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Age 14

Bella

"What's wrong with you and Tanya?" I asked Edward, squinting through the sunlight streaming into the living room. I wasn't interrogating him, but he shifted uncomfortably on the couch anyway – I was just fishing for some information. A lot could happen in a year.

"I ditched her," Edward replied bluntly, taking the remainder of the Popsicle into his mouth.

As soon as he said those three words, a bubble of happiness washed through my body. It was a strange reaction, but I ignored it. It was probably the cold lemon popsicle which was settling in my stomach.

"Why?" I pressed on. "I mean…" I felt so embarrassed right then. God, who the hell do you think you are, Bella – his mother? Oh no, I don't even think Esme would say something like that…

Edward shrugged and focused his eyes on the television. "I was bored with her."

The bubble inside me burst immediately, and I felt my stomach drop. I was right, I thought, a lot could happen in a year. I swallowed the lump in my throat. I didn't know that Edward was one of those people, who just wanted a girlfriend for the sake of it – was it popularity he wanted? I couldn't believe I was going to defend Tanya, but it seemed unfair. Edward was being unfair.

"That's not fair, Edward," I reasoned with him. "That's mean."

"That's life, Bella."

An awkward silence filled the room.

His short reply made me angry, and for some reason, there were tears in my eyes. I blinked several times and took in several deep breaths.

"How's everything in New York?" Edward asked me, turning his head, probably wondering why I hadn't said anything. "Why didn't Angela come this year?"

I stared at the white carpet of the Cullens' beach house. I could feel Edward peering closely at my face, and I was determined not to cry in front of him.

"Hey," he said softly, switching the TV off. "Did I upset you or anything?"

I shook my head and looked up to smile sadly at him. "I'm fine. Angela's got other friends, you know. She's not going to be coming every summer."

Edward stared at me intently, and it made me think that he didn't even hear what I'd just said. "You're not okay," he finally said. "What's wrong?"

I groaned. It was so Edward to notice these small things. "Nothing. Just…it's just high school."

I had started high school this year without Angela. She went to another one. I hadn't realized how many high school there were in Syracuse; none of my former classmates attended the same school as me. There was a quiet girl in my class called Leah but she never spoke to me so I ended up spending my lunches in the library for the entire year. There was hardly anyone in the library, ever, so I didn't really have anyone to talk to. I was a social outcast.

"High school," I grumbled, standing up and stretching. I wanted to go down to the beach and clear my mind. Staying indoors was making me feel gloomy, despite the rare sunlight and heat.

Edward raised his eyebrows. "Oh. What's wrong?"

I blew air out of my mouth with a whoosh. "I have no friends, Edward. No one talks to me and Angela got sent to another school, so I guess I'm just a loner."

"How can you be a loner if you are good at sports?" Edward asked me.

I turned around to look at him. "You only get popular if you do sports and party. I don't party," I told him.

"I made the basketball and hockey teams this year," Edward said quietly.

I laughed. "Really? So…so you're a jock now? And popular," I smiled at him. "Wow, E. Congratulations."

Edward stood up suddenly and grabbed my hand with his sticky fingers. "C'mon, let's go down to the beach. I need to cool off. This summer is fucking with me."

"Me too, Mr. Perfect." I grinned at him and saw the look of surprise on his face. "What? I'll race you down the beach."

Edward growled. "Last one there is the world's biggest loser!"

I headed out the door in lightning speed and pumped my legs as fast as they could go. I was in the track team this year, and I had never gotten anything but first place. I could hear Edward's footsteps coming closer and I urged my legs to pick up the pace. The wind whipped my face, and the sweaty shirt I was wearing was cooling me now.

The beach soon came into view and I waddled into the refreshing, sparkling water.

"Beat you," I teased, smiling at a very sweaty Edward.

Edward glared at me and stuck out his hand. "Hi, I'm the world's biggest loser, and you're…?"

I snorted and shook his hand roughly, ignoring the odd spark that ignited between us whenever he touched my skin. This was so cheesy. "Bella Swan, the world's biggest loser's best friend."

Edward grinned, but it didn't fully reach his eyes.

"Where's Emmett?" I asked, trying to change the subject while kicking the wet, sandy rocks around. I hadn't seen any of his friends since my arrival with Charlie yesterday. "Where's everyone?"

Edward bit his lip to hide a smile, and it made me even more suspicious.

"What?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

"You really want to know?" Edward asked quietly, looking at me with a fire blazing in his eyes.

I nodded.

"Because we're all going to New York to celebrate the Fourth."

My eyes shot up to him and my smile was so large, I thought it was going to split my face in half.

"Really?" I asked excitedly. "Am I the only one who doesn't know about this?"

Edward nodded. "Your mom's coming as well – everyone is. It's like a gathering."

"Who's idea was this?"

Edward didn't bother to hide his grin this time. "Mine."

…

"Bella!" Emmett boomed out loud, embracing me tightly. He was now so tall, I had to lift my head to see his face. "Surprise!"

I struggled against his tight embrace. "Em…" I gasped out, "lungs…need…oxygen…"

Emmett put me down after a moment and smiled sheepishly. "Oh. Sorry."

"Bella!" Alice greeted me, pulling me into her small arms. "How are you?"

I laughed. "I'm great. So…have you all been hiding inside our apartment all this time?"

Jasper smiled tentatively at me. "Since you left."

"Edward was going to burst, not able to tell you until you asked him where we all were," Alice said.

I looked over at him. "I could tell. He was being extremely restless."

"We just have to go shopping again. I saw your closet," Alice chirped. "It was screaming out to me that you're in desperate need of a makeover."

I rolled my eyes at her and groaned inwardly.

"Hey, do you think Charlie could take us to the river tomorrow for the fireworks?" Edward asked quietly.

I shrugged and imagined the view we would get – the sparks of the fireworks lighting up the sky in a haze of metallic silver, orange, and red. It seemed magical. "I'm not sure, but that'll be really nice. I've never been there for the Fourth but I'd like that," I replied.

"Thanks, Bella," Edward said, looking at me with a weird, intense expression on his face.

I wondered what he was planning on doing.

Edward wouldn't be in New York every year, so this was special for him, I guess. I had never been into celebrations or parties – they just weren't interesting for me. Never had I attended a party I had enjoyed – I was always the one in the corner, reading a book quietly or waiting for Charlie to pick me up.

"Bella!" Alice sang, grabbing me by the arm. "Come on, let's go. The boys will find their way around here."

"Hey!" Emmett protested. "We're coming with you guys, because Rose wants to go too."

I stood there, shocked as he puts his arm around her, kissing her softly on the forehead and looking at her with adoration in his eyes.

What…

"Rose isn't Emmett's real sister. We only just found that out recently," Alice told me in a low voice once she ushered me out of the apartment and onto the busy street. "So don't think…"

I nodded. "Wow. So they're…"

"Together."

"Together, together," I emphasised for clarification.

Alice nodded.

"Wow."

"I know. It took a while for us to get used to it. It's a little weird, but they're happy together, and that's what matters, I guess."

"What about you?" I teased, elbowing her in the ribs. "Any boys that have caught your attention?"

Alice blushed. "No, of course not."

"Come on." I smiled at her. "This is high school we're talking about. There must be hot guys everywhere."

Alice sighed, and I noticed her looking at the store in front of us. There were things in that window that probably cost a fortune.

"I like Jasper," she finally said. "He's really nice and everything but…"

"Alice!" I exclaimed, feeling extremely happy for her, yet surprised that I actually knew who she liked. "That's really great, you know. You know him well and everything. Why don't you ask him out then?"

"It's complicated."

I snorted. "You think everything's complicated except for buying clothes."

"I think he likes someone else. Edward told me he hangs out with a girl called Maria in the library. They do homework together."

"They're probably friends, like Edward and me," I guessed.

Alice looked at me dubiously and I began to feel self-conscious. "What?"

"You and Edward are just friends?"

"Yeah," I said, and even to me, it sounded pathetic. I wished I could be more for him, be worthy of him, but I could never measure up. He was the most amazing person I had ever met, and I was already completely content to be his best friend. "There's no way Edward Cullen would be interested in – "

"Interested in what?" came a smooth, velvet voice behind me. I jumped and turned around in surprise, dropping the wallet I was holding, scattering the coins everywhere. My heart was beating hard and fast as Edward bent down to pick up the loose coins.

Edward stood there, looking between Alice and me, his beautiful green eyes sparkling and dazzling me. He handed me back my wallet, and I held out a shaky hand to retrieve it. "Thanks."

"So what wouldn't I be interested in?" Edward asked me, and I knew I was in deep trouble. I looked around for Alice and realized that she was already in the shop with Jazz, Rosalie, and Emmett. What a friend she is, I thought.

"Uh…" I said, losing my train of thought when I stared in his eyes. "We were just wondering whether or not you were interested in…um…taking a boat out tomorrow for the fireworks?"

It was a weak excuse, and I wondered absentmindedly if Charlie would even agree.

"Oh, like a cruise?" He frowned.

"Yeah," I offered sheepishly. "Really, we were just talking about nothing."

"But I'd like that, Bella. Have you spoken to Charlie about it?"

"I'll ask him tonight, I guess," I told him.

Edward's eyes sparkled. "Thanks, Bella. It'll be wonderful if we could."

I was so distracted by Edward's response that I almost walked right out of the shop wearing the dress I'd tried on.

"Bella!" Alice called out. "What are you doing?"

"Oh!" I looked down and saw what I was wearing. I blushed furiously and muttered a small "sorry" to the sales assistant, who had been staring at me like I had gone insane.

"What's wrong?"

I shrugged. "Edward is driving me crazy."

Alice laughed. "What? Good crazy? Or crazy crazy?"

"Crazy crazy," I replied, trying to be off-handed, but I didn't think Alice was going to let me off so easily.

"Just put this on. It looked good on Rose, so you'll probably look fabulous in it," Alice said, ignoring my question.

"Emmett!" I whined, looking to him for support. I was so sick of dressing and wearing something I wasn't completely comfortable in. "Help me."

"Alice, just leave her alone, then. Bells can go with Edward to see something else. Get food or something?"

"Emmett, you know exactly why Bella has to be here right now," Alice said stoically, and winked at him. Alice winked? What the hell was going on here?

"Alice," I said slowly, "what is it that you know that I don't?"

Rose and Alice looked at each other and turned their heads to grin at me.

"You'll see," Rose said softly. "Just wear what Alice tells you to tomorrow."

…

"Hey, Bells," Charlie grinned at me when I came downstairs for breakfast. It was far too early for anyone to be up, but looking around at the dinner table, it seemed that everyone but Emmett was present.

"Morning, Dad," I said, and then yesterday's conversation with Edward popped up in my head again. "Edward said that it would be great if we could go on a boat tomorrow for – "

"Already taken care of," my dad said, his eyes crinkling with his wide grin.

I stared at him with my mouth open. "What? What do you mean?"

"I got some tickets from one of my friends here – Billy, remember?" Charlie told me.

"Oh," I said, surprised. "Jake's dad?"

"That's him. He got us some tickets so we'll all be going tonight, and as far as I know, you're going to get a surprise from – "

"Someone," Alice interrupted loudly.

My head snapped in her direction, and I knew for certain that the tiny pixie had indeed been plotting against me. What was she going to do? Throw me into the water tonight, as an "I love you, but I hate you for not sharing my passion for shopping" gift? Right. I shook off the frustration quickly because whatever it was that everyone was hiding, I would find out tonight anyway.

The day passed in a blur of getting ready for my mom's arrival with Phil and watching TV. It seemed not only like everyone was working against me, but the time was as well. The clock ticked sluggishly and it annoyed the hell out of me. But I knew it was just me being impatient. I was itching to know what the supposed surprise was.

There was a loud knock on the door, and I jumped up to answer it.

"Probably Mom with her way-too-heavy luggage," I muttered.

Sure enough, once I opened the door, a loud squeal emitted from my mother's mouth, and I hugged her tightly. God, I missed her so much. Much more than I had ever imagined.

As soon as I pulled back, I noticed the tall man with a muscular build standing next to her. "Hi, Phil." I smiled at him. I guess it was best that I got used to him being around now.

"Hey. Renee's told me so much about you already."

I smiled at my mom. "I'm sure she has."

"Bella?" Edward asked me from behind.

I turned around and smiled at him.

"Mom, this is Edward, remember?" I pointed at him. "Edward, this is Phil, her boyfriend."

"Oh, Edward," Renee sighed, taking him in her arms tightly. "You've changed so much. I feel like I haven't seen you in a million years. Tell me, how's Esme?"

Edward ran a hand through his hair and smiled at her. "Mom's doing great. She doesn't know you're here yet, but I'm sure once she knows, she'll probably end up taking the next possible flight."

"And Carlisle?" she pressed on.

I rolled my eyes at Edward, who laughed out loud at the exasperated expression on my face. "He'll be here, too, unless he has another medical conference. They'll both be extremely happy to hear you're here."

"Seriously, does this conversation need to take place in the doorway?" I finally asked, and Phil burst out laughing. I was glad that he seemed to be getting along with me so quickly. "Edward? Mom?"

After I had given Renee the five cent tour of the apartment, I was relieved that it was almost time for us all to get ready for tonight.

"Bella! If you are not here in one second, I'm going to send Rose out to find you, and trust me, it won't be a pretty scene," Alice yelled.

"Okay, I'm coming!" I called back.

"What's all this about anyway?" I snapped as Rose immediately began to brush my hair back as soon as I sat down on my chair.

"I'll tell you as soon as Alice leaves the room, okay?" Rose whispered in my ear.

I nodded with a lump in my throat. Rose and I hadn't been on speaking terms, and now that she was talking to me, it was making me feel a little nervous. Maybe she didn't hang out with Tanya anymore, but that wouldn't make her like me any more than she ever did.

"Look," Rose began. "I know I haven't treated you fairly since I've met you and I know I've been an idiot but – "

Wait, what? "What?" I asked aloud.

Rose gave a nervous laugh while braiding my hair. "I'll tell you the whole story later, but just promise me one thing."

The look in her electric blue eyes was fierce, with a fire blazing in them like the fiery pits of hell.

I gulped. "Yes?"

"Just say yes to whatever Edward asks you today, okay? That's all I want."

I stopped moving. What? I wanted to ask her what she meant but at that moment, Alice came slithering back into the room.

"Miss me?" she sang.

I ignored her and looked at Rose with a questioning look on my face, but Rose just shook her head at me.

"Yes, of course, Alice," she said, laughing. "You were gone for, what? Five minutes?"

Alice glared at her and turned to me. "Put this dress on, okay?"

Alice held up a short sleeveless blue dress and I groaned. "Alice, it's might be a little cold tonight! I can't wear that!"

"It's July, Bella. If this weather doesn't boil you, you'll be extremely lucky. You can wear a jacket, I guess, if you really want to," she amended quickly, after a glance at my expression, pouting a little.

Billy came to pick us up when it was seven. I sat with Edward and Alice in the back of the seven-seater car. I shifted uncomfortably now and then and thanked my lucky stars that Alice was too busy with Rose's hair to notice that I had changed the blue heels she had picked out for me for a pair of my favorite worn-out Converse.

"Are you alright?" Edward asked me. He lifted his hand and pulled a strand of loose hair behind my ear. Then he grabbed my hand and held it tightly in his. I blushed a deep shade of crimson and shook my head. "You look anxious."

"I'm fine," I stuttered out, determined not to look into his mesmerizing green eyes.

"Okay," he said, his cool mint breath washing over my flushed face.

It turned out that the boat was huge and was going to accommodate at least fifty people tonight. Edward helped me get onto the dock and continued to hold my hand in his. The air was becoming cooler and I was glad I had taken a jacket with me. I looked around for it and realized with a sinking feeling that I had left it in the car.

"What's wrong?" Edward asked me.

"I left my jacket in the car," I replied softly.

"Um, hang on," he said, taking off his hoodie, and revealing the thin white shirt he was wearing.

"You'll get cold," I argued when he handed it to me.

"Bella, don't be ridiculous," he said, thrusting the wad of fabric at me.

I took it hesitantly and quickly pulled it over my head, loving how I got lost in it. The hoodie was too big, and I had to pull up the sleeves to allow my hands through.

I closed my eyes briefly and inhaled as discreetly as I possibly could, filling my lungs with his unique sweet scent.

"Come on," he murmured, "I want to take you somewhere."

The conversation with Rose suddenly became clear in my mind, and I nodded quickly. "Okay," I said.

Edward gave me a dazzling smile and encased my hand in his large ones, taking me outside to the back of the cruise, where there was no one around. Everyone was probably still eating dinner or something.

"Edward?" I asked. "Why did you bring me here?"

Edward stood there shuffling his feet and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

"I miss you so much, Bella. I miss having you around all the time. I want to talk to you again, like we did nine years ago, when everything was fine," he began.

My eyes began to tear up at the vulnerability in his voice. "Oh, Edward." I ran forward to hug him tightly. "I miss you so much. You're my best friend, and I wished I could still be in Forks with you."

Edward led me to the soft seats at the edge of the boat. I was glad that we weren't at the front, because the roaring of the engine would have made it hard to make conversation.

"What do you want to be when you're older, Bella?" he asked suddenly, peering closely at my face.

I looked at him in surprise and stuttered out, "I-I don't really know. A doctor, maybe? Well…that's my goal anyway."

"Hmmmm, we have that in common," Edward said thoughtfully.

I laughed softly. "Yeah. Weird, right?"

He shook his head and laughed along with me. "No. Just perfect."

My heart skipped a few beats as he reached out to touch my fingers gently. I saw his face in the dim illumination of the lights from the inside of the boat and saw that he was chewing nervously on his bottom lip.

"Edward?" I asked. "What's wrong? Why aren't we inside with the rest of them?"

"Fuck," he muttered quietly and I didn't know what he meant. "Bella?"

"Yeah?" I croaked out. I knew what he was going to tell me was something bad. Very bad. "Just tell me what's going on. I promise I won't get mad or anything."

"Okay, I'm just going to say it, then," he whispered, still unsure, but his eyes shone with renewed determination. "I just want to tell you that I like you."

I looked at him, confused but touched nevertheless, glad that he wasn't giving me some bad news like he was moving to Australia or something. "I like you too, Edward."

Edward shook his head and gulped. "No, I mean I like like you. I mean, I want to take you out to dinner sometimes and tell everyone that the stunningly beautiful girl standing beside me is my girlfriend."

My mouth opened in shock and I pinched myself to see if I was dreaming. Did the boy of my dreams – the guy I thought that I would never in a million years be worthy of – just say that he wanted to go out with me?

I didn't know how to answer. I knew that I wanted to say yes, that my heart was screaming at me to say yes, but I didn't know if I could. I lived two thousand miles away from him and I knew that I could never do it, and with the fact that I had to keep my mind straight as I wanted to become a doctor, I knew that a relationship was the last thing I needed right now. Until I get into medical school, it wasn't really a priority of mine – in fact, it might be the one thing I didn't want. Why couldn't he have said something like me visiting him more often – something I could actually compromise on?

"Edward," I said in anguish, and even to me, my voice sounded painful. I refused to look into his eyes, and continued. "I-I can't."

I wanted this so badly that my heart throbbed with the intensity of it but I knew I could never have it. I had to set myself up for my future.

I lifted my eyes to meet his and saw the hurt in his green eyes, but it was quickly replaced with resolve.

"Why?" he asked quietly, dropping my hand.

I felt a tear dropping down onto the seat, onto the space between us, and I felt Edward's soothing hand wipe away the tears on my face gently before they could fall.

"Why?" he asked again, this time with a hint of pain in his voice.

"I-I..." I paused. Was I ready to tell him the truth? That it was the fact that I had planned out my teenage years without having a relationship to sidetrack me, and that there was probably someone out there who would be able to give him more than I would ever be able to? To offer him all he would ever want, would ever need? "You deserve someone better, Edward."

Edward took my face in his hands firmly and there was angry drawn into his face. "Don't be stupid, Bella. I have wanted so long to be with you. You're the only one I want. I don't care about the other girls. I only want you."

The tears in my eyes overflowed and I started to cry in earnest. My heart was breaking for him. He didn't understand. "There are thousands of girls in the world, Edward. You're only fourteen; how do you know you want me when you haven't seen anything yet?" I asked him softly.

Edward laughed bitterly. "I know because whenever I look at you, my heart speeds up, and that whenever I hear Mom or Dad talking about you, I stop what I'm doing and listen hard. I think about you every second that you're away. I don't want to be your best friend. Being your best friend isn't enough anymore. I want to be your boyfriend, and your everything. I want you to be able to call me whenever you feel down, or when you are upset about something. I want to be able to take you out and tell my friends that you're my girlfriend. That's what I want."

It was the most I have ever heard Edward say in one breath. I could only stare at him in shock, in amazement.

"I know you're scared, Bella," Edward finally said quietly, still looking at me in the eye. "I know you're scared of relationships because of your parents, but imagine if you never experienced it yourself. Would you want to live life like this – scared, and possibly lonely? That's why these moments with you aren't worthless, Bella, they're precious."

I froze in shock. I was facing the one person I trusted with all my heart, the only person who had the power to break me into a million pieces. But could I do this? Could I?

"I live two thousand miles away from you, Edward," I said sadly. "The most we could see of each other is once a year, for about a month."

"We can spend Christmas together," Edward said with hope. "I'll call you and you can call me. We'll make it work."

I bit my lip. "Edward..."

"Just say yes, Bella," he said. He was looking at me tenderly, cupping my face in his warm hands gently. It made me turn all soft and jelly-like inside. No one else had ever made me feel like this; no one had even come close and right then, my mind and heart were set.

We'd make it work.

Of course school would come first, because we both had the same high ambitions, but the three strenuous and stressful years ahead would be more bearable because we'd be together – probably not physically, but we were going to do this.

"Yes," I said, clear and firm, and Edward's face broke into the largest grin I had ever seen on him, and it dazzled me just as much as his crooked smile.

"Yes to what?" Edward asked, looking at me with a look of wonder, searching my face for any indication of whatever it was that I was thinking.

"I trust you, Edward," I said truthfully and reached out to touch his face, watching the wonder in his eyes being replaced by a glimmer of hope. "We'll make it work."

"So you'll be my girlfriend?" he insisted for clarification, and I grinned.

"Yes." I laughed and a wave of happiness washed over me, making me feel lightheaded and giddy.

Edward picked me up in his arms and twirled me around, despite the fact that we were on the edge of the boat. He laughed out loud into the quiet night and as the first of the fireworks ignited the dark sky, I felt him shift closer to me, pulling me gently into his arms and cupping my face again softly.

"Bella," he whispered, his voice caressing my name like royal velvet. I could feel his sweet breath wash over my face, warm and inviting.

His face was closer than ever before to mine, and before I knew what was happening, he leaned down and closed his eyes, pressing his lips softly against mine. This wasn't how I had imagined my first kiss – it was so much better. My eyes instantly closed, and the way his lips moved against mine made a tingle run down my back. I could take him fully now, all minty and sweet, just so Edward. I lost myself in his warm embrace and my hands ran through his hair, my fingers weaving through and pulled myself closer to him, and I moaned in pleasure.

I felt his tongue tracing my lips and I suddenly didn't know what to do, but acting on instinct, I parted my mouth and felt his tongue enter, touching mine for the first time. As I pulled away to breathe, I kept my eyes closed and nuzzled into his chest.

"Look at me, Bella," he said with joy in his voice.

Only then did I open my eyes, and I felt my heart speed up at the look on his face. His sparkling green eyes showed so much hope and adoration that I was left speechless.

"You're amazing," I said with awe. "I'm so happy right now, and it's all because of you. Thank you so much for doing this, Edward. It's really special."

"I wanted it to be special for you," he replied.

Happiness burst inside of me like never before and Edward laughed, showering me with kisses.

As I snuggled against his arms and watched the fireworks light up the sky, I hoped this could be the beginning of forever.

Massive thank you to tiffanyanne3 and thalia_csiny for their awesome beta'ing.

I'm sorry this was out so late, but RL keeps getting in the way. Next chapter should be up in around a week since I have more time now :)

Happy New Year, everyone!

Review? You know I love them =)