Hey guys. Loving the reviews. Still don't own anything.

You wanna know what makes me mad. I have a lot of people just hit the first chapter and then don't read more. I know this happens to every story but I think the journal entries scare people away. Thank YOU for giving it a chance.

Edward.

My attempts to keep Bella safe last week were futile. Not only had I pushed her away from myself, I had pushed her right into his arms. She hasn't spoken to me in a week. Living under the same roof had been serving as much a slow torture as it had a comfort. I was miserable.

I looked down at the costume Alice picked out for me.

"I look ridiculous." I said resentfully to no one in particular.

Bella.

I missed him. All I wanted was to make up but whenever I saw him he went the other way. Sure I was mad, but I had never before gone a couple hours without talking to him, let alone a week. I was miserable.

My only comfort was Lucas. I couldn't exactly tell him why I was upset but he comforted me anyway.

I looked down at my costume. Green and silver tulle stuck out in all directions, barely covering my essentials. A similarly revealing piece of fabric covered my top. Alice insisted it was 'very Tink'.

"I look ridiculous." I sighed to no one in particular.

Edward.

I didn't bother leaving with my family for the dance. It would only have made things unnecessarily uncomfortable.

"Come in, Mom." I called before there was a knock on my door. It opened slightly, letting a small sliver of light in the dark room.

"You look… dashing."

"Thank you." I steadied the sword on my hip before placing a kiss on her cheek.

"You heading out now?"

"I am."

"Would you do me a favour tonight?" she asked with a smile. Her thoughts gave no hint as to what she wanted from me.

"For you? Of course."

"Ask her to dance."

"Mom."

"You said!"

"That I did." I conceded.

"I only want you to be happy." And she did. It was the only thing she ever wanted. I considered her request for a moment.

One dance…

Who could it hurt? Other than me of course. I would keep the masque on and Bella would be none the wiser.

"Me too." Happy?

Bella.

We opened the doors to strobe lights, bad food, and worse music.

"Here we go." I squeezed Luke's hand, more to reassure myself I wasn't alone, than anything else. We choose a free space of wall and everyone came to us. My family was off to do their own thing but all of Lucas friends came to greet him.

All of them said hi to me but probably only because I was on his arm.

"I'm going to grab us some drinks." He left with a kiss on my hand to which all of his friends let out a chorus of 'awes'.

As soon as he was gone a frizzy haired freshman asked me for a dance. I declined politely and slightly confused.

Then 3 guys from the football team asked as well confusing me further. They probably only asked me because they were Lucas's friends and being nice. Not wishing that fate on anyone I said no to them as well. They left me after an awkward silence.

I looked around for a familiar face but my family all seemed to have disappeared.

That's when I saw him.

He wore a gold mask and long royal blue coat with a sword. He could have any girl in the school be putty in his hands.

And he was walking my way. I must have been caught staring.

I was about to open my mouth to apologize when he bowed down low and offered his hand. Oh no. He wanted me to dance. He gestured again for me to take it. Instead of declining as my mind was screaming for me to do, I reached out my hand and took his.

My hand felt alive with one touch. All my senses were heightened. This stranger caused such a physical reaction from me I scarcely noticed as we floated toward the dance floor. The song changed as if for this moment. The tacky strobe light changed into a soft sparkling wonderland. It was enchanting.

Edward.

I opened both doors to the gym. A couple of girls close by noticed my entrance and started appraising me. Moving away quickly I narrowly avoided their advances. Besides, I was only looking for one girl. The one I couldn't have.

"Would you like to dance Bella?" A boy asked by the north wall. I picked her voice out of the crowd with ease.

"No, err, thanks anyway." She replied shyly. Now was my chance.

It wasn't long before I caught sight of her. Taking it all in, her scantily clad body that was well toned. Her pale skin glowing in the poor lighting and contrasting marvellously with her costume. Her cheeks shimmered nearly as much as the wings on her back.

And her eyes were… looking at me.

She noticed me. My masque mustn't have done anything to hide my identity. I looked closer at her expression which I had trouble identifying.

Was that… lust? I felt a swell of pride that I could cause that reaction from her. I took a step closer and her gaze locked on mine. I took another step closer to her. She didn't seem to recognize me. She actually looked ashamed for being caught.

Is she ashamed she was caught looking at me?

I couldn't have her ashamed for something that made me feel so joyous. I was in front of her now and bowed, offering her my hand.

She looked as if she was about to decline. When her hand touched mine, my heart felt lighter. I felt as if I could fly with the current that ran through my being.

We drifted, hand in hand, to the center of the dance floor. The music changed abruptly. On the stage I saw my sister had convinced the DJ to change it to something more suitable. She smile down on us widely.

I pulled my angel close. One hand on the small of her back and the other still holding her hand. Her smell wafted in my face and my body acted of its own accord. I bent my face to the crook of her neck and took a deep breath of her intoxicating aroma.

She relaxed some and rested her head on my shoulder. We moved with grace through the crowd.

I am going to kill that guy. I heard Lucas's thoughts. Bella tensed in my arms and I knew she had to have seen him.

And then I'm going to punish her for doing this to me.

Before I could react she dashed out of my arms and after him.

"Bella." I called after her. She didn't hear me.

"Alice. Jasper." My sister nodded her head to me and rushed from the gym with Jasper in tow.

I couldn't bring myself to follow.

Bella.

Lucas looked livid. The whimsical feeling Prince Charming had left me with was all but forgotten. "Lucas!" I called, bursting through the gym doors into the hallway. Only the first section was lighted. He had gone well beyond, into the darkened bowels of the school.

"She means the world to me. I put her on a pedestal and this is how I'm treated in return." His muttering echoed back to me. Every sentence was followed by a string of profanities.

"She's mine. Who does he think he is??"

Mine? What?

"Let him have his hands all over her…"

I wondered momentarily if he knew I was behind him. He stopped in his tracks and faced me holding out an accusing finger.

"You." He pushed me violently back into a locker. My head cracked against it hard. "You slut."

"You ungrateful," he punched the locker by my head, "bitchy," he punched it again breaking open it and his knuckles, "SLUT."

The smell of blood made me feel faint.

He wound up again and aimed. This time for my face. I flinched in anticipation of an impact that never came. Alice caught his hand mid follow through. Lucas was caught off guard. She threw him across the hall so fast his body made a whooshing sound. Sliding down the wall opposite me, he landed on the floor, unconscious with an audible thud. It all happened so fast.

I was in shock. I wasn't afraid, my body was frozen in place trying to process the nights events. Jasper was standing guard at the end of the hall. Alice stood in front of me awaiting my reaction.

Then it hit me.

There wasn't anything to fear, I just had to cry. Alice wrapped her small frame around me and we sank in a collective heap to the floor. I barely noticed her placing me in the backseat of the car, or her whispered phone call in the front seat, or being taken up into my room. I only knew how alone I felt.

I didn't have my best friend. He was the only thing that might have helped me get through this.

The was a small knock on my door. Probably Edward come to gloat. "If you've come to say I told you so, I don't want to hear it."

My door opened slightly shedding light on my bed. There, silhouetted in the doorway, was Prince Charming. He took a step further into the room.

"Edward."

Edward.

I clicked my phone shut after telling Alice I'd be home right away. Down at my feet lay Lucas, still unconscious where I found him.

He was close to coming back around.

"What are we going to do with him?" Rose asked coming up beside me. She wanted vengeance nearly as much as I did. Emmett had gone to get the car so there was no one there to keep us in check.

I bent down to get a better look at his face. "Bella…" he mumbled in his stupor. I was seething. He had no right to let that name pass his lips.

"Believe me when I say," I whispered close to his ear, " it would be easy to squish you like the insect that you are." Standing up straight I brush off my knees.

"But I won't."

Rose shrieked, "WHAT?! After what he did to Bella."

"And stoop to his level."

Why not?

"Because he's not worth it." I sighed and turned towards the doors Emmett was waiting outside of. All I really needed then was Bella. If she'd have me.

OOoOoOo

Ignoring the entire family I went directly to Bella's room. Emmett and Rose would be able to field all the 'What happened?' questions.

Her quiet sobs came through the door. It took all of my control not to go back and pummel the #/ for making her cry. I knocked.

"If you've come to say I told you so, I don't want to hear it."

I opened the door, fearful she might send me away.

"Be nice." Alice called. My emotion were torn between wanting to hold Bella and going back to… Bella.

We stared at each other in silence. Words weren't necessary. In those precious moments she was forgiving me and I was hoping to be Bella & Edward again. Please.

"Edward." She sobbed her arms outstretched begging me to come closer. I instantly pulled her close. Sobs racked her body again and tears fell freely down her face.

Pulling her away from my body, I brushed the hair back from her face. Even being red and splotchy, she looked glorious. Her face fit in my palms and I pulled her close again. I kissed each cheek and wished no tears would ever fall on them again. She didn't shy away from my touch, instead she pulled me down with her to the bed.

She rolled to her side draping my arm down the length of her body. Her costume crinkled loudly under my hand in the quiet of her room. My body was flush with hers, my face in her hair. I listened as her breathing became even and she sighed contentedly.

"Sweet Dreams, Bella."

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I really hope you liked this chapter as much as I do. (Tried to keep the pronouns to a minimum) Have you ever heard the song He Said, She Said by Socail Code? I feel like I sound like that sometimes. Good Song... even has a little to do with the story. LOTS of pronouns... you know who you are.

PLEASE REVIEW!