For beachcomberlc, who I've heard is on the prowl for cookies this weekend. And for Julietoo, who may still be snowbound.
For the rest of you, to hopefully make you smile.
This was not edited by any sort of professional.
It took two solid days of non-stop, full volume, and jazz hands singing of The Proclaimers 500 miles to get Emmett to agree to the wardrobe choices Bella and Alice wanted for the Gala. And really! It wasn't as if they wanted him to wear a tartan tuxedo or anything. But from the fuss he kicked up on would think that they had asked that or something worse, like full frontal. The suit was black, classically cut, and well tailored. The objection he had was to the waistcoat and bow tie. Well, mostly to the bow tie. The colour – gold. That's it. All he had to wear was a nice black suit with a gold waistcoat and bowtie. Emmett did not want to wear a bowtie at all and did not think that the colour gold flattered his complexion.
The fact that the girls' outfits co-ordinated in blue and green reminiscent of one of Bella's most favourite tartans was purely coincidental or at least that is what they told Emmett. Alice's dress was electric blue, tea length, with a square neck line and capped sleeves. Delicate vines of leaves were embroidered at the hem in the same shade of blue. Bella's was an emerald green, dropped waist, beaded flapper style dress that ended just above the knee. There were several layers of emerald fringe that hung to just below the knee. It could have looked tacky but stayed just this side of quirky to make it work.
Alice was Bella's official date to the University Gala but all three of them arrived together. For a University gathering there was little visible fundraising involved. The Alumni association worked very hard to hide the fact that they had their hand out and were, in fact, begging for funds. Therefore the parking price doubled, all of a sudden there were bathroom attendants, and of course, a cash bar. One or two donation tables dotted the ballroom.
Bella surveyed the room, drink in hand, quite pissed off that almost all the cater waiters were girls and the few males she had seen were as flaming as Bananas Foster. Alice had disappeared as soon as she had her first drink. Emmett had hung around until he spied Rosalie near the entrance. Leaving Bella, alone and tipsy, to prowl on her own.
She was buzzy but not swimmy by the time the awards portion of the evening began. She found a seat and waited for her category to be announced. She was jolted out of her liquor dazed when someone plopped down into the chair beside her.
"Hey, you'll never guess where I've been." A very wide-eyed Alice half whispered reaching for Bella's drink.
"I'll play for four hundred, Alice, where have you been?"
"I met my future husband. Good God Bella, he is perfect. Everything I have been looking for and then some." Alice downed the rest of Bella's beverage and smiled.
"Tell me more, tell me more, but you don't gotta brag." Bella yanked her now empty glass back for Alice.
"You know a lot of people believe in love at first sight. Just cause it's never happened to you doesn't mean it can't happen to me." Alice folded her arms over her chest and glared at her friend. Bella was known to be just a tad cynical. Once bitten, twice shy and all that.
"I'm sorry Alice. So tell me all about your man."
"His name is Jasper, he owns a third of the Irish Jig truck. He is drop dead fucking gorgeous and I blew him in the cloak troom a few minutes ago. I couldn't help myself, Bella, something came over me and I just had to. Knocked his socks off too. There is only one name he remembers now and it is mine. We're meeting up after the Gala. You want to double with his friend Edward?"
Edward had searched the crowd but to no avail. He hadn't been able to catch sight of Bella Swan. He had lost Jasper as well. He didn't even know if Rose made it, he hadn't seen her at all. He had been hijacked by some blue haired biddy who had attended the University of Portland the first year women were allowed to attend. She remembered every moment of her higher education and was only to pleased to share it with anyone who stood near her. She was one of the alumni association's best assets. After approximately twenty minutes of reminiscing her cohort at the donation table would 'rescue' her captive. The newly paroled were usually so grateful that they made a small donation in thanks. Edward was out a hundred bucks. The biddy orchestrated the entire affair.
The announcements stopped for about ten minutes while the judges and the master of ceremonies conferred. Couples took to the dance floor as the band started playing again. Edward could see Rosalie gracefully dancing with a very large man who was surprisingly light on his feet. Rosalie looked happy and the man looked over the moon to be dancing with her. Edward wanted that in his life. He wanted someone to moon over. Someone his universe could revolve around.
Most of the women Edward had dated started seeing him due to his looks. He was hot, there was no argument there. He knew it and so did everyone else. So the romance began in the bedroom and then moved into the kitchen. Once he showed them his prowess there the relationship usually went south. It became less 'oooh baby, right there, yes' and more 'ooooh baby could you make that dessert again, you know the one with the triple chocolate'. Edward was tired of having his culinary skills take precedence. He wanted a woman (preferably) who wanted him in every room of the house not just the kitchen.
He sighed to himself and watched Rosalie, half-hearted. He grew more excited when the announcer regained the microphone and the band ended it's song.
"Ladies and gentlemen, sorry for the delay but for the first time in a long time we have a tie in the next category. For the best food truck in Portland we have both Bella's Bonny Scottish Fare and Cullen's Irish Jig. Can I have the owners up here to accept their plaques?" The emcee grinned into the microphone as the crowd clapped and cheered.
From various different points in the room, the six of them arrived at the stage area. There were handshakes, hugs, kisses and congratulations all around. Pictures were taken of the groups separately and together. They were then quickly ushered away to let the ceremony continue. The six were ambushed at the side of the stage by a very excited Jacob Black, the reporter who had interviewed and feature them in his magazine. After a few follow up quotes and hugs all around again (Edward tried very hard not to react to Jacob's hand on his ass during their goodbyes. Bella tried very hard not to react to Jacob's hand on her ass during their goodbyes.), the group stood awkwardly together for a few moments.
A quick exchanged look between Alice and Jasper and the two of them ran off with out a word. Bella giggled quietly but said nothing. Rosalie and Emmett were at least polite when they made their exit together. Emmett confirming that Bella had a way to get home safely and Rosalie confirming that Edward would try not to say something intensely stupid in front of Bella again.
And thus, our hero and heroine were left alone together for the first time.
AN: Bella's new favourite tartan is Fraser and the University of Portland admitted women in 1951. I love Google, much like my mother, it has all the answers. I guess that I can't finish this in three chapters. Look for the forth on Monday, maybe Sunday.
I am overwhelmed with the response to this wee ditty. Thanks. I'm touched.