I felt a twinge of embarrassment that I had considered, like Angela, Jessica's description of him exaggeration. An "aparition" was no closer to the actual sight! From across the dining room I saw them. Them, not only him. The figure who stood beside him prostrated herself like a statue, yet more lovely than pigmallion or any that I've ever seen or read about because although she was just as pale as a marble statue, this female had this sort of moving grace that was somehow present even as she stood completely immobile. Her honey brown hair was pinned up elegantly, some locks cascading to her shoulders. Her face was…more than sweet, docile but with a fairy-tale type, make-believe beauty- angelic, I think is the correct word. Stunned by this woman's features, I allowed my eyes to trail to her escort, curious to see if the beauty that I had seen there was also real.

His face too could be described as angelic. They had the similar pale white skin. Under his eyes, however, I spotted bluish purple circles where the woman's were less distinguishable. But then again, she could be wearing makeup, it was hard to tell, standing as far as I was. My eyes trailed from the reddish-brown tint of his hair to his marble forehead, down his straight, angular nose. My eyes lingered on his deep vermilion lips.

"Bella?" I heard Renee giggle beside me and shook my head, clearing it of that gawking transe-like state I suddenly found myself in. Renee linked her arm in the crook of my elbow and pulled me towards two chairs at the long dining room table. I was still trying to aimlessly rub at the smudge of dirt I had gotten on my dress from playing tag with my young friend outside but my handkerchief was only slightly helpful. Oh well, sitting down no one could notice. There was one other habbit I found myself trying to surpass; the temptation to glance at him.

"Mom?" I whispered in Renee's ear before Mrs. Clarkson began her welcoming speech. "Do you know them?" I tilted my head to the side, hoping Renee would catch the message without asking me to say who I was talking about.

"Who?" Renee whispered back, her eyes searching the dining room, inconspicuously.