Hello everyone. I am sorry I missed my last up date. R.L. has some stuff going on. I am ahead of the story right now. I'm working on Chapter 22. I'm going to keep the scheduled updates entell I am finished writing. When it's done you will get a chapter everyday. I hope you are all enjoying the story. Thank you for all your follows, favorites, and reviews. They have really helped me Keep going with this story. I do have to give you all a warning of some potentially triggering scenes that will be coming up. There is some physical abuse and manipulation. Jacob is introduced in chapter 20. Unfortunately he is not the happy go lucky kid you all know and love. I hope this version of him is received well. I would love to hear your opinions and will answer any questions you may have, if I can. It will help me get through the hard parts that are coming up.

Chapter 17

Convincing Mike was not easy. He was paranoid that Jessica was going to take over his life. They came up with a compromise. They called Angela to put their plan in motion.

The plan was that they would go as a group. This meant no dates, so no one was led on. Mike also had to convince Jessica that he and Bella were not secretly dating.

It must have worked because wednesday last class Jessica was asking if she was sure she didn't want to go to the dance. Bella assured her she didn't want to go and Jessica left her alone about it.

Bella wished Alice would do the same. Everyday that week Alice was practically begging her to reconsider going to the dance with Edward. This was only one of the reasons Bella never returned to the after school activity.

She had made sure to catch the bus going home for the rest of the week. She also convinced Charlie to let her have a trial run of her cooking dinner.

After she said no to going to the dance again on Friday Alice asked. "Is it my brother you're saying no to, or just the dance?"

"Just the dance." Bella reassured her. "I don't like dancing. I'm no good at it." She also didn't like dressing up, or being in a crowd of people.

"Okay then I'll let it go."

"Thank you." Bella said in relief.

"But I'm coming over to your place on saturday because I want you in my photos."

"Okay." Bella reluctantly agreed. She also didn't like being in pictures.

Alice showed up to Bella's house earlier than expected with an extra dress, Hair styling tools, and makeup.

"Did you think you would be wearing a tee shirt and jeans in the pitchers." Alice asked.

That was exactly what Bella thought. Alice apparently had a way of persuading her to do things because three hours later Bella was in a dress with her hair and makeup done.

The Dress was a solid blue. It had two layers. The first layer was a silk fabric that had a halter top with a skirt that stopped about three or four inches above the knee. The second was a lace overlay. The top followed the line of the silk but the bottom of the lace was longer, the front stopping at the knee and the back going all the way down to her lower calf. Of course Alice had matching blue heels for her to wear.

Alice's phone chirped and she went over to look out the window.

"You said it wasn't my brother you were averse to."

"No, I have nothing against your brother."

"Good, because you're going on a date with him tonight."

Bella's eyes opened wide. She tried to protest. "I don't know if Charlie would allow that. He was pretty clear. No dating."

"No worries, I'll take care of that. Just play along."

What was Bella supposed to do here. She didn't want Alice to think she was lying about her brother so she played along.

Alice asked Charlie If he could Take a few photos of them when Edward and Jasper showed up.

"Bella, I didn't realize you were going to this dance. You didn't say anything." Her father announced.

Bella shrugged, "You didn't ask."

Charlie started to protest. "Well I'm not sure-"

"We're all going as a group," Alice interrupted. "Our other friends are meeting us there."

"Oh, umm, Who's driving." He asked gruffly.

"I am sir." Jasper stepped forward. "I assure you I am a very safe driver." It was the first time Bella detected a southern accent from the blonde boy.

"Well, okay. Just know I will hunt you down if anything happens to my baby."

"Dad!" Bella blushed.

Jasper smiled. "Yes sir, I understand."

"You look lovely Bella." Edward smoothly told her.

Clearing his throat Charlie agreed. "Yes, You look very nice."

Bella Stumbled her way out the door and into Jaspers car.

"So, where are we really going." Bella asked.

Jasper gave her a strange look in the rearview mirror.

Edward, who was sitting in the backseat with her whispered.

"You'll see."

Bella was sad to see that they really were going to the dance.

She turned to Edward. "Did Alice not tell you I didn't want to go to the dance."

"She did, but I wanted to go. You'll have fun, I promise." Edward soothed.

Jasper looked annoyed. "Do you want me to take you back home?"

Bella looked over at the school. She didn't want him to go out of his way for her. "No, it's okay."

"Are you sure?" He asked.

She looked over at him. He was in a Black suit with a light purple shirt and a dark purple tie that matched Alice's dress. Were they on a date? His honey colored locks hung down into his brown eyes. She could see he was angry, but she wasn't sure who with.

"Yeah, it's fine." she told him.

"If you change your mind, come find me. I will take you home." Bella nodded her head.

Tripping her way inside she admired the decorations. The painted bundles of sticks set behind a sheer fabric lined the entrance, mimicking the dark forest. They led to the castle tower that Bella helped paint. It was being used as the background for the entrance photos.

Edward put his arm around her waist. She was certain it was so she would stop falling all over the place. He practically carried her through the room.

"I thought you weren't coming to the dance." She knew that voice.

"Lauren." She said in greeting. "I didn't think I was."

"Hmm." The blonde turned to Edward. "Eddy, I guess I'll see you later." She grabbed Tyler's hand and pulled him away from the group.

"I greatly dislike that girl." He muttered.

"I'm right there with you." Bella agreed.

Her friends saw her and greeted her. Jessica was thrilled Bella was there with Edward.

"Look at you here with your hot date, I can't believe you're dating an older boy. I want details later." Jessica beamed.

By the time Bella got home her feet were killing her. When Jasper started to pull in the driveway she noticed the cruiser was gone. She hadn't brought a key. She expressed her concern.

Alice suggested she go home with them at the same time Edward said "In the mailbox."

"What?" She asked him.

He cleared his throat. "Check in the Mailbox."

He walked her up to the front door. Sure enough the key was in the mailbox.

"How did you know that?" She asked him.

He shrugged. "Good guess."

He kissed her hand and went back to the car.

Charlie got home about a half hour later.

"Where were you?" Bella asked him.

"Visiting a friend." He said sombrely.

"Is your friend okay?" She asked with true concern.

"No." He rubbed his hands over his face. "I'm going to bed."

That's it, That's all he was going to say? Now she knew how he must have felt that first day she came home early.

Thank you for reading.