Hi! I won't be saying much, but what I will say in this short paragraph is Merry Christmas to everybody, and a Happy New Year!

Also, figuring that this is a new story and something that I've really worked on for a long time, I hope and wish the best from you.

Thank you for everything. Have a great time reading this! :)


Chapter one

The green graduation caps flew up in the air and Rosalie beside me squeaked in delight. I couldn't help but smile.

I look over my shoulder at Mike who's getting congratulated by his buddies next to him. His blue eyes are on me and he grins. I barely put my hand up when Rose sweeps me off my feet, one of the caps hitting my head and falling down on my seat.

"We did it, Swan! We did it!" Rosalie screams sounding relieved. I giggle and usher her to put me on the ground as I grab the cap fallen on my seat. I try to adjust it on my head, but Rosalie pulls on my arm and I stumble off behind her bluntly.

"Lauren!" She screams waving her arm in the air, I let out a small huff and hastily unlink our linked arms, turning around. I adjust the cap and straighten out, smiling brightly as my Mom approaches me with a hug.

"Sweetie, I am so proud of you."

I bet this is what every parent says to their child after they've seen them graduate. It's complete bullshit.

Mom – Renee- pulls away and wipes her cheek with the back of her hand. I give her a compassionate smile as Dad shows up behind her.

"Mom, come on," I chuckle and rub her shoulder. "Don't cry!"

"I'm sorry, you're just so beautiful, hon. Emmett would be so happy…"

My lower lip wobbles a bit and for a second, I'm sad. Until my eyes meet Dad's compassionate ones and I know it's not the time for a crying fit. He smiles at me and Mom squeezes me tighter.

Mom pulls me into a hug again, we wobble from side to side for a bit before she freezes and gasps.

"Mom?"

"Renee?"

Dad takes a step forward, extending his hands, but Mom is out of my arms in a second. I look over my shoulder as she stalks away, the heels of her shoes digging in the awfully mown grass.

I sigh and Dad pats my shoulder, chuckling.

"It's mom, Bells. Don't take her seriously."

"I bet Mrs. Stanley has the same shoes today."

"Maybe just in a different color." Dad cocks his head to the side, eyeing the two women exchanging a small chat. Of course – a small chat.

"Still the same shoes, pops." I nudge him with my elbow and he ruffles my hair after taking off my cap.

"Ugh, I can't believe it!" I hear Rosalie's voice is coming from the right. I turn to look and she's stumbling towards us with a sour expression. She looks up and pouts, my dad quirks up an eyebrow.

"Green is not her color." I smile as I come by her side. "Come on, Barbie."

"I told you not to call me that."

"You givin' her a ride, Rose?" Dad shoves his hands in his jacket pockets and tilts his chin up.

"Sure, Mr. Swan! We're heading to Newton's, I'll get her home soon-"
"And then we're heading out again!" I cut in, because I just do not want to mingle with my and Jessica's bizarre relatives that keep swooning over Jess.

It just happens that Jessica is my cousin. And Mrs. Stanley happens to be my Mom's sister. And it's just awful.

Dad gives me a look, sighs and then heads off after Mom.

"Let's go before Aunt Sarah can reach me! Neither of us want that to happen." I huff, pulling her behind me.

We make it out of the huuuuuuuuuuge fucking crowd and head to the parking lot to her hot ass Mercedes.

"You know, you could've driven yourself here." Rosalie says unlocking the car. "You do have a brand new Audi, you know."

"Well, my parents wanted to drive me here! I could not argue with Mom and her traditions today!"

Rose sighs and we get in. As we head out of the parking lot, her hand automatically reaches for the stereo and we're screaming our lungs out in a second.

"This is why I'm hot!" Rosalie raises her hand in the air, turning the volume on the loudest. I giggle loudly, throwing myself in the backseat after the hood of the car is off. I'm thanking God it's sunny tonight.

"This is why I'm hot! This is why, this is why, this is why I'm hot!"

"Rose!" I shout, brushing my hair out of my face as I reach for her graduation cap that's sitting in her lap.

"Babe!" Rosalie hands me the cap and starts moving into the passenger seat. Quickly, I hop in the driver seat while she removes her stupid green graduation dress, only to reveal short mini's and a white T-shirt with a print on it. I focus back on the road and stop at a red light.

"Quick." I gasp out of breath. Rosalie throws her graduation dress in the back seat, I climb back there and shove everything inside my gym bag I had put in the car last night.

The song changes and I see Rose pout in the mirror. I bite my lip to fight away the smile and remove my own graduation dress.

In the middle of it, a horn catches me off guard and startled, I fall into the seat. Over the music I can hear loud, booming laughter and I know who it is.

"You asshole's!" Rosalie groans as I untangle myself out of the dress and shove it in the bag. I look up at the guys driving the jeep only to see no one else than Tyler, Mike, Edward and Jasper. All in one car.

I tilt my chin up and climb inside the front passenger seat, blushing.

"Nice show there, Swan." Tyler snickers, chewing on his gum. I hope he chokes on it. I can smell his awful cologne from over here as I glare at him.

"Ty, come on. Cut it out." I hear Mike next to him complain, chuckling.

My eyes land on Cullen in the backseat as Rosalie and Tyler bicker. Edward is smiling smugly and when I catch his eye, he winks at me. But it's not flirty or any kind of a sexual thing, it's an act of comfort.

I realize my jaw is open and I snap my head back with a huff.

"Enjoy it while you can, Crowley." I call back before the traffic light hits the green. Rosalie presses the gas pedal and as we speed off – she holds up her middle finger.

A corner away from the Grill, Rosalie eyes my attire and scrunches up her nose.

"I was hoping you'd be wearing mini's too, but… hey! Should've known."

I don't respond and we get inside the Grill where our so called 'friends' await us. We reach our table and the first thing I hear is:

"Where are the boys? It is so fucking hot in here!"

Shyly, I sit down next to one of the quietest girls of the Cheerleading squad. Instead of listening to the usual girl gossip, I listen to the girl beside me.

"I heard that Biers is challenging the guys who's gonna tap the most bitches tonight. I am so definitely not getting on any of their lists."

"I doubt that. Wouldn't you give it up for at least the half of them? I mean, look at Biers! Tyler! Whitlock! Those goddamn abs…"

"But the number thirteen – he's hot too."

The dark skinned girl – I think Xaviera- gives her an offending look. "He's ginger, Maya. Gingers are freaks."

I quirk up my eyebrow and set down my glass of coke. "Actually, he's not ginger." I cut in. The girls seem surprised as they straighten out and look at me with wide eyes. "I mean, duh, he's dark copper."

There's silence as girls give me weird looks, some of them turn to blankly stare at the table and some scratch the back of their heads.

"Thirteen?" Rosalie clears her throat and nervously looks around. "He's dark copper, yeah. Everyone knows that."

Maya's eyes soften and she smiles at me. "Xavi said he's ginger."

"Nope. Copper all the way." Rosalie wiggles her eyebrows in such a weird and exclusive way that makes me cock my head to the side in question.

Only when she picks me up from home later that night I confront her.

"So," I murmur, putting my feet on her dashboard. Rosalie lightly slaps them off, turning down the volume of the music. "You've banged Cullen?"

I cannot see Rose's expression in the dark as she takes the turn to Crowley's house.

"Rose?"

"Bella, you know-"

"Have you?"

"I'd tell you! You know that!" She pulls to a stop in front of the huge, white house. I'm still watching her as she gets out of the Mercedes.

I clink my tongue against the bridge of my mouth. "Nice." I murmur under my breath before I jump over the door and hurry after her in my combat boots.

I'm wearing my short, ruffly blue flower printed boho skirt and a dark blue camisole. My hair is still in soft waves from earlier and I have pinned back my bangs.

Rosalie beats me to the house and when I reach it – she's no where to be found. So I decide to get myself a drink.

I'm pouring myself some punch when a hand on the lower of my back sends tingles up my spine.

"You look like yourself tonight." Mike says, smiling. He leans against the table and I smile back.

"Is that a compliment?" I purse my lips together, but the corner of my mouth are still turned upwards.

"How isn't that a compliment?" Mike laughs, taking a chug out of his beer. "You know I really fucking like how Rose dresses you, but everything that's you invites me in – somehow."

I flutter my eyelashes, stepping forward. "How?" I murmur, laying my hand on his chest.

Mike gulps and his eyes fall down to my lips.

"You sing to me. You're my singer."

And I can't help it. I lean in to kiss him.

"Mike! Man!" Tyler's booming voice sends me shooting back and spilling the punch everywhere.

"Crowley!"

"Ty, man! Oh, come on!" Mike groans, coming up to me to help me clean off the pink liquid off my blue skirt.

"I'm-"

"Let me-"

"You know, what?" I push Mike away and glare at Tyler. "It's fine. I'm gonna go clean myself up." I murmur and let my arms fall limp by my sides. Tyler is staring wide eyed at me.

His mouth forms in the shape of 'O' and I sigh in frustration. "I interrupted, didn't I?"

Surprisingly, Tyler actually looks sorry. My heart softens just a little and I shake my head.

"Nah, it's good." I murmur, looking down at my skirt. "I'll see you guys around."

"Bella!" Mike grabs my wrist before I can turn to leave. My eyes flick to his buddies that are slowly approaching us.

"Mike, please." I sigh. "Face it. We're done. We really are."

And with that I turn around and head for the stairs. I hear Mike's name being called behind me and there's some shuffling, but I don't glance behind me to see what's happening. I keep walking.

When I get inside the toilet, the first thing I do is grab some tissues from the cabinet above me. I wet them with water and start scrubbing the material together to get it out. My eyes are burning with tears soon enough.

But the door open and I throw my hands up in the air, ready to shout for the person to get out. My hands are grabbed midway in the air.

"Shh, shut up." Edward smirks down at me smugly.

"Taken. Go take a pee somewhere else, will you?" I huff, returning to scrubbing the fabric of my skirt together.

"Okay, stop it now." Edward yanks the material out of my hands and pulls me up in a standing position. "We know you both are so fucking in love it physically hurts to watch you resist each other, but it's time to move on."

"Fuck you."

"You can if you want to." Edward chuckles, shaking me lightly by my shoulders. "Stop being a fucking cry baby, Swan. You're not a cry baby, are you?"

"I'm not."

Edward smiles and wipes the tear stains from my cheeks. I'm blushing.

I've always thought of Edward Cullen as attractive, but I haven't really paid attention to him, because it was always Mike.

Edward tilts my chin up and flicks his thumb over my cheek. "You're lovely. You have your whole life ahead of you."

I blush even deeper.

"Hey!" Edward chuckles. "Dang it, Swan. Stop being cute or I won't resist."

In an instant, I tilt my chin higher and his eyes get deep and his smug smile gets softer.

"You don't really have to resist." I mumble. "Only if you really want to, you know…" I trail off shyly.

Hot and burning, his lips press against mine and he traps me between the wall and him. Edward's hands are roaming over my thighs and I'm already trying to pull his shirt off when he stops me.

"Let's take it somewhere else, will we?"

"Where could we possibly-"

"The beach? No one's there tonight."

Something flashes across my mind and I push him away a little.

"Are you going to fuck me?" I say very carefully. Edward freezes and frowns, his hands linger on my hips. His tongue peeks between his pursed lips.

My heart is beating heavily with lust and fear of rejection. I want him to want me, but I don't want him to want me tonight.

Edward leans in and kisses me on the lips before shoving us out the door. Very much unnoticed, we get out of the house. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves, catching up on all the things they lost with time.

We jump in Edward's Volvo and holding each others hand, drive down the road in silence. I should be feeling guilty. Edward is one of Mike's best friends, Mike would be heartbroken.

But I couldn't seem to care anymore. Edward's words rung in my head so loudly...

You have your whole life ahead of you…

And I do. And since we all only live once, I decided not to waste an opportunity of an unforgettable graduation night.

The car stopped in the parking lot and Edward was the first one to get out. He came around the car, opened the door for me and hurried off to the trunk. I approached him just as he opened it.

"Oh, Christ!" I gasp, my eyes widening. Edward laughs beside me and takes four beers before closing the trunk.

"I was one of the booze suppliers. It's your lucky day, baby doll." Edward snickers by my ear as we walk through the sand towards the shore.

The wind tonight is light and the sky is clear and beautiful. We sit down just meters away from the shore line and Edward brings me in his lap.

"It's so beautiful out here at night," I say, leaning back my head on his shoulder. Edward brings his arms around my waist, playing with the waistband of my skirt. "I don't understand why I haven't been here at this time of the day yet."

"I come here a lot."

"Of course you do." I murmur and take my beer which he has already opened for me.

"I don't live far from here."

"I know. I've been in your house. It's beautiful."

"Thanks."

For a while we sit there in silence enjoying our beers. I'm playing with the cork of the bottle.

Edward suddenly jumps up on his feet. Startled and dizzy, I laugh when I look up at him. His hands are extended toward the sky and he's grinning at me.

"Let's go skinny dipping!"

"What? Noooo…"

"Come on, Swan." Edward pulls me up and removes his shirt taking my goddamn breath away.

Remember when earlier my other cheer squad members were talking about the football players and their abs? Yeah, well, they've obviously never seen Edward Cullen naked.

Dazzled, I stumble backwards, but Edward grabs me. I rub my temples with my free hand and choke out a breath.

"Bella? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." I mumble, blinking. Edward pulls away with a frown.

"So are you in or not?"

I hesitate, but the V that starts on Edward's hips is too fucking tempting and I want more, so I shrug.

"Fuck it. Why not?"

I throw my empty beer bottle on the ground by our shoes and pull off my dark blue camisole along with my bra.

Edward wasn't ready for that for sure. His green eyes widened and he spun around, but not before checking my package out.

"Such a gentleman, aren't you?" I tease as I pull of my skirt and panties. Edward takes off his jeans and boxer briefs and palpates for my hand, not daring to look.

I tuck the beer bottle cork under the pile of my clothes.

We make our way inside, cringing each time the cold water gets to a new skin part. Edward pulls me close as we get deeper. The waves get bigger and he stops us before the water can reach our chests.

"Blue suits you." Edward says, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. I haven't unpinned my bangs yet, but I'm somewhat glad, because I didn't need them in my face at this kind of a moment. "Wear blue more often."

I place my hand on his pale chest and run my hand over it. Up to his collarbone… then over his neck and his jaw, until I have palpated to his lips.

"Mike." I choke out, heartbroken.

"He doesn't exist tonight, okay? Forget all about him."

"Make me." I whisper and pull Edward's face down to me. I kiss him softly. The kiss becomes more passionate with every second.

Edward lifts me up, his hands on my ass and my legs around his waist. I feel his member grow against my skin while we kiss.

It's magical. Life changing. Unforgettable.

Edward pulls away for a brief moment, his hand gripping my jaw very tightly. "I'm not going to fuck you tonight. Understand me?"

"Why?" It comes out almost like a whine.

Edward whispers something, but I don't hear. I'm too distracted by his lips.

We end up stumbling into a rock and Edward props me against it. Even if someone would be down at the beach, they wouldn't see us.

Our hands are all over each other and we are all over each other.

"Damn it, Edward." I hiss, palpating down between us. He's nervously fidgeting to get my hands away, but before he can react – I've grabbed his member and pushed down on it.

"Unnngh-" I almost scream out, but he moves his hand over my mouth and pulls out of me.

"Are you fucking crazy?"

"I-"

"I told you no, Bella!" Edward spits. He's upset with me and angry. Once again I've ruined something beautiful.

It's quiet. Only the rush of the waves is heard-able. My heart feels heavy and I can't help it, I break into tears and I'm glad it's so dark.

"Shit, are you crying?" Edward sighs. I feel him closer. I feel his fingertips brush against my collarbone and I turn my face to the side. His fingers eventually find the spot and he brings it to his tongue to have a taste.

"You're crying." He whispers.

"No, it's just the ocean wat-"

"I'm so fucking sorry, baby," Edward cups my face between his hands. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm sorry too."

"Let's get out of here, okay?"

Edward doesn't wait for my response, he takes my hand and slowly drags us out the water. He helps me dress and empties the last of his beer, taking my second one with him.

Edward helps me get inside the car and goes off to find a bin to throw out the empty bottles. While he's gone, by boredom I go through his Ipod playlist, since it's plugged inside. There are many, like – "BNO" which is filled with real badass rap music. There's one named "M mornings" and "S afternoons", one named "R afternoons/days" and one catches my eye. It's not with capitals and is named "be".

I'm running over its song lists when Edward jumps inside the car.

"What are you doing?" He asks nervously and puts on the playlist. The Fray fills the space and I slide deeper in my seat.

"Well, this is not a playlist about living. Or existing. Or being." I point out as he takes my hand and drives out of the parking lot.

"I'd say this is a break up playlist. You like a girl and the feelings might not exactly be mutual, you're heartbroken and completely depressed, but this playlist somehow keeps you being. That's why it's 'be'."

Edward laughs, brushing his thumb over the back of my hand. "You're too deep into it, Bella. Keep it light."

"Dang it, I wasn't right about one thing?" I pout.

Edward spares me a glance, smirking.

"Don't give me that horrible smug smirk. It makes me think you're up to something."

"Don't narrow your pretty little eyes. It makes me feel like a little kid that's just stolen a cookie from the forbidden cookie jar."

I chuckle and huff. Edward turns back to face the road.

"I mean, you were right about one thing."

"About the girl?"

"I guess."

For a brief moment, I thought my heart fell in my chest. Awkwardly, I straighten out.

I was such a fool.

"Tell me about her." I whisper even though I don't want him to. I don't want to hear him swoon about her. I don't want to hear how beautiful she is to his eyes. She'll be ugly in mine either way.

I'm jealous.

"She's stunning." Edward murmurs. "She takes my breath away. She's forbidden, but I still want her."

"Why is she forbidden?"

"She's not mine to have." Edward shrugs. "I think so, at least."

"How stunning is she?"
"Like I said. The kind that takes men's breath away."

"So," I sigh, bringing my feet on the dashboard and letting go of his hand. "She's blonde and blue eyed isn't she?"

"She might be."

Rosalie pops into my mind and I'm on the verge of tears.

"Do I know her?"

"Better than anyone else."

I bite my lower lip hard, until the pain is bigger than the burning in my eyes. My hands are in tight fists and my leg is slightly shaking. It's quiet again.

Of course it is Rose. How can it not be? Everyone wanted her. Even my brother was head over heels for her.

Oh, my brother… I miss him so much.

We stop by a petrol station. Edward goes in to get some snacks and fill the gas. Rosalie texts me.

It's over 4 am! Where r u? I'm lookin EVERYWHERE 4 u!

-Rose

The driver door open and Edward sits in, his hands are full of snacks. I snap my phone closed and let it fall into my lap. I pick up the fallen snacks and pile them up over my phone.

"Who was that?" Edward asks after getting in.

I hesitate, but send him a smile. "Rosalie."

"Was it now?"

"She's looking for me."

"Oh," Edward's eyebrows shoot up. "I can drive you to hers. I don't mind."

Fucker. "Nahh, I don't feel like it."

We end up driving to his house while stuffing our mouths with sweets. Edward's house is big. And empty.

"And this is my residence." He sighs, dropping his keys on the stand by the door and leading me upstairs. Edward doesn't show me the house, we go straight to his room and flop into his bed – both tired.

We talk. We talk about little things, like, favorite type of music, favorite color, favorite flowers, favorite movie e.t.c. and we talk until the sun rises on the other side of the window and he's barely keeping his eyes open, cuddled by my side. I pet his hair as he falls asleep and when the first quiet snore comes from him, I slip out of his bed, give him the last kiss and leave with a heavy heart.