Chapter 7- The Back to School Ball

The next few days passed rather uneventfully. School was dull, but that was nothing new, even though I'd grown rather fond of Art classes with Alice in the afternoon. Rosalie shared those classes with us and although we had definitely made progress the other day, it would be a while before I had the easy relationship Alice had with her.

I once asked Alice how she had gotten to be such close friends with her and if there was some super special secret I was missing on, but she just laughed at me and told me to give her time. Though I suppose if I had wanted a real answer from her I probably should have been a bit more serious…Oh well, maybe next time.

All in all, I was getting used to the school even though it had been just a matter of days. I felt more at home here than I had ever felt at my real home with my parents.

Don't get me wrong, I loved my parents to death and we had a great relationship but I always felt as though I was seeing things differently from them. It was as though while they always saw the beautiful side of being rich like having power, and a voice in society (working hard to achieve and maintain that) I was always seeing the negative- the people who came over to our house on social meetings and different events to eye our house while they thought no one was looking and dish out compliments and hand out big fake smiles to my parents during conversations.

And the worst part? I felt as though I wasn't escaping that, even by coming here. I loved this place but every time I saw girls like Lauren with those annoying fake smiles I'd feel like I never left home. True, it was much better than it was at home but it was there all the same.

Before I knew it, Saturday came and it was time for the Ball. It seemed a bit odd to me at first that there was a ball and not some casual party. Normally in my old school there were dances but they were either Winter formals or Prom… More end of the year, not beginning.

I asked Alice about it once but she just shrugged and said, "It's tradition, no one really knows why it started..." I left it at that.

Now, anyone who's ever attended a school dance (well any girl anyway) knows that even though the actual event doesn't happen until evening, us girls start our preparations long before that.

Even I, who despises the whole getting dressed thing, understands that you don't just show up to the dance. However, this time my preparations were nothing like what I did before. And for those of you who still haven't understood why I'll explain it in one short word. Alice.

If I thought she was a ball of never ending energy when we went shopping that was nothing, absolutely nothing compared to Alice when it's time for makeovers both for her and others. In this case, Rosalie and myself.

Somehow, Rose managed to be mostly in charge of her own preparations- if I had to guess I'd say it's due to the fact that Alice trusts Rose more than me when it comes to appearance thus giving her some free reign, still only some. Which is a tad hurtful but I definitely see her point, Rose knew how to make herself look good, while I just didn't.

Alice's makeovers consisted of endless prodding and poking, but I had to admit when I looked at the mirror when she was done I looked amazing! It gave me some satisfaction knowing that when Edward would see me tonight he would definitely like what he saw.

And I was so right. Alice, Rose and I met up with the boys together deciding we would all go as a group to the dance even though it was obvious we'd split up later to couples. Anyway, when the boys caught sight of us I decided that Alice's torture was definitely worth it- just seeing the guys faces (in particular Edward's...) was enough to make my day.

They were nearly gaping, although luckily for them they remembered we were in a public place and shut their mouths quickly enough before others noticed.

Edward came up to me and whispered in my ear "Well, don't you look lovely tonight."

I blushed a deep crimson and he chuckled. "Now now, no need to be embarassed." He gave me a wide grin and I somehow managed to say, "You look great as well."

It was indeed true, Edward cleaned up very nicely as did all the boys, (though I thought he looked best). I noticed Rose was dropping a few barriers tonight since she seemed to be flirting with Emmet shamelessly even more so than usual.

We all headed together to the gym which had been transformed to a more appropriate place for a school dance. Everything looked great, and I found myself having more fun than I thought possible to have at school, I didn't even let the fact that Edward only asked me as to avoid Alice put a damper on things, I was enjoying myself too much for that.

The only point in where I felt something was wrong was when I noticed Lauren sending me death glares from across the room, it was odd but I decided to leave it and I indeed forgot about it soon enough.

All in all, I was having a great time, but the best part was when the night was over and Edward dropped me off in front of the girl's dorms.

Just as I thought, we indeed had broken off as couples as the night progressed and I found myself alone with Edward. While we had still been at the dance I hadn't really noticed or minded since there were people all around us but now, here outside it was just the two of us and I was aware of my every breath I took.

"I had a great time tonight." I told him, trying to keep up a conversation.

"Yeah, I did too," he said happily. He sounded blissful and content.

We were in front of the door now and it was obvious neither of us wanted to leave.

"So, good night then." I said a bit awkwardly to him, unsure of how I was supposed to proceed from here.

But then he did some thing that shocked me. He bent down and kissed me straight on the lips. At first, I was too surprised to respond but before I knew it, I was kissing him back and even when my mind cleared some I found myself unable to pull away.

Eventually, we both had to come up for air and when we did I said, "But I thought, I thought you only asked me because of Alice!"

He smiled sheepishly but had some devious glint in his eye. "I lied, Alice never set me up with anyone."

I chuckled a bit. "Why though? Couldn't you just ask me normally?"

"I was planning to" he admitted. "But a single look from a certain beautiful girl made me forget everything I planned to say and so I came up with that story instead so you couldn't say no." He ended with a smirk.

I slapped him on the chest. "No more tricking me." I told him playfully, but really I was so glad he did just that.

"It's getting late," Edward said. "I should go now, before the girls get here."

We were in my room and had been making out on the couch just like the hormonal teenagers we were but now I was getting tired and we both felt it was time to wrap up the night.

"M'kay." I mumbled, heading fast to dream land.

"Sweet dreams, angel." He said, kissing my forehead and leaving the room, not a moment before I crashed and fell asleep dreaming pleasantly for the rest of the night about a certain boy with green eyes...