Here is another chapter guys. I hope you guys enjoy this one, it maybe a little boring but it is building up to the next chapter. Again the characters do not belong to me, only the ones I made up, along with the storyline. Please enjoy.
June 23rd
Bella's alarm went off, and she was not too happy about waking up. Feeling around for her alarm, she finally found it. Picking it up, she threw it across the room. She sighed that the noise was finally gone. She rolled over and tried going back to sleep until she heard Alice's chipper voice coming from outside her bedroom door.
"Bella…you better be getting up…we have that meeting this morning and I need to pick your clothes out for you." Alice said from outside the door. Bella sighed and rolled over onto her back, looking up at the ceiling. "Shit…the annual meeting for the ball that was happing tonight…can't believe I forgot about it," Bella cursed to herself. "Bella I can hear you sighing in there…I am coming in." Alice said before opening the door. "I can't believe your still in bed."
"Its only seven…and the meeting are normally at eight…I have enough time." Bella said while trying to roll back over her side.
"Come on Bella." Alice said while jumping onto the bed. She was dressed in a cute green dress with a cowl-neck that had a lacey part and an open back, along with a ruffled hem; she was also wearing a pair of white Grecian sandals. Her hair was also all spiked up. It was very Alice.
"I came to pick out your outfit and to get you up."
"Come on Alice…please let me sleep…I didn't get home until late." Bella begged. She had said she wanted to live like nothing had happened, but in her mind it was too early to begin.
"You shouldn't have been away." Alice said while jumping back off of the bed and heading for Bella's closet.
"Are you in here just probe me for questions about the trip?" Bella asked while sitting up.
"Maybe." Alice said from deep in the closet. She sounded like she had been caught. "So…how did the trip go?" Alice asked while coming back out of the room holding a pair of jean shorts and a cute blue v-neck t-shirt. She had even managed to grab a pair of Bella's undergarments. "Put these on…quick…I must do your make-up and hair before the meeting."
"It's just a meeting with the family…they have seen me in worse." Bella complained while changing into the bra that Alice had chosen, it was a blue and white lacey push-up bra and the underwear wasn't any better, it was a blue lacey thong. "Alice…really." Bella said while picking up the thong.
"Yes…it all looks cute together…hurry up." Alice said while smiling.
"Fine." Bella said while changing into the clothes and walking over to where Alice motioned for her to sit in front of her mirror she had in her room. She just closed her eyes and let Alice do her magic. "Do you ever regret not going into the fashion industry?" Bella asked while opening her eyes to look at Alice through the mirror. Alice looked like she was deep in thought. She was remembering how her parents had been so pissed that she had applied to State University of New York, for their school called FIT. She had been so happy that a top fashion school had accepted her, but her parents had squashed her dreams and said she had to pick another school, because no kid of theirs was going into the fashion industry. She remembered being mad at her mother, asking her way she had gotten the chance to be a model, but that she would not let her own daughter go into the business, her mother said she had her own reason.
"Some times…but I was lucky to go to Maryland Institute College for Arts…I got a degree in painting and I wasn't that far from Jasper military school." Alice said while trying to smile. Alice and Jasper had been lucky that they were going to colleges in the same state.
"Yeah…but your so good at fashion." Bella said while smiling. She remembered Alice designing their prom dress for senior year.
"I miss it…but I have a job that pays and my parents are happy."
"Yeah but…I never thought you would be working in a museum." Bella laughed.
"Neither did I." Alice laughed also while putting the final touches on Bella's make-up. She missed designing clothes, but she was married now and had a kid, she had other things to think about. "There you go…look how pretty you look." Bella finally really took a look at herself in the mirror. It did not look like she was wearing any make-up at all; she just looked the girl next girl. She was very beautiful looking her simple clothes and bit of make-up.
"Thank you Allie…this…I don't have words to describe it." Bella said while smiling at Alice.
"Your welcome sweetie…now why don't we head downstairs before your mother comes to find us." Alice laughed while skipping to the door. Bella followed her down the stairs and into the breakfast room. The whole room had been cleared of the tables and now there was just three rows of chairs. Both of the girls spotted Rose and Emmett sitting on the right side of the row in the back with Chris and Jen. Christian or Chris to everyone else was only an inch taller than Jasper with shaggy jet-black hair and hazel eyes, along with tan skin. He was a good mixture of both of his parents. Both of the couples were holding their kids and talking to each other. Alice and Bella took a set in front of them. Bella envied them, she hoped that she would get the chance to be married and have her own child.
"Where's Jasper?" Bella said while turning to face Alice. She had not spotted anywhere around them. She noticed Peter and Charlotte sitting in front of them talking.
"Getting Pay ready…this is his last day with us…he has as to go back tomorrow." Alice explained. She was sad that her husband was going back overseas, but she knew that was his job.
"Oh…okay." Bella said while looking around the room. She spotted her parents standing up front in front of the chairs, talking with her grandfather. Bella's grandfather was her mother's father. Joseph Lockhart was a tall man at Emmett's height with gray hair that used to be auburn and jade green eyes that were now dull. He was pale like his daughter Renée. He was now seventy-one and there was only few times that Bella actually noticed that he looked every bit his age. Any other time he looked younger than the age he actually was. She noticed that the rest of her family was also in the room, along with the Denali's; a family that Bella knew her dad's side of the family did not like very much.
"What are they doing here?" Bella asked Alice.
"Oh…that's right you weren't here." Alice whispered back.
"What happened?" Bella asked in a whisper.
"Do you remember Samantha Wescott…Guinevere's sister?" Alice asked.
"Yeah…of course…what does it have to do with her?" Bella asked. "She died a few years after Guinevere married William Dwyer and her father Jonathan had just passed away too."
"She didn't die." Rose piped in, while leaning forward the best she could. Bella had learned that Rose was about thirty-five weeks along, has of Saturday, the reason she knew this was because Emmett was complaining about having to drive back to Columbus for one of Rose's regular doctor visits, she now had to go once a week, since she was close to her due date. Let's just say Emmett was not too happy about driving the two hours there and back, but then again he would do anything for his Rose.
"What…of course she did." Bella was surprised to hear that. She knew everything about the family that she thought was suppose to be her family.
"She didn't…she married a man called Matthew Denali." Alice whispered.
"That does not make any sense…that's not what I have been taught…grandfather taught me everything about my family history." Bella said while shaking her head. She did not want to believe that her grandfather could have lied to her.
"Well because she married Matthew Denali…who happened to be a blacksmith…you know poor." Rose quietly said. "She was told by her sister's husband to chose…either marry the man or stay with the family and marry someone they choose."
"Why would they do that?" Bella asked. She was beyond confused.
"Because William Dwyer did not want her marrying a poor man…he wanted more money and he thought the family name would be ruined." Alice supplied.
"Well…that's news to me…so why are they here?" Bella asked.
"Supposedly for years now they have been trying to prove that they are just has much part of the Wescott family has the Dwyer's and the town council finally decided on letting them be a part of the founders day ball." Alice said while smiling at her husband coming to sit down beside her, carrying Paisley who looked to be sleep. "Your father was beyond pissed at this…saying that were making up stories...but it was finally proven so that is why they are here."
"Wow." Bella said while biting her lip. "How you doin Rose?" Bella asked while leaning back in her seat and looking at Rose. She noticed that Rose was wearing a cute navy blue maxi dress with spaghetti straps and a cross front v-neck and a little empire belt around the waist. Like always Rose looked stunning, she had her hair down and it was all wavy.
"Good for the most part…I am just getting tired of being pregnant." Rose laughed. Before Bella could reply, she could hear her mother talking.
"Hello everyone…you all know me…we are all here because of the founders ball that is happening tonight." Renée said while smiling. "I am glad you are all here…let us look through the packets that are being passed out." Bella finally got a hold of one of the packets and she almost dropped the paper. "What is mom up to," Bella thought. In the packet was the list of dances and who was dancing what, along with who was with who. She was under the Wescott dance and beside her name was empty, singling that no was her escort her. Wescott dance was a very romantic dance that was first danced by William and Guinevere. They created the dance and it soon become very popular for young couples to dance it. "Now that we have all looked through the packet and have figured out what dance we are doing…let us move into the ballroom." Renée said while motioning for everyone to follow her into the ballroom that was the first door on the left when you walked into the foyer. The ballroom was huge with 16 French style windows and a staircase leading down into the ballroom. It was suppose to look like it came right out of the Victorian time. Bella stood off beside Alice, who now holding Paisley, who was also finally a wake and making little noises. Bella smiled at the little baby.
"So what dance did you get?" Bella asked.
"The Wescott dance…we got it last year to…what about you?" Alice asked back.
"The same…I don't know what mom is playing at."
"You know your mother…she always has something up her sleeve." Alice laughed.
"Yeah that's what scares me." Bella laughed.
"Now let us begin with the Virginia reel…it's the first dance…it will begin our night…so it must be perfect." Renée said. "Now I need Kate and her date please…along with Melinda and Joey…Matt and his date and Tanya and her date also…I believe that is everyone." Renée paused while thinking. "Oh I forgot…Junior and your date please go stand with your dance set." She motioned for Junior and his girlfriend Sarah Jacobs to go and stand beside the other couples. Bella remembered someone telling her that Junior's girlfriend would be flying in for the ball and the celebrations that would be going on during the week. "Now we are going to do one run through…please go stand beside the steps." She told the couples, who grumbled about having to do this but slowly made their way over to the staircase. "Okay…here is the order we will be doing this through…remember it." Renée paused while looking down at her paper. "Katherine Denali escorted by her boyfriend Garrett Trainer." Bella watched has Tanya's best friend Kate locked arms with her boyfriend Garrett has they moved down the steps and to the middle of the ballroom. They stood facing each other. "Matthew Denali escorting his girlfriend Clare Montgomery." Again Bella watched has the couple moved to stand beside Kate and her boyfriend. Both Clare and Kate were standing beside each other while facing their boyfriends. "Ralph Barnes Jr. escorting his girlfriend Sarah Jacobs." This went on like this for the whole set for the Virginia reel and then they moved through the set for the Viennese waltz and the Five Step Waltz and then they were finally onto the Wescott dance. "Okay this dance is the most important." Renée explained. While Renée was explaining the dance, Bella heard someone ringing the doorbell. She motioned to her dad that she would get the door, seeing has their butler had the morning off. She opened the door to see Jacob standing there smiling.
"What are you doing here?" Bella asked.
"Heard you need an escort for tonight…did I come too late…have you already been asked by someone else?" Jacob asked while pulling out flowers from around his back. Bella began to smile. "Mom must have set-up this up…I was planning on asking him later," Bella thought.
"I am sorry you missed your chance." Bella said while trying to keep a straight face.
"Who is this guy that I need to challenge for your hand?" Jacob said while trying not to laugh. He knew Bella was just teasing him.
"If you put it that way…I suppose I will just have to go with you…we don't need you beating anyone up." Bella laughed more.
"Here you go my lady…and I will see you later." Jacob said while handing her a bouquet of her favorite flowers, orange lilies.
"Thank you kind sir." Bella said while smiling and laughing. She took the flowers from him and took a deep breath of the flowers. She had always loved lilies and anytime Jacob was trying to make her feel better, he would always bring her them when they were younger. "Wait...but where are you going?" Bella asked. Jacob loved seeing Bella smile, it made him happy.
"I have to go into Greenville, dad has me doing something for him…but I will be back before the ball even begins." Jacob explained.
"Ah…always fun and you better be back." Bella giggled and stood on her tippy toes while kissing Jacob on the cheek. He smiled at her before leaving. Bella was planning on living her life to fullest and not thinking about what was going to happen or what had happened. There was no reason to dwell in the past, it was past for a reason. She was confused about Edward and everything else that she really did not want to think about it, until it was staring her in the face. Bella walked back into the room to where her mother was glaring at her.
"Glad you could join us." Renée said while putting her hands on her hip and staring at Bella. She really was not mad at her daughter; she had planned it all. She had phoned Jacob earlier and told him that he had better ask to be Bella's escort.
"Sorry…I was getting the door." Bella explained while handing off her flowers to her dad, who gave her a funny look. "Explain later." She whispered while walking over to where Alice was.
"So who was at the door?" Alice asked with a giddy tone. Alice knew who had been at the door and she was not too happy that Bella was becoming friends with him again.
"Don't even." Bella said.
"Okay…now that my daughter is back…let us began." Renée said. "In this order…Alice Whitlock escorted by her husband Jasper Whitlock." Both Alice and Jasper walked down the steps, hand in hand and stood in the middle of the ballroom. Sofia was holding her granddaughter, along with Esme who was holding Henri for Rose and Emmett. "Emmett Cullen escorting his wife Rosalie Cullen." Both Emmett and Rose walked down the steps and stood beside Alice and Jasper. "Amelia Reyes escorted by her husband Carlos Reyes." Bella watched both Amelia and Carlos make their way down the steps. Amelia was of medium height with long straight, raven black hair and nut-brown eyes, looking every bit like her father. Amelia was a very pretty girl with her dark hair and fair skin. Carlos was from Spain and looked every bit Spanish with his dark hair and dark eyes and tan skin. Amelia was also carrying her one-year-old daughter Mary, who looked every bit like her mother with expectation of her jade greens that was from the Lockhart side and her nose was her father's. Mary was a very beautiful child, like any of the children in the family. She had actually been named after her grandma Mary. "Christian Cortez escorting his wife Jennifer Cortez." Both Chris and Jen walked down the stairs. Madison and Tony was holding Samuel and Anna. Bella could see her little Godson, Sammy, who looked every bit like his mother with his big crystal blue eyes and honey blond hair. He was also the same age has little Mary and Henri. "And now…Bella escorted by-"
"Jacob mom." Bella said while cutting her mother off and walking down the steps. "That's who was at the front door…he was asking if he could escort me." Bella explained.
"Oh good…okay lets move on to the next dance set and everyone can go home." Renée said while getting the next dance set, set-up. Bella walked over to Alice and Rose.
"Don't say it Allie…I know you want to…but don't." Bella said while looking at Alice. She did not want to hear it.
"I wasn't going to." Alice smirked. "But just remember…if you lay with dogs…your bound to get fleas."
"I don't know why you don't like him." Bella said while shaking her head. She knew why, but she had to ask.
"Your really asking me that…when I had to watch his girlfriend treat you like shit…do you know how many fights I got into…and they were just for protecting you." Alice sighed. "Just be careful and anyway I figured he would be taking Leah tonight."
"They broke up in college…she cheated on." Bella explained while biting her lip. She knew that she should not be giving Jacob another chance, but she felt like she should. She missed hanging out with him.
"Go figure…but how do you know that he is telling the truth?" Alice asked.
"She has a point Bella." Rose said. Rose did not know much about what had happened between Jacob and Bella, but she knew that her husband hated Jacob and that was enough for her not to like him.
"I could tell he was telling me the truth…it showed in his eyes." Bella said while looking down at the ground. "I have been hurt before and I could just tell he wasn't lying."
"Whatever…but if he steps out of line tonight…I will let Emmett beat the crap out of him or I will do it myself." Alice huffed while crossing her arms in front of her chest. Bella just shook her head at Alice. It was Alice being Alice. Alice had been her protector throughout their school years, since both Emmett and Chris had went to different school and Joey had been too young.