Disclaimer: All these characters belong to Stephanie Meyer.

Edward and I returned to our normal rhythm of things. My new appearance definitely changed the way people approached me though. It seemed to dwindle down however with Edward's protectiveness over me. James did not come to our lunch table again but if I happened to pass him in the hall or see him from a distance I would meet his stare. It was as if he was always of there off to the side, like he was waiting for something. It was beyond me however what he could be waiting for. Gym class was when Edward especially hovered over me, not that I would complain. He insisted now to be captain in any sport we would play in gym and picked me first over Emmett. I happily sat and watched the game, never getting put in. He knew me better than that and never even asked. The only times I did get put in was when Mr. Moore insisted and then Edward guarded me like I was made of glass. James never did get to tackle me. I was in a peaceful bliss. Edward and I had always been close but this new found possessiveness made me feel special to him.

The only thing unfortunate was that we did not have any more close encounters. When we were alone it was just the same old Bella and Edward like it has always been, cracking jokes and teasing each other. Once in a while though I would catch Edward staring at me with dark eyes and an emotion I couldn't read. Sometimes for a split second I would think he was looking at me with the same type of longing that I had when I looked at him. After I would catch him, he would look away slightly embarrassed and mumble something to change the subject.

I did feel bad that I hadn't been spending that much time with Alice and made a mental note to hangout with her soon. Victoria was never brought up into conversation with Edward but I didn't know what went on in the classes they had together. I couldn't bare to picture them talking and flirting all period long. I never saw the two of them together in school though so I assumed that what ever was between them had fizzled out or I had blown out of proportion.

Now it was one Friday afternoon and Edward and I were lying on my floor with our books scattered about. Midterms were next week so we were studying together and eating different junk food to keep up fueled. Charlie would probably kill me if he saw all the food that was out and around us-- from m&ms , ring dings, peanut butter, chocolate syrup, pretzels, and ice cream.

"Bella, toss me some m&ms please" Edward said while flipping through passages in his text book.

I didn't know how he kept up with all of his studying and school work and still had time to hang out with me, but somehow he managed. He never had to really study hard like I did. He usually just reads over the information again. Once it was explained to him, he remembers it. I was studying for my biology exam when my eyes peeked a glance at him from over my book and saw him reading. His hair was tousled and he had his cute little crease in-between his eyebrows as he concentrated on the material. My body melted at how adorable he looked. I threw one m&m at him playfully when he wasn't looking and then looked down at my book quickly. I suppressed my laughter as he looked around at what hit him before returning to his book. I threw a second one at him and this time I wasn't quick enough to turn away and he caught me.

He gave me a big smirk. "Oh you're going to get it."

I stood up quickly when he shot up to come after me. He looked down at the chocolate syrup bottle and picked it up before turning to me with a mischievous look in his eye.

"Don't. You. Dare!" I shot him a warning glance but he ran towards me. I screamed and ran up the stairs to my room to get away from him. He was too fast for me though and before I could close the door to lock him out he was in the room walking towards me menacingly. I started to back up until I ran into the corner of my room.

"Edward Masen Cullen I swear to God if you even think about-" I was cut off with a stream of chocolate syrup hitting the front of my shirt. I gasped and looked down at my one of my green shirts that Alice had bought me covered in chocolate sauce. I glared back at him and his eye brows rose, knowing that I would counterattack. He turned to retreat but I hooked my leg with his and we both tumbled forward, with me landing on top of him. He took the bottle and put it over my head and squeezed. Chocolate sauce started to drip down my head onto my face. He shook with laughter at my livid expression.

"Oh you think that's funny huh?" I lowered my face to him and started to rub my chocolate covered face over his. He laughed even more trying to move his face away to avoid my chocolate onslaught. Just as I was moving my head to the right and he was moving his to the left, our lips grazed each other. The sudden jolt I experienced when our lips touched made me snap my head up to look him. I wondered if he noticed it too. I was met with his piercing gaze. I took in my surroundings finally and realized I was straddling him with his hands on my hips. He was still looking at me intensely as if waiting for me to respond. I suddenly became nervous.

"Sorry" was all that came out. He looked back at me as if trying to assess something and then sat up with me in his lap. I thought I saw disappointment line his face but he quickly looked away. "Its ok" he mumbled before sliding me off to sit next to him. He turned his body away slowly and I noticed his cheeks were flushed. I hoped that I didn't embarrass him. I quickly tried to break the awkwardness.

"Alice is going to kill us when she sees my shirt."

He laughed and stood up while offering me a hand to pull me up too. "Its only a little chocolate syrup, it should come right out."

I looked at him with a wide mouth. "Are you kidding! I'm a mess. Maybe if I get it in the wash right now."

He shrugged and then started to pull his chocolate covered shirt over his head. It must have been ruined when my shirt collided with his. "Let's throw these two in the wash now then."

I gulped when he stood before me shirtless in nothing but jeans. He was so carefree about being shirtless in front of me but he had every right to be. I looked at his chest before descending down to his toned and cut stomach. I loved his body. He was tall and lean but wasn't bulky like some girls preferred. The V lines from his hip bones taunted me to keep looking but I knew I had to break my stare before he noticed.

I knew that I had to get my shirt in the wash quickly too if I didn't want it to get ruined. I was hesitant at first, but Edward had just taken his shirt off willingly and I didn't want to act shy and timid like I usually do.

I slowly lifted my shirt over my head. I had on a pink bra but I figured that Edward had seen me in a bikini before and this was pretty much the same thing. After I pulled it off I looked up to see Edward staring at me with a heated look and tense jaw.

"What?" I asked embarrassed.

"Nothing" he replied before looking away.

We headed down stairs and threw our shirts in the washer before turning to each other again. He still had chocolate on his face I knew that my face probably looked worse since he had squeezed half the bottle on my head. "I think I'm going to jump in the shower and get this chocolate out of my hair and pores."

Edward gave me a meaningful look before stepping forward and letting his thumb brush over my chocolate covered cheek. He brought the thumb to his lips and lightly graze it over his bottom lip before licking it there. I shivered at the sight of it and bit my lip.

He then looked concerned. "Yeah that's a good idea you're probably freezing too." He had obviously interpreted my shiver the wrong way. "I'm going to go to my house and shower. I'll see you in fifteen minutes."

It took everything I had not to blurt out that we could shower together. That would have been embarrassing. I even started to come up with excuses about how to get him to join me.-Well you know two showers is a waste of water...

I just stammered "O-Okay."

In the shower I scrubbed all the chocolate out of my pores and washed my hair twice. I didn't really care about my shirt being ruined because the event that caused it was definitely worth it. I toweled off and changed into nice comfy sweats and one of Edward's sweat shirts before going down stairs. He was already in my living room cleaning up the mess of food when I walked down. His hair was still damp and disheveled and he ran a hand through it to try to tame his locks. It just made him look even better. We finished cleaning up the living room before Charlie came home and sat down at the kitchen table.

"So I think I'm going to hang out with Alice tomorrow. I feel bad that I haven't really hung out with her since that one weekend in November."

He raised his eye brows. "Oh alright. Emmett's been talking about going ice fishing forever now so I guess I could go with him tomorrow then. But don't forget that Esme wants you over for dinner tomorrow night."

"Of course. Charlie's working tomorrow night anyway so I don't have to make dinner here."

He nodded and fiddled with his empty soda can.

"Edward…what do you want to do this Sunday." He stopped fiddling abruptly and his body tensed. This Sunday was the anniversary of his parents death. I'll never forget the date because I know how much it affects him, even though he doesn't talk about it. On this day each year Edward shuts himself out from everyone….everyone except me that is.

"I don't know, lets just stay in…..you don't have any plans or anything right?" He looked up at me wearily.

"Of course not, I'm going to spend the whole day with you." I gave him a heartfelt smile and he managed to give me one in return even with the dreary subject at hand.

His mood seemed to pick up again shortly after. Charlie, him, and I ate pizza together before we went back to studying. I knew that it was a good idea to get as much studying done Friday and Saturday because Edward probably wouldn't be able to concentrate on school work on Sunday. I wanted to be there for him as well and didn't want to have to worry about studying.

The next morning I woke up around 9am and studied right away. I felt pretty confident with all the material but wanted to make sure it was fresh in my mind. Around 2pm I went over the Cullen's to hang out with Alice. Alice told me that Edward and Emmett were up early to go ice fishing and had been gone all day. We went up in her room so she could show me some new outfits that she had just bought. I acted interested for her and she seemed to believe my enthusiasm. I was flipping through a magazine on her bed when she brought up a subject I wasn't too fond of.

"So Bella you know what next Saturday is right?" Of course I knew it was the yearly Winter Formal. Every year Alice fought with me about going. I hated dressing up and especially didn't like dancing so I never went. Edward and I always stayed in together. He never complained about not going to me.

"Nope Alice what is on Saturday?" I pretended to be clueless.

"The Winter Formal that you're going to this year!" She said enthusiastically.

I laughed and shook my head. "Uh huh."

"Bella its your senior year, you have to go to at least one dance before you graduate."

"Alice every year since freshman year you have been trying to get me to go to these dances and every year I don't go. Then I hear about how I will regret not going for a week until you drop it. But listen, I haven't yet lost any sleep over not going and I don't think that I ever will."

She looked annoyed at me. "But what if James asks you, you would still say no?"

I snorted. "I doubt that he would ask me considering that I haven't spoken to him in weeks and even if he did, dances aren't my thing."

She turned away from me and didn't say another thing but I knew that the subject wasn't closed. Alice would persist till the hour before the dance, she did this every year. Conversation then turned to exams and plans for over Christmas break. Esme called us down for dinner. As I made my way downstairs I peeked into Edward's room to see if he was there, but unfortunately found it vacant. I assumed he didn't come back yet and my shoulders slumped. I felt a tap on my left shoulder and turned around. Edward quickly picked me up and hoisted me over his shoulder before I could even meet his eyes. He started to carry me down the stairs.

I couldn't contain my happiness from seeing him and giggled. "Edward I am perfectly capable of walking myself down the stairs." I really didn't mind him carrying me but said it to show I had some integrity.

"Believe me Bella, you are the only person I could argue with about that." I knew he was referring to the time I had missed a step coming down the Cullen's stairs when I was eleven causing me to fracture my arm.

"That happened a long time ago mister!" I huffed now slightly annoyed he brought that up. He chuckled at me and finally set me down at the dinner table next to him. He had a wide grin on his face and I couldn't help but smile back. Smiles like made me forget what I was annoyed about in the first place. He sat down next to me and everyone joined the table. Carlisle was even home from the hospital. Esme and Carlisle were on the ends of the table while Edward and I sat by each other across from Alice and Emmett.

Emmett mostly spoke the whole time about fishing with Edward. He seemed to be in good spirits about spending the day with Edward. Edward was smiling and nodding along to Emmett's story. I loved sitting with the family and eating dinner with them, I felt so welcome and comfortable there.

Esme was looking at me happily and then spoke up. "So Bella, Alice was telling me about a certain male admirer you have at school." Edward seemed to be suddenly eating his food slower and grasped his fork tightly. I shot Alice a glare and she giggled. I blushed deeply and looked down.

"Oh Bella there is nothing to be embarrassed about, James Woodsland is a hottie." Esme said. Emmett almost chocked on his food when the sentence came out of his mom's mouth. Everyone started to laugh at Emmett's reaction. I knew she was just trying to talk teenage lingo and started to laugh with everyone. The only one who didn't seem to be laughing was Edward.

"Mom please don't ever repeat anything like that again." Emmett finally managed to say. Esme just laughed at her son's reaction. "Why? I am just saying that I am happy for Bella if she has found a nice boy. Are you going to the Winter Dance with him Bella?" Before I could even speak up Edward spoke for me.

"Bella never goes to the dances Esme remember?" He said in a cold voice and then he looked at me to back up his statement.

"Yeah he's right I don't really go to dances."

Carlisle was watching Edward and seemed to sense some kind of discomfort and changed the subject away from me. "Em did you ask that nice Jessica girl who always goes to your games." Emmett seemed to blush and looked down. "Yeah Dad, I'm going with her." The atmosphere then changed and everyone started to tease Emmett about Jessica. Edward seemed to lighten up once again and the rest of the dinner was uneventful.

The next morning when I woke up Edward was already in my room sitting down and looking out the window. At first I was shocked to see him so early but then I realized what day it was.

"Good morning."

He looked at me and gave me a small smile before turning back to the window. I knew he wasn't going to be himself today but I would do whatever he needed. I got up from bed walked over to him. I leaned against his back, putting my arms around his neck, and resting my head on his shoulder. We stayed like that wordlessly for what felt like forever looking out the window. I just wanted him to know I was there for him. It was a comfort to me to have him near and I hoped it was the same for him. Finally my stomach growled and I pulled my arms away.

"Did you eat yet?" I asked when Edward turned around after I let go. He just shook his head at me. His sad eyes reflected that of the young boy I had first met twelve years ago. I grabbed his hand and pulled him down stairs. I made him his favorite breakfast-scrambled eggs and cheese, bacon, and toast. We both ate in comfortable silence. He ate everything on his plate and thanked me afterwards though. I ran upstairs and got changed and brush my teeth. When I came back down I found him sitting on the couch flipping through the channels. I made my way over to the couch and sat next to him.

"Is there anything you want to do day?" I said while patting his hand.

He shook his head and then turned to me, his eyes holding mine. "I just… want to hang out with you."

My heart clenched at hearing him say this but I knew that he just needed the company. He laid down on the couch with his head in my lap so I could run my fingers through his hair. Charlie came in and out during the day but mostly stayed away. I reminded him last night before I went to sleep what today was and he knew Edward needed his space. We spent most of the day on the couch watching whatever came on. Edward didn't do much talking but he did manage to fall asleep for a while. As I was staring down and admiring him, there was a knock at the door.

I carefully lifted his head from my lap and got up to answer it. Esme was there with plates of food in her hands.

"Hey Esme" I whispered.

"Hey Bella. I brought over some dinner for you guys and a few other things to eat." She gave me a sad smile. I knew that she was always concerned about Edward on this day but he never opened up to her or Carlisle about it and just avoided everyone in general. She considered him like her own biological son.

"Thanks, I'm sure he will be hungry when he wakes up." I took the plates from her and she gave me a hug.

"Thank you Bella…. for being there for him."

"Its nothing Esme, he's always there for me too."

After she left I put the food in the kitchen and heard my name being called. "Bella?!"

"I'm in the kitchen Edward!" I called back. He walked in rubbing his eyes and sat down.

"How long was I out for?"

"Two hours probably." I shrugged. "Do you want some food? Esme brought over some stuff."

He nodded and I heated up his plate. I kept quiet leaving him to think and be a peace. I knew that he didn't like to talk on this day. He finally spoke though. "So how was your day with Alice yesterday?"

"It was good we just hung out and I listened to Alice most of the time." I actually got a light laugh out of him because he knew what I meant about Alice talking. Once the girl got going she could talk your ear off. Edward had always been more of the silent type but when he was comfortable he could open up and be himself. I was one of the lucky people who got to know that side of him. I told him more about the different things that Alice talked about and he just sat contently listening to me. He stayed until late that night before going home. Edward was back in my room however the second he left and I had his bed on my floor all made out for him. When he was settled I turned off the lights and laid down in my bed to go to sleep. Just as I felt myself slipping into unconsciousness I heard his voice.

"Bella?"

"Yes Edward?" I mumbled, half awake.

"Thank you" He replied before I fell asleep.

Monday and Tuesday of school went very smoothly. Our exams were incorporated into our normal school day but the classes that you didn't have exams in were study periods. I felt confident with the first four that I had taken and only had two left to take in the morning on Wednesday. Whenever I saw Alice she hounded me about the dance but I zoned her out thinking about different things Edward and I could do that night. Last year we went to the movies for the whole night, paying for one and then sneaking into three others. That was always a possibility but I did want to do something different.

I was coming out of the bathroom before my last period class when I saw Alice walking down the hall. I ran back into the bathroom to avoid her so I wouldn't have to be nagged about the dance for the hundredth time again. I hid in a stall when I heard the door open thinking it was Alice looking for me. A laugh sounded however and I immediately recognized the voice of a girl named Lauren who I wasn't too fond of. I cracked the stall door open a little and saw that it was her and Victoria applying lip gloss in the mirror.

"Soo Vick who are you going to Winter Formal with?" Lauren asked.

"Edward Cullen and I are going of course." She seemed offended that Lauren wouldn't know. My chest constricted immediately at her words. I already felt the tears starting to collect in my eyes.

"Sorry it's just that he is always around that Bella Swan girl." Lauren defended.

"That's only because he feels bad for her. It's obvious she doesn't have that many friends. He told me that she is like his little sister anyway. I feel bad for her too. Do you see the way she follows him around like a sad little puppy." They girls both laughed together. My hot tears spilled over onto my cheeks now. I didn't want them to know I was there though so I kept quiet.

Then Lauren added. "Still, aren't you a little worried? I mean she definitely looks different then she did in the beginning of the school year, I almost didn't recognize her."

Victoria snickered. "Please just because she wears nice clothes now and got a hair cut doesn't make her beautiful." They finished the admiration of themselves in the mirror and then left. My tears now were sliding down my face at a fast rate. I could care less with what they thought of me, it was the fact though that still after everything I wasn't good enough for him. He didn't even have the decently to tell me that he was going to the dance. Every year we stayed in together, it was almost like a tradition, and now I would be sitting at home by myself while she danced and kissed the night away with him.

I was pitiful. They might actually be right about me after all. How could I let myself become so obsolete? I had all of these emotions exploding out of me but I couldn't let it overcome me. Ten seconds, I told myself. Tens seconds is the only amount of time I will let this take over and then I had to move on from it. So for ten seconds I let the pain soak in and devour me. I sobbed, not holding back. After ten seconds was over I sniffled the last of my cries and exited the stall. I was done trying to prove myself to him. If I wasn't good enough then I had deal with it, but I couldn't keep getting my hopes up, it just hurt me ten times more. I was in love him, that I was positive, but he wasn't in love me, and I had to face that. Victoria had confirmed that for me when she said-"he told me she is like his little sister". Well if this whole time his possessiveness and protectiveness over me was his brotherly attitude shining through then I didn't need that. To think that I had believed that maybe he wanted me like I wanted him made me feel dumb. I looked at myself in the mirror before going out. My eyes were red but I straighten myself together. I wouldn't be a sad little puppy following him around anymore. I headed out of the bathroom angry but determined. The self pity before had somehow manifested itself into anger and I strode to the gym. I turned the corner and came face to face with a pleased looking James standing by the locker room door. I didn't want to be bothered with anyone but he was blocking my entrance.

"Hello Bella" He greeted shrewdly.

"Hello James and what do I owe this pleasure?" I said sarcastically threw my anger.

His eyebrows raised and he seemed amused. "I was wondering if you would be kind enough to escort me to the Winter Formal." I hadn't talked to the kid in weeks and yet here he was asking be to the dance. I was about to tell him off when an idea clicked in my head. Screw it! I'll go to the dance with him. I didn't even care anymore and I didn't want to be that sad girl sitting at home all alone on the night of the dance.

"Yes I'll go."

He looked at me smugly. "Excellent, we will have a good time." I ignored the creeps that he gave me and produced a small fake smile before stepping around him to go through the door.

Luckily everyone didn't have to change this week because of midterms so I just walked into the gym and took a seat on the bleachers. Edward and Emmett were sitting on the opposite end and looked at me confused that I blatantly ignored them. James walked in seconds after I sat down and Edward got up and came to my side. That pissed me off even more because I remembered his brotherly attitude so I kept my head straight avoiding his eyes.

"Is something wrong?" He asked.

"Nope. Everything is just peachy." I spat. I decided that I wouldn't tell him that I was going to the dance with James. Two can play at that game. I know he would find out soon since James was talking to Emmett, but he wouldn't hear it from me. I didn't talk to him the whole period but he never left my side. I could feel his questioning eyes on my face but I wouldn't yield and look at him. When school ended I didn't wait to walk with him and hurried to his car to find Alice. I acted normally to her and talked about my day, leaving out the bathroom incident and James of course. I would have to tell her when I was alone with her and ask her if she could help me find a dress.

When we pulled up in front of my house, Alice started to walk to her house and Edward turned towards mine.

"Hey Alice wait up!?" She turned and looked at me confused.

"Aren't you and Edward going to go to your house?"

"No, do you want to hang out? I need to talk to you about something." I replied.

She was still confused but looked curious. "Ok."

I turned now to see Edward standing by my door with his brow furrowed. "Bella, where are you going?"

I turned away and spoke so I wouldn't have to meet his eyes. "I'm going over your house to hang out with Alice." He didn't reply back but I could hear his foot steps behind us. I went straight up into Alice's room and put my book bag on the floor. Alice soon came in and Edward stood by the door.

"Bella?" Edward said reluctantly.

"What?" I hissed without looking up from the text book I was pretending to read from.

"Do you want me to help you study for your calculus exam?"

"Nope, got it covered thanks." I said sarcastically.

"Will you look at me please?" He sounded frustrated.

"Edward, I'm trying to read this so can you just go." I said sounding annoyed.

After a few seconds I heard the sound of his bedroom door slamming shut so I knew it was safe to look up. Alice stared at me astonished. "Care to share what that was all about?"

"I don't know what you're referring to." I responded airily.

She looked miffed and then shook her head. "Whatever. What was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

I sat up then straighter. "Oh right. Ok do not over react please and no screaming!" She was bouncing up and down in anticipation. "I need you to help me find a dress for winter formal."

Alice's face drew in a breath as if she was going to scream but covered her mouth quickly with her hand. When he face started to turn blue I stepped in. "Ok Alice breathe." She took a deep breath and then tackled me. "Finally! Thank you Bella!" I laughed and shook her off.

"Who asked you? Or did you ask them? What made you say yes? Does Edward know?" The questions poured out of her mouth faster than I could answer them.

"James asked me. I thought it was time to go to a dance for once in my life. And no." She lined my answers to her questions up in her mind and then beamed.

"Well I'm happy for you! I can't believe that you told me before Edward." She looked a little teary eyed.

"Listen, do you think we can go shopping for dresses tomorrow. I know I don't have much time left." She waved a hand in front of me dismissively.

"I already bought you a dress."

"What!? But you didn't even know I was going to go." I said astounded.

"I just had a feeling that this year somehow you would go and I saw a dress that was beautiful and your size…so I bought it for you. You'll love it too, its your taste."

"Wow Alice thanks I guess, I'll pay you back. Can I see it?"

"No it's my treat." Just as she was opening her closet I heard the streams of piano notes playing from Edward's room. The sound was intense and fast. Alice turned to look at me. "He's definitely frustrated about something." I nodded in agreement.

I remembered when we were eight. I had walked in on Edward sitting at the piano gently running his fingers on the keys. He stopped when I approached and I sat down next to him

."Do you play?" I asked. He looked down at the keys. "I use to..."

"Well why did you stop?" He finally met my eyes. "My father was teaching me..."

"Oh I'm sorry." We sat in silence until I spoke again. "Did you enjoy playing?" He nodded his head. "Well I think you should keep playing then." He looked up at me with sad eyes. "Really?"

"Yes definitely" I replied. It was one of the few times he mentioned his parents to me and from that day on he began to play piano again. To say he was good was an understatement, but he had told me he just liked to play in his leisurely time and to reduce stress. It became easy to pick up on what kind of mood he was in when you walked into the house and heard the music notes from his room. The rest of the house was just as keen on it as I was. If he knew I was coming over I was often greeted to a familiar soft tune that he had written himself. He had told me it was my own soundtrack.

When Alice pulled out the dress, I gasped. She was right, I did love it. Suddenly the sound of the front door downstairs slammed open and there was loud pounding on the steps. Alice and I both looked at each other and said simultaneously-"Emmett".

We went back to talking about the dance and Alice's ideas for my hair. She showed me her dress and told me she was going with Emmett's friend Derek from the football team. Esme called Alice downstairs later on and left me alone in her room. I noticed that the piano music had stopped. I started to get antsy when Alice was taking a while to return and I decided to go downstairs to see Esme. Just as I was passing Edward's door it flung open. An arm came out and grabbed me, pulling me inside before slamming shut again.

A/N:

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