Planning prom was stressful. Jessica learned this early on the planning stage and she was glad to never have to do it again. The prom theme was divided between 'The Great Gatsby' and 'Fire and Ice'. It has been a close vote with Gatsy winning by a measly two votes. Then, there had been all the hoopla that came with it like the venue, food, a DJ, decorations, chaperones, fundraisers, and ticket sales.
There had been the bake sale/car wash from hell that gave Jessica nightmares. She would be happy to never have to bake another cupcake again her life. The car wash had ended with a water fight with her friends as Mike decided that spraying them with a hose would be funny. She had to climb into Winnie soaked to the bone and freezing as she rushed home for a hot shower.
As prom drew closer and they were able to secure what they needed, the most important thing had to be addressed – her prom dress. She needed something to fit The Roaring 20's theme but also didn't want to look like she was wearing a costume. Angela was able to find a vintage thrift store in Port Angeles they could go to but Jessica wasn't sure she could afford a new dress. She needed to save up for gas money when she drove to California and Jessica realized with a great deal of dread that her budget just wasn't going to be enough.
It was an oversight. She had been so distracted by everything that happened that year, she failed to plan accordingly. She might just have to get a cheaper dress and beg her mom to help her alter it. Her mom had shoes she could borrow and they had no need to rent a limo because this was freaking Forks.
She looked over her prom check list again and wondered if there was anything else she forgot. They would need to make the trip to Port Angeles that weekend before all the good dresses were gone. If they all just carpooled with Lauren that would save her gas money. And if they packed a lunch, that would save them having to spend on food while they were in the city.
A tapping on her shoulder made her turn and there was Alice smiling up at her cheerily. "Hi!"
"Hi, Alice," She closed her notebook, placing it back in her locker. "What's up?"
"Don't go to Port Angeles," Alice told her. "You won't find anything good within your budget. The dress you get will keep trying to fall down the whole night and you'll be miserable. Let me make a dress for you."
Jessica was aware about Alice's sewing skills. They had Home Econ together and she used to make these avant-garde outfits that Rosalie would model for her. Alice made everything from form-fitting suits to dresses made of what looked like bandages. And they all turned out stunning.
"The dress has the most beautiful gold leaf embroidery with this delicate tulle skirt," Alice continued, her eyes wide and reverent. "You and Edward will look so beautiful together. I'm making him a tie that matches your dress."
Jessica didn't know what to say but she felt overwhelmed. "You can't make me a dress, Alice. That's too much-"
Alice grasped her arms and shook her a little. "Let me do this, Jessica. Clothes are what bring me joy in my life."
"But…" She sighed, realizing that she couldn't change Alice's mind. This would save her a trip at the least. "How much would I owe you for it?"
"It's free of charge. The sight of you wearing my creation at the dance is more than enough," Alice pulled her into a hug. Jessica stiffened and awkwardly patted her back. "You're going to look so pretty!"
Jessica pulled away from her. "I still think I should pay you back somehow. For your time at the least cause it will take so much work."
"I can get that dress done in three days," Alice said confidently. "I don't sleep and I have nothing else to do except listen to the boys fight over Mortal Kombat again. This is much more enjoyable."
She wanted to protest but all her doubts melted away in an instant. Of course she wanted Alice to make her a dress! How nice of her to make Jessica something! She was so grateful and happy!
Jessica pulled her into a hug. "You're so nice! Thank you!"
Alice giggled and hugged her back. "You're welcome!"
She wanted to continue hugging the other girl and telling her how incredible she was but Alice pulled away and sauntered off to where Jasper was standing. The other girl told her to come to the Cullens' house on the weekend so they could get started on the dress. And she should bring Lauren and Angela too so they could get free dresses. Alice was the best!
The emotions melted off like the waves receding from the shore, leaving her feeling empty and overwrought. She saw Jasper's mischievous face and knew what had just happened. A bloom of indignation spread through her chest. She would've ran to him and punched him if Edward hadn't come and held her still.
"It's not worth it," Edward said. "He only did it to make Alice happy."
"That doesn't mean he can do his Jedi mind tricks on me without my consent!" she called out, knowing Jasper could hear her as he and his wife walked away. "And if he tries it again, he will be sorry!"
Jasper didn't even look back at her as he and Alice practically skipped away out of the building. The fiends. She should ban them prom. They were ancient anyway.
"Look on the bright side," Edward, Mr. Cynical, tried to reason with her. "You don't have to buy a new dress."
She gave him an annoyed like. "That's not the point!"
He was oblivious. He and his entire family didn't seem to understand what was inappropriate or not. She walked away from him. He chased after her and she ignored him.
Lauren and Angela were apprehensive about coming to the Cullens' house. Jacob hadn't been thrilled but he wasn't Jessica's problem. Lauren suggested ditching Alice's dressmaker idea and just going to Port Angeles for their dresses. But they remembered the red gown Alice made for Rosalie's prom last year and it was prettier than anything they could ever find and they knew it.
The weekend came and Jessica drove them to the Cullens' house. She had to get instructions from Edward how to get there because she tended to get lost around the woods around it that made it into a frustrating treasure hunt. Angela and Lauren stared at the large, modern house, the sunlight reflecting off the numerous windows. They both gave her a look.
"I know, right?" Jessica said. "I was expecting a dark Victorian manor with ravens flying about and warning you of death."
"I like your version better," Lauren replied. "It would be very Jane Eyre. Maybe Edward has a wife he's locked up in the attic."
"Come on, Lauren," Angela chided gently. "I really doubt that."
"Basement then," Lauren shrugged. "He's a creepy guy."
Jessica had to concede. He did have his moments. Like watching her sleep or stalking her. What did it say about her that she still dated him?
They walked up to the front door and before she could ring the doorbell, the front door swung open and Edward greeted them with a smile. "Hello. Are you selling Girl Scout cookies?"
Jessica and Lauren rolled their eyes while Angela, bless her, asked, "Don't you not eat human food?"
"I don't," He moved aside. "Please come in. Alice is waiting upstairs in her room."
The three girls went inside. The house still smelled like freaking Christmas. Edward guided them upstairs and to Alice and Jasper's room. He left them with a muttered, "Good luck."
There were dozens of dresses hung on racks in every color of the rainbow, made of tulle, silk, and satin. There were rolls of fabric everywhere, bottles of buttons and sequins, and a fancy sewing machine on a table. Alice smiled brightly at the sight of them, a measuring tape around her neck. She had been fussing with a dress on a mannequin.
She beckoned them over and started showing off the dresses she had made. She pulled out the legendary red dress that Rosalie had worn.
"This is my masterpiece," she declared, stroking the full skirt. "Everything I make I compare to this."
Lauren eyed it skeptically. "It's pretty but I'm not sure if I want to wear a ball gown."
Alice placed the dress back on the hanger. "It's not for everyone. And you're cool-toned so red would wash you out. I was thinking more of a royal blue for you."
"I like purple," Lauren looked at a lavender cocktail dress. "Maybe no tulle."
"Deep violet satin," Alice grabbed a notebook and pencil and started sketching. "Empire waist and a mermaid skirt. You'd look so regal."
She turned to Angela and started looking over here. "You're warm-toned with olive undertones. You could pull off red. Silk and backless. You're so tall, the silhouette would be incredible."
Alice sketched pages and pages of dresses for them and let them pick which one they liked the best. She pulled out fabric swatches and compared it to their complexions. She took their measurements and told them she would have the dresses done by next week. Perks of vampirism was speed and no need to take naps.
"This is all you do all night," Angela asked. "Just sketch and make dresses?"
"It brings me happiness," Alice answered. "Sadly, only the Forks student body gets to see my creations."
"Why don't you become a designer then?" the taller girl suggested. "I'm sure you can get into a fashion school and even then your work is impeccable. Your clothes should be on runaways."
Alice frowned, looking away. "I can't."
"Why not?" Lauren asked. "Even if you don't go to school, you have the funds to start up your own business."
"It's not that. It's…" Alice sighed. "It'll bring too much attention and that's dangerous for vampires."
Jessica questioned, "How can dresses be too much attention?"
"They'll notice when I don't age. And you can argue that plastic surgery has come a long way but I'm perpetually nineteen," Alice explained. "And I would need to travel and meet a lot of people. My control is good but it's not unbreakable."
"You'd find a way to make it work," Lauren insisted. "Delegate the travelling and public appearances to other people, hire somebody else to be the face of the company. You don't want fame but you want to be able to follow your passion so why don't you stop making excuses and do it?'
"I…" Alice looked thoughtful. "I mean…that could work?"
If Edward was going to college in freaking California, Alice would probably start a fashion line. At this point, it was a matter of figuring it out and hoping to God nothing would mess it up. Jessica stared at the sketch of the gown Alice was planning for her. A few months ago, vampires and werewolves were creatures of myth and here she was in a room with them. The sky was the limit.
"I think you should do it," Jessica told her. "Go to fashion school and take the industry by storm. If you're gonna be immortal, might as well fill that time with something you love, right?"
Alice smile was small and soft, filled with gratitude. "I suppose you're right."
They dropped Angela off at her house and went to Lauren's place to spend the night. Lauren wanted to celebrate getting accepted into their preferred colleges and also unwind from the sheer insanity that school year had been. They had been pilfering Mrs. Mallory's wine collection for years. And Lauren was always the friend she could be honest with and knew that the blonde was the same.
Lauren handed her a glass and Jessica frowned. "Vodka? What happened to the Rosé?"
"I went through the Rosé one night," the blonde explained. It's mom's vodka or dad's German beer."
Jessica didn't complain and took a sip. It tasted like poison. "What's really bothering you?'
"Why would you think something is bothering me?" Lauren returned. "We're here to celebrate you getting into fucking Stanford. That deserves a whole weekend bender."
"Bullshit, Mallory."
"Fine," the blonde gave in, taking a large swallow of her drink. "Jacob and I keep fighting."
"Over what?"
"Over everything," Lauren snorted. "Sometimes he breathes and I want to strangle him."
"That's pretty normal."
Jessica definitely wanted to strangle Edward sometimes.
Lauren shook her head. "We can't get along. He wants some sweet girl who will listen to him and let him become her world."
That sounded like Angela. Jessica hadn't pried into their situation as no one had really wanted to talk about it. She had thought they had resolved things and were making it work but that didn't seem to be the case.
"And I realized that maybe we just won't work," Lauren continued. "That maybe the magic werewolf imprinting made a mistake. That Jacob and I aren't two halves of a soul or whatever bullshit is running this."
"And?"
"I talked to Jacob and we decided to just be friends," the blonde explained. "He and Angela have their thing. And the two of us we'll be platonic."
"Platonic?" Jessica questioned. "Were you two doing things before?"
"We did some stuff but I didn't have sex with him," Lauren replied. "He and Angela are gonna mutually 'deflower' each other and I'm going to stay single and not worry about boys."
"Is this going to be temporary or permanent?"
From what she heard about imprinting, it was a big deal. Could one just walk away from it and be okay? The situation between the three was unusual and no one really knew what they were doing. But Lauren walking away from it might be extreme.
Lauren looked thoughtful, staring into her glass as if it held the secrets of the universe. Finally, she answered, "Honestly, I don't know if I want to be with anyone. I'm quite content on my own."
"But don't you want…"
Companionship, romance, love – all the things their society told them they needed to be a complete human being. If you weren't searching for your soul mate to get married and have children, then you were wasting your time. If you decided you were better alone then you were pathetic. If you didn't want the dream of a happy family with a dog and picket fence then there was something wrong with you.
Jessica asked her, "Is this what you really want?"
Lauren finished her glass. "I could change my mind. I could want to be with Jacob again or some other guy entirely. But right now, I want to go to college and worry about the next full moon."
"Speaking of the full moon," Jessica looked at her worriedly. "How are you going to take care of that in college? I doubt you can put a giant cage in your dorm room."
"I'm getting an apartment with Leah and Angela," Lauren explained. "Leah's going to grad school so she'll be there for my shifts. And we're figuring it out."
Jessica smiled. "It's nice to know you're not going on a killing spree with the Seattle residents."
Lauren scoffed. "I don't need to be a wolf to do that."
The blonde grabbed the vodka bottle and refilled their glasses. They drank and talked and fell asleep in the living room. They woke up with terrible hangovers and they drove to Sully's to eat cheeseburgers. Huddled into a booth and blearily eating their greasy burgers, they both vowed to never get drunk again. They were both lying.
Four chapters left. We get prom in the next chapter. And shortly after that is graduation. My children are growing up and leaving for college.
1. Jasper doesn't mind messing with people's emotions for Alice. That's canon. Not cool. Consent is important.
2. I changed Alice's interest in fashion from shopping to fashion design. I thought it made her more interesting and it fits with her character more as she grew up in the 1900s before fast fashion was available. She would have had to make her own clothes or have them down at small workshops. Getting clothes down by modistes were expensive and Alice came from a middle-class family in Mississippi. Her family may have splurged on a dress or two but those dresses would be passed down to her sister. Despite the rise of garment factories, fast fashion wouldn't come around till the 60s.
3. I debated about the prom theme and eventually settled for The Roaring 20s cause the aesthetics. And the Cullens would totally rock the fashion.