L I S A

Edward is an idiot! What was he possibly thinking putting me up to something like that? Persuade her. Persuading my foot! She was an angry bird, waiting for someone to open her cage and free her wings made of anger. I could only imagine what damage she’d do to me once she found out about what he was planning for her.

I swore if it turned out like that, I’d simply choose the narrow path and tell her I was just another victim whom she could relate.

The idea was indeed amazing and it’d give every one of us a great relief from all the worry and pain we’ve been caused by the recent events but it was an absurd plan—an absurdly amazing plan. I still couldn’t believe I heard it from him—that he could actually think of something like that.

There was still so much I didn’t know about him and so much I sought to know.

I knocked twice on the door of my nightmare. I didn’t know why I feared her so much and why I was always so nervous around her but it was just her sassy attitude that sent awful creeps all over my body. I couldn’t steady my breath around her; she intimidated me more than Edward or any of those male predators.

However after what happened with Malcolm this morning, I’d state otherwise. To some extent I did believe I was dead though I fortunately survived. Malcolm had given me a piece of memory to dwell over whenever he’d come face to face with me—I didn’t want that, not for anytime soon.

I should’ve been angry at Malcolm for chocking me although I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. There was sadness in his eyes, a worry. He shouldn’t have burst out the way he did and I shouldn’t forgive him so easily. I knew that. I just couldn’t help but get drawn to the reason that bound him to react in such an irrational way.

The doorknob twisted and turned as the door swung opened. I was instantly caught in her eyes, her striking hazel eyes that appeared to be out of ordinary as they captured me in their mesmerizing beauty. Her lips abruptly formed a thin line showing disgust at my presence. Her brows creased and her lips kept changing their shape as if she was trying to figure something out. She was gazing me up and down whilst I kept gazing into her beautiful eyes, lost in nervousness, fear and in a state of awe.

She waved her hands in front of my face bringing me back to reality, a reality in which I was prying into her precious time without any prominent reason at all—just a plan she’d possibly kill me for being a part of.

“Are you here to gawk or what?” She questioned in annoyance.

God help me! I squealed in my mind.

“I need to talk about something.” I said in my familiar old naïve posture.

“Then bother Edward or someone else.” She said before slamming the door shut.

I fixated my hand at the edge of the door to stop it from slamming. My guess was, when the door had stopped, that she must’ve not waited to see if it was locked. I used the opportunity to invite myself in her room.

Her house was one of the biggest houses and her room was surely just as gorgeous as herself. The mattress was of silk and linen, the bed was king-sized and the room was as big as a foyer. The floor was tiled and several other doors were leading to a variety of new rooms.

I stood awestruck by the view. She truly wasn’t less than a princess.

“I thought I told you to leave.” She whined before perching on the sofa in front of her dressing table.

She went back to do the rest of her morning makeup. She put mascara and painted her lips a light pink shade. It wasn’t until now that I noticed her beautiful pink gown hugging her every part marvelously. Her hair seemed to be curled and covered her entire back perfectly. Her eyes were big like two cannonballs and her lashes kissed her cheeks just fine.

She was the definition of perfection.

I shook my head lightly as her gaze fell on me from the mirror.

I needed to focus. I wasn’t here to gawk or pry or praise. I had to take the first step in many of his plan. Persuade her.

“I thought maybe you could help me pick up a dress since Edward’s taking me out tonight.” I cheered with a small, innocent smile. “He made it pretty clear I had to go.” I added after a pause.

She scanned me up and down in disbelief. I quickly looked at myself to check for a sort of flaw to be noticed so vigorously by people but I found nothing, nothing worth seeing. My vision landed on her again as she seemed to be struggling with a thought.

“Just go to Martha instead.” She said waving me away from her room like I was some child. She was starting to hit me nerves but I remained calm or more likely I had to keep flowing in the imaginary tranquility of this moment.

“You have a better taste.” I murmured coating my words with honey that didn’t match my thoughts. Things I do for . . . I don’t know . . . why am I doing this again?

“That I do.” She murmured proudly combing her hair.

I waited uncomplainingly as she finished doing her makeup and getting dressed and then she poured herself a swift drink. All the while I waited and waited for her answer.

At last she looked over at me and seemed confused. “Why are you still here?” She asked raising her finger.

This girl was impossible. I gave her an expression that demonstrated my struggle to believe in her incredulity. How could she act like so oblivious to everything? I hated this attitude of hers more than her guts. If I get through this today, I’d make Edward pay for it later.

I thought of some other way to be reason with her, to induce her and it took me a while before an amazing idea popped into my head. It’d be harsh of me to manipulate her in this way but desperate times call for desperate measures.

“Why did you even think I’d help you?” She scanned me while laughing an incredulous laugh.

I sighed showing my grief and spoke, “I just thought you’d want to make up for what your boyfriend did.” I turned my head down and looked at the floor, “Guess I was just wrong. You can’t really rely on a vampire.” I twisted back without waiting for a response and made my way towards the door. I was about to hold the doorknob when a hand deprived me from doing so.

I looked up to meet a pair of hazel eyes looking guilty. She drew back her hand and struggled to form words for a long while as I waited patiently.

At last she spoke, “I’ll go with you—only because Malcolm shouldn’t have acted the way he did but you have to promise me one thing.” I gave her a curt nod as a reply. “You will not torture Malcolm with this memory, you will forgive him.” I gave her a smile as she twisted the doorknob and unfastened the lock.

* * *

“No I prefer that one.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. That’s not even a color!”

“But it’s beautiful.”

“No I want the best for Lisa. I want her for the first time in her life to look perfect.”

My mind was literally bursting with an awful headache with all the yelling and screaming. Apparently you get that a lot when you’re accompanied by Aurora, the queen bee of her hive. Even here at the seamstress’s store she was playing her role as the queen.

Piles of gowns, halter dresses, one shoulder and maxis were stacked on the floor in front of me. I must’ve tried at least twenty gowns since the moment I came here up till now and played model for The Queen to choose the impeccable one. The thought that nothing would suffice her will actually scared me and everyone else.

Almost ten vampire females were there in this house-slash-shop and all in the same saddening despair I was accustomed to. Many had already given up knowing it was not viable to delight her and I had too given up any sort of hope.

“You listen to me! When I say it’s ugly it means it’s ugly, period.”

I almost buried my head in my lap as her voice reverberated around the walls of the room. I didn’t know if I should be happy that the plan was in motion or sad because of the hell I was going through because of it.

This has got to be the most mind-numbing day of my life! I screamed but if only my voice would come out as loud as it banged it my head.

I budged my eyes towards the window to see it was already past twelve and the sun was brighter than any day in the sky. I could see the valleys and mountains from here because of the low heights of the houses. But I just stared at the gleaming sun wishing to get through this day just like any other and to find a perfect dress!

I could actually swear all that time in silence I had schemed of killing my little knight in numerous ways and when he was finally in front of me I’d make sure to use some of the mechanics of my brain and give him a taste of his own medicine.

My sight monotonously hovered over the entire place and every piece of cloth, looking for that one in particular, one that’d be able to shine under moonlight and catch every gaze’s attention towards itself, one that’d be unblemished and without a flaw, one that’d make pale look like any normal shade and one that’d be just perfect.

My eyes landed on a coat-hanger and a dress enveloped in plastic. I stood up from where I sat and motioned gradually towards the dress. I could barely see it and from the plastic covered in dust I knew it was far too old but after twenty dresses, it worth a shot.

Taking the cloth from the peg, I took it out of the plastic bag. It was covered in thin prickles of dust that made me sneeze but I continued my examination further and dusted the dirt off of the dress. What my eyes perceived was a plain, backless maxi made out of white silk. It had small pearl boundaries and lace embroidery on the waist below region and on the torso. It was a little tight and short on the front so I guessed it’d put some breasts on display but not enough to look smutty. It was plain but beautiful.

“What are you . . .” Rory stopped midway as she stole a glance of the dress and as fast as her words had formed, they vanished into thin air.

She dawdled towards me so lightly as if the dress in my hand was a dream and would fade way if she hurried it. She was extremely vigilant with her steps and eventually she took the dress in her hands. She stared at it up and down and an impressed smile formed on her lips. I knew instantly it was the impeccable one.

“Well . . . this is perfect. Too perfect for you to be honest.” I wanted to punch her face as she ended her sentence but I wasn’t a fool so I kept quite instead.

“Why don’t you try it?” I asked gesturing for her to wear the dress.

She needn’t be told twice as she scampered away with the dress in pure ecstasy. I had honestly never seen her being as childish as like in that moment. She was excited like an ordinary girl would be at circumstances like these.

I had to wait for only two minutes before she presented herself like the royalty she was. She walked like a model into the room and stood in front of me giving a great view of the dress on her body. And even I had to admit for a moment, that dress was far too perfect for me. It suited just well on her. Every measurement was good and matched her size, the front, the waist, the height, the dress hugged every inch of her body perfectly. It made her look less bony but it was perfect.

Her waist was swaying in an amazing rhythm and her skin looked much human when in contrast with the paleness of the dress. She looked like just another girl, just another human bride.

Now only one thing was left.

“You’re lacking makeup.” I said gesturing towards the makeup kit in my lap.

She didn’t deny for even once and I knew she was getting fond of this just as I was. Me and the girls helped her put on an exquisite face to match the loveliness of the dress. After we’re done and she was ready, I had only one thing left to do.

I reached over to her and bent low in front of the dressing table to whisper into her ears. “How about we take a walking session as well?”

She looked confused until I gave her a pair of glistening long heals that was enough to even take her breath away. I couldn’t be able to endure them for more than two minutes. Good luck Rory!

She put on the long heals without any complaining which I appreciated more than anything. She walked back and forth and admired herself in the mirror as I checked the time once again. Now the sun was deep behind the valleys and it was almost twilight. For a moment I couldn’t believe I actually spent a whole day shopping for a single dress and at the same time I was astounded that I spent a whole afternoon with Rory without getting killed.

Either way, I survived the monotonous afternoon of my life without dying which matters the most and I actually persuaded Rory to wear the dress! I could feel happiness brush all my worries away but one thing was still left. As I kept gazing outside I felt a bizarre glee, I saw the sun setting behind the mountains and realized it was the time for the beginning of a handsome evening.

I saw cheerfulness beaming on her face as she stared herself in the mirror continuously. I grinned silently to myself knowing her smile was soon going to reform into a wide grin and her delight was just about to begin.

I can’t wait for tonight! I cheered in my head.