Another installation! I think it's high time we brought Bella into the mix, here. Let's see how it goes! :D

I am nervous. I have agreed to be in the house when Bella arrives today for her dress fitting (I'm confident in Alice's estimated measurements, but she is quite paranoid that it won't fit on the big day). I've decided that I really, really do want to be able to attend the wedding. I have spent many long hours helping Alice prepare for the event, and it is going to be truly spectacular; of that, I have no doubt. I figure that, if the Cullens will have no problem being in the same room with all those humans, then it is at least physically possible; it can be done. The question is, can it be done by me? I think that it is high time for me to start pushing the limits of my self-control anyway, and the gas station incident has boosted my confidence (as I suspect Alice designed it would). In fact, everyone seems confident in my self-control, but I am still pretty apprehensive. I mean, this is Bella.

I've thought about this thoroughly: I will stay upstairs the entire time, as far away from her as possible. I have requested to have Jasper and Emmett there with me, to pin me down if necessary. I went hunting just last night, fully satiating any thirst I had felt. I am well prepared.

But I still feel anxious. I can feel Jasper trying to help me, to calm me down; it does help, but not enough. Edward told me earlier (although he was originally reluctant to let me try this experiment - I suspect that Alice has persuaded him in some way) that I have nothing to worry about because he will be protecting Bella the whole time, and he would take me down before I could even think about taking a step toward her. He had laughed then, as if he knew it wouldn't be necessary. But I knew he wasn't joking, and he didn't really think it was funny. Self-control or no, I am a threat to her, and he could hardly stand it.

"Chill out, Bree," Emmett says casually as he lounges on a largely unnecessary chair - one of the few in the house. His hands are locked behind his head, his posture relaxed. Clearly, he is not nearly as worried as I am. "It's not like she's going to bite you or anything!" He chuckles at his own joke.

"Ha, ha," I say bitterly. But his lightheartedness is almost as helpful as Jasper's calming aura. They know more about this kind of thing than I do; if they are not worried, why should I be? It seems logical enough, and I relax a bit.

I pick up a book and begin reading to pass the time until she arrives. Carlisle has the most interesting collection of books I have ever seen, and I am nearly a third of the way through the works in his study. I am currently reading "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley. It's ironic, I know - a monster reading about a monster - but Shelley writes very intelligently, and I find it fascinating. I read up to the point where the creature kills Dr. Frankenstein's nephew as revenge for his abandonment. The nephew is so helpless and fragile and human; the creature, so strong and frightening and ... superhuman. Inhuman. I shiver and put the book down, hoping it isn't a bad omen.

Then I hear the car pulling up, and my anxiety returns full-throttle. I sit on the floor, crossing my legs and gripping my ankles where they cross in front of me. I will not move from this spot, I tell myself. I will not. And I believe it.

The door opens, and I hear Edward come in with Bella. Her voice and footfalls are distinctly human as she greets Carlisle and Esme. But at first, the scent is not overwhelming; it is perhaps just a little stronger than it usually is in the house.

In less than a minute, however, her scent fills my nostrils and I want her. It is everywhere, everywhere! Human scents must travel much faster than those of vampires.

I notice that I am standing. I do not remember standing.

I can hear the loud, wet sound of her heart, pushing her sweet blood continually through her thinly-walled veins, hidden only by fragile skin. The consistent rhythm of it throbs in my ears. I clench my jaw and squeeze my eyes shut, trying to focus on anything else. You cannot have her, I tell myself. You do not need her blood. You are not thirsty.

It is true enough; I feel no physical need for blood - only desire, rich and aching. But they might as well be the same thing at this point. It would be so easy...

I try to focus on a voice - Alice's. Her high, tinkling voice. What is she saying? "...going to be so beautiful. I don't mean to brag, but Bree and I have created a masterpiece. I just hope it fits!" She sounds so excited. This is the tricky part, I realize; Bella will be coming upstairs now to try on the dress (far away from the room I am in, of course, but still).

Alice continues to gab away as they ascend the stairs, and I hear Bella's heart getting closer to me. But I push the thought away, and focus again on their words. "I want to meet her!" Bella's undeniably human voice stands out to me. "I can thank all of you any old time I want, but I never get to thank Bree! I don't even know her, and she's helping with my wedding!" She makes the word sound sour somehow - isn't she excited for the ceremony? "I want her to know me before I allow her to do me any service; is that so unreasonable?"

I hear Edward sigh. He's very close. I open my eyes. He is standing before me with Jasper and Emmett. I guess it makes sense that he would be here; after all, he can't be there to see the dress, but he will still want to continue protecting Bella to the best of his ability. "She's so stubborn," he says softly. Bella won't hear it, but it's clear to all of us with superior hearing. I find it within me somewhere to smile at him.

"Bella, we've been over this," I hear Esme say patiently. They've stopped moving; they must be at the actual dress-testing stage now. Almost over, I tell myself. You're doing well. "Bree isn't ready to meet you. She isn't completely comfortable around humans yet."

"And," Alice says pointedly, "we all know your real reason for wanting to talk to her. You don't have to make up excuses; it's completely understandable to be curious."

I can practically hear the blush washing over her cheeks. "That's not the only reason," she insists, but it sounds weak.

"Well, then thank her if you must," Rose suddenly says, exasperated. "She can hear you, you know."

There is a silence. Edward, Jasper, and Emmett look very surprised. Everyone is holding their breath (except Bella; she is still deafeningly human). Then Edward begins to look angry as Bella works through this clue. It is almost as if I can hear his thoughts: What is Rosalie thinking? I am wondering the same.

"She's here?" Bella asks excitedly. "Where?" I hear a rustling that can only be her dress as she starts to search for me. Edward is gone as quickly as he came in.

"Do NOT come in here, Edward," Alice calls. Then she addresses her living mannequin again. "Bella, we're serious. You can't see her, and before you futilely go and try, at least let me get you out of this perfect, gorgeous dress. Okay?"

Bella must comply with this request, because I hear more rustling of the fancy fabric. I suddenly wish I could see her in it - Alice wasn't exaggerating when she called it a masterpiece.

Then I have a thought: I could see her. I feel like I am in control. I haven't even thought about my burning throat for a long while. Of course, it is aching, but I think the long weeks of conditioning my senses to her scent have had a numbing effect on my hunting instinct.

I am not Frankenstein's creature. I could do it. I could.

I walk at a slow, human pace toward Jasper and Emmett so that they will not tackle me. They look at me, confused, as I near them. Jasper grabs my arm before I can get past him; he's not about to let me by. I look up at him to show him my clear eyes. I have my wits about me, I try to show him. "I won't hurt her," I promise. "I don't even want to." And it's true; I don't. I am in control of my mind and my body entirely. All of my previous worry is gone. I have no doubt that I can do this.

All of a sudden, Edward stands in front of me, eyes narrowed as he peers down at me. Why is everyone so much taller than I am? I wonder vaguely.

Edward's eyes stop glaring at me and blink a few times. I meet his stare and try to convince him of what I know. "Are you sure?" he murmurs, not letting Bella hear. I make no response. He knows everything I've been thinking. I don't need to explain myself- not to him.

Slowly he nods. "Fine," he says a little louder, so that the vampires in the fitting room can hear. Jasper releases my arm as Edward steps out of my way.

"Don't take the dress off yet!" I call to them, hurrying to follow the admittedly delicious scent. "I want to see it!"

I open the door slowly, not wanting to startle Bella. Or myself, for that matter. The scent is definitely stronger here - much stronger. I stand still for a moment to collect my thoughts, to ignore it, but it isn't working.

Blood. BLOOD.

No. Don't need it.

Oh, but it smells so good. Just a taste?

No, no. Definitely not.

Her heart, so loud - her skin, so soft, pliable, warm. I need it.

No, I don't.

Gah, my throat is on FIRE.

I can taste my own venom.

I could really go for some blood right now...

NO. This is Bella. Edward's girl.

With that thought, I am able to force myself to leave. I bolt out of the room, and down the stairs. I clutch fistfuls of my own hair. Maybe I can't do this. Maybe it's too fast. Maybe, maybe, maybe...

But I need to see this dress. I don't know why, but it just feels like I need it. If I can do it, I'll be one of them. Edward, help me do this, I plead with him. What do I need? What do you do that I don't?

"Hey," Edward says, suddenly at my side. "It's okay if you can't do it. We don't expect you to be able to. We never did."

"We're putting the dress back on," Alice announces. "Whenever you're ready, Bree. Remember: you'll be fine."

That gets me thinking, makes me sane again. I'll be fine? Alice's visions are amazing, rarely failing to be absolutely accurate, from what I hear. If she believes in me, maybe I can do it. Everyone believed in me, not even thirty seconds ago.

Edward says I can compartmentalize my thoughts. Jasper says I can check my emotions. Alice says I have a bright future.

I think it's about time I proved them right.

So I march back up the stairs and flit to the door I left open, focusing on not breathing. The scent is strong, but my will is stronger. I slide into the room and close the door behind me, despite my better judgment.

Bella is beautiful, for a human. Especially in the stunning wedding dress which I have helped Alice perfect for the past few weeks, her appearance has every bit of the appeal that her blood does. How does Edward do this? I wonder as the discomfort sets in.

"Don't look at her!" Alice nearly yells, jumping right in front of me. "Not all at once. Edward's not allowed to see her in it, and he's so nosy..." I hear chuckling from outside. "Just focus on parts of it, okay?"

I can't help smiling at Alice. Surely Edward has already seen the dress in our minds as we have worked on it and thought and talked about it, just as we have all aspects of the wedding. But I humor her. "Got it."

"Um, hi," I hear Bella say. I look at her again, across the room, but this time I focus on her eyes. Warm brown irises. I think I used to have similar ones- but I can't remember, nor do I want to. She looks at me curiously, seeming to have equal interest in my eyes- which are, of course, a strange bright orange that she has probably never seen before.

"Hello," I say tightly, keeping pressed against the wall. I don't want to take any chances, not with her. She's important to the Cullens, and I want to find out why. My mouth twitches as I attempt to smile (and fail, I assume). "You're going to be the most lovely bride."

"Well, maybe I'll look halfway decent," she concedes, "thanks to you guys." Her smile is so genuine, and yet so sarcastic at the same time. I try not to consider the warmth under her skin, the blood so sweet I can almost taste it... "But seriously - thank you very much for helping Alice out so much. You're kind to help arrange a stranger's wedding!"

"Well, it's not like I have anything else to do," I admit. I've begun to shake slightly with the effort of keeping myself away from her. I focus on my own words, and it helps. "It gives me something to work towards, something worthwhile, you know. Something other than-" I gulp back a pool of venom and press my fingers into my temples. I groan. "Urrgggh, why do you smell so good?" I clench my jaw and shake my head, trying to clear it.

There is a very still moment before Bella quietly says, "I'm sorry."

I look up slowly, suspiciously. Her eyes are wide and sad, compassionate and sincere. I can't help myself; I bust up laughing. I cannot contain it, and for a moment, I am so consumed in laughter that I forget entirely about the burning in my throat. "You... you're sorry!" I giggle some more at the absurdity of the thought. "I'm over here, basically on the verge of murdering you, and you're sorry?"

I hear other chuckles join mine as the tension in the house diffuses immensely. It feels good, natural, to be laughing with the Cullens: with my new family. I have never been so certain that I made the right choice as I do in this moment.

Awwwwwww. Dear goodness, I'm turning into a sap! ;) Review for me, if you please! :)