A/N: Well guys, here it is. We have finally reached the end of The Dancing Angel. This story has been three years in the making (exactly 3 years tomorrow) and I have definitely grown and changed a lot throughout the whole process. I began this story as a Twilight obsessed 15-year-old and am ending it as an 18-year-old college freshman who really doesn't care for Twilight anymore. This story has been near and dear to my heart because it is the first fanfic I ever started writing. (It's not the first one I finished though haha :D ) This epilogue has been planned out since very early on, and I hope that you all enjoy it. Also, if you haven't yet, go check out my other story The Dancing Angel Outtakes. I still have a few more of those up my sleeve before I leave the realm of Twilight fanfics for good.
I'd like to end this author's note by thanking every single one of you who ever reviewed, followed, or "favorited" this story. You all are the reason that I kept writing. Yes I took a couple long breaks from writing this, but you guys are the reason that I always came back. Y'all are the reason I finished it.
One last time, I'd like to thank my reviewers from last chapter: waverly and Goldeneye. You guys rock!
***Disclaimer: I am not Stephenie Meyer, and if you don't know that by now, I can't help you. ***
[NPOV. About 10 years have passed since the last chapter.]
I sat in the back of a theatre watching as a beautiful ballerina powerfully yet gracefully twirled and leaped across the stage in the final number of a beautiful recital. It had been years since I had danced on stage in front of anyone, but I remembered the feeling. I remembered the high you get from stepping out into the stage lights with hundreds of faces watching as you perform something you have spent months perfecting. For those who really love dancing, as soon as you step out onto that stage, you are in your element. Any trace of nervousness or stage fright vanishes. It's just you and the music.
The three ballerinas curtsied before the curtain closed, ending the show. The head instructor came out to speak, accompanied by all the dancers who had performed that night. They honored the graduating seniors and announced which companies the girls would be dancing with after this year. When the name Emily Williams was called, I clapped and cheered along with a large group of people including her family and other friends here for her today.
I had kept up with Emily over the years. We weren't as close as we used to be when we were kids, and lately our emails had been a once or twice a year thing. We had just lost touch a bit, not having seen each other for years, and she was really busy in school. I did know however that tonight was her senior showcase, and I had made plans right away to be there. I had finally caught up to her age-wise and could see my friend in person again.
I didn't tell Emily I was coming, but I was sure she would enjoy this surprise. I was definitely excited. In fact, Jake had informed me that it was all I had really talked about for about a month. Speaking of Jacob, we were married now. The wedding was two years ago, and it was beautiful. Alice planned it, of course, and it was absolutely perfect. We had honeymooned on Isle Esme like my parents, but unlike them, we didn't leave the island with an extra passenger. We weren't trying for kids. We didn't even know if I could have them, but we were taking precautions just in case. Neither of us was ready to be parents yet.
Jake had flown to North Carolina, where Emily's school was, with me, but he was staying at the hotel instead of coming to the show. His excuse was that he knew that I would want some time to catch up with my old friend, but I knew that didn't want to have to sit through a dance recital. The only reason he came to mine was that I was in them. I could have talked him into coming if I had wanted to, but he was right. I did want to catch up with Emily alone. I had also remembered that she had met him when we were kids, and if she remembered him, it would be a bit odd since he hasn't changed at all since then.
I picked up the bouquet of roses I had brought and followed the crowds out into the lobby of the theatre. I found a spot along the wall and stood, looking and listening for Emily to come out. Then I saw her, still in her costume with her company jacket over it. She went straight over to her family where she was met with hugs and congratulations. I let her talk to them and then to her other friends for a while before I approached.
"Excuse me," I said, tapping her on the shoulder. "You danced beautifully."
"Thank you," she answered with a slightly confused look on her face. "I'm sorry, but do I know you?" she asked after a moment.
"Well it has been a while, so I can't blame you for not recognizing me. It's me, Nessie," I told her with a smile, offering her the flowers.
"Nessie Cullen?" Well it was Nessie Black now but I didn't bother correcting her. "Oh my gosh! I can't believe it! It's been forever!" she exclaimed taking the flowers before squeezing me in a hug. "How have you been?" she asked with a huge smile as she pulled back.
"I've been really great! I actually graduated from Dartmouth with a degree in Literature in December," I told her. This was actually true. Mom had made Jake and me go to college, and Dad decided that this would be a great opportunity for mom to actually go to college too, so the four of us enrolled at Dartmouth.
"Oh wow! That's great! How did you know about today?" she asked.
"Well, in your last email you said something about being in the dance program here, so I looked up the schedule for the performances online. I've really missed you Emily," I told her honestly.
"Oh Nessie, I've missed you too! It's been too long since I've seen you."
"It really has. My family moved a bunch growing up, so I didn't really get the chance to come visit or anything, but you are one of the few friends I managed to keep some semblance of touch with," I told her.
"Well I'm glad you did. Did you keep dancing after you moved away from Seattle?"
"I did. I danced all the way through my senior year of high school. We actually lived in England that year, so I got to dance at a studio over there!" I told her.
"That is so cool! Listen Nessie, I've got to go change and then I'm going to dinner with the other seniors, but let me give you my number. We have to get together and do something this summer!"
"Definitely!" I told her, handing her my iPhone so she could input her number.
"I'm so glad you came tonight. It was great to see you," she told me as she handed my phone back.
"Me too. You really did dance beautifully. I can't believe you'll be dancing with a real company next year. I'll text you so we can get together sometime, okay. Now you go have fun at dinner," I told my old friend.
"Thank you, and I will. Bye Nessie," she said, giving me a hug.
"Bye Emily," I told her with a smile before she walked back towards the dressing rooms.
It really was great to see her again. Now that we finally looked the same age, I could catch up with my friend and talk to her without having to act way younger than I am. I love my family—vampires, werewolves, and humans—don't get me wrong, but having other friends is something I've really missed from my dancing days. I knew it wouldn't last forever, but having Emily in my life again was really great. I remembered our childhood days making music videos to Paramore songs and dressing up like princesses. She was my best friend excluding Jake, and I hoped that someday we could get there again.
A/N: THE END. I hope you guys liked it! This story was inspired by the fact that I danced since I was four through my senior year of high school. Emily was actually inspired by a friend of mine in real life. Don't forget to check out the outtakes! I love you guys! Thanks again for supporting me through this whole endeavor. :)