Only Human Twilight

8

Edward was still asleep when I woke.

I lay watching him for longer than I should, but I was captivated by the little things I'd never been able to witness before. The way his lashes fell against his cheeks, the same shade as his hair...the way his breath came out in soft puffs, almost a snore but not quite...the way his eyelids fluttered as he dreamed.

I wanted to kiss him, to find out what sounds he would make waking up, if he would pull me closer as he tried to go back to sleep. But that was a line I wasn't ready to cross, so I carefully pulled te covers away and crept out of the room.

I forgot to check if the hallway was clear first.

Elizabeth Masen stood there, arranging flowers in a vase on a small table against the wall. I froze as she turned to look at me.

"Um...I...this isn't –" I stammered, meeting her calm eyes with desperation.

She finally smiled, chuckling. "This may sound very strange to you, Bella, but I trust my son. I know I raised a gentleman who wouldn't dare do anything inappropriate with a young lady before marriage. Besides, I have a very strong feeling about his intentions toward you. I also know that he wouldn't choose anyone that wasn't absolutely worthy, so I trust you, too, Bella."

I blushed. My significantly more modern parents would not react nearly as well as she had – but then, there were always double standards when it came to sons and daughters – and I didn't know what to say. Elizabeth was so perceptive, too...did she know more about Edward and I than she was letting on? "Th-thank you."

"Not at all," she said, returning to her flowers. "Edward tells me he's taking you out tonight. I've laid out something on your bed that I think will do. Why don't you try it on and come show me? We can make a few alterations if necessary."

"All right," I agreed, still trembling a little with relief. I'd felt sure she would call me a harlot and throw me out of the house.

The dress I found lying on the unmade bed was lovely, a vintage classic – except it wasn't vintage in this time. It was a rich, cream-colored, ankle-length gown, loosely draped like the dresses in the movies... The elbow-length sleeves were trimmed in delicate lace, the same lace with which the bodice was decorated. The soft satin fabric was bunched on either side, as if holding the dress up from the floor. It was...absolutely beautiful.

I pulled off my nightgown and slipped the dress over my head. It fell smoothly over my body, and it was so comfortable. I would have to tell Alice that I wanted to dress 1918-style all the time...

I turned to look at myself in the full-length mirror in the room. The dress showed just a subtle hint of my body's shape, just tight enough to reveal that I had hips and a chest. It was sexy, not in the modern way, but in a way that I knew my Edward would find appealing...and this Edward probably would, too.

I tentatively reopened my bedroom door and peeked in the hallway. Mrs. Masen had disappeared, so I crept over to her bedroom door, worried Edward would see. It was open, and she sat at the vanity table inside.

"Oh, Bella, it's lovely on you," she said, turning to face me. She stood abruptly and circled me, frowning thoughtfully. "We'll need to raise the hemline just a little bit, but it fits you well."

"Oh, you don't have to do that," I stammered. "I mean, isn't this your dress? If you raise the hemline –"

"Don't worry, I wasn't planning to wear it again, anyway."

I bit my lip. "You've already done so much for me. I don't want you going to more trouble."

Elizabeth shook her head, returning to the vanity table to rummage around in the top drawer. "If it makes you feel better, don't think about it as me doing this for you. Think of it as something for Edward."