Disclaimer: no none of these wonderful characters no matter how much I want to. But I do own the story line!

A/N: YAY!!! I am back and bader than ever! Okay so maybe not, BUT I do have my laptop up and running, although I don't know if the spyware thing I put on the comp is legit. I hope it is. Anyone know if Spyware Guard 2008 is legit or a spyware giver thingy like I read online? I really hope its not but if you know that it is please tell me so that my computer doesn't crash! And just incase anyone hasn't noticed by now, sometimes I write in fragments. It's not bad grammar, it's just how I write because sometimes I feel the situation calls for it. So sorry if that's been bothering anyone. Also, some people didn't really like that Bella was the one that was singing, since it really isn't something that she would do, but I'm sick of Edward doing all the cool stuff and felt that Bella should step up to the plate, but it also goes along with my story so yeah. Anyway back to the story.

Chapter 15

I walked out of the dance and into the cold air. It was the end of February but I didn't feel the cold. I could still feel my heart pounding from what I just did. I couldn't believe I had just sung in front of my whole school, declared my love for Edward in front of the whole school. I didn't even know if it would work, that's why I ran. I sat down on a bench and looked up at the stars. The sky was clear and the stars were bright. It was then that I realized that I was sitting on the same bench I sat on at the welcome back dance. And that the last time I stargazed, Edward kissed me. I shook that thought off and stood up. What was I going to say to him the next time I saw him? Would it be awkward? Yes, it would, although I really hoped it wouldn't. I walked over to the side of the gym and leaned against the wall, hopefully not ruining my dress. I closed my eyes and tried to stop my thundering heart. When my breathing started to even out, I opened my eyes, then it stopped.

Staring straight into my eyes were two emerald orbs.

I blinked my eyes a couple times to make sure he was real and wasn't going to disappear the moment I closed my eyes. He was still there. He had a soft look on his face.

We stood there for a moment, no one saying or doing anything. Just staring intently at each other, like we hadn't seen each other in years.

"Bella…" He whispered as he took a step closer to me. "You look so cold" he looked at me with eyes filled with concern, did he really care?

"I-I'm f-f-fine." I couldn't tell if I was just stuttering because I was cold or because of the fact that it was sometimes hard to form a coherent sentence around Edward.

"Lets get you inside" He said as he gestured to the gym. I shook my head. I didn't want to go back in there.

"Would you prefer to go back to your room? We…we need to talk" Oh no. I hated those words. I took a deep breath and nodded my head.

We walked back to my dorm room in silence. Once we got there I unlocked the door, stepped inside and got out of my killer heels. I told him I wanted to change and went to the bathroom. To be honest it didn't matter what clothes I was in right now, but I needed a minute to compose myself. I had no idea what was about to happen and I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

After changing into comfy sweatpants and a tank top, I stepped back out into my room to find Edward sitting on the couch, waiting for me. I took a deep breath and walked over. Yes, it was definitely awkward.

We sat there for a minute before either one of us said anything

"Listen, Bella I—"

"N-no… I understand." I stopped him before he could say those words that would seal my heart away forever.

"What do you mean you understand?" he asked, his eyes clouded with confusion.

"I knew it was pointless to try… you made your choice. But…" I took a deep breath, "I'm sick of wondering 'what if'. I… I wanted to know. I needed to know."

He still looked confused.

"All my life I've been so… shy and guarded. Every time something happened to me I would always think… what if? What if I hadn't ever liked Sam? What if I hadn't ever said yes to him? What if I could have stood up to him and his friends and all those who had mocked me? What if I gave in to what my mom's ex-boyfriend wanted? What if I was stronger and could have stood up to him? What if I had said yes to those guys who had tried to date me here? Where would I be?" I looked down at my hands. Edward said nothing.

"And I'm so sick of not knowing what would happen. If I said something different, if I acted differently… I had to know. I needed an answer to the question what if? What if you knew that I loved you… would that night have gone down differently? What if I had the courage to tell you right then and there? What if I wasn't so… absurd that I could have figured it out sooner? What if I told you after… would things be different? Would you even care? And…" I looked up at him, I needed to see his reaction.

"What if you felt just as strongly about me? Would that have any effect on that night? Would you be able to forgive me…? What if… just… just maybe…" I took another deep breath, "What if you loved me too…? What if that could somehow… fix… or change something? I had to know."

Neither of us said anything for a moment, I was trying to recover from what I said, from what I had just confessed to him. There was no doubt, when Edward entered my life, as a friend or more, he had changed me. Made me stronger. He made me realize that I wasn't the most plain girl in the world, I still didn't agree with anyone in the fact that I was beautiful. But I realized that I did deserve to be loved, that there would be someone out there for me. I just had to find him. I knew that I wanted that person to be Edward so badly. But I knew there was no way that was true. I knew that one day he would become sick of me, bored of me. I never knew that day would come so soon, but maybe it hasn't, maybe he'll give me a chance. I looked up and saw Edward staring at me intently.

It wasn't a good idea to look into his eyes, I became jello the second I did.

"Bella…" he looked at me with softness and determination in his eyes. Those emerald eyes made their way down my face and landed on my lips. I definitely didn't see what was coming next.

When his lips made contact with mine it was as if nothing had changed. The spark that shot through me every time he touched me blazed hotter than before. It felt good, perfect. It felt right. Our lips moved in perfect synchronization, as if they were welcoming each other back. There was passion behind this kiss and not only from him, but from me. I knew there was something behind the kiss, and I knew it would hurt if he left. Well, if I'm going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly.

When the kiss broke we were both gasping for air. We stared at each other for what felt like hours but were probably minutes. I heard him take a deep breath and he broke the eye contact.

"Bella… I… I have something to confess." He looked up at me with sad eyes. Oh, no.

"That night that Mike was in your room… well… after I left, I… well… I didn't exactly leave"

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion… he most definitely left, I called out for him and he never answered.

"It pained me to hear you yelling my name over and over again, but I couldn't pick myself up and go back into that room, back to the hurt. Then I heard you yelling at Mike…" Oh, god. That's so embarrassing.

"I heard everything you said… how you were upset that he did this to you, how you hadn't done anything wrong… how I was completely wrong and how upset you were. It hurt me so badly to know that I did that to you. If I had just stayed and listened…" his eyes were so pained, it looked like he hadn't gotten sleep in weeks.

"Edward, it's not your fault. I would have done the same thing. And anyway… this way you didn't have to be tied down… you got rid of me anyway… you're free"

"Free? Free of what?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Free of me" I said quietly, looking down at my hands.

"Free of you… why would I ever… why would I ever want to be free… of you?" I looked up at him, he had confusion and pain all over his face.

"Edward… you could do so much better than me… you could find someone who is actually worthy of you, someone who deserves you… not a charity case like me." my voice broke on the last word. All of a sudden something in Edward's eyes changed. The confusion and pain were replaced by… anger?

"Bella" He said my name with authority. "You are anything but a charity case. You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met. The sweetest, kindest, loving, understanding, amazing, woman I have ever met. If there is anyone who doesn't deserve the other in this, it's me who doesn't deserve you."

I shook my head. What he was saying wasn't true. I wasn't the best out there for him, and he's right, he doesn't deserve me, because he deserves better.

"Bella, look at me." I kept my eyes down. I felt a finger on my chin as he lifted my head up so that I was eye level with him. I still didn't look him in the eye. "Look at me… please" he breathed. I gave in. My eyes moved towards his emerald ones.

"How can you not see? How do you not notice how I react to you?" He took my hand and placed it on his chest, right above his heart. "Can you feel that?" His heart was fluttering like a humming bird's wings. Just like mine. I looked up at him with disbelieving eyes.

"That's what happens whenever you're around me. You are the only one who I react to like that. I have liked girls in the past, but none of them have ever been able to do the things you do to me. I have never wanted to make someone so happy, to care for someone so much in my entire life. The moment I saw you, I was under your spell… and I never want to come out of it. I never want to stop feeling like this. That day I saw you walk across the courtyard, I'll never forget it. You were so beautiful. You still are. The first time I heard your voice, it was like a chorus of angels singing. And your laugh, it's true to your name, it's the most beautiful bells that I always want ringing."

He took his hand off my chin. This was all wrong. All backwards. But somehow, I was believing it. I was swallowing up these words, wanting them to be true, and feeling like they were.

"Bella when I saw you with Mike" he spat the name "I wanted to rip his throat out. And I wasn't angry at you. I never have been. I thought he was what you wanted. That's why I ran off, that's why I… broke it off. I thought it was him that you wanted. And I didn't want to hear you tell me it. Just seeing it, I thought, was bad enough. I didn't want you to feel like you had to keep something going with me when you obviously wanted something else."

He looked away and I saw the pain in his eyes from that memory. When he looked back I saw a glistening on his cheek.

He was crying… over me. Over what looked like a painful memory… of thinking I didn't want him.

He took a deep breath.

"But then I heard you screaming at him. I knew you were telling the truth because you didn't know I was there. And then I felt horrible. I was going to go back in there, but I thought you'd be mad at me for not believing you. I told Emmett and Jasper about what I heard and they tried to get me to talk to you. I never would have believed they wanted me to talk to you because you were in pain too. I can't believe they didn't say anything to you. During those weeks I was dead. I always wanted to sleep; because that was the only time I couldn't feel the hurt. But I could rarely sleep. It hurt too much; you were always on my mind. I was always wondering where you were, wondering who you were with, and wondering if you were happy."

I looked into his eyes and saw something I thought I'd only see in mine when looking at him. I looked down at my hands.

"When I saw you up there on that stage tonight… God you looked so beautiful, and still do right now… when you sang that song… when you said you loved me. I came alive again. I could feel again. But Bella. You are the only girl for me. I know that. I believe that. I know I will never care for another woman as I care for you. I love my mother but that could never compare with what I feel for you."

I looked up at him with tears in my eyes. His eyes were smoldering and his face was only a few inches from mine. He took my hands in his and held them to his heart.

"Bella… I love you… I love you with every fiber of my being, with every beat of my heart, with every breath I take… I love you. I love you and only you and I never want to be apart from you."

I couldn't take it anymore; I wrapped my arms around his neck and crashed my lips into his. He was shocked at first but within less than a second, was kissing me back just as much. There was love and passion in the kiss. During the kiss I had an epiphany. He loved me. Me! He truly cared as much for me as I did for him. He had loved me. It did make a difference.

I swept my tongue across his bottom lip and he gasped, but granted me entrance. Our tongues dueled for dominance, never giving up and never giving in. He slowly pushed me onto my back and was hovering over me, not letting me feel an ounce of his weight. My hands went to his hair and clutched on for dear life. I heard him moan in my mouth and deepen the kiss, in return receiving a moan from me.

His lips left mine, but not my skin. "Did you mean it?" I asked him. He didn't give a response.

Instead his lips left a trail of fire across my jaw line and to my ear where I felt his tongue flick my earlobe before kissing the sensitive spot just below it, answering my question. I gasped and moaned, my breathing completely ragged, my chest gasping for air. I could feel Edward's chest lowering and rising quickly above mine. He made his way down my neck and started to suck on the skin at the hollow of my collarbone. He proceeded to take full advantage of my tank top, not leaving a spot on the skin he could see untouched. I whimpered as he was kissing, sucking and nipping at the hollow of my throat and pulled his lips back to mine, wanting to taste them again.

Our kissing eventually slowed, however, our breathing was still ragged.

"I meant every word I said to you. If I have to I will spend the rest of my life proving that to you." Edward said with such conviction, you'd think he was swearing in front of God.

"I believe you" I breathed. He smiled and kissed my lips one more time.

"So does this mean you're my girlfriend again?"

I giggled. "Yes, if you'll have me."

Edward kissed my nose, then my forehead, then each cheek, then my chin, then each eyelid, and finally, kissed my lips with so much passion, I lost my breath again. He released my lips.

"Of course I'll have you. I couldn't imagine life without you." I smiled at him and he smiled back. We sat up and I snuggled into his side. "So… now you know the answer to 'what if'… are you happy?"

He looked at me and I looked back at him. I smiled.

"As long as I'm with you… I don't need to worry about being happy." He smiled back at me and I felt whole again.

4 months later…

It had been 4 months since Edward and I made up. Mike finally stopped badgering me and the girls stopped bugging Edward… right. I wish. Girls still had high hopes that Edward would dump me, but I knew better. I knew that he loved me and I knew that he was mine.

Alice and Rosalie were ecstatic when they found me and Edward snuggled up and asleep that night after the dance. They woke us up screaming and squealing with happiness. Jasper and Emmett were just smirking as if they knew this was going to happen. I didn't care though; all I cared about was that Edward and I were together again. And that nothing could break us apart.

Lauren was not happy to find that Edward and I had gotten back together. She still tired to get in his pants and couldn't believe that he wanted me over her. I could believe it though. I still was a little unsure of whether I was worthy of Edward but I knew I was better for him then she was. But that's what love is all about right? Being so in love that you don't care what it does to you, only caring about if the other is happy. Believing that the other is so perfect that there must be someone else out there worthy of them. Thinking that there's no way you got that lucky. Thinking that something must have gone wrong in the universe, but being completely okay with it because you have that person. I didn't believe him when he told me that he didn't deserve me and he didn't believe me when I told him the same. We decided that we could never agree so we rarely talked about it.

It was now the last day of school. We'd be going home the day after next to start summer vacation as seniors. Luckily, today was a make up test day, so for us, it was a free day.

As always, Lauren didn't give up in her quest to make Edward hers.

"Eddie!" She called from behind us. I heard Edward groan next to me and smiled. I loved the fact that he detested her. She came in between us, breaking apart our hands that we were holding.

"Hey Eddie, geeze it's hot out here!" She said in her nasally voice, trying to be sexy. "You know, it could be very hot in my room if you know what I mean." She winked at him. I almost threw up in my mouth. "And I know you're a virgin…trust me… there isn't a better person to welcome you into that world then me" she said, getting closer and closer to Edward, I was about to snap.

"Actually, Lauren, not that this is any of your business, but I am not a virgin anymore." I snapped my head towards him. WHAT?! This was news to me… who had he been screwing? He winked at me and my face softened.

"Y-You're… WHAT? WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN?" Lauren screeched.

"Who do you think?" He asked her, stealing a glance at my very red face. Lauren's head turned to me, only to see my red face. And obviously taking it as proof that he was telling the truth. She took a couple of angry breaths and stalked off. Obviously, we hadn't slept together. Although Lauren thought that. But that didn't mean I had never thought about it. I was still a virgin and I wasn't itching to lose that any time soon, but I had the person that I would save myself for forever for. If and when he was ready, I would be too.

We walked back to my room. Alice, Rose, Emmett, and Jasper had gone to the water park for the day and weren't going to get back till later. We laid down together on my bed and just enjoyed each other's company.

"You're not mad about what I said to Lauren are you?" Edward asked me. I laughed and shook my head.

"No, I'm not. I'd rather she stop harassing you." I smiled at him and kissed his lips. He kissed me back hungrily and I had absolutely no problem with that.

Within a couple minutes our breathing was ragged and we were still feverishly kissing. Edward was taking off his shirt from the heat when I lifted up my arms above my head to invite him to do the same to me. I was only wearing my bra and booty shorts now, so I was basically in nothing, and he was in basketball shorts and no shirt.

"Edward…" I breathed. I wanted him. I wanted him now.

"Bella…" he breathed, lying above me.

"I… I want…" I started, not sure how to say this, "You shouldn't have lied to Lauren."

His face scrunched with confusion. I took a couple deep breaths and found a new confidence within me. I brought my mouth up to his ear and whispered in it.

"I want what you said to be the truth. I want to be yours… completely." His breathing hitched again as he realized what I was asking. He locked eyes with me, obviously unsure whether to give me what I want.

"Bella… I… I want to be yours completely also, but you don't have to prove anything to me or to Lauren."

"I'm not… I want this." He checked over my face for any sign of doubt or uncertainty. He found none. I knew what I wanted.

"I love you" He said.

"I love you, Edward." He started kissing me again and then began the best moment of my life…

(Don't worry, no lemons. They're awkward for me to write, I don't mind stories with them in it but I don't like writing them, mainly because I have absolutely no experience in that matter)

Edward and I made love that day. I was completely happy with having given myself to him. I trusted him. I loved him.

Edward left before Alice and Rose got back, incase I didn't want them to know just yet. I did.

"Hey Bells! How was your day with Edward?" Alice asked as she skipped into the room and plopped herself on my bed. Rosalie followed suit.

"It was… beyond words" I said smiling. Alice and Rosalie looked at each other.

"Bella you're glowing… what happened?" Rose asked with growing curiosity.

"Well…"

"BELLA! DETAILS!" Alice yelled. I smiled wider; they were not going to believe me.

I told them about the whole Lauren incident and they couldn't believe Edward had said that.

"Well, he did. At first I thought he was telling the truth and had screwed another girl. But then he winked at me and I knew he was lying. So after that… well we came back here and we were making out… and it got really hot…" I could feel the blood rise to my cheeks. My words and blush clicked together in Alice's eyes.

"BELLA! OH MY GOSH YOU DIDN'T!" She yelled with a smile on her face. I blushed deeper and nodded. Rosalie still hadn't figured it out. Alice told her to look around the room and I saw Rose's eyes lock on my panties that I forgot to pick up at the end of the bed. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped. She looked back at me and her mouth curled up into a smile.

"Wow… Bells… I didn't know you had it in you! And before me!" Rosalie said with a laugh.

"Wait… What? Before you? You mean you… you and Emmett haven't…?" I asked. I was so sure they had.

"No… not yet. It just hasn't been the right time." She said quietly. "I want to. But I don't know if he does. And I just don't know how to ask or bring about the subject."

I sat there shocked. I couldn't believe it. I had lost my virginity before Rosalie lost hers.

"What about you Ali?" Rosalie asked.

"Nope. Not yet. Same thing. It's just not the right time yet." Oh no, did I make a mistake? Was it too soon, oh no, oh no!

Rose and Alice saw the look on my face and started laughing.

"Bells don't worry. It was obviously the right time for you guys. Just because we haven't yet doesn't mean it's a bad thing that you guys did." Said Alice.

"Yeah, don't freak about it. Was it awkward when it was over?" Rose asked. I shook my head.

"Do you still feel the same way about him?"

"Yes"

"Do you regret doing it so soon?"

"No"

"Then it was the right time and the right thing to do… just as long as you used protection. You are not ready for a child yet Bells." Alice said with a laugh. I nodded my head in agreement. We had used protection and I was on the pill so it was alright. And if I did end up pregnant, I wouldn't be angry. Because I knew that Edward would support both me and the baby and to be honest, I wanted to have Edward's babies.

Things weren't awkward between me and Edward the next day or the day after. He had told Jasper and Emmett just as I had told Alice and Rosalie. He too had worried that because he was the only non-virgin out of his friends that it was a bad thing but they consoled him and everything was alright.

As much as I hated it, I was the first one to leave that day. Edward drove me to the airport for my flight back to Phoenix. We had the whole summer planned out. I was going to stay for two weeks in Phoenix with my mother and Phil and then Edward was going to come and stay with me for two weeks. After that we were both going to fly back to Forks and I would live with Charlie for a month and then fly back a week before school started up again to pack. This would give us equal time with our parents and with each other. The rest of the gang would come and visit us and we would visit them respectfully, promising that this summer would not be like the last and we would see each other as much as possible.

"They're boarding for my flight now." I said with sadness in my voice. Edward wrapped me in his arms.

"It's only 2 weeks. Then I'll be in Phoenix with you and well have a month and a half together." He said while burying his face in my hair.

"I know, but still… it's two weeks without you."

"I know. I'll call you every night before bed and every morning." He said as he placed a kiss on the top of my head.

"That sounds good" I said with a smile. I hugged him a bit tighter for a moment and then let go. I had to go if I wanted to make the plane.

I sighed and Edward bent down to meet his lips with mine. We kissed for a bit and then I walked away to my plane, but not before placing three small kisses and one big one on his lips. I waved to him before entering the tunnel and boarded my plane. Only two weeks…

A/N: Yay! They're back together. And this is really sad for me because… that was the last chapter… I decided against writing a sequel because I really have no more to write with this story. I'm going to write an epilogue though and then I plan on trying to finish up my other story The Vampire that Shouldn't Exist. After that I'll put a poll up on which story I should write next. So, this isn't the last you'll hear from this story but it's nearing a close. So please review and I'll get the epilogue out as quick as I can.