OKAY! I'm back from New York and I'm kind of glad to be back. I'm tired of 13 year old boys hitting on me. I'm really sorry I didn't get another chapter out before I left, but I had to pack and shop etc. before I left. My beta is actually spending the night and we are working on this chapter, but I must admit we are a little slap happy and acting retarded. So, here is chapter…6?

The next week went by in a blur. I spent most of it following the same routine I had fallen into since I moved here.

Edward would pick me up before school, and take me to get Chase from daycare after school. He would also come over some days to do his homework if his house was too noisy for his liking.

Every day I got to know a little more about him and every day I grew to like him a little more.

I also grew closer to Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, and Alice. I was always hanging out with at least one of them constantly.

Having them around really helped my usually crappy mood. I hadn't had friends in a long time, and I hadn't had real friends….ever. It felt surprisingly amazing to have a group of people I knew liked me for me, and who made me feel welcome and accepted.

Who knew I would be so happy moving here?

Pretty soon, it was Friday again, and Emmett and Edward's parents, Carlisle and Esme, were heading out of town to visit Carlisle's aunt, who was in the hospital.

Emmett had been talking about throwing a party all week to celebrate having the house "all to himself" (apparently, Edward didn't count) for the first time.

I had not originally planned to go to it. I knew it would probably just be a bunch of teenagers getting drunk and making fools out of themselves. I did not want to put myself in that situation.

Emmett had even made flyers to pass around to the whole student body of Forks High advertising the time and date.

Edward didn't seem too keen on being there either, though, unlike me, he pretty much had to be there considering it was his house too. I felt really bad for the poor guy. Every time someone mentioned the party, he would get a scowl on his face and roll his eyes.

Even if I didn't know Edward as well as I do now, I would be able to tell that he was not a big party guy. He kept more to himself.

Friday, I was walking to lunch with Edward and Alice. We had just walked around the corner and entered hallway in which our lockers were located, when Edward started talking to me.

"Oh, Bella, your backpack is unzipped a bit."



I quickly took my backpack off my shoulders and brought it around to zip it up. This was a mistake. Because as soon as I did that, a large figure came barreling around the corner and ran straight into me.

My backpack flew out of my hands and across the hallway, my purse came off of my shoulder and flew up into the air, and I fell flat on my butt with a thud.

I looked up to see a startled Emmett on his knees, picking up the stuff that came out of my backpack.

I still sat there, stunned.

"Whoa, Bella! Didn't see you there!"

Edward held his hand out to me to use for support as I carefully lifted myself off the ground.

Once I got up, I brushed myself off and started to bend over to help Emmett pick up my things. However, Emmett's voice rang out, causing me to pause.

"Ooh, Bella! That time of the month, eh?"

And there he was. Holding up a tampon that had spilled out of my purse, for the whole school to see.

My mouth dropped open and I could feel my cheeks heat up in embarrassment. I could not believe he would honestly do that. Then again, this is Emmett we're talking about. Maybe it's not so unbelievable.

Thankfully, Rosalie reached over and yanked it out of his hand and stuffed it back in my purse before anything else could be said. I was really thankful, considering I was too embarrassed to move.

"Emmett Cullen! That is Bella's personal property! Look at her! You embarrassed the poor girl to death! You owe her an apology!"

Emmett turned back to me after Rose was done yelling at him.

"I'm sorry for flaunting your tampon, Bella," he said with a pout on his face. I couldn't help but forgive him.

"It's okay, Em."

I could still feel the blush on my cheeks and refused to make eye contact with anyone.

"Hey! I know! To make it up to you, Bella, I will come pick you up for the party at 6 – before everyone starts to arrive – and I'll even give you dinner."



I was grateful that Emmett was trying to make up for nearly causing me to die of embarrassment, but I really did not want to be within 100 feet of that party.

"I appreciate your offer, but I—"

"Nonsense! I'll see you at 6!" Emmett interrupted as he ran off in the opposite direction.

I sighed and bent over to finish collecting my things with the help of Edward and Alice.

"So, I guess you're going to the party now! That is so great; we're going to have so much fun!"

Of course Alice was excited I was going, she gets excited about everything.

I sighed deeply. I really didn't want to go, but Emmett really left me no choice. Plus, I could always go to humor him, and just hang out with Edward. Surely he wouldn't be doing anything too racy.

"Fine. I'll go. But I will not drink, do drugs, or anything of the sort. I'm just going to humor Emmett."

Edward smiled his crooked smile at me and Alice jumped up and down while clapping her hands. She acted like she was on a permanent sugar high or something.

Later that night, I was sitting in my room trying to decide what to wear. Usually, I didn't fret over such things, but for some reason, I actually cared this time.

Emmett had called earlier to tell me that he wouldn't be able to pick me up because he was still preparing for the party; but he promised that he would still have dinner there for me.

Technically, I could just stay home and Emmett might never even know that I didn't show up, but I felt like I should go anyway. I knew that Edward would feel completely out of place in his own home, and it would be nice of me to go hang out with him to make it a little less awkward.

Plus, I was slightly excited at the prospect of getting to hang out with Edward all night.

After deciding on a denim skirt that fell to mid-thigh and a dark blue shirt, I headed downstairs to tell my mother goodbye.

"Mom, I'm going over to the Cullen's. There's a small get together and Alice really wants me to come," I called out to her as I ran down the stairs.

My mother was really proud of the progress I had been making. I actually showed another emotion besides depression, and didn't spend all my time locked up in my room feeling sorry for myself.

I was making friends- and good ones at that- and was acting like a normal teenager.



She eyed me for a second. "Okay. I suppose, but I want you home by midnight."

I agreed and headed next door. I hoped Emmett kept the noise down so my mom wouldn't be able to hear it from next door.

As soon as I rang the doorbell, a slightly tipsy Emmett pulled me into the living room.

"Heeeeeeeey, Bella! You're here!"

I smiled slightly and looked around for Edward, but I didn't see him anywhere. There were about ten people already there. I guessed most of them rode together because there were only two cars parked outside.

Emmett noticed my search and commented on it, "Lookin' for Eddie, Belly? He went out to get the dinner I promised you!"

I almost laughed at the excitement he showed at dinner.

"Oh, okay. I'll just hang out in the kitchen until he gets back."

But Emmett had already turned his attention elsewhere.

I went into the kitchen and took a seat on the counter when Mike Newton, a boy in my English class, came waltzing in.

"Bella! I didn't know you were coming!"

I smiled politely at him but had no interest in talking to him at all.

"Would you like something to drink?" he asked me, almost eagerly.

"Actually, I don't drink," I said curtly, hoping he would get the message.

"Well, Emmett said he got some lemonade, would you like a cup of that?"

I was actually thirsty, and I figured that if I agreed to let him get me a drink, it would get rid of him, at least for a bit.

"Sure, Mike. That would be great," I tried to seem genuinely pleased.

Mike left and returned too soon for my liking with a clear plastic cup that did indeed hold lemonade.

"Thanks, Mike," I said dismissively.

Thankfully, he got the hint and went back to the living room.



The lemonade tasted a little off, however I did not think much of it at the time. (Read ending AN)

I was on my third cup by the time Edward returned and I was feeling slightly dizzy.

He came into the kitchen to find me and we went upstairs to the game room to eat.

Apparently, he noticed I was acting kind of off because he asked, "Bella? Please don't get offended or anything but, have you been drinking?"

I finished off my fourth glass of lemonade right when I answered him, "No! I'm just drinking some lemonade. Mike told me Emmett bought it for those who didn't want any alcohol."

He thought for a few seconds before reaching for the cup in my hand.

"Do you mind?"

I shook my head. He took it out of my hands and brought it to his nose.

"Bella…Um, this isn't just regular lemonade. This is Mike's Hard Lemonade. I smell the alcohol in it."

I felt utterly stupid. No wonder I had thought it tasted a little off. I had never had alcohol before, so I hadn't recognized the taste.

"Dammit," I cursed.

Edward looked at me apologetically.

"If you want, I'll have Alice call your mom and ask if you can spend the night with her, so you won't have to go home…"

I nodded vigorously and thanked him.

He got up and went downstairs; I guessed to talk to Alice about me spending the night at her house.

I suddenly felt the urge to pee, so I stood up and made my way to the bathroom. I got about halfway there when my alcohol induced dizziness caused me to trip. However, right before I hit the ground, Edward wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me up. (I know this is so overdone, but it actually has a huge part in the story) When he pulled me up, his arm around my waist caused my shirt to ride up and I caught him staring at my exposed stomach.

I followed his eyes and saw that he was looking directly at the large scar that started on my lower abdomen.

He looked back up at me and his eyes were gentle, "What happened there?"



We were standing so close, he whispered the words. I suddenly didn't know what to say. What should I say? I knew, even in my slightly tipsy state, that I couldn't tell him the truth, but I also couldn't come up with anything too creative; so I settled with, "I had an operation."

"If you don't mind me asking, what kind of operation did you have?"

I would've answered if I was able to, but I was overcome with exhaustion. I was already letting all of my body weight rest on Edward, and I felt my eyelids droop.

"Nevermind, you can answer that in the morning. Here, I'll take you to the couch and you can sleep there."

I tried to tell him thank you, but once again I couldn't form a comprehensible sentence.

He dragged me to the couch and got me a blanket. He came over and threw the blanket over me. He then leaned down, pressed a kiss to my forehead and whispered, "Sweet dreams," before I felt darkness overtake me.

The next morning, I woke up with a slight headache, though it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. I was still at Edward's, upstairs in the game room lying on the same couch that I fell asleep on.

At that exact moment, Edward came waltzing in looking perfect and freshly showered. He smiled when he saw I was awake.

"How'd you sleep?" he asked as he took a seat next to me on the couch.

"I've slept better. God, I can't believe I didn't notice the alcohol in the drink before I drank four glasses. I feel like an idiot." I groaned.

"Trust me, you're not an idiot. Could've happened to anyone," he smiled reassuringly at me.

"But it didn't. It happened to me."

He didn't reply for a few moments, but I could tell that there was something he wanted to say.

He opened his mouth and looked at me before speaking, "Bella?"

Remembering the last thing we had talked about before I passed out the previous night, I was a little scared at the direction this conversation might end up going. I hoped he didn't mention the scar or operation. I had too big of a headache to improvise any more excuses.

He shook his head, "Nevermind."

I let out a sigh of relief and Edward smiled again at me, though I could tell something as gnawing at his mind.



"Let's get you cleaned up and back to your house before your mom suspects anything, it's already noon."

I was surprised I had slept so late, but nodded and got up to freshen up before returning home.

I then realized I never got my dinner.

Yay! I know I probably made a lot of mistakes, but I figured I would take less time than normal to proof read since I took forever to update considering my trip to New York. Okay, the reason I told you guys to read this after Mike gave her the lemonade is because I wanted to let you guys know that Mike did not give her the alcohol on purpose. He thought it was regular lemonade too. So it's not like he was trying to get her drunk or anything. Everyone remember to wish me a happy birthday on Friday, I will be 17 (I keep mentioning it but I'm really excited). Tomorrow I am having some friends over and then we're going to the midnight premiere of THE DARK KNIGHT! And then Friday I have to renew my license and then I'm going out for my birthday lunch so I will probably have the next chapter up sometime after my birthday. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! For my birthday? I love them. And I have just recently decided to start going on my MySpace again, so if you want to add me, the link is /badnewsx3 (I don't know how to make it clickable.) love you guys!