Okay I just wanted to let you know that I was extremely excited to see so many reviews when I checked my email this morning! Especially since yesterday I had like the worst migraine of my life!! Like it was lucky that I finished the last chapter the night before, because I was not able to type anything yesterday. It was a struggle to just open my laptop and face the light that came from it. I guess it just shows how much I love you guys.
Oh and sorry for any mistakes in the last chapter, I was not able to look over it one final time.

Anyways..

Thank you so much for the reviews! I reached 100 yesterday!!! I really appreciate all of you guys who have reviewed!

Your predictions were also fun to read. I guess the title sort of gives it away though.

I hope you like this chapter and that I didn't disappoint!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. I do own Joe, Mel, and Rachel.

Please R&R

Chapter 17

After paying for the dress we made our way back to the car. I was so exhausted. It was around four in the afternoon. We had been shopping for five hours!

I must have fallen asleep in the car, because the next thing I knew I was gently being shaken awake by Alice. I had my head leaned against the seat.

I opened my eyes and looked around at my surroundings. We were outside a beautiful, white mansion.

"Bella I hope you don't mind, but you haven't finished your day with me. We are going to hang out here for a little bit," Alice said giving me an innocent smile.

I eyed her suspiciously, "Okay. Do you mind telling me what you are planning though?"

"You'll see Bella," Alice's grin just becoming evil.

"I can not believe you guys would do this to me," I complained, as I sat in Alice's bathroom three hours later. I have spent two hours in here. She and Rose were finishing up my hair and make-up.

They were getting me ready for my very own surprise birthday party. They were not too happy the surprise part was ruined thanks to Emmett.

I on the other hand was glad it was no longer a surprise. But I still hated the thought of a party where I was the center of attention.

I remembered when we first got here and I found out:

"Alice," I whined as I took a look at the big house in front of me.

"Just come on Bella," Alice said dragging me toward the house.

Instead of going in the big brown doors at the front of the house, Alice pulled me around to a side entrance.

We entered a room that had looked to be the laundry room. It didn't look like it got much use. What do these people never wear the same outfit twice? With Alice it wouldn't surprise me. After exiting that room, I found myself dragged into a kitchen.

Alice let go of my hand, "Bella. Wait here like a good girl while we,"she said pointing to Rosalie, "go check on something in the next room."

I rolled my eyes, "What? Do you expect me to runaway or something?"

"Yes I think that's something you might try to do. You know what," she said turning away from me toward the stairs and yelled, "Emmett! Can you come down here for a second?"

"Are you getting someone to babysit me," I asked, shocked.

"Your words. Not mine. I see it as, keeping you company," she smiled thoughtfully.

"Hey Alice. What's up," Emmett asked as he came down the stairs. He went over to Rosalie and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I need you to keep Bella company for like five minutes."

"You want me to make sure she doesn't bolt?"

"Something like that."

"Ha ha. Sure Alice."

With that Alice and Rosalie made their way through another door. They did their best to not open it all the way. Alice turned around and gave me one final wink and closed it.

"Okay. What are they planning Emmett?"

"What ever are you talking about Bella," he asked, feigning innocence.

"Cut the crap Em. Someone must have let it slip that today is my birthday."

"Bella. Today's your Birthday? No? Really? Happy Birthday."

This just confirmed my suspicions.

I decided to take a different approach at figuring out what was being planned. I was going to take advantage of the wink link in this operation,

"Fine Emmett. Don't tell me, but it's not like I don't already know."

"You do? How do you know?"

"You just told me."

"What?! I did not say anything about the party. Alice would kill me if I did."

Easy as cake.

"Party?! They're throwing me a party?!"

"Emmett," Alice exclaimed from the door.

If looks could kill.

"Well Bella," Alice's voice bringing me back to the present, "I can't believe it was your birthday and you didn't tell me. I thought we were suppose to be friends."

A hurt expression came over her face.

Ugh. She has been throwing the friend card in my face all day.

"Alice you know it's not like that," I said trying to comfort her for the hundredth time today, "I just don't like parties."

It was amazing how she could make me feel guilty over this.

"Well that's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Who doesn't like parties?"

I simply groaned in response, "Who is suppose to be here anyway?"

"Oh well you will be there and so will Rose and I. Emmett, Jasper, Joe, a few kids from school, and.. Edward," she said the last name will a hint of a smile in her voice.

My head shot up. Rose and Alice laughed at my response. I didn't seem to care though.

Edward was going to be at the party? Well of course he would be. He lived here too. It's just that I haven't seen him since I have been here. In fact I have only been in the kitchen and Alice's room. I only knew that Emmett, Rose, Alice, and I are in the house. I wonder if he was here?

"Earth to Bella," Rosalie giggled. I must have zoned out.

"She has it bad for my brother," Alice announced.

"Wh-hat? I do not. I just-"

"It's okay Bella. He has it bad for you too."

"How could you possibly know that," I asked, not sure if I wanted to know the answer.

"Oh come on Bella," Alice started impatiently, "Don't tell me you haven't noticed how much he cares when your upset."

"He's just being polite-"

"Or how he always makes you blush."

"I have alw-"

"Or the way the two of you hold hands."

"We are just frie-"

"The way he only seems to have eyes for you when you are around."

"Now look who's being ridiculous," I blushed.

"Bella I have never seen him pay attention to any girl before you," Rosalie spoke softly.

I did not know what to say to this. I just looked down at my lap.

"Bella look up so I can finish your make-up," Alice commanded, but not as bossy as she usually would have.

When they were done, Alice had led me back to her room to get my dress. Hanging behind the door was the garment bag that held my dress that I had bought today.
(I know I said that she wouldn't be wearing this dress yet, but I started to have second thoughts, so I went back and decided to change it, which then led to a lot of other changes)

I slipped back into the bathroom to put on the dress. I didn't like that I had to wear dress, but if I had to wear one, I was glad it was this one. Alice had to make the thing a semi formal affair.

Once the dress was on I turned to open the door. Before I could open it, I caught a glance of myself in the mirror. What I saw made me gasp and do a double take. Was that really me? It couldn't be.

The girl that stood before me looked so grown up. She had on the same midnight blue bubble dress that I was suppose to wear. Her hair hung in loose curls around her face and down her back. The brown eyes held shock.

I stood there for another few seconds, before I left the bathroom. Alice and Rose were sitting on Alice's bed waiting for me to come out. When they saw me their eyes lit up.

"Bella you look so beautiful," Rosalie stated.

"Edward is going to melt when he sees you," Alice agreed.

I felt myself blush again. I also felt like I was on the verge of tears I was so happy. I don't think I have ever really looked at myself as beautiful.

They must have sensed this because they both came over and gave me a hug.

"Bella you are going to break a lot of hearts tonight with how amazing you look," Rose whispered in my ear.

"You certainly will," Alice confirmed with a smile, "And you know it's not good to bet against me."

With that we pulled away from each other. I could not help but start laughing at how emotional we were being. Rose and Alice joined in.

"Now please don't cry Bella. We don't have enough time to fix your make-up," Alice said once she managed to stop laughing.

"Right. Do you think you will be able to stay calm long enough for us to get dressed," Rosalie asked.

I nodded and they left.

Twenty minutes later they returned. Alice was wearing a green baby doll dress and a pair of matching heals. Rose was in red halter dress that hugged her curves to perfection. Another hit to my self-esteem, even with how good I felt that I had looked.

"Here put these on," she said handing me a pair of blue, strappy, heeled stiletto sandals. "And hurry the guests should be here around eight."

"Alice I can't wear these. I am going to fall," I complained.

"You will be fine Bella. I promise."

I sighed before putting on the death trap shoes.

When eight o'clock rolled around the door bell rang. Alice told me to wait upstairs while she went to let the guest in.

"You have to make an entrance Bells," she told me.

"Great. People get to watch me fall down the stairs in these shoes."

Ignoring my comment, Alice turned to leave with Rosalie, "I will send Emmett up when it's time for you to come down."

I was waiting in the room for what must have been close to twenty minutes. The whole time I was freaking out. I found myself pacing back and forth in the room. I eventually stopped and went to sit over in a chair near the window.

"Bella," I heard a voice at the door. His voice.

"Emmett was suppose to come get you like five minutes ago, but he-," he stopped mid sentence, as I stood up from the chair and turned around to face him.

Edward was at the doorway dressed in a pair of black jeans and a black dress shirt. His hair messier than ever. He looked stunning.

Edward was staring at me. His green eyes held surprise.

I felt myself blush and become self-conscious.

I looked at the ground and mumbled embarrassed, "I became Alice and Rose's barbie doll."

I must not have heard him cross the room, because the next second he was right next to me. He used his finger to pull my face up.

"Bella," he breathed, "You look..well I was going to say beautiful, but that does not even put in to perspective how amazing you look. "

The full force of his eyes were on me now. I felt my breathing hitch and heart race. Just like that evening on my porch, he was so close.

Edward tilted my face up to bring our lips closer. I began to step forward to close the gap.

"Sorry Bella. I was suppose to come and get you but you see there was this contest that Joe challenged me to and-"
(Where's that toaster at?)

Edward and I jumped apart. Emmett was standing at the door with that amused look on his face.

"I always seemed to have the knack for coming in at the worst times. Don't I?"

I sighed embarrassed and turned to look out the window. Emmett must have left because Edward put his hand on my shoulder.

"Bella we should probably start to head downstairs. With Emmett's imagination, word of what we are doing could become a bit.. stretched," Edward admitted the last part shyly.

"I would prefer to stay up here away from the party, but I guess you're right," I blushed.

He turned to head toward the door. I guess he was trying to give me time to get myself together. I stopped him.

"Edward. I am afraid of falling in these shoes on the stairs," I muttered looking down, "and I was wondering if you wouldn't mind helping me. I don't want to be any trouble."

The next thing I knew he had his arm around my waist. He whispered in my ear, "No trouble at all."

I felt the electricity pulse through me once again. Having him hold me like this just felt so right. I never wanted him to let go.

I looked up at him and smiled timidly.

Edward led me to the door and toward the stairs. He squeezed me a little tighter to him, "Ready?"

"No, but lets just get this over with."

He chuckled musically in my ear.

We descended the stairs at a slow pace. As the site of the Cullen's living room came into view I gasped. It was covered in pink. It was all over the place. There was pink flowers, pink streamers, pink table cloths.

Once the surprise of the decorations passed, I glanced around at the people waiting at the bottom of the stairs. A lot of faces I recognized from my classes at school. Hardly any of them I talked to on a regular basis, except maybe Angela.

With Edward at my side I managed to make it down the stairs without tripping once. When I reached the bottom Alice grabbed my hand and pulled me away from Edward.

She laughed at my pout, "Don't worry Bella. I will give you back to him. We just need to address the crowd."

After she made me stand front and center to announce me as the birthday girl, I had several people come up to wish me a happy birthday. I was passed from person to person. It was rather crowded at the party.

When people were done wishing me a happy birthday, I was getting offers to dance. I had tried to politely decline them, but some people insisted. After almost taking out four of the five first people I danced with, people became smart and stopped asking me.

I did not end up seeing Edward again until almost ten. He came to my rescue like he usually does.

Eric Yorkey, who must not have gotten the warning of how dangerous it would be, kept asking me to dance. I finally gave in. Not even thirty seconds into the dance, I found myself falling backwards. He had tried do some spinning move, that took me by surprise.

Before I could hit the ground, I felt a familiar pair of strong hands wrap around my waist.

I turned around to face Edward, "Do you every get tired of saving me?"

"Nope. Never," he smiled at me.

I began to turn away to hide my blush. He grabbed my arm lightly.

"Bella. Would you dance with me?"

"I am not very good."

"That's okay," confidence strong in his voice. "I am."

"Okay that's good for you, but how does that help me."

"Easy. It's all in the leading."

I rolled my eyes at this.

"So Isabella Swan will you dance with me?"

"Okay, but I warned you."

He grabbed my hand and led me to the middle of the dance floor. A slow song had started playing.

I felt Edward's hands rest on my waist. My heart rate sped up.

I then found myself wrapping my arms around his neck. I hoped my palms would not get sweaty.

Pretty soon I felt us moving to the slow rhythm of the music. I did not feel like I was doing anything. I felt so light.

Edward's eyes did not leave mine the whole time.

"See. Your not so bad at this," he finally spoke.

"I think it is all in the leading," I quoted him. I then found myself smile at how smooth I sounded.

He smiled down at me, with that crooked grin I loved so much.

After a change of song, I looked around at our surroundings. We had managed to find ourselves on the edge of the dance floor. We were next to a set of glass doors that led to the outside.

"Bella, would you like to go for a walk with me?"

"Su-ure," I found my heart racing.

Edward took my hand in his and led me outside.

Alice did nothing halfway. Their huge backyard was lit up with lights in the trees and of course more pink.

We walked in a comfortable silence for a while. There did not seem to be a need for words. We were content to just be in each others company.

Once we reached a bench at the end of the yard, Edward sat down on it and pulled me down next to him.

"You look stunning. I don't think I could ever tell you that enough."

I felt myself blush as I looked down, "Thank you. You don't look bad yourself."

Edward lifted my face up like he had Sunday and earlier in Alice's room, "I wish you would stop looking down all the time. I like seeing your beautiful eyes."

I was about to tell him he was wrong, but he leaned in and cupped my chin in his hand, "Bella."

"Edward," I breathed.

I felt myself lean in to meet his lips. No interruptions this time. I was afraid of what was going to happen, but yet I was so ready for it.

When our lips met, all previous thoughts and concerns vanished. All walls fell. I was home. Our lips molded together perfectly, like they were meant for each other.

The electricity was ten times stronger than it's ever been before.

All I could think about was the pressure of Edward's lips gently pressed against my own. I could taste the amazing scent of him, through my slightly parted lips. It left my head spinning.

I reached up to tangle my hands in his hair, in attempt to deepen the kiss. I felt his hand rest on my lower back as he pulled me closer. No space between us.

I could have stayed like that forever.

Of course we finally pulled away panting for air. I disentangled my hands from his hair, but kept them around his neck.

Edward still had not let me go either and I was glad.

We just sat there and stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like forever.

"I should probably get you back," he finally spoke. He sounded slightly disappointed. "Alice will probably be wondering where you are."

I nodded, still not fully in control of my breathing.

Edward stood up and pulled me with him. His arm was still securely wrapped around my waist as we walked back to the house.

I rested my head on him fully content.

Wow!

Were you expecting that? Did you like it?

Be honest.

Please let me know what you think. I was worried about this chapter. With it being the big "kiss scene."

Please Review!!

Love,

Jane