The Twilight Twenty-five

Prompt: Awe

Pen name: bonnysammy

Pairing: Edward/Bella

Rating: M

A\N:

Thanks to my betas from Project Team Beta--SayGoodbyeAgain, Jessica0306, and BookGeek80. You guys are unbelievable for working with me on this. (If there are any parts that are questionable about the storyline or wording, my beta who is below age does not get to see it. So she does a great job with the info she gets)

I hope you enjoy.

I do not own any of these characters, or the original plot to the Twilight Series. Everything publicly recognizable belongs to their owners. I am doing this only for the pleasure I gain from writing and I am not associated with anyone or anything to do with the Twilight Series. There is no financial benefit, whatsoever, though I may wish there were.

3 – Awe

No one thousand words could have adequately described this picture. He was gorgeous. Well, from what I could make of him across the crowded, smoky room, he was gorgeous. All chiseled and toned. Not too muscled–like Emmett–just perfect. It looked like he had the classic features usually seen on an ancient statue. In fact, the word spectacular sprang to mind. My thoughts were full of awe at the true perfection standing not one hundred feet before me. It should be downright illegal to look that good.

I hadn't reacted like this to a guy in years. In fact, there had only ever been one who had caused the butterflies to flutter in my stomach, and I hadn't seen him in a long time. The last time we'd been face to face was the most painful memory I carried with me. That was the moment that continued to rip me apart for years. The reality I'd never admit to anyone else was that I'd never fully recovered.

But I wouldn't let myself go down that path; I was good at the pretense that I was over him. I would keep that up, quash the negative emotions and maintain the façade that I'd long since forgotten about him.

Besides, this guy before me was looking mighty fine. Maybe I really was over my stupid, self-absorbed, melodramatic first love. Judging by the desire running through me at that very moment, I definitely was.

Quit fooling yourself, a tiny voiced called from the back of my mind. My lingering lack of self-confidence was a remnant from my teenage years that only appeared to rear its ugly head at times like these. I fought it back, refusing to allow it to manifest.

That was it, I decided. I was going to end the year with a bang. I would go up to Hot Bartender Guy and introduce myself before the stroke of midnight. Maybe I'd be lucky, and there would be some sort of spark. Either way, I'd feel like I'd accomplished something at least. I would have taken the initiative to push myself and speak to a gorgeous man, certainly something I'd never done.

Of course, I'd probably just blunder and babble my way through any possible conversation, but I wouldn't let that deter me. He was exceptional and trapped. It would be well worth the embarrassment of being shot down on New Year's Eve. I stared at his chest, trying to picture him without the pesky obstruction of clothing. I could picture the sculpted muscles of his chest moving—

"Hey, Bella," Jasper yelled while shaking my shoulder. "Come back to reality, sweetheart."

"Huh?" I asked stupidly. I hadn't had that much to drink at the apartment, so I wondered why I was acting like such an idiot. I turned toward him to see a cocky grin on his face. "What's up?"

He pointed to the girl standing next to him.

"Do you want to order anything?" he asked slowly, like he was talking to a child.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, I'll have a whiskey sour, please," I told the waitress.

I was obviously the only one who hadn't ordered as she left after noting my request.

"Are you sure that's the only thing you want?" Jasper asked, unable to contain his chuckles.

"Um... no," I replied. "I want to get some liquid courage so I can talk to Hot Bartender Guy over there." I nodded my head quickly in the direction of the bar.

"Really?" Alice asked, joining in the conversation. "You think he's hot?" The look on her face frightened me. She was clearly scheming about something. I hated that look; it always seemed to involve me doing something I didn't want to do.

"Listen, whatever you've got going on in your pretty little head," I started, "get it out, now. I'm handling this. I'm going to—"

"Handling this?" Alice rebuked. "You never handle any—Wait. Were you going to say that you were going to go up to him on your own?" Her normally high pitched voice rose a few octaves, into a territory that was nearing one most likely only audible to dogs.

"Yes, Alice," I sighed, now that I was backed into a corner. "Let me have a couple of drinks, and then I'll go talk to him. I'm not promising anything, just that I'll talk to him. All right?"

"Yes, yes!" she exclaimed. "You've gotta talk to him." Her eyes sparkled at the prospect; I wondered how much she'd had to drink before we arrived at the bar. She was normally exuberant, but this was extreme. It also frightened me that she was so interested in me talking to a guy; normally she didn't care this much.

The waitress came back to our table; thankfully putting and end to that uncomfortable conversation.

A few hours later, the effects of the alcohol had really kicked in. I rarely drank, so having quite a bit in such a short time, had really taken its toll on me. I looked at my watch and noticed that it was ten minutes before midnight.

"Okay, guys," I said, noticing my slight slur. Maybe I shouldn't have had so much. I hoped it wouldn't incapacitate me. "I'm going to go either make a jerk out of myself or make a new friend."

Both Alice and Emmett howled with laughter.

"Go get 'em, Tiger," Emmett bellowed as I stood.

I shot him a look that said, "Quit it, Buster," while I straightened out my top, and wished I had taken more time on my appearance. "How do I look?" I asked, holding my arms out and attempting to twirl—I fell onto Jasper about a quarter of the way through my turn.

"You'll do," answered Alice. "We don't have time to get you all dolled up now."

"Thanks for the glowing compliment," I snipped.

"You'll be fine," Jasper consoled me. "He'll love you."

"Uh... okay," I answered uncomfortably. "Not really looking for love, right now. Just someone to give a New Year's kiss to," I joked. "Be right back."

I stumbled my way through the even more crowded restaurant. The swarm of people on the dance floor had become larger, causing it to fill all of the available space. As I battled my way through the crowd, I found that I wasn't as annoyed at the people enjoying their New Year's Eve. In fact, I had just as much fun as they appeared to have, just moving and shaking along to the music while I approached the bar.

Unfortunately my balance was a little off, so I fell into a few couples as I traversed through the throngs of people. I was pretty sure I felt someone either pinch or slap my butt as I walked. Not even that could bother me. I was on my way to see a perfect specimen of a man.

I neared the bar and noticed him standing with his back to me, leaning across the bar talking to the waitress. His butt was displayed beautifully in a pair of jeans that seemed to be designed just for him. I wondered how someone like that didn't have everyone captivated at his mere presence. Oddly, the rest of the people there seemed engrossed in their own conversations, ignoring him almost completely.

The guy on the bench next to me made a rude comment about the waitress's body. I turned towards Rude Drunk Guy, and just as I was about to reprimand him for his words, I realized that I had been doing the same thing to Hot Bartender Guy. I was no better.

I all too willingly allowed my gaze to fall on Hot Bartender Guy again, just as he was turning around. I looked up to his perfectly sculptured face and focused on his eyes. Piercing green eyes. Eyes I would know anywhere.

Oh no!

End Notes:

Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it.

Hopefully last chapter will be up soon.