Red Room ₪ Breaking Dawn Fanfiction

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠

Chapter Two — 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠

13 August 2011

I drove myself to the Cullen house, my stomach in knots the entire way. Alice had insisted that she do my makeup and hair for the wedding as she said it would be a crime against fashion if I showed up any other way. I couldn't even argue. Not because she was right, but because saying no to Alice was like yelling into a hurricane.

I pulled into the long driveway, surrounded by towering evergreens and unnatural silence. The house loomed in front of me. I turned off the car and sat there for a moment, letting the engine click into silence. I wasn't nervous. Not about the wedding. I was just dreading the performance.

I got out and walked briskly toward the front door. It was already open, like they were expecting me which, knowing Alice, they probably were.

I climbed the stairs and headed toward Alice's bathroom like I'd been ordered to.

When I stepped inside, the room smelled like hairspray and expensive foundation. Rosalie was halfway through braiding Bella's hair, her long fingers working quickly and methodically. Bella sat in front of the vanity, hands folded tightly in her lap like a prisoner awaiting execution. Alice was crouched beside her, delicately sweeping a brush across Bella's cheekbone with infuriating precision.

Alice didn't even look up. She just pointed toward the chair beside Bella's.

"Can you sit here, please?"

I gave a short nod, dropped my bag, and slid into the seat.

The next twenty minutes passed in a blur of brushes and powders. Alice worked on me quickly, but efficiently, like a woman on a tight deadline. I appreciated her silence, it gave me space to breathe. I hated having people in my face, but Alice at least respected boundaries... well, physical ones, anyway.

When she was done with my makeup, Rosalie had just finished curling the last piece of Bella's hair and was pinning it into place.

Without a word, Alice stood, grabbed the makeup palette again, and returned to her work on Bella's face. Rosalie gave me a look, one I couldn't quite decipher, and moved toward the curling iron she'd set aside. She plugged it back in and gestured for me to sit straight.

I followed directions. Silent obedience was the only way to survive this day.

When my hair was done, Alice sent Rosalie to fetch our dresses and go find Jasper, who had the lovely job of picking up Renee and Phil. I could already hear the sound of arriving guests outside and the quiet thrum of engines, faint laughter, muffled footsteps on the grass.

Rosalie returned with two garment bags. I took mine without hesitation, found a corner, and slipped into the dress with practiced speed. Then I turned to face the mirror.