AN: I'm loving all the favorites and alerts! I'd really like to know what you guys think so hey clicky on that box thingie

My story pimp this chapter is Shrinking the Violets by psydoc. It's a great fic about Charlie taking a more active role in Bella's life. I'm not gonna give a thing away it's awesome! Run read it's on my fav's

To Karen: It's just to make you smile a bit!

Super DUPA shout-out to my amazing beta changedbyedward that makes me sound eloquent and shit. I heart you hard BB!

On to the story…

APOV

The next couple of weeks went by without grand incident. I managed to keep that harpy Lauren away from Bella. Lauren did, unfortunately, have a bad spill down the stairs. Blame those god-awful, last season, clearance rack, Oscar De La Renta sling-backs she was clomping around in. If she had only picked up her feet as she walked, the cow wouldn't have tripped over my book bag. It's not my fault she doesn't look where she's going. I helped her up didn't I?

I was worried about how to bring up the party to Bella. Halloween was coming up so I could always pass it off as a costume party, but something told me she wouldn't take it well so I figured I should just be honest with her.

The sun shone through the window as Bella and I caught up on some homework. She had taken to staying with me on sunny days and we caught up on one of the assignments that we missed. We had stellar grades so the makeup work wasn't necessary, but it filled up the silence. I knew how Bella hated filling in the quiet with inane conversation. A few assignments later, it was time for a lunch break for the human, so I decided it was time to spring the party on Bella. She had her back to me as she searched around the kitchen for something to eat. Time to pounce.

"Bella," I said ever so softly, "you love me, don't you?" I could hear her sigh as she dropped her head down. Ha, she thought I was going to ask her shopping or something.

"Alice, you know I do. Who's having a sale?" I gasped in mock horror and shook my head.

"Isabella, it shames me to know that you think me nothing more than a brain-dead shopaholic." I cast my eyes downward and felt Bella wrap her arms around me.

"Oh, Alice, I didn't mean it that way! You usually only use that line when you want to take an out-of-town shopping trip. What's going on? I'll be serious." She sat down and folded her hands over her lap, her big browns looking at me earnestly. I laughed because it looked like some of my mannerisms where rubbing off on her.

"Well, Bells, I've been thinking about the Era I grew up in and all the great music and times from then and I'm so sad that I missed it, you know? I wish there was a way for me to just gussie myself up and relive a time I never knew. Would you be down to help me do something?" A beautiful smile lit up Bella's face for the first time since my dearest brother left her and she shook her head in genuine excitement.

"Anything, Alice. What's on your mind?" I started jumping up and down in my seat

"So, this is what I'm thinking. The Roaring Twenties from décor to attire. Music, food, and all that jazz. The girls could dress up as flappers. It'll be awesome and, of course, we'll look amazing. The best part? I get to share this with you. I get to play time machine and pretend I'm a normal teen and my bestie will be there. So I repeat, are you down? Halloween is around the corner so we could set it up as a costume party."

"I'm more than down, Alice, let's do this shit!" Bella ran upstairs to grab her laptop and I couldn't help the smile that had pasted itself to my face. I really thought it would be harder to draw Bella out but it seemed like she wanted to make the effort just as much as I wanted to help her through her issues.

I couldn't contain the happiness that was rolling off me so I did a little happy dance and jumped when I heard a rap at the door. I should have been paying more attention. I was letting myself get so wrapped up in the party that I was allowing it to block other things, so I was surprised when I opened the door to see Angela Weber standing on the porch with her arms full of books.

"Hey, Angela! To what do we owe the pleasure?" I grabbed some books off her pile and motioned for her to come in. Of all the humans at Forks High, I really loved Angela the most. She was a genuine friend. No pretenses. No looking for extras. She was just there for whoever needed her.

"Thanks, Alice, I was just bringing by some books I had borrowed from Bella and wanted to see how she's doing." Angela smiled and I understood. We had been watching Bella for the better part of eight weeks, seeing her teeter back and forth between emotions, when all we wanted was for her to get better. At that moment, Bella ran down the stairs and, miraculously enough, managed to not do a face-plant at the bottom. She came to a halt in front of us and smiled at Angela.

"Hey, you! Guess what? Alice, can I tell her?" I looked at the sheer bliss on Bella's face couldn't resist. It was the first time I had seen her so animated and excited for anything in so long that I couldn't say no. I smiled at her and nodded. She placed her laptop on the table and turned back to Angela.

"So, Alice has this idea to have a themed party this Halloween. The theme is the 1920's and I mean everything!" Bella launched into the party set up and explained what I wanted to do. I sat back and watched in absolute amazement. As early as the beginning of the week, Bella had been keeping to herself. At times, I'd walk into the room and she'd just be talking to herself. After my conversation with Esme over the weekend, I had considered finding a shrink for her. It was too bad that I didn't know any psychologists that were vampires. I had finally shoved the idea out of my mind because, again, the thought of being committed was less than desirable. I had decided, instead, to go through with the party and see how it went. I was pleased with the choice I had made because Bella really seemed to be into it. I watched as a smile spread across Angela's face.

"Oh my goodness! You guys don't even know! This is amazing!" Angela started cracking up and laughed so hard she had to hold her sides. Bella and I looked at each other in confusion. Angela started waving her hands at us to show she was all right. When she finally composed herself, she started to explain.

"When I was in, like, seventh grade, we all had this assignment. Pick an era of time, study it, and portray an average couple at the time. The catch was that we had to act the part for a week. We practiced the mannerisms and language of that time and acted the part. We also had partners so at least someone knew what we were talking about. I was paired with Tyler and we chose the 1920's because of the up-and-coming jazz and flapper scene. After the assignment, I got sucked in and kept studying the subject. I fell in love with the music and the lingo. The slang was awesome, or better yet, it was the cat's meow, doll!" She winked at us and Bella and I exchanged slack-jawed glances. I slid over to Angela's side and gave her my most winning smile.

"Ang, you have to help me with this party." I looked up at her, giving her my best doe-eyes, and for another time that day, I was surprised. Who woulda thunk it? Sweet and quiet Angela was an undercover, on the level, flapper girl!

"Alice, I thought you'd never ask!"

BPOV

I will get through this. I will get through this. I fucking damn well had better get through this. I sat on my bed and muttered my mantra to myself. I had decided that I wasn't going to sit around and let myself slowly go crazy. It was bad enough that I kept hearing…things. I refused to even deal with that yet. I needed to deal with how to not draw attention to myself and the best way to do that was to act like my heart wasn't breaking and my life wasn't over because the other half of my soul had rejected me. Yeah. So, at that point I had to pep talk myself just to get through the day.

The weeks passed by and I tried hard to push away the ever-present feeling of despair. I had almost gotten to the point where I could come off semi-normal. I had even passed the 'Alice test.' I really was excited about the party, but he was always there in the back of my mind. My calm façade and jovial mood all but vanished as soon as even the whisper of a thought murmured something that reminded me of him.

After Angela left, I told Alice I had a headache but she should get something for Angela and me to eat since Angela was planning to come over later that night to help with the party planning. I stayed home, sat back on my bed, and repeated my mantra to myself. I had to try even if I was just faking it. I knew how hard Alice was trying and I wanted to show her that I was going to be okay, at least on the outside. It was my duty, as her best friend, to help her throw a phenomenal party that no one in Forks would ever forget.

I will get through this…