Rose saw my curious expression as I watched Edward and Emmett carry them upstairs. "So, since it's my birthday on Monday, I decided that I just wanted a small dinner tonight to celebrate." She spoke quickly. "We're meeting Alice, Jazz and Christopher at Michael's Restaurant in Port Angeles at 6pm."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I would be too tired to travel all the way back to Seattle tonight." She said with a sigh. "And to explain the garment bags, Alice and Chris decided to dress all of us." She said with a sly wink.
I chuckled, but was also curious, so I went upstairs to take a peek in the bags.
I found two of them hanging in my room. One contained a black and white cocktail dress, very feminine and flirty. The other contained a black tux.
Alice and Chris have gone overboard yet again.
Rose and I had a quick cup of tea, I'd switched completely from coffee to make things easier for my pregnant friend.
"Let's get going, Father Pat will chew my ass if we're late!" Emmett bellowed from the front door.
Determined not to ride with him, Edward and I climbed into the Vanquish. I saw Rose give us a longing look as they pulled away.
"Edward, you really need to give Rose a ride in this car. She will pee herself with excitement."
Edward barked out a laugh. "I hope you're exaggerating, because urine would ruin these fine leather seats Bella."
"Smart ass." I grinned as I chuckled. "Seriously though, she'd love a ride."
"Well, seeing as it's her birthday on Monday, I'll see what I can do." He smiled.
Such a sweetheart.
Father Pat greeted us at the door and led us to one of the CCD classrooms. Edward and I took our seats next to Rose at a small table. Emmett walked around the table to Edward and me. "Hello there classmates. The name's Emmett Swan, this is my fiancée Rosalie Whitlock, damned glad to meet you." He said as he held his hand out for a shake.
"Sit down Emmett, and try not to be too embarrassing." I whisper-yelled.
He put his hands on his hips and looked at Edward sympathetically. "My condolences friend, your fiancée seems to have some anger issues, or is she possibly suffering from PMS?" He questioned while quirking his head in my direction. Just then there was a loud smacking sound as Rosalie's hand connected with the back of Emmett's head.
"Sit down and shut up Emmett." Rose snarked.
Emmett shrugged and took his seat. Unaffected, as usual.
Father Pat regarded the whole scene with amusement. "Rosalie, you may have just exempted yourself from the lesson on 'conflict resolution'." Father said with a chuckle before turning serious.
"Anyway, good morning my children. Let us start today's lesson with a prayer." Father directed.
Emmett, Father and I made the sign of the cross before all of us bowed our heads for a short prayer.
The first lesson, as expected, was all about communication. Father stressed that the key to any relationship, especially marital, was to always keep the lines of communication open.
"At this time, as I do with all my Pre-Cana classes, I am going to turn the lesson over to Mr. and Mrs. Combs. They have graciously volunteered to help, and have particular expertise in the area of 'how to have a successful marriage', having been happily married close to forty years." He said with a smile. "No doubt you already know them but, until they walk through that door, they will remain unaware of the identities of the couples they are assisting with today. I'll be right back." He said before exiting the room.
I looked around, Edward and Rose were sitting quietly, basically expressionless, just like me. Emmett, on the other hand, had a shit-eating grin on his face.
Soon after Mr. and Mrs. Combs walked through the door with Father, I understood why. They both smiled pleasantly as Father made the introductions, but when Mrs. Combs's gaze fell on Emmett, her face fell, losing the happy expression altogether.
"You" She muttered.
"Hi there Mrs. Combs." He said as he waggled his eyebrows at her.
We all looked at him questioningly.
Emmett cleared his throat, "We have history." He explained.
Ew. What exactly does that mean?
Everyone in the room, apart from Emmett and Mrs. Combs looked stunned, and a little freaked out.
Emmett, noting our expressions winced, "Not like that you pervs" He boomed "Mrs. Combs was my seventh grade teacher."
Everyone relaxed at that, except Mrs. Combs.
"Well now, unless you need me, I'll leave you in the capable hands of Mr. and Mrs. Combs." Father said with a wary expression as he surveyed the room. "I would like the four of you" He said to Emmett, Rose, Edward and I, "to stop by the Church to see me before you leave today."
We nodded our acquiescence before Father left.
Mrs. Combs cleared her throat nervously. "Yes, well, normally we give the engaged couples our insights on marriage" Mrs. Combs stated in a shaky voice.
Emmett grinned. "Mrs. Combs, I can tell that seeing me here today is bothering you. We should probably get that out in the open."
"It was a shock to see you" Mrs. Combs defended "Of course I've seen you a couple times in Church, and on television…." She added quietly.
Rosalie couldn't contain herself any longer "Emmett, were you an asshole in Mrs. Combs's class or something?" She barked as Edward and I sat there quietly.
Emmett looked a little sheepish. "I think that would be an apt description." He admitted.
"It was a memorable year" Mrs. Combs said with a sigh. "The first and only time in my teaching history that I've had to add a student's parents to my speed-dial."
Rose's eyebrows shot up. "What the hell did you do?" She demanded, oblivious to the fact that we were on Church grounds.
Emmett pursed his lips. "I may have released a wild squirrel in the lunch room." He stated matter-of-factly. Everyone gave shocked looks. "What? I caught it again and released it back outside." He defended.
Rose still had him in her sights. "And?"
"I may have set off some firecrackers in a trash can prompting the police and fire departments to investigate." He smirked.
Mrs. Combs sighed. "It was the trash can next to my desk." She shook her head.
Emmett grinned. "Yeah, I never knew Pops' face could turn that precise shade of purple until that day."
He shrugged guiltily. Rose was still watching him, waiting for more. "I may have grabbed Amanda Dixon's boob during Math class."
Rose narrowed her eyes at him.
"And I may have mooned my friends during field day."
Mrs. Combs spoke up again. "You might have been aiming for your friends Mr. Swan, but you ended up dropping your drawers in full view of a group of first graders who had just come outside to join in the festivities."
Unfortunately I, Bella Swan just happened to be one of those first graders.
For good reason, my mind had suppressed that particular memory until just now.
Thanks a lot Mrs. Combs.
I glanced around. Rose looked pissed, Edward looked amused, and Mr. Combs was looking longingly at the exit.
"I want to know about the boob grab." Rose interrupted.
Emmett sighed. "Amy Dixon 'developed', I mean really 'developed' in seventh grade." He said using air quotes. "I had to sit behind her all year, and I was a normal thirteen year old boy." He said with a grin.
"It was torture. Every day I watched her every move. Whenever she wore a white blouse, I could see the outline of her bra through it."
This is way more information than any of us needs.
"Finally, one afternoon I just couldn't take it any more. When Mrs. Combs was called out into the hall to speak with another teacher, I just went for it." He shrugged. "I reached around and grabbed a handful of boob."
Oh for cripes sakes
"And…" Rose asked as she folded her arms across her chest.
"And, Amy jumped out of her seat, picked up her Math text book, and proceeded to beat me over the head with it." He smirked at Rose. "See babe, I've always been attracted to girls that want to kick my ass." He said with a grin. Rose tried, but failed to hide her amusement.
Emmett turned back to Mrs. Combs then, "The worst part was that when you walked back in the classroom and witnessed Amy beating the hell out of me, you sent me to the principal's office instead of her."
"That's because Amy was a good student and a nice girl. I knew that if she was hitting you, she must have had a good reason." Mrs. Combs defended.
There was a moment of silence before the room erupted in laughter.
Once we'd all recovered, Emmett turned to Mrs. Combs once again, "Mrs. Combs, I'd like to apologize for all that sh.., um, I mean all the stupid things I did." Emmett rubbed his palms together as he spoke, a habit he'd picked up from Charlie. "I know it doesn't excuse anything, but if you think back, you'll remember that I didn't start acting out until the last three months of school. That was when my parents had informed me that they were splitting up, and Mom and Bella would be moving away that summer. I just couldn't handle it. I'm really sorry." He said sincerely.
Mrs. Combs looked at him sympathetically. "Thank you Emmett. You seem to have grown into a nice young man." She continued "I'm sure you've outgrown all of that crazy behavior by now."
Yeah, right.
"Oh, I still have my moments." Emmett said with a cheeky grin.
At which we all laughed again.
Mrs. And Mrs. Combs turned out to be a wealth of information. As we sat there listening, they regaled us with stories from their nearly forty year marriage. They chalked their success up to the fact that they kept no secrets from each other.
They were amazing to watch, each one anticipating the other's needs without that need having to be voiced. Always moving in quiet synchronization with each other. As I watched them, I was reminded of the way that Edward and I were always so in tune with each other. I hoped that in forty years, we would still be like the Combses, each of us living every day for the other.
Suddenly, I was hit with a wave of sadness as I realized that some day one of the Combs's would die and leave the other alone.
How would either of these wonderful people survive without the other?
My sorrow at that thought must have shown on my face, because suddenly Edward's hand was covering mine on top of the table. I looked up to see two beautiful green eyes, filled with love and concern, watching me.
I gave him a small smile, trying to reassure. Through the rest of the lesson, Edward and I never lost physical contact. Sometimes it was my leg leaning against his, while his hand rested on my knee under the table, other times we kept our hands clasped lightly together in full view of everyone. Anybody watching would have no doubt that we were very much in love.
The most important points I came away with after the lesson were: 'If you must criticize, do it lovingly', 'Neglect the whole world rather than each other', and 'Don't be afraid or ashamed to ask forgiveness'.
And probably the statement which resonated with me the most: 'Marriage is ninety percent giving, and ten percent taking'.
The last task we had to perform was to write a love letter to our 'intended'. It was to remain private, and was completely up to us whether we let the other person read it immediately, or on our wedding day, or ten years from now.
We all sat writing quietly for a few minutes. As soon as I began my letter, the words flowed easily:
.
My dearest Edward,
To say that I would be lost without you is nothing short of the truth. I remember all too well what my life was like before we met. Was it only five short months ago? In many ways, those months feel like a lifetime. A lifetime in which you have provided encouragement, friendship, understanding, patience, a shoulder to cry on when needed, warm embraces, passionate kisses, and most of all undying love.
I will spend the rest of my life striving to be the woman you see when you look at me. In return for your encouragement, I promise to strive for success in everything I attempt. In return for your friendship, I offer a hand to hold. In return for your patience and understanding, I promise not to dwell on past sorrows. In return for your shoulder, I offer you my heart, something you already have in your possession. In return for your embraces, I promise to never leave your side. In return for your kisses, I confess that you are and will always be the only man I could ever love. In return for your undying love, I offer the same, and a wish for us to remain together always, during this lifetime and the next.
I love you Edward,
Your Bella
.
I folded the letter and put it away until later.
Before leaving, we thanked the Combses for their time. Emmett and Rose stayed behind chatting with them, as Edward took my hand in his, and we walked over to the Church.
We found Father kneeling in the last pew, saying his rosary. Not wanting to disturb him, we slipped quietly into the pew across the aisle and waited.
As soon as Emmett and Rose arrived, Father blessed himself and put his rosary away. "Hello children" He said brightly. "I hope that the lesson was helpful."
We nodded and returned his smiled.
Before leaving, Father blessed our engagement rings. When Edward placed his bracelet on the tray with the rings, Father didn't question before blessing it too.
-V&V-
We had lunch with Charlie before Rose informed me that we were going to the salon that afternoon. I balked at first.
"Bella, we've got these fabulous dresses for tonight, and we both could use new do's to go with them."
I couldn't argue. It had been too long since I'd had my hair cut and styled.
After making sure the men would survive without us, Rose and I headed for the door. I was surprised when Edward followed us. "Rosalie" He said to my best friend.
"Yeah, Edward?" She turned with a smile.
"Happy birthday." He said with a grin before handing her the keys to the Vanquish.
Rosalie's eyes widened and her eyebrows shot up. "Oh my gosh" she whispered. Then she got a worried look on her face. "I gotta go pee." She announced before heading for the nearest bathroom.
Edward and I started to chuckle as I heard my brother's booming laughter from the living room.
He doesn't miss a thing.
Rose thanked Edward profusely before we headed out.
I practically had to push her into the car in order to stop her rubbing her body up and down the shiny silver exterior. "Rose, I'm pretty certain that Edward doesn't need you to buff his car with your tits." She let out a laugh as she continued to slide against it. "Would you please stop dry humping the Vanquish."
She grinned as she opened the door and climbed in. "Sweeeet" was the only word she said as she checked out all the gauges.
Rose convinced me to get an 'updo', saying that we'd need to try some different hairstyles to see what would look good for our weddings. I had to admit that I felt a little like a princess with most of my hair swept up with curled tendrils hanging down.
As I expected, we didn't drive straight back to Charlie's after the salon. Rose felt the need to take several detours to, in her words: 'see what this baby can do'. Luckily when deputy Mark pulled us over, he just shook his head and let us go with a smile, promising not to mention the incident to Charlie.
Once Rose and I were dressed, I really did feel like a princess. The guys were dressed and waiting downstairs looking, once again, like the cover of GQ.
As soon as Edward saw me, his face lit up with an awed expression. "You are so beautiful my love." He whispered as he pulled me close and kissed my neck, no doubt enjoying the access that the new hairstyle provided.
I wrapped my arms around his neck before kissing his lips. As usual, we lost track of where we were until a gruff throat-clearing from a few feet away startled us.
We broke apart abruptly, both of us looking sheepish.
I glanced over at my Dad who merely looked amused.
I blinked several times, trying to focus. "Dad, are you sure you can't come with us?" I asked, needing to think about anything other than the fact that my fiancé was standing in front of me looking like sex on legs.
"Sorry gang, but I have to work tonight." He grinned as he answered.
That was odd. Dad's not usually giddy about going to work.
"I have something for you." Edward stated in a quiet voice. We were sitting in the Vanquish, but hadn't pulled out of the driveway yet.
I chuckled. "You bought me a corsage?"
"It matches my buttoneer." He grinned. "Alice insisted."
"Your sister is one of a kind." I smiled as he pinned the flower to my dress.
"Thankfully" he answered with a smirk.
Alice, Jasper and Chris were already at the restaurant when we arrived. "Hello everyone" Chris exclaimed. "My, don't we all look smashing."
I had to agree. Everyone was so beautiful that the sight of them practically made my eyes burn.
Entirely too beautiful.
"I wonder how the paps knew we'd be here?" Edward asked of no one in particular.
When we'd arrived, there had been several photographers already waiting outside the restaurant.
"They followed us." Jasper answered.
We all looked at him questioningly. "The Vanity Fair interview was leaked. Everyone now knows that Alice is your sister, and that she and Chris collectively are 'Brandon Miles'."
Crap. Vanity Fair wasn't due to hit the newsstands for at least a week.
Alice just shrugged. "I'm glad everything's out in the open finally."
Edward looked worried, so she reached over and patted his hand, smiling gently. He sighed and smiled back at her.
"Excuse me for a moment sweetheart." He said before kissing my cheek and retreating to the back of the restaurant, cell phone in hand.
Less than five minutes later, Edward was back, seeming much more relaxed.
"So Chris, where's Gerry this weekend?" Rose asked.
"Oh honey, this is the busiest time of the year for him with finals just a few weeks away. It's okay though, he'll be with me for the weddings." He said with a wink.
Dinner was excellent. Michael's has a very eclectic menu, therefore no one was disappointed.
As I sat eating my gnocchi, Emmett tried his best to freak me out.
"You know Bellaboo, this place is haunted." He said in a low creepy voice.
I was such a coward that it didn't take much to scare me. "I don't care Emmett" I answered while shifting minutely closer to Edward.
Edward smirked as he placed his hand on my knee.
"Yeah, they had a whole team of those ghost-hunters here recording ghost sounds and shit." Emmett continued.
"Shut up now." I said in warning, already feeling the hair stand up on the back of my neck.
"There's supposedly a bunch of ghosts here, but there's one in particular that they refer to as the Shadow Man because all anyone ever sees is a dark shadow when he appears. Those ghost hunter dudes even saw him. He darted up the stairs while they were here."
How am I supposed to go to the bathroom now? Fuck you Emmett.
When I couldn't hold it any longer, I forced Alice to go with me. "Come on Bella, you can't seriously be scared?" Alice asked as she waited outside my stall.
"Damn right I am. How can you not be?" I asked incredulously.
"I ain't 'fraid of no ghost" She sang before she started to cackle.
"Ha fucking ha." I snarked. "You would be singing a different tune if you'd grown up with Emmett. He lives to scare the shit out of me."
She laughed lightly again.
If I'd been thinking, really thinking about how my brother's brain worked, I would have pushed Alice through that bathroom door ahead of me. But no, I wasn't thinking.
That's why when I opened the door and was greeted with the sight of a six foot high figure clothed in black wearing the creepiest, scariest, most evil looking clown mask I'd ever seen in my entire life, I screamed my ever-loving ass off.
I hadn't screamed like that since Alec's underwear had landed on my head.
It's a damned good thing I just emptied my bladder.
Once I finished screaming, I recovered enough to see Alice and Emmett, now without the mask, both doubled over in laughter, struggling to breathe. My scream had attracted quite a crowd, so I embarrassingly made my way through them to find a distraught looking Edward trying to make his way to me.
"Sweetheart are you okay?" He asked frantically.
"Emmett is the king of assholes." I said by way of explanation before grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the exit.
Edward refused to leave the parking lot until everyone else had exited the restaurant, and were seated in their vehicles. Evidently, we were all going 'clubbing' together.
Yeah, I'd like to club Emmett.
If possible, Edward was even more upset over the incident in the restaurant than I was. He tore past Emmett on our way out of the parking lot and gave him a one-finger salute before I had a chance to.
I stifled a giggle at my brother's shocked expression.
When I realized that Edward had started driving back in the direction of Forks, I looked at him questioningly.
"Forgive me Bella" He said quietly "I may not have been totally truthful with you. The next stop is meant to be a surprise."
Try as I might, my brain could not conjure up any place in Forks where we wouldn't stick out like sore thumbs dressed the way we were. That was until Edward pulled the car into the high school parking lot and I read the sign out front.
'Through The Looking Glass'
Forks High Senior Prom
Saturday May 22
8pm
Edward parked the car as I stared at him in disbelief. He shrugged. "You'll need to ask Christopher and Alice."
That was exactly what I intended to do.
I approached Chris and Alice as they were exiting their vehicle. Edward followed until he stood beside me, his arm around my shoulders.
Chris noticed the look on my face, and held his hands in front of him, palms out in a calming gesture. "Bella dear, before you bite our heads off, I want you to know that this was my doing. Please don't be angry with Alice."
I looked at him, confused.
He sighed loudly and his shoulders sagged as he began to speak in almost a whisper. "Ever since our drunken afternoon on Alice's patio, the fact that you never got to enjoy things in high school, such as prom, has been troubling me."
I looked at him sadly. "Couple that with the fact that Edward never had a real prom either…" He shook his head and looked down at the pavement. "The things you both endured were, well, tragic is the only word that fits." I noticed his lip tremble as he spoke. I could feel my throat begin to tighten.
By this time, our entire group had gathered around Chris and I in a huddle.
"I had inquired and kept the date of the Forks prom in the back of my mind for weeks, just in case by some miracle Edward was able to make it back in time." I smiled at Chris then. "Then, lo and behold, to everyone's surprise, he flies back on Monday. I immediately sprang into action."
Alice interrupted. "It's true Bella. I've never seen Christopher like that before, he was like a man possessed." She smiled, tears glistening in her beautiful eyes. "He got in touch with Emmett and Charlie, and while they arranged things at this end, we arranged the clothing and hauling our tushys up here from Cali."
I took a deep breath. "I don't know what to say." I admitted as Edward squeezed my shoulder lightly and smiled down at me.
"Technically, we're all here tonight in a 'chaperone' capacity, but that doesn't matter." Chris said. "Bella, remember what we talked about that day?"
I nodded, the tears flowing now. I could hear Rosalie's quiet sniffles somewhere to my right.
"For you and for Edward, tonight is all about replacing those bad memories with something magical." Chris said as his voice cracked. "You both deserve this."
I lost it then. "Thank you Chris and Alice, and everyone." I was able to stutter out, through my tears. I reached for Chris and Alice and hugged them both to me. "I love you guys." I whispered.
"Love you too honey" Chris replied.
"Love you Bella." Alice whispered.
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