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               Guilt biting at the stomach can make one physically sick after too long.  The iced wasn't helping in my situation.  It used to be one of my favorite drinks.  Now, it's just a prop.  A simple, unsatisfying prop.  The sensation of it turning into vapor halfway down my throat as my new body rejected it made me cringe.
                I sat outside of what used to be one of my favorite places to eat, Bob and Tony's Pizza, sipping the cold drink.  I was gathering eyes.  Every tourist and local that passed flashed their eyes to me as soon as I came into view, and the couple sitting on the wooden waiting bench had the eyes glued to my face.  It was so rude, but also unavoidable.  With my snowy skin, too-bright eyes, and my every inch looking airbrushed, how could I not attract attention?
                My own eyes, blue-gray today, no doubt, flickered to the sparkling ring on my left hand.  One round diamond flanked by two smaller black diamonds flanked by two even smaller chocolate diamonds, all set in platinum with rose gold accents.  Never had I seen a ring so bright, so stunning...  I told that man time and time again that I did not need something so extravagant or expensive, but it was futile.  He had taken a liking to spoiling me lately.
                 The guilt gripped my stomach again.  The memory of that night flashed in back of my eyes...

                                                * * *

                  “Everyone,” Victor grabbed the room's attention.  His family, which is now mine, and several guests were gathered in the living room.  They'd thrown a small party to celebrate my introduction to their world. “I have something very important to say and I would like you all to witness.”  The room was silent, every head turned to Victor. “Estelle, could you join me?”
                My breath caught. “S-sure.”  I got up from the couch and went to stand next to him at the head of the room.
                He turned toward me and took my miniscule hands in his. “Miss Valor, I don't believe there is a person in this room who is oblivious to my feelings for you.  You had an absolutely dreadful first impression of me, and my judgement of you was wretched.  However, I came to realize what a fascinating and exceptional girl you are.  Eternity isn't long enough a time to be with you, but if that is all we are given, then I want to spend every second of it by your side.  My only purpose in life now is to make you happy, whatever it takes.  I love you more than anything in the world, and the world would be nothing if it were devoid of you.  I value you above my own life, and I would gladly give that away if it meant your happiness.”  He lowered onto one knee.  My breathing ceased.  He pulled a tiny box out of his pocket and opened it to reveal that striking ring. “You are an impossibly flawless young lady, and I am just a lowly, underserving man, but I am going to take my chances.  Estelle, will you marry me?”
                 My eyes had betrayed me at that point.  The room seemed to tremble and swim.  I could barely make out the excited faces that beamed in anticipation.  No lungs took in a breath.  Victor stared up at me, his eyes sparkling with expectancy.  What to say?!  I had to think through this...  I adored Victor.  Every little speck of him (now) was something I loved with all my heart.  However, was I ready to dedicate my whole to him?  Was I prepared for a life spent bound to him and only him?  My eyes were brimmed with tears—I knew my answer.
                  “Yes,” I whispered.  A smile broke Victor's stone face; an ecstatic, relieved smile.  He jumped to his feet, lifted me up into a hug, and swung me in a circle.  He stopped so I was looking at the small crowd of people over his shoulder.  He stopped just in time for me to see my only other true love, Alexandre, ducking out the front door.  The smile disappeared from my face for just a second when I met his eyes as he glanced backward.
                  Never in my life had I seen so much pain etched in one man's features.

                                                * * *

                   I shuddered.  Ever since he came into my life, he had been nothing but supportive, caring, and...perfect.  In every single way.  Some part of me knew it was wrong to marry Victor while he wasn't the only one who had my heart.  I very much wanted to hide that part of me away, lock it up and never have to see or think about it again.  Though, maybe, in time, I could learn to love Alexandre the way one loves a close friend or even a family member.  Maybe the electricity I felt when I was near him would soon fade and eventually disappear altogether.
                   Or, maybe not.  Either way, I loved Victor with every fiber of my being.  Was it really so bad that I felt the same way for Alexandre?  Well, why was I even thinking about what was best for me?  What about Alexandre himself?  I hadn't even seen him since that night.  That made four days that I hadn't seen his impeccably handsome face.  Those glistening, unseeing eyes, the irises always a few shades paler than the rest of ours...  I exhaled sharply and expelled the thoughts from my mind.  I was Victor's fiancé now.  I would not think about his best friend that way.
                I did feel awful, though.  Victor's sister, Charlotte, had been giving me reports on how Alexandre was faring.  She was the only other person who knew of my feelings for him.  She was my confidante, my female best friend (Alexandre, of course, being the male best friend).  It was devastating to me, though, every time she told me of Alexandre's status.  To say he was doing badly was a grand understatement.  He was, according to Charlotte, broken and inconsolable.

                I sighed and unthinkingly took a large swig of iced tea.  I groaned quietly at that horrid feeling I got from drinking.  I would never get used to simply using human things as props; I was so forgetful.
                The couple staring at me from the waiting bench was beginning to get on my nerves.  Had they seen my teeth?  Were they just mesmerized by my appearance?  ...Maybe they were angry that I was taking up a table for four.  I didn't think about it long—my attention was diverted by a male worker, maybe 17 or 18, who stepped outside and smiled at me.  He had been the one standing at the counter when I had gone up to order my tea.  He was cute in a boy-next-door sort of way with wavy, black hair hanging to his chin and very, very friendly eyes.
                “Hi,” he said nervously. “could I get you anything?”
                I half-smiled. “No, thank you, I'm just fine.”
                He hesitated for a moment. “I'm actually going on break in a few minutes.  Do you, uh, want some company?”
                I smirked apologetically. “I'm actually expecting someone, but thank you for the offer.”
                He shrugged with a disappointed smile. “Hey, are, uh, are those implants?”
                My brow furrowed before I realized what he was speaking of. “Yes, they are.”
                “Wow, that's cool,” he said, eyebrows raised.  He turned and went back inside.  I wasn't sure one could get this type of implant, but it was better that he believe that—if he knew they were real, he wouldn't know what to think.
                 I hated turning down these boys after they built up so much courage, but it was something I was getting used to.  After all, I dealt with an amazing amount of males now that I was, well, perfected.  Although, I really felt terrible for this young waiter—I wasn't actually expecting anyone; it was supposed to be a “me day.”  And I didn't want to spend anymore of my “me day” being stared down by the rude couple.  It was time for me to leave.

                I continued up the street, not really sure where I was headed.  It wasn't a day in which I planned destinations; I felt like wandering and taking time to think, and I had a lot to think about.  I had a wedding to prepare for.  Charlotte and Aurora, my future mother-in-law, were helping a lot with the planning so I wouldn't become overwhelmed and forget the point of the marriage itself: to join with Victor for eternity.
                I stopped outside of one of the many little shops and stared at my reflection in the window.  Would I ever grow accustomed to my new appearance?  This immaculate skin, those frighteningly gorgeous and fickle eyes, those sinister fangs...  The pure beauty.
                I smiled as another shape appeared behind my reflection, and the blue-gray in my eyes gave way to that strange and beauteous emerald green. “What are you doing here?  I'm supposed to be all alone today, remember?”  Victor wrapped his arms around my waist.  He had long since given up on trying to put his head on my shoulder; I was no taller than five feet, and he was six foot, two inches.
                He grinned and squeezed me gently. “You thought I could stay away for an entire day?