A/N: I know this chapter should have been up ages ago and I am so sorry for the long wait. So without further Ado let me present Chapter Eight. Oh and please read the A/N at the bottom too, Thanks.

(Some parts of this chapter might be disagreeable for the younger audience, if there even is one, so yeah, you have been forewarned, don't go jumping down my throat afterwards.)


I had multiple bruises on both my legs and arms that were bound to be black and blue tomorrow but the rest of the kids who had gym with me had gotten the worst end of the deal.

I think one of them even had to be taken to the hospital because of a broken arm.

This is why I hate gym.

Maybe I should walk around with a neon sign above my head that says" Do Not Approach, My Clumsiness Kills,"

Well I don't know about anyone else but if I were them I'd take the threat seriously.

I was just like an accident waiting to happen.

I briefly wondered if God created me just because he thought that the world, or rather the people in it, needed an entertainer to rid itself of all the tedious sorrows of life.

Hmm, I don't think they'd be laughing now that they knew that they would be the ones in hospital beds.

Oh well, it serves them right, they should have known better then to cross my path.

It's not my fault that I put the lives of the people around me at risk because of me feet, blame the feet, it was all their idea.

After they were done shooting daggers at me and insulting me in not so low voices I was finally able to get out and to the parking lot.

If I thought that the pixie would leave me alone after the earlier episode I was dead wrong.

She was leaning against her porche, though I wouldn't call it standing of any sort since she was jumping up and down like the big glob of energy she is.

This could not be good.

"Hiya Bells." She literally sang it out.

Wow I guess I was forgiven for that episode in the corridor.

I'll have to thank Emmet for that, I don't know what he did or how he managed to do it but I would have to learn it. Pronto.

"Geez Alice how many pixie stix have you had today? Or was it the Caffeine that did it?" she looked indignantly at me for a moment.

"Well we can't all be in a total gloom and doom and sarcastic mood now can we?"

"Hey I am not always in a bad mood."

"I beg to differ Bells; anyway we are going to your house to get you in to a killer outfit and then we are going clubbing." *Cue the Dun Dun Dunn music here*

I knew that this could not be good.

She always dragged me out of my house every once in a while to make a "party animal" out of me as she put it.

Though I always sat in a corner and sulked while she nagged me to have fun we had had many memorable times, like when Alice chased a poor and unexpected girl around all night giving her unnecessary fashion advice and complaining that her clothes looked awful.

In the end Emmet had to drag her out.

Ahh good times.

Anyway I might as well invite Angela, I haven't seen her since the last meeting and I was going to get bored anyway.

"Is there any point at all in saying no Alice?"

She just laughed at me.

"Fine I'll go with you guys but can I at least bring a friend."

"I'm shocked Bella, I friend that I don't know about? Who is he? Is he cute?"

I let out a giggle at that one; Alice can be very naïve sometimes.

"Yes Alice I think that she is very cute, anyway you two haven't met and I thought that I should finally introduce you two."

She just brightened up and resumed her jumping and said"Yay another girl to shop with."

I swear one of these days she's going to give someone a serious heart attack with all of her energy.

I'd have to warn Angela about this, she was not made to be dragged around in a mall with Alice, Heck come to think of it no one was.

Where does she get all that energy from anyway?

Even caffeine and sugar can't get a person that high!

But I loved her anyway.

We got in to her car and were in front of my house in less then ten minutes.

Wow that girl drove fast! It would have taken me at least half an hour to get to my house from school.

Charlie's cruiser wasn't in the driveway though I half hoped that he would be home to disapprove and prohibit me from going to a club but I knew that it was vain hope, even if he would have been here he wouldn't have been able to resist Alice's charm.

After she attacked every inch of me with makeup and fabric and shoes and everything else imaginable she let me look at myself in my full length mirror and wow that girl really knows her stuff.

She had dressed me in a simple black dress which stopped on my mid calf, my hair was curled and it was tied in a half tail the rest flowing in waves down my back and my make up was very light but it brought out my eyes and I had on silver pumps, thank god it wasn't heels.

Okay, I am never going to criticize her again, ever.

I called Angela while Alice was getting ready and thankfully she was free.

She went to a school in Seattle and we hardly ever got to see each other except in the meetings, she and I both were on our first stages of cancer and it was cure able, without chemo and all of that, we just had to keep faith I guess.

Emmet and Rosalie were also coming and there was also going to be a karaoke night later.

I knew Alice would not stand for my sulking this time, good thing Angela was coming along though.

I went outside to wait in the porche and Alice came out in a few minutes wearing hot pink and looking as bubbly and beautiful and well as Alice as ever.

She told me that she had written Charlie a note stating where I was going and that he should order dinner for himself.

I was against this at first, wanting to cook Charlie's dinner, but one look from Alice managed to silence me, she did not believe in being fashionably late.

We went to a club in Seattle and we would meet Angela there. (A/N: I don't know if there are any clubs in Seattle but it doesn't hurt to use your imagination right?)

The place was completely packed by the time we arrived and almost all of the people were, for lack of a better word, dancing to the music but they were really grinding or dry humping.

Alice and I quickly walked over to the bar to wait for the others.

This is why I hate clubs, they are just an excuse to get insanely drunk and then wake up the next morning to get to know that you have slept with a complete stranger and not knowing what dieses you might have caught.

It was pathetic and I found it rather appalling, what most teenagers would have found entertaining disgusted me, Alice always joked that I was a forty year old person trapped in a teenagers body.

I guess I was a bit different but then again I had always been this way and it never really bothered me.

I spotted Angela squeezing through the crowd to make her way towards us which was quite an achievement in itself because there wasn't much room to move around any way.

I got up and gave her a hug.

"Hey Ang you look great, lavender suits you, you should wear it more often."

"Thanks Bells, you look amazing though, I'm guessing that Alice got to you?"

Uh-oh, I'd better tell her that this was Alice before she said something that she'd regret.

"Yeah this is Alice, my best friend and fashion extraordinaire."

The look on Angela's face was priceless but she quickly recovered and stuck out her hand.

"Hi, nice to finally meet you, Bella has told me so much about you."

"Nice to meet you too, I'm guessing that whatever Bella here has told you is nothing good. Am I right or am I right?"

Shit Alice was on to me, damn that pixie and her evil ways.

Ang covered it up though saying that of course I had told her nothing of such sort.

Damn she's a good liar her face showed no contradiction at all to what she was saying; she looked like a professional actor now why can't I lie like that? I might possibly be the world's worst liar.

At least Alice bought it, Ha ha in your face pixie.

Emmet and Rose arrived shortly afterwards.

They both looked gorgeous but then again, don't they always?

Rose was wearing a long scarlet dress which had a plunging neck line and had a slit down her left calf, it clung to her in all the right places and Emmet was dressed simply in jeans but with Rose on his arm he'd have half the girls drooling over him before long.

With the way Rose looked tonight Emmet would have a hard time beating off all of Rose's admirers, they literally sprung up everywhere she went. This would be entertaining to say the least, Emmet would be scaring off Rose's admirers and Rose would be doing the same to his.

It's a wonder how they manage without body guards, and they aren't even celebrities.

As soon as Emmet saw me he gave me one of his famous bear hugs and then set me down and ruffled my hair and said that he was so proud that his lil' sis was all grown up.

I just scowled at him and Alice nagged him about messing up my hair. What is with this girl?

Angela and I began talking about school and where we wanted to go to college and all of that.

I wanted to get out of this dreary town as soon as possible but Ang was kindda attached to the place and was planning on going to Seattle U.

By this time Rose and Emmet had drifted off to the dance floor and Alice was nowhere to be seen, I had a feeling that she was in front of a mirror somewhere fixing her make up.

Ang suddenly started fidgeting and kept glancing at someone behind me.

I turned around and saw that Ben Cheney had just walked in.

Ang had had a huge crush on him since as long as I could remember.

He was a friend of Emmet's, who wasn't really?, and Ang had never really talked to him or anything but I knew there was something there.

I was bored and decided to play matchmaker for the evening, Ang was a great girl and she deserved to be happy but she was just too shy sometimes, but I'd fix that, before the night would be over I would get her to talk to him.

After all I might as well do something productive.

Ben came over to order some drinks and I introduced them.

Just as I thought, they hit it off and I'm sure they'd end up together in due time.

Mission accomplished, I thought with a smile.

I excused myself because I didn't want to be the third wheel, Angela looked apologetic but I waved her off.

I wanted to find Alice and see what she was up to, which I knew would be no good as per usual.

I tried to squeeze through the crowd but they just won't budge, I guess I'd have to do this the hard way.

I stepped on people and poked and jabbed my way across the mass of tightly packed bodies.

God it's suffocating in here.

I finally made it through, without falling might I add. I needed to get out of here before I pass out.

I saw a small balcony type thing just to my left with glass panels, it was dark outside but I was sure no one else was out there. Perfect.

I made my escape and stood holding the railing; I closed my eyes and just felt the music of the night.

It's a curious little piece that music, it's like a symphony designed in heaven; it is unlike any other type of music in the whole world.

Its there but you just have to listen close enough.

I breathed in the wonderful scents of the night, there was a light breeze and soft moonlight managed to make its presence known through the clouds.

It's hard to think standing here that people actually enjoyed to be packed in there with deafening music when they could be out here enjoying the peace and serenity of the night.

I never really get why they would want to do that anyway, but this was exactly the kind of thinking which Alice thought set me apart from other kids my age.

Well, I always knew I was a bit deranged, guess this confirms it, I mean seriously what other eighteen year old kid would want to stand out here alone in a balcony when they could be inside the club dancing and god knows what else.

I heard a movement on my left and quickly turned around, putting one hand on my heart to try and slow it down a little bit.

Whoever it was would be getting a piece of my mind, you do not startle people like that.

There sitting on the ground was none other then Edward Cullen himself in all his glory.

What the hell is he doing here?

This could not have been a coincidence; this had Alice written all over it.

I guess I was going to be giving her a piece of my mind too, right after I'm done with Edward here.

He just looked at me not saying a word but just looked at me.

Oookay then.

Maybe he's the one who's deranged.

"Do you always sneak up on people like that?". Though I knew fully well that he had been sitting there long before I even came in, but oh who cares anyway, I could have had a heart attack!

"Do you always have a habit of barging in on people?". So this was how it was going to be eh? He wanted to play with words? Fine with me.

"Do you always sneak out and hide in the dark like a little boy when you got to clubs or any other place for that matter?" Ha beat that!

"Do you always have a tendency to argue with the first person you see when you come and hide in the dark?" .Okay I'll admit that was a good one, the boy has got some brains after all.

"What the hell are you doing here anyway?" Okay I was a bit blunt there but the words just came out of my mouth.

"I could ask you the same thing." He had a point there. I didn't realize that he had stood up and damn did he look good.

Focus Bella, this is not the time to be dazzled!

"You know what? I think I'll just go since you were here first. I am so sorry I barged in on you." I said all of this with heavy sarcasm and he looked dumfounded for a bit but then he recovered.

"No, don't leave on my account. You looked like you were enjoying yourself better out here then in there anyway." He said pointing to the doors.

Wait what? He was watching me? This was so Alice's work.

"Excuse me?" It took him a moment to realize his mistake but he finally got there.

He looked lost for words and we fell in to an uncomfortable silence, well uncomfortable for him at least, I was just enjoying myself, watching him being uncomfortable for once.

But I couldn't let him be uncomfortable for long partly because I pitied him and partly because I wanted evidence from him that I could throw at Alice late.

I knew that she would deny all knowledge of this and I would never be able to prove her wrong and if I had Edward's words as evidence she wouldn't be able to deny it.

And of course there was also that small irrational part of me which wanted him to continue to speak just because I wanted to hear his velvety voice again. Like I said, irrational.

"Did Alice set you up to this?" Bluntness always worked.

"Did Alice set me up to what exactly?" oh so he was going to play stupid now was he?

I can be persistent if I want to be.

"Oh don't act like you don't know. Did she or did she not plan on calling you here?"

"Well actually I don't know what you are talking about; it was Jasper who dragged me out today."

"Oh that pixie is good." I said under my breath but Edward heard it because he was smiling that crooked smile.

I didn't miss the "dragged me out" part of his speech though, looks like we have another thing in common, friends who force us to go out and enjoy.

"He 'dragged' you out?"

"Well yeah, you don't think that I would want to come to this horrid place on my own now do you?"

"I can't imagine why you wouldn't want to come here. I'm curious, why wouldn't you want to come here? It's not like this place is that bad."

"If it's not that bad as you put it then why are you out here instead of in there?" Why does he keep bringing that up?

"Okay you do have a point there; I hate this place as much as you do, maybe even more. It looks like we are stuck either way though."

"Why do you keep changing the topic?" Do I? I didn't even notice.

"No I don't. I didn't know it was a crime to say something other then what you are asked to say."

"See you did it again, every time I ask you something about you, you just change the subject to manipulate the conversation away from yourself or you make a sarcastic comment to distract the other person."

"Oh so you want to get to know me now do you? And what makes you think that you have any right to know any thing about me?" Okay I'll admit that I went a bit far this time but he was really beginning to get on my nerves.

He looked surprised and said "Sheesh calm down I was just pointing out the obvious, it's not like you don't know it. Okay so here's the deal, I tell you about me and in return you tell me about yourself. Deal?"

Now I'm confused, why does he want to know me?

Did Alice put him up to this?

But he just said that it wasn't Alice and I wanted to tell him about me, I felt like I could trust him, that he wouldn't judge me. For the first time in my life I felt safe, comfortable and well I felt like me.

Looks like I already made my decision without consciously making it.

"Fine, deal but you have to go first."

"Okay so I'm adopted, my real parents died in a fire when I was small but I still remember each and every detail about it. Jaspers my best friend, he's always there to back me up whenever I need him, Esme and Carlisle are great parents and they never let me feel like I'm adopted and they treat me like their own child. Emmet's the best brother anyone could have….." he trailed off.

Actually he looked like he was going to say something else but then he looked like he changed his mind.

I already knew most of this stuff via Emmet but I knew there was something beneath that thick mask of his and I was determined to figure out what it was.

There was just something about him that made me curious, that made me want to know each and every detail about his life.

As corny as it sounds I wanted to know his hopes, his dreams and basically wanted to know him. Sure everyone claimed to know him but I knew that he hid everything about himself.

I felt like I could talk to him for hours on end and won't ever get tired of it.

Uh-oh it was my turn.

It wasn't that I had decided to back out of the deal and that I didn't want to tell him anything about me but more like I couldn't find the words to say all that I wanted to say.

I wanted to tell him everything.

Maybe I thought that if I was honest with him he would tell me about the real him, the guy hidden behind the mask.

I don't know what I was thinking but I had an idea.

I took so long that he looked disappointed like he thought that I wasn't going to say anything.

Ha, more like he wont be able to stop me if I began.

"You'll have to come inside for a bit to hear my story."

"Okay." He agreed? I thought he was going to be difficult. I was wrong apparently.

I flashed him a smile and led the way inside.

Just as I suspected the karaoke night had started. No one was willing to step up and sing though; they were all waiting for someone brave enough to go first.

I saw Emmet and Rose, Ben and Angela and even Jasper and Alice standing in the crowd. They were probably wondering where we were.

The DJ asked again for a volunteer who would like to go first.

"Wait here."I said to Edward and I made my way through the crowd and up to the stage.

Alice would love me for doing this.

I gave the DJ the song and waited for the lyrics to begin and then I started singing while looking straight in to Edwards eyes.

Do you ever feel like breaking down?
Do you ever feel out of place?
Like somehow you just don't belong
And no one understands you
Do you ever wanna run away?
Do you lock yourself in your room?
With the radio turned on up so loud
That no one hears you screaming

No you don't know what it's like
When nothing feels all right
You don't know what it's like
To be like me

To be hurt
To feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked when you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
And no one's there to save you
No you don't know what it's like
Welcome to my life

Do you wanna be somebody else?
Are you sick of feeling so left out?
Are you desperate to find something more?
Before your life is over
Are you stuck inside a world you hate?
Are you sick of everyone around?
With their big fake smiles and stupid lies
While deep inside you're bleeding

No you don't know what it's like
When nothing feels all right
You don't know what it's like
To be like me

To be hurt
To feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked when you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
And no one's there to save you
No you don't know what it's like
Welcome to my life

No one ever lied straight to your face
And no one ever stabbed you in the back
You might think I'm happy but I'm not gonna be okay
Everybody always gave you what you wanted
You never had to work it was always there
You don't know what it's like, what it's like

To be hurt
To feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked when you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
And no one's there to save you
No you don't know what it's like (what it's like)

To be hurt
To feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked when you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
And no one's there to save you
No you don't know what it's like
Welcome to my life
Welcome to my life
Welcome to my life

I finished and the whole room erupted with cheers.

Edwards's mouth was hanging open and he looked well I don't know, he looked awed, surprised, confused, dumbstruck, and sad all at the same time, if that makes any sense at all. I saw Alice jumping up and down and she looked like she was so happy that she might squeeze the living daylights out of me.

Beat that Edward.


A/N: Thank you to all of the people who have reviewed, I'm so sorry that I haven't been able to reply but I'm thanking you all here. This is the longest chapter yet so enjoy and don't forget to review. I'd love to hear your thoughts. P.S. For the people who don't know this song this is "Welcome To My Life" by Simple Plan. It's a great song so check it out.