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           "There,now,"hesaidgently,"itwon’tbesobad."Heleaneddownandwrappedonearmaroundmywaist.Itookhisotherhandandlethimliftmefromthecar.

           Hekepthisarmtightlyaroundme,supportingmeasIlimpedtowardtheschool.

           InPhoenix,theyheldpromsinhotelballrooms.Thisdancewasinthegym,ofcourse.Itwasprobablytheonlyroomintownbigenoughforadance.Whenwegotinside,Igiggled.Therewereactualballoonarches

           andtwistedgarlandsofpastelcrepepaperfestooningthewalls.

           "Thislookslikeahorrormoviewaitingtohappen,"Isnickered.

           "Well,"hemutteredasweslowlyapproachedthetickettable-hewascarryingmostofmyweight,butIstillhadtoshuffleandwobblemyfeetforward-"therearemorethanenoughvampirespresent."

           Ilookedatthedancefloor;awidegaphadformedinthecenterofthefloor,wheretwocoupleswhirledgracefully.Theotherdancerspressedtothesidesoftheroomtogivethemspace-noonewantedtostandincontrastwithsuchradiance.EmmettandJasperwereintimidatingandflawlessinclassictuxedos.Alicewasstrikinginablacksatindresswithgeometriccutoutsthatbaredlargetrianglesofhersnowywhiteskin.AndRosaliewas...well,Rosalie.Shewasbeyondbelief.Hervividscarletdresswasbackless,tighttohercalveswhereitflaredintoawideruffledtrain,withanecklinethatplungedtoherwaist.Ipitiedeverygirlintheroom,myselfincluded.

           "Doyouwantmetoboltthedoorssoyoucanmassacretheunsuspectingtownsfolk?"Iwhisperedconspiratorially.