Author's Note: This is my first fanfic ever, so don't expect anything amazing. But, I'll try my hardest to keep characters, well, in character. This will be from Bella's POV. I'll inform you if the story will change narrators at any point. Ah, and before you go to sue me, know this: the disclaimer will be located at the bottom of each chapter.
I paced up and down the damp grass, a hand in my mouth. Biting my nails was a habit that I had dropped long ago, ever since I had met Edward. When I was around him, I had nothing to worry about. However, under the stress of preparation for the change, Victoria, the Volturi, Jacob and our marriage, I was sure to snap. I would have snapped, had it not been for the holder of the stone chest that I was just now being dragged into.
"Shh, Bella. Relax." Came Edward's velvety voice. I could feel his lips in my hair as he spoke. I immediately relaxed, in his stone grip. When I was in his arms, nothing could hurt me. No one and nothing would ever get to me, as long as I was with him. "Now, Bella, what's worrying you?" Though I thought that he knew perfectly well what was worrying me, I replied. "Well, first of all, there's the turning process. Of course, it's what I want, and all, but -" Edward cut me off by placing a slender finger over my mouth. I thought I heard him mutter something about wishing for death, before he said, "Bella, that's not to worry about. I would never hurt you." I snickered. As if that was my problem. "I have no doubts about you being fine. I guess... I don't know, really. I'm just a bit hectic, is all." And then, he pounced.
My lip trembled. Somehow, Edward had managed to pin me against a tree. His scent, his voice... his eyes were all crumbling my walls. "Now, what was that you worried about?" I took in a deep breath, and it came out shaking. "Victoria. Volturi. Marriage." Edward hid a grin, but it was poorly disguised. "Why would you worry about Victoria?" I averted my gaze from his golden eyes, instead looking at the grass beneath me. "She could kill me." Which was very true. As Edward had stated a few times, I was very breakable. And at this moment, he chose to make my dazed condition so much worse. I felt marble lips trace the outline of my jaw. They stopped at the bottom of my ear. When they spoke, I could hear the musical whisper clearly. "Bella. I love you enough to be with you forever. Would I let that vampire hurt you?" I sighed. As always, he was right. "No." I gave in.
"But the Volturi can hurt me." I defended myself. Surely even the Cullens couldn't beat a coven of such powerful vampires. "Bella, be rational. Why would they have reason to hurt you, if I'm going to change you soon, anyways?" I grimaced. Even though this was reassuring, I hated how he was always right. "Marriage." I persisted. Anything could go wrong; Jasper could lose it, Victoria could crash the party, Jacob could interfere... I shuddered at the thought. Edward's arms tightened around me as I shivered. Now his lips traced mine, his cool breath blowing in my face as he spoke. "Bella, marriage is a good thing. It's declaring our love for each other. If anything happened I would be right there with you, as would my whole family. Now what do you worry about?" I felt his lips curve up into a smile. He smelled easy victory. "Jacob." That one word ruined the special moment. His right arm stayed entwined around my waist, but he pulled away his face from mine. I almost asked for him to come back. Having him so close wasn't an opportunity that I got very often.
"Bella, why do you worry about Jacob?" His voice was made up of raw jealousy. There was curiosity in it as well, but envy beat it by miles. I almost laughed. "Edward, stop being an idiot, firstly. No one could take me away from you. Nor Jacob, not time. Not ever." His expression seemed to ease, but clearly he was still tense. His eyes darkened, which showed me how much of a bad mood he was in. "And I happen to worry about him because he was my best friend when I was broken. I love him too, Edward. A heart can have more than one love, if not in the same way." I concluded, looking at Edward meaningfully. "And I don't want Jacob to hate me. I also don't want to get you in trouble when I change." Edward smiled, but it didn't touch his still dark eyes. "Bella, he'd understand if you wanted to be with me." I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? I don't think so." Edward ignored my statement, and continued. "Also, don't worry about us. You should never worry about us. Only worry about yourself. You're the vulnerable object here." I crossed my arms, pulling away from his hold. "Oh, really? I won't be the vulnerable object once I'm changed, however. And seeing how I'm going to be part of the family soon, I think it's very much in my business to worry about you!" I was frowning furiously by now, even though I knew very well that all my anger could be washed away with just one look from those beautiful topaz eyes.
Edward just sighed, and suddenly disappeared. I gaped, and felt tears coming. More from sadness than anger, this time. Where had he gone? Just as I was about to break out into sobs, two stone arms snaked around my waist. He was standing behind me, laughing softly. Now the tears began to flow, full force. Edward only kissed my head in apology. "Don't do that again." I warned. "I won't." Even though I couldn't see his face, I could hear the sincere smile in his voice. Even though he had only been gone for a few seconds, the moment reminded me so much of the day that Edward had left me. Too much of the day that he had left me.
Over the course of the next five minutes, Edward had washed away all my worries. I felt the way that I imagined a dog would feel, should it be on tranquilizer. "Now, Bella. Graduation is tomorrow. Alice wants to take you shopping for a dress. We shouldn't keep her waiting." I rolled my eyes. Dress-Up Barbie it was, then. I knew that eventually Edward would resort to dragging me into his Volvo, but I tried, nonetheless. "Please, Edward. I hate you spending money on me. I have nothing else to give." Unconsciously, his arms tightened around my waist. "Bella, you have everything to give me." I tried to look sulky, but I got into the passenger seat of Edward's Volvo without much of a fight. I figured it would be easier to just do as he said, and pay Alice back later.
In a frighteningly short amount of time, we were parked in the driveway of Edward's mansion. I caught my breath in admiration. The perfection of Esme's house never failed to impress me. "So, where is she?" Edward didn't have to answer, for in seconds, Alice was standing in front of me. Actually, she was hardly standing still. For lack of a better work, she was popping. The movement reminded me of the popcorn that I had been munching on, just yesterday. "Commme onnn, Bellllaaa!" Her speech was hiccuped by her small hops of joy. I frowned, and turned to Edward for help. He only smiled mockingly. I scowled in response. Alice lifted me, and sat me quickly into the passenger seat of a black Mercedes. "We'll be taking Carlisle's car." I nodded. It really didn't matter to me which of the Cullen cars we took. They were all virtually alike; all slick, quiet, and they were all so fast.
Suddenly, our car halted. I found myself staring at the big red letters of a French store. "Which store is this, Alice?" My voice was quiet, afraid. The huge, glass windows displayed designer gowns, all of which priced at what seemed to me a ridiculously high price. "I dunno," Alice replied with wonder in her voice. "I just stopped at the most expensive place I could find." She grinned, while I let my jaw drop. The inside was even more intimidating that the outside. A glass chandelier hung from the ceiling, and hundreds of beautiful dresses were displayed up and down tens of aisles. I fell back slightly, and Alice's cool hand was there to touch my back in a very reassuring manner. While I stood, Alice tugged me lightly along. Her hands hovered on one dress for a moment longer than they did on the other. Finally, she pulled it out of a rack. "Try this one on, Bella! It'd look great on you." Alice was excited now, her grin too wide for her petite face. I agreed silently, and allowed myself to be pushed into a dressing room that was located nearby. For the first time, I looked at the garment that Alice had selected for me. It was a dark red color. It ruffled at the bottom, as it did near each shoulder. The gown was accompanied with a sash, that was the same color. In all, it was a plain but elegant piece that would most probably fit me perfectly.
"Come out, Bella!" Alice whined. I nodded, though I knew that she couldn't see me yet. Adjusting the sash, I took a deep breath, followed by a step of the foot. That was all that was needed to send Alice into a fit of excited squeals. I rolled my eyes at the ceiling. "Bella, it looks perfect on you!" I smiled weakly. "Look, look in the mirror!" Alice stepped aside, revealing my reflection. Despite my dislike for shopping and expensive things, my mouth dropped open. The dark shade of red complimented my pale skin very nicely, as did the sash that was draped across my shoulder. I thought I could almost pass off as a vampire, if I had to. Almost. Alice bit her bottom lip in anticipation. "Do you like it?" I nodded, my jaw still hanging. I made no effort to shut my mouth again. Due to Alice's sharp eyes – and quite a bit of an amount of hurrying – we managed to make it out of the store with a necklace, shoes, and the dress. At the end, I only had one thing to say. "Alice, do you promise to do something for me?" She seemed taken aback, but did agree. "Anything, Bella. You're family, now." I nodded, pleased. "Alice, please, don't ever tell me how much money you spent on me today."
Disclaimer: I do not own any Twilight material. Stephenie Meyer does. Though, if it should happen that a made-up character comes into the story, then they are mine.