All Things Twilight belong to the Awesome Stephenie Meyer. The Pictures belong to their respective owners, and the songs and lyrics belong to the artists and the their respective record labels. The rest came from mah brain . . . Thanks to Miztrezboo for the challenge ;)
Uninhibited
Are you my family?
Can i stay with you a while?
Can i stop off in your bed tonight?
I could make you smile.
In the morning i'll make you breakfast
In the evening i'll warm the bed.
Siren Song by Bat for Lashes
Bella . . .
The buzz of the alcohol was now making my head feel like a tilt-a-whirl and gave me the warm and fuzzies. I pulled out my cigarettes and smiled as the guy behind the bar struck a match for me.
I wasn't a smoker, well not in the literal sense. I normally bought a pack in a bar vending machine and left behind what I didn't smoke as I stumbled home. It was always an indicator of how drunk I was. If I started chain smoking, I was obliterated. If I didn't light one up, I couldn't even get a buzz.
I didn't know what it was about the bitter taste in my mouth that went so well with beer, but it was just something I did. I blamed Alice, my best friend. We were drunk in her barn, it was her fifteenth birthday and her dad was a two packs a day kinda smoker. She wanted to try it, so we did. I almost hacked up a lung, but I enjoyed the taste of it as it mingled with the beer, so I had paired the two together since.
I exhaled and the white sinister cloud hung in the air around me. I watched as it took on a life of its own and danced around to unheard music. It separated and twisted before rising into the rest of the fog that hung above me.
I shifted in my seat a little and peeled the label from the empty in front of me. I was finally starting to feel numb.
My phone chose this particular moment to vibrate happily in my pocket. I wasn't sure how she knew, but she always did. Alice had a sixth sense for my misery and when I pulled out my phone I realized this was no exception. The text message was very clear.
'There's a tear in my beer . . . What's with the mopey?'
I couldn't help but smile at the phone. I missed the shit out of her. Alice and I had that rare friendship where we could say just about anything to one another an.d have an answer or snide comment to counter it. Even in the heat of the moment, when we'd have throw down, no holds barred screaming matches, we'd end up laughing and hugging it out.
'Not mopey . . . Drunk!' I typed in and slid the phone onto the bar.
I gave the guy behind the bar a smile and he wordlessly delivered me another bottle and a shot. I loved efficient bar tenders. They were under paid and few and far between. I would have to remember to tip him well; I had a credit card dad didn't know about. It wasn't that I was hiding it. I was twenty-four and perfectly capable of looking after myself. I just knew he'd ask questions I wasn't willing to answer.
My phone danced along the surface of the bar with my new response.
"Same difference with you! How drunk are you? Will you be telling me I am the Monica to your Rachel again? Because I am so the Rachel!'
'No, you're the Monica. You have OCD, and you're neurotic! MWAH!'
I slammed the shot in front of me and took a mouthful of beer to wash it down.
"Damn, you don't mess around do you?" A voice said from a little way down the bar. I refrained from rolling my eyes and turned my head in his direction as I stubbed out my cigarette, hoping my stare was as empty and full of contempt as it felt.
Unfortunately, it didn't stay that way. Hot with dimples, Emmett was sat two stools down, grinning at me. I actually found myself grinning back, which wasn't what I'd been going for. I had been hoping for an easy night with no complications, but he was definitely a complication I was willing to consider.
My phone danced along the bar again, dragging my eyes from Emmett.
'I am not neurotic! But you're right on the money with the CDO! You sure you're ok?'
'Hot guy, dimples and curls at 3 o'clock! Never better bb! Call you later!'
"Can I get you a drink . . .?"
"Bella," I finished for him, knowing full well he was fishing for my name. "And no cheesy comment about how it suits me or some shit. I swear my parents were high."
"Hippys?" he asked, nodding at the bar tender.
"Something like that," I grinned, patting the seat next to me. "I don't bite, Emmett."
"I do," he teased, but he slid from his seat and into the one next to me regardless. "So, Bella, what are you doing here in San Francisco?"
"Vacation with my dad and his wife," I lied, giving the guy behind the bar the eye as he dropped off another round of drinks. "How about you, Emmett?"
I didn't know why it was necessary to use his name so much. It was just another thing I did. I think it was to drill the name into my brain so I wouldn't call him some other inane name that didn't belong to him. I'd done that before and guys liked it even less than women did. Even when they barely knew you.
"Live here, have my whole life actually."
"Very nice. Significant others?" I inquired.
"None. You?" he shot back just as eagerly.
"A Border Collie I like to call Sunny. She has this whole pedigree name that's four words long, so I shortened it."
Emmett grinned. "I have a Golden Retriever, Baxter."
I took a mouthful of my beer and watched him do the same. This wasn't my usual line of questioning; I never got personal when talking to guys, there just wasn't a need for it. In two days we'd be moving on and I would never see them again. They didn't need to know the ins and outs of my life, but I couldn't seem to stop my verbal interrogation with Emmett.
I knew he was attracted to me, but it wasn't the same hot and heavy, fast-paced drive to get me into bed, this was different. I couldn't put a label on it and I wasn't sure I wanted to, even though it would just complicate things further.
"So how long are you in town?"
"Couple days, we're doing one of these tours down the West Coast," I lied again. It seemed I was filled with an endless stream of them, even if this one did have some ring of truth to it. I knew he would assume scenic tour, but it was far from it and I sure as hell wasn't going to correct him.
In the small silence that followed I wobbled slowly on my stool and stifled my groan. I was good and drunk, sitting in a stool and loosing my balance was a sure indication of that. Which meant my balance would be completely off.
I had at least three more shots and who knows how many beers as Emmett and I talked. Under the scrutiny of his eyes I could feel each one of my inhibitions fall away. The liquor and beer combined and flooded my body giving me the dutch courage I had been lacking before. This wasn't necessarily a good thing.
"Do you dance?" I asked as the lull in conversation hit. The music was still classic rock, but it had moved to a slightly different decade where they were know as hair bands.
"Excuse me?" Emmett chuckled, putting his beer on the bar.
"Dance, you know, shake your groove thing?" I giggled, realizing I was probably slurring my words. The foggy thoughts funneling through my mind tried to process it, but it was useless. I was toasted.
"No, not usually," he guffawed, but held out his hand to me anyway. "I guess I could make an exception though."
I took his hand and fell off the stool in a smooth move. My cheek smashed against his hard chest and almost knocked the air out of me.
"You got a bulletproof vest on under there?" I teased as he led me to the small parquet square in the middle of the bar. We dodged and weaved through the, chairs stumbling and laughing.
"Why? Do I need one?" he mused, twirling me onto the floor and pulling me back at him.
"No, but steel toed boots could be useful," I answered breathlessly as I came back against his chest.
"Why? You got two left feet?"
"No." I shook my head and ended up with hair in my mouth. "I'm just really drunk."
"In that case," Emmett shouted over the music, his infectious smile bringing out my own. "You may need some too."
I threw my head back and laughed as the song whirled to another. Emmett's arms wrapped around my waist as he brutally abused the lyrics to The Scorpions, Rock You Like A Hurricane. We were all arms and legs as we danced and bounced around like maniacs, our laughter coming easily.
By the third song I had bounced one too many times and was beginning to feel a little worse for wear. I stumbled toward the bar, laughing, but trying to make my feet function at the same time as the room began to swirl around me.
I hadn't noticed before, but my hand eye coordination wasn't on par when I was this inebriated. As I moved to sit, I landed ass first on the floor under the bar. It was a spectacular display, but I was thankful it was only Emmett and I left in the bar at this point.
"Hey, you ok?" Emmett asked, crouching beside me and pushing my hair out of my eyes.
"I think I broke my ass," I giggled, taking his outstretched hand and letting him pull me to my feet.
"I would offer to check it for you, but I think that would be deemed inappropriate."
"I think you might be right," I laughed grabbing a smoke from the pack and realizing they were almost all gone. I guess that told me what kind of night it had been.
"How about I walk you to your hotel?"
"Why, Emmett, are you propositioning me?"
He laughed gently and tucked my hair behind my ears before his warm hands cupped my cheeks. His deep blue eyes caught mine and I swallowed a little shakily.
"I don't think that's the best idea. I just want to make sure you get there. Hey, Tyler," he said, dropping his hands and looking at the barman. "I'm gonna walk her across the street. I'll be back to close the tab. Keep an eye on my shit."
"Sure," Tyler laughed as I swayed and grabbed Emmett's arm to stabilize myself. "Take care, Bella. Hope to see you around."
"You too, Tyler. Thanks for the drinks."
"My pleasure."
Emmett's arm closed around my waist as he guided me through the bar to the door. I figured the fresh air would help but it made that spinning feeling pick up and everything was moving. Including my stomach.
"Stop for a minute, please," I begged, stepping out of his arms and leaning against the wall of the bar. I hadn't even noticed I still had the cigarette in my hand until now. My shoulder was on the cool concrete as I watched the embers of the smoke burn down a little more. The smell really wasn't helping me.
"How you feeling?"
"Like I'm stood in the center of a tornado."
"Figured," he chuckled, leaning against the wall beside me. "How long have you smoked?"
"I don't," I hiccuped staring at the cigarette again. "Only when I drink beer. It's Ali's fault."
"Ali?"
"My best friend. She's the one who wanted to try it when we were drunk, and it just went well together. I can't abide the things normally."
Emmett leaned in. "I did wonder."
I don't know what came over me. Whether it was simply being drunk and having the balls, or whether his cologne just sang to me. I will never know, but I knew I would never regret it.
My fingers hooked around his neck easily and pulled him to me, my lips crushing against his and sending a jolt of pure lust to zing through my body and come to a colliding crash right above the apex of my thighs. He never fought me, not once, and when his lips parted and his tongue brushed against my bottom lip, the spinning took on a whole new meaning.
He tasted like Tequila and Budweiser with a hint of salt from the nuts he'd been eating. His hand, steadfast on my hip, gripped the material as I massaged his tongue with my own. I dropped the cigarette without hesitation and brought my hand to meet my other.
He was everywhere, his smell, his taste, everything. I could feel his body against mine as I leaned into him, the muscle all tight and masculine up against my soft body. I wanted to inhale him, dig my claws in and never let go. He was raw sex, and sweet kisses.
I needed to stop.
I fell back on my heels and took a deep breath, making my head swim more than it already was.
"Man," Emmett muttered under his breath, looking almost as shell shocked as I felt. I wanted to mirror his statement; I wanted to say so much more, but I was drunk and it wouldn't end well if I said something stupid. I'd had an amazing night with this guy and I had to accept it would be the only one we'd have together.
This wasn't me. This wasn't how I did things and I couldn't get involved with someone who lived a million miles away from me world. He didn't even know who I was, because I never told him my last name. It was liberating knowing that he seemed to like me for me rather than my name and the parents attached to it, but it could never happen. I had to accept that.
"Come on, I'll walk you to the door."
"Thanks," I mumbled in response, leaning into his side and letting myself absorb the feel of him.
We walked to the crossing together and waited in silence. The only sound was the traffic and his hand moving gently up and down my back. I was close to willing the little walking guy not to appear so I could stretch out this moment for just a while longer. It was nice not feeling alone for once.
Even nicer was spending time with a guy when I knew that sex wasn't the outcome he had in mind. I was the one who'd instigated that kiss, not Emmett. I was the one who was already wishing I had more time with him. I was the fool who kept trying to memorize him so I would remember him in the morning.
He walked me to the elevator and pressed the button for me. His eyes smiling at me as I rocked on my unstable feet.
"You going to be alright getting to your room?"
"I think so. It would help if the ground stopping moving though." I grinned sheepishly.
"I had fun tonight, Bella. I wish you had more time in town."
"Me too, Emmett." And God did I mean it. That kiss was beyond words. I'd had some pretty amazing kisses before, but they were nothing compared to the one I'd shared with him.
The door pinged before it opened and I gave Emmett a smile before stepping inside. I stood in the way of the sensors so it wouldn't close and gave Emmett a smile. "What happened to your poker game by the way?"
"It was boring, and my friend wanted to bail early."
"I'm glad you did," I uttered almost silently, before stepping forward and pressing my lips to his. "Goodbye, Emmett."
He gave me the smile that had made me notice him earlier in the evening and I stepped back inside the elevator, my breath and heart dancing inside my body as he and I looked at one another. The doors took an eternity to close, but when they did I fell back against the wall and closed my eyes.
I needed to get drunk all over again.
A/N: Thanks to Miztrezboo for the challenge. it came about due to me finishing Privileged and having to wait for NaNoWriMo to come around. All of the Pictures and information can be found on the blog, just remove the spaces: challengedme. blogspot. com
Thank you to both Hev99 and Cravingtwilight. I somehow managed to accumulate two amazing beta's. You guys have made this better so thank you :)
Thank you so much to all of you who reviewed. I was blown away by your response to the little ditty! You're all awesome! Love you guys!
Hope you enjoy! Much love & Huge Hugs ~Weezy~
