Stephenie Meyer owns the characters still!

Chapter 4: Reversed Roles!

James walked forward, and ripped me from the mans arms, then I was standing shaking, as I turned around, I couldn't believe my eyes, James had the beefed up man by the throat, holding him against the wall, and was feeding him shots to the face. I felt like everything around me was fogging up.

All I could hear was my breathing and the quick beat of my heart. My throat hurt, and I felt almost like I was suffocating. I grabbed at my throat, wondering what the hell was wrong with me.

Then James was in front of me, he was saying something, but I couldn't hear him. It felt like I was submerged under water. James grabbed a hold of my arms, shaking me, getting my attention. "Bella, you need to slow your breathing down, your hyperventilating." He said, I could finally hear him. Oh crap I could hear what he was saying, but I couldn't slow my breathing, I grasped my chest, and shook my head wildly.

Next thing I know James is pushing me through a door, cold air hitting my face... but damn it, it had the opposite effect the cool air felt wrong against my skin. "Oh god I …. I cant breathe." I choked out, my panic growing with every breath.

James grabbed my hand that was on my chest and placed it over his own. "Mimic my breathing Bella, breathe with me." The action was not lost on me, he was using my own mojo. But it did work, I closed my eyes and felt it, concentrated on it. We must have stood there for awhile, because by the time I was back to normal, people were leaving. "Thats better." He murmured, taking his hand off mine. I let my hand weakly drop, and took a shuttering breath. This nights events floating back to me again and again. "Are you gonna be okay?" He asked his voice rough.

"Yes.. and thank you... I – I don't know what would have happened if you weren't there." I stated, looking up at him.

James narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded. "You should watch who you dance with, and associate with Isabella." Ah so we were back to jerky formalities.

"Well its a good thing I wasn't dancing with him, isn't it. Although that didn't stop him from trying to drag me away." I bit back. James nodded and then opened the door beside us, so I could enter once more. The foursome were still sitting at the table, laughing away... and I had never felt so unimportant in my whole life... how could they not know what happened, I just had the most horrifying, scary experience, and they didn't even know I was missing from the table.

I walked over as best I could with my head held high, and grabbed my purse that was sitting on the table. As soon as I grabbed it, all eyes were on me. Jasper's eyes widened when he seen me. "Bells what happened?" He asked, obviously I looked a little rough from the struggle. I didn't say anything just shook my head.

"I'm going home... goodnight." Jasper was about to say something else but James came up beside me.

"Hey Bro, there you are, I was wonderin' if you were still here." Came Emmett's boisterous voice.

James glared at him. "How long was Isabella away from this table?" He looked around and no one answered. "How long have you four been sitting here without her presence?" he questioned again. Still no answer. I tried to interrupt him, but he shook his head. "I have never known you to be so careless with women Emmett, what the hell." I turned to walk away, hating conflict. But James grabbed my arm and pulled me back. "While you four were in your own world, Bella had a man try to drag her away, both kicking and screaming, he would have done it too, if she hadn't kicked at me to get my attention... this is why you stay in groups at a bar, not let your supposed friends fends for themselves." James grip was like granite, and I was feeling so foolish, and utterly humiliated.

"Let me go." I growled out. Both shaken, and fed up. "I want to go home, and I don't want to be humiliated further, thank you." My voice was shaky, and I felt so weak... it was just too much for me, I needed to rest my eyes... my brain. James growled and let me go. With that, I walked away... from all of them, and thank Goddess there was a cab sitting outside, and I quickly jumped in, and fed him my address.

The ride home was quick, and after paying I bolted up my stairs, slamming and locking my door. It seemed so quiet, and friggin spooky, I loved living alone, never had a problem, until right this minute. Groaning I walked upstairs and started to run a bath, to get the scent of stale cigarettes and beer off my skin... out of my head.

I stripped down and dipped a toe in, then pulled it out quickly. Ouch it was too hot. I was about to turn the cold water on to cool it a bit but there was a loud knock on the door. Groaning, I figured its probably Alice and Jasper feeling sorry for themselves that they pretty much failed as friends tonight. I grabbed my bath towel and wrapped it around myself then ran downstairs to the door. "Listen guys I really don't wanna talk ab..." I cut myself off as I opened my door, because it was so not Jas and Ali...

It was James, standing there looking completely unsure... and fidgety. "Oh uh..." I looked down at my barely there towel and felt my face heat. "Come in." I finally said, stepping back, so he could enter.

James was looking anywhere but at me, and as we continued to stand there, I was feeling more and more uneasy. "Listen I just wanted to be sure that you made it home, and see that you are okay." He finally said, then scrubbed the back of his neck.

"Oh yeah I'm fine... thanks to you." I reached out and gave his arm a small squeeze, then pulled away. "Really though, thank you so much, you saved me from going through one of the worst things any woman could go through." James looked up into my eyes, and his cheeks actually reddened.

"Well your welcome... I should go, see you at work Isabella."

He was about to turn away, when I caught sight of his hand, it was swollen and there were cuts in the knuckles. "Wait, I can clean up your hand, its the least I can do." James looked down surprised, like he hadn't realized he was hurt.

"No no that's fine, I can do that at home." He said absently.

"Please, its the least I can do." I practically begged. James looked towards the door, then back at me, and finally he nodded and stepped forward. I directed him toward my bathroom, and walked behind him. "Sit there." I pointed to the toilet seat. "And I will be right back." I said as I walked out. I quickly went to my room and grabbed my robe, It wasn't much better since it only hit mid thigh, but hell it was better than a towel that could unravel any minute. I dropped the towel after tightly fastening the tie on my robe, and was about to walk out... until I realized his suit jacket was all rumpled on my bed. I groaned and stepped forward, shoving it under my pillow... I would get it cleaned... really!

Now that my night was wearing off, I was feeling a tad giddy, my hard assed boss was sitting in my bathroom waiting for me. My hard assed boss who I haven't been able to stop thinking about in like five years. I shook my head, trying to keep my hormones in check, and walked back in. James, was sitting there looking all kinds of uncomfortable.

I reached in the cupboard below the sink, and grabbed my small first aid kit. Then I got to work. We were both quiet the whole time, our breaths the only sound... and the drip drip drip of my tap leaking into my bath water. "I'm sorry for interrupting you." James finally said, and nodded toward the bath.

I shrugged and continued. "No biggie it was too hot anyway." I said matter of factly.

I was done shorty after, and James was once again standing at my door ready to leave. He lifted his injured hand and looked at it pointedly, then said "thank you." I nodded and with that he opened my door and practically ran down my front stairs. I was about to close it, when I seen Jasper and Alice pull up. Jasper just stepped out, and he spotted me.

"Not tonight." I said firmly. Jasper opened his mouth to speak and I shook my head. "I said not tonight Jas, go home." Jasper looked down, and I slammed my door, locking it again. By the time I made it back to my bath, the temperature had cooled perfectly and I climbed in.

…

To say my weekend was crap, would be an understatement, I had a hangover from a drunk I didn't get to enjoy, my muscles ached all over, from the horrid struggle, and I was coming down with a cold... freaking joy... oh and I may be ignoring Jasper's phone calls.

When I got to my desk, I was weary of all of the papers, I knew I had a lot to proofread, but damn I wished I didn't. About half hour before lunch James came out of hi office. "Isabella?" He called.

I looked up startled from my thoughts. "Yes Mr. Masters." I asked, standing up. He waved me into his office, and told me to sit.

"I know your column is about spicing up relationships..." He started, making me fidget. "But today I want you to write about your experience the other night, make women aware that even with friends, shit happens." I was momentarily shocked into silence. "Is that a problem Isabella?" He asked, his voice laced with menace.

"No not at all, I think its a great idea." With that he dismissed me... like this weekend never happened, although I don't know why I was surprised by that.

So I went back to work, first finishing the other columns, and finally writing my own... it took me longer than usual, trying to figure out the best way to start... but when I did, it poured out of me, almost like a faucet, and when I was done, I felt lighter, free... it was great.

After reading it over, I brought it to James' office, and placed it before him. "I kept your name anonymous, I didn't think you would want it published."

James nodded. "You assumed right." He growled, and waved me away with his hand. "You can leave for the day, your already on overtime." I looked at my watch and my eyes widened it was close to 7 in the evening.

"Goodnight." I said softly, then I left.

Its like something would happen and he would soften, then he would go right back to jerk... "Damn Beautiful bastard." I mumble as I hit the elevator button.

"What was that." Came a deep voice, I jumped and spun around, coming face to face with James... uh oh...

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