AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, did you like the change in POV? I thought it was easier to write from her POV. But I decided to go ahead and finish it all in four more chapters, this one being the shortest, the next being so-so, the third being long, and the fourth being statistics.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, or Breaking Dawn. Stephenie Meyer does.

Chapter 7: An Acceptance Speech or Two

BELLA'S POV

When I got back stage, I heard a squeal from Alice, got a bear hug from Emmett, received a firm handshake from Jasper, thought I could make out a mumbled "congrats" from Rose, and thankfully received a kiss from Edward.

The first question they asked wasn't "How'd you do it?" or "How do you feel?" for the answers to those questions would be "I don't know." and "Nauseous." What they did ask was, "Where's your acceptance speech?"

I didn't answer. For many reasons I remained silent, really. A being that I had never known I was going to win, therefore never prepared one. Two being that I had no idea we were supposed to write one. Tres including the fact that, ironically, the nerdiest Cullen had no clue what to write in an acceptance speech. That was not my department. More or less, I would have to ask Rose.

In my moments of contemplation, it seems, Rose had pulled a sheet of green paper from her purse and was scratching things out and editing sentences. Before I could open my mouth to ask what she was doing or if she would help me out, she thrust the paper at me and tossed the pen into her bag. Catching her eye, I saw her silently telling me not to say anything else, but I smiled at her anyway.

"So, who goes first? Heather's waiting for us to tell her." a velvety voice said.

"You!" I screamed. I had no intentions of presenting a speech I hadn't even proofed yet. If there was one thing I was better at than Rose, it was definitely grammar.

Edward stepped up out and talked quietly with Heather and another two SC members (A/N: At our school, we call student council members SC's for short. Sorry! Just thought I'd let you know because I might be using that more often.) that I recognized as the sophomore and junior representatives, Natalie and Eveline.

As he pulled out his papers and stepped up to the podium, I scanned the speech and found only a few spelling errors. Obviously Rose doesn't like spell checker. I corrected them and gave Edward my full attention from the back of the stage.

He began, "I would like to first of all thank you, yes, all of you, for even voting. That's what makes this whole thing enjoyable. Trying to win your votes and come up with better ideas than the rest. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you've done, whether for me or against me.

"I am also going to thank my opponents. It was hard to run against Ben and Tyler. It really was. I've had vague friendships with them all throughout this year and would have been just as happy as I am now if either of them won. In fact, I even voted my two ballots allowed for each of them. None for me.

"Lastly, I am going to end my speech and allow my w-girlfriend to step up. I, Edward Anthony Cullen, do, in fact, accept your vote."

At that, people clapped, guys snickered, girls swooned, and I winked at him as he stepped off and I stepped on.

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat. Here goes nothing.

"Before I saw that sign, I would have never even thought that I, Isabella Marie Swan Cullen, could have possibly even tried to win prom queen. Yet here I am, making an acceptance speech. Wow."

A few people giggled and I continued, feeling more confident. But for one thing, those weren't Rose's words. They were mine. I tossed the pastel green paper to the ground.

"If it weren't for my friends and family, I wouldn't be here, doing this right now. So I'd like to thank all of them for that. Rosalie Hale, thank you for your influence on me and for giving me a start on the words I am speaking; Alice Cullen, I give you my most high gratitude for all of your fashion advice. 'You can't go to school like that, Bella. You're running for prom queen!'

Smiles and giggles greeted me from the crowd again. Alice scowled at me for mocking her.

"Emmett, Jasper - you're all the ones who convinced me to sign up, who convinced Edward to sign me up, I should say. And Edward, thanks for forcing me into this. So, finally, I, Isabella Marie Swan Cullen, accept your choice for prom queen with my highest level of appreciation to everyone."

People clapped louder than I thought possible for me when I had finished. I met up with everyone off stage, after picking up Rose's paper, of course.

I handed it back to her. "Thanks, but no thanks. Once I got up there-"

"-words just came spilling out. I know. I won in Alaska." she finished. "Now let's get you home and get you ready. YOU WON!"

"Yes of course, Rose." I mumbled.

"Of course, my dear, of course." said Alice.