soooooo soorrrrryyyy! I'm an awful person, I know. A lot of crazy and sad stuff happened since my last update. I hope I still have readers, and you don't hate me.

Enjoy, lovely readers.

--

Beep, beep, beep!

The alarm clock woke me out of a deep sleep, and I turned over lazily with a groan. I reached out an arm blindly in an attempt to turn it off. Why had I even set it in the first place? There should be a law against waking up before eleven on Sundays.

Sunday!

I sat up suddenly, butterflies in my stomach. I had my date with Edward tonight.

I wondered where he was going to take me nervously, gnawing on my lower lip.

Stop, I told myself sternly. I'm not going to go crazy over this. Just forget that it's Edward.

And surprisingly, I managed it. I kept him out of my head, focusing on mundane things and making sure Izzy didn't get any chances to interrupt.

By the time Adriana walked out of her room, I was eating a bowl of cereal, wondering why the word 'crunch' was so much bigger on the box than 'raisin' or 'bran'.

I smiled up at her, and she grinned back giddily. "Bella, aren't you excited? Today's the big day!"

I rolled my eyes. You'd think she had a date tonight instead of me. "I'm trying to forget that."

"Why?" she asked, confused.

"Because if I think about it, I'll be too nervous to actually go on the date."

Now it was her turn to roll her eyes.

"Anyway," I asked, "where do you want to go today?"
She looked at me, a puzzled expression on her face.

"You know, we go somewhere every Sunday, just the two of us? Like we've been doing for the last three years? Ring a bell?" I asked sarcastically.

"But you have your date tonight."

"Exactly. It's tonight. We can still go somewhere during the day."

We eventually agreed on the park. We both got dressed and headed out, stopping at a little ice cream place on the way back.

Then we hit the couch at home, just talking.

"So, any cute guys at school?" I asked.

She grinned. "Yeah, but most of them are stupid."

"Most?" I picked up on the change form her usual answer to my question: she usually said yeah, but they're stupid.

That brought out a blush. "What's his name?" I asked, curious.

"Tom. God, Bella, he's so cute!"

She went on to tell me a bunch of other stuff about him, and I nodded along, only half-listening. I thought about how I had never been able to have this kind of conversation with my mom. I thought back to my middle school days, trying to remember if I had any memorable crushes. None came to mind, which must have mean the guys I liked were pretty forgettable.

Except Edward. That boy is completely unforgettable.

When she had finished listing all of Tom's accomplishments, I told her to ask him out. We sat down and watched TV for a bit, laughing at the I Love Lucy reruns that were going on.

But, at five, Addie suddenly sprung into action. "Okay, Bella, let's get you ready."

I started to protest. "I don't need two hours to get ready, Ad. I'm not Alice."

She wasn't having any of it. "I don't care. Go take a shower."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, ma'am."

The hot water helped me relax, and I stood there for a long while until the water got cold. Then I finally got out and wrapped myself in a towel, realizing it must be at least five forty-five by now..

I emerged from the bathroom to find Adriana sitting on my bed, next to a dress she had laid out for me.

She was all smiles when I emerged. "Bella, this dress is perfect!"

I grinned. How ironic was it that my little sister had picked me an outfit for my date?

I looked at the dress. It was short-sleeved brown cotton, the color of melted chocolate, with sequin work. It was casual but elegant, and it would work anywhere Edward took me.

I faintly remembered getting it – Alice had bought it for me before she moved, insisting that I take it. I tried to resist, but not many can stand up to the force that is Hurricane Alice. I was no exception.

I hadn't worn it much since I got it – it was usually tucked away at the back of my closet. It wasn't that I didn't like it – the dress was actually one of the few items Alice bought me that didn't make me uncomfortable. But I didn't wear dresses much in general, except on dates, and those were few and far between.

I smiled at Addie. "Thanks, Ad."

I slipped it on, along with the cute brown flats Adriana had dug up from somewhere in my closet.

I turned to the mirror, applying a minimal amount of makeup. A little eye shadow, some mascara, and a bit of lip gloss, and I was done. I picked up the curling iron next, gently forming my hair into loose curls.

I smiled as I remembered high school, when I had been unable to even apply mascara without poking myself in the eye. Alice had always done it for me, but she also taught me how to do it myself before she left. It was easy now, but I still never wore much makeup. Only on dates or when I had somebody to impress. Even then, it was nothing like the elaborate two- or three-hour sessions of Bella Barbie that Alice always loved. It took me no more than ten minutes for me to do my hair and makeup.

After that, I spun around, showing Addie. She gave me a thumbs-up. "You look great, Bella."

I mock-bowed. "Thank you, thank you."

She giggled, and we headed out into the living room.

There were butterflies in my stomach again, and I tried to think of trivial things to keep them at bay, chatting with Addie.

I looked at her in a lull in the conversation. "Ad?"

"Hm?"

"Call me if anything goes wrong, okay?"

She rolled her eyes. "Okay."

"Seriously, Adriana. I don't want you to be all brave and not call me because you don't want to bother me."

"Okay," she said again, but this time more seriously.

I relaxed a little. "Good."

When the doorbell finally rang, I jumped, my nervousness returning full force.

Adriana grinned, looking at the clock, which read six fifty. "He's early."

She shooed me towards the door, and I smoothed my hair back nervously before putting on a smile and opening the door.

And there he was, looking like Adonis, wearing nice jeans and a black t-shirt, his hair looking as if someone had tried to get it under control but failed. And his eyes – his eyes were smoldering and tempting and green as ever. He gave me a big, slightly relieved smile, as if he thought I wouldn't open the door.

I smiled back shyly, glad I hadn't worn something more formal as I saw what he was wearing.

"Hey."

"Hey yourself." He held out a bouquet of flowers for me, a dozen white roses. "These are for you."

I took them, pressing them to my nose to smell them. I smiled widely. I couldn't remember the last guy who had brought me flowers. "Thank you. Just let me stick these in some water."

I turned and walked over to Adriana, who was grinning madly. I gave her the flowers and she handed me my purse.

"Thanks, kiddo."

"No problem. Now go!"

I met Edward at the door, and his eyes sparkled as I joined him. "Ready to go?"

I nodded. Yes, I was ready for whatever tonight had in store for us.

--

Edward's car was beautiful. Even I thought so, and my knowledge of such things was nonexistent. It was sleek and black, with a spotless leather interior, and, as I soon found out, very fast.

Once I had gotten over my fear at Edward's driving, we started talking. Actual talking, as opposed to me telling him to slow down in a panick-y voice as he laughed at my concern.

He grinned at me. "So, you're little sister sounds like a pretty determined girl."

I shook my head, realizing he was talking about the phone call. "When I turned you down, she was furious. I don't date much, and I think she feels like that's her fault, to some extent. So when I told you I couldn't go out with you because of her – well, she was really mad. So she stole my phone, locked herself in the bathroom and called you." I let out a little laugh.

"I didn't want to come because I feel guilty that I leave her at home so much during the week because I'm too busy working, and I didn't feel like it was fair if I gave Sunday up too, just to go on a date with some random stranger who could be an axe murderer for all I know."

I glanced at him, blushing as I realized I had just called him an axe murderer. "Sorry."

He grinned. And thanks for trusting me enough to take you out, even if you think I might be an axe murderer."

I laughed along with him. "Well, I don't think I have a choice."

Now he looked more serious, and a little confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well, my sister, for one. And yours, for another. I think she would go through a lot to make sure we went out." I smiled. "She tried to convince me to meet you all through high school, but that was the one thing I actually managed to stand up to her on."

He glanced over, eyes smoldering. "I wouldn't have complained about meeting you earlier."

I blushed a little. "Well, after one blind date someone set me up on, I was kind of phobic about going out with anyone."

He looked over curiously, but I looked out the window, not ready to tell him what I meant.

"Do you want to tell me where we're going?"

"Nope. Do you want to tell me why a girl like you doesn't date much?"

No. "A girl like me?"

"You know. Beautiful, funny, amazing."

I blushed bright red, making him laugh.

"So, are you going to tell me?"

I was quiet.

"C'mon, Bella."

"No."

He looked at me, eyes smoldering. "Pleeease?"

His eyes dazed me again. I considered as best I could through the haze in my mind. He would find out eventually, I reasoned. Alice or Addie would tell him.

"I had a really bad dating experience with a guy named Mike. He tried to date-rape me." The sentence sounded like one word.

The care swerved sharply, almost off the road, before Edward got it under control. His face had changed from light and teasing to murderously angry.

"What?" His voice was dangerously low.

I gulped, knowing for sure that I was not going to repeat that.

"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't Alice tell me?"

I just looked at him.

He took a series of long, deep breaths. Soon, his eyes went back to normal. They were still angry, but not murderously so.

He glanced at me. "I'm sorry – that just makes me so angry."

I didn't say anything.

"What happened?"

I didn't want to make him any madder, but I was afraid that he might burst if I didn't say anything.

I spoke so quietly that he had to lean towards me to hear. "A friend set me up with this guy, and he seemed fine. She told me his name was Mike, and she's heard that he really liked me. So I went to the restaurant, and at first everything was fine. But then he tried to get me to go somewhere with him, and I said no because the way he said it was scaring me. But he must have put something in my drink, because soon I was dizzy and could barely talk and felt like I was fainting. He led me outside, ot his car, and I was too drugged up to do anything about it."

His knuckles were white – his grip on the steering wheel had tightened until I was afraid that he might break the wheel.

"But luckily, Alice can't keep her nose out of anything." I smiled.

He looked at me in confusion, so I explained."Apparently, she follwoed us to the restaurant because she wanted to see my 'first real date in forever!' and to see if I was bored out of my mind so she could call and get me out of it. So, she made it in time to see what was happening, and she saved me."

He let out a breath, breathing deeply. He muttered something under his breath that I didn't quite catch.

"And that's why I refused to even go near you when she offered a blind date." And now I really, really regret that.

We drove for a few minutes in silence.

"We're here," he announced.

I looked out curiously. "Where exactly is 'here'?" I reached for the door handle, but his hand stopped mine.

"Bella – I'm sorry that happen to you. And I promise, I'm different."

His face was so worried, as though I might not believe him, and his eyes earnest.

I smiled. "I know."

---

We were at a beautiful little Italian restaurant. Dinner was nice and pleasant.

"Don't eat too much – we're going somewhere after this, too. I just didn't want to leave you without a real dinner before what I had planned."

I looked at him even more curiously, but he just smiled and started eating, leaving me even more curious than before.

---

When we stepped outside again, I found myself in the place I had loved most as a kid. The fair.

I smiled, a wide smile that spread all over my face.

How had he known? Alice, of course.

He was still looking at me with some concern, but I was too excited to care. "Come on!" I practically squealed at him, in a true Alice style. He smiled, and followed me to the entrance.

I hadn't been to the fair in so long, I had almost forgotten the fun and the excitement of it. But it was everything I remembered it being – we went on all of the rides, ate popcorn and cotton candy and candied apples, and played all of the games. I was horrible at most of them, but Edward won tons of prizes and stuffed animals – and gave them all to me, despite my protests.

But we saved the best for last: the Ferris wheel.

I loved it when I was a kid, back when my parents used to take us. It felt like I was flying – a bird, or a star in the sky, looking down on everything.

Edward seemed to know about this, as well as our tradition of saving it for last. I wondered how for a moment, but the answer hit me in a flash. Alice. Of course she would have told him.

We got in, and the wheel began turning slowly. And then – there it was. The very top of the wheel.

I heard my small intake of breath – it had been so long since I had been on one of these. But it was exactly as I remembered it – even better, actually. The lights around us twinkled like fireflies, and the black water of the harbor caught them and threw them back at us.

The best date I'd ever gone on in my life, with the best guy I'd ever gone on a date with. That wasn't hard, considering my track record for dates. But, still, I reasoned, this would be amazing for any girl. This date was wonderful. Arguably perfect.

I shivered a little, a mixture of cold and happiness, and Edward put his arm around me.

Okay – now it was perfect.

---

And it just got better and better. As we got off the Ferris wheel, he reached over and took my hand, as naturally and easily, as if he didn't have to think about it at all. I thrilled silently at the feel of his hand in mine, grinning madly. We wandered around like that, my fingers twined in his as we chatted and looked for more games.

But I stopped in my tracks at the sight of a vendor selling caramel apples, and my I couldn't take my eyes off of them. My mouth started salivating at the thought. It had been so long since I had one.

"Bella?"

He followed my line of sight, and his face split into a huge grin. "Caramel apples," he stated simply. His grip on my hand tightened.

"Let's go!"

Five minutes and a squabble over paying, we were both holding caramel apples and eating them happily.

I tried to hold back a yawn, but he saw it anyway and grinned. "Ready to go?"

I nodded, realizing that it was getting late and I still had to get home to Addie. I nodded.

There was a comfortable silence in the car. I don't think I could have said anything even if I wanted to, because my head was overloaded with the sensation of him holding my hand.

He walked me up to the apartment, and we just stood there. He seemed as reluctant to let go of my hand as I was to let go of his.

"Bella? Can I kiss you?"

I smiled. "I thought you'd never asked."

It was wonderful. He tasted like Edward, and caramel.

Yup – the most perfect date ever.

Once again, I'm so sorry. If oyu could leave me a review, I would love you even more than I already do.