A/N Big thanks goes out to all of you who rec/favorite/alert/review this story. I can't get enough of all of your kind words. It's hard t believe that this story already has...uh...68 reviews (and yes...I just had to look this up...lol) and counting. That's so awesome and I thank each and every one of you.

As always...Thanks to my spectacular beta Dragonfly336 for her ninja beta skills! What can I say...she rocks. Plan and simple. ;)

Well...onward to Chapter 9 then!

SM owns all things Twilight. I happen to own a butt load of Disney flicks that my daughter will love watching just as much as her mommy does...lol.

Chapter 9 The Dance

BPOV

"Give me back that filet o fish gimme that fish (oh) give me back that filet o fish gimme that fish..."

I run for my phone knowing that it's Alice calling me. What? Don't judge me for my taste in ringtones. It's catchy and I only hear the jingle during the lent season.

"Hello."

"Hey girly! Are ya lookin' forward to the homecoming dance tomorrow night? I know I am."

It's been a month since I came to Forks. I've become very close with Alice and the whole Cullen clan, especially Edward. The homecoming dance will mark one month since we have officially been a couple. All I can say is that that boy has me head-over-heels in love with him. But, I still haven't told him yet. I'm too afraid that he won't feel the same and will run for the hills, screaming the whole way. I like to think that Edward is different from other high school boys, because no other boy has ever treated me the way he does. When I'm with him, he makes me feel like a princess and makes me forget about everything that has happened to me. It's a wonderful feeling.

"Bella? Did I lose you?" Alice's voice brings me back to reality.

"Oh! Sorry, Alice. Yes, I'm very excited...maybe a little nervous about it, though."

"Now, Bella. There is no reason to be nervous. It's just Edward. He isn't going to bite you...unless you ask nicely. Then he might," she says through a stream of giggles. I can't help but join in and blush a bit.

"Oh, what am I going to do with you Alice?"

"Absolutely nothing, because you love me so. Oh, before I forget! I'll be coming over at five o'clock so we can get prettied up and make Cinderella jealous of how beautiful we are," she says. I can almost hear her bouncing up and down over the phone.

"That sounds great," I say, not feeling as excited as Alice is at this point.

"Good. Edward, Emmett, and Jasper will meet us at your place around seven."

"I can't wait," I say with a bit more excitement but still feeling butterflies.

"I know right? It's going to be epic! I'll see you tomorrow at five then! Squee!"

"OK. I'll see you later," I say with a giggle and hang up.

'Wow. Where has the week gone?' I think to myself, still feeling the butterflies. Not only am I nervous over the fact that it's a dance we're going to, as I'm no Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing, but I'm also nervous that Edward might think that tomorrow night should be 'The Night.' I know that he told me when we first started dating that he wasn't going to force me to do anything. I'm just afraid he'll feel differently being that it's the night that marks our one month mark and all.

I get myself showered and do my nightly routine and jump into bed. I can't fall asleep right away because the butterflies are keeping me awake. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling for what feels like hours. I then decide to try and count sheep. I get all the way to 160 before I finally fall asleep.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

"Oh for the love of God! Really? It was a good dream," I say with a whine and slam on the snooze button. That means that it's nine o'clock. During the night, I had a dream that Edward and I were partners on Dancing with the Stars. I think he was a famous actor or something and I was the person teaching him how to dance. Funny...I know. But it was the finale and it was us against one other couple. We did a tango number that made me want to rip his clothes off in front of the entire audience and do him right where we stood, by the time we were through with our number. It was hot! Lord knows if we won though because I was rudely interrupted by my alarm clock. I needed to make sure I was up today because I told Charlie that I would do some grocery shopping.

I get dressed and brushed my teeth. By the time I jump in my truck, it's going on ten o'clock. It's a good time to go to the grocery store because there aren't too many people here yet. I grab a cart and start throwing in random things we need. After an hour of wandering the store, I pay, load up the back of my truck and back home I go.

By the time I get home it's noon. I notice that as the day gets closer to the fun starting, the more I want to throw up from my nerves. To try and take my mind off of the butterflies, I do some vacuuming, the dishes, and random tidying up. By the time that is all done, you could eat off the floors. I still have an hour and a half to kill. I turn on the TV and watch some random reality show marathon about some family named the Duggers who had 19 kids and apparently counting. You gotta be crazy to want that many kids and then add another? That girl just needs to say no! I got so sucked into the show that the next thing I know I hear a door open and my father and Alice are walking through the door.

"Hey Bells. Look who I found outside," my father says.

"Hey, Bella. Are ya ready for the big makeover?" she says with a little squeak to her voice. The excitement is just dripping from her. It makes me smile to see how happy she is at this moment.

"Yes. I'm still a little nervous though. But now that you are actually here, I think I'll be OK."

"Great! Let's get you looking pretty, woman!" Alice says as she drags me up the stairs. I hear my father chuckle and say 'Girls.' I can almost see him shaking his head while saying this.

Alice brought over a really gorgeous dress that will definitely make me feel, maybe even look, like Cinderella. It's a purple floor length dress that has a silky look to it, with sparkly straps that go around my neck. She also brought these really cute black heels that will add a good three inches to my height. This is good because Edward is at least seven inches taller than me.

Alice decides that I need curls in my hair. She puts half of it up and the rest hangs loosely down my back. After I am dressed and my hair is done, she starts on my makeup. By the time I'm done, I feel beautiful for the first time since my accident. I could feel the tears pooling.

"Bella. Sweetheart, what's the matter?" Alice asks me while dressing herself in this strapless red number that looks amazing on her. "It's a good thing I used waterproof mascara or you would be getting the raccoon eyes going on."

I can't help but giggle.

"Thank you so much, Alice. You've made me feel and look like Cinderella for sure."

"Wait 'til Edward sees you. He won't be able to keep his hands off you."

"That's what I'm afraid of," I say low enough where Alice almost couldn't hear me.

"Honey, you know I'm only kidding. Edward will be a perfect gentleman. If he isn't, he will have me to deal with." I find myself giggling again.

I hear somebody knocking on the door.

"It's show time," Alice says in a sing song voice. All I can do is take a deep breath, let it out, and walk out the bathroom door to head down stairs. My dad is letting Edward, Emmett, and Jasper in as we come down the stairs.

"Hey boys. Lookin' snazzy," Charlie says with a click of his tongue and a gun pointing thing with his hands. Oh God dad! Please stop. You're embarrassing yourself.

"Thank Y..." I hear Edward say, then stop mid sentence. He is looking in my direction. You could hear a pin drop because it was so quiet all of a sudden. Jasper was speechless as he saw Alice come towards him. I saw him swallow pretty hard. I look back over to Edward and I notice a smile that goes from ear to ear as I walk towards him.

"Hey," he says nervously. I find this quite cute that he seems to be at a loss for words.

"Hey."

"Um...wow. You look...amazing."

I smile.

"Thank you, Edward. You look pretty amazing yourself."

"Thanks. Oh before I forget..." He hands me a box with a Cymbidium Orchid wrist corsage in it, "this is for you."

"Oh, Edward. It's lovely, but isn't a corsage more for a prom than a homecoming dance?"

He just laughs.

"I really wanted to get you flowers tonight. I thought this was perfect. It reminded me of how beautiful you are." He takes out the single flower and places it around my wrist with a shaky hand. I breathe a sigh of relief that I'm not the only one who seems to be on the nervous side tonight.

After my father took a few pictures of us, we started to head out the door. We didn't get far though.

"You lot over there..." my father starts pointing to Emmett, Alice, and Jasper, "you all have fun and all that stuff. You two..." now he is pointing to Edward and me, "you kids have fun and be safe." Oh god! He did not just go there. I look at Edward and he suddenly doesn't look too well. He is sweating profusely, not sure how to take what my father just told him, I'm sure.

"No problem, Sir. I plan on bringing her back in one piece," he says while pulling me into a sideways hug. Then my father makes himself real clear.

"Other things better be in one piece when she comes back as well."

"OK! Thank you, Daddy. We will stay safe, have fun, all that jazz. Now, we need to get going before we're late." I take Edward by the hand and drag him out the door. Everybody else follows. Emmett jumps in the driver's seat and Jasper sits in the front. Alice sits in the back with Edward and me.

Once we get down the road a little ways, Edward takes my hand and leans over to whisper in my ear.

"What your father was referring to...he thinks we're going too..." Edward starts to trail off.

"Yes...he thinks we are going too...ya know...have sex," I whisper back.

"That's what I was afraid of," he says with panic in his voice. After a few minutes of silence, he leans over whispers, "You know I'm not expecting that tonight right?" I can't hide the happiness I'm feeling at this moment.

"Really?"

"Really really. I meant what I told you in the beginning. I'm not going to force you to do anything that you don't want to. When the time is right, then that's when it will happen." At those words, I almost burst out right then and said I love him. Luckily, I stopped myself just in time. Even if we weren't whispering to each other, I don't think it would matter because Alice was too busy chatting up the other two to even pay attention to what we were talking about.

We arrive at the school and go into the gym. It looks amazing. You wouldn't even know that we all play basketball and volleyball in this same space. There are purple, silver, and white streamers everywhere along with matching balloons. Everybody is gathered on the dance floor, dancing up a storm to the thumping music that was coming from the speakers where the DJ is set up. Edward and I head for the punch bowl and he pours us both some, handing me one.

"Thank you," I say and take a sip. Wow. It's really good.

"You're welcome."

Edward leads me over to where Alice, Jasper, and Emmett are seated. Emmett decided that he was going stag to the dance. He figured that he would just find somebody here that was in need of a dance or two. After sitting for a few minutes, Alice drags me onto the dance floor. The song eventually ends and by the time the second song comes on, I feel arms snake around my hips. I lean back into him and put my right hand behind his head. We aren't quite grinding on each other, because the school doesn't allow it, but we are enjoying the closeness of each other.

"God. If I'd known how much fun dancing with you could be, I would've asked you to dance sooner," Edward whispers into my ear. The warmth of his breath and just the idea that he is that close to me, drives me crazy. In a good way, of course. I just love it when he whispers in my ear like that. If I were a guy right now, I would be sprouting the biggest woody in history. All I can do is moan an answer to him. I feel him start to nibble on my ear a bit. Then he proceeds to move all my hair to one side and starts kissing the exposed side of my neck.

Gosh, if he keeps this up,themoment we are both waiting for is going to happen in front of the whole school.

Just as though he is reading my mind, he stops then spins me around so that I'm facing him. He gives me a sweet kiss on the lips. I could feel myself floating. The song ends after our kiss.

"I'll be right back," Edward says.

"OK. I'll be right where we were before."

"I won't be long, I promise," he tells me. He leans in for a quick kiss, then takes off. I make my way to Emmett, who is still sitting alone.

"Hey there, Bella. Having a good time yet?" Emmett asks.

"Yes. I'm having a great time, actually. What about you? Any girls in need of a dance yet?"

"I'm having fun, but no, no damsels waiting to be swept off their feet by the Em-ster yet." I laugh and pat him on the arm.

"It's OK, Emmett. Your damsel is out here somewhere just waiting."

Just then, Edward comes back. Alice and Jasper join us not much longer after Edward. We were all sitting around chatting when a very familiar song starts to play. It's Eclipse (I'm All Yours) by the group Metric. I see Edward get up from where he is sitting.

"Will you dance with me?" he asks me holding out his hand.

"I would love to," I say putting my hand in his as he leads me out to the dance floor. He places his one hand around my lower back and holds my other hand in his. We are swaying back and forth to the music and it feels wonderful. I lean my head on his shoulder and hear him sing the lyrics as the chorus starts.

Now I'm all yours, I'm not afraid
And you're all mine, say what they may
And all your love I'll take to the grave
And all my life starts now

I take this moment to wrap my arms around his neck and he wraps his arms around my hips. He continues to sing to me.

Tear me down they can't take you out of my thoughts
Under every scar there's a battle I've lost
Will they stop when they see us again?
I can't stop now I know who I am

I'm starting to feel the onset of tears. Nobody has ever done anything so sweet for me. I know I'm falling even harder for Edward, if that's even possible. While he was singing, I notice that he has a beautiful voice, but also I hear his voice crack here and there. I just chalk it up to the fact that he is singing softly so that I'm the only one that can hear him. Then I feel him lean his cheek against mine.

Now I'm all yours, I'm not afraid
And you're all mine, say what they may
And all your love I'll take to the grave
And all my life starts

I'm all yours, I'm not afraid
And you're all mine, say what they may
And all your love I'll take to a grave
And all my life starts starts now

By the time the song ends, we are still standing there cheek to cheek just swaying to our own music now. After a few minutes, Edward lifts up his head and puts my face in both hands and takes a deep breath. He lets it out and whispers to me the 3 most beautiful words I thought I would never hear from anybody.

"I love you."

A/N OMG! I think this has become my favorite chapter yet! Hope you guys loved it. There's only one way to let me know what you think. Give me some luvins in the form of clicking on that link below and reviewing. Cause as we all know, reviews are like being asked to dance by Edward. **le sigh**

I'm also going to have some links up of the dresses both Alice and Bella wore along with the shoes. I'm just not sure where yet.