"I really forgot how much I hated you pulling on my hair," Cecilia said, as she watched Alice's and her reflection in the mirror in front of them. The black-haired vampire was making sure the ends of her hair weren't folded in the hot rollers, before actually rolling them against her head and pinning them there with a clip. "But I appreciate the effort you put into it."
"I know buns and ponytails are easy, but curls look so good on you," Alice said softly, rolling another roller in her hair. "Don't you agree, Rose?"
Rose nodded in confirmation, rummaging through her make-up drawer in search of eyeliner. "It's true."
"At Volterra nobody really cares about my appearance anyway," Cecilia said, shrugging easily. She looked at her nails, which Alice had painted in a dark pink shade, before she had turned to her hair "Besides, I have little precious time as it is and I'd rather not spend it on painting my nails which will be ruined on the first and foremost mission I'm being sent on."
Alice chuckled, but didn't protest. Cecilia observed her in the mirror, paying a little extra attention to the details, like the way her dark pixie-cut was just a millimetre higher on the right side in front of her ear in comparison to the left, or how she frowned her eyebrows together as she teased Cecilia's hair. Feeling overwhelmed with love, Cecilia blinked as if she was trying to blink away some tears, tearing her eyes away.
"To what is the honour of this girl's night?" Cecilia asked after a while, her voice louder than the soft pop music playing in the background.
"So that you finally look nice for once again," Alice said at the same time Rose said, "A little girl's time never hurt nobody, right?"
Cecilia let out something that was a mix between a scoff and a snort, raising a single eyebrow at Alice with an expression of obvious amusement on her face.
Alice coughed awkwardly, fixating all of her attention on Cecilia's brown hair. "Yeah, that too, of course."
"Thanks for the honesty, though, Alice," Cecilia said teasingly. "Really appreciate it, reminds me of Emmett's insults."
"Oh don't be like that," Alice said, pouting. "You are still flawlessly beautiful, but with a little more attention you can look breath-taking."
"How are things between you and Demetri, by the way?" Rose asked quickly, before Cecilia had the time to counter Alice's comment. Holding up a brush with powder, Rose gestured that she should close her eyes, which Cecilia did obligingly.
The thought of her soulmate brought a smile to her lips, one that seemed to brighten the whole room. "Things are going great," she said honestly. "I'm still amazed at the way I never seem to get enough of him."
"It's probably going to be like that for a couple of decades more," Alice said, her voice sweet like chiming bells.
Rose snorted, a sound very unlike her. "Talk for yourself," she said. "I really need a break from Emmett sometimes."
"Everybody needs a break from Emmett sometimes," Cecilia said, shrugging. Though Rose had said the words easily, Cecilia knew that she loved Emmett dearer than anything else, even if she tended to show it a little oddly at times. "Even Emmett himself."
Rose hummed in agreement, adding mascara to Cecilia's eyelashes followed by a layer of nude lipstick to her lips.
"Shouldn't you guys do your make-up as well? I feel like I'm the centre of attention right now."
"Don't act like you don't like it."
Cecilia chuckled, holding up her hands in innocence and opening her eyes again. "Just saying."
They continued that way for a while, discussing the newest gossip amongst the vampires with Cecilia offering an inside perspective on other matters, while Alice finished up her hair and Rose her make-up. Cecilia liked to pretend she didn't like the fuss with her face and hair, quite the opposite was true. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially knowing that tomorrow she was leaving, this time really for good.
The whole situation reminded her of the days prior to the Volturi's visit, where her family had been so sure it would mean the end of her. Cecilia had been positive about the fact too, and had willingly done everything her family offered to entertain her. Now, she realised, it was a bit of the opposite. Now she was doing whatever they wanted to do, knowing that soon enough they wouldn't remember her at all.
"Now, the dress," Alice announced, clapping her hands excitedly. "And I've already seen you loved it, so no protesting."
"A dress?" Cecilia repeated, raising her eyebrows in confusion. She turned around in her chair, observing the dress Rose was holding up with careful eyes. It was made from silky and satin green material, with thin spaghetti straps holding the rest of the dress. Alice was right, Cecilia loved it, but it didn't explain why on Earth she would suddenly need a dress. "Why do I need that?"
"Because you're going on a date, silly."
Cecilia raised her eyebrows even further. "Am I now?"
"Yes, you are, now come here."
Cecilia obliged quietly, allowing Alice to help her in the dress and admiring herself in the mirror afterwards. Not only was the dress of its own beautiful, it looked like as if it was created specifically for her body. It hugged her curves just right, leaving enough skin exposed for it to be playful, but not to the extreme measure.
After that, all that was left to do was for Alice to style Cecilia's hair after removing the hot rollers, which she did so quickly. Not long after that, there was a knock on the door which left both Alice and Rose smiling like two giddy teenage girls. Raising a suspicious eyebrow, Cecilia jumped up from the chair and walked to the door, opening it smoothly.
She stared at Demetri daringly, forcing herself to focus on his eyes instead of letting them wander over the neat suit he was wearing. "A date, huh?"
"Surprise," Demetri said, smiling smugly. "Now you're in on the secret as well."
Cecilia rolled her eyes, but didn't bother to hide the smile threatening to take over her face. "You're really a piece of work, did somebody ever tell you that?"
"You did," Demetri stated. "Many and more times."
"I suppose that proves I'm right."
"Telling yourself the sky is green many times doesn't make it true."
Cecilia chuckled, raising a single daring eyebrow. "Doesn't it?"
Her soulmate smirked. "Touché."
She watched as he held out his arm, the smirk disappearing and making place for a more gentle facial expression. "Now, cara mia, would you do me the greatest honour of accompanying me to our date in the forest?"
"In the forest? How scandalous," Cecilia replied in the same way. "I'll accompany you gladly."
➻
As soon as the two of them got to the middle of the forest, not far away from the place they had spoken earlier that day, Cecilia suddenly understood what Alice and Demetri had been discussing, as well as the smile of glee on the first one's face.
The clearing in the forest had been changed into a scene straight from a fairytale. All over the place small lights were flickering, both on the ground and woven through the leaves of the trees and rose petals had been strewn over the ground. A sense of overwhelming love crashing over her, Cecilia placed her hand over her chest, a soft smile coming to her lips. "You've really outdone yourself this time, Demetri."
Cecilia turned around, looking up at her soulmate with love-struck eyes. He was looking at her already, the expression on his face a mixture between joy and adoration. She raised her arms, draping them over Demetri's strong shoulders and pulling him closer. He was the one that closed the distance between them, pressing a chaste, but meaningful kiss against her lips.
"I've had the honour of spending thirteen years by your side, loving you and admiring you," Demetri said softly, as her hands glided to rest on his chest. He grabbed her hands, holding them gently. "And I would like to ask you to do me the honour of spending the rest of eternity with me as well." He let go of her hands and slowly lowered himself to one knee. "Cecilia Roseanne Cullen, will you marry me?"
She had been nagging at him for years, but now that he had finally knelt down, offering her a ring that took her breath away and sweet words which made her heart melt, she was suddenly overwhelmed. The first thing she heard in her mind was a yes, loud and clear, her own voice shouting, but a close second thing was that it made sense that Alice had wanted to file her nails to perfection.
"Yes," Cecilia replied, her voice breathless. A broad smile broke through on her face, bright enough to light up the world. She was sure that if she was still mortal she would have fainted from excitement. She might as well, now. "Yes, of course, Demetri."
"I love you," Demetri said softly as he pushed the ring on her finger. It was simple, but elegant and charming with a woven band with small rhinestones and a round diamond in the middle of it.
Before he had the chance to straighten himself, Cecilia had already flung herself at him. Once more she curled her arms around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck as the two of them tumbled in the grass. She could feel his arms tightly locking themselves around her waist, the fabric of her dress straining with her wild movements.
Placing a soft kiss on his neck, she raised her head to look her soulmate in his eyes. They were an exact copy of hers, twinkling with joy and excitement. Tracing her fingers over his face, she wondered what exactly she had done to deserve such a loving and dear person in her life and not being able to come up with a reason, she simply accepted that she had been lucky. Still smiling, she closed the distance between them, mumbling in between the kisses that she loved him too, more than he could ever possibly know.