I was already regrettingmy decision to buy the dress. It still looked stunning, and a felt more than a million dollars [Probably because the dress cost more than that amount] but I was beginning to dread the boys reactions. For what felt like the millionth time today, I was sitting in front of a ridiculously oversized mirror - in my underwear, mind you – With Alice standing behind me curling, pinning and coiling my hair to Renaissance-tastic perfection. Yes, I'm aware that Renaissance-tastic isn't a word, but it's the only thing that can even begin to describe what she was doing to my now stiff hair. It was now piled to an extreme height on top of my head with a tightly coiled ringlet at the base of my neck.

"Are you sure this is really necessary?" I asked Alice doubtfully. She glared at me in the mirror.

"Of Course it is! Do you want to look the part???" She snapped.

"Not really, but I'm sure you want me to." I muttered under my breath, knowing she would hear me. She narrowed her eyes at me but continued the torture anyway. Finally, after what seemed an eternity Alice had finished, after threading a string of – get this – Emeralds in to my hair. Emeralds. Now even for Alice, that was too much.

"Are the emeralds necessary?" I asked meekly. I got a rude but definite 'YES!' from Alice. Needless to say, my lesson was learnt. [Is it learnt or learned? I can never tell... Sorry, on with the Show!!!]

"Can I put the damn dress on yet, Alice?" I all but growled. Being a life sized doll for someone who I was beginning to suspect was slightly sadistic was extremely annoying.

"Patience, Sarah, Patience!" She growled, occupying herself doing something to my dress. I didn't dare ask what. Deciding to try my luck again, I once again murmured under my breath,

"Says she who's already in her costume." And it was true. In pure Alice style she had chosen a costume that nobody would expect. She,[ against all odds and copious amounts of money that Emmett and Edward had bet on her being a pixie or the likes], had chosen a belly dancer. So, clad in a deep blue belly dancer costume that revealed her perfectly toned stomach [Stupid, perfect Vampire] she began to straighten out my costume.

"Okay. You can put it on now... milady." She told me, mock curtseying, which in pants looked very strange. I shot her a look.

"Don't pretend you're beneath me Alice. We all know you run the show." She grinned devilishly but said nothing. Slowly I stepped in to the many undergarments that were needed to make the dress look so good.

"I agreed on this why?" I moaned as she began tying up my corset.

"Because you know you look hot in it. Now suck in." Doing as she said, Alice managed to tie the corset tighter than I ever thought physically possible, even for a vampire.

"Alice... too... tight." I gasped out. She sent me another look.

"You're just a big baby. Women survived for hundreds of years with a corset." Taking a deep breath, I stopped trying to wind her up.

"Yes, but were their 'Lady's maids' trying to suffocate them?" I asked. She gave me another glare.

"If you would stop whining, you can put your dress on now." I looked at her and grinned. I slowly stepped in to the dress. As she secured it closed I stood in front of the mirror and gasped. With my hair done and make up applied – yet another hour of torture – I actually did look like a princess. Good lord, I sound like a walking cliché. Alice gave me the final touch, a single emerald tear necklace that brought – rather unwanted – attention to my cleavage. I dreaded asking if it was necessary so I kept my mouth shut.

"Are you ready to face the boys?" She asked somewhat cheekily.

'That depends. Jareth, most definitely. He won't kill me. Jasper, Maybe... I don't think he'll kill me. Edward, If he's near Bella than he'll be fine. Emmett and Carlisle. No. They will kill me." Alice laughed that annoying bell-like laugh.

"Probably."

"Thanks Alice, really. But you're not helping."

"I never said I was." She responded. I rolled my eyes and walked towards the door.

"Oh... shoes!" Alice trilled and handed me a pair of emerald slippers. I slipped them on and continued towards the door. I want to say I looked regal, but the dress got caught under my feet. Vowing not to let that happen again, I lifted the front slightly and left the room. I came face to face with Bella.

"Wow! You look... WOW!! Emmett's going to kill you, but at least you'll die in style."

"Thanks for the encouraging words, Bella." I said with mock sweetness. She just smiled. I took a look at her costume. A white dress that hung limply adorned with wings and a halo. It looked fantastic on her.

"An Angel, Bella? What's Eddy... the devil?" I asked, doing a perfect imitation of Jareth's smirk. She looked at me rather oddly, her head cocked to the left.

"Hmmm, I never thought about it. Knowing Alice, probably. Although, knowing his ego, he's probably God." She contemplated. I nodded as if this type of thing was normal. Rose stalked out of her room and in to the corridor. Looking stunning as per usual she had chosen the role of... Ice Queen. It was miraculously well done. She had an Ice blue dress with crystals hanging of it. Her hair was powdered a blue-ish white and she had a crown of crystal.

"Very Fitting Rose." I mocked. She looked at me.

"No way... You look... no way." She stuttered.

"So everyone keeps telling me. Could I give the vamps a run for their money?" I asked.

"Hell yeah." She responded, dead seriously. I snorted. Finally, Esme joined our little gathering.

"So... what do you think?" She asked laughingly, doing a pirouette. I smiled at her enthusiasm. And at her costume. I burst out laughing. Alice gasped in shock.

"Esme!!! That's not what I gave you to wear!!!" She moaned. I laughed harder.

"Carlisle's... going... to.... LOVE.... it!" I managed to spit out through hysterics.

"I thought so." Esme answered with a secretive smile on her lips. I had finally stopped laughing and appraised Esme's costume more thoroughly. She wore a red fringe 1920's flapper dress. Her arms were covered in red elbow length gloves and her hair was in curls around her head, complete with headband and feather. She looked stunning. [Pic on profile] When Alice had gotten over her huff about not being told about the last minute costume change, she admitted that it did look fantastic. Although, she insisted stubbornly, she should have been told.

"Are you ready to face the boys?" I asked.

"Shouldn't we be asking you that question?" Rosalie asked, a perfectly manicured eyebrow rising to astronomical heights.

"Not really. I've come to terms with the fact that one of them will kill me. And if they don't, and by some miracle I survive this night without being sucked dry," There were several winces at that, "This corset will eventually lead to my demise." And with that I stalked down the corridor – Looking very regal, I might add – and to the small anti chamber where the men were Waiting [Alice being Alice wouldn't allow them to see us before we were totally perfect]. They heard me coming, as I being the loud, obnoxious human I am, hadn't mastered the ability of being eerily quiet all the time. Jasper was the only one to turn around, though, the other three engrossed in some argument or other. His jaw dropped and I giggled slightly.

"Like what you see lover boy?" I asked jokingly. He nodded mouth still slightly agape.

"Darlin'. If I weren't married and completely in love with Alice, You'd be in a lot of trouble right now." Hearing his words the rest of the Cullen men turned around.

"I think I'm already in a lot of trouble Jazz." I answered, a smile stubbornly refusing to let go of its hold on my lips.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE WEARING!!!???" Emmett boomed, looking extremely pissed.

"A costume." I replied, playing dumb.

"I can see that." He ground out through gritted teeth. "But why that costume?"

"Why this costume? Hmmm. It could be because Alice picked it and I'm scared of saying no to her. But that's stupid because we all know I can tell Alice 'no'. It could be because it was the only one I could find. But that's preposterous. There are shops all over the place. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because I like it and I know I look BLOODY GOOD IN IT!!!" I finished my rant and noticed that Emmett was staring at me aghast. And for some strange reason he looked angry. No, Angry didn't do him justice. He looked Livid.

"How dare you!! You're too young to be wearing that, let alone talk to e like that!!!" He growled. Everyone was looking at him, horrified. They looked at me, gauging my reaction. I laughed, the sound bordering on hysterics.

"You know, It's funny. I could have sworn that was my father speaking. But you're not my father, are you? You'd do bloody well to remember that." I commented, before picking up my skirts and stalking away, leaving a group of stunned vampires in my wake. I made my way through the halls of the castle, having no Idea where I was going but knowing I had better find Jareth soon.

Okay... that's it for now, Folks. I swear, the actual ball will be next chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. I'd like to thank those who reviewed for their promptness. I'd like sixty five reviews before I post the next chapter please. Any more than that and It's a bonus!!!

Cheers,

Madlyinlovewithbowie