Christian and Edward helped my sister and I into the silver Volvo, being careful not to crumple the delicate fabric of the dresses we were wearing, and not to bump into Bella's bulky walking cast. Edward ignored the angry set of her mouth.
When Christian had me settled, he got in the backseat with me and Edward headed back out the long, narrow drive.
"At what point exactly are you going to tell us what's going on?" My twin asked grumpily. She and I really hated surprises. And they knew that.
"I'm shocked that you haven't figured it out yet." He threw a mocking smile in her direction.
"I did mention that you looked very nice, didn't I?" I verified, hoping I could butter him up to spill his secrets.
"Yes." He grinned at me. I'd never seen him dress in black before, and, with the contrast against his pale skin, his beauty was absolutely surreal. That much I couldn't deny, even if the fact that he was wearing a tuxedo made me very nervous.
Not quite as nervous as the dress. Or the shoes. In Bella's case, only one shoe, as her other foot was still securely encased in plaster. But the stiletto heels, held on only by satin ribbons, certainly wasn't going to help me as I tried to get around.
"I'm not coming over anymore if Alice is going to treat us like Guinea Pig Barbie when we do," I griped. We'd spent the better part of the day in Alice's staggeringly vast bathroom, a helpless victim as she played hairdresser and cosmetician. Whenever I fidgeted or complained, she reminded me that she didn't have any memories of being human, and asked me not to ruin her vicarious fun. Then she'd dressed me in the most of anything dress - deep green, lacey and off the shoulders, with French tags I couldn't read - a dress more suitable for a runway than Forks. Nothing good could come of our formal attire, of that I was sure. Unless... but I was afraid to put my suspicions into words, even in my own head. Don't get me wrong, I'm more of a dressy girl than my sister, but I hate the anxious feeling of not knowing what's coming next.
I was distracted then by the sound of a phone ringing. Christian pulled his cell phone from a pocket inside his jacket, looking briefly at the caller ID before answering.
"Hello, Charlie," he said warily.
"Charlie?" Bella frowned.
Charlie had been... difficult since our return to Forks. He had compartmentalized Bella's bad experience into two defined reactions. Toward Carlisle he was almost worshipfully grateful. On the other hand, he was stubbornly convinced that Edward was at fault - because, if not for him, she wouldn't have left home in the first place. And Edward was far from disagreeing with him. These days we both had rules that hadn't existed before: curfews... visiting hours. At least Dad seemed more warmed up to Christian, being that he stayed behind to keep us updated when my sister ran off.
Something Charlie was saying made Christian's eyes widen in disbelief, and then a grin spread across his face.
"You're kidding!" He laughed.
"What is it?" I demanded.
He ignored me. "Why don't you let me talk to him?" Edward suggested with evident pleasure. He waited for a few seconds and Christian handed the phone to him, apparently communicating in a way Bella and I would never understand.
"Hello, Tyler, this is Edward Cullen." His voice was very friendly, on the surface. I knew it well enough to catch the soft edge of menace. What was Tyler doing at our house? The truth began to dawn on me. I looked again at the inappropriate dress Alice had forced me into and then looked to my sister, who was staring at me wide-eyed almost with disbelief. She knew, too.
"I'm sorry if there's been some kind of miscommunication, but Bella is unavailable tonight." Edward's tone changed, and the threat in his voice was suddenly much more evident as he continued. "To be perfectly honest, she'll be unavailable every night, as far as anyone besides myself is concerned. No offense. And I'm sorry about your evening." He didn't sound sorry at all. And then he snapped the phone shut, a huge smirk on his face, before handing it back to Christian.
Bella's face and neck flushed crimson with anger. I could see the rage-induced tears starting to fill her eyes.
He looked at me in surprise. "Was that last part a bit too much? I didn't mean to offend you."
She didn'tâcouldn'tâspeak.
"You're taking us to the dance!" I yelled.
It was embarrassingly obvious now. If I'd been paying any attention at all, I'm sure I would have noticed the date on the posters that decorated the school buildings. But I'd never dreamed he was thinking of subjecting us to this. Didn't he know me at all? I liked to dance, yes, but Bella didn't. They should know I wouldn't want to be anywhere without her and she wouldn't want this.
Edward wasn't expecting the force of our reactions, that was clear. He pressed his lips together and his eyes narrowed. "Don't be difficult, Bella, Alexandra."
My eyes flashed to the window; we were halfway to the school already.
"Why are you doing this to me?" She demanded in horror.
He gestured to his tuxedo. "Honestly, Bella, what did you think we were doing?"
I was mortified. First, because I'd missed the obvious. And also because the vague suspicions - expectations, really - that I'd been forming all day, as Alice tried to transform us into beauty queens, were so far wide of the mark. My half-fearful hopes seemed very silly now.
I'd guessed there was some kind of occasion brewing. But prom! That was the furthest thing from my mind.
The angry tears rolled over my sister's cheeks. I remembered with dismay that we were very uncharacteristically wearing mascara. I reached forward and wiped quickly under her eyes to prevent any smudges. My hand was unblackened when I pulled it away; maybe Alice had known we would need waterproof makeup.
"This is completely ridiculous. Why are you crying?" he demanded in frustration.
"Because I'm mad!"
"Bella." He turned the full force of his scorching golden eyes on her.
"What?" she muttered, distracted.
"Humor me," he insisted.
I heard Christian let out a soft laugh as he grabbed my hand and squeezed it. I was hoping I could enjoy tonight despite my sister's anger and our shared shock.
"Fine," she pouted, unable to glare effectively. "I'll go quietly. But you'll see. I'm way overdue for more bad luck. I'll probably break my other leg. Look at this shoe! It's a death trap!" She held out her good leg as evidence.
"Hmmm." He stared at my leg longer than was necessary. "Remind me to thank Alice for that tonight."
"Alice is going to be there?" That comforted me slightly.
"With Jasper, and Emmett... and Rosalie," he admitted.
The feeling of comfort disappeared. There had been no progress with Rosalie, though we were on quite good terms with her sometimes-husband. Emmett â he thought our bizarre human reactions were hilarious... or maybe it was just the fact that we fell down a lot that he found so funny. Rosalie acted as if we didn't exist, especially Bella. While I shook my head to dispel the direction my thoughts had taken, I thought of something else.
"Is Dad in on this?" I asked, suddenly suspicious.
"Of course." Christian grinned, and then chuckled. "Apparently Tyler wasn't, though."
I bit my lip to stifle a laugh. My poor sister. How Tyler could be so delusional, I couldn't imagine. At school, where Dad couldn't interfere, Edward and Bella were inseparable - except for those rare sunny days.
We were at the school now; Rosalie's red convertible was conspicuous in the parking lot. The clouds were thin today, a few streaks of sunlight escaping through far away in the west.
Christian got out and walked around the car to open my door. He held out his hand.
I watched my twin sit stubbornly in her seat, arms folded, as I took my date's hand and slid ungracefully out of the car. The lot was crowded with people in formal dress: witnesses. He couldn't remove her forcibly from the car as he might have if we'd all been alone.
He sighed. "When someone wants to kill you, you're brave as a lion - and then when someone mentions dancing..." He shook his head.
I gulped. Dancing. Bella? She might truly break her other leg.
Christian leaned down to my ear and whispered softly, "You're quite the dancer. I hope you'll let me sweep you off your feet."
I shuddered at the insinuation.
"There, now," Edward said gently, "it won't be so bad." He leaned down and wrapped one arm around her waist. She took his other hand and let him lift her from the car. Finally: progress.
He kept his arm tightly around her, supporting my older sister as she limped toward the school. Christian's arm had found his usual place around my shoulders and we trailed slightly behind them, trying not to overwhelm Bella.
In Phoenix, they held proms in hotel ballrooms. This dance was in the gym, of course. It was probably the only room in town big enough for a dance. When we got inside, I giggled. There were actual balloon arches and twisted garlands of pastel crepe paper festooning the walls.
"This looks like a horror movie waiting to happen," Bella snickered and I tapped the back of her arm with a click of my tongue.
"Well," her boyfriend muttered as we slowly approached the ticket table - he was carrying most of her weight, but she still had to shuffle and wobble her feet forward - "there are more than enough vampires present."
I looked at the dance floor; a wide gap had formed in the center of the floor, where two couples whirled gracefully. The other dancers pressed to the sides of the room to give them space - no one wanted to stand in contrast with such radiance. Emmett and Jasper were intimidating and flawless in classic tuxedos. Alice was striking in a black satin dress with geometric cutouts that bared large triangles of her snowy white skin. And Rosalie was... well, Rosalie. She was beyond belief. Her vivid scarlet dress was backless, tight to her calves where it flared into a wide ruffled train, with a neckline that plunged to her waist. I pitied every girl in the room, myself included.
"Do you want me to bolt the doors so you can massacre the unsuspecting townsfolk?" Bella not-so-whispered conspiratorially.
"And where do you fit into that scheme?" He glared.
"Oh, I'm with the vampires, of course."
He smiled reluctantly. "Anything to get out of dancing."
"Anything."
He bought all four of our tickets, then turned Bella toward the dance floor.
Eventually he towed her out to where his family was twirling elegantly - if in a style totally unsuitable to the present time and music. I watched in horror.as he put her arms around his neck and lifted her to slide his feet under her own.
And then they were whirling, too.
Christian put a hand on my elbow and guided me out to the floor alongside the rest of the beautifully twirling couples. Placing a hand on my waist and grabbing my other, he started us in a beautiful waltz that didn't take much concentration to focus on.
Alice caught my eye on a turn and smiled in encouragement - I smiled back. I may be a total klutz, but I adored dancing. And I was truly enjoying myself.
But then Christian was staring toward the doors, and his face was angry.
"What is it?" I wondered aloud. I followed his gaze, disoriented by the spinning, but finally I could see what was bothering him. Jacob Black, not in a tux, but in a long-sleeved white shirt and tie, his hair smoothed back into his usual ponytail, was crossing the floor toward us.
After the first shock of recognition, I couldn't help but feel bad for Jacob. He was clearly uncomfortable - excruciatingly so. His face was apologetic as his eyes met mine.
Christian snarled very quietly.
"Behave!" I hissed.
Christian's voice was scathing. "He appears to want to chat with you."
I heard thunder outside.
Jacob reached us then, the embarrassment and apology even more evident on his face.
"Hey, Alex, I was hoping you would be here." Jacob sounded like he'd been hoping the exact opposite. But his smile was just as warm as ever.
"Hi, Jacob." I smiled back. "What's up?"
"Can I cut in?" he asked tentatively, glancing at Christian for the first time. I was shocked to notice that Jacob didn't have to look up. He must have grown half a foot since the first time I'd seen him.
Christian's face was composed, his expression blank. His only answer was to carefully let me go, and take a step back.
"Thanks," Jacob said amiably.
Christian just nodded, looking at me intently before he turned to walk away.
Jacob put his hands on my waist, and I reached up to put my hands on his shoulders.
"Wow, Jake, how tall are you now?"
He was smug. "Six-two."
We weren't really dancing â I guessed he didn't know how. Instead we swayed awkwardly from side to side without moving our feet. It was just as well; the recent growth spurt had left him looking gangly and uncoordinated, he was probably no better a dancer than my sister was.
"So, how did you end up here tonight?" I asked without true curiosity. Considering Christian's reaction, I could guess.
"Can you believe my dad paid me twenty bucks to come to your prom?" he admitted, slightly ashamed.
"Yes, I can," I muttered. "Well, I hope you're enjoying yourself, at least. Seen anything you like?" I teased, nodding toward a group of girls lined up against the wall like pastel confections.
"Yeah," he sighed. "But she's taken."
He glanced down to meet my curious gaze for just a second - then we both looked away, embarrassed.
"Not.. technically." I said softly. It was the truth, so I shouldn't have felt bad for Christian, but I did. Jacob's eyes lit up.
"You look really pretty, by the way," he added shyly.
"Um, thanks. So why did Billy pay you to come here?" I asked quickly, though I knew the answer.
Jacob didn't seem grateful for the subject change; he looked away, uncomfortable again. "He said it was a 'safe' place to talk to you. I swear the old man is losing his mind."
I joined in his laughter weakly.
"Anyway, he said that if I told you something, he would get me that master cylinder I need," he confessed with a sheepish grin.
"Tell me, then. I want you to get your car finished." I grinned back. At least Jacob didn't believe any of this. It made the situation a bit easier. Against the wall, Christian was watching my face, his own face expressionless. I saw a sophomore in a pink dress eyeing him with timid speculation, but he didn't seem to be aware of her. I heard another crack of thunder.
Jacob looked away again, ashamed. "Don't get mad, okay?"
"There's no way I'll be mad at you, Jacob," I assured him. "I won't even be mad at Billy. Just say what you have to."
"Well - this is so stupid, I'm sorry, Alex â- he wants you to break up with your boyfriend. He asked me to tell you 'please.'" He shook his head in disgust.
"He's still superstitious, eh?"
"Yeah. He was... kind of over the top when Bella got hurt down in Phoenix. He didn't believe..."Jacob trailed off self-consciously.
My eyes narrowed. "She fell."
"I know that," Jacob said quickly.
"He thinks Edward had something to do with her getting hurt." It wasn't a question, and despite my promise, I was angry.
Jacob wouldn't meet my eyes. We weren't even bothering to sway to the music, though his hands were still on my waist, and mine around his neck.
"Look, Jacob, I know Billy probably won't believe this, but just so you know" - he looked at me now, responding to the new earnestness in my voice - "Edward really did save Bella's life. If it weren't for Edward and his father, she'd be dead."
"I know," he claimed, but he sounded like my sincere words had affected him some. Maybe he'd be able to convince Billy of this much, at least.
"Hey, I'm sorry you had to come do this, Jacob," I apologized. "At any rate, you get your parts, right? And you can tell Billy that Bella is the one with the boyfriend, not me."
"Yeah... he wanted me to pass the message to her, too." he muttered. He was still looking awkward, upset, but almost... hopeful?
"There's more?" I asked in disbelief.
"Forget it," he mumbled, "I'll get a job and save the money myself."
I glared at him until he met my gaze. "Just spit it out, Jacob."
"It's so bad."
"I don't care. Tell me," I insisted.
"Okay... but, geez, this sounds bad." He shook his head. "He said to tell you, no, to warn you, that - and this is his plural, not mine" - he lifted one hand from my waist and made little quotations marks in the air - '"We'll be watching.'" He watched warily for my reaction.
It sounded like something from a mafia movie. I laughed out loud.
"Sorry you had to do this, Jake," I snickered.
"I don't mind that much." He grinned in relief. His eyes were appraising as they raked quickly over my dress. "So, should I tell him you said to butt the hell out?" he asked hopefully.
"No," I sighed. "Tell him we said thanks. I know he means well."
The song ended, and I dropped my arms.
His hands hesitated at my waist, and he glanced away. "Do you want to dance again? Or.."
Christian appeared, then. Cutting him off, "That's all right, Jacob. I'll take it from here."
Jacob flinched, and stared wide-eyed at Christian, who stood just beside us.
"Hey, I didn't see you there," he mumbled. "I guess I'll see you around, Alex." He stepped back, waving halfheartedly.
I smiled. "Yeah, I'll see you later."
"Sorry," he said again before he turned for the door.
Christian's arms wound around me as the next song started. It was a little up-tempo for slow dancing, but that didn't seem to concern him. I leaned my head against his chest, content.
"Feeling better?" I teased.
"Not really," he said tersely.
"Don't be mad at Billy," I sighed. "He just worries about us for my dad's sake. It's nothing personal."
"I'm not mad at Billy," he corrected in a clipped voice. "But his son is irritating me."
I pulled back to look at him. His face was very serious.
"Why?"
"So, I'm not your boyfriend."
It wasn't a question..
He half-smiled. "I suppose you're right about that," he explained.
"Oh. Well..." I didn't know what to say.
"But there's something else." Christian frowned.
I waited patiently.
"He called you pretty," he finally continued, his frown deepening. "That's practically an insult, the way you look right now. You're much more than beautiful."
I laughed. "You might be a little biased."
"I don't think that's it. Besides, I have excellent eyesight."
We were twirling again, my feet chasing his as he held me close.
"So are you going to explain the reason for all of this?" I wondered.
He looked down at me, confused, and I glared meaningfully at the crepe paper.
He considered for a moment, and then changed direction, spinning me through the crowd to the back door of the gym. I caught a glimpse of Jessica and Mike dancing, staring at me curiously. Jessica waved, and I smiled back quickly. Angela was there, too, looking blissfully happy in the arms of little Ben Cheney; she didn't look up from his eyes, a head lower than hers. Lee and Samantha, Lauren, glaring toward us, with Conner; I could name every face that spiraled past me. And then we were outdoors, in the cool, dim light of a fading sunset.
As soon as we were alone, he swung me up into his arms, and carried me across the dark grounds till he reached the bench beneath the shadow of the madrone trees. He sat there, keeping me cradled against his chest. The moon was already up, visible through the gauzy clouds, and his face glowed pale in the white light. His mouth was hard, his eyes troubled.
"The point?" I prompted softly.
He ignored me, staring up at the moon.
"Twilight, again," he murmured. "Another ending. No matter how perfect the day is, it always has to end."
"Some things don't have to end," I muttered through my teeth, instantly tense.
He sighed.
"I brought you to the prom," he said slowly, finally answering my question, "because I knew you'd like it. Edward brought your sister, because he doesn't want her to miss anything. Doesn't want our presence to take anything away from her, if he can help it."
I shuddered at his words, and then shook my head angrily. "In what strange parallel dimension would she ever have gone to prom of her own free will? If you weren't a thousand times stronger than us, she would never have let you get away with this."
He smiled briefly, but it didn't touch his eyes. "It wasn't so bad, you said so yourself."
"That's because I like dancing... and I was with you."
We were quiet for a minute; he stared at the moon and I stared at him.
"Will you tell me something?" he asked, glancing down at me with a slight smile.
"Don't I always?"
"Just promise you'll tell me," he insisted, grinning.
I knew I was going to regret this almost instantly. "Fine."
"Do you want to be with me?" He seemed almost shy.
My mouth felt dry and I didn't have a correct answer. Stumbling over my words, I said, "I think so. I don't know if I can do the vampire thing like my sister, but I like you. I feel something for you, but it's all so new, I'm not really sure if I can stay in your world."
He sighed deeply. "I know. I know what I am."
I sighed.
But his mercurial mood shifted on me. He pursed his lips, and his eyes were probing. He examined my face for a long moment.
"I don't think you're a monster. I just have my doubts about forever."
He smiled, and inclined his head slowly until his cold lips brushed against the skin just under the corner of my jaw. Hesitated. He chuckled darkly, and leaned away. His face did look disappointed, but then his expression changed, softened and saddened by the subtle ache in my voice.
"Alex." His fingers lightly traced the shape of my lips. My name was a prayer.
And he leaned down to press his cold lips once more to my throat.