One year later…
It had been one year since Edward had come back. And things had never been better. Charlie had finally accepted the fact that Edward was staying, though things are anything but friendly. And of course he had welcomed Alice with open arms. There had been no response from the wolves, just a few howls in the night; warnings, we assumed. Renée wasn't too thrilled with their return, either. She sided with Charlie in that Edward wasn't good for me. How wrong they were. But Renée conceded because she could see how much we loved each other. Unfortunately Charlie wasn't that soft.
It was a stunning day outside where Edward and I lay in our meadow; the sun was shining brightly, a soft wind was blowing and lifting up locks of my hair, swirling them around in the breeze. Tulips, Amaryllises, Alliums, Blue-bells, Heliotropes, Plumbagos, Roses, and Snowdrops, all fill the land around us. The faint trickling of the river mixes with the birds' singing, creating a beautiful harmony. Edward lay beneath me, his finger lightly tracing patterns on my arm, making shivers go up and down my spine. His eyes are closed and he's humming so softly I can barely hear him.
I turn on my side to better see his face. I reach up to trace his perfect, glittering nose as his eyes flutter open. He smiles at me in that faultless smile that makes my heart stop and my breaths come quicker. He slowly reaches up and grasps my hand in his, laying it softly on his chest as his eyes close once more.
I seemed to have fallen asleep watching the rhythmic, up and down movements of Edward's chest as he breathed, because all too soon he was gently shaking me awake. "Come on, love, it's time to go.." He says to me, picking me up and cradling me in his arms as he ran.
The sun was setting as we pulled up at the Cullen house. Edward was "kidnapping" me again, something I immensely looked forward to. I climbed out of the car only to be enthusiastically greeted by Alice, small and perfect. She embraced me swiftly then took my hand, dragging me into the house. "Edward may have kidnapped you, but you're MY prisoner." She said, turning around to stare at Edward, daring him to object to her plans. "Ha-ha, okay Alice," He replied, holding up his hands in surrender as my jaw popped open. He shot me a quick grin before he continued. "You can have her for now, but come tonight, she's mine." He gave her a warning glare before taking off into the forest. To hunt, I presumed.
"Okay Bella!" Alice sang as she towed me through the house and up to her room. "We have only a few hours to make you stunning." She said, setting multitudes of products on her bathroom counter and gesturing for me to sit in the chair facing the mirrors. "Wait, for what?" I asked, sitting down in the chair and raising my eyebrows at her. She said nothing has she turned away from me to grab a towel. "Al-lice!" I groaned, grabbing her hand as she stopped in front of me. "Bella, Edward would never forgive me if I told you. Now," She explained, turning the chair around so my head was in the sink. "Just be good and quiet while I work."
In the hours that proceeded, Alice managed to scrub every part of my scalp, de-hair every inch of showing skin, and make my hair shinier than I've ever seen it. My skin smelled of lavender and honey, as did my hair.
"Okay, okay, what to do with her hair..?" She muttered to Rosalie as she walked into the room. "Well how did you see it in your vision?" Rosalie asked her while staring at my hair as if coming up with possible styles. "Ooh, great idea!" Alice exclaimed before shutting her eyes. A look of deep concentration crossed her features for the briefest second before she called out "perfect!" and was indicating to Rosalie how it should be done. I closed my eyes and tried to tune them out, alone in my happy place with Edward…
"No no, leave her skin as it is." I faintly heard them say moments later, I was too absorbed in my Edward fantasy. "Because her skin has such an even complexion, putting anything on it would just make the color change so drastic." Oh, it was Rosalie speaking. "Okay" Alice conceded, "But at least just put on some eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick." "Oh yes, of course." She replied, and seconds later my eyes were being pried open. "Just hold still for a moment." Alice said, moving onto the next eye as Rosalie started applying the lipstick. "Okay, now time for the dress!" Alice said excitedly, hauling me up out of the chair and to her oversized bed. Rosalie went and fetched the dress as Alice all but ripped my clothes off.
She gingerly got the dress from Rosalie and slipped it over my head. "Oh, Bella." She gasped, smiling at me. "You're gorgeous!" She yelled, pulling me to a mirror. My eyes widened as I saw "my" reflection staring back at me.
The girl staring back at me had long, luxurious eyelashes, framing dark, wide eyes, set above a set of disproportioned dark red lips. She had a heart-shaped face with a wide forehead. Her hair was elegantly styled; it was pulled into bun on the back of her head, a few strands of hair falling partially into her face, framing it. The bun was curly, extremely so, held in place on the back of her head by about 15 bobby-pins. The hair curled around itself, and sticking out of the center of the bun was a Freesia flower.
The dress the girl wore was made of a silky, dark, navy blue material with glittering, lighter blue sequins covering the plunging bodice. The sleeves flowed down from her fore-arm and the edges of it were lined with the same color sequins. It was floor-length and flowed down from the waist. The dress hugged her in all the right places; it made her waist look slimmer and her hips shapelier.
"Oh Alice!" I exclaimed, turning around and hugging the radiant vampire that was so much like my sister. Alice hugged me back briefly before dashing away to get a pair of shoes, no doubt just like the ones she made me wear to prom, only in black. Alice returned as I heard a door shut loudly downstairs. My heartbeat sped up as Alice started tying the ribbons up my leg. "Ohh, calm down, Bella. Everything will go fine." She assured, helping me stand so I wouldn't loose my balance. I looked at her doubtfully, eyeing the shoes in distress.
Alice carried me to the top of the stairs, insisting that I had to walk down them by myself. "Fine," I grumbled, "But I fully blame you if I fall and die." I heard Emmett laugh loudly at that from somewhere in the living room where everyone awaited my arrival. "Alright Bella, down you go!" Alice said cheerfully, skipping down the stairs before me.
I took a deep breath and began a slow trek down the stairs.
Edward was waiting patiently at the foot of the last stair when I came into view. My breathing stopped as soon as I laid eyes on him. He looked even less human tonight in his pitch black suit and dark navy tie. His eyes never left mine as he chocked out to Alice "Whatever you want, you can have it." Alice's wind chime laughter sparkled with happiness as she beamed at him.
Edward took my hand as I stood in front of him on the last step, his eyes taking me in. A blush heated my cheeks and he smiled the crooked smile that I loved. "Ugh!" Emmett groaned, covering his eyes. "Get OUT already, you're making me SICK!" Edward glared over at him, a small smile playing over his face as we left.
"So, are you going to tell me now where we're going?" I asked him, leaning against his shoulder as we walked. The outside was lined with lights and rose petals that stretched all the way into the forest.
Wait, into the forest?
"You'll be able to see soon enough," Edward said, by-passing his car and pulling out a blind fold. "Noooo." I groaned, trying to turn my face away. "Please Bella? It would mean the world to me.." Edward breathed in my ear and my resistance fell. I sighed and turned around to see a triumphant smile on his glorious face. "Just do it." I said, closing my eyes. He laughed lightly as he tied it gently around my head, my vision going black. I felt his arms go around my waist before he picked me up and continued our walk through the forest.