June 30, 2012
My darling readers,
I've said this many times, but it is such a pleasure revisiting the story that I completed almost a year ago and began a year prior to that! This chapter has always been one of my favorites, so for all of you who are reading this story for the first time, you are in for a real twist in the drama. Please, leave me any feedback, positive and negative, that comes to mind.
Many blessings,
evelyn-shaye
Special thanks to my beyond phenomenal betas, Linnfromia and ChloeCougar, who have told me in no uncertain terms that they mean to turn good writing into great writing. My heart dances with every comment. :)
Chapter Twenty-One: Homecoming
The weeks leading up to my first Homecoming dance passed by in a blur. Between Jacob's fake relationship with Tamara and Braden's continued presence at our lunch table, there wasn't anything new to hold my attention. What was more, Jake and I had agreed to keep our romantic relationship at home on the slow side, so that we'd be less likely to betray our secret in public. As much as I had enjoyed – and certainly not regretted – that afternoon of physical intimacy with my Jake, it unsettled me that we were capable of progressing so quickly. I wasn't ready for the next step beyond that, but who knew if I'd have the self-control to hold back if we danced near the line?
Daddy was, if not enthusiastic, at least pacified by the arrangement. Jake and I were obviously safe from any breach of traditional values for the time being. The one thing that bothered Daddy was his inability to read Braden's mind, and it was clear that Alice was experiencing the same frustration – his future was determinedly obscured. Homecoming was nearly upon us; it would be the perfect time for Braden to plot something. Tamara and Garet had welcomed his coven into our group, Momma would be hard-pressed to shield us in the midst of the throng, and Jacob couldn't risk exposing our relationship or his werewolf nature. It was a tricky situation.
The time had finally arrived, though, and I couldn't ignore my fluttering anticipation as I stared at the beautiful red gown hanging on my closet door. Alice and Rosalie would be in my room any moment to straighten my hair and apply more makeup than I had ever worn, so I knew that I should dress.
I faltered, though. It seemed wrong, somehow, that my aunts planned to help me prepare, but Momma was silently enduring her own beautification process and likely wouldn't want to contribute to mine.
"Momma," I called softly, barely raising my voice out of hesitancy. Of course, her sensitive ears picked up my voice easily. She was at my door in seconds.
"What is it, Nessie?" Momma asked carefully. I raised my head to speak but found no words. Momma was a vision before me. Her strapless, turquoise-green gown hugged her perfect torso and then hung in elegant swaths, touching the floor. Her long brown hair was twisted into an intricate bun at the back of her head; diamond combs held her tresses in place. A matching diamond necklace, a gift from Daddy, graced her collarbone.
"Momma, wow," I breathed. "You look beautiful."
If Momma had still been human, she would have blushed immediately. Instead, she tucked her hands behind her skirt and averted her eyes. "Rose and Alice did everything," she murmured.
I smiled warmly. "All they did was enhance the beauty that was already there," I corrected gently.
She beamed at me. "Thank you, Nessie." Her voice rang with sincerity and delight. "Now. What can I do for you?"
I gestured toward my closet. "I wondered if you would help me dress."
"Of course," Momma answered, her voice betraying no surprise. She understood that it wasn't help that I wanted, but merely time to be close to her, a mother-daughter moment. She reached for the gown and ran her fingers over the fabric. Then she sniffed it carefully. "This is expensive material, but very beautiful," she commented.
"Would you expect anything less from Aunt Alice?" I asked, rolling my eyes.
She laughed. "Not at all." She removed it from the hanger as I stripped down to my undergarments. When she turned around, she froze. "Oh, Nessie," she sighed.
I stared at her in confusion. "What is it?" I wanted to know.
She smiled sadly. "I just can't believe how grown up you are." She held the dress out, and I stepped delicately inside, rotating so she could fasten my zipper. "I gave birth to you only six years ago, and here you are—" she spun me around to face the mirror—"radiant and ready for your first dance."
I took in the image the two of us made in the mirror: mother and daughter, both forever young, dazzling in our formal dresses. It was an ideal that many longed for, two women who cared deeply for each other but weren't subject to the generational divide. Even as a six-year-old with the body of a sixteen-year-old, I felt equal with my mother. I was a Cullen girl.
I hugged her close to me. "I love you, Momma," I whispered.
Her expression showed me that she reveled in the affection. "More than my own life, Renesmee," she answered, echoing the inscription on the locket she had given me for my first Christmas.
My aunts interrupted our bonding moment, but I didn't mind too much. The atmosphere suddenly changed to one of delighted chatter as my hair was straightened from its normal spiral curls to a flat but elegant hairstyle; my face was enhanced but not smothered by makeup; and my nails were painted a delicate silver shimmer, just like the beading on my dress.
The effect was mind-blowing. Even Alice seemed pleasantly startled at my transformation from high school freshman to stunning young lady. There was no way that Daddy would approve, but Alice already knew that.
"Bella, I'll need you to sufficiently distract your husband from how grown-up your daughter looks," she instructed as we left my room. "If he starts to complain, emphasize how modest her dress is compared to most." Then, with a smirk, she added, "And yes, your plan will work fairly flawlessly."
Momma nodded thoughtfully. I felt a slight lift from my shoulders and realized that she had been instinctively shielding me while we were together upstairs. I turned to ask her why she had removed her shield but then saw the hungry, dazzled expression on my dad's face. I was pretty certain I didn't want to know what she was showing him.
As I turned back toward the doorway, though, my previous concern no longer mattered. All I could see was Jacob, looking so completely striking in his tux and white dinner jacket that I thought I might melt. Judging by the amazed expression on his face, I guessed that he felt the same way about me. I blushed, suddenly shy.
Jacob took three long strides to cross the room and took my hands in his. "You look so beautiful," he told me softly.
My blush deepened. Alice and Rosalie did the makeover, I answered.
Jacob smiled warmly. "You are beautiful, Renesmee. Everything else is just a bonus."
You really think so?
"With all my heart," he answered genuinely.
I beamed at him, my shyness evaporating. Do you like the dress? I thought it was one of the prettiest things I've ever seen!
He chuckled. "It's pretty gorgeous, Ness, but it's nothing compared to you."
I passed along the joy that I felt and then showed him my reaction at his get-up.
Jake smiled. "I hoped you would like it."
I frowned. Too bad I don't get to take advantage of it, I complained.
He leaned forward to whisper in my ear, "After the dance, we have all night."
Something shuddered inside of me, and I felt both chilled and warmed at the same time. You'd better not leave me hanging, I warned him.
"I know better than to suffer the wrath of a half-vampire," he laughed.
I smacked him teasingly and intertwined fingers with him. "Let's go party!"
My parents drove us to the restaurant, where we met up with Tamara, Garet, and Jonathan. The Westhope coven had promised to meet us at the dance because they already had their own dinner reservations. Braden had smirked at me, and I'd had to glare back. As long as his reservations didn't include any of my classmates, I would have to forgive him—no, tolerate him.
The dinner part flew by, with Tamara and me actually a lot more friendly than usual since Jacob was escorting her but accommodating both of us. We joked around with him in not-so-flirty ways, and Garet looked relieved at our lighthearted interactions. She had probably assumed that I would be a fifth wheel, but I was determined not to let that occur. It would only ruin a great night out with friends.
When we arrived at the dance, Braden, Leanna, and Ashton were just inside the entrance, waiting for us. I felt Momma's shield wrap around us immediately, and Tamara jerked slightly at the sudden force.
"Did you feel that?" she asked with concern.
Jacob moved to speak, but I beat him to it. "It was just a draft, Tam. When we walked in the door, the pressure changed."
Tamara seemed mollified, especially when Jacob grabbed her hand for a candid picture. I fought the urge to growl, but then Jacob wrapped his arm around my shoulder to get a picture of all three of us, and I had to smile at his thoughtfulness.
"Let's go dance!" Leanna enthused, reaching for Garet and me. I glanced at Braden, and for once, he seemed relaxed, as did Ashton. I wondered at the change for a moment, and it didn't hit me until Garet, Tamara, and I started the Electric Slide with Leanna and the boys lined up behind us, good-naturedly doing the motions. Braden had released his hold on them, however temporarily. They stayed with him, as always, but they were free to express themselves.
About twenty minutes in, Leanna and Ashton requested an older tune and performed an elaborate dance together. The dance floor completely cleared except for Rosalie, Emmett, Alice, and Jasper, who remembered the dance, as well. Braden didn't even seem disgruntled that my family and his were shining together. My parents looked happy, too, and I knew that Momma's shield was up but that they were grateful for Braden's naturalness tonight.
When the dance ended and Garet and Tamara gushed over Leanna and Ashton, Jacob reached for my hand. "May I have this dance?" he asked seriously, only a glint of play in his eyes. I hadn't heard the music segue into a slow song, but I followed him willingly, wrapping my arms around his neck.
Jacob's chest rumbled with pleasure. "This is what I've been looking forward to all night," he murmured.
I lifted my eyes to his. "Won't Tamara miss you?"
"She knew I wanted to dance with you tonight," he dismissed easily. "She understands that we're close friends."
"She has no idea how close," I muttered, leaning my head against him.
Jacob cradled my head for a moment. "She doesn't need to know," he whispered.
I was content with his answer. We swayed slowly to the music, not bothering to care about anyone outside of our little world. I let my imagination wander to the future, conscious that my hands rested against Jacob's neck. I showed us a cabin in the woods, small enough for coziness but large enough to host the whole family: vampires, werewolves, and humans, interacting harmoniously, and a little boy cradled in my arms, with my eyes but Jacob's dark, thick hair….
Jacob surreptitiously kissed the top of my head. "All in good time, Nessie," he promised. And the song was over.
Homecoming was far from over, though. I laughed more on that night than I had in weeks. Garet, Tamara, and I twirled and spun each other around as the boys clapped and cheered. As Alice had promised, upperclassmen approached us and asked for dances, but we turned them all down. I already knew my destiny, and we were having too much fun to interrupt it with strangers, anyway.
It wasn't until the last half hour of the dance that we noticed something amiss. The three of us girls had just recently gone to the restroom, but two dances later, Tamara was gone. She wasn't with anyone from our group, and when I carefully showed a few upperclassmen her picture so they would remember her face, they claimed not to have seen her, either.
We found Jacob sitting at a table off to the side and confronted him. "What happened to Tamara?" Garet demanded.
Jacob sat up abruptly. "What are you talking about?" he shot back.
"She's not with you?" I questioned.
He faced me incredulously. "The last time I saw her was before you three ladies used the restroom," he answered, his features wavering between irritated and worried.
My anger quickly dwindled into fear. "You…haven't seen her?" I repeated.
This time Jake stood, his face mirroring my concern. "Like I said, I haven't seen her since she left for the restroom," he said carefully. "You girls were having fun and my legs were tired, so I sat here with Jonathan."
"Where's Jonathan?" Garet asked nervously.
"He's fine," Jake assured her. "He just went to get a drink."
Jonathan arrived just seconds later, and Garet rushed to his side. "Have you seen Tamara?"
Jonathan looked confused. "Wasn't she with you?"
Garet threw her hands in the air and sat with a huff.
"Dang," Jonathan sighed, scratching his head. "Everyone's missing."
I approached him, my face perplexed. "Who is everyone?" I wanted to know.
"Well, I was hanging out with Braden and Ashton not too long ago, but they've disappeared, too," he answered. "Did their group take off early?"
Suddenly, all the pieces fell into place in my mind.
Tamara was missing. Braden was missing.
Braden had been trying to flirt with her at school.
I cursed sharply at the realization.
"Nessie?" Garet exclaimed in shock.
"I'll be right back!" I called, running toward the drink station. I wasn't a full vampire, but I could follow a trail as well as anyone else in my family. I caught Braden's scent, which reminded me of white English tea and evergreen bark, and followed it until it overlapped with Tamara's. Their scents were polluted by the presence of other students, but it was clear that they had lingered near the punch bowl before wandering toward the restrooms.
A quick glance around confirmed that only Jacob and my family were watching my actions curiously. I sprinted as fast as I would allow myself along the trail. Their scents intersected with other humans' near the restrooms and continued forward, into a hall of doors. From there, it was too simple to track the solitary path, which had become enhanced by the appearance of Leanna's cinnamon and cloves and Ashton's soil and sage.
As the scent intensified, I slowed to a careful pace and reached a door midway down the hall. I opened the door and had to fight the urge to scream.
Tamara's POV
The night was passing by so dreamily. I couldn't even be sure that I was awake. Freshman Homecoming. A gorgeous boutique gown. My beautiful girl friends, dancing and acting so carefree, and the most wonderful boyfriend a girl could ask for. I was so lucky.
Only, why was a different emotion tugging at my heart? Every time Braden joined our group, he watched me with such adoration and interest, compared to Jacob, who was never more than attentive when we were together. And Braden's eyes! I was captured by their intensity and fascinated by their color. How many other guys had irises so red? They reminded me of rubies or fire. I didn't understand why Garet and Nessie found them frightening.
Nessie, I thought snidely. Who did she think she was fooling? I knew that she and Jacob had snuck off together during that movie. And all that crap about Jacob being sick. She had been trying to distract me from the fact that they had been together for a long time. He had probably visited her house afterwards and that was why she hadn't wanted to spend the night with me.
I caught every glance the two of them shot each other. Jake adored her; that much was certain. So then, why was he dating me? To protect me from Braden? To keep me from him?
They needn't have bothered. As much as I loved Braden—and I was convinced, in my heart, that I loved him—he'd barely paid me any heed until tonight. Was it just the dress? Was he hoping to seduce some unsuspecting freshman girl?
Or, dared I think it, did he love me, too?
The question had haunted me all through the night. I tried to rationalize my feelings, but I was rapidly moving beyond any hope of recovery. I knew that Braden's world was different, with an aura of mystery and magic, and despite their best intentions, Nessie and Jacob could not save me. When Braden tugged on my arm at the refreshments table and asked if I would accompany him away from the dance, I had no choice but to follow him.
Still, as I moved away from my friends, I felt something elastic holding me back. Was it a sign that I should leave Braden and return to the girls?
No. I was enchanted. I floated alongside him, barely conscious of my feet touching the ground.
Braden led me into a dark room. I froze momentarily, fearful that he might take advantage of me, but as my eyes adjusted, I saw Ashton and Leanna there, as well. Leanna smiled encouragingly, and I jumped. Didn't she normally have brown hair? Why was she suddenly nearly identical to Braden? And were the two of them…glowing? They had almost an ethereal presence in this dark space, like darkness was no match for their existence.
Braden sat down, and I mimicked his movement, tucking my legs in front of me. "Tamara," he whispered, his voice like silk. I leaned forward. "If I asked you to follow me, would you come?"
"Yes," I answered softly but fervently.
"If I asked you to leave your family and friends for a time, would you obey me?"
It was a different request, a new language, but my resolve did not waver. "I would do anything for you," I vowed.
Braden smiled. "If I entrusted you with a secret, would you keep it safe?"
"A secret?" The offer piqued my curiosity more than the other two questions had. I nodded.
Braden leaned closer to me, our faces nearly touching. "I am a vampire," he stated ominously, his cool breath brushing my face like icy wind. "My sister and her mate are also vampires. We would like you to join our coven."
The vocabulary battered against my preconceived notions. For a moment, I fought the overwhelming urge to laugh. Vampires were urban legend, the stuff of myths and drugstore romance novels. I recalled my short exchange with Nessie and her sister at the boutique; Alice had smiled teasingly at us girls as we'd joked about the existence of such creatures!
My lips parted into an amused grin, but one glance at Braden's utterly serious expression ended my humor. My once dancing eyes darted toward Ashton and Leanna, who nodded solemnly, and then dropped to my lap. I felt a new sort of hysteria that threatened to steal my breath and send me into shock. It couldn't be true…could it?
"You…" I trailed off and finally met his gaze. In his eyes, I saw devotion but also hesitancy, perhaps fear that I would reject him or call him idiotic. The stiff set of his shoulders only confirmed my suspicions.
It was true. Of course it was true. Braden was leading a parallel life, spending his days in the only reality I knew and his nights in a fantastic world of vampires and supernatural exploits. And he was inviting me, a fifteen-year-old girl from Small Town, USA, to whole-heartedly cross the border into his world.
I found myself struggling to conjure up the right words.
Eventually, Braden shifted uneasily; I had been staring at him for too long. I blurted the first thought that came to mind. "Your eyes are red."
I immediately wanted to slap myself for lack of tact, but he relaxed his stance. Apparently, I had responded appropriately. "The eyes are a side-effect of drinking human blood," he informed me.
I sat up on my knees. "You want me to become like you," I repeated, forcing my voice to remain calm. Inside, my heart was dancing and trembling simultaneously.
"Yes," Braden replied. "I want you to live with us for all eternity."
The sincerity in his words made it impossible for me not to believe him. I considered the prospect of changing my destiny. Honestly, I had no qualms about leaving my previous life behind, no terribly sentimental attachments to my family and Garet and Nessie, and I certainly relished the thought of living with Braden forever.
Still, the nagging doubt that had planted itself deep in my soul from the moment we met gave me pause. After a moment's hesitation, I uttered the traitorous question in a small, almost sheepish voice. "Why me?"
In response, Braden closed the distance between our faces and kissed me. Any feelings of doubt were cleanly and forcefully uprooted, and I found myself falling. I knew I would never love anyone the way that I loved Braden. His soft hands caressed my cheek so delicately, and his alluring scent of my favorite tea enveloped me like a tender embrace. No one had ever kissed me like this, loved me like this. As Braden positioned himself on top of me, cold and firm but careful not to crush me, and deepened the kiss, my heart swelled so much that I thought it would burst.
When I felt that my feeble human heart could handle no more, he released my lips and moved his mouth to my ear. "Don't scream," he ordered.
With his words, the elastic sensation ceased. I breathed deeply, reveling in a sense of freedom, before his teeth pierced my throat.