Hello! Annnnd welcome to my first fanfiction~ The Twilight characters are just loveable, so I've borrowed their personalities from the renowned S. Meyer, and placed them in a semi-Victorianesque/modern setting...ur R&R will be much appreciated! ~doozo!

CHAPTER 1: BUTTERFLY

He glanced at me from across the room and our eyes locked. I couldn't help but get caught up in those eyes of liquid turquoise, and long dark lashes, hidden behind a glittering white mask that covered the top half of his face.

A soft curve of hair, so dark it almost hinted at blue, fell lightly over the mask, its sequins and studded crystals only enhancing the brightness of his eyes. His tall, straight aristocratic nose fit the mask perfectly and led down to a perfect set of lips, lips which quirked into a lopsided smirk, his eyes dancing with amusement, staring straight into mine.

"Rather uneventful, this ball, isn't it?"

Startled, I broke my gaze with the mysterious man and turned to my friend, who had practically yelled in my ear, trying to overcome the loud music and laughter encompassing the large and overly decorated ballroom.

"Oh, yes, yes. I don't know why mother insists on us attending every party that is held!" I quickly turned back to the large vase which he had been standing next to, only to find that he wasn't there.

"What are you looking at?" Rose asked again.

"Nothing," I said quickly, trying to hide my disappointment. "Come on," I grabbed Rose's hand, "let's go to the refreshment table." We quickly sauntered off across the room.

Rose Cartwright and I had become fast friends ever since our first class of 'Proper Lady Etiquette' which our mothers had put us in against our will at the age of 7. So we did our best in doing what was deemed 'improper' actions for a lady as often as we could whenever others weren't looking, and never stopped since.

"Ugh, this corset is killing me!" Rose exclaimed, grabbing her well-endowed breasts and squirming, pulling the already-revealing neckline further down and displaying more of her cleavage. I laughed.

"I know you're doing it on purpose, Rosie." I giggled and pointedly stared in the direction of her mother, who held a disapproving look on her stern face. We quickly turned our backs to her and sipped our lemon soda. I felt a light tap on my shoulder and sighed, knowing it was either Mrs. Cartwright or my mother. I turned around to face an inevitable lecture.

"I'm-" I started, only to remain gaping. Before me stood a tall, finely dressed man. I stepped back in order to look up into his face, and into those intelligent, blue-green eyes. It was the man from before!

He smiled slightly and stepped back also. "Would you..." he gave a slight bow, but his eyes remained locked onto mine, and extended his hand towards me, "care to dance?"

Rose elbowed me in the side before I recovered. I couldn't produce any sound and only managed to give a squick of a nod before placing my gloved hand in his.

He grinned and pulled me onto the dance floor. My heart started to hammer in my chest as he placed a warm hand on the small of my back and pulled me close against his tall frame. From what my body could tell, he was lean but well-built, and I felt my cheeks grow hot.

Off we twirled, and in the corner of my vision I noticed Rose's eyes bulge behind her feathered mask and jaw drop with astonishment, but besides that, my focus remained on my feet and his face.

We danced for the next hour without saying a word until my face was flushed red and the gathering sweat under my mask became uncomfortable. Noticing this, he led me towards a large set of glass doors opening onto a wide balcony. The night air was cold, relieving my heated skin.

"Oh my, the moon is full tonight!" I exclaimed, leaning my elbows on the rail.

"Yes, beautiful," he replied. I felt him come up behind me, standing so close I could feel the heat of his breath on the back of my neck, sending shivers down my spine. His hands snaked around my waist and slowly spun me around to face him once again.

Being so close, I instinctively stepped back, but my heel hit the edge and my back came up against the railing. He only came closer, and the corset felt tighter around my chest, making it harder to breathe.

"Um..." my voice shook, and instantly I cursed myself for sounding like a fool in front of him. He only grinned a heartbreaking boyish smile and swiftly moved his face down to mine, stopping mere inches away.

"Your eyes are beautiful. I've never seen such a pale brown," he whispered. His breath was blowing into my face, dazing me.

"A-and yours! I've never seen eyes the colour of aqua," I imitated quickly from a nervous blank. He straightened up and laughed, only to lean closer again, resting his hands on the balcony either side of me.

His eyes bored into mine. "What is your name?"

"I'll give you mine if you give me yours."

He laughed lightly, and I was beginning to like the sound of it. "In that case, I'll call you...Butterfly." One hand reached up and lightly touched my butterfly mask. "And you can call me Aqua." He winked.

Without another word, he tilted my face up with one finger under my chin and pressed his lips lightly to mine, soft and gentle, as if he was trying not to scare away a bird. His mouth was warm, unexpectedly tender, and his sweet breath filled my senses and clouded my mind. All too soon he pulled away and was at the door before I could catch my breath.

"Let's hope we meet again, my Butterfly." He flashed another grin and slipped inside, leaving me breathless in the night breeze.

"How romantic! Kissing in the moonlight!" Rose exclaimed, clasping her hands together and batting her eyes at me.

"I think I regret telling you now..."

"Oh, come on. You've finally been swept away into the realm of looove! Now that's not like you at all, Isabella Swan! Anyhow, who do you think he is? I think I'd remember him if he were at any dances."

I sighed. "I wish I knew."

"Bella!" my mother cried out. I turned to face her, and found her glowing with excitement. "Bella, I have the most exciting news!"

"Say that again?"

"Come now, Bella! You're at the ripe age of eighteen! It's time you found yourself a husband, and I know you won't do it yourself, so I've gone and found you one myself."

"But, mother-"

"And he's a very nice young man with a respectable family, not to mention, he's quite a handsome fellow." She went on and on about him and his family, yet failed to remember mentioning his name. I was about to ask when mother continued.

"Oh, and you're meeting him in two days. So tomorrow we'll be heading into town to find you a new dress."

With no further room for protest, we arrived at Burke's early afternoon the next day. I had dragged Rose along as a small defiance against my mother, who wasn't too fond of her influence on me, as well as for my own comfort.

Numerous gowns were on display in the shop, but my mind was numb. Marriage? It seemed like such a far-off concept that waited patiently for me to reach it, but now it loomed too close and too fast, and I wasn't ready.

"Bella! Look at this one!" Rose exclaimed, running her fingers through the fabric of a red dress.

"Yes, beautiful," I sighed half-heartedly.

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. You must be dreading this meeting tomorrow. But look at it this way," she linked her arm through mine, "since your mom insists on getting a dress for you, then there's no need to hold back! Find the most beautifully expensive one you can."

I couldn't help but laugh. That's when I saw the dress I knew I had to have. By the lustre of the cloth I knew it'd be velvety soft, but what drew me in was the colour.

"Say, Rosie, what colour would you say this is?"

"Uh, sapphire? Or maybe aqua."

"Aqua..." I sighed.