Ready for the after party? Let's go! ;)


Four hours, three blisters and I don't know how many drinks later, we all climbed into a cab on our way back to our apartment. Edward was going to spend the night with Jake, and I guess Bella was, too, because it was too late to go all the way to Forks to drop her off at her house.

Besides, I know that Chief Swan wouldn't be too happy that we went to his house while we were all intoxicated. Not to mention loud. We were extremely loud, too. Bless the driver for putting up with our obnoxious asses.

When he pulled up to our apartment building, I got out first and paid him our fare, adding a generous tip. The rest of the guys walked ahead of me and into the building, snickering as Bella tripped.

"Shhh," I murmured. "Be quiet, or we're going to get in trouble with Mrs. Cope!"

"Who's Mrs. Cope?" Bella whisper-shouted, as she took off her shoes.

"She's the old spinster that we call our landlord!" Jacob shouted.

"Jake," Edward chastised. "Keep your voice down."

"Make me," Jake defied.

"I know of a way of keeping you quiet, baby," Edward told him. "And I plan on showing you as soon as we get into your room, so hurry the fuck up."

Bella and I giggled, smiling as Jake practically sprinted down the hallway to our apartment. When we entered, Edward pulled Jake to him, kissing him passionately as he tugged his tie from around his neck. Jake groaned loudly, clutching Edward's body to his in an attempt to get closer to him as they made their way to his room.

Watching in awe at their unrestrained passion, I shifted uncomfortably as I stood next to Bella, unsure of what to do next. She twisted her fingers and looked at me. "So, I guess I'll sleep on the couch…" Bella trailed off.

"Sure, that's fine, let me just get you a pillow and some blankets," I said, walking toward the linen closet at the end of the hall. Bella followed behind, staying close to me as I retrieved the covers for her makeshift bed. I walked into my room after taking off my shoes, and went over to my bed.

Bella came in as well, looking around at the simple décor. She chuckled as she saw a picture of Jacob and me in my tree house when we were kids.

"What?" I asked.

"You haven't changed much from when you were a child," she replied.

In a way that was true, but after my father died, I was never the same. I kept that thought to myself, though, and instead replied, "That's what I've been told."

Bella crossed the room and stood before me. "You've always been beautiful," she added, looking at me from underneath her lashes.

Blushing, I picked up a pillow from my bed and muttered, "Thanks," as I handed it to her.

She took the pillow and pressed it to her face, breathing in its aroma. "It smells like you," Bella murmured.

"Like me? How do I smell?" I nervously asked, looking at her lips while I licked my own.

"Your skin," she whispered. "It smells like a honeyed fragrance… it's an innocent and wholesome scent."

"Innocent?"

Bella simply nodded, looking up into my eyes and then to my lips, wordlessly inquiring something. I wanted to ask her what she wanted, what she needed, but I was too caught up with what could happen, that I didn't say anything at all. Intrigue swept over me, allowing myself to enjoy this moment, to succumb to the attraction that I felt for Bella.

I don't know if it was the alcohol that was still running through my veins, or a hidden side of me that was making itself known, yet I didn't stop Bella from kissing me.

She tentatively pressed her lips to mine, looking into my eyes as she did so. I closed the small space between us, taking her face in my hands as I kissed her back. We shared a few chaste kisses until Bella parted my lips with the tip of her tongue, and then, I was gone.