A/N Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and these characters.
Chapter 11: Red Dresses
Fuck, couldn't the damn barman make a decent Manhatten. I was stress enough as it was. My elbows were leant on the mahongony counter in the ball room in the Four Seasons surrounded by the most elite of Chicago waiting. For her.
When I told my mother I wanted a small get together, I don't think I emphasised small entirely clearly. I spun around and gazed out to the socialites milling in from the their limousines, the waiters immediately handing them a champagne flute. Most airily dicussed the usual, such as the economy, politics, the latest scandal even, in large groups. The women dress in lown sparkling gowns, their finest, and men in tuxedoes. Some how my mother managed to organise this celebration within five days. The only addition I made were some people to the guest list. There were even chandeliers hanging from the high rise ceiling and a large jazz band playing music. Couple dancing expertly to the swing music
Thinking of my mother, I began to question where she had wondered of to. I decided to leave my sanctury and headed towards the crowd. The odd man shaking my hand congratulating my latest spread in the magazine and the women smiling coyly in my direction, if only they knew. Most scrutinised from afar at my lack of a date.
My gaze fell towards the door begging to see a certain brunette. I was left dissappointed. Similiar to my mood in the last week.
Since her text Saturday night she had made no other attempt to contact me and I had remained silent too, trying to give her time and space. I only sent a short message to Seth regarding the time, place and dress code for the night. As usual he responded in his annoyingly perky way. Her absence left me in a sour mood for the week however. Sunday had passed in a haze and by Monday I was irritable beyond measure. The assistants were petrified to enter my office and even Lottie had been wary of me. My patience wasn't my strongest asset It wasn't until this morning when my spirits had lifted. I became obnoxiously cheerful and even whistled as I exited work. I'm sure my collegues think I'm deranged.
As I circled the ritzy room, I spotted my mother and father talking to an elderly man with a much younger redhead clingy to his beefy arm. I prepared myself for the interrogation and walked sharply towards them. My mother noticed me first and wide smile spread across her lips. I involuntarily return her smile. No matter the dread I feel for these occasion, it's always pleasing to see the happiness it brings my mother.
Of course shes dressed in the latest flamboyant fashionable gown and my usually rigid father stands proudly beside her. Our eyes meet and he offers a reluctant drab smile. I don't return his gesture. As I reach them, my mother enthusiatically pulls me into a hug. Gradually she lets go, her eyes crinkled and I notice the wrinkles scattered around her face. She still looks as glamourrous as ever.
"Happy Birthday, Edward" she says happily. "I'm so glad you had a party, darling"
"You mean, you had a party" I remark jokingly. She laughs lightheartedly.
My father reaches out a stiff hand and we briefly shake hands while remaining a eye-contact.
"Happy Birthday" he says shortly. Our company then intterupt our tense crossing and announces their good wishes. My mother, ever the hostest, makes the introductions.
"Edward this is Dr David Banner, your father's collegue, and his daughter Emily" she presents.
"Good to see you again, Edward" Dr Banner proclaimed from beneath his thick handlebar moustache.
"It's nice to meet you" his daughter Emily timidly says.
"Actually dear, Emily been working in the magazine 'Boomerang' for the last five years in editing, and been thinking of changing postions, I thought maybe you could help her" my mother offers innocently. Like a lioness pouncing on her prey, my mother sees every opportunity. I give Emily a polite nod, not really agreeing to anything and shoot my mother a quick glare. She demurely smiles in return. I see my father lips lift slightly at my inconvenience.
We all stand there and begin to discuss much more painless topics. About the hospital and Bree's interest in college. Until my mother frowns observing something behind my back.
"Edward, did you invite someone who you didn't put on my list?" my mother inquires as she raises her flute to her lips eyeing the audience behind me.
"No" I replied absentmindly. My mother hums in response.
"Why, love?" my father asks concerned at my mother's dubiety.
"Because I have entirely no idea, who that girl in the red dress is" my mother answered confused. Esme Cullen knew everyone here except...
My head shot around so quick and I searched the room, I must have looked like a cartoon.
There standing at my former place at the bar was Bella. Standing there in a long silky red dress with her hair piled effortlessly on top on her head ordering her a drink was Bella. She was here. She came. Still tiny, she bewitched her spectators and looked so fucking powerful. My cock immediately harden. God, I wanted to-
"She must be lost" my mother assumed and brushed past my still state in her direction. I grabbed onto her shoulder and yelped "No"
"Edward, what's wrong?" she aked sharply, frightened at my reaction.
"I know her, I forgot to tell you. I invited her" I explained hurriedly. Our whole group faced her direction and her dark seductress eyes flicker up at our intruding stares. Her demure completely changed, once she detected our gaze. She directed a sweet, sheepish gaze at me and began to walk towards us, her dress swishing loosely at her feet. Her saunter capturing her onlookers attention. She stopped shortly infront of our group. My mother gazing between us and Bella breaking the silence first.
"Hello, I'm Bella" she apprehensively introduced herself. Now closer, I studied her in more detail. Her face with very little makeup except for some ruby red lipstick and smoky black eye shadow. As well I notice her heels made a slim difference to her height as she still fell below my shoulder height. The main fact that I noted was she introduced herself as Bella rather than Marie.
"Oh yes, Edward here forgot to remind me, you were attending tonight. It's lovely to meet you" my mother kindly ignored my frazzled state and tried to make conversation. "How do you know each other?" she quizzed, studing both of us expectently. Bella's eyes flickered to mine uncertainly. I took the lead.
"I'm helping out Bella's friend in his studies" I answered simply, giving Bella a brief glance, unsure of her reaction to the word 'friend'. She never registered it however.
"Actually, Seth felt unwell this evening and couldn't make it. He told me to pass on his apologies as it was rather sudden" her heavenly voice chimes in, a dark expression falling over her pretty face. She began wringing her hands, nervously. "He'll call you later on this week"
"Okay" I say and realises it's the first word I've spoken to her all night directly. My gaze concentrates on the beauty in red. A strain falls over our group again but our hostest luckily intervenes.
"How about some dancing" my mother suggests to the group. I look around and every seems reluctant except for my parents. My father loving eyes fall to my mother and she matches him with the joyful eyes. Dr Banner awkwardly backs away, murmuring about ordering another whiskey. Emily looks expectantly at me.
Bella follows Dr Banner attitude and tries to subtly slip away from me. Again. I avoid Emily's stare and grab onto Bella wrist.
"Shall we?" I simper. She looks hesitant. I clasp my hand around her much smaller one and run my fingers up and down her wrist. I move a little closer and we lock gazes. A piece of hair unbinds from her updo and falls infront of her pouty lips. I brush my hand up and secure it behind her ear. She smiles shyly and an adorable little dimple appears on her right cheek.
"I should drop off my purse first at reception" she says quietly, gesturing at her clutch. We lean back. "I'll be just a second"
"I'll meet you at there then" I drop her dainty hand and watch as she strolls away. I turn around to see my audience expression.
My father looks curious at our exchange. A small knowing grin on his face as he watch Bell's retreating figure. Emily looks more aggravated. My mother looks simply thrilled and question begin to burst from her mouth.
"Oh, she's just darling, Edward! Lovely! Very elegant! A little young but nothing consquential. I can't believe you didn't tell me that you were seeing someone. When did this happen?" my mother yappered on knowingly. I was about to try dissolve the situation but a heavy muscular arm interrupted my attempt.
"Ed who's the brunette Jessica Rabbit you were talking too? my brother chuckled. This comment was swiftly met with a quick tap on his shoulder from his buxom blonde wife. The couple appeared from behind in all their grandeur. Rosalie, clasping onto her husband other arm, gave a good natured laugh and reached up to give a gentle hug to me.
"Happy Birthday" she smile angelicly "I'm sorry, I can't bring him anywhere with out a scene" However it was clear her coment was harmless. "Anyway she's much more Audrey Hepburn" she added.
Dr and Mrs Emmett Cullen relationship was concrete. They sort of couple that unachievable by most standards yet they managed married life flawlessly.
Emmett was now busy hold a deep discussion with my father and my mother, the ruffled Emily and Rosalie began to gossip about the party-goers tonight.
And I headed towards the dancefloor to find her.
To have her in my arms.