Hey, here's the second chapter.

Bethiex: Yeah, I know it was short but it was supposed to be (I don't mean to sound mean)

Chapter 1

'Bella, you really need to get out of there!' Alice shouted, hammering on my already damaged door.

'Are you going to assault me with make-up as soon as I open the door?' I asked timidly. There was a short pause while Alice considered not doing what she planned.

'No,' she said finally, resigned. I unlocked the door carefully and slipped out, making sure I was facing her. She gave me an evil smile and I backed up a little. Someone grabbed my wrists and tied them with a small rope. I relaxed reluctantly.

'Gotcha!' Rose whispered sneakily from behind me.

'I thought you promised not to capture me and torture me,' I muttered angrily.

'Alice promised, not me,' Rose sang proudly. I sighed as Alice grabbed my tied arms and towed me into her boudoir.

This party we were going to was more trouble than it was worth, my evening dress was a couple of years old and wasn't really going to look great there. I was only being dragged along because I was single and because Alice's parents were wealthy charity givers and they were holding this ball for some charity in Africa. As Alice and Rose's best single friend I was being taking there against my will. Rose's and Alice's boyfriends were also coming along. We always hung around together, I was the only single one, I was happy that way too. But I was still going.

Rosalie shoved me onto the chair, noticing I wasn't going to escape she untied my wrists. She picked up a hairbrush from Alice's crowded dresser and started to tame my knots. Alice on the other hand was having trouble deciding on the perfect make-up for me. I just sat there silently; I didn't want to be tied up again, as I knew they would tie me up again if I struggled. I just wanted the torture over with. I sat there for hat felt like hours until Alice's phone rang.

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Moments so dear
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure - Measure A Year? (Seasons of Love from the musical RENT)

'EDWARD!' Alice shrieked and ran to get her phone from her bedside table and flipped open holding it to her ear. I looked at Rose questionably.

'Edward's been in England doing his degree for two years, his plane came into JFK yesterday, he spent the night in a hotel and is going to be at the ball tonight. Alice hasn't heard from him in those two years and they were really close before he left. He's in the year above us,' Rose told me while Alice was talking to her brother.

'Ok, see you tonight, bye!' Alice finished, shutting her phone. She rushed back over to me to finish my torture.

At last it was done and I looked in the mirror and my eyes widened considerably. I was hot! I could hardly believe it was me. Then realisation dawned I had a crappy dress to wear with it. My shoulders drooped.

'This is all great but I don't exactly have anything to wear now, my dress is red and I am wearing blue make-up,' I said sadly.

'That is where you are very wrong, my dear friend!' Alice chided as she glided into her closet and pulled out a beautiful blue dress (A/N: Picture of profile). I gasped and took it in my hands.

'It's heavenly!' I whispered, 'I love it!' Rose smiled to herself and Alice nodded her head.

'It's just wonderful, thank you so much' I gushed, holding up to my body. There was silence as I marveled at it. It was so simple but so perfect.

'Well, go get changed then,' Rose shoved me back into my room. I shut the door, I'd already had a shower, so I quickly slipped on my new dress and looked at myself in the mirror, it clung to my body in all the right places. I smiled at my appearance, Alice and Rose had worked miracles. I went over to my dresser and picked up a picture of my former family. My mom and dad looked so happy there, so did my little sister. I clutched the picture to my heart and sighed.

'You'd be so proud, mom,' I whispered. They had died in a car crash three months after my sixteenth birthday while picking up my little sister, Isadora from nursery. I put the picture back, not wanting to cry. I rubbed my cheek to remove the wetness and sniffed. Rose's mom and dad had taken me in and now we were a family. Jasper, who is Rose's twin, became my brother and was now Alice's boyfriend. I picked up my diamond necklace that I had been given to me by my parents on my sixteenth birthday. I sprayed myself with my favourite perfume and slipped on the heels Alice had bought me the other week. I grabbed my black clutch purse and went to meet Rose and Alice by the door.

'Oh, Bella, you look gorgeous,' Alice cooed as I appeared in the hallway. Rose smiled at me and walked to the door and opened it. There stood Emmett and Jasper grinning like fools.

'McCarty and Hale Cars, at your service, ma'am!' Emmett joked, Rose beat him with her purse. He feigned pain and kissed her cheek. Alice was gathered up by Jasper and kissed gently on the lips. I stood there alone. For the first time ever I felt left out and awkward. I cleared my throat, Alice grinned at me sheepishly as Jasper put her back on the ground. She took my hand and pulled me out to the car.

'Emmett, grab our overnight bags, please!' Rose commanded from behind us. Jasper led us to the car and opened the doors. The three of us girls clambered into the back. Emmett put our bags in the trunk and climbed into the driving seat. Jasper was riding shotgun. It was a silent ride except every now and again Alice squealed in excitement about seeing her brother again. I couldn't imagine him any older than nine years old, which was how old he was last time I'd seen him. I could only see his boyish face set on an older body. I didn't see him after that because Esme, his mom, had sent him to boarding school.

Emmett handed the car keys to the Valet when we arrived at the hotel. Alice started jumping up and down gleefully. Jasper put a calming hand on her shoulder. Rose rolled her eyes; she grabbed mine and Emmett's hands. I felt pretty childish. We walked into the revolving door and, my word, the hotel was decorative with high ceilings and crystal chandeliers.

'Wow,' I breathed. Rose let go of my hand to fish in her purse for our tickets.

'Bella, shut your mouth,' Emmett whispered in my ear. Jasper chuckled. I glared at them both of them. Jasper ducked behind Alice.

'Save me from Her Evilness, Alice, please,' he pleaded. I shot him the bird and walked towards the ballroom.

'Emmett, Jasper, if you see Edward, tell him to find me or else! Ok? Oh and could you go and get us some drinks, preferably alcohol?' Alice asked them, linking arms with me and Rose. We were attracting a lot of stares as we weaved through the crowds.

'Bella,' Rose hissed 'Klingon 2 o' clock!' I gulped, Newton. He just would not give up or take no for an answer. .

'Swat him!' I replied desperately. Rose shook her head and let go of my arm. She laughed as she abandoned me. Alice winked at her and began to drift away leaving me to face Mike alone. Great!

'Bella!' he shouted, waving at me. 'Fancy seeing you here!'

'Yes, now excuse me, I must go find Alice,' I replied trying to escape. I spotted Alice on one of the balconies overlooking the room; she was clutching her sides, laughing harder than ever. I caught her eye and drew a finger across my throat, to my great upset, she laughed even harder.

'Forget her, Bells,' he breathed right into my ear, grabbing my wrist to stop me escaping. He leant forwards for a kiss. I drew back and stomped on his foot, then ran away, rushing through the crowds to find Alice. I looked up at the balcony but it was empty. I gritted my teeth. I let out a stream of profanities directed at me two supposed best friends, when a very, very good-looking and somewhat familiar guy started walking down the Grand Staircase at the end of the room near to where I was standing. He was wearing a black tux and his jacket was hanging over his shoulder, he was holding it there with a finger. He approached Emmett and Jasper and shook both their hands warmly, exchanging a few words. I saw a little white figure zoom down the stairs and made for her. Alice flew into the guy's arms excitedly.

Then I realised who it was.

Edward Cullen.

Please review.

Beth

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