Chapter One: Composure

I looked in the mirror. White cloth shimmered down my sides and upon my head was a veil. In but three hours I would become Clare Marie Goldsworthy. I began breathing fast, pretty much hyperventilating. Alli was coming in to do my makeup and saw me in the act.

"So I read up on some bridal makeup and… Clare! What are you doing!" she said as I was fanning myself with my hand.

"I'm freaking out ,Alli! I am freaking out!" I gasped for air.

She put her hand on my shoulder and swatted me across the face.

"Snap out of it!" Alli yelled. I calmed down and went over my choice. I loved Eli, I couldn't imagine life without him. I truly couldn't. He was the beat to my heart and the thoughts to my mind. He was everything. I suddenly remembered that he was probably nervous too. He was at his house getting ready with Adam who had been chosen as his best man. Alli of course was my maid of honor and my other bridesmaid was Darcy.

Alli began combing through my hair and putting it into the rhinestone in crested clip that was my "borrowed item" from her.

I had my blue, which was the ribbon tied around the waist of my dress and the new which was the dress itself. And the old item was my grandmother's pearl necklace and matching earrings. It all looked really pretty in my mind. My flowers were white roses and I had a cathedral-length veil (the kind that goes all the way down to the floor and beyond) that was a beautiful lace. I felt pretty in my own skin for the first time in a while.

Alli swirled the chair around and began working on my face. I felt little brush strokes on my cheeks, my eyes, and pretty much all over my face. She had said "light makeup" but I knew in her eyes that was "light colors" and not her usual bright purples and chunks of sparkles. She noticed I was freaking out and began talking me through it.

"So are you excited, Clare," she said with a little grin wiped upon her face.

"No Alli, I'm so mad that I'm marrying the love of my life today I want to scream," I said while glaring at her, my words oozed with sarcasm.

"Wow, he's wearing off on you," she laughed. After being with Eli for three years I was fully aware my personality was sprinkled with his personal touches. I smirked around people now ,too. We were matched perfectly and I knew I wore off on him also. He became more cautious about my safety and acting as a guardian angel a lot of the time. Holding my hand in parking lots was a little awkward at times but I knew he did it out of the kindness and warmth of his heart to show that he cared. Alli noticed I had blanked out.

"Earth to Edwards-soon-to-be-Goldsworthy?" she said to me.

"Sorry I was just thinking about the past," I told her blushing.

"I might not have to use blush today," she giggled, "But I can see why that would be a good memory. Be glad you left K.C. and be even happier you found Eli,"

"Can we not talk about that lying and aggressive monster?" I muttered

"Oh I wouldn't talk about Eli that way," Alli laughed.

"YOU know I did NOT mean it like that, I meant K.C.!" I yelled. We looked at each other and began laughing our butts off.

"Now hush! It's time for me to put on the finishing touches!" she commanded, focusing on the brush in her hand like my face was a canvas and she was Picasso. She quickly brushed a highlighter on my brown bone and said, "Done!" with a huge smile on her face.

When she turned the chair around to the mirror. I opened my eyes. Oh my goodness…

Who was that girl? She had perfect skin of a milky porcelain shade and blue eyes deep as the sea. Her light brown hair was curled into a clip on the back of her head with a few pieces of her bangs hanging in her face. Her flawless features were new to me. I had never seen ones of this kind. I reached out and discovered I was in front of a mirror. That girl was me.

I stood up, my legs had lost feeling after sitting in a chair for almost an hour. I looked at myself in full view. I looked like a picture in a magazine. Alli was a makeup goddess. The Athena of makeup if you will. She had the wisdom in this like no other.

"Alli…" I said

"Do you not like it? I can change it. I brought makeup wipes, and a whole other kit I can use if you prefer me to use more sparkles or maybe more pinks.

"I love you! You are the goddess of makeup!" I screamed. I turned around and hugged her tight.

She laughed, "I'm glad you like it!" she squeezed me back. I noticed she hadn't even changed into her bridesmaid dress. She was standing in a bright neon yellow romper with little black booties on.

"Uh Alli?" I questioned.

"Yes?" she asked putting her hands on her hips, obviously confused.

"Your dress?" I laughed. She put her hand off her mouth and scampered out of the room that the church had generously offered us to get ready in. The room was cream colored and had a couple large circular mirrors and chairs to use. There was a little bench with cushions that we were allowed to lay down on that looked very intriguing right at this moment. Alli came back with her dress bag and went behind the changing screen. I heard her shuffling through her bag and carefully pulling out the long blue dress that matched the light, sky colored ribbon on my dress. Hers had a little sparkle to it and some silver stitching with a black ribbon on the back to add some "Eli flair" to our wedding. My mom had been against adding black to the bridesmaid dresses but I insisted this was not only my wedding but Eli's and it should combine our interests.

Alli finally walked out in her dress that of course looked stunning on her. She had done her makeup before she left and agreed to make it look more natural than usual. Her hair was curled into a loose bun. She looked stunning.

"You look perfect!" I told her. Then Darcy came strutting in with the exact same ensemble. She put her hand on her hip and turned back-to-back with Alli.

"I believe we all look extravagant more than stunning, especially you," she told me as she and Alli twirled each other in circles and. They laughed like little girls playing ring-around-the-rosy with each other. I giggled at their silliness and got up to hug them. As we all embraced I felt good about today and I felt great about Eli. I was positive we would be together through the thick and the thin, the sad and the happy.

Xoxo

MadameLuchini