DISCLAIMER: Sadly enough I own nothing

AUTHORS NOTE: here's another one. I hope you guys are all like the story so far. This chapter is just a short one to show how everything is after the both realize they love the other.

(Creed)

-EPOV-

"Edward Anthony Cullen! When were you going to tell me?"

I looked up over the top of the novel I was trying to enjoy.

"I honestly have no idea what you are talking about." I sighed.

"That you are in love with Bella!" she shrieked.

I cringed.

"Alice! I believe there is someone in Timbuktu who failed to hear you. Please say it a little louder."

Alice squealed and hoped onto my bed, tackling me into a hug. I hugged her back, chuckling despite myself. That was just the way it was with Alice. You could not be angry with her for too long.

"You didn't deny it!" She squeaked and gave me another hug.

"There isn't much use denying it any longer." I sighed. "But please keep this quiet for a little while Alice."

She sat back on her heels and cocked her head to one side questioningly.

"Why?"

I placed my novel on the bedspread beside me and rubbed my eyes with the heels of my hands.

"Because I know how I feel about Bella but I am not certain how Bella feels about me and I do not want to jeopardize our friendship."

Alice smiled radiantly.

"So this isn't about Alaska anymore?"

I shook my head.

"I'm not too sure about Alaska any longer Alice."

For once Alice Brandon, shopaholic and most energetic person I had ever come to be acquainted with was quiet.

She simply sat there gauging my reaction with wide eyes for an immeasurable amount of time.

"But Edward…" she seemed to be stumbling for words. Another first for Alice.

"You hate Forks! You miss Alaska and you plan has always been to move back as soon as possible."

I chuckled.

"Alaska no longer matters."

Again she was speechless. I was greatly amused watching her attempt to comprehend my logic. I had never seen Alice speechless in our entire lives and I now got to witness it twice in five minutes.

I finally took pity on her and smiled. A real smile. Finally.

"I was happy in Alaska."

I looked at her and she nodded to show she followed me thus far.

"That is the reason I was moving back. Because I desired happiness."

Alice nodded again and sank back onto the bed, sitting Indian style with her head in her hands.

"Bella makes me happy. I am happy. I do not need to move to Alaska to find that anymore."

I sighed.

"I know I may still miss it but I could always visit…"

I ran a hand through my hair as I struggled to voice my feelings.

"Besides Bella is my first priority."

There was no question about it, Bella was my life now. I would do anything to make her happy.

Alice stared at me for a moment and then she tackled me into another hug.

"I knew you loved her." She sang and I chuckled.

"I suppose I just didn't realize how much you loved her."

It felt so unrealistic not too mention… well… cheesy to be saying these things. I had always stared with bewildered confusion when Jasper, Emmett, or my father would voice these same feelings but I was acting the same way now. I did not understand how it could be possible but I was not going to question it.

"Alice?" I pulled back from our hug and looked her in the eyes. "Please do not tell anyone."

Alice threw her head back and laughed her little trilling laughter of bells.

"Edward relax. She loves you too!"

It did not seem at all that possible.

"I hope so." I sighed.

"You deserve this Edward." she said and I was taken off guard by her intensity.

She got up off of the bed and danced lithely to the door. She looked over her shoulder and smile sweetly at me.

"You have to tell her."

I nodded.

"I will. Please simply allow me to tell her when the time is right."

She smiled and bounced down the stairs.

Alice seemed so positive that all of this would work out; that I would be good enough for Bella, that she would love me back, and that we could be happy forever. But I was still skeptical.

I flopped back onto my back on my bed and threw my hands over my face. I could see Bella and I living a happy life for all of eternity. I had no doubts that if Bella loved me as I loved her we would be happy forever, just like Alice thinks. But that Bella did love me was doubtful and that I was good enough for her was impossible.

---

With Alice's permission, or maybe I should reword. With Alice's demanding that I pick Bella up for school I left early.

Emmett was going to ride in the Porsche with Alice. This of course made him extremely excited because he was convinced they could "outrun the cops in that thing…"

I hope they do not run into Chief Swan.

I pulled up outside of Bella's home and was surprised with just how nervous I felt. I had decided that the only thing to do now was to decipher how she felt. I would not stay away from her any longer and I would not hide my feelings from her but everything had to be Bella's choice.

I went to knock on the door just as Bella opened it. She jumped, startled. But the look of surprise quickly turned to a warm smile and I grinned.

"Hello Bella. I was wondering if you would like to ride to school with me."

She bit her lip and looked behind her into the house.

"If you would rather have your father drive you that is fine. I understand you enjoy your bonding time with him. I should have called first."

She put a gentle hand to my shoulder to stop my ranting.

"I would love to. Let me tell Charlie I have a ride."

I smiled.

"Great. I will meet you in the car."

---

She shut the passenger door and smiled at me.

"Thanks so much. It's almost like you read my mind. Charlie was running late for work so it's been a stressful morning."

I frowned. She had no idea how much I wished I could read her mind. It would make all of this so much easier.

"Stressful?" I asked, concerned.

She shrugged.

"Yeah. Ever since the truck got hit I haven't been able to drive myself anywhere and Charlie is supposed to be at the station before I have to be at school."

"Why don't you ride with me then?"

She looked to me with wide eyes.

"I couldn't ask that…"

I smirked and turned the heater up because I noticed her shivering.

"You didn't ask a thing of me. I offered and it would be excessively rude of you not to except."

Did guilting her into choosing what I want count? I would have to be stop that and be good.

Thankfully she simply giggled.

"I wouldn't want to be rude."

"That you wouldn't."

---

Alice was waiting for Bella at her locker just like usual but she was smiling that smile. The one that means she is up to something. I handed Bella the books I had been carrying for her and shot Alice a warning look.

"Keep your thoughts to yourself." I whispered as I past her.

She smiled angelically and linked her arm with Bella's. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. This was guaranteed to be an interesting day.

-BPOV-

"what's going on with you today Alice?" I asked suspiciously.

She was bouncing from foot to foot while waiting for me to transfer my books from my locker.

"Nothing! It's just a beautiful day Bella! Geez. Where's you enthusiasm?"

I laughed.

"I think I left it behind today. This morning didn't start too well."

Alice's face sunk immediately.

"What happened?"

I sighed. I didn't want to talk about it really. I had no idea why I had brought it up. Usually I preferred to be the silent martyr.

"I woke up from a nightmare and Charlie was running late for work and I tripped getting into the shower."

I sighed and rubbed the spot on my leg that had begun to bruise before my shower was ever over. Alice shook her head sympathetically.

"Edward gave you a ride though. That was nice." she reminded me.

She had a twinkle in her eyes. It made me nervous.

"yeah. That actually helped my mood a lot. It was very sweet of him."

Alice clapped and I realized I had said too much. I had to watch what I said around Alice. She wants Edward and I both to be happy so much that she blows up everything I say so it's this huge thing to be analyzed so I will finally realize "we are meant to be together!" to quote Alice directly.

She opened her mouth to say something else but stopped mid-sentence to scowl over my shoulder. I was about to ask her what she was looking at when I felt a hand grip my shoulder.

I whipped around to see Mike Newton standing there. That explained the scowl.

"Hi Mike."

He smiled and I realized his hand was still on my shoulder. I backed away infinitesimally and his hand fell.

"what can I do for you?" I asked.

"well… I was…I was wondering…" he stuttered.

I sighed and looked at the pile of books sitting in my locker. They were the ones Edward had just carried in for me from the car and there was a clear plastic case sticking out of the top of my English lit. book. It was a copy of the Debussy CD I had listened to in Edward's car that day we went to the meadow. I felt my breath catch. I couldn't believe he remembered that! On the front of the case it had Edward's fancy script handwriting.

"A piece of both your old home and your new." it said plainly.

I smiled so big it hurt my face.

"So what do you think Bella?" someone asked.

I shook my head and realized Mike was still standing there.

"I'm sorry Mike." I apologized. "What were you saying?"

He looked at the CD in my hands and then at Alice and scowled.

"Nothing!" he snapped. "I'll see you in English."

"How do you stand him?" asked Alice after he had stomped off down the hallway.

I slipped my new CD into my bad and sighed.

"He's not that bad." I lied.

Really I just felt sorry for him.

"You didn't even hear what he was asking you did you Bella?"

I shook my head and sighed again.

"Not really. Why?"

She looked at me and shook her head.

"He was asking you to the dance."

I cringed. I hadn't been thinking along those lines at all. Couldn't Mike see that I didn't like him? It didn't seem as if anything was going to stop him. There's another bad thing for me to add to my list of bad things that have happened this morning.

I patted the side pocket in my bag where my CD was safely nestled to calm myself and slammed the locker shut.

"Let's get this over with shall we?"

Alice gave me another sympathetic pat on the arm and we walked to the first class of a very long day.

---

I had no idea how I had never heard of this stupid dance. It seemed like it was all anyone was talking about. Especially the guys. I just didn't understand it. First Mike and then James asked. Then the guy that had almost killed me, Tyler Crowley asked me to go. I think it was his way of trying to rid himself of the guilt so I didn't get too mad at him but then his friend Eric asked me to go. Would it never end? By the time biology rolled around I was sick of it that when this tall russet skinned guy named Jacob asked me I snapped at him and he walked away looking like a man who had just had his will to live sucked dry. Okay… I felt bad about that guy… kind of. I didn't know him and he didn't know he was the fifth guy to ask me that day. What was going on? It was like we was in second grade again and I was the shiny new toy.

I clenched my fists as I realized that really was all it was. I was only average looking but I was something new.

At least my friends were there for me. Alice had no doubt filled Emmett in on what happened this morning with Mike because when he met me outside of my English lit. class he had a new and improved greeting for Mike, or should I say, "Aww. It's wittle Mikey!"(This one was from TwilightMommyof4girls. She's awesome! You're idea had me laughing so hard. Thanks for the help! I'll msg you about the fanfic preview.)

Seeing Emmett Cullen talking baby talks in the middle of the crowded halls of Forks High was the funniest thing I had ever seen. That one actually made me smile despite my bad mood. I didn't even know it was possible for such a shrill sound to come out of such a big man.

The only other bright spot of my day, except my CD of course, was when Mike failed to ask me out again in English. I was actually a little surprised he was giving up so easily.

"I wouldn't get your hopes up Bells!"

I frowned.

I had been telling Emmett about English as he walked me to Biology and I had happily mentioned Mike giving up.

"You think he's going to ask again?"

Emmett flung his arm around my shoulders.

"With out a doubt! You weren't even listening to him earlier."

He mock pouted and I couldn't help but laugh.

"You wounded his pride! Now he's trying to think of another way to ask again."

I groaned and Emmett chuckled.

"It's okay Bells! We've got you covered!"

I stopped walking and looked up at him hesitantly.

"You're not going to steal his car again are you?"

His booming laughter scared a couple of freshman walking past.

"Of course not!" he scoffed indignantly. "No on likes a rerun."

I just looked at him, one eyebrow raised. They were planning something new? This was going to end badly. In all probability it would end in tears…again.

Emmett saw my wary expression and smiled brilliantly.

"I promise this one's going to be very low key."

He frowned slightly as if he were disappointed by this fact.

"This one is all Jasper." he continued when he saw I was not yet convinced.

"Jasper?"

Emmett just shrugged with another round of heart chuckling.

(AN: next chapter we get to see Jasper manipulate Mike's emotions.*rubs hands together* sound like fun to anyone else? Heehee. If you read it please review it. We have over a hundred reviews now!!! You guys are amazing! Have I mentioned that lately? Lol. I am planning to respond to the reviews but I have been crazy busy for the past three/ four days so give me a little while and I'll answer as many as I can. Thanks!)