Coral

When she looks at me

I know the girl sees things

Nobody else can see



All of the secret fears inside

And all the craziness I hide

She looks into my soul

And reads me like nobody can

And she doesnt judge the man

She just takes me as I am



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--The Dress--



" Absolutely not." Amanda crossed her arms stubbornly across her chest and shook her head adamantly.



Madame Grisette, the new bridal seamstress, gaped at her in surprise.



She had in her hand the ' wedding robes', an almost renaissance style dress of excruciatingly stiff, snow-white satin. On either side of the square neckline, two bands of blue ran down the bodice, and were crossed by a blue satin sash. The skirt was open in the front to reveal a blue underskirt.



Amanda regarded it from all angles, but from no position did the sleeves look attractive. Not to her at least. From the shoulder, to the elbow, they were fine, tight fitting, and decorated on the inside of the arm with satin covered buttons.



However,just below the elbow they opened out into what Madame Grisette called " flowing belles'. To Amanda, it seemed as if they had been too tight, and someone had cut them open.



She tried very hard to like it, but it was impossible.



" I'm sorry...but it's just not what I had in mind.



" Well...why not?" the seamstress asked. " Is it too long? Would you prefer a lower neckline?"



" It's the blue."



" Well, actually, it's called aquamarine." the woman chirped proudly. " It's the most fashionable color for brides this year. See how the underskirt is a shade darker than these insets? "



" Yes, I see that. But I don't like blue. " Amanda argued." Especially that color."



" Nonsense, it's beautiful! See, just look in the mirror while I hold it up. Doesn't it just look lovely with your hair?"



" Oh, it does look nice." Eloise said, entering the room, with Stella in tow. " Oh, Amanda, you will be stunning."



" I'm sorry..." Amanda said, again." But I just don't like it."



" Why? What's the matter with it?"



" She says that she doesn't like the aquamarine." Madame Grisette exclaimed, scandalized.

" Doesn't like the aqua?"



" And it's stiff." Amanda continued, her courage up." I...really want a proper dress. Not robes."



" A dress!" Eloise repeated.



" But...this is what everyone is wearing!" Grisette tried pleadingly. " I can alter it then...make the underskirt lighter blue, or even white."



" I want all white. Just a simple, soft dress. Not too many ruffles, but lace is fine."



" But blue is the color for brides this year! Aqua blue!" the seamstress raised her voice. " And this style is our most popular. You'll look like a princess."



" I don't want to look like a princess, I want to look like a bride."



" I understand that not everyone understands good taste, when it comes to clothing..."

" Now...one moment!" Eloise intervened.



A few minutes later, Amanda slipped from the room as the other women plunged into a heated argument. Eloise at first trying to bring accord between Amanda and the seamstress.



Then after a few nasty words from Grisette, Eloise and Stella jumped in to defend Amanda, even though they were the ones who had suggested the dress in the first place. Winter arrived in time to be irritated about the change of plans.



They had already begun all of the decor in blue and white.



" It's easy enough to change it.." Amanda had tried to explain.



" Now don't get yourself involved, this isn't your concern." Eloise told her, distractedly, which amused Amanda so much she had to step out to laugh. She ran to the library, and was standing against the hearth, laughing silently. Oh, the look on Grisette's face when she said she didn't like blue!



Suddenly the Floo sounded, and Edward stepped through. Amanda knew it would be him, as Eloise had opened up the Floo for his use only, to make his visits more convenient. Actually, Amanda suspected that Eloise did not wish to give her neighbors any reason to gossip more than they might already be doing.



She watched quietly as he stepped through and brushed off. It was the first time in five week she had seen him alone. When he noticed her, he flinched slightly, startled.

" I didn't see you there.You were as still as a statue."



She smiled, and was about to answer when she heard the loud quarreling voices of Eloise, Grisette, Estella, and Winter, approaching from the hall.



She turned to Edward.



" What is your favorite color?" she asked in hushed tone.



" My? "



" Favorite color...quickly, please."



" Brown, I suppose...like very fine wood."



" Brown." she smiled." That's perfect. Thank you."



" Your welcome. I haven't seen you...have they been keeping you hidden away?"



" No...just terribly busy. "



" Amanda! Where did you go?" Winter's voice called. She sounded very annoyed.



" Wait.." he caught her hand. " What about your favorite color?"



" Oh..it's...well, it's lavender."



" I'll remember."



" Amanda? Are you in here? Yes you are. And Edward too, wonderful. Eloise wishes to see you, Edward. And Amanda...your mother wishes to see you, in the sewing room. " Winter was flustered as she rushed into the room.



" Right away." Amanda said. " Excuse me..." she nodded to Edward, not yet knowing what she should call him.



" Yes...and I hope you're satisfied, " Winter added. " Madame Grisette has left, and threatened never to return. "



--



It was true. Madame Grisette could not be coaxed to return. She and Eloise had apparently exchanged some very bitter words over Grisette's opinion of half-blood brides.



Eloise was in a slightly tense mood anyhow. Worried no doubt, about Agnes, who, after two weeks had still not returned, and could not be found, not even by Demogene.



The wedding was saved though, by the arrival of Amele, who not only felt better, but had an almost disgustingly beautiful glow about her olive complexion.



" Well, my little bride! All ready for a wedding dress. Tell me what you want and I will get right to work. I will see that you get exactly what you want! But first, can't you tell me the secret?"



" What secret? " Amanda asked.



" Well, the groom, of course. No one has heard anything! Not even Arthur. Or at least he said he did not know anything about it-- It's not his department, you know. So, tell me who it is, no? I have my suspicions...I saw it all when I read your palm, but...sometimes?" she shrugged as if to say, ' sometimes people do not do what is right."



Amanda crossed her arms in mock sternness.



" Maybe you should tell me who you believe it to be." she said.



Amele laughed loudly.



" Aha! That is good. You don't fall for any gypsy tricks. Well, let me see, I saw that it was someone you did not know then, but were to soon to meet. You would not know him well, and the marriage would be spontaneous."



" You might have known that much from my Aunt."



" But your Aunt told me nothing except that you were to be married, and that she did by writing. Now, let's stop playing games. It is Ollivander, yes?"



Amanda smiled, amazed.



" Yes! It is...but I don't believe you saw that in my palm."



" Why do you think I was laughing?"



" Why would you laugh?" Amanda asked warily.



" Because you were just speaking about your future, and when I looked, I saw that your future was only four minutes away from beginning. I laughed, because sometimes things are not coincidental."



It took several pleasant days for the dress to be finished, as Amele insisted on sewing it by hand.



" A wedding dress is too symbolic to be whipped up by spell. " She told Amanda. " A marriage involves selflessness, sacrifice, hard-work, and strength. It involves a strong foundation. What would it symbolize if the dress was an illusion? Air? It would be weak and a sham. No, the dress will be perfect. Real as soap."



When it was finally finished, Eloise and the others impatiently spilled into the room to admire it. Or rather...critique it.



" It's a very pretty dress, " Stella had said.."but it doesn't really seem...formal? It looks a little bit like a petticoat."



" I like it." Winter said. " It's very feminine."



" I cannot believe that you traded that sweet blue for...brown." Eloise shook her head.

Amanda refused to back down. There were some things a bride, as an independent woman, had to be firm about, and she had chosen to win the battle of the dress.



Amele had really created a masterpiece, without creating something too enormous for the small ceremony. It was a flowing chiffon dress, with a full, circular skirt. A deep single ruffle decorated the bottom.



The bodice was designed somewhat along the lines of peasant blouses, being very low necked, and slightly off the shoulder. The sleeves however were long, and had at the wrist a very narrow ruffle.



Around this ruffle, and the neckline, there was a mass of eyelet embroidery, all stitched in chocolate brown thread. Tiny flowers and vines twined in between the eyelets. Amanda thought it was beautiful, like candied lace.



" Well, better try it on, so we can see the full effect." Winter urged.



Amanda stepped behind the dressing screen, and had Amele tie up the laces, so that the other's wouldn't see it before it was perfectly fitted. The waist was boned, and Amele pulled it in tightly, tying off the length of satin ribbon with a bow.



When she stepped out the women admitted that the dress was suddenly beautiful. It felt to her like a soft hug, it fitted to her body perfectly, and moved softly with her every move.



Amele tied her hair up temporarily for her, exposing the long bare column of her neck. The neckline of the dress reached to just the edge of the shoulders, so that a generous expanse of bare skin form Amanda's chin to the lace border was exposed.



" Now, maybe a string of pearls...or a white satin choker. A touch of eyeliner, and definitely some dark lip color. What do you think? " Amele turned to Eloise and Stella, grinning.



" I think there's a good chance he might not live through the ceremony." Eloise joked.

Embarrassed, Amanda tried to pull the bodice higher.



" Don't do that, you'll wrinkle it!" Amele swatted her hand away.



" Maybe a type of shawl? " Amanda asked hopefully.



" Don't be shy. You have lovely shoulders. And don't worry about the bodice, it will be better after we get the proper undergarments."



" I didn't know it had to have special undergarments." Amanda sighed.



For some reason, the other's thought this was remarkably amusing.



" What did you think went under it?" Eloise asked.



" Nothing. Well, I mean, I didn't think about it." she stammered, quickly when her companions began laughing. She wished for all the world that the wedding were already over.



She glared at the others.



" Would you like some seed pearls added to the embroidery, Amanda?" Amele asked. " Here, and here?"



" Yes. " Amanda agreed. " Yes, that would be nice. But not too many."



" And a tiny rosette just here, in the middle. Ah, perfect. You will be the envy of the wizarding world!"



" Well, I wouldn't go that far.." came a new voice from the doorway.



" Agnes! You're back!" Eloise exclaimed with relief, and surprise.



She had expected the girl back, but not like this. Usually, she crawled home. Sick, stinking of alcohol, and disoriented. But this time, Agnes was clean. She wore a new dress, and even had brushed on some rouge. Amanda thought she looked quite pretty.

When she smiled however, they all felt the sudden urge to distrust her. She smiled with her bottom teeth as well as the top, and darted her eyes from side to side.



" Yes. Well, I didn't want to miss the wedding. The big event, you know. Besides, I have some news of my own. "



" Really, and what is that?"



" Well, firstly, I ran into Earnest in London. He had Bernice and Simon with him."

Bernice and Simon, Amanda learned later, were Agnes' children, whom she had rarely seen, and never spoken of since divorcing Earnest.



" Oh, Agnes, you got to see them?"



" Yes...and I hope you don't mind, but I invited them over. "



" Of course!"



" And to the wedding too."



Agnes seemed nervous, suddenly, and twisted her handbag in her hands.



" I...think they want to come."



" We'll make certain they don't regret it." Eloise reassured her.



Then Agnes smiled again, with her piranha teeth.



" And my other news is.." she held up her left hand. A thick gold band sat on her third finger.



" Why Agnes! This is certainly unexpected!" Winter said.



Agnes narrowed her eyes, slightly.



" Why shouldn't I find a little happiness too?"



" She didn't mean that, Agnes. " Eloise reprimanded. " We're happy for you. But, may we ask who it is? We're a little surprised that you didn't have the engagement here."



" Oh..it's someone." Agnes responded coyly. " But I want it to be a secret for awhile yet. And to tell you the truth...the engagement was a bit of a surprise for me as well. "

" Well, how about the wedding? You'll want something big?"



Agnes tilted her head.



" Perhaps. We'll talk about it later. But for now, let me look at Amanda's dress. " as her cool blue gaze took in her cousin, Amanda felt suddenly vulnerable, and repressed the urge to shudder.



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Lyrics-Cynthia Weil/Tom Snow