𝘊𝘏𝘈𝘗𝘛𝘌𝘙 𝘛𝘞𝘌𝘕𝘛𝘠-𝘚𝘐𝘟

(the cursed witch, act one)

"HELLO, BLOOD SUCKERS!" Nina screeched as she was led into the Cullen's home by a tired Edward and a grinning Carlisle.

The rest of the Cullen family immediately ran to the main floor.

"She's high on pain medication," Carlisle informed them. "Which is why she is no longer allowed at the hospital in Dawson."

"That was in self defense, blondie."

"You threw your jello at the nurse, Nina."

"I asked for the blue one! She got me the shitty orange one! Fucking twat."

Edward sighed.

"Stop sighing, fucking grandma. God, I'm stuck with a whiner."

"What kind of drugs is she on?" Emmett asked, amused by the witch.

"The good kush."

"It's actually anesthetic. I just had to give her a higher dose due to her being a witch... And because she kept trying to race Edward."

"I so beat him." She glanced down suddenly. "Holy cunts! I have six toes."

"You have five, Nina. You just can't see straight... You are also wearing shoes right now."

"No," She shook her head. Pointing down, she counted. "1... 2... 6... 6!"

Edward picked her up again, "Alright. Bed time."

"I'm not tired–" Nina groaned but his glare silenced her. "Ohh. Angry vampire. What are you gonna do? Bite me? Cause I'm cool with that. You can bite me anyday, sir."

Edward glanced back at his family for help only to see them all watching in amusement. He rolled his eyes, knowing they would be no help.

"You're really pretty," Nina said suddenly as he carried her into his room, which while she was in the hospital, Alice had the pleasure of redecorating – most importantly, adding a bed.

He smiled softly. "So I've been told."

"No. But you're like... smoking hot. Can I get your number?"

Edward chuckled at her as he placed her gently in the bed, beginning to take off her shoes, or rather shoe.

"Buy me dinner first," Nina mumbled, kicking his shoulder with her running shoe.

He glanced up at her. "Ow."

"Do you have a girlfriend?" She asked as he untied the shoe, placing it on the ground next to the bed.

"I do."

"Can I kill her so I can date you instead?"

"No, Nina. You can't murder yourself."

Her eyes widened. A gasp left her lips as she sat up before he could stop her. "I'm your girlfriend?"

"Yes, honey," He smiled, sitting on the edge of the bed now, as his hand stroked her hair. "I'm your boyfriend."

"No fucking way. Are you sure?" She smirked suddenly. "Prove it."

He shook his head in amusement. "I'll prove it when you aren't high on pain meds."

"Oh, come on!" She groaned. "Kiss me, you mother fucker. I won't tell anyone."

Leaning closer, he knew she wouldn't give, he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "There? Happy now?"

Before he could react, she pulled him in by his collar, planting a hard kiss against his lips.

"There," She smiled, pulling away. "Sleep time."

She passed out shortly after that.

A week later, Nina was still hobbling around on her cast. She grumbled when she accidentally kicked the wall. "Piece of shit," She muttered under her breath.

"Nina! Stop running away!" Alice screeched, running through the house with Rosalie not far behind.

"I don't want a makeover! I want a nap!"

She was suddenly stopped, more so cornered, when Rosalie appeared in front of her, Alice behind her.

"Shit."

"It's best if you don't resist," Rosalie told her, grabbing her arms and carrying her back into Alice's room.

"Why do I have to get dressed? I am perfectly comfortable and it's already 6pm. I'm not going anywhere other than Eeyore's bed."

Rosalie and Alice only grinned. As they walked through the halls, they passed a smirking Jasper.

"Help me?" Nina pleaded.

"I don't feel like going against Alice. Sorry, hun."

Nina coughed, "Bastard," she muttered, coughing again.

"We'll need to change that shirt," Alice spoke as she closed the door.

"I like this shirt."

"It says 'drugs not hugs. don't touch me'." Rosalie read.

"So? It's true."

After... quite some struggle, Nina was eventually in a deep, wine red dress, her hair pulled back in a low ponytail with curled front pieces. A diamond necklace hung from her neck, the diamond sparkling in the light.

Luckily for her, the dress was long enough that she had been able to compromise with the two overbearing vampires and was able to wear a singular sneaker, while her other foot was stuck in its cast.

"Why exactly am I wearing this?" Nina sighed, pulling at the skirt. It was a beautiful dress, she had to admit. But she was also craving a good nap.

"Be patient," Rosalie scolded, admiring her work.

Alice had disappeared after finishing her makeup and had been gone ever since.

"Can you tell me what's going on?" Nina whispered to the blonde vampire. "I won't sell you out. Promise, blondie."

"No can do, princess." It looked like she was listening in on a different conversation happening somewhere in the Cullen home. "Just a few more minutes," She informed Nina.

Impatient, Nina waited, though she only did because Rosalie kept her eyes directly on her, making sure she didn't run.

Nina could hardly hear the sounds of footsteps coming down the stairs. Turning when Rosalie nudged her, she saw Edward and Alice walking down the stairs.

Holy shit.

Edward smirked at her.

Cocky bastard.

His smirk widened as he joined her side. He was wearing a suit. Nina could have sworn she was having heart failure at the sight of him.

She'd never seen him dress in black before, and, with the contrast against his pale skin, his beauty was absolutely surreal.

Nina smiled nervously. "You aren't just dressing me up all nice to eat me, right? That's what they do to pigs."

Edward grinned, pulling her to his side. "You're just giving me ideas."

He led her out to his car, helping her get inside. He was careful with her leg first, helping her situate it inside the car before making sure all of her dress was inside.

When he had her settled, he got in the driver's seat and headed back out the long, narrow drive.

"At what point are you going to tell me what's going on?"

"You know, darling. I thought you were smarter than that. I would have thought you would have figured it out this morning." He threw a mocking smile in her direction.

"I did mention you look very nice, didn't I? So that should mean you can't take me into a forest and kill me?"

He chuckled, his hand weaving down to hold her knee. "You and your forests."

She was distracted then by the sound of a phone ringing. Edward pulled his cell phone from a pocket inside his jacket, looking briefly at the caller ID before answering.

"Hello, Natalie."

Mom?

She hadn't seen her mother in two days since Emmett and Edward had kidnapped her while she was sleeping. Nina had actually been slightly grateful for it, as it had gotten her out of her therapy sessions with her mother.

As a compromise for her daughter almost dying, Natalie had also forced Edward to join said therapy sessions, insisting they needed couples therapy. It was not fun, to say the least.

Something Natalie was saying made Edward's eyes widen in disbelief, and then a grin spread across his face.

"You're kidding!" He laughed.

"What is it?" Nina asked curiously.

He ignored her. "Why don't you let me talk to him?" Edward suggested with evident pleasure. He waited for a few seconds.

"Hello, Tyler, this is Edward Cullen." His voice was very friendly, on the surface. Nina knew it well enough to catch the soft edge of menace. What was Tyler doing at her house? The awful truth began to dawn on her. She looked again at the dress Alice had forced her into.

"I'm sorry if there's been some kind of miscommunication, but Nina is unavailable tonight." Edward's tone changed, and the threat in his voice was suddenly much more evident as he continued.

"To be perfectly honest, she'll be unavailable every night, as far as anyone besides myself is concerned. No offense. And I'm sorry about your evening."

He didn't sound sorry at all. And then he snapped the phone shut, a huge smirk on his face.

Nina rolled her eyes, "That was your fault. You know that right?"

"Was that last part a bit too much? I didn't mean to offend you."

She ignored his words.

"You're taking me to prom?" It was embarrassingly obvious then. But, in her defence, she had been on pain meds for the last week which had left her more confused and delirious than anything else.

"Come on. Humor me?"

His eyes melted all of her repulsion. "You're sleeping on the floor tonight."

"I'd expected that."

"But come on!" She lifted her dress, revealing her legs, one covered in plaster. "How the hell am I dancing in this thing?"

"Hmmm." He stared at her legs longer than was necessary. "Remind me to thank Alice for that tonight."

"Alice is going to be there?" Nina asked, comforted by that.

"With Jasper, Emmett and Rose."

"Was my mom in on this?"

"Of course. Why else would she have let Emmett and I break into your home at 3am and kidnap you. You did scream awfully loud."

"Have I ever told you I hate you?"

"Once or twice." He shrugged. "But you have never actually meant it."

They were at the school now; Rosalie's red convertible was conspicuous in the parking lot. The clouds were thin that day, a few streaks of sunlight escaping through far away in the west.

He got out and walked around the car to open her door. He held out his hand.

She grabbed it hesitantly. "I hope you know I quit my dance classes after three days because I tripped and knocked out my two front teeth on the bar."

Edward laughed, helping her out of the car. "You and sports really don't work well together, huh?"

"No. Which is exactly why you should be taking me home. I'll even let you kiss me if you do."

He leaned down, his nose nudging her cheek. He could hear her quick intake of air. "I think you'll let me kiss you, even if I don't take you home."

He pulled back suddenly, earning a slap to his shoulder. "Tease."

"Only for you," He grinned, catching up to her wobbling form, wrapping his arm delicately around her waist.

His touch calmed her slightly. "I won't let you fall," He promised gently, leaning down to kiss her hair. "I'll keep you upright all night... Maybe not all night."

Nina blushed brightly. "Cool it, Mary. We still have a dance to get to."

Edward laughed, but nodded. He kept his arm tightly around her, supporting her as she limped toward the dance. It was being held in a local hotel that had converted one of its larger spaces into a dance floor for the high school.

They walked inside, Edward wrapping his arms around his waist to lift her over the step as the music sounded in their ears.

Whatever she had expected, it wasn't what she had seen. There were poker tables, disco balls and people dancing wildly in the crowded space.

She let him walk her further inside, stopping when they saw Jessica and Mike on a stage posing for them. The girl in the bright pink dress grinned as she waved.

Slowly, they weaved through the couples again, passing Angela and Eric who were at the DJ table. Nina was almost shocked to see that Angela had accepted his offer. Giving them a quick wave, she hadn't expected a set of arms to wrap around her waist, and pull her away.

She laughed knowing who it was. "Put me down, Emmett!"

Being higher up than most, she could see Bella dancing with Jacob across the way and smiled. She was happy the human had done something good for herself.

Setting her back on the ground, gently, or as gently as he could, Emmett grinned widely. Now that she was level on the ground, she saw Alice and Rosalie dancing together. Alice was striking in a black satin dress with geometric cutouts that bared large triangles of her snowy white skin. And Rosalie was... well, Rosalie. She was beyond belief. Her vivid scarlet dress was backless, tight to her calves where it flared into a wide ruffled train, with a neckline that plunged to her waist.

Jasper was next to Emmett laughing at how easily Emmett had startled the witch. He looked similar to his brothers, both intimidating and flawless in their classic suits.

"Stop stealing my girlfriend," Edward scolded his brother, taking Nina out of his arms for what felt like the twentieth time.

"You'll have to fight Rosie on this one, little bro." Emmett chuckled, "We'll steal you back from the Virgin Mary and show you how a real prom night should go, yeah, Nini?"

While Edward rolled his eyes, Nina chuckled. "I'll have to decline. I happen to like my virgin."

"Can we not talk about this in such a crowded room?" Edward sighed from behind her, hiding his face in her shoulder.

"Payback's a bitch, isn't it?" Nina grinned. "We could have said worse, right Griz? I mean, I could have talked about the time you–"

His hand was immediately on her lips, silencing her. "That stays between you and me."

She didn't even bother fighting his hold. She was just happy to have him close to her.

He walked her away from his siblings and the rest of the prying eyes to the lit gazebo outside. The music was softer there, playing slow songs for the nonexistent guests.

"I honestly can't dance," Nina told him, panicking slightly when he lifted her up and led her to the centre of the circular wooden floor.

"Don't worry, darling," He smiled. "I can." Gently, he grasped her arms, putting them around his neck and lifted her to slide his feet under his.

She sighed, resting her chin on his shoulder when he pulled her closer. "I guess this isn't terrible," Nina admitted quietly.

"What would you give me? A five out of ten?" He joked.

"Maybe a six. I'm feeling generous today."

He grinned, moving her back slightly so he could see her face. "Are you now?"

"You bring it out of me."

"Oh? I thought I only brought out your thesaurus of curse words and grumbles."

"You bring that out too. But only when you piss me off," She ended with a smile.

The song changed. The sounds of a soft guitar played through the air. It was one of the CD's from his wall, she recognized.

"You planned this?"

"You said it was your favourite," He shrugged. "And for some odd reason, I like making you happy. Can you believe that?"

"Crazy. You must have something wrong in your head if you want to make me happy."

Edward chuckled, "I must. It just keeps making me do these idiotic things–"

"Don't worry. I'll be the smart one for us. My brain actually has time to develop fully." She bit her lip trying to stop herself from laughing at his insulated face.

"You wound me, darling."

She looked up. She was taller now, with the added few inches of the cast along with her being on his feet. Tall enough that she didn't have to go on her toes.

Her lips grazed his for only a second before she pulled a few centimeters away.

"Now who's the tease?" He joked.

"Stop talking," She rolled her eyes. She lingered for a moment, her lips open, touching him but not kissing him. Taking a slow glance at his eyes, she pulled him in by his neck.

He didn't let her pull away this time. He held her waist tightly as he basked in the feeling of her warm touch. Electricity flowed through him and he couldn't hold back his smile.

He only pulled away to let her breathe. His eyes stayed shut, a look of calm crossing his face as he rested his forehead against hers, his nose brushing against her soft skin.

"Have I ever told you you're going to be the death of me?"

Nina grinned, kissing his lips once again. "Once or twice."