Update: July 6 2016

Tanya and her parents left over an hour ago. I just heard the distant sound of the doorbell chiming. I ignored the ringing bell and continued on reading the book I had picked out earlier. It wasn't until I heard footsteps outside my door that I paid attention. They were rushed and stopped right outside my door. I groaned and set my book aside on the table next to the bed and went to answer the door.

I opened the door and standing in front of me was the woman that had helped me pick out dresses back in August. I hadn't seen her that day and I had no idea why she was here in front of me vibrating with so much excitement that I thought that she would break something or end up looking like the Easter bunny on crack.

"Um… hi." I said. "Why are you here?"

"Oh I was just sent by Jasper to help you get ready for the ball. He thought that you might want to go." She replied. "Now let's hurry before my absence is notice by anyone."

"I can't go. I've been told to stay away from the ball… actually I've been told to stay away from a specific person. I don't want any trouble so I'm going to stay away."

"Bella it is a masquerade ball so they won't know that you are even there." She said. "We'll just set the alarm on your phone to 11:45pm so you can get home before they do."

And that was the end of the conversation. Alice then pulled me over to the in suite bathroom. She then shoved me inside and told me to put the dress on. I was weary of the dress but I was weary of most dresses. I didn't feel comfortable in them especially if they were a little too revealing for my taste. I wouldn't last long in a ball in something I didn't feel comfortable in.

"Bella are you doing okay in there?" Alice asked. "You have been in there quite a while."

"I'm just fine Alice. I got tangle up in my t-shirt." I lied. "Give me a few minutes and I will be right out."

I opened the dress bag Alice had handed to me. Inside was a very beautiful pale pink dress with a white trim. I liked the dress well enough but I also knew that it wasn't something that I would pick out for myself. I set the dress on a hook on the back of the door and quickly (and as safely as I could) slipped out of my clothes and in to the dress. I made sure that I had the dress on correctly before opening the door to let Alice see.

"Sit down on that stool." She told me.

I did as I was told and she went right to work putting my hair up. She said that my make-up would be easier to do with my hair up.

"Your natural beauty will make the make-up easier too." She said. "Do you want to keep your hair up or down?"

"UP."

Alice finished my make-up in no time. She touched up my hair before turning to the maid standing behind her.

"Edie can you bring that mask in now?"

Edie turned and grabbed something from the table nearby. Once she got closer I could see that it was a highly polished wooden box. She placed the box in Alice's hands and quickly left the room. Alice opened the box and turned it around so I could see inside. Inside the box was a mask so delicate looking that I was afraid I would break it by touching it. All lace with tiny pearls sewn in. long silk ties to keep it attached to my head.

"Alice I can't wear that. I'm so klutzy that I'm liable to mess it up."

"It's not worth that much. I made it from scraps of fabric from a dress making class I took." She replied. "So you'll wear it."

"Guess I'll wear it. But don't say I didn't warn you." I replied.

"You can donate the dress when you no longer need it."