Chapter 15: Prom Nightmare
Bella sighed as she stared at her prom dress, bouncing her knee a little. "Come on Bella, your date's going to be here," a voice informed. Looking up, Bella smiled to see Tara walking in. Tara had come for a visit with her new husband, Quinn. Smiling, Bella stood up from her bed.
"Thanks for coming Tara," she told her one time foster sister.
Tara smiled as she hugged the young woman. "I always knew Emmett cared about you more than just a friend," she commented. Bella laughed a little before pulling away. "Because when he got to know you and vice versa, I never saw Emmett's eyes sparkle as much as they did when you would walk into the room," she added.
"Well, Emmett is special," Bella answered smiling.
Tara nodded her head slowly. "Come on, your prom date's going to be here any minute," she commented. Alice opened the door, grinning from ear to ear.
"I brought the makeup!" she announced.
Bella laughed a little. "Alice…" she started.
"It'll be so much fun!" Alice exclaimed excitedly.
Sighing, Bella sat down and both girls began to dress her up.
Emmett was sitting in the living room watching as Sue was trying to get Gabriel to stop crying. "Just think of that if you want to go any further tonight with Bella," Charlie told his daughter's boyfriend. Clearing his throat nervously, Emmett rubbed his hands together. He heard the girls walk down the stairs and stood up with the corsage in his hands.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Bella Swan!" Alice announced grinning from ear to ear.
Emmett watched as Bella walked down the stairs and his heart missed a beat. They had curled her hair, pinning it back from her face, with a little bit of makeup, but not so much to hide the features he already loved. The blue dress she wore had a sweetheart neckline and clipped behind her neck. It brought a smile to his face to see the necklace he gave her still hanging around her neck. "Alice was trying to get me into heels," she commented, gesturing to the light blue ballet flats she was wearing.
"You're stunning," he murmured.
"You look handsome yourself," she answered smiling.
She went to walk down the stairs when she slipped. Letting out a shriek, she almost fell down the last three steps when Emmett caught her. "You really know how to make an entrance," he quipped chuckling. Blushing, she smiled a little as Emmett set her back down onto her feet. "Here," he murmured. He placed the corsage around her wrist as Sue took a picture.
"Thanks," she answered smiling.
She reached into her handbag, pulling out the boutonnière, pinning it to his jacket while Sue took a picture of it. "I'll see you at prom," Alice told them before skipping out of the house. Emmett chuckled lightly, shaking his head slowly.
"My future sister-in-law ladies and gentlemen," he commented chuckling.
Bella laughed a little. "Come on a picture of the two of you," Sue said smiling. Emmett wrapped his arm around Bella's waist, pulling her close. Bella had one arm around his waist while her other hand was resting on his hand that was on her waist. She had her head resting on his chest while he rested the side of his head against the top of her head.
"You guys be back at a decent time," Charlie told them.
"Don't worry Chief, I'll take care of her," Emmett answered.
"I'm trusting you," Charlie informed.
Emmett nodded before holding Bella's hand and the two of them left.
When they arrived at prom, everything was beautifully decorated. "Alice went all out," she commented.
"As always," Emmett answered.
He kissed the back of her hand before spinning her around. Bella laughed a little before he started waltzing with her around the dance floor. They were both laughing and smiling, just enjoying themselves. Bella never thought she would actually be dancing at prom, but there she was. There she was in Emmett's arms dancing around the room like there was no tomorrow. He grabbed her a hold of her hand, swinging her out for a second, keeping a grip on her hand so she wouldn't fall before pulling her back to him. She was still laughing, her hand on the back of his neck. "Now that's better than the music," he commented.
"I never thought I'd be having fun at prom," she answered.
He kissed her briefly, stroking her cheek gently. After pulling away, he moved his hand over her arm. "Thirsty?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied.
Emmett smiled a little as he went over to the drinks table. Bella sat down at the table, reaching to grab her handbag. "Damn," she muttered. She looked up. "Alice!" she called.
"Yeah," Alice replied pulling Jasper with her as they stood by the table.
"Can you tell Emmett I ran out to his jeep? I left my bag in the seat," she told her friend.
"Yeah, sure," Alice replied.
Bella smiled before getting up to get her purse.
Hurrying outside, she went over to Emmett's jeep, peeking into the window to be sure the handbag was in there before opening the door. She suddenly let out a shriek when someone grabbed her from behind, his hand over her mouth to cover her scream. "Shut up," a voice hissed. She felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach. It was David Quinn, one of the other guys that just wouldn't leave Bella alone.
David lifted her easily up off the ground and dragged her to his van. Bella was trying to scream and fight against him. Before she could do anything, he shoved her into his van.
Bella did everything that she could to try to fight Daniel off her, but he kept his grip on her arms with one hand while covering her mouth with the other. She let out a small scream as she tried biting his hand, but he had his hand cupped so she couldn't bite him, but still muffle her screams. Letting her arms go, but pinning her down with his body, he shoved the skirt of her dress up. He then tried to undo the clasp that was holding the top of her dress up.
Just as she felt like this was it, no one could hear her, no one could see her, David was suddenly off her and heard scuffling outside the van. Pulling the neckline to her dress back up, she tried to salvage whatever was left of the skirt of her dress that he tore. She looked outside to see Emmett and David rolling around on the ground fighting. "Get up!" Emmett snapped as he stood up, grabbed a hold of David's shirt, shoving him up against Bella's truck.
"What's the matter Cullen? Afraid of a real man taking your girl?" David sneered.
Emmett punched him in the noise, hearing it make a nauseating snap. "YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU BROKE MY NOSE!" David shouted. Emmett threw him down on the ground, moving to start kicking him in the side.
"EMMETT DON'T!" Bella screamed.
She grabbed a hold of him, pulling him back before he could start kicking the guy. "Emmett don't, don't, he's not worth it," she told him. Emmett glared at the guy.
"You know Dave, you and Newton are almost alike. Except Mike isn't stupid enough to go and try to attack Bella!" Emmett snapped.
David was on the ground, holding his nose. "Next time, you'll have more than just a broken nose to worry about!" he added. Taking off his jacket, Emmett wrapped it around Bella's waist before lifting her up into the bridal position. Bella wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, closing her eyes as he carried her to his jeep. "What are you guys looking at? Show's over go back to the prom," Emmett told the rest of the kids before putting Bella into the car.
Once he was in his side of the car, he started the jeep up, threw it into reverse backing out. Once he knew he wasn't going to hit a car or David, he sped out of the parking lot.
They were driving for awhile before Emmett stopped, staring out at the trail. Looking over at Bella, he saw her pulling at the shredded skirt with tears in her eyes. "Bells…" he whispered. He pulled her close, resting his forehead against the top of her head. Bella clung to him, letting out a sob. "Oh Bell, I shouldn't have left you alone," he murmured.
"It wasn't your fault. He didn't hurt me, he didn't get close because of you. You saved me," she whispered.
He hugged her close, kissing the top of her head. "I love you," he whispered. Bella bit her lower lip, wrapping her arms around his back.
"I love you so much," she answered.
She rested her forehead against his shoulder. He held onto her, rubbing his hand up and down her back. "I promise I won't let anyone hurt you," he whispered, closing his eyes, he rested his forehead against the side of her head. Sighing, she moved her hand over his arms.
When they arrived home, Charlie ran out of the house. "Alice called and told me what happened," Charlie told Emmett.
"She's alright Chief," Emmett answered.
"Emmett's right," Bella agreed.
Sue walked over, hugging her stepdaughter. "Emmett saved me," she added before she started crying again. Hushing her softly, Sue rubbed her back.
"Come on sweetie, we'll get you out of this dress," she murmured.
Charlie looked over at Emmett. "Thank you for saving her," he told the young man.
"I promised I'd take care of her chief," Emmett answered.
"Indeed you did," Charlie agreed.
He held his hand out to Emmett. Emmett smiled a little before shaking his hand. "I'll call Bella later," he told his girlfriend's father.
"She'll be waiting for that call," Charlie answered.
Nodding, Emmett looked up at Bella's bedroom window. Letting out a sigh, he turned and got into his car.
That night, Bella was lying awake in her bed with tears in her eyes. She looked up when she heard her window open and Emmett climbed in. "Hey," he whispered.
"Hey," she answered.
"You okay?" he asked.
Biting her lower lip, she reached out, grabbing his hand. "I need you…here…with me," she answered.
"There's no place I'd rather be than right here," he murmured.
"Hold me…please…" she whispered.
Emmett kicked off his shoes before climbing into her bed. She turned around, snuggling up against his chest with tears in her eyes. Hushing her softly, he stroked her hair. "You're safe Bella, I'm here," he assured her. He kissed the top of her head while pulling her close as she fell asleep in his arms. "I'm here," he repeated quietly. As he fell asleep, he didn't realize that Charlie was in the doorway watching. Smiling a little, he closed the door leaving the two of them alone.