The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25[dot]com

Prompt: Prom

Pen Name: Mcgt
Pairing/Main Character(s): Bella
Rating: M

This will be a multi-chaptered story.

Photo prompts can be viewed here: thetwilight25[dot]com/round-six/prompts

A/N

Thanks toLittleRedScientist for helping beta this for me and Jenequilter for her prereader skills.

Chapter 6 – Time of my Life - Prom

After my last visit when I watched the beginning of my friendship with Alice, I was still pouting.

Hardcore.

I was pissed at God for taking me away before I'd had a chance to say my goodbyes. How could he be so cruel to yank me away from my miserable life, just because I longed for it?

As much as I blamed the guy, I still wasn't sure what had happened. For all I knew perhaps I'd swallowed a bunch of pills and did all this craziness to myself. And as a punishment I was forced to see the error of my ways?

But then again, I didn't know I had.

It might have been divine intervention and not suicide. But until I could put all the pieces together I was going to continue my pity party for one.

Pacing back and forth through the tiny cottage, my mind was lost in thought about the things and people I gave up when Aro waltzed into my life and had stolen my pocketbook in the process.

I'd lost not only my money but now that I was gone, I'd given up so much more.

"So, are you ready?"

Alistair. Great.

"Now what?" I huffed, annoyed at his intrusion. "Can't I just be by myself for like ten minutes? Do you have to keep barging in here with your visitors and non-answers to my questions?" I faced him, toe to toe and demanded he answer me.

"Your coloring seems to be coming back. Glad that last one made you feel a bit brighter. Hopefully this visit will be even better."

Turning on his heel, he left me alone once again.

Chucking a small ornate vase at his head, it crashed against the door that has swung shut behind him.

"Fuck!" I shouted to no one. "Just tell me what is going on!" I screamed, letting all of my frustration out in one fell swoop.

When I opened my eyes after my scream fest I was no longer in my cozy cottage but surrounded by streamers and balloons, people in tuxes, and poofy dresses.

Super. Prom.

I stood against the back wall watching everyone from my past dance around to a Vanessa Carlton song. It didn't take me too long to see Emmett's hulking frame standing over by the drink table in what appeared to be a heated conversation with one of the guys on his team.

Surveying the room I saw my gussied up self and Alice sitting at a table talking animatedly, and I assumed waiting for Emmett to bring us back drinks.

I floated over towards the punch bowl trying to get a feel on what was going on over there that could make my normally jovial friend so unhappy.

"You don't know what you're talking about," Emmett seethed through clenched teeth, his hands fisted tightly by his sides doing everything in his power to reign in what I knew could be a hell of a temper.

"Come on Emmett. Admit it. You're a fucking fag and everyone here knows it," Toby, the team's starting shortstop taunted.

"Like I said. If you don't shut your mouth, I'll do it for you."

Looking over my shoulder, I could see my prom dress clad-self making my way over, recognizing a scene when it presented itself.

"Em, where's my drink?" I asked in the most over the top, sugary sweet voice I'd ever used in my life.

I stared, remembering how I could tell someone was picking on Emmett's sexual choice just by his posture and the scowl on his face. I recalled telling Alice to sit tight and that I'd be right back. We hadn't told her about Emmett's homosexuality until later that summer when we knew our friendship was solid and impenetrable.

Smiling, I watched as my younger self ran her hand up Emmett's arm, clutching his shoulder before kissing him deeply. He'd followed along with my ruse, pulling me close into him and returning it wholeheartedly.

Hearing Toby cough from beside us, we separated minutely, looking over innocently at the ignorant asshole.

"Sorry man. I'll see you 'round." He still appeared skeptical but at least Emmett might be able to make it through till graduation and the State Championships before he had to be thrown out of the closet by some stupid homophobe.

"You know you didn't have to do that, right? I can take care of myself." Grabbing the three drinks we turned back towards the table where Alice still sat, tapping her foot to the beat of the song.

"Emmett, you're my best friend. I know you can but sometimes can't I help a brother out?" I teased, bumping hips with him before suggesting perhaps he take Alice out for a spin on the dance floor.

Standing back I observed myself sit down and take a sip of my drink, completely unaware that I was about to get sideswiped by half of the baseball team.

Sitting down at the empty chairs was Toby, Josh and Aaron, the three most obnoxious guys on the team. Rolling my eyes, I waited for them to get on with whatever it was that they were going to say.

"Bella, you know you can tell us right? We're totally cool with E being gay. I mean, come on. The guy has a Louis Vuitton gym bag. He's totally a fag," Toby stated, while the bobsey twins behind him just nodded their heads in unison.

"Wow, you guys really are cool. Unfortunately for you, I'm taken by not only my best friend but my boyfriend as well. If you guys had any sense of taste, you'd buy yourselves a clue and leave us alone. Don't you have a championship to worry about instead of every person's sexual identity in the school? Honestly…" The sarcasm dripped from my voice as I left the three douche-wads at the table going in search for Emmett for another blatant public display of affection.

The prom ended with Emmett being awarded prom king while Lauren Alexander was crowned queen. I smiled proudly as my friend graciously took the crown and spun Lauren deftly around the dance floor.

It also didn't pass my notice how Josh watched Emmett's every move with more interest than someone who was looking for a fight.

Turns out that summer Emmett and Josh began dating once they both came out of the closet when the school year ended. They didn't last into college but seeing my best friend so happy had made me smile. Even when he ditched our plans to spend time with his paramour, I couldn't be angry with him. He'd had my back when I needed it and I was now being supportive of his new found life, free and out in the open.

Zooming back into my darkened cottage, I felt the tears spill down my cheeks as I recalled the last time I'd seen my flamboyant friend. Depending on how long I'd been dead for, it had to have been almost a month. A month since I talked to him. A month since I'd seen my amazing god daughter who he adopted with his now husband Alec.

Why had I been so short sighted in life? Why didn't I spend more time with them when I could? My mind filled with a thousand whys I didn't have the answer to.

"I give up! Enough. I've seen the fucking light. Let me out!" I shouted to the empty space and was met only with the all too familiar whooshing sound of the ocean. Flopping down on the bed, I curled up into a ball, allowing all my pent up emotions out in the sobs that escaped from deep within my chest.

Moments later I heard, "You seem tired. Why don't you rest for a while? "

I was too tired and frustrated to even bother opening my eyes to acknowledge him. He must have gotten the hint because he didn't say anything else and slipped out of the room quietly.

A/N

Thanks again to everyone reading this. You just warm my cold dead heart with your kind words, reviews and support. I'm headed out of town, so next update will be Tuesday and Thursday of next week (4/24 & 4/26).

Enjoy your weekend!

Mcgt