AN: 'My Heart - Paramore'. Just go with it. All the songs I wanted to use were better for Edward so here we are.
Look, look! Another chapter! I thought I'd go back to Bella's perspective… though to be honest I didn't really want to… maybe if I write another story (ha!) it'll be all in Edward's point of view! That would be a party.
BPOV
Another week passed. It had been two and a half weeks since Edward arrived. One and a half weeks since that Friday we shared that amazing kiss (look, I can keep track of time). Things were…for lack of a better word, weird between Edward and I. We had not spoken about our intense kissing in the piano room or where we stood with each other. Though every once and a while I would find Edward reach out and take my hand in his or even be so bold as to kiss me on the cheek.
These acts of pleasantries were all well and fine but I wanted nothing more than to come right out and tell Edward just how much I liked him. I often wondered if it was the policy here that kept us from acting on our feelings. I didn't have as much doubt now that Edward didn't return the infatuation, a huge reason being Alice lecturing every chance she got on reasons why Edward could possibly like me. But I wasn't so sure that Edward liked me as much as I did him—
"Bella?"
I was snapped out of my mulling by Mrs. Williams.
"What is the answer, Bella?" There was a question? I didn't even know what subject we were in right now.
"2/3X + 6," Edward whispered from my right.
Hoping he was okay in math (though, anyone was probably better in math than I was) I replied with the answer Edward gave me. To my relief, it was correct and I thanked Edward even though it technically was his fault I hadn't been paying attention as I was thinking about him. Damn it, if only he'd realize…
Edward still looked like he was constantly struggling. He tried to hide it from me, I could tell, but it knew that the rehab was so hard on him. It's hard on all of us at the very beginning. I wondered if something happened at his parents house, he wouldn't speak of it that much.
Lunch passed uneventfully. Nothing new there, only myself ready to self-combust. Though the evening would certainly be different then others I figured, as I saw Alice get a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Well, Jasper and I are just going to go work on some homework. We'll see you two later," Alice said as she subtly winked at me, herself and Jasper leaving the common area. Great. It didn't get passed me that this left Edward and I to sit here not knowing what to do with ourselves. It was fine when it was the four of us but when it was just us two…that was a different story.
"So…" And so it begins.
I laughed nervously and turned my attention back to the television. I soon realized it wasn't even turned on. We remained silent for a while but I was fully aware of Edward staring at me from the corner of my eye. I couldn't take it anymore.
"Edward, this is ridiculous!" I exclaimed, not sure where the sudden confidence came from. "Is this how it's going to be for the remainder of my stay?"
Edward opened his mouth to speak but closed it quickly, his eyebrows slightly raised. He tried to speak again,
"I thought…I wasn't sure…"
"You weren't sure of what?" I asked, now rather hurt.
"I wasn't sure if you would want a relationship in rehab of all places," he said softly.
It was my turn to be speechless. So that was the reason. I was suddenly frustrated that that stupid policy had kept us apart. God, I hated this place sometimes.
"I didn't—" I quickly cut his words off with my lips, probably one of the boldest things I had ever done. Well, since Edward had attacked me with his lips last time, it was only polite to return the favor, right?
I pulled away quickly, however, when I realized just exactly where we were. My hand flew to cover my mouth while my cheeks were blushing furiously,
"Oh God, Edward, I'm sor—" This time it was my turn to be cut off, when Edward pulled me to my feet, a wildness now apparent in his eyes.
"Come on," he said quickly, leading me to the second level then the third until I figured out that we were going to the piano room.
He pulled me into the room and shut the door behind him, only for him to turn around to press me up against the door. I could feel every curve of him up against me. He had that determined look in his eyes once again and I was beginning to love it, hoping for the same outcome that came the last time I saw this look.
He softly pressed his lips to mine this time as I became overwhelmed by the unique smell of Edward. But I had to know one thing first:
"Wait, does this mean—"
"Yes," Edward breathed, kissing me once again. His hands knotted with my hair, which made me shiver in the greatest way.
"What about the rule?" I asked, hoping he would think nothing of it and also wondering if he was getting annoyed by me interrupting. Not like I wanted to, I couldn't help that I had an inquiring mind.
Edward stopped kissing me, "I don't care." He grinned but became serious again, "Do you?"
I shook my head and whispered, "No." Why would I? That was enough of an answer for Edward as his lips collided with mine and I let my arms twine with his hair while his moved to the lower of my back.
I hadn't noticed how amazingly soft his lips were and the electric shock that came with them was just overwhelming. I did not want to leave this. I would gladly do this all day.
We continued in this manner for who knows how long until Edward pulled away but he didn't end the kisses, rather he began peppering them along my jaw and down my neck.
"Bella, I like you so much," Edward mumbled against my skin, his breathing heavy.
If my heart wasn't stationary in my chest it surely would've jumped about fifty feet, at least that's what it felt like.
"I like you too, Edward," Obviously. Edward smiled a glorious smile and gave me a chaste kiss.
"So," Edward began, almost breathing normally again, "I've wanted to ask you this for too long," he paused. Was he trying to kill me with the suspense? "Will you be my girlfriend?" he asked quickly, his bright green eyes looking deeply into my own. "Secretly, of course," he added with a playful wink.
I laughed, "Yes!" I couldn't hide my excitement and didn't even want to. This was too much to comprehend. Not only had Edward asked me to be his girlfriend but also he had wanted to all this time! I didn't even care that I was actually in a rehabilitation center and not in the real world but who cares! This was Edward.
We stayed in the room longer talking about nothing in particular; all the while Edward would kiss me on the hand, the cheek, my forehead…you get it. If I hadn't hated PRC so much, I would without a doubt stay in that room forever with him. Alice didn't seem to like this plan so much as she eventually found us and once again barged into the room…squealing no less.
"Guess what! Guess. What!" Alice exclaimed, bouncing in place. Jasper came in a minute later, slightly out of breath.
Edward and I remained silent for a moment, waiting for the shock to wear off.
"Just tell them, Alice," Jasper said, regaining his reserved composure.
"Fine," Alice pouted but almost instantaneously perked up again. "Bella, there's going to be a dance!" she all but screamed.
"What?" I asked flatly. I must have heard incorrectly.
"What's not to understand? We're going to a dance! I haven't been to one in so long…" Alice trailed off then turned to Jasper, looking at him dreamily.
"Has anyone realized we're not in some posh boarding school without a care in the world but rehab? Why would we have a dance?" I asked, flabbergasted. I couldn't wrap my head around it and there would be no way I was going; I did not want to make a larger fool of myself than I already had. And with what happened last time I was at a social gathering… I shivered involuntarily.
"I think they're taking pity on us. After all, we are teenagers. Dances just come hand in hand. Of course, they'll be watching us like we're bombs about to be set off. And with their stupid rule about close proximities with the opposite gender, I wouldn't be surprised if they had rulers at the ready to keep us at least a foot apart," And that…was all managed in one breath by Alice Brandon. But no, she wasn't done yet. "But who cares about the reason! There's so much I need to do!" she paused then gasped in horror, "I don't have a dress!"
"Alice you have tens of dresses," I said boredly, rolling my eyes. "Can we get back to the important thing here? A dance? I'm not going," I said defiantly, even crossing my arms.
"Yes you are, Isabella Swan," Alice said sternly, glaring at me. Well, I glared right back at her.
"Come on, Bella, maybe it'll be fun," Edward nudged me from beside me, taking my hand.
I turned to him, shocked.
"You too?"
The crooked smile that I couldn't resist appeared on his face. He leaned in, stopping when he was centimeters from my face,
"Please?" he breathed.
I could feel my resolve quickly depleting and with one last look into his dazzling green eyes I knew I was a goner.
"Fine!" I sighed. "But I'm not promising that I'll enjoy myself."
Alice snorted and patted my arm, "Okay Bella, if that makes you feel better."
Could one's eyes get stuck from rolling them so much? I inquired to myself as I did just that for about the hundredth time in a matter of minutes to Alice.
Alice and Jasper left the room again and I spun around to face Edward.
"I hope you're happy," I muttered, crossing my arms once again.
"I am very happy, as a matter of fact," he replied smartly, grinning cheekily.
I narrowed my eyes at him, was everyone against me here? Honestly, I had their best interests in mind. I did not want to accidentally kill anyone here from my clumsiness. Well, I couldn't say I didn't warn them.
(By the way, this is approximately one week later on a Saturday.)
And so, here we were once again…at the mall. Stupid PRC thought it logical to let us go shopping before the dance this evening. How nice of them.
Maybe they didn't know what they were getting themselves into. Why would they willingly volunteer to be stuck in a room with a hundred problem-infested teenagers? They obviously had a death wish. At the same time it was a rather nice notion though it sadly had Alice bouncing off the walls.
"Here, here quickly! Try this on! We only have another hour and a half!" Alice said with her eyes wide.
"Only?" I said in mock horror. One death glare from Alice was enough to get me into that dressing room.
After a quick look at the dark green dress that barely made it to mid thigh I said, "No way, Alice. Too revealing."
I came back out of the dressing room in my original clothing and placed the garment in her arms.
"Well yeah, I kind of knew you would say that so I got you this one," Alice held a beautiful dress of the most amazing blue colour I had ever seen. I knew right there that it was the one. "Try it on," she finally urged after watching me stare at the dress in awe.
While trying on the dress my thoughts ran back to Edward. It had been over an hour since Alice had so rudely separated us. She did not want Edward seeing my dress until right before the dance, which I thought was completely ludicrous. He was going to see me with the outfit on in the end anyway…
Edward had asked me to the dance a day before. He played it up, pretending to act all shy and nervous.
"So…where are Jasper and Edward?" I asked nonchalantly, getting an eye roll from Alice.
"Calm down, they're off getting their dress shirts."
I gasped playfully, "You mean to tell me that you're not making them where tuxes?"
"I most definitely tried but apparently this dance isn't a tuxedo affair," Alice said bitterly. "And I really wanted to see Jas in a tux," she pouted. I didn't say anything, not wanting to interrupt her sudden daydream, which was most likely filled with Jasper at an altar in a tuxedo.
We paid for the dresses, Alice getting a short pink dress, and finally left to go find the boys. Honestly, they should really look into getting better chaperones.
"I still don't get it," I said, as I sipped on my soft drink. "What is the point of a dance?"
Alice rolled her eyes again. She was really let down that I wasn't sharing the same enthusiasm as she had for this.
"Well, they used to have dances here apparently but they haven't had one in three years. I think something happened at the last one."
"Oh, so that's a great reason to have another," I said sarcastically.
She swatted my arm, "They're giving us another chance. Take it as a compliment."
I felt a pair of arms circle my waist from behind and the most beautiful boy to walk the earth greeted me.
"Hi," I managed to get out. Why must he always dazzle me to the brink of insanity? Though, saying I didn't like it would be a boldfaced lie.
He gave me a warm kiss on the lips and then noticed the bag I was holding.
"Did you get your dress?" he grinned, moving to open the bag; he was met with a loud slap to the hand by Alice.
"None of that," she pointed at Edward with frightening eyes. Even Edward looked a bit scared as he raised his hands up in a sign of surrender.
"Lovely," Alice grinned and skipped back to Jasper.
"Annoying shopaholic sprite," I muttered, earning a chuckle from Edward.
We sneakily made it back to the group without anyone the wiser. After the long shopping trip I wanted nothing more than to go back to my room and sleep but of course, tonight had to be the night where I would be forced to endure ridicule and mockery for my balancing issue. Oh, what a fun night it would be. At least I had a Greek God there to save me.
AN: Do you see this? The same weekend! Am I awesome, or what? Yeah, it's rather short but evs. Anyway, before I get crazy reviews from people saying that it is the stupidest idea for them to have a dance… chill. I know I know, but honestly it was the only way I could think of to get Bella to spill her story (what's this? could that be a hint I hear? Honestly, am I just bad at giving hints or are you people just bad at taking them? I've given like… two or three so far). Silly stubborn Bella. And yes, it's rehab and there wouldn't be a dance…I even insulted myself I believe for the idea…but just let me have my way okay?
Smart ol' me even managed to finish her homework BEFORE 1:00pm on a Sunday… what is up with that? The great thing about this? I get to begin writing the next chapter. Which will have some drama! Though I don't know how well I'll be able to write dramatic scenes…hmph. Carry on to the purplish button down there if you would be so kind!