This is a one shot I wrote for the August Twilight Novel Novice Challenge. I got a runner-up on there, which I am really excited about! :) It was to write a scene from Breaking Dawn from someone else's POV. This is the scene where Rosalie helps Bella get ready for the wedding.
Characters/Pairings: Rosalie, Bella, Alice
x x x
Never
I glanced at myself in the mirror hanging just outside Alice's room. It was one of my favorites, the reflective surface framed by winding strands of metal curved into delicate vines.
Mirrors could be my best friend or my worst enemy, depending on what I felt.
Today it was a mix.
It was Bella and Edward's wedding. A beautiful day, a happy one. And I was radiant, in a silver gown and silver stilettos, my hair shining and golden. In the sunlight, every inch of me would sparkle.
It was exciting, because it would make both of them so happy. And my shallow needs were fulfilled because I got to dress up.
But what would follow today concerned me the most. No one seemed to understand that Bella could notbecome this. She would regret it, I knew she would.
Even with Emmett, even with my family, I still can't bring myself to fully love this life. I would have been better off in New York, marrying Royce and having little babies that looked just like us. If only, if only that night way back when hadn't happened.
I pulled my eyes away from the image of myself in the mirror as the front door opened and Edward, Emmett and Jasper clomped in, back from their hunting trip.
"Boys, please help finish setting up outside!" I heard Esme tell them.
Emmett ignored her and bounded up the stairs. He took me in his arms and kissed me gently on the lips, grinning hugely at me. "You look beautiful, Rosalie Hale," he whispered in my ear, and I smiled back. I gazed into his eyes and he into mine, thousands of unspoken and thoughts and desire coursing between us.
Downstairs, Edward groaned. "Emmet and Rosalie."
Emmett laughed, loud and booming. "You're the one getting married, Edward! You better get used to it." He hopped back downstairs, the sound of his voice trailing off after him as he went outside.
"Go check on Alice and Bella," Esme called up the stairs, softness and pleading in her voice. She understood my uneasiness s, to some extent. But she was better off here, with us and with Carlisle.
But Esme wanted so badly for her family to be whole today, to put aside anything that we disliked, and to just be there for Bella and for Edward. And I knew it.
So I sighed and gently pushed open the door to Alice's room.
My sister hovered over an uncomfortable-looking Bella, dabbing makeup beneath her eyes, tapping it gently into the pale skin with her fingertips.
Bella looked at me in awe, with a sort of insecure jealousy that I had loved when I was human. It validated me to make me feel more beautiful that other girls, to know that I had something they didn't and that they wanted.
Now it just made me feel sad, because she had something I wanted. Something I could never have.
"They're back," I told Alice, and watched the self-consciousness immediately leave Bella's eyes. She loved my brother, she truly did.
"Keep him out of here!" Alice screeched, whisking a black pencil swiftly across Bella's eyelids.
I rolled my eyes. Alice could be quite the dramatist. But I pushed away my urge to snap at her. "He won't cross you today," I said lightly and smirked. "He values his life too much. Esme's got them finishing things up out back."
I took a breath, and then forged onward. "Do you want some help?" I asked hesitantly. "I could do her hair." She would be my sister soon, and sisters helped each other get ready.
Bella's jaw dropped open. I smiled at her, but inside I felt a pang of unhappiness. Did she really think I hated her that much? That I would be horrible to her forever? I wished she could understand what I felt, that she could possibly have some idea of the mistake she would be making.
"Sure," Alice said after a small pause that Bella appeared not to notice. "You can start braiding. I want it intricate. The veil goes here, underneath." She gathered and twisted Bella's hair as she spoke, demonstrating what she wanted me to do.
I nodded and began to braid and twist, pinning and coiling a complex plait on Bella's head. Her hair was soft like butter and smelled beautiful, strawberries and flowers in a meadow.
I finally finished the up-do, and Alice nodded her consent. "Gorgeous," I whispered, but it might have been too quietly for Bella to hear.
"Can you go get her dress?" Alice asked. "It's in my closet."
I nodded and left the room. I found the garment bag easily, but paused before returning to Alice. This was hard to take in.
My weddings to Emmett had been amazing, and perfect, and everything I'd wanted when I was human.
But Bella's would be better. She had friends, and family, and people to invite. People to fuss over her, to plan every overwhelming detail. She had a mother to help her get ready, a father to walk her down the aisle.
I stared at the floor. I didn't think the sadness and grief in my eyes could be detected, but I needed a minute to pull myself together nonetheless.
After a few minutes, I took a deep breath and headed back down the hall. I silently handed Alice the dress and helped Bella stay balanced as we zipped her into it.
She was a beautiful bride.
But her shoulders scrunched slightly, one arm hugging the other, teeth pressing gently against her bottom lip.
How could she be nervous, looking like that? How could she be anxious when she was about to marry someone that loved her that much?
Alice looked at me, my eyes locked on Bella. Bella's eyes were locked on the floor. "Can you go get Jasper?" Alice asked me gently. "See if he's back with Renee and Phil."
I nodded. "Yes, I think I heard the door open. I'll send Renee up." I turned to leave, but paused in the doorway.
I gave Bella one last lingering look, her small fragile frame wrapped in the white wedding gown covered in intricate details. The subtle makeup on her face, the way her hair was draped and braided around her head, framing her face and accentuating her features. The expression of excitement and nervousness on her face and the brightness in her eyes.
She was so completely human right now.
Perfect in a way that I could never be.
Silly
girl, wide brown eyes
Stupid
mistakes, don't you know
What
you're giving up?
x x x
Review, please!