Chapter 11 – How Did This Happen?
Alice was putting the finishing touches on my tuxedo. She was tying my tie into the perfect knot. She tried to keep her mind quite, but some things were getting through. "Perfect." "Thanks." My voice was flat and lifeless. Picking up my jacket, I saw the image Alice tried to hide. The last time I was in a tuxedo, with my dark-haired beauty. She never looked more beautiful than the night we went to the prom. The color of her cheeks when she blushed, the way her blue dress complemented her skin and how her hair fell down her shoulders. Above all, her sweet, irresistible scent and the beautiful thrum of her heart. No other scent I have ever encountered was so sweet or strong. Alice, you going to make me break my other leg in this shoe. Alice let a memory slip. Another came through of Alice and Bella coming down the stairs of our house, hand in hand. My eyes closed, as I fell forward. Catching myself with my hands on the low dresser, my head fell. Bella's smile in Alice's memory was breath-taking. My fingers dug into the dresser, leaving imprints in the wood. Edward, I could…? I shook my head. Alice hasn't had a vision of Bella in months. It would be too painful. Since I came home, I tried to be strong, but it was hard. Being the only single person in a household of couples was not helping. Before Bella, that never bothered me, but now, it was almost unbearable.
I have a small surprise for you. I looked at her. She dashed out of the room and was back before the door settled into the frame. She held out a picture frame. Taking the frame into my hands, I saw the brown eyes I yearned for. It was a picture of me and Bella on her birthday. My hands trembled and the frame slipped out of my hands. Alice caught it and placed it on my dresser, She emailed me the pictures she took the day after her birthday. Bella was smiling up at me and my hand was wound around her waist. Her smile was so bright and her eyes were so loving as she looked at me. I shook my head, trying to dispel the permanent feeling of misery.
Putting on my jacket, I heard more thoughts from my family. Esme looks so beautiful. She deserves this night. She worked so hard on this benefit. My father was admiring his wife. Emmett was leering at Rosalie and I tried to tune him out. This was getting harder and I couldn't bare it. No, you don't, Edward. You're home now and Esme worked very hard on this project. You're going. I looked up into the mirror and Alice was standing behind me. Her hands were on her hips and she was tapping her foot. Rolling my eyes, I nodded. She took my arm and we walked downstairs. All eyes fell on me. This is getting out of hand. He even won't even go back to the way things were before he met her. I knew she was bad for him. Rosalie was completely wrong. Bella was perfect for me, but I was wrong for her. Please, dear, can you try to enjoy tonight? Esme pleaded with me. She was hurt the most when I left. I feigned a smile. I would try, for her sake. "All right, everyone, let's go." Everyone listened to Carlisle and went for the garage. Esme held my hand as we all left. I got into my Volvo, so that I could be alone for a while. Esme watched me closely. I hated what I was doing to her. I would try, but it's hard.
At the benefit, everyone was congratulating Esme and her partners on her wonderful work. The party continued, but I hardly noticed. This atmosphere was difficult to bare. This would be something I would have brought Bella to. She would have appreciated the art work and the historical significance. She would have loved the architecture of the building. More guests arrived and filled the room. My head became overcrowded, hearing all the thoughts of the guests. This painting is beautiful… I love this one… Marvelous. I tried to tune them all out. On the dance floor, my family was the center of attention. They move so beautifully…. The ladies are so lovely… Look at her! A gentleman was taken with another guest who entered the building. I caught a glimpse of blue silk and dark hair.
I continued to watch my family as they danced, wishing I could join them. Wishing I had the one I loved to in my arms, moving gracefully to the music. Alice looked at me and smiled, You have the next one. I smiled at my sister, a genuine smile. Alice made it her personal mission to see me happy again. I should try to make it easier for her. Jasper whirled Alice around the floor, Bella. I looked at Alice, who was stopped on the dance floor. Jasper's eyes were wide, "She looks exactly like Bella." I looked to the doorway and saw her. The dark haired woman in the blue silk dress. "Bella?" Esme asked, astonished. Carlisle looked to me, Could it really be her? The girl looked at me and the corner of her lips came up in a small smile. She came over to my direction and I walked towards her. I moved a bit quicker than I'm supposed to, but I didn't care. Was this really my Bella?. Soon, she was standing in front of me, "Hello Edward." My lips parted, "Bella?" I whispered. She smiled brightly, "Yes." My eyes pricked as I took in her perfect face. She reached out her hand and I took it, feeling her smooth skin. Without hesitation, I pulled her into my body and pressed my lips to hers. They were the same, sweet and soft lips I have missed. Her body was pressed into mine again and her hand was on my chest. My arm wound around her body, holding her closer. For months, the image of her haunted me. But, this wasn't a hallucination. Bella was in my arms again.
She giggled under our kiss. A smile, a true and genuine smile was on my face as I held her closer and whirled her on the dance floor. It was her. It was my Bella. She was here, where she belonged. Her scent filled my nostrils and there was a difference to it. It was off, but only slightly. There were a few differences about her. Her hair was longer and darker. The streaks of red in her hair were more dominant. They shone in the lights. Her skin was slightly paler, but there was more color to her cheeks. Also, she moved so fluently as we danced. She didn't trust her own feet before, but now, she was almost flying. "What are you staring at?" she asked, a smile still on her lips. I held her closer, pressing her body into mine, once again, "What are you doing here?" She moved her head to the side, "I was invited." "Bella," her name was like honey on my lips, "only students were invited." She closed her eyes slowly, then opened them, "I am a student. I transferred to Cornell a few weeks ago." Before I could ask another question, we were about to be interrupted. Bella's smile grew, as she looked back, "Alice!" Bella hugged Alice, her hair brushing my hand. It was softer than silk. Bella and Alice were best friends and attune to each other. But still, how did Bella know Alice was right behind her? It is her, Emmett beamed, I don't believe this. When she turned back, I held Bella closely, trying to make sure she was really here and she was. The song ended and we walked to the floor's edge. With her hand held tightly in mine, I felt her skin was not as soft as it was before. And her grip, it was tighter, "Edward, there's something I need to tell you." I looked at her. There was a slight change in her eyes. They looked darker as she looked at me. Before I could answer her, we were interrupted again, this time by Esme. She wrapped her arms tightly around Bella, "Oh, Bella, honey, I've missed you so much." Bella smiled, hugging Esme back. For the briefest moment, the skin of Bella's neck tighten during their embrace. Esme let her go and then Emmett scooped her up in a big hug, followed by Carlisle.
Before anyone else in my family could speak to her, I selfishly whirled Bella back on the dance floor. I needed her to myself. Alice glared at me, "Edward!" "Alice, leave them alone," Carlisle warned, "He needs his time with her." I was never more thankful for my father than I was tonight. The rest of them danced, but they were away from me and Bella. Bella and I danced silently and I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her eyes were the same deep pools of warm milk chocolate. That was strange. A moment ago, they were darker, almost black. She smiled again as she leaned her head on my shoulder, cutting her eyes out of my view. I placed a light kiss on her forehead. Holding her closer, I noticed something else was off. Something was missing. I didn't notice before, but it was something important. When I held her close before, her heart would beat wildly. It was my favorite sound in the world and it wasn't there. Was this really Bella? In my arms, her body stiffened. "What's the matter?" Bella stepped away from me and covered her eyes. She was gasping, as her hands balled into fists against her eyes. We were at the edge of the dance floor, near the opened doors to the terrace. Taking her shoulders, I tried to make her look at me, "Bella?" She looked up and her face was different.
Her eyes were pitch black and dark veins pulsated around her eyes. Her teeth were bared and they looked sharp, like a serrated knife. She exhaled deeply and the veins disappeared. Her lips closed, covering her teeth. The veins were like dark snakes as they shrunk back into her skin and her eyes were brown again. Her lips trembled as she mashed them into a hard line, "I have to go." She half-ran pass me and I watched after her. Jasper was instantly at my side, "Is everything alright?" Shaking my head, I couldn't dispel the image I just saw, "I think she's sick." Carlisle patted my shoulder, "I'll go find her." "No, I will." "I'm coming with you," Emmett offered. "Look, if she's sick, let Carlisle check her." Rosalie's harsh tongue wasn't enough to distract me from checking on Bella. Jasper went with us and we were outside, following after her. Following her trail, Emmett found Bella heading to a black truck in the parking lot. She was walking quickly, brushing her hand across her head, "How could I be so stupid?" She was moving faster than she ever did before. Emmett was ready to call as she turned back to face us. Her face was sad and her eyes were wide, "Please," she whispered, "for now…. leave me alone. I will explain everything later." Ignoring her, I walked towards her. She stepped away from the truck and her back was to the tree. Before reaching her, someone grabbed Bella from behind and had a knife at her throat. Her body stiffened and her eyes widened. "Back off," the mugger threatened. His arm was tight around her waist and he had the knife pressed into the skin of her neck. I did what he said and stopped Jasper and Emmett. The three of us stood our ground away from them.
The mugger smirked, "Smart, I thought they would do anything to protect you." A deep growl was coming from over where the mugger was holding Bella hostage. She was looking upward and the veins from her eyes were returning, "Now, that's your first mistake," she was lowering her face slowly, for us to see, "in thinking, I need them to protect me." Her eyes were black again and she bared her teeth. Moving faster than I've ever seen her, she threw the mugger's arms off, held his head and she lowered her teeth to his neck. I could hear the tearing of flesh and smell the blood. The mugger's body fell to the ground. His screams were nothing but gurgles as his eyes closed. Bella stood over him, with her lips and teeth stained with his blood. Her eyes were half-crazed as she dropped down and bit him again. My eyes widened, as I watched. I could hear the pull of the blood from the mugger's body. From her prey, Bella's eyes looked up and they were pale blue. Emmett backed away and Jasper gasped. I stood my ground, in shock, watching Bella drain the life from this man.
