Sorry to leave you for so long but we've had one of our much loved young poodles in canine intensive care so I've been rather preoccupied of late. We still aren't out of the woods just yet so please bear with me if chapters are posted a little erratically. Love Jules xx

Chapter One

Bella

I'd known it was coming but I'd been hoping that just maybe we had exhausted this particular subject but here she came again, my best friend Angie, with a flyer in her hand and that determined look I'd come to dread on her face. Sitting down opposite me at the table in the cafeteria she laid it out carefully before me and then opened her soda without saying a word.

I tried to ignore it but the neon yellow paper screamed at me, it's thick black printing bold and clear.

"Well?"

I took a bite of my apple and picked it up as if I'd not seen it or one just like it plastered all over school.

"It's a flyer."

She rolled her eyes and took it from me,

"Ten out of ten for your reading skills Bella but that's not what I meant and you know it."

"OK, it's a flyer for the school dance in a week's time. Do I get extra credit for that?"

"Bella, be serious you have to come."

I pushed my tray away and glanced over at the Cullen table in the corner even though I knew he wouldn't be there.

"Angie, I hate dancing and I have no one to go with."

"Who dances? And it's your own fault you don't have a date. I happen to know that both Tyler and Dan have asked you and you turned them both down."

"Dan, really? Come on Angie, and as for Tyler I happen to know he's taking Lauren."

"Then find someone because you are not bailing on this dance Bella Swan, it's the last one of the year."

As I drove home at the end of the day I knew Angie wouldn't give up, she and my dad were both intent on getting me to the school dance and I was right out of excuses. Of course, it was my fault I didn't have a date, I'd ditched Edward a month ago much to my friend's amazement and my dad's delight.

I'd taken about as much as I could of his controlling attitude although at first, it had seemed nice, that he cared, that he worried about me, but the novelty hadn't taken long to wear off. Angie, Jess, and I had a long-standing date once a month for a slumber party but Edward wasn't happy about this and kicked up a terrible stink saying he'd arranged for us to go somewhere so I cried off but all we did was to go to the cinema something we could do anytime. I was furious but it was a wake-up call, he wanted my attention solely on himself all the time and when he didn't get it he sulked like a small boy. He also hated my friendship with Jake and did all he could to break it up. I accepted that the Quileutes and Cullen's were enemies but that didn't mean I had to be, I liked Jake, we'd been friends for a long time and he would never do anything to hurt me although he was as eager to stop me seeing Edward as Edward was to stop me seeing him and it got wearing after a while.

After six months I couldn't take it any longer, Edward had taken and hidden the keys to my truck because he knew I planned on going to the reservation to see Billy and Jake. I guess I lost it because I found myself too angry to speak at first and when he refused to tell me where he'd hidden my keys I rang Jake and asked him to come and pick me up. Edward had then accused me of feeling more for Jake than I did for him and I just told him it was over between us, that he wasn't my dad and didn't rule my life, he couldn't tell me what to do or who to see.

Of course, Jake was only too happy to see Edward and me arguing and thought he might be in with a chance now but I told him I was off guys full stop then had to explain that to him again in words of one syllable when he didn't get the message. Why were all guys so thick when it came to getting the message when they heard something they didn't like?

My dad had been unable to hide his delight when he found out that Edward and I were through although I suspect he doubted I really meant it. Edward certainly thought I had just been blowing off some steam as he turned up, as usual, the next day to drive me to school only to be informed by a grinning Charlie that I had already left. This, in turn, put Edward in a really bad mood by the time he caught up with me in class.

"You made me look a fool in front of your father, Bella, he could hardly hide his delight."

"No Edward, you did that all by yourself but not listening to what I said last night."

When he finally realized that I was serious he did his best to change my mind telling me that he hadn't realized how much he had upset me the night before,

"I didn't think you really meant the things you said, I thought you were just in a bad mood."

He promised not to be so overprotective if he could, the unspoken message being that I needed protection from the big bad wolves.

I hadn't wanted a scene at school, not with Lauren and her cronies sniffing trouble in the air and hanging around ears flapping wildly so I told him we could discuss it later in private which he, of course, took to mean I was reconsidering my stance. When we did finally talk after school he was shell-shocked that I hadn't changed my mind after all.

"Edward, I'm not sure what I want right now except to finish my education and graduate but what I do know is that I don't want to be in a relationship where one person makes all the decisions sometimes it seems that my feelings and needs don't matter and that's wrong. Maybe I'm just too young for the kind of relationship you want and that's why it has to be over between us."

It took a few days, he was nothing if not persistent, but he finally got the message that I wasn't going to change my mind and then he just stopped coming to school and so did Alice. Rosalie couldn't hide her delight at the end of our relationship which I expected but Emmett had made a point of catching me alone and telling me that as far as he was concerned he and I were still friends. He also told me that Edward had decided to take some time off from school and from me and Alice had gone along to make sure he was OK. That didn't really surprise me, the two had always been close but I thought it was a little unfair on poor Jasper who had been left behind, still it was hardly any of my concern.

Now back to the present, having escaped Angie I found myself under attack by my dad at home, he had a day off and had cooked dinner or at least heated up a casserole from the freezer and we sat down together to eat.

"So, have you decided who to go to the dance with?"

I pretended I hadn't heard and carried on eating but Charlie was like a dog with a bone.

"I spoke to Angie's mom this morning, she and Angie are going shopping for a dress and she said she'd ask you if you wanted to go along, I thought that was nice of her. You don't have a dress do you?"

With a sigh, I put my fork down,

"No, I don't have a dress but as I don't have a date either dad I thought I'd just give it a miss."

He looked scandalized,

"You can't do that Bella, everyone's going and Angie's mom said you could go with Angie and Mike if you're worried about turning up alone. Then, of course, there's always Jake, he'd be over the moon if you asked him to take you."

"It's a school dance dad, Jake doesn't go to Forks high."

He waved that excuse away in a second,

"I know but there's no rule that says you can't bring someone else with you."

"Dad please,"

"I'll never hear the end of it from your mom if you don't go, she's already given me my orders about taking photos and she'll want a blow by blow account. Have you told her you and Edward broke up yet?"

I nodded, I had and the ensuing lecture on hanging onto a good catch had left me with an earache!

At school the following day Angie informed me that I was going to Port Angeles with her that evening to buy dresses for the dance,

"You have to go with me Bella or my mom will and you know what that means."

I was trapped, Angie's mom was sweet but she had no dress sense and Angie was likely to end up with something all frothy and brightly colored.

"OK, I'll go but I'm not buying a dress, I have no one to accompany me and I am not playing a spare part to you and Mike."

Luckily the bell went then and she couldn't beg me to reconsider…..at least for the next hour.

As I made my way to the parking lot at the end of the day, I was going to leave my books in the truck and Angie would drop me off back here after our shopping trip, I heard someone come up behind me and when I turned around I was startled to recognize Edward's brother.

"Oh, hi Emmett"

He looked around furtively before speaking,

"I couldn't help overhearing you earlier when you were talking to Angie and I wondered if I could help."

I stared at him puzzled as to what he was talking about and he smiled,

"Sorry, about the dance I meant. Rosie's going to Seattle for the weekend with Esme so I'm free and I thought well…..maybe I could take you."

I wasn't sure what to say to that and he continued,

"I mean I know you and Edward aren't together but I thought well…..hey, I like dancing and you seemed to lack an escort but I guess..."

He pulled a face,

"It was a stupid idea wasn't it?"

I burst out laughing,

"Emmett if you like dancing I'm the last person you should be taking, I fall over my own feet let alone a partner's but it wasn't stupid, it was very sweet of you actually."

He looked a little crestfallen and feeling guilty I reconsidered, it would certainly solve my problem and shut Angie and my dad up so it could be a win-win situation.

"OK, thanks, Emmett this is really sweet of you and I promise I won't say a word to Rosalie."

He grimaced,

"She'll find out, she always does but what the hell, I just thought it would be fun."

"Right, well I'll see you Saturday evening. You don't have to pick me up I can make my own way there."

"No way, we'll do it properly, I'll pick you up at eight sharp."

He leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek,

"I'm just glad we're still friends Bella. Well, gotta go before Rosie comes looking for me. Bye."

I walked back to find Angie feeling a whole lot better although I knew we would both be in it neck deep when Rosalie found out, not that it would alter her attitude to me but poor Emmett might be in for a rough time.

Angie looked at me a little strangely as I climbed into the car but held back on questioning me until she couldn't bear it any longer.

"OK, what's put you in such a good mood all of a sudden? Thought of another good excuse not to go to the dance?"

I grinned,

"Actually I'm looking forward to it."

She glanced at me suspiciously,

"Just who the hell are you and what have you done with my friend? You must be a pod person."

I laughed,

"Actually I've changed my mind and I have a date."

She pulled into the mall parking lot and turned to look at me bursting with curiosity,

"You have? Who? Is it Dan? I thought you turned him down. Did you change your mind?"

"No, it's not Dan, besides he's so…..intense."

"OK then, who?"

I toyed with the idea of torturing her but it didn't seem fair, after all, I'd put her through enough trying to persuade me to go.

"Emmett caught me in the parking lot."

She looked at me open-mouthed,

"Emmett? As in Emmett Cullen, man mountain? Edward's brother?"

I nodded,

"What about the Ice Maiden? She never lets him out of her sight and she loathes you."

"Thanks for that Angie, I had noticed but Rose is going to be in Seattle all weekend and Emmett overheard us talking and took pity on me."

"Wow! That'll open a few eyes, you and another Cullen boy, mind he is the most accessible of the family or at least he doesn't look at us like we're something bizarre or tasty to eat."

She was right of course, Emmett was much more normal in attitude even if his size made him a little intimidating than the others and a lot less obnoxious than his brother. I wondered what Edward would say if he found out I'd been asked to the school dance by his brother.

Having a "date" made looking for a dress more fun although I would still have preferred to go in jeans and a sweater, I hated getting dressed up and always felt awkward in a dress and heels. In the end, I settled on a simple blue sheath dress and low heeled sandals after Angie vetoed my first choice, a pair of blue trainers!

"If you like I could do your hair for you."

I looked up from my burger surprised by Angie's offer but then I guess I should make an effort as I had an escort who would no doubt be wearing a suit.

"OK but nothing fancy, no flowers or streaks or ringlets or the dance is off."

She made a face,

"Don't worry, I can't wait to see Jess's face when she sees you with Edward's brother. I'll do your makeup too if you like."

"No, it's Ok, I'll manage that."

What I meant was I'd use as little as I could get away with, just enough to give myself some color. I hated that my skin was so pale just like my mom's but a little makeup would cure that. If both Emmett and I were too pale we'd look like a couple of corpses at a wake!

As we drove back to Forks after dinner I realized that I had told Angie the truth, I was actually beginning to look forward to the dance after all. I had always liked Emmett, he was the big brother I wished I'd had and I suspected I might even enjoy myself in his company.

My dad's face when I told him my news was brilliant, I just wished I'd had my camera handy.

"So, you are going, great! Who with?"

"Just a guy from school."

The smile dimmed a little,

"Oh right, only I saw Jake earlier and he was going to try and catch you before you left with Angie."

I was glad he hadn't, I was getting tired of avoiding him.

"Actually Emmett Cullen took pity on me."

Now the smile was gone and instead he frowned,

"Emmett Cullen? Edward's brother? Why did he ask you?"

"He overheard me talking to Angie and as he's at a loose end this weekend he offered to escort me."

"That was…..good of him. Edward won't be there will he?"

And there it was, the reason my dad had tensed at hearing I was going with a Cullen.

I shrugged,

"No, but even if he were it wouldn't matter, not to me anyway. Do you want to see my dress?"

He looked relieved when I showed him and I wondered what he had expected, after all, I was hardly the slit to the thigh type.

"It's nice, not too…."

He didn't need to finish the sentence and we both smiled,

"No dad, it's not and Emmett is just helping me out as a friend so there's no need for you to worry, he has a girlfriend of his own."

This helped Charlie relax, I really don't think he could have coped with another Cullen boy in my life and to be honest, neither did I.