Happy Friday lovelies! I just walked in from work and instead of starting dinner for my family I'm updating to feed your addictions!

A huge thank you as always to Team CG: Brie, Kitchmill, Jen, Kelly, and Kim. I tinker before posting, so any errors are most likely mine own. Sorry, but at least it added an additional 100 words! lol

Today you get to meet Kristi Yamaguchi. When I went to the Almost Amy Show she was there. She was Mark's dance partner that season and she was really nice. Derek had been dancing with Shannon Elizabeth, but she had been sick and hadn't come to the show. But meeting Kristi was a bonus since I absolutely love watching ice skating.

Chapter Seventeen

The day of the Golden Globes arrived faster than I was ready for, and I would have been completely lost if it hadn't been for Rose. When she offered to contact her stylist for the mission of outfitting me for the awards show, I was immensely grateful. I tried on dress after dress that Bree, her stylist, had brought over to Rose's beautiful mansion, which was just a few blocks away from the Cullens' home. The final dress I tried on was a crystal encrusted powder blue and lace dress by Badgley Mischka. I felt like a princess in it. I stuck with another pair of Jimmy Choos since I had managed to stay vertical the whole night we'd been in Las Vegas.

Bree said she had designers beating down her door to dress me the moment she put feelers out, because no matter what I wore, it would be on the cover of all the magazines and that alone was a huge deal for them.

That thought was actually quite terrifying; after New Year's in Vegas, everyone was chomping at the bit to catch Edward and me together. Paps had taken to following Edward almost everywhere. Stealth was our mission, and somehow, someway, we'd managed to elude them, most likely because they would never believe Edward Cullen's girlfriend would drive a beat up Honda. Well, we had managed to keep them at bay up until today. Today I would not only be on display for the world, but odds were that I would lose all semblance of the normal valley girl life I had been leading all my life except for recently. Thankfully, though, Edward's new team had been coaching me on how to address the media and not give too much of myself away.

He'd hired the brother-sister team of Alec and Jane Volturi as his new manager and publicist. They came across very cold at first, but once they got to know you they relaxed…a bit. Their professionalism was a huge contrast to what I had seen from Alice and Jasper, so they were great in my book. In the end, though, what I thought didn't matter since I was so clueless as to how the industry truly worked. They had begun fielding requests for interviews and information about me. It was strange, and I didn't know what to make of it all.

I was positive that they would know exactly who I was before the night was over and I couldn't help but be grateful that I still lived with my gun toting, officer-of-the-law father. I was sure some of my former friends—or at least that was what they would be if they released any personal information about me—would allow the press to pay them for details. Being such a loner would work in my favor, or at least I hoped it would, and they really wouldn't learn much about me.

I couldn't allow those thoughts to occupy my mind tonight; I had to focus on smiling and enjoying my night out with Eddie. I had been getting ready at Rose's since her team of hair and makeup people were kind enough to work with me as well. I didn't believe they were doing it out of the kindness of their hearts. I was sure Edward was paying them, but they were very professional and it was fun spending time with Rose.

"Is this how it is for every event you go to, Rose?" People were coming and going while we sat in a pair of her dining room chairs and they worked around us.

"Oh yeah. There are a few more people here since you're here as well, but this is pretty much what it's always like." She took a sip of her ice tea with a straw to avoid messing up her lipstick. "The guys have it so much easier. They toss on a penguin suit and shiny shoes and they're done. Maybe a bit of gel in the hair for good measure, but that's it. Meanwhile, we get poked and prodded within an inch of our lives. Sure this is what you want?"

"I think it will always be a bit different for the two of us, Rose. This is your life. I will only have to do this a few times a year, and Edward is worth the torture that is waxing."

Rose, and every other woman in the room, laughed at my comment. I learned quickly that each person that had walked into that house had signed NDAs. I knew that there were secrets as to how Hollywood worked, but I had no idea it was mostly lawyers, lawsuits, and non-disclosure agreements that kept everyone in line.

My hair had been swept over my right shoulder and styled into waves reminiscent of the 1930s. I felt utterly beautiful. My makeup, while heavier than anything I had ever done to myself, looked flawless and natural. When I slipped on my evening gown at just after two in the afternoon I felt silly. Here I was, looking the most glamorous I ever had before and the sun was still out. It was an odd and unexpected feeling to be dressed to the nines for a night out on the town when the last time I even came close to this was prom. Edward was turning my life upside down, but I couldn't complain. I was just too happy.

"Bella!" I turned toward the melodic voice I loved and was met with an incredible vision. While I always thought Edward was handsome in his wrinkly clothes, Edward in a tuxedo far surpassed any expectation I could have ever had. He was gorgeous. "You look…amazing. So beautiful. But there's just a couple things missing."

I looked down at my dress a la Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and said, "Nothing else is gonna fit into this dress. I'll tell you that."

"Maybe something in these boxes will. Besides, these will just add to your beauty." He reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and pulled out a couple of jewelry boxes.

"What did you do?"

"Now darling, is that any way to say thank you to the man you love for doing something sweet?" He was trying to soften me up with those eyes of his, but it wasn't working.

"You are sweet, wonderful even, but something in your look tells me you're up to no good. So I ask again…what did you do?"

"It's just a little something I thought you might like." He handed me the smallest box first and I gave him an evil eye before opening it. Nestled inside was a pair of flower shaped diamond earrings. They were a lot smaller than the monstrosities that Rose was wearing, and I actually liked them.

"They're from Harry Winston's Sunflower Collection. When I saw them, I knew they would be perfect and a bit symbolic of our first date. Put them on." I carefully did as he asked. I had never worn anything so heavy on my ears before, or so expensive. The quarter carat diamonds my parents gave me for my high school graduation were the only diamonds I had ever worn in my ears before.

"They're beautiful. Thank you for borrowing them for me." Rose had explained how many jewelers loaned out diamonds and other precious stones for events such as this, but I had finally figured out what Edward's look had been about. "These are loaners, right?"

He gulped nervously before he answered. "No. I, ah, I got them for you. We went on our first date exactly three months ago. I wanted to get you a present."

I shook my head and his shoulders sagged. I felt bad for making him think I didn't appreciate the gesture. "Thank you. But nothing else, okay? These are more than enough."

"Well…" That was when I remembered the other box in his hands and glanced down, repeating over and over in my head that I would not kill him while wearing this dress.

"Let's see what else you've got." I watched as Edward opened the long box and removed a bracelet that matched my earrings. With a sigh I stuck my wrist out for him to put it on, and the smile on his face made me grin as well. He loved getting his way and I was beginning to believe he wasn't about to stop spoiling me.

"Some people just say thank you when they receive a gift, but not you. No, you put up a fight and a half." I knew he was teasing, but I could give as good as I got.

"And some people give chocolate or flowers for three month anniversaries and not ten carats worth of diamonds."

"It's actually closer to twenty, but who's counting?"

My mouth dropped open and I gripped onto the bracelet, checking to make sure it was securely on before checking the earrings too. "You are never allowed to buy me anything again."

"Well, there's a matching ring and necklace that would complete the set—"

"Nothing!" I shouted before I remembered we weren't alone. "Please. This is all so much." I shook my head and fought back tears. "I really don't want people to think I'm only with you for your money like Alice and Jasper already do. Material things, they don't matter. I just want you."

I could tell he understood but still hated the fact that I let others' opinions affect the way I viewed our relationship. "When you become my wife you'll have to overcome the resistance you have toward gifts."

He really knew how to make everything better. I nodded. "If I was your wife, I would happily accept the gift without complaint…at least, I would try to. You can take a girl out of the valley and into Beverly Hills, but she'll still use her coupons to save some money."

He laughed at my little rant, but addressed the only part of my words that had truly mattered to him. "When, not if. When. It's inevitable, so get used to it."

I kissed him sweetly. "When." I nodded again, knowing he was right.

~o~o~o~

I didn't know what I expected when we pulled up to the Beverly Hilton, but I was nowhere near prepared for the onslaught of shouting and flashes as we exited the car. My ears were ringing and I felt like a deer trapped in headlights.

"Breathe," Edward whispered into my ear as he began to lead me through the gauntlet of people.

We met up with Jane, who guided us along the red carpet. We paused for pictures, and along the way I developed a deeper appreciation for all of Hollywood's stars. This was pure chaos. I plastered on a smile, hoping to God it didn't look like a grimace, and held on tightly to Edward.

When he called my name, I looked up at him and everything around us disappeared. He put me at ease with everything he was. Those peepers of his, so green and full of joy, were my true north. They were the compass that tied me to the ground. The love I saw in them filled me with so much emotion that I had to kiss him.

He met me halfway, and the second his lips met mine my heart exploded along with the flashes and the screams. I had forgotten where we were. Oops.

My cheeks flooded with warmth as I pulled away. Edward's body shook with silent laughter before he placed a kiss on my forehead. "Come on, coffee girl, the night's just beginning."

There were chants of "kiss her again" as we walked down the rest of the carpet. I wanted to burrow myself into his side with how red I knew my cheeks were. I stood back with Jane while he did a few interviews, and no matter how many times he tried to coax me over while talking, I shook my head. I was way too nervous and knew if given the opportunity, no matter how much time I spent learning how to answer their questions with Jane and Alec, I would have stuck my foot into my mouth.

"You're doing really well, Bella. The press is just loving you," Jane whispered while we watch Edward with Mario Lopez from Extra. He would always be AC Slater to me, but whatever.

"Thanks. I'm still so nervous and I'm afraid I'll make a fool out of myself if I speak." I was always honest with her.

"I'm sure you would be fine. In fact, why don't you go over there and surprise him. I think he'll be the one tripping on his tongue, not you."

"I don't want to mess him up."

"I think Edward needs you to keep him on his toes. I watched a lot of video of his previous red carpets, and he never looked as happy as he does tonight. You do that. Show the world that you're Edward Cullen's girl. Own that, because people will be watching you closely from now on. Show them you will not be stepped on and spit out like one of the social climbing hussies that are hanging around waiting for you to fuck up."

She was right. This was my night to shine. I wouldn't always be looking this glamorous when the paparazzi were around. I wanted to make my man proud. Steeling my shoulders, I walked over to where they were wrapping up and slid my arm into the curve of Edward's arm. He smiled down to me and then finished answering Mario's question.

Mario himself looked like he just scored the Powerball Jackpot as he asked me my first question after Edward introduced me as his girlfriend. "Tell us, what is it like dating Hollywood's Most Eligible Bachelor?"

I grinned up at Edward and answered, "I wouldn't know. He's just Eddie to me, and I'm a very lucky girl to have his unconditional love."

Edward shook his head. "I'm the lucky one, but you are correct that I love you unconditionally and irrevocably forever."

"I love you too, Eddie."

Like everything, we lost ourselves in our bubble and it took Mario clearing his throat to remind us that we were on live television. If anyone ever thought Hollywood's Most Eligible Bachelor was still on the market, they were given the true picture by Edward and me. I truly was the luckiest girl in the world.

Lucky girl indeed, I thought as Edward closed out his interview and then led us into the ballroom where the awards would be taking place.

Thanks for reading and reviewing; though I haven't had a change to reply, I have seen all your lovely words. My life should slow back down and allow me to begin replying then. Some of you may think I'm ignoring your questions, but I don't want to give away the plot, so I hope you continue sticking out and enjoy where the story goes. Lemons will be coming…just not yet. ;)

I'll see you all again on New Year's Eve before I get my party on. xx Dee