Pig Barbie when I do；〃 I griped。 I'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 plained； 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
ridiculous dress — deep blue； frilly and off the shoulders； with French
tags I couldn't read — a dress more suitable for a runway than Forks。
Nothing good could e 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。
I was distracted then by the sound of a phone ringing。 Edward pulled his
cell phone from a pocket inside his jacket； looking briefly at the caller
ID before answering。
〃Hello； Charlie；〃 he said warily。
〃Charlie？〃 I frowned。
Charlie had been… difficult since my return to Forks。 He had
partmentalized my 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；
I wouldn't have left home in the first place。 And Edward was far from
disagreeing with him。 These days I had rules that hadn't existed before：
curfews… visiting hours。
Something Charlie was saying made Edward'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。
〃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 my house？ The awful truth began to dawn on me。 I
looked again at the inappropriate dress Alice had forced me into。
〃I'm sorry if there's been some kind of mismunication； 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。
My face and neck flushed crimson with anger。 I could feel the
rageinduced tears starting to fill my eyes。
He looked at me in surprise。 〃Was that last part a bit too much？ I didn't
mean to offend you。〃
I ignored that。
〃You're taking me to the prom！〃 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
me to this。 Didn't he know me at all？
He wasn't expecting the force of my reaction； that was clear。 He pressed
his lips together and his eyes narrowed。 〃Don't be difficult； Bella。〃
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
forwa