodded, "That would be wonderful." I really wanted to get Charlie and Jake's opinions on James.

"Alice? Jasper? You guys in?" James asked them before taking a bite of his dinner. They both nodded in response.

We continued chatting throughout dinner and through another bottle of champagne, where James once again toasted to business. I was trying my best just to forget about that, hoping that in case of a raid the cops would buy my innocent excuse.

After dinner we all piled in the limo once again and headed back to the apartment building. Alice and Jasper bid us goodnight and James walked me up to my apartment. I could feel the nervousness building in the pit of my stomach.

Once we arrived at my door James pinned me against it. "Thank you Bella. It is wonderful of you to not say anything about my business." One of his hands moved began stroking my hair.

The nervousness in my stomach immediately turned to fear.

"We have something special, you and I." His eyes were crazy; he must have indulged in his business during his last trip to the restroom. "I've never experienced this with anyone, well there was Victoria. But I grew tired of her games. You don't strike me as the type who plays games, are you Bella?"

I shook my head.

"Good. I'm certain that my meeting of your father and best friend will go smoothly, and of course we will tell them that my job is running the studio. If money matters come up, well I do come from a very wealthy family."

His hand moved from my hair to my face which he gently rubbed using the back of his hand.

I was beginning to feel dizzy.

"Like I said, I always get what I want." Before I knew it he was cupping my face in both of his hands before he crushed his lips to mine. His smell absolutely intoxicated me; I began to return his kiss. A slight moan escaped me. I couldn't help it, I was torn but the part of me who hungered for James Mallory was taking control.

James broke the kiss. "We'll have plenty of time for that later. Right now I have business matters I must attend to." His lips gently touched my forehead and he was gone.

I let out the breath I had been holding.

I was wondering if maybe I should tell James that my best friend was a guy a very good-looking, toned, and buff one at that.

The rest of the week flew by, Jake and I texted back and forth getting all of the details ironed out. I was so excited to see him and Charlie I was almost bubbling over. James and I didn't see each much since I was working and he was busy taking care of "business".

I was putting the finishing touches on my apartment, when the knock came at the door. Alice and I had gone shopping with James's credit card of course. She helped me to pick out some more things to make my place feel more like home than just a place to stay.

"Coming!" I yelled, the excitement evident in my voice. I raced over to the door yanking it open. There stood Jacob, my sun, with that lopsided grin that I loved so much. "Bella!" He picked me up and swung me around. I breathed him in, I missed his woodsy scent.

"You're going to make her dizzy there Jake and that will mean a trip to the ER." Charlie's voice sounded like home. Jake put me down and I raced over to him, almost falling over. He scooped me up in his arms, "I miss you kiddo."

"I am so glad you guys are here! I want you to meet some people; we are going out to dinner tonight. Everyone is so nice, and people like my paintings!" I was babbling.

I turned and saw Jake looking at the painting of him that was hanging over my new television set. He turned back to me with a huge smile.

"Bells, why don't you go show Jake around a little bit. I'm going to rest up a bit, if you don't mind." Charlie said with a raised eyebrow and a wink at Jake.

Ok. What did the two of them have planned?

A/N – Ok we are almost to the confusing time jumping parts. Next chapter James meets Jake and Charlie and after that is when we are doing a major time jump. I'm working on that chapter as we speak!

Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed! Love you guys!