Disclaimer- They belong to Stephanie not me.

Thank you to those few of you who reviewed the first chapter- you made me smile!

Chapter One- You've got to be kidding me!

Bella's POV

"Alice," I whined. "Are you absolutely sure you don't want to come with me to see what form of torture passes for extra credit in gym?" I asked for the third time in the last half an hour.

"Bella, You Know nothing would please me more but I have a home ec assignment I'm working on right now and unless you want to help me with the sewing you're on your own," she told me.

"And you call yourself a best friend," I scoffed grumpily.

She smiled. "How about you call me when you're done and we'll have ice-cream at Ted's?" she offered. Part of me still wanted to be mad at her, at least for a little while. But I loved the home made ice-cream at Ted's diner. I caved.

"OK. But only because I love you," I said.

She hugged me and gave me a sincere "good luck" before practically skipping across the parking lot to her car, leaving me alone in the drizzle to make my way to the gym.

As I walked across the school grounds I thought of what my extra-credit assignment might be. I hoped it wouldn't be too strenuous. Or require a lot of hand-eye co-ordination. But, I reasoned, Coach Clapp knew my capabilities and surely she wouldn't ask me to do something too outside the realm of possibility. It was with this more positive thought that I pushed the door to the gym open.

Edwards POV

I bid my friends farewell at four twenty that afternoon agreeing to go to Emmett's at some point that evening because he claimed he 'needed' a rematch at some game or other, I wasn't really paying attention.

As I made my way through the maze of buildings that made up forks High School I realised I was effectively following someone, someone familiar. Chestnut hair, just past her shoulders, orange backpack, tripping over her own feet; I didn't need to see her face to know it was Bella Swan.

Bella had sat next to me in every biology lesson since she had moved here just over a year ago. She was nice enough and easy to work with on tasks that required it and she was nice to look at especially when she blushed, which was often. But beyond that I didn't really know much about her. I wondered why she was headed to the gym at this time of day. Maybe she forgot something.

"Ah, Bella, right on time," I heard Coach C say as I entered the large, slightly echo-y room, "and Edward, wonderful. We can get started."

There were four other students in the room beside myself and Bella. I recognised all of them.

There was Jasper, a tall blond who was in a few of my classes. He was a decent musician too. We'd jammed together a few times in the past and I'd actually been thinking about seeking him out to ask if he wanted to set something up soon. I could find decent guitarists and drummers no problem but a guy who could rock the sax like he could was rare, especially in this town. He seemed to specialise in less traditional instruments. As far as I knew he also played the harp, the bagpipes and an accordion.

Next to him stood Tanya, an admittedly stunning strawberry blond girl in the year below. I'd dated her for a while last year but her intentions dwindled when it became clear I wasn't going to sleep with her, at least not soon. I wasn't ready to get into a physical relationship with anyone. Don't get me wrong I was a seventeen year old guy and like every other one on the planet I had urges. My hormones do a number on me like every other teenager but luckily my bigger head is in control most of the time. I want to wait until I've found the right girl. I don't want to regret something that can only be done once.

Kate and Garrett were the other two students. I knew very little about them. Kate and I had been partnered for a Spanish assignment during freshman year so I knew she was agreeable, clever and quick with a witty comeback, though people could change a lot in three years. Garrett was on the soccer team so what I knew of him was mostly gossip and I knew better than to believe the gossip in this place. After all, a large portion of it was about me.

Many of the rumours about me were completely harmless and totally fictitious. Many of my fellow students, for example, believed that I was gay. My limited relationship history gave them reason to believe that I was not interested in women and in fact harboured sexual feelings towards other men. This was not the case, and why other found it an interesting topic in the first place I will never understand.

Another popular rumour making the rounds was that I was some sort of academic cheat. My high test scores and early acceptance to an Ivy League school drew attention. The other student no doubt felt jealous and possibly inadequate. I wasn't trying to be conceited but they were achievement I should be proud of. But I could understand the other student's motivation for assuming I was cheating rather than earning my achievement through studying and persistence. So even though this rumour held no more truth than the questionability of my sexuality it was easier to endure.

Of course in comparison, there was the one rumour, just the one, that resurfaces every so often, when no-one else had fallen pregnant, or had a failed haircut or botched cosmetic surgery. And whilst the rumour was never one hundred percent accurate it always had a hint of truth in it. And I was terrified that someone would find out just what had made the parents of a talented, gifted and over-achieving son leave him at an adoption centre at the age of twelve.

I must have done something terrible. I know that. Why else would my mother have left me? It didn't make any sense. But I didn't remember doing anything wrong. At the age of twelve all I did was play piano and go to school. Like all kids I occasionally sneaked a cookie or stayed up past my bedtime. But those are hardly offences worth abandoning your only child over. I must have done something so terrible that I have blocked it out of my memory. What other explanation was there?

Coach C brought me out of my thoughts and the scary, unsettling place they had taken me to.

"Basically, these four," she nodded her head in the direction of Jasper, Tanya, Kate and Garrett, "are entered in a ballroom dancing competition in a month's time."

Jasper...danced. Well damn! I could see why he kept that quiet. I could dance too but not unless I had to.

"Only problem is that they can't enter without one more couple from this school." Coach said turning to look at me and Bella. Surely she couldn't be suggesting what I think she's suggesting... can she?

Bella's POV

Coach C was looking at me like she was waiting for me to put two and two together. Only problem was I keep coming up with five. She wants me to enter a dance competition! Is she freaking kidding me! I can find ways to injure myself when I'm motionless and she wants me to dance in front of people. She must be really desperate.

"You don't have to do much," she said taking in my horri8fied expression. "Just show up in appropriate clothes and move around in something resembling a waltz, smile at the judges and you'll be fine."

I just stared at her. Utterly con fused. Then Edward spoke.

"I can waltz" he said.

"Good then maybe it won't be a complete disaster," coach replied.

"Don't tell me you're seriously considering this?" I asked Edward.

"I don't have much of a choice," he replied. "Right, Coach?"

Coach just smiled.

"I'll make a fool out of myself," I complained.

"But you'll pass gym." Coach countered and her smile widened. She knew she had me. My entire college career rested on me learning to waltz.

Fuck!

"Right Edward, let's see what you've got," Coach said. "Kate can you partner him for a minute. Kate stepped forward and took her place in front of him. She smiled and put her left hand on his shoulder and placed her right hand in his left. Coach took a small remote from it and pressed a button. Some sweet classical music floated out from the speakers and Edward and Kate started to move.

It was beautiful to watch, completely captivating. Edward was so sure of his movements as he led her around the floor of the gym and Kate was so graceful as she followed his lead effortlessly. I would never be able to do that. I watched as Edward lifted Kate in a complicated looking lift and spun her around.

For just a moment I was envious. Not because Kate was dancing with Edward, I was sure I was going to get to do that soon, it's not like I had much choice. No, I was jealous because I would never look as graceful as her. I was about as elegant as an elephant.

I watched Edward effortlessly return Kate to her feet, spin her once and the dip her as the music slowed to a stop.

"Wow!" I heard Jasper say complimentarily. "Cullen's got game."

"That's one way of putting it." Coach answered. "Where did you learn to dance like that Edward?" she asked.

"My adoptive mother needs to attend social functions a lot but my adoptive dad works nights at the hospital most of the time so I go with her. After the first few were excruciatingly dull I learned to dance so I'd have something to do."

Edward was adopted. Who knew? I've sat next to the guy for four hours a week for the last year and I didn't even know he was adopted.

"Well I'm going to leave Bella in your very capable hands Edward and we'll talk on Friday about your progress, four thirty." Coach C said and then went to talk to Jasper and Tanya about their salsa number.

"So when do you want to start practicing?" Edward asked me.

"You're totally serious aren't you?" I asked him.

"As a heart attack," was his reply.

My only response was a groan of frustration and hopelessness.

"Oh, c'mon," he said. Then he flashed me a small crooked smile. "I promise it won't be as bad as you think. You might even have fun."

"You promise?" I asked, slightly breathless now from that smile and the endearing expression he was wearing.

"Absolutely," he said and rubbed my shoulder soothingly.

"Well how about tomorrow?" I asked him, "after school."

"No problem. Do you want to do it here or somewhere else?"

"Somewhere else would be better. Less people to witness," I reasoned

"Well we could go to my place I guess. My parents are both out late most days."

"That's good," I told him and it was. It was one thing for Dr Cullen to treat my injuries; it would be another entirely for him to see one of the accidents that caused them.

"Okay, so I'll meet you in the parking lot after last class tomorrow," He told me.

"Yep," I said and then he flashed me another dazzling smile before walking away.

I had learnt three things about Edward today. One, he could dance. Two, he was adopted. And Three, he had a magical, dazzling smile that could make do almost anything, including agree to dance.

Later at Teds Diner (still Bella's POV)

"Hahahahahahahahahahaha"

Alice almost fell out of her seat laughing when I told her.

"Haaaaaaahahahahahahahaha"

When you're quite finished," I said more than a little annoyed.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Oh, Bella I'm sorry. It's just I tried to imagine you in a ball gown and heels and it tickled me," she apologized.

"You're forgiven," I told her. "But only because the ice-cream is here," I finished as two bowls were placed in front of us.

After we had both finished the delicious sugary treat I decided to share the best part with Alice.

"I think I'm attracted to him," I said quickly like ripping off a band-aid.

"Oh, my wittle Bella's growing up," Alice crooned, pinching my check.

"Shut up!" I snapped.

"But that's perfect all these practice sessions where you'll be pressed up against him and looking into his eyes." Alice said dreamily.

"Don't start!" I snapped.

"Don't tell me you're not a little bit hoping that something will happen."

"Hoping- sure. Expecting-definitely not."

Edwards POV

"So you're gonna get dressed up and dance?" Emmett asked me.

"It's to avoid taking the bus," I told him. "And it's nothing different to what I do at Esme's fancy parties. Plus Bella's a lot nicer than the middle aged women I usually dance with at those things."

"Oh really? Nicer, like Eddie want to kiss the pretty girl?" he asked.

I blushed. "Don't call me that!"

"Oh my god! You do, don't you? Well, good luck with that."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Dude, she's the daughter of the chief of police. You'll be lucky to get within a foot of her without getting shot."

I hadn't thought of that.

So what do you think? Please review -I love hearing all your comments. Next chapter will have the first dance lesson. Keep Smiling- Raichy x