Dancing With Danger

(Mackenzie Brooks as Bella Swan)

Prom.

He had actually talked me into going to prom.

Now, I knew I was crazy. At least I wasn't sporting a walking cast like Bella had been. I actually looked pretty decent in the blue dress Alice had purchased for me. Of course Robert looked freaking amazing and dapper in his classic black tuxedo. In that moment, I sort of understood why Bella didn't think she was much next to Edward. However, I wouldn't allow myself to feel pale in comparison to Robert. For one, I definitely wasn't as pale as him, and for another, he was with me. He could've chosen to forget about the whole prom thing, or could have gone with anyone else, but no, he wanted me. A removed part of my brain knew that he was likely playing out the rest of Twilight just as we had been doing all along, but I liked to think that a small part of him wanted to be with me too.

Forks High was decorated with every cheesy dance decoration that a dismal budget could buy. I couldn't help but smile though. I'd been to prom—twice before actually—and it had been nothing like this. In my experience, girls wore formal gowns and were driven to a fancy ballroom in stretch limousines. Times had definitely changed since my high school days, making me feel old. The girls were dressed in shorter, more revealing gowns, not unlike the one I was wearing. The dance was held in the gymnasium, and people drove their own vehicles or nicer cars that they borrowed from their parents. Aside from the sexy attire, this was the old man bar of proms.

Robert escorted me inside and led me out onto the dance floor. I didn't shy away from dancing one bit; I was an excellent dancer. My stepfather was a bit of an old-fashioned guy and had taught me to dance when I was younger. I had grown up learning the foxtrot and rumba so I was confident in my ability to hold my own at the Forks High School prom. Unfortunately, Bella's clumsiness caused me to trip over my own feet. Luckily, Robert caught me in his strong arms.

"You okay, champ?" he teased as he steadied me.

"Fine, tiger," I quipped back.

His smile suddenly disappeared as he turned his attention toward the main doors. I followed his stare, puzzled by his reaction, but quickly understood. Jacob Black was sauntering carelessly across the gymnasium toward us. I could hear a rumble in Robert's chest as the competition neared.

"I don't like it anymore than you, but just quit it, okay?" I hissed.

"He wants to talk to you," Robert told me, having read Jake's thoughts.

"Hey, Bella, I was hoping you would be here," Jacob said with false excitement once he reached Robert and me.

"Well, here I am," I replied somewhat dryly. All I wanted was to enjoy prom with Robert, but the damn dog wanted to hump my leg. Ugh.

"Can I cut in?" he asked nervously, hoping I'd say yes.

I couldn't help but feel a bit bad for the guy. I knew how much Bella continually screwed him over throughout The Twilight Saga. She seriously had no right to get pissy with him in Breaking Dawn. The least she could do was offer up her first born for all the shit she put him through.

I signaled with my eyes to Robert that it was okay. He didn't like it, but he stepped away from me.

"Thanks," Jake said, taking my hand in his big sweaty palm.

Horny teenagers, I inwardly sighed.

"Can you believe my dad paid me twenty bucks to come to your prom?" he asked sheepishly.

"Yes, I can," I replied flatly, already knowing what Billy Black had conned his son into doing.

"I would've come anyway though…for a chance to dance with you," he admitted with quiet embarrassment.

Oh, Jakey-poo, you are so utterly hopeless, I thought to myself.

His little puppy dog face was doing quite a number on my heart though. I didn't know how to respond to his confession, especially knowing Robert was nearby listening. We remained silent until Jake cleared his throat.

"So, don't you want to know why my dad paid me to come here?" he asked, trying to reproach the subject as to the ulterior motives for crashing the dance.

"Let me guess, he thinks Edward is dangerous and wants me to break up with him?" I cocked an eyebrow, knowing I had taken the words right out of his mouth. Jake looked at me puzzled. "My dad's a cop and your father's best friend. It's not the first time I've heard this."

Jacob seemed to buy this answer and nodded his head. I thought he would be relieved, but he still looked uncomfortable.

"There's something else…"

Something else? I didn't remember there being something else. Again, damn me for not hanging onto every stupid detail of Twilight; apparently that shit was important.

"Don't get mad, okay?" he qualified.

Oh brother. Whatever he was going to say must have been something really god awful like "use a condom tonight so you and your vamp lover don't breed." I wanted to save him the embarrassment but wasn't sure how to go about it.

"It's so bad," he continued, his face turning a slight shade of red. I knew I had to say something, but what? "He said to tell you, no, to warn you, that —and this is his plural, not mine—we'll be watching.'" He released the breath he had been holding in and waited for me to respond.

We'll be watching? I repeated to myself. What the hell was that supposed to mean?

"You're mad," Jake said when I failed to react to his statement.

"What? No, Jake." I gave him a half smile to reassure him I was telling the truth. "It just sounds a little Al Pacino to me. You know, 'the Godfather?'" I heard Robert snicker in the background but ignored him.

"Do you want to dance again? Or can I help you get somewhere?" he offered, hoping I would ditch my date, who showed up not a second later.

"Gee wiz, Jake, isn't it past curfew?" Robert taunted, grabbing me and pulling me to his side. He exchanged menacing looks with Jacob, and suddenly I felt annoyed by both of them and their proverbial pissing contest.

"I guess I'll see you around, Bella," he mumbled to me but didn't immediately back away. I think he was waiting to see if I would call his bluff and leave with him after all. When I didn't move, he stepped away, leaving dejectedly.

"Poor pup," Robert said sarcastically. "Never really had a chance." I rolled my eyes, irritated by his sudden need to be all things Edward. At the same time, I had to admit the whole possessive thing was sort of a turn on.

"You didn't have to be such a jackass, Bobby," I huffed, wriggling from his grasp. Robert looked almost astonished by my anger.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to cock block the kid. By all means, go after the sixteen year old, Mrs. Robinson," he retorted angrily. I wasn't happy with his insinuation that I planned on seducing someone who was not a legal adult. "Should I start calling you Statch? I guess Taylor Lautner is eighteen in real life so perhaps the nickname isn't so fitting."

What. A. Fucker.

-%-%-%-%-

(Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen)

I knew I had gone too far, but I couldn't help myself. Why did she have to be such a raging bitch all the time? God, I hope I didn't have to be trapped with her for much longer. If so, I was likely to take a cue from Edward and go seek immanent death from the Volturi.

Mackenzie fumed away angrily, walking toward the coat check. I watched her from afar, not yet willing to swallow my pride and apologize. The thought of groveling for forgiveness and knowing how much pleasure that would bring her just enraged me further. She turned her head towards me and gave me a devilish smile, and I knew she was up to something.

At a human pace, I followed once she left the gymnasium. It wasn't until I was out in the parking lot that I caught onto her evil plan. She was already in my Volvo by the time I walked out the door. She thrust the car into reverse and then slammed the gas toward me, cornering the vehicle at the last second, and hitting the breaks.

I thought for certain that she would speed away from Forks High School, leaving me in a cloud of dust. Instead, she rolled down the window and gave me seductive look.

"Wanna go for a ride, Pattinson?" she asked with a wink while revving the engine. "I have to warn you, I go fast…really fast."

"I'm counting on it," I chuckled, not hesitating to climb into the passenger seat.

She peeled out of the parking lot with a positively malicious chuckle. I didn't know what she had in store, but I was sure it would be something that neither one of us would ever forget.