AN: Thanks so much to all the reviewers and new followers. I appreciate all the PMs and love from you gals and guys! You all rock! Reviews always welcomed!

CHAPTER 20

I Want To Break Free

Bella opened the door when Edward arrived to pick her up for school. They only had 3 days left before the Christmas/New Year's break started. They would be off for 2 weeks during the winter holiday break. Bella was dressed with a blue jacket, grey t-shirt, blue denim pants and off black slip-on shoes. Edward helped Bella and Charlie decorate their house for Christmas just after Thanksgiving, one time he was over before dinner. Bella called Dr. and Mrs. Cullen's house a secret Santa village with millions of lights, Christmas trees, and Christmas decorations all around. Mrs. Cullen had workers create her Christmas yard masterpiece.

"Uh, Chief Swan, these are for you and the police department," Edward said, handing over a white box filled with yummy donuts. "I had my brother stop by on the way here, so they are nice and fresh."

"Well, thank you Edward. I'm sure the guys will love them." Charlie took the box of donuts pulling out one with strawberry icing and rainbow sprinkles. Bella smiled, hitting her hip against Edward's side. He smiled back at her. Edward was always such a sweetheart, trying to earn brownie points from her father.

"Ok Dad, see you after school!" Bella waved off after closing her front door behind her, while Charlie went to enjoy the rest of his coffee with his fresh donuts.

"You seem very excited this morning," Edward said to Bella.

"I have the best news of the year!"

"What is it?" Edward asked, taking Bella's orange backpack to put over his shoulder. Edward has a habit of carrying Bella's things before taking her hand.

I want to break free

I want to break free

I want to break free from your lies

You're so self satisfied I don't need you

I've got to break free

God knows, God knows I want to break free

I've fallen in love

I've fallen in love for the first time

And this time I know it's for real

I've fallen in love, yeah

God knows, God knows I've fallen in love

Bella took Edward's hand and arm as they walked to the car. She smiled. Edward opened the car door. The song "I Want to Break Free" by Queen blasted from the car. In the backseat, Alice and Jasper sat.

"Hey, will you tell us the good news or do I have to say it?" Alice asked as Edward got into the driver seat. Usually Jasper or Emmett usually drove the group to school unless Edward was allowed to drive by Jasper. Rosalie always decided to take her new red Corvette given to score the highest SAT grade in the school among juniors. Sometimes, Emmett wasn't quick enough to catch a ride with his girlfriend, who would not wait for anything, even her boyfriend.

"I'm not grounded anymore."

"You're free?" Edward asked.

"Bella's not grounded anymore!" Alice squealed. "I knew it! Hence the song! I knew we would be shopping together this weekend!"

"Yes! I guess I can go shopping with you, Alice this weekend after all."

"Chief actually let you out?" Jasper asked.

"Yup! He said, I'm still on probation, but I get to hang out, and not just go from home to school."

"Great! Do you think you can spend the night too with me?"

"Don't push it Edward," Alice said. Bella smiled.

"And since Charlie had so much fun at Thanksgiving dinner with your family, he agreed to have Christmas there too as long as I make his favorite apple pie."

"Oh wow! That's great too! What brought that on?"

"Well, I told him, I wanted to spend Christmas with your family."

"So, you're not going to La Push for Christmas then?"

"Nope. We get to spend Christmas together. My Dad and I will go to La Push after Christmas to exchange gifts." Bella leaned over and kissed Edward on the lips.

"You are right, that is the best news of the year." Edward and Bella kissed a few more times.

"Get to school Bella!" Charlie yelled opening the front door. Alice leaned over and honked the horn to break up Edward and Bella kissing.

"We're going, Chief!" Alice waved. Chief smiled and waved back.

"Alice, you're still on your Queens kick?" Edward asked as Alice restarted the same song to repeat as Edward pulled out of the driveway.

"Of course twin!"

"Not your twin," Edward said. Alice turned the volume all the way up. "Wow, sis, take it down a few decibels.." Edward said covering his ears after turning it down.

"Yay! I knew I was right to keep our Christmas shopping plan! I mean, I am practically done deciding what gifts to buy, now is the time to get them and I need a full 2 days at the mall."

"Full 2 days?" Bella mouthed to Edward. Edward chuckled.

"Oh yes, we need to leave at least by 7 am if we want to make the first line at the mall in Seattle."

"We're going to Seattle!"

"Of course, where else can we find the best mall and shopping outlets!"

"Alice…"

"Oh, stop it! You hated shopping online."

"Because you have like 10 different store websites open to compare every item, it's maddening."

"Well, I have to get the best prices and styles! One store website for shopping is not enough!" Bella rolled her eyes.

"Wishing you were still grounded?" Edward whispered into Bella's ear as he pulled into the school parking lot 5 minutes later.

"Kind of," Bella said. Both smiled.

At lunchtime, Bella smiled as Edward carried her lunch tray along with his lunch tray to their spot in the cafeteria. Everyone was still in shock and awe of Bella with Edward. After the disaster lunch fight between Rosalie and Edward months ago after Halloween, where Rosalie called out Edward and Bella for secretly dating. Edward refused to eat anywhere near Rosalie. Most of the time Alice and Jasper joined them with Angela and Ben would come. Ben and Angela were still flirting around each other, but never with enough push to ask the other one out.

"Wow. Everyone still stares Edward. It's been nearly 2 months since Halloween, why does everyone still stare at us?"

"You're perfect," Edward said. Bella shook her head. "And they are just jealous I got the you Beautiful. Don't mind them. Hey, that guy's not looking, oh wait, he just looked," Edward said digging into his lunch, picking up his cheeseburger. Bella sighed eating her grilled cheese sandwich. Tanya came over to remind and invite Edward to the Yule Christmas Eve party again, though his arm was around Bella, and he already told Tanya he would only go if it was something his girlfriend, Bella, wants to do. As head cheerleader, she was in charge of promoting the Yule Ball. It was just a Christmas party through for the high school students, on December 23rd, so she was handing out reminder flyers. And her boobs on display were just normal in her short top and mini skirt though it was 40 degrees outside.

"I know, I would be so happy if you came by," Tanya said, that made Edward barely look up at her and when he did it, he was disgusted as her boobs were practically in his face. Tanya was holding a flyer up to Edward for him to take, looking at Edward only.

"Oh, I am coming, I can't wait to go to the school's Christmas party," Alice said, snatching the flyer out of Tanya's hand.

"Hey!" Tanya exclaimed. "That invitation is for Edward only."

"Well, I know my twi…"

"Not your twin," Edward said.

"Like I said, I know my twin, and we all will be there. Bella, I can't wait to shop this weekend for your dress, maybe something again emerald green or dark blue with stars." Tanya huffed, and stomped away.

"That girl is too much," Jasper said.

"So green or blue Bella?"

"For what?" Bella asked.

"The Yule Ball of course!"

"Uh, I figured I would be grounded for that."

"But you said Charlie ungrounded you for life. Now we have this invitation," Alice said.

"Well, yeah, but there are still conditions. I'm not sure if I am completely free for a party so soon."

"Well, make sure, we need to have your dresses by this weekend."

"Dresses? How many dresses are we talking about Alice?"

"Well, 4 for sure, but maybe 5."

"4! Maybe 5?!"

"Yes! One for Yule Ball, Christmas Eve mass, and Christmas Day. Oh, and don't forget for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day."

"Alice! I don't need that many new dresses. Maybe 2 or 3, but not 5!"

"You'll see," Alice said, smiling. Bella looked at Edward. He went back to eating though smiling.

Edward had his arm across the back of Bella's chair as she finished her sandwich, while Alice was showing Bella a map of the Seattle mall and which stores depending on which she needs are best to shop in.

"You want something else? An apple or pear?" Edward asked.

"Uh, I am good."

"I'll get you an apple," Edward said, getting up after kissing the middle of Bella's forehead. Bella of course blushed, which made Alice chuckle and tease her. Edward loves kissing Bella, but in public a kiss on the forehead or the hand was even more powerful. Any outward show of their love, his kisses, most of the time on her forehead or her hand, would send Bella blushing.

Edward got up to put away their trays and get another bottle of juice and an apple for his love. Jasper and Ben went with Edward. Bella followed the boys with her eyes as they were standing in the end line of the food line. Emmett joined them. The boys were laughing and fooling around with playful wrestling. Bella looked over at the table where Rosalie, Tanya, Irina, Kate, Lauren, and a few other girls sat, mostly on the cheerleading team. Bella connected eyes with Rosalie, who rolled them and went back to eating her apple.

"Alice, we have to get Edward and Rosalie back to acting like family by Christmas."

"Why? I like it like this," Alice said, eating the last of her fruit bowl.

"Alice!"

"What? Those two have always had a hate/love relationship. I swear it's just jealousy. It's fine."

"You like them not talking? Not acting like a family?" Bella asked.

"Of course not! Mom hates it and she's suffering with their constant bickering, and fights, but I am not going to make you to jump through hoops for Rosalie's approval. You don't have to do that. Rosalie is just jealous Mom and Dad loves you now. Edward is now their favorite again because of you. And Edward is the only approval you need. Only me with clothes and shoes, and perhaps what color earrings or necklace to wear. Besides, you already have Edward's approval. And Edward has never been happier than with you. I mean over the moon happy Bella. And if Rosalie can't be happy for her brother and be grateful we get someone like you, not Tanya, Jane, or god forbid Lauren in Edward's life. Those girls would have been unbearable, but you fit perfectly in our family. And you balance Edward so much. It's amazing how great you are. If Rosalie can't see that, then that's on her. That icy princess needs to get out of her own ass. In the meantime Bella, be happy. Be happy with Edward. And forget about her." Bella smiled. Sadly. She wanted the Cullen family whole, no fighting because of her.

"She's right," Angela said, touching Bella's hand. "Be happy, and Rosalie will see her disapproval of you is foolish. She'll come around because you are confident in your love for Edward." Bella nodded. Angela's kind soul was so refreshing and welcoming. Bella was glad she had best friends like Alice and Angela.

After the Halloween party, of course Bella couldn't lie about Edward to Angela. Angela understood with Bella's father, why they kept it a secret. Angela wished Bella trusted her enough back then, but she was happy to be part of the loop now. Jessica and Lauren's jealousy was green and mean, which left them away from the Cullen bubble. Lauren could care less, she had Tyler, Tanya and her cheerleading team, where Jessica just has to leech to girl for friends, since Angela has Bella and Alice now. Mike and Jessica started dating around the same time Edward and Bella came out being together. Since both lost their chances with them they got together with each other. It has been a hot and cold relationships where some days they are fine and in love, and then Mike says something stupid, or flirts with another girl right in front of Jessica, and Jessica breaks up with him before taking him back the next day. Not healthy, but that is sometimes a high school relationship.