Ok guys, this chapter is like… more than 25 pages. So I'll post more in like a little bit. Just going to post this for now. It'll probably be in two parts, maybe three, depending. I'm not quite done yet, but it's already like 14 pages. So I'll post this now just to tide you all over. Sorry for taking so long to get this out. Been a really event full last two weeks. Like really. Pictures for the dresses are on my profile and kind of what I based Edward's piano song on will be posted there too in a bit.
Bella Swan
"How about this one?" Rosalie asked Alice, holding up a long blue dress. It was the color of the ocean in Florida, deep blue that reflected the sky. The material was soft and billowy, like chiffon. It was strapless and low-backed, with a sort of chord that defined the waist and chest. A long slit up the center would show of the wearers legs as she walked, yet conceal them when she was motionless.
"I think it's beautiful," Alice told her. "But it's definitely nothing I would wear." She frowned. Alice thought for a moment, and then brightened up. She and Rosalie shared a glance then both looked at me, faces turning in synchronization.
"Whoa, wait a minute. Me? But that dress has no straps, it has a giant slit up the center! I can't pull of a dress like that… me?" I struggled to get out words that would convince them a strapless chiffon dress was probably a bad idea.
"Bella, come on. You'll look great, trust me. Just try it on." Alice cooed.
My shoulders slumped in defeat. She and I both knew that a fight was futile. Alice always got her way.
I snatched the dress from her hand and stalked off to the dressing room.
We had been in the giant, elaborate department store for the last 2 hours, trying on this, trying on that. I was beginning to get dizzy from all the craziness. They had managed to squeeze me into several dresses and a few other things too. Rosalie was desperate to get me to try on a silk and lace lingerie number that I was totally against. That kind of stuff didn't look good on me.
I was beginning to regret my decision to let them take me shopping when I stepped out of the dressing room and saw my reflection in the floor length mirror. The deep blue of the dress made my skin look paler than usual, and the way my hair cascaded over my bare shoulders and barely scraped the back of the dress was… well… sexy.
"OH MY GOD… Bella! This dress is perfect!" Someone screamed from behind me. I turned, waiting for Alice to jump circles around me. It wasn't Alice, it was Rose. I did a quick double take and then started laughing out loud. All three of us were jumping and screeching in octaves only excited girls could reach.
Alice pushed me back into dressing room, apparently we still had a lot to do. I needed shoes and both Alice and Rose needed entire outfits. I bought the dress at the counter, hoping against hope that Edward would like it. Hoping I didn't just waste this month's salary.
We moved along the mall to a different department store, one of Alice's favorites. She hunted through the displays and racks while Rosalie and I scanned the walls. Rose and Alice were pulling out dresses here and there and piling them onto the store clerks arm while she made trips back and forth to the dressing room, stacking the dresses on the hooks in the enclosed cubicle.
Alice did a miniature fashion show for Rosalie who turned most of them down, but nodded at a few to give a second chance.
Becky—the clerk—ran laps of the store, returning discarded dresses and admiring every dress Alice tried on.
I continued around the store, not really sure what to say to each dress. None of them were really… Alice. None of them had that personality! That flare! That… little pink satin belt… Oh My God.
"Alice! I found it!" I screeched across the store. "I found the perfect dress!"
Alice and Rosalie came running with Becky close on their heels. Alice was stuck into something that looked like a cross between a tutu and a gothic-corset-gone-wrong, in purple.
We all stared at the dress. It was a floor-length tight fitting satin dress. Black, with three light pink satin belts. One around the top of the chest, on just under the chest and one at the bottom of the waist. It was perfect, it screamed Alice.
"It's like… it's got my name on it." Alice whispered. The store had become eerily quiet as we all ogled the dress. "I'll take it!" Alice demanded a look of pure pleasure on her pixie-like features.
"Don't you want to try it on?" Becky asked carefully.
"I don't need to. It was made for me." Alice cooed at the gown.
The clerk bagged the dress and we made our way to the next store. A store that only Rosalie and other women who had the bodies of models would dare to step foot in. The store was dimly lit and filled with a lot of vibrant colors, electric blues, blacks, and a lot of red. Colors and shapes you would have to be very confident to be seen in.
Rosalie saw the dress she wanted right away. It was scarlet and silk and looked perfect on her. It swept the floor and had a dangerously low back. It was in halter top style with a v-neck that dipped close to her navel. A thin belt wrapped around the waist, just under the chest that sat at her lower back. It looked fantastic on her beautiful curves. It fit like a dream, as they say, and Rosalie looked as gorgeous as ever. My self esteem got knocked around a bit, but I'm sure everyone else's did too.
"Wow." Was all I said.
"Uh, Yea. Wow. Rose, that is… amazing." Alice whispered beside me. Rosalie, to my complete amazement, blushed. Something I had rarely seen her do before.
"Oh my god." The sales woman came up behind us and stared at Rose. "You look great in that dress. Actually, you make that dress look great. I'm not even going to lie."
Rose rolled her eyes. Hating the ever persistent shop clerks. Rosalie bought the dress and Alice arrived on scene with shoes and jewelry for everyone, just when I thought I couldn't take shopping anymore.
I flopped down on the bench outside of the shoe emporium, sick and tired of spending my money, and cursing whomever invented the mall.
"Bella?" Rosalie and Alice came over to me and my eyes opened carefully.
"What?" I said sharply, crabby since I hadn't had dinner yet.
"Let's get some food. Then let's go home." Alice chirruped at me.
"Ah." I sighed contentedly. "First good idea you've had all day."
XxXxXxXxXxXxX
Edward and I had spent every moment together since our new found relationship had been forged. He picked me up and dropped me off at all my classes, despite my protests that he would be late. We spent each night, either on his bed doing school work, at his piano practicing his concert piece—he wouldn't play the solo around me—or on my sofa, curled up together, watching a movie.
I couldn't care less what we had, or hadn't done together in the aspect of sex. He didn't seem to mind, but the tension was building up come Thursday. The concert was the next day and Edward seemed to have been planning something big.
I hadn't seen him all day and Alice told me that I wouldn't until later that night at the concert. She said that he had a surprise waiting, and that it was her job to play makeover and make Bella beautiful.
I'm pretty sure Edward never said the last part and that Alice threw it in there just so I would listen to her ridiculous make-up plans. I decided to let her anyway. I did want to look beautiful for Edward.
Alice pulled and tugged at my hair. Spinning it in strange direction, using bobby pins like there was no tomorrow and finally filling the room in a fine mist of hair spray. I coughed and spluttered and my eyes watered as the room slowly defogged. Alice got mad when the room came clear, because my eyes had cried away some of her make-up, causing her to have to restart. In the end, my hair really did look great, and my make-up was something to be remembered. Alice did a perfect job, and for once, I actually felt pretty.
I felt lonely when we arrived at the concert hall in the university. Jasper and Emmett had met up with us and they both took the hands of their dates and led them to where Edward had reserved us seats. Carlisle and Esme were already seated when we all filed into the center of the second row. I was the only one who didn't have a date and I hadn't seen Edward since yesterday and the anticipation was getting to be painful.
"Bella, you look lovely." Esme smiled warmly at me.
"Thank you. You do too." I said.
In truth, she really did. She had on a simple silver dress that went to the floor. A tight wrapped bodice with crisscrossing straps. The whole dress was pleated all the way to the floor, causing it to flow out at the hips. Her hair was done in a fancy bun with ringlets hanging loosely around her face and her lips were painted a cherry red to perfection. Esme was gorgeous. So was her entire family. I guess this is where the genetic masterpiece must have begun.
Esme smiled and thanked me and took her seat again while Carlisle gave me a hug. He was in a elegant looking tux, his hair slicked back—but not in a way that looked greasy.
"Bella," Carlisle called to me.
"Yes?"
"Thank you." He said, leaning in to whisper in my ear so I could hear him over the increasing noise in the crowded concert hall.
"For what?" I asked, confused.
"For saving my son worst decision of his life. He would have stayed with Tanya out of pure loyalty to what he thought was good for us, Esme and myself. I'm glad to see that you bring out a whole new side in him. I see him planning to see you, excited to see you happy when he sees you. Sad when you go, but still… content. Do you know what I mean?"
"I… yeah."
"So, thank you. You do look lovely by the way." He smiled at me. In a warm fatherly way that I couldn't help but smile in return.
The lights in the concert hall went down and I retook my seat between Alice and Esme. Alice shoved a pamphlet into my hand and I opened it. Written in plain text was the night's schedule. I scanned the agenda when something caught my eye.
Edward Cullen – Piano Solo – Self composed piece entitled 'Isabeautiful'. Dedicated to the woman he loves most.
My heart warmed at the words. I secretly knew that the song was for me, yet I didn't want to admit it. I also knew that I was in love with Edward Cullen; I just needed the perfect opportunity to tell him.
The lights in the grand hall dimmed and the curtains divided, showing us the orchestra. It consisted of about 40 people, all dressed in black tuxes or black dresses, hair pulled back or combed to perfection—all except Edward of course; his hair never quite did what was right. The entire group looked magnificent, perched on their matching chairs and waiting for the first command of the conductor.
Edward and his grand piano were nearer the back and to the left. He glanced around the crowd quickly and spotted me and his family. He flashed me a dazzling crooked smile that showed off his perfectly white teeth. I gave him a small wave a smile in return as the conductor turned to address the crowd of people in the audience.
"Good evening, ladies and gentleman." The conductor began. "You are all welcome to the junior end of year beneficial concert. I would like to present my second year students, who have been slaving laboriously over their various instruments in order to make this concert perfection. I would also like to introduce to you, for the first time, Mr. Edward Cullen. He has graced us this evening with a piece he recently composed that we, at Duke University, would like to feature. Sit back, enjoy and please, open your minds the music."
The crowd applauded as the man turned around and the spot lights shone on the orchestra. A hush ran over the crowd as the as the woodwinds hissed softly in a sound that simulated wind through snow or leaves. A shiver ran through my spine as if it actually were the wind blowing across the crowd, yet the air was calm.
The drums rolled, deep and booming and a high hat was tapped at high speeds. Chimes were brushed, creating a high pitched tinkling. Edward pressed the high keys of his piano softly as the low drums continued to roll. The false wind picked up and blew over the crowd at a high velocity.
Suddenly the wind broke and the piano banged out a deep note while violins lulled out a smooth mellow tone. There was a long pause and everyone on the audience held onto their breath.
All the instruments went into action at once. The flutes and woodwinds belted out high pitched notes while the drums rolled and the violins, cellos and piano rang off in deep dark tones. The song was almost eerie and had a sort of old English feel to it.
I couldn't keep my eyes off Edward. He was hunched and tensed. That's how he always played. I could see the muscles in his back bunch together in concentration and effort, even through his black tailed coat.
The composition ended and everyone stood up, clapping and cheering. The lights dimmed again and the conductor turned around again to address the audience.
"Thank you. Now for one of our most advanced students here at the university. Edward Cullen, ladies and gentlemen."
The room went nearly black. A light came up pointed directly over Edward and the piano. It made him look pale and shadowy, yet still completely sexy.
Edward played, his hands moving across the keys with great skill and precision. It was a slow song, sweet and welcoming. It was something you would listen to right before going to sleep.
My whole body relaxed and listened to the beautiful melody Edward was playing… for me. That thought brought out whole new levels of warmth inside of me, and I could feel the blood pooling in my face. Edward was so different than any other man I'd ever been with. He made my speech go incoherent and my thoughts go awry. No one else had ever had this effect on me.
It's because you love him, Bella. My sub-conscious thoughts were telling me. I did love him. I knew it for sure now. I needed to tell him.
The song ended only too soon and we stood up to clap and cheer. Emmett wolf-whistled and as Edward faced the crowd and I could see his eyes roll. Edward smiled slightly and bowed. He risked a glance at my face and smirked, probably noting the blush on my cheeks. I blew him a kiss and he smiled wider and walked off the platform with the rest of his peers.
I enjoyed the rest of the concert, but my mind couldn't really pay attention to it. First off, I couldn't stop thinking of what Edward and I were going to be doing after the show. Second, Alice kept poking me and whispering things in my ear, gossiping about this and that.
"Bella, look." Alice poked me and whispered again. "I think the conductor's butt is hungry. It's eating his pants."
Alice and I broke out into muffled giggles and earned ourselves a sharp look from a woman in front of us. I immediately stopped and smacked Alice, shaking in silent laughter.
When the concert was through, everyone filed out the door and into the second hall for a reception. Our row was one of the last to leave considering we were in the front and the doors were in the back. When Alice, Esme, Rosalie and I—the boys had stayed behind to help stack chairs—most of the students who had participated in the concert were in the room.
I spotted Edward's untidy bronze hair a little ways across the room and made a bee-line for him, Rose and Alice trailing behind me while Esme went over to speak to the dean of the school. Edward's back was to me and I could see his ducking down a bit.
I stopped in mid-step and Alice bumped into me slightly.
"Bella, what…? Oh." She had seen it too.
I turned in a quick 180 and headed fast in the other direction. There had definitely been two slender white hands wrapped around his neck, a gold dress shimmering close to his body and a blond head very close to his. He'd been kissing her? I thought he hated her, I thought he loved me. I knew I was never good enough for someone like him.
I wiped angry tears away as I fled from the room. Alice was calling after me and running as fast as her tight dress would allow.
Of course for someone like me, running was always a bad idea. I tripped just as I reached the door, falling into someone chest. His arms wrapped around my shoulders, the way a brothers would and I let out a sob into his jacket.
"Bella, shit. What happened?" Jasper asked me, sounded taken aback.
"I saw Edward kissing Tanya." I cried into his chest. The words came out muffled but I knew he heard them. His whole body stiffened.
Emmett's booming voice asked me the same question Jasper had and Jasper quickly told him what I had seen.
"Oh, that's it. I'm going to murder that asshole!" Emmett boomed while several people 'tsked' in the crowd. "Speak of the fuckin' devil."
"Bella? What happened?" Edward's worried voice came from behind me. I had to admit, he sounded genuinely frightened; he was a good actor.
I heard a muffled smack and several people yelling, a couple woman screamed.
"What the fuck, Emmett?!" Edward yelled.
I raised my face away from Jasper's chest and saw a ring had formed around us all, Rosalie, Emmett, Edward, Alice, Jasper and I. Edward was holding onto his face, both hands cupped on the left side of his cheek.
A security guard ran forward and pulled Emmett away before he could punch Edward again. Rosalie hastily followed and we all ran after her and Emmett. Emmett was thrown out the door to the concert halls and told not to come back tonight or they would press charges.
My eyes were still tearing but I felt, more numb than anything. I still loved him, but I had to face the facts. I would never be enough for him. I wasn't pretty enough, I wasn't smart enough, I just wasn't enough.
Edward banged out the doors in true mellow-dramatic style, pushing both doors at once and flying down the steps.
"Ok, someone had better tell me right now. What the fuck is going on?" He yelled as he approached Emmett and got right into his face.
K so that was long, and eventful. Just so you know, when I started writing, Tanya was never going to show up. But she came to the concert against my knowledge and snuck into the reception hall without my consent. So don't blame me.
Just relax though, the ending is still the same. I was just in the mood for last minute drama I suspect. I'll post chapter 20 part 2 in a bit.
R&R ALL! :) Oh, and vote :D
Jamie