I can't believe I actually finished this story. All comments will be at the end AN.

Enjoy.

The next morning, instead of Alice picking me up for school - since we weren't on the best of terms right then - Edward did. He came to the door, knocked and then kissed me on my cheek repeatedly whilst he escorted me to his car. I kept trying to stop him from slavering all over me when Renee was in the house - not that she really cared - but he just wouldn't desist.

I sighed. I didn't really mind.

When we got in the car, I gave him a proper kiss, and he seemed to be a lot happier with that. He even tried to pull me over the console and onto his lap, but I disagreed with a laugh, and he pouted a little as he drove off.

When we arrived, everyone seemed to stare, but I didn't know if that was because Edward had his arm around my shoulders, or because of the Rosalie debacle still, but it unnerved me. I didn't like people staring.

He let me go when he had to go to his lesson, and I had to make a quick dash to my locker to pick up some books. He departed from me with a kiss and a grab at a very inappropriate place - for the school, anyway. Personally, I would enjoy getting used to that.

When I arrived at my locker, I saw that someone was standing in front of it, arms folded and shuffling from foot to foot, iPod headphones in ears. As I got closer, I noticed the song was Storm by Lifehouse, and I knew who it was without even looking at the person.

I tapped him on the shoulder, preparing myself for what was bound to be awkward.

He spun around, whipping the headphones out of his ears, and eyes widening when they saw me.

"Bella," he breathed, and he shoved his iPod into his pocket.

I cleared my throat from the large lump in it. "Hey, Jasper."

He nervously shuffled again.

"I'm so sorry!"

"You've got to forgive me, Bells."

We both blurted our apologies out at the same time.

"You go," he mumbled.

It was my turn to do the nervous shuffle now. "I'm so sorry I…used you…God, I was such a messed up bitch. I don't even know what I was thinking. I just had…issues, and -- that's no excuse. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I'd really, really like us to be friends again. It's not the same without you. I love you Jazz, but not in the way you deserve to be. You're my best friend."

Jasper remained quiet for a while, and during that time - it must've only been about ten seconds - I thought through a hundred different responses he could have had. The one I felt was most deserved was the one where he yelled what a bitch I was, and then walked away.

But he didn't.

"I fucked up too," he told me, eyes staring straight into mine. "I just…I…thought, I loved you, in a way more than friends. I just…I'd never felt so close and comfortable with someone, and I think I might have mistook that for love. I've been thinking about it a lot…I do love you. And even though it's going to be hard knowing that I'm not the only guy in your life - excluding Emmett - I'm willing to get over it, because you're my best friend too. I don't exactly…forgive what you did, but I'm going to deal with it, and I will eventually forgive you. I just…I can't not have you in my life, Bells. I just want to be friends. And let's face it; I don't think I could ever compete with Edward."

He smiled whereas I felt my eyes sting with tears at the fact that he was putting himself down so much - and that it was my fault.

"You and Edward are on completely equal ground, Jasper Hale, and don't think differently. I just…I see you as a friend - my best friend - and I see Edward as…something else. Not exactly something more…just something different to the love I feel for you. You're like my family, and I should never have done what I did. But I can't take it back now, and I can only say that I'm going to change."

I nodded my head with determination. I needed to change - for my friends.

He just continued to look at me, before pulling me into a hug. I felt the tears spill over my eyes and I think I sobbed once into his jacket, and I hugged him back with everything I had.

"Fucking finally!" I heard a gruff voice bellow.

I tore away from Jasper to glare at my other best friend.

"Way to ruin a moment, Emmett!" I growled, putting my hands on my hips after wiping away my tears.

He just grinned at me, and then he frowned.

"I've got a bone to pick with you! You made Alice say she wouldn't spend as much time with me!" He then turned his lips downward and pouted slightly.

I laughed at his expression. "Well, we need to reconcile. As do you and I," I gestured to Emmett and myself, "and you, too," I finished, pointing to Jasper.

They both grinned at me, and Emmett threw his arms around both our necks.

"Just like old times, eh?"

I heard Jasper snicker on the other side of Emmett, and I grinned, knowing that in time, it'd be okay.

Now I needed to talk to Alice.

I finally found her just before she entered the cafeteria.

"Alice!" I yelled, making at least fifteen people stare at me like I had three heads.

She spun around, and her eyes widened when she saw me running towards her, waving like a lunatic.

I reached her slightly out of breath, and tried to smile at her. She looked a little sheepish.

"Hey," she murmured, looking everywhere but my eyes.

"Alice, I'm sorry - again - for…everything. Really, I am. I'm going to start spending more time with you, and I'm starting now. After school, would you like to come with me to Port Angeles?" I wasn't planning on going really, but I knew she couldn't resist a chance to go shopping, and the chance to spend some time with me, reconciling.

As predicted, her eyes lit up like a fire.

"Really?" she squeaked, like she thought I was joking.

I nodded, smiling.

She didn't throw her arms around me and hug me, but she did look straight into my eyes and smile happily.

"Of course I'll come with you. And yes, we can go in my car. I'll meet you by it after school."

I nodded again, glad she was willing to forgive me, or at least give me the chance to prove to her that I meant what I said. Alice was there for me when no one else was, and I was stupid to forget that. She was my best girlfriend, and I owed her whatever she wanted, as it was her who had healed me when I broke down.

"Thanks, Bells," she told me sincerely, and her tone made my heart warm. I knew she was thanking me for listening to what she'd said last night and actually making an effort to do something about it.

That was my intention.

I was on a roll today - two people down, and it wasn't even the end of the day…

TIME JUMP TO CHRISTMAS.

I usually hated Christmas. I hated the fact that everyone else was so fucking merry, and the lights were always taunting you if you weren't having the time of your life. And the carols. The fucking singing of carols.

It used to piss me off to no end.

But this year was different. We'd gained two new members to our 'elite' group, and we'd all grown closer because of the one person who had gone: my sister, Rosalie.

I'd still not heard a word from her. Not a letter, not a phone call, not even a fucking telegram. Just silence, continual and depressing silence.

And I was not going to ring my dad to find out what the hell she was doing. I wouldn't talk to that man if he was the last man on Earth, not after what he'd done to Renee.

Although she was getting gradually better - more upbeat, like the mom I remembered. It made me happy to see her happy, as cheesy and cliché at that sounded.

It was Christmas Eve, and I sat with Renee in the living room on the sofs, with a cup of tea, watching Miracle on 34th Street, with the fire blazing behind us and a blanket wrapped around our bodies and tangled around our feet. We were so warm; it almost felt like we weren't in rainy, cold Forks, but rather on a tropical island somewhere.

Just as we were both getting into the film, the doorbell rang.

Renee started to move.

"Just leave it," I muttered to her, not wanting to be disturbed.

She looked at me, before deciding that I was right - we were too freaking warm; fuck whoever was at the door.

When the doorbell rang for the fifth time, I jumped up, pissed off and ready to give a piece of my mind to whoever dared disturb the warmth for me.

I was already cold.

I flung the door open, prepared to rip them a new one, but I quite literally choked on my words.

"Hello, Bella."

"Rosalie," I breathed, completely dumfounded.

At the door stood three people: my sister, looking as stunning as ever - if not more than before - with a slight tan; a guy with dirty blonde hair who had a chiseled jaw line and structured cheek bones, and I noticed that he was holding my sister's hand, and the last person was a girl with dark black hair and piercing blue eyes, but not icy like Rosalie's - more deep, like the color of the ocean.

In that moment, I seemed to forget everything. I forgot that she'd practically ruined my life because it'd all been fixed now. I forgot that she'd left, and I forgot that I'd been an awful sister.

I just flung myself at her, making her stumble back, and the guy had to let go of her hand. She hugged me back equally as hard, and I felt her smiling into my shoulder. I really noticed how cold it was, and the fact that I wore flimsy pajamas did nothing for this - and neither did my fluffy slippers.

We must've been hugging for a while, because when I listened, I heard Renee talking to her friends - who I heard were called Riley and Maria - and occasionally 'aww'-ing over mine and Rosalie's display of affection - she hadn't seen us this close since we were kids.

We eventually pulled away from each other, and I realized we both had the odd tear running down out faces.

We both laughed at the situation, wiping our eyes with our fingers.

"Rose, you look…fucking amazing!" And she really did. Instead of the short skirt she'd worn when she was here, and instead of the outfits that weren't her, she wore skinny jeans with a sheer white blouse and a grey cotton blazer. She looked…comfortable, especially with her red hat on that contrasted with her hair, that had grown a little lighter since she'd moved.

She laughed as Renee reprimanded me, but I barely heard her.

"So do you, Bells."

I smiled, and turned to face Renee and Rosalie's friends.

In a very unlike-me gesture, I threw my hand out for them to shake.

"Hi! I'm Bella!" I sounded so chirpy it was almost hard to believe it was me talking. I think I frowned at my voice, before remembering Rosalie's return, and I was smiling again.

The girl smiled back at me. "I'm Maria."

"And I'm Riley," the guy informed me.

"Riley is my boyfriend," I heard Rosalie say behind me, sounding completely ecstatic, like she couldn't hold it in any longer.

I gasped and looked between the two of them.

I could totally see them two getting it on.

"Well, goddamn!" I hollered, and smiled again, even doing a little squeal.

This had to be the best Christmas ever.

Riley and Maria, I learnt, were from California, and had befriended Rosalie on her first day of school. I fell in love with them then, just for that reason. She'd wanted friends and she'd got them. I then discovered that Maria's parents were meant to be home for Christmas, but they'd left her at the last minute to renew their wedding vows…in Hawaii. She'd not been too surprised, but she didn't want to be on her own at Christmas, and Rosalie - being a brand new Rosalie - had invited her to Forks.

Why she'd want to come here was beyond me, but apparently Rosalie wanted her to meet me. Rosalie hadn't told them everything about her life here, but she'd told them she'd not been the kindest to us and on her visit here - until after New Year - she wanted to make it up to us. When I told her she didn't need to do that - it was Christmas, a time for forgiving - she laughed and told me that she didn't give a shit it was Christmas, she just needed to redeem herself.

After our hour catch up session, we all watched the end of the film together; I excused myself to my room, telling everyone that I'd see them tomorrow.

An hour later, Rosalie crept into my room, when everyone had gone to bed.

"Hey," she whispered.

I sat up, not having slept at all in the last hour, and turned my lamp on.

"Hey."

She came to sit in bed with me, and I budged over to make more room.

"I'm sorry," she told me, again.

"Don't be. You've already apologized, and I'm over it. My life's just…been so…great recently, I just…"

"Haven't really thought about me?"

I looked at her, and her eyes widened. "I didn't mean like that…I meant you'd not thought about what I'd done."

I nodded cautiously. "No, I've been focused on Alice, and Jasper, and Edward…Emmett's just the same as ever. I had a bit of a problem with Alice, and Jasper…Well… we didn't talk for a while, as you know."

I felt her nod against the pillow.

"What happened with Alice?" She even sounded concerned, like a sister should be.

I explained to her my abominable behavior towards Alice, and how I'd been making it up to her this past month.

And I had. For the first few weeks after our argument, I'd been spending all my spare time with Alice, Jasper or Emmett, and occasionally seeing Edward every now and then. But when things started to feel normal again, I'd split my time equally between being a friend and being a girlfriend. It helped that Edward was friends with everyone, too, and that we usually all hung out together: me, Edward, Alice, Emmett and Jasper. Edward and Jasper had come to some sort of arrangement that I was completely oblivious to, and I hoped they'd worked through their differences, because they'd never really given each other a chance. They'd hated one another on sight.

Quite honestly, my life this last month had been like a Norman Rockwell painting: perfect.

Rosalie looked so pleased after we'd chatted through everything I'd done, and after I'd finished talking about me, I quizzed her on her life in California. She had her ups and downs with Charlie, which I'd expected, but she was really enjoying herself there. She'd made a lot of friends, and according to her she'd just been herself - not bitchy Rosalie, or overbearing Rosalie or ambitious Rosalie…Just Rose.

She'd even painted her car yellow, and she told me she'd show it me in the morning.

"So what do you think of Riley?" Rosalie asked me, biting her lip nervously - a habit she'd obviously picked up from me after all those years.

I grinned. "He seems pretty awesome, actually. Definitely good looking, he seems nice, he seems smart - I think he's great for you."

She seemed incredibly relieved when I approved.

"I wanted to bring him here so you could meet him. I didn't want to get serious without your acceptance."

I smiled again, and we had a silent conversation through our eyes. It was a deafening silence that forgave all, but it was such a comfortable silence, I think we must've lapsed into it for at least five minutes.

Rosalie sat up and looked at my clock that had just turned midnight.

"Merry Christmas, Isabella."

And then she kissed me on the cheek and left without another word.

"Merry Christmas, Rose," I whispered to myself, knowing full well she couldn't hear me.

That was the first conversation in ten years I'd had with Rosalie without one disagreement.

The next morning was hectic. We'd all woken up extra early to see that Renee had placed some presents down under the tree - but obviously, they were just for me since Rosalie's arrival was unexpected. Renee did, however, have a gift for her upstairs, just like Rosalie had brought some for her and myself with her. I'd not bought Rosalie anything, but I figured I'd get her something today when I went out to buy some necessities for lunch. I ran upstairs too to find Renee's present: a bracelet that she could attach charms to, whether she bought them herself, or others bought them for her.

When she opened it, she gasped in delight, and ogled the two charms on it already.

"It's a Pandora bracelet," I explained to her, as I watched her eyes roam over it like it was sacred. "You collect the charms, and add them to it. There are loads to choose from…"

"Bella, you shouldn't have got me anything!"

I rolled my eyes. "Stop being so ridiculous. I bought you a present for Christmas - accept it." My tone was teasing but the message was delivered.

She hugged me and opened Rosalie's, which was a photo album with numerous pictures of her, me and Renee in it, a 'mother-and-daughters album', Rosalie said. It was a gorgeous book.

When Rosalie handed me mine, I gave her an apologetic look.

"I didn't buy you anything, I'm so sorry…"

But she shrugged it off. "It didn't cost me much. It's just a little something."

That sparked my curiosity, and I ripped open the wrapping.

Inside was a wooden photo frame that matched perfectly with my room, and the picture inside made my eyes bug out as I remembered the moment, but not the fact that a picture was taken.

"Jessica was taking pictures that night for Yearbook. I was flicking through them afterwards, and I may or may not have stolen it, and hid it. I was a little…jealous," she admitted with a sheepish look on her face.

I smiled at her, silently telling her to forget about it, and I looked at the picture again.

It had been taken just before the game where Edward and I had first kissed, when I'd begged Edward to grab my hand when I saw Jacob coming towards us. He'd leant down and told me I'd looked stunning, and then kissed my hand.

It had been taken at that precise moment: Edward all God-like, and me flushing, but not looking all that horrendous.

"I like it, and I thought you would too, so…" Rosalie was clearly getting nervous over my lack of response.

"I love it," I told her, my voice even fucking cracking up a bit, and I leant around Renee to hug her.

Renee handed Rosalie an envelope with money in it - the same amount she'd given me. She'd also given me a new iPod docking station, and a few new albums, but how she knew of my musical tastes was beyond me.

Throughout our gift exchange, Maria and Riley had sat on the sofa, looking on at us with contented smiles on their faces, Maria wearing some of Rosalie's pajamas and Riley being the only one of us dressed.

Neither looked uncomfortable which I was pretty pleased about.

At last, we had a normal Christmas morning.

And then lunchtime came. Renee had enlisted the help of very expensive chefs to cook a meal for eleven, but when they arrived, she told them to add on an extra three sets of meals, and tipped them largely so they couldn't refuse.

Not only were Edward, Alice, Emmett and Jasper coming around, so were their parents. Of course, I'd not seen Harriet - Jasper's mom - for ages, and I was looking forward to seeing her again. Emmett's mom and dad - aka Darren and Claudia - were coming, too, who I'd seen fairly recently when we'd all gone to Emmett's to play Guitar Hero. I'd sucked, of course, and lost badly. Alice proved to be much better than anyone would have anticipated, and kicked her brother's ass.

And I'd met Alice's and Edward's parents on Bonfire night. I was sure they remembered me: the choking girl who made their daughter cry.

When the doorbell went, it was left to me to answer it, even though I was in my room upstairs with Rosalie, Riley and Maria, and they were the guests here, meaning I had to haul my ass downstairs, since Renee was too busy despairing over the fact that the doorbell had rung and she hadn't set the table yet.

I opened the door to see nine people smiling at me - they'd all come together: Edward (who smiled the nicest), Alice (who was wearing very festive clothing), Emmett, Jasper, Harriet, Claudia, Darren, Esme and Carlisle.

I smiled timidly back.

"Hey guys. Come on in." I stepped out the way so they could all enter. They all wished me a Merry Christmas, and Alice, Jasper, Harriet and Emmett all gave me a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek, whereas Edward gave me a full on kiss, which made me slightly flustered and flushed, which wasn't good since Esme and Carlisle were next in the line.

After Renee bustled in and directed everyone to the living area, I took my Edward, Alice, Jasper and Emmett upstairs and into my room to meet Maria and Riley and surprise the hell out of them with Rosalie.

And surprise them I did.

Emmett, who entered first, let out a loud, "ROSIE!" and then went to pick her up and hug her, and Alice, Edward and Jazz stood there, shocked.

I cleared my throat. "This is Maria and Riley. And these are Emmett," I gestured to the person still spinning a laughing Rosalie in circles, "Edward, Alice and Jasper."

My friends came to life and said their hello's to Maria and Riley, who replied back with smiles. When Emmett put my sister down, the real awkwardness began.

"Hey," Rosalie said softly, anticipating this weird atmosphere.

They all waved dumbly back, and I rolled my eyes.

"Guys, it's Christmas. Can we just…forget?" I spoke to my friends and wrapped my arms around Edward's waist to sway his decision.

They all nodded after a second, and Jasper was the first one to move. He hugged Rosalie, who enthusiastically hugged him back. Edward and Alice just waved a little, and Rosalie seemed content with that.

"I take it you all got my letters then?" She asked.

They all nodded, and I was surprised that it was Alice who spoke next.

"Yeah. Thank you, by the way. They were very kind and…unlike you. No offence."

"None taken," my sister told her with a shrug. "I'm sorry I couldn't do it in person. I just left ASAP."

We were all silent.

It was fucking awkward.

I looked up from Edward's chest when I heard Maria sigh. "I don't know what the fuck's been happening here, but it's Christmas. Lighten up. We'll be gone after New Year, we're not staying. Just…chill, everyone."

I'm sure my expression was one of shock, and then respect.

I nodded my head. "Well said, Maria. Let's all stop being fucking idiots and go downstairs and stuff ourselves with food, yeah?"

I led the way out after everyone agreed, and I thought I saw Jasper looking at Maria in wonderment.

The dinner table was full of food. From the big ass turkey in the middle, to the mash potato, to the vegetables - everything anyone could possibly want for Christmas was on our goddamn table.

Conversation flowed freely through dinner, which was a contrast to the tense atmosphere in my room. We all talked - and included Rosalie, her beau and Maria - and the parents seemed to get along pretty well. Edward's hand never left the top of my thigh all the time we were sat there. How he managed to eat a meal with basically one hand was beyond me, but he managed.

It was comforting, and I felt like someone really cared about what happened to me.

But I knew that I had more people than just Edward.

I noticed that Jasper and Maria kept up a steady conversation throughout the meal, debating over music and films, and about politics…they barely conversed with the rest of us, but I was happy that they seemed to get along so well.

She seemed pretty cool.

There was one point when Carlisle asked how my throat felt after the fiasco on Bonfire Night, and I nearly choked again when he called it from the other end of the table. Thankfully, more people were there to hit my back.

"It was fine," I croaked out, and my friends just laughed at me.

Both Rosalie and Renee quirked an eyebrow at me, but I waved it off. They would only laugh at my misfortune.

As the meal continued, I watched the people around me, knowing that these guys were all practically my family.

Later on when the adults were getting shamelessly drunk and were playing Twister in the living room, Edward and I went up to my room.

"I got you a gift," I sang to him, reaching up into my wardrobe to pull it out.

He groaned. "I thought we said we shouldn't buy presents since it was a waste of money?"

I snorted. "It's not like I paid millions for it."

I handed him the messily wrapped present, and he eyed it.

"I can give a guess as to what this is," he told me dubiously.

I smiled at him in encouragement.

He smiled when he ripped it open and saw what was inside.

"Bon Iver?" His smile widened. "You remembered. How'd you know I hadn't bought it already?"

"I asked Alice to find out."

He pulled me onto his lap and placed a not so chaste kiss on my lips.

I sighed in happiness.

"I'm kind of relieved you got me something actually, because I got you something too."

I gasped and slapped his chest lightly.

"Hypocrite," I teased him.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out two small pieces of…paper?

"What the…" I trailed off when I saw what was printed on them, and then I tackled him onto the bed and kissed the hell out of him.

"You got Kings of Leon tickets?!" I all but screamed.

He nodded, smiling at my reaction.

"God, you're fucking…awesome!"

"There's no need to tell him that, Bella, it'll only boost his ego," I heard Alice say from the doorway. I looked up to see her eyeing our position with a little distaste, but mainly amusement.

"I take it she liked them, then?" She asked Edward, grinning.

He nodded, and Alice walked over to the bed and sat next to us; I heaved myself off Edward and sat in a cross-legged position.

"I got you something too. Now, it didn't cost me anything since I know we said no to presents…This is just something I made."

She handed me a thick book that was obviously hand made, since the cover had lots of vintage pictures on the front that had been cut out from magazines, all revolving around hair, or make up or fashion. It was very Alice.

I opened it up to see it was full of pictures of how-to steps for hair and make up, and also some pointers on what clothes matched with what, and the colors that didn't go…

I gasped, smiling my ass off.

"I think I want to kiss you too," I breathed, looking at her.

She just smiled even wider. "You know I want to work in the fashion industry, so I thought this was good practice. And besides I know you're useless without me when it comes to hair." She tossed her's over her shoulder in a superficial gesture; her tone was teasing.

"I'm not saying I'll not do it, but when I'm unavailable - you'll need some direction. I've tried to base it around what you like and what suits you, but some of the things are something I think would suit you, and what I think you'd look great in, whether you like the outfits or not."

I smiled again, biting my lip.

"Thank you so much!" I exclaimed, feeling shitty that I hadn't bought her anything.

"I'm sorry, I didn't b--"

She held her hand up to stop me. "Shut up. I didn't expect you to."

The expression I wore was guilt - pure guilt.

She shook her head at me, and told me she'd be downstairs playing Twister if we needed her.

"Are you enjoying your Christmas?" Edward asked me, moving my hair off my shoulder and placing kisses on it, moving up towards my neck and along my jaw.

"Mmmhmm."

"I hope you know I'm coming with you to see Kings of Leon…"

"Mmmhmm."

He chuckled into my ear.

"Would you like to go and play Twister?"

"Mmmhmm."

And then he wasn't next to me anymore. Instead, he was by the door, holding it open for me with a smug-ass grin on his gorgeous face.

I frowned.

"That wasn't fair." I pouted.

He shrugged. "There's only so many times we get to see our parents drunk and playing Twister. You have me for as long as you want."

Twister was hilarious. Everyone kept on collapsing on top of each other, and some of the positions everyone was in…well, they were downright smutty.

Thankfully, I only ended up in those positions with Edward and Rosalie, both of which were so funny we collapsed from laughing. I think all in all we must've got through at least twenty-five bottles of wine between the fourteen of us, and countless shots.

It was strange having fun with parents. A few months ago I would have laughed at the idea of us all having a great time together.

Now it was not so absurd.

We all went to bed laughing, with Edward in my bed, and everyone else in the spare bedrooms. Maria and Riley were both staying in Rosalie's room with her. I could've sworn I heard someone leave the room and go to the room I thought Jasper was in, but I was half asleep so I could've dreamt it.

It was the best Christmas I'd ever had.

New Years Eve came too quick for my liking. My friends - a group which now included Riley and Maria - and I spent pretty much every day together, since it was the holidays and school didn't start until January. It all seemed to fly by, whether we went shopping or stayed in with a movie - time seemed to disappear. And before I knew it, it was the last day of the year, and we were all getting ready to go to Jasper's house to celebrate the New Year.

Rosalie, Riley and Maria were all leaving on January 2nd.

That put a damper on New Years Eve.

As much as my sister and I had differences, at the end of the day we were blood relatives, and we couldn't deny that we were attached to each other.

And now she was back in my life, I really didn't want her to leave, but I understood that California held all her friends and her new life now.

She promised to visit more often, and I told her I'd come to California every now and then, and I'd even be willing to see Charlie, even if he was a lying, cheating a-hole.

Because he was my dad, if I accepted it or not.

"Hey Bella?" I heard Rosalie call from her room, and I heard her footsteps coming across the hall and she burst into my room.

"Yep?" I asked, rummaging around in my wardrobe looking for a top that matched the skirt (yes, I was wearing a skirt. Admittedly a black, ripped one and I wore it with leggings, but still…it was a skirt) in Alice's Book.

"What's Jasper's favorite color?"

I stopped, and looked at her. "Why?"

"Maria wants to bone him and she wants to know what color to wear."

My mouth dropped open, and I heard Maria gasp from Rosalie's room, before running into mine.

"Rosalie!" She admonished. "That's not true!" She turned to look at me with pleading eyes. "I don't just want to 'bone' him…I really like him, he's so…cool, and nice. I just…wanted to know what his favorite color was so that I could wear it and he might kiss me at midnight." She flushed with embarrassment.

After a one minute silence filled with me thinking over whether or not I liked the pairing, I smiled.

"Aww!" I cooed, completely unlike me. "I think you two are fucking perfect for each other!" I paused, and frowned. "Well…except for the fact that you live in California and he lives here in Washington."

That sucked.

She nodded sadly. "Yeah, that's the downer on it. He's thinking about going to the same college as me, though, so…we could just try something from a distance until then." It was her turn to frown now, along with a head shake. "He doesn't even like me, so I don't know why I'm planning all this…"

I shook my head. "No, he was making conversation with you at Christmas, and you've both been all touchy-feely all week. I think he likes you too."

Her face brightened so much it made me want to tell her more than his favorite color.

"Really?"

I nodded. "And his favorite color is…blue."

She nodded, serious again, and thanked me before dashing back into Rosalie's room, shouting to Riley to find her favorite blue top. I assumed Riley was in charge of hunting for their clothes, since he was a guy and therefore took less time to get ready. Plus, he'd already snagged the person he wanted.

Rosalie smiled at me, somewhat sadly.

"Do you not find it weird?"

I frowned. "Find what weird?"

"Giving advice to a girl you don't know so that she can get with your best friend who declared his undying love for you after you fucked him?"

I flinched from her words, and her face turned utterly remorseful.

"I'm sorry, that came out harsher than I intended. I'm sorry."

I shook my head. "No, don't apologize. It's true. And no, I don't find it weird, really. Jazz and I are just friends now. Back to how we were. And he doesn't love me anymore, I don't think…And besides, I really think he likes Maria, and it's clear she likes him. Why shouldn't I help?"

She nodded, smiling again. "You're too nice, you know that?"

I scoffed. "Yeah, right. I think a case to disprove your theory would be said fucking of Jasper."

She tilted her head quickly, allowing that one. "Fair enough."

And then she walked out of my room, leaving me with the task of finding the freaking top that my wardrobe had eaten.

I stood at Jasper's door with Rosalie, Riley and a nervous looking Maria who kept on fidgeting.

"Chillax," I told her, and she smiled - albeit nervously - at me.

Harriet opened the door, and I smiled widely at her.

"Hey, mom!" I hollered, as she held her arms out for a hug. I wrapped my arms around her neck, smiling.

"Oh Bella dear, you look lovely. You're wearing a skirt!" Her voice was shocked.

"I know!"

She patted my shoulder before turning to the other three.

"You all look lovely. Rosalie, you've come a long way since I saw you running around my yard in diapers!"

Rosalie blushed - actually blushed - at this comment, looking nervously to Riley who was chuckling quietly.

"And Maria, you seem to have captured my son's interest. I saw you two chatting at Christmas…"

I smirked knowingly at her, raising an eyebrow, and went through the house to find everyone, knowing Rosalie, Riley and Maria could hold their own with Harriet.

I found Alice first.

"Alice," I sang and she whirled around and grinned.

"Good choice," she told me after looking my outfit up and down.

"Thank yourself, you made The Book. Or The Bible, as I call it."

She grinned, obviously proud of herself.

"I try," she sighed, to which I beamed a smile right back at her.

"Come on," she continued, "everyone's out back waiting for midnight, which is in…" she looked at the clock on her phone, "four hours. There's food and drink while we wait."

And indeed there was. Harriet freaking loved to cook so there was everything I could ever hope for on the buffet table in the conservatory.

I immediately forgot to find Jasper, Emmett and Edward, and instead I devoured a cocktail stick, with pickles and cheese on. It was so goddamn good.

"Straight to the food," I heard a velvety voice say in my ear.

I rolled my eyes. "You know very well that you can never live up to food, Eddie."

He pulled back and I heard him sigh.

"Don't call me Eddie."

"Okay, Big E."

"Alice…" he growled, and I chuckled.

"I think it suits you."

"I'm sure you do," he murmured, his voice laced with innuendo.

I shook my head. "Sex, sex, sex is all that's on your mind."

But I still kissed him on the nose, and walked off to find Jasper and Emmett.

I heard him call behind me, "Only when I'm around you!"

I smirked, because I knew that shit was true.

I found Emmett talking to Riley, and I saw Jasper talking to Maria not far from where they stood. Of course, I approached Emmett, not wanting to interrupt Maria's moment.

"Them two should totally get it on," I said bluntly, making Riley jump as he'd not heard me come up behind him.

Emmett nodded. "Without a doubt."

I turned to Riley. "So, Riley, do you love my sister?"

He snorted into his drink, nearly spitting it out.

I raised my eyebrows.

"Um…We've not been dating long…"

"But do you?"

"Um…"

Emmett rolled his eyes. "Bells, don't put him on the spot like that."

I raised my hands, telling him that I didn't care I was putting him on the spot - it was my sister and I cared about her wellbeing, regardless of the past.

"I think so," I heard him whisper, and my eyes widened in response.

"Really?" Both Emmett and I asked at the same time, neither of us expecting that.

He nodded.

"Wow," I muttered, but then smiled. "Good. She needs someone like you. You seem normal, and non-dramatic. Just don't fuck with her, okay? A flight to California doesn't take long."

He nodded solemnly, like he'd expect nothing less.

Good.

I talked to Emmett and Riley for a while, and Edward and Alice came to join us at some point. We were just discussing resolutions when I heard Alice gasp with happiness. I looked at her and then spun around to see what she was looking at: Maria and Jasper in an intimate hug.

Wait, hug?

"Ugh, why isn't he kissing her?" I sulked.

Edward laughed, and placed a kiss on top of my head, which was really quite sweet for him.

"He's waiting for midnight. It's much more romantic."

"What do you know about romance?" I taunted.

I felt him leave my side, and I turned to see he was heading for the food table, and he reappeared not long after with food in his hand.

He gave the food to me.

"There," he announced, "that's romantic, right?"

I laughed, as did Alice.

"Sure, Big E," I told him, and Alice nodded in agreement with me, still giggling behind her hand.

He frowned, but smiled despite himself.

I reached up and wound my arms around his neck, balancing the food between my hands.

"I'm sure you can do something romantic later," I assured him.

He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"See?" I laughed. "Sex, sex, sex."

His mouth dropped open. "You're the one who suggested that."

I grinned and scrunched my eyes up, before planting a kiss on his cheek, and returning to the conversation with everyone, eating every now and then.

It eventually grew dark, and Rosalie, Maria and Jasper joined us and we all laughed about old stories of our childhoods.

When we saw Harriet, Esme and Carlisle bring the fireworks out, and start to set them up, I heard Emmett ask the time.

"Wow, it's quarter to twelve," Edward replied, his arms around me from behind, keeping me warm. We were all in little hugs like this: Rosalie and Riley, Emmett and Alice, Jasper and Maria - we were all coupled off.

"Come on," Alice said, breaking the tender silence. "We should get a good place where we can wait for midnight and see the fireworks."

We all muttered our agreements, and walked closer to the conservatory, where the TV (that had been moved so it was visible from outside) showed Times Square, and all the people crowded together to count down the New Year. We perched on the benches by it, us girls still being hugged - and therefore warmed - but our guys.

"I can't believe it's been a year already," Alice muttered, breaking the silence through the freezing temperature. "So much has changed. I mean, I'm in Washington with a boyfriend and real friends. This time last year I was in New York with my moronic brother as my best friend."

"Hey!" Edward protested, but I knew he didn't mean it.

We laughed, but we all agreed with Alice. So much had changed, especially in the last few months.

"Ten!" We heard the TV shout, and we all snapped our heads towards it.

I would never have guessed this would come from two new people starting school…

"Nine!"

I looked at my friends. I saw that clearly Jasper and Maria just couldn't hold off their kissing until midnight, as they were already in a deep kiss. I guessed they would be trying the long-distance relationship thing - whether or not it would work was a different story, but I hoped to God that it did…Jasper deserved happiness.

"Eight!"

People in the yard had joined in with the countdown, as had Emmett and Alice, who both looked so happy together.

"Seven!"

Rosalie and Riley seemed to be having a silent conversation through their eyes, and she looked so ecstatic with her new life that I didn't mind that it barely involved me anymore. She was her own person, and I was mine, and that was the way it was meant to be.

"Six!"

Even our parents were coupled off, Harriet standing with Renee, yapping away to each other, most likely about their ex-husbands. They were like the First Wives Club. I giggled at the thought.

"Five!"

I joined in on this one, yelling at the top of my lungs, smiling up at Edward who had his arm around me. I felt him chuckle under my body, and I laughed right along with him. Who'd have thought we'd have actually worked out?

"Four!"

Sure, we'd have problems. I could be a conniving bitch and he could be an arrogant moron…but we'd work through it.

"Three!"

We'd been through too much to not to.

"Two!"

I couldn't wait until one. I leaned up and kissed him, his lips a warm contrast between the freezing air. I smiled underneath his lips, because I was so fucking ecstatic that it had come to this: me and him, and everyone around us happy.

"One!"

The fireworks went off, and I heard Auld Lang Syne play on the TV, and I heard people cheering "Happy New Year!"…but all I focused on was Edward.

A New Year, a new start.

My New Year's resolution? To rise above the drama because if my friend's and I had survived the past few months, we could handle pretty much anything.

Two months ago I wouldn't have believed it possible for life to go so right.

And yet it was…

For now.

Wow. I really didn't expect to finish this story when I started writing it. I'm usually a giver-upper but here I am, getting ready to make this story go to complete, from a WIP. This story originally came to me from the book/film The Other Boleyn Girl. Of course, it ended slightly differently than that story did, but that's the way it goes.

I have so many people to thank, but I can probably summarise them as: YOU.

I'm not going to name every single person who has reviewed, but I will name a few people. I'm going to reply to reviews anyway, and thank each of you, but these are just a few of the people who have stuck with me:

First of all, kittycullen16. My beta. God, when we found out we both lived in the same town we just couldn't believe it. I mean, seriously what are the chances? And then we started beta-ing together. We were beta virgins. I'm so happy I reviewed your story, else this wouldn't have happened. I don't think. But you are actually seriously awesome, and I'm very happy I have other stories so I can continue to send you things and panic about them, and that you can send me chapters, and we'll still talk. Because you're so cool it's untrue. We've had some funny conversations. They won't stop. Thank God.
Thank You.
And maybe if you go see New Moon next friday, I might see you! But I won't know it. :/ I might just shout out a loud "THANK YOU" right there and then. People will stare. Fuck them. ;) XOXO

Secondly, reds-red. You make me laugh like no other. :D You also make me less nervous and I think without you I'd have had a premature heart attack from panicing so much. Is that even possible? I don't know, maybe someone will tell me as a random fact. :D I have no idea where you get all your facts from but I find them so interesting to read, and you quite honestly inspire me to write. Sometimes you're the only reason why I stop lazying around and actually type. Again, I'm very happy you're reading WoWY so we can still chat. I'm VERY glad you're there to listen to me complain over hangovers, and other stuff...cause I do complain a lot. You recced this story, and gave me more loyal reviewers - which means you deserve a medal, or something.
Thank you, this story would not be even NEAR to finished without you. You made this. This chapter's for you. :) XOXO

StripyGloves aka tiny0fairy. You were there from the very first story that is now gone. You have followed me through three stories (four stories?), and I'm so thankful you didn't leave!!! I thought you'd gone! But no, you've persevered with me through it all.
I can't even begin to thank you enough - you've given me so many ideas and so much inspiration. You were my first friend on here - :') - and I'm surpried you've not ran for the hills yet. ;) Stay with me! (gosh, that sounded so dramatic! LOL.) XOXO

Fee273: where the facts begun. ;) We've had such amazing conversations: "We were on a break! Y-O-U-R means your, Y-O-U-APOSTROPHE- R-E menas you ARE. - It's not that common, it doesn't happen to every guy and it IS A BIG DEAL. - :O I KNEW IT!" ... Yeah, we're Friends fanatics. And you listened to me bitch about being 3 marks from an A* in GCSE's. God damn.
THANK YOU for being so awesome, and I really hope we still talk! :( XOXO

Babylopez2008 - continually reviewing from the start. You're the reviewer I sit at my laptop and wait for. Your words mean so much to me, and you always give me honest reviews, and you make me feel so much better after I panic about a chapter. Thank you just doesn't cut it. XOXO

burningimpossiblybright (I know there are x's in there, but it won't let me put it for some odd reason), LoveTheTwi and BloodyAle - you all have continually reviewed and, again, I stay up and wait for them because your words mean a lot. I haven't heard from BloodyAle for a while, but I hope you're still reading! You guys make my day with your reviews, and I'm so thankful you gave this story a chance and stuck with it through all the complex plots and the bitchiness. Without you, I probably wouldn't have continued. THANK YOU. XOXO

My last thank you goes to all my readers. I know some of you don't review, and that's cool - I can't force you. Just the fact that you're reading is amazing. I started this story to prove to myself that I could write a story, and without seeing all my numbers on the Traffic page go up, I wouldn't have. I started writing this for me, and finished writing it for you. That's how much you all mean to me. XOXO

Jesus fucking Christ this is a long AN.

I'm sorry if this story didn't end how you'd want it to. I know a lot of people were all for Jasper and Bella, but I did a poll, promising to go with that, and I followed through. For those of you who had enough faith in me to keep reading even though you didn't like the pairing - you guys deserve more than thanks. Blind faith is something I can appreciate completely, and it's one of my most treasured things about FF. :')

God, I'm getting emotional right now. :|

Thank you again. Seriously.

Oh, and if you'd like something to read, look at my favourites list (it's full of amazing stories by very talented people), and I can rec my beta's stories completely. They're amazing. I will be posting anoter story after the new year, I think, so either look out for it, or add me to Author Alert. It's going to be called All These Things I've Done, and it's currently in the works.

I'm gonna ask for everyone to review this last one, but I'll understand if not. It'll just make me happy to see this story pass the next hundred review mark. :)

I'm gonna say thank you again: THANK YOU. I just keep wanting to write it, but this AN has gotta be the longest in history.

Love, thanks, peace and hugs,
Gabbie.