I had nice dreams that night- about the Spring Dance mostly. Bella Swan was in it as well- she turned up with about five different dates and then ran away from them all.

When I woke up I was in a good mood. I drove to school feeling determined. I didn't care what happened- I was meeting Edward today.

I parked in my usual spot. I watched as the Cullens arrived, all getting out of the silver Volvo. Edward was not with them. A moment later he sauntered out from the trees bordered the parking lot. Maybe he had run there.

I kept watching, and saw Edward as he walked to Bella's truck were she'd just parked it. She dropped her keys into a puddle and he retrieved them for her. She seemed surprised to see him as he straightened, and said something, angrily, it appeared.

They spoke; she seemed annoyed at him, he was clearly teasing her. She started to walk away, and he followed.

I lost interest then- I knew what would happen in the end, and so I didn't really care how they reached the result. I went to where Alice was standing with Jasper. Emmett and Rosalie had gone to classes already.

Jasper looked worried when I walked over, and glanced around at the parking lot- now emptying as people went to their morning classes.

"Relax, no ones looking." I said as I approached them, and laughed at his worried face. Alice joined in.

"Don't worry Jazz, I'll tell you if anyone's coming." she said, then turned to me. "Guess what I can see,"

"Me talking to Edward?" I guessed.

"She's a freak guesser," Alice said to Jasper.

"Cut off the guesser. I'm just a freak." I told her seriously.

"Whatever," Alice said.

We were late for class, so I said goodbye to Alice and Jasper and hurried off to English. I still had a few lessons until my essay was due, which was lucky because I'd only started planning it.

At lunchtime, I went to the cafeteria, but didn't go inside. Instead, I hovered at the doorway, scanning the room. The Cullens were at their usual table. I did something I'd never done before then. In my head, I screamed, Edward!

His head didn't move at first, so I tried again. Edward Cullen. Kindly incline your head to the left.

He turned his head then, his golden eyes boring into mine. If I hadn't been hanging around with Jasper and Emmett so much recently, it might have thrown me a bit. But I stood my ground, and smiled a bit. Then I raised one finger and beckoned.

Alice was looking too, and she smiled at me, and nudged Edward. He stood up slowly, hesitantly, and walked out of the cafeteria. No one paid any attention to him, except his family who looked up in confusion and then saw me standing there. Emmett grinned and Rosalie smiled, and then they went back to staring at nothing.

Edward walked a few paces out of the cafeteria and stopped where I was standing, leaning up against the wall.

"Hi Edward," I said.

"Hello," he paused, "Juniper."

I grinned.

"How do you know my name?" I asked, doing my best to imitate Bella's low, clear voice. My voice was naturally a lot higher than hers and so it wasn't a very good impression, but Edward clearly got the joke, because he grinned back.

"I could hardly not know you're name, when you've stolen the hearts of my entire family." he replied.

"Well it's about time you introduced yourself." I said in a mock accusatory tone.

"Sorry," he said, sounding serious. "I've been a bit distracted lately."

"I know," I said, my voice gentle. "Although I don't think distracted is the right word. I know my mum didn't find my dad distracting."

I knew I had said too much, probably freaked him out a little, and I had let myself think about my parents. But his expression didn't change. Instead he whispered, almost too soft for me to hear.

"Were they really in love?"

"Yes," I whispered. "More than most people can understand. But not too much for you to understand, I don't think."

A group of loud girls walked past us, hardly noticing us in their hurry to get their lunch. Their laughter interrupted our conversation.

"You better get back to your family." I said.

"And you to your friends."

I smiled, puzzled. How did he know about my new found friends?

Edward smiled secretly.

"I know everything." he said.

I grinned.

So I'm not allowed secrets?

He smiled again.

"Depends how badly you want to keep them."

This is weird.

He looked puzzled.

"What is?"

This. This... mind talk.

He laughed.

"Get used to it." he said quietly. "Around me, you'll be doing a lot of mind talk."

And he turned and walked back into the cafeteria. I waited until he had been gone a long enough time and it wouldn't look like we were walking in together, and then followed him. I sat with Andy and his friends, as usual, and he asked me why I was so late.

"Got held back after Maths- hadn't done my homework," I lied smoothly, and he didn't question further. The mood on my table was slightly excited, because of the upcoming Spring Dance. It was still a week away, but that didn't matter to my human friends.

I hadn't noticed before, but Alex and Tom were actually together. They weren't very public about it- it was only because they were going to the Spring Dance together, and that Kate and Steph knew this would be inevitable, that I knew. I also knew that there was history between Kate and Matt. I had never been told this, but I could sense it in the way that they didn't talk to each other naturally and never sat next to each other. And also the fact that Steph's joke about Kate and Matt both having know one to the Spring Dance with wasn't well received by either of them. Alex, Kate, Steph and I spent most of lunchtime talking dresses, makeup, hair and shoes. The boys weren't at all interested in the conversation and had one of their own- about soccer, I thought. They all promised to come to the shop- helped by my promise of a thirty percent discount- and try on some dresses for the night. They had been planning a shopping trip to Port Angeles, but they were happy to change their plans.

They were all excited about my performance as well. I tried to tell them that it was just one song, not a big deal at all, but I was soon being bombarded with advice.

I was late to Biology, having lost track of time talking shoes with Steph. For a small town girl, she knew her designers. She even had a pair of real Jimmy Chos, which her grandma had brought back from a trip to Paris. I gathered from her story about this that her parents didn't get along well with her grandma, especially her son, Steph's father, who was angry at her grandma for leaving his father to travel the world.

I glanced in Edward's direction as I walked in. If it wasn't for the fact that my late arrival had earned me some curious stares from my classmates, I would have winked.

Edward didn't talk to Bella that lesson. I didn't really care, although I kind of wanted them to talk, for Edward's sake. I was pretty sure that he'd want to talk to her. Who wouldn't want to talk to someone they were in love with?

After Biology I went straight to Gym.

"Hey Juniper," Andy said in his normal, cheerful way.

"Hey Andy," I replied, equally cheerful. Without even thinking, I hugged him. It was stupid, really, something I used to do a lot but hadn't done in ages. Sprites didn't read as much into physical contact as humans did- boys and girls hugged each other all the time; to greet, console, mourn, celebrate, whatever. I had hugged sprites I hardly knew. So it felt natural to hug Andy, one of my best friends.

His face was pure shock as I pulled away.

"Sorry," I said, trying to shrug it off.

"No, it's okay." Andy said. The happiness was coming back to his face now.

I knew he thought it was okay. That was the problem.

I wanted to tell him not to read too much into it. But I was worried that he hadn't, and if I said that he would. So I ignored it.

"So, did we bore you to tears at lunch today?" I asked, teasing.

He rolled his eyes.

"I don't know how you can talk about clothes for that long!"

"I'm in fashion, remember. I could talk for hours. Days, if I didn't require sleep." I half smiled. If I was a vampire.

Andy smiled. "Are you looking forward to going? To the Spring Dance?"

I nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah. It'll be great."

"What song are you going to sing?" he asked me.

I shrugged.

"Not sure yet. I was going to ask-" I stopped myself before I said 'Alice'.

"Going to ask who?" Andy pressed.

"Um, Steph and Kate and Alex." I mumbled.

Two mistakes in a few minutes. What was wrong with me?

"Yeah, they'll have lots of ideas." Andy said, oblivious to my worry. "Are you going to do a new song?"

"Not exactly new," I said, talking like nothing was wrong, "I was thinking a song that's a few years old. You know- a really good song people still like."

Andy nodded. "Sounds good."

After Gym I went to my scooter, drove home, and went straight to my ipod. I flipped through songs, trying to pick one. I needed to choose soon, or I wouldn't have time to practice it. I knew I could do it impromptu, but it would be better if I had a good dance to go with it.

I needed a song that had good lyrics- lyrics that were fun to sing, nice to listen to, and made sense. I also needed a good, strong beat, so people could still dance.

I listened to Wake Up by Hilary Duff. I liked the song and the lyrics, but it was a bit too slow. No good for dancing.

I wanted to do Poker Face, by Lady Gaga, but some of it was sung by a guy, and no one would do it with me.

I tried Don't Stop The Music by Rihanna. The lyrics were definitely fun to sing, and the beat was good. It was the kind of song people danced to. I decided this would be my first pick. But I'd ask Alice's opinion.

I didn't open the shop, just made stock. At about five o'clock Alice came over.

"Hey!" she said brightly. "Feel like coming over?"

I glanced at the large pile of unfinished stock I had to do.

"Don't worry," Alice assured me. "You'll have plenty of time to do it later."

So I agreed and we left. Alice had driven over, and so we went in the car. I put down my window, even though it was raining, and breathed the cold air in heavily.

"Are you alright?" Alice asked.

"I get a bit carsick." I admitted. "Fresh air makes it better."

"Next time I'll bring the convertible." Alice said, laughing.

We arrived at her house and went inside.

"She's back!" Emmett shouted, leaping down the stairs to grab me in a giant bear hug.

"Think you broke my ribs." I said as he released me.

"Sorry," he said, "I forget how breakable you are."

I laughed. "So, are we up for another game of Performation?"

Rosalie appeared on the stairs then.

"I am," she said, walking over to the couch and taking a seat.

"Where's Jazz?" Alice asked.

Rosalie shrugged.

A moment later, Jasper came out of the kitchen.

"Want some?" he asked, holding out a plate of sandwiches.

"Oh, no, you have them." I said, joking.

Jasper made a face.

"So, who's first?" I said, taking a seat next to Rosalie and randomly selecting a CD from the pile now permanently kept near the CD player.

"You are. You haven't been here for ages!" Alice said.

I rolled my eyes.

"Fine," I said, although I was secretly glad. I had really missed playing.

"Okay," Rosalie said, closing her eyes. "Random selection." she pressed the skip button and released it. We all paused for a second, silent, listening to the song. I recognized it instantly. It was Question Existing by Rihanna. Funny coincidence.

"This is a hard song to sing." I complained. I wasn't joking- it was hard.

"Sounds depressing." Emmett said.

"Double points if you make us cry." Alice said.

"You can't cry!"

"But we'll tell you if we were going to."

"Fine," I said again. "Start it again."

Rosalie pressed a button and song started again. The funny techno sounding music started, and then Rihanna's strangled cry, that I mimicked. Then the lyrics began.

"Take off my shirt,

Loosen the buttons and undo my skirt.

Stare at myself in the mirror,

Pick me apart piece my piece.

Sorrow decrease,

Pressure release.

I put in work,

Did more than called upon,

More than deserved.

When it was over,

Did I wind up hurt?"

Alice sang a soft "Yes." for me.

"But it taught me before my decision ask this question first."

And then the chorus began.

"Who am I living for?

Is this my limit?

Can I endure some more?

Question Existing.

Who am I living for?

Is this my limit?

Can I endure some more?

Question Existing."

The next verse started. I didn't really dance, I just sort of swayed and walked around like I was talking to myself. When Rihanna asked a question, I directed it at my audience. I closed my eyes a lot, especially when I sang "Can I endure some more? ". It was a depressing song, so I made myself look lost and confused, and really hurting.

After the second chorus, there was a part where the music was soft in the background and Rihanna just spoke. I knew what she said, so I stood still, stared into the distance, and copied her.

"Dear Diary,

It's Robyn.

Entertaining is something I do for a living,

This is not who I am.

I like to think that I'm pretty normal"

A small, humorless laugh.

"I laugh,

I get mad,

I hurt.

I think that I suck sometimes.

But when you're in the spotlight,

Everything seems good."

A small, sung "Oohh, yeah."

"Sometimes I feel like I have it worse because,

I have to always keep my guard up.

I don't know who to trust.

I don't know who wants to date me for who I am.

And who wants to be my friend, for who I really am."

I managed to make my eyes water enough to make a little fake tear, that I let roll down my cheek dramactially. The chorus began again then, and I went back to my swaying and pacing until the end of the song. When the last of the fading notes were gone, I looked to the Cullens.

They were all motionless on the couch. This wasn't unusual of course, it was just that normally after a performance they didn't look so... somber.

"Double points." Alice said.

"I made you cry?" I said in disbelief. It hadn't been that sad, had it?

"Me too." Rosalie said.

"You didn't make me cry. You made me think you were going to go jump off a bridge." Emmett said.

I laughed, and they seemed shocked to see my normal, happy face.

"Are you sure you're all right?" Alice asked me, full of concern.

"I'm fine." I said, annoyed by their worrying. "I was just acting, just playing the game. Relax."

Alice half looked at Jasper. He smiled at her. I guess he knew that my mood was how I'd said it was- happy.

"Who's going next?" I asked.

I heard footsteps on the staircase, and a moment later Edward was there.

"Hello Juniper." he said.

"Hey Edward. Do you want a go?"

He raised his eyebrows.

"A go of what exactly?"

"Performation." I said, "Haven't they explained?" I gestured to the rest of the Cullens.

"Not really. Something about singing?"

"It's not just singing," Alice chimed in. "You should have seen Juniper's acting just then! I really thought she was depressed."

"And it's dancing too." Rosalie said. She had been angry at Edward because of the whole Bella thing, but she couldn't resist telling him about the game she loved playing.

"Someone show me how to play." he said.

"We'll do a group one." Alice said, "Come on Rose."

They both stood up. We all knew what song we'd do- we had listened to it and talked about it enough for that.

"Number Eleven Jazz." Alice said. Jasper skipped to that number song and we got in position- a straight line, Rose on the left, Alice middle and me on the right.

A siren sounded. Alice was in the middle, so she started. Rose and I just danced. The song was When I Grow Up, by the Pussycat Dolls, so naturally the dancing was sexy. It had to match the song.

"Boys call you sexy,

And you don't care what they say.

Cos see every time you turn around,

They're screaming you're name."

Then I made a show out of pushing Alice out of the way, and taking the centre spot for myself.

"Boys call you sexy,

And you don't care what they say,

See every time you turn around,

They're screaming you're name."

I sang in the same husky sounding voice that the singer was using. Alice had held a fake microphone- like we often did- and so held one as well. Then I let Rose push me out of the way for the verses to start. I took my spot on the side and danced as Rose sang.

"Now I've got a confession."

Alice and I did the "Ahahaha."

"When I was young I wanted attention,"

"Ahahaha."

"And I promised myself that I'd do anything."

"Ahahaha."

"Anything at all for them to notice me."

"Ahahaha."

We all sang together now, in lower voices, dancing together so well it almost looked choreographed.

"But I ain't complaining,

We all wanna be famous?

So go ahead and

Say what you wanna say.

You don't know what it's like to nameless?

Want them to know what you're name is,

Cos see when I was younger I would say,"

Alice pushed her way to the front now, to start the chorus.

"When I grow up,

I wanna be famous,

I wanna be a star,

I wanna be in movies."

Shoving her out of the way, I took the front position.

"When I grow up,

I wanna see the world,

Drive nice cars,

I wanna have groupies."

Rose pushed between both of us.

"When I grow up,

Be on TV,

People know me,

Be on magazines."

Alice pushed in front of her once more.

"When I grow up,

Fresh and clean,

Number one chic

When I step out on the scene."

We kept going like that- pushing each other out of the way and alternating singing- for the rest of the song. At the end we all posed like we were in a photo shoot. Emmett and Jasper clapped and cheered. Edward joined in.

"That was really good!" he said. "Did you practice that for long?"

"We didn't practice at all!" Rose said smugly. "It was all impromptu."

"You dance really well together." Edward said. He spoke to all of us, but he was looking at me.

"You wanna go?" I asked.

Edward shook him head. "No thanks."

"Suit yourself. I'll get you up there eventually." I grinned.

He looked skeptical and I laughed. I knew I would get Edward on the stage. Somehow.