The Learning Curve: Chapter 128

Edward Cullen's House

The guests were already arriving, milling about in the decked out backyard. My dress hung, protected in plastic, from the back of the door in the Cullens' guest bedroom. I was perched in on a stool in my sweatpants while not one but four women fussed over my hair and makeup.

"Mom, I'm serious, put down the blue eye-shadow," I complained, which was echoed with a chorus of agreement from Alice and Rosalie. Defeated, Renee stood back with her arms crossed and watched Esme and Alice work on my face while Rosalie curled my hair. I'd decided to leave it down for our simple wedding.

"I don't know what you have against a splash of color," Renee retorted.

"Mrs. Dwyer, the wedding colors are white and lavender," Rose pointed out, never one to beat around the bush. "Blue would totally clash. Besides, Bella wants to look natural."

I smiled gratefully at Rose through the vanity mirror.

"And really, if Bella wears blue eye-shadow, we all should," Alice added, "But the bridesmaids' dresses are actually lavender…"

"Okay, I get it, no blue," Renee said, throwing her hands up.

Diplomatic Esme kept a straight face through all of this.

Fortunately for me, having multiple people dolling me up made the process go quickly, and soon I was fully beautified – hair falling easily in large, spiral curls, make-up done to accentuate without embellishing.

"You do look absolutely beautiful, sweetheart," Renee said, dabbing a tissue to her eyes, and suddenly Esme was crying too and Rosalie and Alice looked like they could start at any moment.

I gaped at them, perplexed, and decided the best thing to do would be to extricate myself from the waterworks.

"I should really get dressed now," I said, standing up. Alice rushed for the dress. She'd already refused to let me put it on alone lest I stumble and rip something. I didn't see much point in fighting her on it.

"Everyone, prepare to be amazed," Alice declared as she dragged me into the bathroom. When the dress was on, it somehow still amazed me how perfect it was. It fit like a glove, and it was so right.

"Alice, I'll never be able to thank you enough. I still can't believe how beautiful this dress is."

Alice bit her lip. "Bella, I have a confession to make."

"What?" I asked, brow furrowed. I couldn't imagine what Alice could be nervous about at this point.

"Remember when you asked if I'd really done this with the money you gave me, and I said I didn't spend any of my own money?"

I nodded.

"Well…that was true, but what I left out is that your mom chipped in a bunch more."

"What?"

Alice shrugged unrepentantly. "Your mom came to me and said she wanted to help out with the dress. I wasn't about to refuse."

I opened and closed my mouth a few times, unsure what to say. "How much?" I finally asked.

Alice pursed her lips. "She gave me an extra three hundred."

"Oh my god," I said, and then there were tears brimming in my eyes.

"Stop that!" Alice screeched, lunging for a tissue. "The mascara is waterproof but the eyeliner is not! No crying. Absolutely no crying."

"Okay," I managed, stifling back the tears. "I'll try."

"Now come on," Alice said, giving me a little push. "They're all waiting to see."

I nodded and let her usher me out of the bathroom.

A/N: You didn't think I'd squeeze the whole wedding into one chapter, did you?

Thanks again for giving a crap what I write in these author's notes. One of the greatest things about this story has been getting to have a daily conversation of sorts with you lovely readers.

A note to those who are growing bored with the story: you can stop reading at any point. I won't hold it against you. Some people have gotten all they want out of the story, and some want more. I'm just writing until I'm done.