Disclaimers to Stephenie Meyer and Tomoko Hayakawa.
Oh, this is getting sadder with each chapter I write, because this will be like next to next to penultimate chapter. But like Nelly Furtado sang, "All good things come to an end."
Thank you to all my reviewers :) you are so dedicated and are the reason why I write, all the time. And my new founded muse, Everlife. Love, love them.
By the way the Friends quote was when Rachel said to Ross "Accept that," and then the little section after that. Yeah, if you don't know friends you won't understand. Sorry.
And the story continues...
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"Okay, Bella, relax," Edward soothed, Alice was in their house at an early time. Bella was having her hair and make-up done before school. It was the last day of school before the weekend, and the last day to practise for the wedding. Bella looked at her uniform; it was tweaked to absolute perfection. Edward was sat in front of Bella, his hands on his lap.
Should I take his hand? Bella thought. She sat their debating about it. Finally, she picked up the courage to reach to his hand. Just as she made a movement, Edward moved his hand. Her hand was on his lap. She stared at it, as if it was an alien. Alice paused to stare at the situation. Edward smirked as he watched Bella turn a deeper red.
Cos she put her hand on my lap, does that mean I can put my hand on her hip? Because that would be really – this isn't the moment, Edward winced. He felt the patch of skin that Bella's hand was on top of get really hot.
"Excuse me?" Edward finally choked out, breaking the really tense silence. Bella's hand left his lap as if it had been electrocuted.
"Sorry," Bella muttered leaving the room.
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Friday was over. Finally, they were out of that school. And the best part was that they had gotten all their acceptance letters from college. Nearly everyone was accepted into their first choice college, except Alice who was positive she wasn't going to get into Harvard with Jasper but as she predicted she knew she was going to the same place as Bella. Bella was headed with Edward and Alice to Princeton, Jasper was going to Harvard (and commuting every week to see Alice), and Carlisle was going to Cornell with Esme. Emmett and Rosalie weren't going to college; they were going to be too busy learning from their parents, doing the married couple thing. They weren't exactly dropping out; they were just getting work experience.
Although Jasper was very against this, he was too busy with the wedding that was the next day. There was no graduation party, but instead there were people rushing around the house, finalising ideas. Alice was sleeping over and was wearing her bridesmaid dress in Bella's room. Bella stared at the rose dress that was on a hanger on her door. She gulped. Alice was straightening creases in her dress. She looked up and saw Bella staring blankly at the dress on the door.
"Bella, it's not going to strangle you when you wear it," Alice said quietly.
"I know but, it's a dress. Well, I know I've worn a dress, but it's a pink dress," Bella sighed, "I'm going to wear a pink dress walking as a bridesmaid to a wedding. I never thought I'd ever do that."
"You've changed."
The sentence was so final and so resolute, Bella didn't object.
"You haven't tried it on yet," Alice reminded Bella.
"I can wear it tomorrow," Bella said, pointing at her bed. Alice glared at her.
"Fine." Bella mumbled, "But I'm going to draw on you with eyeliner tomorrow and set the clocks back an hour so we're late."
"I heard that," Alice chuckled, "and it's not going to happen."
Alice removed the hanger off the door and closed it. Bella grumbled as she took off her clothes. She winced when Alice took the dress off the hanger. She closed her eyes.
"Just think of it as revision for finals which are tomorrow," Alice whispered. Bella felt silk glide over her skin.
"And if I pass?" Bella questioned with a smile. She felt something unusual zip her up, it was soft and tender instead of in a hurry. Strong arms wrapped around her and she heard a musical voice whisper urgently in her ear.
"Then you will be the most beautiful creature I have ever set my eyes on."
The arms left and Bella opened her eyes. There was no one in her room.
She looked at the mirror that was placed behind her. She was unrecognisable. She didn't have any make-up on, her hair was a mess, but somehow she looked graceful. The dress floated around her like a cloud. It was rose coloured. Again, she had a cleavage, and even though it wasn't as pronounced as last time, there still was one.
When Bella hung the dress back on the floor, she couldn't help but imagine what her wedding would be like, maybe just as magical as Rosalie's, and maybe she would get the perfect man, the perfect proposal.
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"Then you will be the most beautiful creature I have ever set my eyes on."
Edward let go and power walked out of the room.
When he had actually gotten back into his own room, he saw the tuxedo hanging off his wardrobe. He closed his eyes and could hear the words Bella had told him the day Auntie confessed.
"Edward, help me. Help me become the person my Auntie wants to be. Help me get out the pit I've tried hiding under so long. I know your rent counts on it and things like that so you can live here and afford Princeton and things like that, but please help me."
"I promise," Edward told her.
"Thank you."
"Why did you not want to be a lady anyway?"
"Because of him. I put away all the mirrors so I wouldn't care about my appearance anymore. I just didn't want to be pretty. I wanted to be ugly like he said I was," Bella smiled, "It sounds stupid now."
"Actually it does."
"Would it be cliché to say I have a crush on you, Edward?" Bella asked tentatively.
"Well, yes. But this is the only time I actually care about someone actually having a crush on me." Edward smiled. Edward ruffled Bella's hair and walked out of the room, only to run his hands through his head.
Edward opened his eyes. Times had changed so much since all those months ago when Bella first came. He remembered hating her, not being able to do anything about her. He remembered how she walked into him having a shower and looking about him when he was so ill. He remembered the little things she did and obsessed over. Their first kiss, and feeling so anxious, wanting her more. Then the Christmas dance fiasco, but that wasn't entirely his fault, but he didn't stop anything. Then gaining her trust back. Edward stumbled to his bed.
Maybe, the next day wouldn't be so bad.
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Review, please? (Also, the italics in the section above is like a flashback from where the last chapter cut off. I thought I may add some Bella/Edward fluff.)
