CHAPTER 10

'Oh Izzy! everything is so beautiful.' Alice lights up with glee, 'I do so wish you would hold more balls, for I love your balls, Izzy. None ever quite compare to yours.'

'Come now Alice, you can't expect me to believe your kind words after Mrs. McCarthy hosted Forks best ball a mere two weeks ago.'

'I see you can't be convinced, but just so you know, I'd never lie to you, Izzy. Now, come, everyone has been received and you may now start enjoying the fruits of your labours.'

'Not necessary, Alice, for my first and second dance has come to collect me. I shall see you later, and we if we find ourselves quite busy dancing and having fun, then we will have to talk about our nights later on.'

'Indeed, I shall be over first thing, even if we do talk tonight. Now then, I am off to become visible to the men who wish to dance with me.'

'Farewell Alice.'

'Miss Isabella,' Captain Cullen bows upon his approach. 'This is a fine ball, if ever I have seen one. Your tastes differ from what one sees elsewhere. Peculiar, but not quite unwelcome.'

'You see Captain, when I choose things that are meant to be aesthetically pleasing only, then I choose what I like, not what the latest fashions out of France tell me to like.'

'A trait, I daresay, not many women possess, I'm afraid. Still, it is yet another thing to admire about you, everything you do seems to be your credit.'

'Come now Captain, you flatter my ego which will undoubtedly injure me, for if one is praised too highly too much, they may become expectant of such compliments, even when unfounded.'

'I'm sure you are safe from such dangers, Miss Swan. Your character won't allow for such a flaw, it is impossible. For you at least. Now come, the first dancers are lining up ready, which can only mean the orchestra will be ready to play very soon. And if we were to miss our first dance, then I shall be very sorry indeed and I will have to steal yet another from you, depriving the poor men of Forks the chance to stand up with you more than once.'

'You are quite quick with your tongue, sir. I wonder how much thought is exerted when applying yourself?'

'Thought indeed! you are a corker Miss Swan. If there was any doubt of me thinking before I spoke, I wish to abolish those silly thoughts at once. I would do no such thing, for when my thoughts are called upon, my feelings interfere and I quite expose myself on a far greater level than I do without thought.'

'Oh dear! it is a serious matter indeed. How does your poor brain fair when mingling with silly things such as feelings! how do you bear it?'

'Scoff as you might Miss Swan, I will not expose myself on a personal level… publicly at least.'

'Ah! so you are saying that you do converse with your brain and feelings, just not around people?'

'Not people of low acquaintance, Miss Isabella.'

'You are quite complex Captain, do you often confuse yourself?'

'Of course not! I always make perfect sense.'

She smiles at him, but says no more on the matter, the Captain resuming their conversation nearing the end of the second dance.

'I like to think we look as well dancing together as what you and my brother do, for I am sure it is your grace and beauty that enhances his abilities, which should mean you enhance my grace and rhythm.'

'Perhaps you have it wrong Captain. It may very well be your brother that is the better dancer, and he enhances my abilities. You will have to differ to a neutral third party to decide I'm afraid, Mrs. McCarthy perhaps.'

'No, she favours me, it wouldn't be fair and I wish to know the truth. Oh look, father watches us now. You will have to stand up with Edward, and he can then compare our skill.'

'You have such silly thoughts Captain, and do the strangest things for amusement. But perhaps your brother has no means to dance with me tonight.'

'Oh! he does, believe me Miss Swan, he may even ask for two.'

The music winds down and the couple bow to each other upon the lingering closing note. The Captain escorts Miss Swan to where his father, Dr. Cullen still observes the dance floor.

'Father, you must settle a matter for me, it is quite occupying my mind and I can't quite rid myself of the thoughts until the matter is settled.'

'Well then, let's hear it boy,' Dr. Cullen prompts.

'I have had the pleasure of witnessing Miss Swan dance with Edward, and they make quite a handsome couple together, when dancing. But I am convinced it is Miss Isabella's grace that compliments Edward, so I was wondering if Miss Isabella and I look as nice together standing up as Edward and Miss Isabella do. We just need Edward to ask Miss Isabella for a dance so you may compare.'

'Not necessary, I have already bore witness to them dancing, and I can assure you it is Miss Swan's grace and beauty making you two clownish brutes seem like gentlemen, even if only for a dance.'

'Capital! it gives me great pleasure to know that Miss Isabella and I look as handsome together. Well, I must find my next partner, thank you for the dances Miss Isabella.'

'Coxcombs! the pair of them! Please excuse their boorish behaviour, I really don't know where I went wrong. Their mother always indulged their eccentricities, but they still should have enough sense to not be runaway with by silliness and impropriety.'

'It's fine, I assure you Dr. Cullen. No one in the room heard his silly remarks and I assure you I am not so easily offended.'

'You are very good, Miss Swan.'

'Ah! I found you at last, may I Miss Bella, have the honour of this dance?' Mr. Cullen asks hastily.

'I suppose you can, yes.'

'Capital, but we must hurry, the music is soon to start.'

Miss Swan is led hastily to the end of the row by Mr. Cullen where they will stand up for two dances. Miss Swan's next is secured by Mr. Newton, the following by Mr. Yorkie, then the following went to Mr. Luci, Alice's father. Miss Swan doesn't easily converse with Mr. Luci, speaking French not being one of Isabella's accomplishments, but they danced happily regardless of the verbal barrier between them.

Her legs quite exhausted, she skirts around the ballroom, weaving through smaller side rooms and halls to a small courtyard, dimly lit for the ball's patrons to rest and get some air. Not many usually use it, and if they do it is only for a short time. She sits on a small wall and breathes a sigh of relief, enjoying the crisp, untainted air.

'I see I am not the only to seek some refuge from the nights festivities.'

'Indeed,' her gaze drops from the heavens and settles upon none other than Dr. Cullen. 'I am sorry if I have interrupted your solace.'

'Not at all Miss Swan, I just required some air that doesn't suffocate me with the scent of spirited teenagers.'

'If I were to be a teenager, Dr. Cullen, I might have taken quite offence to that. But as it happens, I quite agree. And the scent we are suffocating in happens to be cheap perfume Dr. Cullen, not the spirit of teens.'

'Then I am safe from your censure, and if you were to be a teen, I would most assuredly never said such a despicable thing.'

'There you are!' a third guest joins them in the small courtyard.

'Excuse me,' Dr. Cullen says apologetically, and leaves Miss Swan to her guest.

'Mr. Cullen, surely you are not going to ask me to dance a third? for I am quite tired, you see.'

'No Miss Bella. That is not why I join you here. I'm here on a much more delicate matter, one I find I am quite unable to suppress, try in vain as I might. But my struggle has been fruitless, and now I am as you see me. Quite in raptures. You, Miss Bella are unlike anyone I have ever known, and that is to your credit. You are strong and independent, and you know yourself. But enough of my banter, I am just going to say what I mean. Can you Miss Isabella Swan, be prevailed upon to do me the greatest of honours by accepting my offer, for your hand?'

A/N: ANYONE FIND THE NIRVANA REFERENCE? YES, I KNOW I'M WEIRD XD