A/N: Hi everyone! I know it's been a while. I've been dealing with school and health issues. I hope this chapter makes up for it! Let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy reading :)
Angela and Bella were laughing loudly at Jess's and Alice's off key singing. Bella's hair wiped widely around her face as all the windows in Alice's car were rolled down. The radio was so loud she could barely hear Angela, but she was grinning all the same. Even the horrible task of dress shopping couldn't dampen her mood.
Alice was no better at driving than Edward was. She had a lead foot and weaved effortlessly through the throng of cars. Bella couldn't help but tease her about it as well.
"You know the dresses aren't going anywhere right?"
A wide grin spread across her face. "That is where you're wrong my poor, walking fashion disaster. Prom is next weekend. Next weekend. Do you know what that means?"
Bella shook her head. She didn't see the issue.
Alice sighed dramatically and shared a sideways look with Jessica. "She's hopeless. Hopeless!"
"You think we can't handle her?"
"Oh no, never fear my dear Jessica. After dealing with her boyfriend's antics for as long as I have, I can handle anything."
Bella let out a sharp bark of laughter. "You do know he's your brother too?"
"Only on Thursdays," Alice said with a wink in the rearview mirror.
Bella rolled her eyes. She knew the two of them had a closer bond when it came to the Cullen siblings. They teased each other endlessly. She doubted Alice was capable of hating Edward and vice versa. Bella was grateful when Angela started to talk about the book she was recently reading when Alice and Jessica began to talk color theory.
It wasn't until they reached the dress store that her anxiety began to skyrocket. God, this was really happening. She was going to do it. How many times had her mother dragged her around stores and begged her just to try something on. Bella could hear her mother's voice clearly inside her head.
"C'mon Bella Bear, just for me? Please?"
Angela broke her out of her thoughts. "Bella? You good," She asked, placing a hand on Bella's elbow.
"I think I'm gonna faint."
Bella swayed dramatically, dropping back down in the car. Alice whirled around, an offended noise rising from the back of her throat. Bella dipped her head to hide a smile behind a curtain of hair.
"Don't you dare!" She cried. "You're not getting out this one."
Jessica was right beside her, her curls shaking furiously as she shook her head. "Oh no. We're already here. C'mon!"
Alice took her left hand and Jess the other, pulling her towards the dress store. Bella threw a desperate look behind her shoulder at Angela. She was no help though. She simply followed behind, laughing at Bella's feeble attempts to break free.
"Stop being such a baby," Alice said. "The sooner we start, the sooner we'll finish."
Bella groaned. "Fine, fine."
Jess laughed at her pain, intertwining their arms together. "It'll be more fun than you think. You might even enjoy it."
"I wouldn't hold your breath," Angela piped in, "from the way she's complaining."
They laughed as Bella pouted. She eyed the store dubiously. Racks and racks of dresses and rhinestones made her frown. She wanted something simple that matched Jess's dress, and none of these looked simple. Bella stood still as Jessica and Alice held dresses up to her. They were muttering to each, making notes of the neckline, length, and color. They narrowed down the options to five dresses. The first was a soft pink color, nearly white. It was a long dress with a sweetheart neckline with a swirling design of clear beads on the bust.
"Can't you see what dress I'm going to wear?" Bella whispered into Alice's ear.
The psychic only smiled and pushed her towards the changing room.
"Not with all these options. I won't know the one until you decide on the one. So get moving honey."
Bella sighed in defeat and walked into the changing room. She clutched the dress to her chest for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to put it on. She figured the zipper would probably be the best place to start.
"I don't hear any clothes coming off," Alice teased, causing the other girls to laugh.
Bella flushed and cursed her under her breath. She knew Alice could hear her and hoped Alice knew she meant every word. Grumbling, Bella quickly shed her jeans and sweater. Shifting through the tulle and fabric, she slipped the dress on and zipped it up.
Bella frowned as she looked at her reflection. Since it was a sleeveless dress, she wasn't fond of seeing her bra straps out over her shoulders. Bella could feel herself starting to curl up inside. Her heart beat a little faster as she plopped down on the small bench inside the changing room. Bella ran her fingers through her hair, frustration pouring out of her. This was stupid. She looked stupid. Why did she think she could do this? That she could-
"Bella? You alright?" Alice called out to her.
Bella stared at the smaller vampire's shoes peeking underneath the dressing room door. Her throat felt tight. She wasn't sure she could answer.
A second shadow joined Alice.
"Bella, do you need any help?" Jessica asked, her voice soft.
"I-I'm fine. Give me a minute."
"...okay. You don't have to come out, you know. If you don't like the dress we can find another one."
Bella's legs bounced as anxiety raced through her. In her hesitant silence, Alice had walked away. Bella could hear her and Angela talking, but it was too low to make out.
"Do you mind if I come in?" Jessica asked.
Bella didn't answer but unlocked the door. She turned her back on her friend, her anxiety rising to the surface once more. Bella picked nervously at her fingers.
"I'm sorry. I know this is dumb. I'm dumb. I'm just not used to stuff like this."
The words came spilling out before she could stop them. Jessica flashed her a small smile, reaching forward to rub Bella's arms to comfort her.
"You're not dumb. Everyone has something that bothers them. Mine are heights. Angela refuses to go surfing with us because she's convinced sharks are out there waiting for her. Yours is dresses."
Bella laughed, a sound without humor. "Yeah, I guess."
"There's no guessing. It's okay to have anxiety. It's okay to speak up when you're uncomfortable, you know."
"I know. I'm just...I'm just not used to people listening."
"Those people suck ass. Friends are supposed to listen."
Jessica sounded so sincere that it nearly brought tears to her eyes. Turning fully to face her, Bella brought Jessica into a tight hug. Jess rubbed her back and the two stood silent for a few moments.
"Now," Jess said, pulling away to look at Bella. "What don't you like about the dress? The color is beautiful on you, by the way."
Bella flushed and awkwardly reached up to rub her arms. "I need sleeves. This is a little too much skin exposure for me."
Jessica nodded, her curls bouncing along with her movements. "Sleeves, got it!"
As she stepped out of the changing room, Alice stood with a few new dresses in her arms. Beaming, the smaller girl said,
"Already on it! Sleeveless dresses are out. Angela and I found these for you to try on."
Bella was sure her face would be permanently red from embarrassment. "Sorry," she mumbled, taking the dresses.
Angela shook her head. "There's nothing to be sorry for. You didn't do anything wrong."
There it was again, the tightness in her throat. Slightly overwhelmed with emotion, Bella could barely get out a thank you before shutting the changing room door once more. She shook her hands, trying to get all of her remaining nerves out.
"Okay. It's okay. You're fine. You got this."
They quickly decided yellow and orange were out of the picture for her. Bella didn't even bother trying on some of the more fitted dresses.
Soon, they were trying to decide between a teal colored dress and a dark blue one. The teal dress fell just past her knees. It had a rhinestone belt and beaded straps that criss-crossed on her back. Angela liked this dress, however, Jessica and Alice were still on the fence about it.
"It looks a little too much like you're playing dress-up," Jess said. "It's not quite right for you."
Alice was surprisingly silent. Bella glanced over to see that far off look on her face she got whenever she was having a vision. A small smile crawled onto her face as she came out of it. Giving Bella a knowing look, Alice simply said,
"You should try on the blue dress."
Bella opened her mouth, nearly blurting out the question of 'what did you see?'. That would have been disastrous to say the least. Giving a jerky nod, she turned and went back into the changing room. The dark blue dress was long and the sleeves came to a buttoned knot at the back of her neck. There was a fake broach detail right underneath the bust. It was a simple dress that she immediately didn't hate. Bella smoothed down the sides and started to blush once she realized she was checking herself out in the mirror.
Bella stepped out, flushing a deeper red at her friend's flood of compliments.
"That color looks amazing on you!" Angela exclaimed.
Jessica squealed and shot up. "We're gonna be the hottest couple there!"
"Shut up," Bella grumbled. "It's just a dress."
"A dress you look great in! And not to mention you weren't tense as shit when you walked out in it."
Alice stood and joined Jessica. "I think we did a pretty good job."
Bella glared at Alice's smirk, but it lacked the heat behind it. The dress was bought and Bella could have jumped for joy as they walked towards the exit. Alice walked with Bella as Jessica started to talk hairstyles with Angela. Alice didn't say anything but Bella could tell she was gloating inside her head. She didn't need Edward to translate the wide grin on Alice's face.
"Shut up."
"What? I didn't say anything."
"I'm just glad this is over."
"You can keep telling yourself that. I know you're having fun."
"Oh, so got Jasper's creepy superpower all of a sudden?"
Alice's smile grew wider. "Now that we found your dress, we have to figure out makeup and a hairstyle. I'm thinking of some kind of messy bun. What do you think Jess?"
Jess clapped happily. "That'll be perfect. We can have similar hair styles! Oh, oh! I think I have a shade of lipstick that'll be perfect for you, Bella."
Bella groaned and slipped down in her seat. Angela laughed at her as Alice and Jessica began to discuss other details of prom she had done her best to block out. Bella crossed her arms and scowled out the window, but she couldn't hide the smile creeping up on her face. As much as she hated to admit it, she had more fun than she thought she would. Alice had been right.
Bella should really learn not to bet against her.