Chapter 10- Pleasant Surprises and Birthday Parties

Our little pranks, that were at first created for the sole purpose of getting on Lauren's nerves without her knowing, and relieving a bit of stress along the way, were creating quite the uproar at the school.

No one knew who did it, luckily for us, since Lauren went running to mommy by the end of the day. Lauren's mother happened to be in the board of governors, and therefore was an influential person on the school.

Just another one of the reasons why Lauren was sure she friggin' owned the place. If only she knew exactly how influential my parents could be, maybe then she'd shut her mouth a bit. But alas, I don't think I'll be giving up my secrecy for the likes of someone like Lauren. Not when I went to such measures to get it in the first place.

As I was saying before, it was creating quite the uproar. "Why?" you make ask, well because not-so-surprisingly, a very large number of students had unfinished issues with the girl. She may have been class queen, but she sure as hell stepped on a lot of people to get there, thus creating, a whole new group in school who were calling themselves, "The Lauren-Haters". Unsophisticated, but to the point.

It would have happened eventually without us, but our little pranks, simply broke the damn, so to speak. People thought that she was an "untouchable", we proved them wrong, and so they wanted a shot at her too.

And with Lauren so caught up with people pranking her, having their revenge on her left and right, she became slightly paranoid, and all but forgot her plan with Edward. Who has time to think about boys, when they have half the school out for their blood? Now I'm exaggerating a bit, but you get the picture.

So with Lauren finally out of the way, I suddenly had plenty of time to focus on Edward. Not that I didn't have before, but things were changing between us, becoming more intense. After that first night, when Edward admitted he felt something for me, we became closer. Yet somehow, we had been stuck since then in a weird stage of friends with benefits. I'm not sure there's quite a name for what we are.

I wanted things to change, to be officially boyfriend and girlfriend, or at the very least go on a normal date. But at the same time, I was terrified. All my life, I've been told that relationships are based on honesty. That you can't be with someone, if you can't be open with them. And I wasn't being completely honest with Edward.

I was hiding from him a huge part of my life, of who I was. I knew Edward was a good person, and if he was brought up like Alice than I should have nothing to worry about. Everything turned out great with Alice. But you have to understand, my entire life was full of people turning fake around me. Edward wasn't a part of that, and I didn't want to combine the two. I was afraid he would change. I wanted him to stay exactly as he was.

Despite my wishes, I knew it was just a matter of time. I would tell him the truth, should he care to ever progress deeper into our relationship. Of that I was sure. I just had to hope Edward would take it well.

"Hey!"

I briefly stopped in my tracks and turned around. I would recognize that voice anywhere. Oddly fitting for him to suddenly show up when my thoughts kept revolving around him.

He caught up to me and gave me a quick peck on the lips. "Where are you going? I thought you were going to wait for me after Biology," he reminded.

Oh. Right.

"Must have gotten too caught up in my thoughts I guess…I forgot you had to speak to Mr. Banner."

"Oh so now I'm so uninteresting you can't even remember me? You don't think about me at all?" He asked with a playful pout.

Ha. If he only knew how much I did think about him. He'd be running for the hills thinking I was obsessive.

I decided to play along. "Nope," I said popping my lips on the P. "Not at all." What a blatant lie. I'm surprised I managed to say that with a straight face.

He shot me a wicked grin, the kind that hinted that he was up to something. "I find that hard to believe," he said, then circled his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him.

He began kissing the bottom of my neck, going up painfully slowly. "You mean, you don't think about this…" He murmured, and began traveling with hands on my sides and back. "Or this, perhaps…"

What had we been talking about? Ah, I couldn't care less. Not when he was like this. I could feel him all around me. His scent, his hands, his mouth…Oh god can a person swoon over a mouth? With one as talented as his, I could see no reason why not to.

"All right, that's it. Break it up now love birds," a certain chirpy voice interrupted, totally ruining the moment.

"No. Now go away," Edward muttered at her, continuing his thorough inspection of my neck.

I heard Alice's exasperated sigh, and giggled. This situation had been repeating itself quite a few times lately.

As much as I would have liked letting Edward to continue his exploring, I was rather uncomfortable with having an audience. Guess it's time to head back to the real world.

I pulled away a bit from Edward and resisted giving in to his puppy face. "Later," I promised.

He smiled. "I'll hold you onto that."

"Good god people! You'd think you two were newly weds the way you're acting!"

"Yeah, yeah you've said it before. Why are you here, Alice?" Edward asked impatiently.

"What? I'm not allowed to speak to my best friend and brother without having a motive?" Alice asked innocently.

Edward narrowed his eyes at her. "Well you better have had a reason to interrupt us…"

"Oh shush, Edward, and be thankful I'm the one who stopped you and not some random teacher."

"Alice," I said exasperatedly. "What do you need?"

"I need your advice on something," she said a bit hurt. "But if you want me to leave so badly…"

Great, I hurt her. What to say..? "Of course I don't want you to leave, Alice. What did you want my advice on?"

Apparently I chose the right words, since she brightened up considerably. "Girl stuff," she said pointedly.

Ah, she wanted to talk to me alone. Edward seemed to get her hint as well, and found it as a cue to leave.

"I'll see you later," he told me, then turned to Alice. "Stay safe. Both of you."

"We're going to talk, Edward, not go bungee-diving," she countered.

"You can never know," I heard him mutter before he left. Fortunately, Alice didn't hear him. So I didn't need to hear yet another lecture from her on his over-protective ways. Not for now, at least.

"So, what did you need my help with?" I asked once he was gone.

"Oh I don't really need your advice," she said casually. "I just needed Edward gone, to tell you something."

"Well…?" I urged.

"Edward's birthday is coming up this Thursday, and I thought you'd like to be a part of the planning. As his unofficial girlfriend, you know." Alice was well aware of my thoughts on the situation.

"It is? Why didn't he tell me? Thursday is only four days away!"

"Edward doesn't care much for his b-day. God knows that if it wasn't for us he wouldn't even bother to celebrate."

"I can relate to that," I said with a sigh.

Alice suddenly looked suspiciously at me. "When is your birthday, Bella?"

Shit. Busted. "September 13th?" I said cautiously, fully aware that Alice would blow up.

"What?!" She exclaimed. Right on time. It's kind of scary how well I know her, considering I met her only a little over a month ago. Well we talked before that, but that doesn't count.

"Bella! That was like two weeks ago! Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because, I don't like being in the spotlight, and birthdays ensure that. Besides, why celebrate my aging?"

" Your aging? Aren't you a little young for that?"

"Maybe," I admitted, defeated. "But I still don't like being in the center of attention."

"Yeah, yeah." Alice muttered, no longer listening to me. "Do you realize what this means? I need to get together a double birthday party now! That means you aren't allowed in the planning either. Damn it! I wanted it to be a surprise!"

Her face suddenly turned empty, and her eyes glassed over as if she was seeing things others weren't seeing.

"Umm, Alice?" I asked carefully, slightly fearful. No answer, she just continued muttering to herself. Oh god, I think I broke her. "Alice?" More muttering.

Well if she wasn't planning on answering me, maybe she would respond to Jasper? Where was he anyway?

I decided to call him, he'd probably have more experience on what to do when Alice is set off. Frankly, I was close to freaking out.

He came about five minutes later. Thank god. Alice still wasn't responding to me, she was in a completely different world. Muttering something about birthday cakes and Emmet. Oh dear.

Jasper started speaking to her, quickly forgetting of my presence. Okay then…

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That was weird.

A\N- I know I haven't updated in like forever! Don't kill me please! I made this chapter extra long for you guys! And if I'm already at it, I have a totally legit excuse for not updating! I've started a new story, and I'm mainly focusing on it right now.

Please R&R it guys! It'd mean the world to me! Really! It's called "A Different Ending" and it's about Bella waking up in a world where her life is a best-seller.