Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight

Eep! That took forever to get out! I was working on a little side project, but it's taking longer than I thought it would. I promise: next chapter won't take so long! (Please don't hate me)

Chapter Eleven- Bella's POV (age seventeen)

I took a step back, looking up as I did so.

"Um, yeah," I mumbled, avoiding eye contact.

"Come on Bella, you can't still be mad?" he laughed lightly, putting a finger under my chin and lifting my face up, forcing me to look at him.

I tried to pull away but he put a hand on my back, smirking at my attempts to get away.

His cold touch set horrible shivers down my spine and I wriggled free of his hold.

"Keep your hands off me," I spat, stepping around him.

He wasn't going to have that. He grabbed my wrist as I turned and pulled me closer again, wrapping an arm behind me.

"Bella," he said my name as If he were praising me, "You still have such a pretty face…"

I was starting to panic. His grip tightened and he refused to let me go. He was as tall as Edward, but apparently stronger.

"Lets not have a repeat of last time, James," snarled a voice behind me.

The arms released me and I fell back, stumbling into another figure.

I turned to see a flash of red before I was enveloped in an embrace to match Emmett's.

"Bella, are you alright?" Edward asked, stepping back to search me.

"No, I'm fine," I mumbled, turning to look back.

Emmett and Jasper were standing over James, advancing on him. He backed up a few steps, raising his fists in front of himself lamely. Emmett let out a laugh at the pathetic sight, causing James to turn and flee.

As they watched him run, Alice, Rosalie, Jasper, and Emmett all burst into loud laughter, turning a few heads. I looked up and realized that I was clutching onto Edward's chest. I would have let go and stepped back, but his arms were wrapped around me, too.

"You're sure you're okay?" he asked again.

I just nodded, unable to form words. His eyes were absolutely smoldering.

"Bells…? He's gone." Emmett assured me.

Edward stepped back and looked away, running a hand through his hair.

I folded my arms over my chest as the colour flooded my cheeks. I was going to get Emmett back for that one.

-------------------------- They All Went to the Cullen Place for Celebration -------------------------------------

We all sat in the kitchen while Emmet, Jasper, Rosalie, and Alice held what I could only assume was an animated conversation. I wouldn't know, I was concentrating on not making eye contact with Edward.

He and Jasper were sitting on the counter while Emmet, Alice, and I were on stools at the island. Rose was standing with her arms draped over Emmett's shoulders from behind.

Edward and I hadn't been very involved in the chatter, as he was gazing intently at me and I was trying to ignore it. We didn't have a chance to talk since the previous night. I hadn't the slightest idea of whether or not he was angry with me for leaving, or afraid of me after what I admitted.

I was brought back to reality as I realized someone was speaking to me.

"Bella?" asked Rose for the third time, getting impatient.

"Yeah?" I answered, blinking a few times and turning to her.

"What's that?" she indicated the chain around my neck.

Before I could reply, she leaned closer and pulled it out from under the fabric of my shirt.

She quickly dropped it again, easily choking back her laugh.

"Oh, how… nice," she commented, moving back to her spot beside Emmett.

Everyone else in the room turned to see the plastic beaded necklace, now uncovered. Despite my efforts, my eyes went straight to Edward.

He was still staring at me, but his expression had changed. He looked a little amused, but his features had softened. He wasn't looking at me anymore.

I don't know where it came from, but suddenly the back of my throat was burning and tears were threatening to spill. I stood up and mumbled something about needing use the washroom, using my hair to hide the redness of my face.

I quickly escaped and shut the door behind me. I sat down on the edge of the tub, allowing a few tears to escape.

Pull yourself together. Edward doesn't hate you.

But he hasn't spoken to you since last night, when you fell asleep on him, crying.

He didn't leave, that can't be a bad thing.

He was gone when you woke up.

He couldn't have stayed with you all night, not with Charlie home.

He wouldn't have wanted to.

You don't know that.

You don't know that he did.

Touché.

My internal fight was interrupted when a slight knock on the door sounded out.

I quickly stood up and turned the tap on, letting the water run into the sink.

"I'll be out in a minute," I called softly, praying that my voice wouldn't break.

He knew all my tricks. I could almost hear Edward's eyes rolling as he pulled the door open soundlessly and stepped in. I looked up, but instantly regretted it.

His eyes widened when he saw that my eyes were swollen and red. I quickly looked down and sat on the bath again, resting my face in my hands. I took a deep breath, but decided to wait for him to speak first.

Why is it, that the only I've spent with Edward in the past five years, I've been crying?

"Bella, what happened?" he asked, his voice dripping with shock and concern.

"Nothing," I whispered, rising again and stepping up to the sink.

He muttered something, but I didn't bother to pay attention. I knew he didn't believe me.

I bent over and splashed some water on my face. When I straightened up again, my reflection showed no signs of redness or tears. It did, however, show the slight crease between my eyes.

I turned back to Edward, who was leaning against the door with his arms crossed over his chest and his face contorted in worry.

"Bella," he started, but seemed to be at a loss for words.

I took another deep breath and gnawed my lip, crossing my arms, too.

"What you said last night…" he began again, "I mean… I didn't get a chance to… to really do anything."

My sarcastic side screamed to be heard, but I shut it up.

He looked at right at me, waiting for a reply.

"And what might you have done?" I whispered.

"Well," he murmured, barely moving his lips, "I probably would have turned to you,"

He took a small, careful step forward.

"And I would have looked right into your eyes,"

I swallowed hard.

"I would have tucked your stray hair away,"

He stepped forward and fixed my lose hair.

"I would have turned off the tap,"

He reached behind his back and adjusted the knob, stopping the water.

"And then,"

He closed the small gap between us.

"I most likely,"

He put his hand on the back of my neck and pulled my face closer.

"Would have…"

I closed my eyes.

He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine.

His lips were soft, and gentle. They moved with mine as his fingers caressed my cheek. I slowly brought my hand to the back of his head, pulling him closer.

So this would be it. My first kiss: standing in the bathroom of my next door neighbour's house. And it was perfection.

A/N: So… did you like it?