UPDATED: July 6 2016

BPOV

It did not take me long to get ready for the ball. I put the dress on first, then my shoes. I then fixed up my hair and carefully tied the mask so it wouldn't fall off my face.

I waited for my dad to leave, which he did along with the Boscastle family and Jasper. I waited until I could no longer see their car to call for a cab (but honestly it was more of a town car). The car arrive to pick me up ten minutes later. I gave the driver the address Alice had left me and we were on our way.

I had no idea where the Christmas Gala was being held but I am guessing it was somewhere bigger than the Golden Summer Ball because the Christmas Gala is a much bigger event than the Golden Summer Ball had been. And that had been bigger than any formal event I have ever been to and nothing else had come close to the Golden Summer Ball.

I sat up a little straighter when the car started to slow down before coming to a complete stop minutes later. I heard the drivers door open and closed.

"Miss we are here." The driver said as he opened my door.

"Oh thank you." I said stepping out of the car with his help. "Excuse me by will you still be working after midnight?"

"Yes I will be on the clock at that time." The man replied.

"If you are free at midnight I'd like to hire you to take me back to where you picked me up at."

"I can do that if I don't get called out." He said. "Have a goodnight miss."

"I hope I do and again thank you." I told him as I stepped away from the car and headed for the front door of the Christmas ball.

The balls entrance was dotted with real looking fake snow and extravagantly decorated Christmas trees that I knew without a doubt I would not see at home unless they were in a Seattle department store. There was a nice mixture of red roses and Poinsettias on all the surfaces that were too tall to hold a tree. There were even some wrapped up gifts under the trees and on various tables. I had no idea if those gifts were real or not but I really hoped that they were.

"Your invitation miss?" A stuffy looking man asked.

"Oh sorry... (I looked in my bag) ... Here it is." I said handing it over.

I watched as he looked it over. He even pulled a black light out and ran it over the invitation before handing it back to me.

"Your name?" he asked picking up a clipboard.

"Um I think I'll be under Bella or Isabella Swan I'm not sure which one was used." I replied.

"That's okay, both names are here. You are in the clear to go in."

I thanked the man and made my way in to the room I assume the dancing would be done. It was so heavily decorated like a winter wonderland that you could hardly tell that you were inside the smell of pine trees in the air didn't help that either.

"May I have this dance?" A familiar voice asked.

I turned around to see my dad standing behind me. I would recognize his mustache anywhere.

EPOV

The ball had been in full swing for two hours now and I had just gotten to relax for the first time. I was board out of my mind but I wanted to help out the less fortunate and throwing the ball slash auction was one of the only ways I could do it.

"Edward dear you have to dance." My mother said.

"No one has caught my eye and I was talking to Charlie Swan earlier. He is now dancing with the girl that reminds him of his daughter."

"Oh that poor man. When did he lose her?"

"She didn't die mother. She chose not to come with her father tonight."

"Oh well I am not going to let you get out of dancing tonight." My mother said as she pulled me out on the dance floor. After a few turns about the floor we ended up by Charlie and his dance partner.

"Charlie would you like to trade?" I asked him.

"Sure I think my feet are in need of a bit of rest." He said.

"I guess it is a good thing my feet need some rest too. We can go get a drink and find my husband where ever he may have gotten to. We always seem to lose each other at these things."

"Let's do find him then. I have yet to meet him." Mr. Swan said.

I turned my attention from my mother and Mr. Swan to the lovely looking young woman that Mr. Swan had been dancing with. The bottom of her cheeks had turned red from embarrassment or all the dancing I wasn't sure which.

"Are you okay?" I asked her. "I can go and get you some water if you need it, even my dad if you happen to need a doctor."

The last part had her laughing.

"Oh no I am just fine." She said. "I am just happy to be here. So much money being raised to help people."

"My family and I love helping people. It is why my dad became a doctor and I am following in his footsteps."

"That is quite admirable of you. A lot of people don't want to work in the same fields as their parents do these days." She said.

"Would you want to work doing what your mother or father do?" I asked.

"Absolutely not. My father's job is much too dangerous for me and I have no idea what my mother does for a living." She replied.

"Oh sorry... Would you like to dance?" I asked.

"Sure, but just one it is getting late and I have to get home soon."

I took her hand and led her back to the dance floor as soon as a new song came on. Once the song was over she slipped out of my arms and was gone before I could get one single word out.

I was just about to go after her when I heard several pops like those dang fire crackers going off flowed by several screams and a force knocking me to the floor. I hit my head hard on the floor causing myself to black out. The last thing I heard was the heart breaking sound of my mother screaming my name.

After a few moments the blackness started to wash away. I tried opening my eyes but it hurt to do so. maybe I hit my head on the way down.

"…cool rag and some ice." I heard my mom say.

"…you need to remain still..."

"…hit the back of your head…"

"Sorry but this couch is not the most comfortable to be laying on." I said pausing for a moment. "Have the police been called?"

I don't remember much of what was said after that because I passed out again. I didn't wake up again until I was in the hospital with my father's best friend looking down at me.

"Glad to see you Edward."

"Ahh… Dr. Donald."

"How are you feeling Edward?"

"Like I took a cricket bat to the head."

"Well that feeling should go away in an hour or two. I'll prescribe you something for the pain if it continues."

"Tylenol would be okay." I replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I don't like taking anything stronger." I said. "most of them make me feel weird."

"Okay. No narcotics for you." He said. "Anything else?"

"I'm good."