The Learning Curve: Chapter 123

Alice Brandon's House

I was admittedly a bit nervous for my first dress fitting.

Alice had shown me sketches when she'd first started working on the gown, but I hadn't seen any of her work since then. She refused to show me anything until she had it as close to finished as she could. I had no idea what she'd actually done with the dress between sketching and sewing, and I had…apprehensions. Not that it wouldn't be great, because I knew Alice would never make me something awful, but I was a little worried that she might have gone…overboard.

"I'm so excited," Alice gushed when I got up to her "studio" – a spare bedroom that she'd completely monopolized with boxes of fabric and dress forms and two different sewing machines.

"Me too," I said, forcing my smile wider than was natural.

"So, I'm putting the dress on you before you can see it," Alice said seriously. She went to the corner and pulled forward a floor-length mirror. "Strip down to your underwear first, and then you can close your eyes while I put it on you."

I blinked at her. "Seriously, Alice?"

She glared at me. "This is extremely serious, Bella. Are you going to cooperate?"

"Fine," I sighed, already lifting my T-shirt over my head. "But at least turn around."

"You're absurd," Alice said, but she did turn around while I shed my shoes and jeans.

"Absurd? You're one to talk."

Alice huffed. "Are you done yet?"

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Yes, I'm done."

Instead of turning around, she dug into the closet in the room and produced what looked suspiciously like a shoe box.

"What's that?" I demanded. Nowhere in our discussions had shoes been mentioned.

Alice gave me a look. "Your shoes? You have to wear the shoes you're going to be wearing for the wedding when you try on the dress. Otherwise, how will I know how long to make it? I can't have it hovering around your ankles, for goodness sake. And since I knew you wouldn't have thought about it ahead of time, I went ahead and bought the perfect shoes for the dress."

"How high?" I asked with dread. I didn't care if she'd bought me bright red shoes as long as they weren't so high that I would fall on my way to the altar.

Alice pulled off the lid and presented one to me. Blessedly, it was a low heel, no more than half an inch. The shoes were beautiful, too. I had to hand it to her – Alice knew what she was doing. I offered her a small, apologetic smile.

She merely shook her head. "Ye of little faith. Would I steer you wrong?"

"No," I admitted begrudgingly.

"Now put these on and let me do my job," Alice said, thrusting the box at me. I dutifully took the shoes and slipped into them, needing only a half a second to steady my balance.

"Perfect," Alice nodded. "Now close your eyes and don't open until I tell you. Here comes the dress."

I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. This was getting…really real.

There was a rustle of fabric, and then Alice told me to lift my arms. I snickered as I heard her climb onto a chair to reach.

"Shut up," she said ruefully, and then I felt something soft and smooth being lowered over my head. Alice guided my arms through the sleeves, and after a few tugs, the dress fell into place. She got down from the chair and moved behind me to zip up the back.

"Okay," Alice said, sounding as nervous as I was. "You can look."

Reluctantly, I opened my eyes and took in the girl in the mirror.

The dress was…beautiful. Cap sleeves just covered my shoulders and led down to a straight neckline on a rouched bodice that made me look like I actually had breasts. She'd given it an empire waistline, which made me feel very Elizabeth Bennett. The skirt flowed down to my feet, gracefully flaring at the bottom. But the amazing part of the dress was the details – the lace overlay on the sleeves and bodice, the light silver embroidered pattern that graced the bottom of the skirt.

I swallowed down a little lump in my throat. This was exactly the dress I wanted to marry Edward in.

"What do you think?" Alice asked anxiously, appearing at my elbow. "There's a veil, too, but I wanted to let you see the dress alone first. We can redo the veil like…a million times if you don't like it."

I shook my head. "Alice, it's beautiful. You did…such an amazing job."

Her face reflected in the mirror brightened with a beaming smile. "I'm so relieved. I don't know what I would have done if you hated it."

"It's just right, Alice, really."

She grinned. "Let me get the veil."

I looked down at the skirt, fingering the smooth material as she produced the veil from the closet. I had a sneaking suspicion it was actual silk.

"Here," Alice said, placing the veil atop my head. It was attached to a simple silver band, falling halfway down my back. Alice nodded in approval at her work. "Now you're a bride."

"The veil is great," I assured her, a little amazed at the image in the mirror before me. I'd never spent much time imagining my wedding or what my dress would look like, but if I had imagined what Edward would see when I walked down the aisle to him, this would be it.

I licked my lips apprehensively. "Tell me honestly, Alice. Did you really do this just with the money I gave you?"

She held up her right hand. "I swear to you, Bella, I didn't spend one cent of my own money," she said in a sufficiently chiding tone that I felt bad for even asking. "I know you're not especially knowledgeable when it comes to fashion, but this is Project Runway level magic I've worked for you."

"I believe you," I laughed, turning to face her. "Alice, I'm super impressed. But you should know as well that I never would have asked you if I didn't believe with all my heart that you could do it."

Alice hugged me gingerly, looking a little teary-eyed. "I know, Bella. And that's why I love you." She pulled back, clearing her throat. "Now it's time to get to the real work. I've got to figure out what alterations need to be made before the big day."

I stood still and let her start pinning, happy to be in such good hands.

A/N: You're all so supportive and sweet.

Someone suggested I make Edward and Bella into Sims for inspiration...I totally did, and the minute those two were married, Edward started thinking about babies. It was awful. :P