*by Stephenie Meyer*
TWILIGHT - epilogue - AN OCCASION
We were at the school now; Rosalie's conversível 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 dressed: 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 Valente 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 mesa, tabela - he was carrying most of my weight, but I still had to shuffle and wobble my feet forward. - "there are more than enough vampiros 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 o espaço - 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... 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 teh unsuspecting towsfilk?" 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 minutos 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.
"Okay, this isn't half bad," I admitted.
But Edward was staring toward the doors, and his face was angry.
"What is it?" I wondered aloud. I followed his gaze, disoriented por the spinning, but finally I could see what was bothering him. Jacob Black, not in a tux, but in a long-sleeved white camisa 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.
Edward snarled very quietly.
"Behave!" I hissed.
Edward's voice was scathing. "He wants to chat with you."
Jacob reached us then, the embarrassment and apology even mais evident on his face.
"Hey, Bella, 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 Edward 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.
Edward's face was composed, his expression blank. His only answer was to set me carefully on my feet, and take a step back.
"Thanks," Jacob said amiably.
Edward 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, Jacob, how tall are you now?"
He was smug. "Six-two."
We weren't really dancing - my leg made that impossible. 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 I was.
"So, how did you end up here tonight?" I asked without true curiosity. Considering Edward's reaction, I could guess.
"Can you believe that 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 mural like pastel confections.
"Yeah," he sighed. "But she's taken."
He glanced down to meet my curious gaze for just a segundo - then we both looked away, embarrassed.
"You look really pretty, por the way," he added shyly.
"Um, thanks. So why did Billy ay you to come here?" I asked quickly, though I knew the answer.
Jacob didn't seem grateful for the subject changer; 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 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, Edward was watching my face, his own face expressionless. I saw the sophomore in a rosa, -de-rosa dress eyeing him with timid speculation, but he didn't seem to be aware of her.
Jacob looked away again, ashamed. "Don't get mad, okay?"
"There's no way I'll get 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, Bella - he wants you to break up with your boyfriend. He asked me to tell you 'please.'" He shook hsi head in disgust.
"He's still superstitious, eh?"
"Yeah. He was... kind of over the topo, início when you got hurt down in Phoenix. He didn't believe..." Jacob trailed ogg self-consciously.
My eyes narrowed. "I fell."
"I know that," Jacob said quickly.
"He thinks Edward had something to do with me getting hurt." It wasn't a question, and despite my promise, I was angry.
Jacob wouldn't meet my eyes. We weren't ever 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 to let you know" - he looked at em now, responding to the new earnestness in my voice - "Edward really did save my life. If it weren't for Edward and his father, I'd be dead."
"I know," he claimed, but he sounded like my sincere words had affected him some. Maybe he'd been 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 yoru parts, right?"
"Yeah," he murmured. He was still looking awkward... upset.
"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 mt waist and made little quotation 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 wuickly over my dress. "So, should I tell him you said to butt the hell out?" he asked hopefully.
"No," I sighed. "Tell him I said thanks. I know he means well."
The song ended, and I dropped my arms.
TWILIGHT - epilogue - AN OCCASION
We were at the school now; Rosalie's conversível 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 dressed: 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 Valente 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 mesa, tabela - he was carrying most of my weight, but I still had to shuffle and wobble my feet forward. - "there are more than enough vampiros 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 o espaço - 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... 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 teh unsuspecting towsfilk?" 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 minutos 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.
"Okay, this isn't half bad," I admitted.
But Edward was staring toward the doors, and his face was angry.
"What is it?" I wondered aloud. I followed his gaze, disoriented por the spinning, but finally I could see what was bothering him. Jacob Black, not in a tux, but in a long-sleeved white camisa 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.
Edward snarled very quietly.
"Behave!" I hissed.
Edward's voice was scathing. "He wants to chat with you."
Jacob reached us then, the embarrassment and apology even mais evident on his face.
"Hey, Bella, 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 Edward 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.
Edward's face was composed, his expression blank. His only answer was to set me carefully on my feet, and take a step back.
"Thanks," Jacob said amiably.
Edward 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, Jacob, how tall are you now?"
He was smug. "Six-two."
We weren't really dancing - my leg made that impossible. 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 I was.
"So, how did you end up here tonight?" I asked without true curiosity. Considering Edward's reaction, I could guess.
"Can you believe that 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 mural like pastel confections.
"Yeah," he sighed. "But she's taken."
He glanced down to meet my curious gaze for just a segundo - then we both looked away, embarrassed.
"You look really pretty, por the way," he added shyly.
"Um, thanks. So why did Billy ay you to come here?" I asked quickly, though I knew the answer.
Jacob didn't seem grateful for the subject changer; 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 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, Edward was watching my face, his own face expressionless. I saw the sophomore in a rosa, -de-rosa dress eyeing him with timid speculation, but he didn't seem to be aware of her.
Jacob looked away again, ashamed. "Don't get mad, okay?"
"There's no way I'll get 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, Bella - he wants you to break up with your boyfriend. He asked me to tell you 'please.'" He shook hsi head in disgust.
"He's still superstitious, eh?"
"Yeah. He was... kind of over the topo, início when you got hurt down in Phoenix. He didn't believe..." Jacob trailed ogg self-consciously.
My eyes narrowed. "I fell."
"I know that," Jacob said quickly.
"He thinks Edward had something to do with me getting hurt." It wasn't a question, and despite my promise, I was angry.
Jacob wouldn't meet my eyes. We weren't ever 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 to let you know" - he looked at em now, responding to the new earnestness in my voice - "Edward really did save my life. If it weren't for Edward and his father, I'd be dead."
"I know," he claimed, but he sounded like my sincere words had affected him some. Maybe he'd been 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 yoru parts, right?"
"Yeah," he murmured. He was still looking awkward... upset.
"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 mt waist and made little quotation 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 wuickly over my dress. "So, should I tell him you said to butt the hell out?" he asked hopefully.
"No," I sighed. "Tell him I said thanks. I know he means well."
The song ended, and I dropped my arms.
Hit the jump to check out the images. The film stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is set to open November 18th.
Slow, we paddle through the lake
Straight to the very center of the darkest water
Where we can embrace the shadows on the surface
The eyes that look up lifeless from our twins below
And though your arms and legs are under
amor will be the echo in your ears when all is lost and plundered
My amor will be there still
True, it's chilling to behold
Up close we stumble backwards laughing in our boat
Till the image sinks away to someplace far but certain
A land of mere suspension where someday we must go
And though your arms and legs are under
amor will be the echo in your ears when all is lost and plundered
My amor will be there still
Though your arms and legs are under
amor will be the echo in your ears when all is lost and plundered
My amor will be there still
Straight to the very center of the darkest water
Where we can embrace the shadows on the surface
The eyes that look up lifeless from our twins below
And though your arms and legs are under
amor will be the echo in your ears when all is lost and plundered
My amor will be there still
True, it's chilling to behold
Up close we stumble backwards laughing in our boat
Till the image sinks away to someplace far but certain
A land of mere suspension where someday we must go
And though your arms and legs are under
amor will be the echo in your ears when all is lost and plundered
My amor will be there still
Though your arms and legs are under
amor will be the echo in your ears when all is lost and plundered
My amor will be there still
I've waited a hundred years
And I'd wait a million mais for you
Nothing prepared me for of the privilege of being yours, I do
If I had only felt the warmth within your touch
If I had only seen how you smile when you blush
Or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough
But I would have known what I was living for all along
What I've been living for
Your amor is my turning page
Only the sweetest words remain
Every kiss is a cursive line
Every touch is a redefining phrase
I surrender who I've been for who you are
For nothing makes me stronger than your fragile heart
If I had only felt how it feels to be yours
I would have known what I've been living for all along
What I've been living for
Though we're tethered to the story we must tell
When I saw you well I knew we'd tell it well
With the whisper we will tame the vicious scenes
Like a feather bringing kingdoms to their knees
And I'd wait a million mais for you
Nothing prepared me for of the privilege of being yours, I do
If I had only felt the warmth within your touch
If I had only seen how you smile when you blush
Or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough
But I would have known what I was living for all along
What I've been living for
Your amor is my turning page
Only the sweetest words remain
Every kiss is a cursive line
Every touch is a redefining phrase
I surrender who I've been for who you are
For nothing makes me stronger than your fragile heart
If I had only felt how it feels to be yours
I would have known what I've been living for all along
What I've been living for
Though we're tethered to the story we must tell
When I saw you well I knew we'd tell it well
With the whisper we will tame the vicious scenes
Like a feather bringing kingdoms to their knees
Well I can go a million miles an hour
But I’ve been bored so try to drag me down into the night
But if the morning I knew the song
In the arms of a miracle
Come back and see where you’re from
I can see the sun is on the rush
The pulse is strong, it warms you better than the Joe they left behind
But in the breath before you go
In the arms of a miracle
Come back and see where you’ve gone
It starts as a battle of luck
In the end it’s in the hands of a ghost
Well I am
Well I am
I can go a million miles an hour
But I can see the sun upon their eyes
I can go a million miles an hour
I can see it’s all true
You start to feel it finally
It starts as a battle of luck
But it ends when the hands of a ghost lay it down yeah
But I’ve been bored so try to drag me down into the night
But if the morning I knew the song
In the arms of a miracle
Come back and see where you’re from
I can see the sun is on the rush
The pulse is strong, it warms you better than the Joe they left behind
But in the breath before you go
In the arms of a miracle
Come back and see where you’ve gone
It starts as a battle of luck
In the end it’s in the hands of a ghost
Well I am
Well I am
I can go a million miles an hour
But I can see the sun upon their eyes
I can go a million miles an hour
I can see it’s all true
You start to feel it finally
It starts as a battle of luck
But it ends when the hands of a ghost lay it down yeah
So pretty, so smart
Such a waste of her young heart
What a pity, what a sham
What’s the matter with you man
Don’t you see it’s wrong, can’t you get it right
Out of mind and out of sight
Call on all your girls, don’t forget the boys
Put a lid on all that noise
I’m a satellite heart
lost in the dark
I’m spun out so far
You stop, I start
But I’ll be true to you
I hear you’re living out of state
Running in a whole new scene
You know I haven’t slept in weeks
You’re the only thing I see
I’m a satellite heart
lost in the dark
I’m spun out so far
You stop, I start
But I’ll be true to you
I’m a satellite heart
lost in the dark
I’m spun out so far
You stop, I start
But I’ll be true to you
No matter what you do
Yeah I’ll be true to you
Such a waste of her young heart
What a pity, what a sham
What’s the matter with you man
Don’t you see it’s wrong, can’t you get it right
Out of mind and out of sight
Call on all your girls, don’t forget the boys
Put a lid on all that noise
I’m a satellite heart
lost in the dark
I’m spun out so far
You stop, I start
But I’ll be true to you
I hear you’re living out of state
Running in a whole new scene
You know I haven’t slept in weeks
You’re the only thing I see
I’m a satellite heart
lost in the dark
I’m spun out so far
You stop, I start
But I’ll be true to you
I’m a satellite heart
lost in the dark
I’m spun out so far
You stop, I start
But I’ll be true to you
No matter what you do
Yeah I’ll be true to you