This is the longest period of time I've gone without updating. So sorry. I should never write a book. I'd never get it done! Just kidding. Please enjoy the chapter!!

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

Edward's party is tomorrow night and I'm not even sure if I'll be able to go. Not that I have to get permission from Esme or anything. It's just that I don't know how Alice and Rosalie feel about this. Again, it's not like I need their permission either. I just don't know how they feel about me going. They don't exactly like me now and they really didn't like it when Edward invited Jake and I to his party. And Jake! That's a whole other story.

I would never say it to his face but Jake's been acting like a total douche ever since the night Edward invited us. Whenever I try to bring up the subject of Edward's party and how much of a bad idea I think it is, he either ignores me or changes the subject to how well he thinks he did on his finals or something about his car. It pisses me off! And we're going to have to talk about it at some point. Because the party's tomorrow night and we don't even have a plan for how the night is going to go. I don't even have a dress!

As I was serving Esme's cup of coffee, Rose, Alice, and Esme herself came into the dining room.

"Good you're here. We need to talk." Esme spoke. As the three of them sat, I noticed smirks on Rosalie and Alice's faces. I was still standing once they were settled. I noticed Esme look up at me. "Sit!" she demanded as if it were obvious. I sat at the other head of the long table, across from Esme. Rosalie and Alice began eating their toast, but they still kept a watchful eye on the two of us. Esme took a sip of her orange juice before she began talking.

"Well, Isabella as you know, tomorrow is Edward's big birthday party." Ah. So that's what this is all about. "I hope you weren't planning on going?"

"Err... I...-"

"Great." Another sip. "That's good. Because you're going to be needed here." I opened my mouth to protest, but Esme interrupted again.

"I haven't written up yet but there's going to be a million chores that have to be done tomorrow night. Laundry, cleaning, washing... There's more but you'll just see it on the list when I give it to you."

Shit.

If Rosalie and Alice's smiles got any wider, it should have broken a record.

Esme took another sip and then asked, "That won't be a problem, will it?"

"No." I replied softly.

"Oh and don't have that friend of yours Jason-"

"Jacob."

"Whatever. Don't have him come over. I don't know him and I don't know if I should trust him in my house without supervision."

"Okay." I knew it. I just knew it! It was so like Esme to do something like this. No doubt the girls had something to do with it.

After a moment of silence and sadness on my part, Esme spoke again.

"Well girls," she addressed Alice and Rosalie. "You should get going. You don't want to be late for school." Once Rosalie and Alice left the room and were out of earshot, Esme spoke one last time before leaving the table. "I'll have that list for you by tomorrow afternoon Isabella." I couldn't say anything, so I just nodded.

I started clearing the table as Esme turned her back and left the room. It wasn't until I heard the clicking of her heels going up the staircase that I threw a plate back down on the table in anger.


Twenty minutes later, I was out the door and jogging towards Jacob's car in the driveway. Rosalie and Alice's cars were already gone. I was still pissed off at my eventful breakfast and it was going to take a while for this grudge to wear off. But I had to tell Jake. I had to tell him now.

"So about the party-"

"Did I tell you I changed the oil in the-"

"Jake stop!" I surprised him so much, he almost lost control of the car. "We need to talk about this party now!"

"Okay fine! We'll plan it out-"

"Because I'm not going."

"WHAT?!?!" This time, Jacob surprised himself. He actually pulled over. "What do you mean you're not going?" I took a deep breath and began to explain.

"This morning at breakfast, Esme told me that if I had any plans for tomorrow night, that I better forget it. She's going to give me a list of chores to do that will most likely be so long, I'll be finished by the time I turn 30. So we have to cut it out Jake, because it's not happening. Once again, Esme's found a way to screw over my life. So we might as well just forget it."

Jacob and I sat in his car in total silence. I was trying to sink in what I had just said. And I hope he was too, because there's no way I was going to let him pressure me into going anyway. Jacob has to know where to draw the line.

Finally, Jake said something.

"Bella, you may not know this, but your the bravest person I know. You've put up with Alice, Rosalie, and Esme for almost ten years and you still haven't broken down. You've complained but you've never threatened to run away. You're going to stay strong and stay focused for one more year and then you're gone. But if there's one thing I know, it's that you never and will never let any of those three stop you from doing what you want. And you know that. You know I'm right. I might tease you and say you're a coward and all that, but I don't mean it. You are the bravest person I have ever met. Nobody but you would be able to live a day in your life. There's always a way for you to get what you want. We'll find a way. I promise you that we will."

Jacob's speech did make me feel better, and as much as I wanted to find a way, I knew it was almost impossible. But Jake's right. There's always been a way. Why can't there be one now? And why am I starting to cry?

"Bells," he put a comforting arm around me, "Why are you crying?"

"Because you're right Jake. You're right. I'm brave and strong and I've been denying myself of it all this time. In one year, maybe less, I will finally be rid of Rose, Alice, and Esme forever. And even though I've been bullied and tortured by them, I've always found a way around them to get whatever it is I want. What I deserve. Because I've had to put up with enough bullshit to get something out of it. And what I want is Edward Cullen, and I won't allow any of them to stop me.

As I was speaking, my confidence grew more and more and I sucked back the tears. Calmed down, I told Jake to keep driving. But I could tell he was still worried about me.

"Look," he began, "What if I found a way you could get all the chores done and still go to the party? Would that be okay with you?"

"That would be great Jake. Do you think you could make that happen?"

"Bella, I'm Jacob Black. I can do anything." I laughed.

"Yes, that would be great Jake. Thank you."

"No problem."


When I woke up this morning, I never thought my day would go like this. All morning, I've been doing absolutely nothing. Instead, I had the pleasure of watching Alice and Rosalie prepare themselves for the big night. They went though the whole process of nails, hair, and makeup. You'd think they were going to prom!

However, the only thing Esme's been doing all day is writing that ridiculous list of hers. I'm pretty sure it's going to contain the stupidest things she's ever going to have me do. But that doesn't matter to me. With my luck, I won't even be doing any of them. Hopefully, Jake can come through for me.

Rosalie and Alice were set and ready to go by six. And both of them looked absolutely breathtaking. I've got to admit, for a pair of spoiled little bitches, they're a gorgeous pair of spoiled little bitches. I still had no idea how the hell I was going to look. The girls left and it was just me and Esme alone in the house. That's when I found out what her plans for tonight were.

"So Carlisle will be picking me up at seven. Don't wait up but make sure you finish everything on the list. I'll be back at midnight, so I'll see you then." She turned back around before she fully walked out the door. "Oh, and enjoy your night Isabella."

No later than a minute after Esme locked the door behind her did I hear the doorbell ring. Knowing I wasn't expecting anyone else, I knew it was Jacob. I walked into the foyer and opened the door.

"Bella, I'm the answer to all your prayers!" Jake invited himself in.

"Umm.. okay. Why?"

"Because this entire house will be spotless by the time you get back from this party!" I was speechless. He actually did it?!?!

"Oh my God Jake really?! You managed to get someone who could all this work for free?"

"Nope."

"But... I thought you said-"

"I got a group of people." He opened the door and yelled into the darkness. "Come on in guys."

Behind him came in a group of five foreign-looking men. Each one about the same height, and all of them looked similar to one another. Every man held some kind of cleaning utensil with them. "Bella, I'd like you to meet Jean, Claude, Pierre, Andre, and Michel. They're going to clean the house for you." All five of them waved and smiled at me. I returned the gesture.

"Um, Jake, do any of them speak English?"

"Yeah. All of them. They can read it, speak it, write it, and understand it. Just like you and me."

Okay. That sounded way too rehearsed.

"Great, so here's the list. You shouldn't have any trouble finding anything. It really isn't that big of a house once you get used to it. And all this has to be done by midnight because that's when my stepmother comes back from her date with her boyfriend. But don't worry. I'll be back here in plenty of time to let all you out. Thank you guys so much. You have no idea how much this means to me. You might even, literally, change my life. Thanks again." I looked at them once I was finished. They looked at me as if I were speaking another language, which I was starting to suspect they probably thought I was. "Jake, can I talk to you in the kitchen for a second?" He nodded and followed me into the kitchen.

"Is something wrong Bella?"

"Jacob, you bring in five strange French men into my house and expect me to believe they speak English? Who are they anyway?"

"My cousin's girlfriend's brothers."

"Your cousin's French?"

"No. His girlfriend is."

"Okay whatever but really? You want me to believe they all speak fluent English?"

"Alright so you caught me. But don't worry. I already explained to them what they need to do."

"You speak French?"

"Oui."

"Okay well if they know what to do then let's just leave them to it. You can come upstairs and help me get ready because we have a problem."

"What?"

"I don't have anything to wear."

Jacob seem to think for a moment. "Wait. I've got an idea."


"No."

"Bella-"

"There's no way Jacob, there's just no way!"

"Really Bells, you're not going to wear it?"

"NO! I can't. She'd kill me."

"How can she? She's never gonna find out. She's not gonna see you in it."

"Jake don't be stupid! I'm going to be there! Of course she's going to see it."

"But she's not going to see you. And honestly, there are probably a million copies of this dress in every mall in the state. I don't think she'll suspect that this one was taken out of her closet."

We were standing in the middle of Rosalie's bedroom and Jake was holding up a brand new dress of hers. When she and Alice had gone dress shopping weeks ago, Rosalie, unable to make up her mind, bought two dresses. Both were absolutely beautiful, but of course, she couldn't wear both. So the one she didn't choose was the one in Jacob's hands right now. And he was insisting on me wearing it tonight.

"Jacob, no. Just no."

"Okay then what else are you going to wear? I'm pretty sure you don't want to show up to Edward's house in sweats. Or do you?"

I groaned. "No." With a smile that made me want to punch him, he gently handed me the dress.

"I'll wait outside. Feel free to use her make-up too."

"Get out Jacob. Get out." I playfully pushed him out of the room. I can't believe he's making me do this. With my experience with dresses, I'll probably destroy the thing! The last dress I wore must have been the small black one I wore to my dad's funeral. But I'm pretty sure there's a zipper around here somewhere....

Despite our argument, I followed Jacob's directions and put on Rosalie's dress. Half and hour later, I emerged from her bedroom. To be honest, I think I looked pretty good. I struggled with the dress at first, but I eventually got into it. I had no idea how the make-up worked but I think I did okay. Mascara on my eyelashes, lip gloss on my lips, and blush on my cheeks. I don't look like a clown, at least. The hardest part was my hair, which Jake insisted I do. Since the most I've ever done to my hair was hastily pass a brush through it, this was very difficult. And Rosalie had so many hair products and accessories to choose from! I finally settled with a half up-half down hairstyle with loose curls on the ends. And don't even get me started on my adventure with the hair curler!

But now it was time to reveal all. I hope I looked okay. I didn't have time (nor did I want) to go back and change into something else. So I hope this works. I opened the door to meet Jacob's impatient figure.

"Well, it's about t... whoa." Oh God Jake. Don't. "Bella. You look gorgeous." I turned red and looked down at the floor.

"You really think so?" I saw him nod.

"You look so beautiful." I caught Jake's eyes roam my body. But it wasn't in a lustful manner. It was more like he was an overly proud father seeing his little girl go off to prom.

"Thank you."

"Sure thing. You clean up pretty well, I've got I admit." I rolled my eyes.

"Well, we should get going before these shoes become even more comfortable."

"Right."

Jacob and I walked downstairs. I peeked at the list that was taped to the wall. I was glad to see three of the more tedious chores had been done. I was confident the whole list would be done by midnight.

We got into Jacob's car and drove at a normal speed. Then I realized something.

"Jake, don't take this the wrong way or anything, but why are you going?" He hesitated before he answered.

"For support, Bella. You're my best friend, so I need to go. Because otherwise I don't think you could go through with this." I stared at him the whole time he said that. It was completely obvious he was lying.

"It's Leah right?"

"Yeah." He replied guiltily. I giggled and turned away.

Soon enough we arrived outside Edward's house. The big, heavy, silver gates opened up and greeted us into the Cullen Estate. This is it. I thought. When I leave that building, my life might be completely different. It was too much to handle at once. Adrenaline was rushing through my body and my palms were extremely sweaty. I was way too excited. Or... ? Was I just really nervous?

We quickly found a good parking spot and Jake came around the car to open the door for me. I felt the cool breeze of outside when he opened the door, but I couldn't seem to step out of the car.

"Bells, come on." I heard Jacob say. I took a deep breath, but nothing. Jake kneeled down to meet me. "Don't be scared okay. You can do this. You have come so far already. Remember back when you wouldn't even admit it to yourself about Edward? Well, you've passed that stage. Now look at yourself! You're standing only a couple hundred feet from his front door. I can't be with you all night. And I certainly can't be with you the rest of your life. You know you have the confidence to do this. Just reach down deep inside you, and go for it. This is your night. Once you walk through those doors, there's no turning back. Come on." Jake kissed my forehead and stood up. He offered his hand. I rejected it. In one swift movement, I stepped out of the car and before I knew it my 3-inch heels were touching the pavement.

Before Jake even had the time to close the passenger door, I was halfway down the driveway and heading towards the front door of Edward Cullen's house.

Phew! Gosh I hate doing this to you guys. It seems that I ALWAYS leave you with a cliffhanger... sorry! I'm not going to say anything about the next chapter because I don't want to make a promise I can't keep. But please review this one! =D