Chapter 2

After dinner, I immediately got ready to head to the Cullens. I was dressed much simply due to Alice's insistence. When we arrived, we were introduced to a man with blonde hair but very much lighter shade than Rose's and Mr. Whitlock's. Then attacked by Alice and Rosalie who hugged me before Alice dragged me off to the room again. "We must haste! We've only got few more hours to prepare!" said she. "You know, for a very... petite person, you are very strong and persistent." I told her. " 'Persistent' also known as pushy!" whispered Rosalie to me as we giggled literally behind Alice's back. She gave us quite a cold stare but said nothing.

The hours then were filled with much preparations with dresses and fabrics and cloths everywhere! The gentlemen were smart by keeping their distances from us, and the room. My mother-who came with me- was whisked by Esme somewhere. When we were done, we met the gentlemen, my mother and the couple who look grande. They all took pairings leading Mr. and Mrs. Cullen, followed by Rosalie and Emmett, then Alice and her husband and finally their other son, my pairing for the night. My father appeared out of Dr. Carlisle's study -where he had spent his night away from all the lady things with Carlisle. Outside in the dark, cloudy sky, three slick carriages were waiting for us. My parents and their parents on one of them, then the boys and girls took different cabs.

The Mallory's house was far to small to capacitate even a small party in an even less populated town. Apparently, they had to rent a venue for the night. I resisted the urge to smirk because i don't think my mother will care too much about that. During my time spent with the younger Cullens', I felt myself loosening and grow improper. I was glad my mother, Mr. Whitlock and Edward where there too balance things out.

We entered the marble hall. This place is often used for public use like mayors' speech or something like that. It was cheap and affordable too. The Mallory's weren't as wealthy as we are, but they adored parties and balls as a time to brag about their three children-Lauren, Laurent and James. Recently, they were bragging about Mr. James Mallory's engagement. His fiance was a Ms. Victoria Lyle or something on those lines. I can't remember. As soon as we entered, hundreds of pairs of eyes turned to look at us just as I slipped my hand on Edward's elbow. We had walked close without any contact. This was surely going to make Lauren feel uncomfortable or, dare I say it, jealous. I wasn't sure why, but my face broke into a smile that surely lit my whole face. Mrs. Mallory came rushing dragging her poor husband in tow near Mr. Carlisle and Esme. The crowd appraised us with their eyes while we entered. I know its because of how humanely beautiful they were so I was heavily surprised when they swept to me. Don't get we wrong, my parents were beautiful too. My dad was the target at that time and so was my mom. But people usually look over me briefly, politely. Alice and Rosalie must have done a very good job for they were all staring at my family too, especially me. Confused, I thought about what I was wearing, my hair, my face everything. I had a silvery dress with long, silken elbow gloves in a deep blue color. My hair was swept up and curled at the sides while the rest stayed down, wavy.

"Dr. Cullen! How lovely! And your wife too! Mrs. Cullen!" she said happily. She then launched into a million praises about they're beauty and style. I was counting the minutes when they would actually brag about Lauren. 3, 2, 1... "This is my wonderful daughter, Lauren!" she said this as if it was some kind of a prize. I still envied her though, because as rich as I was she got to spend time with her parents. Her dad never had to talk all day to investors, bankers and people alike. That pushed mom to build a room almost the size of our parlor in the rear of the house, near the kitchen and the servants. As much as she loved our maids, she wasn't one to spend time at the kitchen and she is kicked out of the kitchen by our cook, Madame Labourge. My mother was a very imaginative cook. Most of her food were inedible. So the Madame cried when I cooked an actual, edible meal. She was so proud of me. She always said that "The way to a man's heart is his stomach." even though in my father's case, it was his wallet. And all the servants and my mother pushed me to learn it even if we had a cook and I'm certainly going to marry someone with.

"Oh. And the Swans! How lovely of you to join us!" the first time we moved here-four years ago, that was after our house was officially a house after my mother's specifications and endless checklist. I was positive that Mr. Miler was quite happy when he finished it because they all swung and embraced each other as if they had finished a game worth of life or death. "Oh, and Ms. Swan! You look absolutely fantastic!" the pact came over to my family. When Mrs. Mallory and Lauren looked at my arm around Edward's they broke into a deepening frown. "Mrs. Mallory and Ms. Mallory, how nice of you to throw and excellent ball." mother said out of courteousness. This returned the smile back to Mrs. Mallory's face. Everybody looked up at my mother as a model for we had come from a bigger, more social-not to mention sunnier- city. My mother was the perfect trophy/hostess wife.

As they chatted, Lauren walked over where I was standing with the younger Cullens and Whitlocks. She gave a rather flirtatious smile too Edward. I didn't even want to look at their faces to tell them this was what they had to watch out for. "Bella," she cooed as my stomach churned at the sound of her voice, but my outside appearance just smiled sweetly at her. "Ms. Mallory, how are you this fine evening?" I asked politely and charmingly as possible. She looked at Edward flirtatiously and replied "Very well, very well. How about you?" she directed the question to Edward who stiffened. "I'm fine, thank you." was his short reply. I was happy when she frowned but just went back to become sultry. "Well then, if you need absolutely anything, I'm the one to go to." she smiled one of her cat-screeching, supposedly-inviting, smiles as my stomach churned again. "Well then, I see Ms. Stanley and Ms. Lyle ? Yes, she's quite pretty isn't she? Congratulations on your brother." I told her. She smirked "Of course." she purred. "I'll tell James that you greeted." with that she turned away. As I turned back to them.

"Who's James?" Alice asked. I cringed and my smile tightened but kept it intact nonetheless. "Mallory's brother." I refuse to call her a 'Miss'. She looked at me curiously, but i gave her the sweetest smile I could muster. "We'll talk about it later, correct?" she asked. I nodded curtly once.

We fell into conversation easily through the night each of the couples taking turns on dancing. "Would you like to dance?" Edward asked once. I smiled at him. We both swept to the floor. He whisked me away then, making me forget about everything and just smiling. He smiled at me too, never taking his eyes from mine only when he swirled me around. I laughed when he did and my smile was huge enough so my teeth showed. So did his. "Are you enjoying the dance?" he asked.

I laughed. "So far. You are an agreeable dancer. Quite agreeable."

His smile widened, if that was possible. "Do you like dancing?" he asked.

I slightly shook my head. "I'm sorry, but no, I do not. I have no patience for it.

"But you are quite good at it." he pointed out. He swirled me again and I was laughing. "Pure luck! Its actually miraculous that I haven't stepped on your foot yet. Or that I haven't fallen. Usually at this time, the gentlemen would be going back shaking their head at me." I chuckled. "It's probably just because you lead very well."

He nodded at me, his smile turned confident. "It's all in the leading." he agreed.

We returned to the table then as they all gave us unfathomable glances and happy smiles.

Then suddenly, a hand tapped my shoulder. I turned. "What can I help you with?" I asked in a polite voice. I smiled at him slightly but my eyes were cold and hard. "May I have a dance with you?" he asked. I gasped inaudibly. Are you serious?! my head started screaming. But I kept my tone cool, calm and serene still placing my slight smile in tact. "I'm sorry, but that is improper." He started to protest but I cut him off-improperly. "James, do not be impolite to the Cullens. You would not want to upset your mother or your sister, would you?" I whispered. "I only wanted to-" he was cut off by my mother coming towards us."Mrs. Swan." he bowed slightly. "Isabella, we are heading off now." she told the others the same. I dashed outside.

I whispered to our carriage driver, Jacob before I went inside. I was already in the carriage when they came out. "Wow, Bella. That was really fast. Are you alright? You seemed to be uncomfortable with that man." Rosalie said. "Yes, I thought you would be like Cinderella leaving you precious shoe behind. Don't leave that shoe, it doesn't cost a fortune, but it looks very pretty with your feet. Not that you can actually see them." she frowned. "Sorry, I wasn't really feeling well. But its nothing. You are right though, I felt uncomfortable with him." I told that to satisfy them. "Why?" Alice asked. "He seemed sorry. Guilty even." with that I couldn't help a snort from coming out. "Glad we aren't at the ball anymore." Rosalie commented. "Well?" Alice asked. "Well what?" I asked back. "Why do you not like that guy? I mean, he isn't bad looking." "It was improper of him." came my short reply. "But why?" Alice asked. "Is that Ms. Mallory's brother?" Rosalie asked. I nodded as comprehension glazed her eyes. "What?"Alice asked. But we had halted. The carriage after us halted. "I need to rest. I'm sorry for being so rude. But I'm not feeling quite adequate." I looked over them quickly before I ran straight for the door. My coat was flopping around but I had to go, before I spill it. I ignored them calling for me as I ran and ran. I went to my room then and slammed my door. The whole place must have shook, but I didn't care. I removed all my pieces of jewelry, my gloves and my coat and went to my bed, crying myself to sleep.

(A/N: Sorry if this is short and unsatisfying. But I had a 'writer's block'. Some people said that my contexts (?) where confusing. I hope that this was more understandable. Thank you so much for all the adding and couple of reviews. Thank you and tell me if this is better. I also just learned how to post a chapter (yay!!). Yeah, I didn't know how. Lame, I know.

Disclaimer: I am not yet as great as Stephenie Meyer, that is only in Dreamland, my world of dreams and fantasies. Unfortunately not in reality. Anyway, all this belongs to their respective owners/authors blah blah. No copyright infringement intended and no profit made.)