A/N: Everyone who reviewed the preface- thanks a dozen, it made my day :) Well, here's an actual first chapter. Read and I hope you enjoy!!

Alexandraa. (:

CHAPTER 1

Bella's POV

"Oh, come on, Alice!" I groaned. "Not this again!"

"Don't complain, Bella!" Alice rolled her eyes, putting her hands on her thin hips.

"Don't do this to me!" I pleaded, attempting a puppy-dog face that always seemed to work before.

"Come on, Bella," Alice said, ignoring my expression completely. "It's not that bad. Besides, we only have four short hours to make both me and you look gorgeous."

"Yeah sure," I mumbled. "That's it. Besides no matter how much the time, I am never going to look anywhere close to gorgeous."

"Don't doubt my talents, Bella!" Alice grinned, laughing.

I rolled my eyes and sighed, knowing that it would be completely useless to say anything else to persuade her at this point.

"So how many people are coming for this party?" I asked, closing my eyes, trying to feel relaxed.

"Well I think there are about a hundred twenty-five or so people coming," Alice replied. "It's not that much."

I choked, on what I wasn't quite sure. Air? Nothing? I opened my mouth, but couldn't find words to respond to that.

"One hundred and twenty-five people?!" I finally gasped. "I don't even know that many people, Alice! And the last time I asked, you said about forty people! And that seemed like a lot! I mean it's just a party you decided to throw because you felt like it! Why so many people?"

Alice just stood there, patiently continuing to do my make-up with surprisingly calmness as I rambled on and on.

At the end, I took a deep breath. Who knew talking could be so tiring?

"Calm down, Bella," Alice said. "It's not even that many people. You know my cousin, Edward? Well yeah, he's like a year or so older than us, and he invited some friends over too."

"And just exactly how many are some friends?" I asked cautiously, dreading the answer.

"Well, like fifty people maybe?" Alice said as if not exactly sure.

"Fifty," I repeated weakly. My head was hurting. Was the room spinning? It seemed to be.

"Something like that," Alice said, unfazed.

I took a deep breath. "So forty from before, fifty from Edward," I said. "That's like ninety people. Who invited the rest?"

"Oh well," Alice said, looking around the room. She seemed like she wanted to avoid looking at me directly. "I had to invite more people, because I realized everyone I wanted wasn't there yet."

"That's a lot of people you forgot to invite in the first place," I muttered sardonically, crossing my arms.

"Don't worry Bella," Alice sighed softly. "It's just a party. What's the worst that could happen?"

I didn't answer. This was one of the few things Alice didn't understand about me. Yeah, we've been the closest friends ever since the very first minute of high school, over three years ago. But Alice still didn't get why I despised parties so much. She's been to a few of them; I never go, though I've only been invited once or twice. And who was Edward? How come I never met this Edward before?

"I don't remember you mentioning Edward before," I said. "Why haven't I seen him before?"

"Oh, well he doesn't live here in Forks," Alice explained carefully. "Did I not ever mention him?"

I thought back. "You might have," I admitted, thinking about my easily forgetful mind. "But I never saw him."

"No," Alice pursed her lips. "You probably didn't, that's true. And if you are going to ask why, it's because he never really comes here often and when he does, we go on vacation. You know how Mom likes traveling. The last time he came home was over the summer, but we went to France for two weeks then, remember? Edward and his parents came with us that time."

"I wasn't going to ask why," I said. "But thanks for clearing all that up for me." It was true; Esme did like traveling. And they did go the France last summer and now that Alice mentioned it, she may have briefly talked about Edward, but I had probably been not paying very close attention to Alice when she spoke about him.

"So what's your cousin like?" I asked.

"He's like an older brother to me," Alice said, and then paused as she thought for a second. "That been said, he's like any older brother you can imagine. Annoying sometimes."

I just nodded.

Alice continued. "He's pretty tall I guess, plus he's in his first year of university." She glanced at me curiously. "Why do you want to know?"

I looked at her. Was she mad or something? Judging by her expression, she wasn't. She just seemed curious.

"Oh, no reason. Just wondering." I shrugged.

"Okay… but I think you'll like him," Alice smiled wickedly. "Don't worry it's normal, almost every girl does." When she saw my expression Alice laughed and asked, "What?"

"I don't like Edward," I protested. I hadn't even seen him!

"You can't know that," Alice insisted. "Besides, I think you two make a great couple."

I shook my head. Alice, Alice, Alice... She was pairing me up with some person I hadn't even known about until two minutes ago!

Alice, seeing my expression, pressed on. "It's so true," she said. "You guys would make the world's CUTEST couple."

I scoffed. "Cutest couple? Alice, no offense or anything, but you're jumping to conclusions. I haven't seen your cousin. I don't know how he is, or he looks or really anything about him, except that he's a guy who happens to be your cousin and is named Edward. And plus he's like already in university."

"So what? I still think you guys would look great together," Alice smirked. I opened my mouth to protest, but Alice interrupted me. "Okay maybe I am making predictions, but in my mind it's all there. I don't know whether or not you guys are meant to be together, or anything like that. I know you're different, Bella. You won't like Edward just for his looks. Besides, I don't think you should let something as little as age come in between you two."

I have to tell you, it was a very awkward feeling being told that you are about to meet someone who is supposedly your life's other. Alice was making me a bit nervous. And it did partly have to do with the fact that unlike me, Alice was never wrong. For as long as I've known her, the little uncanny "predictions" she made would always come true in the near future.

"So you're saying," I said slowly, phasing my words carefully, "That I am about to meet my 'soul mate' in a few hours?"

"When you put it that way," Alice giggled, "It sounds so romantic! Ooh, we have to make sure you look extra good!"

I sighed. "Is there even any use saying anything?"

"Absolutely none," Alice told me. I tried to contain another sigh while Alice leaned in and started brushing blush onto my pale complexion.

Four hours later, Alice was done making me look somewhat decent and making herself look absolutely stunning. Of course, she always did. It helped that she was slender and had an interest and acute sense for fashion. However, I didn't know how I looked at this point though.

Alice's spiky dark brown hair was in its usual style. And although all she was wearing was a denim miniskirt and sparkly tank top, she still looked incredible. Her pale green eyes looked bright and happy and mischievous. On her feet she wore a pair of stilettos – at least I think that's what they were called.

Her height usually was five foot exactly but with those stilettos she was about five foot four, the same height as me. How she was able to walk, fitting those tiny feet of hers into four-inch stilettos, I'll never know.

With her perfect complexion and flattering outfit, she resembled a supermodel – chic and flawlessly beautiful. With a wide happy smile and sparkling eyes she looked like a celebrity off the cover of Seventeen.

"You look amazing Alice," I said sincerely, smiling at her.

"Why thank you, Bella," Alice said, grinning widely. "Have you seen yourself yet? You're a knockout!"

I snorted. Me – a knockout? I seriously doubted that.

"Come on, look for yourself," Alice said. She knew that I wouldn't believe her until I saw some actual proof.

I took a deep breath, then walked over to the mirror, barely daring to check the reflection. But I sneaked a quick peek, and gasped. Wow, I guess I did look pretty good. My hair was curled and glossy under the lights. I was wearing a pretty dress in flattering shades of green – it wasn't too long, or too short, and ended just above my knee.

Thankfully, I was wearing flats, even though Alice suggested heels. Alice and I both knew about my walking 'disabilities'. Alice insisted that I would look so good, that there would always be a guy to catch me if I fell. I, of course, didn't believe her. So she had, reluctantly, agreed to the flats.

"You're so talented, Alice," I gushed, admiring my outfit.

"You like it?" Alice beamed.

"Very much," I said truthfully. And that surprised me. I didn't expect to like the way I looked.

"Great!" Alice grinned. She grabbed my hand and pulled me out her huge room to the wide hallway. Alice was a Cullen, and everyone in Forks knew how rich the Cullens were. They never showed it off, but they did go on expensive and exotic trips. Alice had offered to take me with her once but I had declined. I mean, there was no way I was going to let anyone spend that much money on me.

"Now let's get the party ready!" Alice cheered. She walked down the steps quickly, and I trailed after her. I had been to her house so many times that I could probably navigate through it with my eyes closed.

"So what type of music do you suggest we put on?" Alice asked, biting her lip.

"You're not questioning the right person," I told her. I had no experience in this area. It was beyond me.

"Okay," Alice said slowly. She took out a few different CD cases. I guessed each of them was organized by the different genre. Alice picked one out and laid it beside the music player, which had large speakers that would be able to project the sound through the whole room.

"Are you girls all ready for the party?" I heard a voice ask. I turned around, startled, and saw Carlisle, Alice's father.

"Alice did everything herself," I said. "I honestly have no idea how to throw a party."

Carlisle laughed. "Yes, once Alice starts, there's no stopping her."

I nodded fervently in agreement. Boy, did I know that.

"Hey!" Alice pouted. "That's not exactly a bad thing, is it?"

"Of course not," Carlisle chuckled.

"It's one of the qualities that make you, you," I told her. It was true. Then I saw Esme, Alice mother come.

"How is it going, honey?" she asked Alice.

"Great, mom, "Alice chirped happily.

"Do you have all the food?" I asked Alice.

"Of course," Alice said. "I couldn't forget something so important." Of course she couldn't, I thought to myself, Alice was too organized that way.

"Do you want us to do anything?" Esme asked, referring to Carlisle and herself.

I let Alice answer, seeing, as I had no idea what even needed to be done. "No, everything's done," Alice said. Then she ran to Carlisle and Esme and hugged them. "Thanks for letting me have this party!"

"I think it's a great idea," Esme said.

"We're going out now, then," Carlisle said. "You girls have fun, okay?"

"Yeah, sure," Alice said. "Bye Mom, bye Dad." We both waved at them, and they flashed quick smiles before closing the front door.

Esme and Carlisle were the best parents any kid, or person, could have. There was the fact that they were rich, so Alice pretty much got anything she wanted, but at the same time they taught her to be modest. And Alice was modest, and never acted snobby.

"Edward is gone to pick up a friend," Alice informed me. I nodded, although I hadn't asked about her cousin, who was apparently my one true love. "He'll be back in about ten to twenty minutes. That's when everyone should be here."

"Okay," I replied nonchalantly.

"You know," Alice said. "Edward was here before."

"He was?" I asked.

"Yeah," Alice said. "I just never told you because I hadn't finished your make-up yet."

"Did you see him?" I asked.

"Yeah," Alice said. "Remember that time I went to go to the bathroom? That's when I saw him. He came like an hour ago."

"Cool," I said, quickly stopping the subject. My mind was wondering why she had never told me about that, but I didn't say anything out loud.

I helped Alice set the table up, which turned out to take a pretty long time. It must have been so expensive to buy food for one hundred and twenty-five people. I wasn't even going to think about the cost.

A couple minutes later, the sound of the doorbell ringing resounded throughout the large mansion.

"Do you want to get it?" Alice asked me.

"Isn't it a little early?" I asked. "No thanks, you can get it."

"I think it's my brother," Alice commented over her shoulder as she left to go let whoever-it-was in.

I sat on the couch, drained already. Where did Alice get all her energy? She honestly never got tired of anything. The dress was making me feel uncomfortable, and the shoes were too tiring to walk in, even though they were only flats. After a moment I decided to stop complaining to myself and go find Alice.

Soon enough, I found Alice. Well actually, she was walking my way without knowing it. She was walking with two boys. From where I was standing, I couldn't see them, since they were both turned towards Alice. But I could tell that that one had tousled bronze hair and the other guy was honey blond. And they both seemed a bit taller than six foot. I tried not to show my surprise, but both looked absolutely gorgeous.

I stepped back. I didn't want to be seen. If I were seen, I would probably go have to say hi to them and blush and trip, and then make a fool out of myself, which is something I was not in the mood to do. I was about to leave when Alice saw me. Darn.

"Hey Bella!" Alice called to me. "Come over!"

I immediately felt a blush spreading through my cheeks, but I knew I couldn't have expected anything less.

I walked over to where they were standing and got a good view of each of them. My eyes went to the bronze-haired guy before the honey blond one.

I noticed his eyes right away. They were an emerald green shade, really rare and beautiful. He was tall and muscular. And he was gorgeous; gorgeous over the top. No one should have the right to look so beautiful. And in a way he was intimidating.

The other blond guy was about the same height as the bronze haired guy. He had blue eyes and was practically just as good looking

"Hi," I squeaked. My voice didn't come out the way I wanted at all. It was far from confident and it just sounded weird.

"Hey," Both guys said at once. I felt the bronze-haired guy watching me.

"So…" I said looking at Alice. I looked at her giving her a look that said, "Why don't you introduce me to these people I don't know?"

"Of course," Alice beamed. "This is Edward and Jasper. Edward's my cousin – the one I've been talking about, remember?"

I nodded weakly. Of course I remembered. He was my 'other half', apparently. I forced myself to stop thinking like that; sure, he was gorgeous, handsome, and seemingly perfect, but we were not soul mates. No matter what Alice said.

"This is Jasper," Alice continued, "Edward's friend." When she said Jasper's name, a dreamy look crossed her face and she smiled a bit more than usual.

I nodded and managed a small smile. "Cool," I said. My voice still sounded off, but much better than my previous attempt.

Edward held out his hand for me. I was staring at it like an idiot for a few seconds until I realized that I was supposed to shake it.

I wanted to slap myself for being so stupid. It had to be today, of all days, that I acted so lost.

I quickly stuck out my trembling hand, and he wrapped his in mine. The second we touched, a jolt of electricity ran through my arm and through his. I was pretty sure he felt it, too.

"Nice to meet you Bella," Edward said. He smiled at me.

"You too," I said, and gave him a small smile. Wow, how formal. I shook Jasper's hand too.

I felt myself staring at Edward again, and the weird thing was he was looking right at me.

"Bella?" I heard a feminine voice say loudly. I blinked a few times.

"What?" I said dazed. Then I realized Edward and I had been staring at each other for quite a while; much, much too long, I chastised myself.

I now realized that Alice was talking to me.

"The bell rang," Alice told me staring at me. Her lips twitched, I could tell she was fighting the urge to laugh. "Some of the other guests are here." And with that she grabbed my hand and dragged me to the door. I stole a glance back too see that Edward and Jasper were heading to the food table in the opposite direction of us.

"Told you you'd like him," Alice accused, keeping her voice low.

"What?" I asked. My mind wandered off, ignoring what Alice was saying. I was thinking about Edward again. I didn't even notice Alice was speaking to me.

"Were you just thinking of Edward?" Alice whispered, grinning, with a knowing look in her eyes.

"No of course not," I said, but the words sounded unconvincing, even to me.

Of course Alice didn't buy it. Why would she? "I knew it Bella!" Alice squealed quietly (for her that is), "I knew you'd like him!"

I couldn't deny it because it was true. "But I honestly doubt he likes me back!"

Alice snorted. "You guys were staring into each other's eyes for hours back there and you just met. I told you Bella! I told you that you guys would like each other!" She seemed deliriously happy.

And I didn't get why. And it wasn't even hours. It was like seconds. But if I were being honest with myself I wouldn't mind hours. Oh gosh, I sound like some lovesick teenager. It was creeping me out.

"Do you like Jasper?" I asked. I changed the subject away from me.

I looked at Alice whose face had turned a shade of light pink. She was silent for a moment.

"You do, don't you?" I said, before she had a chance to say anything. "Well I'm happy for you, I think you guys would make a great couple."

We reached the door at this point. Alice's face was still slightly pink when she opened it; there was a crowd of about fifteen people there. I didn't recognize one face in there, but Alice recognized them all.

"Hey!" Alice said. She went to the people and hugged and greeted them all. She introduced them all to me too. Try as I might, I didn't remember any of their names about a minute later.

One hour later, everyone was here, and the place was full of teenagers. Alice was talking to all the guests and having fun with a huge smile on her face – she was obviously excited about how everything was turning out.

Later Alice, Jasper and Edward came up to me.

"I think you should try a beer," Alice told me.

"What?" I asked in disbelief. "I'm not of age yet."

"I know," Alice said. "But it sounds so cool! And as long as you only have a little, it won't have any effect on you."

"Exactly," Jasper said. "But you should try it only if you want to, though."

I bit my lip, still unsure.

"No one's going to force you Bella," Alice told me reassuringly. "Of course not. It was just a suggestion. But it can't be that bad, can it?"

"Have you tried it?" I asked Alice. I didn't remember Alice ever trying alcohol.

"No," Alice admitted. "But I was curious today, so I thought if you were going to do it, then so would I."

"You thought what?" I asked in disbelief. Alice shrugged.

I thought about it for a minute. I'm too young, I thought to myself, but the rebel in me was the one who spoke. "I guess I'll try it."

"It's not that bad you know," Edward said. Alice came back with some beer. I cannot believe I was doing this; it was so unlike me.

I took a sip. Alice did too. Edward was watching me.

"What do you think?" He asked me, gauging my reaction.

"It…" I trailed off. I fade a face. I was feeling a little drunk, after one bottle. I didn't know what to say about it. It tasted disgusting.

"Did you like it?" Edward asked again. Alice and Jasper had already gone off.

"I don't know," I said, my memory started to blur. I started to sway a bit to the loud blasting music for the first time that night. "It has a peculiar taste to it."

Edward frowned a bit. "I don't think you should drink more though, you're getting drunk."

"I am not," I said, but the words were getting a little slurred. I did feel mostly myself though.

"I'm going to go get a drink," Edward said. "Be careful, Bella," he warned before leaving.

I nodded once, not sure if he saw it. I started to dance. It came to me naturally; I didn't even know I could dance. Who was I kidding; I probably wasn't even dancing, just making random moves on the dance floor. Then I crashed into someone.

The red liquid from the cup spilled all over me, making my pale green dress a strange dark shade. I felt all wet now and very uncomfortable.

"Watch it!" I snapped. I turned around too see a blond guy with spiky hair there.

"Sorry beautiful," The guy grinned at me, throwing an arm around my shoulders. "I'm Mike, do you want to dance?"

"No thanks," I said. I tried to get away but he pulled me towards him before I could go away.

"Come here," Mike said, pulling me towards him.

"Let go of me," I cried, getting a little more anxious.

"Bella!" I heard a velvety voice say. I felt it right behind me at this point. It was Edward. He grabbed me by the waist and pulled me back. And then he punched Mike in the face. Mike staggered back, and he ran away.

"Are you okay?" Edward asked me. He looked at me hard, into my eyes.

"Yes," I said. "Thanks for saving me there." I saw staring deep into his mesmerizing eyes. I didn't realize it but Edward and I were leaning into each other really closely.

"No problem," Edward's breath blew on my face; his face just a few short inches away from mine. "Anything for you Bella."

"Anything?" I asked. His face was only an inch away.

"Anything," Edward said. With a burst of courage, I placed my lips against Edward's and kissed him. He responded, which surprised me, but only for a moment because I was completely into the kiss. He kissed me long and deep. The world around me disappeared completely.

He placed his hands around my waist and pulled me closer and kissed me again. We kissed again and again, I loved the feeling more every time.

And then it was a few minutes later, when I remembered taking a quick note of my surroundings. I remembered a room, with a large bed. And I remembered me. And Edward. And kissing. And then I remembered that I had lost track of everything after that.

It hadn't really mattered to me what was wrong and what was right at that moment, because whatever I was doing right then had felt right.

And at that moment, nothing else in the world mattered.

* * *

The next morning I woke up and stretched out and rolled over. I frowned, if I had done this on my bed I should've fell off the bed just now. I looked and a jolt of shock went through me when I saw where I was. I was in some big kind-sized bed with some bronze-haired beauty beside me.

I gasped when I recognized the face of Edward. And then I saw myself; another gasp escaped my mouth. I looked at Edward who bare arm was sticking out from under his blanket.

Then last night came to me.

Did all that just happen? What had I done?

I was hyperventilating. I cannot believe what I had just done. I was only seventeen years old. It was so irresponsible and so stupid. I felt like a slut.

I took a few deep breaths.

It didn't help.

I was such an idiot. How could I do this? How?

I quickly scrambled out of bed. I looked around for my clothes, which I spotted immediately on the floor. I frowned when I saw that if was that green dress on which Mike spilled his drink. I grabbed a sweatshirt from Edward's closet quickly and put it on. It ended mid-thigh.

I took one last long look at Edward, sleeping so peacefully, looking so very perfect, and just sleeping there.

I filed the memory into my head and ran out into the hall. I tiptoed into Alice's room. No one was on the bed. I listened and heard the shower on. Must be Alice.

I ran to her closet. Ugh, why was it so big? Why were there so many clothes? I rummaged through it frantically finding something that I could wear.

My heartbeat sped up when I heard the shower turn off. I hurried up.

I ended up finding an American Eagle shirt, a pair of sweats and a sweater, which each took ten minutes to find. I was wearing my flats from last night. Alice would've told me that my outfit right now was a major fashion-don't. Honestly, right now I didn't care. I threw everything on quickly.

I got out seeing that the time was six o'clock in the morning.

I was going out of the room, until I heard Alice's voice.

"Wait Bella," I heard Alice say. I froze. Her voice sounded different; much different. I turned around slowly just before I had reached the door.

Alice's face was expressionless. The bathroom door was now opened. And Alice was standing in front of me in silk flannel pajamas.

"Alice," I said. And I knew, she knew, right there and then. "I'm so sorry, I mean I don't know what I was doing and everything just happened you know," I blurted out.

Alice folded her arms. "Oh, so what are you doing right now Bella?" She looked at me hard.

I didn't say anything.

"I hope you weren't planning to run away," Alice said.

I gulped, because that was exactly what I was planning to do. I didn't say anything this time either. Alice continued.

"I can't believe you Bella!" Alice shouted. That was not an Alice like thing to do. I stood there in the middle of her room, frozen. "I mean, first you sleep with this guy whom you only know for what maybe two or three hours, and who very coincidentally turns out to be my cousin! And the in the morning like the coward you are, you run away from him and everything else! You leave him there, what's he going to think when he gets up? How's he going to feel, huh?"

Alice's voice was gradually becoming louder. "What's he going to think? He's going to be so hurt and confused and… You can't just leave him like that! It's so… wrong!" Alice opened her mouth to say more but then closed it.

She opened her mouth to start again. "I thought…" Alice said, her face seeming really upset. "I thought of you as a responsible person Bella! The type that's responsible, fun, does the right thing. Guess I was wrong, because all you're doing right now, is being an irresponsible, helpless… idiot!" Alice closed her mouth right there and stopped talking. She turned away from me.

Tears trickled down my cheek.

"I am so sorry Alice," I sobbed. I couldn't help it. "I'm sorry I didn't turn out to be the person you thought I was. I'm sorry I wasn't the person you wanted as a friend and I'm sorry you had to waste all this time with me in your life. I'm sorry."

Alice didn't say anything. She was going to her side table.

"I'm going to go now," I said.

"Take this before you leave," Alice said, to me. I turned to her slightly confused.

She threw to me some cash, a few hundred-dollar bills I think.

"What-" I started to protest as I caught the money.

"Just go," Alice said. She turned away from me. I couldn't see her expression now.

I started to walk out the door, and then stopped again.

"Can you do me a favor?" I asked. Alice didn't answer. "Please don't tell Edward it was me." Alice turned to me with a weird expression. I tried to read what it was, but before I could tell, Alice's face turned expressionless again.

"I can't make any promises," She said bluntly.

I didn't say anything. Whenever Alice said that, that meant sooner or later it would come out to Edward.

I turned around and started to leave. Tears were sliding down my cheeks rapidly.

"I can't believe you, Bella." Barely a whisper, and it sounded broken and lost and incredibly confused.

And those were the last words I heard from Alice.

I ran out of the house and off the Cullen's property. I wasn't sure where I was running. I just ran.

Running away from the very big mistake that I made, the biggest in my life.

Running away from Alice, from Edward.

Running away from Forks, to go anywhere but stay here.

Running away from this messed-up life.

And with every step I took, I ran to my new life.

A/N: So what did you people think??? Was it good? Bad? Horrible? It is pretty long (and took forever to write). But I'm just going to say that most of my chapters are not going to be this long... I hope you liked it though.

Noww... PLEASE REVIEW!!

Reviews would be really nice and would make me beyond happy. Did I mention a faster update as well? Well that's true.

Now before I talk too much, I think I'm going to shut up, and end this chapter here...

Ciao for now,

~Alexandra