Finally the ball. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Its a little romantic and I knew a few of you guys do not want her with Jacob, and I am glad to see that you guys like this story, but I am not going to give anything away and you guys will have to see who she ends up with. Again the characters do not belong to me, but they do belong to the character. What does belong me is the characters I came up with, along with the storyline. I should have another chapter up tomorrow. I really do hope you guys enjoy this story. This chapter is a little shorter than my normal chapters, I do hope everything makes sense.
The ball was about to begin and Bella was shaking. She was beyond nervous that she would forget the moves to the dance. Her hands were sweating and she kept rubbing them on her dress. Alice had already warned her not to ruin her dress or make-up. Bella was beautifully dressed in a bronze colored strapless mermaid gown. The dress had a curved neckline and a hand-beaded bodice with a dropped waistline, and a gathered full skirt. The dress was beautifully done and made Bella look like the princess she was by birthright. She was even wearing the Dwyer's family tiara that had been given to William and Guinevere's daughter Maxine. The stunning tiara was made of rose gold with emeralds, pearls and diamonds; it was designed to look like a wreath. Bella had her hair fashionably done, Alice had braided part of it and then pulled up the rest of the hair with the braid, into a messy bun, there was only two strands of hair that had fallen out of the bun and Alice had curled them. Bella's hair was done to look like a romantic style, messy but an up do. Bella could see Alice putting the final touches on Rose's hair. Rosalie was dressed in light periwinkle colored dress. The dress with a chiffon A-line dress with beading illusions on the short sleeves, the dress also had a deep V-neck and beading on the bodice, with a pleated empire waist and gathered skirt and sweep train. The dress was very much Rose and even how her hair was done. The hairstyle Alice had done was a messy same side Dutch braid. The three girls were gorgeously dressed. Alice was wearing a dark gold colored dress. The dress was an A-line dress with beading on the ruched shoulder straps and sweetheart neckline. It also had a ruched empire waist that was encrusted with beading and an open back, along with a full skirt and slit front, making it a high-low overskirt with a sweep train. Alice did not spike her hair for tonight. You could see a pair of 2 inch, gold colored heels peeking out from under the dress.
"Bella quit rubbing your hands on your dress." Alice scolded Bella, who glared at her. "Your going to ruin it."
"Sorry Allie…I am so nervous…I don't know if I remember the steps." Bella said while turning to face the girls, while biting her lip.
"You will be fine my dear…I promise." Alice said smiling.
"Yes Bella…just watch us." Rose said while turning around to face both of the girls. "Its not that hard…its almost like the Virginia reel."
"Is someone nervous?" Jennifer asked while coming into Bella's room. Jennifer was also dressed magnificently, in her aqua blue colored dress. The dress was multi-piece tulle over taffeta, trumpet gown that was strapless and had a sweetheart neckline. Along with beading on the lace bodice and pleating crisscross taffeta on the dropped waistline. Jennifer had her blonde hair all done up in a French twist.
"Yeah…are little Bella." Alice giggled.
"It will be fine…but your mother sent me to find you guys…she wants all of us by the doors that leads into the top part of the ballroom." Jen said while moving to leave the room. The three girls followed and made their way to the doors that led the top of the ballroom. All of Bella's family, along with the Denali's was there. Bella could see her grandmothers talking to each other. Her grandma Mary was a short older woman, that's were Alice got her short height from. Mary her pearl white hair done nicely. She was wearing a soft gold colored dress that had a bateau neckline. The dress had a chiffon and lace mock-wrap, along with lace three-quarter length sleeves and the bodice had a keyhole back and the empire waist was chiffon, along with the side draped skirt and a cascading ruffle sweep train. Bella's grandma Sydney on the other hand was wearing a bronze colored dress. The dress was a slim A-line with short sleeves and the bodice features a scoop neckline and the sleeves had beading overlay. Beading on the back of the bodice also, with a ruched midriff with asymmetrical dropped waistline. Both of the woman looked every bit like the founding family members they were. Alice and Rose were greeted by their husbands who were like the rest of the men in the room, wearing black Armani suits with white shirts and black bow-ties. Both Jasper and Emmett looked very handsome. Bella noticed Edward standing beside Tanya, who was dressed in a mauve colored dress. The dress was a strapless illusion and velvet chiffon slim A-line dress with all-over beading. The dress also had a softly curved neckline and ruched empire waistband and a velvet chiffon back shawl. It was totally a Tanya dress. Tanya had her hair down and curled.
"So are you ready?" Jacob asked while coming up behind Bella.
"I don't know." Bella said while biting her lip and turning around to face Jacob.
"So what your telling me is…that my feet are going to be swollen by the end of the night." Jacob laughed.
"Maybe." Bella laughed and smiled. She caught Edward glaring at them, out of all the men in the room; he was the one who stood out the most to her. His black suit fit him nicely and his bronze hair was messier that ever, looking like he had been running his hands through it.
"Well you have me…we will be fine." Jacob said while grabbing her hands and kissing them. She lightly pulled her hands back and smiled at him.
"Okay everyone…now this is the beginning…everyone is down there and waiting for us to begin…now I need the dance partners for the Virginia reel." Renée said while motioning the couples towards the doors. Bella watched Kate and her boyfriend Garrett go through the doors first. Bella could hear the announcer speaking.
"Ladies and gentlemen…the first set of the dances for night…is the Virginia reel…please welcome Katherine Celeste Denali…escorted by her boyfriend Garrett Trainer." Bella watched has the next couple walked through the door, she noticed how the young man held the girl close to him and how the young girl looked beautiful in her green colored dress that had a sweetheart iridescent chiffon gown that also had a pleated bust-line and a matching flower in the center. the young couple had only be sixteen, but they looked so caught up in each other to noticed anything else. "Matthew Harrison Denali 4th…escorting his beautiful girlfriend Clare Montgomery." Bella watched the next couple walk through the doors and could hear the announcer saying, "Ralph Christopher Barnes Jr." The announcer said. "Escorting his lovely girlfriend Sarah Jacob." Bella knew how her family only told the full names of their own family members and would only tell the full names of the people were married into the family, not girlfriends/boyfriends. Bella watched as the rest of the couples went through the doors, until it was only Tanya and Edward standing outside the door. Bella could not stop staring at Edward. Edward could feel Bella staring at him, it just made him feel prideful that she was only paying attention to him. Bella watched has Edward and Tanya disappeared through the door. "Tanya Sofia Brandon…escorted by Edward Masen." The announcer said. Bella could hear the music begin after a few minutes. She knew they would be doing the dance until the music stopped and she was kind of happy that she would not be doing the Virginia reel. She looked around at the other couples getting ready to make their entrance into the ballroom. She noticed Charity standing beside her great Barbara. Charity was wearing a stunning black and white two-piece lace A-line dress. The dress had spaghetti straps and sweetheart neckline and natural waist with a ruched empire bust line and dipped back. The dress was very beautiful. Her great aunt Barbara was wearing a navy blue colored A-line dress with beading on the illusion elbow-length sleeves and beading on the illusion over the sweetheart ruched bodice, the dress also had a sweep train and a illusion back. Bella could not get over all everyone was so dressed up, like they were going to a ball for the Queen of England and not just for the founders ball. She never got how why her family tried to act like they filthy rich.
It was finally the time for the Wescott dance and Bella was more nervous than ever. She watched has Alice and Jasper stood in front of the doors before they opened and the announcers saying, "Mary Alice Whitlock née Brandon…escorted by her husband Jasper Dylan Whitlock." Emmett and Rose was next to go through the doors. "Emmett Henry Cullen…escorting is lovely wife Rosalie Lillian Cullen née Hale." Bella also knew her family liked show that members of the family that had married in, were not true members of founding families. The next ones to go through were Amelia and Carlos. Bella could see that Amelia was wearing a stunning red dress that had sleeves that were illusion mock-wrap and V-neck in the front and back of the dress, along with the empire waist that had beaded lace across the middle. "Amelia Rayen Cortez de Reyes…escorted by her husband Carlos Tapia Reyes." Bella sucked in a breath of air and slowly let it out.
"It will be fine Bells…everything will go fine." Jacob said while wrapping one of his arms around Bella's shoulder. "Did I tell you that you look beautiful?"
"No...but thank you." Bella said while smiling at him. She could hear the announcer calling off Chris and Jennifer's names, meaning that they were one step closer to having go through the doors.
"Christian Samuel Cortez…escorting his beautiful wife Jennifer Rochelle Cortez née Newman." The announcer said. Jacob took a hold of Bella's hand a quietly squeezing it, while leading her through the doors that lead into the top part of the ballroom. Bella sucked in a breathe of air and tried to breath. Bella looked around the room, noticing that the only lights in the room were candles and the lights from the candles were flickering off of the walls. Everything was done to look like it was back during the first founders ball. Bella noticed that it looked like the whole town was standing in her ballroom and it made her more nervous.
"Breath Bella." Jacob whispered. Bella took his arm and breathed in slowly and then out.
"Don't let me fall." Bella whispered back.
"I won't." Jacob quietly said back.
"Please welcome…Isabella Marie Dwyer the daughter of our Mayor and his wife Renée…escorted by Jacob Black the son of William Black, the owner of our local bank." The announcer announced. Bella and Jacob made their way down the stairs and to the other couples. Bella hated how her mother made sure to make point to make sure everyone knew that she was daughter of the mayor, like telling they were better than them. This dance required the use of mask, so before the music began, the couples slipped on their masks. Bella was standing beside Jennifer, while Jacob was standing in front of her. The beginning of the dance was like the Virginia reel, but the rest was like a waltz. The music began and the dancers bowed towards each other. Bella put her hand up, barely touching Jacob's hand, they circled each other and they did the other hand the same way. Then they put both of their hands up, barely touching and circled each other. They circled each other with out their hands up, one more time before stepping back, they did this one more time the other way around and stepped back. Bella stood still has the guys backed up; the girls did the same thing a few seconds after. Bella watched has Jasper walk towards Alice, who smiling at her husband and enjoying the attention. Jasper took her hand in his, kissing the top of her hand, before pulling her closer to him. This was quickly done and the rest of the couple followed suit, Jacob walked towards Bella smiling and kissed the top of her hand, before pulling her closer to him. The couples began to waltz to the music that was playing, some how Bella and Jacob ended up dancing in the middle of the rest of the couples. Bella was not nervous anymore, she let Jacob guided her through the dance and was happy when it ended it. When they music ended, they were in the line up again, facing each other. The couples bowed to each other again and then slowly made their way off of the dance floor. Jacob took Bella's hand and walked with her off of the floor to where Alice and Jasper was standing.
"See you did fine." Alice whispered. "And you were not so bad yourself." She said to Jacob, who smiled at her. Alice took her mask off and put it on one of the tables they were standing beside.
"That's a high complaint coming from you Alice." Jacob said. Alice just glared at him. Bella wanted tell them to both quit but never got the chance because Emmett was already speaking.
"Why don't you leave now…you have completed your duties for tonight…your not needed anymore." Emmett said while coming to stand beside Alice. Emmett did not like Jacob and wished they could beat the crap out of him, but he knew that Bella would kill him. He knew that Bella had a crush on Jacob and it made him more mad that she did.
"Emmett…please." Bella begged. She did not want them starting any fights. She did not need her mother blaming her for ruining the ball.
"Let him B…he deserted us a long time ago…he's not one of us anymore." Chris said while coming to stand beside Emmett. Both Emmet and Chris were tall, not has tall has Jacob, but they looked menacing in their own right, standing side by side. They had missed the dance that Bella's grandparents were dancing.
"Its okay Bells…they are right…why don't I go get us something to drink." Jacob said while backing away. He did not want to start a fight with Bella's cousins. He knew how much they meant to her.
"Okay." She said while trying smile. Bella stood there while listening to the announcer say that the real dancing could begin. She watched has Emmett, Jasper, and Chris asked their wives to dance. She smiled at them. You could tell the couples were perfectly matched. Bella was still wearing her bronze colored mask; she had not taken it off yet.
"Would the Princess care to dance?" A smile formed on Bella lips has she turned around to face Edward. She could not get over how handsome he was standing there in his suit, while the lights from the candles were flickering off his face.
"Why aren't you asking Tanya?" Bella asked. She did not like knowing that Edward had escorted Tanya, but she really did not know what to do because she was being escorted by Jacob. The thing that surprised her the most about everything was, was the emotion she got when Tanya told her that Edward had accepted to escort her. She did not understand what she was feeling for him and made her feel nervous. She did not understand a lot of things anymore. She knew that they shared a hell of a night together, but she also felt something for Jacob and she did not know what she should do about that either. She wondered if she should just forget about the both of them and just stay single for awhile, she was being hunted down, did she really need the extra baggage, but she had a feeling that Edward would not give her say in matter of her not having him around.
"She went off with some other guy." Edward laughed. The truth was that he disappeared; he was getting annoyed with hearing her talk about herself.
"Figures." Bella laughed. She was glad to hear that.
"So would you care to dance?" Edward asked while bowing and taking Bella's hand in his, kissing the top of her hand. "Dance with me Princess." He asked while peaking up at her.
"Okay." Bella smiled. Edward stood up and took Bella in his arms. She fit perfectly against him and the beast him smiled with pride knowing that she was its mate. He slipped the mask off of her face and went to kiss her lips but changed his mind at the last second, kissing her cheek before they began dance a slow waltz. Bella was sadden that he had not tried to kiss her on the lips, but another part of her was happy. She did not know if she wanted to feel anything for him or if she should. She was still mad at him for leaving her, she really had trusted him and in those moments they shared together, she began to trust only him, because he was only one around her and he was the one to save her. So when he left her, after telling her that he would protect her no matter what and would stay with her, she felt betrayed that he had left her and she did not want her hurt to get hurt again by trusting him anymore. He looked down at her, while she looked up at him smiling. He found her to be the most beautiful woman that he had ever laid his eyes. She was perfect in every way and he did not want to change anything about her. He was happy to see her dressed up and wearing a tiara, because she looked like the princess she had been born to be. She rested her head against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. Instead of dancing, they began to sway to the music. "I missed you." Bella whispered. She was telling the truth, she missed him. She may not want to trust him anymore, but she was not going to lie, she was happy he was back.
"I know." Edward said while resting his cheek on top of her head. "You are stunning tonight…that dress looks beautiful on." Edward said while kissing the top of Bella's head. She could not help but smile. Jacob had called her beautiful, but the way Edward said it was so different that it made her feel all tingly inside. They were too into each other, to noticed anyone else, especially the glaring look that Jacob was giving them. Charlie had even caught the couple dancing, he was not happy that his daughter was the mate of one of his guards; not that he didn't trust Edward with her or that Edward could actually marry his daughter because Edward was a king in his own right. He just felt very protective of his offspring, even if he had not been there while she was growing up. He wished that Edward would have waited to mate with his daughter, then he could have explained everything that goes on in the vampire world and then she could understand what was going on between her and Edward. Alice and Rose also caught the couple dancing and smiled at each other, knowing the look that Edward had on his face has he stared down at Bella. They had seen the same look on their own husband's faces. The music finally ended, but that did not seem to matter to the couple. They were standing there now, holding each other. Edward wanted to keep Bella in his arms and to never let her go and Bella could not understand what she was feeling.
"Bells…I brought those drinks." Bella could hear Jacob say. She backed away from Edward and tried to smile at Jacob. Edward was not too happy that the mutt had interpreted them. Jacob was glad that Bella had backed away from Edward, he was not happy when he saw the two of them dancing. He did not want her falling for someone else, he wanted her for himself. He was beginning to fall for her and was hoping she had feeling for him. Even through high school, he noticed how she grew up to be very beautiful.
"Oh thank you." Bella said while taking the drink that Jacob was holding out for her. Taking a sip, she tried to smile at both of them. She did not know what she was doing or what she was going to do.
"Well I better go find Tanya…it was nice seeing you again Bella." Edward said while smiling at her, before walking off. Bella was not happy that Edward was going to find Tanya, but she did not know what to do or say.
"Care to dance?" Jacob asked. Bella tried to smile up at him. She really did not have it in her to dance anymore. She felt like something was missing, but she could not figure it out.
"Can we sit…my feet are starting to ache…Alice has me in five-inch heels." Bella complained. She really was not happy that Alice had made her wear the heels, even if they were cute.
"Sure." Jacob said while showing Bella over to a table. Before they could say anything to each other, Bella's mother showed up at the table.
"Don't you guys just look cute together…so perfect." Renée smiled. Renée was dressed in a mink colored dress that had three-quarter length sleeves that had soft illusion to them. The dress also had scalloped lace bateau neckline and lace trimmed illusion over the sweetheart neckline and to complete the outfit, the dress had a full pleated skirt. She was happy to see that her daughter was finally happy and more than anything she was happy that her daughter was becoming close to Jacob again. She did not know why they quit being friends.
"Thank you Renée." Jacob smiled.
"Bella dear…you father would like a dance." Renée smiled at her little girl.
"Okay mommy." Bella said while standing. "Where is daddy at?" She asked while looking around the room for her father.
"Over talking with your uncle Carlisle…right there dear." Renée said while pointing to her husband and Carlisle. "They are debating something...so it will do your father good if you interrupt them."
"Okay mom...I will be right back." Bella said over her shoulder to Jacob, before walking towards her father.