***Twilight rules, and belongs to Stephenie Meyer.***
Time passed as it always does in small town America; slowly and uneventfully. Except for Bella and Edward, who received their university acceptance packages with excitement while working hard to maintain their grades. There had been no more intimacy past second base, as they were never able to find time or space to be alone together. Esme kept a careful eye on the two lovers at the Cullen's house, while Charlie's shifts were usually during school hours. They both found it frustrating but at the same time they were stressed with end of year projects and upcoming finals.
It was the end of May when Edward and Bella had their first real fight as a couple. They were seated at the diner, their books spread out in front of them, when Jessica and Mike Newton joined them at their table. Surprised, Bella looked up from her philosophy notes and gave them a hard stare which they either didn't understand or ignored completely.
"Hey Bella! It's been so long! Are you excited for prom next week?" Jessica gushed, stealing a french fry off Bella's nearly empty plate.
"Uh, not really. You know I hate those types of things." Bella eyed Jessica suspiciously.
Seemingly unperturbed, Jessica continued. "Well, WE'RE excited about it. Right honey buns?" She said, giving Mike googly eyes.
Mike stammered out, "Um, yes of course. If… if you'd like to go… I guess I could rent a tux or something."
Jessica frowned at him and turned to Edward. "Maybe you guys should go together. I'm not sure Mike would know what to do."
Edward cleared his throat. "Thank you for the thought, but I have my own tux." He wrapped one arm around Bella's shoulders. Bella could feel the tension in his body; she gave him a quizzical glance which he ignored.
"Well Bella! We should go to Port Angeles soon before all the good dresses are snagged up. How about Saturday?" She said excitedly.
Bella frowned at Jessica. "Jess, I don't think we're going to prom. At least I'm not." She gave Edward a pointed glare which he again ignored.
"Oh come on Bella! We only graduate once. Haven't you been looking forward to senior prom since we were freshmen? I know I have! I wonder who will be prom queen. Just in case, I'm planning to get my hair done so a tiara will fit nicely. And I'm getting jewelry that will match it perfectly." Jessica tried to gauge Bella's reaction, but she found herself talking to a brick wall. Exasperated, she looked at her watch dramatically and said, "Okay, well I guess we should go. Call me if you change your mind. Bye Edward!" Jessica grabbed Mike by the arm and practically towed him out of the diner.
Once they were no longer in sight, Bella turned to Edward. "What's gotten into you?"
Edward shrugged his shoulders without replying, keeping his eyes on his textbook.
Bella touched his arm tenderly, willing him to look at her. It didn't work. "Come on Edward, I can tell you're upset. Did I say something wrong?" She asked, genuinely confused.
Edward slammed his book shut and turned to Bella. "We've never discussed prom, and yet you dismiss the possibility without even asking me." His angry eyes glared into hers.
Her automatic reaction to hostility kicked in despite her efforts to remain calm. "You would make me go to something you know I hate?" She said venomously, trying to control her adrenaline.
Edward's eyes narrowed and his tone turned icy. "You seemed to enjoy yourself last year."
Bella was temporarily taken aback. "Huh?" She asked, confused.
"With Jacob Black. I saw the pictures." Edward pronounced Jacob's name with venom.
Bella's face turned red with anger. "Jake forced me to go. I hated every second of it. And I doubt this year would be any different." She spat, trying not to get hysterical.
"Really? You hate spending time with me that much?" Edward replied, equally enraged.
Bella rolled her eyes. "You know that's not why."
"Then tell me why you would refuse to go to the prom with your boyfriend?" Edward asked, his voice laced with hostility.
Bella exploded. "Because it's stupid and I hate most of the people who would be there. WHY would I put myself through that?!" Her hands were balled into fists on the table.
Edward searched her face carefully. Seeing nothing but truth, his demeanour softened. "Bella, did you ever consider that I might want to go?"
Bella's rage evaporated as quickly as it had begun. The hurt look in Edward's eyes replaced her ire with guilt. She lowered her eyes back to the table, contemplating his words. Was it possible she was so selfish she had never considered his feelings? Suddenly Bella realized she would no longer be able to think in singular verbs anymore. Edward was her other half, and everything they decided – whether important or mundane – would have to be done together. If she wanted a life with him, she would have to learn to compromise.
Bella reached out her hand and placed it gently on Edward's forearm. "I'm sorry, Edward," she said in the smallest voice possible, "I hadn't considered your feelings. Do you really want to go to prom?"
Edward covered her hand with his. "It's important to me."
Bella nodded, her stomach knotted. "Okay then we'll go. As long as I don't have to wear heels."
Edward laughed openly and kissed her on the cheek. "You will look just as beautiful in sneakers, if that's what you want."
~{0-o-0}~
It was Saturday, and the weather was cooperating for once. Bella was sitting in the passenger seat of Jessica Stanley's 2003 Grand Prix as they drove along the highway to Port Angeles. In the backseat were Angela Weber, Lauren Mallory, and Alice Masen. The five of them were singing along to Barenaked Ladies' One Week which was blasting on the car's radio.
Bella had to admit she was having fun despite her trepidation about this outing. She and Lauren were enemies, Jessica was exhausting to spend more than an hour with at a time, and Bella hated shopping. No, she REALLY hated shopping. Her hopes for a short trip were quashed when Alice was invited; she and Jessica spoke of nothing all week but planning today's girls' day out. But as long as the positive energy remained between all of them, maybe today's adventure wouldn't be so bad.
They parked the car near the docks which were connected by a long boardwalk lined with food stands and benches. Sea gulls hovered overhead, circling the landscape looking for scraps of food. Their cries of hunger, mixed with the sound of the ocean, gave Bella a sense of peace though she couldn't explain why. Once they were out of the car, Alice and Jessica swiftly pulled everyone up a side street to the main road where all the shops were located. It was a busy day in Port Angeles, owing to the fine weather, and Bella found herself weaving in and out of slow moving groups of people just to keep up with her enthusiastic friends.
They went into several stores, each trying on dresses that caught their attention. Though Bella saw nothing that stood out, Alice had her try on nearly every dress they saw. Bella knew better than to argue with the little pixie, so she clamped her mouth shut and did as she was told. It was an exhausting affair as Alice was not buying a dress for herself since she wasn't allowed at senior prom. By the time it was late afternoon, each of the girls had found a dress suitable to their tastes. Except Bella.
As they left the sixth store, Bella sat down on a bench. "Ali, can we please take a break. My feet hurt and I've seen nothing but lemons all day."
Alice joined her on the bench. "Okay, okay. You've been very good today. Jess! Go on ahead. We'll check out Josie's and then meet you at the restaurant." Jessica nodded and pulled Lauren & Angela down the road.
Bella crossed her legs on the bench, leaning forward so she could rub her back. Alice frowned at her. "You know we haven't exactly been running a marathon today, Bella. Maybe you need to get more exercise." Alice chided.
Bella rolled her eyes. "I've been under a lot of stress lately, you know, graduating and all."
"Have you heard back from all the schools yet?" Alice asked.
"Yes. I got in everywhere. Believe me when I say I never thought I'd be accepted to Harvard." Bella replied.
Alice nodded. "Edward is so proud of you. Harvard has always been his dream you know."
Bella sat back up straight and looked Alice in the eyes. "He never told me that."
"He wouldn't do that knowing you have your heart set on Udub. But it's all he talked about for a long time." Alice was bouncing in her seat, clearly wanting to get moving again.
Bella sighed. "Okay Alice, how far away is Josie's?" She stood up and arched her back, working out the kinks. Alice grabbed her by the arm and nearly sprinted to a shop across the street and half a block away.
As soon as they walked in the door, Bella saw her dress. It was hanging on the wall directly opposite the entrance, beside the cash counter. It was a strapless turquoise knee length gown that poofed out into a wide A-line from the waist down. Around the bottom was a black band of velvet which had large black dahlias growing up out of it. Each flower had a group of iridescent gems in the centre of it, and the bust was lined with the same gems set in a row along a thin black band. The dress shone radiantly in the light and the gems glittered. Bella immediately ran to the dress, forgetting her hatred of crinoline, and silently begged the deities that it was her size. She was in luck, and once she had it on a chuckling Alice had to remind Bella that she would have to take it off to purchase it.
After leaving Josie's, Alice and Bella met up with their crew at a local restaurant where they shared dinner before heading back to Forks.