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My eyes flashed to the window； we were halfway to the school already。
〃Why are you doing this to me？〃 I 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 me into a beauty queen； were so far wide
of the mark。 My halffearful 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 cheeks。 I remembered with dismay that I
was very uncharacteristically wearing mascara。 I wiped quickly under my
eyes to prevent any smudges。 My hand was unblackened when I pulled it
away； maybe Alice had known I would need waterproof makeup。
〃This is pletely 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 me。
〃What？〃 I muttered； distracted。
〃Humor me；〃 he insisted。
His eyes were melting all my fury。 It was impossible to fight with him
when he cheated like that。 I gave in with poor grace。
〃Fine；〃 I pouted； unable to glare as effectively as I would have liked。
〃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！〃 I
held out my 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 forted me slightly。
〃With Jasper； and Emmett… and Rosalie；〃 he admitted。
The feeling of fort disappeared。 There had been no progress with
Rosalie； though I was on quite good terms with her sometimeshusband。
Emmett enjoyed having me around — he thought my bizarre human reactions
were hilarious… or maybe it was just the fact that I fell down a lot that
he found so funny。 Rosalie acted as if I didn't exist。 While I shook my
head to dispel the direction my thoughts had taken； I thought of
something else。
〃Is Charlie in on this？〃 I asked； suddenly suspicious。
〃Of course。〃 He grinned； and then chuckled。 〃Apparently Tyler wasn't；
though。〃
I gritted my teeth。 How Tyler could be so delusional； I couldn't imagine。
At school； where Charlie couldn't interfere； Edward and I 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。
He got out and walked around the car to open my door。 He held out his
hand。
I sat stubbornly in my seat； arms folded； feeling a secret twinge of
smugness。 The lot was crowded with people in formal dress： witnesses。 He
couldn't remove me forcibly from the car as he might have if we'd 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； I won't let anything hurt you — not even yourself。 I won't let go
of you once； I promise。〃
I thought about that and suddenly felt much better。 He could see that in
my face。
〃There； now；〃 he said gently； 〃it won't be so bad。〃 He leaned down and
wrapped one arm around my waist。 I took his other hand and let him lift
me from the car。
He kept his arm tightly around me； supporting me as I limped toward the
school。
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；〃 I snickered。
〃Well；〃 he muttered as we slowly approached the ticket table — he was
carrying most of my weight； but I still had to shuffle and wobble my 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？〃 I 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 our tickets； then turned me toward the dance floor。 I cringed
against his arm and dragged my feet。
〃I've got all night；〃 he warned。
Eventually he towed me out to where his family was twirling elegantly —
if in a style totally unsuitable to the present time and music。 I watched
in horror。
〃Edward。〃 My throat was so dry I could only manage a whisper。 〃I honestly
can't dance！〃 I could feel the panic bubbling up inside my chest。
〃Don't worry； silly；〃 he whispered back。 〃I can。〃 He put my arms around
his neck and lifted me to slide his feet under mine。
And then we were whirling； too。
〃I feel like I'm five years old；〃 I laughed after a few minutes of
effortless waltzing。
〃You don't look five；〃 he murmured； pulling me closer for a second； so
that my feet were briefly a foot from the ground。
Alice caught my eye on a turn and smiled in encouragement — I smiled
back。 I was surprised to realize that I was actually enjoying myself… a
little。
〃O