Edward could gaze into her eyes forever. He cups the side of Bella's face in his palm, kissing her because he's unable to resist any longer.

She's Persephone in the spring. Everything she touches blossoms like wildflowers. He wants nothing more than to spend forever with her.

"I think I'm going to go visit my dad next weekend," she says once they break apart. "Talk with him about the, um, wedding in person. I don't think a phone call and invite is going to be enough."

The wedding. They still haven't told her parents.

Running a hand through his hair, he realizes he's made a huge oversight. He neglected to inform them before telling all of their friends. He feels scummy coming to them several weeks after the fact. "You're right. I should have thought of that before proposing. You've already said yes, so I can't very well ask for your hand...but I was so caught up with everything that I forgot to even ask for your parent's blessing." He sighs. "I hope Charlie will be able to forgive the belated announcement."

"Right. So, here's the thing: I think you should stay here. He doesn't react well to change, and I'm going to need to soften the blow before he sees you again."

"That's why he should hear an apology directly from me. I should have thought to—"

"He has a gun, Edward. He's very protective of his only daughter."

His brows pull together. "You don't think he would approve?"

"Either way, it's not his decision to make." She directs her attention to the floor, studying the rug.

He can't help but want to have a good relationship with her family, especially considering he doesn't have any living blood relations of his own to speak of.

They're interrupted before he can question her further.

"Bella!" Alice's voice rings down the stairs as she calls for her from the second-floor landing. "It's time. Get up here so I can beautify you."

She and Jasper both are fully dressed for the Gala tonight, with Alice in a backless, knee-length emerald dress and Jasper in a black suit. They look impeccable.

"Do I have to?" Bella asks Edward. "Why aren't you in a suit?"

"I'll get changed while you're getting ready with Alice."

"Fine." She stands and trudges up the stairs.

"I think you look beautiful either way," Edward says in case she thinks otherwise.

Bella turns to roll her eyes at him. "And yet here I am, once again being Alice's guinea pig Barbie."

He hopes that letting Alice have her fun isn't genuinely bothering Bella. Before he can say anything else, Emmett runs in from the hall and flings open the front door. Unsurprisingly, Rosalie's standing on the other side and is incapable of knocking.

"Woah! You look like a million bucks and then some!" Emmett says with an appreciative whistle.

Rosalie tosses her hair and poses vainly, reveling in the attention as usual like the narcissist that she is. "Thank you. Are you wearing...that?"

He looks down at his sweats and t-shirt that has the words Save a Whistle Blow a Lifeguard stamped across the front. "Ha! No, I have a suit."

She continues to scowl at the bright red lettering.

"Babe, I don't wear it out in public," he says defensively. "Edward, tell her I don't wear it out in public."

Edward considers the request for a moment but decides he hates the shirt—and Rosalie—too much to lie. "He wore it two weekends ago to the grocery store."

"Dude! Not cool!"

Jasper's taking his time coming downstairs, reluctant to join the others.

"I didn't think you would want to come," Edward says to him.

"Alice said it would be fun."

"There's going to be a lot of drinking."

Jasper keeps a relatively straight face, but it's clear he's irritated by the statement.

"I freaking hope so," Emmett interrupts loudly as he and Rosalie cross through the room to the kitchen. He was in the middle of making a protein shake before she arrived.

They waste no time before the blender is screeching and the pair is sucking each other's faces off.

"Can you guys not do that in here?" Edward shouts over the noise. He's seen far too much unabashed making out around the house the past week thanks to them. Possibly more than he has ever seen in the entire rest of his life combined.

He isn't surprised when they ignore him.

"We eat food on that counter," he continues when the blender stops.

"Do you hear something?" Rosalie asks.

Emmett looks around the room exaggeratedly. "Nah, it was probably just squirrels outside."

Irritated, Edward decides it's best to just hide in his room until Bella's finished getting ready.

...

Bella sits in the vanity chair with her back to the mirror while Alice sections out pieces of her hair. She wraps them first around a curling iron, then pins them around large, velcro rollers with mechanical precision.

Alice is already fully done up and ready to leave. Her stark black hair is smoothed back neatly behind her ears, which are accented with sparkling gold and onyx studs. Glimmering sparkles peak out from behind thick lashes. Her skin radiates with inhuman luminance—like somehow she's made of something more refined and expensive than flesh alone.

The entire room is perfumed in the same fragrance that Alice always is, though the effect is much stronger while immersed in it. The sweet florals border on intoxicating, and Bella feels like she's somehow going to become not only more attractive herself but also increase in monetary value simply by breathing in the air. She doesn't normally care for perfumes, especially not super girly ones, but it's undeniably nice.

It also makes her want to wither. Her room smells like old carpet, her musty truck's had better days, and—at best—she smells like whatever shampoo was on sale at the grocery store.

"Your hair's so pretty," Alice says wistfully.

She has to be lying. It's a pity compliment. "Thanks. I, um, don't really do anything to it. I just let it grow."

"It looks nice. Very healthy."

Bella looks at Alice's short, wavy pixie bob and to her own hair. "Would you ever grow yours out?"

"I kind of have. It doesn't look like yours even when it's longer. I mean, you should have seen it when I first got to Seattle. It was like someone chopped chunks off with hedge clippers until it was nothing."

"How...did it end up like that?"

"No clue. I like how it looks now, though, don't you? It's much more even."

"Yeah. It's cute."

"Thank you!"

Bella contemplates that weird anecdote as her eyes roam around the clean, poshly decorated space surrounding them.

The first time she saw Alice's room, she thought maybe she was in the process of reorganizing the bookshelf, but it looks almost the same as the last time. Half of the shelves house shoes or handbags, which could be considered a stylistic choice, but there's another more peculiar thing to consider.

"Why are the books backward?" Bella asks.

Without missing a beat, Alice answers. "They're ugly."

"They're books."

"I like how it looks more with just the covers that match my room's color scheme showing. It's less busy. All the big design magazines are doing it."

Bella looks around at said color scheme. Everything's bright, light, and neutral. Even the bedspread, which was previously pink, is now a muted yellow. "That's actually insane. How do you tell where anything is?"

"They're organized by genre and author." Alice giggles. "Edward doesn't like it either."

She feels her hair being tugged into another roller. Her scalp is starting to hurt.

"Your skin's still kind of dry. Have you been using that moisturizer I gave you?" Alice asks.

She hasn't. "Sometimes, when I remember."

"I want to make sure your skin is glowing even more than usual by the time of the big day. It's important to take care of yourself."

"I do take care of myself. My skin is fine."

"Your lips are always peeling," Alice points out. "They won't if you moisturize more."

Doubtful. She doesn't want to deal with half a dozen steps after washing her face every morning and night. It isn't like she'll magically become a new person because of it.

Regardless, Alice proceeds to slather her face in an assortment of products, only a fraction of which Bella recognizes.

"So you're dating Jasper..." Bella says. She's half-expecting Alice to jump in, but she stays silent, listening. "Do you guys ever, like, get into disagreements about weird things?"

Alice hums for a moment in thought. "Not really. He usually goes along with whatever I want."

That's not helpful at all.

"What if he wants to do something that you don't? Or vice-versa?" Bella asks.

"Like what?"

"I don't know. It's impossible to agree on everything, isn't it?"

"I like fries and he likes onion rings, so when we get burgers we have to order both."

Bella sighs. Maybe it's a bad comparison. "Jasper seems really easygoing."

"Most of the time, yeah. He has a big heart," Alice replies. "You're done! You can look now!"

Bella turns to see herself in the vanity mirror. She's once again met with a face far too glossy and polished to be herself.

With her hair taken out of the rollers, it falls in smooth, deliberate waves. Her face looks beyond flawless, and her lips are coated in light pink gloss. Her eyes, likewise, have a sheer shimmer to them.

The girl looking back at her looks like she has places to be and people to see. She's not as pretty as Alice, but she's a much sparklier version of herself.

"Here, go get changed," Alice says, handing her a silky calf-length, sapphire-colored dress and a box with the words sticky bra on the front.

Bella trudges into the ensuite bathroom reluctantly, shutting the door behind her.

Alice's bathroom is huge. It looks nicer than any of the hotel bathrooms Bella's seen before. She's seen Edward's bathroom plenty of times, and it's also very luxurious, but this is much more decorated. One of the sinks is surrounded by dozens upon dozens of little bottles and bobbles—Alice's preferred side, clearly—while the other just has a toothbrush, razor, and deodorant beside it. The bathtub even has a dedicated basket of bath bombs and salts beside it.

Bella tears open the box and reads the instructions, confused how two small pieces of plastic gel are going to somehow offer any type of coverage or support.

She manages to get the things stuck to her after several minutes of fussing. The dress is easy enough to slip into.

Checking how she looks in the large over-the-sink mirror, she realizes the neckline is lower than she'd like. She doesn't have the body for this outfit.

"Alice, I can't go out like this," she says, opening the door an inch and peeking through.

"Why?" she asks, holding up a pair of shiny black heels. "Look, I found you shoes that you can walk in. They're short little baby heels! Only two inches!"

She opens the door wider, letting Alice see her fully.

"Ohh it looks so good on you! You're so pretty!"

"I don't feel like me. I feel dumb."

"Know what would make this look even better? Yes—that's right—your ring! You have it, don't you?"

"Yes..." Bella grabs her wallet from its spot by her phone on the vanity. She takes the ring out from the change pouch and slips it on her finger.

Alice claps. "So pretty! As your fairy gala mother, I can confidently say that Edward's going to die when he sees you! Come on, let's go show him!"

Unable to do much else, Bella lets her usher her out of the bedroom and downstairs.

...

Alice steps out of the back of the Tesla, taking Jasper's hand as he offers it. "Thank you."

"Of course."

Edward hands his keys to the valet along with some cash—they carpooled—while Bella squirms and shrivels from sight like a vampire being thrown into sunlight. She needs to get over that. She looks fabulous. Alice made sure of it.

String music becomes louder as they make their way up toward the visitor's center. The space along with the surrounding veranda is decorated in lights.

"Oh, look, drinks. I think I need a cola," Bella says, her eyes set on the bar. She's already slowly making her way to it.

Alice isn't thirsty and that sounds boring. "Jazz and I are going to go take a lap and look at the garden," she tells Edward, heading in the opposite direction.

"Sure, we'll be here."

Jasper reaches for her hand and clasps it in his own as they walk through the softly lit garden path. Golden light is slowly fading through the trees.

It's still chilly in the evenings this time of year, so the warmth from his hand feels nice against her cold skin.

"Are you having fun?" she asks.

"When I'm with you? Always."

Her vision starts to tilt.

She loops her arm through his, resting against his elbow to ease the sudden bout of dizziness. Her surroundings start to darken around the edges. Her sense of balance vanishes.

Jasper's voice sounds distant and muffled to the point that she can't hear what he's asking. The murmur of conversation and music around them gets quieter until she's enveloped in silence.

A single orange flame flickers straight ahead, vanishing in a burst of cinders and ash.

Just as soon as it came, the darkness recedes and the sound of the party around her returns.

Jasper's arms are around her shoulders, keeping her upright, and he looks very upset.

"I'm okay. Sorry," she says.

"Do you need to sit down?"

"No, I'll be fine. I saw a fire, but it's nothing."

He looks around at the scattered clusters of people wandering around the lawn admiring the romantic decor, his brows creasing slightly. "Why would you see a fire for no reason?"

"Not sure, but it happens sometimes. You shouldn't worry about it. I'll let you know if anything changes." He doesn't look convinced, so she changes the topic. "Come on, let's head back toward the patio! I want to dance."

The wisteria terrace isn't in bloom yet, but it's still very pretty with all the lights and the canopy of green tendrils overhead. The sound of a melodic cello reverberates through the open air.

She leads them through the swaying pairs of dancers to an open space near the center of the veranda, twirling to face him and placing her free hand on his bicep.

His hand comes to her waist, but he's stuck staring at her with a funny look on his face.

"What?" she asks.

"You're making me feel shy."

She laughs. "I didn't do anything!"

"Well, here I was thinking human beings couldn't be any more graceful."

"Oh, lay it on a little thicker why don't you!" she teases. "Are you going to dance with me or not?"

"I'll do my best."

He takes the lead, stepping forward as she goes back. They get a solid rhythm built up in seconds.

"How is it we've never gone dancing, but you've clearly done this before?" she asks.

"Are you saying that you're impressed by my one week of mandatory ballroom lessons in high school?"

"They made you learn ballroom?" Her knowledge of high school, in general, is pretty weak. She only knows what she's seen in movies and heard second-hand.

"For formals, yeah." He spins her around under his arm. "I didn't get much use out of it, for the record."

She narrows her eyes in mock scorn. "You've been holding out on me! How could you go around saying you love me while keeping this from me?"

"Love you? I adore you," he says, swooping her up and dipping her backward effortlessly. It's surprising enough to make her lose her mental composure.

"Oh! Jazz–"

She reaches up instinctively clasping her hands behind his neck, their noses bumping slightly before he pulls her back upright.

Her heart flutters hard in her chest and she feels a swell of warmth fill her body from her fingertips to her toes.

Alice has witnessed his charm on many occasions, but nothing prepared her for that.

"Jasper Hale, my goodness."

He laughs. "I think I have a newfound appreciation for dance."

He's too much, but also just enough.

...

Bella can only spend so much time hiding by the bar drinking soda. She's on her second, and Edward is starting to look antsy.

She hopes he isn't going to ask her to dance.

"I'm so happy to see you wearing the ring," he says as he takes her hand and brings it to his mouth to kiss it.

"It's about time, huh?" she says with a laugh. "Sorry, I'm still processing it all."

"Don't apologize." He kisses her cheek. "Here, let me introduce you to some of the other guests I know. I have a few professors and acquaintances who should be around here someplace."

She was also hoping he wouldn't make her talk to anyone.

She feels incredibly awkward as she follows Edward around the gala, watching him mingle with people she's never met.

They seem to stare at her, judging her lack of charisma and social skills and certainly wondering how she would know someone like Edward in the first place. She shrinks away into herself, trying to will herself to disappear.

She should be at home reading about this kind of party—not attending it first hand.

Her mind's a whirl as he walks her around to a dozen different people. They congratulate them on their engagement, and they ask about her journalism degree. She tries her best to answer and stumbles through some poorly articulated responses, citing her love of classic literature enough times that she wonders if she should just stamp it across her forehead to help people try to place her in some sort of mental box. Hi, my name is Bella, and I prefer living vicariously through books.

In a moment of pause, she spots Alice and Jasper over on the dance floor, waltzing to the live cello music.

Bella nods toward them. "They're really stealing the show over there."

Thankfully. She needs someone else to draw the attention off of her. She's had enough for the night.

Edward smiles. "She found someone who can keep up."

"Hey, are you two sticking around the whole night?" a loud voice says behind them. Bella turns and sees Emmett's tall frame bump into Edward, grinning. "Rose and I are going to head out soon."

"The rotating shifts at work and all the flying lately has been throwing off my sleep," Rosalie explains with a sigh.

She doesn't look tired at all. She looks ready to attend a red carpet event. Her red lipstick is flawlessly balanced with a soft smokey eye, and the black strapless dress she's wearing looks unreal.

Alice did a good job of making Bella look presentable, but she would never look even a fraction as good as Rosalie.

"Where have you even been?" Edward questions Emmett. "I didn't even know you made it here."

Emmett shrugs. "Around. With Rose."

Edward turns his attention to Rosalie. "You've been going to New York City, right? I thought Emmett told me you lived in Rochester."

"I did," Rosalie answers. "My ex lived in the city, and I was planning on moving out there with him after finishing my nursing residency. There are a lot of...loose ends to tie up still."

"How did you meet him if he lives on the other side of the state?"

Rosalie's mouth tenses, turning downward slightly. "He visits his parents upstate on the weekends. They have a home out in Fairport."

"Kind of a long drive."

"Yes, well, that's why he took a helicopter."

"Did he fly it himself?" Edward asks, his line of questioning continuing to visibly annoy her.

"Of course."

"This is such a weird conversation," Bella says to herself. She has no idea what they're talking about, and she doesn't realize spoke out loud until all three of them look at her.

Emmett laughs. "More of an interrogation."

"Edward!" a woman's voice calls out from her left.

Someone else? Really? This is what it's like dating someone popular, she supposes.

Bella and Edward turn toward the source, but the one she recognizes first is Laurent. Irina stands next to him, waving. Instinctively, Bella tenses.

"I wasn't sure if you were coming. Tanya and Kate are getting drinks right now," Irina says cheerfully. "How are you doing?"

"Great. I'm ready to be done with undergrad."

"One more month, right? I got the graduation party invite from Emmett. And the wedding invite. Congrats!"

"Yeah, so about indoor water slide. It's a no-go. Carlisle told me it'll screw up the floors, and Esme said it'll kill the lawn," Emmett says. "No word yet on the bounce house."

"Aw! Crossing my fingers!"

Bella can't even imagine what kind of a graduation party they'll throw. If it's anything like the other parties, it'll be a big deal.

"I'm glad to get to see the both of you tonight. I'm afraid I missed you last time, Edward," Laurent says. "I wanted to ask you the other day, Bella, but have you seen Victoria lately?"

Her stomach does a flip. "Um, no. Why?"

"I had a bit of a falling out with her back in December. She was very close with James, so I wasn't sure if she would...confront you about it," he explains. "She seemed a bit skeptical about what happened last I talked with her. She doesn't think James capable of the things he was found guilty of."

"Uh, well, she's wrong," Emmett blurts out, his normally carefree face set in an intimidating scowl. Edward, likewise, looks irritated.

"She thinks I set him up..?" Bella asks. Her heart is pounding anxiously in her chest.

She flinches when she feels a small, cold hand touch her arm, but a quick glance lets her know it's just Alice. She and Jasper came over sometime during the conversation without her noticing.

"We should head over to the auction. It's starting soon," Irina says to Laurent.

"Bien sûr, mon chou," he replies, following her over to the other side of the terrace.

"Irina's new boyfriend knows James?" Edward asks, looking at Bella with a furrowed brow.

"He teaches French literature. I had him last quarter," Alice says.

"Then it's probably fine, right? He's not a crazed killer," Emmett concludes.

Edward shakes his head. "Who's Victoria?"

"James' girlfriend. I've only seen her a couple times and she didn't really talk much," Bella says.

"What's her last name? Do you have a picture of her?"

"Um...no. She has red hair, like fire red, and she's kind of tall-ish..." Bella recalls, trying to pick out something that's not incredibly vague. "James said she was studying game theory."

"So she's in the business school. Emmett, do you know anyone like that?"

"No, I never went to econ lectures. I had Riley take my clicker with him to answer questions for the participation grade."

"Can we leave yet?" Rosalie asks, slouching tiredly.

"Of course, we can, my beautiful, smart, but also very grumpy angel," Emmett says, booping her on the nose with his finger.

Rosalie rolls her eyes and pulls Emmett toward the parking lot. "Bye."

"I'll ask Irina about him later," Edward says to her in a low voice. "It's too convenient that he showed up with her tonight."