(A/N: I'm going to make one of those cool song lists like I do sometimes. Here are the songs I listened to while writing this chapter. Two Tone Lover-Bobby Long. The Rattle and Roll – Bobby Long, Penance Fire Blue – Bobby Long, Who Have You Been Loving – Bobby Long, The Bounty Of Mary Jane- Bobby Long, Dead and Done New – Bobby Long, Sway – Michael Bublé, Slow Me Down – Emmy Rossum, Never Think- Robert Pattinson, Plug in Baby – Muse, Born For This – Paramore, The Garden That You Planted – Sea Wolf,

Disclaimer: I'm not Stephenie Meyer Yo!

But, I hope you all like this chapter. It's among my favorites.


The day of the ball was finally here. Angela and I had been planning for months for it and it finally came.

Things hadn't been the same between Prince Edward and I since he nearly got caught sneaking into the manor, but we had talked about what happened. We both knew it wasn't right considering he was in an arranged marriage and though I insisted time after time that it was okay and that I understood, I was far more hurt then I'd let on.

I began to grow distant from him. When we would run into each other. We would smile and greet each other but I had a feeling that the pain was noticeable in my eyes and he kept his distance, as if he didn't want to see it.

Angela and I had also talked about Edward. As it turned out she was far better informed than I had thought. She was in on the whole plan. It was shocking but I felt a thrill that we all had our own secret.

I wasn't exactly enthusiastic per-se about the masquerade ball. I was more dreading it. It would hurt to see Edward with Lady Tanya. I'd actually fallen for him. It was a shame. When I learned the news about the arranged marriage I'd brought the dress back that Prince Edward had suggested I buy. I traded it in at the market and got another.

What did his opinion matter? It didn't matter what he wanted to see me in. A man courting another woman should have no say what so ever on the topic of my dress.

I got another blue dress; the shade did make my skin look a flattering creamy color rather than translucent and pale. This dress was cut a little bit shorter over the chest area, and had more layers to it. Most of the dress was sheer as the first one but the layers piled on top of another and made a rich blue color. The dress was strapless, which would have been a scandal in any other setting. Silver sparkles cascaded down the dress like raindrops. It was the most beautiful dress I'd ever seen- more so than the other.

In different angles the dress took on a more purple color.

I'd gotten a mask to go with it. It was fairly simple. I'd seen far more extravagant masks. It was various shades of blue in the shape of a butterfly.

I threw open the doors of my wardrobe closet getting ready in a hurry. If I didn't, we'd never make it on time. We were due there at sundown, but it was quite a long ride to the Royal Palace.

Angela had done my hair so it hung in curls down my back and it looked elegant. She was brilliant.

I was upset that every thought led me back to Prince Edward. I wondered if I looked beautiful enough for him. But, it didn't matter. He was with a woman already. Maybe I'd give Lord Newton another shot this year.

"Isabella! You'd better hurry or our carriage will leave with out us!" Angela called to me from her room across the hall pulling me from my thoughts. I rushed to pull on my dress and mask and ran to her room.

I gasped when I saw her. She looked so beautiful that I was nearly jealous. She was dressed in a beautiful long green gown that I didn't realize she had -she must have went out to buy another one when I was elsewhere – the way the dress fit her was flattering to her long tall body. She looked gorgeous. The dress was so intricate and wrapped. It was a halter and flowers decorated the waist and down the skirt. It was a few hues of green, warm and crisp like fresh spring grass. She made me think of spring.

She had a simple green mask to make the outfit perfect.

"Angela! You look so beautiful!" I grinned and hugged her and she squealed.

"You do too Bella! I'm so excited. Lets go!"

She grabbed my hand and we ran down the stairs into the carriage, giggling all the way.

I was dazed as we arrived at the ball. Angela and I arrived to an already brewing ball. Several minstrels were playing music and people were dancing. Everyone looked elegant. Angela and I entered the room by a spiral staircase just as Princess Alice made her graceful entrance.

She looked so beautiful that I was quite literally upset. I knew I'd never look half as gorgeous as the princess. She was devastatingly beautiful and petite. Her baby pink dress suited her well. It was something I could have pictured her wearing before I'd actually seen her in it. The dress was full length but strapless like mine. It also had sparkles all over it.

Her mask was a creamy color and I couldn't tell if it was white or pink. It had a rose on the side of it that was the exact same color as the dress she wore.

When she got to the bottom of the staircase she smiled in our direction and Angela and I had curtsied in unison. We'd been taught since we were small children that it was the proper thing to do in the presence of royalty.

Alice grinned at us as she went to dance with a tall blond man.

I'd spent some time dancing with a few different men. I'd been polite and didn't turn down a single dance.

Which is probably why I let out a heavy sigh when I got a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see the most beautiful man with copper hair. He wore a black suit with a few gold accents; they weren't tacky they were nice. He also wore a black and gold mask that matched. I took in a sharp inhale as I saw him.

"Could I have this dance?" He asked me in a very gentlemanly way.

I simply nodded as he wrapped an arm around my waist and took my hand in his other hand. My arm went around his neck and he looked down at me adoringly.

"You look simply beautiful, Isabella." The tone of his voice made me melt. My knees went weak a little and I could feel him holding me up.

"And you look quite handsome, Edward." I grinned at him and he grinned back.

We danced for a little while longer until something happened that made me freeze in place, wondering if I was in some kind of dream. He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. Gently. It wasn't like the first time, which had been strictly lust.

The kiss held passion. His lips were slow and soft against mine and I couldn't help but pull him closer. The most amazing thing about the whole situation was that he was kissing me in front of all of these people.

The thought made me pull him closer yet.

(What do ya'll think?)