A/N: I am very excited and nervous to share this story with you! I hope you enjoy it. It's very close to my heart!

Summer 1997

"Finally!" Angela said as she came into our apartment just a little after four on Friday. "I thought this semester was never going to end!"

Angela and I had been attending Western Washington University in Port Angeles. We were roommates, of course, and this semester was finally over. I had taken my last final yesterday, spending the day today doing absolutely nothing but sitting on my butt watching TV and being lazy. This particular semester was the most stressful, due to the extra hours I had decided to take on, and the difficulty of the classes in general.

"I am SO ready for tonight!" she said. "Ben said that he'd be here by seven. Is that enough time?"

"Plenty! In case you haven't noticed, I have done a good job of doing a whole lot of nothing today, so I'm plenty rested up. Getting ready will be a breeze!" I responded.

To celebrate the end of our sophomore year, we are headed to Trailblazers in Seattle for dancing, drinking, and fun, fun, fun! We'd hit just about every club in Seattle, and Trailblazers has become our favorite. There's not much to say about the nightlife in Port Angeles, unless you're just looking for a bar or karaoke, so we've come to enjoy our trips to Seattle and sometimes Everett for a break from school.

After taking our turns in the shower, we began the fun process of getting ready for our night. I ran some mousse through my hair and let it air dry for a few minutes while putting on my make up. I don't usually wear much, unless it's for a night out, which this was. I lined my eyes with a smudged grey liner on top and bottom, some smoky gray and rust colored eye shadow and black mascara. I applied just a little powder on my face, and some berry lip-gloss to my lips. Perfect.

I flipped my head over and turned the hair drier loose on my roots. A little spray and some turns of my chunky curling iron and my waves fell perfectly. I gathered hair from just the top and sides of my head, pulling it back twisting and pinning. This would keep it off my face, yet still allow my hair to stay down, how I liked it best. Another quick spray and a few more bobby pins to hold everything in place and it was set. I sprayed on some of my freesia perfume, rubbed some of the same scented lotion on my arms and got dressed.

My outfit for tonight was so awesome. It was an all black jumpsuit with a scoop halter neckline. It had faux buttons on the front, giving it a sort of tuxedo vest look. It hugged my body perfectly and accentuated my cleavage. Come on! What girl doesn't want that?

Just as promised, Ben arrived at seven o'clock on the dot.

"Hey baby!" he said, as Angela greeted him at the door. "Damn, you look HOT!" He wrapped his arms around her and spun her around before setting her down and kissing her sweetly.

Angela decided on her silk-chiffon sequined tank dress. It has blue, mint and white flat sequin and bead embellishments and a scoop neck. She looked stunning as usual and her was is in a high ponytail with her bangs swept to the side.

"Ahem"

"Oh! Heya Bella!" Ben said as he pulled back from Angela. "You look damn fine too! I'm gonna be big pimpin' with you two on my arms!"

"You're such a goof Ben! Thanks!" I laughed.

"You two beautiful ladies ready for a good time tonight?" Ben asked.

"SOOO ready!" We both say in unison.

xxxx

It's about a two-hour drive from our apartment near campus to Seattle, so we spent that time catching up with Ben's past week and filling him in on the details of ours. He attends school part time at Peninsula College while working with his mom as a delivery driver for her floral shop, so he usually only gets time with Angela on the weekends.

Ben and Angela are high school sweethearts. They met in high school, the summer before our senior year. We were all in the same Government and Economics class, and he sat right in front of her. Our teacher had divided the class into five groups of four for the main project and the groups were based on the rows we were sitting in. Which meant our group consisted of Ben, Angela, myself and…Edward.

"Hello! Earth to Bella!" Angela says.

"Oh sorry! What?"

"Where did you just go?" she asked.

"No where, sorry. I'm just so glad this semester is over! I was thinking about how I can't wait to get there and dance my ass off!" I lied.

"So, like I was asking, did you want to grab something to eat real fast or eat something when we get there?"

"Umm…how about we just drive through somewhere? Trailblazers is crazy expensive when it comes to their food." I say.

We had our names on the reservation list, as we had been planning this night for weeks, so the bouncers let us right in. The atmosphere of the club was it's usual high-energy vibe, but it wasn't too crazy busy just yet. However, the night is young.

The club was divided into three different sections; a country western bar where they play all kinds of country music, Top 40 and hip-hop music, a karaoke area and a techno club. We tended to stay on the country side most of the time. The bar was set off to left along the entire wall, the dance floor in the middle with the DJ booth on the right wall and bar-height tables sporadically placed along the outer edges of the dance floor.

We snagged a table along the back wall close to the DJ booth and when the waitress came up, we ordered our first round of kamikaze shots.

"Here's to you, here's to me, if ever we should disagree, FUCK YOU, here's to me!" We all three chanted!

We slammed them back and started laughing! This was our regular start to the evening out. Although Ben wouldn't be drinking anything more than soda or water the rest of the night, he was our designated driver. A quick look around and we noticed that some of the regulars were in appearance. There was Jessica and Lauren who were in my Applied Sciences class, and also lived in the same apartment complex as Angie and I. We weren't really friends, more acquaintances, but they were ok to hang out with now and then. Also, Tyler and Eric were also here. They are old friends from high school, but again, not guys we really hung out with regularly either.

"Hey beautiful!" I hear in my ear as someone grabs me around the waist from behind and hugs me close.

"Jacob!" I yelled turning around to hug him, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to celebrate of course! I did just officially finish high school ya know! And I may or may not have heard that you would be here." he said as he winked and bumped my shoulder.

"Hey Quil! Hey Embry!" I say over the loud music, hugging his two best friends, who seem to never leave his side.

Jacob and I had been become fast friends when I moved to Forks. He lives on the Quileute Reservation and his dad and mine have been great friends our entire lives. He's two years younger than me, and more like the pesky little brother I never had. But he's easy to talk to, and hey, easy on the eyes, but I'd never go there. It would just be too weird.

"It's really good to see you Jake! I can't believe you actually graduated! I mean, it's shocking really." I joked.

"Hey, hey now." He laughed.

"Just messing with you Jake. You ready to get your groove on?" I asked jokingly. Jake has absolutely zero rhythm and it's quite comical to see him think that he can dance.

The conversation with all of us flowed easily as we dance, Angie and I drink, and we are having a fantastic time. I've danced with Ben, Angie, and Jacob…well, if you call that dancing. I have to lead him. I've even danced with a few random guys who've asked. I had just finished dancing with this one, sort of cute guy, Mike. He was nice, but a little too touchy-feely. I thanked him and excused myself just as soon as the song ended. I headed straight for the bar and ordered another beer. I took a swig and turned to walk back to the table when I saw him.

Edward.

Oh. My. God.

I quickly turned around and mad a beeline for the bathroom. I grabbed a paper towel and wet it, wiping it across the back of my neck. My heart felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest, and my stomach filled up with butterflies. How is it possible for someone to have this kind of effect on me just by seeing him? Damn.

Get it together Bella; he probably doesn't even remember your name.

Between my adrenaline and the alcohol, I figured now was as good a time as any. I was going to approach him. I took a deep breath; grabbed my beer and headed out of the bathroom. I didn't look around as I made my way straight back to our table. Ben and Angela were dancing, Jacob was nowhere to be seen, and only Quil was at the table. Crap! I need Angela! I smiled softly at him and turned to scan the dance floor.

"You ok Bella? You're not going to be sick are you? You look a little pale." Quil asked.

"I'm fine Quil. Thanks. I just…" and there he was. He was directly across the dance floor, at a table with a couple of other guys. He was leaning on his right elbow, sipping from a bottle of beer in his left hand. Lucky bottle. He was smiling, laughing and if possible, looking even more beautiful than I remember him.

"Remind me again why we're going to this football game?" Angela asked. "We don't go to either one of these schools that are playing. Wouldn't it make more sense to go to the Forks High game tonight?"

"I just want to. Ok?" I snapped back, immediately regretting how harsh I sounedd.

"Fine, fine." She said.

"Sorry. I just wanted to do something different tonight is all." I lied.

After we bought our tickets, we made our way into the stands. It is sort of awkward being here and not knowing a soul. The teams were out on the field warming up, the band was settling in and the cheerleaders were being as obnoxious as any other cheerleading squad, hoping around and screaming at the crowd like a bunch of damn Energizer bunnies. Good Lord.

The teams begun to line up on opposite sides of the field, the band played a drum roll and the ball was kicked off. The receiving teams player caught the ball and made a run for it, running the ball back to almost to the fifty-yard line.

"Number thirty-three, Edward Cullen on the carry for a twenty-five yard return." The game announcer boomed over the loud speaker as the crowd cheered.

I gasped, and at the same time, I hear Angie gasp.

"Bella! Did you hear that? That was Edward, from our summer school class. Wait. Edward goes to this school?"

I didn't respond. I was too lost in just staring at him as he ran to the sideline while removing his helmet. He stoped and began talking to a coach, and I seriously felt like I couldn't breath. How did he DO that?

"Bella, did you hear me?" Angie asked nudging my shoulder.

"Hmm? What?" Not taking my eyes off of him.

"I knew it! Oh girl, you've got it BAD!" she laughed.

I finally turned to look at her. "What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Do you think I don't know you at all Bella Swan? I saw how nervous you were around him in school. But NOW…you can't even take your eyes off of him long enough to hold a conversation with me. Your best friend. Hi! Remember me? And we're sitting here at a football game that he plays in where you and I don't attend either one of the schools. Mmm hmmm, you've got it bad!" She said as she laughed and winked at me.

I felt the blush take over my face. "That obvious huh?"

"Yep! So, when are you going to talk to him?" She asked.

"Yea right Ang. He's way out of my league, there's no way I'd ever be good enough for him. I'll just admire him from here."

"Fuck it!" I said setting my beer down on the table. Drumming up all the nerve I could, helped out immensely by the alcohol flowing thru my veins, I made my way across the club towards him.

Don't chicken out Bella! Don't chicken out!

All the women in that bar must have been blind. There was certainly not one around him, vying for his attention. And I sure as hell hadn't seen him dancing with anyone. That is just fine by me; I'll take it from here ladies.

"Umm, excuse me, you're Edward Cullen right?" Duh Bella.

"Sure am!" He responded with a smile, and I almost melted into the floor.

"I don't know if you remember me or not. We went to summer school together back in Forks?" I said, strangely confident.

"Oh right! Bella right?" Holy shit, he remembers my name!

"Yep! So, hey, umm, would you like to dance?"

"Sure" and he leaned in towards me, "but I'm not really that good." he whispered in my ear.

I swear to God and all that is Holy, I almost fainted at the feel of his breath on my skin. I felt chills shoot straight up my back and I couldn't help but close my eyes.

"No problem, I'm pretty good." I recovered, and winked as we turned and made our way out to the dance floor.

Let me let go, baby

Let me let go

If this is for the best

Why are you still in my heart

Are you still in my soul

Let me let go

Faith Hill's voice carried over the speakers and I quickly realized two things. First, this was a super slow song that required me to be close in his arms and second, the irony of the lyrics were not lost on me. I fell hard for this man the second I laid eyes on him. Lord, grant me strength.

"So, how've you been Miss Bella?" he smiled down at me. His left hand held my right close to his chest; his right hand was at the small of my back. It was actually a very intimate way to two-step, but was I to complain?

"Umm, I'm doing well. How about yourself? I heard you got a scholarship to the University of Washington." Crap! Stalker much Bella?

"Yea, I did," he said, looking at me a little surprised, "but I blew out my knee my freshman year, so I lost it." He frowned. I suddenly had the overwhelming urge to rub my fingers across his cheek and down his jaw, but I resisted.

"Oh no! That sucks. I'm so sorry!" and I really was. Having watched him play in quite a few games back in high school, he was really good and I could tell back then how much he loved it.

"Yea well, everything happens for a reason, right?" he asked with a smile. We made another circle around the dance floor in silence, holding really close to each other. Who told this man he couldn't dance? I fought the urge to lay my head on his chest but instead rested my chin on my left hand that gripped his shoulder.

The lights of this strange city are shinin'

But they don't hold no fascination for me

I try to find the bright side, baby

But everywhere I look

Everywhere I turn

You're all I see

Let me let go baby, won't you

Let me let go

It just isn't right

I've been two thousand miles

Down a dead-end road

I worked up my courage and took a deep breath. Carpe Diem, right?

"So, you probably didn't know this, but I had a huge crush on you in high school." I said to his ear making sure not to look at his face or God help me, into his eyes.

"Really?" he pulled back to look at me smiling.

"Yea, but you probably didn't even know I existed" Shit Bella! Really? Did you really just say that?

"Humph" he grinned with that damn fabulous crooked smile, and I was almost positive he was checking out my cleavage. He looked back into my eyes and said, "I had a pretty serious girlfriend in high school Bella. She had me wrapped around her little finger, so I didn't notice much of anyone or anything other than football and her." Of course he did, and queue the blush.

"I wasn't trying to be rude, I'm sorry!" I quickly said, as I tried to recover the ease of the conversation and warmth of the feelings we were, well, at least I, was having.

"No, you weren't rude. Don't worry." He looked down at me and I was completely lost in his eyes as he held my gaze.

The song ended and I slowly, sort of unwillingly step back and remove myself from his embrace. "It was really good to see you again Edward. Thanks for the dance."

"You too Bella, and it was my pleasure." He smiled as he began to walk back to his table.

"And by the way," I called out and he turned back to me, "whoever told you that you're not a good dancer…they lied." He smiled and I smiled and then giggled as I turned and walked back to my table, my heart about jumped completely out of my chest.

Oh. My. God.

I couldn't wipe the shit-eating grin off my face as I sauntered back to the table. Angie was the only one sitting there this time, and when I caught her eye she smirked at me.

"If I am not mistaken, was that not the Edward Cullen you were just lost in another world with, out on the dance floor?" she asked, trying to keep a straight face. She was failing miserably as she smirked at me again.

I had no response. I could still feel him holding me, and damn was it suddenly really, really hot in here?

"Girrrrrrl…you've STILL got it bad for that man!" she laughed and then took a sip of her beer.

"Oh my God, Angieeeee." I whined. "He's fucking beautiful. And that was the first real conversation that we've had that wasn't about some stupid school project, and he smelled so good, and he held me so close, and…" I sighed. I could so very easily fall in love with that man. Or was I already gone? I picked up my beer and took another swig.

"Well, you better get yourself under control because he's walking over here right now." She smirked again.

"What!" I froze, and I know I looked at her like a deer caught in headlights. I didn't chance turning around to see him walking over, knowing that I would immediately give myself away. My confidence was gone. I must have left her out there on the dance floor. Crap! I took a long draw off my beer, and suddenly felt a hand at the small of my back as his warmth enveloped me and he leaned to my left onto the table.

"Come here often?" The words are smooth as velvet and I almost choked on my drink as I tried not to laugh at the ridiculousness of the line.

My eyes were surely bugging out of my head as I made eye contact with Angie. Bitch was just smirking away. Couldn't she do anything other than smirk? Gah! I turned and faced him, looking into his eyes. I sputtered.

"I..I..I've got nothing." I said laughing. "I'm trying to come back with something really funny or corny, but I got nothing." He laughed and then smiled, never taking his eyes off mine as he took a sip of his beer.

"Umm, you remember Angela Weber? She was in our class also." I turned and faced her.

"Yea, sure. Bella, ya know, I do remember the class, and the torturous Economics project that we all worked on together. I did notice that you existed." He mocked and turned to her. "How are you Angela?"

I looked down at my suddenly very interesting beer bottle and then blushed like a raging idiot.

"I'm great Edward! How about yourself? Still playing football?" I winced. Thanks for giving me away Ang! I glared at her. She winked back at me.

"No, not anymore," and I detected a hint of sadness. Damn. I'll kiss it and make it better baby! "I am actually going to school now at Olympic in Bremerton."

"That's too bad about football, but good about school. Bella and I are roommates at Western Washington in Port A. Tonight we're happily celebrating the end of the semester!" God love her, she was keeping him in conversation until I recovered. I loved that girl. She knew me so well.

Edward turned and leaned both elbows on the table, and he was so close I felt his body heat radiating off of him in waves. If I moved just a fraction of an inch, I could be touching him. I chanced a look at him, and he was smiling at me.

"Hey ladies!"

Jacob.

Shit! Jacob!

We have this thing where he keeps the jerks away. If he sees a guy hanging out too long, he'll come over and act like I'm with him to "save me". Shit! He's already wrapped his arm around my shoulder and is pulling me towards him, away from Edward. No!

"Oh hey Jake!" Angela recovered. "This is Edward Cullen. Bella, Ben and I went to high school with him." He removed his arm and slid it to the small of my back, but not before I noticed that Edward already thought what he was supposed to think. I was Jake's girl.

"Edward, this is my best friend, Jacob." I said, looking him right in the eye and hoped to convey the best friend part as I moved back to where I had been standing.

They shook hands, both sort of begrudgingly. There was an awkward silence and then the music caught Angela's attention. "Oh! Come on Bells! Let's get Jiggy wit' it!" She yelled, grabbing my hand and dragging me out to the dance floor as Will Smith raped it out. We proceeded to go crazy dancing and laughing and enjoying ourselves. It didn't go unnoticed that Edward and Jacob were still standing at our table and watching us. They seemed to be having a small conversation. Edward with his sexy ass grin, Jacob was more or less scowling at him. I just smiled and laughed and danced my ass off.

"Last call for alcohol ladies and gents!" The DJ announced and the place went wild as the music started to play. Angie and I made our way to the bar for one last beer. I wasn't drunk, but was feeling really good, and I could feel my confidence coming back.

Edward was still standing at our table with Jacob. Quil, Embry and Ben had also joined them. Embry was tanked and half passed out on the barstool, leaning back into the wall with a stupid drunk grin on his face. Quil and Jacob were laughing in conversation and Ben and Edward are talking. Angela wraped her arms around Ben's shoulders and kissed his cheek. "I see you and Edward have met again." She said to him.

"Yes, we were just reminiscing about that stupid candle project you girls made us do." Edward laughed. "What did we call it? The Eternal Light or something?"

"Stupid? I didn't hear you guys coming up with anything better!" I teased back. "And if I remember correctly" and believe me, I remember every moment of that summer, "Angie and I carried your sorry asses through that project. We even told you what to say during the presentation. You would have been so lost without us! And it was The Eternal Flame that got you boys an A on the project, so don't hate on the candles!"

Ben and Edward laughed, while Angie and I smiled at each other, clinked our beer bottles and took another swig. Edward stayed at our table and we all talked and reminisced about that summer.

"Ok guys, grab your girl, this will be the last song of the night." The DJ announced and my heart jumped into my throat. I think I was honestly waiting for Jacob to grab my hand and pull me out to dance as he usually did, but he didn't. Ben and Angela got up hand in hand and walked out to dance.

"So, it's my turn to ask if you if you'd like to dance." Edward asked, his brilliant blue eyes sparkled and I probably looked like I'd swallowed a coat hanger as I nodded in response. He took my hand and led me out on the floor as the opening chords to Clay Walker's Hypnotize the Moon like the first time we danced, he held my hand against his chest, but his arm was tighter against the small of my back, pulling me closer to him and if it was possible to turn to putty, I'm pretty sure I would have.

We didn't talk the entire time. Just held each other while he moved us around the dance floor. He rested his head against the top of mine and I laid my cheek on his shoulder. I could have died right then, and never been happier. Stupid song had to end and reality had to come back.

"Thank you again for the dance, Edward." I said, as I pulled my head back and looked deep into his eyes not wanting to leave his embrace. He just winked and we turned to make our way back to my table. He kept his hand on the small of my back and as we neared he leaned down and spoke into my ear. "So, I was wondering if I could call you sometime."

YES! YES! YES! YES! GOD YES!

If my eyes could give me away, I am sure that he would have seen my inner Bella jumping around and screaming in my head.

"Yea, sure! Umm, let me see your phone." I dialed and called my phone with his phone and then programmed my name into it for him. I smiled as I handed it back to him. "There, now it's saved."

"Thanks." He winked and smiled as he slipped it into his pocket. "It was really good seeing you again Bella. I'll give you a call."

"It was really good seeing you too." And before I knew what happened, he pulled me into a nice, tight hug. I couldn't resist, as I wrapped my arms around his neck, buried my face in and took a deep breath. Oh good God! As long as I live, I will remember how he felt and how he smelled in that very moment. He released me, looked into my eyes and stepped back. He reached over and shook hands with Ben, Jacob and Quil, and said goodbye to everyone. Embry was passed out at that point. Edward reached out and rubbed his hand down my arm, gave a little squeeze to my bicep and said, "See ya later." He then turned and walked away to meet up with his friends.

I turned to see Angie grinning ear-to-ear, standing between Ben's knees, his arms were around her waist and his chin rested on her shoulder. He was smiling. Just that simple little embrace had made me just a tad jealous. However, I couldn't wipe the stupid grin off my face, or suppress the enormous flock of butterflies that had taken up permanent residence in my stomach.

"You guys ready?" I asked. "Let's go home."

I put up a website to post chapter pics and a playlist. The songs will either be part of the story, or a chapter theme song.

http:/ marie-cullen . blogspot . com (take out the spaces)

Songs in this chapter:

Let Me Let Go: Faith Hill

Hypnotize the Moon: Clay Walker

They own them, I don't. :)

See ya soon!