~*~ Chapter Twenty ~*~
In the days that followed, Rosalie was not to be approached. No attempts to speak to her about her past made by any member of the family reached success. When she was the topic at hand, Rosalie held herself aloof.
"I just hate to see her bottling all that up inside," Esme said one wintry evening at the Cullen house. The weather was actually a little sketchy for Bella to be out, but she hadn't been able to resist stopping in for an hour or so. Christmas was right around the corner and Bella simply wanted to spend some time with them.
"She has an outlet," Bella pointed out. "It's just not a healthy one."
"You're not about to get up on the soapbox again, are you, Bella?" Edward asked.
"No, Edward." Bella made a face at him. "I'm talking about Rosalie channeling all her issues into violence."
"She lets her anger rule her too much," Carlisle said. "It's a powerful emotion that too easily misleads." He sat in the armchair across the couch from Edward and Bella, Jasper to his left, Maggie and Esme on his right. It was a comfortable sort of family gathering in the living room, the heavy snow just visible falling against the trees out the window.
"Anger isn't entirely without merit, Carlisle. I'd say it was feeling angry that allowed me to stand up to Rosalie."
Bella had gone right to Carlisle at the hospital the night of Rosalie's unexpected visit to the video store, and confided in him everything that had occurred. He had listened patiently, despite the conflicting emotions Bella had seen cross his face when she described how Rosalie played on her fears. After the story was told, Carlisle had pulled her into a hug and said with relief, "I'm proud of you, Bella."
The two of them had talked longer, discussing possible ways to help Rosalie, but their conversation had gotten curtailed when Diana announced an ambulance incoming from a car accident. The discussion, however, continued to be ongoing with the whole Cullen family, though the results were unfortunately futile. There wasn't much any of them could do to help Rosalie if she didn't want to be helped. Yet, it was because each one of them cared that they still continued to bring it up, whether or not it resulted in new ideas to break Rosalie's stonewalling.
Rosalie was absent from the house. Alice had taken her out for a hunt.
Carlisle was looking at Bella, and she couldn't help but admire yet again how beautiful his face became when he smiled. "You actually sound like Rosalie when you say that. She and I have argued this before, neither one of us seeing eye to eye."
"What, you don't think that anger has its benefits?" Bella asked him.
"I call it a dangerous emotion, nothing more."
"But not one that's useful? Is it even possible for there to be a useless emotion?" Bella turned her head. "I ask the expert among us."
Jasper's extended legs were within reach of Bella's own, and she kicked his foot with her right, getting a retaliatory nudge back in return.
"No, I don't think that there are any useless emotions."
"Except, perhaps, for worry," Edward input.
"'Worry'?" Bella looked at him with a puzzled frown.
"Edward's referring to the adage of the Dalai Lama," Carlisle explained.
"Essentially, Bella, it goes like this," Maggie said, "if you have a problem and you can do something about it, then why worry? If you can't fix the problem, then again, there is no help in worrying."
Bella pondered that for a second. "That actually makes a lot of sense."
"That's why he's the Dalai Lama."
Carlisle was smiling again. Before Bella could lose her thought, she turned to Jasper. "But is worrying even an emotion?"
"I never said it was," Jasper answered.
"What, you're saying it isn't?" Edward asked his brother.
"It's a state of mind. That's more your territory than mine."
"Isn't worrying the same thing as anxiety, as apprehension? One can feel apprehensive."
"You're just arguing semantics. Apprehension is too cerebral for emotion. Emotions are in your gut, not your head. Though I admit that one can affect the other."
"Kids," Carlisle intervened, "I feel like you're in college all over again."
"It's very amusing." Esme took her hand away from her mouth, revealing that she had been laughing.
"Bella, I think that you should be getting home before we get too much more snow."
"I suppose you're right." Bella stretched out her arms and legs while remaining on the couch. Feeling everyone's eyes on her, Bella thought that sometimes it could be a little awkward being the only human. None of their muscles got stiff from sitting down for an extended period of time.
"Why don't you let me drive you home, Bella?" Carlisle offered, and she looked over to make eye contact with him. There was that damn smile again.
"Are you saying you don't think I can handle driving in the snow?"
"I'm saying let's not give anyone cause to worry-"
"Ha-ha."
"-Including your father."
"After all, Bella, all your previous driving experience was in Phoenix." Esme said kindly. "Why not let Carlisle drive you home?"
Bella looked out the window at the falling snow. "Maybe you're right." She pointed a finger at Carlisle. "Let's not make a habit out of this, though."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
Carlisle rose and Bella noticed the shape of his toned arms and chest beneath his shirt. The fluidity of motion in his thighs as he walked away seemed muscular and fit. Had he been physically active as a human, or did the venom sculpt the body? By comparison both Jasper and Edward had sculpted physiques. Though Edward's body was somewhat less developed. After all, physically, he was only seventeen years old. Not that teenage boys didn't have good bodies. Austin, for instance, had a great body. He'd been on her mind off and on since he and Conner stopped in at the video store.
Getting up and wishing everyone a good night, Bella followed Carlisle to the front door. Having already donned his scarf and coat, Carlisle waited patiently as Bella gathered her things from the coat rack.
"Ready?" he asked, and opening the door, he held it open in front of him with one arm.
Bella passed underneath it, her side brushing slightly against Carlisle's body. She didn't notice, however, as her thoughts were still passively dwelling on the human Austin.
(~*~)
Christmas came and went fairly quickly. It had surprised Bella when she got up on Christmas morning to not only find that Charlie had cooked breakfast, but also under their tree were gifts from the Cullens in addition to Bella's and Charlie's gifts to each other. Her belly satisfyingly heavy with pancakes, Bella opened Charlie's gift first.
"Oh, wow."
It was an iPod nano. Bella had no idea that Charlie had even heard of an iPod.
Bella made a face when she opened Alice's gift. It was a small box containing a pair of dangling silver earrings. Propped up against the delicate pressed metal was a small card that read "For Prom."
"I'm surprised she didn't buy the dress, too."
"Alice is probably waiting for May, better dresses," Charlie answered. At Bella's look, Charlie made his face go carefully innocent. "I know nothing."
Turning her head, Bella murmured something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like "Conspiracy."
(~*~)
Edward and Rosalie left Forks the day after Christmas. They stopped at Bella's to say good-bye first. The farewell was brief, and Bella got the impression that Rosalie was anxious to get going.
"I made this for you." Edward held out a CD jewel case that was wrapped in a red ribbon. "It's my piano music, some of them original compositions."
"Thank you." Bella said sincerely, taking the gift from him.
"I didn't get you anything," Rosalie said, causing Bella to look up at her. "But thank you for the movie."
Bella had left her gifts at the Cullens' house, and even though she had gotten George Winston sheet music for Edward and Serenity for Rosalie, she hadn't really expected anything from the two of them. "You're welcome."
"I hope to see you again the next time we come by," Edward said sincerely.
"Do you know when that will be?"
Edward shrugged. "Father's Day?"
"Six months is a long time."
"Not to us," Rosalie input, then she shrugged, too. "Maybe we'll be back sooner. Alice and Jasper are graduating this year, after all."
"So is Bella," Edward reminded Rosalie.
"Right."
"Well, I'll be here until September, anyway." For a passing moment, the thought gave Bella some disquiet, but Edward distracted her before she could chase down the reason why.
"We'll see you again soon, then." Smiling, Edward cautiously reached out to touch her hand. Bella let him clasp it. She'd grown rather fond of Edward over the last couple of weeks.
"Good-bye, Bella," Rosalie said a little stiffly. Bella wondered if Edward was the only reason that they had stopped by at all, but then she was taken by surprise when Rosalie stepped forward and gave her hug.
Bella hugged her back, feeling a rise of both worry and affection. "Take care of yourself, Rosalie."
To make things a little more awkward, Charlie came home as Edward and Rosalie went out the door. Getting out of his cruiser, which he'd had to park on the side of the road, Charlie frowned at the two vampires exiting his house. Bella was right behind them.
"Hi, Dad. This is, um, Edward and his sister Rosalie."
"Pleased to meet you, sir." Edward held out his hand.
Charlie slowly accepted the shake. "Edward," Charlie said. "You went to school with Alice and Jasper."
Edward was frowning at Charlie, too, but easily went along with the cover story Bella had forgotten she ever gave. "Yes, Rosalie and I were visiting for Christmas. We're on our way home now."
"And wanted to see Bella first before you left town?"
"Exactly, sir." Edward nodded.
"I suppose you have parents that were fine with you spending Christmas with someone else?"
"Our parents are no longer living, Chief Swan," Rosalie said.
"We're emancipated," Edward added hastily.
"Really?" Charlie looked between the two of them. "I'd like to know more about that, but I won't keep you if you're wanting to get on the road."
"Thank you, sir." Edward broke eye contact and looked over at Bella. "Bye, again, Bella."
"Bye."
"Drive safely now, Edward." Charlie inclined his head to Rosalie. "Miss Masen."
There was a brief flare in Rosalie's eyes before she nodded back at Charlie. Bella stifled a chuckle by coughing into her hand. Oh, she bet Rosalie hadn't liked that at all. Catching her eye, Edward winked at Bella as he slid into the driver's seat of his Volvo. Within a minute, the two vampires had gone.
"Great, just great," Rosalie ranted as they drove away. "Now I'm going to have to pretend to be Rosalie Masen if I ever want to come back to this town."
Edward let loose his laughter. It echoed loudly and full of mirth inside the vehicle. "That was pretty smooth of the chief."
Rosalie glanced at him sharply. "What does that mean?"
"He was wary of us."
"Why?"
"I couldn't say." Edward was frowning again.
"You can't read his thoughts, either?" Rosalie's eyes were wide with surprise.
"Not precisely. He's not silent like Bella, but he isn't clear, either. There were no exact words, just the tone of his thoughts: some wariness paired with good will."
"Hmm. We were strangers parked in his driveway, exiting his house." Rosalie's eyebrows drew together as she thought. "I don't think we need to worry about him, Edward."
"Yes, Miss Masen," was Edward's response.
Standing outside the front door of his house, Charlie ushered his daughter in after the Volvo had pulled away. "Come on, Bells, it's too cold to be standing outside and you don't have a jacket on."
"Aren't you going to repark your car?" Bella asked as they made their way in.
"No need to," Charlie answered, hanging up his coat and gun. "Must be good friends of Alice's, those two."
"They are. I think Carlisle and Esme are like parents to them."
"The Cullens seem to pick up a lot of strays." Charlie sat on the couch, kicking his shoes off and putting his feet up.
"They bond pretty strongly."
"So I've noticed."
Bella was feeling a little uncomfortable again. Her gaze on the floor, she turned to go into the kitchen, but Charlie called her back.
"Bella." He looked right at her. "You're not a stray."
She hesitated a second before smiling with a shrug. "Thanks, Dad."
Grabbing the remote, Charlie turned to the television and clicked it on. "Grab me a beer, would ya?"
Bella snorted. "Right, because how could I be a stray when I fetch so well." Obediently, she got him a Rainier out of the fridge.
"Good girl," Charlie teased in a monotone, never taking his eyes off the sports channel as he cracked the can open.
"Woof." Bella replied before going up to her room.
(~*~)
Even though it felt weird that Edward and Rosalie were no longer around, life kept moving forward. Bella spent New Year's Eve with the Cullens. Charlie felt it was his duty to be on duty during the latest evening of the year. It was natural enough for Bella to stay up all night with those who couldn't sleep.
The only problem: how do you party when the people around you don't eat or drink, and you yourself don't like to dance?
"Are you serious?" Bella asked Alice that late afternoon, eyeing the dining room table with mistrust. On the far end of it was a mountain of board games, many of which Bella had never even heard of.
"Completely," Alice answered. "You and Carlisle can suspend the intellectual conversations for one evening and relax with the rest of us. Esme's putting her restorations on hold; Jasper and I don't need to do any schoolwork, and Maggie's agreed to keep us all honest."
"Do you and Jasper ever do any schoolwork?"
"Of course we do, Bella. We can't get good grades without putting in the work." Jasper answered as he carried in another armful of games.
Bella glared at the blue box on top. "I'm going to have to veto Trivial Pursuit." Raising her hand, she pointed a finger, "And any card games that require speed."
"Naturally, we won't do anything that puts you at too much of a disadvantage," Maggie said.
"Carlisle won't be home for another hour. Shall we start with a game of chance while we wait?" Esme suggested.
"Monopoly?"
"Monopoly."
"Monopoly it is." Alice shifted it out from the bottom of the pile and began to set up the board.
The game did take about an hour. It was fun, though Bella twice had to ask the vampires to slow down their turns, as they could move too fast for her to see. Esme also surprised a chuckle out of Bella when after being landed on, she told Bella to "Forks it over." By the time Carlisle arrived home, Jasper was winning the game, with only Bella stubbornly holding out with hotels on her Mediterranean and Baltic Avenues.
He laughed when he entered the dining room and saw them all. "It's going to be a game night?"
"Apparently we're forbidden from having conversation," Bella said.
"I didn't say that! I just said that you are both going to relax with us," Alice defended.
"I can't say that I am opposed. It's too bad I didn't get a game of chess in with Edward before he left." Carlisle unbuttoned the collar of his shirt. "I'm going to go change, wait for me before starting a new game."
"We haven't finished this one yet," Bella called after him. Checking the dice she had rolled before Carlisle's interruption, she moved her shoe and then groaned. "Alright, game over, I have no money left."
She pointed a finger at Jasper. "Winner picks up."
"Then what's the point of winning?"
"Winner also gets to pick the next game," Maggie added.
Carlisle returned to the dining room wearing black chinos and a gray V-neck sweater. It made Bella blink.
"What are you wearing?"
Carlisle glanced down at his clothes. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
"Nothing." Nothing at all. Hello! Bella had always considered Carlisle to be good-looking and his body especially fit. Yet, in this outfit he suddenly seemed sexy and much more approachable. "I've just never seen you dressed so casually. You look… younger."
Carlisle pulled out a chair and sat beside Bella, grinning. "I'm just relaxing, as ordered."
With a laugh, Bella tilted her head and turned back to Jasper. "What's next?"
Hands on the edge of the table, Jasper leaned back in his chair, tilting it onto its hind legs. "Poker."
Bella sighed; she was the only one at the table who would have any tells. "I'm screwed."
The poker game was briefly paused when Alice brought out Bella's dinner, which she had insisted on cooking herself. Very proudly, she set the fancy platter before Bella. Overflowing the dish were red pointy legs. Two beady little eyes were facing her.
Bella's mouth open. "What is this?"
"Dungeness crab, cleaned and cracked."
"You cooked me crab?"
Alice frowned. "Your father's a fisherman. I thought you liked seafood."
"I do, just, wow, Alice, you must have gone through a lot of effort."
"Not too much effort. They're in season, after all," Maggie said.
"That makes it a New Year's tradition in this area," Alice added, setting down six seafood forks.
"Oh, no." Maggie stared at the utensils.
Esme laughed. "I'm in."
"I'm sure it's delicious." Maggie narrowed her eyes at her mate.
"Try some," Alice encouraged. "But Bella first."
Bella chuckled and shook her head disbelievingly. "You guys are honestly going to eat some of this, too?"
In response, Carlisle reached out and snatched a leg. He split off the shell on one end, exposing the meat beneath. Using a fork, he speared a morsel and then held it up, making eye contact with Bella. Never looking away, Carlisle dipped it leisurely into the ramekin of seasoned mayo and cream cheese, then popped it into his mouth, his lips pulling the meat off the fork. Shining eyes unblinkingly on Bella, Carlisle slowly chewed and swallowed. Unable to take the long stare, the corners of Bella's mouth quivered as her face cracked under the pressure.
Carlisle raised an eyebrow at her and silently held out his fork. Taking it from him, Bella got her face under control. She took a portion of his meat, and dipped it in the cream. She swirled it around a little to cover as much territory as possible. Lifting the laden fork, Bella made eye contact with Carlisle, just as he had done to her. She slowly put it into her mouth, first licking one side, removing the white cream, and then putting it all in. In genuine reaction, her eyes closed, rolling behind the lids. "Mmm, this is so good."
"I actually want some of that now," Maggie said into the silence. Jasper grabbed the next leg.
"Alice," Bella said, wiping the corner of her mouth and then licking her thumb. "What did you put in this dip?"
"Cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion, some salt and pepper," Alice answered, puzzled.
"That's it? That can't be it; there was something else. I've never tasted anything like it." Bella dipped another piece of crabmeat and tasted. "Huh, it's gone now."
"What was it?"
"I don't know. It was exotic and delicious. It really stood out against the rest of the ingredients." Bella quickly tried more, and sighed. "It's gone."
"Still tastes like dirt to me," Jasper said, passing the rest of his crab to Alice and grabbing one of the cloth napkins she'd set out.
Eventually they migrated into the living room. Bella's back was getting stiff from the extended time in the chairs, and as a couple hours had passed since the crab dinner, she had the munchies. Alice and Esme had stuffed the kitchen with more junk food than Bella could possibly eat. When she entered the living room, Carlisle took the bowl of trail mix she was carrying off her hands, allowing her to easily take a swig out of her bottled water.
"Most would be drinking something a little harder tonight."
"Well, thanks, Carlisle, but I think I'll pass on the animal blood for tonight."
Maggie chuckled. "Someone's feeling sassy."
"Let's make her use it," Jasper grinned.
And Bella was dragged into a performance game, which surprisingly was more of a leveler than expected. One game after another, they all made fools of themselves, and Bella laughed so often her energy stayed up into the night. At nine o'clock they tuned in to watch the ball drop on Times Square in New York City, which was a bit odd for Bella to do an hour earlier than she was used to.
"It's sad to see Dick Clark passing the mantle on, but I'm sure he deserves the rest," Esme said.
"I don't think I've heard of Ryan Seacrest," Carlisle commented.
"Carlisle, you're lucky you've heard of Dick Clark."
"I take exception to that, Maggie. I'm not always buried in my books."
When it approached midnight, Esme again turned on the television and they counted down together. At "Happy New Year!" a surprise arranged by Alice exploded through the living room: crackers went off, sparklers that Bella had thought were just decorations lit up with loud hisses, and multi-colored confetti fell from the ceiling reflecting the bright spitting light.
The couples kissed, and Carlisle put his arm around Bella. She tilted her face to look up at him and met his smile with her own. Carlisle, she thought, deserves a New Year's kiss. She was ready to give in to the impulse.
Bella's Blackberry rang against her hip; it was Charlie.
"Happy New Year, Bells."
"Happy New Year, Dad. Staying out of trouble?"
"Trying to, I hear the cops are out tonight. Is that Auld Lang Syne?"
Everyone but Carlisle was singing. Bella slid out from under his arm so that he wouldn't feel hindered by her phone conversation. "Yeah, they're singing."
Charlie snorted. "I thought I was the only one in Forks who still remembered the words. What time you coming home?"
"Oh, let her stay the night, please!" Alice shouted at Charlie.
Charlie laughed. "If you want to, tell Alice that's fine with me. I know you're safe there."
"Um, sure. Thanks, Dad."
"Gotta go, kid. Happy New Year."
When Bella got off the phone, Carlisle was on his, talking with Edward and Rosalie. Bella wondered what all her friends were doing at that moment. Were any of them asleep? Were Jake and Billy celebrating just the two of them or with others on the reservation? Bella thought Ben was spending the evening with Angela's family. But what of Mike and Jessica? What was Austin up to right then?
Alice sidled up to Bella and put an arm around her shoulders. "I'm glad you're with us tonight, Bella."
Bella returned the gesture by easily sliding an arm around her waist. "Me, too. Impressive surprise, by the way. You went to a lot of work for tonight. Ah!"
Bella jumped when a delayed cracker went off just behind her.
"Oh, it was nothing." Alice grinned, and they both laughed.
Jasper approached the pair of them, and slightly bowed to Alice. "May I have this dance, ma'am?"
Someone had switched from the TV to music, and Maggie and Esme were already swinging. Alice put her hand in Jasper's and, with a wink at Bella, they both joined the women in the middle of the room. Bella wasn't quite sure she recognized the tune, but her foot was subconsciously tapping to the rhythm. It was rather spectacular, actually, watching the four of them twist, kick and jump, somehow never coming into contact with the furniture, like a dancing obstacle course they could easily master. When Carlisle approached her, she laughed and shook her head at him. "Oh, no. Not a chance am I going to be doing that." She pointed at the group with her chin.
"You could if you wanted," Carlisle grinned at her slyly, "but I won't pressure you into enjoying yourself."
"Thanks, I always enjoy being the wet blanket."
"Nothing of the sort." Carlisle grasped her hand and held it in his. "I have something for you." Turning her hand over, he placed a small blue velvet box within it.
"What is this?"
"A Christmas present."
"Um, Carlisle, this really isn't necessary. You already got me something."
"Yes, but that was an impulsive gift based on worry. This one may also be impulsive, as I thought of you as soon as I saw it, but it's not as impersonal and therefore carries more affection."
"The practical gift is the only one I need-" Bella cut off when Carlisle's hands gently closed around hers and the box.
"Please open it. You don't have to accept it, if you choose not to. Like I said, it made me think of you, and I wanted to buy it."
So much for not pressuring me, Bella thought, but his compromise was reasonable. When Carlisle let go, Bella opened the box. He better not have spent too much money.
Standing out against the blue was a silver ring with two swans. Each swan had its beak pressed into a wing. At the top of the ring the backs of the necks met, not entwined, but just beginning to touch.
"It's beautiful."
Bella took the ring out of the box and slid it onto the forefinger of her right hand.
Looking into Carlisle's warm golden eyes, Bella said, "Thank you." This time, without any hesitation, she reached up and kissed his cheek, pressing her lips briefly into his cool flesh.
His arms brought her in closer and he gave her a hug in return. "I'm glad you like it."
Stepping away, Bella couldn't help but smile at Carlisle. He genuinely did look relaxed and happy, which made his sexiness all the more tangible. Bella really needed to regulate her thoughts. There was nothing wrong with acknowledging that all the vampires were attractive, and the men held their own sex appeal. Yet, if she wasn't careful, her noticing might become a little too noticeable. Talk about awkward.
In an unexpected move, Carlisle grabbed her hand and smoothly swung her around into a dip. The song ended as he let her up. "There that was easy, wasn't it?"
Laughing, Bella clung to his shoulders. "Just don't try to flip me over your shoulders, please."
"If he won't, I will." Bella squealed as Jasper grabbed her and did just that. Yet, she landed on her feet, no stumbling, and soon had each hand grabbed by Maggie and Esme. Between them, it was sheer self-defense to move her feet. Bella would never say that she learned to swing dance, but giving herself over as partners interchanged, she definitely learned to step out of the way, even to a sort of rhythm. The music became easier, slower and turned down. Exhausted, Bella plopped onto the couch and Esme handed over her bottle of water.
Carlisle sat beside her. "Now don't tell me you didn't enjoy yourself."
"I can posit that she did." Jasper said, sitting across from them.
Bella tucked herself under Carlisle's arm. "I always enjoy myself when I'm over here. Tonight may have been a little different, but I had fun."
She let out a big yawn, causing a couple chuckles.
Bella's eyelids drooped as she and Carlisle reclined on the couch, arms around each other. Her arm hugging the front of his torso, she laid her head against his chest. Gradually her body settled in against his as conversation carried on around her. The soothing sound of his voice rumbling in his chest against her ear encouraged her contentment. She yawned and sleepily wriggled her face closer, the soft silk cotton of his shirt caressing her cheek. "You smell good," she said softly as she fell asleep.
Carlisle looked down at the top of her head with a gentle and warm smile. He placed a soft kiss on her hair. It was going to be a happy new year.
(~*~)
Time flew after the holiday. Bella's life was busier and it just kept moving forward. Bella was able to hold onto her job at the video store, and juggle it with her final load of classes before graduation. She had less spare time, but tried to see the Cullens at least once a week. Bella wore the swan ring Carlisle had given her so often it was second nature to slip it on in the mornings. Back at school, all the seniors seemed to be socializing with each other more. Conner and Austin, previously only occasional lunch mates, were spending a lot more time at the table with Jessica and crew. Bella wasn't exactly complaining. She often found Austin looking at her, though to be fair, Austin caught her looking a couple times, too.
It was a Wednesday in February when Austin followed Bella out of the cafeteria.
"Hey, Bella!"
With a quick look of surprise at Alice and Jasper beside her, Bella turned around. "Yeah?"
"We'll catch up with you later, Bella," Alice said, and with her arm in Jasper's, they walked ahead.
Austin gave them a quick glance, before stuffing his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. "You doing anything Friday night?"
Bella felt her heart accelerate. To hide it, she tugged on her shoulder strap and looked briefly at the floor. "Um, no." Fridays she didn't work so she usually found someone to hang out with at the last minute, Angela and Jessica, or a visit to the Cullen house.
"Want to catch a movie?"
Austin's eyes were so blue. Bella didn't think that she'd been up close enough to notice before.
Austin took a step back. "It's okay if you don't. I, uh –"
"No," Bella said quickly, realizing she'd been quiet too long. "A movie would be great. What's playing?"
Beaming just a little, Austin smiled with a short laugh, causing a lock of his curly dark hair to fall forward. "I have no idea."
"Oh, well," and Bella smiled, too, "why don't we look tonight and talk about it at lunch tomorrow?"
"Or in English. We have second period together."
"Or in English," Bella agreed. That settled, she walked on to class, casting a smile over her shoulder at him.
They ended up seeing Final Destination 3. It wouldn't have been Bella's first choice, but truthfully, the pickings were pretty slim. Austin had picked her up at the house, and thankfully Charlie wasn't home to make that uncomfortable. He drove an old Nissan, which he said he bought off his Dad just this year. He was affable and friendly, and Bella was able to enjoy the drive as they talked. About an hour into the movie, Austin reached out to grab her hand and Bella let it happen. His palms were a little rough, and Bella wondered in what way he worked with his hands outside of school. After the movie, she'd have to ask if he had a job.
Thankfully, the movie was over not too long after that. They swung through the Taco Bell drive-thru on the way out, and ate during the drive back to Forks from Port Angeles.
"So, what do you do outside school?" Bella asked, sipping her soda.
"I work at B&P Auto Repair part-time."
"You're a mechanic?"
"Sort of," Austin answered with a shrug.
"I have a friend down at La Push, Jake, who works with cars. Just built himself his first one, actually."
"That's pretty impressive," Austin nodded, and let out a burp. "Oh, um, excuse me."
Bella laughed. "Not a problem. It was kind of nice to hear, actually." No one ever burped at the Cullen house, and for a second Austin had reminded her of Charlie. "Think you'll keep on working there through the summer?"
"At B & P? Sure, I plan on getting promoted to full-time after I graduate, work my way up to management."
"Oh, you're not going to college?"
"Nope."
For some reason this saddened Bella, but to each his own.
"I take it you're going. Do you know where yet?"
Bella shook her head as she sipped through the straw. "I didn't do early decision, and acceptance letters don't come until May."
"Do you know what you'll be studying?"
"Actually, not for sure. I applied as a Lit major, though."
"Books, huh? James and the Giant Peach."
"What?"
"There never has been and never will be a better book than James and the Giant Peach."
He was being charming, and Bella couldn't help but laugh. "Roald Dahl? That's a children's book."
"So?" Austin cocked his head and gave her a grin. "Kids' books are great. Look at how big the Harry Potter stuff is."
Bella shook her head, still smiling. "I won't deny it."
When they reached her house, Austin hopped out of his car and opened the car door for her. The cruiser was parked in the driveway, and Bella noticed Austin eye it.
"Any chance your father is waiting with his gun?" he asked Bella, a dimple bringing out the humor.
"No," Bella shook her head. "But he might be looking through the window."
"Then I guess I'll say goodnight here." Austin started backing up at a jog. He pointed his fingers at her, then his thumbs at himself. "You've got my number; I've got yours. I'll see you on Monday."
"Goodnight," Bella called after him, and she let herself into the house.
Charlie was waiting for her. "How'd it go?"
"We agreed that the movie sucked."
"Anything with a 3 at the end of the title usually does."
"Got me there," Bella said as she headed up the stairs. "At least I finally got some."
"Got some what? Bella, got some what?"
"Popcorn!" Came the shout down the stairs before the bathroom door shut.
Charlie eyed the gun hanging with his coat on the rack, and then shook his head. Perhaps another beer before bed would be a good idea.
When Bella slipped into bed the waiting text message from Austin made her grin: What R we going 2 do next Fri?
(~*~)
Bella woke the next morning wanting to embrace the free time she had before her Saturday evening shift at the video store. She decided to spend the day homework-free, and instead of dragging out her books, she drove down to LaPush to hang out with Jake. Maybe she could persuade him to take her for a drive in his Rabbit, which he had completed a couple weeks earlier. Bella had only gotten a look at the car once.
It was in the garage, covered with a tarp, when Bella pulled up in the truck. Before Bella could make it all the way up on the entrance ramp to knock on the door, the door opened. Billy wheeled himself out.
"Now's not a good time, Bella."
"Oh." Bella stopped short. "Is everything okay?"
"Jake has mono. He's lying down right now."
"Is there anything I can do? I can come back with some soup."
"No, it's best you just stay away for now. Let him recover on his own."
Those words sounded more like they were coming from a bodyguard than a worried father, though Bella couldn't explain why it felt that way. "Is he really that bad?" she asked, sympathetically.
"He is. I'll let him know you came by."
"Okay," Bella tucked her hands into her coat pockets, her right hand curling around the keys it found there. "Will you ask Jake to call me when he feels better?"
"I'll pass the message along. Good-bye, Bella, and thank you for coming."
"Bye," Bella said hesitantly. She turned and walked down the ramp again, looking back once to see Billy shut the door.
(~*~)
After two days of not hearing anything, Bella called Jake. Billy answered and said that Jacob was still too sick to come to the phone, so it was best that she steered clear for now. He promised again to let Jake know she wanted to hear from him.
After another two days, Bella called again, but no one answered. She disconnected the call on her Blackberry, missing the satisfaction of being able to settle a phone roughly back into its cradle. Cell still in her hand, Bella began to pick at her lip with her thumb.
Charlie had talked to Billy recently, but Bella hadn't thought to ask him if he knew anything more about Jacob. She'd have to make a point of it when she got home that afternoon. How sick was Jake? Was something else going on? Things definitely felt amiss and Bella just knew that there was more to the situation than Jake having mono. If she didn't talk to him soon, she'd drive down and bang on the door until she got to see him.
Too lost in thought to be paying attention to the conversation around her, Bella heard Carlisle's voice break through.
"What?" Bella lifted her head, hand falling away from her face. "What about the Quileutes? They actually came to the hospital? Did you see Jake?"
Carlisle, Esme and Alice blinked at her. Bella was at the Cullen house for one of her Wednesday afternoon visits, and after settling down with everyone in the living room, she had just let the conversation flow around her.
"Bella, what are you talking about?" Carlisle asked.
"What did you just say? About an overflow of Quileutes in the hospital?"
"I was talking about a patient that nearly overdosed on Quaaludes."
"Quaaludes?"
"Yes, I was making a connection to a case I had in 1971."
"Oh. Sorry." Bella looked down, running her fingers aimlessly over her Blackberry.
Carlisle frowned at her. "Bella, is there something worrying you about your friend Jacob Black?"
"Why would you ask that? Do you know something?"
"Call it a hunch." Carlisle chuckled softly. "I don't know anything until you tell me."
"What is it that's worrying you, Bella?" Esme asked.
"I haven't been able to talk to Jake in days. Billy says that he has mono, but something feels wrong. Now when I call no one picks up at all."
"Have you tried going to see them?"
"That's how I originally found out. The only other time I've talked to Billy he told me to stay away, like he did then."
"How long has Jacob been sick?" Carlisle queried.
Bella raised and dropped her shoulders. "Friday night, I guess? I talked to him before my date, but when I drove over Saturday morning Billy wouldn't let me in."
"You were on a date Friday?" Carlisle asked, startled away from the topic.
Bella had switched from playing with her phone to worrying her ring. "Yeah, I saw a movie with a friend: Austin. Carlisle, how long does it take to recover from mono?"
Carlisle's gaze stayed for a moment on Bella's fingers. "It can vary from person to person. It's not unusual for it to take a couple of weeks."
Bella sat upright, looking earnestly at him. "Can it get serious? Should he be seen by the hospital?"
"It's not very likely, Bella. I'm sure Jacob will be fine; just give it a little time."
Bella slouched again. "I suppose you're right," she agreed. "I'd better get going."
After Bella left, Carlisle turned to Alice. "Do you see anything?"
Alice shook her head, allowing her face to show the shock she felt. "I tried, but I don't."
"Does this mean Jacob Black has…" Esme didn't finish.
"We don't know that." Again, Carlisle frowned. "Like Bella, we just have to give it some time. Hopefully she will hear from him soon. I'd hate to think that they're deliberately avoiding her."
"You mean because of us, not because of their secret, don't you, Carlisle?" Alice looked both sad and concerned.
"Let's just wait and see."
(~*~)
Bella called the Blacks again the next day. Both Carlisle and Charlie had told her to back off, but she just couldn't make herself at peace with the feeling that something was wrong. Again, she received no answer on the other line.
She was bothered enough that she asked Angela about it during their double date with Austin and Ben at the town pizza parlor on Friday.
"It sucks having mono," Angela said kindly. "He'll be fine, but it does take a little while to get over."
"It's been a week. I don't want to be insensitive, and I know mono makes you tired, but does it keep you from spending 40 seconds on the phone to tell someone you're alright?"
"Is this the guy who built his own car?" Austin asked.
"Yeah."
"You two must be pretty close then, huh?"
"Definitely. We spent practically the whole summer together last year."
Angela widened her eyes at Bella as though trying to send her a signal, but Bella had no idea what she was trying to say.
"He give you that, too?" With his chin, Austin pointed at the silver ring Bella was twisting round and round her finger.
"What, my ring? No, Carlisle gave this to me for Christmas."
Ben pulled the slice of pizza he'd just bitten into out of his mouth quickly. "Sorry," he said to the table. "Hot."
"You mean Dr. Cullen?" Austin asked, his voice a little high.
"Yeah," Bella answered dismissively and sipped her soda. She focused her attention back on Angela and missed Austin mouth her one-word-answer to his plate. "So you think I should just wait some more to hear from Jake?" she asked Angela.
Angela was looking at her with a bit of a wince and a patient smile. "I think you need to give him time to recover." Her eyes flicked across the table.
Bella turned back to her date, and Austin was smiling again. "Your friend must have weakened his immune system, being out in the cold working on that car. If I had a project like that, I probably would have done the same. What about you, Ben?"
Austin kept up the pleasant chatter right until he dropped Bella off at her house. He wished her a good night inside the car, and it wasn't until he'd already driven away that Bella noticed he didn't open the door for her this time.
(~*~)
Saturday morning Bella turned off her cell phone, having once again gotten no answer at the Blacks. So Bella considered her options.
The first was let it be. Jacob was sick and needed time to recover. At this point, though, it had been a week almost down to the hour.
So her second option was to drive down and bang on the door. The problem with this was that it was disrespectful to Billy and Jake, especially if everything was as presented.
Yet it just seemed so secretive. Billy hadn't let her even reach the door. Jake wasn't calling her back. Now no one was answering the phone at all. At least Charlie got through to Billy during the week.
On impulse, Bella picked up the house phone and dialed the number again.
"Hello," Jake answered.
"Jake?"
"Bella?" Jake sounded surprised.
"Yeah, how are you? I've been trying to reach you since last Saturday."
"I know. Sorry about that." Only Jake didn't sound sorry. He sounded evasive. Worse than that, he sounded fine.
"Are you feeling better?" Bella asked slowly.
"Not really. How have you been? Still hanging around with the Cullens?"
"Yes, and my other friends. I've been missing one in particular a lot lately. What gives, Jake? Why didn't you call me back?"
"I had other stuff to do." Jake's voice was quiet.
"Well, tell me about it. I can come over and we can catch up. I'll bring soup, even."
"I don't think that's a good idea, Bella. Listen, I'm sorry, but I've got to go. I'll call you again some other time, okay?"
"Will you tell me what's going on?"
"I'll call you." With a click, Jake was gone.
(~*~)
Three and a half weeks and a hand brace later, Bella realized she had to let it go. She'd given Jake another week to call her, and then she'd driven out to see him. She'd pulled up to see a bunch of strange shirtless guys standing in a group outside, and had been surprised to recognize one of the Mr. America wannabes as Jacob. He'd filled out, grown taller, cut his hair and looked nothing like the Jacob Black she knew. She'd slammed her truck door when she got out, demanding to know what was going on.
The other Quileutes had backed away to give her and Jake space. She'd angrily accused him of doing drugs and, noticing the weird tattoos, of being part of a gang. This had not been the best approach. It had only pissed Jake off and he'd lit into her about her nosiness, blindness and general lack of appreciating what was for her own good.
Bella's hands tightened on her steering wheel when she'd remembered the words that had come out of Jacob next.
He'd called the Cullens monsters, said that they were nothing more than leeches and she was a fool for trusting them, especially the hypocrite doctor.
Bella had pulled back her fist and punched his face, making hard contact with his cheekbone. Realizing her intention too late, Jacob had failed to block her in time.
The Quileute muscle boys had all rushed over when Bella fell to her knees, screaming in pain. Jacob was instantly contrite, and despite her resistance, had driven her in the truck to the ER himself. Using her Blackberry, he called Charlie and let him know where they were headed.
"I know you're friends with them," he'd said. "Are you sure you can trust them?"
"Right now, I trust them more than you," she'd answered, holding her hand and glaring at him. "What the hell happened, Jake?"
Jacob had said nothing more until he'd pulled up at the entrance doors to the emergency room of Forks Community Hospital. "Right now, I'm trusting your friend to take care of your hand. That's all I can give you for now, Bella. Try to take care of yourself."
Jacob had passed Bella's keys and Bella to the waiting Charlie and had padded away.
That was the last she had seen of him. Sighing, Bella pulled up into her driveway and parked the truck next to the cruiser. Looking down at her right hand, Bella flexed the fingers. She'd worn the brace Dr. Snow had given her for ten days while her hand healed. It was ironic that Jake had made a gesture of faith in Carlisle for Bella's sake, and he hadn't even been on duty. Though when Carlisle first saw her injury, he had made his own examination of her hand. Not able to drive, Bella had carpooled with Alice and Jasper to school after that, and didn't see or hear from Jake at all. She'd tried calling him only once, and Billy had told her that he was out.
Bella decided that it was time to let it go. Jacob had his own life to live, the other guys had seemed like decent people, and if he wanted her to know what was going on, he'd contact her. Bella grabbed her bookbag and went inside.
She was surprised not to hear the television on in the living room. She hung up her coat and scarf and looked around. The house was eerily silent. Bella went upstairs and dropped her bookbag into her room. The bathroom door was open, revealing no one inside. Was Charlie taking a nap?
Bella found her father in the kitchen, sitting at the table. He was staring at nothing. His face was contorted into a shape she'd never seen before, and it looked like he was in serious pain.
"Dad!" She rushed over to him, putting her hands shoulders. "What's wrong?"
Charlie moved only to lift his hand and cover hers on his shoulder. Slowly he looked up at her. "Harry's dead."
"What?"
"Heart attack. It was quick."
"Oh, Dad." Bella dropped her head, resting it on top of his. "I'm so sorry."
They stayed like that for several minutes. Neither of them saying anything, while Charlie breathed raggedly.
"I've got to go to Sue," Charlie said. He patted Bella's hand once and stood up as she backed off to give him room. In a moment he was out the door.
(~*~)
Bella had never seen Charlie so sad. Next to Billy, Harry Clearwater had been Charlie's best friend. She went with him to Harry's funeral two days later. Even there, Jake seemed to avoid her, sticking with his new group of friends, but Bella didn't care. She was there for Charlie.
As with true grief, Charlie's sadness didn't immediately abate. He was quieter than usual, more pensive, and while he might crack a smile, he didn't rise to Bella's jokes like he used to.
Bella stuck by his side as much as possible for the next several weeks. If she knew Charlie was going to be home, she was there as well. Two weeks went by without her even visiting the Cullens, though she saw Alice and Jasper in school. She had called Carlisle once, to talk to him about Charlie.
"Bella, you just need to be there, let him feel your presence. He won't wallow forever. Your father has had a lot of loss in his life, and even though forty-one is still young, he's just lost one of his closest childhood friends. Don't overcrowd him, just be around and be yourself. If you try too hard, it won't help him slip back into his normal pattern of life."
"I suppose that makes a lot of sense."
"I am glad you are able to be there for him. He will miss you when you head off to college."
Bella felt a large wave of sadness. God, she would miss Charlie. Carlisle was right, her father had lost a lot of the people closest to him. At least he'd gotten her back, if only for a little while. It struck Bella that she'd been living in Forks for a year now.
"Would you like me to ask Alice to visit with Jasper?" Carlisle offered.
"No, not Jasper, no offense. But Alice could be a good idea. He's always seemed to like her. I'll talk to her at school tomorrow though; you don't need to ask her."
"Alice probably already knows anyway," Carlisle said with a smile in his voice.
Bella smiled, too, but felt that little ache inside.
Charlie did actually seem happy to see Alice at the house when he came home from work the next afternoon.
"What are you girls up to?"
"Nothing much, Charlie." Alice smiled at him. "How's the day job treating you?"
"Same as ever." Charlie reached into the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. "Got all your college applications in?"
"Absolutely. I'm hoping to be able to travel to New England. It would be nice to see the other coast, be among the stuffy intellectuals of private schools."
"Are you aiming Ivy League, then?"
Bella was impressed with how easy it was for Alice to lie. The Cullen kids never actually went to college, in order to reduce the number of places where the family could be traced. Typically, Alice and Jasper would make themselves scarce, pretending to just be "visiting" during school breaks. Maggie, Carlisle and Esme stayed living in town until Carlisle was no longer believably the age he pretended to be. Then the family would move on.
Bella would be the only one actually visiting during school breaks. Would the Cullens move on before she finished college? What would happen with her? Would they stay in touch? Or would they have to pretend not to know her? She'd be too old to be a former classmate of Alice's and too young to be a classmate of the 26-again fresh-from-residency Carlisle. Would she have to wait five years before seeing them again? Maybe she could pose as a sister; she and Esme had faces that were similarly shaped.
Bella was startled out of her thoughts by Charlie's laughter. He was actually laughing.
"Alice, I believe that you accomplish just about anything you put your mind to." Charlie's gaze slid over to Bella and he gave her the tiniest wink. Bella grinned back at him. She had no idea what Alice had just said, but she was grateful.
"Keep betting on me, Charlie. Speaking of…" Alice reached into her satchel and pulled out a fat book that seemed to contain lots and lots of ribbons. Then she pulled out another one. And another one.
"What's this?" Charlie asked. He looked apprehensive.
Bella's expression was identical. Unfortunately, she had some idea of where Alice was going with this.
"We need to pick out Bella's colors, figure out which ones look best on her, in which fabric. From there, we can choose a prom dress."
"No, we don't," Bella said in a rush. "I already know my color. It's, uh… brown."
"Bella, don't be silly. We won't know until we hold it against your skin. Of course, this isn't the best lighting, but it will work for now."
Bella and Charlie locked horror-filled gazes. Then the expression in Charlie's eyes shifted, and Bella knew that he was going to throw her to the wolves.
"Right, the kitchen is all yours."
"Oh no, wait, Dad. Don't you think I need to be getting dinner started right now?" Bella's eyes were pleading.
"I think tonight's a night for ordering Chinese."
"Oh, I love Chinese food!" Alice exclaimed.
Bella shot her a death glare. "You'd. Better. Prove. It."
Alice didn't even bat an eye. "I think we'll start with winter colors. Right now I am thinking something icy would suit you."
Charlie took one more look at the massive selection of swatches on his kitchen table and beat a retreat.
(~*~)
A slight spark had come back into their lives. Though Charlie's grief and Bella's concern still weighed heavy, slowing things down, life still inevitably moved forward. Alice came over in the afternoons a bit more frequently, and occasionally Jasper stopped by, too. They had some study sessions together, and true to their claim, Bella actually saw them do homework. It was slightly unnerving how fast they could flip pages and read the text. That, of course, was only when Charlie wasn't around.
When Charlie was around, he attempted to chat.
"Jasper, you'll be taking Alice to the prom?"
"Yes, sir," Jasper answered.
"It's not until next month, though, right?"
"May 13th."
"Who will be taking you to the prom, Bells, that boy Austin?" Charlie asked. He had met Austin when he'd picked her up for their second date.
"Actually, I haven't talked to him about it."
"Things between you two okay?"
Bella shrugged. "Sure, I guess. We only went out a couple times, Dad."
Charlie looked at Bella with a sudden realization coming into his eyes. Attempting to be casual, he scratched the stubble on his jaw. "You've been home too much lately, Bells. Why don't you go out this weekend?"
Bella looked away and flipped a page in her textbook. "I don't mind being home."
Conscious of the others in the room, Charlie directed his next question to his guests. "Alice, Jasper, do you think it's healthy for a teenage girl, about to graduate high school, that's only ever been on two dates-" Bella's head jerked up "-to spend her weekends at home babysitting her father?"
"Well, let's see," Alice said. "Is the father sick or otherwise incapacitated?"
"No, he's quite capable of taking care of himself. Let's make him chief of police, and capable of taking care of the whole town."
"In that case, does she need to stay home and be babysat by him?" Jasper mulled.
"Hmm, there's a thought." Charlie nodded with exaggerated slowness. "She might have a drug problem."
"An addiction to the internet."
"A lover who sneaks in her window every night." That came from Alice.
"Enough!" Bella raised her voice while Charlie paled. "I'll make plans; I'll go out, okay? Sheesh."
(~*~)
Charlie hovered a little at her bedroom door that night, eyes continually glancing over at the window while he extolled on his fabricated reason for knocking on her door. Bella finally walked over to the window and flicked the lock on. Turning around, she crossed her arms. "Seriously, Dad."
"Goodnight, Bella," and Charlie left the room, a little sheepishly.
He seemed a little extra cheerful, even if it was somewhat forced, the next morning when Bella got up for school. In the kitchen, Bella poured herself a glass of juice and a bowl of cereal, and joined Charlie at the table where he sat drinking coffee and reading the sports section.
She thought about seeing Austin at lunch that day. She really hadn't talked to him much since Harry's death. He'd chatted with her about the brace on her wrist, but Bella had hidden the real reason behind it. She was a little too embarrassed to tell the school that she was paying the penalty for losing her temper and actually hitting someone. In any case, Bella hadn't dwelled enough on Austin to realize that a third date had never been planned. He'd been friendly enough, but probably given her space because of the wrist and then because of her dad. Did Austin know her father's friend had died? Angela had probably told him.
Only half-heartedly glancing at the loose newspaper on the table, Bella took a closer look when one of the article headings caught her eye: "Port Angeles Would-Be Rapist Wounded and Jailed". Sliding the paper closer, Bella pretended nonchalance and sipped from her glass of orange juice as she read. "Clifford Pendleton, 24, of Port Angeles, was arrested last Tuesday night after attacking a young woman on W 4th Street. During the altercation Pendleton suffered an injury, allowing the woman to escape and contact authorities. Brought to the ER by policemen, Pendleton was discovered to have fractured all eight bones in his right wrist. Pendleton is currently being held in the Clallam Bay Corrections Center, from which he'd been released December of last year after serving time for theft."
Bella reread the short article two times over. Then she set her glass down right on it, creating a wet ring. Not even looking back she finished her cereal, collected her dishes, and with a goodbye to Charlie, left for school.
(~*~)
"Bella, stop moving."
"I can do this myself."
"You'll look much more fabulous if I do it for you."
"I'm not going for fabulous. I'll settle with pretty."
"Settling is exactly what I'm asking you to do. Don't scratch!"
Bella lowered the hand she had been about to raise. "Why don't you just predict my fidgets and compensate?"
"I fight that way, I don't put on make-up that way."
Bella fought the urge to sigh, and obligingly made her body perfectly still.
"Thank you. Now look up."
Bella opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling while Alice applied liner to her lower lids. "I hope you're having fun."
"We are both going to be having fun tonight. Just relax."
"How am I supposed to relax when I'm holding myself completely still?"
Alice stepped back. "I'm done. Relax now."
This time Bella did sigh, and let her body slump out of the perfect posture she'd been modeling. "Does this mean I get to do the mascara myself?"
"I already did it, while you were looking up."
"Huh?" Bella spun around to look at herself in the full-length mirror Alice had set up in her bedroom. She sat in her desk chair, wearing one of Charlie's old button-down flannels, underneath which the satin blue skirt of her dress was visible. Her hair was piled on top of her head in curls and tendrils and her eyelashes were definitely thick and extended. "You know, it kind of creeps me out that you moved so fast I didn't even feel or see you touch me."
"It should. Look at me." When Bella turned, Alice attacked her cheeks with blush. "Don't talk for a moment," she cautioned before moving on to Bella's mouth.
Alice was already dressed and ready, wearing some multi-colored haute couture Armani gown. Bella honestly thought that Alice was throwing the Cullen policy of keeping low-key right out the window, and was very thankful that her own simpler tastes had been respected when Alice chose Bella's dress.
Alice had completely taken the reins of Bella's prom. There wasn't much Bella had to say about it, especially since Charlie was supporting Alice 100%. It was for her own good, her own celebration of youth, of being eighteen. How funny both Charlie and Alice had used the same argument.
At the very least, Bella was looking forward to spending the evening with Austin. He was good company, charming and kind, though nothing had ever developed between the two of them. Bella felt a little weird that she hadn't asked him to the prom herself. Alice had taken control there as well; she was going to set up the dresses, the flowers, the limo and the dates. All Bella had to do was be home at the designated time, and Alice was going to swoop in like a fairy godmother.
Bella was certain that Alice had set her up with Austin. First, because there really wasn't anyone else that Bella thought could even be a possibility. Most of her guy friends were taken. Second, Alice and Jasper spent a lot more time at the lunch table with Bella's other friends, and Alice seemed to chat Austin up quite a lot. She often created topics of conversation that both Austin and Bella could get in on.
Making assumptions, however, left Bella uncomfortable, so she had subtly probed Austin at school earlier this week, without giving away that Alice hadn't actually told her he was her date. Austin had smiled and been eager, and confirmed he would see her on Saturday. Bella was relieved that she hadn't been unconsciously making an ass out of herself by jumping to conclusions.
"Here, all done," Alice said in a slightly annoying singsong voice. "Let's get that flannel off of you."
There was a knock on the front door as Bella stood, helping Alice to unbutton. "The boys are here with the limo!" Alice beamed. "Quick, stand in front of the mirror."
Her gown was floor-length, blue satin with a halter neck. It drew in at the waist and fell in straight lines over her hips and down. Rhinestones decorated the corresponding (Please, God, let me stay on my feet tonight) heels.
Downstairs, the front door opened. Bella couldn't quite hear Jasper and Austin when they quietly greeted her father.
"Yeah, nice to see you again." Charlie's voice carried clearly up the stairs.
"You look beautiful," Alice reassured her, all confidence, her eyes twinkling. For a brief moment, Bella kind of wanted to deck her. Yet, she was in this thing for good, so it was time to be a good sport. Sighing, Bella turned away from the mirror and grabbed the tiny purse off her bed that matched the sapphire gown, ordering the nerves in her stomach to settle.
Alice practically vibrating with excitement right behind her, Bella made her way down the stairs. She knew that she didn't look that bad, and took a moment to be self-indulgent enough to picture the dimple in Austin's smile when he first looked at her.
Bella was halfway down the stairs when she realized that it wasn't Austin waiting at the bottom.
Standing at the foot of the stairs, looking gorgeous wearing a black tux and white bowtie, was Edward Masen.
A/N: How do you like the long chapter, kids? Alice's dress can be found with the links under her name on my profile. SMeyer went pretty high fashion for Alice in the book, so I had to do the same. The swan ring can be found among the Bella links.
I will be posting more to the Moonlit Deleted Scenes.
Three cheers for Nachos4Children! By doing research for her story "Clementines" she made a university update its policy on personal relationships. Love has been allowed to conquer in one more place in the world! How many of our fics have caused that to happen?
I am honored to be nominated for a handful of Hopeless Romantic Awards! I'm not-so-secretly hoping that "One Weekend" wins Best Virginity Loss. I'm also up for Best Writer, and "Moonlit" is nominated for Best Carlisle. Link will be on my profile if you're interested in voting! Lots of good writers have been nominated, so please share your love!
Speaking of such things, I'm eager to see what you think it is that Bella tasted on New Year's Eve. My beta knows! AlltheOtherNamesAreUsed has been a superb influence on this chapter, from how to eat crab to fitting the incomplete chapter in before she goes away on a long computer-free weekend. Thank you so much, and I hope you like the new scenes!
To all my readers, I'd be honored and validated if you left a review. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Next chapter... the prom, more Carlisle, and a big secret is about to be revealed.