Author's Note: Unbeta'd.

Dialogue Flex: "Just one more," she said.

After Jasper and Edward managed to find extra bar stools, pushing us close together around the table, Jasper gestured to the bar. "I'm gonna go get a beer, Edward… what do you want?"

"You stay. I'll go...You want a Mac and Jacks?"

"Thanks, man. I'll get next round."

Edward curiously glanced at the empty glasses on our table. "What were you having?"

"Lemon drops!" Alice replied loudly with a giggle. "Let's get tequila shots this time, Bell..."

Reaching for my purse to get my wallet, Edward's hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. My eyes shot to where he held me and slowly drifted to his face. When our gaze met, he pulled away and murmured an apology.

"I got this round."

I opened my mouth to argue when Alice interrupted. "Just let him pay, B."

When I looked back over at Edward, he had already left to get our drinks.

"I know what you're up to..." I said, pointing a finger at Alice and then Jasper. "This is a set-up if I've ever seen one."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." The high pitch of her voice told me differently.

Turning to Jasper, I gave him my best death glare. He raised his hands above the table in defeat. "It wasn't my idea!"

I shook my head at them and sat back in my chair, crossing my arms petulantly.

"It's been over a year, Bella..."

"Jasper, don't even defend him. You know what he did."

"I do. But, he said he was sorry..."

"I can't deal with this, I need to go." I hopped off my barstool and grabbed my bag.

"No wait, Bella! Don't leave," Alice pled. Wrapping both of her arms around mine, she clung to my side. "We won't talk it anymore, promise! Right, Jasper?"

"Right... I'm sorry, Bell. I won't bring it up again."

"Please, please, please stay," Alice begged, bouncing on her toes with each word.

"Fine," I relented, placing my bag at my feet and sitting back down. "But we're gonna need a lot more drinks."

Edward returned shortly after with a tray of shots, which we used to toast never having to see James again. Alice explained that she had Jasper had been chatting on Facebook recently and thought it would be nice to catch up.

I mostly listened as Alice and Jasper made small talk, only joining the conversation when prompted. Edward was quiet, but that wasn't unusual for him. I caught him staring at me a few times, and each occurrence had me squirming in my seat.

"Another round?" Jasper asked, glancing at each of us in inquiry.

"None for me…" I said, shaking my head. "But, let me give you some cash for the tab…"

"Bella," Alice whined, forcing my attention back to her. "It's Friday night… you don't work tomorrow, right?"

"No."

"Then let's stay for a little longer!" She slapped her hands on the table and laughed. "How about… one more round and then we'll go home."

"One more?"

"Just one more," she said, holding her hand up for a pinky swear.

I rolled my eyes, but humored her and raised my pinky to hers.

Three rounds later, Alice and Jasper had gone off to dance, leaving me by myself at the table. Edward had wandered off shortly after they did, muttering that he had spotted a friend. It was just as well, our conversations throughout the night had been stunted and awkward. Alice tried her best to defuse the tension, which only seemed to make it more obvious.

When my head started to feel heavy, I wearily rested my elbows on the table and held my head up with my hand.

"Tired?"

Edward's voice behind me had me jumping out of my chair in surprise.

"Fuck!" I cried out, holding my hand against my chest. "You scared me."

"Sorry," he said, the smirk on his face said otherwise. "You need a ride home?"

"No, Alice and I are gonna take a cab back…"

"I think you're on your own," Edward interrupted, frowning. "I just saw Jasper carrying Alice out the door on my way over here."

"What?!"

"Yeah… I thought maybe you were with them and I just didn't see, but… here you are."

I reached into my purse for my phone to see if I had missed a call when Edward hopped up out of his chair and reached into his back pocket.

"Phone," he explained, holding up the device for me to see. "It's Jasper."

"Alice was feeling sick…he said he can come back and get you," he read with eyes focused intently on the screen.

"Tell him I'm fine," I huffed, slightly annoyed that Alice had just left me. "I can make it home on my own."

"Bella, I have my car here, let me just take you."

"But you've been drinking."

He rolled his eyes at me. "I stopped drinking over an hour ago."

I furrowed my brow trying to remember.

"Fine," I muttered, too exhausted to come up with another excuse.

When I slid off the stool and took a step, I stumbled. I gripped the edge of the table to steady myself at the same time Edward's arm shot out to grab me.

"Let's just sit for a second…" he said. He hovered behind me, one hand on my lower back as the other poured a glass of water from the pitcher I hadn't noticed on the table.

"Here, drink this…"

I begrudgingly took the plastic cup and drank it all, letting the room temperature liquid sooth my parched throat.

"I didn't know you were going to be here…" he said a moment later, his voice so quiet I almost didn't hear him.

"That makes two of us," I grumbled while pouring myself another glass.

"I'm really sorry…"

I raised my hand to his face and interrupted him. "I don't want to get into this now."

"Okay, but—"

When I turned to scowl at him, he promptly shut his mouth.

After finishing my water, I set the cup down and gracelessly laid my head on the table and closed my eyes in attempt to stop the spinning in my head. After some time had passed, I opened one eye to see if Edward had left. He was still beside me on his bar stool, watching me intently.

"Edward?"

"Yes?"

"I'm tired," I whispered as I closed my eyes again.

"Let's get you home."