Prom
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!
Part Seven-Edward Kills Bella
The prom was going to hell in a hand basket. Edward couldn't believe what was playing out right before his eyes. He was reduced to standing in a darkened corner alone as he watched Old Quil jiving away in his ridiculous sequinned suit, dancing along to the strains of 'Let's Twist Again,' by Chubby Checker. What made it all the more obscene was that everyone seemed to be joining in with the farcical display, which not only included his own family, but Bella as well.
"Come on let's twist again, Like we did last summer! Yeaah, let's twist again, Like we did last year!"
The old man did his jazz hands while swivelling his hips like some ancient Elvis impersonator. He belted out the lyrics in an off key tone, while encouraging everyone to sing them back at him. And they did. All of them. With faces shiny with perspiration and smiles as wide as the sun, all the students who had attended the prom expecting the usual sombre affair, threw away any semblance of dignity and danced along with the eccentric old fool, clapping their hands and mimicking his movements.
Edward was absolutely livid. His golden brown eyes slid to Bella. Like she had been all night, his love was surrounded by the three giant Quileute boys. They hadn't left her side once, especially one in particular, Jacob Black. Edward's top lip curled backwards as he focused all his attention on Jacob and began to delve into his mind, trying to pull something out of his head that he could use to his advantage. It was difficult because the boy's brain kept chanting Bella, Bella, Bella like a broken record. Edward was forced to push through all the white noise to read what was underneath.
Old Quil retreated to the wings to catch his breath for a moment. His skin was slick with sweat, his ruffled shirt clinging uncomfortably to his body. But these were only minor irritants and easily ignored. The last time he'd had this much fun was when Mrs. Quil was alive. In their younger days they were regular visitors at their local dances. His beautiful wife could hotfoot it around the floor with the best of them. The elder grabbed his silken handkerchief out of his top pocket and dabbed his forehead as he thought wistfully about the past.
"Are you okay, Pop?" Quil junior's question startled the old man.
"Where did you come from?" Old Quil said testily as he wiped his forehead again. "Don't sneak up on me like that."
"Sorry." Quil apologised, grinning. The truth was he knew his grandfather wouldn't have been able to hear a herd of elephants approach him. He sat down next to the old man and made himself comfortable. "You look tired."
"I am perfectly fine." Old Quil huffed indignantly. "Are you calling me old?"
Quil tried to hide his laughter at the irony of that statement. His grandfather was known as Old Quil for goodness sake. "I wouldn't dare suggest such a thing, Pop."
"What did you say?" Old Quil was getting testy now. "Speak up, my boy." He fiddled with his old fashioned hearing aids, making them screech alarmingly.
"Never mind." Young Quil said good humouredly. He had abandoned his velvet jacket hours ago. His white ruffled shirt was unbuttoned nearly to the waist, showing off an expanse of tan skin. He'd done it deliberately, for one because he was so damn hot. The gym was like a sauna with all the warm bodies gyrating about, and secondly to attract the girls. He had noticed the admiring glances thrown his way as he toured the gym with Jacob, Embry and Bella. This night was turning out alright after all, even though he had been forced into wearing the old velvet tux.
Old Quil was eyeing him critically. "Look at the state of you, my boy." He complained. "Cover up that chest. You don't show that until you've grown some hairs on it. And why are you here with me and not with your girl? Someone will steal her away if you're not careful."
"Jake's looking after her for me." Quil said nonchalantly as he pointed in the general direction of the dance floor where Jacob and Bella were whirling together, completely oblivious to everyone else around them.
"You look incredible." Jacob whispered close to Bella's ear. His hot breath tickled down her neck, making her shiver. A blush crept over her cheeks at his compliment and she ducked her head to hide it.
The song changed to 'She's Like a Star,' by Taio Cruz. Jacob took Bella's hand and she raised her head again to see that he was smiling sweetly at her. Bella couldn't help but smile back, thankful that her blush had died down a bit. "Dance with me, Bells." He said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Bella glanced around the gym quickly to see if Edward was anywhere nearby. She hadn't seen much of him all night. Her attention having been dominated by Old Quil and the three boys. She had tried to encourage him to join in with the dancing earlier on, but he had just looked her at disapprovingly, before she was pulled back into the action by Jacob and the others. There was still no sign of him, so shoving her guilt that she was neglecting him to one side, Bella wrapped her arms around Jacob and tucked her face into his neck. He smelled amazing and she breathed him in, melting against his warm body as they began to sway to the beat of the music.
The song wasn't really a slow song so they were swaying quite fast and half grinding against each other. They were surrounded by other couples doing the same. Bella normally avoided dancing. Her natural clumsiness meant that any dance partner was in danger of getting their toes crushed. And right now she was also still wearing her walking boot as her leg was in the last stages of healing, but with Jacob and the guys, she had felt able to throw away her inhibitions. She felt no anxiety or embarrassment as she jived along with them. They had made it fun and relaxing. And she was definitely relaxed now, pressed against Jacob. Their bodies seemed to fit together perfectly.
Jacob pulled back to look down at her and gave her another sweet smile. He was so cute and adorable he made Bella's heart melt. Her lips curved up into an answering smile. "Are you having fun?" He asked.
"Yes." Bella said shyly before tucking her face back into his neck as they continued to dance.
Edward was apoplectic with rage as he watched Jacob grind against his sweet angel Bella as they danced together. He envisioned ripping the boys hands off. How dare he lay them on Bella like that? One hand was dangerously close to her butt as they swayed to the fast beat. What was worse he couldn't understand why Bella was allowing the boy to defile her like that. He was a ball of frustration, angry that he couldn't read her mind like he could everyone else's. Hers was like a steel trap. He ground his poisoned teeth together as he lost any semblance of calm. Jacob Black's head was filled with lustful thoughts and he seemed to be practically shouting them in his direction. This was the last straw. Then suddenly something flashed through the boy's puerile brain that caught Edward's interest. It was a conversation between father and son.
Something about a bribe?
Edward's lips twisted into a sardonic smile as he left his spot in the shadows and made his way to cut in and reclaim Bella for himself.
The song had changed again. The DJ had gone on a break and Old Quil was taking full advantage. After arguing with his grandson about which way the big earphones went on his head, the old man had delved into Charlie's vinyl collection again and decided to play another old classic. He shivered with delight as he picked out 'Baby Love,' by The Supremes.
"Now these girls knew how to sing." Old Quil chortled to his grandson as he slipped the record carefully out of its sleeve. "Mrs. Quil loved this one. Do you remember, my boy?" He was becoming lost in the past again. "She used to change your diaper to this one and dance around the room with you while you parped in time to the music."
Unfortunately the elder had forgotten the microphone was on. This little titbit of information was broadcast loudly to everyone in the gym. Loud snickers greeted this statement. Mortified, Quil switched off the mike and snatched the record from his grandfather. "Will you stop telling the world about my wind problem?" He scowled.
Old Quil pretended not to hear. He was already lost in the music. He clicked his fingers, swaying from side to side as he began to sing. "Baby love, my baby love, I need you oh how I need you..."
Jacob wrapped his arm around Bella's waist. "Hey, enjoying yourself?" He whispered in her ear.
Bella smiled at him over her shoulder. Her face was glowing with happiness. Her pretty brown eyes alight with joy. She was so beautiful that it made his heart hurt. Jacob pulled her tighter against him and danced behind her.
"I've got something to tell you." Jacob admitted as he became caught up in the moment. He had been dying to tell her all night.
Bella turned to face him. "What's that then?" She asked, smiling. Her excited expression told him that she thought it was something good.
"Um..." Jacob faltered as he tried to pluck up the courage to tell her how he really felt about her. "I really like you."
"I really like you, too." Bella's smile widened as she stepped closer to him.
"No, I mean I really, really, really like you." Jacob insisted, hoping she would capture his full meaning.
Bella just giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck, urging him to dance again. Jacob gave up and laughed, pulling her closer to him and wrapping her in his strong arms tightly, loving the feel of her body against his. He had all night to get her to understand how he really felt. Right now she was smiling happily as they swayed together. All he could focus on was her beautiful eyes and how they were looking deeply into his, driving him crazy. He pulled her impossibly closer, not wanting the moment to end.
But of course it did.
Icy cold fingers grasped his shoulder and wrenched him away from Bella. "Allow me to cut in." Said an equally icy voice.
It was Edward Cullen.
Jacob scowled, his heart beating fast with rising panic. He tried to intervene but the chilly freak had already whisked a startled Bella away from him. They were already across the room, far out of his reach.
"How could you be so rude?" Bella berated Edward breathlessly as she stared up at his handsome face. His expression was inscrutable and she was finding it difficult to read him. Was he angry? She supposed she had neglected him a bit but it was his choice not to join in the fun. "Edward, say something." Her throat was suddenly dry.
He was towing her in the direction of his family. Rosalie, Emmet, Jasper and Alice were all twirling elegantly to the music, in a style totally unsuitable to the present time and music. Amusingly Rose was still wearing Old Quil's silver sequinned jacket. Bella smiled as she darted a glance toward the stage where the elder was holding court.
"What are you smiling about?" Edward murmured, pulling her closer for a second, so that her feet were briefly a foot from the ground.
"Rose is still wearing Old Quil's jacket. I think she's gotten rather attached to it." Bella laughed.
Edward snarled very quietly. "That old man has totally ruined the night." He said scathingly. "As well as those foolish boys he brought with him."
Bella pulled away from Edward, letting her arms drop to her sides. "I can't believe you said that. I am disgusted with you."
Edward rolled his eyes at her like she was some kind of recalcitrant child. "You are such an innocent, Bella. And so naive. This was all planned from the beginning."
"What are you talking about?" Bella demanded hotly.
Edward's jealousy was out of control. All he could see was Jacob Black's hands all over Bella, groping her, acting like he had the right to touch her. And worst of all, in her naivety, Bella had let him. "They've all been manipulating you, Bella." He said coldly. "I read Jacob Black's mind. His father bribed him to come here. He gave him thirty dollars for some car part he needs for that old wreck he's trying to rebuild. The plan was to keep you occupied in order to keep us apart."
"Thirty dollars." Bella whispered faintly. The colour drained from her face as Edward continued to cruelly twist the knife in her heart. "Jacob said he had thirty dollars to take me out."
"They used you and unfortunately you let them." Edward continued scornfully. "Jacob was paid to be here. The others just came along for the ride."
The light in Bella's eyes died. Her glow of happiness faded and her shoulders slumped in defeat. Her joy was snuffed out like a candle as her world went dark, bleak. It had all been fake. None of it was real. She had been used, just like Edward had said. She had been a fool to think otherwise. The life drained out of her as she turned and drifted away from him like a ghost.
It was only then that Edward realised the enormity of what he had done. He had spent the last year trying to keep her alive. He had saved her from being crushed by Tyler's truck, from a group of drunken thugs in Port Angeles and from James' vicious attack. Bella had survived all this, but in the end it had been his cruel words, provoked by his insane jealousy, that had killed her.
A/N-thanks for reading!
