I Do Not Own Twilight
Hearing a knock on the door Charlie hurried to set down the end of the sofa he was helping Bella move. He ran to the door and saw Garrett standing there holding several shopping bags.
"Hey Garrett! What's up?" Charlie nodded his head in the direction of the bags in Garrett's hands.
Garrett held them up, "Surprises! Come on Bella!" He walked through the house and into the kitchen where he set the bags down. Bella skipped over to the table and watched as he unloaded the bags. He pulled out several shoe boxes and with a flourish he lifted the lids, "Dancing shoes!" He grinned at her and matching, "Dresses!" He whipped out several long knee length flowing dresses.
"How did you know my sizes?" Bella asked her voice full of trepidation.
Chuckling Garrett smirked, "I told Alice I had met someone who was just about the exact same size as you and asked her to get you one pair of shoes. This is what she brought home as well as matching outfits for myself. Along with a new black wardrobe." Rolling his eyes, "None of which I asked for or need."
Bella began lifting Garrett's clothes out of the bags and with each new item she laughed harder and harder. She had tears rolling down her face when they finished unloading. "I'm glad you find my misery so funny," Garrett pretended to scowl. Secretly he relished in sound of Bella's joyful laughter.
Gasping for breath Bella panted, "I have just been on so many shopping trips. Everyone here knows not to ask her to shop for them because this is was always happens. It is nice someone else is the Barbie doll for a change."
"Ken doll you mean," Garrett chuckled. "Pick out a pair of shoes to practice in so we can get started. Maybe a dress too so you can start to feel how it moves." He rifled through the stack of clothes, "I think this one is for practice she claimed."
With a straight face Bella deadpanned, "Did she make you model all of them?"
Garrett groaned, "Who has a runway, with lights, and mirrors in their closet?"
"I know right!" Bella laughed hysterically.
All this time Charlie was standing in the back of the kitchen watching the pair laugh over the clothes. He smiled to himself and when Bella went to change into practice attire, he decided he needed to have a chat with Garrett. "So, you are interested in Bella aren't you, Garrett?"
Garrett was shocked Charlie was still in the room. He turned to look at the man, "I am very interested in her sir."
Charlie nodded, "You know she is dating Edwin or whatever the idiot's name is, don't you?"
"I do," Garret took a deep breath, "but I don't think he is good for her. I think he seems controlling and manipulative. I think she is too kind to realize who she is with."
Charlie nodded again. He thought for a few moments, "She really doesn't see the way he controls her. She won't listen to me or anyone else."
"I'm not trying to teach her any lessons or scold her for the things she does. I just want to show her what a man should treat her like. If she becomes interested then I'll be here for her otherwise I'll hang around until she asks me to leave. I like her a lot, Charlie. She is worth the time I will need to put in."
A wide smile spread across Charlie's face and he reached out to shake Garrett's hand. Garrett moved to meet Charlie's hand and quick as a flash they had become allies in the quest to get rid of Eddie.
Bella came downstairs in her dancing clothes holding tightly to the rail to not fall down. She was initially watching every step. "Bella, look up and keep your frame straight," Garrett reminded her. She grinned and continued down the stairs her footsteps not faltering once.
"Let's redo what we did yesterday," Garrett smiled as she walked up to him and he took her hand.
"Okay," she got into position and Garrett started the music. She missed several steps but he could see the improvement she made just staying upright.
"Good, you remembered most of it. Let's do it three more times then I can teach you something new. Okay," he nodded down at her catching her eyes.
"Okay," she smiled back at him.
She did what he asked and was very pleased she was able to remember what she was supposed to do. Once they finished reviewing Garrett began showing her the steps following. For some reason this part was trickier for her. She couldn't quite get the rhythm of the steps.
"One, two, three, four…," Bella stepped on Garrett's foot for the fifth time. He wasn't hurt but it did cause him to miss his next steps. He looked up and Bella's face was a bright scarlet. She hid her face in his chest which Garrett was thrilled about. He wanted to stroke her hair to comfort her but he knew she saw them as friends and he didn't want to overstep his bounds.
"I'm so sorry," she mumbled. "This isn't going to work. I'm just terrible."
Garrett gently grabbed her shoulders and moved her away from his chest. He leaned down to catch her eyes causing her to move her head up to him. "Bella, this is difficult. You aren't terrible and you can stomp on my feet all you need to. We will get this." His voice full of promise and determination. "I think the problem is we are going to fast for you. We will just slow it down until it becomes easy then we can speed up."
Bella nodded and watched Garrett's feet intently while he very slowly showed her the steps while counting.
Bella kept her eyes on his feet and very slowly moved hers with him. It took a few tries but she was able to get the steps correct on this slow speed. Garrett began counting slightly faster. She was able to keep up. "Now stand up straight," Garrett commanded her, "and keep your eyes on me." She did and was surprised she was still able to move her feet the way her wanted.
Garrett would subtly speed up the tempo until she was able to do both sections of steps. Garrett grinned at her, "See you just have to keep pushing through it until you get it."
"Where did you learn how to teach someone to dance?" Bella looked at Garrett with awe.
Garrett glanced into the kitchen to see if Charlie was in there. He was outside working on something so Garrett turned to Bella. "I was a soldier during the Revolutionary War when I was turned. Before I was turned, I still lived with my parents. I was the oldest and had several little sisters. In my time people danced all the time at balls, barn raisings, parties, whenever there was a gathering. When someone brought a new dance to the area, I was particularly good and learning it. Then when we got home, I would teach my sisters and parents the new dance. One of my sisters was the clumsiest little girl. She truly had terrible balance but she had to learn these dances. She was horribly embarrassed," he looked at Bella and brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, "but I knew she had to learn in order to find a beau so I just kept working on it."
"Did she eventually learn how to dance?"
Garrett frowned and his eyes clouded over with sadness, "She did eventually learn but I'm afraid I didn't get to teach her as much as I wanted. My sisters took over her lessons when I went to the war and then I didn't come home." He gazed down at Bella thankful to be able to share a memory of his life with her.
"I'm sorry you didn't get to finish what you started," She leaned in and gave him a hug.
When Bella laid her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around him, he felt as though he could die truly happy just knowing this girl. She pulled away, "How did you learn new dances like this one though?"
He chuckled, "Well, Bella, you see, I am a terrible flirt and I enjoy dancing so I never let my vampirism stop me. Anytime I have had the opportunity to go to a party with dancing I go and dance. I've learned all the major trends. Some are more fun than others. Today's modern dancing is actually very simple in comparison to what I used to do." He grinned at her. "Shall I come again tomorrow? After school maybe?"
"Okay!" She beamed at the handsome man before her. "Did you talk to Jasper were they planning on changing me?"
Garrett sighed he hated having to tell Bella something he knew would hurt her. He took a deep breath and relayed all the information he learned from Esme and then everything he discussed with Jasper.
Finally, Bella had heard enough, "Urrrgghh, I can't believe he would risk my life like that! Someone wouldn't treat a loved one that way. I wouldn't risk any one of their lives if I could prevent it in some way!" She folded her arms aggressively over her chest. "What am I supposed to do, Garrett? I can't break up with Edward because if I did, I would never have a chance of being changed and I would die. But I honestly can't stand him!" She stomped her foot.
Internally, Garrett was rejoicing with this news. This was exactly what he needed to hear, "Bella, I will change you. You don't have to rely on any of the Cullens. Although, Jasper also said he would see to your change. Alice is unaware of all of this. Jasper said she has been shopping everyday for things she thinks you will need after your change. This is only Edward and Carlisle. Esme knows but she has complete faith in her mate's decisions. But you don't need to worry about this. I will make sure you are changed."
"Really!" Bella's body released all it's tension and she flung herself into Garrett's arms. "Thank you, Garrett! I promise I'll try to be a good newborn for you!" She placed and excited kiss on his cheek.
Garrett was shocked and his hand came up over the place where her kiss still lingered. Bella saw this movement and began to blush, "I'm sorry I don't know what came over me. I was just so excited…" Bella's apology was cut off by Garrett's lips on hers. His kiss was not soft and gentle but it wasn't demanding or rough either. It was excited and joyful.
Just when Bella was going to deepen the kiss, he let her lips go, and took a step back. "I'm sorry about that I couldn't quite help myself. I am very happy to change you and I don't care what kind of newborn you are. I won't take advantage of you like that again. My apolo…" This time Garrett was cut off by Bella's kiss. This kiss was hungry and demanding and Garrett had never felt anything better in his life.
However, before things could get carried away, he gently pushed Bella away from him, "Sweetheart, I would love to continue doing that," he took a deep calming breath, "however, you are still with someone else and I don't want you to feel guilty later. I will see you tomorrow. Make sure you have on your practice clothes." With that he quickly left the house before he could get in any trouble.
Bella was left standing in the middle of the living room stunned at the abruptness of his departure. Charlie walked in cautiously. "Bells? I know it's not my place but I like him." Bella looked at her father with confusion written all over her face.
"You saw?"
"I was just coming inside when things," he paused thinking, "escalated. However, he stopped so you could make your choices. Edward wouldn't have done that. He would demand you break up with the other guy. Heck he'd probably drag you over there immediately to make sure it was done to his satisfaction. Garrett is letting you make a choice. I'm just sayin' I think he's the better choice."
Bella sighed and wrapped her arms around her middle still processing everything that just happened.
"Now what is all this change business he was talking about?"
Bella's face blanched she didn't know what she could tell Charlie. She didn't know what he heard. She decided she better try to lie and hope it worked out. "Edward doesn't want to go to the University of Alaska anymore. He wants us to go to Dartmouth." She took a deep breath to give her time to come up with something, "He wasn't going to tell me he changed my acceptance form for U of A so it said I wasn't accepting their admittance. Then he accepted Dartmouth on my behalf," she let what Edward actually did color her emotions so she would sound angry and frustrated. "Garrett was saying he would help me fix everything or he would help me change locations if I didn't want to be anywhere near Edward. I'm leaning to going someplace Edward wouldn't expect." Bella held her breath hoping Charlie would believe that.
Charlie ran a hand through his hair and began pacing the living room. "Bella, you realize how dangerous that idiot it? He is undermining your decisions. I think it is dangerous to be near him. I hope you aren't going to Dartmouth!" Charlie threw his hands up in frustration.
"No, I've already decided I want to go down south with Garrett. He has some contacts with the Texas State and he said he would help me change all my information so I can hide from Edward. He doesn't trust him either.
"Good! When you get together a plan you let me know. I can arrest him for harassment right now you know."
Bella laughed, "I'll keep it in mind. I'm hoping to break up with him and get through the summer. I think I will be fine as long as I can go to a school away from him."
Charlie grunted and slammed himself down in his chair. He was far from happy about this but he would let Bella make her own choices as long as he felt like she wasn't in immediate danger.
Bella ran up to her room and slammed the door. She plopped on her bed and grabbed her pillow. Then she made a firm decision.