Edward:

I wanted to kill Alice for making my girl feel inadequate. Pulling her aside to give her hell had to suffice. How could she not have considered the cost when she made appointments at some of the most expensive salons in Knoxville for prom day? Did it even run through Alice's mind that Charlie had enough on his plate, caring for an elderly woman and paying to keep her house and small farm in working order, without having to shell out hundreds of dollars for Bella to get her hair done for one night? My beautiful girl had told Alice in no uncertain terms that she'd do everything herself.

Here I come to save the day!

I felt like a hero when I knocked on the door, but when Charlie answered, I deflated a bit.

"The prom's not for eight hours, Cullen." He huffed through his mustache, but his eyes twinkled.

"Uh, I know, sir. I was going to see if Bella wanted to go have her hair and makeup done in Knoxville."

Charlie stepped out onto the front porch and shut the door behind him. "Now, son, I know you mean well, but we really just can't afford it. If Edna hadn't had that dress up in the attic, Bella wouldn't even have something to wear."

I stepped back and gulped. Sharing that with me must have cost Charlie a lot. We'd all watched as the family struggled to keep it together since moving to Cedar Ridge, and I'd hated to see Bella taking all her clothes to a consignment shop just so she could pay for school things. Their pride was about the only thing they had left, and he'd just spent a lot of it.

"We're not going where Alice is going. There's another place… My aunt Carmen owns it. They'll pamper her and make her feel special, and Carmen said she'd only charge twenty dollars for the day. Family discount and stuff."

My mom was amazing.

Charlie huffed again and crossed his arms, but the sparkle in his eyes told me I'd won. He nodded once and opened the door to usher me in.

"Bella," he called. "Edward's here."

She flew down the steps, wearing ratty jeans, a button-up shirt she'd stolen from my closet, and some ridiculous purple goop on her face. She was gorgeous.

"What are you doing here? Prom's not until tonight. I'm not ready. I haven't even started." Her words jumbled together as she reached the bottom of the stairs and fell into my arms.

"And you still have a little something on your face," Charlie pointed out helpfully.

She shrank back in horror and planted her hands right into the middle of the mess on her cheeks with a squelching slap.

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Christ, I loved her.

"You can't be here," she babbled. "You can't see me like this. I'm not going to look like this tonight; I promise."

I pulled her closer and took her hands in mine, ignoring the sticky facemask coating our fingers. "You're gorgeous. But you shouldn't have to do all this yourself. Let me take you to see my Aunt Carmen. She gives me really good deals on my haircuts because I'm family. I know she'll take good care of you. Whatever you want, baby."

Charlie cleared his throat, and I felt heat rush to my cheeks. Well, she was my baby. He'd have to get used to that.

"But I—" Bella started, flapping her hands nervously. "I'm a mess."

"Go on, baby." Charlie cut his eyes to me, a silent challenge in their depths.

Fine, fine. She was still his baby, too. But she was my girl.

"Go wash your face and get your stuff. Let Edward's aunt pamper you today."

She didn't need to be told twice. In a flash, she was back up the steps and making an unholy racket as she grabbed her things.

"Thank you for doing this, son. You, or your mom, or your aunt. Whoever was smart enough to know what a girl needs on prom day. Is it really only twenty bucks?"

His gaze held a bit of an accusation, but I didn't take it to heart. I'd have paid the extra, if my aunt charged it.

"Carmen said she'd do it for free, but I told her Bella would want to pay something."

Charlie nodded, a smile finally forming. He didn't need to know there was a price for me to pay, but I'd do it gladly. It wasn't money, though. Carmen said I had to have everything done that Bella did—hair, nails, the works. It was going to be a long day.