Thanks for all the amazing reviews! I love it! A couple reviewers have said that Bella is acting a little like a 'shrew' (cringe) and I have to say that's not my intention at all. You have to remember that both Bella and Edward are pretty unhappy with their lives right now so they're both doing and saying pretty stupid things in retaliation. So hopefully that helps you understand a little bit better. On to the next chapter!

BLEEDING LOVE

I can't find a wall to pin this to,
They're all coming down since I've found you.
I just wanna be where you are tonight.
I run in the dark looking for some light,
And how will we know if we just don't try?
We won't ever know.

Let me light up the sky,
Light it up for you.
Let me make this mine,
I'll ignite for you.

--"Light Up the Sky" by Yellowcard

Chapter Nine

"Ah…this is the life…" Rosalie sighed.

"Yeah…I have one amazing mother…" Alice exhaled and tipped her head back against her chair.

"This feels absolutely fantastic…what do you say we make a weekly appointment for this?" Bella moaned in near ecstasy.

"Oh…yeah, that's a great idea. Too bad we can't afford it!" Alice giggled.

"Oh right. I forgot we're poor college students." Bella agreed.

"Well, you're forgetting that I'm no longer a poor college student. I'm a poor newly married woman but I'm not sure which is worse." Rosalie laughed as she leaned back into her chair.

"So ladies," Alice began as the woman sitting at her feet started her pedicure. "What are the plans for tonight? I know the boys have a gig but I was thinking maybe we could just keep this a girls' night…I'm having so much fun with you girls today and those stupid boys don't really need us there every night, do they?"

Rosalie and Bella exchanged a glance before Rosalie answered carefully.

"Well, Alice, I kind of already promised Emmett that I would come to the club tonight and you know nervous he gets before a gig…if I'm not there, especially when I said I would be, that's only going to skyrocket his nerves."

Bella nodded quickly and turned back to Alice, whose eyes had widened with surprise.

"Yeah and Jacob owes me a drink for that stupid mistletoe crap and I'm not going to wait to get him to pay up."

Alice rolled her eyes up at that. "I have to admit that was pretty funny."

Bella, glad to have gotten the subject away from the plans for the night, narrowed her eyes playfully at her tiny friend, whose eyes were now glinting evilly. "You listen here, Alice Cullen, that was a nasty little trick you pulled and I haven't forgiven you yet."

Alice scoffed while Rosalie laughed merrily. "Haven't forgiven me? For what?"

Bella's eyebrows rose in annoyance. "Come on, really? You don't know what you did?"

"Oh, you mean how I pointed out that you and your roomie were conveniently underneath the mistletoe and made you kiss in front of everyone?" Alice shrugged innocently.

Bella exhaled angrily and opened her mouth to snap something evil but Rosalie quickly intervened.

"Alright children, that's quite enough of that. I do have to say though, Bella, it was about time you hooked up with one of your roommates."

Bella frowned as her mouth dropped open in shock. "What?"

Rosalie and Alice looked at one another and shrugged.

"Yeah, why not? You could cut the sexual tension between the three of you guys with a plastic spoon." Alice laughed with a snort.

"Well, come on Bella…you do live with two guys…" Rosalie agreed with a smile.

Bella shook her head furiously. "First of all, saying Jacob and I 'hooked up' makes it sound like it was worse than it actually was, if that's even really possible, and just because I have two guys for roommates does not mean there has to be sexual tension. I can't believe I'm hearing this from you guys…I don't want to hear this shit anymore!"

Alice smirked and bit her lip. "Alright, Bella, I'll give you the 'hooking up' thing but I could tell that Jacob definitely liked your little lip-lock on Christmas. And…I have to say that Edward did not look happy about it…"

"Oooo! A love triangle! I knew it! Bella, you little minx…you know, now that I'm an old married lady, I guess I'll just have to live vicariously through you now…" Rosalie sighed wistfully.

Bella smacked her on the arm.

"Hey!" Rosalie cried out.

"I can't believe you two! There is no love triangle. There is no sexual tension. Just let it alone guys, please!" Bella pleaded .

Alice giggled and she cast a sneaky glance to Rosalie, who was biting her lip to hide her laughter.

"Uh huh, sure Bella. Keep telling yourself that." Rosalie managed to get out.

"You know, if I was a betting woman, I would put my money on Edward. The way you two have been fighting lately, the way he was staring down Jacob after that naughty little kiss…man, he looked like he was going to rip Jacob's head off! And…oh, I almost completely forgot about this, the way he looked after you ripped him and my dad a new one, that was awesome by the way, but Edward, he looked like he wanted to throw up. Now, on the other hand, Jacob did look pretty happy after you two kissed and he's always doted on you but something tells me I should bet on Edward." Alice reasoned practically.

Rosalie was laughing hysterically by this point and Bella was shooting daggers at Alice's head.

"I hate you both." Bella hissed.

"Oh come on, Bella. I'm just kidding around with you. I didn't really mean all that…you know that, right?"

"Yeah, Bella, we're just messing around…God knows I probably won't live to see the day that Edward actually settles down with one woman…" Rosalie laughed.

Bella scowled angrily, still not ready to forgive them for mercilessly taunting her about a subject they knew was sensitive. "You guys are assholes."

Alice snorted. "I'm sorry but I believe you called my brother and my father that the other day and I will not be lumped in with those two idiots."

"Oh yeah? Well, too bad! You're an asshole."

Alice and Rosalie laughed good-naturedly and shook their heads.

"Settle down, Bella. Why are you so defensive about this anyway?" Rosalie asked curiously.

Bella chose to just roll her eyes and leaned back in her chair.

"So anyways," she began, effectively switching topics. "What are the plans for tonight? I think we already established that we need to at least stop by the club but what else?"

"Well, I think it would be nice if we went out for dinner. You know we never do that anymore, not just the three of us." Rosalie chimed in.

"Yeah, that's a great idea, Rose. Oh, I think we should all come over to my place and get ready. You know, really primp ourselves up and look fucking hot tonight!" Bella exclaimed.

Alice looked at her like she had two heads. "Geez, what's gotten into you today? You never, ever have fun getting ready for a night out and why do we have to get ready at your place anyways?"

Bella shrugged nonchalantly. "I have the biggest bathroom."

Alice nodded in agreement but still crossed her arms over her chest as she appraised her two friends carefully. They simply stared back at her expectantly.

"Ok…but…" Alice trailed off.

"You're the one that wanted a girls' night out…what's wrong with Bella's idea?" Rosalie asked genuinely.

"Nothing…I'm just surprised at Bella's enthusiasm. I guess I'm just not used to it." Alice shrugged.

Rosalie and Bella just smiled back at her sweetly as they leaned back to take in the rest of their spa treatment for the day.


"Ugh…it's packed tonight. I hate when it's this busy!" Alice yelled above the noise as her, Bella, and Rosalie pushed and pulled their way over to the bar.

The boys were already up on stage and going strong, groupies in all. Emmett was pounding the drums, his head bobbing to the beat; Jasper was bopping along as he gripped his bass and nodded to the girls when he saw them, a bright smile on his face; Edward was seated at his stool, with his guitar perched against him as he crooned out the lyrics for "Scar Tissue" by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

"I know! We'll still have a good time tonight though!" Rosalie yelled back cheerfully.

Alice frowned at her before turning to the bar and ordering the girls a round of drinks from Jacob, who was grinning widely.

"Hey girls! I'm glad you made it out here tonight." He said brightly as he handed them their drinks.

"Yeah, thanks Jacob." Alice responded through her frown, taking the drinks from the bar and handing them to Bella and Rosalie.

Her brow furrowed in suspicion and Rosalie quickly jumped to get her mind off of anything that could potentially ruin the night for her friend.

"Hey, Alice…do you know what our plans are for New Year's yet?" Rosalie asked hastily.

"I don't know," Alice replied slowly. "I guess that all depends on Bella."

Bella almost choked on her drink. "Why is that?"

Alice shrugged. "Well, I guess we just have to wait to see if you have a date or not."

"Why would that matter?"

Alice rolled her eyes. "You have to wear that hot dress we gave you for someone, Bella. Why do you think we gave it to you?"

"I don't know…so I would look hot on New Year's?" She asked hopefully.

"Yes, to look hot for someone, Bella…"

Now it was Bella's turn to roll her eyes. She caught Rosalie's gaze and she nudged her head toward the direction of the stage. Bella's eyes immediately flew to the stage and collided with Edward, who was playfully tossing his microphone up in the air as the boys got ready to start a new song. He caught her gaze and nodded to her, signaling that it was time.

Bella quickly turned to both girls. "Hey, I'm gonna run to the bathroom real quick . I'll be right back!"

She immediately turned on her heel and took off in the direction of the bathroom. Edward waited until Bella was out of sight before announcing over the microphone.

"Well, it's that time of the night for me to take a little break. Ladies and gentleman, Bella Swan!"

The crowd started clapping and whistling at Bella's name and everyone in the crowd started anxiously looking for Bella. Edward pretended to scan the crowd for Bella before locking eyes with Alice, who was furiously waving and trying to yell: "She left!"

He tried to hide his smile as he cast a quick glance toward Jasper, who was putting on his best poker face.

"Bella!" he said again. "I swear I just saw her…Alice, Rose, where did she go?"

Rosalie just shrugged her shoulders and shook her head while Alice looked around for Bella desperately.

"She went to the bathroom!" Alice yelled, cupping her hands around her mouth.

Edward frowned and nodded. "Well, I need to take a break…hey, I have an idea…Alice, you've never gotten up on stage before. Why don't you give it a try tonight?"

Alice's eyes widened in horror and she started to shake her furiously from side to side as Rosalie began to push her towards the stage.

"No, no, no…I'm not going up there. No way, no how, not happening!" She yelled at the top of her lungs as Rosalie continued to gently push her to the stage.

"Oh come on, Alice," Edward coaxed from the stage. "It's no big deal. If Bella can do it, so can you."

The crowd was clapping for Alice now in encouragement but she still furiously pushed back against Rosalie, who now had her about halfway to the stage.

"No, please…Rose, what are you doing? Don't make me do this…I swear to God…" Alice pleaded desperately.

"Alice, get your ass up here right now…I'm not going to take no for answer. You've been a closet karaoke lover for years…now's your big chance…get up here, now!" Edward's voice boomed from the stage.

The crowd started chanting: "Alice! Alice! Alice!"

Everyone was wildly clapping and whistling for her and Alice threw up her hands as she allowed Rosalie to drag her the rest of the way to the stage.

"I hate you!" She hissed under her breath to Rosalie, who just chuckled.

Edward reached down to help Alice up to the stage.

"Alice Cullen, everybody…my little sister's first time up here!" He said to the crowd as they clapped for her.

Alice was turning a deep shade of red from a comical mixture of embarrassment and sheer rage. She was practically fuming and Edward had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.

"Edward…I'm going to kill you when this is over…" She muttered lividly.

He grinned widely and stepped aside to reveal Jasper, who was on one knee in front of her. Edward handed him the microphone and stood behind him next to Emmett, who had gotten up from behind the drums to watch the event.

Alice's mouth dropped open and her eyes quickly flew out in the crowd to Rosalie, who was smiling happily and clapping her hands, and Bella, who had come out of nowhere to join Rosalie at the front and was now hugging Rosalie as they watched the scene before them.

Alice turned back to Jasper, who was fumbling with something in his pocket. When he finally retrieved it, he held out the small black box to her which she took with trembling hands.

He took a shaky breath as he watched her open the box. Her eyes widened with shock and her eyes flew back to meet his, shining with happy tears.

"Alice Cullen…I've been in love with you since the moment I saw you. Ever since the day you waltzed into my life, you've brought me nothing but happiness and all I want is to spend the rest of my life doing the same for you. Would you let me do that for you? Will you marry me, Alice?"

Alice's mouth opened slightly, a wave of joy washing over her face. She started nodding and flung herself into Jasper's arms, kissing him furiously. A loud roar of applause erupted from the crowd as they cheered the happy couple.

Edward smiled as he stepping forward to take the microphone from Jasper.

"Give it up for the newly engaged Jasper and Alice!"

The crowd cheered again as Jasper and Alice jumped down from the stage and made their way over to the bar, where Jacob was waiting with a congratulatory round of shots.

"So, in honor of this happy occasion, we're going to change it up a little tonight. Bella, would you please join me on stage…this one's for Jasper and Alice!"

Bella grinned and jumped on stage as Edward placed the microphone back on the stand for her and motioned for her to join him. Emmett tapped out the beat with his drumsticks and Edward started strumming the opening chords.

Bella swayed to the music and looked to Alice as she spoke: "This one's for you, babe. I love you and I'm so happy for you!"

Edward bent his head closer to hers as they shared the microphone:

"Hey, where did we go
Days when the rains came ?
Down in the hollow
Playing a new game,
Laughing and a-running, hey, hey,
Skipping and a-jumping
In the misty morning fog with
Our, our hearts a-thumping
And you, my brown-eyed girl,

You, my brown-eyed girl.
Whatever happened
To tuesday and so slow
Going down to the old mine with a
Transistor radio.
Standing in the sunlight laughing
Hide behind a rainbows wall,
Slipping and a-sliding
All along the waterfall
With you, my brown-eyed girl,
You, my brown-eyed girl.

Do you remember when we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la dee dah
Just like that
Sha la la la la la la la la la la dee dah
La dee dah.

Jasper twirled Alice round and bent her down to kiss her deeply while Edward and Bella happily kept singing, with Bella pointing playfully to Alice and blowing her kisses throughout the rest of the song.

So hard to find my way
Now that Im all on my own.
I saw you just the other day,
My, how you have grown!
Cast my memory back there, lord,
Sometime Im overcome thinking about
Making love in the green grass
Behind the stadium
With you, my brown-eyed girl,
You, my brown-eyed girl.

Do you remember when we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la dee dah
Laying in the green grass
Sha la la la la la la la la la la dee dah
Dee dah dee dah dee dah dee dah dee dah dee
Sha la la la la la la la la la la la la
Dee dah la dee dah la dee dah la
D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d…"

When the song was over, Bella jumped down from the stage and sprinted over to the bar to pounce on Jasper and Alice. She hugged them both fiercely to her and kissed them both on the cheek.

"Bella!" Alice exclaimed when she finally released them. "You all knew about this the whole time, didn't you?"

Bella just smirked and nodded. Rosalie had made it over to them by now and she wrapped an arm around Alice's shoulders.

"Yep," Rosalie answered for Bella. "Everyone was in on it, even Emmett."

Alice laughed as Bella nudged her playfully with her elbow.

"You know it was nice to finally know something you didn't, Alice." Bella smirked.

Alice smacked her teasingly on the arm as Jasper wrapped his arm lovingly around her shoulders.

"I gotta get back up there but I won't be far…" Jasper whispered softly to Alice before kissing her gently on the lips.

Alice watched him jump up on the stage with a wistful smile on her face.

"That man is going to marry me." She finally said after a few long moments.

"Awww!" Rosalie and Bella chime in together.

They grabbed Alice's hand and dragged her closer the stage to dance while the boys knocked out "Hard to Handle" by The Black Crowes. Alice twirled around in circles while Rosalie grinded her hips to the beat. Bella, however, was desperately trying not to notice that Jessica was standing several feet away from them, with her eyes securely rooted to Edward's. She was swaying seductively to music and Bella's eyes widened in disgust when she saw Jessica mouth something to Edward. She hadn't been able to make out the entire exchange but Bella knew it was something dirty and most definitely had something to do with Jessica and Edward having sex after the gig was over. She rolled her eyes and decided to ignore the bitch, just barely missing the evil glare Jessica shot her way.

"Ugh…skanky whore." Rosalie muttered under her breath, making zero effort to hide her disdain for Jessica.

"Yeah! He's not still hooking up with her is he, Bella?" Alice asked frantically.

Bella shrugged her shoulders with indifference. "How should I know?"

Rosalie raised an eyebrow and bit her lip. "Well, you do live with him…so, you would know."

Bella exhaled in frustration and shook her head furiously from side to side. "Don't start that shit again. Let's just enjoy the rest of the night, ok?"

Both girls nodded, content to just ignore the pathetic annoyance only a few feet away from them.

When the boys were done for the night, Bella made a mad dash for the bathroom before they had to leave. Thankfully, there wasn't much of a line so she was in and out faster than usual at the club. She was just turning on her heel to head back through the hallway to find Alice and Rosalie when a hand shot out and pulled her back deeper into the hallway.

She turned in surprise to meet the eyes of Edward, who had a very serious look in his eye that was both incredibly shocking and unsettling.

"Edward? What's up…" she trailed off as he led her further down the hallway and away from the rest of the crowd of people until they had reached a quieter place to talk.

He bit his lip and glanced quickly above her head into the crowd at the end of the hallway. She instinctively turned to see what he was looking at, half expecting to see Jessica there waiting for him but there was no one there. She looked back up at him and there was something in his eyes that she couldn't quite place. He wasn't looking at her but instead had his eyes trained on the wall they were leaning against.

"Edward?" She questioned again. "What's going on…is everything alright?"

He sighed deeply and roughly snatched the beanie from his head to run a shaky hand through his tousled hair.

"Well," he began unsteadily. "I've been thinking a lot about everything you said at Christmas and…"

"Edward," she hastily interrupted. "You don't have to…"

He held up a hand to cut her off. "Just let me say this, alright?"

Her brow furrowed in confusion, having no idea where this was going on and nodded slowly.

He sighed again and looked away briefly before speaking again. "Like I said, I've been thinking a lot about everything you said and you were completely right. About everything. It's made me realize that I've taken too much for granted, especially about some things that have probably been there for longer than I care to admit. I guess what I'm trying to say is, awkwardly…I know, but…"

"Hey, Edward! There you are!" Jacob called from the end of the hallway, effectively interrupting whatever it was that Edward was going to say.

Edward's head whipped around and he swore under his breath.

"What do you want, Jacob?" He asked harshly.

"Jasper and Emmett need you help getting the equipment into the storage room." Jacob responded easily, looking suspiciously from Edward to Bella and he took a few steps closer to them.

Edward sighed and ran a hand through his hair before putting the beanie back on. "Alright, I'll be right there."

He turned back to Bella, who was watching him expectantly, and opened his mouth to speak but quickly shut it. Instead, he smacked the wall next to him with his hand before wordlessly turning and following Jacob back out into the club.

Bella stared after him in shock, having no idea what had just happened. She had never seen him do or say anything like he just had and she didn't know what to make of it. He had definitely been acting strangely lately, especially after everything that had happened over Christmas, and she felt a knot form in the pit of her stomach. She exhaled deeply to get herself together before walking back out of the hallway. She didn't have to look very hard to find Rosalie and Alice, who were lounging at the bar while they waited for their significant others to finish cleaning everything up.

"So I take it I need to find my own way home tonight, right?" Bella asked Rosalie and Alice expectantly as she walked up to them at the bar.

Alice just smiled sweetly up at her while Rosalie nodded. Bella sighed and looked over to Jacob.

"Well, Jake, I guess that means I'm hitching a ride from you tonight…that's ok, right?"

"Did you even need to ask, Bells?" He grinned brightly.

She smiled back but that smile quickly faded. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Jessica slink up to Edward and wrap an arm seductively around his waist. He looked down at her in surprise and Bella shuddered slightly as she watched him throw an arm around her shoulders.

She turned back to Jacob, who was watching her intently. "I'm ready to go whenever you are, Jake."

He nodded to her and was quiet for the rest of the night. Rosalie and Emmett said they goodbyes as they headed off into the night with Jasper and Alice following soon after to go celebrate on their own. Unfortunately, this left Bella alone at the bar with only a few stray people still waiting for their cabs, Edward and Jessica included. She watched with a heavy heart as Jessica playfully pushed Edward towards the doors of the club and brought his head down close to her mouth, most likely whispering vulgar things into his ear. That was enough. Bella turned away after witnessing that, not wanting to have to be subjected to anymore of that. As Edward and Jessica walked out the door, Bella could have sworn she saw Edward cast her a glance before following Jessica out the door but she couldn't be sure.

She didn't have to wait too long before Jacob walked around the bar and announced that he was ready to leave. She barely spoke as they drove back to the apartment, her gut twisting into a tight knot as she tried desperately not to think about what was waiting for her to endure when she finally got home.


Ok, ok,ok...I know that was a little bit of tease. Don't worry though. Bella and Edward will get together, I promise. But it can't be that easy, otherwise what would be the point right?

Before everyone starts yelling about Edward going home with Jessica, you have to remember what I said at the beginning of the chapter. Add that to the fact that he almost just admitted his feelings for Bella. I think I'd be pretty freaked out if I were him and it makes sense that he would fall back to old habits to cope with all that. Like I said, don't worry ;)