A/N: So, publishing this a little later than I usually do, but it's up! Hope you guys enjoy this!

Bella

Like everyday this week, Edward's gone when we get back. He's been running to Seattle and back most nights. Alice says pent up energy, but I know it's to avoid the teasing.

The revelation that Edward would fall in love with Beau shook the household, most of all Edward. I'd tried talking to him about it, that night.

"Eddie, Ed-boy—"

"Please don't," he'd interrupted me.

"Just listen," I said. "Beau's one of my best friends. He's kind, sincere, funny—"

"Don't you think I know? That's why I'm trying so desperately to preserve his life, to keep him alive and whole!" Edward moaned, far too dramatic for me. Though, I knew I wasn't being fair. To Edward, Beau's life depended on his ability to stay the fuck in his own lane, to not ruin the poor boy's life.

"What, cause he's funny?" I joked, desperate to ease the mounting tension. I never did too well with grave situations. "He's not exactly going to have a career in comedy."

"Bella, this isn't a joke," Edward snarled. "His entire life's ruined now, all because of me. It's unthinkable. This will wrench us both apart."

"Alice doesn't think so," I said in a small voice. "She said there might be a chance, if you were strong enough."

"I really don't think I am," Edward laughed humorlessly. "I won't condemn him to this half-life, stuck in purgatory, undead for all eternity."

"Okay, edge-lord," I muttered. Edward scowled at me, but he was clearly hurting. I might not like him all the time, but he was my brother, I loved him unconditionally. I looped my arm around his, leaning my head on his marble shoulder. He held perfectly still, accepting my small comfort.

"It's going to be okay," I said softly. "I believe in you."

It's going to be okay. I repeat that to myself now, forcing myself to believe it. It might work itself out. Beau seemed to be perfectly normal. We talked, laughed, and texted just the same as we had.

My phone chimes, jarring me from my thoughts. The group chat was blowing up, and I had a separate message from Beau, a reading list of classics he thought I'd like. He offered to bring me some. I text out a reply, telling him to bring the easiest one.

JESS: Mike just asked me to prom! Here's the promposal!

This was followed by heart emoji's of every color and a picture of a badly written poster, bearing the words, "Prom would be sweeter if you came with me." There was a collection of Jess's favorite candy beside it and a cheap look bouquet. To me, it looked like he'd thrown it together hastily after school, but I couldn't rain on her parade.

ANGELA: So sweet! You guys are so cute together!

LAUREN: We should be in a group together. Think Tyler wants to go with me?

BEAU: That's great, Jess!

BEAU: Lauren, you could go with Tyler and Angela could go with Eric maybe? Still need to find a date for Bella.

I grin, replying quickly.

ME: Someone find me a mans

ME: I wish you were going, Beau. I could've been your platonic date.

BEAU: You're too gorgeous for me. Pics would come out crazy.

I sent the heart eyes in response, clicking off my phone and pulling my homework out. Still, prom weighed on my mind. Not for the first time, I realize everyone's paired off. It used to be okay, since Edward was alone too, but now, he had his strange life-or-death thing with Beau and I was alone.

"What wrong, kiddo?" Emmett asks, flopping heavily on the couch and turning on the TV. "You're making a face."

"No face," I say, pulling my books aside to give him room. Emmett tended to get… energetic about hockey, even if it was just a highlights reel from last night's game. "Just thinking, I guess."

"About what?" he asks distractedly. I shrug, quiet. I couldn't talk about this with a father/brother figure.

"Girl stuff," I say.

"Want to talk to me?" Rosalie asks, appearing in the living room. I nod, following her up to hers and Emmett's room. It's tastefully decorated, lavishly done in gold and white. I flop down in the bed.

"It's not like no one can hear us up here," I remind her. Rosalie snuggles up with me, rearranging so my head's pillowed on her lap.

"I know, but at least we'll be able to talk up here," she says with a laugh, carding her fingers through my hair. Things have sort of weird with me and her recently, because of this whole Beau thing, not that I blame either one of them. Still, it's hard to talk to someone who wants to kill your best friend. "What's up?"

"All my friends are going to prom except me," I blurt out. To my horror, a lump rises up in my throat. How can I think about this now? There are lives at stake, futures to consider, a brother in constant pain.

"Oh sweetheart, don't even worry," Rosalie coos. "We'll get you a beautiful dress and I'm sure someone will ask you. Alice will be able to tell you who it is."

"No, she won't," I sniffle, feeling stupidly childish. "She can't see my future."

"Well, I wouldn't worry about it," she says. "You're beautiful, wonderful, intelligent, the whole package, really."

"Are you guys going?" I ask, burrowing closer.

"Emmett and me? No, I don't think so," she says. "We've done our fair share of proms."

We talk for a while, here and then in the kitchen as Mom cooks me dinner. Turns out, she too had some words of advice on the boy front. I don't know if it was embarrassment or something else, but Dad, Emmett, and Jasper did not contribute to the conversation. Alice even promised me she'd try and look out for my future, to see if any of the boys here had a hole where their girlfriend's identity should be.

The next day, we all took off without Edward, taking his car. I thought it was kind of petty, but some people (Rosalie) felt they were owed their little justices.

At school, I catch him in the hallways, grinning like a weirdo.

"What wrong with you?" I demand. "You look crazy."

"I'm having a crisis," he informs me, looking deliriously happy. "With my sexuality."

"What?" I ask, utterly confused. Did that mean he was happy with Beau, that he was going to be with Beau? Turn him maybe? It might be cool to have him join our family, though I'd be outnumbered by the couples.

"When I was alive, we didn't even consider our sexualities," he says conversationally. "In fact, I'd never even stopped to consider why I never found any woman attractive."

He had a maniacal look in his eye, like he'd done something crazy.

"Can vampires get high?" I say as quietly as possible. "Is this what this is?"

"Well, it certainly feels that way," he laughs. "But honestly, I've just made a terrible mistake."

"What the hell—"

"Go to class, sister of mine," he says, putting on a particularly stupid Chicago accent. I watch, horrified, as he strolls down the hall for his calculus class.

The answer becomes clear in history, when just as I take my seat, Beau looks up at me and informs me, "Your brother is the weirdest guy I know."

"What did he do this time?" I ask, weary.

"He asked me up to Seattle, the weekend of prom," he says, bewildered.

"Why?" I ask, horrified. He's just asking for trouble, the idiot. How would he be able to cope for that long with Beau's scent in his face?

"He said something stupid about the mileage the truck gets. Said 'the wasting of finite resources is everyone's business'," Beau explains, putting on a funny voice, presumably to mock Edward. I snort out a quiet laugh, shaking my head. What a dweeb, an absolute dork. Apparently, the boy had landed. Edward was fully invested, but if this was his idea of a date, he'd have another thing coming. Beau seems much more confused than excited.

"Wait, but did you say yes?" I press, curious. Had he found my dumb brother charming? Beau flushes at the question, dropping his head. I sat back, fighting off a grin.

He had.

A/N: So, things are moving and shaking, plot wise! Let me know what you thought!