Tripping The Prom Queen

Chapter 17: Young Blood

Author's note: Sorry this took longer than I wanted… Real life's been kind of crazy!

As always, a big THANX to the reviewers: EsmeAliceRose (#100!) and Twilightluver234


Chapter 17: Young Blood

"Edward…" Bella murmured contentedly, feeling his arms tighten around her.

"You're ok." he replied tenderly. "I'll never let anyone hurt you…"

"I know."

"Bella… I…"

"Edward!"

"Bella!" Alarmed, Alice sat up, in the bed next to Bella's. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah"

"You were dreaming. Again."

"I guess I was."

"You said his name quite a few times last night." Alice grinned. "Moaned it, actually. Must have been good!"

"He was about to tell me something…" Bella replied wistfully.

"Maybe he'll tell you in person." Alice said cheekily. "Your phone's been ringing all morning. Mine too. He's been really worried about you!"

"Because of James…" Bella shuddered, remembering.

"Well that and other things… What else do you remember?"

"Edward and I kissed…"

Best kiss ever!

"Must have been amazing!" Alice replied. "You're glowing."

"It was…" Bella added wistfully. "But it didn't last long…"

Not nearly long enough!

"You passed out right afterwards."

"I did?"

"But you snapped out of it pretty quickly. No one thought much of it. Edward actually thought it was due to his kissing expertise!"

"Probably" Bella blushed.

"Except for what happened later… You and I went back to hear the second set. While they were playing, you got really sick…"

"Did I…"

"No" Alice quickly reassured her. "No one saw anything. I took you to the bathroom. Then I brought you home. You slept the whole way. I could barely get you up to bed."

"Sorry I ruined your night."

"Oh, you didn't." Ali smiled dreamily. "Jasper came over later… Lucky you're such a sound sleeper!"

"Alice! Ew!" Bella laughed. "Where was Esme?"

"Fortunately, she was out late… She came home at about 4:00 AM… Edward came over with Jasper. He wanted to see you. Insisted on it, really. He came upstairs, but you were asleep. He just sat there, watching you. For hours! "

"He left when Jasper did."

"I can't believe it." Bella shook her head. "I don't know why I got sick. I wasn't even drinking!"

"Bella…" Alice hesitated.

"Yes?"

"I think… maybe someone put something in your drink?"

"What? Why?"

"Because the same thing happened to me once." Alice told her. "I passed out… got really sick and then slept it off. Luckily, someone was there for me. Nothing worse happened."

"But how could that happen last night?" Bella wondered. "Emmett got us our drinks. He would never…"

"No"

"It must have been something else."

"Maybe…" Alice replied, as her phone rang. "Edward again."

"Give me that!" Bella squealed, snatching the device from her friend's hands.

"I'll leave you two alone…"

"Alice… How's…"

"Not Alice"

"Bella…" he said, his sexy voice laden with relief. "How are you?"

"Fine" she quickly reassured him. "Must have been something I ate."

"Maybe…" Edward replied doubtfully. He had his own suspicions, but pushed them aside now for something more important.

"Can I see you?"

"Of course." Bella told him. "I'm still at Alice's house. Come over."

"Actually…" Edward said sheepishly. "Look out the window."

Bella stood up, walked across the room and parted the golden curtains.

Edward's car was parked right in front of the house. He leaned against the hood and waved when he saw her.

"I couldn't stay away…"

"I know…" Bella whispered, as her pulse raced.

"Can I come up?"

"Yes"

She heard the front door open and then slam shut. Quickly, Bella dragged a brush through her hair and slipped back into bed. Seconds later, Edward knocked on the bedroom door.

"Come in"

Edward walked towards her, closing the door behind him.

"Bella" he whispered, breathing deeply at the sight of her.

She looks so pale. So tired… But … She's ok.

"Can I sit down?

"Of course"

He perched carefully on the edge of the bed, facing her.

"I was so worried about you."

"I know… Alice said you came by. You stayed here?"

"Yes"

"Watching me sleep." Bella murmured. "Must have been very boring!"

"Just the opposite" Edward smiled. "You are quite interesting when you sleep. You talk."

"I do." Bella blushed, remembering her recent dreams.

Please… don't let Edward have heard that!

"What did I say?"

"You said my name."

"I did?" Bella replied, heat flooding her face and radiating throughout her entire body.

"Yes" Edward replied soothingly. "It's good… I dream about you, too."

"You do?"

"All the time"

"So … in these dreams… what happens?"

"Do you want me to tell you, or show you?" Edward whispered seductively, brushing his lips against hers.

"This" Bella whispered, throwing her blanket aside and pulling his body down against hers.

"So good" he murmured, as their embrace grew more passionate.

Just like my dreams.

Just like my dreams. Bella's thoughts mirrored his own, as she felt his skilled fingers caress her back. I don't want him to stop. Ever…

They lay together in Alice's yellow canopy bed. Edward's taut, muscular body pressing more and more insistently against Bella's barely clad one. His hand slipped under her shirt.

"No!"

Edward sat up. Nervously, Bella inched away, pulling the covers over her chest.

"We need to stop."

"We… do?"

"Yes" Edward replied more calmly. "It's too soon."

"It is." Bella reluctantly agreed.

"This is not how I want this to happen."

And I do want this to happen… So much! Just… not like this!

"We haven't even finished our first date yet."

"That's true. I believe I owe you one."

"You do, Miss Swan. And I plan to collect."

"When?"

"As soon as possible" Edward smiled. "Tonight, if you are up to it?"

"I think that could be arranged." Bella smiled back. "Where are we going?"

"I have someplace special in mind. Someplace outside. The weather will be nice tonight. Warm."

"That sounds perfect…"


While Bella and Edward planned their second first date, Alice was on the downstairs phone, making plans of her own. The number she dialed rang and rang. Finally, a sleepy voice answered.

"Have you got it yet?" she demanded.

"Hello. Good morning to you, too!" Jacob snapped sarcastically.

"Hello. Good morning. Did you find it?"

"I'm still working on it."

"What's taking so long!"

"You think this is easy!"

"Hurry!"

"Why? What's wrong?"

Quickly, Alice told him what happened the night before.

"Sick!"

"Someone's really messing with Bella… And we've got to find out! Before…"

"Before what?"

She took a deep breath.

"I just have a really bad feeling… This isn't going to end well."

"I get it." Jacob replied. "I should have something by tonight. Can you come over later?"

"Sure"

"Without Bella knowing?"

Alice sighed. Jacob had agreed to help her, but only if she kept it a secret from Bella.

"Oh, that won't be a problem."

"Why? "

"She's… busy tonight."

"Cullen" Jacob hissed.

"Yeah" Alice confirmed.

I feel so sorry for him… He obviously has feelings for Bella. But I know he'll find someone else. And she and Edward are meant to be.

If someone doesn't kill her first!

"I'll be over at 7:00."


Edward left Alice's house soon afterwards. Bella then joined her friend downstairs for breakfast. After some scrambled eggs, toast and coffee, she felt much better… and well enough to go to work, though Esme had insisted she didn't have to.

"I want to" Bella replied.

She quickly showered and dressed. By mid-morning, she arrived at the boutique, which was bustling.

"So busy today" Esme told them.

"We're all over this." Alice replied.

The threesome worked non-stop for several hours. There was a steady stream of girls from Fork's High coming in looking for Homecoming dresses. The dance was just one week away.

Business finally slowed somewhat by mid-afternoon. Alice and Bella retreated to the back room to eat the grilled chicken salads Esme had packed for their lunches.

"Crazy busy" Alice remarked, popping open a small container of vinaigrette dressing. She poured some onto her plate and passed the bottle to Bella.

"I'm glad." Bella replied. "For Esme and you. Almost every girl in town was here looking for dresses!"

"Yes… Which reminds me…" Alice grinned conspiratorially.

"Oh, no! I know that look!"

"I saved the best ones for you and me! I'm going to go get them right now!" Alice abandoned her food and jumped up.

"I put them right over here…"

"Ali! What's the rush! I don't even have a date yet!"

"You will. Don't you think Edward's going to ask you?"

"Yes" Bella replied, feeling confident about him… and their relationship… for the first time.

"He will. Tonight" Alice proclaimed. "And… you're going to win queen."

"I don't know about that…"

"You know I'm never wrong! Trust me! You need this dress!"

"Ok" Bella laughed, knowing resistance was futile. Alice would not be satisfied until she whipped out the gowns.

"Bring it on!"


It didn't take long for both girls to slip on their dresses. Bella marveled at how perfect Alice's choices were.

So beautful! I love it!

Edward will too…

After they finished trying them on, they quickly changed and finished their lunches. They could hear business picking up again outside. Soon they were back at work.

Bella was glad to be busy; it made her afternoon go faster. All she could think about was Edward and their upcoming date.

Two more hours…

Just the two of us…

We'll be alone… Finally!

Nothing, no one, can spoil this!

I wonder where we're going…

Finally, her work day ended. She hurried home, rushing up the stairs. She barely had an hour to shower and dress.

Edward arrived promptly at 6:00. After another brief, tense conversation with her father, they were on their way.

"So" Bella teased, once they were in his car. "Are you going to tell me where we're going?"

"No"

"I don't even get a hint?"

"Ok. A hint" Edward smiled. "It's a place I like to go when the weather's nice. To get away from everyone… I've never brought anyone there before…"

"Never?"

"No… There was never anyone I wanted to share this with…" he confessed. "It's too special."

"Where is it?'

"You'll see."

Edward's car wove easily through the back roads, into the forest. Finally, they reached the end of the line. Bella looked around, seeing only the ordinary dense foliage all around her.

"This is it?"

"No." Edward smiled. "It's through there."

"We're… hiking?"

"Only a little bit."

Bella frowned. She had worn sneakers, but still.

"I'm not a very good hiker."

"Don't worry." Edward promised. "I'll never let anything happen to you."

"You'll need to be very patient."

"I can do that."

For you

Edward kept his promise, easily guiding Bella though the forest, pushing aside dense ferns and bits of moss and helping her navigate any obstacles in their path. They walked in silence for several minutes.

"Not much further" he assured her.

"You read my mind." Bella marveled.

"I usually can't." Edward smiled, as they approached the clearing.

"That's it."

Bella stepped forwards.

"It's beautiful"

She stood in the midst of the loveliest meadow she had ever seen… or even imagined. Flowers of every imaginable hue bloomed extravagantly, their delicate perfumes blending perfectly, fragrantly seasoning the evening air. Bella could hear a stream bubbling not too far away.

Above them, the sky was just beginning to darken.

"Twilight" Edward commented thoughtfully.


While Edward lit small candles and set up the romantic sunset picnic he arranged for himself and Bella, Alice picked up a bag of hamburgers, fries and sodas from the local diner. Carefully carrying her package, she knocked on the door of Jacob's small home.

"Food!"

"Hello and good evening to you too!"

"Hi! Good evening!" Jacob grinned wolfishly. "Seriously, thanks for bringing this."

"Well, it was the least I could do." Alice smiled.

"The very least!" Jacob agreed, grabbing for the bag. Playfully, Alice swatted his hand away, scolding.

"Work first. Eat later!"

"Ok"

Jacob led her into the cramped, but sunny living room. A skinny boy a few years younger was sitting there, tapping away furiously at his laptop.

"This is Seth Clearwater… Big-time computer geek!"

"Jacob!" Alice protested, seeing Seth squirm.

"It's cool. He knows I'm kidding! Right?" Jacob asked, as Seth nodded cooperatively. "Actually, he's the best hacker in the state! No system he can't crack!"

"Well, not that I've tried." Seth explained modestly. "Which I don't do very often. But Jacob said Bella was in trouble."

"She is"

"I'm just waiting on this last scan…" Seth explained, as Alice peered impatiently at the screen. "Here it comes… Any minute now, we'll have the IP address of that website…"

"Great" Alice replied.

"Not great" Jacob frowned as the results appeared on the screen. "That's your school 's computer."

"Meaning anyone could have done it!" Alice groaned. "Which doesn't help at all!"

"I'm not done yet." Seth announced, entering some more commands into the computer.

"With a little more work… we'll know exactly who created it…

"Since this is going to take a while anyway…" Jacob began.

"I get it." Alice grinned, tearing the bag open. "Let's eat!"


While Alice, Jacob and Seth ate, Bella and Edward polished off their own dinner, which consisted of a mushroom pizza that he had carefully brought down from Seattle, and kept heated in a special bag.

"What we would have had last night." he explained, sliding slices onto paper plates.

Bella heard the regret in his voice.

"We don't have to think about that right now."

"No. We don't."

Twilight turned into dusk as they ate. When they finished, they carefully cleaned up, then lay down side by side on the blanket.

"The stars will be out soon" Edward whispered.

He took her hand in his. Together they watched and waited.


Back at Jacob's house, Alice's fingers tapped anxiously against the tabletop.

"This wait is killing me!"

Too nervous to eat much herself, she now sat watching Jacob and Seth devour an unbelievable quantity of food.

"It's about time now…" Seth finally announded

The threesome walked back over to the battered laptop on the other side of the living room.

"OMG!" Alice exploded.

"That…" Jacob cursed. "Always knew she was a bitch! But this…"

"Um, J?" Seth began nervously. "There's a lady present."

"Whatever!"

Alice stood there, silent and motionless. The little food she had managed to eat churned in her stomach.

On the screen, clear and indisputable, was the account information linked to Bella's website.

Name: RHale

Password:QBRosalie#1

It's right there… So why doesn't this feel right?

"Alice?" Seth said, closely watching her puzzled face.

She took a deep breath.

"Ok" Alice told them. "We know who it is. Now what?"


While Jacob, Seth and Alice schemed, Bella nestled peacefully at Edward's side.

"Do you like it?" he asked her.

"It's beautiful here. So peaceful. I wish this night could last forever."

"That's very tempting." Edward titled her chin upwards. "And that's not the only thing that is?"

"Mmm?"

"Shall I explain exactly how you are tempting me?" Edward breathed, before bringing his mouth to hers.

Bella's lips moved hungrily against his. She slid her hands into his silken hair, as their embrace intensified.

Edward's passion mirrored Bella's. However, this time he was more prepared for it. He knew this time, he would, could retain his control.

Because… someday… I won't have to.

I can be patient…

For her.

And when it does happen…

It will be perfect.

They spent hours in the silvery moonlight. Reluctantly, Edward finally said.

"We need to go."

"Already" Bella sighed. "It seems like we just got here."

"We'll come back." Edward promised. "We need to go, or you'll never get home on time. The last thing I want is your father arresting me for kidnapping!

"He would, too!" Bella teased.

"I know." Edward chuckled. "And if he does…"

"Yes?"

"How can I ask…"

Both their phones beeped.

"Ignore them!"

"No… If it's both of them, it might be important." Edward replied, reaching for his.

"No!"

"Edward!" Bella cried out. "What's wrong?"

He sat there, frozen. She snatched his phone from his icy hand.

"No" she replied far more calmly, looking at the picture on the screen.

Edward kissing Rosalie. Last night at the club.

Yeah, right!

It's fake… Like all the ones on the website!

"Edward…" Bella said softly. "You don't have to worry. I understand."

"You do?"

"Of course… It's totally fake. Photoshopped. Just like the ones of me… There's no way it could be real."

"Bella…"

"No… "

"It's real…"