✧

It was common knowledge that Mia had never been a firm believer of second chances.

She believed once trust was broken, it certainly meant it would get broken for a second time. No amount of words would suffice as only actions counted, but even then, the golden string had been ruptured and unable to be mended. Maybe it's a terrible way of thinking, but second chances aren't something she easily gives or takes very well. If she's willing to offer another chance, that person must be extremely important and worthy of holding the key to her heart.

It might sound like she's being a hypocrite, but Isobel casting the obliviate charm on Bella had been a much needed second chance. It's an opportunity to make things right and protect her secret better than all the other times. She would be careful when to use her magic – if she ever does again – and would instead focus her energy on just enjoying her time in this silly little town that is turning out more interesting than she thought.

Now as she and Bella are conversing by her truck, she can't help feeling utterly grateful for this second chance. It's strange listening to Bella speak like nothing has happened – especially as for the first time, the mention of the legends aren't being discussed like some sermon. It's refreshing getting a break from the supernatural and now with a second chance, it's remarkable finally acquiring some normalcy for once.

While leaning against the truck's door, she's unable to prevent looking over at Edward walking alongside Alice and Jasper. He's wearing his usual gray peacoat and sporting that dazzling smile. He walks with a disciplined poise, appearing as if his footsteps are floating. Even with the distance, her composure is unable to be kept just by seeing him.

"Look at you!" Mike disrupts her line of sight by standing in front of her and Bella. He smiles at them with excitement and flails his hands up, "You're both alive!"

"Great observation," Mia says through a forced smile.

"It was a false alarm, I guess," Bella adds as her hands start fidgeting with her backpack's straps.

"So, Mia, I've been wanting to ask you," Mike rubs the back of his neck nervously and looks down at the ground. She already knows where he's going with this, but she seriously hopes that's not the case. "I- I was wondering if maybe you would - you would like to go to the dance... with me?"

She's about to politely reject him, but suddenly gets sidetracked when noticing Edward looking their way. His expression is filled with vexation and his fists and jaw are clenched. She tries focusing back on Mike, but the magnetism between them is making it harder to do so.

"So, do you want to go to the dance..." Mike continues, hoping her silence is linked to her actually giving some thought to it. "With me?"

Her gaze softens once she turns to him, "Oh, well, you're actually too late in asking me. I'm going with someone else."

He nods understandably, internally scolding himself for having waited too long in asking her. "Oh, it's okay. Umm, who asked you? If it's alright to know."

Yeah, maybe lying about that part had been a mistake.

Bella looks at Mia and Mike, knowing very well that her excuse for rejecting him had been a lie. As much as she wants to see how this will get covered up, the silence alone is making it twice as uncomfortable that she just has to help.

"No need to be impatient, Mike," Bella tells him, making them turn to her. "You'll see him at the dance, so just wait."

Mia's relieved at her friend's rescue and especially that it's working seeing as Mike has chosen to take her words for consideration. The easiest thing would be to just go with him, but knowing about Jessica's crush on him prevents her from going for it. Besides, it's not like she would have said yes if this hadn't been the case. By going with him, he's bound to get the wrong idea – something she's not willing to do to avoid hurting him by not reciprocating the feelings.

"You should ask Jessica," she suggests and looks over at her, who's standing by the bus with Mr. Molina and a few other students. "It's obvious she wants to go with you."

Mike turns to her, forcing a smile once Jessica waves at him with a wide grin, "Yeah, maybe I'll do that."

"Hey, you guys! Come on, we gotta go!" Mr. Molina starts calling the rest of the students who haven't gotten on the bus yet. "Green is what? Good. Let's go!"

The three start heading to their bus in complete silence and once Mike is sitting at the very end, Bella scoots herself closer, "How come you didn't want to go with him? You've said no to many, so I know you lied about having a date."

"I don't want him to get the wrong idea," Mia admits, lowering her voice to make sure no one hears. "He'll get his hopes up and besides, Jessica likes him, so I wouldn't dare go with him either way."

Bella hums in thought for a moment, "I actually don't have to go to Jacksonville anymore. My mom won't be home that weekend because Phil has a game that she can't miss."

Mia can't help from frowning at this. She finds it hard to believe that Renee can't bother to miss one game to spend time with her daughter. If anything, it's making her dislike grow by the second. "I'm sorry. I know you were looking forward to it."

"It's- it's okay, I mean-" Bella stutters and tucks her hair nervously behind her ear. "It's not like I had high expectations anyway. Besides, I was thinking that maybe, I could ask Jacob."

"You should," Mia encourages her, her heart leaping with ecstasy that her two friends might be getting together. "I'm sure he would love to go with you."

She nervously chuckles as she lays her head on her shoulder, "I really hope you're right."

__________________

Walking around the greenhouse wasn't a total snoozefest like she thought. It's oddly relaxing despite all the chatters and energetic students, reminding her of Herbology classes back at home. Being here is making her feel better about everything and it's making her appreciate the smallest of things even more.

"Now, I am going to make a steaming cup of compost tea," Mr. Molina holds up a cup filled with brown liquid and raises it in the air to showcase. Tyler reaches over and takes it from him just as he continues informing the few students continuing to listen, "This is recycling in its most basic form, guys – Don't drink it! It's for the plants!"

Mia continues walking behind Bella and Angela, trying her best to focus on the greenery. She becomes too caught up in her thoughts to notice having walked past Edward until hearing him call out to her.

"Who are you taking?"

She pauses and looks past her shoulder at him, "Taking?"

"To the dance," he clarifies.

She rolls her eyes, annoyed he was eavesdropping on her conversation, "You shouldn't have been listening."

Edward ignores her remark and trails after her, "You didn't answer my question. Who are you going with?"

"Come to the dance and find out," Mia tries moving past him, but he manages to block her path. She tenses when feeling his hand connect with hers, making her freeze her tracks for just a split second.

"Sounds to me like you're lying and don't actually have a date," he stares at her with a complacent look as the ghost of a smile appears.

"And?"

He looks down at her and notices the soft blush on her cheeks that matches the rosy tint of her lips. They're full, but also delicate – one that complements her nose, her eyes, just everything about her and makes her a million times more perfect. Without intending to, his mind starts wondering on how it would feel to have his lips against hers, but just as the thought resurfaces, he becomes frightened by it.

This isn't how he should be viewing her. She's his best friend and he's hers. Thinking of her this way won't do anything or bring anyone any good. It's wrong to see her this way, especially as the more he tries ignoring this, the more he's becoming more compliant to continue fantasizing about it.

"Earth to Cullen?" Mia waves a hand to his face, growing frustrated at his lack of attention. She tries ignoring the electrifying jolt piercing her heart and once again, she becomes afraid of this feeling. It's foreign to her and anything unknown is worthy of being terrified of. She brushes past it and settles on staring ahead, knowing if she continues gazing into his bejeweled eyes, she's bound to forget her honor. "I'm not going with-"

Her foot toppling over a bump cuts her words short. He holds her steady and unintentionally brings her closer to him. Their bodies brush against the other and their differing temperatures bounce continuously. They mix perfectly and create a personal warmth that allows for that same electric feeling to return.

Noticing the curious looks sent their way, Mia abruptly lets go of him. She adjusts her jacket and starts walking away, hating how much this little scene is leaving an effect on her. This isn't right. This isn't the way she should be feeling for a friend – let alone her best friend.

"If you're not going with anyone," Edward suddenly blurts out, the words pouring out like a wave crashing against the shore. "What if we go together?"

Mia turns to him with surprise, unsure if she's actually hearing right or if she's hallucinating everything. She looks ahead and without thinking says, "You mean as friends, right?"

"Friends. Yes, we'll go as just friends," he rushes through his words and it almost sounds like he's starting to panic.

"Mia! Guess who asked me to the dance!" Jessica runs up to her with the biggest smile on her face.

She looks over at Edward as he walks away from them, "Who did?"

"Yeah, I actually thought Mike was going to ask you," Jessica explains as both of them start walking through the greenhouse all the way to the exit. "It's not going to be weird, right?"

Mia softly laughs and shakes her head, "No, of course not."

Jessica smiles in relief when believing Mike had chosen her instead of someone else, "Are you going with someone?"

"Just with Edward," she nonchalantly says like it's the most normal thing. 

"Interesting," Jessica says and looks ahead at Edward with the rest of his siblings. "So does that mean the Cullens will finally attend a social event?"

"I'm not sure about the others, but maybe they'll make an appearance," Mia could only hope they do attend as it would be great meeting them. She's only just met Rosalie and Carlisle, but it would have been better if it had been under better circumstances.

"Hey, look! It's a worm, Mia! It's a worm!" Eric giddily exclaims while shoving a stick near her face that she shoves in an instant.

"How mature," she teases and laughs when Tyler tosses the worm onto Mike's jacket, causing him to let out a high pitched scream.

Mr. Molina starts calling out to them and gestures his hands in the direction of the buses, "Come on, guys! We have to go!"

Mia heads to her designated bus, but before entering, she hears the familiar footsteps a couple feet from her. With one hand on the door and foot on the steps, she glances to the side to be met by Edward walking with haste to her.

Edward's hair blows with the wind and the collar of his peacoat bounces with his steps. He looks behind him as if making sure he's not being followed or listened to, "How about we have dinner at my place this Saturday?"

She's surprised at his question, but feels the most delighted to accept his invitation, "I'd love to go, but the dance is this Saturday."

"Then we'll have dinner early and head together."

Mia slowly nods and tries moving past her sudden nerves, "Fine, then it's a date."

"Hi, Mia. I'm Alice!" Alice greets her with a tone that's welcoming and excited. "So, I'll be seeing you this Saturday?"

"Yeah, absolutely."

Jasper takes a careful step forward and holds his breath to maintain his control, "Will you be riding with us?"

"It seems your bus is full," Mia points out and glances toward the bus that nearly has all the seats occupied. "Just a reminder, the dance is a masquerade theme, so don't forget to wear a mask," she tells Edward, who frowns at the outfit he will have to wear. 

"I won't forget," Edward gives her a tight lipped smile as he starts looking forward to the dance, but it suddenly dawns on him that this sounds like a date.

Oh, God.

What did he just do?

Author's Note

hey y'all! long time no see
hope you guys liked the chapter & I know it's short, but the next one will make up for it ☝🏼

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