Disclaimer: Twilight belongs to Stephanie Meyer


Chapter 2

Thursday night found me back at The Grill for greasy burgers and cheap beers with Alice and Jasper. I was on my third beer and on my way to feeling no pain. The conversation had turned to the following night.

"I totally know Edward! I've never really talk to him, but he's in there whenever I go talk to my professors," Alice nearly shouted. She had consumed just as many beverages as I had, but her petite little frame couldn't quite handle the liquor like mine could. Hell, I was a lightweight, too; she was just a bigger one.

"So was Rose right? Is he lick-able?" Jasper rolled his eyes at us. He had put up with Alice and I's shenanigans long enough to know better than to protest. He just sat there drinking his beer, getting mellower and mellower with each beverage he drank. I had never seen him drunk. No matter how much he drank, he just seemed to get more relaxed, never passing into the giggly or angry drunk stage most of us seemed to possess.

"Definitely lick-able," she gushed. "I might even upgrade him to sizzling if I saw him shirtless. It's hard to tell with so many layers."

"That's quite an endorsement," I said with a smirk.

"Oh, believe me, it's well deserved," she shot back with a grin. She suddenly narrowed her eyes at me. "You're not going to…" she trailed off.

"What?"

"You know… one and done him?" Alice asked sassily.

I burst out laughing. "Alice! I've never heard it put quite like that before."

She shot me a glare and crossed her hands over her chest. "You didn't answer my question."

"She has a point, Bella," Jasper said with a twinkle in his eye. He was obviously amused by the turn in the conversation. "You do have a habit of sleeping with a guy and never calling him back." His lips stretched wide.

All my friends found my dating policy amusing. A girl who only did one night stands. A girl who never expected and, honestly, didn't want a call the next day. You would think that guys would be all for this policy. Either I had the worst luck, which I wasn't entirely discounting, or men were not as big of Neanderthals as they'd like women to believe. The last guy, Mike, called me crying because I was dodging his phone calls after "the most sensual night of my life." I nearly had to change my number after that one.

"Hey! When did it become pick on Bella time? I just don't date! Why is this so hard to understand? Also, I like sex and I'm not ashamed of that fact!" By now there were several tables around us who had heard my little rant, and I blushed deeply as I thought about shouting "I like sex" in the middle of a crowded bar. Lowering my voice, but still getting the stares of several members of the opposite sex with interested smiles on their faces, I continued. "So what if I want to one and done him? Is that so wrong?"

Alice smiled at me as you would a child who was asking if two plus two always equaled four. "Bella, I am all for having an active sex life. In fact, Jasper and I do it…" She trailed off at a scowl from Jasper. I snickered. "It's just, we want you to have more than that. We want you to have a relationship with someone you care about. We love you, Bella. We want you to be happy." She looked at me and I had to look away from the love I saw in her eyes.

I took a deep pull of my beer. I was happy, I told myself. But even that sounded hollow to my ears. Okay, not happy, but surviving in a semi-content state. I had my classes, my friends, and my job at the diner. My life was full. I made sure it was full to the brim. I kept going, kept living, after everything.

I felt the angst pushing at the back of my throat, but viciously shoved it away and went to my go-to sarcastic wit. "Orgasms without all the drama? What's not to be happy about?" I curved my face into what I hoped was a wicked grin. I was pretty good at faking it after all these years.

Luckily, drunk Alice has the attention span of a cocker spaniel, so when a song she liked came on, she squealed and grabbed my hand. Dragging me onto the dance floor, she grabbed my hips and started moving them in time with hers. Another item on Alice's roommate training agenda. After fashion, there was dancing. I was an old pro after fake id's got us into bars and clubs our freshman and sophomore years and real id's got us in our junior year. I wiggled to the beat of the song, and it wasn't long before an attractive college boy came to ease my loneliness. I melted into his arms and enjoyed the feel of him pressed behind me, swaying to the rhythm of the song.


Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Ungh," I grunted, very unladylike in my grogginess. I was feeling very relaxed and the alarm clock was ruining my mood. My mind was blissfully thought-free. I tried to reach for my alarm clock, but found myself pinned downed by a massive forearm. I grimaced. He was a cuddler. At least last night had been satisfying.

I pushed the offending object off of myself, desperate now to stop the beeping. It felt as if it was driving the nail farther into my head with each successive wail. Finally achieving my goal, I laid back, smiling at my success. The smile was short lived because the meaty forearm was back. This time accompanied by a sleepy smile.

"Morning, Bella," he murmured.

"Morning…" I trailed off. Crap. What was his name? This was embarrassing.

"Nate," he said looking a little put off.

"I know," I huffed, trying to look believable. "Look, Nate, I have a class I have to get to so…" Damn, at this rate, he's going to think I don't know how to finish a sentence.

"Oh, no problem." He got up and started putting his clothes back on. "Listen, I had a great time last night. Like really great. I'd love to get to know you more. Maybe go out to dinner."

I nearly smacked my hand to my forehead. "Sure, sure. You know I'm really busy right now with class and work, but why don't I call you." At this point, I had managed to get him down stairs and to the door. He leaned in for a kiss, so I gave him a quick peck and gave him what I hoped was a playful shove out the door, closing it behind him. I leaned back against it, resting my head on the wood.

"So, how was your night?" Alice called in a sing-song voice from the kitchen. Groaning, I headed towards her for some much needed coffee. As I moved around the kitchen, Alice's eyes followed me over her cup of tea.

"Yes?" I asked in what I hoped was an innocent voice.

"You and Nick have a good time?" There go those eyebrows again. She should get them checked. They seem to have a mind of their own.

"His name was Nate, actually, and we had a very nice time. In fact, I had a nice time twice," I told her with a wistful smile.

"And…" she paused, waiting.

"And what? It was nice. Now, I'm going to go to class and then to the diner." I was already planning out my day in my head so there would be no down time. Alice huffed a little, but said nothing. "See you tonight!" I called as I headed back to my room to get ready for the busy day ahead.