*This is my first FanFic. There's no Beta, so please excuse any mistakes.

I'd love any reviews if you'll give them to me!

And, of course, Stephenie Meyer owns all Twilight *

A/N: WOW! Almost 100 followers! I am so incredibly happy that you all seem to enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoy writing it. Sorry for the slight delay. Please accept this long chapter with a few surprises ;-) as my apology.

Thank you to all the followers, readers and reviewers! You make my day.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER 8

It wasn't the best decision to skip my class with only two months left before graduation, but there was no way I would have been able to concentrate in the lecture. I hated running, but once I had left the Quad and turned the corner behind one of the tall brick buildings, I sprinted to my car. I had to get away from campus. I had to tell my best girlfriends what the whore said- and what I did to her. I didn't think I could ever look at Pride and Prejudice without a proud smirk on my face.

I hurried home and burst into the door like a bat out of hell. I found Alice and Jasper in a tight embrace in the middle of our living room. Well, what used to be our living room. The large wooden coffee table had mysteriously disappeared, along with our kitchen chairs. The kitchen table had been pushed up against the wall underneath the large window in the living room. What was left was the couch and flat screen TV.

"Alice…it's so…spacious," I said hesitantly. I knew she had a vision and she was proud of it. I didn't want to insult whatever she had dreamed up for her birthday.

"Oh Bella! I didn't see you there. I was giving Jasper some much needed love after all my bitching this afternoon. Doesn't this look fantastic?" She squealed in delight.

"Well, I mean…I don't really see anything except a barren apartment."

"Come on. Visualize it. Everyone we know is coming tomorrow night. I needed space. Now people can dance and mingle freely. The table over here will serve as a buffet-style table. Now we just need to spend the rest of the night and tomorrow decorating!"

Jasper let out a loud groan while I internally cringed.

"Babe, you know I love you. You know I'm excited for your birthday and decorating is my…favorite…thing...to do. But, I, uh, I can't help out tonight. Or tomorrow. Because…I'm…I'm getting your gift!"

Real smooth Jasper.

Alice's face went from frowning to a look of pure joy at the mention of her birthday gift.

"Oh! Okay! Yes. Yes, you need to take care of my gift. I get it. That's okay. Rosie and Bella will help me."

She placed a loud kiss on his lips, smacked his ass and told him to get on his way. Jasper had the gall to smirk as he passed me.

"Payback for earlier, Bella," he whispered quietly.

He was good.

Once Jasper shut the door, Alice began to bring an outrageous amount of bags from her bedroom into the living room. I just stood there in shock.

It's 1920s themed. How many decorations does that require?

"Okay. So in that bag are the feathers for the centerpieces and red silk that will go on every surface top. In that other bag are small plastic champagne glasses. I was thinking we could stack them on top of each other and secure them with glue. I'd use that to put desserts in. Great idea, right? I know. I'm going to use these sheets and we can drape them around the ceiling fan to make this room kind of look like a tent. You know like, Water for Elephants meets Great Gatsby?"

"Okay calm down there, Daisy. You just threw out five large projects for us to do. Rosie doesn't even get home from class until six."

"Wait." Alice narrowed her eyes. "Aren't you supposed to be at class right now?"

"Oh…yeah. About that."

"Oh my God, no. Please, please, please tell me you didn't run into that fucking asshole again."

"No! No! Actually," I started to laugh, "worse."

Alice's eyes grew wide as her mouth fell into a perfect "O" shape.

"No…way…"

"Yup. The Queen of Whoreland herself, Nessie."

"Tell me everything. Every. Single. Detail."

I pulled Alice's tiny little body down to the couch and revealed everything that went down. When I finished telling her how a Jane Austen book became some sort of weapon, she burst out laughing and didn't stop until tears were rolling down here cheek.

"Bella! I'm so proud of you! I knew there was a feisty bitch in there somewhere. Honestly, I'm surprised by your restraint. Even though you got one solid hit on her, I think if I were you I'd slap two or three times more just to make sure she got the point. But, then again, Pride and Prejudice deserves better than to touch that face."

"This is the second person I've hit in two months, Alice! I need to exercise more self-control."

"Listen, B. It's not like you beat Jacob or Nessie to a pulp. You just slapped them in different ways. I like Street Bella. She's fun."

Suddenly, Alice threw her arms around me and embraced me in a tight hug.

"Seriously Bella, I'm really proud that you stood up to her. These are baby steps in moving on. You need to let go of all of it. You have something better waiting for you in your future."

Alice always made little proclamations about everyone's futures. The scary thing was, she was almost always right.

"Oh, I hope so."

"Maybe we should go back to Volturi and see if we can find that Edward fella for you again."

I let out a long, frustrated sigh.

"Again, I have ONE one night stand. The jokes will never end, will they? Don't make me go Street Bella on you."

Alice let go of me, pulled back and threw her hands up in the air in defeat.

"Not the face! Don't slap the face! I have to be pretty for my birthday!"

"Oh calm down. Let's start decorating. I hear this is going to be the party of the century."

As Alice got up to retrieve the various items from the bag, I slapped her ass hard.

"OW! What the fuck, Bella?"

"That's Street Bella to you, lady friend. You told me not to slap your face and I didn't. I gots to keep mah street cred. Anyway, onto your birthday! Let's start making that champagne glass display."

Five hours later, we were done with most of the decorating. The apartment was so clean that it practically gleamed in the light. Alice and I spent a good hour just dusting, vacuuming and scrubbing every surface. We created multiple dessert displays. Once Rosie got home, we ate Chinese take-out before conquering the whole tent idea Alice had envisioned. After attaching it to our ceiling fan, the multiple ivory sheets that streamed across the room were tucked behind whatever furniture that was left and tacked to the wall. Alice and Rosie strung white LED lights along the cloth to make the tent glow. While they worked on that project, I arranged the large feather centerpieces. By ten o'clock, we were all exhausted. However, Alice made sure we all did our facial masks, manicures and pedicures in preparation for the party. When I finally got into my bed, my body felt like I had run a full marathon while having the flu. As soon as my head hit my pillow, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.


"Bella!" Rosie's soft whisper and gentle shaking of my shoulder roused me from sleep.

"Ughhh."

"Come on! We have to wake her up."

It was tradition that whenever one of us had a birthday, the other two would wake the person up with breakfast and presents.

"I already made her favorite breakfast. Grab your present and let's wish that munchkin a happy birthday."

I slowly got up, grabbed Alice's present I had hid under my bed and followed Rosie out to the kitchen. She grabbed the lavender wood tray that held chocolate crepes, fresh strawberries and home-made whip cream.

"Holy shit Rosie! This looks incredible!"

"Can you grab our plates? They're by the stove."

She picked up the tray and the large pink bag that held her gift for Alice. I quickly assembled the customary mimosas and grabbed the food for Rosie and me. Slowly we crept into Alice's room and surrounded her bed.

"HAPPPPPY BIRTHDAYYYYYY!"

Alice shot up gasping. "Holy fuck you guys. I was sleeping!"

She blinked a few times, taking in her surroundings and our presents, food and drinks.

"Oh my God! You guys! You shouldn't have!"

"For you, birthday girl." Rosie placed the tray on a small desk near the window.

"Presents first!" I squealed. I handed Alice the large baby pink box that contained my gift.

She slowly peeled back the wrapping paper, acting like it was a delicacy. When she opened the lid to the box, she gasped while tears formed in her sleepy eyes.

"Bella. I… Oh my God. Thank you."

Alice had everything a girl could want. If she wanted something, she either worked for it or Jasper gave it to her. Basically, it was incredibly hard to shop for her. I couldn't afford her designer taste, so I decided to go the sentimental route. I had collected saved birthday cards that Rosie, Alice and I had written to each other throughout the years. I bought a large picture frame, used what we wrote to each other as a background and put three different candid pictures on top. In each of the top corners was a picture of Alice and me and Alice and Rosie. In the center was a black and white photo of all three of us sitting together smiling and laughing. It had been taken last summer when we went camping at the beach. Rosie had been telling a story about Emmett that had Alice and me laughing hysterically. It was one of my favorite photos.

"Happy Birthday Alice. I love you."

She swiped away tears as Rosie handed Alice her gift.

After quickly pulling away the light yellow tissue paper, Alice let out a loud "YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS."

She took a large, soft Marc Jacobs scarf out as well as his Daisy perfume.

"I love it, Rosie! You guys. These gifts are incredible. I love you both so much. You are the most incredible friends anyone could have. Thank you for my gifts! I'm just...I love it." She slowly set aside the gifts on her night stand. "Now, those delicious crepes have been tempting me this entire time. And ladies, I see those mimosas over there. Breakfast time!"

Her positive energy permeated the air. I couldn't help but be happy and excited for her. We sat on her full size bed and ate breakfast together, planning the rest of the day and talking about what we hoped the party would be like.

"I wonder what Jasper is going to get me!"

"Whatever it is, you're going to love it. I swear, that boy knows you better than you know yourself. It's the same way with you, Rosie. You all four just belong together."

Rosie and Alice looked at each other before they looked at me. Alice placed one of her delicate hands on top of mine.

"You'll find that."

My heart cracked a little. I couldn't do this to them yet again. Especially not on Alice's birthday.

"Yes, yes. I know. Now. Alice you have pampering to do. Rosie and I need to cook."

We all cleaned up breakfast. Alice spent the rest of the day talking to her parents on the phone, soaking in a bath, giving her hair a mask, going to the salon to get fully waxed and primped. When she came home later, her short hair was in small waves and almost slicked against her head. A large silver silk beaded head band circled around her hair.

"Alice! Your hair looks amazing!" I exclaimed as she went straight to work putting the red silk cloth on all the surfaces.

"I wasn't going to get it done, but once I was there and telling Jane about the party she insisted on doing it. Free of charge! By the way, this apartment smells amazing."

While Alice had been gone, I had made her favorite cake- a triple chocolate cake with a raspberry glaze. Rosie had made a trip to the market to get fresh fruit for the champagne display. She made small cake cups and extra whip-cream. We also made pesto rolls, quiches, crab cakes and shrimp cocktail sauce for the small seafood platter. Alice started re-arranging an impressive bar on the kitchen counter top. By four, the apartment was ready to go and we were being ushered by the birthday girl to get ready. She handed me a black garment bag and winked at me before retreating to Rosie's room to help her with her hair.

I brought the bag into my room, hung it on the door and unzipped it slowly. Inside was the most beautiful beaded and fringed short black dress I had ever seen. The back was completely exposed while the front had a higher neckline. It looked like the dress would maybe graze my upper thigh.

Alice!

She was always pushing my fashion limits. Like the tight royal blue dress that got me in trouble. Good trouble, but trouble nonetheless. I was going to suck it up of course. For her. I put on a light blue lace booty shorts and, once again, didn't bother with a bra. This dress hung loosely on my body, but was still sexy in its own right. In the mirror I put on a deep red lipstick, blush, a little bit of eyeliner and loads of mascara. I was still trying to figure out what to do with my hair when Alice popped her head in the crack of the door.

"Need some help, Bella?"

"Please! I don't know what to do with this hair."

She stepped in my room and saw that she had already some kind of curling contraption.

"We should definitely show off this back Bella," Alice smirked.

I saw that she had chosen to do a smokey eye for her makeup.

"You look so beautiful Alice. Jasper is going to combust from blue balls."

She laughed as she gathered my hair in her hands. Ten minutes later she had miraculously transformed my unruly hair into a low off center bun that was slightly waved at the crown. She was amazing.

"Wow."

"Yeah you look hot. Now, let's go out and make some drinks. People will be here any time now."

She grabbed my hand and pulled me into our very own 1920s tented parlor.


By eight o'clock, the party was in full swing. People I didn't even know were completely dressed up, drinking, eating and dancing. Alice was easy to spot. She wore a dress that was almost identical to mine, except it was all silver. She had on long black silk gloves and long jeweled necklaces hung from her neck. She was clearly the belle of the ball, fluttering through the crowd while talking and dancing. Emmett had arrived around seven. Rosie, Alice and I laughed so hard upon his arrival that our makeup threatened to run down our faces. Emmett's buzzed brown hair didn't allow him to do a typical slicked hairstyle, so he covered his head with a large black top hat while wearing a three-piece black pin stripe suit. He walked with a cane and held a small round eye glass that he kept using against people's faces. His hilarious regal attire fit Rosie's sophisticated style. She donned an ivory silk shift dress which she layered with strings of pearls. Alice had tucked half of her golden hair under to give off the illusion that Rosie had a new bob haircut. She truly looked like an angel. When Emmett wasn't peering down at people through his eye glass, he was roaming his hands all over Rosie and telling her how beautiful she looked. The love they exuded for one another was undeniable. The pangs of jealousy I felt were quickly washed down with my gin and tonic.

When my glass was empty, I made my way to our make-shift bar and poured myself another gin and tonic. Alice popped up at my side with her brow furrowed.

"I don't know where the hell Jasper is. I keep texting him and he said he's waiting for his brother to come to the apartment. I'm going to light into this kid. Pour me a drink, B?"

"Of course, birthday girl."

As I began to fill Alice's cup with vodka, loud voices erupted from the front door. Even though the apartment was an open floor plan, the amount of people that encompassed the space between the door and me made it hard to see what the ruckus was about. Suddenly, I recognized the voice shouting over the music.

"Where is she? Where the fuck is Bella?"

Jacob.

How the fuck did he get in the building?

The vodka bottle slipped out of my hand and rolled on to the counter.

"Bella…what?" Alice's head swung from the spilled vodka to the area where my eyes were glued to.

I gripped her arm tightly. My whole entire body shook. The hairs on my scalp pricked up and my blood ran hot and then cold. This was the first time I had seen him since the day in the Quad. From the tone of his roar, he was beyond pissed at me. Fucking Nessie must have told him what happened.

"Jacob." I muttered to Alice, never releasing my eyes from the large, angry body pushing through the crowd. He was making his way to me. I was going to vomit.

"Oh, HELL NO!" Alice yelled as her eyes snapped to his direction.

She started to walk towards him, probably in an effort to fight him and defend my honor. Before she could get an inch away from me, I saw Emmett's top hat block my view of Jacob. Despite their similar muscular bodies, Emmett's height made him tower over Jacob.

"Dude, get the fuck out of here. What do you think you're doing?"

"I heard what Bella did to Nessie. I want to talk to her. I want to talk to her right fucking now."

People stopped their dancing and talking. The yelling match between Emmett and Jacob was suddenly the main attraction.

"I couldn't give two fucks about that chick, Jacob. Dude we were cool. You fucked everything up. You don't deserve to talk to Bella. Hell, you don't even deserve to breathe in the same room as her. You are the type to make us guys look like shit, man. Pathetic. Get the fuck out of here before I beat you with my cane like a proper gentleman."

I couldn't see Jacob's expression, but I saw Emmett start shoving him through the crowd and towards the door.

"Take your hands off me!"

"You think I like touching trash? Get out, bro. Don't come back. You're not welcome around my women anymore. If I find out you cause trouble for any of them, I will personally have a talk with you."

When Emmett opened the door, I saw Jacob's black hair and navy blue jacket push through and out into the hallway.

"Oh my God, my party!" Alice whimpered and hid her face in her hands.

I felt awful that I had somehow, indirectly, ruined her party. Because of Jacob. Always fucking Jacob.

"Well, ladies and gentlemen. That concludes the re-enactment of the most popular play during 1923, 'Taking out The Trash.' Now, let's start dancing, drinking and partying like it's the night before the Great Depression!" Emmett raised his cane in the air as everyone cheered.

Thank God for that guy.

"Alice, I'm so, so..sor-"

"Don't even start with me, Bella. It was in no way your fault. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think I'm going to the bathroom and get some air. I didn't really want to see him or talk about her tonight, but it is what it is. I am sorry."

Alice hugged me, whispered to me "shut up" and then made herself the drink I had failed to do. I started to make my way to the bathroom.

"Bellaboo!" Emmett called over the sea of people. People stepped aside so he could quickly get to me. Emmett stared down at me through his eye glass. "I'm sorry about that. That dumbass just can't seem to go away. You fine?"

I stood on my toes, threw my arms around his thick neck and exhaled a large breath I didn't know I had been holding.

"Thank you Emmett. Thank you so much."

"Anytime, Bella. I always got your back. Always. Now! I must find my lady before some cad tries to steal her away!" His attempt at some proper British accent made me laugh uncontrollably.

Once inside my bathroom, I put a cool damp cloth on my neck and breathed deeply a few times. Everything was going to be fine as long as no other surprises happened. Since Jacob knew he risked a losing fight with Emmett, I doubted he would come back with his pals for a round two. I exited the bathroom, poured myself another drink and weaved through people to get to the opposite side of the room where the food was. Just as I was placing a delicious pesto roll into my mouth, Alice appeared at my side again.

"Okay, seriously Bella. It's almost 9. Where the fuck is Jasper?"

I swallowed my food and took a lengthy sip of my vodka and soda.

"Alice, I'm sure he'll be here any minute. He's probably planning something elaborate for you."

"Yeah you're right," her face fell a little, clearly lost in thought as she scoped out the food table.

"JASPER IS HERE!" Boomed Emmett across the entire apartment.

"Finally!" Alice squealed.

She pulled my hand and we started to make our way towards the door. As soon we got halfway through the room, I looked up and stopped dead in my tracks. Jasper was wearing a black and white suit with a black bow tie. His white gloved hands carried a large Chanel bag and another box that was wrapped in emerald green paper, like Alice's eyes. His blond curly hair was slicked and parted on the side. He looked amazing. My eyes floated to the taller man that he had arrived with. My heart ceased to beat as I simultaneously turned bright red.

Why is this happening? Is this some sick joke?

Edward.

He stood a good three inches taller than Jasper. His brown hair looked more bronze now in the brighter light. Like Jasper's, his hair was parted and slicked down. They shared the same high cheek bones, but Edward's nose was more defined and his lips were more supple. Physically they both appeared to have the same lean body type. I knew Jasper was well toned, but nothing like his brother's body. The similarities weren't glaringly obvious, but they were there. One thing that Edward and Jasper did share was a costume wardrobe. Edward had on what seemed to be an exact copy of Jasper's outfit. Except he wore it better.

I'm just being biased. I know personally what kind of body that suit is encompassing. Holy hell he looks good.

My momentary intoxication of Edward's presence vanished as I slowly regained rational thinking. I had to get to my room and avoid him. I couldn't let him see me. I needed to get away.

Run Bella, run.

"Alice," I whispered a little too harshly. "That's fucking Edward."

"What?" She stared at me blankly.

"That's Edward. One night stand Edward. Amazing sex Edward."

"No. What? No, Bella. That's Masen. That's Jasper's brother."

"No, Alice. I'm telling you. That's Edward! I...I need to get out of here. I need to get to my room."

"Bell-"

I knew it was rude, but I left her standing there mid-sentence. I was in a rush to get to my safe haven. I heard Jasper call Alice's name and her delighted response. I was silently praying that Edward couldn't see me amongst the crowd of people.

There are so many fucking people here.

It was the first and only time that I started to complain about the amount of guests in our apartment. Pre-Edward's entrance, I was happy everyone came out to celebrate Alice's birthday. Post-Edward's entrance, they were all stumbling physical barriers.

"Bella!"

I turned slightly to see our friend, Eric Yorkie, waving at me through people.

Please don't yell my name. Please don't draw attention to me right now.

I didn't want to seem like a total bitch, so I paused briefly, giving him a wide smile and quick wave. I continued my quest to the bedroom by weaving around the dancing couples who were trying to do what looked like a version of the Jive.

Wrong era, guys.

I finally reached my blessed door handle. My fingers curled around the cool metal, turning it slightly until that scent engulfed me. It was spice, trouble and lust. It was Edward.

I closed my eyes, turned the handle down abruptly and started to push open the door.

"Bella, isn't it?" Said a smooth, deep voice from behind me.

Fuck. I'm caught.