Disclaimer: All of the characters mention are the property of Stephenie Meyer. The plot belongs to me.
As always, Alice had gone overboard. I stared at the scene in front of me with an incredulous look. She was definitely not going to be forgiven within the next century or so. And yet, that thought gave me comfort. To think that a century would pass and yet I would still be with the love of my existence and my soon to be family.
She still wasn't going to get away with this however. The Cullen house had been transformed into a white, frilly edifice. White cloth was draped between the deck pillars, white roses were displayed everywhere with petals spread across the entire yard, bubbling fountains could be heard from every direction, and the soft cooing of doves echoed throughout the immense yard.
I suppressed a scream and called quietly to my soon to be sister, "Alice..." As soon as the word escaped my lips, she was standing at my side in all of her petit splendor. Her eyes were a deep rich topaz today, and she wore a light summer dress.
"I know Bella! You won't ever forgive me, but believe me, you will thank me for this in fifty years or so. You'll see. And anyways, you know that this will make him happy," she flashed her brilliant smile at me and I just clenched my teeth and forced a smile.
"If you say so Alice... But I am still betting against you," I knew this was an unwise thing to do, but I didn't care. Fortune teller or no, I still wasn't happy right now.
"Let's go get you ready for the big day!" Alice exclaimed with delight. Before I knew what happened, the excitement had gotten the better of her and she was scooping me into her arms and sprinting at inhuman speeds into the house and up the stairs into her room. Not two seconds had passed since I had been standing in front of my truck surveying the scene, and now I was staring at the counter space of Alice's king size bathroom.
"Alice...What am I going to do with you?" I groaned. There were more beauty products sitting on the counter than all the department stores in Washington combined. She ignored my comment and steered me towards the salon style chair with a sink on the back.
"You are going to let me get you ready for your wedding is what you are going to do. Now sit back and relax."
I figured there was no use in fighting her, so I sat down and braced myself for the beautifying torture. I shivered as the cool water hit my scalp and Alice's ice cold fingers worked fruity smelling shampoo through my hair. She felt my shudder and quickly turned the water to a warmer temperature. I closed my eyes and relaxed against the chair, waiting for the inescapable to be over. Soon, I heard the water shut off and I opened my eyes.
To my immense chagrin, Alice and I were no longer alone. Rosalie and Emmett had silently entered the bathroom, Rosalie looking slightly uncomfortable and Emmett looking nonchalant.
"Rosalie, please help me dry her hair. It is too long for me to do it by myself. Emmett, you go stand guard outside my room," Alice said quietly.
"Guard from what?" I exclaimed.
"Oh nothing," Alice remarked airily. Emmett walked out of the room with a big grin on his face. I had a feeling he was going to take his job very seriously.
"Alice, why in the world does Emmett have to go stand guard? It's not like a pack of werewolves is going to come busting down your door," I cringed a little when I said that, but I repressed the feeling and the thoughts that came with it. I had promised myself that I was not going to mourn for that part of my human life anymore.
No sooner had the words escaped my lips before I heard his voice outside. "Emmett let me in. I want to see her," Edward's musical voice drifted to my ears.
"No can do. Alice said no one was allowed in, and that means no one," I heard the humor in Emmett's voice. He was probably itching for a wrestling match or something with Edward to prove that he took his job seriously.
I tried to jump out of the chair and run to my one true love, but Alice's cold hands pushed my shoulders back against the chair and would not budge no matter how much force I used. I might as well have been pushing against a boulder. Alice smiled angelically at me and simply stated, "The groom is not allowed the see the bride before the ceremony Bella. Now hold still and don't put up a fuss."
I stopped struggling knowing that it was a futile effort to try to get away from her. I leaned back and groaned as Alice pulled two intimidating hairdryers from seemingly nowhere. She handed on to Rosalie who looked still slightly uncomfortable.
I gave her a warm smile and stated, "Don't worry Rosalie, I won't hold any grudge against you for this beauty torture. All that blame goes to Alice for sure."
She seemed to relax after my reassuring comment, "Well okay. I will do your hair up just like I had mine for prom two years ago. You are going to be the most beautiful thing on the west coast today."
"Ha, ha. That is going to be hard to do with the two of you standing next to me, but I will take your word for it," I remarked. Alice shot me a look but decided against arguing with me.
I let the two of them work through my hair and tried not to think too much about what I was about to do. I was exactly a month and 3 days away from my from my nineteenth birthday and about to be a married woman. I could still see the look on my mother's face when I had told her the news. I hadn't been able to tell her over the phone, so Edward had dragged me to Florida to give the news in person. She had looked dejected when I had first broken the news to her, but then, she saw the way that me and Edward looked at each-other and she had understood. She knew that it was love of the deepest kind and had given her blessing. It meant the world to me to know that my mother would support me. It was the last thing I could ask of her before I disappeared from her life forever.
My father had been a different story. He had gone ballistic on Edward, calling him a brainwasher and accusing him of mistreating me. Edward and I had simply stood by while he ranted. The words had stung but I was determined to not let my father's accusations affect me. Edward's supporting arms had been the only things keeping me from going to pieces. Eventually my father had yelled himself hoarse and stomped out of the house. He had returned a few hours later with a more composed face and had apologized to Edward. He had thought long and hard about it and realized that Edward would be suitable for his daughter despite the prejudices he held towards my true love.
And here I sat, about to tie the knot and say goodbye to being human forever. Yet, I had accepted that fact and I was ready to begin my new life. I was ready to begin eternity with the reason for my existence, Edward.
The gentle tugging of my hair brought me back to the present. I realized that Rosalie was twisting my hair into intricate tendrils atop my head and Alice was pinning them into place. I had been so lost in thought that I didn't realize how much work had been done to my normally drab hair. I looked in the mirror and my auburn hair now had a brilliant sheen to it and it looked incredibly soft. I reached up to touch one of the twists but Alice lightly slapped my hand away. "No ruining all this hard work!" she exclaimed. I grinned at her and rolled my eyes.
Before too long, my hair was done and the makeup began. Thankfully, Rosalie convinced Alice to keep neutral tones to make the makeup look more natural. I flashed her a thankful smile and she gave me a tentative smile in return. I supposed that Rosalie had finally accepted my decision and was trying her hardest to make me feel welcome. I could see that my decision still irked her. However I understood her views and I would wait however long she needed to completely warm up to me.
After what seemed like forever, Alice was sufficiently satisfied with my appearance. She turned me around to face the floor length mirror, and I stared at the stranger in the mirror. The girl in the mirror tentatively moved her hand up to her face and touched her cheek. Could this really be me? Alice came to stand next the stranger and smiled her beautiful grin. I looked to my right and sure enough she was standing next to me. Yes. That girl was me. For once I felt comfortable standing next my immortal friend.
I walked into Alice's bedroom and examined the dress hanging from her closet door frame. It was a masterpiece straight from a 1918 vision. It would have been exactly what I would have worn had I met Edward in his time. The delicate lace and flowing silk created the most fitting piece I could have imagined. With the help of my soon-to-be sisters, I slipped into the delicate dress. Once again I regarded my reflection in the mirror and was taken aback. For once in my life, I felt beautiful enough to deserve Edward.
Alice continued to smile at me and even Rosalie looked slightly surprised at my beauty. "Bella, you look absolutely stunning," she breathed.
I blushed a deep crimson and beamed at her. "Thank you Rosalie. That means a lot coming from you," I muttered. I knew she heard me clear as a bell though and she seemed at ease for one of the first times since I had met her.
I turned around and said with resignation, "Okay, let's get this over with."