DISCLAIMER: Stephenie Meyer may own them, but I can manipulate them. HA, HA, HA, HA, HA…cough. That's it for my Mandar laugh.

Okay so I would like to thank all of you who have reviewed so far. I would also like to thank all of you who have added the story (or me) onto your favorites or alert list. Even though more of you gave suggestions, I would like to thank psychodancechick89 for the suggestion "Whatever Lola Wants" by Sarah Vaughan. But just because I didn't use the rest of you guys song, doesn't mean it won't end up in the story. :) I love you all...

Chapter 10: Dance with Me

BELLA

Saturday - the most anticipated day of my life since the day I had my private lesson with Edward.

I was at home by myself because Alice escaped with Jasper last night, though she tried to be sneaky about it. They were going shoe shopping – in New York – because Alice had a canary yellow dress and the only shoe that matched was a Botticello. When I didn't volunteer, she asked her love if he would come and of course, he said yes.

I was ready to go out. And no, I wasn't going to get drunk this time, though I wished Edward would save me again. But we weren't on the best of terms these days. It seems like every time he saw me he was ashamed. He looked disappointed and would give all his attention back to Tanya. But Tanya was eating it up. I guessed she sensed the hostility and used it to her advantage. I had to give the girl her props: she turned someone's misery into her happiness.

I still haven't given Edward back his sweater.

I didn't know how to return it without being awkward. I thought to send it as a package, but I wanted to do it in person. Without drawing attention, I wanted to let him know how much I appreciated what he did for me. But, that was difficult these days. Jacob commanded most of my attention and Tanya wasn't letting Edward out of her sight.

I had laid out my outfit for tonight: a pleasant blue chiffon gown that settled right above my knee. Alice surprised me with it yesterday and she altered it to fit me in her fashion class. She was even bringing me back a pair of heels from New York.

I heard the doorbell rang. "Hey Frank," I greeted. I left Frank, the flower delivery guy, at the door while I grabbed a tray of cookies to give him. Since I was receiving flowers everyday, we established a relationship with one another.

"Well thank you, Bella. Today is only freesia." He smiled while he handed the beautiful bouquet.

"No roses?" I whined. I pressed the flowers to my nose.

"No roses. But I did hear the missus say that there was a message inside," he winked. "So tonight is the big night, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I blushed.

"Have fun, kiddo." I waved goodbye before returning to the house. I took in a waft of the flowers before removing the card and curling up on the couch with it. It read:

Beautiful Bella –

A great friend and an even better dance partner. Tonight I wish that you would meet me on the dance floor during the special request of "Whatever Lola Wants."

A heart drawn in the corner, and my own beat rapidly. There was no name on the card, but it was Jacob. No doubt. He wanted me to dance with him during a special song. That was sweet.

I placed the card back into the envelope and tossed it onto my dresser, pulled out a textbook to study while I waited for Alice's return.

"We're back!" Alice sang from the door. Jasper was burdened with several bags overflowing with shoes.

"Well, I'm glad you both made it back, safe and sound with minimal purchases. I thought you only needed one pair?" I simpered.

"Well, Bella, you know me," she grinned. "Why buy one pair when you could have two?" Though, I knew for her the phrase meant: "Why buy one pair, when you can buy the whole store?"

I reached for a bag, but Jasper insisted on placing them in Alice's room. I grabbed Alice's arm and hissed into her ear, "You know you have no more room to fit those shoes?"

She smiled. "Bella, I always find a way." Coming out her room, Jasper thrust his hands into his jean pockets waiting for Alice to acknowledge his presence. She stepped towards him, pulling his hands out and whispered something that I couldn't hear. He nodded and kissed the tip of her nose before heading to the front door.

"See you, ladies, tonight," He concluded before leaving our apartment.

Alice pulled me into her room. I stepped in to see that she now had a corner dedicated to shoes – a wall that had lighted recessed wall case lined with shelves full of shoes of various styles, even sneakers.

"Alice – when did you get into sneakers?" I looked at her, confused.

She shrugged. "When I went to New York, everyone was wearing them. There were some cool ones that I just had to have. Especially the ones from the Jordan collection…"She rambled on about numbers which had no meaning or effect on me. I could care less about what the shoes were named; I just wanted to know when she got a shoe case in her room. "Jasper installed it for me," she explained. "He said I needed it, and I did."

"You have problems," I mumbled.

She laughed amused. She handed a box. "Take care of them, please." I grumbled but accepted her request before trekking back to my room to get dressed.

Alice and I were pushing seven-thirty when Jasper knocked at the door. "Bella, can you get that!" Alice shouted from her room. I was still trying to drive in earrings when I opened the door for him.

Jasper stood in the doorframe wearing a pair of black slacks to match a black dress shirt that was accompanied with a canary yellow tie. He smiled when he saw me and I ushered him inside.

"You know, I think you deserve to get your own key." He chuckled at my joke while taking a seat on the couch. I went back to my room and grabbed a wristlet and the expensive heels. I didn't know if I felt as comfortable in these shoes as the gold wedged ones. But I would have to manage tonight. "Alice, hurry up!" I yelled at her.

Marvelous, she glided out of her room door, spinning in her flirty dress and greeted Jasper. "You look lovely," he crooned while kissing her left hand. She bashfully smiled back before pulling him into a hug, and I proceeded towards the door.

"We're going to be late…" I muttered.

"Wait!" Alice ordered just as she reached down for her lively colored umbrella. Finally, we headed out of the door.

We arrived at Caliente at eight-ten. It was what Alice considered fashionably late, though I disagreed. I literally leaped out of Jasper's car, stumbling out onto the pavement

Alice helped me regain my balance in heels. "Bella, calm down. The club isn't going anywhere…" she laughed, however her underlying tone was serious.

Jasper came around to settle next to Alice, while flashing a concern smile at me.

"I'm sorry. I just need to relax, that's all." I smiled.

He took Alice's hand and started up the walkway when I saw Jacob stroll down the street.

"Hey," I greeted. I saw he had a bunch of roses in his hand. "More flowers?" He handed me the bouquet and I instinctively smelled them.

"Yeah, I forgot to have them sent this morning, so I brought them tonight. It makes it more special, anyways."

"Thank you, Jake. I love them."

"You are welcome. Let's go inside," he grinned while placing a possessive hand on my semi-bare back. He led me inside the dance club.

The atmosphere at Caliente was different from Helios. At Helios, everything was loud and lewd. However, at Caliente, everything seemed mellow and the dancing was sexy, but not crude. The club was nicely set up like a replica jazz bar; round tables to encourage intimacy, but also a dance floor for anyone who wished to venture on it. Jacob led me to the table where I spotted Alice and Jasper along with Rosalie and Emmett. They were chatting away when Jacob pulled out a chair for me. I sat down among the group with Jacob close to me.

"Would you like something to drink?" Jacob asked.

"Umm…just water would be fine."

"Are you sure?" he pressed. I love the way he pleaded, it only made him look adorable.

"Yes, I'm sure. I'll explain to you later," I chuckled while he disappeared towards the bar.

Soon, he was back with two icy glasses of water. I thanked him. "Hip Hip Chin Chin" played throughout the club.

"Would you care to dance?" Jasper asked Alice, who eagerly accepted. Emmett asked Rosalie, too. Except for Jacob and me, the table lay deserted.

"Okay, so tell me about your story."

I swallowed a sip of the cool water before I began. My throat never felt so parched. "Okay, well I have a low tolerance to caffeine and I recently discovered I have a low tolerance for alcohol, too." I chuckled because it was the only thing that kept me from living that drunken night again.

"Oh…well I figured," he stated while leaning back in his chair. "You didn't look like the type that would drink."

"So what does that mean?" I smirked while playfully crossing my arms.

He leaned his elbows on the table. "You look like a 'goody-goody.' Too afraid to get your hands dirty. No wonder you ordered hot chocolate. You're safe."

It annoyed me the way he picked my card. So what if I acted safe most of the time. "Oh, and you're dangerous – considering that you did order hot chocolate and water, too." Sarcasm dripped from my tone.

"Hey, I never did say I was a bad boy," he smiled.

"And you never didn't say it."

"Okay," he leaned back while putting up his hands in surrender. "You have a point. But how did you discover your low tolerance?"

"Well, Alice gave me coffee and I was really hyper," I laughed.

"And…" he pressed.

"And…I got drunk three weeks ago at a bar," I mumbled. I took a long gulp of water before he could ask questions. He stared at me while I continued to gulp down the quenching drink.

"Wow, that must have been a sight," he mused. I would have snapped at his comment, but I couldn't separate my lips from the quenching beverage. "Do you want another one?" He said pointing to my empty glass.

"Yes, please." I blushed nervously as he left the table once again. While he was gone, I cursed myself for being so…thirsty. Was I really this nervous about later? About dancing in front of everyone? Here at Caliente, there were professionals on the dance floor who made the simplest of steps look complex. I couldn't compete with that. I only invited Jacob so I could stir up trouble and finally please Alice. I didn't want to dance, I just wanted to get out and breathe again. I looked around the club to see that everyone was on the dance floor except for a couple who were gaily chatting amongst themselves and a shadowy man in the back. I wished I could disappear in the back like that man.

Jacob put another tall glass of iced water in front of me, but I was cautious of how fast I took the drink. "Here you go." I smiled and carefully took a small sip and placed it back on the table. "So are you ready?"

I swallowed hard. I could either lie which would mean I would die on the dance floor, or I could tell him the truth and risk hurting his feelings. "Yes," I squeaked.

"No, you're not; your voice faltered and your depleting the world of its water supply," he chuckled. I noticed how I had the glass in my hand again. How was this happening? "You suck at lying, but it is okay, because I have all night. We don't even have to dance; we could just talk."

"Talk about what?" I stared into his dark eyes.

"Well…first I ride motorcycles," he shrugged.

"Nuh uh," I said, unbelieving him.

He smiled. "Actually, I do. I rode one tonight and it's sitting out front."

"I always wanted to learn how to ride," I sighed. I propped my head on my elbow while concentrating on Jacob.

"Well I could teach you sometime."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. But only if you dance tonight. Deal?"

"But we already danced to our potential in class…"

"So? That just means you're ready to show everyone else your moves. Come on. I'll teach you something easy." He grabbed my hand and casually led me to the dance floor. Beautiful people graced the floor elegantly. It was like many Edwards and Tanyas dancing all over. My heart contracted at the thought. "Okay, Bella, we are going to start with the cha-cha." Jacob kindly demonstrated how to move while I watched. The song"La Bamba" encompassed the club, setting the mood.

"I thought you said you were a break dancer?"

"Hey, are you going to learn or what?" he grinned. So many there was more to Jacob than I had previously imagined. The cha-cha was a breeze and I found it fun. But I needed to take a break so Jacob and I sat back at our table to watch the others.

Jasper and Alice came into view. They complimented each other very well as he lead and she followed. I could see that he cradled her body ever so delicately as if he was afraid of injuring her. Alice looked at him with the dreamiest of eyes; I wondered at times is he all she saw. When she was home, is he all that she thought about? When they were together, were they swept away into another world? Jasper gazed down onto her, smiling broadly, and she smiled back. It was difficult to distinguish them from the other professional couples. They looked choreographed as moved in harmony.

Jasper spun Alice out, and coiled her back, lowering her to the floor over his arm. When he brought her back up, she hugged him and they sauntered off of the floor.

Rosalie and Emmett circled around the dance floor as well. Though they didn't look as skilled as Alice and Jasper, they were still enjoying themselves. Rosalie would giggle and playfully hit Emmett's muscular arms and he would spin her out and bring her back close. Then, they would sway from side to side repeatedly with her blonde hair tossing. He would smile again – showing his deep dimples – and kiss her.

"Bella," I heard Jacob's deep husky voice call. Distress was riddled over his face as he closed his cell phone. "I have to step out for a moment; I'll be right back, okay?"

"Okay," I repeated. He squeezed my shoulder mildly before he vanished from my side. Now, I was alone in a club, but the good news was that I was somber. I had no idea where Jasper and Alice snuck off to or where Emmett and Rosalie were. And Jacob left to take care of some business. I looked towards the back of the club, trying to relate to the lonely man, but he had disappeared as well. Now, I officially felt like a loser.

Just then, a guy dressed in a suit rose to the microphone stand. "We are going to go our live band for this special request of 'Whatever Lola Wants.'" He smiled as the band readied to play. Jacob thought he was being sneaky. He was setting me up. Smiling as I figured out his plan, I got up from our table and strutted down to the middle of the dance floor. There I waited. I was ready to dance, now. I would push aside how Jacob and I were closer than I expected to be – but for one song.

The bandeon began to play notes that were familiar to my ears. The rest of the band and the singer followed suit. Music saturated the air as I continued to remain in the center as couples interpreted the tango around me. Slowly, I was losing hope as I began to look like a fool. But then hope was restored when I felt the gentle tapping on my shoulder; I swirled around.

"Would you care to dance with me?" he asked charmingly.

I couldn't speak; I was flabbergasted in his sight. I felt the shock of his smooth hands on my exposed back. . "Edward…"It was the only I could whisper as he took my body into the "abrazo."

"Don't speak, just dance." He voice was rough, but intriguing with desire.

I did as I was told as I let Edward lead me all over the dance floor. My mind couldn't concentrate on anything but him. His handsome face smiled down on me, causing my face to flush with embarrassment. His hands were sending sensations through my body that I had forgotten were there; he was transforming me. In all of this, I forgot about Jacob, Alice, and anyone else. I could only see Edward. The only thing that resounded in my ears was the steady rhythm of the banda and the quickened pace of my heart. His emerald eyes bore into mine so that I couldn't look away. I felt like I was enchanted and like my feet were put under a spell so they moved as gracefully as his.

Every step he took was matched by mine. Left foot, step. Right foot, step. Sacada…

He switched my direction and I was still unable to gather a thought. His aroma invaded my senses, intoxicating me with his delicious scent. We side-stepped as the singer continued to croon the audience with her hypnotic lyrics.

"Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets."

"And silly girl, Edward wants you," Edward sung to me, changing the words.

Edward stopped dancing to trace along my hips, slowly, extracting a long breath from my lips. He rejoined my hands – smoothing his over my fingers. I trembled a little and he smirked; he knew exactly what he was doing to me. Two can play that game.

I crossed my left foot seductively in front of the right, while cocking my head mischievously to side. He smiled and placed his right hand dangerously low on my back. Before he could change direction again, I elevated my right foot, kicking it behind me, and situated behind Edward's right leg, coquettishly hooking around his toned calf. He copied by kicking his right leg between the middle of my two. Edward was daring. My heart rate was climbing as Edward and I started to tempt each other with various methods.

He pressed my chest into his causing my breath to catch. "So, I see you received my flowers," he muttered.

"Flowers?" I said breathlessly.

I looked into his piercing eyes – swirling pools of lovat green and blue. "Freesia – what you smelled like when you were over."

"I always get what I aim for

And your heart and soul is what I came for"

That's when my mind recalled the very moment I got the first batches of flowers: roses and freesia. And Jacob gave me a bouquet of roses today. "You wrote me the note?"

The song finished up and he pulled away from me, creating space between us. "Good night, Miss Swan." He nodded and shuffled off of the dance floor.

"Wait," I called but he was already lost to me amongst the sea of heads. I navigated the crowded floor when my phone vibrated and I saw Alice. She was at the bar, looking clearly intrigued by Jasper.

"Bella, where are you going?" She asked. Jasper was wearing the same odd expression she was.

"I'll be back, Alice," I assured.

The text message was from Jacob: SOMETHING CAME UP. I'M SORRY. Great, so he wasn't coming back and I was chasing Edward.

I pushed my way through the heavy club doors, stumbling out into the Seattle nightlife. Cars zoomed by illuminating the street as I frantically searched for Edward. Where could he have gone so fast? I saw a dark figure walking swiftly down the street.

"Edward!" I yelled, but the figure didn't respond, but I knew it was him. I had to hike up my dress just to pick up enough speed to even keep up with him. Several times, I stumbled but I always kept running. Running for him. He was right there; I could just reach out and grab him. "Edward."

"Miss Swan," he muttered. "Where's Jacob?" He slowed his pace, but continued to walk.

"Wait? What?"

He stopped abruptly and wheeled around to look at me. "Jacob, your date?" he snarled as he held the bridge of his noise. Half of his face was lit by the streetlamp.

"He had something come up," I rushed out. "But what does that matter? Why would you send me flowers and not tell me until now?"

"Because…"

"Because what?" I asked, while trying to get him to look at me. "What?!" He just closed his eyes and didn't speak. "Edward, Talk to ME!" I pushed his shoulder.

"What do you want me to say," he uttered through a controlled voice. "I'm sorry?"

"Sorry for what? What were you sorry about?"

"For causing all this! For making you upset and feel undesirable…I didn't want this to happen…" he trailed off, talking mostly to himself.

"Edward, what are you talking about?" I crossed my arms.

"You! I'm talking about you!" He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "Everything you do…" – his voice lowered – "It drives me crazy. I can't dance with you, be next to you, talk to you, without thinking…without thinking what could have been. I was going to apologize…for the lesson. I reacted badly…horribly." Tears welled in my eyes. "But then there was Jacob and…and Tanya. God, they just complicated things."

"What are…what are you saying, Edward?" I choked out. My leg shook in anticipation. I wiped my nose and re-crossed my arms sheltering myself from what he is about to say.

"I want you. I love you." He came towards me trying to encompass me with his warmth, but I shrugged him off.

"No. No, you don't," I spat out, shaking my head. "That lesson…you…turned me down," I whispered.

"It was for your own good. I had a job and a position to uphold…"

"Position? Is that all you think about? Did you care enough about your position the first time you kissed me," I broke. "Or when…when I was at your home. Or was all that part of the job description? Why didn't you tell me it was for my own good when I was at your place three weeks ago?"

"I couldn't. I couldn't do it. I…I'm sorry. But then I saw you and Jacob and you seemed to have moved on so I didn't say anything." His eyes were hurt and struggling.

This was becoming too much for my poor heart to handle. "All this talk…about jobs, and…it is like we don't have a choice." I barely squeaked out the last phrase.

"Bella…"He came back towards me and firmly held my chin so I was forced to look into his eyes. "But, we do have a choice. I have already made my decision. It's time for you to make yours." He continued to stare me in the eyes. "Forget about Tanya. Forget Jacob. Forget me! What do you want?"

I shook my head, releasing my chin from his grasp. "Edward…don't. Don't do this. Not now." I looked away from his prying eyes.

"If not now, when? When, Bella? What do you wish?" He secured his hand on my shoulder, rotating me back to his face.

"I…I don't know," I mumbled.

"That's not an answer. What do you want, Bella?" he pressed. "Bella?"

"I don't know!" I cried, throwing up my hands in exasperation. "You can't just spring into my life and expect me to change in a heartbeat! What happened on the dance floor was fun, yes. But happens when you leave again, Edward? What happens to that moment? Does it stay a dream? A little interval in time? When it is going to be real? When is all of this," I gestured toward us, "going to be real? For me?" I voice broke several times.

Edward breathed heavily, pacing a small section of sidewalk. I could feel tiny drops of rain slowly drizzle down. "I don't know, yet. But you have to be able to try…"

"I have TRIED! You can't tell me I haven't. Edward, you're the one sneaking around sending anonymous flowers and snooping in the back of clubs watching me. I have been nothing but nice to you, Edward. Even if we were just friends."

"FRIENDS!" He laughed darkly. "Do friends try to get a rise out of another – to stir up trouble? Weren't there already enough problems as it was? That little stunt with Tanya was unnecessary."

"She deserved it," I mumbled.

"Bella, you can't go around hurting people for your own enjoyment or retaliation, playing games with people's emotions."

"Yeah, but you can…leading me on and then cutting me off?"

"I apologize for that. But dang, when is enough, enough? I'm real, Bella and I'm standing right in front of you. I just professed my love for you and…you think this is another dream?"

I didn't answer him and he groaned in frustration. The rain fell heavier. His shirt stuck to his body, outlining his muscular chest while my dress clung to my fair skin causing me to shiver, but not from the cold rain. His fingers grazed my arms trailing up to caress my moist cheeks.

"Bella…" he whispered softly in my ear. His lips fell violently on mine – not the way Camden's did. Edward's were fueled by agony and desperation to make me see his point. I responded back hungrily as I broke up inside. I felt my arms snaked around his neck straining his body closer to mine. His chest pressed into mine creating a temporary warm. I could taste the salty tears that fell from my eyes mingle between our lips. His lips pulled away, leaving me empty again. "When you have woken up, you know where to find me," he whispered as he hands dropped from mine. He turned away from me and advanced down the street.

"Edward," I spoke, but my voice was lost in the rain, and my only companion was the sound of the rain and the cars splashing along the road.

My arms enveloped my torso as my body rocked with tremors as I let the most wonderful guy I ever met walk away from me. I was paralyzed to this dreadful spot. Fresh new tears pooled from my eyes. I let him go. I continued to watch him walk down the street in the rain with his hands thrust into his pockets. His shoulders were hunched.

I wish I had the energy to go after him. But, my heart was conflicted, hindering my legs from moving from their place.

"Bella?" Alice called to me. I turned around to see her approaching me with her bright umbrella. "What are doing out in the rain?"

Her questions had no depth to it – not compared to the questions Edward had asked me. She looked at me. The rain was falling hard enough that the tears resembled innocent rain drops. I looked back in the direction Edward was walking, but he had disappeared beneath the curtain of nature's shower. Alice followed my gaze, trying to comprehend the complex situation.

"Come on, Bella, let's get you home, before you catch a cold," Alice stated as she drew my soak and dazed body under her umbrella.

Okay, well as you can see the drama has heightened. What do you think?? I almost cried during this chapter. It's sad. Ugh, review.

Read, Review, Inspire! Keep it REAL!