BPOV

I gasped as the ice cold liquid slid down my back, which arched instinctively, trying to escape the cold shock that ran through my body. My eyes widened once I turned around. There was an angry looking strawberry blonde glaring my way. At first I merely locked eyes with her- trying to figure out if this was some sort of accident… or she had done it on purpose. With the look she gave me I knew it was intentional, I just couldn't figure out why. What had I done to her?

And then I looked back at Edward. He was squinting at her with a deathly glare, his jaw clenched and fists tightened, his blood just boiling underneath the skin with anger- and I knew then this woman hated me because of him. Who wouldn't? I couldn't blame her. He was beautiful and talented and kind and… I'm ashamed to say I'd be just as jealous right now if the tables were turned. It made me wonder though, did this woman have any right to be so jealous? My heart sped up in panic, what if they were exes? What if they were still… on some sort of terms together? What if they had a simply physical relationship but on tour but she wanted more? So then she lashed out at me? It was possible, even though I thought it extremely out of character for Edward… he had told me before he was rather solitary, didn't go out much or didn't go around sleeping with girls… so there had to be another reason. And yet, she looked at me like she was a lover scorned. Maybe she just wished she was with him. Maybe the fact that he chose someone as plain as me instead just infuriated her. She was beautiful, I'm afraid to admit.

"Oops… I'm sorry.." the woman practically spat at me. I just blinked at her incredulously, holding the back of my shirt away from my body, since it was now wet and even though my back was too, I didn't want the material clinging even more to me.

The blonde woman poured the rest of her drink out on the floor- a little too close to my shoes to be polite. I scoffed. Edward had his hand on my shoulder, trying to lead me away, but before he could and could get a word out to the woman, I spoke up.

"Seriously?" I asked, still not believing she had acted so childish. "I thought we were above high school shit," wow twice in one day with the cuss words. Maybe this is a new trend I'm noticing when I get angry with people?

The woman looked shocked, and even more pissed off, but she rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I call them as I see them… and honestly? I think we all know Edward can do better." her last words hit hard enough to make me forget what I was about to say. I was left standing there feeling completely humiliated while a small crowd of people from the tour party formed around us watching. My breathing picked up and became more shallow and painful, like I had to try really hard to breathe. My chest heaved and I could feel a blush creeping onto my face as I looked around at everybody… she was right. And they were all just realizing how right she really was.

I turned to walk away, to leave everyone there, including Edward. Something stopped me though-

Another blonde pushed through the crowd- Rosalie.

"Shut the fuck up, Tanya." she said as a matter of fact and tossed her own drink on Tanya's face and chest, leaving Tanya sputtering and blinking liquid out of her eyes. Rosalie grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the scene, since I couldn't move on my own accord anymore. I was too stunned to see she had done that for me. Was I already warming up to her? Or did she just really hate Tanya? Who cares. I was grateful.

I vaguely noticed Edward hadn't joined us by our sides. When I turned around to look for him he was yelling in Tanya's face! Pointing a finger at her and trying his hardest to keep his voice at a reasonable level. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but I'd just have to ask him later. That is… if there would be a 'later.' I hoped the date wouldn't be over because of that incident.

Rosalie lead me off to the fire. The flames flickering and casting light in the shadows of the night- I saw them illuminate the features of Emmett's face, looking perplexed as to what Rose was doing with me with no Edward in sight.

"What happened?" he asked.

I sighed, feeling the weight heavy on my shoulders just remembering the altercation…

"Tanya just being a bitch," Rosalie explained, rolling her eyes. Emmett chuckled, the explanation seemed to be enough for him. I'm guessing he knew Tanya enough to understand that that was the only explanation needed regarding that woman.

"Just brush it off, Bella. She's a bit of a hussy" he chuckled. I tried to smile but couldn't exactly. Rosalie was watching me and knew exactly what I was thinking…

"Don't listen to her. She's just jealous. She's been trying to get in Edward's pants for months now since the tour started… I'm embarrassed to say Emmett and I have tried to set them up before- not caring who the woman was, just trying to get Edward some normal action…" she cringed apologetically, I nodded that I understood she regretted it, but I still couldn't shake the thought that Edward could have been possibly tempted by Tanya. "She was just making up lies, trying to get you to feel insecure about yourself.. When the truth is she's the one Edward turned down- and she's the one really feeling insecure… Just stay away from her and don't take seriously anything she says and you'll do alright, kiddo." Rosalie finished up and I genuinely smiled this time, a small smile, but I did all the same.

Just then Edward bounded up to us. He sighed when he reached our small circle. He wasted no time with apologizing for something that wasn't his fault.

"Bella I'm so sorry! Don't listen to her, she's just…ugh." he couldn't even finish his sentence, Tanya seemed to flare his temper, even just the thought of her. He ran his hands through his hair out of frustration as Emmett cut him off.

"Don't worry, Rose already explained everything,"

Edward looked up at Emmett and blinked, as if processing what he said, then he looked to me and Rosalie, noticing she was standing much closer to me than she ever had before.

"Oh." was all he said. "Regardless, Bella, I apologize."

"Don't Edward. It wasn't your fault." I insisted. He sighed, as if he were worn down from all the agitation and the very last nerve he had for Tanya. He looked up at me then, as if trying to read my expression, to see if I was mad or resentful or offended, or something. Then his eyes widened slightly as he realized something.

"Oh, Bella, the back of your shirt is all wet…" he still sounded sorry. I nodded.

"I know but it's fine, Edward, really, please…" I pleaded, pouting slightly. I just wanted him to forget about it. I didn't want him to send me home thinking the whole date was a disaster, I didn't want it to end early because of the incident. I didn't care if my entire back was wet and sticky from the drink- it was uncomfortable, but it was bearable. It was absolutely nothing if I could just stay here and enjoy Edward's company.

He sighed and simply eyed me for a moment, as if he didn't know what to do with me. "No, Bella… you have to dry off. You're already wearing a tank top I don't want you getting sick now that you're wet…"

"Take her back to the bus.. She can borrow one of my shirts." Rosalie offered. I spun around to look at her.

"Oh, no that's okay! Really. Thank you but I wouldn't want to-"

"Bella." Edward cut in, a crooked smile already growing on his face. "It's okay. Let's go get you cleaned up." he offered me his arm again- and I couldn't resist. If he was going to make contact there was no way I was going to turn it down (remembering what had happened just before the whole Tanya scenario- him saying he wanted to take it slow and how he stood with his hands in his pockets to keep from touching me).

So I gripped Edward's bicep, beaming up at him and he smiled down at me and lead us back to their bus.

On the way there, I thought about asking him what he said to Tanya- but since he was in a better mood I decided not to bring it up. He opened the door for me yet again and I stepped inside… only to realize I didn't know where to go. He chuckled under his breath at me and lead me with a hand near my elbow to the middle section of the bus. He brushed past me in the narrow walkway as he went farther in, having me wait somewhere in the middle. He disappeared into the darkness of the back and I heard a door click open and shut. Edward reemerged with a small white hand towel.

"Thank you," I smiled, going to grab the towel from his hand.

Instead, Edward gave me a mischievous smile and turned me around, his green eyes alight with something new… glittering in the dim light of the bus. Surprised but alert of every movement he had, I turned with my back towards him. He brushed all of my hair over to one side and over my shoulder and I heard him step up right behind me. I gulped, but otherwise listened intently… what was he doing?

"You can't exactly dry your own back, can you?" he spoke.

"N-no… I suppose not." it made sense, but he was making it into more than what it was. And I was thrilled.

"Allow me…" he said lowly. I felt the soft, terry material of the towel brush the top of my back that was exposed in my camisole. One hand moved slowly down to the hem of my top. Just as slowly, he pulled it up, exposing the small of my back. I heard his breathing get quiet, yet steady and deep. My own breathing probably matched his own. I wasn't paying attention. All I knew was that he was taking his sweet time and being ever gentle.

He dabbed the towel on the small of my back, making sure to get every drop of moisture. I thought I could smell the taint of alcohol in the air from Tanya's drink on my skin, it was a fruity scent. Edward then drug the towel upward, the back of my top creeping up along with his touch- the towel I mean. I didn't exactly feel his skin on mine- the towel a barrier between us sweeping up moisture but I had a feeling he was following the trail of the towel with his eyes. I was only a bit nervous, not knowing for sure what he saw, I couldn't remember what the skin on my back looked or felt like…

He continued to raise just the back of my top, my arms were down at my sides, keeping the rest of my top covering me in front. He wiped down the rest of my back, it felt good to be dry again, so much more comfortable.

I noticed with a flush of embarrassment that my shirt stopped raising once Edward reached the bottom of my bra. I gulped, wondering if he saw, wondering if this was too much, wondering if I was making a big deal out of it, wondering if he was going back on everything he said when we were in the tour bus before. Didn't he say take it slow? I wasn't completely clueless to know that this whole thing was a little less than completely innocent… he took his time way too much for it to be, with the slow, soft, almost sensual way he dried me off.

Then I felt the absence of the towel on my back. There was nothing. And then I felt the shock of Edward's touch- his fingertips at the base of my back, just above the curve of the small of my back.

"There… all done." he said, slowly still and clearly focused on something else.. I found the words to speak, and spoke what was on my mind.

"I thought you said you wanted to take it slow?" I asked, as his hands didn't leave my skin even after he said he was done, and my shirt hadn't completely fallen back into place.

"I am taking it slow…" he mumbled against my ear as he took a step closer. My hair still swept over my shoulder, he dropped his lips to the back of my neck and dragged them slowly up and down. His mouth parted slightly when he reached the crook of my neck that curved into my shoulder. I closed my eyes and hummed contently. I fought the urge to reach up behind me and run my fingers through his hair, encouraging him, pulling his head closer.

I felt him lick his lips against my skin and pull up to kiss my cheek. I turned my face towards him, my eyes eyeing those perfect lips… which curved into a crooked, smug, satisfied grin. Edward was watching me watch him. I looked up to meet his eyes finally and they sparkled with a mixture of excitement and thrill and happiness I think. I wanted to kiss him on the mouth- really kiss him. But he placed a kiss on my cheek again, letting his lips linger for a small moment before making a smacking noise against my skin. Then he finally pulled away.

My shirt was completely lowered back to normal, his hand no longer on my back, his lips away from any part of my body as he stood up straight and backed a normal distance away from me.

"Come on, I'll get one of Rose's shirts for you." he smiled. I was still a little caught up in what had just happened…

I grinned teasingly this time, "You're not gonna put it on for me are you?"

He laughed, it was a musical, light hearted, yet masculine sound. "No… Tempting… but no." I laughed and followed him as he grabbed the first shirt he saw from Rosalie's trunk.

He handed it to me, it was a black, soft material but I couldn't quite make out what it was. He showed me the bathroom in the back of the bus and I went in to go change.

I took off my damp top and replaced it with Rosalie's dry one. It was short sleeved and clingy, with a diamond sort of cut out in the back. It had a small, tiny, turtleneck type of collar but nothing too big and annoying. I didn't even want to look in the mirror and see what it looked like on me. I'd surely find some kind of flaw and feel self conscious. It was bad enough someone as beautiful as Rosalie had picked it out because it flattered her stunning figure- I could only imagine what it looked like on me in comparison.

I stepped out of the bathroom as I decided to play confident for the rest of the night- or at least be myself. I could be myself. I wanted to be. Edward made me believe (especially with that little stunt he pulled back there on my neck) I just might be appealing, in one way or another. Physically and personality wise. Was it so hard to believe he just might be genuinely really interested?… Okay, yes, yes it was hard to believe because he was gorgeous. But that couldn't stop me from pretending otherwise…

"Alright. Ready." I told him as I found him standing in the middle of the bus underneath the light. He turned when he saw me enter but said nothing. For a second I felt nervous, my heart fluttering, but I choked it down. He chose that moment to take action.

He offered his hand to me, I took it and he twirled me around, to which I laughed lightly, my heart getting an innocent thrill out of it I had never known, I only prayed I wouldn't trip over my own feet as Edward guided me. He looked over my full appearance then, his eyes roaming everywhere the shirt clung to when I finally returned to my original position.

"Don't tell Rose…" he spoke, "but that shirt looks way better on you."

I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

"I'm not joking!" he insisted, humor sparkling in his own eyes. But nonetheless, smiling, he let me take his arm again (I did so without him offering, he didn't seem to mind, I wasn't about to let his 'taking it slow' or 'no touching' idea take over him again).

We walked out of the bus and from the side I heard a cat calling sort of whistle… I hadn't even turned to acknowledge it. Those kinds of whistles had never been for me… up until now I guess….

Edward turned at the sound and glared at one of the tour guys, he pulled me on his arm in closer to his body. I turned to look at the man- a dirty blonde guy that resembled a Labrador retriever. Once we caught eyes- something switched inside him. I saw it in his face…. As if he realized something… but that couldn't be. I didn't know him, but he was acting as if he just remembered who I was…

It made me uncomfortable so I looked away with a blush and held on tighter to Edward, who noticed.

"You okay? That was incredibly rude of him. I'm sorry. Not everyone on this tour is so uncivilized, I swear." I heard regret in the tone of his voice. For what? "exposing" me to such conditions? I didn't mind it that much. It wasn't his fault, he had no control over other people's actions. Not everyone was as perfect as him.

"It's okay, Edward. It's not your fault… and don't worry, I'll take your word for it… wouldn't want any bad impressions getting in the way, false ones at that." I tried to lighten the mood with a small smile, which he returned.

I didn't see Rose or Emmett anywhere. I wondered what we would do now…

My heart sunk when I saw Edward look at the time.

"Uh… Bella… it's getting late." he winced. I thought he might've been as pained by the fact as I was. I pouted.

"Um… no it's fine. I don't have a curfew, Edward." I laughed. His smile grew at my statement, but he wasn't completely convinced by it. Crap. I wasn't about to beg him to keep me around longer. What if he was bored? Or had other things to do? What if they were leaving??… when would they all pack up and leave for the neck city?! Oh no…

"I, uh… kind of do." he admitted sheepishly with a grin, as if ashamed or embarrassed. I laughed.

"What do you mean??"

"We have to take off for the next city in time to get there and set up so the tour will be able to start at noon the next day."

"Oh…" I felt my spirits drop. How disappointing!

"But-" Edward cut in, as if reading my emotions, "we don't have to leave yet just…soon. There's still time for us to do something else. You know, some standard activity that officially makes this a date." he grinned humorously.

"Oh you mean like paying for something for me or watching some kind of movie or getting ice cream? All the typical, standard first date stuff one usually does?"

"Yeah, exactly." he nodded, laughing under his breath.

"Well… honestly, it doesn't matter to me. You already sang me a song and played guitar, which earned you enough points to last for at least a couple of dates.." I winked. Edward's smile grew and he put his other hand on mine that was gripped on his arm.

"You know what?…" he paused to think, "why don't we go get a milkshake?" ……

Hope you guys liked! Review and let me know, that'd be great! You guys are awesome, this story is SO close to a 100 reviews, I think we can easily break it past that point, what do you say? : )