A/N: I LOVED the response I got for last chapter. I'd like to thank everyone who voted for Melanie's wedding dress. The dress's link is on my website. I'd like to thank inluvwithfictionalcharacter and bella1985 for sending me their choice of dresses. Unfortunately, the dress my friend chose was the one that won. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for taking so long to update. But you guys did take a while to help me reach 100 reviews. Lol.

And I had a lot of projects to do. I have midterms this week so I'm not sure when I'll update next. If I get a good response ( MEANING THAT MOST IF NOT ALL THE 53 PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS STORY ON ALERT REVIEW), then I'll update in less than four days…otherwise my next update might not be for another week or two.

Kay I'll stop rambling…

enjoy this really really late update :D

Disclaimer: I'm only playing in Stephenie's sandbox{fictional world}... i don't own the bucket or the pail {characters}. :D

Last Chapter:

"What's taking Jared so long?" I inquired anxiously. I wanted to get this over with already.

"Ian O'Shea, you're not worried are you?" Wanda challenged.

"No." I said unconvincingly. I was more afraid of losing Wanda than worried. I just had a gnawing feeling in the back of my head that things wouldn't go as smoothly as planned.

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Ian, weren't you the one that told me everything would be fine and not to worry?"

She was right. I had told her that and now I was contradicting myself. I put on the best carefree smile I could manage "Everything will be fine." I reassured both her and myself.

Before she could say anything, Jared slammed the door shut and revved the engine.

"Let's get this show on the road." He exclaimed, reversing out of the cave.

Chapter eight

-MPOV-

We rode in silence, the atmosphere thick with apprehension and excitement. The only sound was the low purr of the Honda Civic and the click of the gear shift when Jared switched gears. So when the engine suddenly ceased its purring, I noticed how uncomfortable the silence really was.

I was so lost in my thoughts I hadn't noticed that Jared had pulled in front of a small boutique called "Tie the knot."

I released the seat belt from its buckle and let it flow aimlessly from me. I reached down to pick up my clutch, when Jared's hand intercepted mine. I turned my face toward him questioningly, and was startled by how close his face was to mine.

"Be careful," he said, his husky voice laced with worry and sternness.

I rolled my eyes. Ever since we got engaged he was always too worried about my safety.

"I always am." I replied lightly, hoping to ease his mood.

"Call me, when you're done. And promise me you'll call if you run into any trouble. "Jared said seriously ignoring my attempts to appease his worry.

I slowly took my hand out of his and place it gently on his cheek. "I promise that I will call when I'm done."

"Mel, I'm ser-"He started.

"And so am I. There will be no other reason to call you. Trust me." I said, and then pulled his lips to mine before he could say anything else.

I broke away reluctantly.

"I love you." Jared said against my lips.

"I love you too." I replied.

Then with a chaste kiss, I grabbed my clutch and turned around to see Ian and Wanda kissing. Wanda's arms were locked around Ian's neck. Her head was tilted slightly upward so that she could reach his lips. One of Ian's hands cupped Wanda's face while the other rested on the small of her back. They were oblivious to the intensity of their love for each other; but the rest of the world wasn't. The way they looked at each other, told you that they couldn't live a second without the other.

"Do something. Otherwise we'll be here all day waiting for them to come back to reality." Jared whispered in my ear.

I swatted his arm playfully, laughed, and then nodded in agreement.

I opened my door and said "Bye Jared, Bye Ian."

Slowly the backseat lovers resurfaced.

"Be safe." Ian whispered.

I rolled my eyes, men.

Wanda giggled. "Bye Ian." Then she slipped out of Ian's hold, waved goodbye as Jared sped away, and strolled over to where I was standing.

As we walked toward the small entrance, I realized how excited I felt. Just a few days ago, I thought that I wouldn't get the chance to have the fairy tale wedding that I always dreamed about. And now here I was, fulfilling another part of my dream.

I pushed open the door, walked in, and was enveloped with a warm vanilla smell.

A stout woman, who seemed to be in her mere 60's, strolled up to us. "Welcome to Tie the Knot, what can I do for you today?" she said.

I suddenly felt self-conscious and worried that the lady would recognize that I wasn't a soul. I shook the fear out of my head.

"Oh how silly of me. You obviously are looking for a dress, if you came here." She smiled creating more wrinkles under her eyes.

She reminded me so much of my grandmother and all the lingering fear, doubt, and worry were replaced by comfort. I smiled in return. "I'm here to look for my wedding dress. And a bridesmaid dress for Wanda." I said turning to introduce Wanda. But when I turned, Wanda was no longer standing next to me.

Noticing my perplexed expression, the saleswoman pointed towards a rack of bridesmaid dresses, "She's over there."

"Mel! Come look at these! "Wanda exclaimed, emerging from behind the rack with eyes as big as saucers.

I laughed. She acted like such a teenager sometimes, it made me wonder if it was because her host was 17 years old.

I turned back to the saleswomen, and saw her scrutinizing me from head to toe. I felt the fear creeping back. Was she suspecting that I was human? Was it the fact that Wanda called me Mel? Wanda had said that many souls kept their hosts names, so it shouldn't give me away should it?

I started to say something, when the lady said. "I think I might have the perfect dress for you. It might need a little fitting, but nothing too drastic."

I sighed in relief. She was just assessing my figure for a dress. As she walked away, I walked to where Wanda was.

As I reached her, she pulled out three dresses from the rack. "I really like this style so I picked out three different colors in it. Which color do you like best?"

It was a cocktail length, strapless dress with an empire bodice. Each dress was framed with a different colored sheer fabric and had a matching sheer waist tie sash.

"Hmm… I like the style too. But I'm not sure which color would look best on you." I contemplated.

"Dear, why don't you try them all in the dressing room?" The sales lady called behind me.

I realized that I didn't know her name and it would be rude to call her saleswoman.

"Excuse me, "I said.

"Yes, darling." She replied.

"May I know your name?" I asked hesitantly. I didn't know if I sounded polite enough.

"Oh, silly me. I forgot my manners. My name is Maudy." She replied laughing lightly.

Maudy. So she kept her hosts name. It suited her personality really well too.

Before I could tell Maudy my name, Wanda bounded out of the fitting room. She was wearing the ice blue dress. It accented her blonde curls beautifully.

"It's perfect." I exclaimed.

"It is." She affirmed, twirling on the heel of her foot, stopping to stand infront of the full length mirror and admiring the dress.

"Did you find your dress yet?" She asked excitedly, turning to face me.

"Here it is." Maudy said as she strolled out of the storage room with a big garment bag.

I felt a wave of excitement and anxiety wash over me, as Maudy struggled to zip open the bag. I saw a flash of white and a shimmering silky fabric.

"Would you like me to help you open it?" I asked.

"Sure." She said, as she stepped aside and waved at the dress like Vanna White.

I walked over to the bag and gently but quickly zipped it open. I pushed the flaps of the bag aside and gasped at the dress in front of me. My eyes traveled over the crystals that detailed the embroidery on the strapless empire bodice. My eyes became wider as they scanned over the draped silk fabric on the torso and the asymmetrical waterfall draping that flowed to the floor. It was beautiful. It was beyond what I imagined. It was the perfect dress.

A/N:

So as always I'd love to read your thoughts and opinions IN A REVIEW.

**REMEMBER: the more response I get the more motivated I will be to take a break from studying for my midterms and update this story in less than four days.

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