Prom
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to SM.
A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!
Part Four-Velvet Pants
"This is getting out of hand, Jake." Bella whispered to Jacob. She had finally managed to escape the old man's attentions as he hauled his grandson off to his room to get changed into something smarter. They could hear Quil's loud protests echoing down the hallway.
"I'm sorry, honey. I never expected anything like this to happen. I could kill Quil, I really could for getting you involved in all this." Jacob took her hands in his and gazed deeply into her brown eyes, searching for forgiveness. "Everything has just gotten out of control. Old Quil must be losing it."
"He's a very sweet old man." Bella chided him. She wouldn't have anything negative said about the elder. He was just a bit confused that's all. "We should just tell him the truth. I'm sure if we let him down gently-"
"Good luck with that." Embry snickered behind them. He was still feeling the after effects of laughing so much. "Quil's grandpa is as stubborn as they come. Nothing you can say will convince him he isn't right."
"But he has to believe it. I mean come on?" Bella stared at Jacob, waiting for him to refute Embry's claims.
Jacob swallowed thickly as he drew Bella closer to him. He felt so guilty and didn't know how to make things right. "Bells, don't be mad. Quil confided to me that it would break his grandfather's heart if we told him the truth."
"I'm not mad at you. I'm just frustrated with the whole situation. It's not like I wanted to go to the stupid prom in the first place." Bella exhaled slowly as she tried to keep calm. She had visions of herself being forced into some designer dress and heels by Alice. Or at least one heel. She was still wearing her walking boot. Her leg hadn't properly healed yet. "This is all Edward's idea. I mean I can't dance. I hate dressing up. I hate being the centre of attention. I hate-" She was on the verge of hysteria.
"Breathe, Bells. Breathe." Jacob said softly as he tried to soothe her frazzled nerves. He couldn't believe that her boyfriend was forcing her to attend prom when she really didn't want to. What was wrong with the guy? He sounded like a right control freak. Slowly Bella began to relax. Jacob let go of her hands and transferred his hands to her shoulders instead. "Are you okay now?" He asked in concern.
"I think so." Bella blushed, feeling embarrassed that she'd had a mini meltdown in front of two teenage boys. "I'm sorry. It's been a long week."
"Don't be sorry." Jacob squeezed her shoulders and smiled at her in understanding. "If you didn't want to go to your prom then why didn't you say something to the guy."
"Edward is just so keen to go. I didn't want to disappoint him." Bella mumbled. There was no way she could explain the true reason. She chewed on her bottom lip. "Alice will be at my house soon." She looked at Jacob hopelessly. "What a mess."
Jacob tried to think quickly. Her boyfriend sounded like a right ass. No wonder Charlie disliked him so much. He may have money but he sure didn't know how to treat a girl and he definitely didn't deserve Bella. "You know maybe this thing with Old Quil chaperoning isn't such a bad thing." He suggested.
"Jake, how can you say that?" Bella asked incredulously.
"You hate this whole prom thing. You hate being the centre of attention and everything. Believe me, with Old Quil chaperoning, I promise the only one being looked at will be him." Jacob's smile turned wicked as he thought about the elder making his grand entrance into a prom full of horny teenagers.
A tentative smile lit up Bella's pretty face. "I guess it would be kinda funny."
"Hilarious more like." Embry interjected gleefully.
"And Alice and Edward couldn't really protest if I told them that it would upset Quil's grandfather if I didn't let him escort me to the prom. I mean he's a respected elder. I'd be doing a good deed." Bella said slowly as if trying to convince herself. "I could just meet Edward there. I mean I'm still going but there will just be a few more of us then he expected. And I mean you're going to be there, too." Her expression suddenly turned desperate. "You are all coming, right? You, me, Embry, Quil and his grandfather."
"Why do I have to go?" Embry questioned as his laughter dried up. "Don't get me involved."
"You're coming." Jacob snapped as he shot Embry a warning glare.
"Great." Embry muttered mutinously. "Just freaking great."
Jacob returned his attention to Bella and his expression softened again. "We'll all be there, Bells. You'll be able to wear whatever you want now. It will be fun. A night to remember. I promise."
"No! No! No!" Quil objected as his grandfather held up one of his own white silk shirts with ruffles down the front. "That thing stinks of mothballs."
"How dare you?" Old Quil said indignantly. "This is the same one I wore when I escorted your grandmother to our first dance. You should be honoured to wear it. You want to look smart for your girl, don't ya?"
Quil stared at the old man in horror. "That makes it a hundred years old at least. I am not wearing it. No freaking way. There is nothing you can say that will make me put that old thing on. Nothing." He stated adamantly.
"I'll ground you for a month." Old Quil warned him.
Quil scowled as he snatched the old fashioned shirt out of his grandfather's grasp. "Alright, I'll wear the thing. But just so you know I am doing so under protest."
Old Quil smirked as he rifled in his wardrobe and pulled out an ancient tuxedo with a velvet collar and matching velvet pants. "There you go, my boy. Bella won't be able to keep her eyes off you when she sees you in this get up."
"She'll die laughing more like." Quil argued. "I am not wearing it. Ground me for a month. I don't care. This is too much. Nothing you can say will make me put that on. No girl is worth that-"
"I'll cut off your allowance." Old Quil threatened, his eyes narrowing behind his thick glasses.
"You're bluffing."
"Do you wanna bet?" Old Quil's smirk turned smug. He knew when he had won.
Embry collapsed with laughter as soon as Quil shuffled into the lounge wearing his grandfather's old velvet tux. It was ill fitting across the shoulders and the ruffled shirt was making his skin itch. Jacob and Bella were just about holding their laughter in. Quil glared at them sullenly as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Shut up." He muttered. "You haven't seen the old man yet."
A minute later Old Quil made his grand entrance and instantly blinded everyone. He floated into the room in his shiny silver suit. The sequins covering the gaudy jacket glittered brightly with every move he made. He turned this way and that, waiting for the gasps of admiration. He got gasps alright, but they were ones of shock. More sequins covered the flared pants which matched the garish jacket. Underneath, he was wearing another one of his silky ruffled shirts and had finished his look off with a clip on bow tie and a jaunty white handkerchief folded carefully in his top pocket.
"Well, my dear." He said to Bella. "Will we do?"
"Y...yes." Bella stuttered.
"What was that, my dear?" Old Quil asked. "You need to speak up a bit."
"Yes." Bella tried again.
"What?"
"SHE SAID YES!" Quil bellowed impatiently.
"There's no need to shout. I'm not deaf." Old Quil barked at his grandson.
Quil made a garbled noise in the back of his throat before biting on his tongue to stop himself issuing a retort.
"Well, now we must get you home so you can change." Old Quil beamed as he held out his hand toward Bella. "But before we go I think we should take some snaps to put in the album."
Bella shot Jacob a nervous glance before allowing the old man to help her to rise. He led her over to Quil's side and made them pose together. "Now put your arm around her then." He ordered his grandson as he went to retrieve his old camera.
Jacob wasn't happy about this. His expression darkened as he watched Quil slip a sneaky arm around Bella's waist and smile slyly in an attempt to provoke a jealous reaction out of him. Old Quil reappeared with the oldest camera known to man. He fiddled with it for what seemed like an eternity before he began taking some pictures. The flash blinded Bella, making her see stars. Quil had let go of her waist and put his arm around her shoulders instead. He puckered up, pretending to place a kiss on Bella's cheek.
Jacob's blood was boiling. Quil was pushing his luck now. If he dared lay his fleshy lips on Bella's sweet skin then there was no way that he wouldn't be able to stop himself knocking Ateara to the ground. Thankfully he was saved from doing anything reckless by Old Quil himself.
"I want some group shots now." He said gleefully, motioning for Jacob and Embry to come forward.
Jacob was out of his seat like an arrow from a bow. He unceremoniously shoved Quil away and took his place by Bella's side. Quil scowled as he shoved Jacob right back. Jacob stumbled, knocking into Bella, who fell back against Embry, who then tumbled into Quil. The four of them fell on top of one another, with a hapless Quil squashed at the bottom. There was a loud rip as his velvet pants split from all the pressure.
A/N-thanks for reading!