Prom!

Ok, so I am actually very ill but I wanted to get this chapter up, hope you enjoy it!

Reviewers:

FreeSpiritSeeker - He had to sometime! Glad J&J will be fine!

Mira Black-Snape - Thanks...that was very funny!

lolliexbee - Edward can be childish sometimes. I did enjoy writing that though!

SusanCullen - Thanks! Hope you like this chapter!

GraceEllingson - :D

Reena123 - Thanks! I hope you like this story as well!

Two weeks later, we celebrated the milestone of high school…Prom.

The days leading up to it, were…hectic and downright stressful. I was weighed down by my studies and if it wasn't for Alice and Edward I would've failed miserably. Somehow, I scraped by with decent enough marks and was rushed around by Bella, Alice and Rosalie to find the perfect dress.

After hours of mall time, we finally found it…and the only thing left was to attend.

"You look stunning." Edward said, his eyes roving over me appreciatively before meeting mine with a chuckle. "What…?" I asked, stepping out into the hall, placing my hand in his. "Nothing, it's just…Alice and Rosalie went all out. They must've been feeling more affectionate than usual." He said, sliding a corsage onto my wrist.

"She deserves it; tonight she must look like a princess!" I heard Alice croon from her room and laughed.

"Well, you heard the girl. I am the Princess tonight." I said loftily. "Oh, you're always my princess," he kissed the side of my head as Alice and Rosalie both stepped out in black and red.

"Go on, you have to go flaunt her," Alice said and we grinned, following her direct orders.

"So…Eric showed up," I said as he drove one hand on the wheel and one on the gear. "I can imagine what transpired," Edward said dryly, making me giggle. "Poor Charlie," I whispered, one hand on the mouth speaker of my phone before raising it to my ear.

"Charlie…I'm sorry you had to go through this." I said, trying hard not to burst out laughing. He gruffly said something unintelligible before hanging up and I fell back into the seat, laughing.

"You can be so mean." He said although his lips were twitching.

"Oh please, do you know what you did in the books? You told him that Bella would be unavailable each evening unless it was you who was calling. Of course, it wasn't Eric but Tyler but Tyler is dead…so…" I trailed off as the atmosphere immediately sobered. Perfect, me and my big mouth…

Edward glanced at me as his mouth pursed.

"Tyler wasn't your fault, Tulika." He said softly.

"That wasn't what I was thinking, but thanks…"

"So, what were you thinking?"

"Nothing," I said and wiped off my mind making him frown at me. "I really wish you'd stop doing that." He grumbled.

"Edward, let's have fun at Prom ok? I promise I'll tell you whatever you need to know, later." I stressed.

It seemed like he would argue but then after a few moments he nodded curtly.

The mask felt heavy on my face as Edward led me through the throngs of people. Yes, the theme to Prom was Masquerade! For one, I loved masked balls and being with Edward was absolutely perfect.

Edward, tall, wrapped in a striking tuxedo looked illegally gorgeous with his eyes hidden behind a simple black mask with a single jewel the shade of my dress embedded in the forehead. Those eyes, now distinctly more green than gold were trained on me, watching me check him out. I flushed and looked away quickly hearing him openly laugh as the doors opened and we stepped in, gloriously decked out.

There was shocked silence as the music thumped and people chatted.

I heard at least ten people mutter about us dating till we found the Cullens and Bella and Stephen.

"So, how's it going?" Jasper asked; his arm around Alice.

"Nothing much, we were just accosted by hundreds of our school mates who think I'm not worthy of their mighty Edward Cullen." I snaked my own arm around my boyfriend, smiling sweetly at the honey blond male. "You have no idea – their thoughts make me want to throw up." Edward muttered, low enough so only I and the vampires could hear him.

He hugged me closer to him. "Dance with me," he whispered in my ear.

I nodded and let him sweep me off to the dance floor.

One hand on my waist and another entwined with mine, I placed a hand on his shoulder, "I can't really dance like you. I might be a tad bit human." I teased and he rolled his eyes, gathering me up before he spun us into the dance. We were soon joined by my friends until I heard Eric's voice – disgruntled and way too close.

"You could've told me you were coming with him." He said.

I looked around at him surprised. "When did you ask me, Eric?" I asked.

He flushed the color of his face matching the crimson mask he had on. "I thought you would…" he sighed, "Never mind, I'm happy for you." He said and moved away quickly and I looked back to see a scoff on Edward's face. "As if we need his blessing," he said moving me away from the general crowd.

"Relax," I said, placing my chin on his shoulder and felt his body ease under mine.

Edward and I were still twirling around when I heard someone say my name. I turned around to see Jacob, Embry and another boy who had to be Quill, if my memory served me right.

The shift in the serene atmosphere was so distinct you could taste the tension as Edward's arm tightened around me, his eyes hard on the three shifters.

Easy, I thought to him but he didn't react. He didn't even give inkling that he'd heard me.

"We're here to talk." Jacob said. His eyes were fixed on Edward's too but they didn't have any of the hostility that Jacob Black in the book was supposed to harbour. It was more like they both had a resignation towards each other's existence.

"A school dance doesn't seem much of a ground to talk." I turned to see Jasper and Emmett already flanking us.

"Guys," I said, pulling away so I was standing between the six men. "We could hear them out." I offered.

"We have information about a female vampire encroaching on our territory." Jacob said, sitting down as the Cullens and Stephen and I sat around the three standing wolves.

"A female vampire…? Victoria…?" I asked sharply, making Stephen let out a snort of disgust and annoyance.

"Victoria…the woman with James," Alice said too, crossing her arms across her chest, frowning to herself. I nodded. "She ran away. We saw neither hair nor hide of her when we took down the tracker." Jasper said. "She ran away…to bid her time. She wants to avenge James." I said.

"Avenge a murdering psychopath; that's love for you." Emmett said.

"How do you know this?" Rosalie asked.

"Our shifts, normally with your family we don't sense enough threat for our genes to become dominant. Whoever this person is she's dangerous enough for eight of us to suddenly break out into wolves." Quill said his voice sounding like he still wasn't comfortable with his new power. I didn't blame him.

"What does she do when you try to chase her?" I asked.

Jake's eyes fell on me and he grinned, and I suddenly saw the russet wolf he was going to become.

"She flees. Sometimes she changes into the Cullen's territory but we're keeping a close eye on the border so now she just crosses into Canada."

"We also think she's working with someone." Embry said.

"Laurent," the name fell out as a snarl from Edward, his features twisting under the mask.

"Maybe, maybe not," I pointed out.

"If it's him, we can find out easily enough. We did send him to Tanya." Alice reasoned.

"We don't have time. We'll leave tomorrow. Get to Denali as fast as we can and get him before he can do more harm. You're sure that it's Victoria." He shot at Jacob.

"Tall, pale, red haired," he rattled off.

"It's her." Stephen said.

"Alice…?" Jasper asked.

"I'll make the arrangements."

A smirk played out on the female's face as she watched the vampires and shape shifters discuss her.

Victoria was many things but stupid and unperceptive wasn't one of them. She knew that letting the wolves see her was going to lead to this. Now the entire might of the Cullen coven was on high alert.

Plus, so were the two humans.

She had known, just known in her gut that agreeing to anything the woman had told James was a bad idea. She would know, self preservation was a gift and it extended to her James. He was blinded though. By greed, by desire to have more…that had led to his demise.

Common sense told her to let it alone. To go after the woman who'd caused it was pointless, she'd be wiped out of existence. So she chose the next best thing. Stalk, play and kill, three of the things James was good at.

He'd been successful at making the problems disappear and had paid for it with his life. Now the woman had brought them back, letting his life go in vain.

No…

She couldn't let that pass. What was the point to her life now, anyway?

She turned away, the smirk giving way to narrowed eyes and she took the stairs, her hand reaching up and wrenching the fake bun away. Wild red hair tumbled down, framing the beautiful but feline face of Victoria as she took off.

"No, Tulika,"

The denial was harsh, stern and very clearly unacceptable to me.

"That's not fair." I said, following him into his room.

Prom had ended for us on a less than high note and we'd grudgingly trudged back to the Cullen's house. I didn't want Bella or Stephen to feel like we were pushing into their time so I told him to enjoy with her. I could handle it. He agreed reluctantly, telling me to be careful.

He and Bella would be strictly under the wolves' eyes – a promise made very sincerely by Jacob and I…well, I had different plans.

While the Cullens had sat in the living room, discussing this new up crop of events, Alice had kindly suggested me to go to her room and get changed so I'll be more comfortable. I'd taken it up enthusiastically.

In her staggeringly large bathroom, I'd shed off my dress, my shoes and got comfortable in my sweatpants and a large t-shirt I'd borrowed off Edward which still had his fresh spring smell.

I'd followed Edward up to his room since Alice and Rosalie had already made plans for us to spend the night together. Of course, Charlie didn't know that it was Edward I would be with while Stephen would be with Bella but I think Bells and I were quite crafty about it. We'd giggled, unable to feel guilty about tricking him when we'd both be spending time with people we'd missed a lot.

I'd gone down and Alice was sitting at a laptop with Carlisle and Jasper on either side of her while she browsed planes. I'd peered and she'd given me a look which meant she knew exactly what I was planning. If not for the small appreciative quirk of her lips I'd have thought I'd fail completely.

While I climbed the steps, more languish than him I'd said, "Do you think I could come with you to Denali?"

He'd stopped and since I'd been watching my feet, I bumped off of him.

He was looking at me, an unfathomable expression on his face. "No," he said simply and continued walking. I stayed where I was, gaping at his easy refusal before jogging after him.

Now he stood at his ornate dresser, wrenching the bow tie from his neck. "I remember you telling me life never is fair," he muttered making me roll my eyes as I flopped on his enormous bed. "That was completely out of context. Please…?" I asked.

He sighed, looking at his reflection. "Fine; I'll take you there in the summer. The weather will be nice and you won't feel so cold."

I looked at him with a deadpan expression, making him exhale sharply. "There is no reason for you to go. Alice, Jasper, Carlisle and I will handle it. You can stay here; catch up with Rosalie and Emmett. Get some time with Bella and Charlie," he added.

"I want to go." I said slowly.

"Well, you're not; I won't have you put yourself in danger willingly." He gritted out.

"What danger; Tanya and the others are animal hunters like you! Plus, Laurent won't dare hurt me, he hasn't even seen me. You'll be there." I added. I felt silly as if I was explaining a trip to the Bahamas to my father instead of my boyfriend.

"What's the point, exactly?"

I grinned. "A change of scenery," I said and he glared at me. "I could always ask Alice. She'd do it. You know she would." I said. "Not if I make sure she doesn't," he added.

"Oh fine, I'm sure Emmett would smuggle me in somehow. He loves defying you more than I do." I pointed out and Edward let out a low growl.

Marching forward, he trapped my wrists in his hands. "You make me insane," he hissed before his lips closed roughly on mine. I smirked against his mouth and pulled away.

"Is that a yes?"

He let out an annoyed groan. "It's a…possibly…a very certain maybe."

I smiled, shaking my head at him before pulling him in for another kiss.

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