Tripping The Prom Queen

Chapter 7: Friday Night Lights

Author's Notes: Let the good times continue! Thanks to the reviewers: Stacy Sapphire, shayna lane, EsmeAliceRose, angeline95, jayd-n33, itsjadee, Mittenzs, MadTwilighter, Kat-L-Black, twifanficfreak, Mrs Logan Huntzberger, and IKNOWIMWEIRD117. I want you to know how much I appreciate your support and how seriously I take your comments! And I can and do want to promise you one thing, which is I'll try my best to update as often as possible, with as much juicy detail as each chapter can hold! I read too, and know how frustrating it can be to wait for updates… when that happens, chapters are always too damn short! I particularly hate when my favorite stories just "stop" and never get finished. I know, we've all got lives and sometimes it can't be helped! This story will definitely be finished… but not for a very, very long time! There's a lot going on here…

I do want to clear up one thing… In case anyone is thinking that Alice is being manipulative and controlling here, "messing with people's hearts" (as one of you said!). Remember, she's new in town! She does not know about Edward's feelings for Bella, or if those feelings are reciprocated. She's just trying to help her friend! Jacob is of course, equally clueless!

Note also that Bella did not just go along with them. She's no pushover! She took time to think about it; it was a difficult decision for her. It should never be easy to turn on a friend like that (although sometimes it seems like it is!)… and Bella only did it because she knows she has to fight back, for her own sake!

We do have to feel sorry for Edward! He's not going to like this!

Wait until you see how this chapter ends… I bet no one saw this coming! What will Jacob do?

Chapter 7: Friday Night Lights

The following afternoon, Bella and Alice put their plan in action. Alice knew just where to begin…

"Here we are!" she cried gaily, parking her yellow Porsche at the very end of Fork's main street.

Bella frowned. She knew exactly why they were here, and even conceded that it was necessary. She picked at her plain gray T-shirt, and sighed.

Alice is right… We'll never get anywhere with this!

Still, the mandatory makeover made her nervous. Even though, secretly she had always wanted one. She had just never had the courage, the skill, or the cash to go for it! Nor had she had anyone to help her.

"Don't worry!" Alice soothed. "Trust me. You are in the best possible hands."

Smiling proudly, she led Bella into the last and most elegant looking store on the street.


Esme Platt Brandon was the kind of woman whose placid face concealed a million secrets. Her youthful face, guileless eyes and billows of caramel colored hair belied her true age; she looked far too young to be the mother of a seventeen year old daughter. However, the one thing always immediately obvious, was that Mary Alice was the most important part of her life.

She thought now of how far the two of them had come in her daughter's relatively short life span.

Esme had enjoyed a privileged childhood. Her parents were wealthy businesspersons, owning a chain of stores throughout the country. She displeased them greatly when choosing to marry Charles Brandon, as opposed to the rich scions who had courted her. Charles then disappointed her family still further. Upon hearing the couple's determination to wed, her father graciously offered him a place in the family business. Charles refused the offer, despite Esme's sound reasoning and more emotional pleas.

It would not be the last time he failed to hear her.

Instead, Charles enlisted in the army. Mary Alice was born just a year after the couple wed. The family spent fifteen years moving from city to city, from military base to military base. Esme disliked their nomadic lifestyle and she was concerned about its effect on their daughter. Neither woman could form or sustain relationships; both were lonely. All they had was each other. Again and again, she beseeched her husband to change his mind and allow them to establish a home somewhere. Charles ignored her. He enjoyed being rootless; an absence of close relationships never concerned him. As the years went by, Esme realized that her husband was incapable of any kind of emotional intimacy. This problem only exacerbated over time. As the tension in their marriage grew, Charles detached himself more and more from her. He had never truly bonded with Mary Alice. Esme's Catholic faith was so strong that she did not want to divorce him. However, he quickly progressed from neglect to infidelity. Esme learned quickly that Charles was cheating; in a small military community, gossip was rampant. Still, he refused to change or even to discuss their relationship at all.

Esme then faced with a quandary; to violate the tenets of her religion or to remain in an unbearable situation. She vacillated in her decision for seven months. It was then that Charles was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The news shocked her; it seemed impossible that her husband, so indomitable, could succumb to any disease. However he had and would not live long. Feeling obligated, Esme stood by him, not that he welcomed her loyalty, even as he lay dying.

When Charles finally passed away, she surprised herself again. She felt no sorrow. Their marriage had died long ago, if it ever had been real at all. Relief flooded her when she realized that she could finally make her own choices and pursue the life she had always wanted for herself and for her daughter.

She and Mary Alice returned to her native Seattle. They lived with Esme's parents for a year, while she learned about the family business. This education revived her long dead dreams. The two women then moved to the small town of Forks, Washington where Esme opened her own boutique. There were no local places to purchase apparel, and Esme knew her business could really fill a void. In time, she hoped to design clothing for the shop as well. Her fashionista daughter loved this plan, and immediately offered to help in any way she could.

Esme now stared out the windows of her chic boutique, so proud of what she had accomplished. The store only opened a week ago, but was already doing a steady business. Customers were seduced by the stylish window displays and further enchanted by the gracious service she and Alice provided.

Esme was content with her newfound success and the inner peace she had finally found. She did not expect much else from life.

Someone exiting the grocery store across the way now commanded her attention. He was tall and had platinum hair, haloing his alabaster face. She could not see his eyes, but wondered at their hue, knowing instinctively how brilliant they would be. His youthful appearance was not unlike her own, yet Esme also knew from his confident gait and demeanor that he too likely was older than he seemed. He easily hefted his sack of groceries into his black car and shut the trunk. Moments later, he was gone.

Who was this beautiful, so compelling stranger? Would she ever find out?


"Mom?" her daughter's voice called.

She was so lost in thought, she didn't even see the door open, or her daughter and her new friend arrive at the shop.

"Ali." Esme beamed at her daughter. Her aqua eyes sparkled and Bella instantly saw the intense love between them.

"Mom, this is my friend, Bella! Bella, this is my mom!"

"My mom's been dying to meet you!" Alice squealed excitedly.

"So true" Esme confirmed. "My daughter has said so many nice things about you. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, dear"

"It's a pleasure to meet you too." Bella replied shyly. "Thank you for the wonderful birthday cake."

"Oh, that was my pleasure!" Esme smiled. "Anytime!"

"This is a beautiful place you have here!" Bella told her.

"Thank you"

"No. Thank you, Mom!" Alice grinned. "Without it, we'd have absolutely no place to shop! Neither would anyone else!"

"That's why I opened it!" Esme explained proudly.

"I just can't imagine what the people in this town did before we came? How did they manage?" her daughter said mischievously.

"They shopped in Port Angeles." Bella told them. "But there isn't anything there as nice as this."

"Thank you, dear." Esme smiled.

"Now, we've got some serious work to do!" Alice announced. She was in her element, and began running from rack to rack. She knew the inventory well, and had already made a mental list of the garments that would best suit Bella. When she had amassed a significant pile of clothing, she turned to her friend.

"Time to try these on!"

"Alice, no! There's no way I'm buying all that!"

I can't afford it.

"Of course not!" her friend reassured her. "These are just to give us some options. We'll pick the best… and leave the rest!"

"Although, I can't imagine anything would look bad on you!"

"She's right!" Esme said supportively. "My daughter does have an impeccable eye"

"Now, get in that dressing room!"

Still unsure, but admittedly curious, Bella followed Alice into a dressing room, which was unlike any she had ever seen before. The generously sized space had ivory silk upholstered walls, and a matching cushioned chair. Gold trimmed mirrors were mounted on three of the walls, allowing the customer to view herself from every possible angle.

Alice carefully arranged the chosen clothes on the many available hooks, dividing them into three groups.

"The ones over there are the best!" she proclaimed, pointing to the collection on the very left.

"Start with those. Let me know if there's anything you don't like, or isn't comfortable."

Bella reached for the first garment, a sapphire blue silk shirt. She slipped it over her head, and then pulled on the matching short skirt. Warily, she looked in the mirrors.

It was as if she had never seen herself before.

That's… not me!

The hue and proportions of the outfit worked perfectly with her coloring and figure. Her skin glowed, and her curves were highlighted, but not overtly exposed.

Classy. Sexy, but not slutty! I like this! I can do this! Why didn't I ever try before?

"Come on!" Alice cried impatiently. "Let me see!"

"When she's ready, dear." Esme counseled. She sensed Bella's feelings.

Calmed by Esme's soft intonations, Bella stepped out of the protected space, to face the curious eyes of her new friends.

"Yes!" Alice cheered. "We have a winner!"

"You look beautiful." Esme said honestly.

"You really think so?" Bella asked, needing the support. "This skirt isn't too short?"

"With your legs? No way!" Alice said supportively.

"It's the perfect length for you." Esme assured her. "But if you don't like it, we can try something else."

"I love it!" Bella said, feeling her confidence swell. "It's amazing!"

"It's yours!" Esme pronounced.

"No" Bella protested. She had seen the price tag. While the cost was not exorbitant, it was definitely more than she could afford.

"I can't…"

"I see my daughter didn't explain everything." Esme smiled. "My store is new. I need help. Someone to work here after school and on Saturdays. Someone who also can wear the clothes not only here, but all over Forks!"

"Alice can't model everything! Not that she won't try!"

"You didn't tell her that?" Esme admonished her daughter.

"I forgot." Alice replied sheepishly.

"I do need a job." Bella said honestly. She had just been laid off from Newton's sporting goods store; the colder weather resulted in less business there and they no longer needed her. Except for the money, she wasn't sorry. Working with Mike was very uncomfortable, now that she had stopped dating him.

"And we need your help!" Esme said. "So, it's a win-win! After seeing you in that outfit there's not a doubt in my mind!"

"They'll be lining up for miles to shop here!' Alice squealed. "Just say yes!"

"Do it, Bella!" she added. "I bet a certain someone would just love you in that outfit!"

Edward… Bella thought wistfully.

"Emmett will just go crazy!"

Yeah, right… Emmett! That's why I'm here… The plan!

"And Rosalie will just die ! Actually, she'll die just when she sees all the great stuff you'll have! She doesn't have anything this nice!"

"That's not true!" Bella said knowingly. She knew the exact contents of Rose's closet, having accompanied her on all of her shopping trips.

Trips where the emphasis was always on RosalieNever on me!

"Well, she doesn't look as good as you will!" Ali boasted.

"Now, back into that dressing room! Let's see what else works!"

As Alice predicted, most of the outfits did, rendering it hard for Bella to select her favorites. Finally, she left the store laden with four oversize bags, brimming with all kinds of gorgeous, stylish new clothing.

"Happy?" Alice smiled

"Yeah! That was fun!" Bella admitted.

"Knew you'd like it!" Alice agreed.

"I've never done anything like this."

"Well, you should! You deserve it! We'll definitely do this more often!"

More often! Bella thought. While she enjoyed the shopping, she was exhausted.

"I don't know about that!"

However, now was not the time for any doubts or negativity. Bella remembered the plan.

We've got work to do!

"So, what's next?"

"Hair and makeup!" Alice cooed. "We have just two days to perfect your look."

"Everything has to be perfect by Friday night!"


Easily, they met this deadline. After giving careful thought to the matter, Alice decided that Bella should use only a light makeup, consisting of some eye shadow, liner and mascara, and just a hint of blusher.

"You really don't need much." she instructed. "Your natural coloring is beautiful."

"You think?" Bella questioned. "I always thought my skin was too pale."

"Why would you think that?" Alice asked, carefully controlling her anger. She knew exactly why.

Rosalie…

"Rosalie." Bella confirmed.

"Well, she was wrong!" Alice proclaimed. "Your ivory complexion perfectly contrasts with your darker eyes and hair. Any other color wouldn't be nearly as attractive."

"And look at your hair." the other girl continued. "Those gold and auburn highlights… Do you know how much women pay to get their hair to look like yours?"

"Even mine aren't natural." Alice confided. "But don't you dare tell!"

"Never" Bella promised, adding another secret.

"Neither are Rosalie's!"

"Really. She's not a natural blonde?"

"Oh, she is. But the highlights? Fake. Done in Seattle every month!"

"Well, yours are the real deal!" Alice smiled. Except for a small trim, they hadn't changed Bella's hairstyle either.

"Final check!" she announced, motioning for Bella to stand up and turn around.

Feeling a bit silly, Bella stood and twirled.

Alice revolved slowly around her friend, carefully studying ever inch of her, from the loose mass of soft wavy hair, to the kitten heels of her new russet brown suede boots.

"Stop that!" Bella admonished, very embarrassed. "You're worse than a guy!"

"I'm just checking you out like a guy would!" Alice grinned sheepishly. "Like Emmett will."

"And you look amazing!"

Bella peered into the full length mirror. In deference to the cool autumn weather, she had dressed warmly, but stylishly, in jeans and a top. However, the jeans were new and skinny, rather than her old "baggies". A rosewood colored boatneck cashmere sweater topped them, instead of her oversize "Fork"s High" sweatshirt. The kitten- heeled boots replaced her Chuck Taylors.

"Hot!" Alice repeated.

"Thanks!" Bella said. "So are you!"

Alice was also clearly dressed to impress. She wore similar jeans, and a form-fitting red silk camisole. A cropped leather bomber jacket would protect her from the cold, while still highlighting her shape. Black stiletto heel boots added five inches to her petite frame.

"Ready to go give those bitchy cheerleaders some competition?"

Bella smiled confidently.

"So ready!"

Heels clicking, they descended the stairs.

"I'm going out now, Dad!" Bella called. "Ok?"

Her father stared at her, totally silent.

Is that my little girl?

"Dad?" his daughter said questioningly, confused by the strange look on his face.

"Sorry, Bella." Charlie Swan told her. "It's just… you look… different. More grown-up I guess…"

It'll take some getting used to.

"You do like it, don't you, Mr. Swan?" Alice smiled sweetly at him. They had just met for the first time that afternoon.

"Isn't she beautiful?"

"Yes. She is."

Bella locked eyes with her father. The emotions she saw in his glistening orbs touched her.

"I love you." she whispered.

"I love you." he replied. "Now, get going!"

"We're outta here!" Alice sang, dancing out the door. Bella laughed and eagerly followed.

It only took fifteen minutes for Alice's yellow "911 Turbo" to reach the school. She parked the car, and turned to Bella.

"Let's do it!"

They walked towards the entrance. As planned, Jacob waited there for them. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped when they approached.

"Jacob"

"Bella?"

"Yeah. It's me."

"Of course it's her, you dumb-ass!" Alice added good-naturedly. "Who else did you expect?"

"You look great!" he said, unabashedly staring at her.

"Um… thanks!"

"Hello! What am I!" Alice snapped at him.

"Insanely adorable, as always!" Jacob said charmingly.

"Adorable!" she snorted. "What about hot? Sexy"

"Those too." he wisely assured her, still fixated on Bella.

"Let's just find seats." Bella said. Jake's ogling made her uncomfortable. "Quickly, before all the good ones are taken."

The three friends approached the rapidly filling bleachers and fortunately spotted three empty places in the fourth row, right near the Spartan's end zone. Seated, they scanned the crowd, waving to familiar faces.

"So crowded!" Alice remarked. "I think the whole town is here!"

"It's a Spartan's football game." Jacob said wryly.

"They are that good?"

"Nah! Not really!" he replied. "But this is Forks. What else is there to do?"

"Jake, stop it!" Bella was laughing. "The team is actually pretty good. Made it to the state playoffs last year."

"Did they win?" he retorted.

"Well, no"

"Aha!" he gloated.

"Standing up for your boyfriend already!" Alice teased.

"He isn't…"

"Not yet" Alice smiled knowingly. "But here he comes!"

"Ew! I so did not need that mental image just now!" Jacob snorted.

"Sorry, Bella." Alice apologized. "You know I didn't mean it like that!"

"Yeah. Not everyone's mind is like Jacob's! Always in the gutter!" Bella replied.

Her words were drowned out by the roar of applause from the spectators as the players took the field and began warming up.

"There he is!" Alice squealed, nudging Bella. "Go!"

Bella looked carefully at Emmett. She eyed the way his form-fitting jersey hugged his muscular chest and broad shoulders, before letting her eyes lock with his. He noticed, and flashed her one of his trademark cocky grins. Flirtatiously, she blew him a kiss. His grin widened.

He turned away, now completely focused on the upcoming game, calling out instructions to his teammates. She saw how his large hands adeptly handled the ball. He tossed it high into the air. Bella watched it fly all the way down the field… right into Edward's waiting arms. Edward caught it easily and smiled.

That smile… Bella thought, feeling her pulse quicken.

"Who is he?" Alice abruptly demanded.

"Who?" Bella replied distractedly, her mind still on Edward.

"Him!" Ali repeated manically, gesturing towards the end of the field.

"Number 14?" Bella asked. "That's Edward Cullen. He's Emmett's…"

"No! Not him!" her friend interrupted. "The one next to him. Number 27."

"That's Jasper Whitlock."

"What do you know about him!" Alice pleaded, clearly desperate.

"Not much" Bella replied. "He's quiet. Kind of a loner. Really into music…"

"Alice?"

She watched her friend. Alice was pale and she seemed to have fallen into a trance. Bella had never seen her… or anyone look like that before.

"Alice!" she repeated nervously

"He's the one!"

"What!"

"The one I've been waiting for my whole life!" Alice said calmly, a serene smile on her lips.

"I'm going to marry him."

Bella thoughts were racing.

This is crazy… She can't know that! Can she?

I've heard of this… Soul mates… Love at first sight… It happens!"

"I hope so, Ali." Bella said cautiously.

"I know so!" she answered confidently. "You'll see!"

"Jacob…" Bella turned to her other friend, needing a reality check.

However, he too was preoccupied. Fork's cheerleaders had made their entrance, gyrating onto the field, cheering loudly.

"Let's go Spartans! Let's go!"

"Original!" Bella said sarcastically to him, knowing he would never be able to resist.

However, Jacob remained silent. His mouth agape, he stared as one of the girls, a curvaceous, wild-haired redhead now stepped up to execute a series of aerials. Her lithe frame easily flipped and turned, completing a complex tumbling run.

"Nice ass!" Jacob blurted out unthinkingly.

"What did you say?"

"Um… nice assets?"

"Yeah, right!" Bella sneered.

"Just enjoying the view!" Jacob explained, as Alice handed him a tissue

"What's this for?"

"To wipe the drool off your face!"

"Don't you know who that is?" she admonished him.

"That's …"

"Victoria" Bella confirmed, rolling her eyes.

"Jacob, please focus!" Alice insisted. "Remember. Do not get distracted. You've got a job to do."

"Can you handle it?"

"Of course!" he replied, offended.

I can so handle… that!

A horn blasted.

"Game time!" the referee called.

However, for Bella, Alice and Jacob, the game was already on…


Several hours later, after the Spartan's won the first game of their season, the usual crew convened at La Push for their customary victory celebration.

Stepping out of the shadows, Jacob headed towards the beckoning light of the beach bonfire. Easily, the sounds of the party lured him closer to his destination. He heard the loud squeals and giggling of the girls and the roughhousing of the football players.

This is going to be so easy!

"J!" a familiar voice called out to him.

"Sam!" Jacob replied, surprised to see his old schoolmate. "What are you doing here?"

Sam Uley had graduated from the reservation school just last Spring. Since then, he had been working full-time in a local canning factory while attending Seattle Community College part-time in the evenings. His hectic schedule did not usually allow him much time for socializing. What few free hours he had, he devoted to his family and to his girlfriend, Emily.

"Good to see you!" Sam greeted him enthusiastically. "How've you been?"

"The same. How about you?"

"Busy" the older boy confirmed.

"Yeah, Surprised to see you here tonight!" Jacob remarked.

"Emily wasn't feeling well." he explained. "So I took a walk down here. Emmett's been bugging me to come to one of these things for some time."

"You know Emmett?" Jacob asked him, "How"

"We volunteered together. Helping with the kids softball league." Sam smiled.

"I didn't know Emmett did that." Jacob said.

"Yeah. He was great!" Sam said. "The kids loved him."

Probably because he's just like them! Jacob thought meanly. Yet he couldn't help but respect Emmett for taking the time to coach children.

"He doesn't need to do that."

This is the guy Bella's going to date. Maybe there's more to him than I thought. Maybe he's okay.

But I still don't like it! He's still all wrong for her!

"No" Sam said. "He's been a good friend to me, too! We've been playing ball together!"

Jacob nodded. He knew how much Sam loved sports. Like Emmett, he was an excellent athlete and would have been welcomed onto the Fork's teams. Sam had even considered transferring to that school just to have the chance to play and develop his talents. Their reservation school was too small and too poor to offer sports. In the end, loyalty won out. However, Sam still appreciated the chance to participate in the games he loved.

"Em says I'm the only guy in Forks who can challenge him at all! "

"He's got big plans. Scholarship to a Big 10 school. Heisman trophy. Pro-ball." Sam continued, enviously.

"Lucky guy!" Jacob said.

"Yeah. He's pretty ok!"

"Thanks, dude!" Emmett said, bounding over towards them. "Bout time you showed up!"

"Good to see you too!" Sam smiled, as Emmett turned to Jacob.

"Friend of yours?" he asked.

"Yeah. This is Jacob Black. Jacob this is Emmett McCarty."

"I know who you are." Jacob said flatly. "Good to meet you!"

"You too, dude!" Emmett said jovially, smiling easily at Jacob. "Any friend of Sam's is a friend of mine! Welcome!"

"Beer is over there! Just help yourselves to whatever you want!"

"Emmett?" a soprano voice cooed. "I need you!"

"I'll be right there, Tanya!" he assured her, looking at Jacob and Sam who now were eyeing the small group of females.

"See something you like?" Emmett asked impishly.

"Maybe…" Jacob evaded. "Who are they?"

As if I didn't already know… This is going perfectly!

"Cheerleaders." the other boy answered. "The tall blonde is Rosalie. She's the captain. You must have seen her around!"

"Oh, yeah"

"Those two are Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory" he continued, indicated the two smaller girls.

"And the redhead is Victoria… somebody. She just moved here. I don't remember her last name."

"Not bad…" Jacob blurted out.

"Yeah. If you go for that type." Sam laughed. He was faithful to Emily.

"Want me to introduce you?" Em offered.

"Ok" Jacob said nonchalantly.

Emmett led him over to the clique of cheerleaders and athletes. None of them seemed to remember seeing him at Bella's birthday party six years ago.

Why would they? he thought bitterly.

Except for Rosalie, they greeted him enthusiastically. Rose seemed preoccupied, quickly turning away to resume her conversation with Edward.

He expertly concealed his feelings, flirting with and charming the girls as if he really had never met them before. He zeroed in Victoria, who welcomed the attention, lapping it up like a starving cat with a big, fat dish of cream.

"You know, I saw you at the game tonight…" he whispered.

"And how was I?"

"Spectacular." he said. "So hot!"

Victoria purred sexily, as Jacob continued

"The best… I thought you must be the captain."

"Well, I'm not." Victoria said sweetly. "That's my best friend, Rosalie."

"But you are so much better than she is!" Jacob said craftily. "What's a smoking hot girl like you doing coming in second to anyone?"

So right! Victoria thought. "Finally, someone around here gets it!"

"Well, I just moved here." she explained. "I haven't had time to figure that out just yet!"

But you bet your ass I will! Hmmm… it's a pretty nice ass, too! And the rest of you isn't so bad either.

"Well, you just let me know if there is anything I can do to help!" Jacob added flirtatiously.

"I'm sure you can." Victoria said, drawing a line down his chest with one blood-red painted fingernail.

"But right now, maybe I can help you?" she cooed.

"What you got in mind?"

"Take a walk with me… and I'll show you."


Author's Note 2: Ok. Why did those last lines make me feel sick? Jacob and Victoria hooking up… What do you think? Will they or won't they? Let me know!