A/N

Yay, over 100 reviews!! Thanks guys, I really super appreciate every single one of them!

Okay, so a lot of you had your guesses on what was gonna go down at the party. Ready to find out if you were right?

Here's Chapter Nine. Enjoy.

-S.N.O.

CHAPTER NINE: PARTY

Alice and I spent the next week managing everything for the party. I mostly just took care of keeping track of all the RSVP's while Alice did pretty much everything else. That's what she was good for. Not that she wasn't good for anything else, but you know what I mean. The whole week she was on the phone with different businesses that someway or another had something to do with the party; caterers, decorators, the DJ we hired, etc. Everyone that was invited had sent in their RSVP's and as far as we knew everyone was coming. The Hale's, Masen's, Webber's, co-workers, and then Billy and Jake plus one. I was actually looking forward to meet this Peyton friend of Jacob's. What did they look like? Were they nice? How come I had never met them? All of these questions would hopefully be answered Saturday night.

All day Saturday the entire family, minus Emmett, plus Rosalie, helped set up for the party. The DJ was the last to arrive, two hours late. Needless to say, Alice wasn't too pleased. The decorations were, as always, perfect and beautiful. We had red, white, and purple streamers hanging from the ceilings, lot's of 'Happy New Year!' banners all over the walls, and several round party tables set up out in the backyard that were draped in either red, white, or purple table cloths and had confetti sprinkled all over. They were centered with giant plastic centerpieces that said either 'Happy New Year!' or 'Bring In 2009!'. (A/N- yeah, I decided that it was '08 getting ready for '09) The food, catered by three different places, was all set up on separate buffet tables along the wall outside. There was a bar set up for the adults in the kitchen. By 8:00, everything was set up and ready to go. The music was already playing and everyone was dressed.

I was wearing a deep red tube top that Alice had forced me into, light wash low-rise jeans, and strappy red heels. Rosalie spent almost an hour on my hair, which fell over my shoulders in light waves. Alice drew thin black lines around my eyes, gave me light red eye shadow, a soft pink lipstick, and soft pink blush. I thought I looked pretty good.

Alice was wearing a blue, three-quarter sleeve, v-neck top over a dark green laced camisole. She, too, had on light-wash low-rise jeans, but was wearing shiny blue ballet flats. That was surprising since she usually wanted to make herself seem taller. She had straightened her hair to make it kind of flip out at the bottom. It looked really cool, actually.

Rose was wearing a black denim mini skirt, a deep green halter top that showed her midriff, and black three-inch heels. Her hair was also straightened.

People started arriving at around 8:15, and soon the entire living room and kitchen area was filled with our guests. Alice, Rosalie, Jasper, Emmett and I were all sitting around in the living room talking when someone came up behind me and tapped my shoulder. I turned around to see a wonderfully-dressed Edward. He was in a plain white button up shirt, dark jeans, and white sneakers. He looked absolutely flawless.

"Hey, there," I greeted him, standing up to hug him. "Glad you could make it." How stupid. Of course he would make it, he made it every year. Stupid, stupid Bella. He smiled and greeted me back.

"Of course. I never miss the famous Cullen New Year's Eve party," he said smoothly. Behind him, his parents were already chatting away with mine.

"You want anything to drink?" I asked him politely.

"No, thanks. I'm good right now." He sat down next to where I had been seated and pulled me down with him. "This is even more amazing than it was last year," he told me, looking around at all the party decorations.

"Thank you," Alice said, butting in. She always took the credit for everything that went into the parties we ever held, but she deserved it. She always took care of everything. We all sat around in the living room talking for a while before a familiar song started being played. I groaned and hid my face in my hand.

"I love this song!" Alice exclaimed. Boy, did I know that. She would always blast it on her stereo in her room and in the car. She got up and pulled Jasper with her to the 'dance floor' that was the living room.

"Not a big fan of rap, huh?" Edward asked me, making me pick my head up out of my hand. Gosh, his eyes were pretty. And they were even prettier being so up close. They were like giant emeralds, perfect and wonderful… I pulled myself out of my little fantasy and shook my head in response to his question.

"Didn't you learn nothing from that little… fake date thing a couple weeks ago?" I joked, smiling.

"I guess not. Now you'll have to forgive me, but did you say you could or couldn't dance?" he asked. I looked up as if I were thinking then replied to him.

"Hmm, I think I said that I couldn't." His smile fell and he looked down. "But, I never said that I wouldn't try…" Good, Bells. Nice way to hint that it's okay to ask, I complemented myself mentally. That seemed to make his hopefulness return.

"Well then, care to join me?" he asked, holding out his hand. I took it and nodded. He led me to the dance floor. I took both of his hands in mine and turned my back to him, rocking side to side with the beat. He crossed my arms over my chest with his, pulling me closer to his body. I couldn't help but smile at how close we were and how much fun I was having dancing with Edward. I snuck a glance over at Alice and Jasper who were dancing much crazier than Edward and I were, even with all of these adults around. Rosalie and Emmett were dancing similarly to how they were, only facing each other. Edward uncrossed my arms and turned me around to face him. He let one of his hands free and placed it on the small of back, smoothly pulling me closer. We kept dancing through the next few songs until I realized my mouth was completely dry and I needed a drink of water. Still smiling, I pulled him into the kitchen where the beverage tables were. He poured me a glass of ice water and handed it to me. His face was flushed and there were tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"So, still say you can't dance?" Edward asked me.

"Nah, I'd say that assumption is long proven wrong, wouldn't you say so?" I asked him back.

"Yes, I'd say so," he said, smiling that crooked grin that melted my heart every time I saw it. We went outside to sit at a free table to just talk for a while. Mostly just random stuff like how our exams went, what classes we're taking this upcoming semester (we found out we'd have math and biology together), and how the party was going so far.

"Hey guys!" Our conversation was soon interrupted by Alice, who was pulling Jasper by the hand. They came over to our table and sat down, Alice next to me, Jasper on her other side. "So is this party amazing or WHAT?! I'm having more fun than I have any other year. Wow. Amazing." She was talking a mile a minute, but we all heard her. She took Jasper's hand in hers and leaned into his shoulder. I was surprised to see him blush. I don't think I'd ever seen Jasper Hale blush in all of the years I had known him.

"So did you guys have fun dancing?" she sang to us. Edward smiled shyly at her and nodded his head slowly.

"Yeah, we did," I told her, giving Edward a quick smile. He looked back at me and held my gaze for a few moments.

"Ahem, still here," Alice said. I shot daggers at her for ruining my moment in Edward-filled la-la land.

"Hellooooo there ladies and gents!" We all heard Emmett's booming voice call to us. We turned to see him waving childishly to us from behind Rosalie, who was pulling him along by his wrist.

"Mind if we sit with you?" Rosalie asked us. Did she really just ask us that?

"No, Rose. I mean, you're only our best friend. Why on Earth would we want you to sit with us?" I asked sarcastically. She just rolled her eyes and took a seat beside Jasper.

"Dude, I think this is our best year EVER!" Emmett yelled. Alice gasped.

"No way, that's what I said! Well, not those words but, you get it."

"Holy crap, are we actually thinking alike?" Emmett yelled.

"Omigod, we are!" she squealed. They high-fived each other, laughing like… like… I don't know what they were laughing like, but it was funny.

"Eureka! Alice and Emmett agree on something!" I shouted, throwing my hands in the air.

"Well, I think we can all agree that this is the best year," Jasper said, putting in his opinion. We all nodded our heads and smiled in agreement. Except Em and Al.

"Hey, bud, you don't have to go and ruin our moment like that,"Alice scolded him in a fake pout.

"I'm terribly sorry. Forgive me?" Jasper asked, giving Alice puppy dog eyes. She sighed in defeat.

"Well, there's no way I can say no to that face, so yes. I forgive you." She kissed the tip of his nose and we all laughed. Just then the DJ put on a slow song. I gasped aloud when I realized what it was.

"Oh my gosh, I love this song!" I yelled as I heard Nick Jonas's voice come over the speakers as Please Be Mine, my favorite Jonas Brothers song, started playing. (A/N- That seriously is the best song ever! If you've ever heard the JB's first album then you know the song. MY FAVE!)

Edward held out his hand for me again. "Then why are we sitting around here?" He smiled at me and I took his hand as he led me out onto the patio to dance. I placed my left hand on his shoulder and he put his hand on the small of my back. Our other hands linked together and we started swaying to the music. I rested my cheek on his strong chest, staring at our intertwined fingers. He laid his chin on top of my head and I started humming along with the music. I heard a loud knock on the door, even from outside, but decided to ignore it. If they were smart, they would just let themselves in. And apparently, that's what they did, because I heard everyone at our table gasp.

"Bella," Alice said to me. I looked up from Edward's chest and glanced at Alice, who was staring towards the front door. I turned around and there he was. Jacob was standing in front of the door with his arm around some blond girl's shoulder. She wasn't as tall as he was, but she still had quite some height. Her hair was long and wavy and fell over her lavender crop top. She had on a plaid gray mini skirt that was at least two inches shorted than Rosalie's. Her heels were black and laced around her calves. My mouth dropped at the sight of this girl that had just arrived at my house with Jacob.

I turned back to my table and sat down, still holding hands with Edward, and looked at all of their stunned faces. Edward tightened his grip on my hand.

"Oh no he didn't," Rosalie said softly, narrowing her eyes.

"Guys, chill out," I told them all quietly. They all turned to stare at me.

"Bella, what do you mean chill out?" Alice demanded.

"We agreed to be friends."

"But, Bella, look at him! Bringing that blond bimbo to your family's party," Rosalie said.

"Rose! I've moved on, so should h—"

"Hey, Bella." I was interrupted by a very familiar husky voice. I turned around to see Jacob standing behind my chair, his arm still around the girl's shoulders.

"Oh, hey Jake," I said, standing up to greet them. Jacob looked very uncomfortable as he glanced at everyone's cold expressions.

"Uh, Bella this is my g— my friend, Peyton," he announced. What was that 'g'? Was he about to say what I think he was going to?

"Hi, nice to meet you," I said, holding out my hand for her to shake. She smiled, obviously fake, and shook my hand.

"Likewise," she said in a nasally, high-pitched tone. Wow, I was surprised she knew such a big word! Everyone got up from their seats to come stand slightly behind me.

"Um, Peyton this is Bella's sister Alice, her brother Emmett, best friend Rosalie, Rosalie's brother Jasper, and sorry, I don't know you," he said, that last part directed to Edward.

"Edward Masen, Bella's b— Bella's friend." I giggled as he mimicked Jacob's earlier choice of words. Jake stiffened and turned his attention to Alice and Rosalie.

"Alice. Rosalie. Nice to see you again," he told them.

"Yeah, not so much," Rose said to him, scrunching up her nose. I looked at her with my eyes wide and shook my head slightly. She rolled her eyes and gestured to Emmett to come back inside with her.

"Come on Jasper, let's go dance," Alice said, pulling Jasper back into the house, following Rose and Emmett.

"So Jake, where's Billy?" I asked, trying to break the tention.

"Oh, he's not feeling very well, so he decided to stay home."

"Oh…" We both looked away and there was a short pause.

"Hey, Peyton why don't you go get us something to drink?" Jacob asked his 'friend'.

"Sure, Jakey," she told him, stalking off to the beverage tables inside. Jakey? What the hell was up with this chick?

"Hey, Edward, why don't you go inside and make sure everyone else isn't doing something they'll regret?" I asked him in my sweetest voice. He hesitated, glancing back and forth between Jacob and I. "It's okay, we're just going to talk," I whispered into his ear. He just nodded and went inside to find everyone. It upset me that he had to let go of my hand.

"So, that's your friend Peyton, huh?" I asked Jake.

"Um, yeah. That's Peyton."

"She's pretty."

"Uh, yeah. She is." He was standing nervously. He had a right to be, though.

"So, how long have you guys been friends?"

"What?" He immediately looked up, his eyes wide with nerves.

"I just asked how long you guys have been friends."

"Uh… um… about a year or so." I crossed my arms over my chest. That was all I needed.

"Is there something you need to tell me, Jacob? Because if there is, I'd really appreciate it if you told me right now before I get mad."

"What? No, there's nothing… I need to… tell you…"

"Jacob, was she the reason you broke up with me?" I asked him quietly, hoping nobody would be able to hear.

"Bella, that's ridiculous," he said, looking away.

"Is it really? It is so ridiculous?"

"Bella…"

"Tell me, Jake. Is she the reason you broke up with me?" Now I was starting to get pissed. He didn't answer, so I decided to take a different approach.

"How long?" I asked him. He looked back down to me.

"How long what?"

"How long have you been together with her?" Another pause.

"Um… about a month." My jaw dropped and my heart broke.

"A month."

"Yes."

"So that would mean that you were with her when… we… were…" I couldn't even finish the sentence. He looked down at his feet again and put his hands in his pockets.

"Bella, look I'm really so—" I just held my hand up to cut him off.

"Save your fake apologies for someone who will believe them." Just then Peyton was back with two glasses of soda in her hands.

"Here you go, baby," she said flirtatiously to Jake, handing him one of the cups.

"Gee, thanks, Peyton," I said to her, taking the cup out of her hand.

"Hey, what are you—" she started. But before she could finish, I had my hand over Jacob's head, pouring the soda all over him. I flicked what was left of it on Peyton. Everyone around stopped what they were doing to turn and stare at the three of us and the music stopped.

"What the hell?!" she screamed, trying to air out her top. I could see Alice, Jasper, Edward, Rose, and Emmett coming through the sliding glass door right after Peyton's little outburst.

"Bella, what—" Alice started to ask me, but she stopped and placed her hand over her mouth once she saw Jacob and Peyton covered in soda. So did everyone else, and I could see Alice and Rose shaking, probably from laughter.

"What was that for?!" Peyton yelled at me.

"You knew didn't you?" I asked her.

"Knew what?" she asked, furiously. Damn, if anyone had a reason to be furious it was me; not her.

"That Jake and I were together when you two started out." She just stared at me with a blank expression. I took that as a confirmation.

"Go to hell. Both of you," I said, and then stormed back into the house, pushing past my friends and family and everyone else in my way, ignoring the questions being thrown at me. I slammed my bedroom door and then heard the music downstairs start playing again. I couldn't believe what I had just been told. Jacob had been cheating on me. Cheating on me! How could he do that?! Ugh! I threw myself onto my bed and screamed into a pillow. I didn't care if my pillow got dirty from my running make-up. I didn't care if I had somewhat dirty shoes on my bed spread right now. I didn't care if everyone had just been witness to every bit of the conversation that took place between me, Jacob, and that bitch Peyton. All I cared about was that Jacob did the one thing I never would've thought he would do. And then to bring the girl that he cheated on me with to my own family's party! I knew there was a reason why he was acting so strange and changing his mind the day we broke up. But I had no idea that it was because he had some other girl on the side. No idea at all.

I heard a knock at my door.

"Bella? Bella, it's us," Rosalie called to me through the door. I didn't want to talk. So I just ignored them.

"Bella, please open the door. We want to help," Alice said. There's nothing you guys can to do help me, I thought.

"Bella, come on," Alice whined.

"Let's just go, Al. She obviously doesn't want to talk." Thanks, Rose. I heard footsteps and knew they were leaving. I lifted my head up off of my tear-soaked pillow and grabbed a tissue off of my nightstand. I got up and walked over to my vanity and wiped away my tears and ruined make-up, then threw my dirty tissue aggressively into my waste bin and put my head in my hands.

There was yelling outside so I got up and went to my window/wall to see what all the commotion was about. I saw Mom standing in front of Jake yelling something unintelligible at him while he stood protectively in front of Peyton. Good idea, since my mom can kick both of your asses and then some if she had the reason to, I thought smugly. She pointed in the direction of the front door and they started to make their way back into the house to leave. But she stopped them to say something else, then sent them on their way again. Everyone, inside and out, was staring at her with amazement. She turned back to them, said something, and they all got back to their previous activities. I took a seat in my green chair and folded my arms across my chest as I looked out at the big screen that was set up earlier this evening. Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve was being projected on it. Right now, Miley Cyrus was performing a song with the Jonas Brothers on top of a building. I stared blankly at the screen, not paying attention to the performance.

Just then there was a soft knock on my door.

"Honey? Are you okay?" Mom asked, slowly opening my door.

"Definitely not, but you can come in, Mom," I told her. She came in and shut the big black door behind her, and came to take a seat on the chair with me.

"Honey, I am so sorry about Jacob," she said, putting her arms around me.

"It's not your fault, Mom. Don't apologize," I said, embracing as well.

"I know it's not my fault, but it was still such a wretched thing and…" She broke the sentence off when I pulled away and looked back out the window. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be talking about it."

"No, Mom. It's fine. I'll be okay. You should get back to the party; how would it look if two Cullen ladies were missing from a Cullen party?" I asked her, trying to lighten the very dark mood. She let out a low chuckle.

"I guess you're right. Will you be okay in here by yourself?" I just nodded. She kissed my forehead before getting up and going back downstairs. Not a minute later there was another knock on my door. I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"What now?" I said quietly.

"It's me," I heard that velvety voice say to me from behind the door. I quickly composed myself as he opened the door and then closed it softly behind him.

"Oh, sorry. I thought you would be my mom or Alice and Rosalie again," I apologized to him.

"It's cool," he said, walking over to me. I made room for him on the chair so that he could sit down with me. "So… how are you doing?" he asked. I smiled lightly and looked down at my hands.

"How is any girl when her ex boyfriend shows up to her party with some blond girl and finds out he was cheating on her?" I asked sarcastically. He put his arm around my shoulders and pulled my closer.

"I'm sorry, that was a stupid question," he said as I put my head on his broad shoulder.

"It's okay. Everyone's entitled to a few of those every now and then." We both laughed at that statement I just made. "I'm sorry about that. I know it can't be easy to see me getting all worked up about my jerk of an ex," I apologized.

"Don't worry about. I probably would have acted the same way if something like this happened to me." We just sat like that for a moment. "Bella, I want you to know that I'm always here for you. And I always will be, no matter what things are like between us." I pulled away slowly and looked up at his perfect green eyes.

"Why?" I asked him.

"Why what?" he asked back.

"Why are you always here for me? Why are you so nice to me?" His expression softened, if that's even possible, and he looked at me with genuine affection in his eyes.

"Because I care about you. More than you know, at that." He said that last part so softly I wasn't even sure I'd heard it. But I just smiled and hugged him.

"I care about you too, Edward," I whispered.

"Really?" He sounded surprised. I nodded into his chest.

"More than you know."

"Forty… thirty-nine… thirty-eight… thirty-seven…" We both looked out the window at the sound of other guests counting down to the new year.

"Bella, there's something I want to ask you…" Edward said.

"Thirty-four… thirty-three… thirty-two…"

"Yes?" I asked.

"Twenty-nine… twenty-eight… twenty-seven… twenty-six…"

"Will you… will you be…"

"Twenty-two… twenty-one… twenty…"

"Yes?"

"I wanted to know if you…"

"Eighteen… seventeen… sixteen…"

"Edward, spit it out already," I joked, laughing.

"Well… will you be my girlfriend?" I think my heart just about stopped beating.

"Thirteen… twelve… eleven…" I smiled from ear to ear.

"Only if you'll be my boyfriend," I told him. We both laughed and he took me into a gigantic hug.

"Always," he whispered in my ear.

"Eight… seven…" We pulled apart, but slowly started inching closer.

"Six…" Closer.

"Five…" Closer.

"Four…" Closer.

"Three…" Closer.

"Two…" We were only centimeters apart now.

"One…" And then the final distance between our mouths was gone. His mouth was so warm and gentle, not the way Jacob's had been. No, Bella. This is NOT compare-Edward-to-Jacob time! JUST KISS THE BOY! Our mouths moved in sync and I felt his tongue on my mouth, then granted him entrance. Our tongues moved in perfect motion together and I felt like I never wanted this kiss to end. We finally had to break apart, for breathing purposes, and I stared into his eyes.

Breathless and smiling, he simply said, "Happy New Year, Bella."

Happy New Year, Bella, indeed.

A/N

So what did you guys think? I couldn't stop smiling as I was typing this entire chapter. Well, except for the part with Jacob and whatnot. I need reviews and opinions, especially on whether or not I should continue with the story. This was only nine chapters though, nine very short chapters, so I would love to keep going and expand on everything. But I'm not exactly where I would go with it if I did continue, so I would need your help. Remember, I absolutely love all of you and the REVIEWS that come with you. Also remember to give me your opinions and such! ILY ALL!!

P.S.- I've got a short alternate ending to this chapter. I just thought of it and it's really cute so I figured that I would post that also. Here it is! It starts when they hear the countdown begin. Enjoy.

CHAPTER NINE: PARTY

-ALTERNATE ENDING-

"Forty… thirty-nine… thirty-eight… thirty-seven…" We both looked out the window at the sound of other guests counting down to the new year. I turned my attention to the projection screen, which was currently showing love footage of the crystal ball being dropped in Times Square. I looked at it in amazement, wishing I could be there to witness it live.

"That thing is so beautiful," I said aloud.

"Not as beautiful as you, though," Edward replied. I turned my head sharply back to look at him. His eyes were gleaming with hope and adoration. My heartbeat quickened.

"What?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"Bella, you are so much more amazing than you give yourself credit for," he started. My eyes were growing wider by the second.

"You are so unlike any girl I've ever know, and in a good way. Definitely in a good way." He smiled, and I could hear the countdown still going outside.

"You're smart, and funny, and… extremely beautiful." Wow, he was melting my heart with those words and that darn smile again. This kid really knows how to dazzle as girl, I thought.

"And… there's something I've been meaning to ask you…" The countdown continued.

"Eighteen… seventeen… sixteen…"

"Yes?" I asked, my voice still uneven.

"Thirteen… twelve… eleven…"

"Isabella Cullen… will you be my girlfriend?" he asked. I think my heart just about stopped beating.

"Eight… seven…" I smiled from ear to ear.

"Six… five…" I inched closer to Edward slowly.

"Four…" Closer.

"Three…" Closer.

"Two…" We were only centimeters apart now, and I could feel his warm breath on my skin.

"One…" Whatever distance there was a few seconds ago was now gone. His mouth was so warm and gentle, not the way Jacob's had been. No, Bella. This is NOT compare-Edward-to-Jacob time! JUST KISS THE BOY! Our mouths moved in sync and I felt his tongue on my mouth, then granted him entrance. Our tongues moved in perfect motion together and I felt like I never wanted this kiss to end. We finally had to break apart, for breathing purposes, and I stared into his eyes.

Breathless and smiling, he asked me, "So, is that a yes?" I kissed him softly on his lips again.

"That is an absolutely yes," I told him with a gigantic grin plastered on my face. We heard people downstairs shouting "Happy New Year!" to one another.

Happy New Year, indeed.

A/N

So… that was the alternate ending. Any comments? Remember, I love you all and your REVIEWS!!

-S.N.O.