Chapter Two

"Time to get ready!" Alice sang, her smile making me weary. "Everybody come and get your dresses!"

"Dresses?" Elena asked, her eyebrows raised and her hands on her hips in a way that was Elena. "I brought some jeans and a t-shirt. Not a dress."

"I know." Alice chirped while rummaging through her bags. "This is why I took the responsibility of getting you guys to look good. Your dates don't want their girls looking like low class."

"Because they're gonna be so pretty." Ammelia mumbled while rolling her eyes.

"Actually, they are. I even had Amber deliver the suits."

"You gave our dates suits!" I gasped. "No Alice, no, no, no! They're gonna think we're controlling freaks! I don't know who it is, but if I'm gonna dance with him…"

"Relax!" She said. She pulled out multiple dresses, folded neatly on top of each other. "They wanted to be with you guys, and were willing to wear suits. The dance is supposed to be nice anyway. Would you guys want to be the only ones underdressed?"

"Yes." Jasmeene said, smiling at her own little remark. She loved to butt into conversations.

"Now, who wants their dress first?" Alice asked, running her fingers over the different colored fabrics. Her eyes traveled around each and every girl before she smiled and picked a dress from the top.

She unfolded it and held it all in front of us. It was a simple black number with short sleeves. Everybody's eyes grew wider as they considered the price. "Elena!" Alice handed a not-so-sure Elena the dress, and sent her away with the flick of her wrist to get dressed.

In the end, Amber was clothed in a short, orange dress that touched above her knees. It complimented her darker skin and blonde hair well, even if she constantly complained about the length.

Ammelia wore a very simple, very plain white dress that fit her curves perfectly. Her icy blue eyes stood out in a way that, as Alice put it, "would have the boys carrying their hearts in their hands." I just smiled and patted Ammelia on the head while she sat down to watch the next in line.

Jasmeene was wearing a silky little blue dress with a tiny, fake butterfly on one of the sleeves. She smiled when she saw it and twirled in circles when she had it on. She was one of the only ones who didn't complain about actually having to wear a dress.

Alice smiled at me. The last dress, my dress, was hidden behind her back. "Now, are you ready for this? It's gonna blow your mind Julie-bear!"

I hated that old nickname. It put me in an even worse mood. "Just give me the dress, Alice!"

She pushed it into my arms and shoved me off towards the bathroom.

I slipped it on and groaned at the sight. The dress hit my knees in waves of a silky, lime green fabric. A belt was wrapped around my mid-section in a creamy white color. I hated it. It made me want to puke.

"Alice!" I groaned, but it was too late. She was already wheeling me off towards make-up.

XXXX

Alice pushed us all outside, clad in dress and make-up, and told us to wait a few seconds. She skipped back inside while humming a poppy tune.

"God, I can't believe this!" Amber moaned, running her fingers along the side of her dress. "I look like such a girl."

"This is so ridiculous." Elena grumbled. "I'm not supposed to be showing my figure off like this! My mom would kill me!"

"What figure?" Ammelia challenged. "You're just like a giant blob of black."

"Why don't you take that back before I walk over there and punch you in the face!"

"Guys, seriously?" I asked, rolling my eyes. "Nobody, except for Jasmeene, likes these dresses. Let's just get over it."

"That's not why we're fighting." Ammelia squeaked. "I'm just commenting on Elena's roundness."

"Ammelia!"

"Well…"

"SHUT UP!" I screamed, rubbing my temples as the shooting pains of a headache began to pierce my skull. "Really, you guys are so immature."

"And your not?" Ammelia asked, her hands placed on her hips as if she were above me. With the stance she seemed to carry a false sense of importance. I wanted desperately to knock the smirk right off of her face, but I couldn't see it doing anything but stirring up more trouble. I gripped the dress and yanked angrily. I expected to hear the familiar rip of fabric, but the tug did virtually nothing.

"Guys!" Jasmeene squealed, her voice high with excitement. "I think…I think our dates our here."

"Yes, that would be them." Alice said, her expertly dressed figure suddenly beside us. "I'm sure they'll have you hopping out of your shoes."

I took a quick look down at my heels and doubted that I would be doing any jumping, in or out of them. Standing was already a challenge in the black death-points Alice had forcefully strapped to my feet.

I could see their figures from where I was standing and couldn't hide the excitement. Were these boys potential boyfriends? Did Alice choose them based off of a vision?

"Is this gonna be worth it?" I asked Alice. She replied with a hard-to-read smile.

"Maybe, maybe not." She whispered, her eyes never leaving the boys as they approached.

I squinted, desperately trying to see their approaching faces. Did I even know any of them? Were they all strangers?

"Ohmygod!" Ammelia squeaked. She inhaled deeply as she saw what I couldn't see.

"What?" I asked, my voice rising quickly. "Who do you see?!"

Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open, revealing her perfect row of pearly whites. "Alice, I…I…can't believe…"

My eyes darted from the approaching boys to the still-smiling Alice as Ammelia began to shake. Amber giggled childishly, keeping her hand firmly over her lips as if to mute the high-pitched sound. I began to bite my lips angrily, wondering why Ammelia could see them and I couldn't. What made her eyes so much better than mine?

That's when I saw him. I could see him clearly now: perfectly placed brown hair, deep pools of chocolate brown for eyes, and a smile that could illuminate the entire planet. My breath left my lungs in a rush I feared would have me passing out, and as if on instinct I took a few steps back, hiding behind Jasmeene. "Oh god, no! Alice, how could you?!"

Standing before me in all of his perfect beauty was Matt. He was fit in a black dress shirt, dark jeans, and a red tie that made his outfit all the classier. It was classic Matt, not to flashy, not to dull.

"Alice." I whispered. "How could you do this?"

She leaned over, playing the human bit as she whispered in a voice that was just a little too loud. "I knew you'd love me for it!" Her giggle was heard by all.

From left to right the designated dates went like this: Zach (our previous eye-spy topic), Matt (the only boy I had ever crushed on for over a year), Jacob (one of the many werewolves that made up Sam's "gang"), Seth (yet another one of the werewolves), Jasper (there for Alice), and (get this) a girl named Amy (meant only for Elena, who truly was a lesbian madly in love with the girl standing before her).

Everybody's eyes were sparkling as they examined the dates they assumed belonged to them. As I examined the crowd I realized how right everybody fit; like a puzzle only Alice Cullen could solve.

"Boys, why don't you join your lovely dates?" Alice cooed, her voice as sweet as honey as she addressed the crowd of eager-looking boys.

I watched as Zach stepped forward to meet Ammelia, Jacob to Jasmeene, Seth to Amber, and Amy to Ammelia. My pulse was racing at Matt stepped up to meet me, his eyes matching his smile with excitement. I couldn't believe this…

"You look amazing." He said, his eyes examining my body with a desire I knew all to well. "Truly beautiful."

He reached down to grab my hand, smiling fully at the small sigh of shock that left my lips as he did so. I felt flames tickle my skin, melting away any insecurity. The fire spread from my hand to the rest of my body, warming me to the very core.

"Don't be nervous." He whispered, his breath sweet against my lips as he leaned closer. Foolishly I leaned away, blushing furiously at my silly mistake. He only laughed, the beautiful sound truly killing me on the inside.

"You're late!" Alice growled. I spun around to face Edward, his arm wrapped protectively around the waist of a very vampire Bella Swan. I flashed him a warm, sisterly smile, but he only returned it half-heartedly. I could tell something was bothering him.

I looked back at Matt only to find him glaring menacingly at Edward. The shock of seeing him so protective over me, of all people, had my eyes wide and my mouth hanging open. Was he really jealous of Edward? Or was I just flattering myself?