hey hey.

so i kinda find it hard to believe the last time i posted was three-four days ago. damn that PLL. i told blame the complete season of one - three. smh. anyways...

here is the chp. oh, btw, someone asked how much chps are left or something along the line. i do believe we got about three and the epilogue left. so yep... getting down to be business (to defend the Huns) disney movie reference. Disney Nerds stand up, yo!

anyways, enjoy.

Chapter XL

(Epov)

"Sure, on prom night." Bella answered with a secretive smile when I asked if I could see her dress. I figured it must be great for her to kinda leave me hanging to go shopping with Rosalie. When I asked her if she had a good enough time to ditch me, she thought I was joking. She replied back with her own joke about my ego. I would be lying if I said it wasn't a little bruised when she said she was missing our study session to go shopping. It just reminded me why she was shopping; because she was going to prom with Jasper. I won't lie by saying I would feel the same if she was shopping for a dress to go to prom with me.

But it wasn't until she gave that answer when I realize she didn't know I wasn't going; not just with her, but like at all. I was about to tell her, but Jasper was sneaking behind her to do that thing he always does. I was kind of glad to ruin the surprise. Before I could stay there too long to see them interact like a couple, I told them I was going to class. I just couldn't deal with them together like that.

When I got to her house after school, we started working on the mountain of reading and homework I had to catch up on because of the week I missed. Bella was helping me with it so I could get it done. That way, I could start forcing on what I need to know for my finals. She was supposes to help me all this week, but we missed a day, another reason I wasn't too fond of her leaving me, because we were a day behind. When we got to work, I was moving a lot faster with her help than when I was by myself.

"I think we're done." I told her with a tired sigh as I closed my notebook. We've been working since I came over, which was three hours straight.

"Edward, I think we got about two more chapters left." She said.

"Okay, let me rephrase, I'm done. I'm tired of looking at this stuff and I think my eyes are starting to cross." I told her.

She laughed. "You know that's a myth, right?" she replied.

I think I figured. "Myth or not, I'm tired of reading." I told her.

"How about we just take a break?" she asked as she closed the notebook. I shrugged. I think that was the best I was getting.

"Can I at least get a snack while we're on this break?" I asked. She nodded before standing up from the floor of her father's office floor. I got off the couch and followed her to the kitchen. When we got there, she walked to the fridge.

"Anything specific?" she asked, looking at me. I shook my head and I leaned against the wall. I didn't really care what she got. I just needed something to eat because it will be nice to focus on something else besides notes; even if it was just chewing. She turned back to open fridge and grabbed something. She tossed two things to me. "Water for you, juice for me?" she said. I looked down at my hands and saw what she meant. She tossed me a water bottle and one of her juices pouches. I still find it funny that she drinks these. I looked at her and nodded. She turned back to the fridge and got something else. She grabbed two apples before closing the door.

I followed her to the counter and placed the bottles there. She grabbed a knife and started cutting them. she cut the apples in slices. When I saw what she was doing, I gave a small smile. I remember my mom doing that for me and Alice when we got home from school when we were kids. Now I just eat them whole because I was too lazy to do anything else. She looked up at me. "What?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I was just remembering my mom doing that for me. I didn't think people ate slices like that."

She laughed. "My dad cuts them for me. he have them waiting for me Saturday mornings." She answered.

While she did, I started to open the bottle of water when a piece of paper that was stuck on the fridge caught my eyes. it stuck out among the other small and playful magnets. I don't think I ever seen a piece of paper on there. I knew it was Bella's because I saw her full name at the top. she didn't seem like the one to post her good grades. However, there was no grade on it so that wasn't it. I wonder what it. "Hey, what is that?" I asked as I walked towards it.

She looked up when I grabbed the paper of the front of the fridge. "Uh…" she reached to take it from me but I reached away as I kept reading. It was a letter from somewhere called Vanderbilt University. "What is Vanderbilt University?" I asked

"It's a private school." She answered. That explains why I never heard of it. It was an acceptance letter to this private school I never heard of. No surprise there. Full scholarship. Again, no surprise.

"It must be some school for you to post it on the fridge." I noted. Every time I was over and the few times I was in the kitchen, I never seen anything there but magnets. They didn't even have a copy of her father's work schedule or anything. They never had a paper there before. There must be something great about this place for them to break the cycle.

She nodded. "Yeah, it is. It's actually my first choice." she answered. First choice. That usually means only one thing. She was going to go there; or at least really thinking about it. Where the hell was this place even located? I looked at the top for the address. Then I found my answer. "This school is in Tennessee." I answered my own unspoken question. I looked up at her. "You're thinking about going to Tennessee?" I asked her.

"Not really thinking." She answered as she rubbed her arm like she just got in trouble or was ashamed of answering any of the questions I was asking her. What did she have to be ashamed of? "I'm going to school there." she added. Well, there's my answer.

When did she decide this? "Why the hell would you go all the way there?" I asked as I placed the paper on the counter. I asked as if I had a place to judge.

"Because it's a great school. It's number nineteen in the country and because it's private, the classes are small. The ratio for student to teacher is eleven to one. it makes the classes more intimate and easier to focus as well as get more help." She explained. "It's a really good school, Edward. And I was lucky to get a scholarship, let along get in." she went on when she saw I wasn't saying anything. "I was so excited when I got in."

"Were you even going to tell me?" I couldn't help but ask as I leaned on the counter. I don't know if I was mad or not. I mean if she wasn't, I think I am.

"Yes, Edward I was, but I never really had a chance. We never had time to talk about it." she answered. she was right. She was too busy being with Jasper and because of my feeling, I couldn't be around her and him at the same time. Well, I don't think I'm mad.

"Tennessee." I said, shaking my head. The thought of Bella being so far away from here, from Forks, Washington, very surprise. "That's really…" I wanted to say something about it, but I didn't know what. I should be happy for her. I wanted to be, I really did. I mean it was what she really wanted. She seems really excited about it and I didn't want to say anything that would take away from it. if I did, it might led into a fight. Fighting with Bella was last thing I wanted. "Far." I settled on with a hard sigh.

"I would still want to go if it was anywhere else." She replied.

"You really must want to go there." I mumbled.

"Yeah; I've been researching it since I applied. The dorm rooms, the stores and places near campus, the majors, the clubs. I wanted to remember anything about the school there was on the site." She answered with a slight chuckle.

I gave a half chuckle back. "Did you tell Jasper?" I asked. I figure the question was fitting. And I'll admit, I really only asked to see if I was the only one, besides Rosalie because I'm sure she was the first Bella told, to know about this. And I would like to know if it was one of those things I knew before him. it would nice if I did.

"Yeah, I did." she answered. and there goes that. When was the last time I got what I wanted when it came to him and her? so long, I don't think I can even recount.

I took a gulp from my water bottle, the only easy thing to swallow. "Wh-what did he say?" I asked.

"He said he was proud of me." she answered.

"He was okay with it?" I asked. that was surprising, once again considering. I thought he would be the one to try and convince her to go to the same school as him in Oregon.

She laughed. "He was surprised too, if that's what you mean. His eyes almost popped out of his head when he saw the return address." She answered in a teasing voice. Then she gave a hard sigh. "He said it would be hard, but we will keep in contact with each other and make sure we see each other over breaks, he thinks we'll be fine."

"What about you?" I asked. This would make me uncomfortable if I wasn't knowingly looking for cracks.

She shrugged. "I don't know." she said before taking a bit of an apple slice she cut. "What do you think?" she asked. I find it funny how her and Jasper was still coming to me for advice. And I had the perfect chance to make those cracks I was looking for. But it wouldn't help anything or anyone if I ripped them apart like I did before. I realized that only a few days ago when I was talking to Alice.

I shook my head. "I don't really have any thoughts on the subject. I won't have a girlfriend in Forks when I go somewhere else, remember?" I reminded her. When I did, I realized I said something I really didn't mean to say. the reason why I didn't have really have a place to judge where Bella was going. I wondered if she noticed. I hope she did. it would be the perfect time to tell her.

"Yeah, I know." she chuckled before eating the rest of the apple and grabbing another slice. She pushed the tray of them to me. I took one and tapped it against the counter, not really wanting to eat it. I think I kinda lost that desire for a distraction. "I don't know if I should be jealous or…." She paused and looked at me. "Wait, you said when." I nodded. "Wait, is there something you need to tell me?" she asked.

I suppose it was only fair. "Uh, I got my test scores back. I opened them when you send my letter. Thanks for that, by the way." I said to her.

She smiled. "What are friends for?" she answered before taking another bit. I don't know, but whatever it was, it wasn't what I've been doing. "So what were scores?" she asked after she finished chewing.

"Overall…nineteen fifty-five." I told her.

When the words came out of my mouth, her eyes popped open and she gave a cough. "Wh-a…nineteen fifty-five? Edward, that almost five hundred points than your last one. That's almost as good as mine." she answered in shock.

I couldn't help but laugh loudly. "I know." I answered. She was right to be as shocked as she was. Hell, I was too. When I saw the paper, I looked to see if it was mine. When I saw it said "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen" at the top, I actually called the office to see if it was mine and wasn't supposes to a "Mason Edward Cullens" or something. It turns out it wasn't and it was actually my scores. When I showed my mom, she cried. She said it was tears of overwhelming joy.

"Did you send them in yet?" she asked.

"Yeah, I sent them in right after I opened them. and this morning, I got an email."

"That was fast." She expressed.

I nodded, agreeing with her. It was the same thing I thought when I saw the new message in my email before going to school. "But the email said since the deadline to apply for fall already passed, they placed my resubmission under the ones applying for next year. It was one of the only ones there so they took a quick look at it. Anyways, they said they saw the progress I made and see how dedicated I am…"

"And…" she pushed.

"And I won't be going for the fall semester, but I will be going next year for the spring semester." I told her the news I got. Unlike her, besides my family, she was the first one I told.

"Oh, my gosh, Edward." She cheered before rounding the counter and jumping to hug me. The hug took me by surprise. However, that didn't stop me from placing my hands on her hips to support her weight. I knew she might be happy, but I didn't know she would hug me. I think it was the physical contact, besides some hand touching, that we had. She pulled away too soon. "So what are you doing for a semester?" she asked.

"I'm going to the community college. Take some gen. ed. classes, try and boost my GPA a little more." I explained.

"Edward, I think that's a great idea. And if you need my help, I'm only a phone call away." She said with a smile. Yeah, because she won't be down the street anymore, but I didn't say it out loud. She was happy for me, so it would only be right if I was happy for her. "So, you'll be in Indiana." She noted. I nodded. "Wow, that's crazy. Looks like prom will really be our last night together." She said before taking a bit of another apple slice.

There it was again, her bringing up prom. I know she wasn't, but it sounded like she just talking her and me. It made me almost not want to say anything. But I know I must. "Bella…" I called her attention.

She looked at me. As soon as I was about to tell her, her phone went off from her jacket pocket. Stopped by the bell. She pulled it out and looked at it. She unlocked the screen before reading something. "Jasper ?" I asked her as she typed a response. I wouldn't surprise. It wouldn't be the first time he interrupted me.

She shook her head. I should've known since she wasn't smiling or blushing. "Rosalie." She answered. "She wanted me to go with her the dress shop." She went on as she put her phone back in her jacket pocket.

"I thought you already had your dress." She was so excited about it earlier today. I figure she wouldn't want to look for anything else.

"I do, but she wants to look for shoes and everything. She thought it would best if I go with her."

"Are you going?" I asked.

She looked at me. "No. I'm studying with you." She said, as if she was reminding me because I guess she thought I forgot. I didn't. It was just a rare time when she didn't choose one of the Hale twins over me. "Speaking of which, we should get back to that." she grabbed the tray with the apples on it and her juice. "Come on, we don't want them to regret letting you in." she teased before leaving the kitchen.

I guess I will just tell her later. I grabbed the water bottle and followed her back to her father's office.

XXX

The next three weeks went by as smooth as possible it could have been. I was handling Jasper and Bella a little better. However, I still couldn't be with them when he was kissing or hugging her. Whenever it became too much, I would just leave and go play my guitar, which I've been bring with me to school every day so I could play it in the car. I never thought I would like it the way I did. I actually kept a music journal. Not one with lyric or something, whining about how I felt broken and lost. That was for damn losers. No, I just keep it with some chords I was making up or the name of songs I thought I would want to copy. It was a good thing school was over and I didn't have to look at them anymore.

It has been a hell of a year, since I stopped Bella in the hall that day. I didn't think it would go the way it did. I passed all my classes with A's and B's. Even though I passed my classes the first semester with the same grades, I was still shocked that I got those grades. Who knew I could make such a big difference in such a short time? I was suppose I was right when I told Bella she was the only one who could get me where I needed to be in the time we had.

Now that everything was over, all I had to do was get through graduation and I didn't have to see anyone from high school ever again if I didn't want to. I started it by not really talking to anyone, beside the text I sent to everyone this morning. I figure if I really didn't want to see anyone after next week, it would be easier without any contact.

I sat on the couch, playing my guitar that I got a month ago. Actually, I wasn't really playing it; more like plucking absentmindedly at the strings. I was on the couch and not in my room because Alice said she wanted me to see her when she walked down the stairs. She didn't want to have to stop my room for me to see the dress she made my parents buy her.

It was hard to believe it was prom night and she was actually going. I didn't know what was more unbelievable; the fact that she was going or that she was kinda taking my place. It's whatever. I don't regret my decision to not go. I rather be at home than to see Jasper and Bella in matching colors dancing in the middle of the floor. I just kind of regret that I never really got the chance to tell her.

But I didn't want to think about it. It was my sister's night and I didn't want to ruin it by not having my thoughts on her. "Alice, aren't you almost ready?" I called up the stairs.

"Don't rush me." she called back. I rolled my eyes. She wanted me to see her off, but she was taking fucking forever. "Okay." She said a few minutes later. Finally. I turned to the stairs. But she still wasn't coming down them. Now what was the damn hold-up? "Are you by the stairs?" she asked.

"No." I answered. Was I supposed to be?

"Come to the stairs." She demanded. I gave a hard sigh as I stood up. I placed my guitar in the spot I was sitting before walking over to the stairs. I leaned against the wall. "Drum roll, please." She said.

"Alice…" she was pushing it.

"Please." She begged.

I sighed hard. If she goes next year and her senior year, she bet not expect this every time. I gave in a lightly tapped on the banister to indicate the drumroll she wanted. I did it until she finally walked down the stairs.

The first thing I noticed was her hair. It was straighten down to the nape of her neck. I never saw her hair down. It was longer than I expected. She was wearing her long shiny silver dress. It had one strap over her left shoulder. The neckline was high enough where nothing around her chest area showed. Something I was glad for. The one thing I wasn't too fond of was the slit that was up to the middle of her thigh the dress had. The silver shoes she had to match made her look taller so it shows more of her leg than I liked, which was none. If that wasn't bad enough, she had a damn gray garter on her leg. The dress could've done with her drawing more attention to her exposed leg. Our mom was obvious with her when she brought it because dad and I would have not let her buy that.

One thing was for sure, she wasn't my baby sister anymore and I think I need to start realizing it.

"What do you think?" she asked as she walked down the rest of the stairs.

"Alice, I think you look really beautiful." I told her honestly.

"Really?" she said with a smile.

I nodded as she stepped down the last step. She was still a few inches shorter than me "I can do without the cut up your leg." I noted pointing at the long slit.

She rolled her eyes "It's sexy, Edward." Alice replied.

I crossed my arms. "Yeah, and that's what I have a problem with. Don't we have some safety pins or something to close it? Or can you at least take the damn garter off?" I asked.

"Oh Edward stop it." my mother said. I looked up and she was coming down the down. "You sound like Carlisle." She said as she stood next to my sister. Someone should since he wasn't here. "She looks glorious." She added. I never said she didn't. It was just she was drawing attention to areas which I didn't want attention on. It would be nice if she wasn't.

I decided to let it go, knowing it was going to be two against one. "Fine." I said. "You really do look great." I told Alice.

"Thank you, bro."

"When does what-his-name pick you up?" I asked.

She laughed. "I know you know his name. He should be here in a few minutes. But before he comes, I have something for you." She said.

"For me?" I questioned. She nodded. This was her night, what could she have for me?

"Wait here?" she asked. I gave a shrug. She turned and went upstairs. Clearly whatever she had for me was in her room or something. A minute or two later, she came back down with her hands behind her back. When she came all the way down the stair, she smiled at me. Before I could asked, she pulled her hands from behind her back and showed me what she was hiding. It was a black tux with a silver bow tie around the neck and silver vest. I couldn't help but smile when I noticed it matched her dress. "This is for you. I got it for you just in you change your mind." She said with a hopeful smile.

"And you got things to match your dress on purpose?" I asked.

She gave a shrug. "I figure you can be my date, or I can be yours." She said.

"I thought you're going with what-his-name." I reminded.

"Peter." She corrected. "And yeah, I am, but he won't mind." She assured.

I laughed. I hugged her. It was a nice thought, even though it was completely backwards. I should be offering to take her to my prom, not the only way around "Thank you." I said as I released her. "It was nice of you to do that for me. But I don't want to sit and watch everyone have fun. Besides, I don't want to be a third wheel with you and your little date." I told her. Can someone say pathetic? I can almost hear people mumbling about how I crashed my sister's date.

Alice's arms and smile dropped. "Edward, it's your prom." She said with disappointment.

I shook my head. "No, it's not. It stopped being my prom when I gave you the tickets I spent seventy-five a piece on. Tonight, it's your prom and I want you not think about me and have fun. Okay?" I said. She gave a sigh and nodded before placing the suit on the banister. "But, seriously, thanks for the thought." she was probably the only one to do something like that. Then the doorbell rang. "That must be him." I noted.

"Edward get that; I'm going to get the camera." My mom said.

I turned and walked towards it. I opened it and Peter stood behind it. He was wearing a black suit with a silver button-up shirt and a white-with-silver stripes tie. It matched Alice's dress nicely. I know she picked it out. He looked at me and smiled. "Hi Edward." He greeted. I didn't like how he greeted me like we were friends. He was going out with my sister so I already didn't like him. Anything he did tonight would probably just add to the dislike. I gave a small hum before turning away and leading him in.

"Hi, Peter." Alice said with a shy smile when she saw him.

"Hey. You look incredible." He commented.

She giggled. "Thank you. You look nice too." she replied.

My mom came back with the camera. She started taking picture of Alice and her date in different poses. She took on with Alice pinning the corsage on his jacket and him putting hers on her wrist. He tried to take one with him kissing her on the cheek, but when he saw me looking at them, he thought against it. I thought that was a good choice. I had to admit, they did looked nice together. "Peter, can I take a picture with my brother before we go?" she asked. He looked at me before turning back to her and nodded.

Peter stepped aside and I took his place next to Alice. "Smile you two." Esme said. I wrapped my arm around Alice's shoulders. Esme counted down from three. As soon as she got to one, Alice wrapped both her arms around my waist. I guess trying to imitate the picture of us in my mirror. Unlike that one, I liked her better. So I kissed the top of her head as Esme took the picture. "Cute." Esme commented as she looked at the picture on her digital camera.

"Alice, we should get going." Peter said.

"Okay, let me grab my purse." She said before walking towards the couch. She grabbed her small bag before walking back over to Peter. "Ready." She said. She grabbed his hand and they walked to the door. That reminded me that I had to do something.

I grabbed his arm. "Can I talk to you?" I asked. It wasn't really a request. He turned to Alice.

She rolled her eyes. "I'll meet you by the car." She told him before walking away.

Peter turned back to me. "So…"

I shook my head. "What I meant was, I talk and you listen. I know who you are and I know what you might think tonight is. But, I think I should tell you that just she's a sophomore, doesn't mean she's naiveté or easy. I know you think you like the younger version of me, but you are not me. Meaning, you are not as slick as you think you are and I know every trick. So, what you need to do is keep your hands on her waist; not on her hips, not on her ass, on her waist. I do have friends that will be there; so if you do something, they will tell me and I will personally and gladly kick your ass. Got me?" I told him quick and quietly and let no room for discussion. There was no discussion. It was do what I said or get beat up. When it came to Alice, I wasn't above having Emmett hold him while I punch.

He did nothing but nod. "Gotch you." He answered. he was a good listener. I think I am starting to like him.

I gave a smile. "But you know…" I released my hold on his arm and smoothed out his suit. "Have fun." I told him.

When I did, Alice came back to the door. "Okay, Edward, stop embarrassing me." she said. I held my palms up in defense and stepped back. She grabbed Peter's hand and walked to the limo.

"Not too much fun." I called after them. "And call someone when you get to the hotel later tonight." I added. I wasn't crazy about the idea of her being at a hotel after prom without me, but Emmett and Rosalie and Jasper and Bella will be there. They will watch her. Alice gave a thumbs up before they got in the back. I watched as the limo pulled out of the driveway and down the street. There goes my baby sister, off with a junior to prom. And I just lectured the guy. When the hell did I become dad? I wasn't because dad wouldn't threat him. But I wasn't either. It was a promise. I closed the door. When I turned I saw Esme standing there, smiling at me. "What?" I asked.

"You're so protective of her." she noted. "You really sounded like Carlisle." She said with a chuckle and head shake.

I shrugged. "I'm stuck with her so I might as well take care of her." I answered. And again, someone has to. "Where is he, by the way? I was surprise he wasn't here to show them both the graphic pictures of the dangers of unprotected sex and drinking and driving or something." I joked. I was also surprised that he wouldn't be here to see his only little girl off to a prom she really shouldn't be going to.

She laughed in return. "He's on emergency call for the next couple of mouths. Prom season, drunken teens. You know." she answered. I nodded. That explains a lot. "Anyways, not like she needed him. I'm sure you were just as good at embarrassing the poor girl."

"Mom, I didn't mean to…"

"I know; you were being a good big brother. I'm glad she has you, Edward." She said.

I chuckled. "Thanks." I replied before walking past her to go to the kitchen.

"So when are you getting ready?" she asked, following me.

"What?" I questioned, looking over my shoulder at her.

"For the prom. When are you leaving?" she asked.

"I'm not." I told her as I made my way to fridge.

"So you're really not going?" she asked.

"Yep, I'm ready not going." I answered before grabbing some things out of the fridge and closing the door.

"It's your senior prom." She said as I placed the bottle of water and the bowl of grapes on the counter. I like how they both kept telling me that like I didn't know. I know what it was and I knew it was the last dance I will ever have with my friends. But I didn't want to go. That should be the end of it. I didn't know why Alice wasn't getting it, but I knew why Esme wasn't getting it. She didn't really know why I wasn't going.

"I only wanted to go with one person. I asked her and…she's going with someone else." I told her shortly as I picked a grape from the bowl and popped it in my mouth.

"If you don't mind me asking; the person you wanted to ask, was it Bella Swan?" she asked.

I looked at her. Did she just say what I think she did? How did she kno…only one other person knew about Bella. "Alice told you, didn't she? I am goi…"

"Alice didn't tell me." she interrupted.

"She didn't? Then who…"

"No one told me, Edward." She said. "I'm your mother." I gave her look. I knew she knew what the look was and I didn't have to say it. She was my mother, yes; but she didn't have the maternal thing when it came to me since she didn't give birth to me. She saw it and rolled her eyes. "I know; I'm not your actually mother, but I've been with you since you were what, two or three. I've seen your ticks and I know how you handle things. And I see the way you were with her. You're very comfortable around her. When you were with your other little girlfriends, you seem smug, wanting to prove things. It was like you couldn't wait to drop the star quarterback, your father's a doctor and your step mother's in the fashion business bomb. With Bella, you're more…relaxed."

I know what she was saying. It sounded like the same thing Bella implied when she was in my room and said she never seen "so casual". I didn't know what it meant then, but I guess I do now. I don't think it was something I wanted to talk to Esme about. "Bella's not my girlfriend." I reminded her with a head shake.

"I know." she replied as I popped another grape in my mouth. "But that doesn't stop the way you feel."

"I don't feel anything." I answered.

"Why did you ask her to prom?" she asked.

I looked at her and shrugged. "Because I wasn't going with Tanya and I thought she wasn't going with anyone; I guess I thought we can go as friends." I told her.

"Edward, we spend over four hundred dollars for her dress, seventy-five for her shoes, a hundred for her share of the limo and the hotel room. A lot went into this night for her. You don't drop money like that for just a friend." She said with light chuckle. She was right. Prom was a lot of money and you don't spare any of that on no one.

I popped another grape in my mouth before looking at her. "Whatever, it doesn't matter. Can we just stop talking about it, please?" I said before drinking from my water bottle. She nodded. "So what are you doing tonight?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Leonardo DiCaprio marathon." She answered.

I nodded. "Mind if I watch with you?" I asked.

She gave me a shocked look. "I didn't know you were a DiCaprio fan." She replied.

I laughed. "I'm not. His movies are for chicks only. He's an avenge actor, at most but is totally hidden by his blue eyes and dimples. However, his movies usually have great music scores and I…" I stopped because she was smiling at me. "Now what?" I asked her.

She laughed. "Nothing. It's just nice to see you excited about something else besides football and track. It keeps you well-rounded."

"Thank you. I think I want to do something with music when I leave next spring. If I can't major in it, I might start a club or something."

"That's great Edward. It's good to have another love to follow back on." She replied.

"I know, and to think I just got into it." I love it so much, but I don't think I would have gotten it to if I wasn't trying to distract myself from Jasper and Bella. I guess one thing came out of it.

She gave a shrug. "Sometimes you have to go through things to realize how much you love something." she replied. I gave a nod. She didn't know how right that was. "So you want to start from the most recent and work backwards?' she asked.

I laughed because it was funny how she thought I cared that must to pick which ones we watched first. "I don't care." I told her. "Let's go to the movie room." I suggested.

She smiled. "Yes. That way I can see his and dimples perfectly clear." She replied.

Okay, I did not need to hear that. I have a hard enough time dealing with the fact that she gush like a little teenage girl around my father. I didn't need to hear her lusting after an actor who was kind of overrated. "Ew. Mom." I groaned.

"Edward, I am a woman."

"Again; ew mom." I stopped her from saying anything else.

She laughed. "Let's go." She replied. She grabbed the bowl of grapes and I followed her upstairs to the room with five theater chairs and a screen that's almost the same size as the wall it's against.

XXX

"I love that movie." Esme said as she wiped a loose tear from her cheek.

"I can't believe you are crying." I said before I shoveled a handful of popcorn, or what was left of it, in my mouth. We just got finish watching the end of Titanic and the credits were rolling. I looked to see what the names of some of the songs that were in it so I could look them up later and listen to the guitar parts again. It was hard to listen to them because of the obvious talking of the actors and actress.

She laughed as she wiped another tear. "Hush, you. It's a great movie and a touching ending. He's a great actor; I can't believe he doesn't have an Oscar yet." She commented.

"He plays dying well, I'll give him that." I told her.

"I supposes that's as good as it's going to get from you, huh." She replied. I gave a shrug. "Want to watch another movie?"

"Sure." I told her. I know it was lame, but I was having fun with my mom. I didn't get to see her or my father that often so the fact that I could spend some of that time with her now, it was nice.

She reached for the popcorn and felt nothing but seeds. She looked in the bowl and sighed. "Darn it, we're out of popcorn."

"I'll just pop some more. Do we have anymore seeds?" I asked her. It wasn't that hard to use the popcorn maker in the corner of the room. I mean, I did make the first batch.

She shook her head. "I don't think so. I'll just get the chips from downstairs." She said.

"I think Alice ate the rest of baked ones yesterday. I can go get some seeds from the corner store." I told her.

"Edward, I don't think I want you out there with all the prom commotion going on." She answered.

"Mom, its fine. I'll go to the closest store and get the biggest jar of popcorn seeds and will be back in about ten minutes," I told her.

She sighed. "Fine, but take your phone please." She said as I stood up from my seat. "Be careful." She called after me. I nodded as I walked out the room. I walked back to my room to get my phone and my jacket. When I looked at my phone, I saw I had five text messages. They were from people responding to my "Happy Prom Day!" text I sent this morning to everyone. Any other ones were picture messages from Alice. There was one miss call from Bella. I wondered what she wanted. I would've called her back if I didn't look at the time. It was well after ten and I'm pretty sure she was at prom now, probably dancing. I didn't want to bother her. I'll call her tomorrow or something if she wasn't suffering from her prom hangover.

I told my mom I was leaving before grabbing my keys from the dish and walking out the door.

I kept my promise to Esme and went to the closest corner store. However, they didn't have what I wanted so I had to go to the mini market that was further down the street. I went in there and saw the popcorn seeds with the chips. I grabbed a bag of kettle baked chips and the largest jar of seeds there had and two cans of strawberry pop before walking to the register. Twelve dollars for a sixteen and a half jar of popcorn seed. Unbelievable. I paid for the things before the guy bagged them and handed the bag to me.

I was walked to the door and started to my car. I was about to get in when I got a text. I looked at it and saw it was from my mom. She wanted candy with caramel to eat with the popcorn. I wanted to laugh. The things we eat when my father wasn't around.

I told her okay. I opened the car door and placed the bag in the back before going back in the store to get us some candy. I came back out with another bag with two chocolate and caramel bars. I got in the car to drive back home.

While I was driving, my phone rang from my pocket. I pulled out my phone and saw it was a text. I knew I should've; I mean, my father taught me better. The only reason I did because I thought since it was late and it was an empty street, it was that bad.

I peeked at the road again before looking to see who the text was from. I saw it was another picture from Alice. She said she would send me pictures all night so it would seem like I was there. I don't understand why she just can't accept that I wasn't there. When I opened it, I saw it was more than one this time.

I looked at the road to make sure I was still driving straight. When I saw I still was, I looked down at the pictures. I swiped through the pictures to get a quick but good look at them. It was Alice and her date, then Rosalie and Emmett, then Bella and Jasper. They picked a nice color. It was one with all the guys, then one with all the girls. Then there was one with Alice and Bella. They were smiling with their cheeks touching like they've been friends forever. Bella had her hair on one side. It showed off her neck and draw attention eyes. Her big and bright brown eyes.

I was going to reply, but I heard a honk that made me look at the road. Shit. Did I just run a damn red light? I think I did. Damn it; the last thing I needed was another fucking ticket on my license. My father said if I did, I will have to get a job or something to pay it off myself. I made sure there were no other lights or signs coming up. There was a stop sign so I stopped at it and I looked down to reply to Alice.

"You all look very –

I didn't get the chance to finish the message because I heard another horn. I looked behind me and saw there was a car. What the hell is with all the cars? I moved forward to move out the way for them. I parked the car so I could take my foot off the break with cruising down the street and probably run into something. I looked down at my phone to finish the text. Before I could press send, I saw a bright light on the side of my eyes. I looked up and saw the lights coming towards me. It was coming fast, too fast that I didn't have time to think about switching out of park or to move or anything that would be considered common sense.

I heard a loud horn before –

SMASH!

I heard how hard I was hit and felt the impact shake my bones, but didn't know exactly was happen. Suddenly, I heard myself let out a loud yell as I felt a piecing pain in my leg.

With my eyes closed, I saw that blinding light and…pictures before just….

welcome to the bottom of the page.

something tells me you dont feel like talking so...

Keep R & R-ing. and remember, i love you guys.

Luv & Rockets.