A/N: So what did you guys think of the last chapter? Anything you would change?
Disclaimer: S.M owns EVERYTHIG
*Begin*
With the Cullen's now back in school with us, I was much happier. Classes were somehow easier than before, and I was glad the semester finished in a couple months.
Emmett and I were having an amazing time, after we fought about when he played a little too rough with me. The fight was big enough that he wouldn't touch me for a while. No matter how hard I tried, he refused me after he saw the bruises on my waist. But what really set him off was when he saw the hickey on my neck.
When he saw the perfectly shaped hickey, he made me see Carlisle and get a full body check-up. I was scared he would run like Edward did but he promised me multiple times that he wasn't going anywhere. Though he did sleep in the spare room for a couple days, which highly angered me, once he found out I was perfectly fine he began sleeping next to me again.
February came and went, and he took me to Paris for Valentines. We spent the weekend there and it was magical. The lights were lit up so bright, and the Eiffel Tower had the best view on Earth. We spent much of our day time exploring and going to different places and we spent our nights wrapped up in each other. It was like he was trying to say goodbye in his own terms since in just a few short months he would be gone.
When March arrived, I officially left my gymnastics group. I concentrated on learning to cook and spending time with Dad. He had gotten sicker in the last couple months and nothing we did helped. We all feared the worst and it hurt knowing we couldn't do anything and soon he may not even be around. Bella and I tried to spend as much time as possible filling dad's head with happy memories.
With March also came college applications for everyone but me. Alice talked non-stop about graduation and parties and most importantly prom.
She talked Bella into going and then tried to talk to me about what I would wear. I didn't have the heart to tell her that Emmett didn't ask if I wanted to go but I knew he bought 2 tickets. When I first saw the tickets, I was so excited and I thought he was going to ask me but after 2 weeks, I gave up hope and forgot about the whole thing. I never brought the subject up to him since I knew I wasn't going and didn't want to get into a fight about it. It was his senior prom and he could take anyone he wanted.
When May came, I stuck to myself mostly. The gang was off doing senior things with their class or other friends and with me being a sophomore, I was not invited. Of course, I got text and calls and I always had goodnight kisses, but I missed them. It's like I have already been forgotten without going anywhere and I felt like I had no one to talk to about it. Especially when I started having the nightmares. No one knew because I didn't tell anyone and tried my best to not scream out when they woke e in the middle of the night.
I guess I knew why I was having the nightmares when I came home one day. Bella was supposed to be out with Alice, and I was going to have the whole house to myself. I knew dad didn't have to work today since it was Friday and he normally had those days off, so he went down to La Push to have dinner with Billy.
But something was off when I walked into the house and felt a death chill sweep through my body. I dropped my bag by the front door and ran as fast as I could down the stairs. I stopped dead in my tracks when I found his body. He was laying on his bed, still in his pajamas. His color was an ugly shade of grey, but his face looked so calm and peacefully, I hoped he went easily in his sleep.
"Daddy." I called his name and sat beside him, knowing he wouldn't wake up. I called 911 and told them what I found. Then I called Carlisle since I was under aged, I needed an adult here and I trusted Carlisle.
I went upstairs and sat on the couch with my knees drawn up so I could wrap my arms around my legs. I cried and couldn't stop, I had lost another parent and I was never going to see him again. I never shut the front door so when the paramedics and cops came, they were able to come right in.
One paramedic came over to check on me while the other went downstairs with the cops. I knew there was more outside, but I didn't care. I didn't even care when Esme pulled me into her arms and held me as I continued to cry. My sister came barging in next and I flew into her arms, needing her more than anyone else. Together she helped me answer any questions and showed the cops Charlie's will.
It stated Carlisle and Esme got parental rights over me. It was originally Billy but when I pointed out that Billy was an old man who had many problems, he began to have doubts. He also didn't like that I would be living with Jake, knowing I disliked the guy to no end. It was just easier to live with the Cullen's, especially once everyone left for college.
We had Charlie's funeral the next weekend. It took that long for the coroner to determine cause of death. Apparently, dad had cancer in his stomach, and it spread faster than it normally did since his heart attack. Dad also wasn't experiencing any of the symptoms, so the doctors never thought to look for it when he was in the hospital.
Bella almost cancelled going to Prom, but I told her dad would have wanted her to go. She was depressed and everyone could sense it. She cried a lot and barely ate to where she dropped a few pounds. Everyone treated her like a child and left me alone, for that I as grateful. I got to wallow in my grief alone, to have only Emmett hold me at night when I couldn't sleep. Finding dad dead in his bed did something to me and I just couldn't bring myself to be happy on the inside like I pretended to be on the outside.
The day of prom had everyone in a busy state. There were long baths and hair and make-up and too much girl chatter about the once in a life time event. It was getting all a little too much for me so, I just hung back and watched as they all got ready. The scene was hitting home, and I had to get out, so I headed out back to sit on the tire swing.
I didn't hear the foot steps behind me but wasn't surprised when Emmett stood in front of me. He looked gorgeous in his tuxedo, I was very jealous of the girl he was taking. He looked me dead in the eyes with a hundred questions, but I didn't have any answers. I could also see his eyes hardening up for the next month where he was leaving me.
"You look handsome."
"And you're not dressed. You do realize the limo will be here in 20 minutes, right?"
"What are you talking about? I'm not going to prom, I wasn't invited!" I said more sharply than I intended.
"Ariel. You're my girlfriend, who else would I take? Plus, I left the tickets out and made no move to hide them. Do you honestly think I wanted to take anyone else, I told you its you all the way?"
"You never said anything or even thought to bring it up knowing Alice, Bella, and even Rosalie have been talking about prom for weeks."
"I didn't think I had too. You sleep in my bed, sleep in my clothes, we do just about everything together. I love you Ariel and want to share this moment with only you." I stood up and kissed him.
"I don't have a dress." I felt really stupid now for not thinking he wanted to bring me with him.
"It's ok I got you covered. Just go upstairs, Alice is waiting for you." I kissed him again thinking how lucky I was to have him, even if in a couple weeks he wouldn't be mine anymore.
*Prom*
I had never seen the gym look so beautiful.
There were stars hanging from the ceiling, silver and gold balloons were everywhere. The tables had silver table clothes and with black candles in different heights. The candles were real, but they weren't lit, most likely because it was still light out. The black folding chairs had on gold slips with silver bows on the back.
To one side of the gym was the punch bowl and different trays of food and desserts. There were servers standing behind the food and a couple servers were wondering around the room holding trays. They were dressed in black slacks with a white button-down shirt and a black vest, the men had on a tie as well.
To the right of the table was where they set u the photobooth. It was a black curtain a few feet in front of the camera man with a box of props to the side. I wondered if Emmett would take a couple pictures with me, I didn't mind if he didn't, but I hoped so I could remember this night.
To the left of the table was the massive dance floor. There weren't many people on it since most of the students were spread around the room looking at the pictures that hung on all the walls. Some of the frames were slide shows and I couldn't believe the school had spent so much money on making this place look so good.
"Do you want something to drink?" He whispered in my ear as we sat at the table with Bella, Edward, Alice, and Jasper.
"No thank you. What I do want is to know if your going to take pictures with me?" I bated my eyelashes at him as I pouted my rosy red lips. I knew my brown eyes were would be his undoing since Alice artfully gave me a Smokey-eye look and he always said it was his favorite look. He smiled slyly at me before leaning close to whisper in my ear.
"What do I get out of this if I let you torture me?" He kissed my bare shoulder and I shivered. Why did he have to smell so good as well?
"Baby, you can have anything you want." He pulled back to look me in the eyes, and I could hear gagging noises coming from behind us.
"I never thought I'd see you act like this. Being in a healthy relationship looks good on you bro." We turned to look at Edward and rewarded him with identical happy smiles. He smiled back before Bella dragged him off to take pictures.
"Alice you did a wonderful job, how did the school pay for most of this?" I was already getting ideas for when it was my senior prom.
"Carlisle donated half the money. He donates to the school every so often and one of the donations always goes to the prom. I bet he'd be willing to add more if you need it for your senior prom."
"I know who to call if I need any help." We both laughed but I could see Emmett's mood was turning sour. "Hey, do you want to go outside and get some fresh air?" I cradled his cheek in the palm of my hand.
"I would love too." He took my hand and we went through the second set of doors that lead out to the courtyard.
Out here were strung lights on trees and another dance floor, this one was not as big as the gym. There were a couple tables and chairs, all decorated the same as inside. The air was crisp and cool and the natural stars in the sky was just breathtaking.
"You look so beautiful Ariel!" I smiled as he pulled me close by the waist.
"Well you picked out my dress so you should have known I would look this good." The dress he chose was gorgeous and fit like a glove.
The cherry red strapless sweetheart floor length gown was like a second glove. It had a low back with a zipper on the side, so it hid under my armpit. Even with my 3-inch heels, the dress still kissed the floor but the long slit in the side helped with walking. So far, I hadn't tripped but I always made sure to grab hold of one side, so the dress was off the floor when I walked.
"So why red?" We began to sway to the soft music we could hear coming from inside. My perfectly curled hair bounced behind me as we walked.
"One its my favorite color and two I think it suites your completion. It also goes really well with the jewelry I got you." One of his hands went to the thin silver chain around my neck that held the small silver locket. I had put in a picture of mom and dad, so they were close to my heart and I never took the necklace off. Emmett gave this to me a couple days after dad's funeral.
"I will cherish the necklace just like I will have my bracelet safely stored away in the safe in your closet." The width of the bracelet was two fingers wide and completely covered in diamonds. It matched the ring he got me for Christmas and went perfectly well with the simple diamond studded earrings.
"I bet you will. And what about your ring?" He laced his hands with mine before kissing the exquisite silver band completely covered in diamonds.
"This I will never take off as well unless the day comes when I feel I will no longer want to wear it." I took the hand he wasn't holding and brought it up to play with the hair on the nape of his neck.
"And when will that be?"
"When you buy me something different for my birthday." He laughed so loudly, and I just smiled at him. "I'm serious Em., you know I really want that double fingered ring. It was so pretty and just my style and I will love you forever for getting me it."
"I know. We can go get it the morning of your birthday. Then I can also give you your other gift and then I can treat you out to dinner and spoil you with a week in Utah."
"You spoil me too much, I hope you know that's not why I'm with you."
"And still spoiling you doesn't even put a small dent in the money I have gained over the last century." I laughed, forgetting how old he really was.
"It still amazes me that you have 3 degrees and still you choose to get another one. What will you go to college for this time?"
"Honestly? I think I want to go just to have fun. I always took school so seriously like Edward but being with you has shone me there is more to life. If I get kicked out who cares because I don't really need it. But since I must pick some kind of major, I think I want to study programming. I love video games and movies, and such so why not learn to create my own." He started leading me back inside.
"That sounds great. Have you decided what school you want to go to? I know you got accepted by just about all of the ones you applied too." My heart was breaking thinking he never even applied to anything close to Forks. I get we had a deal, but did my love mean so little?
"I sent my acceptance last week and I will be gone by the end of the summer I will be gone. And no, I am not telling you because I know me leaving upsets you and I don't need you to be more upset. So, lets just forget about the whole thing and enjoy tonight huh?
"Of course, now let's get in line for pictures before it gets too long." And that's what we did.