I'm so sorry for not updating sooner! I dislocated my knee, which meant I couldn't get up the stairs to reach my computer. It was so frustrating! I just conquered stairs, so I thought I should update as soon as possible.

Bella's POV

As the days flew by, I was becoming increasingly aware that the Winter Formal, which was in truth a month away, was on the minds of many of the girls. All I heard as Edward and I walked the hallways hand in hand was who was planning on asking who, who had asked someone else behind someone's back, who had planned on going alone, who had turned down what offer, and all of that stuff.

I was shocked. At the last high school we went to, there had been too many people to make a big deal out of dances. Apparently that was not the case here, however.

Alice and Rosalie wouldn't stop worrying. Apparently, in these events, one way to get dumped was that your boyfriend didn't ask you to the dance, and he went with someone else. As if Jasper or Emmett would ever do that. The funny part with Alice and Rosalie was that they both tried to convince the other that there was no chance of that happening, yet would never take their own advice. They couldn't understand why I was so calm either.

In truth, I was more worried about the upcoming baseball game. We had been practicing since the beginning of the year, and were now heading towards our first big game, not just a small one. I practiced a lot more than usual, and I spent less time with anyone else. Edward seemed to understand, because he didn't pressure me into anything. I was happy about that, and it made me like him even more.

Finally, it was the day of the game. I woke up extremely early, put on some stretchy pants and a spaghetti strap tank top, and set off on a jog to warm up. The sun began to rise as I passed the school, and I turned to head back. I ate a calorie rich breakfast, aware that I would need the fuel.

Suddenly, I came up with an idea. I was siked. It was perfect! It calmed me down somewhat to have something to plan, and I spent the rest of my morning in considerably higher spirits.

When we drove to school, I immediately raced over to Jasper, pulling him away from his laughing friends and Alice. Dragging him over to my car, I quickly explained my idea. His face grew more and more humored by the second, and in the end he was holding his sides while laughing.

"I think that's a great idea. Do you want me to tell Edward?' I nodded, and we separated.

My classes flew by in a blur, and I finally got my free period. We went out to practice, and I practiced harder than I ever had before. Coach had to keep reminding me to hold back and save it for the game, but I was so nervous I couldn't remember.

When Jasper came onto the field, followed by Edward, they raced over to me. Edward picked me up to spin me around, and I laughed.

"That's the best idea I have ever heard, Bella! You're a genius!" He finally put me down. He yelled it too loud, of course, and he attracted most of the team. I nodded at him to tell them, and soon everyone was laughing.

We climbed onto the waiting bus, and as Team Captain, I sat by Coach and discussed the opposing team with him. I finally told him my plan, and he grinned.

Upon arrival, we were stared at as if we were animals in a zoo. It was kind of creepy. When they saw that there was a girl on the other team, the jeers and insults began. I ignored them, and made sure the rest of my team did the same. Edward and Jasper were throwing a little harder than usual, though.

We were in the outfield first. I was pitcher. Ignoring the yells and insults, I put my plan into action. Backing up farther from the mound than usual, I rolled back my shoulders. Gripping the ball as hard as I could, I leaned forward and threw my body into a one handed front hand-spring, coming up to hurl the ball as hard as I possibly could. The catcher, Ben Cheney, ducked the ball. It sped past him, making a dent in the green wall behind home plate. The other team stared at me in shock, while my team cheered as loud as possible. I got three outs in a row, right of the bat (ha-ha) and Jasper was up first. He got a single, and we cheered. John was up next, and he struck out. Another boy named Vincent was after that, and he got walked. I was up next.

Stepping up to the plate, I readjusted my gloves. I had polished my custom bat this morning, and it gleamed in the rare Olympic Peninsula sunlight. Time seemed to slow down. The pitcher wound up silently, and the ball came speeding right down the middle of the plate. It was perfect.

I swung my bat around, and the resounding crack was deafening in the silence that followed. It zoomed way over the fence, dead center, and I dropped my bat before jogging around the bases. I heard a cheer coming from the bleachers and, as I was running, I turned to look. A girl stood up at the back of the bleachers, clapping and cheering. She was soon joined by more girls. It could make someone cry.

We won the game, and heading home, I rested my head against the window. Edward sat next to me, rubbing my shoulders. I was completely happy.

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I got dragged off for dress shopping a few hours after we got back, and I finally managed to reassure the girls (for the time being) that they weren't about to be dumped. I had to admit, my dress was beautiful. The dance was a few days away, and I realized that I was more nervous than I thought I would be.

When my sister and I got home, I was surprised to see Edward sitting at my kitchen table. Alice snuck up the stairs, wiggling her eyebrows at me as she went.

Edward stood up, hands in his pockets, and swallowed nervously. "Want to go for a walk?" I nodded.

After journeying in silence for a while, he got up the nerve to speak. "Bella, I know that you know that I like you. However, after being with you, I realize it's so much bigger than that. I just wanted you to know that. And I also wanted to ask you if you wanted to- wantedtogotothedancewithme?" he finished in a rush, and I had to ask him to repeat it before I understood.

However, when I understood, I grabbed him in a hug. "Of course, you silly boy," I whispered in his ear, and we stood in the middle of the street kissing, before we got honked off the road. We ran home in the rain, laughing the whole time.

When I arrived home, I was greeted by a shrieking Alice and Rose (when did she get back here?) who both told me that they were asked to the dance. We spent the rest of the evening in happy planning.