A/N: Thank you to everyone for the support you've shown this story so far! We're going to have a bit of a time jump here, so without further adieu, please enjoy!
December 2012
As the last notes from Midnight from Cinderella played through the stereo system of the dance studio, Bella made her graceful run across the floor to the area that would end up being offstage once they moved to the stage, very aware of Edward chasing behind her. It was ironic - if she tried doing this run anywhere else, she'd end up flat on her face. But underscore it with some Prokofiev, and she was as graceful as her last name suggested. Leaning against the barre attached to the mirror at the side, she smiled as Edward made his final pose, holding her glass slipper to the sky.
"Lights go down, and that's the end of act two!" Rosalie, the sixteen-year-old teacher's assistant Esme had assigned to help the pair with their duet, applauded from the front of the room once the music faded out. "You two are looking great! Now, when we get back from the holiday, I'm going to be working with you and Angela to clean up the Fairy Godmother stuff," she said to Bella before turning to Edward. "While Esme will start Act Three and the search for Cinderella. Just make sure you two don't slack off over the next two weeks," she warned them, as they pulled their track pants over their tights.
"Don't worry, Rose. My mom would never let me slack," Edward laughed, throwing his Mariners hoodie over his t-shirt. Bella just glared at the exchange as she swapped her ballet slippers for purple Converse sneakers.
"I'm sure of it," Rose chuckled, and went to pack away the music and stereo.
Edward shook his head, however the smile on his face dropped once he saw the daggers Bella was shooting at him. "What?"
"My mom would never let me slack," Bella mocked him. "Really? You trying to make me look bad?"
"Bell, I'd never do that!" Edward insisted, plopping onto the ground beside her with his Air Jordans. "I was just pointing out the obvious."
"Still, you didn't need to suck up," Bella grumbled, trying to hide her jealously.
"Yo! Bellarina! Your ride's here!" Emmett, now a high school junior, called out as he entered the studio in his varsity football jacket. "What up, Bro-ryshnikov?" He greeted Edward.
"Where did you learn about Baryshnikov?" Bella's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"What? Can't a dude get some culture?" Emmett asked, distractedly looking around the studio.
"Not when that dude is Emmett Swan," Bella muttered, but Emmett had already walked away, heading over to flirt with the pretty blonde assistant. "Ugh, does every guy have a crush on Rosalie?" It's not like she didn't realize why. Rosalie was tall, blonde and gorgeous - a dead ringer for the blonde girl in those vampire movies she and Angela liked to watch.
"I don't have a crush on her," Edward shrugged, throwing his water bottle in his bag.
"Yeah, because you weren't just flirting with her," Bella scoffed and threw her ballet bag across her body. "Which makes no sense since she's in high school."
"Really, I don't!" Edward insisted, following Bella over to Emmett and Rose.
Bella shook her head in disbelief, but didn't bother with an answer. "Emmy, we need to go!" She interrupted her brother's attempt at hitting on her dance teacher. "Mom wants us home by six for dinner."
"No worries, Bella-boo." Emmett waved at her, but his eyes never left the blonde in a skintight leotard. "Can I give you a ride home? Plenty of room in my car," he offered with a dimpled smile.
"Let me check and make sure my mom's not on her way," Rosalie replied coyly, and pulled out her red iPhone 4S. "Meet you out in the parking lot?"
"Works for me, babe," he grinned. "I'm the red Focus."
"It was our mom's car before she upgraded," Bella added with a sweet smile.
"Well, that was nice of her," Rosalie replied, confused. "I'll be right out."
"We'll be waiting!" Emmett called behind her before ushering the preteens out of the studio. "Bells, what the hells?" He snapped as soon as they were out of earshot. "What was with the whole mom's car thing? It's mine now, anyway."
"I'm tired and I just want to get home. Without watching more flirting with Rose," she grumbled as they carefully crossed the slick parking lot.
"I wasn't flirting!" Edward groaned. "Even if it wasn't completely idiotic for a sixth grader to hit on a sixteen-year-old, she's not my type!"
"Wait, you tried to ruin me getting my mack on because of your stupid lovers' squabble?" Emmett laughed. "You two are hilarious. Just stop getting in my business and keep it in the backseat." He popped open his trunk and shoved his football gear to the side to make room for the ballet bags.
"It's not a lovers' squabble," Bella insisted, shuffling nervously. "I just need to get some dinner."
"Yeah, yeah…" Emmett opened the back door with a chuckle, and waited outside for Rosalie to appear.
"Seriously, Bella," Edward whispered. "I don't have a crush on Rosalie. I've never lied to you. You're my best friend."
"I know," she admitted, twisting her hands inside the kangaroo pocket of her Gap hoodie. "I just didn't like it."
"Welcome to my world," he scoffed. Bella gave him a confused look, not sure what he was talking about. "You don't realize how many guys like you at school, do you?"
"Guys don't like me," she replied, shaking her head at the absurdity.
Edward let out a barking laugh. "Really? Eric Yorkie's had a crush on you since last summer."
"I hardly think Dorkie Yorkie counts." Bella rolled her eyes.
"What about Tyler Crowley? He thinks you're hot!"
She shook her head. "Tyler's just trying to make Lauren Mallory jealous. Don't you know not to get in the middle of them?"
Edward sighed, trying not to let Bella know how annoyed he was with her obliviousness. "What about Mike Newton? He's been telling everyone in gym class he's taking you to the Snowflake Dance."
"Mike Newton? I thought he was dating Jessica Stanley." Bella had no clue what dating included at their age, but it wasn't something she was interested in exploring. At least not with Mike Newton.
"They were, but I guess they broke up." Edward shuffled nervously in his seat. "Jessica's been hinting she wants me to ask her to the dance."
"You? And Jessica Stanley?" Bella deadpanned with a weird feeling in her belly. "Well, I hope you two have fun."
"I don't want to go to the dance with Jessica Stanley," he insisted. "I want to go with-"
"Okay, dinguses! Dingi?" Emmett interrupted as he and Rosalie climbed into the front seat. "Let's get you home! First stop, Casa de Cullen."
The rest of the ride was silent in the back seat, with the only sounds coming from Emmett and Rosalie's conversation about teachers neither of the middle schoolers were aware of, and Jack White blasting from Emmett's upgraded sound system.
Bella would have hated physical education in any time slot, but she especially hated it during third period. No matter how well she cleaned up afterwards, she still felt icky after running around the gymnasium chasing after a stupid rubber orange ball. Feeling like a wet rat with her hair in a braid, she stuffed her gym clothes into her locker, and put her science and language arts books and her choral sheet music into her backpack and shoved a couple of one-dollar bills into her jeans pocket before turning to meet Edward in the cafeteria. However, before she could leave her locker, she had a visitor.
"Bella! I was hoping to run into you," Mike Newton grinned.
"Well, you found me. What's up?" She asked, hoping this was about the homework assignment from math this morning, and not about the dance, as Edward suspected.
"You know how the Snowflake Dance is on Friday?" He asked, shooting down any hope Bella had. "I was hoping you'd want to go with me."
"Oh, Mike… that's sweet of you to ask, but…" she mumbled, chewing on her lip and looking for a way out.
"But she's already going with me," Edward interjected as he threw a friendly arm around her shoulder. "We had fun at the Halloween dance, so we're going together again."
"Why didn't you say anything, dude?" Mike sputtered, clearly in shock.
Edward shrugged calmly, a smirk gracing his face. "We just decided last night, on the drive home. Sorry, man. But I think Jessica's still looking for a date. Maybe you can get back together or something? A real holiday miracle."
"Yeah, maybe," Mike grumbled as he stalked off towards the cafeteria.
"When did we agree to go to the dance together?" Bella snickered once Mike was out of earshot.
"When I saw the scowl on your face at the idea of him asking you and me asking Jessica," he shrugged. "You're my best friend. There's no one else I want to go with, Bell."
"Well, it took you long enough to ask," she teased him. "You're lucky I already have a dress."
"Bella, I'm sure you'd look pretty in anything you wear."
It seemed like the last couple of days dragged on, but finally it was Friday night - the night of the dance. Between that and the last day before winter break, the school had been buzzing with excitement, however Bella did her best to stay calm, despite how happy she was to be going to the dance with her best friend. With a last swipe of rose gold lip gloss, she threw the tube in the purse her mom had let her borrow for the evening, as well as the Christmas gift she'd gotten Edward. Her family was flying out to California on Sunday for the holiday, so they were going to exchange gifts at the dance. Since Carlisle and Esme had bought him an iPhone for his birthday in June, she got him a phone case. She hadn't been sure what to get until she stumbled on the perfect one - a navy blue case with skeletons in a variety of ballet poses. It was still masculine, but shared their love of ballet. She threw that, as well as the iPhone 3 she had inherited from Emmett when he upgraded, in her purse before heading down to wait for Edward. She didn't have to wait long, as the doorbell rang when she was halfway down the stairs. "I'll get it!" she yelled out, but Emmett ignored her as he opened the front door.
"Ah, Edward," Emmett greeted with a smirk. "Good to see you. Please, come in."
"Thanks," Edward replied warily at the oddly formal greeting as he entered the foyer.
"Edward," Emmett dragged out as he closed the door and gave Edward a grin. "My father's not home, so I guess this falls on me. What are your intentions with my baby sister?"
"Em! Knock it off!" Bella whined, slapping her brother's arm.
"Emmett Charles Swan, leave your sister alone," Renee scolded. "Edward, you look handsome. Why don't you give Emmett your jacket so I can get a photo of you two?"
Knowing this wasn't a request, Edward unzipped his grey patterned snowboard jacket to reveal his black dress pants, tie and vest combo with a burgundy shirt, as Emmett grumbled about being "fucking coat check."
Standing beside Bella in front of the fireplace in the living room, Edward nervously adjusted his tie while she smoothed out the skirt on her black and teal chiffon dress and made sure she pulled her hair in front of her shoulder. "Okay, you two! Move in closer and smile!" Renee instructed, holding up her digital camera. As the pair moved in closer, their hands lightly brushed. Without thinking, Edward gave in to the overwhelming urge to hold her hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Once Renee was satisfied with her picture, Edward grabbed Bella's purple and black jacket and held it up for her. He then put on his own coat and opened the door, inviting Bella to join Esme and Alice in the waiting Volvo XC60. But not before Emmett ordered him to have Bella home by nine and earned another scolding from Renee. "Alice, what are you doing here?" Bella asked as she buckled herself into the backseat.
"Mommy couldn't leave me home alone," Alice explained, vibrating with excitement. "And I wanted to see your dress! I can't wait until I have school dances!"
"Not for another couple of years, Alice," Esme chuckled. "Bella, you look lovely."
"Thank you," Bella smiled with a blush as Esme pulled out of the driveway.
With Alice chatting a majority of the way, it wasn't long before she was pulling up in front of the school entrance behind a few other parents, also dropping off their kids. "Okay, you two. I'll be here at nine-thirty to pick you up. Make sure you have your phone handy so I can find you, Edward."
"Yes, mom," Edward conceded before jumping out of the front passenger seat and opening the back door for Bella. Once he paid their five-dollar admission and hung up their coats on the rack outside the gym, they made their way into the dance where their classmates were jumping around to What Makes You Beautiful.
"Want to grab a drink?" Edward offered, hoping to shake off some nerves before hitting the floor. He had danced with Bella hundreds of times over the years! Why was this so hard?
"Yes, please," she agreed, and followed him to the refreshment table, where they each grabbed a can of Coke.
"Hey, guys!" Angela greeted as she sidled up to them, with Ben Cheney following. "When did you get here?"
"We just got in," Bella answered, giving her female best friend a hug. "Wanted a drink before we hit the dance floor."
"The music's been… exactly what you'd think," Angela laughed. "But if anyone should dance, it's Cinderbella and her Prince Charming."
Bella rolled her eyes with a chuckle. Since the cast list went up at the ballet studio, the two girls had been using their newfound nicknames for each other. "Well, only if my Fairy GodWebber comes out there, too."
"As soon as we finish these drinks!" She promised, holding up her own Sprite.
"It's not fair! You're all trained dancers. I'm gonna look like a chump." Ben shook his head playfully.
"Ballet doesn't train us for school dances," Edward replied, clapping Ben on the shoulder. "Besides, you can't do any worse than… that." He gestured to the dance floor, where Jessica and Mike looked like they were writhing in pain.
The four continued to chat and sip their drinks until the music changed to a slower piano melody. "This is from that movie you two like, isn't it?" Edward asked, causing Ben to groan as the opening strains of A Thousand Years played over the speaker system. Angela just nodded with a smile and held out her hand expectantly to Ben before leading him to the dance floor.
The nerves Edward had been feeling earlier came back full force, but he stuffed them down and opened his mouth before he could question himself. "Bella, would you like to dance?" She just nodded shyly and took his hand as he led her out to the dance floor. As if on instinct, she wrapped her arms around his neck as he placed his on her waist and swayed to the beat.
"You're good at this," she breathed as she looked up at him. She'd known him for years, but it suddenly struck her just how tall her best friend had gotten.
"You, too," he agreed, tightening his hold on her waist. "I didn't get a chance to say it earlier, but you look really pretty tonight."
"Thanks," she blushed. "You look very handsome, too." As their eyes met, she had the sudden urge to stand on her toes and kiss him under the disco ball in the gym. However, she soon lost her nerve as the music changed over to Gangnam Style, and Eric Yorkie knocked into Edward her, running out to join the dance floor. "Sorry," she giggled as Edward held on to her.
"No worries," he chuckled, and helped her stand up again. "We're already out here, shall we?" She laughed and nodded as they joined in the ridiculous horse-inspired moves from the music video.
They bopped along to We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together and swayed to Ho Hey on the dance floor for the rest of the night, but none of their slow songs matched the intensity of the first one. All too soon, the DJ was wrapping up the night with Good Feeling before the chaperones started shooing everyone towards the coat rack. "Oh!" Bella suddenly piped up, digging in her bag. "I didn't give you your Christmas Present."
"I have yours here, too," he replied, pulling a small white box with a silver ribbon from his pocket as she pulled out the small blue wrapped rectangle and exchanged gifts. "You go first."
"Are you sure?" She asked, to which he nodded, so she carefully untied the bow and lifted the lid. "Edward, it's beautiful!" She gushed as she gently stroked her gift - a silver necklace with a delicate pendant in the shape of ballet slippers with a blue stone in the centre.
"I thought you'd like it," Edward grinned. "And the blue stone is your birthstone. Well, the same color. I don't know if it's a real sapphire."
She shook her head and looked up at him with happy tears in her eyes. "I don't care if it's real. I love it. Thank you!" She threw her arms around him in a tight hug, which he easily returned. "Can you put it on me?"
"Sure," he offered, taking the chain from her hand as she turned around and pulled her hair to the side. "There. A perfect fit."
"I won't take it off," she stated as she looked down at it, before looking at her gift to him. "Now I'm worried you'll think your gift is stupid."
"I'm sure I'll love it," he assured her as he ripped off the paper and she chewed her bottom lip nervously. "Bell! I love it!" He looked at her with a genuine smile. "I've been looking for a cool case! These skeletons are awesome."
"And they're doing ballet poses," she pointed out, feeling better about her gift. "I thought it was manly but masculine."
"It's perfect." His crooked smile glowed on his face as he swapped his plain black case with the new one. "There, now I'll think of you whenever I look at my phone. Thanks, Bella." He hugged her once again, holding on until an eighth grader behind them cleared her throat, prompting them to move up to the rack and grab their coats, officially bringing the night to an end.