Stephenie Meyer is the owner of all things Twilight related.
Ship-shape and Bristol fashion—'In first-class order'
Bella POV.
I stood in the mirrored dressing room, smoothing down my strapless, full length blue dress, while Rosalie touched up on her makeup and Alice perfected her spiky hair.
I laughed at myself as I realised that the only thought that was going through my head was, 'Will Edward like me in this dress?'
"What are you laughing about?" Rosalie asked me as she turned around and came to stand beside me, admiring her reflection, which she had every right to do with the way she was looking tonight.
"I was just wondering if Edward would like me in this dress…I have no doubt that Emmett will love you in that dress!" I laughed as I looked her over.
She wore a floor length black dress with a plunging neckline which was sure to draw Emmett's attention. The waist was fitted with white strips which accentuated her perfect curves. She would be the envy of every woman on the ship tonight, I was sure of it.
"Your right, he's going to love it!" Rosalie smiled back at her reflection with a confident smile, until Alice advanced toward us. "Dum, dum, dum, dum…" Rosalie began to chant the traditional wedding tune. I laughed with her as Alice folded her arms over her chest and glared at us. Rosalie had been chanting that tune since Alice put on her floor length white dress with a plunging neckline and sparkling crossed straps that went from the waist, around to the back.
"We're sorry Alice, but you look so gorgeous in that dress…I doubt that Jasper will miss the fact that you're in a long, white dress…" I nudged her shoulder, causing her to blush slightly and break out in a smile.
"We should get going…the guys have been waiting for a good ten minutes…" Alice told us as she went to grab her purse.
"Yeah…time to let Emmett see what he's missing out on!" Rosalie laughed as she gave her hair a quick spray to hold it in place.
"Missing out on…?" Alice asked with confusion etched over her face and in her voice.
"Yep, he told me that he wanted to take it slow because he really likes me" she gave us a smug grin before she strolled out of the room.
"Well I never…" Alice gave her head a quick shake and grabbed her camera before she followed me out, to the living room.
As Rosalie entered the room, I caught sight of the guys all sprawled on the sofa, in their tuxedo's looking mighty fine! A loud whistle came instantly from Emmett who simply stared up at Rosalie with an appraising look on his face.
I met Edward in the middle as I walked to him, and he got up to meet me. I frowned as he held my shoulders, keeping me at arms length as he looked down at me, over my dress and then back up. Eventually he let go of my shoulders and allowed me to kiss him as I had wanted to do before.
"It should be illegal to look that good…" he whispered in my ear while his hands ran over my bare shoulders.
"Same to you too!" I laughed as I recalled the sight of him in a tuxedo.
"Come on guys! I want to show off Rose and make everyone jealous!" Emmett called excitedly as he and Rosalie walked out of the door with huge smiles on their faces.
"Ready for some dancing?" Edward asked me with a smile in his voice as we left the room behind Alice and Jasper.
"Yeah sure…you ready for bruised feet?" I asked back with my eyebrow arched.
"Don't worry, I'll be with you the whole time, it's all in the leading anyway." He stated simply as we stepped into the elevator.
Tanya was waiting for us outside the ballroom as we walked down the corridor. "Wow…" she said slowly as a huge grin settled on her face. "Ladies, gentlemen, you all look amazing!" she gushed as we reached her side.
I blushed as Edward leant down and whispered in my ear with a passionate voice, "A huge understatement on your part…" I looked up to him, giving him a smiled before I pulled closer to his side, resting my head on his shoulder while Alice and Jasper spoke to Tanya.
"Okay then! Follow me; I'll take you to your table!" Tanya ordered as she pulled back a door and led us into the ballroom. The room was huge, with a massive dancing area right in the middle and a live band in the far left corner of the room. Tanya led us to a table in the centre of the sea of white and black themed tables and then explained that the food would be served soon enough.
Edward pulled back my chair for me to sit and then pushed me in before he took the seat on my right. I smiled as I noticed that Jasper and Emmett had done the same for Alice and Rosalie.
"Did you see how many people stared at Rose?" Emmett asked as he grabbed hold of her hand in his on top of the table.
"Not really, I was a little distracted…" Jasper stated with a large smile on his face as he gave Alice a wink, causing her to blush.
Tanya returned moments later with three bottles of expensive sounding champagne and told us about the best dressed award which would be held toward the end of the night. She then scurried off after explaining that she had things to do, but would come back and see us later.
The three course meal soon begun. The starter and the main tasted amazing, so I ate it all, leaving me no room for dessert. I scowled down at my dessert, wishing that I had room for it. I glanced at Rosalie and Alice who seemed to be in the same predicament as me. Rosalie was poking at her stomach and shifting her dress around as if she was trying to work out how much give was in the dress and how much of the dessert she could eat. Alice on the other hand had given up on looking at her own bowl of dessert, and was feeding Jasper his.
I pushed my bowl to Edward once he'd finished his. I was rewarded with his breath-taking crooked smile just before he leant toward me to kiss me. But he didn't kiss me. I frowned at Edward as I felt something touch my lips, that weren't his.
He chuckled lightly before he whispered; "Woops…you somehow have some dessert on your lips…I better get that off…" he finished with his face inches from mine and his breath swirling with mine.
I smiled as I felt his tongue run over my bottom lip where the dessert had been. Instinctively I reached my arms around his neck, trying to pull him to me, forgetting the gap between our chairs. I froze and gasped as I felt his teeth nip at my bottom lip and then suck at it. He pulled back after a few moments with a wicked grin on his face as he explained, "I just wanted to make sure that I got it all off of you…"
I smiled back at him, but sat back in my chair and watched him while he ate the rest of the dessert. I didn't think that I could trust myself if he tried that little stunt again. I dragged my chair to his side once he'd finished and laid a hand on his thigh while I watched Alice feeding Jasper. I smiled as I felt Edwards arm drape over my shoulder possessively as a young guy walked past our table, giving me a wink.
"Jealous darling?" I whispered in his ear as I watched the guy walk away.
"Maybe…what would you say if I said that I was jealous?" he asked me back while his fingers ran lightly over my shoulder.
"I'd say that it sounded kind of sexy…" I replied, smiling up at him as I gave his thigh a squeeze.
I sighed against his lips as he kissed me softly. He broke away after a few moments, muttering softly against my lips while he cupped my cheek in his hand, "I was jealous, you're my girlfriend…you are mine …" My heart swelled at his words. I caught the ferocity in his eyes and voice as he told me that I was his and smiled at the fact that his possessiveness didn't scare me one bit. I closed the minute gap between our lips and kissed him softly, trying to show him how I felt without words.
Edward pulled back from me a short time later, gasping for breath just as much as I was. He rested his forehead on mine and stared into my eyes as he asked, "Do you want to dance now?"
I gave him a pleading look while I bit my lower lip. I didn't want to make a fool out of myself, especially in front of Edward, but he seemed so exited, I couldn't deny him this, I knew it. Reluctantly I nodded my head and let Edward lead me to the dance floor.
Thankfully there were already a dozen or so couples there, so it wasn't so bad. I stood uncomfortably in front of Edward, smoothing my dress out a little to hide the fact that I had no idea whatsoever of what I had to do. Thankfully, Edward leant forward to me and took hold of my right hand and whispered for me to put my left on his shoulder while his other hand wrapped around my waist.
I leant my head against him as we stood. I didn't know what we were waiting for, but I was happy enough where I was.
Unfortunately, Edwards arm around my waist tightened, along with his grip on my hand as he began to drag me around the dance floor. I realised that he had been waiting for the right time to step into the dance.
"Edward…I can't do this…" I whispered panicked as I stepped on his foot. Again.
"Yes you can, just, follow me." He whispered as he began to count 1, 2, 3 to me with each step we took. I glanced down to my feet while he counted, but he pulled me sharply back to him. "Don't look at your feet, just, go with the flow" he chuckled before he leant his head down to kiss the side of my neck.
I gave a hearty sigh, but continued to count in my mind, moving with Edward clumsily. I caught a flash of blonde and then black. I focused and realised that Rosalie and Alice were also dancing and thankfully, just as clumsily as me by the looks of it.
After what felt like hours, but was probably only 30 minutes, Jasper came over to us, without Alice, and asked if he could dance with me. I couldn't maintain my giggles at the sight of Jasper asking for a dance like they did in the old films, or novels. Edward let me go after kissing my hand and then pulled Rosalie into his embrace.
I held onto Jasper as I had done with Edward and concentrated especially hard on not stomping on his feet. "Bella…relax, if you stand on my feet, you stand on my feet." Jasper told me as we danced.
"You sure? This isn't Alice that you've got here, I'm considerably heavier…" I stated as I smiled at him. He gave me a disapproving look which made me laugh and accept his practical invitation for me to grind his feet to dust.
After a good four minute song, and me stepping on Jaspers feet three times, we swapped partners again. "Bells baby, how's it going?" Emmett called as he came to Jasper and me.
"Erm…alright I guess…" I gave Jasper an apologetic smile as he placed my hand in Emmett's. Jasper gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze and whispered that he didn't mind, before he went to dance with Rosalie.
"Hey! Watch where those hands go buddy!" Emmett pointed at a laughing Jasper who was beginning to dance with Rosalie. I laughed out loud as I watched Emmett point from his narrowed eyes to Jasper.
"Ahhhem…back to business…" Emmett said seriously as he held me to him in the dancing position.
A few minutes into our dance, I inevitably stepped on Emmett's foot. "Erm…sorry" I smiled apologetically up at Emmett.
"No problem." His smile scared me slightly. I wondered why he had the weird mischievous look in his eyes until I felt my feet leave the floor.
I laughed and waved at Edward before I placed both of my hands back on Emmett's shoulders while he continued to spin me around with both of his strong arms locked safely around my waist.
"I decided that you'd be safer to my feet up there." Emmett laughed as he looked up to me. I have his head a pat, causing him to laugh even more. His booming laugh rang over the music, embarrassingly causing people to look at us. I caught the sight of a camera flash a little distance away, and sure enough, there was Tanya, smiling and waving at us all, looking like a proud mother when her kids had just come first in a race.
Edward POV.
"Alice, may I have this dance?" I asked as I left Rosalie to go to Jasper and Emmett left Alice to go to Bella.
"Of course, show me what you can do!" she laughed up at me as I took her hand and she reached up to place a hand on my shoulder. After a few minutes of dancing, Alice dropped her hand from my shoulder complaining that all of the blood had run out of it. She wrapped her reviving arm around my waist and rested her head against my chest until I heard Emmett's laughter. We continued dancing, but laughed when we saw that Bella was being held up high off the ground by Emmett. I laughed even harder when Bella waved at me and Emmett then turned around to face me, pointing to his feet while grimacing. I understood what he was saying; Bella must have stomped on his foot.
Alice and I continued to dance until the end of the song. Once it was done, the both of us bolted in different directions to our respective partners. "Bella" I whispered her name in relief as I reached her. I wrapped my arms around her waist possessively holding her to me, until a voice came over the speakers, interrupting the music.
"Ladies and gentlemen, now is the time for the best dressed award. A few members of staff have been doing their silent judging and have decided that you…" The man on stage with the microphone pointed strait to Rosalie before he continued, "…are the winner."
Rosalie and Emmett high-5ed before Rosalie towed Emmett behind her to the stage. I almost laughed aloud as I caught sight of Tanya on the right in front, in the sea of other people, taking pictures with Alice's camera.
The man handed Rosalie the microphone to say a few words, "Thank you for voting…and a big thank you to Tanya for getting me this dress and being so great to us!" she gave Tanya a quick wave before she passed the microphone back.
Laughter and shocked mutters ensued around the room as Emmett quickly pulled Rosalie to him and began to kiss her. "I think that's sweet…" Bella laughed as Emmett and Rosalie broke away and made their way back to us.
"How does it feel to be the boyfriend of the best dressed?" Alice asked Emmett, pretending to be a news reporter.
"I think I made myself pretty clear up on stage…I could do it again…" He added, turning to Rosalie who was studying her little award.
"My feet hurt…" she said simply, obviously not following our conversation.
"Ohh God…" I shook my head in disbelief as Emmett picked Rosalie up in his arms and carried her the full ten steps back to our table.
"What do you want to do now then?" Jasper asked, looking around at each of us once we had sat at our table.
"Champagne and Martini bar!" Alice called out suddenly as she got to her feet.
The other five of us soon followed her, but were intercepted by Tanya at the exit. "Camera!" she declared as she held it in her hands. Alice took it from her, mumbling a quick thanks as she and Jasper started going through the pictures. "See you tomorrow guys!" Tanya left, melting away into the darkness.
By the time we'd reached the Champagne and Martini bar, Alice and Jasper had finished looking through tonight's pictures, and had given me the camera. I sat Bella on my lap while Jasper and Alice got the drinks. Emmett was rubbing Rosalie's feet beside us, completely oblivious to the odd looks that they were receiving.
We laughed as we got to the picture of Bella being held up by Emmett. "I'm never ballroom dancing again!" she laughed as she placed her head on my shoulder.
"Yes you will, I'll teach you sometime, or you can go to classes with Rosalie and Alice" I told her as we kept on looking through the camera.
I froze when I came to a picture of Bella and me, on the dance floor, staring at each other. The only thought that went through my mind was how perfect we looked together in that picture. "I'll send you the picture once Alice downloads it." Bella whispered in my ear before she gave my temple a lingering kiss.
"Thank you" I whispered, not knowing what else to say as I stared at the picture for a few more seconds before looking through the rest.
"I can't believe that we've only got three more nights left on board after tonight" Rosalie muttered as she sat up and snuggled into Emmett's chest. I couldn't miss the pained look in his usually happy eyes as he held her.
I looked to Bella who had her head rested on my shoulder and was playing with my hair. I could tell that she was in her own little word, so I didn't interrupt her as she stared off into space.
I ran my hand up and down Bella's thigh rhythmically, over the blue dress as I listened in on the other four's conversations. I caught snippets of words, 'Weekends', 'flights', 'holidays', 'phone number'. I realised that I needed to get a lot sorted out before the end of this cruise if my relationship with Bella was going to work as well as I wanted it to.
Bella yawned against my neck, drawing my attention back to her. "Tired?" I asked as I ran a finger gently over one of her eyes.
She gave me a small smile before she whispered, "Yeah…I'm down and out"
"Guy's we're heading up, anyone else coming?" I asked as I let Bella get up.
"I'm coming" Alice and Rosalie said together, causing Emmett and Jasper to get up and follow them.
I held Bella close to my side until we reached our doors. I gave her a soft kiss before she yawned again and bid me goodnight.
"Three nights…I can't believe how fast this cruise has gone!" Jasper exclaimed as we got into our suite.
I answered him with a disappointed grunt. I knew that the days would just go faster now that our perfect cruise was coming to an end.
That was a bit boring, I know, but the next three chapters should be good, especially their last night on board. You're all going to love me!! (I'll say no more…)
Review for me please:D