DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY TWILIGHT CHARACTERS. THEY ALL BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER (THANK YOU VERY MUCH!).
This story will contain characters of my own making.
Though it's been written in many forms, I hope you can enjoy it anyway…
BLACK SUN
Chapter Four
I woke with tears still damp on my cheeks. How beautiful that moment was and how much I wished that would be the way it would happen. To dream!
I sat up and saw the time and realized Shelly would be arriving in less than an hour. I hurried out of bed, grabbed my robe and headed for the shower. I quickly ate a bowl of cereal, rinsed my bowl and spoon, and ran upstairs to dress (just a pair of shorts and a button shirt, nothing too fancy for the makeover, but something that wouldn't ruin it either). I got downstairs in time to sit down for a minute before the bell rang.
I opened the door to find Shelly looking very anxious, but excited, "Are you okay?"
"Sure, it's just all starting to hit me. How fast high school is all ending and our futures are beginning."
I laughed a small laugh and said, "No kidding," running my left hand through my bronze mess of curls. The sun caught the diamond in my ring and sparkled. Shelly gasped.
"Oh My God! Is that what it look likes?" she screamed.
"If it looks like an engagement ring, then yes," I answered a little sheepishly. I had planned to tell her a little more discreetly.
"WOW! It's absolutely gorgeous. When did he propose? Why didn't you call me? When is the wedding?" she threw question after question at me.
"Jacob asked me last night; completely surprised me, as we took a moonlit walk. I would've called, but by the time we told my parents and listened to all they had to say and asking Aunt Alice to do the wedding and saying goodnight to Jacob, I was lucky to get any sleep." I tried answering all her questions, "we haven't set a date yet. I'm thinking it may be this summer, before we go to college. The wedding will actually be in Washington, near Jacob's home and my grandparents. I know it's happening so fast, but I would so love for you to be my maid of honor."
"Of course! Thank you for asking me," she was still gawking at the ring with her blue eyes looking like they might just plop right onto the floor.
"Come on Shel, Aunt Alice is waiting." I grabbed her arm and we ran up the stairs together laughing.
When we got to my aunt's bathroom and her professional array of beauty products, looking very much like a department store display, I was surprised to find my Aunt Rosalie waiting with Alice.
"Oh, hi Aunt Rose, I wasn't expecting to see you," I smiled warmly.
"Well, I figured with two heads and two faces to makeover, Alice could use a hand. Besides I heard the news and wanted to congratulate you," she explained.
"Really?" It was no secret that she and Jacob would never be the best of friends, so I was certain she'd be against my marrying him.
"Of course, silly," she slapped her hand in the air. "You are my only niece and I know how much you both love each other." As hard as it was to conceive, I couldn't doubt she meant it.
"Now you two, sit down. We have much work to do," Alice demanded. "Rose you work on Nessie's hair, while I work on Shelly's face. I think some blue and green eye shadowing will accent your eyes perfectly, then a little plum blush to give you fair face some coloring. Maybe will updo your blonde hair and interlace some colorful flowers throughout." Nobody did makeovers like Alice.
It took nearly five hours of pampering, but we were finally finished to her satisfaction. We couldn't disagree looking in the mirror. "Alice you are so the best," Shelly exclaimed.
"I'm so lucky to have you both," I hugged my aunts. "Thank you so much!"
"Let's get our dresses, Shel. Then we can do a little photo shoot." I was getting caught up in the prom mania.
"Why not," Shelly agreed.
We were dressed and posing for pictures with Esme an hour later. We still had a few hours before the limo was due, but decided to get Jake and Frank over to join us for pictures. They reluctantly agreed to the pictures, but couldn't wait to see us all decked out. We were expectant for their appearances as well. Though guys wearing tuxes was so much easier to pull of, than the day we just spent- no matter how fun it was.
Jake swung by to pick up Frank, the limo would drive him home later. So they both arrived forty minutes later. Jake let both of them in himself, but stopped in the doorway when he saw me.
I was expecting his face to turn blue from lack of oxygen when he finally took a deep breath and his face lit up with a smile that warmed my heart. He was stunning in his black double breasted tux (which I though accented his wide chest perfectly!), the pink tie and cummerbund matched my dress so exactly I was positive that Aunt Alice made them from the extra material. No one could pull off pink on a guy like Jacob.
Frank wore a smoke grey tux with a yellow tie and cummerbund, matching Shelly's dress just as well. I think we were going to have the two best looking dates, hands down.
"You girls look fantastic," Frank whistled. "My applause to the makeovers- I didn't think perfection could look any better." He had his arms around Shelly as he complimented her. Her natural blush gave her even more color as she looked lovingly into his eyes. The way they were looking at each other, made me wonder just how serious their relationship was.
"More beautiful everyday, Ness," Jacob whispered in my ear, making my smile so big, I thought my cheekbones would bruise my face.
"Did Jacob tell you the news, Frank?" Shelly suddenly inquired.
"What news?" he mumbled as he kissed her neck.
"About the engagement…" she tested to see if he was paying attention.
"What kind of engagement?" he asked looking up, suddenly alert.
"Ness agreed to marry me," Jacob proudly announced.
"No way! Great news you two. So, when's the big day?"
"No official date, yet, but we'll be sure to let you know."
"This isn't, you know," Frank hedged, "a 'have to get married' wedding?"
I was suddenly very angry and hissed a "NO" Frank's way.
"I didn't really think it was, but it's so sudden and all. Don't be mad at me. I'm really, really happy for you both," he apologized.
The anger abated quickly. I knew he didn't mean any harm by it. Though it got me thinking, a lot of people will probably think similarly. If anyone could know how virtually impossible that would be with my dad around! I found myself wearing a small smile with the thought.
We took posed pictures and silly ones, and then went outside to get some with the beautiful scenery. Despite the cloudy skies, spring made nature the perfect backdrop. While were finishing up, the limo arrived, so we went inside so Shelly and I could grab our purses and wraps. She and I pinned boutonnieres on the lapels and then Jake and Frank gave each of us a wrist corsage. We headed out the door arm and arm laughing and waving goodbye to my family, who had gathered nearby to wish us a good time.
The driver held the door open for us tipping his hat; it was so perfect. He told us his name was Tom and that we were free to open the roof window. We could even put our heads through it, but only on the city streets, no highways, like we would want to with all the insects that lived in the area- yuck, not to mention how furious Alice and Rose would be if we ruined our hairdos. Tom was funny and really just added to the good time we were having.
Prom was being held at the Holiday Inn and we decided to have dinner at the Outback nearby. Jacob and I both ordered the prime rib rare, while Shelly ordered a chef salad and Frank got a cheeseburger. It seemed we laughed all through dinner and continued laughing as we walked into the grand ballroom.
The theme of prom was "In Your Arms", no place any couple attending would rather be, tonight anyway. There was a flower arch in the doorway to greet us, with silver streamers hanging down that we passed through. A photographer was to the left posing a couple and with only 2 other couples waiting we decided to jump into line.
After the pictures we found our seats at a table not too close to the deejay, so we could hear each other talk, though most of the night we spent dancing. I could hardly believe when the deejay announced last dance. The four of us made a small circle and danced together for a minute, but then separated into our own couples.
Slow dancing with Jacob, probably looked silly to most. His 6' 7" height made my respectable 5' 7" height seem ridiculously short. Somehow, I didn't seem to notice, probably because he held me off the ground to look into my eyes so often. When the song ended we kissed gently, but lovingly like all the others, but maybe a few beats longer, because we heard some laughter that broke the moment.
Word of our engagement had spread, so a few classmate friends came up to congratulate us and wish us luck as they said their goodbyes. It didn't seem the night could be any more perfect.
We hugged Shelly and Frank goodnight, when the limo dropped them off at Frank's house, he said he would drive Shelly home himself. Jake and I lay back in the comfy leather seat and smiled at each other. Just looking into each other's eyes we seemed to share each other's thoughts. It was weird how we could do that.
When the limo pulled up to the house, we thanked Tom and said goodbye. Jake and I walked up the short brick walkway my arm in his arm to the front door. The lights on the porch were shining brightly. I leaned into his side a little and sighed. I just didn't want the night to end.
"Do you want to come in for a bit?" I asked hoping Jake felt the same way about keeping the night going.
He pulled me into his arms and held me so close I almost couldn't breathe. I did manage to get a full breath of his scent though. "I'd love to spend every moment of time with you, but it gets harder every second to keep myself control," he chuckled.
"If you're not careful, my dad will be ripping the front door off its hinges," I kidded him back.
"Maybe we could just sit on the swing for a while. The night is warm and clear," he suggested.
"Nice compromise," I shrugged.
Jacob sat down first, so I decided to sit on his lap. It was much easier to look into his eyes that way. Time seemed to stand still, yet pass too quickly. We shared a few kisses and touched each other's faces and talked about how much fun we'd both had. We were both glad to have passed on the After-Prom party, just too many people; this was perfect.
I knew we were going to have to say goodnight soon. My parents were inside arguing quietly about how much more time to give us. We laughed lightly and kissed again. This was the last kiss of the night and it was full of passion and promise for the future. I'm sure my thoughts weren't alone in imagining what, one day, would follow such a kiss, because the front door banged open and Jacob almost dropped me to the ground jumping off the swing.
"Renesmee," was all my dad needed to say.
"Sorry, Dad, but geesh it was only a thought," I blushed. I hugged Jacob quickly and waited for him to escape and not have to deal with my dad. Once he was around the side of the house, I shrunk past my dad and headed for the stairs.
"Hold on young lady," my mom ordered. I stopped and turned and was surprised by her smiling face. "Did you have a good time?" she asked.
"It was the most beautiful evening I ever had," I felt like glowing. "We danced and danced."
"That's great. I'm so glad you had had fun. I hope in the morning, well later this morning, you can tell me more about it. Sweet dreams, Nessie," she told me as she hugged me and gave me a quick kiss. I held my hand against her cheek and shared some of the fonder memories. "Thanks," she whispered.
I somehow made it up the stairs into bed. It was almost dreamlike. I could hear my parents and grandparents talking quietly downstairs. The hum of their voices working like a lullaby soon had me fast asleep.