DISCLAIMER: The author does not own any publicly recognizable entities herein. No copyright infringement is intended.

2005

"Happy Birthday!" Angela sings, looping her arm through mine and dragging me down the hall to her locker. "I brought your present. I just couldn't wait until tonight to see you open it."

"It's my present, and you couldn't wait? You're a loon."

"Sure," she shrugs, grinning as she thrusts a gift bag toward me. "Open it, please, before I hyperventilate and die."

"Okay, okay." I laugh, rifling through the tissue paper and pulling out a large card. "A card?" I scowl, "very creative."

"Oh, shut up!" She cries, pushing the thin cardboard toward me and bouncing on the balls of her feet eagerly. "Open it, please! You're killing me!"

"Fine," I mutter, flapping it open and peering inside. At first, I don't understand what I'm seeing. It's not until Angela wrenches the two, skinny, shiny slips of paper from the card that I realize exactly what she's gifted me.

"Are those?" I gasp, pulling her hand closer to my face to examine the small print on the tickets.

"Yes!" She squeals happily. "I know they're more of a present for me, but I couldn't resist! They announced a tour to celebrate their new album, and they're coming here of all places! I just had to get them! And since I bought them for your birthday, you'll have no choice but to take me with you! They're front row and everything!"

"Front row?" My numb lips work around the words that feel foreign in my mouth. I'm trying so hard right now not to freak out. Angela has no idea how … much this means to me. And front row? I'll be close enough to touch Edward!

My insides melt at that thought.

What if he doesn't just touch me? What if he kisses me?

My skin breaks out into a feverish blush as everything on my body tightens. Chest heaving, I fervently shake my head to rid myself of those thoughts. I can't – not right now. Everyone would notice if I peed my pants like that again.

"I know, right?" Angela beams, tugging me against her and bouncing excitedly through our hug.

"That must have been expensive." I frown despite the thunderous beat of my overly excited heart. "You shouldn't have spent that much on me."

"No, no," Angela waves me off flippantly. "My dad knows a guy. He does the sound work for them, or something. Whatever, anyway, we're going, and there's nothing you can do to get out of this. So, tell Masen that weekend is all mine!"

My stomach drops. Masen. Right. I'll be seeing him in person very soon.

Sigh.