A/N: Thanks for reviewing, keep them coming!!

Disclaimer: I own nothing

See the lights,
See the party the ball gowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say "Hello," – Taylor Swift "Love Story"

"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Gordon said. Bella looked at him and straightened his tie. "Leigh," she looked at him and smiled. He'd started calling her Leigh, by her middle name. He only did it in private, she liked it, made her feel like she was all his. Bella belonged to lots of people, but Leigh was only Gordon's. She kissed him.

"I want you to come," she said. "We don't have to stay long."

"Bella, you're the maid of honor," he said. "It's the engagement party, we have to stay the whole time."

"I know," she said, "but it won't be any fun if you're not there." He nodded.

"Will he be there?" He asked. She sighed.

"I don't know," she said, "his parents will be, they're Eva's god parents, if he's back from Seattle he will be." Gordon nodded.

"But you don't know if he's back?" He asked. She shook her head. "Maybe you should read those letters, at least then we'd be ready." She laughed and kissed him.

"Even if he is back," she said. "It won't change anything. You're my guy now." He smiled. "So do I look pretty?" She twirled, showing off her simple blue dress.

"You look beautiful," he smiled, "you always do." She smiled and he kissed her. "Your family doesn't like me."

"That's ridiculous," she said. "My family doesn't know you. You never come over, so they couldn't possibly." He looked at her. "Your parents don't particularly adore me either."

"My mom is just a worry wart, and I'm pretty sure that my father feels the same way as yours," he said. She sighed and looked down. "I'm sorry, I'm bringing you down, aren't I?"

"No," she said softly. "No, of course not." They kissed. "I just want to have fun tonight, and Dean will be there, so that's good."

"Right," he nodded. "Yeah, good, definitely good to see Dean." He mumbled as they walked outside.

"So what kinds of things do I get to say to him?" TJ asked Stephanie as she put earrings on.

"Nice ones," she said. He rolled his eyes. "I'm serious TJ, Gordon is a nice boy. I've known him since he was a baby."

"Bella would not date a nice boy," he said. "Because Bella's evil."

"Your sister is not evil," Stephanie said. "She's complicated." He laughed and kissed her.

"Hello young lovers," Lizzie smiled walking in.

"Hey Liz," TJ said. "I didn't know you were allowed this far north anymore."

"Haha, funny," she said and punched him in the shoulders and then plopped on the bed. "So I hear Bella's dating Gordon Conway. When did that happen?"

"Hey, did you call Tony?" Stephanie asked. Lizzie looked down. "Lizzie, you should."

"Why?" She said. "I'll bet he's in Rhode Island with Connie anyway."

"He's not," TJ said. "We hung out with him last night." Lizzie frowned. There went that excuse. "Even Stephie's being accepting, we went on a double date with Reese and Aaron."

"Shut up!" Lizzie said. "They're a real couple now."

"Oh yes," Stephanie nodded, "and they're delightful too. Lot's of hand holding and neck kissing and 'baby,'" she nodded.

"So everyone's moved on but me," Lizzie said. "Oh the joy. Come on, we have to work on the speech."

"Great," TJ said. "You OK?"

"I'll be devastated if you and Lizzie go work on a speech for five minutes," Stephanie dead panned. "Go, work your magic." He kissed her. "Love you."

"Love you too." She said. TJ and Lizzie walked out.

"Yeah, you two aren't nauseating at all," Lizzie shook her head.

"Whatever," he said taking out his cell phone.

"What are you doing?" She said.

"Calling Tony," he smiled. "And inviting him. Because you two need to talk."

"God, I hate you so much," Lizzie groaned.

"It's ringing," TJ said. "Hey Tony, there's someone here who wants to talk to you." He shoved the phone at Lizzie and walked away.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi," Tony said on the other end. "He's making you talk to me isn't he?"

"Yeah," she said. "How was the rest of your year?"

"Good," he said. "Yours?"

"Good," she said. "So you and Connie,"

"Liz, don't," he sighed. "It's not like that."

"Then what's it like?" She asked.

"I don't know," he said. "But we're not together."

"But you sleep with her?" She said.

"Slept with her," he sighed, "once. I miss you. We should get together while you're in town."

"Maybe," she sighed. "I have to go. I'll call you."

"Promises, promises," he said and laughed. She smiled. "Talk to you soon Norris."

"Same to you Duncan," she said and hung up smiling.

Dean walked up to Bella who was helping Julie plate appetizers in the kitchen. She squeaked and hugged him around the neck.

"Hey you," he said. "How can I help?"

"Get out of the kitchen," Julie said. Bella giggled. "Bella, go, have fun and circulate. You're made for hostess work, not kitchen work."

"But I'm helping," Bella said.

"I know sweetie, and I'm grateful," Julie nodded, "but you also stranded poor Gordon out there with hostile Rileys, I've been in his place. Not fun."

"Oh right," Bella said. "Come on, Dean," she dragged him away.

"I'm so glad you're back to your old bossy perky self," he said hugging her around the shoulders.

"I'm glad to be back," Bella said. He laughed. "Gordon!" She called and bounced over and kissed him.

"Hey Dean," Gordon nodded, trying to say with his eyes, "Please don't tell my girlfriend I basically stalked her for three years."

"Hey Conway," Dean said. "So how are things with you two crazy kids?"

"Just fine," Bella said. "Apparently the only way Gordie knew I wasn't absolutely horrible was because of you. So thanks for that."

"Mm," Dean nodded. "Sure, you know I always saw you two together." She grinned.

"Attention, everyone," TJ said gently rapping a spoon against a glass. "Um, we the siblings of the engaged couple have some stuff we want to say." Lizzie, Bella and Dean walked over to him. "So, Lizzie's the oldest, she's gonna start."

"Right," Lizzie said. "So the four of us were talking about this toast, and we started talking about things that Eva and David had in common."

"For example," TJ said. "It turns out they both used to say things like, 'we don't want to be like Mom and Dad,' meaning they didn't want to get married young."

"And yet here they are," Dean said. "Ages twenty one and twenty four and about to walk down the aisle."

"And for our part," Bella said, "we're very happy that we're all going to be family. So here's to Eva and David," she raised her glass and smiled at her older sister. "We love you both, and we're all of us thrilled." Everyone raised their glasses and drank.

Later that night Bella sat out on the deck with Trina, Dean and Gordon, she was sitting on Gordon's lap with her head curled into his chest. She was sleepy from being hostessy and perky all night, plus from the large amount of champagne she'd imbibed. He kissed her hair and whispered to her. She giggled.

"How come we're not like that?" Trina looked at her boyfriend.

"You want to sit on my lap, feel free," Dean said. Trina rolled her eyes.

"I have to go to the bathroom," Gordon said, "I'll be right back."

"OK," Bella said standing up and then plopping back down in the chair with a giggle.

"You're like head over heals aren't you?" Dean smirked. Bella nodded and then hiccupped.

"I'm glad," Trina said. "He's liked you for so long. And then when he didn't fess up after he sent you those presents at Valentine's day." Dean inhaled. Bella sat up and looked at them.

"After he what?" She said.

"Nothing," Dean said. "Nothing, absolutely not a thing, right Trina?" Trina swallowed

"Right," Trina said. "I'm tired, and kind of drunk." Bella stared at both of them. "It's Demon Bella, Dean, what do we do?" She whispered. Bella stood up and walked into the house intercepting Gordon on his way back outside.

"Hey baby," he said. "I got more champagne."

"Did you send me presents for Valentine's Day this year?" She crossed her arms and stared at her.

"Um," he stammered. She sighed. "Listen, Bella," he put his arms around her, "I want you to understand."

"The rose, and the chocolate and the poem?" She said. "All from you?"

"Well, yeah," he nodded, "but, Leigh, you have to understand," she pulled backwards away from him retreating into herself.

"I don't understand," she said. "We'd never met until this summer!"

"I know," he said, "I know it's weird, but I had this ridiculous crush on you," she stared at him.

"I was furious at Dean for weeks after that," she said, "because I thought he sent them to me to try to cheer me up or play some weird joke on me!" He stared at her. "I threw myself at Eddie and he thought I was crazy because I thought he sent me those things." He looked down. "Why didn't you just talk to me? Or why didn't you at least tell me?"

"I didn't talk to you because I was terrified," he said. "Plus every time I tried to you forgot my name." She stared at him. "And I didn't tell you when we got together because on reflection it was a really creepy thing to do, and I care about you, and I didn't want you running the other way." She stared at him.

"I was miserable this year," she said. "This whole year, and if I could have known you felt this way about me earlier," she looked at him. "I thought you were different. But you're a liar, just like him." She turned around and walked upstairs to go to bed.

Bella woke up in the middle of the night hearing something beating against the window of her bedroom. She walked over and looked down and saw that it was Gordon. She sighed and opened the window.

"Gordon, go home," she said.

"Nope," he shook his head. "Come down. We have to talk."

"I don't want to talk to you!" She said.

"Bella!" He said earnestly. "Please? Come down." She sighed and closed the window and walked down the stairs and outside.

"What?" She said.

"I know I should have told you," he said. "But Leigh, I couldn't." She looked at him. "I've wanted what we have since I first saw you, but I never thought that," he took her hands. "Why would you want me? You're the most popular girl in school, you were dating Eddie Cole, who was like this perfect match for you," she swallowed. "I'm the coach's kid, and I was the second string quarterback for the world's worst football team. I didn't deserve a girl like you. I still don't." She grabbed onto his face and kissed him, hard and long. He wrapped his hand into her hair.

"Don't ever lie to me again," she whispered, "or keep a secret, or anything. I won't let my heart get broken again, I couldn't take it. But I'm falling in love with you and I don't want to live without you, I don't think I can." They kissed again. "Come upstairs, stay the night." He smiled.

"I thought we were waiting?" He teased.

"I want to wake up tomorrow with you there," she said. "We don't have to wait for that."

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