I drove too fast down the road. I never really noticed, but Bella did. She was human… she definitely noticed the increasing speed rate. I glanced at the speedometer and giggled. It only made a difference when we reached the dirt road to our house. Rocks flew up and hit the car. I knew Edward wouldn't look pissed, but he'd feel it, and Jasper would chew my head off for it.

Pulling the gearshift into park, I yanked the key out of the ignition and pushed the door open. I ran, vampire speed, to Bella's side and opened her door. She glared at me as she jumped out. I'd put the child-lock on, in case she had second thoughts and tried to jump out. Pretty silly, but I knew Edward would love it.

"Oh, stop being pouty." I snapped at Bella as she dragged her feet toward the house, "I should be being pouty. Do you have any idea how much work it's going to take to cover up those bags under your eyes?" I smiled at those words. As if I would be anywhere near pouty.

"Pouty." She scoffed, laughing hysterically. I rolled my eyes and linked my arm with hers and pulled her, annoyed. She picked up the pace, leaping up the stairs. Her foot caught at the last step, but I didn't let her fall. Nuh-uh, she was not falling, not once, on her wedding day. I threw my hands around her eyes and felt her jump in surprise.

I pulled the double doors open and smiled at my creations. The beautiful scent – freesia, orange blossoms, lilac and roses – caught my nose again and I smiled at myself. It was a wonderful scent. I knew that that was all that Bella could smell, but I could smell Rosalie – something close to chocolate or jellybeans – upstairs, and Esme – like cinnamon or ginger – just outside. With a slight breeze, I caught Carlisle's scent – I could say close to leather and the paper of a new book – and the thousands of white blossoms outside. I could hear Esme speaking to Carlisle, "I love this, Carlisle. It's better than the one from Emmett and Rosalie's last wedding, ugh, that was a bit pathetic, actually." And Carlisle laughed. I heard the sound of the red beads on Esme's beautiful dress, my choice, and I heard Carlisle's satin tie being adjusted. I rolled my eyes at that… a bowtie would have been better, but Carlisle never was one for bowties.

"What is that?" Bella wondered, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply. Her mouth lifted at the corners. A tiny smile. Perfect!

I bit my lip, "Is it too much? You're the first human in here; I hope I got it right." I closed my eyes briefly, just an sixth of a second. I saw Bella and the other human guests liking it.

"It smells wonderful!" Bella exclaimed, her eyes widening and her grin broadening. I allowed myself to boast in my head… it was absolutely intoxicating. Mixed with Rosalie's sweet scent, Carlisle's antique scent, Esme's gingery scent, the white blossoms and the fresh scent coming off the river, it would be just so for the vampire guests. I smiled to myself, leading Bella up the stairs.

"Orange blossoms… lilac… and something else – am I right?" Bella asked, her face prepared for victory. Her chocolate-brown eyes were tired, but abruptly excited. Yay! I'd gotten it right.

"Very good, Bella." I congratulated her, feeling her eyelids flutter. Her lashes tickled my hands, "You only missed the freesia and the roses."

We reached the bathroom. I almost giggled in excitement as I rediscovered my beauty salon. I slowly removed my hands from her eyes. She didn't smile. Her heart rate picked up and her breathing rate crept up. She complained that she'd look plain next to him no matter what. I simply laughed and told her that she would be far from plain. I pushed her down on my pink chair as she accused me of making people afraid that I'd suck their blood. I had to laugh at that. "Suck their blood" sounded as old as the world.

I caked the makeup on. Every blemish – though there hardly was one – was hidden under cream-white foundation. I picked my brownish-black eyeliner, to highlight her pretty eyes, and then coated her eyelashes in black eyeliner. Her pretty eyes were framed in thick, black lashes. She was already stunning! How unfair of a human to be so effortlessly beautiful. I applied a "nude-lip" lipstick and some shiny gloss over top. I put tiny white flower stud earrings in her ears. By then, Rosalie passed by the door. She stopped and backed up. Her shimmering silver gown sheathed her body perfectly, and her golden hair was piled up on her head like a crown. Bella saw her and whimpered. I could see her view. Rosalie was unjustly perfect and beautiful.

She offered to do her hair. I instructed her sternly that I wanted it intricate. The veil went underneath, so she'd have to be careful. She nodded and smiled, happy to be a part of Bella's beautification. I gave her the silver satin ribbons to twine in the braid as she went.

"Okay," I whispered, acknowledging Bella having dozed off, "I want to put the veil in here." I lifted the braid and pointed to just underneath. Rosalie put it in, smiling. She nodded once and turned out the door.

"Leave him." Bella murmured in her sleep, and then gasped, "Green…?" She awoke with a start and moaned. She almost rubbed her eye, but I slapped her hand gently. She stood up abruptly. I ran out of the room – vampire speed! – and got her dress. She was staring at the wall, her eyes blank. I pulled her up and dressed her.

Renée and Charlie came in and gave her the gift. I inserted them in her hand. I gave her my garment, right in front of her parents and she blushed.

"There – a little color." I amended, grinning, "That's all you need. Now you're officially perfect."

I instructed Renée to get downstairs. Interlocking Bella and Charlie's arms together, I walked – ugh, human speed – swiftly in front of them. I tried my most graceful walk and led them down the stairs. I stopped and they caught up.

"It's my turn." I told her and Charlie, "Count to five and follow me." I danced down the aisle.

I was definitely content. I could smell Edward's honey-lilac-and-sun scent, and now I could smell everyone else. Renée's salt-water-sea scent. Jasper's forest-and-pine scent. Emmett's iron-wood-and-rock scent. Angela Weber's raspberry-strawberry scent. Mike Newton's minty scent. Jessica Stanley's scent was lost in a thick cloud of perfume. I recognized my own scent, sweet, like maple. I could hear Carlisle's low voice, whispering to Edward, his mouth barely moving. "I'm sorry for being so distrusting. Just… don't choose today to let Bella's scent tug you under." I swallowed at that, furrowing my brows. I trusted Edward more than that. He wouldn't. He couldn't.

Bella looked oddly stiff as she walked, but I knew only us vampires could see it. She looked as if Charlie was the only thing keeping her from sprinting head-on down the aisle… How strange. The look in her eyes was longing. She hated the suspense. She wanted to get to Edward. This was perfect. The bride longed for the groom. I knew that Edward longed for the bride in a much, much more potent way.

Mr. Weber's voice was dead as he recited the vows for Bella and Edward to repeat. Bella was sobbing her eyes out before it even began, but my flawless plan was still in action. No makeup mess. Ah hah, waterproof mascara. Always one step ahead, I was.

"I do." Bella managed to choke out, though I could not tell how such a thing were possible. I cried tearless sobs whenever I married Jasper. Mind you, that only happened once every dozen years. So it had only happened roughly five times. I wish I could weep tears; it would make it much more emotional. Jasper was straight, but I knew he was waiting for the best part, when we married. He loved dancing with me most.

"I do." Edward's voice popped my bubble of thought. I smiled ear-to-ear and closed my eyes briefly. They kiss, Bella refuses to let go, Edward has to pull her off, the reception party is great. I whooped in my head and watched the kiss. I felt a little jealous… I'd have to find Jasper after.

***

I was in Jasper's arms, dancing gracefully. His eyes bored into mine and I got to appreciate the beautiful features of his face. I leaned in closer. He pecked me on the lips and smiled. I pursed my lips, pouting playfully. He leaned in toward my ear.

"Later." He said.

Now I had a new thing to look forward too. I smiled, sighing.

Jasper let go of me, but I squeezed his hand, begging for him to stay. He smiled and rolled his eyes, walking off – ugh, human speed again! – to find Carlisle. All these humans must be making him thirsty. I couldn't blame him. The slight burning sensation was bothering me in my throat. But I was sure it longed for something other than blood.

"Are you crazy?!" demanded a husky, angry voice. I heard Bella's teeth clack together. He was shaking her! Jacob Black was here, angry and violent, shaking her!

I got behind the house, closer to where they were and out of human sight. I ran – vampire speed – to there, but I was too late. Edward had Bella by the waist. Jasper came, faster than light, to my side and towed me away. Overprotective fool.

***

"Jasper…" I whispered, wary. He was in our room. I was sitting on our bed, sighing in agitation. His tie was half undone and his eyes were black with thirst. "I'm telling you, just leave. You're scaring me." My voice was shaky. I couldn't let him see my longing, the desire that was burning behind my skin.

Jasper growled, "I will, then, Alice!" he stopped and spun around, rushing to my side, "Honey, why am I frightening you?" He was suddenly sad, guilty.

I ran my hand up his arm, tracing his shoulder, neck, and up his face. I stopped at his temple, "I don't want you to… do anything irrational. I'm almost as fragile to you as Bella is to Edward. I'm… smaller, weaker. I'm not as good a fighter. If… if you got aggravated, from your thirst… you could hurt me, or break something." It was irrational, and not exactly true, but I hated for him to suffer of thirst. I knew the feeling. It wasn't nice.

"I'll be back in one minute. I hear elk." He breezed out the open window. I listened, waiting for the snapping of its neck. Crack. I heard it. I knew everything else would be silent, so I waited. I took off my necklace and dress, which was beginning to feel uncomfortable. I pulled on the only ugly sweats I own and a camisole. He was back by that time, his eyes were a little lighter than I expected.

"How many did you catch?" I asked, keeping the tone light. He shrugged, "Maybe three."

I ran to him and stood on my tippy-toes to kiss him tenderly. He kissed back. I ran my hands up his back hungrily. He did the same. In thirty seconds, we were in bed.