I Do Not Own Twilight
The Forks Follies were quickly approaching. Garrett and Bella spent most of their free time together practicing. The choreography was coming along marvelously. Bella was particularly excited about how well she was doing. Since Garrett had been teaching her, she hadn't tripped once. She still wouldn't be considered graceful but she was on her way there. Twice a day she would do the strength training exercises to help with the lift in the dance.
Physically she was much more toned than she had been previously. She teased Garrett that he gave her all this workout so her improvements during the change would be even greater. He chuckled and nuzzled her neck whispering "the change can't perfect perfection." Of course, this only caused her to blush which Garrett decided he would miss once she had been changed.
Jasper and Alice were thrilled Bella had requested their help with her change. Jasper told Bella he had been looking forward to her newborn year and was afraid he was going to miss it. He went on to explain how he used to help train newborns. Alice was excited for all the shopping she would get to do for Bella, although even she had to admit designer fashions belonged nowhere near a newborn.
After much discussion between the four of them it was decided to keep the original time-table. When the Cullens left Bella would "go to college." They would change her at Garrett's place in Montana where she would stay until her newborn year. After a year Jasper and Alice would return to the Cullen family and Bella and Garrett would decide where they would live.
The two weekends before the Follies were spent building sets. Bella had guilted both the Cullens and the Pack to help with building the sets and props for the Follies. They have assembled all the materials in the high school auditorium where the Follies would be held. Bella had organized teams to work on different aspects of the stage set up.
Everyone was getting along hammering, sawing, and painting when a materials delivery came. Bella didn't want to call anyone away from working so she went to get the building materials herself. She came back in carrying several two-by-four planks.
"Watch out Bella's carrying two-by-fours!" Paul yelled and mimed her hitting people accidentally with the beams. Seth and Quill pretended to get hit and fall over causing everyone to look up at her and laugh.
Garrett wrinkled his forehead and started to put down his hammer in order to carry the supplies. She caught him and grinned, "I've got it. Just keep working." He wasn't going to argue with his boss lady so he smiled and kept working.
She came back in with a five-gallon paint bucket.
Emmett grinned, "Hey Paul what do you get when you see Bella carrying anything?"
"What?" Paul said mockingly toward Bella.
"A mess!" The Cullens and the Pack all started chuckling.
Rosalie smirked, "You are the only person I know who trips over air."
Bella set the paint bucket down and tried to smile at everyone. She turned and headed back to bring in more supplies. This time she returned with several bags full of odds and ends. Everyone was still snickering. She caught Garrett's concerned eyes. He was frowning at everyone. It was obvious he didn't like their teasing.
"Hey man," Embry said to Garrett, "I feel really sorry for you. I mean being mated to Bella your gonna spend half of your life in the hospital."
"Naw man. That's why she wants to change so bad. When she's a vampire she'll be able to heal herself." Quill added.
At this Carlisle started chuckling, "Now I understand why she wanted to change so badly. I have never seen a human with so many old contusions all over their body. When she's changed, she might still trip on her own feet but at least she won't end up in the emergency room." Carlisle telling a joke really caused everyone to erupt in laughter. The Pack was holding their sides and the vampires gasping for unnecessary breath.
Bella walked over to where the materials were sorted and dropped the bags. She turned around and walked out of the auditorium. Garrett hesitated following not wanting to draw further attention to her. He slipped out quietly and found her leaning against a wall in the hallway obviously fuming. He knew how she felt about her former clumsiness and this was the entire reason she felt she needed to prove something to herself and everyone else.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. "You need to go back." She mumbled in his chest not attempting to move away, "I don't want anyone to know how much this bothers me," she whispered.
Garrett gazed at his beautiful mate who he knew was upset and insecure and took a deep breath inhaling her scent. "Well, then let them think I came out here to do this," as he said this, he crushed his lips against hers causing her to squeal slightly before she wrapped her arms around him.
Well over a half hour later Garrett came back into the auditorium pulling Bella gently along behind him. Her lips were obviously swollen and her face was still flushed from their kissing. Garrett smirked when Jasper caught his eye and cocked and eyebrow at him. He released her hand and went back to where he was working.
Bella began going through the list of things left to do when she felt someone looking over her shoulder. She looked and saw Jared reading through the list of acts and what stage set up or scenery they needed.
"Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory are doing an act? What is it a strip tease?" Jared hollered out causing more chuckling.
Alice looked over smiling and brightly asked, "What other acts are there?"
"Charlie and some of his deputies are doing a dance to, Sexy and You Know It by LMFAO. They are dressing up like the guys in the video," Bella chuckled.
Jared looked again, "Hey look Bella's names on this list." He tried to grab the list to see what Bella was going to be doing but she snatched it away quickly. Garrett flashed to her side and took the list from her so she would be able
"What talent could you possibly do?" Jake asked incredulously. He wasn't trying to be mean he was just shocked she would enter any type of show.
"I know," Paul exclaimed, "Bella's going to demonstrate first aid on a fall victim. That's what she has the most experience in."
Emmett laughed, "She could do a comedy routine. Something slapstick where she falls all over the stage. Like Dick Van Dyke. I think she's the funniest thing I've ever seen."
"I know, I know," Embry cheered, "she could attempt to walk up the stage steps! She'd bring down the house." He began slapping his thigh at the thought of her walking up the stage steps and falling down.
"What are you doing Bella, Sweetie?" Esme grinned lovingly at Bella.
She shrugged, "I'm only on the list to thank everyone for coming and supporting Forks PD." She smirked at Garrett, "Garrett is showcasing his talent. He is the grand finale if you will."
Garrett winked at Bella causing butterflies to erupt in her stomach, "I am, and I think I have a showstopper, but it is top secret." He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked away from everyone in order not to catch Bella's eye.
The rest of the afternoon was spent with people trying to guess the mystery talent of Garrett's. When everyone was finished Garrett took Bella home.
"I'm sorry everyone started bugging you about your act. I didn't think they would get stuck on it like that." Bella blushed feeling like she turned her torment onto Garrett.
He lifted the hand he had been holding, pressed it to his mouth, and gave it a firm kiss. "I didn't mind at all. I was glad I could give you a break. You know all of them care about you, right? The joking is mean but after watching it again today I think they just enjoy teasing you."
She frowned and nodded, "I know." She whispered sadly, "It didn't bother me until they all left me." She swallowed, "Edward told me they were bored of me and I was just a pet or toy. When they tease me now, it feels like they only like the dumb stuff I do. I worry they won't want me if I can't trip after my change or if being clumsy will get boring someday."
Garrett squeezed her hand and kissed it again, "I will never leave you Bella. I want every part of you." His face showed a tenderness it had never held before.
Bella swallowed and smiled, "I know that, Garrett. I'm just more sensitive than I used to be. I'm really glad we are going to prove them all wrong." Garrett saw the confidence and determination in her face he hoped to see when he got this wild Dirty Dancing scheme.