Sorry, this chapter is a bit long. But the story picks up towards the end, and in the next chapter. Read and review?
I waited until I was sure that Edward had driven away before I dialed Jessica's number.
"Hey, Bella!" she answered.
"Hey, how's it going?"
"Good, I'm just getting ready for Mike's party."
"Mike's having a party?"
"Uhh, yea," she said sarcastically, "he's only been inviting you all week."
"What?"
"It's his grad party, seriously Bella you need to stop zoning out all day."
"Yea I must have missed that... Well I was just calling to see if you wanted to do something but never mind I guess."
"Why don't you come to the party with us?"
"Um," I thought about it. Edward didn't want me hanging out with them to begin with, I doubt he'd be any more ok with us going to a party. "Yea, sure. Is it at Mike's house?"
"Yea but Angela's about to come pick me up, we can come get you."
"Ok, who's all gonna be there?"
"I'm not sure, he's been reminding everyone like crazy though so hopefully they'll all show."
"K. Well I guess I'll see you in a little then."
"K bye, I'll call Angela and tell her you're coming!"
The click of the ended call sort of sent me in a daze. Am I really doing this? I have to call Edward. Should I tell him the truth? He won't know I'm lying. But he'll probably be bugging Alice nonstop and as soon as I decide to do something different she'll know. But if I tell him, he might come racing back here and I won't be able to go. It's stupid that I even have to consider this.
Soon my decision was made and my fingers were dialing Edward.
"Hello, love." he answered.
"Hi," I couldn't help but break a small smile, "have you guys left yet?"
"Yea, were on our way. Did you call your friends?"
"I just talked to Jessica." Suddenly I was reconsidering my decision to tell him.
"And?" he pressed.
I took in air, preparing myself for his reaction, "I'm going with her and Angela to Mike's grad party."
I heard a deep growl leave his throat. "Bella, of all things for you to do, you choose this?" His voice was angry, I regretted saying anything. A few very long moments went by and when I didn't respond, he sighed and continued, "I want you to call me every hour."
Normally I would have objected, but his tone didn't make it seem like he was in the mood to tolerate it.
"Ok." I spoke in a small voice.
"Be safe."
"I will."
"Don't make me regret this."
"I won't."
"I love you, Bella."
"I love you too."
I took note of the time as we hung up.
9:06pm
I would be sure to call him at 10, I knew he was worried and I didn't want to make it any worse.
I went to my closet to find something to wear. After a few minutes, I decided on some dark jeans and thin white long sleeved shirt layered over a tank top. I finished brushing my hair when I heard Angela honk from out front. I slid my phone in my pocket and ran outside.
"Bella, I'm so glad you're coming with us!" Angela squealed from the driver seat. "I totally never thought you'd come."
"Yea, me neither." Jessica chimed in.
"Yea I just needed to get out of the house." I told them, "I can't believe I forgot about the party."
"Obviously you were on planet Edward," Angela joked, "Mike's been talking about it nonstop."
Jessica suddenly got excited, "Yea so apparently his cousin is coming from WSU and he's bringing some of his friends!"
"College guys?" I asked, albeit a dumb question.
"Yea." Angela said in a dreamy voice.
"I hope they're hot!" Jessica chirped.
"You're with Mike, what do you care?" Angela reminded her.
"Doesn't mean I can't enjoy a nice view." She retorted.
Great, Edward's really going to be upset with me. Why do I care so much? He's not even here. I don't have to tell him every little detail.
I feuded with myself silently on the way there. Unfortunately, that internal conflict never had a resolution. We pulled along Mike's street and on first glance, had I no clue where we were going to park. His driveway and the street were completely packed; a few cars had been parked in the middle of his lawn. Small clusters of people were gathered outside, laughing, drinks in hand, and having fun. Angela drove to the end of the line of cars and parked before we all got out. My chest started to tighten as we approached the front door. Why am I so anxious? I wondered. It's not a big deal.
We walked inside and the muffled beats we heard from the car turned intense. Mike saw us come in from the kitchen.
"Hey guys!" he gave Jessica a hug, "Pretty sweet right?" he gestured around the room.
"Sure Mike" Jessica said, probably just to make him happy.
People were grouped in small cliques all around the house. A few were drunkenly dancing by the sound system. You could barely hear yourself talk, let alone anyone else.
"Follow me." Mike instructed, taking Jessica's hand and gesturing for Angela and I to come. "Drinks are over there," he told us, pointing to the kitchen counter. There was a large Gatorade container filled with who-knows-what and an assortment of liquor bottles all around it. "There's beer in the fridge and more in the garage. Help yourselves." he smiled and kissed Jessica on the head while giving me a creepy look before heading off to join some of his other friends.
Just then I heard a familiar voice behind me, "Heyyy, Bella finally came out of the cave," Scott said as he placed a light hand on my shoulder. What? I thought. "What's up? I thought you hibernated whenever you weren't in school...couldn't get enough of me in chemistry I see," he chuckled, joking.
I played along, "Yea, well, it's spring now, so..." he moved over to the liquor counter.
"Can I get you ladies something to drink?" he asked while taking a waiter stance. Jessica jumped at the opportunity.
"Sure," she said excitedly, walking over to him. "What is that?" she asked, referring to the peachy colored liquid he was pouring from the Gatorade spout.
"This, my dear, is party punch." he handed her the plastic cup, "try it, it's good."
He didn't need to tell Jessica twice, she eagerly took a sip and appeared to like it. "Yea, it is." she confirmed. "Come get some guys." she gestured to me and Angela. Angela went and poured herself a cup but I stayed behind. "Bella? You're not drinking?" Jessica asked expectantly.
"No, not tonight." That was my limit and I knew it. Edward might literally kill me if he knew I'd been drinking without him at a party with college guys. Both of my friends gave me weird looks, "I'm fine. Besides, someone has to drive us home."
"Or you could have fun with us and actually celebrate this momentous occasion." Angela inserted, "Mike's not the only one graduating, you know. You've gotta have some fun sometime."
Drinking wasn't really like Angela, so obviously she was taking her own advice. But still, I can't. "I am having fun," I assured them, "I just don't feel like drinking is all."
"Ok, fine." Angela put her hands up in defeat.
"Well I'm gonna go find Mike, you guys have fun." Jessica declared before disappearing into the crowd.
Angela and I went into the dining room where some girls from school were playing beer pong while a few guys watched. I recognized one from English but I didn't know the other; they were on their last round. As the ping pong ball bounced into the last cup everyone cheered, and the drunken loser downed her final cup.
"Wanna play?" One of the spectators asked us.
"Sure, I will," Angela told him.
"You in?" He asked me.
"No, I'll just watch.
They found Angela an opponent, and the guys started setting up the cups again. "I'll be right back." I informed her before heading out the sliding door to the back yard. The music was still blaring as I made my way through the group of people outside. There was a bonfire going and everyone was drunk. I passed a group of people passing a pipe around. I walked all the way to the back of the yard, where the noise wasn't so bad. I was right on the edge of the woods when I took out my phone.
10:18pm
It had been longer than I thought. Edward. Send. I waited for him to answer.
"You had about three more minutes before I ran all the way back there."
"What are you too good for 'hello' now?"
"Bella I said every hour. I wasn't joking."
"I know. I lost track of time, I'm sorry."
"I mean it, Bella. If it weren't for Carlisle I would already be there."
"I know."
"Were you having fun?"
"Yea," I paused, "I mean I haven't really done anything since we got here so I guess. Jessica went to hang out with Mike so I was just talking to Angela." I figured I would leave out the whole truth.
"Ok. Be safe."
"I am."
"One hour, love." He told me sternly.
"Ok."
"I love you."
"I know."
As soon as we hung up I started to set up an alarm on my phone. 11:20, I won't miss it this time.
I jumped at the sound of a cracking branch behind me. I spun around so fast it gave me whiplash.
"Who's there?" My eyes darted around the blackness, trying to find the source of the noise. It was joined by a light chuckle.
"Bella, relax, it's me." Jacob stepped out from behind the bushes.
It's been a while since I've felt a relief like this, but I was still scared. "Oh my god, Jacob! Don't. Do. That." If my rapid breathing was any indicator, he had scared the shit out of me. "Ever."
His eyes went straight from 'happy to see me' to concerned as soon as he saw my distress. "I'm sorry." He took me in his arms to try and calm me down. "I didn't mean to scare you." My head rested on his chest as he held me close, it was working.
"What are you doing here?"
He gave me one final squeeze before I pulled away, "I came to see you." He smiled that adorable smile of his, "I figured this was my only chance since the pale faces are out of town."
"How did you-?" I was confused.
"Bella, I'm a wolf, I can sense these things." Of course. His face fell when he noticed my expression. "Do you not want to see me?"
"No, Jacob, of course I want to see you." I hugged him again, "you just scared me is all."
"Good, because... I've missed you." He told me.
I smiled, "I've missed you too."
We just looked at each other for a second before he spoke, "Well what's going on here?" He gestured to Mike's house.
"Oh, it's Mike. His graduation party."
"Oh, cool." He gave a more serious look, "Does he know you're here?"
Of course I knew who he was. "Yea."
Jacob scoffed, "Does he know where here is?" I could tell he was joking, but it was a practical question.
I smiled nervously, "Not... entirely."
"Ah," he smirked, "Well your secret's safe with me."
"Thanks."
"Do you want to get out of here?"
He caught me off guard with his question, "What do you mean?"
"I don't know, this just doesn't seem like your thing," gesturing to the party, "we could go do something fun." He suggested.
I paused, "Jacob I would love to."
"But..." He continued for me.
"But I came with my friends, and I'm gonna have to drive them home 'cause they're probably plastered already. I'm sorry."
"Yea," I could see the disappointment on his face, "Me too. Well it was good to see you."
"Yea." I smiled, "Just don't sneak up on me next time!"
He chuckled, "I won't." He turned to walk back into the woods.
"Jacob?"
"Yea?" He turned towards me.
"Um, Edward... won't be back until Sunday. Would you, maybe, want to do something tomorrow?"
His face lit up. "I'd like that, Bella."
"Great." I smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Ok, bye." He turned and left into the blackness.
I let my thoughts drift for a moment to tomorrow and what we would do. I smiled to myself as I headed back to the house. As I walked into the dining room, I saw that Angela was still playing. Everyone cheered for her as she landed the ping pong ball in her challenger's cup. I noticed that it was a different girl than before.
People shouted while the other girl drank the last of her cup.
"How many games have you played?" I asked her.
"This is my third one, I'm apparently really good at it!" She was excited. "I've never played before."
It was obvious that she had at least lost a couple turns, she smelled like a beer fountain.
I made my way around the party, socializing here and there, and I quickly realized how lame it was getting to be the only sober person here. At 11:20 my alarm went off and I returned to the back of the yard, the only place where the noise level was remotely tolerable.
"Are you ok?" Edward answered. Whatever happened to answering with 'hello'?
"I'm calling you, aren't I?" I was getting a little tired of his attitude.
"Just answer the question."
"Edward I'm fine." I answered quickly.
"What's going on?" His tone was on the verge of demanding.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean what are you doing?"
"Nothing, I'm just hanging out with my friends."
"Doing what?"
"Edward! What with the interrogation?"
I heard him sigh, "Alice won't tell me anything, so what's going on?"
"Nothing! We're just having a bonfire!" It was only a partial lie.
"Bella.." He gave a long pause, "Is that really all that's going on?"
He acted as if he knew it was a lie, but I knew that he didn't know. "Yes."
He sighed yet again, "Bella, just promise me that you'll conduct yourself as though I were there."
I rolled my eyes. "Already was." I said almost sarcastically.
"And don't roll your eyes at me." He really did know me too well.
"Bye, Edward."
"One hour."
"Ok.." I was really annoyed at this point, and my voice reflected that.
He chose to ignore my tone. "I love you."
"Bye."
I again set my alarm and headed back to the party. I started to feel guilty about how I had talked to my Edward, but he kind of deserved it.
I walked back in to a ridiculously drunk Angela and Jessica nowhere to be found. At this point a few people had passed out drunk in miscellaneous locations. Some had left, but more people had come, so the party was still going strong.
"Bella!" Angela exclaimed when she saw me. "You know, you." Her words were incoherent, and she ran to me as she spoke, "Are. My. Bestest. Friend..." She put her arm around me and I had to take a portion of her weight, "And I'm just so glad...that...that there aren't any...higher..." She paused. "Bathroom." She finished.
I tried to sort out what she had said. Aren't any higher bathroom? Higher bathroom? Oh! Bathroom! My sudden realization came in handy, as we just barely made it to the bathroom before Angela emptied the contents of her night into the toilet. I held her hair for her as she vomited.
"Feel better?" She nodded, though still drunk. "Why don't we go sit down on the couch?" Another nod.
If I had realized I was going to become a babysitter tonight I probably wouldn't have agreed to come. I sat with Angela and talked with a few other people that were relatively sober. Soon my friend passed out and I was starting to get really bored. I want to go home. This is stupid. I should have gone with Jacob.
An hour or so and yet another call to Edward had passed before I finally decided to go looking for Jessica. I hadn't seen her since she first went to go find Mike. I had thought about what they might be doing, but I was through with waiting. I searched the whole main floor, no Jessica, so I headed up the stairs.
"Jessica?" I called, hoping she'd respond. All of the doors were closed, and I knew better than to just barge in. I knocked on the first door and someone yelled to go away. Second door, similar response. Third door, I didn't hear anything. I knocked again. Nothing. I cracked open the door, just to check. There was some guy I didn't know passed out on the floor, but no Jessica. Great, she probably left hours ago, some friend. I thought to myself as I turned to leave. Just as I went to go downstairs I heard glass break in the fourth room. What was that? I wondered. I walked towards the room.
I knocked on the door, no response. There's obviously someone in here. I thought. I knocked again.
Nothing.
I took a deep breath and placed my hand on the handle, afraid of what I would find behind it. My wrist slowly turned as I held my breath. I have a really bad feeling about this...
A.N. – Again, please read and review! I welcome constructive criticism!
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