A/N: okay. don't shout. I know it's been a while but I'm in the middle of my prelims at the moment, so be glad that you're even getting this chapter. Only one more exam to go anyway so it's all good. :)

Hope you like this. I really enjoy writing it. This is definitely my favourite story.

Just to let you know, see how Bella gets challenges at the end of each journal entry, well i'm struggling for ideas so ideas are welcome! :D

Emma

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The smile on your face lets me know that you need me,

There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me.

The touch of your hand says you'll catch me wherever I fall,

You say it best when you say nothing at all.

You say it best when you say nothing at all.

You say it best when you say nothing at all.

The smile on your face,

The truth in your eyes,

The touch of your hand lets me know that you need me.

As the song came to an end, I was leaning over the bathroom sink, tears falling constantly. I heard the door open and saw Alice and Rose walk in.

'Bella, honey. Come here.' Alice took me into a hug, and Rose also wrapped her arms around me.

'What happened out there?' Rose asked concerned.

Through my tears, I blubbered out the scenario from me asking him to dance, to the kiss, to me running into the bathroom. They let me speak before asking questions: 'Why did you kiss him?' 'Why did you dance with him if it was a slow song?' and Rose, being Rose, asked: 'Was he a good kisser?' At that I turned and looked at her and bursting into fits of laughter.

'Hey Bella, I'm being serious. Was he a good kisser?'

'He didn't really kiss me back. He froze when I kissed him and then I pulled back before running.' Alice and Rose just looked at me. 'What?'

'You definitely did something new and silly tonight. You kissed Edward! The old Bella Swan would never have done that. I'm going to have to choose your outfits more often for you: seems to give you more confidence.' I laughed at Alice's optimism and after drying my tears and fixing my make-up; we went back out to the party.

The three of us hit the dance floor straight away and noticed that the guys had dispersed from the scene. We danced together, our hips shaking in time with each other; our hands above our heads pumping to the beat of the music. At about midnight, we were exhausted and our feet were killing us. We decided to head home, so went to trail and grab a cab.

I noticed Jasper and Edward standing outside already and Emmett's head popping out of the window of a cab. I smiled at Emmett and walked over to the cab, slipping in beside him. Rose sat on his knee, Edward in the front and Jasper next to me with Alice on his knees. During the ride I realised I hadn't seen Edward the whole night since our dance, only Emmett and Jasper when they cared to join us on the overcrowded dance floor.

Maybe I was being a complete idiot kissing him, but one good thing came out of the night: I would get to read my next chapter, even if it was another year away.

Edward Point of View

'…and Bella really came up with this idea? Okay, sure. Will see you tonight! Bye Alice.' I heard Emmett shout loudly down the phone.

'What's up Emmett?' I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me. At the mention of Bella a tingle went down my spine and I could feel the smile slowly creep up on my face. The first few months living here were definitely the worst. Seeing her everyday, reminding me of…of…my ex, was beyond painful but as time tore on, I got used to her and began to depend on Bella. She was, without doubt, my best friend.

'Nothing much, we're going out tonight though. Don't make any other dates. Not that I think you will since you head over heels in love with Bella, but anyway: just don't!'

I stared at him, open mouthed as if I had just been slapped.

'Hey Edward, we all know it's true, except Bella, who is just as blind as you are. As I was saying, we're out partying tonight. Bella wants to go out clubbing to celebrate her eighteenth. You better be in!'

I nodded, still unable to say anything and walked away up to my room. Half way up the stairs, I got my voice back. 'What time Emmett?'

'Erm, Alice said about half eight.'

'Okay.'

I wandered up to my room, closing the door behind me and fell back against my bed. I exhaled out loudly. I didn't love Bella. At least I don't think I did. I lay on my bed with only the sound of Jasper and Emmett playing Mario Kart on the Wii.

After what seemed like a few hours, but only turned out to be half an hour, I got up and ran down the stairs. Emmett and Jasper were still playing Mario Kart.

'Just heading out guys. I'll be back in a few hours.' The sounds of their grunts told me they didn't care so I wandered out and drove to Port Angeles.

*

I knew I was late, but I knew Bella wouldn't mind: as long as I was there, she wouldn't care that I didn't get the cab with them. I walked into the bar, taking in the music that was being played loudly. I could see Alice and Rosalie down on the ground, swaying to the music and laughing. I smiled and continued to find the guys. I could see them standing at the railing talking to a dark haired girl. She looked amazing from behind in her short, black shorts and a simple red vest top. I smiled before I realised Jasper say her name. That was Bella? Oh god! She looked unbelievably drop-dead gorgeous.

'Bella?' She turned slowly, saying my name, her eyes wide open. My eyes roamed her body, taking in her curves before letting my eyes fall on her face. Her skin, although quite pale, was smooth and perfect and her cheeks were a lovely ruby colour; her lips were full and plump and had been covered in a thin layer of gloss, making them shiny under the light; and finally her eyes. If you looked into them deeply you could see every emotion Bella was thinking. They were the deepest of chocolate colours ever and they sparkled with happiness.

'Bella, what happened to you?' I asked, hoping that I managed to keep my face straight.

'Umm nothing. Why?'

'You look…different…very different.' I just couldn't think of anything else to say. I, Edward Cullen, was actually speechless. I opened my mouth to try and say something again, but I made the stupid mistake of allowing my eyes to follow her pale skin down her neck and to the top of her top - which cut quite low – and my mind wandered. Various images popped up into my head of Bella dressed and undressed. Oh Shit! My eyes grew wide and I lowered my hands and ran. I headed straight for the bathroom and into the cubicle to try and relax.

*

After a few minutes I wandered back out of the bathroom. I walked over to where Bella and the guys were but they had disappeared. I sighed and rested my elbows on the railing, watching the dancers swaying to the music. Someone tapped my shoulder and I jumped. I turned, my heart still beating really fast, to see Bella staring up at me.

'Bella, hey! Sorry about earlier. Happy birthday by the way.' I gave her a hug, lingering for a moment or two before dropping my hands and taking a step back, still staring at her. I didn't want to have a replay of last time.

'Thanks. Want to dance?' she asked politely. Okay, now I may have only known Bella for a couple of years, but I know her well enough to know that she doesn't ask people to dance: she hates dancing. Since it's her birthday though, if she asks, I'll do. I agree and I take her hand and we head out to dance floor, squeezing through the crown in attempt to get near the others. I spin her once and then the DJ changed to music: a slow song. I looked around at Bella to see if she wished to dance to see another guys already asking her. Okay, so she may not be my girlfriend but this guy was asking for trouble. Bella will not dance with him and anyway, she already asked me to come and dance with her.

Emmett and Jasper let go of the girls and stood next to me, shoulder to shoulder. It was if we were all thinking the same thing. I walked up to Bella, wrapped one arm around her and pulled her towards me. I just stared at the guy before speaking.

'She's already dancing with me. You can run back to your friends now.' I smirked at him and looked at Bella who had turned back to the man, apologised for some obscure reason and pushed me away. We went back to our crowd and I asked her to dance with me. She agreed and wrapped her arms around my neck loosely whilst I wrapped mine around her waist. She wasn't looking at me and I asked why, wondering if she was mad. She didn't answer but she did look up with a smile on her face. I knew then that everything was alright.

I began to sing quietly into her ear, the words flowing flawlessly from my mouth. As the song came to the end, I pulled Bella closer to me intending to say something to her, but she leaned up and kissed. Either she was drunk or Emmett was right: she did like me. I was in shock that before I could return the kiss, she had already pulled away, her eyes filled with tears. My arms fell to my side and her cheeks turned that lovely crimson colour. I looked around to see the others staring at us. I saw one of the tears escape and fall down her cheek delicately. I reached out to wipe it away and apologise, not wanting her to be upset on her birthday but she took a step back, turned and ran. Again, I was frozen so I didn't shout or move: I just stood there, my arm out in front of me.

After Bella had left, I turned and looked at Emmett and Jasper who were standing mouth opened and arms crossed.

'What?' I said innocently.

'Dude, do you realise what you just did? Did you not hear what I said to you earlier? She is head over heels in love with you, just like you are with her. Why did you freeze? That was your opportunity.' Emmett inhaled after his speech. I had never heard Emmett be so serious.

'Well, I was still kinda registering what was happening. I was going to kiss her back, honestly, but she pulled aw—'

'Edward, don't you dare put the blame on her. Bella is one of the shyest girls I have ever known and probably will know but tonight she put herself forward, doing something without thinking it through first. So don't you ever think about blaming her for this!' Jasper seethed at me. I had never seen his get this angry and he – knowing Bella the longest – was obviously very protective of her. The two of them turned and walked away, leaving me in the horde of dancers.

A/N: mhm some tension building up between friends now.... :/

Okay, so the next chapter I think is either going to be a carry on from this (maybe a few days later) or I might skip it all and do the next entry but I haven't decided. Please Review and let me know what you think :D

Emma

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