Obsession
By Mama4Dukes
Chapter 12:
“I don’t understand how this is part of preparing for the prom,” Eric complained, rubbing his bicep. The poor guy looked as if he was going to cry.
The guys were all getting ready at Mike’s house for the prom, where the stretch limo would pick them all up. Mike’s parents were hosting a pre-prom get-together for all the kids and parents. It was still early in the day, and the guys were in the basement working out. Neither Eric nor Ben understood why they were being tortured.
“Because you want to look good tonight, dude. Chicks dig muscles, and you want to look swole in your tux,” Mike assured.
“I don’t think Angela cares whether I’m swole or not.”
“Hell, yes, she does. And who knows? You might get lucky tonight. What if you have to take your shirt and jacket off? You want to be pumped up for that,” Jared added.
Eric gave his buddies a sly grin. “Trust me. She doesn’t care. She’s already seen me with my shirt off.”
The boys roared in a raucous applause and high-fived Eric.
“Man, I didn’t know you and Angela had it in you,” Mike admitted.
“Neither did I. Besides, it wasn’t planned. It just happened.”
“Yeah, that’s how it was for Jess and me, too.”
Paul pumped out some pull-ups as his buddies dished on their sex lives. He respected Bella too much to kiss and tell. He had no doubt he and Bella would eventually go all the way, but he wasn’t going to share their time together with his buddies. It occurred to him that Tyler wasn’t like that either. He never dished on what he and Lauren did together when she was still alive, and they were together. Now that he and Leah were dating, he didn’t hear a peep out of him either. Leah deserved that sort of respect, especially after having to watch Sam and Emily constantly making out in public. Paul didn’t like Emily at all. He thought she was a sanctimonious bitch.
“Paul, can you teach me how to do a pull-up?” Ben Cheney asked. “I really want to work on getting a better body. I don’t have any muscles.”
“Ben, dude, a pull-up is advanced for someone who doesn’t usually exercise. How about we start with pushups,” Paul offered.
Tyler suggested, “Have him hold a high plank first. That way, he can position himself correctly when he does an actual pushup.”
Paul did exactly as Tyler recommended and then taught Ben how to do a pushup. “So, we finally get to meet your girlfriend. Where does she go to school?” They had never met her because Ben always went to her house instead of bringing her to hang out with their group.
“She goes to the tribal school on the Quileute Res,” Ben informed them.
“What?” Paul and Jared both questioned simultaneously.
“I thought I told you guys.”
“Dude, you’ve never mentioned her school to any of us.” Mike tilted his head, agreeing with his friends. “We all just assumed she went to Port Angeles or something.”
“Who is she? How did you meet her?” Paul asked
“Oh, her name is Kim Bayak. She’s a junior at the tribal school. She goes to Peninsula College on the weekends. We’re both in the dual-enrollment program.”
“What a small world? We know Kim. She’s very quiet.” Paul didn’t mention that she used to have a major crush on Jared and followed him around like a stray puppy. For some reason, Taylor Swift’s, ‘You Belong To Me’ came to mind when he considered that situation. Poor Jared. Ah, well, at least he has Katie now.
The prom was going to be interesting for sure.
Bella had spent the entire morning at karate class with her father. Today was her belt promotion test, and she had earned her blue belt. Afterward, Charlie took her to a late lunch at the diner to celebrate.
“Bella, don’t you have a prom to go to?” Cora, one of the longtime waitresses, asked. She brought out two glasses of ice water and two menus.
Bella peered around the diner. There were no high school students on the premises. Usually, on a Saturday, the establishment was packed with kids. “Uh, I don’t meet my friends until five. Why? Should I be getting ready now?”
“No, I suppose not. It’s just that most girls spend the entire day getting ready for the prom. I remember when my Chrissy went, she spent the day getting pampered. She had her hair and makeup done and went to the nail salon for a mani-pedi. Today is a day for celebration,” Cora chortled.
Charlie laughed aloud, slapping a firm palm on Bella’s shoulder. “It definitely is a day for celebrating. My Bells was promoted to blue belt in Karate today. Do you have any of that cobbler we both like?”
Cora seemed a little taken aback. Charlie Swan was absolutely clueless about raising a young lady. Ah, well. His daughter didn’t seem bothered by it at all. It wasn’t her business anyway.
Immediately following lunch, Bella and Charlie returned home. Today was the last day of Peter and Charlotte’s stay. The couple had adopted the Swans as their own, as had Jasper. There was something effortless about the father and daughter. They had a bond that not many parents had with their children. Bella admitted to the couple that she had moved to Forks to become closer to her father after realizing her mother only cared about herself and her new husband.
While staying with the Swans, the three Whitlocks realized that both Bella and Charlie needed some TLC, so they stayed for a while, cooking, and cleaning for them and giving the tired old house a much-needed update. It was easy to do. Most of the tasks were completed while the Swans were at work or school, and some renovations were done overnight while the Swans slept. Jasper used his gift to put them into a deep state of rest on a nightly basis so they wouldn’t be disturbed by all the noise.
Bella stepped out of the shower, put on some shorts and a T-shirt, and sat at the new makeup vanity that had been put in for her when she renovated her room. It was actually an antique that belonged to her grandmother, but one of the vampires found it in the attic and restored it to its former glory, and it now sat in her room. Of course, Bella didn’t know the first thing about makeup. She’d only ever used a little mascara and lip gloss.
There was a knock on the door. “Come in,” Bella said.
Charlotte Whitlock, Rosalie Hale, and Esme Cullen walked inside, armed with a whole slew of bags.
“Thanks for letting us do this, Bella,” Esme said.
“No problem. I need all the help I can get.” Bella smiled as the women got to work. Each of them had always dreamt of having a child to care for, but their sudden change into vampires had removed that option from them. Then, into their lives came Bella. Sure, their initial introduction had been rocky due to Edward stalking her, but once she got to know them, she became a fiercely loyal friend.
Preparing Bella for the prom was a dream come true for these women. To them, it was like a once-in-a-lifetime mother-daughter bonding experience that they’d never have again. And the fact that Bella was letting them get her ready rather than spending the day with her friends meant the world to them. Not many humans would readily befriend vampires and treat them as if they weren’t any different from any other person walking down the road. Both Charlie and Bella shared this trait.
The three women wanted to make everything perfect for Bella, so they pampered, primped, and primed her, making sure she looked gorgeous for her special night. They blow-dried her hair and gathered it into a fashionable updo, leaving a couple of pin-curled strands loose to frame her pretty face. And then they did her makeup, teaching her the basics as they went along. It was something Renee had never done for Bella. They slipped a tube of lipstick and a powder compact into a silver clutch that matched her silver heels. They’d spent the month teaching her to walk and dance in the first high-heeled shoes the girl had ever owned.
After she was ready, the three ladies helped her into her prom dress. She wore a beautiful emerald green gown with a sweetheart neckline and a long, flowy A-line skirt. “What do you think?” Bella asked. “My dad picked it for me when I couldn’t decide.
“The dress is beautiful, but you are stunning,” Rosalie said, venom clouding her eyes. “Now, put on your heels so we can put some finishing touches on you.”
Charlotte clasped a beautiful three-strand pearl choker with a clear, teardrop-shaped diamond dangling from the center. Esme placed a pair of matching earrings in her ear. Meanwhile, Rosalie secured her hair with pearly pins that did double duty by holding her hair in place.
“There. Now you’re perfect,” Rosalie whispered.
Bella considered the three vampire women. Each of their lives had been cut tragically short, but they had been given second chances to live. Sure, they were no longer human, but they overcame their individual tragedies to become strong, independent women. Bella thought Paul’s mother would have enjoyed getting to know them, especially Rosalie, since their stories struck similar chords. They were survivors in their own way, and so was she.
Bella had survived a tumultuous school year, which included witnessing a murder, having a selfish and uncaring mother, and being stalked by a psychotic vampire. During this time, she learned to speak up for herself and stand on her own two feet, but she also knew it was okay to reach out for help when needed. Her friends stood by her side during her times of crisis, and Bella also learned empathy. When Tyler lost Lauren, she immediately reached out to him and made sure to help him through his time of need, even when he tried to dismiss her concerns. In the past, she might have simply walked away, dejected, but-this year-she learned the importance of give and take in any friendship.
Giving and taking were also relevant in Bella’s relationship with her father. She spent time visiting with the Blacks and Clearwaters because she knew they were important to him. And from her father’s friendships, she formed her own close bonds with Jake and Leah. When it came to her relationship with her father, the most significant was that she now lived with a dependable parent whom she could turn to in times of crisis or happiness. Spending time with Charlie, whether it was attending karate class with him, sitting side-by-side with him as he attempted to help her with homework, or simply playing catch with him, had been one of the highlights of her year. She never shared this kind of closeness with Renee, who never had time for her because she was always worried about pleasing whoever was the man in her life at the time.
Sometimes, she wished she had gone to live with her father much earlier, but in hindsight, her experiences had been the catalyst for change for her. If she hadn’t seen the murder in the schoolyard and had simply come to live with her father, would she have made an effort to amend her outlook? No, if Bella hadn’t witnessed the heinous crime, she would have come to Forks, not knowing she was craving parental attention, and perhaps would have even found Edward Cullen’s attentions to be romantic. So, yes, while witnessing the murder was horrific, it was also paramount because it became the guiding force in her metamorphosis into an empowered teen. Bella Swan was aware she still had a long way to go, but nothing would stop her now, especially with all the support she had around her.
Bella looked at her transformation in the full-length mirror. She didn’t recognize herself. Never in her life did she think she could look so beautiful. She felt incredible, too. The stunning pearl jewelry set off the emerald green of her dress, bringing even more life to its vivid color. She inspected the jewelry closely. “Uh, these aren’t real pearls and diamonds, is it?”
“Of course they are,” Rosalie replied.
“Oh, my God! What if I lose them? How am I going to return them to you?” Bella immediately tried to take the precious jewels off.
“Stop.” Rose gently took her hands in hers. When she had Bella’s attention, she said, “First of all, you will not lose them. You’re too responsible to do that. Second, they’re yours. They are a gift from the three of us, and before you argue that it’s too much, let me tell you why we did this.
“Bella, I don’t think you realize how special this month has been for us. None of us-not one of us will have the pleasure of having a human daughter to love and raise. You gave us the gift, if even for a short time, to experience motherhood. Never in our vampiric existence did we ever believe we’d have an opportunity such as this. You accepted us without prejudice despite the horrors inflicted on you and your mate by Edward, our coven member. And from the beginning, you were never rude to any of us-only to Edward and Alice, both of whom deserved it. You withheld your judgment on the rest of us.”
Charlotte interrupted, “In Peter’s and my case, your father accepted us without any reservations, and when you came home, you trusted us not to hurt you. And then you allowed my undead heart to grieve a long-dormant memory. When I was changed, I was returning from the doctor. My first pregnancy had just been confirmed, and I was excited to go home and tell my husband. I was snatched off the street by three women who turned me for the purpose of fighting in their vile vampire war.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t have an opportunity to mourn my human life, but when your father allowed Pete and I to temporarily live in his house, the memories came flowing back. My human husband and I had just built the house we lived in. It was very similar in appearance to this house-maybe that’s what brought everything back. I don’t know, but I can tell you that what happened next was healing. I realized that both your father and you needed some mothering, and you both let me into your lives-allowing me free reign in the house. You both pretended not to notice when we blatantly remodeled the interior of your house without asking, and you allowed me to pamper you both as I would have a son and granddaughter.”
“You’re the best-looking grandma I’ve ever seen! Trust me on this,” Bella joked.
“Well, I will say, it was the only perk I got to take with me from my human life. I was always pretty.”
“Oh, please. Your looks don’t compare to mine,” Rosalie joked.
Bella looked at the beautiful pearls and the brilliant diamonds. “It’s still too much. This must have cost a fortune.”
Esme stepped into the conversation. “But the gift you gave us, Bella, is priceless. You gave us back our humanity. And the jewelry? Well, it’s what we would have given to our daughters if we had our own. Fortunately for us, you gave us the privilege of having a daughter for a short time. Thank you.”
With tears in her eyes, Bella said, “Thank you. I didn’t really do anything special but thank you for spoiling me. I wish you didn’t have to leave tonight. It was really nice having three moms. I’ll treasure this time forever.”
“Oh! No, no, no! Don’t cry, sweetheart. You’ll ruin your makeup,” Charlotte warned. “Now, stand up and give us all hugs. You are just so gorgeous.” She cupped her chin and smiled, taking in the girl’s pretty countenance. “Be confident, Bella.”
“Remember: a strong woman is a beautiful woman,” Rosalie murmured softly.
Esme simply smiled and said, “Thank you for being you, Bella. Always stay kind and generous.”
The three women walked downstairs with her, where Charlie and their mates were waiting.
“Wow, kiddo! You sure clean up nice.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Beautiful,” Emmett said simply.
“You are lovely,” Carlisle added.
“Well, look at you, Darlin. You’re as pretty as a picture,” Peter complimented.
“Wow, Bella! You look like an angel,” Jasper winked. “Paul might break into one of his boy band songs as soon as he sees you.”
“God, I hope not. That would be embarrassing.”
They all posed for photos together. They even took a portrait of all three using the timer feature on their phones. After a bit more chatting, it was time for the Swans to leave. Charlie would drive Bella to the Newton home and stay for a parents’ dinner.
“Now, be good and enjoy the prom. I have no doubt that you’ll achieve any goal you strive for as long as you stay true to yourself. You’re a special young lady, Bella, and it’s been a privilege to know you.” Jasper smiled, took her hand, and kissed it.
“What he means is, ‘Stay gold, Ponyboy,’” Peter chortled, quoting from the Outsiders.
Bella laughed and then hugged all the vampires in the house. “I love each and every one of you,” she told them as she left.
The vampires stood framed in the doorway, watching the Swans leave. To them, it was the most brutal goodbye they’d ever experienced. They each vowed to keep an eye on the father-daughter pair forever. And unknown to the Swans, they were officially under Jasper’s protection.
About an hour later, after completing several last-minute tasks, the vampires departed Forks. Each one of them would continue to cherish their time with the Swans many centuries after Bella and Charlie departed the earth.
At five p.m. sharp, the girls and parents began arriving at the Newton home. The atmosphere was celebratory-the boys all looked sharp, and the girls were beautiful. Kim Bayak, Ben’s date, looked uncomfortable, as did her parents. But then the Camerons arrived, followed by the Clearwaters. Billy and Julia Black arrived a few minutes later. The Bayaks realized there were many Quileute parents among the group, and they had no need to feel awkward. The parents in this group were all friendly and welcoming.
“Are we all here?” Mr Newton asked, looking around.
“No, Bella and Charlie aren’t here yet,” Billy informed everyone before reaching for one of the tiny quiches. Unfortunately, as the high school principal, he was required to attend the prom, so he couldn’t stay for the parents’ dinner and would have to choke down the food catered to the prom.
“Where could they possibly be? The Swans only live two blocks away,” Mrs Newton pointed out.
“What do you mean I have to get a boutonniere for Paul? No one told me about that!” Bella griped.
“It’s tradition Bella. You usually have to order one well ahead of time,” Charlie informed her. He was driving his newly revamped, souped-up Dodge Ram. Peter and Rosalie had painted racing stripes on it for him.
“Well, what are we going to do?”
“Don’t worry about it, Bells. I’ll sweet-talk the florist,” Charlie assured her.
A few minutes later, the florist shook her head at Charlie. “Only because it’s you, Charlie. The other kids have already picked up their flowers. I was about to close up.” She turned her attention to Bella. “What is your date’s name?”
“Uh, Paul Lahote. Why?”
“Lahote. It begins with an L,” the florist muttered while flipping through a notebook. Ah, here we are. Paul Lahote. Wow, the boy has good taste.” She took in Bella’s prom ensemble, impressed. “Okay, I’ll put a boutonniere together for you in a jiffy.”
“Why did you look up Paul?” Bella asked.
“Because I am the only florist in Forks, La Push, and the surrounding areas. I keep a record of what each kid buys for their dates so their flowers will match. I wouldn’t want you to clash. Most girls inform their dates about the color of the dress they’re wearing, which I can tell from Paul’s order you did.”
“Okay, sure.”
Within minutes, the woman had a pink rose boutonniere ready for Bella to present to Paul. “Thanks for doing this, Lil. How much do I owe you?” Charlie asked.
“Nothing. Just get out of my shop so I can go home.” Lil followed them to the door, locked it behind them, and flipped the sign to ‘closed.’
“I’ll bring you a coffee sometime next week,” Charlie called behind him.
Lil had a good laugh after the Swans left. Almost twenty-five years ago, Charlie Swan and his parents had shown up to the store at closing time, begging her to make a last-minute wrist corsage for his date. Clearly, the daughter took after the father.
The Swans arrived at the Newton house delayed by fifteen minutes but no worse for the wear with a boutonniere in hand. Bella looked radiant in her emerald green gown, and her smile was radiant. When Paul saw his date walking into the house, he felt as if the spirits were taking hold of his body again. She was absolutely breathtaking.
“You look stunning,” Paul whispered, taking her hand.
Before Bella could reply, Angela cut in with, “Wow! No wonder it took you longer to get ready. You look so beautiful, Bella.”
“Thanks.” Bella blushed in embarrassment. “This is for you.” Bella gave Paul the little box with the boutonniere in it. “Uh, it’s freshly made by the florist in Forks.”
“Is that why you were late?” Billy asked Charlie, narrowing his eyes at his friend.
“Well, no one gave Bella the memo about the boutonniere, so we had to make a quick stop at Lil’s, right?”
Bella nodded her head, vigorously agreeing with her father.
The adults who graduated with Charlie burst into laughter at Charlie’s reply. “If I can recall,” Ken Marshall said, “you were late to the prom because you were getting a wrist corsage made for your date by Lil.” With that, the kids joined in the laughter, too.
“No wonder she threw us out, Dad!”
“Bella, dear, we were waiting for you so we could film the floral exchange,” Mrs Newton informed her.
“Oh, sorry.” She took back the box and gave it to her dad to hold.
“No, no, Bella. You need to hold on to the box. We want you girls to stand here while the boys walk in to pick you up. Mr Newton will film everything.”
“Is all this pomp necessary?” Bella asked.
“Of course, it is. This is prom!”
“Well, Mr. and Mrs. Black just got married, and there was no floral exchange ceremony. And I’m going to tell you a hundred percent that a wedding is more important than a prom.” Bella nodded her head knowingly.
Before Mrs Newton could reply, the other girls dragged their combative friend to the side. “Bella, you have to understand that Mikey is Mr and Mrs Newton’s only child,” Jess explained in a whisper. “She treats every major event in his life like it’s going to be his last, so you have to just go with it.”
“Well, that’s morbid. Do they think he’s going to die or something?”
“I never thought of it that way,” Jess admitted. “Just go along with her theatrics. Please, Bella?”
“Fine.” Bella tilted her head and turned to the lone girl she didn’t know. She extended her hand. “I’m Bella Swan, you must be Ben’s date.”
“Oh, I am. I’m Kim Bayak.” She was a shorter girl with a bit of a hunchback. She had long black hair and almond-shaped eyes hidden behind a pair of thick glasses.
“Nice to meet you,” Bella replied. “So, you go to Port Angeles High?”
“Oh, no. I go to the tribal school in La Push. I met Ben in Port Angeles at Peninsula College. We’re in the dual-enrollment program together.”
“What’s that?” Bella asked.
“Oh, it’s a program where you can earn college credits while attending high school. Ben and I will have earned associate degrees by the time we graduate from high school, if all goes well.”
“Impressive.” Before Bella could say anything further, Mrs Newton rushed inside to line the girls up. She put Angela at the head, followed by Leah, Kim, Katie, Bella, and Jess.
“Okay, let me just start the music, and Mr Newton can begin filming.” Mrs Newton clicked on her phone, and ‘Every Breath You Take’ by the Police started playing.
“Are you daft, Karen? You’re playing a song about jealousy and stalking for the prom?” Mr. Crowley asked. True to what Tyler said, his father spoke with a thick Irish accent.
“It’s a romantic song!” Karen insisted.
“Have you ever paid attention to the lyrics?” Lieutenant Marshall asked. “I’ll pick the song.” He scrolled through his phone after hooking it up and hit play. Air Supply’s ‘Lost in Love’ began playing.
“Ew! What’s this old fogie music?” Jess complained. All the girls followed suit, protesting about the music.
“I feel like we need something less mushy,” Bella added.
“I’ve got the perfect prom song.” Charlie strolled up to the Bluetooth speaker, hit play, and Def Leppard began blasting in the house.
“No, no, no! ‘Pour Some Sugar On Me’ is not an appropriate prom song, Charlie!” Mrs Newton protested. “It’s more…”
“For after the prom?” Joe Cameron joked, guffawing and winking at his wife.
“That’s why you have six kids, Joe,” Billy quipped.
“Personally, I kind of like it,” Mr Newton added. “It’s uplifting.”
“I don’t see why this doesn’t count as a prom song. They played it at my prom,” Charlie insisted.
The teens were becoming impatient. At this point, they didn’t care what song was played for their intro. While the other parents argued about song choices, Julia Lahote Black connected her phone to the speaker and hit play. Her song of choice: ‘Drowning’ by the Backstreet Boys. The song was quickly given a thumbs up by the girls, Mr Newton started filming, and the new Mrs Black hit play.
The boys walked into the house carrying their floral gift, beginning with Ben, who slipped a wrist corsage on Angela’s wrist, followed by Tyler, who did the same with Leah. Eric pinned a huge, red rose corsage that clashed terribly with poor Kim’s powder blue prom dress. The roses were ensconced in baby’s breath and bundled together with red and gold ribbons. On its own, it wasn’t bad, but against the powder blue dress, it stood out like an inflamed zit about to explode.
Bella noticed that Paul looked tense. He tapped his toes, clenched his fists, and occasionally squeezed his eyes shut in frustration. He opened his eyes and looked straight at her. “Are you okay?” She whispered worriedly.
Paul had to admit that the song was perfect for the moment. He was filled with nervous energy and wanted to break out and sing along, but he didn’t want to embarrass himself because most guys weren’t into boy bands. He was afraid of becoming the laughingstock of his group, so he did everything he could not to sing, including stuffing his fist in his mouth.
He turned to his mother, who waggled her eyebrows at him. He figured it was her. She was the only one who knew about his boy band obsession, and she had to go and do it-she had to play one of his favorite songs.
Why was he so worried about everyone discovering his preference for boybands. If he couldn’t be himself with his friends, they weren’t his true friends anyway. He’d have to find a way to bring up the subject with them. Damn it! He wanted to sing. He tampered down on his desire by sucking in his cheeks.
Paul had a momentary reprieve as he looked at the ghastly corsage Ben had pinned on Kim’s dress. Why, Ben? Why? He needed to pull his friend aside and give him lessons in style because that red rose did nothing for that ugly light blue dress.
It was Jared’s turn now. Paul didn’t pay attention to what his friend was doing but glanced at his imprint, who returned his gaze with concerned eyes. By this time, his right leg was shaking. “Are you okay?” Bella mouthed to him.
Hell, yes, he was okay-more than okay. He was going to the prom with the most beautiful girl in the world-the one who owned his heart. It had only been a little over two months since he imprinted on her, but it seemed like a lifetime. How had he survived this long without her? He couldn’t imagine his life without her being a part of it.
Suddenly, their eyes met again, and he realized nothing mattered at all-except for Bella. And with a sudden burst of euphoria, Paul slid on his knees, stopping in front of his girl with one hand outstretched toward her. As soon as she took it, he slipped the corsage onto her wrist, then stood up with her in his arms just as the song hit the chorus. He twirled her in his arms and sang to her.
Every time I breathe, I take you in, and my heart beats again
Baby, I can’t help it; you keep me drowning in your love
Every time I try to rise above, I’m swept away by love
Baby, I can’t help it; you keep me drowning in your love
But the surprising thing was that Mike joined in, followed by Tyler, Eric, Jared, and Ben-in that order. None of his friends made fun of him. They all sang along and danced with their dates, having the time of their lives.
“Guys, fall talent show-we’re doing this song,” Paul declared after the tune was done. His friends all high-fived him. And he’d never been happier in his life.
Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction 
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