Author's Note: This chapter is super long. Longer than normal. I think it's the first time I'd written over six thousand words. I was going to cut the chapter in half because it was getting to be too long, but I thought, "What the hell?" So here it is. ;) I hope you enjoy! Lots of drama, I'm warning you!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 15

The parking lot was already packed with cars and students when I drove in, slightly late, on Friday morning. But, of course, my friends always saved my usual space between the Volvo and M3.

I tried to avoid their eyes as I slid in carefully. It wasn't too hard. I just had to act like I was extremely tired, which I was. I hadn't been able to sleep too satisfactorily last night, due to my horrors.

I slid the gear into parking, then let the engine idle for a few moments while I leaned back against the headrest and closed my eyes. I was so, unbelievably tired.

I would've fallen asleep if it hadn't been for the gentle tap against my window. Startled awake, I looked to my left, bleary-eyed.

Edward was looking down at me, expressionless, and with his hands in his pockets. He raised his eyebrow and jerked his head slightly, gesturing for me to come out.

I sighed as I blinked the sleepiness from my eyes and turned off the engine. I slid out of my seat reluctantly. I could've slept forever in there.

"You look tired," was Edward's short greeting. He seemed wary of making me run away again.

But I had no energy to run and hide from him any longer. There was no point anyway. I'd already decided that we were going to be nothing more than friends. My resolve helped, of course, to act normal around him from now on.

He closed my door for me while I leaned against the side of my car wearily.

"Did something happen?" he asked in a low voice, concerned.

I closed my eyes and pictured yesterday's scene with Renee and Phil. "No."

"Don't pretend," he said accusingly. There was a slight resentment in his voice. "I know you too well. You can't fool me."

My eyes opened again, and I glanced at him. I gave him a slight smile. "I guess I can't."

"Hey, Bella!" Alice's loud voice interrupted us, making me wince and lean away.

"Please, Alice," I sighed as I led the way out of the tight narrow space in between our cars. "I'm not in the mood for your cheery attitude this morning, so take it down a notch for me, will you?"

Alice tutted. "Couldn't you have taken better care of my raw material, Bella? You look horrible!"

"Raw material?" I asked flatly. "For what?"

"For the dance tonight, of course!" she chirped.

"I'm not going. I'm going home and sleep."

"You could've done that last night," Rosalie pointed out.

"Leave her alone, Alice," Edward said, studying me intently. "She doesn't have to go if she doesn't want to."

"So there," I added.

"You!" Alice said, jumping out in front of Edward and blocking his way. She jabbed at his chest with her finger. "I thought you wanted her to go! You're not helping!"

Edward didn't even wince at the sharp prod of her finger. He was too used to it. "It's her choice. She doesn't have to go if she doesn't want to."

"Edward!" a new sing-song voice entered my ears, and I wanted to groan out loud. What was it, Bother-Isabella-Swan Day?

Edward had time to sigh exasperatedly before Tanya came bounding up to him and linked her arm through his.

"What do you want, Tanya?" he asked coldly.

"A good morning kiss, of course!" Tanya said eagerly. "How about it?" She puckered her lips and made a smooching sound.

I couldn't help but feel enormously irritated. I had to fight the urge to turn to her and yell at her to go away. What was the matter with me? She was my friend. I'd been the one to do the matchmaking. The least I could do was support their relationship. It must have been those cranky mood-swings from lack of sleep.

Edward leaned away just as she tried to reach for his cheek. The good news: Tanya missed his cheek. The bad news: her lips brushed his neck slightly, leaving a lipstick trace on his skin.

Emmett and Jasper fought back a grimace when they saw this, and Rosalie looked like she was about to barf. Alice opened her mouth to snap at her, seemed to think better of it, and snapped her mouth shut.

And I was staring at them with an expression of…

What? I didn't even know. I couldn't even feel my face. All I knew was that she'd just tried to kiss Edward, and I didn't like it. I was standing there, frozen, like an idiot. I couldn't even rescue him like he'd rescued so many times from Mike and the other boys.

Alice suddenly glanced at me, and her expression turned slightly smug. She looked away, rearranging her face before I could look properly to register what I'd seen.

Edward pushed her away, stone-faced. "Go to class, Tanya."

Tanya seemed satisfied to see her lipstick print on his neck. Therefore, she didn't complain as she smiled and flounced off.

Edward grimaced and turned to us after making sure that Tanya wasn't going to return to bother him again. And he stared at me in surprise.

I didn't know what expression I'd had on, but it sure seemed to surprise him. Quickly, I turned away and walked on toward the building.

"Edward," Jasper said once we were under the shelter of the roof. "You have Tanya's lipstick print on the side of your neck."

I was continuing to walk when Rosalie grabbed my arm and stopped me. I looked back and saw that the boys and Alice had paused to get rid of the print.

"Where?" Edward asked, not moving, as though his life depended on it. His fingers traced the side of his neck carefully. "Here?"

"No, no," Emmett said. "A little lower."

"Here?"

"A little to the left," Jasper suggested.

"Here?" Edward sounded exasperated.

"That's too much," Alice said. "A little to your right- Bella!" She backed away in surprise when I came walking up to them quickly.

Impatiently, I reached toward his neck and rubbed the print away myself. I wasn't just annoyed by the fact that Edward hadn't been able to find the location of the lipstick, but also because I didn't want to see it anymore. I didn't know why, but it bothered me a lot.

"There," I said harshly. "It's gone now. Happy?" And I turned and walked away.

Edward's Point of View

I stared at her retreating figure blankly. Why was she so cross today?

The others were trying hard not to laugh.

I turned to them and said, "What did I do?"

"Nothing," Alice said between giggles. "That's what's so funny about it. Bella's jealous."

"Jealous?" I frowned. "About what?"

"You should've seen her earlier when Tanya was trying to kiss you," Rosalie said, smiling. "That expression… It can only appear when a woman is jealous. Take it from us girls." She looked smug.

"Looks like all your hard work has paid off," Emmett said, slapping me on the back and making me wince. "Years of one-sided love…now, it'll be a mutual thing."

"Don't be silly," I said, brushing his hand away. "You know Bella doesn't like me that way."

"Things change, my dear brother," Alice said airily. She smiled and flounced away, dragging Jasper away.

I turned to Emmett and Rosalie incredulously. "What…?"

Emmett chuckled and waved at me mockingly. "Good luck, bro. Come on, Rosie."

Rosalie paused and lowered her voice before walking away herself. "Bella loves you too, Edward. She just doesn't know it yet, that's all. She has nothing against you. Just don't forget that it's your responsibility to make her realize her feelings for you." She smiled before following Emmett.

Confused, I just stood there, when girly voices squealed, "Edward!" from behind.

Jolted out of my reverie, I began to walk away as quickly as possible from the cheerleaders who ran after me.

Bella's Point of View

I immersed myself in homework after school. I didn't want to do it over the weekend, planning to catch up on sleeping instead. I had only two math problems left when the doorbell rang, interrupting my thoughts.

At first, I tried to ignore it. I had two more problems left and I was in no mood to entertain anyone. Maybe they would go away after a while.

But after five minutes of constant pounding on the front door and ringing the doorbell, I assumed that they weren't going to go away.

Annoyed, I shoved my pencil away from me and ran down the stairs. The person was in mid-knock when I flung the door open.

Alice nearly fell over but caught herself just in time. She didn't have my clumsy coordination, after all. She looked at me disapprovingly.

"Alice," I snapped, just as irritated. "Why won't you leave me alone?"

"Because," Alice said haughtily, straightening to her full extent proudly. "The three of us are going to a dance, and if we want to get there on time, then we should start getting ready."

She looked behind her where Rosalie's M3 was parked on the curb. "Rose!" she hollered, very unlady-like. "She finally opened up! Let's get the materials into the house now!"

"Okay!" Rosalie's voice called out cheerily. "Hey, Bella! You abandoned us after school!"

"It was for a reason!" I exploded. "I am not going to that dance! Why can't you guys understand that? You never had a problem with me not going before!"

"Yeah, well, that's because you didn't know Edward's love for you yet," Alice said dismissively. She glanced at me, smirking. "We shall make you into a beautiful princess, just you wait, my lady. The fairy godmothers are here."

"Well, I don't know about me," Rosalie said, sauntering up to us carrying a basket full of beauty products, three sets of dresses in her other hand, and three pairs of dangerous high heels under her arms. She seemed at ease, despite the fact that she was carrying loads of stuff. "But I know for sure that the pixie here is a fairy."

Alice scowled as she ushered me inside forcibly. I looked at her indignantly for barging into my own house without permission. But then again, they never needed permission to come over. They were welcome any time.

"Well," I sighed and going back upstairs. "I'm not saying that I'm going, but since you're here, you can fix yourselves up and leave."

"Just a minute, young lady!" Rosalie barked, causing me to pause and look back. "Just where do you think you're going?"

"Homework," I said. "I have one problem left." My expression soured. "I would've finished already, if Alice hadn't annoyed the hell out of me and interrupted my studying time."

Alice rolled her eyes as she leaned down to organize the beauty materials. "Just finish that miserable little problem and hurry down."

Ten minutes later, I came back downstairs to see that Alice had already curled Rosalie's hair and had pulled the top part of her hair into a mini ponytail. She looked like she'd come out straight from a fairytale.

"Hey, Rapunzel," I teased, admiring her long, blonde hair. "You look nice."

She turned and grinned at me. I saw that she'd already done makeup too. "Thanks. Do you think Emmett will like it?"

I rolled my eyes. "Rose, Emmett will love you even if you go without makeup. You don't need it."

Alice looked at me. "What are you doing, just standing there?"

I looked at her blankly. "What, you want me to help beautify you two?"

She snorted. "No, genius. Go take a quick shower and dry your hair all the way. Then come back down for the makeover."

I sat down on a chair next to Rose and said stubbornly, "Nope. I'm not going anywhere."

Alice let go of Rosalie's hair and turned her body toward me completely. Her hands were on her lips and her expression was scary. I knew that I'd gone far enough. When she made that expression, it meant that she was going to get everything her way, no matter what consequences she may see later on.

"You will go to that dance tonight," she said firmly. "It does not matter that you do not have a date. You will go, and I guarantee that Edward will make sure one hundred percent that you will not be alone for a second."

Rosalie nodded her head minutely, letting me know that I had to go take a shower immediately or risk Alice exploding. And I'd had experience with that before. It was something I didn't want to see again.

"Fine," I mumbled. "I'll go, alright? You don't have to get mad at me."

Alice's face immediately brightened, leaving me wondering how a person's expression can alter so quickly. "Great! Hurry back, darling!" She imitated Jasper's southern twang. "I promise you will look so smoking hot that the boys will not be able to take their eyes off of you!"

She turned back to fiddle with Rose's hair, and I stuck my tongue out at her back.

"And don't stick your tongue out at me," Alice said without turning back.

My eyes widening in shock, I quickly turned around and ran back upstairs to the bathroom. I swear, she had eyes on the back of her head.

I took a quick shower and came back down after drying my hair completely. It was still slightly damp because I'd been too lazy to keep the dryer in my hand for a minute longer. It was better than completely wet. Alice would have to agree with that.

In my absence, I saw that Rosalie had given Alice a makeover. She was admiring herself in a mirror with a smile plastered on her face.

Her usual spiky black hair had been straightened and a cute pin in the shape of a pink ribbon was on one side of her hair. Her makeup was slightly darker than usual.

I smiled. "Pixie turned into pretty fairy princess, did she? Nice work, Rose."

Rosalie laughed. "Well, pixie seems to like it."

"Of course!" Alice gushed. "Rosalie did it." She turned to me and nodded her head approvingly when she saw my slightly damp hair. "And with Rose's and my skills combined on you…" She grinned. "You'll look absolutely stunning!"

I gulped as I moved to sit down. Rose immediately began to play with my hair while Alice grabbed foreign makeup products and started dabbing at my face I just knew I was going to look like a clown.

Rosalie and Alice took the M3 while I took my Audi. I wanted to guarantee a ride home in case I had to run away from somebody. And with my luck, I was sure the car would be a necessity later tonight.

I slid in next to the Volvo and BMW neatly. I took the key out of its ignition and took a deep breath.

I can totally do this, I told myself feebly. I have confidence. I can do it.

I could see Rose and Alice waiting for me behind my car in the mirror. Sighing, I hopped out of my car and waddled toward them as best as I could in my dangerously high, nearly six-inch high heels. They were practically stilettos.

Rosalie and Alice grinned as they appraised me, then high-fived each other for the hundredth time that evening.

"Man, if I were a boy, I would totally take you home tonight!" Rosalie said proudly. "Look at our girl! Totally steaming hot woman!"

I blushed. "Don't be ridiculous. You guys made me a clown."

"Nonsense!" Alice said airily. "You look awesome. I have to agree with Rosalie. I'd take you home too, if I was a boy. Take you home and bed you." She winked.

I couldn't help laughing, despite my nervousness. "You guys look more beautiful and way hotter."

Rosalie was wearing a crimson dress with matching heels. Her jewelry was fancy and glittered from her neck, wrist, and ears. She was even wearing an anklet. She looked so beautiful that I wanted to cry.

Alice was a pretty fairy. She looked like an adorable bumblebee in her yellow halter dress. Her pumps had definitely heightened her, but she was still tiny next to us, considering the heels we were wearing as well.

I looked down at myself. I felt plain next to them. With the pure white, flowing spaghetti-strapped dress that stuck to my body extremely tightly and matching, open-toed heels, I felt more exposed than I should normally be. The silky fabric of my dress and the breeze against my feet made me feel almost naked.

My hair was pulled out of my usual boring hairdo, and instead, Rosalie had done something to it so that it was actually up in an elegant french twist with a beautiful holder securing it.

My hairstyle, I was proud of. My makeup? Not so much.

"Alice, I look like a panda!" I'd shrieked when she'd finally let me see the mirror.

"Don't be silly, you look so sexy!" Rosalie had squealed in excitement. She was actually jumping up and down, and she was someone who never did that. "Great job, Alice."

Alice had seemed so smug. "I'm so good, don't you think? You're beautiful, Bella. Anyone who denies that tonight is an idiot, and Rose and I will be perfectly happy to punch whomever says otherwise."

They'd high-fived each other, then stuck this tight dress and high heels on me. I felt like an experimenting mannequin.

The heavy kohl around my eyes Alice had traced with waterproof eyeliner alone felt like ten pounds. The mascara? Five pounds more. The dark eyeshadow, powder, and lip gloss? Ten more pounds added.

I felt so weird. I was nervous because no one had ever seen me this way. What would people say? I was afraid that they would start calling me a slut and a wannabe.

Just as Alice and Rosalie took a few steps toward the school, I chickened out.

"Guys," I said, desperation leaking into my tone. "I can't do this." I turned for my car again.

"No-" Alice and Rosalie pulled me back and took each one of my arms in theirs.

"Bella, be confident with yourself!" Rosalie urged. "You look beautiful! Hot. Sexy. Seriously." She nodded, sincerity filling her eyes.

"You can do it," Alice said. "You look totally hot. I wouldn't be surprised if Edward abandons Tanya for you, and even if you finally do have a date, the other boys will want you. I guarantee it. If it's not true, we promise we won't say anything more when the next dance rolls around. Scout's honor." She held up her hand.

"Agreed," Rosalie said. "Come on, Bella. I think we're the last ones to arrive. Our dates are waiting!" Her voice was sing-songy on that last sentence as she and Alice half-dragged me to the entrance.

The dance was in the gym, which was probably the only huge place in town for a high school dance. I gaped at the slightly dimmed gymnasium.

The place was decorated so beautifully that it was hard to imagine the school gym that I'd grown so accustomed to. Ribbons and sashes were everywhere, and the school had even hired a DJ and a dance floor for the event. Students were dressed up formally as they waltzed to slow music.

Refreshment tables were pushed to one side of the wall, and fruit punch and sodas were there too. But no one was drinking or eating. They were dancing, talking, and laughing.

I glanced around and saw that no one else was dressed up so differently than the three of us were. We looked the most altered, the most changed. And everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at us as we made our way slowly through the crowd.

Several boys wolf-whistled behind us, and Rosalie and Alice giggled slightly. My expression was frozen into anxiety and reluctance to be here. My friends were still not letting go of my arms. They'd linked their own with mine.

Was I imagining it, or were people staring at me more than they looked at my friends? It was surely impossible… I probably looked as plain as I did any other day, except for the heavy panda makeup.

We finally spotted Emmett and Jasper, who had been attracting a lot of the cheerleaders' attentions since they were dateless. They were standing to the side of the dance floor, trying to ignore the girls as they spoke in low voices to each other.

They spotted us and perked up when they saw their beautiful dates.

"Beautiful," Jasper said, lifting Alice's hand to kiss it softly. Alice giggled.

"Smokin' hot!" Emmett said, grinning as he looked up and down at Rosalie hungrily. "I don't think you're going home tonight, Rosie." He looked at her seductively.

Rosalie laughed. "Whatever, Emmett."

Emmett and Jasper turned to me and grinned widely.

"Well, well," Jasper drawled. "Who is this beautiful young lady? I'm sorry, miss, but do I know you?"

"Is she new here?" Emmett chimed in, laughing. "She must be at the wrong Homecoming dance. Someone like her belongs in Hollywood, not in this small town."

I rolled my eyes. "Very funny. Amusing."

"You don't look very happy," Jasper observed. "You should be. You look totally hot, Bella."

"Yeah, look at all those boys who are thinking about hitting on you already," Emmett said, glaring at a group of boys who were staring at me, looking dazed. "Looks like you'll need some protecting tonight."

"The only people I need protecting from tonight is from the people I know well," I said in a low voice, glancing around nervously. "What if they think that I'm totally-"

"You're not a slut," Alice and Rosalie chorused, looking bored.

"We've been through this, Bella," Alice said, exasperated. "You look hot, not slutty. Ask Em or Jazz. Doesn't she?" She turned to the boys.

"If I wasn't already dating Rosie, I'd hit on you," Emmett promised, nodding.

"I'd take you home and keep you there forever," Jasper added.

They looked one hundred percent sincere.

"You guys don't count," I mumbled. "You're just trying to make me feel better."

Alice sighed. "Never mind. You look fine. Where's Edward? I thought he would be with you."

"Tanya insisted that he dance with her on the 'first dance'," Emmett said, rolling his eyes. He nodded toward the center of the dance floor. "This is the third 'first dance'. He hasn't been able to get away."

Alice stomped her foot. "No fair! He has to see Bella now! Before someone snatches her away! Bella, you have to save your first dance for Edward, okay?" She turned to Jasper and grinned. "Let's go, Jazzy."

Rosalie winked at me. "Be sure you do. Resist those boys as long as you could." And on that note, she and Emmett wandered off as well.

"First dance, last dance," I mumbled to myself as I wandered away too. "Who cares? I'm out of this place in an hour."

Edward's Point of View

When the tempo finally got faster after the third slow song, I pulled away from my worst nightmare. "Let's sit this one out, Tanya." I began walking away.

Tanya grabbed my hand. "Oh, but this is one of the popular songs these days! Come on, Edward, let's dance!"

"We already danced to three when you only asked for one," I pointed out coolly. "I'm tired."

"Oh, come on, Edward," Tanya pouted. "Be a good sport."

I tried to keep my temper in check. I was already embarrassed to be seen with her, what with her cleavages drawing the attention of, not only the boys, but all the girls as well. She had on an extremely tight black, sequined, sleeveless dress that was one too many sizes small for her.

Escape. That was the only word on my mind. I wanted to escape her claws – literally – and find out if Alice and Rosalie had been successful in bringing Bella to the dance.

Luckily, Mike Newton came up and said, "Hey, guys. Edward, do you mind if I cut in? The DJ told me there was a slow dance coming after this one, and I'd like to dance with Tanya." He looked at her chest appreciatively.

"Not at all," I said, relieved and grateful. "Go ahead."

Tanya frowned, looking unhappy to see me walk away but let Mike take her hand as he led her deeper into the dance floor.

I tried to look for Alice and Rosalie. Were they here yet? Knowing them, I knew that they would be standing out with their flashy dresses on. I just had to look for people who were gawking at something…

And I found a group of boys who were huddled up together and gawking at something that I couldn't see from where I was standing. They were pushing and snapping at each other to get a good look. Bingo.

I walked closer, wondering how good my sister and her friend looked. Why else would the boys even look at them, although they knew about their extremely protective boyfriends?

I stopped dead when I saw what they were staring at. I caught my breath and stared at a figure in a white, flowing dress that hugged her figure in all the right places.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move. I was frozen. Everything slowed down. Everything blacked out. I could only see her. And I fell more in love with her.

It was almost criminal, the way she looked. No one should be able to look that tempting. No one should be able to look so stunning and beautiful and…sexy.

Was that really the Bella that I knew? No, it was impossible. No way. I'd watched her ever since we were babies. How was it possible that there'd been a side to her that I'd never seen before?

Her long, mahogany hair was up in an elegant french twist. Her dress flowed down like a waterfall, and at the same time, hugged her body so that her perfect body shape could be seen. She was standing on matching high heels so high that she looked almost afraid to move.

Her makeup was what completed her image. I knew instantly that Alice had done it. Not even Rosalie would dare to put on so much eyeliner.

Bella had dark kohl around her beautiful eyes, and she looked…hot. She looked like she belonged on a runway. She was looking around at the students, looking rather haughty and cold, but I knew better. I'd spent years reading her expression and eyes. She was wearing an expression of curiosity, but her makeup made her look different.

What was I doing? I should go take full possession of her before another guy was brave enough to do so. A girl who looked that beautiful wouldn't be dateless for long.

The thought helped me move my feet again, and I brushed past the group of boys who were watching her. I fought the urge to glare at them for gawking at my girl.

Bella was looking the other way when I approached. I cleared my throat, and she turned her head to look at me, startled. She blinked as she recognized me, and almost immediately blushed. She dropped her eyes, looking embarrassed.

She was embarrassed at how she looked? It just wasn't logical.

"I almost didn't recognize you," I said, smiling slightly.

She peeked up at me again. Her high heels closed the height gap of several inches, but I was still way taller than she was.

"Tell me honestly," she said, glancing around nervously. "I look hideous, don't I?"

"Of course you don't," I said, sounding almost offended. How dare she even think that? "You look beautiful, Bella."

She looked at me again, surprise evident on her face. "How can you even say that? I look like someone punched my nose, and I feel almost exposed in this." She gestured to her dress. She lowered her voice as she almost whimpered, "I want to go home."

I raised my eyebrow. I couldn't stop myself from glancing down briefly at her slightly showing cleavage. I didn't think she noticed, though.

"Well, that isn't possible," I said lightly. "Because I won't let you leave."

She blinked. "What?"

I took her arm and linked it through mine. "I'm not letting such a beautiful girl out of my sight. I'm not crazy. What if she escapes?" I winked. "I don't plan on searching for Cinderella the hard way like Prince Charming did."

Bella actually laughed. "Yeah?" She looked slightly better.

"Of course," I said, as I led her through the crowd. The boys gave me jealous and resentful looks as we passed them.

"Don't you have a date?" she pointed out.

"She's taken at the moment," I said dismissively. "In fact, I don't care if she never came back. Cinderella's much more beautiful than she is, and I prefer you to her."

She blushed again, but looked slightly more relaxed. "You don't have to do this. Just because I'm your friend-"

"If you think I'm doing this because we're friends, think again," I cut her off. "I approached you for you, a beautiful and, I might add, sexy young lady."

Bella raised her eyebrow. "Sexy? Really?" She looked doubtful as she laughed.

"You'd better believe it," I told her darkly, thinking about those boys. "I'm lucky I claimed you before another guy did."

The music changed into a slow dance, and all the boys grabbed the girls and walked onto the dance floor.

I looked at Bella. "Can I ask you to dance, Miss Swan?"

She looked up at me, wondering if I was joking, but I was completely, one hundred percent serious. She seemed to see it too.

"I guess so," she said dubiously. "But you know I can't dance-"

"You can, if you're with me." I dragged her to the center of the dance floor and soon, we were swaying to the music like the other couples.

Bella looked uncomfortable for the first time. There was no gap between us, as I had closed it by wrapping my arm around her waist. She looked nervous again, and she couldn't look up to meet my eyes.

"Why do you look so nervous?" I asked softly.

Her lips parted slightly as she thought about how to answer. "I…"

I stared at her slightly pouty lips. I was tempted to kiss her.

"I don't know," she said finally. She looked up to meet my eyes, then looked away again, blushing madly.

I didn't know what to say. Now was the perfect time to confess my feelings to her personally, but seeing her here, looking beautiful and hot, intimidated me.

I could almost hear Alice urging eagerly, Do it!

Do it!

Bella's Point of View

My heart was beating rapidly as Edward held me closer than necessary. I wondered if he could hear it. Feel it.

"Why do you look so nervous?" he asked softly. He was staring down at me almost hungrily, and I was afraid. Alice's words about how he'd loved me since childhood entered my mind.

"I…"

Why was I nervous? I'd never felt this way around Edward before. This was a completely foreign feeling. It wasn't natural.

The way that my heart beat quickly when he was touching me…looking at me…complimenting me…

The way I blushed madly when I just thought about him in general and Alice's words…

"I don't know," I said finally. He was still waiting for an answer, and it was the only innocent enough answer that I could give to him.

What were these emotions that I was feeling right now? Could it be…? Was it a possibility that I was attracted to this boy? To a boy that had been my best friend since childhood, to someone who was in love with me?

My brain told me that it was impossible, but my heart told me otherwise. The human mind was an unpredictable and strange thing. When it came to lust and attraction, it didn't care that a girl had been friends with the boy she was attracted to since childhood. It just didn't care.

The way his arm was wrapped around my torso protectively… My heart fluttered.

No, Bella, I scolded myself. You can't! This is wrong! This is Edward. Edward. You've known him since you were wearing diapers. Wrong!

But I couldn't lie to myself any longer. This is how emotions worked in humans. Even if you had no other feelings for another at first, once you found out that that person loved you…nothing was ever the same. Especially when the person was a handsome young man like Edward…you couldn't help but like him back.

It was amazing how, in a matter of a couple days, I'd realized how much I'd grown to like him back. Maybe it hadn't been the last couple days either. Maybe I'd liked him since I was young too. I just hadn't realized it.

But what did I have to do now? I couldn't betray Tanya. I was the one who had urged her to go after him… I couldn't risk my friendship by letting him know my own feelings. I just couldn't.

"What are you thinking about?" Edward asked, his eyes intent on my face.

He'd always asked that question, even when we were little. He always wanted to know everything when it came to me, and maybe it was because of the way he felt toward me. Curiosity…interest…lust…

I merely shrugged, trying to act casual and not betray my emotions. "Nothing in particular."

I didn't know if it was love yet. Was it love? Mere attraction? Lust?

What about him? Did he love me? Or did he just like me?

Edward looked like he was arguing with himself. He was deciding whether or not to tell me something. And then, I saw the determination settle in his eyes.

"Bella, I need to tell you something," he said.

I frowned slightly. "What is it?"

He hesitated again.

"You can tell me anything, Edward," I reminded him. "No secrets, remember? I thought we agreed on that since we were babies." I smiled, urging him to go on.

He took a deep breath. "I-"

"Edward!"

He closed his eyes and reopened them, looking furious. I felt a twinge of regret as Tanya interrupted our moment.

"Bella!" she gushed. "You're here! Wow, you look great!"

Edward released me rather reluctantly, and she hugged me. She smelled like she'd dumped a whole bottle of perfume on herself, and her dress was extremely tight on her.

"Yeah, I came," I said, giving her a tiny smile. "I was dragged here."

Tanya laughed. As she did so, I saw a glint in her eyes, like she was maliciously satisfied, but I must have imagined it, as usual. Because a second later, it was gone.

"I hope you don't mind me interrupting you guys," she said. "Actually, they're going to announce the Homecoming King and Queen right now. You know, the one that people voted for this week? I was hoping Edward and I would claim the titles."

Edward looked like it was the last thing he wanted, but I smiled politely, although my heart was screaming at me to stop pretending right now. "I'm sure you'll get it."

"I'm so excited!" Tanya squealed as she linked her arm through Edward's.

I tried not to feel the twinge of jealousy, but it was hard. Now that I'd admitted my feelings to myself, I could no longer ignore how I felt.

The music stopped at that moment, and there was a slight tapping noise, as though someone was checking the sound system.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" our principal, Mr. Greene, announced into the microphone. Everyone quieted immediately, looking excited and hopeful. "I will now announce our Homecoming King and Queen. Now, as you all know, all students were given a chance to vote during this entire week. And it is now official! Are you all excited?"

"Yeah!" everyone chorused loudly.

"Great," Mr. Green said, grinning. "Because I don't know who they are either. I'm curious too. Now, first, we will announce the Homecoming Prince and Princess."

The crowd cheered madly.

"This year's Homecoming Prince is…" Mr. Greene unfolded the piece of paper his secretary handed to him. "Mike Newton!"

On the other side of the room, all the boys roared in approval as Mike stepped onto the platform to accept his crown and cape. He struck a pose, making everyone laugh hard. Then, he stepped down and rejoined his friends.

"Yes, yes, congratulations, Mr. Newton," Mr. Greene said amusedly. "Now, I shall announce…the Homecoming Princess!"

At this, all the girl in the room giggled and whispered to each other. They watched the principal unfold the paper, hardly daring to breathe.

Was this such a life-death situation? Personally, I really didn't care. And from the looks of it, Edward didn't either.

But it was easy for him to look that way. He'd claimed the title of Homecoming Prince during freshman year and Homecoming King during sophomore. He was the most popular boy on campus, and I wouldn't be surprised if he got picked again for this year's King as well.

"This year's Homecoming Princess is…" He smiled widely when he saw the name. "Isabella Swan! Congratulations!"

I blinked when I heard my name. I must have misheard. No way.

Edward turned to me, grinning widely. "Congratulations, Bella."

"Go up, Bella!" Tanya urged, smiling, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Everyone's waiting for you!"

Finally smiling slightly, I lifted my dress up slightly so that I didn't trip as I stepped onto the platform. I accepted the plastic tiara and the dark pink cape from Mr. Greene. I gave a little embarrassed wave at the crowd before stepping down back on the gym floor. Everyone cheered madly.

Edward smiled when I returned, blushing madly. He looked pleased that I'd received the title, more so that I was.

"This year's Homecoming King and Queen," Mr. Greene announced. "I would like for you to come up together. You will sit on these thrones – " He gestured toward the throne-like chairs on the platform – "and we'll take a picture for you to keep. We all good?"

The crowd cheered.

"Alright, this year's Homecoming King and Queen is…" Mr. Greened glanced down at his paper. "Congratulations! Edward Cullen and Tanya Denali!"

Edward's face immediately soured at the thought of going up there with Tanya, but she squealed and began dragging him up the platform.

I watched, trying to fight the jealousy as Edward and Tanya accepted the crowns and scepters from the principal.

And then, it happened.

Tanya stumbled, tripping over a wire onstage, and tumbled into Edward's arms. He caught her automatically, like a reflex, but she brought him down to her lips.

My eyes grew wide in shock at what I was seeing. The crowd cheered madly as Edward continued to kiss her. But I felt like my heart was tearing into pieces.

Hadn't Alice told me that he loved me? Me? I couldn't believe it now. She had been wrong. I had been wrong. It was not I he liked, but Tanya. It certainly looked to me like Edward had been the one to kiss her first.

I could feel the sting in my eyes as the tears began to appear. I was breathing hard.

I knew that staying here would only make matters worse. Just as Edward pulled away from Tanya and looked towards me, I whirled around and hurried out of the gymnasium.

I was crying as soon as I burst out of the building and into the parking lot. I ran to my car and jumped in, starting the engine quickly.

Tears flowed down my face freely and silently as I fled from the scene as fast as I could.

AN: So how was it? Long, I know. But eventful, don't you think? So what do you think really happened up there with Edward and Tanya? I highly doubt that he was the one who kissed her.

I'm sorry if the Homecoming King, Queen, Prince, and Princess thing didn't go the way you expect it to. I've never been to Homecoming before (shocking, I know, but I'm not one for dances and dressing up either) but this is the way my school does it. Vote the week of the dance, and announce it at the dance. So anyway, I hope you don't mind too much if it's different.

Believe it or not, I finished this chapter today. Yes, I know it's long, but I tend to finish several chapters per day, if I'm on a roll. If not, a chapter is still basic. I think I finished this chappie in an hour. Cool, eh? I wanted to update for you guys before another hard week started. Aren't you proud? Thankful?

Reviews, please!