Rose and Emmet ran off to the venue the very second I pulled up to the curb, whereas Alice had to make sure (for the hundredth time that evening) that her make-up was impeccable before she could step out of the car.

"Bella," she said, turning to me once she was done. "My sweetest, dearest sister whom I sometimes want to sell to the mob but mostly feel the utmost affection for. Could you at least follow us to the door, and get a whiff of what you're missing?"

"I already know what I'm missing and, believe you me, it's not much; cheap punch, tacky decorations, sweaty, hormonal teens rubbing up against each other and that obnoxiously loud unts-unts-unts-ing they call music."

"What's not to like?" muttered Jasper sarcastically from the back seat. I hear you, sister.

"Thanks, but no thanks."

"Come one, Bella. Please?" Alice pleaded. "Please, please, please, please, please ..."

Oh, for God's sake, thought Jasper, just say yes already. If I go down, you go down with me!

I sighed.

"Fine. But only to the door. And no tricks."

Alice clapped her hands with childish delight and literally pulled me out of the driver's seat, and I –dressed in track pants and a college sweater, mind you – unwillingly went along with it.

And, as that cruel bastard we so humbly call fate would have it, the very first person to catch my eye at the door was, of course, Edward Cullen.

"Alice, what the hell! I said no tricks!"

But she merely shrugged her shoulders, smiled and was on her way, leading Jasper by the hand further in, to the dance floor. By that point, Edward Cullen had already spotted me and was now halfway across the floor, walking toward me with a very unflattering look of confusion and embarrassment on his face.

Oh, Lord, please spare me this, will you?

... what am I doing? Edward thought. Turn around, Edward, just walk away with your pride intact ...

Yes, I though, please, won't you please do that Edward?

"Bella, hi."

"Oh, hi."

We looked at each other awkwardly for a moment, until I cleared my throat and explained: "We had a change of plans. My siblings wanted to go tonight so we cancelled the trip. Hrm. I, eh, figured you'd found someone else to come with, so …"

"Yeah, I did actually. I don't know where she is at the moment, though …"

He looked back over his shoulder, pretending to search for his date while he pondered the credibility of my story. Then he turned his eyes once again on me, suddenly realizing I wasn't wearing the proper attire.

"That's … quite an unusual style you went with tonight."

"Yeah. I'm not planning to stay. I was just dropping the others off, so …"

… at least she didn't come with someone else, guess that's something …

I cleared my throat once again. This was both tiring and unbelievably awkward.

"Yeah, I should go. So … but have a great time tonight."

But just as I was about to turn and walk away, he reached out and grabbed my arm, telling me to wait.

"Can you just … before you leave … was that really how it happened? Or did you just make up a lie so you wouldn't have to go with me tonight?"

I stared blatantly at him for a couple of seconds. Did he like being humiliated?

Edward let go of my arm as he awaited my response.

"Well … you know, I really hate these kinds of events, so it really wouldn't have mattered who asked me …" Well, it wasn't a complete lie. "Most people at school know that already, so they don't ask me, but I guess you –"

"Then why didn't you just tell me that? Why'd you have to go and make me feel so stupid?"

"Ah. Well, you know. It's not like I was planning for you to find out that I lied."

He snorted. "That's obvious enough."

Then, in his mind, I saw an image of Rose and Alice at school, chitchatting about the upcoming prom, probably unaware that someone was listening in on them. Shit. How are you supposed to keep up a good lie if no one else bothers to make an effort?

"Look," I said with as much regret in my voice as I could muster up, "I'm really sorry if I hurt you. I honestly meant no harm."

"Yeah, well," he replied in a less harsh tone now, "you did. Next time, why don't you try and put yourself in other people's shoes. We have feelings to."

… probably meant no harm, like she said, but man. She's pretty but those attitude problems are quite annoying …

"Anyway," said Edward. "I should get back to the dance."

"Yeah. Have fun and all that jive."

He smiled and turned to leave, but this time I was the one who stopped him. Now why on earth would I go and do such a thing?

"What?" he asked.

"I was just wondering … Wh- who'd you end up going with?"

What the hell was I doing? I didn't care who Edward Cullen took to the prom as long as it wasn't me. What's gotten into me?

"Jessica Stanley," he said.

Then he smiled, turned and walked away.

During my drive home, I couldn't help thinking about Jessica Stanley. She must be in seventh heaven right about now, slow-dancing close to Edward Cullen, drawing in that unique smell of his (if she could even perceive it with her feeble human senses, that is), feeling his hands at her waist …

I wondered to myself if he was aware of what an idiot she was. Maybe, but probably not. He must've had innumerable other options – new and mysterious and, even though I hated admitting it, handsome as he was. Maybe the only reason he chose Jessica Stanley was because she was so persistent when asking that he possibly couldn't have said no? You never knew with girls like her.

I lowered the window to let some fresh evening air into the car.

One thing was for sure: I needed to stop thinking about those two, pronto. For God's sake, I get enough of them every day at school.