A/N: Okay - this would have been up earlier but I've been having issues with uploading stuff, but it's here now!
As always, thanks for the reviews and support. As voted, Mike will disappear. This was the way I was leaning anyways. :-)
Enjoy
Coming Out
I usually enjoyed my lunch time with my friends. Today was different. All day had been odd. Edward and I arrived at school and everyone was waiting by their cars like always, but no one said anything to us. No one said anything actually. It was unnerving and I had no idea why none of my friends were talking to each other.
I did notice the sideways glances they were all giving Edward and I but I couldn't understand that either. We were acting like we always had acted – like friends. We, I do mean that literally – Edward and I together decided we would keep quiet about what happened after the game on Saturday; neither of us being ready for the whole school to know that we are together. I'm not ready to deal with the rumors that were sure to fly if I was immediately in another relationship and Edward doesn't want to be seen as the "quick fix" to my single status.
What I didn't consider was how hard it would be to not touch him openly Monday at school. We had spent all day Sunday just the two of us and we were very affectionate with each other. Now that I had given myself permission to touch him, my body ached for it every second.
The other thing I didn't consider when we made the decision to not share our relationship was that our friends would be in the dark. I feel horrible hiding this from Jasper and Emmett but more upset about keeping Ali and Rose out of it. They have been there for me from the very start of everything. They know everything that has gone down between Edward and I, except the most recent – the most crucial – events. I feel like a cad and an awful friend.
By lunch time the glances and silence from my friends had gotten damn near unbearable and I was bouncing my legs like crazy as the six of us just sat and stared at everything but each other. Edward placed a hand on my knee and squeezed. I took a deep breath and looked up at him. His eyes were calming me but my eyes expressed the need to tell our friends. He sighed then ever so slightly nodded.
He gave me permission to tell our friends, immediate relief washed over me and I knew I had to get everything out in the open quickly. Not sure if the lunch room is the appropriate place though…
"So when are you going to start dating again?" Jasper broke the mind-numbing silence with a rush of words. I wasn't expecting anyone to speak and he spoke so fast that I almost didn't catch it all, but I did and I knew the truth was coming out right now.
"Ummm…well you see guys…the thing is…"
"Oh just tell us Bella." Alice said as she crossed her arms over her chest with a huff. The annoyed look on her face told me everything I needed to know.
They already know, they're just waiting on us to tell them.
"Never said our friends were stupid." Edward mumbled. I just laughed.
"Is this why you guys have been weird all day then?" I asked.
"We don't know what you're talking about Bella." Rose said mimicking Alice's pose and expression. Emmett raised an eyebrow and looked at us expectantly. Jasper followed suit, but less hostile looking than the others.
"Ok fine. Yes we are together but keep in between the six of us, okay?" Edward said. The smiles that spread across our friends' faces were priceless. They were so happy for us it made me happier.
"About damn time." Emmett mumbled, effectively receiving a smack on the back of the head from Rose. "Hey! What was that for?"
Rose just shrugged then turned her attention back to me with a certain expression only girls can know. My eyes about popped out of my head. Rose caught it and shook her head quickly and slightly. Alice, of course, noticed our silent exchange and started bouncing on her seat.
"Oh oh oh!!!! Girls' night! I'm calling a girls' night. Mandatory." The pixie glared at me.
"But…Edward and I were going…"
"No. You and Edward had yesterday. Rose and I get tonight. We apparently have some things to discuss."
"That works out perfect Ali…we can have a guys' night. Monday night football and all." Jasper said.
"Hell yeah!" Emmett and Edward agreed.
---
Girls' night…ugh.
I'm usually okay with it, but tonight we were going shopping and getting manicures and pedicures.
"Details, details, details." Alice said as soon as we got into Rose's car.
"Nothing really to tell. I freaked out when I saw Mike and Jessica kissing, Edward calmed me down, asked if I thought about our kiss, then tried to kiss me but I stopped it…"
"You what?!' They both exclaimed.
"Gosh…calm down it's not like you don't know how it ends." I said rolling my eyes. Rose waved her hand telling me to continue. "I explained to him why I didn't think it was a good idea for us to kiss seeing how last time he pulled away from me…anyways he told me he was stupid for doing it and then it just kinda happened." I said ending with a huge grin and sigh as I remembered the kiss.
"That good huh?" Alice asked.
"Better."
"So…what happened Sunday? Did you two…." Rose asked trailing off suggestively.
"NO! Lord we just started dating…"
"But you've known him forever." Alice reminded me.
"Yeah but I was with Mike for two years and we never did anything more than…second base I guess." I said blushing. Rose almost served off the road.
"What? You've never…no kind of sex at all?" Rose yelled.
"Um no. Have you?" I asked. She hadn't dated anyone since she and Alice moved to Jacksonville and I certainly didn't think she would have done anything like that before her freshman year of high school.
"No it's just that you've had a steady boyfriend for two years…and it was him so we just assumed you two were getting busy." Alice explained their reasoning.
"Oh well no. I've kinda always hoped for…I've always known Mike wasn't it for me." I said then we sat in silence again for a while. Mike had certainly tried, a few hundred times, but I always told him I wanted to wait for marriage. It was an excuse. I knew I wouldn't wait until marriage; I'm not going to set goals for myself knowing damn well I won't be able to keep them. It was just I didn't want to do it with him. I'd be lying to myself if I tried to convince myself I was holding out for my best friend. All of a sudden I remembered something. "Oh Rose about that look at lunch today…."
"What?" She asked kind of grimacing.
"How long have you liked Emmett?"
She almost served off the road again. Alice laughed but got an evil glare from Rose and immediately stopped laughing and started shaking her head furiously. Rose didn't seem to care.
"As long as Alice has liked Jasper."
My turn to freak out. If I had been driving, we would have been off the road.
"What the hell you guys!"
They both just shrugged. "Eh…about a year now." Alice expounded.
"So why aren't you trying…"
"Neither of them are ready. They're not in the mind frame to be in a couple. They both just want to be guys and play football. When they're ready…." Rose said.
"It's on." Alice said with a mischievous grin on her face.
"You realize it's going to be damn difficult for me to keep these little juicy details to myself, right?"
"Oh no Bella! You can't tell them! How awkward would that be?! No they can't know. You have to keep it a secret." Rose said.
"Please." They both begged in unison. I just laughed. Of course I wouldn't tell the boys about their crushes, but I sure was going to have some fun with it all.
---
"I am so getting this dress. It's beyond perfect! Don't you think Bella?" Alice asked as she examined the white dress. It was strapless with a tiny ball gown skirt that was soft layers of tulle that ended high-thigh. It cinched at the waist with a stripe of green material. It really was Alice, but was it prom material.
"Um don't you think it might be too short for prom?"
"Are you nuts? It's perfect! Let's find Rose and then we'll get you a dress too. It has to be absolutely perfect." She said grabbing my hand.
"Stupid pixie." I mumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing. Let's find Miss Rosalie." I said rolling my eyes. Alice just glared but kept dragging me towards where we left Rosalie. She was standing in front of a mirror looking at her reflection. I didn't even notice she was wearing a dress. I was worried because she looked like she was about to cry.
"Are you okay Rose?" I asked as we approached.
"I'm great! This dress is amazing! Look." She said spinning. My mouth dropped to the ground. She looked amazingly wonderful. The dress was a deep shade of purple. The silk of the material clung perfectly to her body. The bust was heart-shaped and showed just about everything. It had a crystal belt set just under her breasts, pushing them up even more. The slit on the side went mid-thigh, but the back of the dress was amazing. Well there really wasn't a back. It was open except for the straps that crossed and connected to a slim piece of fabric in the center. I guess that this slim strip was there to hide a bra strap, but I knew Rose wouldn't be wearing one.
"It is perfect." I said looking at her.
"I know, right!" She said then went back in the dressing room to change out of it. "Your turn!" she grinned as she danced out of the fitting room. I didn't even bother arguing.
"Short…definitely do short. Show off those legs." Alice said flipping through.
"Oh and a midnight blue if you can find it. The color sets off her skin tone and eyes beautifully." Rose joined in. I just stood there and waited for my instructions.
"Found it!" Alice yelled jumping up and down. She pulled it off the rack and shoved me into a dressing room with it. After I got it on, I had to admit she was right, she had found it. My mid-night blue strapless, knee length tulle dress fit perfectly and wasn't too short for my liking. The empire waistline really accented my chest and made it possible to go without a bra.
"Well let's see it already Bella." Rose demanded. When I stepped out they both just grinned.
"That's it."
"The boys won't know what hit them when they come to pick the three of us up." Alice added.
"Speaking of the boys…are either of you going to make a move next week? I mean prom would be perfect, right?" I asked. They both just shrugged. "Whatever. So what time are they picking us up?"
"Oh well…we have our hair appointments at nine. Then manis and pedis afterwards. I'll be doing our makeup at our house and then the limo is schedule to pick the boys up at Jasper's at five then come get us. I've schedule thirty minutes for pictures and then it's off to dinner." Alice jumped up and down as she explained the plan. I just nodded.
I really couldn't care less about what the plan was. I was going to prom with Edward.
For the past six months Edward and I continued to keep our relationship a secret. I was getting anxious to make it known, but Edward still seemed content to keep everything the same. I don't understand his thinking for it, but I respected it and didn't push anything.
We really wanted to go to prom together but Edward thought it would look obvious if he and I went just the two of us, so I asked the other four to join as a group. They readily agreed, Emmett and Jasper quicker than I really expected. I assumed I would have to beg them, but they were all about going with us. Jasper even offered up the limo idea.
The actual prom flew by but I distinctly remember having a great time, much better than the year before. Emmett and Rose pretty much stayed together, as did Alice and Jasper. It all just seemed completely right.
For the day after prom, they let me decide where to go. I opted for the two hour drive south to MGM Studios. We took two cars, Edward's Volvo and then Emmett took his Jeep. I rode with Edward while Alice and Rose rode with Emmett and Jasper.
The ride to Orlando was…interesting to say the least. Edward was very quiet. He obviously had something on his mind, but if he wanted to talk about it I knew he would. I still worried though. The night before had been great and then it seemed like overnight everything took a complete turnaround.
By mid-afternoon he had lightened up a little bit and somehow I convinced everyone to get on Tower of Terror. The boys all screamed like little girls while us girls laughed as we dropped the thirteen stories. After we exited the ride, Edward and I hung behind the other four so we could laugh at them having trouble walking. I honestly wasn't paying attention to anything except the two boys in front of me, so when Edward took me by the hand, it surprised me. It was the first time he had done that in public and it made my heart soar. I looked up at him to see him grinning. I smiled back and squeezed his hand. He leaned down and kissed the top of my head right as Emmett stumbled over flat ground and almost feel. Everyone started cracking up at him.
"Shut-up you two!" Emmett yelled back at us. He glanced over his shoulder in our direction and instantly noticed our hands, intertwined. He winked as he turned back forwards but didn't say anything.
I couldn't stop smiling. Edward had finally made his decision. We weren't going to hide anymore. He didn't say anything, but he didn't have to.
Now to just get those others together.
