A/N: The lovely LaurenLove18 wrote this amazing first section and a generous bit of the third one! TYSM as always and please read her book Saving Myself, it's so awesomely well written!
505 East 74th Street (Friday, May 25th)
(Bella's Perspective)
I was chilling out with Mom and Dad when my phone bleeped. It was a message from Jake. Looking at the text, my eyes widened.
"Are you alright Bells?" Mom asked me whilst she was cuddled up with Elliot.
"Yep. I'm fine." Jake asked me if I wanted to go to his party! I was freaking out inside. Leia was upstairs in her bedroom playing and Noah was in his bedroom chilling out.
"I need to go and talk to my brother." Mom took my hand.
"Bells.. you're acting strange. Is everything ok?" I nodded.
"I'll tell you later Mom." Rushing upstairs, I texted Hilary.
Me: WNTT!!! NOW!x
She then video-called me.
"What's happened? I know when something is urgent!" I giggled. Asking her if she was going to Jake's party, she said yes.
"Why are you freaking out?" She then realised.
"You like him don't you Bella?" I blushed furiously. "Well, it's pretty obvious!" Hilary squealed.
"Well, we need to figure out what you're gonna wear to his party. I'm going to wear my cute black top with my jeans." As I giggled as my friend continued to talk, I heard Noah. I opened my bedroom door just so that I could hear a tiny bit.
"Morgan.. just let me talk.. look, just listen to me. I didn't mean to say that. Well, how would you feel if I was talking to someone from my past?" I heard Hilary's voice.
"Sorry, Hilary. Yeah... I can't wait for this party." When I finished talking to Hilary, I went to see Leia. "Come in." I opened her bedroom door. She smiled at me.
"I'm colouring. Are Mommy and Elliot still downstairs?" I said yes.
"What aren't you telling me Bells?" I couldn't hide anything.. even from my sister. As we went downstairs, we saw Noah sat at the kitchen table. He glared at me.
"I don't wanna talk about it." Elliot followed him outside.
"So, Mom.." She raised her eyebrows.
"That was Jake who texted me earlier. He's having his birthday party tomorrow and I was wondering if you and Elliot would let me go." She nodded. "Really?" She agreed.
"You've been really grown up lately." I then giggled.
"I know right?" Leia laughed.
"What's so funny Miss?" Mom smiled.
"You and Daddy are being really weird and mushy at the moment." I loved my little sister.
"It's because they are in love Leia!" She then hugged Mom.
"Bella's right sweetie. How about we go and get our pyjamas on and I'll read you a story?" She ran straight upstairs.
"Love you Bells." Mom blew me a kiss.
"Love you too Mom."
****************
Southampton, Long Island (9:45 PM) (Olivia's Perspective)
"Hmm, maybe I should wear this one instead." I heard my 13-year-old say. The room was littered with clothes and I chuckled to myself.
"I think that outfit's just fine Bell."
"Mom, you scared me!" She said while blushing.
"Sorry. It looks like a tornado blew through here. Are you getting clothes for the party?" She nodded.
"I've never seen you do all of this for a party."
"A lot of people from my school are going to be there. I just want to look nice."
"Are you sure you're not dressing nicely for Jake?"
"I guess you caught me." I sat down on my daughter's bed.
"I was 13 years old too once."
"Did you do things so that your crush would notice?"
"Of course. Back in middle school, we had dances every couple of months. My friends and I decided to go to this one dance. I was walking down the hallway one says and I heard my crush, Nolan McGregor, say I love girls with curly hair."
"Uh-oh."
"Uh-huh." We both laughed.
"So I thought that it would be cute to perm my hair and well... That didn't end well. My hair ended up looking like a frizzy mess and he did not notice me at that dance."
"Aww, poor baby Liv."
"I know. The moral of the story is you shouldn't waste all of this time trying to impress someone. It might just backfire. You are perfect just the way you are."
"I guess you make a point there. But I do wanna look good for myself as well, Mom." I helped Bella find an outfit that fit her personality but was still bold and beautiful.
"I love it!"
***************
437 Deer Lake Road (1:35 PM) (Saturday) (Jake's Perspective)
"Ayo, this party is lit." Ethan said.
"Please stop talking like that, it sounds so incredibly forced." Leah playfully snatched his drink and took a waterfall before he took it back.
"That was the last Dr.Pepper."
"Take a chill pill, you don't need any more of those." I chuckled and looked around as my friends talked. There's no sight of Bella. The party started an hour ago. Where is she?
"Leah, do you know where Bella is?" I asked.
"Uhhh, she said that she had to do something with Lucy real quick before she came. I don't know what though."
"Thanks." I went back inside the house and upstairs so that I could grab my phone.
"Happy birthday!" My Uncle Steven said.
"Thanks." I went into the guest room, far away from the music outside, and decided to text Bella.
Me: Is everything okay? you said you'd be here an hour ago.
Bella: everything's alright, don't worry. I'm coming right now.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"I thought we left this shit in the sixth grade." Alexis said as Jonathan chugged the mixture of foods we created.
"Money is money."
"Once immature, always immature." Kylie pointed out. My party was pretty fun. We were swimming in the pool, taking turns on our famous pool slide. At one point, we caused such a big splash that my sister and her friends got drenched. Of course, I don't care about that part, it was fun. The only thing missing was Bella. She still isn't here.
"Paisley, you said that Bella would-"
"Oh my god, you're being so fucking annoying. She's coming! Bella has a life unlike you, you know. Just chillax. She's coming. We get it, you like her."
"Wow, so I can't be worried about a friend?"
"Not to this extent...this is when it looks like you're more than friends."
"So you don't feel the same way about Kaden?" She shoved me playfully and walked away. Annoying her is so easy.
****************
Deer Lake Road (3:35 PM) (Bella's Perspective)
"He's probably going to be so upset with me." I mumbled as Lucy drove down Jake's street.
"No, he isn't! He loves you." Leia said while giving me a big smile and making kissy faces.
"You'll understand what I mean when you're my age."
"No, I already understand! But Bella, why do you have to go to the party? Why can't you stay with me and go to the movies with me? You're always with your friends." She pouted.
"Hey, if you're good for Lucy I'll take you to the movies. How does that sound?" She grinned.
"We can watch the Mermaid Tales?" I nodded.
"Okay!" Lucy stopped in front of the Romano's house. There were humongous blue balloons in front of it, you couldn't miss it if you tried.
"Bella, I'll pick you up at-"
"10 PM! Thanks!"
"No, I'm coming at 9:30." I rolled my eyes.
"Why does it have to be 9:30?!! You're going to embarrass me!"
"Bella, you are not going to speak to me in that way. You know that your parents aren't going to let you stay at that party any time past that and if you keep it up I'm dropping you home."
"But that isn't-"
"Bella."
"Whatever. I'll see you guys later." I walked to the front of the house and put on my best smile.
"Good afternoon, Mrs.Romano!"
"Bella! Jake's been worrying about you."
"He has? Oh gosh, I feel bad. Lucy had to take Leia somewhere so I had to wait."
"That's fine honey, I'm sure he'll understand." She gave me this weird smile. I don't know what that means but it's creeping me out.
"Jake wouldn't worry that much over a simple friend, Bella. You mean a lot to him." She kissed me on the forehead and went outside. Huh? Suddenly, Hannah came inside.
"Hey! You're finally here! We all thought you died. What took so long?" I pulled her to the side.
"You know how we were looking for a gift for him..yesterday?"
Times Square- 42nd Street
"Why are boys soo hard to shop for??" Leah asked. We'd been walking around this place for half an hour and couldn't find anything good enough.
"Right? They don't market things towards them properly unless it's a video game."
"Why don't you just get him a video game or something?"
"I would but then it'd be like every other gift. I wanna give him something really nice. He's done so many nice things for me."
"I know...Look we'll find something, don't worry."
"Yeah? What's wrong?" She asked me.
"Bella, what is it?" Hannah asked.
"I was late because I went to get him this." I showed her the gift.
"I wanted to get something meaningful."
"This beautiful. Are you worried that he won't like it?" I nodded.
"No, he won't! I promise! This is like an ode to your entire friendship. If he doesn't love it, I'll cuss him out personally." I blushed.
"I don't know I'm still a bit scared."
"Gurl, you're fine! Come and tell him hi! Also, the mini burgers are to die for." She gently tugged me and we went outside. I had to say, this party was bustling. A lot of people from school were here and it looked pretty cool. I hid the gift behind me as I followed Hannah.
"Jake! Bella's here!" He turned around and he had sort of this shocked expression on his face. Did I wear too much makeup?
"You finally came!" He hugged me and I smiled.
"You're so dramatic, I was fine!"
"Exactly what we tried to tell him! Hey, I'm going to get a drink, I'll be right back." When Hannah was gone I looked at Jake.
"I got you a present...but I can't show you it right here."
^^^^^^^^^^
"How far out do you want to go?? How serious is this gift?" He asked as we walked far away from the party.
"Far enough away from our nosey friends...and well it's more meaningful than it is serious. Stop peeking!"As me and Jake walked down to the garden area, I suddenly felt really nervous. What if he didn't like my gift?
"It's nice that you came. Me and my friends really wanted you and your friends to be here." He smiled at me.
"I decided to buy you a special initial pin," Giving him the box, he opened it.
"Bella, this is so lovely. Thanks." I blushed even more. I really liked Jake. After everything that I had been through, I just wanted some normality in my life. He then looked at me, his eyes were so sparkly. As he got closer, butterflies swarmed around in my stomach. His lips felt soft. Sweet. Did we just...kiss?
After a while, he backed up and we sort of just stood there awkwardly. I didn't know how else to break the silence so I just said whatever came to mind.
"Y-you're a good kisser." I said as I blushed.
"You too.." He whispered.
"Um, maybe we should get back to the party. People are probably wondering where you are."
"Yeah." I can't believe that just happened. I had my first kiss. With Jake. I feel like there's this sort of adrenaline rushing through me... Something feels different but I can't pinpoint exactly what that is.
"Bella where were you?? We've been looking for you! We gotta take pics on that pizza floaty!" Elle said to me.
"I was just chilling over there... I'll join you guys in sec. let me just change into my bikini." I headed inside and went to the nearest bathroom. I closed the door. I looked into the mirror before letting out a shriek.
"I had to let that out." I said to myself. My heart was racing. Wow.
********************
Southampton, New York (9:45 PM) (Lucy's Perspective)
"Bye guys, goodnight!" Bella got into the car smiling.
"Well someone's chipper." I commented. She laughed.
"How was the party?"
"It was amazing." I watched as Bella stared out of the window with a smile on her face.
"Why are you being all smiley, it's kind of weird." Noah commented.
"I'm not being smiley, shut up."
"Okay, sorry!"
"She's smiley because she had a lot of fun."
"Okay, you guys are literally making something out of nothing. Am I not allowed to be happy??"
"Nobody's saying that."
"Sure doesn't sound like it." She said while rolling her eyes.
To be continued~