A/N: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. I just borrow the characters. I promise to give them back. :)

Thanks to everyone who read/ reviewed the last chapter!

This chapter should answer the questions and concerns in some of the reviews I read. Hope you like it!


Chapter 1 – Party Animal

BPOV

I woke one Saturday morning, a few weeks after my enlightening conversation with Alice and Angela, with a big smile on my face. Edward likes me too! I squealed my daily reminder in my mind.

It was the weekend so I rolled out of bed and threw on a tank top and a pair of sweatpants over the sports bra and underwear I'd worn to bed last night. I headed downstairs and found my parents and brother in the kitchen.

"Morning!" I smiled at them and went in search of my morning coffee.

"You certainly seem happy this morning." Charlie commented as he glanced at me over his newspaper.

I shrugged. "I had a good night's sleep I guess."

Renee arched her eyebrow at me like she didn't believe me.

I sat down next to Emmett and sipped my coffee as I read the sections of the paper Charlie was finished with. About a half hour later, when Charlie was upstairs changing for his shift at the police station and Renee was washing the dishes, the doorbell rang.

"Will one of you get that?" Renee asked me and Emmett.

I glanced at Emmett and we immediately launched into a Rock, Paper, Scissors battle for who would get the door. I lost so I jumped out of my chair – rather ungracefully, I might add – and went to get the door. I pulled the door open and gasped quietly when I saw who was standing on my doorstep.

"Uh hi, Edward," I said shyly and tried to hide my body behind the door. I was still in my pajamas after all.

"Hey, Bella, sorry to drop by so early." He smiled his stunning crooked smile at me and I felt my heart beat in double time.

I blushed. Stupid blush! "No problem," I assured him in a breathy voice.

"I just walked down to tell you and Em that there's a party at Crowley's house after our game tonight."

"Okay," I nodded, wondering why he was telling me this instead of just asking for Emmett. "I'll be sure to tell Em."

Edward caught my arm as I started to close the door. "You'll be there too, right? I'd really like it if you're there, Bella."

I gasped silently. Was Edward actually asking me to a party? "Uh, yeah. I'll be there."

Edward smiled brilliantly and trotted down the steps before disappearing down the street. I closed the door and leaned against it smiling like a crazy fool.

"Who was at the door?"

I gasped in surprise and spun around, glaring at Emmett. "Emmett what the hell! You scared the crap out of me!"

He snickered. "So, who was at the door?"

"Edward," I sighed. "He wanted to tell us that there's a party at Crowley's house after the game tonight."

He looked confused. "Yeah I know. There always is."

I shrugged. "He asked me to go too."

Emmett grinned. "Really?" He dragged out every syllable.

I nodded. "I told him I'd go." I started back up the stairs.

"Really, Bells?" He asked as he followed me upstairs. "I didn't think parties were your thing."

I shrugged again. "I don't know. I guess Alice and I will stop by for a bit. If we don't like it, we'll leave." I walked into my room and started to make the bed.

Emmett looked weary as he stood in my bedroom doorway. "Are you sure? Those things can sometimes get pretty crazy."

"Emmett," I huffed, throwing my hands on my hips. "I'll be fine. You'll be there, won't you?"

He nodded. "And you'll come find me if something gets out of control?"

I laughed and crossed the room so I was standing right in front of him. "Yes, I'll run and get my big, strong brother to take me home." I sidestepped him and walked into my bathroom. "Go get ready for your game."

EPOV

I jogged away from the Swan's and couldn't believe my luck that Bella had answered the door. Just the person I was hoping to see. I just had to make sure she was coming to the party tonight.

I walked through our front door and ran smack into my little sister. "Alice, what the fuck?"

"What were you doing out so early?" She narrowed her eyes at me.

I shrugged. "Just telling Em and Bella about the party tonight," I said as nonchalantly as possible.

Alice squealed and pulled me up the stairs to her room. She pushed me down on her bed and jumped up and down in front of me, clapping and spinning in a circle.

"Ali, what the hell are you doing?" I asked her with a heavy sigh.

She punched my shoulder and I scowled at her and rubbed my shoulder. "The fuck, Alice? I have a game today." Ow, she punches hard!

"I knew you liked Bella!" She yelled happily, doing a little spin around herself.

I groaned and plopped back on the bed with my hands over my face. "Does everyone have to know?"

"Yes!" Alice squealed and jumped up on the bed beside me. "Well at least I do! Don't worry Eddie. I'm going to help you!"

I peeked through my fingers. "Help me how?" I asked cautiously.

"I'm going to help you get the girl! You're going to make your move tonight at the party."

"Tonight!" I yelled and sat up so fast I got a head rush. "Whoa, Alice! I don't know if I could face rejection so soon."

Alice rolled her eyes. "Yes, tonight. And she's not going to reject you. That girl has been smitten with you forever."

I felt a smile stretch across my face. "Really?" It was one thing to hear it from her brother, but to hear it from her best friend… I guess I was starting to believe them. "Okay, Alice," I sighed. "What did you have in mind?"

Alice's answering squeal was so high-pitched, all the dogs in the neighborhood started barking.

BPOV

I looked up at the scoreboard and smiled as I made my way back to my seat. Brookline was up 10 – 0 at halftime. Edward was doing such a good job.

"Here you go, Ali." I handed her the bag of popcorn as I took a sip from my bottle of Coke.

"Thanks, Bells!" Alice chirped. "So are you enjoying the game so far?" she asked me with a mischievous glint in her eye.

I nodded, wondering what she was up to. "I am. Pretty good start to the season, so far."

"Are you excited for the party?"

I shrugged. "It probably won't be very eventful. We'll probably want to leave early."

Alice smirked. "Oh, I don't know, Bells. Tonight might just end up being the best night of your life."

I looked at her quizzically before turning back to the field when the whistle blew, signaling the end of halftime.

About an hour and a half later, the game was finally over with a Brookline win. Alice and I headed out to the parking lot to my truck and left the school grounds. We decided to check in with our parents before we headed to the party. The Cullens invited me to sleepover their house after the party so Alice and I packed a bag, said hi to Charlie and Renee and dropped the bag off at Alice's house.

By the time Alice and I drove down the secluded dirt road and arrived at Tyler Crowley's house, the party was in full swing. You could hear music and the sound of voices from the porch.

Alice and I aren't party people. Well, actually, we've never been invited to a party like this so we really don't know if we are party people. But if I had to guess, I'd say we aren't. Probably.

Alice went ahead of me and pushed the front door open. The door opened right into a spacious living room that was packed with bodies. There were people lounging on the furniture but the majority of them were in the middle of the room where a make shift dance floor appeared to be.

I followed Alice through the masses of people towards the kitchen. The kitchen was much less crowded. There were only a few people milling around, including Edward and Emmett.

"Baby B, Tiny!" Emmett boomed. He ran over and pulled both of us into a giant bear hug, nearly pulling us off our feet. Clearly he already had a few.

"Hey, Em," I laughed.

Edward walked over and smiled at the both of us. "You guys made it." His smile made my heart beat in double time. Swoon.

I couldn't help the blush that rose in my cheeks when our eyes met. "Yeah, no help to Bella," Alice grumbled. "She drives like a fucking turtle."

I glared at her and she just shrugged and looped her arm through Emmett's. "Come on, Big Guy. I believe you own me a dance."

Emmett's booming laughter echoed in the kitchen as Alice pulled him into the living room. But not before she shot a pointed glance at Edward to which he answered with a glare of his own. Hmm… I wonder what that was all about…

An awkward silence fell over Edward and I as I stared down at my shoes, trying to come up with something to say to him without sounding like a complete idiot.

"Great job out there tonight." I mentally cringed. Really? Did I have to say that? I'm sure everyone has said the exact same thing.

Edward cleared his throat. "Uh, thanks. Can I get you a drink?" he gestured to the collection of beer in the corner of the kitchen.

"Please!" I said eagerly. Anything to relieve the awkward tension.

Edward uncapped two bottles, handed one to me and took a long sip of the other. We finally settled into a relatively comfortable discussion about the game. I knew a lot about football growing up with Emmett and Dad so I was able to keep up with what he was saying and make a few comments here and there.

When that topic was exhausted, we were left in silence. Again.

I looked up to meet his eyes and I don't know what came over me! Maybe those green eyes had magical hypnotic powers. But it was probably the empty beer bottle I just threw away. Eh, what can I say? I'm a lightweight. I stretched up on my tiptoes and took his face between my hands and kissed him. When he didn't kiss me back, I realized what I was doing and stepped back, absolutely mortified.

I knew I shouldn't have listened to Alice. Of course he doesn't like me! I thought to myself.

My face was surely the color of a fire engine as I continued to step backwards and stammered "I… uh… I have to go," before turning quickly and sprinting out of the kitchen.

I thought I heard him call my name but I sure as hell was not turning around to find out. I needed to get out of here as fast as possible.

I quickly found Alice standing by the edge of the dance floor with Emmett, both of them clutching their sides and laughing. I walked quickly up to them and caught Alice's attention. "I really need to get out of here." I told her. "You can get a ride with someone else, right?" I felt the tears start to fill my eyes.

She must have seen the tears because she nodded in understanding. "Are you okay to drive?" she asked me quietly.

I nodded and spun on my heel and ran out of the house.

I managed to keep my tears at bay until I reached my truck. Once inside the cab, I felt the tears slide down my cheeks as I turned the truck around and peeled away from the house.

When I pulled up outside my house, I tried to collect myself before I walked inside and Renee and Charlie asked me what was wrong. I don't think I could talk about it without crying again. Rejection sucks.

I exited my truck and walked across the lawn, wiping under my eyes as I went.

"Bella!"

I spun around to see Edward jump out of his Volvo and run towards me. I crossed my arms across my chest and fought the urge to run in the opposite direction. "What are you doing here?"

"Why did you leave?" He slowed when he was a few feet away from me and stopped.

"You didn't answer my question."

He took one step closer to me. "I couldn't let you leave without talking to you. Now, why did you run away?"

I tightened my arms on my chest so I was essentially hugging myself and looked down at my shoes. "I was embarrassed. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kissed you. I was buzzed, I guess." I said with a nervous chuckle.

"Don't be."

I snapped my head up to look at him. "What?"

"Don't be sorry." He was inches away from me now and he reached out to cup my cheek. "I've been waiting almost two years two years to kiss you like that, Bella." He whispered.

Wait, what?

"What?" I whispered back. "Two years? You've waited two years?"

He nodded. "I've liked you for so long, Bella." He brushed his thumb back and forth across my cheekbone. I closed my eyes in contentment.

"I've had a crush on you since I was ten, Edward." I said with a quiet giggle, opening my eyes to look into his gorgeous green ones.

Edward grinned. "It appears as if we both have been a little reluctant to see what's right in front of our eyes."

"It appears we have." I smirked.

I held my breath as he started to lean towards me. He stopped when his lips were only a few inches away from mine. He laughed when I huffed in frustration. "There's something I have to ask you first." He said quietly. "Bella Swan, will you go a date with me?"

A smile stretched across my face. "Yes," And he crushed his lips to mine. I finally uncrossed my arms and threw them around his neck as he slid the hand not holding my cheek around to my low back to pull me closer to him.

I don't know how long we stood there like that – on my front lawn, no less – before we heard voices and quiet giggling behind us.

"See, I told you following them would be a good idea!"

"No, I was the one who told you to follow them, Tiny."

Edward and I broke our kiss and laughed when we turned to see Alice and Emmett standing by Emmett's Jeep in the driveway.

"Spying isn't nice, you two." I called to them.

They both wore identical grins as they walked towards us. Alice was almost vibrating with excitement. "So?"

I decided to play coy. Just to annoy her. "So, what?"

She huffed and threw her hands on her hips. "Isabella!"

I copied her stance. "Mary Alice!" I couldn't hide the smile on my face when she scowled at the sound of her despised full name.

"Fine, we'll talk later." She relented with an eye roll. She grabbed my hand and started to drag me down the street. "Come on,"

"Wait, wait!" I wrenched my hand back. "I have to go inside for a minute. You guys go ahead I'll be there in a few minutes."

I ran inside and shut the door behind me. I let out a squeal and jumped up and down. Edward asked me out! Edward asked me out!

"Bella?"

I stopped jumping and looked up to see Renee looking at me quizzically. "Uh, hi," I said sheepishly, a little embarrassed at my outburst.

She smirked. "What's this all about?"

"Edward asked me out on a date!" I beamed at her. If anyone knew about my crush on Edward, it was Renee. We talk about everything together.

Renee squealed happily before taking my hands in hers. We squealed and jumped up and down together before she pulled me into a hug. "I'm happy for you, Bella."

"Thanks, Mom." I smiled and turned to open the front door again. "I gotta go. Alice is waiting for me. I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Have fun!" Renee called as I stepped outside and shut the door behind me.

I grinned when I saw Edward standing on my front steps. "What are you still doing here?" I asked happily.

Edward stood and smiled at me. "I couldn't let you walk alone, now could I?"

I ran down the steps and stood beside him. "Well thank you, that was very thoughtful. Even if we do live a few houses away." I giggled.

Edward laughed and reached down to take my hand in his own as we started to walk down the street.

Edward and I are holding hands! Gah!

"So, do you have any ideas for our date?" I asked him conversationally.

"Just about a million," He laughed and pressed a kiss to the back of my hand. "You forget, Bella, I've been dreaming of this for years."


A/N: Aren't they adorable?

Thanks for reading! Leave me a review and let me know what you're thinking. Love it? Hate it? I wanna know!

Chapter 2 isn't done yet so I don't know when I can post it. Definitely within a few days.

-Nikki