Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Perfect For Me

By Mama4Dukes

Chapter 14:

Fourth of July…

“Jasper!”

“What is it, Baby?” He was out of breath because he had shot up the stairs when he heard her uncharacteristic holler.

“I can’t do this. I can’t go.” Bella was pacing in her towel with her hair soaking wet. The hair dryer was out. There were little containers of makeup strewn on the vanity.

“You have to go. We promised. Besides, the whole pack is going.”

“Jasper, I can’t do girl! I’m not girly at all. Rosie can do girly and guy – she can multitask, but I can’t. Put a wrench in my hand and I can fix anything.” She picked up what looked like a round hairbrush. “But this shit, I don’t know what to do with it!” She pointed to the vanity. “Rachel and my sister bought me all of this stuff, but I have no idea about anything else. They told me to watch You Tube videos, as if it’ll help. Half the repair videos on it are completely wrong! You’re just going to have to go by yourself.”

He wrapped his arms around her to calm her down. “Bella, you’re going to be fine. I’ll get someone to help you get ready.” He kissed her on the forehead. “You look beautiful just the way you are, you know?”

“So can I go like this?”

“Probably not, but getting you ready is the easy part. It’s only noon anyway. The ball isn’t until seven pm.”

She sighed and looked up at him with pleading eyes. “I don’t want to embarrass you. I did watch Pretty Woman four times, so I could figure out which forks to use for what, but I think everyone will laugh at me anyway. I’m not a society princess.”

“And thank God for that, too! I’ve told you before, I don’t want a debutante. I want you. Only you, Bella. Besides, you’ll be fine. I promise.” He gave her a quick peck on the lips. “Get dressed. I have an idea.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Can’t we just…” She motioned her head towards the bedroom. “You know. You said we don’t have to be there until seven.”

Jasper arched an eyebrow as he whipped off her towel, smiled, and led her to the bedroom. “Come into my lair, my sweet. Let me kiss all your worries away.”

“Ooh, I love it when you offer up your kisses.”

“Oh, we’ll be doing more than kissing.” He flipped her onto her back and hovered over her. “But we have to make it quick if my idea is going to work.”

“By all means, then, be quick about it.”

They chuckled and fell into each other’s arms, loving each other, and putting the ball aside for just a few moments of bliss.

---

“Where are we going?” Bella asked.

“Trust me.”

“I will trust you… just as soon as you tell me where we’re going.”

He parked in front of a swanky building in the shopping district of their neighborhood. “We’re here.”

“Where is here?”

“This is where my hairdresser is. Missy has been doing my hair for years. I’ve been coming here since high school.”

“Oh…” Bella quickly lost her confidence again. “I can’t go in here. It’s too fancy.”

“Yes, you can.”

“People like Alice, or your mother go here.”

“Actually, my mom goes to the salon down the street; and Alice used to get her hair done here until she was banned for throwing one of her hissy fits and flipping out on a stylist.”

Bella’s eyes lit up. “Okay, sold! Let’s go. What are we waiting for?”

The couple walked inside, hand-in-hand, with smiles on their faces. A woman in her thirties with dark brown hair, sparkling brown, almond shaped eyes, and a kind smile on her face approached them.

“Hello, Jasper. Are you here for your appointment?”

“I am, Missy, but I was wondering if I can talk to you beforehand.”

“Sure.”

Jasper quickly explained the situation while Bella sat on a chair nervously looking around the salon and fidgeting. “I know this is very last minute. I’m willing to pay whatever you need me to, but my girlfriend is… well, this is her first formal event; and she is having trouble getting ready. She doesn’t usually wear make-up, or do her hair. She’s very free and natural. I love her that way, but this is a special occasion. It’s a ball…”

Before he could finish, Missy asked, “Is she your date for your mother’s ball? Everyone who is anyone has had their appointments made for weeks at every major salon in Houston.”

“It is for my mother’s ball. You’d be doing me a great favor if you can fit her in. I’ll even give up my haircut.”

“She must be very special to you.”

“She’s the one. And I think you’ll like her.”

“Is she the one Alice attacked at the bar?”

“You heard about that, huh?”

“Of course I did. It’s all over Houston. “Well, today is your lucky day, Jasper. It so happens I have a new stylist who just started this week. She came with excellent references and does a phenomenal job, but you know how people in this neighborhood don’t like change. If you don’t mind her, she can do your girlfriend’s hair and make-up, and maybe we’ll even have a new client.”

“Thanks, Missy.”

“Don’t mention it. Can you introduce me to your girlfriend?”

“Sure. Bella, this is my longtime hairstylist Missy. She has someone who can do your hair and make-up today.”

“Hi,” she whispered shyly. He could tell she was completely uncomfortable and out of her element. “I’m Bella Swan. Um, I’ve never been in a salon like this.”

“Where do you generally go?”

“I go to Forks Beauty at home. My friend Lauren, who I graduated with, usually does my hair, but I haven’t had a real cut since I moved here in August. My sister insisted on trimming it a couple of months ago.”

“Oh, is your sister a stylist?”

“No, she’s a nurse practitioner.” Bella nodded.

Missy’s eyes widened. “I see. Well, let’s see what we can do to make you look fabulous.”

Missy waved a petite woman with long, chestnut colored hair shaved on one side over to them. She wore thick-rimmed glasses and bright red lipstick, which contrasted with her milky, white skin. She approached them with a huge smile on her face.

“Jamie, this is Jasper Whitlock and his girlfriend, Bella Swan. Jasper has been coming to me since he was in high school. And he is a very special client.”

“A pleasure to meet you both.”

Missy continued, “They’re going to the ball tonight. It’s being hosted by Jasper’s mother, so you can see how important the occasion is for them. It’s an opportunity for you to showcase your talent, Jamie, because you’ll be doing Bella’s hair and make-up. I’m sure you realize how crucial it is for your client to appear at her very best.”

“After I’m done, you’ll be the belle of the ball.”

“Oh, I don’t need to be the belle of the ball. I just want to look like a normal girl,” Bella stated, causing everyone to laugh.

“I don’t think you have to worry about that. Let’s get your hair washed.” Jamie winked as she led her to the washing station.

“She’ll take very good care of her. Don’t worry, Jasper,” Missy reassured. “Now, let’s get you taken care of.”

Three hours later, Bella was finally done with her appointment. Her hair had been cut, blown dry, and styled into a braided chignon with a few wisps of hair, strategically, framing her face. Make-up applied to enhance her natural beauty. Her nails had a coat of clear polish.

“Well, how do I look?” She asked Jasper worriedly.

“Beautiful. I mean… you’re always beautiful, but you look stunning. Let’s get home so we can get dressed,” he suggested. He paid the cashier, and left both Missy and Jamie generous tips, promising they’d return in a few weeks. Both stylists waved them off with big smiles on their faces.

---

“Crap!” Bella complained, as she contorted her body to try reaching the zipper. Jasper, who had been dressed in his tux for a while, strode to her side and zipped the dress up for her.

“Thanks.”

“You look gorgeous. I like that color on you.”

“Of course you do. You’re the one who picked it out at the dress shop.”

Jasper recalled the experience at the dress shop. It was traumatic for Bella, who absolutely detested shopping. She wanted to buy something off the rack at the mall with her own money. It took both Rachel and Leah to persuade her to go to a higher end boutique to purchase a dress, stating most of those in attendance would be at the pinnacle of Texas society.

They found a nice pair of silver ballet flats for her to wear. Sam sprung for those because he understood how his sister-in-law would protest high heels – apparently, it wasn’t a pretty sight when her stepmother tried to convince her to wear heels to her senior prom.

Once they had arrived at the boutique, the saleslady tried to persuade her not to wear the flats, stating everyone who is anyone would be in heels. Then the airhead made the fatal error of talking about how Alice would always bring several pairs of high heels to the boutique so she had a selection to try on. Bella gave them the finger and walked out of the boutique.

Jasper doubted they would ever see business from her again. He, of course, was given an earful from his angry girlfriend, who suggested he never take her to a place his ex frequents.

In desperation, Jasper called his Grandma Esme, who promptly called the first store to chew them out before calling another exclusive boutique, and personally accompanying them on their shopping trip. His grandmother thought Bella very wise for wearing flats and saw no problem with them at all. She even found a clutch to match her shoes for her.

At the boutique, she tried on dress after dress to no avail. It was actually Jasper, who spotted a color he thought would flatter her. It turned out to be a perfect fit and only needed to be taken up.

Bella was currently wearing the coral pink, one-of-a-kind, couture gown. The long silk, off-the shoulder gown complemented her figure perfectly. And the sweetheart neckline accentuated her décolletage. Jasper couldn’t keep his eyes off of her.

“You’re captivating.”

“So are you,” she whispered. “How do I look? My dad gave me these earrings when I turned sixteen. They’re diamond studs, which used to belong to my grandmother. I pretended I was buying a ring and had the guy at Zales in the mall run them through his cleaning machine for free so they sparkle.”

Jasper chuckled at her resourcefulness. “Bella, I have something for you. I saw it the other day and thought of you immediately. He fastened a necklace with a platinum pendant shaped like a key. At the end of the key was a large, heart shaped diamond attached at an angle.”

“Oh my God! This is so beautiful. Is it a key?”

“You hold the key to my heart, Bella.”

He held her in front of the mirror and swayed, immersing himself in the love he felt for her.