Author's Note: Here's the next chapter. Both my editor and I have had...not so great weeks so we sincerely apologize for the delay. Anyway, the song in this chapter is actually in Korean and I just used the English lyrics so it may sound kind of weird. If you really want to know how it sounds, I think some of the lyrics places have it so you can listen. The artist is Byul. Thank you for your support guys!
Disclaimer: Don't own nothing.
I took an unnecessarily deep breath and pushed open the double doors. The chandelier, which had been dimmed, brightened to full power and the room was lit as bright as day. Everyone in the room fell silent and the instinctively parted to give me a path to the platform. As I walked by, the men bowed deeply and ladies bent into a graceful curtsy; this was one of the few occasions when I allowed people to bow and curtsy to me.
I smiled in greeting at those I passed, but didn't make eye contact with anyone. I was searching the room for the once person who was evidently not in attendance. I fought to hide my disappointment as I ascended the steps onto the platform. For the first time in a very long time, I was afraid.
I wanted to go look for him, but I knew that I couldn't. Our guests had come from all over the world to be here and I was the guest of honor. I also didn't think my father would like it very much if I left my own party without singing. I have to do this. Perhaps in the back of my mind I had already suspected that he would not show up and prepared myself for this moment. Either way, I only hoped that he was near enough to hear me.
I walked to the center of the platform and Evelyn rushed up to hand me a microphone. I took it from her and bent down to whisper in her ear.
"Evelyn, I want you to play the music for I Think I Love You," I requested. She stared at me for a moment and then nodded. I watched her disappear from sight before turning to the crowd.
"I was supposed to sing a duet with someone tonight, but for some reason, he couldn't be here tonight. So I'll sing one of my favorite songs. It's called I Think I Love You," I announced.
Everyone applauded my declaration but a hush fell over the room when the music began to play. The lights dimmed and Evelyn switched the spotlights to a light pink that matched my dress.
It wasn't possible, so I believed it wasn't true
Me loving you, these words don't even make sense
I'm probably just jealous, I guess I'm getting lonely
I hid my feelings before but I just can't do it anymore
Maybe we are not suited to each other
It would be good if we are just friends
From one to ten, we never agree on anything
How can we have a relationship?
People say we won't be able to do it
I've been surrounded by those words and I don't want to be anymore.
(Bridge)
I didn't realize how I felt about you,
Why couldn't I see? It was right in front of me
That whole time you were right next to me
Why is it now that I finally see that it is love?
(Chorus)
I think I love you
I think I love you that's how it seems
Cause I miss you
Cause I miss you when you're not around
I can't do anything except think about you
If I look at how things are I know
I'm falling for you
I'm falling for you, I didn't realize it but
Now I need you
Now I need you, somehow deep in my heart it grew
Now all I want to do is take care of you
The room resounded with applause and I bowed to acknowledge the praise before gracefully taking my leave. Evelyn raised the lights again and began to play the music from my laptop for everyone to dance to. The change of music made sure that no one noticed my hurried exit.
I flew down the steps and toward the double doors. Please wait, at least until I tell you the truth, I begged Edward silently. Everyone passed me in a blur of colors until I felt something yank me back. I turned around to scream at whoever had grabbed me, but started when I saw that it was Alex. I opened my mouth to tell him to let go, but he bent down to my ear before I could utter a sound.
"Bella, Edward is in the garden," he whispered hurriedly. "Hurry, he's planning on leaving any moment now," he urged.
I looked at him in doubt, wondering if that was really Alex standing in front of me. He smiled sadly and pushed me toward the door.
"Go, Bella!" he commanded. I turned and pushed through the door and took off.
I raced down the stairs holding my dress out of the way so I wouldn't waste time by stepping on it. The front door swung open when I approached a strong breeze blew some of the rain into the house, but that didn't stop me.
I was soaked the moment I stepped foot outside. It didn't matter that the dress now weighed three times as much. It didn't matter that I had ruined a irreplaceable garment. All that matter was that I reached him in time. I picked up the hem of the dress, tore off my shoes and ran.
I scanned the garden for any sight of him but saw nothing. I stood in the center of the yard, staring around me like an idiot; I refused to believe that he had left already. I'd almost given up when I heard the one voice that I longed to hear.
"Bella, what are you doing out here?"
I turned around and saw Edward standing underneath an umbrella. He was wearing a black tuxedo and his hair was slightly disarrayed from the wind, but he looked more beautiful than ever.
"I thought you left," I whispered dropping my dress and taking a tentative step forward.
"I was bout to, but I saw you running back here," he told me with a sad, confused smile.
"Why didn't you come to the party?" I demanded. I realized that my voice was trembling and it had nothing to do with the rain.
"I wanted to but I couldn't face the truth," he admitted avoiding my eyes again.
"What truth?"
"That you belong with Alex. That you chose him as your prince," he mumbled.
"Who told you that?" I yelled, finally letting my emotions run free. "I know what you saw, Edward. And I couldn't believe that you really thought that low of me." He looked up, a shocked expression on his face. "Did you ever ask me if whatever was going on in Alex's mind was what I really thought or did you just assume that?" He bored into me with his golden orbs.
"What do you really feel, Bella?" he asked cautiously. I smiled, glad that he'd finally decided to listen.
"Edward, if I chose Alex would I be bothered by your mood swings? Would I chase after you in the rain? I never said I wanted Prince Charming," I explained, taking another step forward. "I want EDWARD CULLEN!" Just saying it took all of the courage that I had left.
I saw the corners of Edward's mouth curve up into glorious grin and his hand let go of the umbrella. He bolted for me, grabbed me by the waist and pulled me to his chest. He held me like that for a while before he set me back on the ground, bit but didn't fully release me. I looked up at his face and he untangled an arm from my waist to lift the mask away from my face.
"And all I want is Isabella Swanne," he whispered gently as he leaned down and met my lips with his. Neither of us minded that the rain was still pouring from the gray sky because it was sunny in our hearts. I also didn't tell him that his hands on my waist was probably the only thing keeping my dress up at the moment.
Author's Note: My editor pointed out that the last line was very romantically corny but neither of us wanted to take it out, because...well, I didn't see anything wrong with being corny! There is one more chapter because I couldn't bear to cut out the fluff. What do you think if I make the sequel in Edward's POV instead of Bella's?