Disclaimer: Own nothing.

Sorry for the delay again. The next chapter should be up within the next week, though. I know you guys want me to get into the action, but you gotta be patient! There's some foreshadowing in this...vaguely. The better part of the foreshadowing is definitely in the next chapter (which will be up soon, I promise!). I appreciate all the reviews. Sorry if I didn't get to respond to all of them yet. I will try to.

The world moves faster than I knew
Not fast enough to not creep up on you
And the space we put between
So pull me under your weather patterns

-Something Corporate, "Hurricane"

After the conclusion of the game, we stayed at the lounge still. Emmett ordered us a couple rounds of shots. After four and a vodka tonic, I insisted I sit out. Emmett shrugged.

"Your loss, kiddo."

I took a seat on the couch with Jasper, who for the whole night remained relatively silent. As I fell back into the seat, my head pounded and I felt light-headed. I was extremely relieved I was sitting at the moment. If not, I would have guaranteed the room would have been spinning.

"That's the alcohol kicking in," Jasper informed me.

I had never been drunk before. It was a new experience for me. Drinking is more a social activity for high school students, or else it's considered borderline alcoholism. People don't sit at home on a Wednesday night with a tumbler full of scotch over their physics homework at 17. Pot was different. I could go out and chief a bowl with the stoner kids during lunch if the mood ever struck me. They didn't harass me and didn't ask questions. It was chill.

Coupled with the beers from earlier and my usual lack of drinking, I was definitely feeling it. I could tell I had a low tolerance compared with the rest of the party animals from the way that Jasper snickered at my current state.

"I thought you didn't drink," I slurred.

"Kid, just 'cause I don't drink now doesn't mean I haven't. However, I did not get drunk off of five shots. Buzzed maybe but definitely not drunk."

"I had two beers during the game," I protested.

He laughed.

"Like over an hour ago and over the course of two hours. But hey, whatever floats your boat."

I crossed my arms and sighed in a fit of melodrama.

"Remember, though, Cullen, game time's in a few hours. Get yourself sober by then, or else you'll be losing more than a pretty penny."

He tapped his watch and got up. He walked over to Rosalie and slipped an arm around her waist. In her drunken, horny state, she instantly latched onto his lips. With a quick wink to Emmett, he took her hand and began leading her off somewhere.

Moments later, Bella plopped down next to me.

"And so we meet again, Edward."

"I suppose we do."

"Was big brother Jasper giving you a little lecture?"

What was her deal with Jasper?

"Uh, do you not like Jasper?"

She laughed hysterically like it was the funniest thing I could have ever said.

"Are you fucking serious?"

I just stared at her.

"…Yes?"

"I fucking love the guy. I tease you since I see he's taken you under his wing. It's just so Jasper of him."

"I don't even know what the fuck that means."

Oh shit. Did I say that aloud? That was definitely intended solely for my head. So tonight I've learned I have a shitty verbal filter when I drink.

"Well, Jas is just so…I don't know…parental."

I would definitely not describe him like that.

My face must have given away my thoughts. Either that or I had lost my filter again.

"Well, not a parent in that sense. But he's responsible in every sense except gambling. I mean, better than if Emmett decided to be your mentor."

We turned our heads to find Emmett. At that very moment, he had just taken a shot from a very busty woman's cleavage and began dancing around the room in some sort of strange straw hat that he apparently had obtained in the last ten minutes. Both of us burst out laughing.

"See what I mean? Em's great and fucking fun. Not to mention hilarious. But he'll get crazy and lose all his inhibitions. I foresee that in the next hour or so."

"Bella! C'mere!"

She looked to find Brody shouting at her from across the room gesturing for her to come join him.

Well, I know what that means. Time for the cocaine.

She gave me a quick wave and hopped up out of the seat. I felt my stomach sink again.

Why the fuck does it keep doing that?

I had actually spoken with the girl today, and it pained me to see some a charming girl throw herself away to such an awful habit. Alice soon joined me on the couch. I suspected since her boyfriend had ditched her to go snort coke.

"Hi."

She sounded a bit dejected.

"How are you doing, Alice?"

"I'm fine. Great."

She sounded wistful.

"What's wrong?"

"Well, I just get so bored at these things, you know? They get so old, so fast. I like to keep a fast-paced life. Everyone else just wants to party."

Oh so maybe she wasn't upset that Brody had left but rather, was upset we weren't doing anything life-threatening? What the fuck? I don't understand these people.

I just stared at her. She didn't seem to notice my lack of response. She appeared too antsy to pay attention to anything else. She just shifted uncomfortably back and forth in the seat while flicking her eyes around the room. I don't think a single part of her body was still.

"I wonder where Rosalie is. I want to fucking peace."

I think she said it more for her benefit rather than mine.

"I saw her and Jasper wander off in full hook-up mode."

Her shoulders slumped, and she groaned.

"Fuck, we're never going to leave now until Rosalie gets at least five orgasms."

I raised a questioning eyebrow.

"It shouldn't take that long. Jasper's managed to get her off in seconds several a-times."

I really don't want to hear this shit. I'm pretty sure my ears are bleeding right now.

Impulsively, I touched my left ear and examined my fingers as if they could actually be covered in blood. I attributed it to my drunken state.

"Well, since we're going to be here for a bit longer, let's have some fun, Edward."

She got up and pulled me up from my seat towards a waitress carrying a tray full of shots. She grabbed two off and handed one to me. I took it despite what the sober half of my brain told me. I felt the slight burn as the Grey Goose slid down my throat.

"Let's dance," she said brightly.

Alice pulled me into the center of the room, but rather than dancing in the usual club manner, she pulled me into a swing dance. She grabbed both of my hands. The swing classes Esme dragged me to actually seemed to have some kind of use. She started off with a Balboa-type dance and switched it to the Jitterbug. Everyone stared at us as we danced ridiculously. I felt myself laughing, and Alice giggled uncontrollably. We continued at it for awhile. Finally, Rosalie and Jasper returned. He raised his eyebrows and chuckled appreciatively.

He came over and pulled me away from Alice.

"Are you sober enough, kid?"

I nodded.

Liar.

"Well, we are leaving in a bit. Game time is around 12:30 tonight again at Aro's."

As midnight rolled around, we slowly stared crashing. Jasper rounded everyone up and made sure to do a quick head count. It reminded me of a field trip from elementary school. Once he seemed content with everyone's current states, he ushered everyone out of the bar. He hailed everyone cabs and shoved them into them giving directions to the cab drivers. I recognized Abbott and the Range Rover pull up last, and Jasper helped me up into the car. At this point, I was sobering up.

Jasper reached underneath the seat and grabbed his messenger from under it. He didn't say anything to me. He just gave me a hard stare and inspected my face probably making sure I wasn't too trashed or anything. He appeared satisfied with my level of alcohol intoxication and pulled out his phone to check his messages and the time. The car came to a halt, and Jasper shoved me out.

I hadn't really gotten a good glimpse of the exterior yesterday considering that I was knocked unconscious when they brought me there and when we left, I was fearful of the police. It seemed quite ordinary. Like a place that you would probably walk by everyday without ever noticing. I guess that was the point. They probably didn't want to attract a lot of attention. We walked inside, and a girl pointed us back. Everyone had already arrived. I recognized a few faces of people from yesterday. As we approached the poker table, Jasper slung the bag from off his shoulder. He handed Aro my envelope and his own plastic bags filled with cash. After inspecting it, we were given chips and seats at the table.

We played in relative silence. I don't think I had really heard anyone speak for a good two hours. Both Jasper and I were doing relatively well. Landon however was having a bad night. He kept running his hand through his hair and grimacing. I watched his pile shrink and his frustration grow. Around three in the morning, Aro received a call.

"Yeah?"

Pause.

"Now? It wasn't supposed to come until tomorrow morning."

Another longer pause.

"Fuck. Alright, fine. I'll see you in ten."

He hung up and slipped his phone away.

"Okay, boys, despite how wonderful this night was, I'm going to have to put an end to the fun. We have business to attend to. Jane, clear this up in the next two minutes."

The woman nodded, and she immediately began counting. She handed me my money and placed it in the manila envelope I brought. Jasper took his and shoved it into the bag. Landon had barely any money to receive. Aro gave Jasper a hard look, and I swore I saw him flinch.

"Okay. We gotta leave. They want us out."

Alice rounded everyone up, and we left the building. We walked a few blocks to find cabs going uptown. I found out we were in Nolita. Once I got into Jasper's car, I took out my money and counted it. I had $12,500.

At least I came out in the positive side.

"How did you do?" I asked Jasper.

"$13,000."

"Well, you beat me. I had $12,500."

"Still good for a rookie."

He gave me a pat on the back. I felt proud. I didn't know why, but for some reason, I yearned for Jasper's respect. It made me feel important and most of all, accepted.

"Am I dropping you off home, or are you going to crash at my place."

I glanced at my watch and checked the time. It was a little past 3:30.

"I'm not sure my parents would appreciate me showing up this late. Your house, I guess?"

"Sounds good. I'll tell Abbott."

He rolled down the divider and said a few words to the old man before shutting it again.

"It's good to have you around, kid."