Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. Wish I did, though.

Dibs
"Yeah he's a looker, but I really think it's guts that matter most." - The Spill Canvas, "All Over You"

When the three of us reached the van, there was a bit of a commotion going on.

Tiny Alice was shouting a string of profanities to Rosalie, apparently, as she clung for dear life onto Emmett's large back baring a resemblance a baby chimpanzee. Rose, cool as you please, was lounged across the front seats. Her long legs, exposed in her white, mini skirt with black flats on her feet, were propped up on Alice's seat as she leaned her head back against the driver's window. She looked like a playboy bunny, posing for her next shot.

As Alice continued to rant and rave, her voice growing higher as she went on, Rosalie lifted her shades from her face. Calmly, she glanced at Alice with an uninterested look on her face. Then she flipped her the bird. Oh, that set Alice off to a whole new level. Emmett, who had been laughing hysterically through the whole thing, was now wincing at Alice's shrill volume. I could only pity his poor ears, having been in a similar situation with the pixie before. She truly had a set of pipes on her.

We paused a few feet from the scene, surveying it. Jasper and Edward looked weary if not frightened. I, who was far too used to these sort of things by now, was just feeling bored

"Rosalie Lillian Hale, you unlock these doors thing minute!" Alice's tiny fists waving in the air from where she sat on Emmett's huge back, she looked liked a child having a temper tantrum. "I mean it, missy! This isn't even your car to pull this crap with! When Bella gets here, you are so going to get- "

"What happens when Bella get's here?" I asked, leaning against Jasper. I was trying my hardest to stay indifferent to the situation, but Alice's little red face was too much. Snickering, I abandoned the still shell-shocked Jasper and Edward to skip to Emmett's side, offering my hand to Alice in an attempt to get her down. "What has happened now, Alice?"

Alice sniffed, turning her nose up at my hand. "You just had to let Rose drive, didn't you, Isabella?"

"Save the attitude, Miss Mary Alice and just tell be what the hell is going on." I knocked on the glass. "I know you can hear me, Rosalie, so you got some s'plaining to do. And at least lower the window."

Rose did as I asked, twisting about until she was leaning over the gap between the two front seats and peeking her head out the window. "Why, hello, Bella. Finally. We've been waiting forever. What took so long?"

I shook my head. "Answer my question first. Why have you locked Alice out of the van?"

"She's jealous," Alice snapped at the same time Rose hissed, "She's annoying."

I held my hands up to them as they started glaring at each other. Stepping between them lest the fur should really start flying, I turned to Emmett. "Emmy? Care to shed some light on this? While I don't consider you an innocent third party," I added sharply, "I hope you'd be able to explain better then Dweedledee and Dweedledum over here."

His eyes flashed while a tell-tale grin spread over his face. So guilty. "I don't know what to tell ya. I came out here to meet your lovely friends, and this cute one jumped at me." He jerked his head, indicating the pixie on his back. "She was so darn adorable, I had to devote my whole attention to her. I mean, look at her! She's so frickin' cute!"

"And then Rose got jealous," Alice interrupted. She leaped gracefully down from Emmett's back to sneer at Rose, face to face. "You know how she always has to be the center of attention. When Emmett picked me up and commented on how cute I was, while basically ignoring Rosie, she snapped. The bitch tossed my purse out of the car and locked all the doors. And she won't let me in."

I turned to Rose. "And your side of the story?"

Rose folded her arms and she sat cross-legged in the passenger seat with a scowl on her angel face. "Alice never even gave me a chance. As soon as he came out, she was all over him. And she knows I was interested in that one. I even called dibs while you were getting the guys!"

"Doesn't matter, Rose! All's fair in love-"

"Oh, don't pull the bull with me you little-"

"You're just loving this, huh, Emmett?" I mumbled as I took a step back. I leaned against his impressive arm, staring up at him with a sharp expression. "You love that my best friends are fighting over you; I can tell by that stupid smile on your stupid face. Way to wreck our friendship. Friendship killer," I added, shoving my elbow into his arm with no effect. Stupid, muscular jerk...

He laughed in his echoing way. "Hey! They both seem to like this stupid face, I'll have you know. It's not my fault I'm such a stud, babe."

"Don't call me babe!"

He hugged me around my shoulders in an apologetic manner. "Sorry, Bella. I didn't mean to have you hot friends fight over me." When he thought I wasn't looking, I saw him mouth to the girls, 'Take your top off!' and I nearly went psycho bitch all over him. But Emmett was quick to play the victim as he held me tightly. He lifted his hand over his face and sobbed loudly. "I wish I was never born so damn hot! It only causes heartbreak!"

Jasper grabbed Emmett by the back of his shirt, yanking him off of me. "Emmett, shut up, will you? You aren't helping matters."

I sighed. "Thanks. But I don't think anything even Emmett could do would make matters worse."

"Shouldn't we... do something?" Edward was definitely afraid of my two, eccentric friends.

But there was no way I was going into that cat fight. "I am so not getting into that mess. I've played peacekeeper way too many times and now know when to stay out of it. You wanna try?" Edward shook his head vehemently. "That's what I thought."

"Let me have a go," Jasper stated quietly. I could see I guessed right when I suspected him of having a role similar to my own; his face was resigned but determined, as if he had dealt with this type of thing before. He squeezed my shoulder and before stepping up to Alice. I fell back to Edward's side, curiously wondering what magical voodoo the blonde could work.

He tapped the pixie lightly on her back, his face patient and expectant. "Um... excuse me, miss?"

"And here comes the explosion," I sighed to Edward.

Alice turned around sharply, with a look that sent me cowering behind Edward, afraid I would turn to stone. But Jasper didn't falter. Instead, he smiled lightly. Alice's reaction was immediate and predictable: she melted. I watched with fascination was my tiniest friend completely swooned, forgetting Rosalie completely who was also watching Alice with amazement. All signs of aggression were wiped clean from her face as she openly gawked at Jasper. Like magic.

"Dr. Jasper does it again," Emmett grumbled. "I had really been looking forward to that cat fight." That comment earned him two smacks to the head, one from me and the other from Edward.

Alice seemed to be coming out of la-la-land, her wide-eyed expression fading into morbid curiosity. "Uhh, Bella?"

"Yes, Alice," I answered wearily, afraid she was still unstable.

"You lied to me."

"Huh?"

She took a step closer to Jasper, her hazel eyes taking in every inch of him, darting all over him as if he was piece of meat. Hunky, blonde meat. "You lied. You said that Edward was the most handsome off the guys!" She tackled/hugged Jasper, clearing the distance between them with one fluid jump. "I so disagree!"

I blushed as Edward's cocky grin was turned towards me. "You told them I was the best looking? I'm flattered."

"Of course. I'm many things, but a liar is not one of them." I had wanted to sound self-assured and confident, but it came out as a meek whisper. I cleared my throat, tearing my eyes from Edward's alabaster face to glare at my shoes. I was embarrassed by my own timidness, but I couldn't turn it off. Damn that man. "What are you getting so worked up about, anyway, Edward? I thought we had already discussed this last night." Channeling bell girl Bella, I was able to muster up a slight smirk. "But, as you can see, Alice's opinion differs. Jasper is more her cup of tea, I'd wager."

Jasper's face was a light pink twinge as Alice clung to his chest. "W-we haven't been properly introdu-"

"I'm Alice Brandon, age 21, single. My favorite color is pink, my sign is Libra, and I work as a card shark at La Push Casino. I was born in Missouri, I had two golden retrievers, and I love to go shopping." All this was said in a single breath. Perhaps because I was so used to her fast talking, I was able to catch her every word, as I'm sure could Rosalie. The guys, from their clueless expression, could not. "There! Now I have been properly introduced. Your turn."

"Uh.. uh..." Jasper at a loss for words was quite sight. He was clearly flustered by Alice's energetic style of introducing herself. Or maybe he was just floored by the way she was currently snuggling so close to him that there was no gap between there bodies. Whatever the reason, he looked very out of his element. I decided to take charge for him out of pity. It was nice to see someone more out of sorts then me for once.

"Alice, his name is Jasper Whitlock. He's 25 years old and very single." I winked at Alice, who was bobbling up and down, still pressed against his chest. "He likes outdoor activities and his favorite color is pale blue. I think he said he has a bachelor's degree in American History and he's planning on using it to become a professor at a University."

"He was also born in Texas," Edward added, realizing I was out of information about his best friend. I was very thankful for his help; Alice looked thirsty for more info about her new beau. "He's a hardcore gambler, so I think dealing with a card shark such as yourself might be a lot of fun for him." Huh. I didn't believe he would remember what I told him about Alice's winning streak in passing. Must be a great listener. "Jasper likes to go hunting and his favorite movie is Saving Private Ryan. He lives in Washington right now, having moved up there when he was 6."

"Oh, a gambler? I think we'll get along just perfectly." Her smile lit up her whole face.

I giggled, far too used to Alice's energetic personality, but still intrigued by her sudden moxie when it came to Jasper. "You seem pretty enthusiastic about this one, Alice. Weren't you just fighting over Emmett?"

Alice rolled her eyes, tightening her rip on Jasper. "Yeah, before I had laid my eyes on this one."

Emmett put his hand over his heart. "Ow, my pride."

I slapped him playfully. "Chill, Emmy. Rosie still has the hots for you." I turned my attention back on Rosalie. "Blondie! Come on out of the car and properly greet our guests! You're being rude." Maybe rude wasn't the word for it, though. Rose liked to be intimidating, icy even, to get the upper hand with guys. But more often the not, she just came off as aloof and uninterested, which was certainly not the case this time.

Still, Rosalie wasn't willing to break the habit. She responded simply by rolling her eyes. "I'll pass. We have to get this gravy train on the road, remember? If we stand around here any longer, we won't be able to make our appointment for the first activity."

Emmett was pouting again. "Hey! Doesn't anyone want to learn more about me? You're hurting my feelings over here!"

"Shut up, Emmett," Edward and I cried in unison.

Once Rosalie was back in the driver's seat, she honked the horn obnoxiously. "Speed this up, would ya? We're burning daylight." With a chirping sound, the locks were clicked open.

Alice threw open the door of the passenger seat with more force then necessary. "Yeah, yeah. You were the person who locked us out of the van in the first place, let me remind you."

As Rose started up the engine, we all began to pile in. Edward opened the sliding door, gesturing me to go in first. I rolled my eyes, but was secretly flattered. Perhaps chivalry wasn't dead after all. I crouched into the back row of seats with Emmett right after me. Once Jasper and Edward had claimed the middle row, Rose stomped the petal to the floor, tearing out of the parking lot.

"So," Alice started, turning around in her seat with a tiny notebook in her hands. "I've taken The List and split it up for over the course of the next three days. From past experience, I think we should be able to cover everything within the allotted time frame. What do you think, Bella?" She closed up the planner and tossed it to me.

I thanked Emmett as he caught the little notebook for me; hand-eye coordination was never 'my thing'. I flipped through the pages, scanning Alice's neat hand writing. "Looks good so far. Though, I may have some issues with number nine," I added with a frown. "Maybe we should rethink that one."

"Bella! It's a tradition! It happens, period. Not another word against it, party pooper."

"Number nine?" Edward asked curiously.

"We have a list," Rose explained from the front. "The List, actually. It's taken us all our cunning coupled with several months to perfect, but we've done it. Any and every cool thing to do in this godforsaken city is on The List. For special occasions, we've taken out that list and done this place right. And there are rules concerning The List. We made a pact that we couldn't do it unless all three of us were up for it and we promised to complete the whole dang thing in a row."

"Yet Bella wants to break our tradition and skip number nine, a favorite of mine and Rose's."

Jasper still looked baffled. "And number nine is...?"

"Body shots. Well, it's a bit more complicated then that. See, we go along the Vegas strip and pop into every single bar to do body shots." Alice squealed, hopping around in her seat. "Some of our best memories have come from number nine."

"Sounds like fun," Emmett replied.

"Oh yes, it is."

"Do you guys have even the slightest idea just how many bars there are along the Vegas strip?" Rose nearly cooed as she answered her own rhetorical question and smirked into the rear view mirror at us. "18, with a new one opening on average every three months. It's an alcoholic's heaven. But Bella's never been too hot on it since she's just a frickin' lightweight."

"Rose!" Mental note: kill Rosalie.

"That information could be very useful." Emmett slipped his large arm around my shoulder with a sly grin. I ducked out from his touch, sticking my tongue out at him childishly. "I'd put that tongue away, babe, unless you plan on using it."

"Oh, bite me, Emmy," I growled playfully while scooting as far away from Emmett as possible in the limited space provided. I kicked my leg out to him as a warning, creating a small barrier between the two of us. "See, Alice, this is why I opted to not where that skirt. I wouldn't be able to keep this one in line otherwise."

"Fair enough," Alice consented.

Emmett clearly wasn't ready to give up. "But you would have given me one hell of a view. You seem like a silk or lace type of girl."

Edward harshly turned in his seat to smack Emmett over the head. "Hey. Cool it, jackass."

Rose ignored the mini scuffle that now broke out between Edward and Emmett. "Back to the body shots. Why are you a no-go?"

"You know how hammered we get when we do that run, Rosalie. We're usually stumbling after the ninth bar. And we have guests with us, ones we have to drive back to their hotel tonight. I don't feel like getting pulled over and spending the rest of the night in a jail cell."

"Point taken."

"Someone could be a DD," Jasper offered, leaning away from Edward as Emmett tried to grab him in a chokehold.

Alice shook her head. "Nah. I think Bella might be right about this. How much fun could the designated driver have while we do shots? That's just no fair. We're out today to have fun, all of us. Making someone stay sober would kill the fun."

"Taxi?"

Rosalie looked at Jasper incredulously, actually turning in her seat to stare at him. "Have you ever tried to get a taxi here? Yeah. It's fucking impossible. Even harder during this season with all the tourists."

Edward rounded on me, having shifted himself so he was out of Emmett's reach now. "You guys have done this list before, clearly. How did you get home after number nine before?"

I shrugged. "It depended on how strong the shots were and how many we did. If we were only a little intoxicated, we usually would walk home. Our apartment is right in the heart of this place, only a mile away."

"But is we got toasted," Alice finished was an evil smirk, "we would drunk dial our friend Angela. She would come pick us up and drive us home. Sadly, she's out of town right now with her boyfriend. We don't really have any other good friends we could ask to take us home otherwise."

"Hey, Bella? Why don't we ask your Jacob?"

I shot Rosalie my darkest glare. Of course she would bring up my old flame in front of the guys. But I didn't like the way she still considered him mine; he hadn't been mine for a while now. "He's working all night."

"Who's Jacob?" All three guys chorused, no doubt curious by the sharp tone I had used.

I could tell my cheeks were a twinge pink as all three sets of eyes focused on me. "O-oh, no one really. Just a friend of mine - of all of ours really," I was quick to amend.

"He works at Duskfall as the head chef," Alice explained airily, not noticing my discomfort. "He used to work with Rose, too. She was a bartender where he worked as a bouncer part time. And his friend's family owns a casino where they got me a job when he told them I was a card shark." She chuckled. "It's a small world. Jake's a part of our lives here. We sometimes drag him along with us to be an escort and scare off creepy guys. You could say he's our personal body guard."

"He does love to guard our bodies, though some more then others," Rosalie added with a laugh, looking pointedly as me when she said it.

"Yes, but as we've established, he is working tonight." I used my coolest tone, hoping they would catch the hint and drop the Jacob thing. I didn't want to get into the messy details with the guys. They liked to tease me about him, so I was used to it, but now wasn't the time.

Mercifully, they let it go.

"Is everyone ready for our first spot of the evening," Alice cheered, pumping his little fists in the air. Her attitude was contagious as we all found ourselves hollering along with her. "Good! Cause we're going to have the best three nights of our lives! Alright!"

"Heck yes! We're here now!" Rosalie spun the car in a turn that would have flipped a lesser driver, taking us into an excellent parking spot.

We all piled out of the car in a hurried fashion. Thanks to Alice's mini pep rally, we were even more stoked then before. I was trembling with excitement, myself, my face lit up like a beacon. Alice had jumped onto Emmett's back again while Rose locked her arm with Jasper, grinning like a beauty pageant winner. And Edward… well, he was nearly glowing as he came to my side and worked his arm around my waist. Now, I couldn't be sure if my heart was pounding just from the excitement. All I knew was we were about to tear it up, Vegas style.

A/n: Sorry about the slow start. But, the fun is offically starting next chapter. Remember, I update every Saturday, usually around this time of the day. And reviews are love, in my book!