You say

That my skin feels like, no one else's

That its different somehow

But I don't understand

Is a hand just a hand?

And you don't understand

When will it start my broken parts?

When will I feel all soft and

When will I feel soft, soft

Masochist; Ingrid Michaelson

When everyone left the party at midnight, Alice tugged Bella straight to her room. They were going to have a sleep over tonight, especially now, so that she could tell Alice all about what happened on her porch. It hadn't escaped her eye that Bella returned to the party with a new piece of jewelry on, and as her best friend, she had a right to all the gossip.

They had set a bowl of popcorn between them on the floor, and a few bottles of nail polish around them. After they gossiped and painted their nails, they would watch a movie.

"Alright, so tell me all about that fine piece of jewelry hanging around your neck." Alice said, brushing a dark red color on her nails.

Bella went into a full detailed story about what happened between her and Edward on the porch. She smiled the entire time, amazed at the day's outcome. Alice seemed to enjoy the story, too.

"That's so great for you! I really hope things work out with him. He seems like such a gentleman. Do you need any advice?" She gushed.

"Probably, I'm going to be so lost!"

"Just don't worry about it. He obviously likes being around you, so if you just act yourself, the date will go great. Just do whatever comes natural to you."

Bella rolled her eyes at this comment.

"If I did what I wanted to do, I would end up jumping him by the end of the night. Have you heard him speak? He's such a charmer!"

She was painting on a light pink nail polish, so that if it didn't match her outfit for tomorrow, it was barely noticeable.

"Do you mind helping me get ready tomorrow?"

"That's a given." Alice replied, putting the brush back in the bottle. "What time is he picking you up?"

"He told me before he left that he would be at my house at five o'clock."

"I have plenty of time then. For now, let's skip the movie, because you need your rest for tomorrow!"

The next day was spent with butterflies in Bella's stomach. She and Alice went over to her house after they had pancakes, made by Mrs. Brandon; they just couldn't pass those up. When they were at Bella's house, they kept busy by watching movies, eating, and singing along to their favorite songs on the radio. At three thirty, exactly, Alice rushed her into the shower to begin date preparation. Bella washed her hair, her body, and ended up shaving twice just to make sure she was accurate. When she got out of the shower, Alice handed her an outfit to wear for the night.

She was wearing skinny jeans, with a nice black top. The top had a lacy design on the back, and had a v-neck in the front that dipped modestly. She was still wearing Edward's necklace, seeing as she refused to take it off even just to shower. It was displayed perfectly on her chest, in plain view. She admired the necklace in the mirror as Alice began to straighten her hair.

Her hair was done after a half hour, and it was perfect. Bella never realized how good her hair would look if she were able to straighten it that well.

"Shit!" Alice exclaimed, rushing to get her make-up out.

"What?" Bella asked.

"It's ten 'til five!" She said, running back into the bathroom. "Don't worry; I'll be fast and efficient."

Biting back the urge to say 'That's what he said', she shut her eyes and allowed Alice to put on her top eyeliner. She never wore as much make-up as her friend would put on her when they were getting ready for a special event. She normally would wear brown eyeliner, and mascara. She didn't believe that spending a half hour every day putting on make-up was necessary. She knew she would never attempt doing what Alice did, because it would never turn out as good.

The doorbell rang a promptly five o'clock. Bella's make-up was done at this point, but she still needed shoes to wear.

"Take these!" Alice flung a pair of silver flip-flops at her feet. She slipped them on quickly, before walking down the stairs.

Alice wished her good luck before leaving. Bella stood at the doorway to the living room, where her father was talking to Edward.

"Where are you taking my daughter tonight, boy?" Charlie asked him, taking a sip of his beer.

"We're going out to eat, sir. I don't want to say where, because I believe she might overhear." Edward replied, turning his head to look at Bella.

Charlie huffed, apparently annoyed that he didn't get his answers.

"Are you ready to go, Bella?" He asked her, a smile lighting his face.

She nodded her head, smiling back at him. Edward stood up to leave, meeting Bella at the doorway.

"What time will you kids be home?" Charlie asked before they could leave.

"What time do you need her home, sir?"

Bella cheered internally. Edward was such a smooth talker.

"Ten. If traffic is bad, ten-thirty. No later." He replied.

Edward agreed, taking Bella's hand, and led her out to the car. He opened her door for her, making her smile. She turned around to thank him, and he pressed his lips to hers.

"You look absolutely ravishing tonight." He told her, helping her in. He shut her door, and jogged over to the driver's side.

He started the car quickly, speeding onto the road. She was suddenly nervous now that she was finally with him. She didn't know what to say.

"You're quite, darling. What's wrong?" He asked, putting his hand on the console, searching for hers. She placed her hand in his, squeezing it.

"There's nothing wrong. I've just been really anxious for tonight that I'm at a loss for anything to say." She told him. She knew that she wouldn't have a filter on her words when it came to him.

"I've been anxious, too. It seems the more I'm around you, the more I want to be around you." He told her, chuckling. "You're like a drug."

She laughed too, which broke the tension in the car.

"What drug would I be; heroin?"

"Yes. You would be my exact brand of heroin." He squeezed her hand. His thumb started rubbing circles on the back of her hand, making it tingle.

After a few minutes, Bella's curiosity got the best of her, and she had to ask where they were going.

"I can't tell you that; it will make all the romance of tonight be put to shame."

"How so? What do you have planned that's so romantic?" She pressed, dying to know what they were going to do.

"You're a curious little one, aren't you?" He asked her, rhetorically. "You'll see when we get there."

That was the end of that discussion, Bella decided. She turned up the radio so that she had something to focus on instead of stealing glances at Edward. He looked so gorgeous in his black shirt, jeans, and pea-coat. She was in love with that pea-coat of his.

After five more minutes, he parked the car, announcing that they had arrived.

"Wait in the car for two minutes, please. I have to set up." He told her.

"I don't think I can wait any longer!" She exclaimed, throwing her head back on the headrest.

Edward leaned over and kissed her, promising that he would only be two minutes.

She counted, and when those two seconds were up, Edward had opened her car door, helping her out. He took her hand and led her over to a blanket by the pond. He had taken her to the only park in Forks. It was beautiful, especially at this time of day. There were leaves scattered on the ground, hinting at the change of season.

"This is the sweetest thing you could have done, Edward. Thank you." She said, sitting down on the blanket.

"I wouldn't do anything for you that you didn't deserve." He told her simply. He opened a wicker basket, and handed her a sandwich. "You do, however, deserve better food than this. But, when you take a bite of it, you will fall in love. These are my specialty; hoagies."

"So that's what your intentions are?" She smirked. "Making me fall in love with you?"

She thought that maybe she was crossing the line with that one, but she had to know exactly what he was doing with her.

"I wouldn't need a hoagie to do that." He winked at her, making her laugh.

She took a bite of it, and sighed, because it really was that amazing. As if he needed another reason for her to want him.

"I feel like I don't know very much about you, Edward. Tell me about yourself."

He laughed. "Isn't that just a loaded question." When I didn't respond, he sighed. "I'm not sure what you want to know. I'm seventeen, eighteen in June. I like music, and books. I have plans to go to college, and yet I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I'm there. I also like this girl, who makes me lose my mind when she smiles at me."

Bella smiled, but couldn't refrain from asking another question.

"What about your family?" She asked. Edward's smile was gone from his face, and any traces of happiness. His face turned, if possible, even paler.

"I wish not to speak about that topic." He said. She felt horrible for bringing it up. She didn't know any better, though.

"I'm sorry." She told him, leaning over to cup his cheek. "Please smile again, I hate seeing you like this."

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"You didn't do anything wrong. It's just something I've had to deal with. When I'm ready, I'll tell you. I promise."

They finished eating. Edward tugged her towards him, so that her head was lying on his chest, their legs stretched out on the blanket.

"You've got a little something on your mouth." He said, putting his hand on her chin.

"What?" She asked, mortified. She reached her hands up, but with one of his, he pushed them down.

"My lips." He replied, kissing her.

The kiss was slower, and softer than she thought it would be. His tongue had lazily brushed against her lips until she opened them. His taste was just as good as she remembered, and his lips were just as warm. She tangled her hands in his hair, his gorgeous hair. She massaged his scalp as they kissed, causing him to moan. It was the greatest sound of her life. She would devote her time to finding other ways to make that delicious sound come out of his mouth.

He pulled her closer, without breaking the kiss, so that she was straddling him. His hands moved from her thighs, and traveled up to her hips. He slipped his fingers underneath the fabric of her shirt, massaging the skin. She groaned against his mouth, feeling as though she was going to combust with all the sensations he was giving her. When he pulled away, she felt empty at the loss of his lips. Her eyes were still shut, and her breathing was coming in heavy pants.

"You are incredible." He told her, brushing his fingertips over her cheekbones.

"You make me feel incredible." She replied, opening her eyes. He was smiling at her, his eyes hypnotizing her.

"I think we should make this official." He said, twisting her on his lap so that her feet were dangling off the side of his thighs.

"Is that a question?" She was feeling cocky, feeling the effects of their kiss underneath her. He rolled his eyes at her.

"Do you need me to properly ask you? You would put me through that torture?"

"Hmmm…" She said, turning her mouth to the side and touching her chin with her pointer finger. "Yes."

He laughed, rubbing his hand up and down her arm.

"Bella, beautiful, will you be my girlfriend?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.

Her heart fluttered. It was as if this moment was surreal; a daydream in her over-exhausted mind. She couldn't believe that as perfect as he was, he wanted to settle for someone like her. Like hell was she going to pass this up, though.

"Of course!" She said, throwing her arms around his neck. "I can finally stake claim!" She said.

"You're so silly sometimes." He told her, kissing her cheek. "Let me get you home; I don't want the chief to find a reason to test out his gun on moving targets, specifically seventeen year old boys."

Bella got up off his lap, standing up. She helped him fold up the blanket, and carry it to the car. He opened the door again for her, before getting in on his side of the car.

"Do you think this will finally get easier now that we're a couple?" She asked him as he started driving.

"Do I think what will get easier?" He was a little confused.

"The need to be around you. Do you think it won't be as hard to deal with now that we know each other's feelings?"

He took her hand, and smiled at her.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to see you enough." He replied.

She leaned over the consol, and kissed his cheek.

"I'm going to love being able to do that anytime I want." She mused to herself. Edward heard, apparently, because he chuckled.

The rest of the ride was spent in a haze of joy; her thoughts mellow and peaceful.

"Oh, Bella. It is not easy for me to leave you. I had an amazing night with you, and I wanted to thank you for agreeing to be my girlfriend; I've never been happier." He told her, turning her head towards his. "I'm going to kiss you goodnight, and be at your house on Monday at seven o'clock. Sleep well, beautiful."

He made good to his promise, and kissed her sweetly.

"Goodnight." She whispered, getting out of the car. As she made her way to the door, she blew him a kiss before he left.

When she walked in the door, her father was sitting in front of the television sleeping. She kissed him on the forehead before going up to her room. She needed to calm down if she ever wanted to get sleep. She showered, brushed her teeth, and put on her pajamas before getting into bed. She thought the night through over and over again, coming up with the same conclusion every time.

She couldn't have pictured it any more perfect than it already was.

AN: this chapter is a little shorter than the others by about five hundred-ish words.

But that's okay, right? J

I loved this chapter, and I really hope you did, too!

Tell me what you think.

OH!!! AND THANK YOU ALL SOOO MUCH! I GOT MANY MORE REVIEWS/ALERTS! Way to be guys!

Love,

Jess