AN: Well, well, well. Looky here. It's a Last Night in Forks up date. If there's anyone still left out there (Sherizzle, I know you're there….and you can all thank her for hounding me over the last…2 YEARS since my last update. Holy cow I can't believe it's been that long), I very humbly apologize.

Excuses….I have none. Other than reading ridiculous amounts of fanfic I've been very busy with work, moved house a few times and finally renovating our very own dump twenty minutes from Sydney. Had another baby, who is now 9 months old. Written a few other stories (short ones), none of which are finished, and none of which are on fanfic yet, because I vowed not to publish anything until Last Night In Forks was COMPLETE. SO, yes, this story has now just about been fully written and will post quickly.

Please forgive me if there are any inconsistencies between the following final chapters and the first 20 chapters. It's been two years since I last updated, I've been going back and re reading the story, however I haven't been able to get through all of it, I figured it was better to write while I was motivated about it rather than make sure I wrapped every last detail up, and make sure everyone still had the same colour eyes!

From Previous Chapter:

"I may not like the girl, but you've got a girlfriend Edward. I know what it's like to have someone cheat on you, and it's just...mean." All I could do was nod my head in agreement. I mean, what sort of asshole would I be if I tried to argue with her on this?

She rolled back towards me, her hand gently cupping my cheek as she looked deeply into my eyes.

"I understand...I guess," I sighed, before squeezing my eyes shut in frustration. "I have absolutely no idea how I'm going to stay away from you."

She smiled weakly before reluctantly removing her hand from my face and tucking it under her chin. Effectively breaking all contact between our two bodies as we lay side by side but without touching. "You just need to sort your shit out okay." I nodded, knowing I was going to find it almost impossible. "And, maybe we need to just keep last night to ourselves you know? The last thing I need is Alice thinking something happened between us. It's bad enough that we did this, but if it gets out...I don't know, it would just ruin it you know?"

"You're right. This was just between you and me. Although I have a sneaking suspicion Alice is going to want a full report when we get up. She's not going to believe that nothing happened."

"I don't think it should be too hard for us to convince her that last night was a complete disaster. We've spent more time at each other's throats than not, so I think we can convincingly ignore each other."

I agreed reluctantly, knowing that there was no way in hell I'd be able to ignore Bella. Not now.

Chapter 21

BPOV:

The trip home after camping was excruciating. Ignoring Edward after everything we shared the night before was almost impossible. Our time together had released this completely primal need to have him near me. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced and I'll admit I was finding it a bit overwhelming. I thought that perhaps I was just feeling this way because I couldn't have him. And perhaps I was, but god, when I was with him the feeling actually got more intense.

I daydreamed all of the way to school on Monday morning that Jessica would magically be there in the car park, Lauren offering her support to her obvious heart break before the two of them stormed off to class. Edward would be there and would come racing towards me with the most perfect smile on his face, meant only for me, before throwing his arms around me, pushing me up against the side of my truck and devouring my face with his beautiful lips, signalling that he was now mine. Ughhh. If only it had have worked that way. Instead I had to be content with watching him stare intensely at me from over Alice's shoulder as she made her way towards me thinking he and I were still not talking.

Perhaps this pretending to fight thing was going to be just too hard for us to handle. Maybe we would be better off just being casual friends around each other. At least then we'd be able to talk to each other...in public.

The day dragged on. Lunch was an uncomfortable affair with Edward and I desperately trying to come off as if we weren't talking, when really all I wanted to do was drag him off to some dark corner and molest him. Jasper and Alice shifted uncomfortably around us, knowing (or thinking) that they'd caused more issues with the stunt they'd pulled. But neither of them had said anything to us about it which was suss in itself.

Emmett and Rose seemed to be oblivious to the whole thing, including the fact that Edward and I had been together in the Summer. This was made painfully evident by the comments Emmett would make every so often about how great a guy Mike Newton was. Alice would scoff and talk about how he couldn't hold his alcohol as evidenced by the number of times she'd found him passed out under the dining room table after one of their parties. It was all for my benefit. Because as lunch drew to a close Mike made his way to our table and started making small talk with Emmett whilst regularly sending sideways glances in my direction. Edward looked highly amused. WTF?

As the bell went Mike just looked at me expectantly. Like a puppy dog. Why was Emmett encouraging this? Oh, that's right, he thinks you're available.

Well aren't you? I cringed internally as I realised I was in fact single. Edward was not mine, despite the fact that my heart and his eyes were telling me otherwise.

"Hi Bella," Mike greeted me looking over at me hesitantly. Edward kind of let out a half strangled growl type of noise, but he still looked highly amused. I was going to fucking kill him.

"Uh, hi Mike?" I replied apprehensively as he was looking at me with a level of expectation I wasn't entirely sure how to interpret.

"Want to walk to Biology together?"

What?

No!

"Huh, ah, sure. We're headed in that way anyway." I looked at Edward for confirmation that he was indeed walking with us and got...nothing. "Aren't we Edward," I added, just to get his attention.

Edward looked at me as if he was shocked I was addressing him. A "who me" expression on his pretty face. If he was in on this, I'd kill him. I wasn't sure whether he was playing up the whole pretending to be pissed with me, or he was being evasive on purpose.

He shrugged his shoulders before motioning for me to lead the way, following behind me without even giving Mike the chance to get too close. But it didn't seem to deter Mike as he made breakneck speed to manoeuvre his way around Edward to walk beside me. I could feel the hair on the back of my neck prickle knowing that Edward was watching on, hopefully checking out my...

"So Bella..." Jesus Christ, Mike made me jump a little as he disturbed my Edward induced daydream. "How are you enjoying being at school here?"

I hadn't spoken a lot to Mike. Just the occasional bit of small talk here and there, so this sudden attention was a bit new, and wholly undesirable.

"Um, well, it's good mostly. Aside from the rain I'm kind of starting to really enjoy it."

"Oh," he looked surprised by my answer. An awkward silence followed, filled by the noises of the other students scurrying around us, oh, and Edward breathing down my neck just behind me! "Well, it's just that...I...um. I heard that you broke up with your boyfriend? I was thinking maybe it must have been hard for you to be so far away from him?"

I think I heard a snort from behind me, I couldn't be sure though. I turned to find Edward still behind me looking off into the distance pretending he wasn't listening.

Poor Mike. He really was a nice guy. And he didn't deserve for me to make fun of him.

"Thanks for your concern Mike." I replied. "But it's all good." I smiled reassuringly as we entered our Biology lab. It's probably the last thing I should have done because he walked towards his seat beaming as if he'd just scored or something. Crap!

I sat down and glared at Edward who sat down beside me. He looked at me with that stupid cheeky grin on his face and mouthed "what?" to me.

"You know what," I replied, slapping him across the chest, "jerk." Edward tried to grab my hand as I pulled it away but he wasn't fast enough. I sat and ignored him for a few moments. I knew he was continuing to look at me, and I couldn't hold it in for too much longer. Having Edward Cullen sitting there next to me staring at me was just too much and I couldn't cope any longer. The sides of my mouth crept up completely against my will and I couldn't help but smirk. He just seemed to have that affect on me now. But I wasn't going to give in. We needed to keep this whole thing to ourselves so I ignored him for the rest of the lesson the best I could.

The next day or so dragged on, with still no word as to when the wench was coming home, Mike continued his stalkerish tendencies, and Edward and I ogled each other from afar.

On Tuesday just before lunch I went to my locker to change some books over with Angela. I opened by locker and didn't even notice the folded piece of paper that fell out of it and landed at Angela's feet. Before I knew it she'd picked it up and was handing it to me.

"Ah, this fell out of your locker Bell." She raised her eyebrow at me. "Nice handwriting." She said pointedly.

I looked down and noticed Edward's beautiful handwriting on the folded up note. I blushed uncontrollably before taking it from her hands. She raised an eyebrow in question.

"What?"

"Oh come on Bella, what's going on? Edward Cullen has always had notoriously beautiful handwriting, I'd recognise that anywhere, and I'd recognise that blush of yours anywhere as well. What's going on?"

I bit my lip, contemplating how much I could tell Ange. We'd been friends for a long time and I trusted her completely, but Edward and I had decided not to say anything to anyone. And I wasn't entirely sure what the contents of the letter was. It could be a confession that he really did love Jessica and that nothing was ever going to happen between the two of us. After all, he did seem to be strangely encouraging the whole Mike Newton puppy dog eyes thing.

"Oh God Ange, there's nothing going on." I looked down at the letter, desperate to know it's contents, "...really."

"Ahhh, I see." I eyed her carefully looking for what exactly she understood, and whether the secret was safe with her or not.

"No, I mean, there's nothing going on. But if...if things were different then, I'm pretty sure there would be."

"So he's just leaving you love letters in your locker?" she giggled.

"Oh God Ange, I doubt it's a love letter. And I've got to be honest, I'd feel pretty bad if it was."

"Well..." she looked around nervously before continuing. "If you need a reason to pursue it without feeling like the other woman, I happened to overhear a conversation between Lauren and Jessica the night of the Valentine's party. Lauren was upstairs on the phone and I'm sure she was on the phone talking to Jessica about moving on."

"About who moving on, Lauren?"

"No, Jess. It sounded like she'd been with someone in...where is she again?"

"Portland or something," I replied.

"Yeah, it didn't sound like she'd been faithful."

"Rrrrreally?"

"Hmmmm."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm pretty sure."

"Shit. Poor Edward, thanks Ange." Poor Edward! What sort of a response was that?

But I couldn't think about that for long I was desperate to find out the contents of the letter that was burning a hole in my hands. I turned around walked towards the cafeteria but sat down on one of the seats outside to read the letter. The feeling of guilt that I'd been harbouring suddenly evaporating into thin air, not that I knew for sure that she'd cheated. I found myself holding my breath waiting to read whether the contents were good or bad.

B-

You asked me something on Sunday morning that I didn't realise until our trip home that I never answered. You asked me why I would want to be with you.

Let me start by saying that in the beginning I had no idea why, there was no reason. When I first saw you across that room I just kind of knew. Is that clichéd? Yes I know it is and I'm pretty sure I'd lose my man card for saying it, but I don't care. You were so beautiful that night. From the first moment I looked into your brown eyes and took in your creamy skin I was captivated. You were sweet, (despite the fact that you clearly hated men that night), you were funny and made me laugh, you wanted to get to know me, you were smart and real, and above all else you made my heart race every time you looked at me.

I missed you so much when you were gone, I was heartbroken. When you returned you had me in such a spin I didn't know how to react. I'm sorry I've been an asshole. I promise to make it up to you every day if you'll let me.

Always,

E

I somehow made my way towards the cafeteria, the butterflies in my stomach fluttering in over time, as I sat at my regular table and dug my lunch out of my bag. I could hear the chatter going on around me but none of it registered. My brain was a complete fog after reading the contents of Edward's letter. I glanced to my right and registered the feel of his body next to mine. He smirked at something and then I felt the side of his foot against mine, he tapped it a couple of times in greeting and I think I might have swooned.

"So um, Bella…the dance Friday night?" Who's voice was that? I registered my name and looked up and around the faces at the table that were now all focused on me. I looked towards Mike who was sitting to my left leaning towards me, an expectant look on his face.

"Oh, what about it?" I replied oblivious. Still wrapped up in the feel of Edward's ankle that was gently caressing mine. It was amazing how just that contact made my mind go fuzzy and how relaxed that small amou…..

"... ondnering if maybe you'd…go with me…..to the dance?"

Huh. Earth to Bella.

"Like on a date?" I asked before my brain clicked into gear. Oh, shit, I possibly shouldn't have blurted it out like that but Edward's ankle was now rubbing up my calf and I was finding it a bit difficult to filter my brain properly.

Mike looked a little embarrassed as he looked around the table. Edward looked down at the remaining half of his sandwich not giving anything away, but I'm pretty sure he was trying not to smirk. Emmett and Rosalie smiled encouragingly at Mike which seemed to give him the confidence he needed in front of an audience.

"Well…..yeah," he replied emphatically, as if convincing himself that that's what it was.

"Oh Mike. I'm sorry, but I've got plans on Friday night." Edward's head popped up on hearing this. I couldn't quite figure out why that had grabbed his attention. "I'll be at Emmett's." I crossed my arms over my chest and sat back triumphantly, satisfied that I'd avoided a date with Mike Newton.

"Oh B, didn't I tell you, we're all going to the dance on Friday night. So you could….you know…go…..." Emmett nodded his head in Mike's direction encouragingly.

Fuck. There was pretty much nothing I could do. I could make one last ditch effort to get out of it, and then I was all out.

"Um, I really don't dance Mike. I mean, you'd be taking your life into your own hands…"

"Oh come on Bells," Edward and I both glared at Emmett, Edward a little less vehemently than I. "We're all going, it'll be fun. You don't have to be Ginger Rogers to go to a dance."

Crap, there was no way I was getting out of this. And Edward was giving me absolutely nothing. Nada. No help whatsoever. Well if he wasn't going to help he could just suck it up.

"Okay." I replied hesitantly before turning and looking into Mike's face that lit up like a fucking Christmas tree. Fuck. This was going to be bad. He looked so excited, that was the last thing I wanted.

Thank God the bell rang because I didn't want to sit there while Mike made uncomfortable conversation with Emmett whilst awkwardly glancing at me. I stood up from my seat so quickly that my chair flew back and flipped over. Edward quickly reached down to right it and placed his hand on it just before Mike did, they looked at each other for a fraction too long as Edward ripped the chair from Mike's hand as if staking some sort of claim. Now he fights! Emmett and Rosalie seemed oblivious to it all, as per usual. I wasn't sure whether Mike was smart enough to pick up on the possessive nature of Edward's stare, I suspected nothing could dampen Mike's mood after I agreed to go to the dance with him.

All three of us turned and made our way towards Bio. Mike ran along beside me like a little lost puppy, ducking and weaving every time someone came walking in the opposite direction, while Edward and I walked side by side.

"So Bella, do you want to maybe get something to eat before hand or….something?" Mike asked.

"Well,….um…." I felt Edward's hand brush deliberately against mine as I struggled for a way to get out of it. "I guess if we're all going as a group we should find out what everyone else is doing first…..right?" I felt, rather than saw Edward smirk beside me. "Do you know what the plans are Edward?"

"Well, I think the plans are probably to meet at Emmett's before hand, then go to the diner, then the dance."

"Great. So maybe you could meet me at Emmett's beforehand." This was sounding less and less like a date by the minute. I was so proud of myself.

"Oh," Mike replied a little dejectedly. "I guess that could….work."

We made it to Biology and I sat down beside Edward and just glared at him.

"What? What did I do?"

"Nothing. You did absolutely nothing." I smirked at him, unable to hold in my laughter at our predicament.

"Sorry, it was like watching a train wreck. There was just nothing I could do to stop it."

"You could have jumped in and told him we had to study together, or…..or….go to Seattle for the whole weekend or something."

Edward leaned over resting his chin on his left hand and looked at me seductively before placing his other hand on my thigh below the table where no one could see it. Jesus he was turning me on. This was the first real contact we'd had since Sunday morning. "I would like nothing more than to take you to Seattle for a romantic weekend Bella."

I rolled my eyes at him, "promises, promises."

He rubbed his hand up and down my thigh and looked at me with a sad apologetic look on his face. "Soon Bella. I promise."

"Thanks for the letter," I smiled shyly, and he looked down at the table hiding his smile from me.

I ran my left hand over the hand that was caressing my thigh. He tightened his grip as our fingers intertwined around each other and our hands fell down between our bodies and remained that way while ever we weren't required to be holding a pen. But an hour of hand holding soon came to an end and I felt the absence of his hand more strongly that I'd ever thought possible. My heart clenched until I remembered the contents of the letter I'd read just over two hours ago.

On the way out of the classroom I couldn't help it anymore, "follow me," I breathed into his ear. And then walked from the room. I didn't look back, just hoped like hell he was following me as I made my way out of the science building. The rain was bucketing down now and I made the short dash across the quad to the rarely used side entrance of the cafeteria which was now closed. Edward was hot on my heals and as soon as we'd rounded the corner I pulled him into me snaking my hand up around his neck and pulling his lips to mine. It took him a little while to move but as soon as his brain clicked in he sighed as he wound his arms around my body pulling me into him tightly. The kiss was desperate, hurried, both of us knowing we didn't have long to get a fix that may have to carry us over for what could be days to come. We came up for air, both of us panting, his forehead pressed against mine.

"What changed your mind about the no contact thing?" He asked as we stood there trying to catch our breath, his arms wrapped around me holding me close against his chest.

I shrugged, not wanting to say anything to Edward about what Angela had told me. "I just couldn't take it any longer. Being near you but not being able to do this is killing me."

"I know what you mean."

"My heart is pounding," I observed.

"Mine too."

"What does it mean? I don't think….I don't think I've felt this before," I replied.

"I'm not sure about you, but I think it means I'm falling," he blinked and swallowed hard before continuing, "I think it means I've fallen for you."

"Really?"

"Completely," he replied before desperately applying his lips to mine. My mind went blank, unable to process what I think he was saying to me. "Madly," he breathed, continuing the onslaught that I was now entirely helpless to stop. "And without any ability to stop, even if I wanted to."

"What are we going to do?" I asked, looking down ashamedly.

"Well, the first thing we're going to do is skip our next class," Edward said as he pulled away from me and slid down the wall, pulling me down to straddle his lap.

Looking terribly satisfied with himself, he pulled his legs up behind me so I had something to lean my back against. His hands found my face and he forced my eyes on him.

"I've got some good news," he smiled a little triumphantly. I wasn't sure whether it was due to my obvious acquiescence at skipping class or the news he was holding. "Jess said she'll be home this weekend. Looks like her grandmother isn't going to die any time soon so she'll be back Sunday night."

"Really?" I couldn't help but beam at him.

"Yeah." He pulled my face to his and our lips played gently against each other. We spent almost an hour with our arms wrapped around each other, hands lightly touching faces, lips playfully caressing, occasionally descending into more heated debate before pulling back making sure the situation didn't get out of hand. The bell went and we reluctantly pulled away from each other and stood. I was the first to break the silence.

"So, what in the hell are we going to do about Mike?"

"Are you interested?"

"I know you can't possibly think I'm interested."

"I guess..."

"Edward?"

"OK. Um, I don't know. I guess maybe you should just go, dance with him a couple of times..."

"But I want to dance with you."

"We can't dance anyway."

"Oh, yeah, I guess."

"All we have to do is get through this weekend and then we can be together OK?" Please God, don't let anything else go wrong.