This is my version of how it could have gone for Rosalie, a character created by Stephanie Meyer.
Chapter 5: Presentations
It was time to get dressed for the rehearsal dinner.
Royce's favorite color is dark blue. My mother and I had selected a beautifully fitted royal blue, bias cut, floor length gown. It had a slightly provocative v-neckline and fitted sleeves adorned with tiny silver buttons ending at my wrists. As I adjusted the buttons I was grateful we had selected a dress with long sleeves. There was a stark white two-inch ribbon at the waist that was tied into an unobtrusive bow at the end of the v-cut that showed off most of my back. It drew attention to my tiny waist and my shapely hips.
My shoes were the same color. We'd had them dyed to perfectly match the gown. I remembered the fit I had thrown when I was initially told it could not be done in time for the dinner party. My father took the man aside and said something I could not hear, clearly convincing the man that it would be done. As I slipped them on, I had a strange sensation. I absolutely loved my reflection; I was truly stunning. But it was somehow marred by the many tantrums I had thrown to get my way. This ambivalent feeling was something I had never experienced before.
I looked in the mirror. But I looked past myself. What was happening to me? This was a match made in heaven, isn't that what my mom had been trying to say – just yesterday? I realized I was fidgeting with the sleeves again. I sent a biting look at the mirror.
"Stop it!" I nearly screamed out loud at the girl in the mirror.
"Stop it! This is the best you can expect of life." The angry face almost suited me. It was as if there was two of me.
When my mother walked into the room I concealed my anger revealing the beautiful Rose reflected in the mirror. I was taken with the face I saw.
"Smile more" my mother demanded as she hastily retied the bow at my back.
"You look so pretty when you smile."
As I stepped out of the room her unstated message rang in my mind 'keep that smile on your face, don't blow this now.'
Royce put on the jacket to his tuxedo and admired his reflection in the mirror. "Too bad she and I won't be together for long. She'd look good dangling from my arm."
Felix greased his hair back. "Anything good on the menu tonight?" he looked at Royce's reflection as he punctuated the word 'good'.
"Best behaviors tonight, pal, the town is watching." Royce responded.
Felix removed a flask from his pocket and took a good, long drink. "Want me to scare her – get her rattled at this ridiculous public display."
"You do what you do and I'll do what I do." Royce reached for the door and walked out to wait at the stairs for his bride-to-be.
Pomp and circumstance was a part of everything the King's did. And promptness was expected. At the appointed moment I appeared at the top of the stairs. My knight in shining armor stood on the bottom step. His smile was breathtaking as he held his hand out to me, one foot moving up the stairs. He was wearing a black tuxedo with a white shirt, and a scarf that matched my dress exactly. His eyes were shining. I got lost in them – he was in love with me! I knew it! These strange feelings were simply nerves! It was just cold feet. His devastating smile washed all my fears away. I stretched out my hand to his as I gracefully walked down the stairs.
Every eye was on me! I did not disappoint. Royce was finally able to take my eager fingers as I met him at the bottom stair. He lovingly pulled me to him. I reddened as he brushed his lips on my warmed cheek. I looked up at him through my lashes. His eyes adored me. He put his arm around me and escorted me to the dinner table. We walked past all the guests who were clapping for us.
As he seated me, I heard a voice crawl in my ear that seductively drawled "Rosie". I froze.
The cluster of men.
A broken streetlamp.
My name from the dark shadows.
What had I done? This marriage would damn my soul. My euphoria rained out of my eyes. Members of the wedding party thought only that I was moved by my "sweetheart's" loving embrace. I felt Royce's hand hard on my naked back as he pushed in the chair, violence oozing from his false smile. I wanted to scream.
I made it through dinner. I had no choice. Royce had a death-grip on my small hand throughout most of the meal. Every now and again, he would let my hand free, as he would animatedly regale the guests with one of his stories. I would move my hands under the table and gratefully flex my fingers, knowing his hand would wrap itself around mine soon enough.
The voice behind the drawl was Felix who was seated right next to Royce. His black hair was slicked back and he had a moustache, somehow making him look even more lewd. Every now and again he would chuckle as he noted the way Royce was gripping my hand. His eyes were small and I didn't like the way they looked at me. I felt so exposed by the way his eyes roamed up and down me, like I was a menu item that could be prepared to his liking. He absentmindedly licked his lips and I realized what he was imagining. His stare pierced through me.
He saw the fear.
And he liked it.
My plastered smile fooled everyone. How could I not have seen before this very moment just how superficial these people really were? How could I not recognize just how superficial I was? This too-late observation would not help me now. I was getting married tomorrow, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
When dinner was over, the charade renewed itself. Royce graciously pulled back my chair, gently taking my hand, helping me to my feet. He walked me to my parents; they were positively brimming with visions of their entitled life that was 24 short hours away. I hated them.
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