I stared down at the expensive clothing on my bed. The clothing seemed to light up my dull room.

I grimaced at the denim shorts.

I picked up the note.

Dear Bella,

Stop your grimacing! You should be proud to show your wonderful body! And look at the bright side—if Edward sees you in that awesome clothing, he will have trouble with his self-control!

I saw it.

Now you better wear it!

The best person in your life, even better than Edward,

Alice—:)

I rolled my eyes at the silly note. Stupid, psychic pixie.

I sighed, and then started to strip down my clothing. I put on the soft, cottony shirt; it had a colorful star sewed on the middle. I put on the denim shorts, which were very, very short—I guess that's why they call it shorts. I sound like a blond. I slipped on a pair of black converse. At least Alice made me wear something that's...me. I tied my hair into a ponytail, and grabbed my bag. I headed down the stairs. And, of course, I tripped.

Broken nose, here I come, I thought bitterly.

I felt a pair of strong, cold arms around me.

"Silly, silly Bella," the voice I knew so well chuckled in my ear.

"Get used to it," I grumbled.

Edward picked me up and set me upright. He planted a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Good morning," he greeted, smiling crookedly at me. He appraised my clothing; he seemed to like it.

I blushed. "You said that when I woke up earlier."

"Is it so illegal to say it twice?" he joked.

"No. I love hearing it from you." I smiled at him. "Good morning."

He chuckled. "I love hearing it from you, too." He gestured his arm towards the kitchen. "Breakfast for the beautiful homo sapien?"

I rolled my eyes at him, and walked to the kitchen. "I prefer human, Edward."

He smiled at me.

There was yet another note on the counter. It said:

Hey, Bells!

You haven't been here for a long time. I'm just going to be coming home pretty late today. There are a lot of things I need to work on, but don't worry, nothing bad. Say hi to Edward and Alice for me, 'kay?

Charlie—

I sighed. You work too much, Dad.

"Everything okay?" Edward asked me.

"Yeah," I replied. "He says hi."

"Good to know."

I grabbed a granola bar.

"Bella," Edward warned, "you know Carlisle wants you to eat a lot more now, right?"

I scowled and grabbed a couple of more granola bars.

"Happy?" I asked.

He grinned at me.

"I swear, Edward, sometimes you act like a father to me," I said between bites of my granola bar. "Please, please, please leave that to Charlie and Carlisle."

"Will do, madame." He wrapped his arms around me.

I quickly finished my granola bar. I spun around, so I was facing my vampire. "Let's go now," I announced.

He gave me a scolding look.

"What?" I asked, feigning innocence.

He narrowed his eyes at me. In a second, he was holding up the three other granola bars.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll eat it in the car. And I won't make any crumbs in your precious, little Volvo," I added.

He laughed.

* * *

"Edward," I started to whine, "do you want me to be fat?!" I pushed the tray of greasy food away—it contained vegetables, a piece of bread, pizza—again—French fries, fruits, et cetera, et cetera!

He pushed the tray back at me. Stubborn.

"You have to eat, Bella. Please?" he pleaded, dazzling me.

My breath caught; there was no way out now.

"F-fine," I stuttered, still dazed by his charming acts.

Angela and Ben were amused by our conversation.

"Edward, you're making her eat too much," Alice giggled. "She's a woman now, remember? Every woman's goal is to stay in shape!"

"That's not my goal," I disagreed, taking little bites of the bread.

Edward sighed. "Do you want me to feed you?"

I blushed. "No."

"Jeez, Bella! I'm trying to help you!" Alice cried. "You're so oblivious!"

"Maybe if I wasn't so human...," I mumbled very low.

Alice nudged Edward, giggling. Edward tensed.

Stubborn.

Angela and Ben looked so confused. That's how they are everyday.

I sighed, and started taking bigger bites.

Edward smiled in approval.

"Father," Alice teased under her breath.

I stifled the laugh coming out of me.

Edward glared at her. "It's for the sake of her health," he said, defending himself.

Angela smiled at us. "So, are any of you guys going to prom?" she asked casually.

Prom... Brings back so much memories...

I shrugged. "I don't know. No, I guess."

"Yes, we are," Alice disagreed.

I whipped my head towards her. "What?!"

"I already bought dresses!" She beamed at me.

"What—you—how—did—huh?" I spluttered.

"It's going to be fun!" she chirped.

I was too shocked, so I didn't say anything. I felt Edward gently shove a French fry in my mouth.

"Chew," he instructed.

I shook myself out of my stupor, and glared at him. "Yes, dad."

He frowned. I knew he didn't like it when I addressed him as such; it felt wrong.

I chewed the squishy food in my mouth.

"You know," I said after I swallowed, "if you keep on giving me these types of food—junk food, and stuff—I'll be unhealthy and unfit."

He grabbed a grape and put it in my mouth.

"Chew," he instructed again. "My lovable girlfriend, not my daughter," he added.

I giggled.

"You know what, Bella?" Alice suddenly said. "I'm going to make you like prom—by telling you how fun it is!"

"Alice, I already know how prom is—I went last time, remember?"

"I know, but this time it's different! The theme is 'Supernatural Extravaganza'!"

Edward chuckled, "What, like vampires, witches, and...werewolves?" He said the word "werewolves" as if it was trash.

"What's wrong with werewolves?" Ben inquired.

"I just don't like them," Edward stated simply. "If they were to be real, then they might give off quite a stench"—his nose wrinkled—"or be such cold-hearted fools. I would say more, but there are too much negative things to say."

Alice laughed beautifully out loud; almost everybody looked over at us.

I giggled a little.

"Wow," Ben replied, shocked. "That's some...interesting imagination, Edward."

Edward smiled. "Thank you, Ben."

The bell rang.

"Bella," Edward scolded, "you didn't even finish your food."

I groaned while everybody laughed.

* * *

I was fixing up some dinner for Charlie. I set the heat to low, and then turned to look at Edward. He wasn't there.

"Edward?" I called.

"Yes, love?" I heard his musical voice ask from the living room.

I walked over there. I saw him looking at the frames of pictures Charlie put up.

"You were absolutely adorable here," Edward murmured, looking at my four year old picture.

I blushed. I walked next to him. "No," I said.

"Yes," he retorted. I saw his eyes land on my first day to school. I was wearing a blue jumper skirt, with a polka dot shirt under. I was smiling shyly there, blushing. My hair was up in pigtails by black ribbons. My mom sure dressed me up to be girlie back then.

I sighed sadly.

Edward looked at me. "What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.

I shook my head. I walked back to the kitchen to check the food. It was done, so I turned it off and put the cover on for Charlie. I'll eat later.

I leaned back against the counter.

"Bella," Edward said behind me.

"Hmm...?" I answered tiredly, without looking at him. I blinked, and then he was in front of me.

"Are you all right?" he asked. He stroked my cheek softly, lovingly...

"Memories," I mumbled.

"Of?"

"Of how it felt like to have a full family." I tried to answer without crying. Surprisingly, it worked.

"Oh, Bella." He pulled me into a warm embrace. "It's nice to think of the wonderful memories when you were adorable and young, but don't dwell in the past. Although you're parents are separated, you're all still family—a loving family."

I smiled. Edward...

I tip-toed and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"Thank you," I whispered. "It's just sometimes, whenever I see the pictures there, those memories seem to crawl into my mind, making me remember..."

He stroked my hair. "It's natural, love. Every child—and or woman—with divorced parents, even though they are used to the fact that their parents are not becoming lovers again, they sometimes wish those days when the family is whole. Happy. So it's okay, Bella."

"I love you, Edward," I whispered.

"I love you, too, Bella. And I can never, ever stop saying it to you." He kissed my cheek.

I buried my face in his chest. I sighed.

As long as Edward's here, I don't have to worry about that... Edward...

"So, we're going to the dance," Edward stated.

I looked up at him. "You're going, too?!"

Edward rolled his eyes. "Well, of course, Bella. And I'm only coming because of you. You can't go to prom all by your lonesome. Crazy, hormonal boys might...devour you!"

I laughed at his choice of words. "Stop exaggerating, Edward!"

"Well, it's true," he said childishly.

"Well, it would be the same for me. Desperate girls would come attacking you. And it would be all your fault."

"My fault? How would it be my fault?" he asked, oblivious.

I rolled my eyes. "Well, it's pretty obvious, Edward—you're drop-dead gorgeous. And what's even worse are your dazzling acts. You should be ashamed of yourself." I mock-sniffled.

"I'm sorry," he said, chuckling. "It's not my fault I don't pay attention to my physical appearance."

Your gorgeous physical appearance, I corrected mentally.

I blushed.

He caught that. Darn. "Why are you blushing, love?"

I brushed it off, hoping he wouldn't press on. But he did. "Are you—?"

His cell phone rang. He groaned in frustration and swiped it out of his front pocket.

"Alice," he mumbled. Thank you, Alice! "Do you want me to put it on speaker-phone?"

I shrugged. "Sure, why not."

He pressed a button. Before he could say "Hello, Alice" or say irritatingly "What do you want?" Alice's voice came rushing so fast, frantic:

"Edward—your future's disappeared! Bella's, too! I—I can't see anything!" I heard Jasper's calming voice say, "Alice, honey, calm down."

"I can't, Jazz!" she shouted at him. "I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING!"

* * *

Well, that's the other chapter.

I know Bella doesn't really have all these sad moments about her family, but a lot of people are like that. My parents are divorced, and I'm like that, as well. So, it is natural for some, I guess.

Ha-ha. Edward. Being an overprotective...father. That's funny.

Anyways, review!

Monica-san