Hey there. Hope your holidays have been good! I did try to post as quickly as I could but holidays are always hectic. This is the last chapter and I really hope you enjoy it. Let me know either way.

Disclaimer: Twilight and all of its characters belong to Stephanie Meyer.

BPOV

In fifteen minutes Edward would be picking me up. In another ten I would be at the dance. By the end of the night I hope I have told Edward how I feel about him, and still have him as my boyfriend. I know he probably won't return my feelings. It's hasn't even been a month and he is a guy so I don't really expect him to declare his undying love for me. I just hope that he accepts how I feel and doesn't dump me for it.

"Bella?" Charlie calls out as he opens the door. I stop pacing across the kitchen and stand by the sink. I'm not pacing because I'm nervous...well I am, but also because Alice told me that if I sit down in this dress she'll stab me with a fork.

"Yeah Dad?"

"I thought you were going out tonight." He said and I can hear him taking his boots off and hanging his coat up in the hall.

"I am Dad. Edward is picking me up in..." I glance at the clock, "ten minutes." I raise an eyebrow at him as he edges his way over to the fridge to grab a beer. Charlie knows this of course he just feels he has to play the overprotective father for a few more months...or years. I'm fairly certain he doesn't really have a problem with Edward aside from the fact that he is dating his only daughter.

"Oh. You look beautiful Bells." He says tilting his bottle towards me with a light blush on his cheeks.

I blush in return. "Oh, um...erm it's all Alice's work." I stammer and brush my dress. Alice had come over two hours ago to do my hair and makeup. She had pulled my hair back into a low, loose bun with wisps of hair hanging out and framing my face. He shook his head.

"Nah, she just changed the wrapping a little. The beautiful...well, that's all you." He said quietly and both of our blushes intensified. Charlie and I aren't the best with the whole affection thing.

"Thanks Dad." I replied softly just as there was a knock at the door. He smiled at me.

"I'll get that, you get your bag." I grinned at him and kissed his cheek before going into the lounge room and grabbing my bag. I could hear the muffled voice of my dad and boyfriend and I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts before I stepped out and stood next to my dad. As I took in Edward, I was breathless. He looked gorgeous in his black tuxedo and bow tie. He certainly cleans up well.

"Bella." For the second time in a number of weeks he thrust a bouquet of various flowers towards me. "You look...there aren't words." He said looking me up and down slowly.

"I can think of a few..." Charlie grumbled and I elbowed him in the side.

"Thank you, Edward." I said and took the flowers bringing them up to my nose to sniff them before handing them to Charlie. "Can you put these in a vase for me?" I asked giving Edward a smile. Charlie grunted his answer and Edward held out his hand which I took.

"We better get off then." I said.

"Straight home after the dance." Charlie said from the doorway while we descended the porch steps. I shot him a look over my shoulder.

"Yes, Dad." I said coldly. He rolled his eyes and I stuck my tongue out.

"You look after my daughter, Edward." He warned. Edward stopped and nodded at my father, his face serious.

"I will Chief, you have my word." We continued walking to his car and Edward looked down at me while he opened the door. There was some emotion in his eyes which I could not identify. I sat down, not breaking eye contact and he sighed.

"You really do look...stunning." He said before kissing my hand and shutting the door. I blushed and looked over at the house seeing Charlie still standing in the doorway. It looked like he was muttering something. I jumped as Edward shut his door and fastened his seatbelt.

"Ready?" He said turned to me and grinned before pulling away from the curb. I waved a Charlie before crossing my arms over my chest petulantly and giving Edward a hard look.

"No." I grumbled and he chuckled.

"Why not?" He said, humouring me. I stared out the window watching the trees fly past a green and brown blurs.

"Oh! Maybe because we are going to dance, and dances, usually involve dancing, which I am terrible at!" I said sarcastically. He leaned in and I felt his breath on my ear. I shivered and he chuckled.

"I seem to remember you enjoying that last time you were dancing." He whispered and I gulped and blushed at the memory of our first, and only, dance. It was the first time we had kissed.

"Yes well...I was actually wearing shoes and not these!" I lifted my leg to show him the silver, strappy high heel shoes I was wearing. He looked at them and licked his lips making my breathing speed up.

"I like them. I like your dress too." He said moving his gaze from my foot to my waist and chest then finally to my face. He wiggled his eyebrows.

"You would. Just you watch, I'm probably going to break a leg." I snorted. I saw him shake his head out of the corner of my eye.

"That's not going to happen because I'm never going to let go of you."

I rolled my eyes but secretly his promise pleased me. A whole night being attached to Edward? Sounds good. We had arrived at the school now and I saw couples walking into the gym. Edward came around to my door and helped me out of the car. He paid for out tickets despite my protest and he led me into the gym. We both choked when we got inside. There were red, white and black balloons everywhere and by the looks of it crepe paper had been vomited on the walls. The music was already playing and a disco ball and a laser machine were throwing vibrant colours around the gym.

"I feel like I'm going to have an epileptic fit if I keep my eyes open." Edward muttered and I laughed searching the crowd for our friends.

"This is so cliché." I said as I spotted Jasper and the others at a table near the punch. I pointed at our destination and we started walking over.

"Oh? How so?" Edward asked wrapping his hand in mine. I smiled up at him.

"Well this whole thing could be a bad horror movie." I waved my hand at the dance floor. "Big crowd of unsuspecting teenagers from a small town. They're the prefect victims...young, stupid, and slightly intoxicated." I pointed out as one of the football players stumbled past reeking of alcohol. "All you need now is some evil guy with a chainsaw or a pack of vampires to kill everyone. The only comforting thought is that the dumb blonde always dies first so at least we won't have to put up with Lauren while hiding from crazy serial killers." I grinned at him and started laughing.

"We still might have to put up with Jessica." He grimaced and I shook my head.

"Oh no she dies right after Lauren. She's the one who tries to escape out the door only to run into the monster and get eaten." I said seriously. He grins and shakes his head before kissing the top of my head.

"Bells!" Emmett yelled over the music as we reach the table they are sitting at. "You look fantastic!" He looks me up and down giving me the thumbs up. Edward pulled me to his side and growled a little and Rose whacked Emmett in the arm playfully. "But Rosie you look astoundingly gorgeous." He said rubbing his arm and kissing her. He was right of course; Rose looked amazing in her red dress with the front of her long blonde hair pinned back off her face.

"Looking hot there Rose." I winked and gave her a pervy smile reminiscent of the one Royce, her old boyfriend, used to give her. Couple that with his favourite compliment and she rolled her eyes before giving me the finger. I giggled and blew her a kiss.

"You look lovely, Bella." Jasper complimented, his arm draped around Alice.

"Doesn't she?" Alice gushed. "Her stylist is amazing." She grinned at me and tucked one if her delicate curls behind her ear. I decided to ignore Alice's smug expression and focused my attention on Jasper.

"Thanks Jasper. You look handsome." I offered as I took my seat which Edward had so courteously pulled out for me.

"Am I not hot enough for you to compliment Bella?" Emmett pouted and put a hand over his chest.

"Oh I'm sorry Emmett. You are by far, the most attractive, male specimen on the planet." I exclaimed rolling my eyes at the end.

"Thank you." He beamed and we started laughing. He and Jasper did look good though in classic black tuxes. Not as good as Edward though.

"Punch?" Edward murmured in my ear and I nodded. He kissed me quickly before getting up and heading over with the boys to get us all some punch.

"Isn't this great?" Rose asked and Alice nodded. I sighed.

"Do you know what would be better?" My two best friends shook their heads. "Being home. In pants and socks. With a good book."

"What about Edward?" Alice asked and I turned and saw him pouring punch. As if he felt my gaze he looked up and grinned at me. I smiled back.

"Ok so maybe the spending time with him is fun. But here? Seriously?" I waved my hands at the decorations and then at the crowd of people dry humping each other and trying to pass it off as dancing.

"Oh yeah. Another location would be great. Some place where not much is going on." Alice remarked, looking around the room.

"Perhaps we should try Lauren Mallory's brain?" Rose said and we all started laughing watching Lauren flirt with Tyler. I breathed out in relief. I am extremely thankful that my friends don't think that this stupid dance is cool. And glad their dates are making them this happy.

"Is she wearing a tea towel?" Alice asked in horror. She had her gaze fixed on Lauren short, skin-tight, gold dress.

"Is she wearing underwear?" I cried before scrunching my face up and gagging. The three of us all squinted our eyes before looking away.

"Holy shit! That is seriously nasty!" Rose said with a look of with a look of disgust on her face.

"What is?" Emmett asked placing some punch in front of Rose. She shook her head like she was trying to get the image out of her head. Good luck, there are some things you just cannot unsee. She looked at me and grimaced before downing her drink and standing up.

"Nothing, let's go dance Em." She grabbed his hand and led him to the dance floor.

"This song is so romantic!" Alice gushed and she and Jasper left as well.

"Well Bella?" Edward asked holding out his hand. I eyed it warily crossing my arms.

"I don't want to die." I declared and he raised an eyebrow. I smiled innocently and he tugged me up from my seat.

"You won't. Besides I said I wouldn't let you go and I want to dance." He replied smugly pulling me through the couples swaying from side to side till we got to the middle of the floor. He took my hand in his and put his other hand on my waist. I sighed and gripped his shoulder.

"You went to get punch didn't you?" I lifted an eyebrow and he rolled his eyes at me.

"Such a smartass." He grumbled.

"Yeah but I'm your smartass." I leaned up on my toes and kissed him. I felt him smile against my mouth and I let him me back and deepen the kiss. He ran his tongue along my bottom lip and I opened my mouth granting him entrance. Our tongues battled for a while before he pulled us up straight and broke the kiss. I took a deep breath while wiping my mouth. God, that kiss was amazing. He gave me a crooked smile.

"Come with me." He pulled me away from the dancing couples towards the doors. I shivered when the cool air hit me and he put his arm around me and pulled me into his side. We walked over to one of the rarely used gazebos and he leaned on the railing. I followed his lead. We just stood there for a few minutes staring out at the woods.

"What are we doing out here?" I asked straightening up and looking up at him but he didn't turn to me. He just kept looking out at the trees.

"I just needed some fresh air." He said and I nodded before leaning back on the rail. I heard some giggling and I looked over my shoulder and saw one of the football players and a girl heading over to the bleachers in the opposite direction. One guess what they're doing. I wonder if Edward and I will ever get to that point. Not the under the bleachers thing but the sex. I wonder if we'll stay together through college. I hope we do.

"Bella?"

"Hmm?" I said breaking out of my thoughts and looking at him seeing him standing up straight. I turned to him and he took my hands in his. He looked down at our joined hands and took a deep breath.

"I think I've figured something out." He stated seriously. I was about to crack a joke but the serious expression on his face made me hold my tongue. I nodded a signal for him to go on.

"You're perfect-"

I stopped him there. He was totally delusional if he thought I was perfect.

"I'm not prefect Edward. Far from it." I argued. He shook his head and put his hand over my mouth.

"Let me finish. You are perfect, perfect for me." He said earnestly and I felt my heart melting. I was about to tell him that the feeling was mutual when he cleared his throat. "And I uh...uh I..." he stuttered nervously. I frowned; I had never seen Edward this nervous before.

"I love you, Bella." He said softly and I held my breath. He loved me? Edward loved me? I felt my eyes water as I looked at him. He had a small hopeful smile on his face and I smiled at him as the tears begun to fall.

"I love you, too." I said shakily and he beamed at me.

"Really?" He said excitedly.

"No." I deadpanned but was unable to keep the smile off my face. The smile faltered on his face for a second or two but once he realised I was joking it got even bigger if that was possible.

"That is one of the reasons why I love you."

"What?"

"Your wicked sense of humour." I choked on a sob and more tears fell. He took my face in his hands and wiped away the tears. "You're crying." He said his eyes searching my face.

"Happy tears." I laughed and gave him a smile. I had always scoffed at the people who cried when their boyfriend told them they love them but I just couldn't help it. I am so happy. He brought me in for a tight hug before pulling back and kissing me. It was sweet and slow. His lips moved with mine and I could taste him. Mint, punch and something that was all Edward. We broke apart when we had to breathe and he hugged me to him.

"I love you." He repeated. I looked up at him, gazing into his green eyes.

"I love you, too." I replied returning the sentiment.

We may not be perfect but right now, right here, everything in our world was. I smiled up at Edward and he smiled crookedly in return, love shining in his eyes. Yes, everything was perfect.

Okay wow. I made it to the end of my story. Honestly I never thought I would get here but here I am and I'm actually glad this was the ending I decided to go with. I had about six different endings mapped out since before halfway. I had a few to choose from but I think this one was probably the best.

As far as this story goes it is finished for now. I'm not sure what might happen in the future; it's entirely possible that I could write a sequel or publish some outtakes. I just don't know now.

A HUGE thank you to every reviewer and reader. To those people who have reviewed almost EVERY chapter I cannot thank you enough for your constant support. You guys are part of the driving force which caused me to write Pursuing Perfection. I really hope you enjoyed this journey as much as I have.

Leave me a review and let you know what you think of the ending or the story if you want. I don't care if you hate it. You're entitled to your own opinion. :)

This is not the last of me... I'll be back!

Xoxo

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