UPDATED/REVISED CHAPTER!

I noticed some errors in continuity and grammar so I went and corrected them. If you have read the chapter before, go ahead and take a second look! 08/12/09

Song for this Chapter: Time is Running Out by Muse

Fasten your seat belts, readers. I hope you like rollercoasters. :)

The Lullaby

I watched Edward from where I stood, he was only a few steps away from the bar. A country in between us. He was surrounded by a group of women hovering over him, and their body language told me they were fluent in lascivious. Apparently it was dinner time in the lioness' den.

"Earth to Bella! Take this shot and quit staring. It's rude." James shook my arm, breaking my daze.

I picked up the small glass with the amber liquid. I didn't bother clinking glasses with my partner, just poured the shot down my throat, letting it burn slowly, while my eyes remained closed. Maybe if I kept them shut long enough, James would go away. Courage. Sweet drop of liquid confidence. I had a long night ahead of me. I chased the poison with some lime and the first thing I saw then was James waiting for me with another shot.

"Easy there, James. Trying to get Bella drunk?" My favorite voice spoke.

He was right behind me now, with one hand on the small of my back, before I could even notice. I must have kept my eyes shut for too long.

"I think she's a big girl, Edward. Bella can speak for herself." James replied, with equal parts sarcasm and dryness with a splash of hostility.

"Then let her speak." Edward turned around to stand in the middle of both of us.

I sighed. I was in the middle of two friends. "I'm okay for now." Was all I could utter through my mouth.

I sensed the tension between them, only for a moment. And then James walked away without ever turning around. He went straight for the girls Edward talked to just a minute ago, who were now standing closer to the stage. Nice, James, way to get your hands on Edward's sloppy seconds. Smooth.

"James can be such a prick sometimes when he drinks. We haven't even started playing yet and he's already wasted." Edward muttered.

"He didn't do anything bad. He was just trying to be nice." I answered. But I could smell the alcohol in James' breath when he spoke.

"I'm glad you made it, Bella! You're gonna have a good time. I hope you like our music!" He sounded more excited this time. I loved the way he smiled, so happy. I finally saw the resemblance with his twin sister.

"From what I've heard so far, it's pretty great!" I said, already replaying the answer in my head, feeling exponentially stupid by the second.

"So, what do you really want to drink?" His voice, smooth like honey.

Even if I didn't want to, how could I say no? Offer me sulfuric acid, Edward, and I'll be happy to drink it. But now that I was standing face to face with him, I realized some alcohol would actually be nice. That one shot of tequila wasn't doing much to calm my nerves down. At least not quickly enough.

"I don't know. Surprise me!" I heard that in a movie once. It's a teasing way to throw the ball in someone else's court. Of course in the movie, the girl sounded a million times sexier. But I was just happy to even find the courage to say it out loud.

Edward looked at me and gave me a devilish smirk. Alright, it worked!

"Hmmm... I know just the thing for you!" He leaned over to the counter, where the same bartender, Chelsea, waited eagerly for Edward, like there was no one else more important for her to tend to. He whispered something in her ear and she acknowledged it. There was nothing innocent about the way they both smiled.

He turned back around to face me.

"You look beautiful, Bella! I like this shirt on you." Edward changed his features from devil to angel in one point five seconds. I could feel the heat flushing my cheeks.

"Er, thanks. Alice let me borrow this and Rose, the shoes." I touched the purple brooch on my strap, wishing it was some magical button that could make me shut up.

He obviously picked up my embarrassment, he let out a soft chuckle.

Chelsea had two drinks ready. They were both different. One was a tall, skinny glass. It was bright green and it looked like a green apple martini. The other one was a shot. It was dark amber.

"Green apple martini?" I wanted to sound knowledgeable.

"Nope. Just sip it. Tell me what you think."

It was fruity but strong. It burned while it coated my throat. It tasted like melon, licorice, apple perhaps? Things I couldn't quite put my finger on. But I knew it would leave some damage behind. Like the devil in disguise that he was.

Edward took his shot effortlessly and waited for my answer.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Kryptonite. Do you like it?"

I had to hold back a chuckle. I had liquid in my mouth. I was this close from spitting it through my nose. He couldn't possibly know. This was obviously some joke life played on me.

"What?" He asked.

"I like it. But it's strong. You wanna get me drunk?"

"I never said I was a good guy, Bella." He winked. Why did he bother giving me any extra kryptonite?

"What did you drink?" I asked, to sound cool.

"Liquid Heroin." He said nonchalantly. "We're going on now, so I'll catch you later, Bella." He touched my arm for a split second.

"Break a leg, Edward!" I called as he left. I closed my eyes as he walked away, still sipping my other kind of poison.

I noticed the club had doubled in population while we talked. It looked even darker than before. The noise from all the people slowly bringing me back to the present, and Alice's comforting singing voice, keeping me aware.

"Hey, Bella, let's get closer to the stage. We won't be able to see much from here."

Jasper had already left for the stage and Rose and Emmett held hands as we walked further away from the bar area.

We stood to the right corner of the stage, the crowd squeezed neared the center, but everyone automatically cleared the path for us, with Rosalie and Emmett parting that ocean, channeling Moses.

Then all the remaining lighting in the club ceased. And the brief moment of pitch-black and silence was interrupted by bright lights that blinked once from the stage, and the beat of loud drums started, competing with the very own thumps in my chest.

The hair in my arms stood up when I saw him, center-stage. The first song was fast, energetic, the guitar blending in perfectly with the drums, and the rest of the instruments joining the melody. And then he sang. I heard Edward's singing voice for the first time live. It was a sexy, gritty howl. I couldn't help closing my eyes to breath all of the music in.

The second song had a different pace to it, but still very engaging. I liked the way the bass played an important part and so did Alice. Her wide smile spread across her face as her eyes glued onto her boyfriend with such a sweet admiration. I wish I could get away with looking at Edward like that. I wish I didn't always have to wear a mask.

It was undeniable the band had stage presence. Especially Edward. I couldn't picture him now in the silence of an operating room (although I'm sure he had the brains to become a brilliant doctor) when it was so obvious he was born to be on stage. While he seemed a bit awkward and quiet at school, the man was shining tonight. I knew he felt at home.

The crowd cheered to every song, and some people even sang along, seemingly familiar with the lyrics.

Rosalie approached me, raising her voice so she could be heard through the loud music."Emmett is going to the bar, Bella. Do you want anything to drink?"

"Sure, what are you having?" I asked. She pointed at the empty bottle of beer she held.

"I'll have the same." I told her. I wouldn't know what to order in a bar besides tequila and Kryptonite. But I wanted to keep that as something between Edward and me.

There was a pause between songs. On stage, Edward switched from the guitar he held to an acoustic one.

"We're The Cold Ones." He announced.

I couldn't keep myself from smiling. I'm not sure Edward could see me or even know where we stood in the crowd. I didn't mind the anonymity. I was happy to watch him from afar.

Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the contact with him earlier, but I was growing courage inside me. I felt suddenly brave. The voice inside my head getting louder, telling me to do something. That's it, Bella! Tanya or no Tanya, Edward's time is up. If she isn't here tonight to stop you, her loss. I wasn't waiting anymore. Edward would be mine tonight. I wasn't Bella Swan in that club. I was Vanessa Wolfe - a strange, daring, improved version of me.

Two songs and a beer later and the first set was over. I wanted to check myself in the mirror, touch up my makeup, maybe chug down the extra beer Emmett had brought us before he left again.

"We're going to the bar to look for Emmett, Bella." Rose said.

"Okay, I'm going to the bathroom and I'll meet you guys there." I said.

Not only the bar but now the entire club was completely packed. It was harder to smoothly walk through the crowd without Emmett there to guide us.

Fortunately for me, the bathroom line was still short when I got there. I took one good glance in the mirror while I waited for my turn. I would have to thank Rosalie again for her "smoky eye effect" on my eyes. It really did wonders. I looked good. I felt even better. Who knew the skinny jeans my mom had bought me for Christmas (and I only brought to Forks not to hurt her feelings) could actually flatter the back of my legs? While in the privacy of my stall, I high-fived myself.

"Tanya! You made it!" A voice came from the bathroom. Ugh. I knew it. This was too good to be true.

"I know! Just in time for the second set! I just drove all the way from Seattle." The familiar voice of Tanya spoke.

"I thought you were still in Denali."

"Nope, I'm in Seattle this week. I just got accepted at U-Dub so I'm getting the paperwork out of the way, early." She answered.

"U-Dub? That's great! So you'll be closer than ever to Edward, huh?"

"That's the plan! He's taking me apartment-hunting this weekend!" She sounded excited. I sat there still, hiding in my stall. Listening to my death sentence. Could somebody put me out of my misery already?

"You go, girl! I'll catch you later!" The stranger's voice said.

"See ya!" Tanya ended.

I watched her steps through the stall. Expensive looking shoes. But so were mine. I could do this. I could face my fears. Tonight was about courage, not defeat. Still I waited a few more seconds, to see if she would go away. But she didn't. So I finally decided to come out, before it got too weird.

The thing about Medusa is that you can't help but look. You also cannot help the curse. My bravery dismantled. There wasn't enough kryptonite in my system to defend me. She never gave me more than a quick glance. I could've been invisible for all she cared. Vanessa Wolfe or plain Bella. I was less than nothing to her. She smoothly made her exit and that quick disdained shot at my face sufficed.

Of course this was expected, but one can only hope, right? So sure, I didn't look bad next to Tanya. But I looked like caramel pudding next to a hot fudge brownie sundae. Which one would you pick?

I walked to the bar to find my friends. If I knew them better and if I were the touchy-feely kind, I would've asked them for a hug. Lucky for me the lights were turning out again and it was time to head back. We parked ourselves at the same spot from the last set. Rosalie held out a beer for me and I really wanted to hug her for that.

I spotted Tanya again. She was only a few people away from us. Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae looked my way but she didn't acknowledge my presence, just quickly nodded her head in a silent greeting to Alice and Rose. She was surrounded by equally hazardous girlfriends, who giggled and whispered things in her ear every now and then. Tanya seemed a bit antsy, stretching her neck often towards the corners of the stage, while pressing buttons on her cell phone, constantly.

The lights flickered again and music was playing before I could see the band on stage. Edward looked even better than before. I took a long, heavy sip of beer. My eyes diverged back to Tanya, who was shooting straight at Edward. Unlike me, she wanted to be noticed. It was like every second Edward didn't look her way she grew more anxious. I was so distracted by the new audience that I hadn't noticed until now that Emmett was missing. I saw him briefly at the bar but he didn't return with us.

I tried my best to let the music relax me, take me in. It was hard.

The band cracked jokes in between songs. Tanya laughed with the rest of us, but she still seemed anxious and I was just laughing because I didn't want to cry.

"This next song is new. It's called Bella's Lullaby." Edward announced.

The familiar sound of that name triggered my heartbeat to a dangerous velocity. I'm sure I misunderstood it, but three pairs of eyes darted at me confirming what I had heard. Rosalie and Alice both smiled but the third pair had shock and fire in her eyes. I was still beyond understanding. I wanted to look at Edward. I had to see his face. He had his eyes closed. He was deep into the ballad he sang.

That's when Tanya went from anxious to furious. She whispered something in one of her friends' ear and literally stormed out of the spot where she stood, toward the exit of the club. Now I literally had no idea what was going on.

Rosalie noticed it too. She looked slightly apprehensive.

"Oh, boy." Was all I managed to read from Rose's lips.

Alice didn't seem to care. She rocked her tiny body along with the ballad, that indeed, sounded very catchy. But I was too overwhelmed to register any part of the lyrics. Alice was beaming in happiness, as if the band were playing her favorite song. Maybe the song was "new", like Edward announced, but his sister seemed to already know it very well. Thanks for the warning, Alice.

"The Lullaby" – I couldn't bring myself to say the actual name out loud – ended the second and final set. Now my time was up. Tanya was gone, for all I knew. I had to brush away any insecurities left behind and deal with it. I had reality to face and reality was that Edward had just sung a song with my name on it. He had been flirting with me earlier that night. I had to stop living in denial and actually start to believe there was a guy – not just any guy, Edward – interested in me. It was scarier than I thought. But it's what I wanted. No more wishful thinking. No turning back.

Before I could think any further, Rosalie and Alice geared me towards the bar.

"Let's go find Emmett." Rose said.

With Edward's brother still out of sight, we waited for the bartender's attention for at least five minutes.

"Bella, can you hold our place in line, I gotta run to the bathroom and Rose is gonna see if Emmett's backstage." Alice asked.

"Sure." My body was physically standing, but I could barely hold myself up. Where had all the courage from earlier gone?

People were bumping into me and I looked invisible to the bartender. I missed Vanessa Wolfe.

"Hey, pretty girl! Ready for that second shot?" I recognized James' now very familiar voice. I closed my eyes and sighed.

"I'm alright, James, just waiting for my friends." I answered. The sooner he'd be out of here, the better.

"Come on! Just one drink!" His usual green eyes were dark, his pupils were fully dilated.

I shook my head.

He grabbed my arm, holding me in place. I tried to push his hand away but he had a tight grip.

"You're hurting me, James!"

He didn't look like himself.

"Now you're playing hard to get? Come on, Bella!" His body hovering mine, his face uncomfortably close to my lips. I turned my face to protect myself. I didn't like where this was going.

I tried walking away, but he never let go of my arms. I felt like a puppet as he tried to keep me while I used all the strength I had to push him away. But my strength only allowed me to make slight movements against his attack. I was now regretting never taking self-defense classes.

"James, let her go!"

"Go away, Edward, there's nothing to see here!" James hissed through his teeth.

"I said let. Her. Go!" Edward now growled.

"Shut up, Edward! Are you jealous or just greedy?" James challenged but his words slurred out of his mouth. He pulled me in even closer.

It all happened too fast. I had my eyes trying to focus on getting James' hands off me when I felt his face distancing from mine quickly. I heard a thump. It was a jab. My body ricocheted in reaction and I would've fallen in the opposite direction if Edward hadn't reached for me.

That didn't seem to phase James. He came right back up, closed fist aiming Edward's jaw. He only had enough time to turn his face as my eyes grew wide in horror, James' cross hitting Edward's eye.

I couldn't breathe. The crowd cleared, gasping. My entire body shaking while I tried to move and seemed glued to the ground. Where the hell had Emmet gone? Rosalie? Alice? Jasper? I need some backup!

"Stop!" I managed to cry. "Both of you! Stop!" But my cry was in vain.

Blood ran through Edward's brow bone, I could see his jab also left a cut on James' lips. Both men yelled antagonistic profanities while jumping at each other's throats. I finally tried separating them. Nobody else would move or do anything, as if they watched the two men going at it like it was entertainment. My feeble attempt at stopping the fight only gave me whiplash. I went flying across the small bar area, hitting my head on a column. It would only be a matter of seconds until they finished each other off.

Security came running. It took four huge men to separate the two of them. They were dragging each one to separate exits. All I could see was Edward's face of distress, ghostly and paler than usual. He was looking at me but I couldn't understand his expression beyond the pain. I immediately followed him.

I let the two security men talk to Edward first. It took him a few seconds to calm down, but something told me the men were eager to listen to what he had to say. I just waited from a safe distance. When they finally let him go, I approached.

"Bella, I'm so sorry."

"You're apologizing to me? I was the one who caused all that!"

Edward sat down at a bench a few yards from the exit, near the parking lot. Blood still oozing from his forehead.

"I'm gonna get you some ice." I said.

"No, don't worry about it, I'm fine. How's your head?"

I had forgotten all about it. I touched where I hit it and I felt a small bump and thumping. It was nothing. There was no blood.

"Stop being a hero, Edward." I said, while still standing up.

The parking lot was empty, and we were in the back exit of the club. As I looked up towards the east exit doors, I finally saw Emmett around the corner, leaning against the wall. And then I saw a familiar face talking with him. But not who I expected. It was Leah Clearwater, Jacob's cousin.

Shock. My memory flashed all the way back to the party last weekend. The conversation I overheard between Alice and Emmett. "You know she's just here because of you". "The Quileutes and the Cullens don't mix". And then I remembered Leah's silence at the bonfire while she listened intently to Kimi Black's story. It was a predicament of her own fate.

"Edward, I'm gonna get you some ice. Stay here, I'll be right back." I said while watching over Leah. This night was overwhelming in more ways than I had anticipated.

By the time I approached her in the alley she was alone. She seemed just as surprised to see me there.

"Hey! Bella, right? What are you doing here?" She asked me like I was the intruder.

"I go to school with these people. What are you doing here?" My tone was accusing. I knew Leah was younger than all of us. She was about Jacob's age. But that wasn't even the point.

"Er... I know some of the people here. Listen, don't tell Jake you saw me here tonight." She whispered. But she didn't seem nearly as concerned about it as I was. She looked like she enjoyed getting caught.

"Who do you know here, Leah? Emmett? He has a girlfriend, you know." I pressed the issue even harder.

"That's funny, coming from the person fooling around with Edward Cullen while toying with my cousin." She glanced at Edward when she said his name. She knew who he was. She must've seen me with him. But 'toying with her cousin' was a cheap shot.

"Excuse me, Leah?" Every time I said her name, I sounded more annoyed. I kind of wanted to slap that girl.

"Oh come on, Bella! You know Jake has a thing for you. You know what's up. You're no better than me!"

I really hated the condescending tone from her.

"Leah. You should go home now. Isn't it past your bedtime? And you better make sure my friends don't see you." I said every world loud and clear. Looks like I had been saving up all my strength and guts for this moment.

I don't know nor I care how she left. She walked away and took off with a couple of girls I didn't know. I waited to see that she never went back inside. I grabbed a plastic bag with some ice and ran back to Edward. He still sat at the same bench. Alice and Jasper were there with him.

Jasper spoke while I passed Edward the bag with ice.

"I told you he was out of it tonight, man. It was more than booze. We shouldn't have let him play like that."

Edward looked up and gave me a warm smile.

Alice brushed her hand over my arm, protectively.

"Are you okay, Bella?" She asked.

"Yes, I'm fine. How's your head?" I looked at Edward.

"Fine. It's just a cut. But it will look like nothing compared to when I finish him off." He muttered.

"Edward, don't be irrational! You're not gonna do anything else to James because he was not himself tonight and you know the guy is dangerous." Alice was adamant about it.

Edward didn't respond.

"Dude, just let it go. I'll be surprised if he's still in the band after tonight. Just sleep on it." Jasper said in a calm voice. He was the voice of reason.

I couldn't bring myself to be angry at James. At least not at that moment. I was still worried about Edward.

"Bella, Edward is gonna drive you home. Make sure he's okay and doesn't do anything stupid, please." Alice looked at me and then at her brother. "And you, take care of her. She hit her head pretty hard."

Edward looked at her sister with pain in his eyes. I think he wanted to tell her off and apologize at the same time.

Jasper and Alice went back inside and Edward finally stood up.

"Let's get you home." He said, guiding me to his car in the parking lot.

He discarded the leftover ice and wiped the blood off with tissues he had in the glove compartment. He drove quietly. Upset. I wanted to break the ice but I couldn't find the right words to say. I know how annoying it is to repeatedly ask someone if they're okay. So I beat around the bush.

"I ran into someone I know tonight. From the Quileute Reservation." I said. I could trust Edward with that.

"Who? That girl Leah? You know her?" He didn't turn around. He kept his focus on the road.

"Yeah. Do you?"

"Sort of. She's a troublemaker, that girl. She's kind of fooling around with my brother." He said the words I'd feared. He knew about it.

"What about Rosalie?" I whispered.

"She doesn't know, of course." He turned to face me this time. "But Emmett promised me to take care of this. This girl is stalking him more than anything. Please don't say anything to anyone until this is over."

I nodded. I trusted Edward in ways I couldn't begin to explain. It wasn't even questionable. I hope he trusted me too.

"Look, I don't condone this type of behavior, by any means, Bella. But Emmett is my brother. We are there for each other, no matter what the situation is."

Okay, so wrong subject. It seemed like small talk wouldn't happen tonight, so I took a silent but deep breath and addressed the elephant in the room. It would come up sooner or later. Might as well do it while I still had a buzz.

"Uh, that song in the end. The lullaby... What was it about?" I still couldn't say it out loud.

"Do you have to ask? I thought the title was self-explanatory." He turned to face me again. He didn't seem so upset this time.

So many things ran through my mind at once. The memory of that moment, the way he closed his eyes while he sang, Tanya's murderous stare before she stormed out, the joy I was supposed to feel then but could barely register because my nerves were getting the best of me. In a way, I was still in denial.

So I let him drive. I turned my flustered face towards my window. I focused on the road and the trees that flew by as the car sped away. It was a long drive home.

I think Edward noticed my discomfort because he was quick to change the subject and break the silence.

"I'm really glad you came out tonight, Bella, although it ended on such a shitty note. But you look really beautiful tonight. You were kind of glowing."

I'm not sure about glowing, but I had blood flushing my cheeks into probably all shades of red. Edward was repeating his words from earlier in the evening. Back when things were simpler. Whether it was intentional or not, it helped me relax. It brought me back to the first time he'd said that. When there was only hope. And well, my nerves. But hope there was.

"I had a really good time. The band is great. And your sister and Rosalie are so sweet. It was nice to hang out with them." I danced around the topic.

Before I knew it we were two blocks away from my house. I was both relieved and sad. I was beginning to enjoy my evening and my reward too little too late.

The car came to a full stop in front of my house. He took off his seat belt and twisted his body so it would face me. His eyes shooting straight at mine. I got lost in every pigment of his amber colored iris.

"So, Bella. You never told me. What did you think of your song?" He made it official. I could run all I wanted but now it was there, right in front of me. There was no choice left but to face it. To fully brace myself in it.

"It was... really... beautiful." For the lack of a better word. I stuttered. "I... never... I never had anyone-"

My eyes were still open for one second after I was silenced. It took my brain longer than that. But my lips felt it before anything else. Maybe even years before they were ever touched. That's right. Edward's lips touched mine. Softly, first. His fingers slowly grazing my cheek all the way to my hairline, then wrapping around the back of my neck. His breath tickled but I wanted more. His other hand reached my jaw, and then my ear lobe, slowly descending to my neck all the way to my shoulder, in a movement so natural as if my body melted in his hand while it brushed my skin. I only knew I wasn't literally melting because I still had a pulse. It told me I was alive, but not for long.

His lips parted mine open and I forgot to breathe. I wanted to thoroughly enjoy every second and stretch it to make my own eternity out of that moment. I wanted to let my senses tell my brain every step of the way. It wasn't denial this time. It wasn't fear. It was excitement. Urgency. It was the need to hold on to that kiss that I knew would soon be over. And I already missed it in anticipation. Because even my forever wasn't long enough.

The best part was coming next. His mouth moved away from mine but before I could feel the cold air in between us, he leaned over and pulled me into his arms.

It was the first time I felt at home in Forks.

His face was penetrating through my hair but it didn't bother him. I finally let myself breath in. There it was. That scent that chased me even in the darkness while I slept miles away from him. I took a whiff of it and let it enter my body like I could see it running through my veins between my blood cells. Like it belonged with me now.

He slowly pulled away and smiled. I know I smiled back but it just happened, I didn't think to do it or remember moving my lips. He brushed one streak of my hair that fell over my eyes and sighed.

"You better go, now. I don't want Chief Swan running after us with a shotgun. Not after tonight." He managed to joke.

I couldn't think of a smart or quick enough comeback.

"I'll talk to you later. Take care of that bump in your head. Have a good night, Bella." He whispered.

I was still flabbergasted.

"Good night, Edward. Drive safely." I managed to say.

"Will do."

I was living my twenty-first century fairytale. My fairy godmothers had dressed me up, lent me strappy designer sandals – the modern version of the glass slippers – and the evil stepsister had retreated in defeat before the party was even over. Prince Charming kissed me. Let me repeat that. My Edward kissed me. My carriage never turned into a pumpkin. I wasn't reduced to rags after the clock stroke midnight. I just had an ugly bump on my forehead.

I think I liked this version of the fairytale much better.

End Rants:

Here's a song for the end of this chapter: Run Run Run feat. Z Trip - "Fade into You" (originally by Mazzy Star). Great version, check it out!

- Longest chapter so far! I hope you enjoyed this one!

- There you go! The first kiss!

- The Emmett/Leah situation was further explained. Something tells me that was not the last we'll hear from it...

- "U-Dub" for those who don't know: University of Washington.

- How pissed was Tanya with "The Lullaby", huh? How shocked was Bella? Even I was shocked! And yes, Bella is sort of stupid for not listening carefully to it! Well, she's young, sometimes it's too much to handle all at once.

- She's living the modern day fairytale, huh? Hmmm... Is she? Stay tuned! :)

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Review please!!!