Bella Notte (46 page)

“
You are very
welcome … and I am doing this because no one should ever have
to have a lesser time because they don't have the funds. My family
has a lot of funds, so I am allowing the only person that has been
with me through all my chaos, to enjoy some of it.” I smiled
and hoped it made sense to her.

She nodded. “Well,
thank you, and I am glad I could be there.” She smiled and
leaned her head back.

We got back home
around eight and I dropped her off in front of the theater where her
mom was waiting. She waved to me before they pulled away. It was
strange to have a parent being nice to me especially the parent of
the kid I bit in kindergarten.
Oh
well
.
I went home.

The weeks passed and
soon it was the day of prom. The senior class was excused from
classes because none of us would show up anyways.

Dominic and I got
ready and met downstairs. I tried to make as grand of an entrance as
possible- as I walked down the stairs, I swirled my dress from side
to side. I hoped it looked like I was walking in a whirlwind of black
and red. My hair was twisted in the front in rows that led back to a
bun of spilling curls. My lips were red to match my dress and my
eyeliner was a gentle black. I had applied a light body glitter so
that, as I went under direct lights, I sparkled. I finished coming
down the stairs with a curtsy.

Emma Mary
Hutchinson, you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.
Ti amo. Dom's voice was like gentle strokes to my ego.

“
Why, thank
you, kind Sir. I do have to say that you look quite smashing in your
black tux with red tie.” I smiled at him and kissed his cheek.

“
Well, my
Lady, your chariot waits.” He took my arm in his and walked out
to the limo.

The limo was a
stretch and all black, with deep tinted windows. There were two
sunroofs and the driver stood with the back door open.

We climbed in and
found the interior to be very posh. There was sparkling cider- as per
my request- comfy leather seats, and classical music playing. I
sighed as we drove away from my house.
This
night will go well.

I do agree. I am
sure it will go as you planned for them- for us.
He was being gentle with me because I knew I had gone a little
overboard with the prom- I
so
didn't care.

I curled into him
and waited for the others to join us.

We pulled up to
Kelly's and they poured out of her small house.

We got out of the
limo and everyone stared. We walked over to them.

“
What's up?
Everyone ready?” I asked.

“
Yes, Emma. As
soon as we snap a few shots,” Kelly's mom said as a flash went
off too close to my face.

After what felt like
a million snapshots, we all piled into the back of the limo. There
was plenty of room for us all and soon the back was filled with
chatter and compliments all around. Everyone loved Kelly's dress; she
looked at me with knowing eyes. I smiled. Dominic and I were told
that we looked like the perfect matching couple. I knew our effect
could be startling, but I hoped it wouldn't cause too many problems.

The hotel was a
large chain and it cost a small fortune to get the prom held there,
but when we arrived, I realized it was well worth it.

We walked into the
lobby and were ushered into their grand ballroom by the valets that
were standing by. A group of teachers had volunteered to help with
table assignments, and gift handing out.

Mr. Williams
instructed us each where to sit, which was silly because we had
planned it all out, but we allowed him the pleasure of it. Ms.
Henderson handed us each a personalized picture frame with a
memorable moment from our high school experience in it. Dominic's
held a photo from the Halloween dance where he was posed looking like
Dracula. I was surprised that mine held my version of the dance, with
a similar expression. We laughed at it as we walked over to our
table.

The entire room was
done in white and lights. It was ethereal looking. The DJ had set up
and was now chatting animatedly with one of the students. Our group
sat down and kept talking amongst each other.

Soon the room was
filling and the appetizers were brought out, along with a pamphlet
for the schedule of the evening. We would eat, announce prom court,
dance, and then eat dessert. It looked like nothing written down on
paper, but it had taken weeks of effort on all our behalves to get it
all together. I was really proud of us.

I munched on the
appetizers as I searched the room to see if Mike and Acacia had
decided to come. We had set places for them even though they didn't
RSVP.

I suddenly saw them
across the room and felt stiff. I had imagined prom so many times,
before I had been with Dominic, which seeing Mike with another girl
was startling and it opened up the wound that was beginning to heal.
His eyes met mine and then looked quickly away. Dom took my hand and
started tracing small circles on the back with his thumb. I smiled at
his gesture because I knew he was well aware of what had happened.

We sat patiently
through the meal as we waited for the principal to make his way up to
the stage. I was afraid everyone would start chanting at one point,
but he managed to walk his butt up there.

“
Welcome to
your senior prom. I would like to thank Miss Emma Hutchinson and Mr.
Dominic DeDominico for their contributions for this affair.” He
paused and clapped, everyone followed suit and I blushed.

“
Now, is the
moment you've all been waiting for … prom court!” He
boomed and the room filled with cheers.

He waited for us to
settle down. “First the princesses. When I call your name
please come up to the stage. Kelly Winters, Elizabeth Browne, and
Acacia – sorry, I can't pronounce your last name.” He
smiled apologetically at Acacia, and Kelly looked at me with worried
eyes. “Please come to the stage.”

He waited for the
girls to get to the stage and have their tiaras placed in their fancy
hairdos. “Now for the princes, when I call your name please
come up to the stage. Ben Smalls, Matthew Taylor, and Dominic
DeDominico. Please come to the stage.” I looked at Dom with
wondering eyes. I surely thought we'd be together in the court, at
the very least. I pouted.

Don't worry,
mia
bella
,
you will probably be the queen!
His voice was sweet in my head.

It isn't the same
without you
.
I pouted more.

“
Now for your
queen … could Miss Emma Hutchinson please come and be
crowned.” I was shocked as I stood, walked to the stage, and
had a sparkling tiara slipped into my hair by Miss Ashley.

Congratulations,
Emma
,
she whispered in my head. I thanked her silently as I waited to find
out who would make a better king for me than Dominic.

“
Now our queen
must have her king … could Mr. Michael O'Shanold please come
up to the stage.” The room burst with cheers and my mouth
dropped. I heard a low growl come from Acacia and a slight hiss come
from Dominic in response.

I watched as Mike
walked across the room and was crowned by Principal Taylor. “Here
is your royal court!” he boomed once more and the room went
wild. “Now, our King and Queen must have their dance.”

Emma, you don't
have to if you don't want to
.
Dom said to me.

I
think
it would be best if you did Emma, don't show the wolves that they can
take things away from you. Prove you belong in the place of the
vampire queen to save us all
.
Miss Ashley's voice was in my head and I agreed with her.

I walked to the
middle of the stage and waited for Mike to make his decision. I held
out my hand in a waiting gesture. He decided it wouldn't kill him to
dance with me. He took my hand, led me to the dance floor, and then
he pulled me to his chest as a royal waltz started playing. A
spotlight hit us and I was lost to the rest of the world- I had
imagined this, yet now it was happening, it wasn't right.

“
Hi,” he
said in a bashful voice.

“
Hello.”
I was cold.

“
I'm sorry,”
he whispered.

“
For what? It
isn't your fault. We each have our choices and you made yours,”
I said through a smile.

“
No, I know
that everything they tell me isn't true. I shouldn't listen to it
all. I saw you save that bird. I also watched you come back to check
on it later.” He was thinking.

“
What do you
care?” I didn't want to be sucked back into this quicksand.

“
I love you,
Emma. I'm sorry I've been so stupid. I want to be friends, something,
anything.” His bright green eyes pleaded with me to understand.

“
You love me?”
I scoffed. “Mike, I know all your feelings and thoughts up
until the day I saved the bird- a little trick I learned- and I could
see the revulsion and disgust inside. Yes, I saw the love, but it was
buried. It is how things have to be. You with her and me with him.”
I gestured to Acacia and Dominic.

“
Emma, I wish
you could understand. It's like there are two parts of me; the Emma's
Mike and the Acacia's Mike. I really didn't want any of this. I can't
make the two halves fit together. I'm sorry.” His face was
contorting with pain.

“
Don't. Not
here. We are their King and Queen, as we might one day be for our
peoples. You will be strong. And you will do what's best for these
people. Yes, Mike … I love you, I always will. There is a
place that is cold and frozen and will be forever waiting for you to
warm it again. But I've been told the prophecy, and, even if I don't
believe it, I will do my best to make this world better for those
around me.” I sounded like I was born into royalty, my
grandmother would be proud.

He masked his
emotions and turned it all back into a smile. “You are right.
Thank you. So, you believe in the prophecy? I don't really want to
die, you know. And I don't want you to die either. What a stupid
tale.” He sneered at it.

“
Whether it is
true or not, only time will tell. As for us, our love is something
deep, and dark, and it will be hidden for as long as it needs be. I'm
sorry if it hurts you, but I've been given my family's
responsibilities. If we were different people with this problem, I
think we could make it, but we are too high profile. I know you care
about what happens with your family.” I looked at him with
pleading eyes; I had to hide my emotions from myself. I didn't want
to know any other secrets accidentally.

“
I think I
understand, Em. Don't fret. No matter what, you'll always be my first
true love- my soul mate.” He kissed my cheek as the music ended
and bowed to me. I curtsied in response, but I felt numb.

Dom was immediately
at my side and Acacia took Mike away.

The music changed
instantly- dance music was playing and the lights turned into
flashing strobes. Cheers were heard everywhere.

Everyone was happy,
the evening was a success- but I was lost. I knew Mike's words were
true and I knew I had said the right thing, yet, somehow, I felt like
part of my very soul had been ripped out, never to be rejoined with
myself. I wondered how much I was conveying to Dominic.

Do not worry,
Emma. You will heal. Time really does heal things.
He smiled at me.

Clearly it was too
much. As void as I was on the inside, I needed Dom to have a good
time. I built a wall around my thoughts; I knew I was stronger with
my own mind than Dominic could take on. I smiled at him.
I'm
fine. It was startling. Let's have ourselves an awesome night.
I lied to him and felt rotten- something else to add behind my mental
wall and I did.

He couldn't tell if
I was lying or not- I don't think he thought I had become that strong
with my thoughts yet- so he let it go and turned into smiles. And
like that, my thoughts were my own once again. I now knew that I had
the strength to protect myself and those around me. It felt good.