Tripping The Prom Queen

Chapter 20: All Falls Down, Part One

I know... I'm sorry, this has taken forever... Real life's been kind of overwhelming. But I want to thank all of you who continue to express interest in this story... it will get there, I promise!


Chapter 20, All Falls Down, Part One

For the next four days, life at Forks High would be very different. The once vivacious, outspoken and caustic Rosalie Hale tiptoed around school, speaking to no one. No one even tried to talk to her. No one even dared to look at her.

She had become all but invisible.

Inexplicably, Rosalie found herself strangely untroubled by this drastic change. It was as if a weight had been taken from her slender shoulders, relief from a burden she did not even know she carried. It was nice to not have to talk when she wanted to be silent. Pleasant to be allowed to do whatever she wanted to in peace, without hordes of other people placing demands on her.

Besides, she had other things to do now than play Queen Bee. More important things. She would prove her innocence.

Detached as she was, Rosalie could still not help but notice the other change permeating the school's social landscape.

Bella's… the most popular girl at school. It's like the fucking Twilight Zone!


However, it was undoubtedly true. Bella was now the center of attention. Girls surrounded her, like planets orbiting the sun. They flocked to her, seeking advice, or just to chat.

Naturally, the most popular topic of conversation was the upcoming dance.

"You've got my vote, Bella!"

"You're going with Edward? You're sooo lucky!"

"What should I wear?" Jessica accosted her one day. Lauren stood by, ready to ask the same question.

Later at lunch, after hearing this, Alice chuckled.

"They are actually asking you for fashion advice! They should be asking me!"

"And someday they will." Bella replied, not doubting Alice's destiny for a second. "When you are a famous designer."

"Yes"

"Seriously, I don't believe this…"

"Neither do I." Edward swooped down, dropping a kiss on his girlfriend's cheek, then picking up his red apple and crunching in to it. After a few minutes he whispered.

"I don't think I'm going to like having to compete for your attention."

Bella shook her head.

"Seriously, I really don't need all this."

"Better get used to it." Alice told her sagely. "It's not going away any time soon. You have this contest in the bag. Remember… I know about these things!"

Suddenly, her rosy cheeks turned ashen.

"Alice!" Bella cried out, alarmed.

"I'm fine…" Alice replied. "Bad Sushi."

"Do you need some air?" Jasper asked knowingly.

"Yes"

"We'll be right back." Jasper told Bella and Edward reassuringly, leading his girlfriend away.


Outside, Alice took a few quick breaths of the frosty air. She looked up at Jasper, but remained uncharacteristically silent.

"Out with it, baby." her sinewy, sensitive boyfriend encouraged.

"I… can't"

"You can. Remember, I have ways of making you talk."

"Not fair" Alice murmured, staring into his eyes, as the words slipped from her mouth.

"I saw something…"

"Another vision?"

"Yes… Bella… In her Homecoming dress, with the crown on her head. She was… falling."

"Falling?"

"Yes. Down a long flight of stairs."

"How?" Jasper wondered. But he didn't challenge Alice's disturbing vision. He knew better. He understood completely, possessing certain gifts of his own.

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know." Alice replied. "I can't tell Bella… She'll just laugh and say she falls all the time."

"Which she does." Jasper replied. "But this isn't like that."

"No. Someone wants to hurt her."

"Can you see who?"

"No!" Alice replied, frustrated. "Whoever it is isn't there. Wants it to look like an accident... But I'll keep trying. I won't let anything happen to her."

"We won't let it." Jasper promised.

"Yes"


Alice and Jasper weren't the only ones discussing Bella at that moment. The cheerleaders had been excused from their afternoon classes in order to prepare for the Homecoming game that night. However, practice was not going well. Girls were missing steps and Jessica had even fallen from her perch in the middle of the pyramid, making all the girls tumble down.

Victoria had yet to vault to the top, so she was the only one uninvolved in the accident. But she felt no compassion for the others. In fact, she was furious.

"You stupid idiots! What the fuck is wrong with all of you!"

The girls rubbed their sore body parts and just stared back at their captain. Their silence only further inflamed Victoria.

"Jessica, what the fuck!"

"I'm sorry" the petite brunette answered tearfully. "I… made a mistake."

"No. I did. Keeping you on this squad!"

"Leave her alone!" Lauren defended her bestie. "Anyone can make a mistake."

"One mistake!" Victoria hissed. "You all suck! None of you can get anything right! And the game is tonight! I won't let you all make me look bad!"

"I think it's the other way around!" Lauren replied brazenly, flipping her blond hair over her shoulder.

"What did you say!"

"Nothing"

Victoria's eyes blazed at Lauren, demanding she answer the question. Finally, Lauren did.

"These things never happened when Rosalie was captain. She would know how to fix this crappy routine!"

"There's nothing wrong with this routine. " Victoria spat out. "It's all of you. And we are not going to grovel to Rosalie, asking for help!'

"Then… maybe…" Jessica began nervously.

"Yes?"

"We could ask Bella."

"Bella!" Victoria screamed. "She's a total spazz! She can barely walk without tripping! She knows nothing about cheerleading!"

"She knows about music." Lauren countered. "Because I think this music is wrong for this routine. That's why Jess lost her balance. The tempo was off!"

"Bella could totally help with that!" Jessica agreed. "She does know music… That song she wrote with Edward is amazing!"

"And the one he wrote for her!"

"Even better!"

"So the hottest couple in school!"

"So going to win Homecoming Queen!"

"No!" Victoria exploded, crimson with rage, oblivious to the odd looks she now received from the other girls on the squad.

"We are not asking anyone for anything! We are not making any changes to this routine! And you will all keep working until you nail it! And you will! Now!"

"Back in formation!" Victoria demanded.

The music restarted. The captain barked orders and the other cheerleaders obeyed, silently.

Too frightened to do otherwise...


Later that afternoon, Rosalie sat in the small alcove, at the very back of her oversized bedroom. Surrounded by neatly stacked papers, she determinedly entered commands into her sleek sliver Apple Mac.

For the past several days, she had been doing this almost constantly. Before school. Between classes. At lunch. After school and late into the night. She was that determined to prove her innocence.

Her stellar technological skills quickly unearthed one crucial piece of the puzzle.

Victoria…

Needing more… and convinced it existed, Rosalie then launched a search to find out everything she could about her nemesis. Her early efforts proved futile; she found nothing incriminating. However, she would not surrender.

There's more… There has to be!

Finally!

Now, the short, damning newspaper article filled the screen. Rosalie read it carefully… once, twice, three times.

No… No… No!

Frantically, she grabbed for the phone, quickly dialing the only person she still spoke to.

Please pick up… please, please.

"Rosie"

"Em..."

"You found something?"

"Yes… But I can't…"

"That bad?"

"Yes…"

"I'll be right there."