CHAPTER ELEVEN
"Have you seen Edward?" Bella asked as she leaned close to her best friend. Alice looked around at the table, noticing that he wasn't there.
"No. I'm sure he's around," Alice said and patted her bare arm. Bella bit her lip. Edward had left fifteen minutes ago. He should have been back. She was about to get up and look for him when suddenly her vision was gone as a warm pair of hands cupped her eyes. She smiled brightly. She grasped his hands and pulled them down. He smiled down at her, looking as handsome as ever.
"Where were you?" she asked as he took his seat on the other side of her. He shrugged noncommittally.
"Around," he said his bright green eyes shifting away from hers. She narrowed her eyes as she took in his expression. He was hiding something from her.
"What's going—" she began, but was cut off as the room silenced and the band stopped. The principal made his way toward the stage, his shoes clicking the entire way.
He began to discuss the importance of high school and the memories they would carry for the rest of their lives. He went on with his speech for a good three minutes and then announced it was time to name the king and queen. Bella rolled her eyes as Victoria and Tanya giggled in glee. They had been casting nasty looks at their table the entire night. Tanya still upset that she had to settle with Garret as her date instead of Edward.
She knew Tanya would win prom queen. She had made a huge fiasco about it for the past two weeks. What she didn't know was why Tanya was suddenly looking at Edward like a trophy once more. She had avoided Edward since he had denied her invitation to the prom.
She was suddenly drawn out of her reminiscing when she heard a familiar name called as the nominees for king. She looked at Edward.
"I didn't know you were nominated," she whispered.
"Well I didn't make a big deal out of it. It's not something a guy actually dreams of winning, except maybe James," Edward cracked a joke at one of the most airheaded jocks at their school. He was clearly standing on edge of his seat, hoping to be called for the winner.
"And now, to announce your prom king," Mr. Green stopped for affect. The drum rolled softly and he opened a white envelope.
"Edward Cullen," He called and the room burst into applause. She smiled and clapped softly. She glanced at Tanya who was holding Victoria's hand. She suddenly understood. Tanya may not have been able to go with Edward to prom, but she would be able to be his queen for this night. The thought twisted Bella's stomach.
She laughed slightly at James' slacked jaw and how Victoria tried to comfort him. She wanted to show Edward and have them crack jokes together, but he was on stage now. Their English teacher handing him a sash and placing his atop of his head. She hugged him and whispered congratulatory words in his ear.
Mr. Green took the mic once more. He read the list of nominees for the queen. Bella rolled her eyes as Tanya was called, followed by Victoria, another girl Bella did not recognize and then Bella herself. Her eyes widened and found Edward. He was staring at her with a smug smile. He sent her a wink and she shook her head. What had he done?
She could already hear Tanya and Victoria gossiping in outrage and they were two tables away.
The drum roll started and the principal ripped open the white envelope. He smiled softly as he read the name.
"Isabella Swan!"
Suddenly the darkness was broken as a bright stream of light was placed on her. Her eyes widened in surprised. She couldn't swallow. She hadn't ever dreamed of this. Of something so amazingly tacky and silly, and yet beautiful because he had done it for her.
His eyes met her for the briefest of moments and she laughed. Then the applause came. She looked around at her classmates expecting to see shock, but she didn't. At least not from most of them. They smiled for her, they cheered for her. She caught the face of Victoria who looked as though someone had slapped her and it made Bella even giddier.
"Go," her friends whispered from around her and Bella realized she hadn't moved to get up. She stood from the table and began to walk toward him. Her feet couldn't take her fast enough.
He offered her his hand as she climbed the steps of the stage. She took it and held it proudly.
"Our King and Queen," the principal announced and she watched the faces of her classmates light up. The applause roared in her ears and she felt the sting of tears. She couldn't believe him. She laughed softly as he placed her crown on her head. The fake jewels glittering in the spot light that surrounded them.
"Sure beats the twigs and flowers we put in our hair," he joked, adjusting the crown. She couldn't speak. She only smiled.
The room darkened again as Mr. Green called for the honorary dance. Edward took her hand and led her to cleared dance floor.
"Why'd you do this?" she asked, placing her head on his chest and letting him guide her.
"Because I promised you I would make you my queen, remember?" he said and she laughed.
"I didn't mean prom queen," she teased, but truly she was touched he would go through so much trouble.
"Hey, I don't see myself becoming the king of England anytime soon, so this will have to do," he joked and she felt her eyes fill with tears.
"This is really amazing," she whispered as he kissed her head.
She had never really wanted to be prom queen. She believed it belonged to the snobby girls who didn't really deserve it. But now that she was, and everyone stood around staring at them and clapping she felt almost magical.
Though it wasn't real and would only last a night, she did feel like a queen.
"I still don't know how you got people to vote for me," she whispered. She was quiet and reclusive and Edward and Alice were truly her only friends.
"Don't feel bad. I didn't goad everyone. You're just a likeable person. You're sweet and charming. You help people when they need it. You may think you're invisible Isabella Swan, but people take notice," he said and she blushed at his kind words.
"Let's go outside," he said as the dance floor began to fill with other couples. She nodded and he led her toward the exit and they walked out toward the hotel garden.
The air was brisk and warm for a spring night.
He led her down one of the paths. The gardens held fountains that spurted different colored water and the flowers and trees were decorated with white sparkling lights.
"I still can't believe you did this," she said grasping his hand tightly as they walked, the aroma of roses floating around them.
"Well you only get one prom. I wanted to make it special," he said and she laughed.
"That's really sweet of you," she said again, looking up into his handsome face.
She didn't realize the nervous smile he shot her or the way his eyes avoided hers. She didn't notice his beating heart working twice as hard. She didn't notice he was trying to tell her something important.
"Bella," he started and she hummed in answer feeling tired. Why was she so tired? She spotted a bench not too far from them.
"Can we sit, I want to sit," she sighed. He nodded and brought them to the nicely decorated bench. He sat and turned his body to face her. Grasping her hands.
"You know I did do this for a reason," he admitted and she smiled. She blinked, suddenly wondering why his face was beginning to blur.
"Of course," she sighed dreamily, her heart pounding at the sudden weakness that was taking over her body. She pushed it back. She refused to feel the exhaustion. She didn't want to. This was her night and her best friend had something to say, but his voice sounded so far away.
"I kind of wanted to tell you something," he said and stopped. He took a deep breath to gather courage.
"Mmm," was her response. That wasn't what she wanted to say, but what she had the energy to say. Her vision was not only blurring but blackening. She swayed in the seat.
"Bella, I—" but his words were caught off when Bella's body suddenly fell forward. He caught her and felt her body go limp.
"Bella! Bella!" he yelled, trying to shake her awake. She wasn't responding. He desperately called for help, hoping someone heard.
Something was terribly wrong.
