Disclaimer: I'm still just Car writing IEWIS. Not Stephanie in charge of all that is Twilight.
A/N: You guys are killing me with the LOVE over here. Killing me in a good way of course :) Every single word of encouragement and love floors me each and every review. I didn't expect a very big response to this at all. I'm glad I shared it now.
Honourable mention to MustLoveVampires87 for being the only one to mention one of my favorite parts to me. I'm seriously glad it made you "Awe". Haha
Also special thanks to the few of you that specifically list the quotes and sentences you found funny or entertaining in each chapter. I really like hearing that you guys enjoy the little things that make me laugh or smile when I write.
Alright kids I'm going to tell you a secret. There is a surprise at the end of this chapter! But don't you DARE skip to the end right now! Read the whole thing through and get to it when you are intended to. Can you do that for me please? Promise me right now you are not scrolling down the page.
Thank you. I trust you ;)
Enough of me. Here we go again:
Chapter 25 - It Won't Be Long
We high fived our success as I climbed into the big red jeep and waved one last goodbye to my mother. I wasn't sure who she was more upset to see go, me or them.
I perched next to Edward in the middle seat of the giant vehicle and he was glowing with satisfaction. I'm not sure why, it hadn't taken much.
We literally just asked and everyone if we could mix up the car arrangement, and they agreed.
Now Alice and I were in the jeep with Jasper and Edward, leaving Rose and Emmett in charge of my car. Rose drove it all the time around LA and Emmett was skilled at driving the monster truck, so I had absolutely no worries about them getting my car home safely.
The eight hours with Edward passed so much more quickly than it did when I had been without him.
We started out blasting music and the 4 of us sang at the top of our lungs. We craked up after one rest stop when Alice actually took at turn drivng the monster vehicle and Jasper put on Edwin Starr's song "War" and tied a bandana around his head as he belted out in a very deep, husky voice:
" War, huh, yeah!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing!
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing!
Say it again, y'all"
He was climbing on the seats and making us laugh and sing with him as he went into musical Rambo mode. It helped pass a few minutes rather quickly.
After a while, when Jasper's theatrics ended, Edward and I shared his iPod earbuds as he played me songs he had written and recorded. I smiled at him the whole time the music played in my one ear. Eventually we started entertaining ourselves by bringing my iPod out and one of us taking one ear bud from each set so we could hear music from both iPods at the same time.
We would pick a song and see how synched we could get when we counted to 3 and both pressed play. It was hilarious for some reason. Even we didn't understand why, but we laughed just enjoying each other's company.
Since we had gotten the least amount of sleep all weekend we were both pretty tired by the last hour of the long drive. I was starting to feel my eyelids droop, each blink was harder and harder to get out of.
I was wearing the maroon zip up which Edward had given me earlier, and it gave me such a comfy, comforting feeling I couldn't help but sink into it more.
"Tired Bella?" He asked very softly leaning into me.
"Mmm-hmm." I didn't even have energy enough to form real sounds apparently.
"Me too. Do you want a blanket?"
"Mmm-hmm."
He chuckled at my repeated response that was getting more and more covered by sleep then reached into the backseat and pulled out a very soft black blanket. It smelt of him and the sweetness overtook my senses, calming me even more into my happy subconscious.
I felt him lean into me and place my head in the crook of his neck and shoulder.
"You're smiling." He seemed curious.
"Mmm-hmm." I just agreed but honestly I hadn't realized I was. It was probably the reaction to his scent from the blanket. Or just him.
He was silent for a moment then he leaned down even further but didn't disrupt my position.
"Bella," he whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Can I hold your hand?" He was honestly asking.
I was tired, sure, but not tired enough to ignore that this was strange. We have held hands before and he never asked. He definitely never needed to, but it was odd.
"Mmm-hmm." I think it sounded like the other answers I had given but in my mind it was deeper and more profound.
It wasn't until he found my hand under the blanket and grasped it that I understood why he asked. It was different than all the other times.
He found my hand and touched his palm to mine gently and then slid his fingers up my own and interlocked them together, slowly.
It was an amazing sensation. So loving, so comforting, so right. I smiled again, wider, and fought the sleep with everything I had so I could relish the sensation for as long as possible.
I woke up to Alice's small hand shaking me and the darkness of the parking garage around me. We were home.
Edward and I were both sound asleep, our hands still clasped together in the new amazing way under the blanket. I woke up fully before he did and I watched his eyes flutter open as he took in our surroundings and realized we were back.
Then I sat as still as possible and watched him take in our closeness. I saw the slight smile creep across his face. He looked at me and said nothing as I looked back at him.
His smile grew and he ran his thumb in tiny circles where it lay on my hand, then sat up and stretched a bit before gathering his things and helping me with mine, then climbing out of the jeep.
Rosalie and Emmett had beaten us back and they were already upstairs in our living room when the 4 of us got up there.
Emmett already had Friends on and Rose was unpacking in the bedroom. I just threw my bag on my bed and went back into the living room. I hate unpacking.
We stayed up for a while, laughing at the show and playing some Grape Toss. Emmett and I were beyond good now, we were always beating a previous record. The only thing that ever stopped us was Alice poking Emmett in the sides right before he caught a grape or us just running out of them.
Emmett and Edward had to work early the next day so they left before Jasper and went into to their apartment. It was kind of late so we all turned in as well and I went to bed not really hating Thanksgiving at all any more. Especially if I really could enjoy each new one with Edward.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I was extremely caught up in my world with Edward as the weeks continued to pass. It was December 10th now and we were getting up early because we were going to Disneyland.
Yes, Disneyland.
Let me reiterate that one more time: Edward and I were going to Disneyland! Together!
I thought I was going to combust from too much happiness in one single day.
How did I get so lucky as to combine my 2 favorite things? Easy actually. Jealousy.
It was about a week before:
"You guys do know my birthday is coming, don't you?" Rosalie asked the whole goup but looked straight at Emmett.
"Uh. Yeah Rosie. December ten--twelfth." He was very close to getting it wrong but Alice was behind Rose giving him hand singnals.
Rosalie smiled and nodded. "So what are we doing? Bella got a surprise party after all."
"Which she didn't want." I said under my breath, getting a very hurt look from Alice. "But still loved completely and totally!" I added in to make her smile. She did even though she knew I was exaggerating the excitement in my voice.
Edward was laughing beside me but asked, "Are you requesting a surprise party Rosalie? Because if you know it's coming isn't it just a normal party again?" He smirked and we all chuckled.
"No, I don't want a surprise party... unless you have already planned one..." We hadn't. She could tell by our blank stares. "I just want to celebrate, you know? I like my birthday! I want to do something fun like Bella, she even got to go to Disneyland, remember?"
Oh yeah, with Jake. I had sort of forgotten about that. It seemed so very long ago.
I felt Edward tense next to me even though we werent touching at all.
"You want to go to Disneyland?" Emmett was innocently as he looked at her, seriously thinking that's what she wanted.
"No, I don't want to go to Disneyland Emmett. That's Bella's thing. I want to do something...that's my thing." She was getting frustrated and it was confusing Emmett.
"Um, do you want to go to Sea World?" He was still so innocent about it and it made her grunt in frustration then leave the room.
"She doesn't want to go to Sea World man." Jasper laughed a bit and shook his head at Emmett.
"Well how am I supposed to know if she doesn't tell me where she wants to go?" He was searching all of us for the asnwers.
I was laughing and so was Edward. Alice had her face in her hand and Jasper was trying to help his brother.
"Emmett, it's not about going somewhere... especially not a theme park if I know Rose well enough. It's about doing something she wants to do, something that she will enjoy."
"Oh." An evil grin spread across his face. "Like ME!"
We all lgraoned at his ridiculousness then and Emmett got off the couch and followed Rose into his room where she had retreated.
"Rosie baby I got your brithday present! Yes... you can unwrap it early..." He was using as much of a sing song voice as was possible for Emmett and we heard Rose squeal and start to giggle.
"Alice, let's take a walk, you want to?" Jasper didn't wait for an answer he just drug Alice past the giggle filled room and out the door into the hallway.
"We should probably clear the vicinity too." Edward nodded towards his room and I agreed then got up and followed him inside. He shut the door and put on music and we were safe from the sounds.
"Poor Rose." I sighed and smiled as I sat down on the bed.
"Poor Rose? Poor Emmett." Edward sat next to me and shook his head. "He's so clueless sometimes, it's like he's never dated before. But he has!" He threw his hands up to emphasize the point then let them flop back down on his lap.
"Well you managed to do pretty well with my present, so it doesn't seem it should be that hard." I tensed after I let that sentence slip out.
Oh no. Did I just make is sound like I thought we were dating when Edward gave me the beautiful gift of my lullaby? Is that weird? It was the night he asked for time so did it count as something? Luckily he didn't seem to mind if it meant anything.
"That's different Bella. You inspired something in me, I couldn't keep it from you. It is yours."
I think I audibly sighed at how sweet it was. I know I lost the ability to blink as I stared at him. He smiled crookedly, making it worse for me remain upright and then he went over and grabbed his keyboard that was faithfully leaning against his wall.
He lowered the volume on the stereo and began to play my beautiful piece of music. It was still odd to call it mine. Just like I figured it would be if Edward was ever done making me wait. It felt like he was close, sure, but it was hard to believe that someday it would be real.
He looked at me as he played. "So does this compare to Disneyland?"
I was a bit entranced so I didn't really understand what he meant. "Huh?" I asked, coming out of my trance.
"This, my gift to you," he glanced down at his moving hands,"did it...does it compare to your trip to Disneyland?" He was really waiting for an answer. This boy is absurd.
"Edward I told you it was the best present I have ever received. Remember?"
He nodded and smiled. "I know Bella, it's just that I've also heard from multiple sources how you love going to Disneyland. I know it's what Jacob got you..." He trailed off a bit at the end and something clouded his eyes. Jealousy?
"So?" I asked curiously.
"So I didn't know if that might have been, better. You know...your favorite place to be with one of your best friends... it has all the makings of a pretty great gift Bella. I sure as hell wasn't there to share it with you."
He seemed almost angry now and he even missed a note. Edward Cullen missed a note. He looked down and I was incredibly shocked. He was actually jealous of the gift Jacob gave me! Like anyone besides Edward could give me something that would be more important that what he would give to me. He could give me a piece of string and I would tie it around my figner and wear it forever. I'm that hopeless.
I giggled a little as I realized what was going on. "Edward... you aren't jealous of Jacob's present are you?" I cocked my head to the side play fully but he wasn't looking at me.
He kept playing softly. "Maybe."
There is was again. The maybe that was a definite "yes" in disguise.
"You are so absurd." I scoffed and almost sounded annoyed. How could he think that? I threw myself at him after he started playing my lullaby the first time. Not once did I throw myself at Jake at Disneyland. Thank God.
"What? I can't help it if I want to share things like that with you my Bella, uh, Bella." He seemed truly embarassed now. He had stopped playing and he was looking at me with puppy dog eyes. He never corrected himself when he called me "my Bella". I didn't like it. I want him to think of me like that. We have to fix this.
"Ok then, what if we do share it?" I smiled at him sincerely.
He still looked like a helpless animal. It was extremely unfitting for him.
"What do you mean exactly?"
"Well, there's no reason why you and I can't go to Disneyland any time we want. Right?" I leaned towards him a bit, encouraging him.
"Right..." He said as he thought about it. I watched his eyes leave the puppy phase and return to normal.
"So..." I was literally using hand motions now to get words and happiness to come out of him.
He was laughing at me again. He grabbed both my hands in mid air and leaned into me as well. "Isabella Swan would you like to go to Disneyland with me?" He smiled brilliantly and I felt more triumphant by that than anything.
"I guess. If you really want to." I shrugged and scrunched my face up in an uncaring manner.
He laughed louder and set the keyboard on the ground then tackled me onto the bed, tickle fighting me until neither of us could breathe from laughter taking over.
So here we are today, December the 10th.
He was just as annoying as Jake was at the ticket counter and insisted on buying my ticket. I couldn't throw a fit like last time though, for 2 main reasons.
1. He was still jealous of Jake and needed to do this for me to soothe that. It was cute.
"Did dear Jacob buy your ticket?" He raised one eyebrow at me and stared. He never got rid of his silly nickname for Jake.
I deflated. "Yes he did, but it was a birthday present Edward-"
He put his hand over my mouth to shut me up. "Well then, if this is a just-for-fun present..." he decided not to tell me the rest of his thought and let his hand fall as he smiled the devilish crooked smile. I wondered why he never finished his sentence but I could have sworn I heard him breathe something very low that sounded a lot like "...I win".
2. I can't fight with Edward like I could with Jacob. He's got that horrible thing on his side called, I'm completely in love him and his smiles make me do things I don't normally find easy to do. Such as accepting payment from other people for my theme park tickets.
We entered the park and my insides immediately lit up. It was almost as wonderful as I felt every time Edward touched me.
I tugged on his arm like an eager 5 year old for the first half of the day and he followed me around just as eagerly. We laughed as I introduced him to Pluto and Goofy, then he laughed alone when I got too star-struck to speak around Mickey Mouse.
He marveled at everything just like a good first timer should. I was actually proud of him.
Seeing his green eyes light up all day at the surroundings was wonderful but it was nothing compared to what they looked like at the end of that night. Looking at me.
We were waiting for the fireworks show to start. I had the schedule down- fireworks then Fantasmic. My favorite show at Disneyland always has to be the finale.
We had to sit on the ground and wait for about 45 minutes for the fireworks since it draws such a huge crowd in the main plaza. I was in front of him due to the limited space, and we had adjusted into a comfortable position I was quite pleased with. His legs were stretched out in front of him and I was right next to them leaning my torso back towards him. After my arms got tired of supporting me Edward pulled my back into his chest, but only after chuckling as he watched me struggling to find a comfortable position for about a minute.
"Thanks." I said too shyly as he pulled me into him. It was a very sweet gesture and in Disneyland things that are sweet are naturally heightened at least 10 times.
"Silly Bella, you should have started here." He almost whispered it to me though no one around us was listening. Then he wrapped his arms around my waist and held me to him.
I set my arms on top of his and he interlocked our fingers. This was the most intimate we had gotten in a casual setting. I still couldn't find anything to top the intensity of the ngiht he left before tour. But this... I mean, people walking by would have no idea I was "waiting" for him. It was too natural, too right. Maybe I wasn't waiting any longer. Maybe I was walking through the door...finally being let in...
My thoughts were interrupted by Edward asking me questions about the park and the shows.
"So why fireworks? Why are they so special here? I've seen them at ball games all my life." He sounded sincerely curious.
"I can't exactly explain it...but you'll see. It's just magical. This is the closest I feel you can get to the magical things everyone believes in as a child but looses as an adult. It reminds you what it was like to believe. It keeps me believing. It's truly breath taking at times, if you can imagine seeing something like that."
I felt him turn his head into my hair slightly. "I think I can. But I can't wait to see the fireworks either."
He chuckled and I giggled, almost nervously.
"But the real magic happens during Fantasmic." I continued even though he was distracting me with his face still in my hair, then on the side of my face.
"Hmm." He paused for a second, letting that sound reverberate off my skin. "And what does this Fantasmic have that even fireworks don't?" I could hear and practically feel the smile. He was humoring me.
"Again, it's hard to explain. They do so much more during Fantasmic. But it's all still about believing I guess. It's about letting go of what the world tells you is this or that and letting your imagination tell you what it could be instead. It's forgetting about the rules. It's innocent and marvelous and I can't explain it right but I love it!" I was excited by the end of my speech and he was laughing softly at my exuberance.
"Well now I already love it too, thank you."
Then the lights dimmed and everyone stood up and the show started. It got more crowded as every face turned towards the sky for the show. I felt Edward's arms wrap around me again and I looked up at him.
He glanced down adn then back up and smiled, "Just trying to make more room so more people can enjoy the magic." He explained this all to the sky and missed my wide grin. Well then. The more the merrier!
It was beautiful. It was everything I had remembered and expected it to be but multiplied by a hundred because Edward's arms were connected to me the whole time.
When it ended we shuffled out of the huge crowd, not being able to converse before then because it's so chaotic in the moments right after shows. I clung to his hand with the perfect excuse of not wanting to get separated as we wove through the massive amount of people.
When we broke through I let go of his hand out of habit of not crossing a line. He pulled my arm through his though, so it didn't matter what silly habit I had, apparently we are forming new ones.
We found our spots for Fantasmic and we only had to wait about 5 minutes since the shows almost correspond. I snagged us a good spot by a railing and I leaned over it, eager for the show to start. Funny how one second I could be very much like a young adult in love, and the next like an excited 5 year old running around...well, Disneyland.
Edward never judged me though. When the show started and I new every word to the opening song he smiled humorously at me. When I knew all of Mickey's openening number choreography he clapped silently for me. When I finally stopped jumping up and down after the Peter Pan part, the peak of the adventure, he wrapped his arms around me to calm me. I felt him lean into me and said, "you know, you are way more entertaining than the show in front of us." His musical chuckle distracted me for a second and then I had to cower into him with worry as the huge black dragon threatened life as Disneyland knew it.
He held me as close as I would get to him and again interlocked our fingers.
And then, right on cue, Mickey Mouse saved the world and the most triumphant music you have ever heard threw itself over the audience, bringing tears to my eyes as the spectacle came to a glorious end.
He turned me around to him then and brought both of his hands up to my face. He used both of his thumbs to wipe the few tears that were streaming down my cheeks onto my smile. His right thumb found a place on my jaw and the other continued to trace down my face.
It was then I realized I had gotten my moment. The moment I had felt so empty without the last time I was here with Jake. Even though Jacob was amazing and accepted my outrageous reaction to all things make believe, it was nothing compared to the look Edward was giving me now. So full of understanding of who I was and what I loved and held dear. We were so connected, it was beautiful to feel.
It was that moment that his eyes were more marvelous than anything we had seen all day. And they were looking straight at me.
"Come on you emotional little girl, let's get you home." He smiled at me and kissed the top of my head as I wrapped my arm around his waist and started for the exit.
He drove home and again I fell asleep. Disneyland takes a lot out of me.
We got back to the apartments and he walked me all the way into my bedroom. Rosalie was in her bed sleeping but Edward waited on me until I got changed into pajamas and climbed in.
He was over the covers but right next to me anyway. I let my head fall to his side and he started stroking my hair.
"That is going to put me to sleep Mr. Cullen." I whispered for sleeping Rose's benefit.
"Good. You need to sleep after your adventurous day." It was silent and I let my eyelids fall. "Thank you Bella. Thank you for letting me into your world today."
"Oh Edward, you belong in my world. I saw the little kid in you come out and play today." I smiled and I felt him move with soft laughter.
"Well I still thank you, no matter where I belong."
"You belong right here." I wasn't sure he heard it. I wasn't sure I wanted him to hear it. We had made some progress today but I just wasn't sure how I would know when the waiting was up exactly.
He didn't respond to me, he just kept laying next to me and stoking my hair until I fell asleep to his lovely hum and equally as lovely scent.
I can't be long now. I really don't think I'll make it until Christmas.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Emmett did really well in the end. He had planned Rose's birthday perfectly.
We'd already done the surprise party thing. We'd already done the silly hang out party thing. We'd already done the movies and the deli and Mel's Diner and road trips and shows.
So we were making her a formal dinner. We are going to dine in, but it's going to be quite the occasion, quite "classy". We're all going to dress up and we bought an elegant table cloth to cover our small table and we also bought a small card table to connect to it so there would be enough room for all of us. It was a bit oddly shaped when we pushed them together, but it worked. Just like the oddly shaped puzzle pieces Alice had recently described all of us as.
Alice was obviously going over board with decorations, at first, but Emmett calmed her down on most things.
"No Alice! I put my foot down at renting a chandelier. How are we even supposed to hang it in the apartment?" He had his arms up in the air in confusion and was just staring at her.
"Whatever Emmett, don't blame me when the party goes from class to trash."
You just don't expect a good reaction when you tell Alice no.
Jasper and I were in charge of food. We were making the entire meal, him on the main course (chicken something... it was a bit fancier than what I was used to making) and I was doing all the sides. We were both excited about the cake which we ordered from the new gelato shop that oppened on Hollywood Blvd. Yes, they make gelato cakes. Very unique. Very Rosalie.
Edward was in charge of keeping Rosalie out of the apartment as we set up all day. Luckily, and oddly enough, they both had a very strong attraction to cars. Fast, shiny, pimped out cars. Don't call them "pimped out" in front of either of them though. I learned that the hard way.
"Bella we are not interested in some TV show that allows X-hibit to pretend he knows anything about cars." Rose looked disgusted.
"Honestly, what are they trying to prove with that show? A '98 Corolla becomes acceptable if you put a waterfall and a plasma screen in the trunk?" Edward matched her disgust and I mouthed "O-K" then krept out of the room to let them continue their conversation that could have been in a different language for all I knew.
So they were at some car-show-thing all day as we prepared the apartment. Edward was to deliver Rosalie back to the boys' apartment where Emmett would be waiting for her and would conduct the rest of the evening. We weren't sure what he was planning before they joined us for dinner, and we didn't ask. We just needed to know Edward would arrive at 4 and we needed to be dressed and classy by 6.
"How did the car show go?" I asked eagerly as he entered our apartment and handed me my keys since I had let them borrow my car all day.
"It wasn't a car show it was a-" he looked down at me and realized it didn't matter,"Good. The car show was good."
He laughed and I shrugged.
4:00 quickly turned into 5:00 and we were finally finished decorating and preparing the food. Alice had strung even more white Christmas lights all around the room, creating a nice elegant glow throughout the apartment. She lit hgue white candles that were on our various bookshelves and any other flat surface she could get her little hands on. The table looked nice with the cream colored table cloth and roses that were scattered all along the middle. The only thing that was off were the chairs. We had the 3 chairs that usually went with our small table, the one that used to be Sam's included, then we had a fold out lawn chair and a cooler that 2 people would have to share. It was the best we could do, and it worked for us.
Alice kidnapped me and worked quickly in her room to get me ready. I wore a simple black dress that I'd had since high school but only worn once in a play. It was knee length and strappless and Alice actually approved right away when I put it on. She curled my hair again and was finished in plenty of time like I trusted she would be.
I have to admit, the dressing up idea wasn't my favorite even though I knew it would be special for Rose. But looking at Alice and I in her full length mirror side by side I was very appreciative of this idea. It was fun to be dressed up with your closest friends and not have to worry about being elegant or graceful all night.
The funny thing was we weren't wearing shoes. It just seemed silly because we were going to be walking around our apartment all night.
"Fashion makes it's own rules," was how Alice justified the barefoot thing to herself. I don't really understand how that connects to us not wearing shoes, but as long as it kept her from cramming my feet into black strappy death traps I nodded encouragingly to her reasoning.
We walked out into the living room where Jasper and Edward were already waiting and I couldn't stop myself as I walked directly towards Edward and into his arms. He looked too good. No, not good, ravishing. He was wearing black too, a simple black botton down dress shirt. You see them on people daily, right? Not like this. I don't know why it did so much for me, but I needed to touch him immediately.
I wrapped my arms around him and he chuckled.
How could he smell even better too?
"I like your dress." How silly. My dress was nothing compared to him.
"Thanks. I like your...well. You." I blushed but I couldn't not say it. It was too true. I hid my face in his chest and he rubbed my back reassuringly, probably feeling my embarassment build. We never talked casually about our...understanding.
"I sure hope so," he murmured and then broke away and held me at arms length, forcing me to look at his face.
He reached up and touched my blush like he did at the gas station before Thanksgiving. Our moment was interrupted when Alice started yelling for help because one of the strands of lights had fallen down and we were, "very quickly running out of time, so someone tall better get their butts over here and fix this for me because I will NOT let the decorations be lacking when Rosalie enters this room!"
She was breathing heavily and Jasper was walking over to her now but Edward was taller than him so he was the one that fixed the strand, in about 2 seconds I might add, earning him a grateful hug from a now calm Alice.
Emmett ran in then and leaned against the counter. He was in a nice shirt and jeans already, but he was alone. He looked over the food that Jasper was setting out and smiled as he grabbed a stuffed mushroom (my only fancy claim to food fame) and popped it in his mouth.
Jasper wacked his hand with the spatula he was holding. "Emmet! You didn't even bring Rose with you, you can't eat!"
"I know..." Emmett started to talk while he was still chewing but he paused and his eyes buldged slightly,"these are HOT!" He opened his mouth and started fanning it with his huge hand.
"Yes, the oven does that." Jasper replied, unamused.
Emmett finally got the hot food down his throat and explained. "Rose is changing right now so I thought I'd come see how things were going. Nice dress by the way Alice, she loves it."
"I know." Alice smiled confidentially. She had bought Rose the dress she was going to wear tonight.
"So does she have any idea what is going on?" I asked.
"Don't think so." Emmett shook his head. "She knows it's not Sea World though." He chuckled and we joined in.
He left soon after and said they would be returning in 10 mintues.
Right on time the door opened and Rosalie walked in with Emmett right behind her.
"Em, why didn't you just use the bathroom at your place this is a waste of ti-"
She stopped mid sentence and stared at all of us around the room, barefoot and dressed up, in the midst of our softly glowing living room.
"Oh my gosh! You guys...this is amazing!" Rosalie looked aorund the room once more and took in everything as the smile grew on her face.
"It was all Emmett's idea," Alice informed her with a smile.
Rose didn't say anything, she just turned back to Emmett and threw her arms around him.
"It's perfect Emmett. Thank you!"
"So you aren't disappointed we aren't really going out?"
"No, of course not! I was actually a little sad when I thought we weren't going to be with everyone tonight." She kissed him quickly then we all found spots at the table and got settled.
Rose, Emmet, and Alice were on the real chairs. Alice automatically got one because she was too small for any of the other options. Jasper was in the folding chair next to her which put Edward and I on the cooler. I liked how things turned out, we had to sit close together to fit.
We laughed and told Rose about all of our secret planning as we dished out what we all wanted to eat and Emmett got drinks for everyone. When every plate was full we held our glasses up for a toast.
"Happy Birthday Rosie," Emmett began with his goofy grin,"I'm so lucky I found you. I never want to share you with anybody, but since I have to I am glad it's these 4 people in this room with us tonight."
I felt myself tear up at his comment. It was so sweet and so rare for Emmett. Under the table Edward's hand found mine and he squeezed it once and then didn't let go.
"Cheers to Rose!" Emmett said. "And to all this amazing food!" he added in quickly making us all laugh. That's more like Emmett.
"Cheers to friends who really know what you want," Rose smiled at all of us.
"Cheers to making something decent in that run down oven," Jasper joked.
"Oh no! Cheers to making this room look decent even though someone tired to stifle my vision," Alice gave accusing look at Emmett but smiled at the end.
They all looked at me, apparently we were all getting a turn.
"Um, cheers to Alice allowing me to be barefoot?" I questioned it because I wasn't sure it was good enough for the toast. The way everyone cheered and Alice rolled her eyes proved to me it was something everyone was grateful for.
Edward was last.
"Cheers to how our lives have changed for the better in the last 8 months." Everyone smiled their best after he spoke and he looked down at me for a few seconds and his eyes danced wildly and his simple smiled turned crooked and he squeezed my hand once more. Then he quickly looked back up at the group as the toast ended loudly.
Clank
--
EPOV
"Cheers to how our lives have changed for the better in the last 8 months." I felt her smile next to me and I had to look and see it for myself even though I'd seen it so many times before.
And cheers to waiting no longer.
Clank
Surprise! Mini EPOV snuck in on a Tuesday!! AH!
I couldn't help it. I needed to reward all you fine people for your LOVE of IEWIS
Chapter 26 is soon :)
LOVE YOUS