108

Seeing as we're not all going to be in the same place for a while, we decide to celebrate the girls' birthday, Angela and Ben's going away party, and the news of our impromptu engagement all together.

Unlike their last birthday, we keep it low key, hanging out at the house with our close friends and immediate family. That doesn't mean that my fiancée isn't going all out with the planning.

She's been cooking all the favorite foods for the humans, and Jane is providing the blood for the vamps.

We're setting up the dining room for poker when Jasper comes rushing in.

"Tell her it looks great. Tell her she's never been more beautiful. Tell her it's amazing."

"Tell who—"

Alice comes stomping into the room with a beanie over her head and tears streaking down her cheeks.

"I went in for a trim." She sobs and pulls the hat off. "And she just kept going shorter and shorter."

Her once long, jet black hair is now barely making it to her chin.

"I think it's beautiful," Bella soothes, but Alice just keeps crying and pulling on the ends like it'll make it grow faster. "Honey, it's just hair."

"No. It's not."

I look at Jasper. "I've tried everything, but she's out of control. I told her not to worry about it but—"

"BUT I WANT LONG HAIR WHEN I'M CHANGED, AND NOW I LOOK LIKE A BOY!"

Angela comes in to see what's going on, and her eyes bug, but she's able to mask her surprise. "I fudging love it, Ali. You've been wanting to go short for forever."

"That was before … I don't want to be frozen like this."

"Darlin', we can hold off for a while," Jasper tries, and her emotions turn to rage.

"I'm not going to put my life or my second life on hold just because a dumb hairdresser fucked up.'' She takes a deep breath. "I'm going to go upstairs and try to sort out this mess. When Rosalie gets here, please send her to my room."

We all nod and watch her leave.

Jasper collapses into the closest chair, looking like he's aged a decade. "This probably isn't the best time to tell you we were planning on eloping down at the courthouse in the morning before Angie and Ben leave."