If you recognize it, then I probably don't own it

Chapter 26: An Occasion

Edward helped me into his car, being very careful of the whips of organza, the flowers he'd just pinned into my elaborately styled curls, and my bulky walking cast. He ignored the annoyed set of my mouth.

When he had me settled, he got in the driver's seat and headed back out the long, narrow drive.

"At what point exactly are you going to tell me what's going on?" I asked grouchily. He knew I had a job search to complete.

"I'm shocked you haven't figured it out yet." He threw a mocking smile in my direction. "I'm just happy that your dad is letting you out of your house."

"He thinks isolation is a terrible punishment, so I got a different one." I told Edward. I didn't exactly tell him what my punishment was, just that I got one. "I did mention that you looked very nice, didn't I?" I changed the subject.

"Yes, you did." He grinned again. I'd never seen him dress in all black before. He looked hot, that I couldn't deny, even if he looked like a waiter in the tuxedo he was wearing. "You didn't tell me your punishment."

I wasn't nervous wearing the dress, because it was knee-length, and I wasn't nervous because the shoe I was wearing was a braided bunch flat. I was wearing one shoe. Because the other foot was still securely encased in a plaster cast. Of course I was still going to hobble around, because of my broken foot.

"I'm not coming over anymore if Alice is going to play Dress-Up Barbie when I do." I said casually keeping with the subject change. I'd spent the better of the day in Alice's staggeringly vast bathroom, the victim as she played hairdresser and cosmetician. When I told I was good on the makeup, she scoffed and wiped off the twenty-three dollar mascara I had on. And when I complained about how expensive the mascara she'd rubbed off was; she told me she had no memories of being human, and told me to stop ruining her fun. At least she'd dressed me in a decent black, sleeveless, A-line dress with Italian tags that I couldn't read—a dress suited for the runway than Forks. Nothing good could come from our formal attire.

I was about to tell him that he'd never know my punishment when his phone rang. Edward pulled his phone from a pocket inside his jacket, looking briefly at the caller ID before answering.

"Hello, Charlie," He said warily.

"Charlie?" I frowned, "Oh my god, that's my dad! You're on the phone with my dad!"

My dad had been…irritated…since my return to Forks. He had compartmentalized my…experience… into two defined reactions. Toward Carlisle and Edward he almost was almost worshipfully grateful for going to Ivywood to get me back. On the other hand, he was convinced that it was all my fault—because, if not for me and my terrible communication skills, I wouldn't have lied and fled to my mom's place where I was the victim of a hit-and-run. And Edward was far from disagreeing with him. These days I had a great punishment. Since I'd missed some school in order to kick-AWOL, I had a choice either get all A's this semester or go to summer school, pay for it myself, with a job I was required to get…in order to pay for summer school.

Something my dad was saying made Edward's eye widen in disbelief, and then a grin spread across his face.

"You're kidding!" He laughed.

"What?!" 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." He said, very friendly, on the surface. I knew it to catch a soft edge of menace. What the fuck was Tyler doing at my house? The truth began to dawn on me. I looked again at the dress that Alice forced me into.

"I'm sorry if there's been some kind of miscommunication, but Miri 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.

I felt my face turn red.

He looked at me in surprise. "Was that last part a bit too much? I didn't mean to offend you."

"You're taking me to the prom?"I growled.

It was embarrassingly obvious now. It I'd be paying attention at all, I'm sure I would have noticed the date on the posters at school, I was so fucking oblivious! I'd never realized he'd schemed to subject to this.

Clearly, he wasn't expecting my reaction. He pressed lips together and his eyes narrowed, "Don't be difficult, Peach."

My eyes flashed to the window; we were halfway to the school already.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I demanded.

He gestured to his tuxedo. "Honestly, Miri, what did you think we were doing?"

I'd missed the obvious. The vague suspicions—expectations, really—that I'd been forming all day, as Alice wiped off my twenty-three dollar mascara, were so far wide of the mark.

I'd guess there was some kind of occasion brewing. But the fucking prom! That was the furthest thing from my mind.

"This is ridiculous. Why are you upset?" He asked.

"Because I'm mad!"

"Miri." He turned to me.

"What?" I muttered.

"Humor me," He insisted.

"Fine," I pouted, unable to glare as effectively as I would have liked. "I'll go quietly. But you'll see. I'm a shit dancer. And with this fucking boot, it's a death trap!" I held out my leg as evidence.

"Hmmm." He stared at my leg linger than was necessary. "I think it looks great."

"Is Alice going to be there?"

"With Jasper, and Emmett…and Rosalie," He admitted progress with Rosalie, though I was on good terms with her sometimes-husband. Emmett enjoyed having me around—he thought my human behavior was hilarious…or maybe it was just the fact that I walked into a lot of walls and kept going without being deterred a lot was 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.

"Is my dad in on this?" I asked, suddenly suspicious.

"Of course." He grinned, and then chuckled, "Apparently Tyler wasn't, though."

I grit my teeth. How Tyler could still think I was going to prom with him, I couldn't imagine. At school, where my dad 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 in my feet, stubbornly, arms folded, feeling a secret twinge of smugness. The lot was crowded with people in formal dress: witnesses. He couldn't remove me from the car as he might have if we'd been alone.

He sighed, "When someone wants to kill you, you're brave as all fuck—and when someone mentions dancing…" He shook his head.

I gulped. Dancing.

"Miri, 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 better. He could see that in my face.

"There, now," He said gently. "It won't be so bad." He leaned down and wrapped on 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 Ivywood 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 laughed. There were actual balloon arches and twisted garlands of pastel crepe paper festooning in the walls.

"This place looks like a horror movie waiting to happen," I snickered.

"Well," He muttered as we slowly approached the ticket table—he was helping me walk, going slower as I clunked—"There are more than enoughvampires 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 the space—no one wanted to stand in contrast with their radiance. Emmett and Jasper were intimidating and flawless 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 gorgeous 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 guys can start your massacre on the unsuspecting townsfolk?" I whispered conspiratorially.

"And where do you fit into that scheme?" He glared.

"Oh, I'm on the other side of the door;" I said pointing back with my thumb, "Or I'm Carrie and I'm with the vampires, of course."

He smiled, "Anything to get out of dancing."

"Anything." I agreed.

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." I said dryly, "I honestly can't dance!" I could feel the panic bubbling up inside my chest.

"Don't worry, Peach," He whispered back, "I can." He put my arms around his neck and lifted me to slide his feet under mine.

"No really, I'm like Chandler; it's not pretty, at all."

And then we were whirling, too.

"What am I? 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 because I wasn't dancing my Chandler-esque moves that I was actually a pretty good dancer… because Edward was dancing for me.

"Okay, I don't mean to brag, but I'm the best at this." I admitted.

"You're so modest." He said, but he wasn't looking at me as he spoke. He was staring toward the doors, and his face was painted with anger.

"What?" I asked. 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 unusual ponytail, was crossing toward us.

…

After the first shook of recognition, I couldn't help but feel bad for him. He was clearly uncomfortable—excruciatingly so. His face was apologetic as his eyes meet mine.

Edward snarled quietly.

"Shut up and behave!" I hissed.

"He wants to chat with you." Edward said scathingly.

"That's odd, no one ever wants to talk to me."

Jacob reached us, just as I finished my quip, the embarrassment and apology even more evident on his face.

"Hey, Miri, 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.

"Hey, Jacob." I smiled back, "Nice to see you slummin' it here. What's up?"

"Can I cut in?" He asked tentatively, glancing at Edward for the first time. I was shocked to see 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.

"Okay, Jake, how tall are you."

He was smug. "Six-two."

We weren't really dancing—my broken-ass foot made it impossible. Instead we swayed awkwardly from the 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 had the same kind of dancing skill as me.

"So, how did you end up here tonight?" I asked with true curiosity. Considering Edward's reaction, I could guess.

"Can you believe my dad paid me twenty bucks to come to your prom?" He admitted, slightly ashamed.

"No." I said, "So who's your date?" I nodded towards a group of girls lined up against the wall like pastel confections.

"Yeah, but she's taken." He sighed.

"Come on," I nudged, "Who's your date?"

"I don't really have one," He admitted.

"That's hot, going stag."

He glanced down to meet my curious gaze for just a second—then we both looked away, embarrassed.

"You look really pretty, by the way," He added shyly.

"Thanks. So did your dad really pay you to show up? Even though you were coming anyway?"

Jacob didn't seem happy about the subject change. Probably because it wasn't really a subject change. He looked away, uncomfortable again. "He said it was 'safe' place to talk to you or whatever. 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 easier. Against the wall, Edward watched me, his own face expressionless. I saw a sophomore in a pink dress eyeing him with a 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 be mad at you, Jacob." I assured him. "I won't even be at your dad. Just say what you have to say."

"Well—this is so stupid, I'm sorry, Miri—He wants you to break you 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 you got hurt Ivywood. He didn't believe…" Jacob trailed off self-consciously.

My eyes narrowed, "I was the victim of a hit-and-run." I was the victim of a fucking vampire attack.

"I know that."

"He thinks Edward had something to do with me getting hurt." It wasn't a question, and I wasn't angry, probably because it was kind-of true.

Jacob wouldn't meet my eyes. We weren't even bothering to sway to the music, though his hand were still on my waist, and mine around his neck.

"Look, Jacob, I know your dad probably won't believe this, but just so you know"—he looked at me now, responding to the earnestness in my voice—"Edward really did save my life. If it weren't for him and his dad, I'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 his dad of this much, at least.

"Hey, look, I'm sorry it had to come to this, Jake." I apologized. "At least you get your parts, right."

"Yeah," He muttered. He was 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."

"Come on, tell me. Otherwise I'm going to set you with someone." I teased.

"Okay…but, geez, this sounds bad." He shook his head. "He said to tell you, no, to warn you; or whatever; 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.

I snickered, "Sorry you had to do this, Jake."

"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 shook my head, "Tell him I said thanks. I know he means well."

The song ended, and I dropped my arms.

His hands hesitated at waist, and he glanced at my bum leg. "Do you want to dance again? Or can I help you get somewhere?"

Edward answered for me. "That's all right, Jacob. I'll take it from here."

Jacob flinched, and stared wide-eyed at Edward, who stood just behind us.

"Hey, I didn't see you there," He mumbled. "I guess I'll see you around, Miri." He stepped back, waving half-heartedly.

I smiled. "Yeah, I'll see you later."

"Sorry." He said again before he turned to for the door.

…

Edward'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, Flower?" I asked.

"Not really," He said tersely.

"Don't be mad at Billy," I sighed. "He worries about me 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?"

"First of all, he made me promise."

I started at him in confusion.

He half-smiled. "I promised I wouldn't let go of you tonight," He explained.

"Oh yeah."

"Oh yeah? That's all?"

"It's not that big a deal." I shrugged.

"Thanks. But there's something else." Edward frowned.

I waited patiently.

"He called you pretty," He continued, his frown deepening. "That's practically an insult."

"Hey, thanks man. That means a lot."

"What I mean is: you're much more than beautiful."

"Well you're also biased." I laughed.

"I don't think that's it. Besides, I have excellent eyesight."

We were twirling now again, my feet on his as he held me close.

"So are you going to explain the reason for all this?" I asked.

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 dance floor of the gym. I caught a glimpse of Jessica and Mike dancing, staring at me curiously. Jess 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 Lauren, Lauren, glaring at us –oh she hates me—with Connor, I could name every face that spiraled past me. And then were outdoors, in, 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."

"It's night time, not evening." I muttered through my teeth, then louder, "Everything has to end."

He sighed.

"I brought you to prom." He said slowly, finally answering my question, "Because I don't want you to miss anything. I don't want my presence to take anything away from you, if I can help it. I want you to be human. I want your life to continue as it would if I'd died in nineteen-eighteen like I should have."

I shuddered, and then shook my head angrily, "Stop trying to control me. In what dimension would I ever go to prom of my own fruition. If you weren't a thousand times stronger than me, I wouldn't even be here."

He smiled briefly, but it didn't touch his eyes. "It wasn't so bad, you said so yourself."

"That's because I'm here with you."

We were quiet for a moment; he stared at the moon ignoring me. I wished there was some way I could tell him how very uninterested I was in having this conversation with Emo Eddie.

"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, grinned.

"I don't promise anything, I don't know."

"You seem honestly surprised when you figured out that I was taking you here," He began.

"I was!" I interjected.

"Exactly," he agreed. "But you must have had some other theory…I'm curious—what did you think I was dressing you up for?"

I pursed my lips, hesitating, "I don't want to tell you."

"Please," He begged.

"No."

"What's the problem?"

I knew he thought it was mere embarrassment holding me back. "I think it will make you mad—or sad."

His brows bulled together over his eyes as he thought that through. "I still want to know. Please?"

I sighed. He waited.

"Well…I assumed it was…" I paused, "Paintball or something, I don't know. I didn't think it would be some trite human thing…prom!" I scoffed.

"Human?" He asked flatly. He'd picked up on the key word.

I looked down at my dress, fidgeting with a stray piece of organza. He waited in silence.

"Okay, I was kind of thought we were going to have a fancy date." I confessed.

A dozen emptions played across his face. Some I recognized: confusion, shock, astonishment. Then he seemed to collect himself and his expression became amused.

"You thought that would be a black tie occasion?" He teased, toughed the lapel of his tuxedo jacket.

I scowled hide my embarrassment. "Shut up! I don't know how fancy dates work! It seemed more rational than the prom." He was still grinning, "It's not funny."

"No, you're right, it's not," He agreed, still grinning, "It's really sweet."

"No! Shut up!" I wailed.

He sighed deeply, "I know, but I think it's cute that you're still interested in me. That after all that's happened, you still want to be with me; that you're so willing?"

There was pain in the back of his eyes, I bit my lip and nodded.

"You're still willing to be with me," He muttered, almost to himself, "For this to be the day before the twilight of relationship. Your life has barely started, and you're so willing to stay with me after all of that. You got punished for something that was my fault. You're so willing to give up everything to be with me."

"It's not the end, it's more like the beginning of the middle." I disagreed.

"I'm not worth it." He said sadly.

"You said that I didn't see myself clearly," I raised my eyebrows. "You obviously have the same blindness."

"I know what I am."

I sighed,

His mercurial mood shifted on me. He pursed his lips, and his eyes were probing. He examined my face for a long moment.

"You're ready now, then?" He asked.

"Yes."

He smiled, and inclined his head slowly until his cold lips brushed against the skin under the corner of my jaw.

"Right now?" He whispered, his breath blowing cool on my neck.

"Yes." I whispered, so my voice wouldn't have a chance to break. If I thought I was bluffing, he was going to be disappointed. I'd already made my decision, and I was sure. It didn't matter that I had a broken foot that was totally partly his fault.

He chuckled darkly, and leaned away. His face did look disappointed.

"You can't really believe that I would give in so easily," He said with a sour edge to his mocking tone.

"Oh, man!" I grunted, "This is vampire bullshit again! I was thinking it was about being ready to admit that I'm your girlfriend. I wouldn't dream of being a vampire."

"So what do you dream about?"

"Mostly eating obscure candy." Like gummy elephants and chocolate crayons.

His expression changed, softened and weirdly sad by the realization that I wasn't preoccupied with him.

"Peach." His fingers lightly traced the shape of my lips. "Miri…Can it be enough that we're together now? Just now in this moment."

I smiled, and moved his hand away from my lips, "No more talk about vampirism?"

He nodded. Neither of us was going to surrender tonight to anymore vampire shit. He exhaled happily.

I touched his cheek, "Look." I said, "I love you, I forgive you for dragging me to prom. Isn't that enough."

"Yes, it is enough." He answered, smiling. "Enough for forever."

And he leaned down to press his cold lips once more to my throat.

…

I FINISHED! SUPER EDIT IS GONNA START SOON, SO IF YOU WANT PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR THAT. YOU CAN REREAD THIS AS THE STORY/SPELLING/GRAMMAR ERRORS CHANGES FOR THE BETTER!

I'm calling my version of New Moon

Non Lupus Emarcuit

So be on the lookout for that! (if you're interested).

(my sister wants you guys to read the twilight version she wrote)

"listen edward I have to say this once and for all."

"say it out loud,"

"your dick game is weak bitch. Jackob dick is also bad. But at least he don't fuck like a fucking virgin. I am you jackhammer, at least jackob know how to please a woman."

"I know. I have fucked joackob. He has better dick game than u have in vagina game. Als bottom."