Monday morning the Volvo was in its usual place. I walked to class where Mike Newton met me. He walked by my side silently. That wasn't like Mike. He was as big a chatter box as Jessica. I hung my coat and stared at him. He sighed and started talking.
"So I heard about Friday."
"So have I, it's the last day of the work week."
"Ha ha Bella. I'm talking about you and Cullen."
Oh.
"Oh that, heard about that huh?""There isn't anyone who hasn't."
I felt myself blush.
"That guy is weird."
"That's not very nice Mike. Be careful, you might hurt some ones feelings.""Sorry. I just don't like him. I didn't mean anything against you.""Well then don't talk about him."I turned and went to sit down. Mike stood there until the bell rang. I was still fuming when I walked to lunch. I almost didn't notice the short dark head bobbing beside me. Alice was walking along side me.
"Um, hi?"
"Hi! I thought you would like to sit with us today."
"Why?""Well you and Edward are a thing right? So shouldn't you sit together?""I hadn't heard that.""Really? He didn't ask you out?""He asked me to the prom but that's it.""What a jerk."
"Its fine. I don't think we've met yet, I'm Bella.""I know. I'm Alice."
"I know."We laughed.
"Please come sit with us."
I glanced at my usual table. No one was there yet. What could it hurt?
I followed Alice to the table were her vampire siblings sat. Edward and the kid called Jasper weren't there yet. Emmett smiled wide and Rosalie looked away. I had a feeling she didn't like me.
"Guys this is Edward's not girlfriend Bella!"
Emmett elbowed Rosalie but she wouldn't turn.
"Hey I'm Emmett, I ruined your fun last week."
"Yeah I remember."
"So why is it not girlfriend?"
Alice sat down.
"Edward didn't ask her out."
"After making out with her in her own truck! I'm gonna punch him."I sat down and laughed with them. I was sure a punch from him would kill me.
"So Bella, how does Edward kiss? I bet its awful."
Alice gave him a dirty look.
"You don't have to answer that Bella."
Thank goodness for Alice.
I felt a touch on my shoulder and I looked up to see Edward. He didn't look mad but he certainly didn't look happy. He sat next to me just as Jasper sat on the other side of Alice.
"I didn't know you would be joining us."
Alice spoke before I could.
"Well Edward I thought she should since you guys are an item…oh wait, you aren't cause you are too scared to ask her out."
"Alice that is ridiculous. Why are you being like this?"
"Because you are being mean to Bella. You have to protect her honor. Everyone saw you guys in the parking lot last week. You don't want people to think badly of Bella now do you."
"No."
"There you go."
He smiled at her.
"So Bella how are you today?"
"I was good.""Was?"
"Its nothing."
"Now I know its something."
"Nope."
Alice looked thrilled.
"Its so funny that you cant read her mind."
"Shut up Alice."
She laughed.
"Bella tell me.""Mike doesn't like you."
"That's it?"
"Yeah."
"I don't understand."
Alice put her arm around my shoulder.
"You men are so stupid. You might be leaning towards 100 years old but you still don't know how girls work."
The guys stared at her.
"He hurt Bella's feelings because he talked bad about you."
Edward looked at me but I didn't meet his gaze. Alice was bold.
"Oh." was all he said.
That was pretty much how lunch went. A lot of it was Edward and Alice fighting. Emmett kept asking me question about Edwards 'skills' as he put it. That was usually met with a remark from Edward or Alice. I was so glad when we left to go to class. Things were so much more peaceful when it was just Edward and me. He seemed just as relieved as I was. People stared at us as we walked. I knew my face was bright red. All Edward did was smile. Its funny how that wasn't annoying me yet.
"I'm so sorry about my family. They don't know how to behave."
"Its fine, really. They seem like a lot of fun."
"They have their moments."We sat down. Edwards chair was much closer to mine than it had ever been. Our arms were touching. I wondered if anyone else noticed as well.
"So Alice thinks I have to ask you out."
"I know."
I glanced at him.
"You're nervous aren't you."
"Yes I am. Please don't ask here if you're going to."
"That's silly, what does it matter where we are?"
"Because there are people here."
"So?"I sighed.
"It just matters to me okay, please don't do it here."
He leaned down and put his lips to my ear.
"Bella will you go out with me?"I shivered. I couldn't help but wonder how many people were looking at us. Edward leaned away and stared at me. I tried not to look at him. I knew that if I did, this class was going to get a lot more interesting for everyone.
I sighed.
"Yes, even though you did it when I asked you not to.""Yeah I thought so.""Will you keep your hands to your self today? I'm tired of getting yelled at.""Bella you should know better."He reached down and took my hand. We held hands until my arm started to shake from the cold. After school he walked me to my truck instead of waiting by it. People all around us whispered and pointed at our intertwined fingers.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow."Edward touched my face.
"Bella thank you for giving me this chance."
"You're…welcome I guess. I think I wanted this chance too though."
He looked at me.
"What I wouldn't give to know what you were thinking."
"Me too."
Then he kissed me softly and walked to his car.
The weeks until prom were flying by. Before I knew it, Alice was dragging me to the city to buy a dress. I'm fairly certain she was enjoying all this way too much. She forced me into several dresses that would not have been allowed in the school. When I would mention that little bit of info she would huff and strip me for the next one. That was my whole weekend before prom. Edward had shown up once with his brothers but Alice kept them away. She didn't want Edward to see me before the dance. I felt like a bride. The groom couldn't see me. The thought of being an actual bride gave me the chills. Alice smiled as she switched out my silver shoes for some black ones.
"I'm not so sure about that one."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"I can see you guys getting married but it jumps in and out. One of you isn't sure about the future."
I always forgot Alice could see the future.
"I don't want to marry anyone."
"Aw but I think you would be a gorgeous bride!""I have no desire to tie myself to someone only to get a divorce a year later."
"Bella that doesn't happen to everyone. Rose and Emmett have been married a few times over the years and they are still going strong."
"Well in case you haven't noticed, I have terrible luck."
"Oh I have noticed, so has everyone else."
She laughed. I knew she was remembering the string of accidents that happened to me since we had met. Falling down, knocking things off shelves, nearly wrecking my truck into Emmett's muddy jeep. I was a walking disaster…and a driving one apparently.
"Okay Bella, up and spin."
I stood up on the dangerous heels and did a spin for her. She now had me in a near floor length dress with a large revealing cut up the side. It went up just short of my hip. The back was tied and the front was low cut. I couldn't deny that I looked good in it. That was a surprise. I usually hated dresses on my too skinny form. Alice looked thrilled.
"Well Alice I think this is the one.""Yes yes yes! I know Edward will love this. I'm gonna go grab some earrings I saw that would go great with this."
I continued to examine myself in the mirror while she was gone. I had a minute or 2 since she had to go human speed in public. Charlie was going to hate this.
Nervous was one word that could be used to describe my feelings. I kept taking huge breaths as Alice took the curlers out of my hair. She had forced me into them the night before. Today was all about me as she put it. With vampire speed she could be ready in less than a minute. I would take all day. Half my head was covered in messy springy curls. I was horrified at how tense the curls were. My hair looked 5 inches shorter. Alice had assured me several times that my hair would fall before the dance. We still had all day to let them settle. I really was a sight. It was a good thing she threatened Edward to stay away.
Around 5 things were getting more hurried. Alice was right about my hair. It settled perfectly onto my shoulders and looked gorgeous. She had pulled part of it back and pinned it. I thought it looked great but she wasn't sure. I was sitting with her in my bathroom with nothing but my panties and a bra on. In another hour I would pulling on my dress. Until then I was to sit still and let her work her magic. It was a long process. I was relieved when she brought in the dress. It was a mess as we tried to gently pull it over my hair. No one told me prom was so difficult. Alice brushed all the wrinkles out and smoothed the dress against my body. She looked very satisfied.
"Okay now your makeup."
Wonderful.