Chapter 19: Exclusive

B POV

When Charlie got home later that afternoon he asked all about the trip.

"How was the concert?" He asks as he takes a seat at the kitchen table.

"Amazing!" I spout as I clean the dishes. "The band was great, they played all the songs I hoped they would. But a fight broke out next to us and I got...bumped."

"Bumped?" Charlie looks at me with doubt.

"Yeah," I answer. "It was no big, the bouncers broke it up before it got bad."

"Well good. If Edward would have brought you back broken I would have broke him." He warns.

"No dad," I roll my eyes. "I'm fine, he was really sweet."

"Really?" Dad looks at me with a flash of curiosity and suspicion. "How so?"

"He gave me his jacket, and opened doors and was respectful." I gush. I can't help it, I'm just so giddy from that kiss he left me with.

"Well now," Charlie puffs his chest out a little. "He sounds like a good kid. Maybe you should invite him over for dinner."

"Maybe." I shrug. "I'll ask him when he calls."

"When he calls?" Charlie looks at me with one eyebrow raised.

"Yeah. He said he would call me later." I answer as I turn the faucet off and place the last dish in the drainer. The phone rings, it's closer to Charlie. I go to jump on it, but he beats me to it.

"Hello?" He answers pushing my hands away from him.

"Why yes, Edward Cullen." He brightens and swats my hand as I try to grab for it again. "What can I do for you?"

"Oh Bella?" He questions. "Yes of course she's right here. But before I put her on how was the concert?" I give up and tap my foot, cross my hands over my chest and glare at him. He waits for Edward's response.

"Oh well I'm glad you had a good time." He answers. "I just wanted to thank you for taking care of my baby girl. You're a good kid and I appreciate it."

I lean in closer to dad's ear to catch Edward saying. "It was my pleasure sir. Your daughter was a wonderful navigator and I wouldn't imagine having taken the trip with anyone else." A blush breaks out across my face.

"Well," Charlie clears his throat. "I'll hand the phone over to Bella now." He pushes the phone at me and I grab it gleefully.

"Hello?" I answer as I practically fly up the stairs to my room.

"Hey you." He snickers.

"Hey yourself." I tease. I stretch out on my bed laying along the width of it.

"How's the rest of your day been?" He asks.

"Boring." I giggle. "Charlie got home, I made dinner, then he started asking me about the trip. How has your day been?"

"Uneventful since I dropped you off." He says. "My mom, Alice and Emmett have been bugging the crap out of me with questions. How was the concert? How did Bella like it? Did you and Bella have fun? Did anything interesting happen?" He mocks their pressing questions. I giggle in response.

"All I want to do is scream at them that you and I are an item now." He laughs, I freeze. "But I haven't said anything about you and I yet." I relax a little bit but still can't form words.

Edward Cullen just called he and I an item. He is serious about this. He wants me to be his girlfriend. He wants to tell his mom, Alice, Emmett, Rose, Jasper, Tanya, and the entire school that we are official. Part of me shoots to the moon with excitement, but another part of me shrivels into a ball.

"Bella?" Edward gets my attention. "You there?"

"Yeah," I choke. "I'm here."

"What's wrong?" He's perceptive this one.

"Nothing." I answer shaking my head.

"Bella." His voice gets stern. "Tell me."

"The item thing just took me by surprise is all." I answer quietly.

"Ah," He answers unconcerned. "I guess I shouldn't have phrased it like that. I was simply trying to judge your reaction."

"Oh," I cringe. Did he think I was going to run away screaming?

"So?" He wants an answer. "What do you think?"

"About what?" I ask innocently. If he wants me to agree to this he better be specific.

"About us, being an item? An all-inclusive exclusive couple who are proud to be together." He practically shouts at me through the phone.

"I think," I pause, knowing that he's probably freaking out right now. "I think I'd love that." I finally exhale. I hear him let the breath he was holding go.

"Good." He answers strongly. "Then we make it public tomorrow?"

"I'm okay with that." I grab a pillow and hug it to my chest. I'm way more than okay with that.

"Excellent." He answers. I can hear the edge of surprise and sheer happiness in his voice and I know that as soon as we hang up he's going to do exactly what I do; one of those jumping on the bed, gleefully dancing around your room in your underwear things.

"In that case I better get my beauty sleep because I'm going to need it if I'm going to flaunt you on my arm." I boast. "SHIT!" I clap my hand over my mouth.

"What?" He asks.

"Tanya." I choke. "She's gonna be pissed."

"Don't worry about her." He dismisses my fear. "She'll be pissed but you have me, Alice, Rose, Emmett, Angela and Jasper behind you to back you up."

I relax a little. He has a point. "Thank you Edward." I croon. "You truly are an amazing guy. I keep thinking that this is all a dream and that when I wake up I'll still be the fat girl who gets picked on in Phoenix."

"Don't you dare Isabella." He interrupts. "You are not dreaming. You are here in Forks. You will never have to deal with that douchebag Drake again. He's nothing, you're everything. Do you hear me?"

I nod, but realize he can't see me nodding. "Yes." I breathe.

"Good." He reaffirms. "Now, I'm going to hang up. But after I do, know that I'm thinking of you and that I'm so excited to finally walk you down the hallway tomorrow."

"Ditto." I giggle.

"Goodnight my swan." He coos. "Sweet dreams. I'll see you tomorrow...girlfriend." He adds.

"Goodnight handsome." I whisper. I pull the phone from my ear and press TALK, then pull the pillow I now have in a death grip up to my face and scream in delight into it. Edward Cullen just called me his girlfriend.

In a span of twenty-four hours my life has gone from confusing, disappointing and sad to clear, full and happy. Well at least in this moment it is.

E POV

I stand at the door waiting for Emmett to move his ass. "EMMETT I'M GIVING YOU UNTIL THE COUNT OF THREE TO GET YOUR BIG HAIRY ASS DOWN HERE! THEN I'M LEAVING! 1...2...-"

"Don't get your panties in a wad." Emmett demands as he lumbers down the stairs. "What's with you today anyway?"

I didn't dare tell him about my weekend with Bella, the awkward but glorious run in, the kiss or the plan for today. He was going to find out soon enough, for now I wanted this to be my little surprise.

I practically skip out to the car. Emmett gives me this 'What the fuck are you doing you fag' look as we get to the car. I climb in the driver's seat and take off.

My eyes scan the parking lot for Bella's truck, no sign of it. I cruise into my unofficial spot next to Alice's car. Alice, Rose and Jazz are over near the commons talking to Tanya, her sisters and a couple other guys. Emmett and I head over to join them, meanwhile my eyes continue looking for Bella's truck.

"Hey there babe!" Emmett greets as he takes Rose in his arms and plants a kiss on her. "What are you all talking about over here?"

"Oh just talking about the Winter Formal. It's a Sadie's dance this year." Alice responds.

"What's a Satan's dance again?" Emmett asks.

"A Sadie's dance is girl ask guy dance." Tanya shoots at him.

"Oh right." Emmett nods. "Does that mean that even if we're dating we're not officially going until you ask me?" Emmett turns to Rose.

"Maybe." Rose replies. "Would you like to be my date to the Winter Formal oh good-looking God of my heart?"

"Damn straight." He answers. "But I prefer to be called 'oh sexiest man of my life'."

Over the light laughter that goes around the group I hear the roar of Bella's truck. She pulls into the parking lot, parks over where she has since she got here and kills the engine.

"Oh God," Tanya whines then shuts up. Alice and Rose both shoot her a look daring her to say another word.

I feel like I'm about to burst with excitement if I don't go and grab her and touch her and kiss her right now, in front of everyone.

She hops out of her truck, scans the quickly growing crowd and locks onto us, due to Emmett's height I'm sure. She bites her lip and makes her way over to us.

The first thing I notice is that she's got her hair down, usually she leaves it up in a pony. Then my eyes scan down in an automatic reaction to my attraction. She's wearing some dark wash jeans, a pair of flats and a flowy blue top that makes her skin seem even more gorgeous and her cleavage pop out in just the right way.

I feel like one of those goddamn Chihuahua's who gets so overexcited that they shake. When she gets within earshot Alice and Rose both call out her name in glee.

She heads straight towards me. I reach out to grab her hand and she takes mine. With my other hand I cup her face and guide it right into mine for a kiss.

I can feel her hesitation and nervousness in this kiss. I'm sure she can feel every face in our group on us. I don't withdraw until I feel her relax and let herself get sucked into the moment. When my lips finally leave hers I look into her eyes.

"Hey you," I whisper tease.

"Hey yourself," she whispers back and smiles.

B POV

I woke up this morning with Edward's face in my head, when I glanced at the clock it was already 6:45. I had to get up now if I wanted to dress nicely for what this day was going to involve.

I showered last night so I was fine to skip on that this morning. I dig through some of my new clothes that I bought on the shopping trip and finally decide on the blue one that Rose and Alice had said looked amazing on me.

I dress quickly and walk into the bathroom to do my hair and make-up. I look at myself in the mirror, my hair is up in a pony like I had left it last night and for once, I let it down, brush the snarls out and let it frame my face with its waves.

I'm out the door by 7:30, make-up done, bag packed, jacket on, new perfume applied. I walk to my truck and hop in. The time of truth has finally come. I flip the ignition and ease out. My heart and mind are racing all the way to school.

When I pull into the school parking lot I see Edward's and Alice's car parked next to one another but I don't see them in the crowd. I park my truck, grab my bag and stall for just a second. You can do this Bella. Just think about Edward, focus on Edward.

A voice inside my head screams at me. What if this is all a joke? What if everyone has been in on it since the beginning? What if Edward was only leading you on this last weekend so that he could wreck you in front of everyone today? I push those thoughts away. Well I guess we'll see if that happens in a minute.

I exit the truck, scan the crowd, find Emmett's big head of curly hair, bite my lip and march over. Edward notices me first. He's staring right at me, a look of pure delight and excitement on his face.

As I get closer, Alice and Rose call my name. I don't respond because Edward's hand is reaching toward me. I grab his hand and he pulls me into him.

He kisses me, right in front of everyone, Alice, Rose, Emmett, Jasper, Tanya and everyone else who is standing within a fifteen foot radius of us.

At first I'm hyper aware of this fact and can't find it in myself to kiss him back with much enthusiasm. But his lips work against mine in a very persuasive and all-consuming way. I give in and feel the weight of this kiss, all my inhibitions and fears seem to melt, along with my heart.

When he finally pulls back he uses the greeting he used on the phone with me last night. I answer him with my end before we are interrupted with a cough from Emmett.

We both turn to look at the rest of the people. I'm sure both our faces have matching looks of 'oh you all are right here.' Edward wraps his hand around the back of my waist and to the opposite hip and stands beside and behind me a little, like he's presenting me to the group for the first time.

"Hey guys." I answer quietly. "How's it going?"

No response from anyone. Everyone is gaping, mouths open, eyes wide. Edward chuckles behind me, I look back over my shoulder at him.

"Uh," he starts. "So, about those Seahawks huh?" I giggle in response but it seems to work. Rose, Alice, Jasper and Emmett at least seem to snap out of it.

"What the hell?" Emmett bursts.

"When did this happen?" Rose demands.

"Oh my goodness!" Alice claps in delight.

"Way to go you two." Jasper gives us the thumbs up.

"Well," I begin to Rose and Alice. "The concert just made us realize that there was something between us and we were both tired of denying it."

"DETAILS!" Alice and Rose both yell at the same time. I laugh and notice that Tanya has disappeared.

"Can you pick my brain later? The bell is about to ring." With that the 5-minute warning bell goes off.

"Fine," Alice fumes. "But you will spill in second period."

I nod as we all head into class. Edward takes my hand and squeezes it. I look up at him and he flashes me that sexy as hell smile. He walks me to class and leaves me at the door with a kiss.

This is going to be a long day.