One dance down. Hadn't even grabbed a sip of water. Time for another.
Bella sighed inwardly at her own suffering, but put on a gentle smile and walked with Jacob onto the floor.
Dancing with Jacob was easier—at least she didn't have to worry about the guy suddenly losing control and biting her neck.
Jacob knew her well. Before she could say anything, he launched into a stream of heartfelt praise.
"You're beautiful—beautiful like the goddess Ixchel herself."
"Your eyes shine like the stars."
"The riverbank says to the river: I can only hold the imprint of your footsteps in my heart. O night, I feel your beauty, like a beloved woman blowing out her lamp."
"Your name—every letter is magical. Its sound is beautiful and melodious. Every verse it sings lingers in my ears like the pure elves of myth, like the silver glow of the moon on a spring night, like delicate notes plucked from golden strings."
Bella basked in it. Smug. Thoroughly satisfied. Everything in life feared comparison—and this was clearly superior. Much better than the guy whose first instinct was to bite her neck. Jacob's ranking jumped up at least two levels.
Good guy. He'd clearly put in real effort.
Bella's Western literature knowledge was limited. Mention Poe or Whitman and she'd be lost. But she vaguely remembered chatting about Marx once—Jacob must have remembered and was now quoting Karl Marx's love poems to flatter her.
This boy really tried.
Bella decided the original Bella's taste had been questionable. Jacob was far better than any vampire. Aside from being poor... he practically had no flaws. Attentive. Loyal. Obedient. And his praise was downright addictive.
Jacob kept the compliments flowing until the song ended. Bella finally shook her head with a smile.
"I'm not as good as you make me sound..."
If every dance was just people praising her without getting emotional, she could dance all night.
Reality refused to cooperate.
"What do you plan to do after college?" Jacob asked.
Bella sighed internally. So much for the sweet talk.
Felt cruel, but she made herself clear. Gentle tone.
"Continue studying, probably. I'm fairly smart. I want to learn different languages and cultures, then travel the world searching for ancient ruins—the heritage of many civilizations."
For Jacob, the answer was both unexpected and expected. He forced a smile and finished the dance with dignity.
"You'll definitely succeed. I believe that. I have something to take care of, so I'm heading out."
He left the ballroom with a heavy heart. At the door, he ran into Edward Cullen.
"Thanks for the dance," said the poor-but-handsome boy.
"No problem," replied the rich-and-handsome boy.
They passed each other. No hostility. No drama. Tonight, both were losers.
At least the vampire kept his composure—a century of life wasn't for nothing. He could still sip a drink and brood quietly.
Jacob was crushed. Didn't want to stay another second. Head lowered, he walked out.
Bella's rejection had been clear. He and Bella simply didn't belong to the same world. What else could he do? No hope left.
"Actually—you still have a chance, kid."
Jacob reached for his motorcycle. A tall Black man stepped out of the shadows. Leather coat. Eyepatch. Scars across his forehead, neck, and hands.
Even with Jacob's heightened senses, he hadn't noticed such a large man hiding nearby.
The one-eyed man continued. "Your world is too small. You've never gone through real training or hardship. Honestly, no ambitious woman would choose you. You have talent, but right now? Far from exceptional."
Jacob bristled. Being told he was worthless—especially at his age—was almost unbearable.
But he didn't let rage cloud his judgment. Ignored the man. Pushed his motorcycle forward.
The stranger moved fast, slipping a card into Jacob's shirt pocket. "If you figure things out, call that number. We can train your abilities—help you rise above being stuck in that little tribal community forever."
Pause before turning away. "And we don't use real names. You can choose a codename. How about... Night Wolf?"
The one-eyed man vanished into the darkness.
Jacob pulled out the card. No label. No logo. Just a phone number.
He wanted to throw it away. Return to the Quileute reservation. Live the same life his ancestors lived. But that tiny spark of hope made him hesitate.
Maybe... maybe there was still a chance.
If it turned out bad, he could always run.
Back inside, Bella noticed both Jacob and Edward were gone. She didn't try to stop them. In her eyes, both had already become passing characters. If they gave up their unrealistic fantasies, they could still be friends. If not—so be it.
She had no idea Nick Fury had just used her as bait to recruit new talent.
At that moment, she was asking Alice, "Why are you going to California alone? For school?"
Alice grinned, short black hair bouncing lightly. "To look for my true love."
Bella startled. For a split second, she thought Alice meant her—but the vampire's expression made it clear she didn't.
"You're confusing me. Doesn't your family object? They're just letting you head to California alone?"
"Aren't you there too? If something happens, you'll help me, right?"
Alice's eyes turned dreamy. "My visions show that in San Francisco, I'll encounter a love that won't be exactly wonderful... but I want to see it for myself."
So willful?
Bella couldn't understand. The Cullens were vampires who, since Carlisle's time, had subtly mixed in faint traces of X-genes. On top of vampiric abilities, each possessed a unique supernatural talent.
Alice's gift was precognition—vague and often unpredictable.
"If you already know the ending isn't good, why go?"
"My heart tells me to. I may be dead—my heart doesn't beat and my blood doesn't flow—but my mind still works. And if something interesting awaits, of course I want to see it."
Bella couldn't relate. If she knew something would end badly, she'd never go.
But Alice was determined. Couldn't stop her.
She just reminded Alice to call if she ever needed help.
10:30 p.m. Forks High graduation dance ended on schedule. Charlie picked Bella up. Once home, she collapsed into bed and passed out almost instantly.