One week. That's all we have before opening day. This play is all I can think about. It even consumes my mind as I sleep.

I haven't seen Peter in over a week now. His ankle is better and since he's still excused from school, his parents are taking him to visit a few of the colleges that are recruiting him. He's called a couple of times and every day I get a few texts, but it's not the same.

Nothing about Peter and I is the same anymore. I thought we could wait it out and stay together until after graduation but now I really see no need for us to stay together.

Peter's even going to miss the play, and I think that's what has finally broken the deal for me. He knows how much I need this, how important it is to me, and he doesn't even seem to care.

Edward was pleased when I told him he was no longer an understudy and the male lead was completely his.

It might as well be―he knows every line by heart.

Edward meets me after my last class and we walk toward the auditorium together.

"You never did tell me, are we a go for the dance in the play?" He throws his arm around my shoulder like he always does.

No one in school pays us any mind anymore. Of course there were rumors for a while that I was cheating on Peter with Edward.

And there was another one too, a rumor that said I was getting Peter back for cheating on me with Angela. I just heard that one the other day.

It wouldn't surprise me to be true.

"Yes, I think so. Mrs. Cope said she wanted to see it within the play to be certain."

I love the way that when were like this, I fit so snug and perfect under his arm. It's like that space was made just for me.

"How about today?"

"You want to dance today?" I bump his hip with mine.

"I wouldn't mind dancing with you everyday, but yeah―I vote for today."He gives my neck a squeeze with his arm.

"How again is it that you can dance so well?"

"I was in Alice's dance company for years. I finally quit when I started high school. It was my mother's idea for me to have a hobby while I was growing up."

I stop walking and my chin falls open. "Who are you?"

"What do you mean?" His shoulders shake as he laughs at me.

"Just when I'm thinking I have you figured out a little, you throw these things at me, and I find yet another layer that I never knew about."

"Bella, it isn't that big of a deal."

"But you can dance, like really dance? All kinds of different dances, right?"

"Pretty much anything. I'm probably a little rusty now, but I used to be decent. When I was eleven I even worked for Disney as a dancer."

"Shut up! You were on TV?" Every day he amazes me with something new.

"A few times, mostly live shows though. And only when school wasn't in session. We know how my mom feels about that. Now come on, I have a surprise for you!"

Edward grabs my arm and pulls me but I'm still pretty much numb with wonder.

"Close your eyes." He stops me before we enter the back stage area.

"Why?"

"I told you I had a surprise for you." I can tell so much about Edward through his eyes, when he's pissed or aggravated when he's happy and in a joking mood, and days like today―when he seems to have the world in the palm of his hand and he's on top of it all and proud.

He covers my eyes with his hand and takes my elbow to lead me though the door.

"Surprise," he whispers as his hand slowly falls away from my eyes.

I see them and instantly, I'm shocked. It's racks and racks of authentic period costumes.

I take an unsteady step forward and reach out to finger all the velvet and the satin―dress after dress, suit after suit.

"My mother and Alice have connections. There will be people here later to fit everything."

"You did this for me?" I squeak out. I slide the hangers around on the rack as I take my time looking through them. The outfits are so beautiful, so perfect, so much better than the handmade ones we were going to have to wear.

I spin around and launch myself into Edward's arms.

All my words are stuck in the back of my throat.

He seems to know though. He takes his arms, curls them around my lower back, and he holds me. My feet off the floor, my arms around his neck, my face buried against his shoulder. He holds me until I calm down and my breathing rights and I feel like I can talk again.

I swallow hard and lift my head. "Thank you," I whisper into his ear. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

He slowly lets my feet find the floor but his arms are still around me and mine are still around him.

"You are more than welcome, Bella."

Then I kiss him. I pull him toward me with my palms on his cheeks and the tips of my fingers grazing his ears and I kiss him.

His lips mold against mine as they search for that exact fit.

My lips are closed but happy.

His are closed but responsive.

The kiss is innocent enough but it lasts and lasts. We start and stop and start and stop. It feels like the world tilts more on its axis and the earths rotation speeds up a bit. I bet outside the sun shines brighter and somewhere a rainbow appears―that's just how perfect his kiss is.

It's just us but the room seems full, like I can't move, nor do I want to.

I don't know why I feel like I want to cry, but my belly starts to clench like I might at any second.

His hands are pulling my hips into him, and my fingers are itching to running through his hair.

Breathing isn't a necessity.

Closer and closer we draw toward each other and at any point we may melt together.

His lips barely part to focus on my top lip and mine open to savor his bottom pout.

Nothing awkward, nothing wrong. Just sweetness.

Everything about me is screaming more and don't stop and hell yeah.

Everything except one little dark spot buried somewhere deep that urges me to stop before this goes too far. The part of me that wants to do this right and not when I have a boyfriend. Stop before I know for certain how Edward feels and what he wants from me. Stop before I can't.

Even though that part is so tiny, I listen to it anyway and hesitantly pull away.

My hands like his cheeks so they continue to linger there. "Thank you so much."

He slowly releases his hold on my hips and his thumb comes up swipes away a tear that has escaped and is rolling down my cheek.

"Anything for you."

"There you two are!" Jessica says as she busts through the door. "Bella did you see all this! Oh my lord! This is so exciting..."

Everyone else files in behind her, all shrieking over the costumes.

I step away from Edward and he steps away from me.

Slowly the room fills and distance finds itself between us.

But in this room, somehow there is still just me and him. I know this because my lips still burn and my fingers still touch and I still feel him everywhere.

/ / /

Backstage is crazy with all of us running around in Elizabethan clothes, and the seamstresses are right behind us, making alterations.

I'm wearing this dress―it is the most beautiful deep color crimson with golden accents. It has beads and pearls and lace all over it. It fits tight from the waist up and the neckline has a square-cut that shows a peek of my cleavage. The dress is long, it practically sweeps the floor and hides my feet.

I stand at the full length mirror and twist back and forth. This makes it feel much more real. This is really going to happen.

And it's going to be perfect.

I bunch up my hair and hold it up on top of my head. I turn around to look at the back of the dress in the mirror.

When I turn back around I see Edward's reflection in the mirror standing behind me. I spin around to check him out.

He's wearing this velvet jacket that's black with gold rope trim. It is open and shows the white ruffled buttoned up shirt underneath it. His pants are also black and very baggy at his thighs, but fit his calves snugly. He even has an elaborate sash tied around his waist.

He struts toward me and throws up his arms. He spins around once. "Well?"

"You are the best looking Lord Dudley I have ever seen." I pronounce with all honesty.

He winks and then looks me up and down. He reaches forward to cradle my sides, and slowly turns me back to face the mirror.

I'm now looking at him in the mirror. Watching as he seems to drink me in, taking his time, his eyes all over me. His hands still hold me from behind.

"Look at you!" He raises his eyebrows and nods his head.

I smile as I glance at myself and then at him. I shake my head, "No, look at us."

"Let your love be like the misty rains, coming softly, but flooding the river. ~Malagasy Proverb