Chapter 12 - The Blind and the Obvious

BELLA

I spent the rest of Sunday night trying to think of ways to break my date with Edward Cullen. I wished I had a friend to ask how to do it, but I didn't. Maybe I could contract an illness; yes, a major illness that made it so I couldn't dance.

Come Monday morning, I was a mess. I had just finished eating my breakfast when my dad came in. "Morning, sweetheart, how was work?"

I gave him a fake smile. "It was great."

"You got paid didn't you?"

"Yes, I did."

"Did you, uh, want me to take you to buy a dress or something?"

"No thanks, Dad. You know, dances really aren't my scene. Maybe I'll just catch up on some reading."

"Bella," he said with a sad sigh and sat down. He took my hand, and I fought back some tears. "Did that boy…?"

"No." I wouldn't let him blame this on Edward. "I just…you know, I'm going to be going to college in a year, so I was thinking I need to stay focused. I don't want some silly boy distracting me. It'll be better if I save my money for that."

He grimaced and squeezed my hand. "Your mother wants to see you, honey. Is it alright if I pick you up from school?"

"Sure, Dad."

He kissed the top of my head. "Just…you know…think about it before you go canceling, okay, honey? I know I'm not the one you want to shop with, but I'm okay with taking you."

I smiled genuinely at him this time. I knew he was worried about me. He had the weight of the world on his shoulders with my mom being sick, and now he was worried about my boy troubles. They seemed so silly next to the real problems in our lives. It just solidified my decision. "Thanks, Daddy."

He kissed the top of my head again and went upstairs, so he could change and head back to the hospital.

I spent the rest of the day at school, doing my best to avoid everyone. Everyone, as in Tyler and his lackeys, and Edward.

I was surprised when I was accosted by Alice. "Bella, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom."

I shushed her. "Look, can we please not talk about this? Just leave me alone," I said with a little more force than I meant to. I hadn't taken three steps away, when I finally stopped in my tracks and looked back at a shocked Alice. "I'm sorry," I sighed. "I just want to be alone." I rushed off before she could try and convince me otherwise.

My dad was waiting for me in the parking lot after school. I quickly jumped in his car before anyone could notice me. He looked at me worriedly, as we pulled up to the hospital. "She's doing a lot better, sweetheart."

I nodded okay and pulled my backpack together. He opened my door and helped me out of the car like he always did. It reminded me of when I was little, and he first explained I was his princess, and it was his job to help me out of the car, even if I wanted to jump out on my own. I smiled and wrapped my arm around his, leaning into his side for comfort. I hadn't realized how much I missed my daddy until right this moment.

"How is my Isabella?" my mother called from the door. She was still sitting behind the plastic, but I was used to this kind of treatment. I pulled my chair up and pressed my hand into the plastic so she could take it. Her hand always felt so cold, and I took comfort in the heat of my hand in the plastic to warm hers.

"I'm doing fine, Mom."

"That's not what I hear." She gave me a soft smile. "Daddy tells me you're wanting to back out of your date. Did something happen with the boy?" she asked.

I shook my head no.

"Isabella Marie Swan, why don't you want to go on the date with Edward? He seemed like a perfect gentleman when I met him."

I blushed, remembering that he had met my mother, here of all places.

"I just don't want to get distracted from my schoolwork," I said lamely.

"Bullshit," she said, and I looked up at her shocked. My mother very rarely swore, if ever. "I don't know what's going on with you, but you're going to that dance if I have to roll this bed out of here and drag you myself."

"Mom."

"NO! No buts. I don't know what's wrong, but I know that you're worrying too much about me, which is just silly. You're a young beautiful woman, and it's time you start acting like it. You're not a forty-year-old maid."

My free hand gripped my backpack a little tighter, and I let out a huff. My mother was so blind. She really thought me pretty, which was just silly. I just didn't have the heart to tell her that I knew I wasn't.

"I want you to go to this dance, honey, for me, please?" she begged.

I let out a groan; she was pulling out the big guns. I nodded okay, and my mother squealed. She clapped her hands, releasing mine. "Charlie, honey, go take her to get a dress, baby, and do it quickly, before she changes her mind."

My dad gave me a soft smile and pulled me into his arms. "Thank you, honey," he whispered into my hair. "This means a lot to her."

EDWARD

Something was up with Isabella Swan. I would have sworn she was trying to avoid me again, but I didn't know why. I sniffed my armpit. I had remembered my deodorant. It wasn't my smell. I couldn't understand why this girl was the only girl in school who didn't want me. I was not being arrogant, it was just fact. I rubbed my face in frustration and wondered if the reason I wanted her was because she didn't want me.

You always wanted what you couldn't have, I thought ruefully. That usually wasn't my way, though. I was pretty content in my life, especially since I had finally made it back with my sister, Alice. I would admit that I had acted out after I'd lost my parents, but I didn't think I had done anything that warranted military school. Of course, this was not Carlisle's opinion. He was an ass and thought we needed to "nip the problem in the bud" before I got out of hand. Bastard seemed to enjoy shipping me off just a little too much if you asked me.

It wasn't military school that settled me down, but the therapist Esme had insisted I see. Dr. Denali was very helpful in helping me deal with my parents' death. I knew it wasn't my fault that they were gone, and they had loved me and would have been here if they could. She also encouraged me to continue my music, and Esme, the wonderful aunt she was, knew I would want to do it in private. I was surprise when I returned home from military school to find she had moved my belongings to the downstairs guestroom. She had soundproofed it and had even bought me my own piano to play if I wanted. She had littered the room with various instruments and a work desk if I wanted to write down any music that came to mind.

When I saw the room, I knew then that Esme loved me, and my mother had chosen her to care for me and my sister for a reason.

BELLA

I directed my father to the secondhand store, where my mother had planned to take me originally. I think he was a little surprised, thinking I wanted something new. I originally had, when I had first taken the job, but I didn't anymore, now that I knew Tyler Crowley was going to do his best to ruin it. I was not wasting my hard-earned money just for him to do his worst.

My dad didn't question me, and we walked over to the back wall full of long formal dresses from every era. Their prices were phenomenally good, even if a large majority of the dresses weren't. Just saying. My dad had suggested a few, but I asked him to please stop helping, as I laughed at him when he held up a shiny deep peach and green taffeta dress. I would have looked like a carrot princess in it. He figured since it was fluffy, it was pretty, right? My dad was impossible not to love.

He wandered down the aisle a bit more and frowned when he got to the section of white dresses. I knew they were wedding dresses. I was sure he knew as well by the sad look on his face. Luckily for him, there was a good chance he would never be walking me down the aisle.

I went back to digging through the dresses, when I heard him call to me. "Hey, Bells, what about this one?" he asked.

I turned to see that in the midst all the white was one red dress. I looked at it confused, but saw the long-trained back. It was a red wedding dress. I didn't think my father realized it was a wedding dress, as he was a traditional man, but it actually was a beautiful dress, and it looked like it might fit.

I walked over, as he held it up excitedly. The smile on my dad's face was enough to make me want to try it on. The fact that it was beautiful as well just gave me all the more reason.

The red satin bodice hugged me perfectly, as if it had been made just for me. There was a spray of crystal gems across the top of the bodice, which highlighted my full breasts that were being pushed up by the built-in foundation, creating quite the display of cleavage. The deep burgundy wine color was perfect against my pale skin. The skirt billowed out in thick satin, pinned up and tucked at intervals with clusters of crystal gems. I looked like royalty in it.

There was a knock on the dressing room door. "Does it fit, Bells? Can I see?" my dad asked, and I opened the door.

His breath caught, and he gave me a big watery smile as he stepped back, taking me in. He finally found his voice. "You look so beautiful, Isabella. Do you like it?"

"Yeah, Dad, I do," I said smiling in return. I felt like a princess.

"Great, well, pack it up, and we'll take it home."

As I carried the dress to the checkout, I saw a pair of shiny high heels on a little display of dress-up shoes. The rounded toe and platform was covered in sparkly gems, and so were the thin straps that would wrap around my ankles. I looked at them, checking the size. My dad saw them and smiled. "Those would look great with the dress."

"I hope they fit," I said passing him the dress and then slipping my feet into the shoes. They did fit just perfectly, but it would take some getting used to walking in them.

"They look good, honey," my dad said with a smile.

"Thanks, Daddy. I think I'll get them, too." He followed me up to the front counter, me with the shoes and him with the dress. The woman looked at me curiously. She knew it was a wedding dress.

"It's for prom," I said before she could ask.

Her judgmental glare turned to a smile. "Oh, how exciting, and I see you found some shoes to match," she said as she rang up the items. "That'll be thirty dollars."

I reached for my backpack, but my dad was faster. "I've got this, honey. Mom wanted to get your dress, so we're getting it."

I looked up at him shocked, and he squeezed my shoulder. "Just let us do this for you."

I hugged my dad, and he kissed my head.

"Oh, you've got a sweet daddy, honey. You don't lose touch with him," the woman said and winked at my dad. He blushed in response. I think this chick was hitting on my father. GROSS!