Chapter Forty-Five

When we stepped out of the limo, Edward was a completely different person. He held his head high, with his shoulders back, and his arm looped through mine. He smiled widely as a flash of cameras blinded me. I tried to smile but the lights were to bright.

"I didn't know there'd be so many cameras," I muttered to him. "Who are these people?"

"Just photographers my mother hires," He said before kissing my cheek. "It's kind of a tradition now, so people aren't glued to their phones. Pictures get sent out tomorrow morning. Everyone loves it."

"Ah," I said, grinning awkwardly. "So, how many people come to this thing?

"I don't know, usually around two hundred. It's a big party."

My cheeks turned red. "Wow, that's a lot."

He chuckled, "Don't worry love, it'll be fun."

We entered their house not through the front doors, but around the back. There was an enormous party room that seemed that it could easily fit two hundred and then some. It was already filled with several people, dressed in very fancy gowns that sort of passed for costumes. Now I realized a costume from party city would not have been appropriate.

"Mr. Cullen," An older gentleman greeted as he grabbed Edward's hand. "Wonderful party. Very beautiful. And the food is divine."

"Well, thank you but actually, you should be thanking Mrs. Cullen. She planned everything." Edward smiled.

The man turned to me, "My apologies Mrs. Cullen, I didn't mean any disrespect."

I blushed and smiled. "I'm not Mrs. Cullen, sorry. That would be Esme."

"Oh, I thought you were engaged," He said before looked at Edward. "I assumed you got married."

"No, no," He said quickly. "That engagement didn't work out. This is my girlfriend, Bella."

"My apologies again," The man blushed. "It's very nice to meet you. You look so beautiful."

I smiled tightly, "Thanks."

Edward looped his arm through mine again and lead me towards a table that was decorated slightly more than the other tables. It only had two chairs, which confused me because I thought we'd sit with his family.

"Why are we sitting here alone?" I asked, peeking over at the table where Alice, Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie, Carlisle, and Esme were all seated.

"Because I'm in charge," He smiled at me. "It'll be a little weird. Some people may come up and just congratulate me on a successful party, ask for favors, shit like that."

I just stared at him for a long while. His cheeks reddened under my gaze. "What?"

"Sorry, I just… I don't know."

"I did tell you about this part of my life, right?"

"Yeah, you did," I nodded. "I just honestly didn't believe it. I don't know. It seems so silly."

He chuckled, "Yeah, it is silly."

As if on cue, a man and a woman walked up to the table. Their arms were looped together, and they were dressed in such fancy clothing that I couldn't figure out what they were dressed as for Halloween.

"Mr. Cullen," The man greeted Edward happily. "You're looking so well. And your fiancé looks so beautiful. How are you my dear?"

"I'm good, but I'm his girlfriend, not his fiancé," I smiled.

"My apologies, you two just looked so comfortable with one another," He said.

"And last we heard, you were engaged, Edward." The woman said.

"I was but unfortunately, my engagement was ended." Edward said, his lips tightening into a tight smile. "What do you want?"

The man shifted on his feet uncomfortably, giving the woman a look for a brief moment. It appeared that whatever he wanted to ask Edward was now going to be shot down.

"I was coming to see, as embarrassing as it is, if you'd be willing to help my son out with his upcoming trial." He said. "I know you've probably heard about my son's unfortunate mishap. Well, it appears that the judge is considering slapping him with the maximum sentence. And he's only nineteen, I don't want him to spend most of his life in prison. He's a good boy."

Edward stared at the man for a moment before inhaling slowly. "Yes, I have heard about what happened. I will send a message to the judge tomorrow."

The man and woman looked as if they visibly sighed in relief.

"Thank you so much Mr. Cullen. We greatly appreciate it." The man smiled widely.

"Of course," Edward nodded once. The couple quickly left. Once they were out of earshot I turned to Edward.

"So, just like that they get a favor from you?" I asked.

"Well yeah, but only because of where he works. He now owes me big time and I fully intend on following up."

"Where does he work?" I asked.

"He's a member of the medical board in New York City. He holds a lot of power in the medical community, and I thought maybe one day, if you're ever looking for something outside of the prison or whatever you want, he'd be a good help."

My eyes widened. "Oh. I didn't realize… I mean you… you're bailing out his son for me?"

"Of course," He chuckled.

"H-how much are you spending to bail his son out?"

"I don't know. Ten thousand? Fifteen thousand. Something like that."

"I—I… Edward that is entirely—!"

"Well hello happy couple." A deep voice said, pulling me away from my rant.

Edward and I both turned to see Tanya and Felix standing in front of us. Tanya was wearing a Jessica Rabbit inspired dress. Her appearance made me blush, her breasts were practically popping out of the deep v-neck and you could nearly see her naval with the slit up the side.

"Edward," Felix grinned widely. "My oldest friend. How are you?"

Edward nodded once. "I'm good. What do you want?"

"We just wanted to come say hi." Tanya said. "You look so cute Bella."

"Thanks you look very nice to." I said, gnawing the inside of my cheek. She smiled widely before turning her attention onto Edward.

"Edward, you look so very handsome in that suit." She cooed. "I know I shouldn't bring this up, but it reminds me so much of the suit you wore at our rehearsal dinner."

Edward nodded coldly. "Are you two coming to ask for a favor?"

"No," Felix laughed. "We don't need anything from you. We just wanted to sigh hi to you, our old friend, and then my precious niece."

I rolled my eyes. "Nice to see you Felix."

"Bella! Edward!" Aro beamed widely as he somewhat roughly shoved Felix to the side. "Bella, you look so beautiful."

Aro walked around the table, leaving Sulpicia to stand by Felix. He kissed the top of my head and smiled down at me.

"Sorry about those two." He whispered. "I told them not to disturb you or Edward."

"It's okay. Thank you for coming." I said.

"Perhaps later you would honor me with a dance."

"As long as you don't mind me stepping on your toes. I'm not a good dancer."

He chuckled. "You can dance on my feet if you'd like. Well, I should be taking Sulpicia to our table. And those two."

Edward and Felix had been locked in an intense staring contest while Aro and I spoke. Neither one of them blinked, but Felix was technically the loser because Aro made him go to the table. And Edward knew this because when Felix turned, he smiled.

"You're such a child." I said to him.

He chuckled. "I hate that dick."

"I know. He's a fucking asshole."

"How angry would my mother be if I just knocked him the fuck out? You think she'd be very pissed?"

"I think she'd kill you." I smiled. "But it would be pretty cool if you knocked him out. I hate when he refers to me as his niece."

"I know, I saw you tense up. He's just doing it just be to a dick."

"Yeah," I said. "When is the food served? I'm starved."

There was a large buffet of delicious food, but Edward and I didn't have to get up to make our plates, the staff did it for us. Which was strange because I spotted the rest of the Cullens getting up to make their plates. I felt weird having people wait on me.

"Do you want to dance?" Edward asked after we ate.

I smiled, "Sure, so long as you don't care if I step on your toes. I'm not a good dancer at all."

He laughed as he gently grabbed my arm. "I don't mind if you dance on my feet."

He twirled me as stepped onto the dance floor, "I used to dance on my father's feet in our living room. Well, it wasn't so much like we danced it was more like we jumped around together to our favorite show. It was so much fun."

"You should invite your dad out," He said as he spun us. "I bet he'd love to see you again. And I certainly enjoyed his company."

"Yeah, I should. I miss him a lot," I said as I put my head on his chest. "Or maybe we should go to Forks. I can show you all the cool spots."

"Cool spots? You told me one time that there was a total of three things to do in Forks, bowl at the rundown bowling alley, play at the arcade, which is also in the bowling alley, and eat at the lodge."

"Hey, don't knock my hometown. I can talk about it, but you can't," I chuckled.

He laughed as he placed his hands on my lower back. "I think I could be convinced to go to Forks with you and stay at the one small motel."

I giggled. "I couldn't even imagine you staying there. It doesn't have room service you know."

"Eh, I could survive."

"Yeah, but you wouldn't have to survive, we would just stay with my dad."

He paused. "Stay with your dad?"

"Of course, what's wrong with that?"

"Well, for one, I don't think your father would let us sleep in the same room."

"Oh god no, you'll sleep on the couch."

He groaned. "And that's why I'd rather stay in a rinky-dink motel."

I rolled my eyes. "You couldn't wait one measly week for some nookie?"

He laughed. "God you've such a nerd."

"Hey, don't be mean or you won't get any nookie now."

"Alright I'll shut up."

He hugged me tightly against his chest. "You should call your dad. Tell him we're planning to come out and visit him. Pick any week and I'll make sure I'm available."

"I'll call him now. Mind if I step out?"

"Go ahead."

I took my cellphone out of my purse and walked to the direction of Esme's kitchen. I knew there wouldn't be anyone in there because the area was strictly off limits, but I knew Esme wouldn't be annoyed with me.

I dialed my dad's number, but he didn't pick up. That was odd, considering it was a Saturday night and he usually would be home.

"Damn it, pick up your phone," I hissed as I called for a third time. It made me wonder if he drank a little bit more than usual. Saturday nights was his night to drink beer on his couch and watch some sorts of sports program on his flat screen. He probably drank too much.

As I was calling him for the fourth time, I overheard the sound of hushed whispers in the hallway beside the kitchen. I knew I shouldn't have listened but I couldn't help myself after I heard a familiar voice and my name.

"Edward certainly looks handsome tonight." I instantly recognized Tanya's voice.

"Edward always looks handsome," Renata commented. "But that gutter trash he's with is an insult to the Cullen name."

"I know, I know," Tanya replied. "She's nice enough but I don't really think she belongs. She's kind of… hmm, I don't know how to put it nicely."

"She is the daughter of a whore. She is garbage. I cannot stand that fouled mouth girl. She needs to go." Renata said. "Have you had a chance to talk to Edward tonight? I know he still holds a flame for you. You two were very close."

"Yeah we were, but he really seems hung up on Bella."

"It's a puppy love thing, nothing more than that. Talk to him and see—,"

My phone started buzzing which pulled me from the secret conversation. It was my dad's number, which was bad because I was so angry by the conversation I overheard.

"Hello?" I said, controlling my temper as I answered.

"Hey, Bella," This wasn't my dad's voice. "How are you doing?"

"Hey Billy," I said. "Are you hanging out with my dad? Where is he at? He didn't pick up his phone."

There was a pregnant pause before he spoke again.