We spent a couple of hours wrestling around, careful not to hurt anyone permanently. We were also keeping an eye on Jasper's arm to see how long it took to heal from the light scratch he gave himself. So far, it hadn't healed at all.
Jasper called a halt to our fun, "Well, guys. I think I need to call it here. If I am going to avoid mistakes, I need to hunt before the dance tonight. All the random emotions and blood-pumping teenagers will put a strain on my control for sure."
Emmett nodded, "Me and Rose hunted last night. There was a herd of deer two valleys to the southeast. You should be able to pick their trail up easily enough from there."
As they separated, Emmett walked over and took up my backpack. "Let's head back. You will have to use Edward's room to get ready. No worries about having to use his soap, Edythe got a copy of what you use at home and stocked it in there."
Shaking my head at the attention Edythe gave me, I resolved even more to never take her for granted. Emmett started running, and I took after him, excitedly bounding off trees here and there. When we got close, Emmett stopped and set my backpack down, then gave me a wave and headed to get himself ready.
I made the change and put my clothes on, then started my own way in. Once there, I was met by Esme.
"Thomas, dear. I have a meal ready for you. It's at the table. I placed it when I saw Emmett come back. I'm glad to see no one got hurt."
I smiled and shook my head, "You put yourself through too much trouble for me, Esme. But thank you regardless. I really do appreciate it."
"Oh, nonsense. You go eat, you are going to need energy for the dance tonight."
Knowing that to keep resisting would be rude, I quickly went to the table and seated myself for a wonderful dinner.
Once I was finished, Esme showed me to Edward's room, and I started to get ready. Emmett wasn't playing around, Edythe had gotten me a full set of toiletries, soap, shampoo, toothbrush and all. While I had been in the bathroom, someone had brought my suit for the dance into Edward's bedroom.
The outfit was a white suit jacket and pants with a black silk shirt that had a very small collar. The pants had been fitted to my waist size, so no belt was required. My shoes were a black snakeskin dress shoe style. It was finished off with a tie that matched my eye color, sky blue.
Looking into the full-size mirror, I had to admit that the ladies had done me justice with this outfit. It was form-fitting enough to still show off my build even while covering it. As I was looking at myself in the mirror, I heard a wolf whistle come from the doorway.
"Looking good! I am glad we adjusted the shoulders, it really brings out the cut of your muscles." Alice gave her opinion.
"I have never worn anything like it. You and Rosalie are amazing, Alice."
"Yes, we are. But you have your shirt collar too tight, it's a more relaxed fit tonight. Come here, I'll fix it for you. Tight collars and ties are for Prom. I can't decide if your prom tux will be a dark green bordering on black or a glossy black. Rose and I will have to do some computer designing before we decide."
I laughed, "Let's get through the dance tonight first, little fairy. Edythe may not want to go to Prom with me if I mess up the dancing too badly."
"Ha... She will just make you practice more before it. Just resign yourself to it. It's easier."
I just shook my head.
"Let's get you downstairs. Time for pictures before Edythe finishes up. Then it's time for couple and group photos." Alice said as she turned, not even looking back to see if I was following her.
The next 15 minutes were devoted to Esme taking pictures of me from several angles. I was as patient as I could be through the whole thing. Even managed to convince her to let Alice take a picture with me and her. She even asked for Renee and Bella's email so she could send them some pictures. Just after the guy's group photo, I heard a noise at the top of the stairs and looked up. Time stopped, and all noise faded from my ears.
Her dress was a sky blue that exactly matched my tie. The sleeves barely held onto her shoulders, leaving a large portion of her neck and chest bare. The front was a very low V that covered her breast but left no doubt that she was well endowed. A 3-inch belt of the dress color circled her waist, showing off her slender build. The dress fell to just above her knees, and on her feet were a pair of pearl white shoes.
Her Bronze hair was all pulled to her right shoulder in waves and curls that looked like they would bounce with every step she took. She had that vulnerable look in her eyes again that made me slightly ashamed. I really needed to convince her that she had nothing to fear from my reaction to anything she does.
I found myself climbing the stairs just as she was descending them. We met halfway, and I took her hand in mine. "I have no words to tell you how you look to me right now. Part of me wishes I could transform so you could see my thoughts. The only words that come close are that I am a very lucky man."
I kept her hand and walked her down the stairs, not even hearing the clicking of the cameras. The next bit was a blur to my mind, I only had eyes for Edythe and just paid subconscious attention to my surroundings. I didn't really collect myself until I was seated in Edythe's car, headed for the dance. For probably the 300th time, I said, "You look amazing, Edythe."
She smiled at me, "You do as well, Thomas. I am going to have to keep my mind reading under control tonight. I don't want to accidentally hear the other girl's thoughts about you and ruin the night with bloodshed."
I smiled at her, "No reason to go that far, dear. We lose nothing by them looking at us, and they only gain the image of what they can never have. Now, if someone tries to touch you, all bets are off and your dad will have a busy night of resetting broken bones."
About the time we both promised pain and/or bloodshed on anyone foolish enough to ruin our night, Edythe parked in the school parking lot. Rose drove her red BMW along with Emmett, and Alice drove Edward's silver Volvo for herself and Jasper. Both couples had arrived earlier than we did and were probably already inside.
I took Edythe's arm, and we slowly walked towards the gym. Music was already reaching us from a distance. It sounded like the song 'Rock Your Body', and I was glad it was out of the way before I got there. I was not a Timberlake fan. Though I knew my music taste wouldn't get much play here tonight.
When we finally got to the gym and walked through the doors, I was severely disappointed. TV shows and movies had me thinking it would be some grand-looking place to dance, and the surroundings would be extravagant. But what I got was a trip to the Gym with a few banners poorly drawn and painted, a Kool-Aid bowl sitting on a fold-up table with a stack of plastic cups next to it. The music was just a sound system plugged into the gym speakers, and some students selecting the music. Even the doors to the event were being held open by garbage cans.
Well, at least my date is perfect. Looking around some more, I picked up some small things I had missed with my first glance, like a group of tables for people to rest at when not dancing, though many people were just sitting in the gym bleachers also. The next song to come over the sound system was one that had me directing Edythe to the dance floor for 'Hero' by Enrique Iglesias. It was a good, slow song, and I couldn't wait to get my arms around my date. The rest of the evening was, to me, a memorable one. In a sort of fuzzy, greet everyone and forget them moments later sort of way.
Moments did however, stand out, like seeing Ben and Angela. Edythe and I spent a bit of time with them, complimenting their clothes and talking about the music choices. Watching Rosalie and Emmett dance was a bit frustrating, they were textbook perfect at whatever dance moves they were using. Classic and refined were the words that came to mind when watching them.
Alice and Jasper were a treat to watch. Alice seemed to find a beat in the music no one else heard, that she wanted to dance to, and went all out with it. Then, the next song, she was the perfect partner to Jasper's lead. Lauren and Tyler were leading the list the chaperones had of 'Not letting those kids out of our sight'. They were also leading the 'Grinding' group of students that tried to rub their bodies together no matter the song.
Jesica and Mike were all over the place, one minute grinding, then the next keeping formal distance from each other. It made more sense to me when Edythe pointed out that both their parents were part of the chaperone group. During one of the more rowdy songs, the press of bodies and noise started to get to me, and I had to get some distance. Edythe caught the signs and led me up the bleachers so we could look down on the dance from a distance until the feeling passed.
She leaned into me and wrapped her arms around my waist, my right arm was around her shoulder and holding her close while my left hand was running over her arm. We stayed like that for a while, not talking, just taking comfort in each other. Watching all the people on the dance floor, I was starting to get my inspiration for my painting. That, along with Edythe in my arms, finally got me settled down. When my heart finally settled down, Edythe lifted her head to meet my eyes.
"Feel better?"
"I do. Thanks for coming up here with me. I hope I didn't ruin the night with…"
Edythe interrupted me, "Don't even finish that sentence. You are who you are, Thomas. This is just a small part of it. Don't let it hold you down or define you. Accept it and work with it until it's no longer so large in your mind."
We lapsed into a comfortable silence and watched the dance for a bit longer before rejoining it.