Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 13

Bella

Well wasn't this all just lovely?

Why hadn't I realized sooner that something like this would happen? And by 'something like this', I of course was referring to Mike bombarding me in the midst of Edward temporarily leaving my side. Not to mention Tanya crashing the party.

After deducing that there was no way she'd be invited to this party, it should've obvious that she would decide to crash. I only wondered why I hadn't figured that out sooner.

And as if that wasn't bad enough, the outfit she'd decided to throw on was certainly... attention-grabbing. Tanya's strawberry-blonde hair had been organised into a messyupdo, while she wore a black, skin-tight dress that barely arrived below her ass. With matching stilettos, of course.

I rolled my eyes, knowing the minute Alice spotted Tanya, this was not going to end well for her.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by a probing voice.

"So?" Mike inquired, baby blue eyes burning into mine. However, the sensation that came along with him looking into my eyes like that wasn't pleasant, wasn't Edward-like, it was more shudder-inducing to say the least.

I tried to act casual about the fact that I hadn't been paying attention to whatever boring topic Mike had been blabbering about. In fact, to be entirely honest, my attention had been entirely focused on Tanya, currently chatting up some senior, while Rosalie was giving her the sharpest glare I'd ever seen worn on her beautiful face. She and I both wanted nothing more than for Tanya to be out of here before Alice could take notice of her.

"Sorry, I didn't catch that? The music's pretty loud," I spoke over the not-so-loud music making a few of the couples around me cast me weird looks. I almost giggled at myself. The things I was willing to do all to make Mike Newton go away.

He coughed, obviously a bit wary of my sanity, as I raised my eyebrows at him, in an almost challenging way.

Mike coughed once more, speaking up, "Umm, wanna dance? Or I don't know… maybe even, go somewhere a little more private?" Mike's voice lowered at the end, as he stepped closer to me, shooting me what I assumed to be a sultry look. It, however, resembled more the look of someone who'd had a brain aneurysm.

Up until then, I hadn't focused on the fact that Mike's speech was slurred. Come to think of it, I hadn't noticed that his breath smelled faintly of alcohol until he was close enough that I could practically taste it. Though that would explain the red cup in his hand containing a clear liquid. Vodka, most likely. Where the hell had he acquired that? I knew for a fact that Alice had prohibited alcohol specifically because she didn't want to have to deal with messy drunks. Case in point: Mike Newton.

"Mike, I think-" I was cut off by the feel of his breath on my face, as he leaned in closer towards me. Then, mental sirens started going off in my head when I saw his hand fumbling, reaching for my waist.

Oh no, you don't.

I pushed him forcefully away from me, "Mike."

Unsurprisingly, I wasn't getting my point across successfully. He frowned at the distance between us, stepping closer, and raising his light eyebrows at me.

"Why are you trying to fight this?" he slurred, grabbing my waist with much more force this time around. I really didn't want to make a scene, but the guy was pushing me over the edge.

In the process of debating forsaking all semblance of manners, a moment later, I realized that it wasn't necessary.

I felt Mike being pulled away from me from the collar of his shirt, feeling the air rush out of me as my eyes met a pair of guarded-looking emerald ones. Seeing Edward's jaw locked, his hand in a vice grip around the back of Mike's neck - well, it was certainly a new look on him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Edward growled through clenched teeth as he dropped Mike's collar, but not before giving the smaller boy a purposeful shove.

I hadn't ever seen that level of anger or distaste on Edward's face before, and I realised quickly that this confrontation could turn ugly fast if I didn't step in. After all, it was because of me that this was even happening.

Despite all couples surrounding us enjoying their slow dance, entirely too busy to take notice of anything happening between Edward and Mike, I knew that the moment someone started bleeding, everyone would suddenly get involved. And I absolutely did not want Edward bleeding on my watch.

Mike cowered away from Edward's glare, thinking up some feeble excuse as to why he was putting the moves on me. Then he said something that I didn't think he'd meant to say, what with the alcohol impairing his executive functions.

"Bella isn't even your girlfriend, man. I'm allowed to talk to her," Mike mumbled out, apparently making the wrong choice of words apparently.

Edward's entire body grew rigid, and admittedly as much as this was a major turn-on for me – seeing him protective like this - I needed to intervene.

"Edward," I placed a hand onto his right arm, redirecting his attention to me as I spoke softly and gently. His head tilted down towards mine, immediately relaxing at the sight.

I pleaded with my eyes for him to let this thing with Mike go, and though it took a full minute, Edward's shoulders eventually slumped as he slowly turned himself away from retriever-boy.

"I suggest that you leave. Now," Edward flashed his eyes towards Mike blankly, who finally managed to take a hint that he wasn't wanted here, scurrying away. Unfortunately, in his haste, he happened to spill the majority of his drink on Lauren, earning a ferocious slap in the face and a few choice words.

I guessed Karma really was a bitch.

Edward's attention turned towards me almost immediately as he walked forward, closing the distance between us. "Are you okay?" he looked concerned, as if Mike had hit me with a sledgehammer. I cracked a smile at how adorable he looked when he was worried, with his dark brows furrowed, his pale forehead creasing, and finally his lips turning downward into a frown.

"I'm fine," I answered, almost reaching for his hand, quickly stopping myself when I realized that Emmett was only a few feet away from us.

Edward noticed my hesitation, backing up a little but still looking worried about my health. I wanted to elaborate on the fact that I really was alright, but I couldn't at that moment because both of our heads snapped towards a loud, angry screech which had sounded from the middle the dancefloor.

Everyone at the party quickly started forming a circle around I-don't-know-what, causing me and Edward to share a look with one another. We both searched for our friends, breathing a sigh of relief when we spotted each of them in the crowd around what I assumed to be a catfight. All of them looked beyond amused at whatever it was that was going down.

"Tanya, I told you to stay away from my boyfriend!" I heard someone shriek, before I heard another scream.

Ahhh, my head cleared. Tanya had once again striked.

I heard the sound of fabric ripping, and the crowd gasping.

I wanted to get out of there. The party was starting to exhaust me, and it had barely just begun.

Edward turned towards me, practically reading my mind, "Do you want to go inside?" I tried not to nod too eagerly, making him smile before leading me away from the noise of the dancefloor.

He pulled me gently upstairs, and I started to feel my heartbeat accelerate as I realized that this would be the first time I was ever going into Edward's room.

His was located further down the hallway from Alice's, marked with a single wooden 'E' hanging on the centre.

He opened the door, and I tried not to act too surprised at what I saw when I entered. An entire wall to the right of his room was dedicated to books, CDs, tapes, records – you name it – while a stereo system was sat neatly next to it. His room was painted a light blue, and spacious with its high ceilings and larger than life windows.

A single desk containing an iMac and a few scattered books was placed to the right of his room, facing us, while a bed was to my left, along with a closet which was built into the left wall. There was a TV at the foot of his bed, mounted on a white, glass, shelved table.

The hardwood floors were smooth and I noticed a few rugged carpets scattered about the room. Everything about this space was Edward. It complemented him.

"What do you think?" I'd forgotten that he was standing right next to me as I absorbed my surroundings, and I smiled, nodding up at him. "I love it," he seemed pleased at my answer, shutting the door behind him.

We were still holding hands, and I grinned when I felt him tug me towards him so that we were both face-to-face. "Are you sure you're okay? I'm still tempted to find Newton and -" I noted a far-away expression flash momentarily across Edward's face as he cut himself off.

"I'm perfectly fine," I reassured him, trying to ease his worries. His face still remained concerned, so I decided to provide an explanation.

"He didn't do anything, really. Plus, I kind of expected him to pull something like that. He's so persistent, and he just wasn't accepting the fact that he isn't my type," I let out an exasperated sigh, making Edward raise his eyebrows.

He chuckled, "And what exactly is your type, Miss Swan?"

I blushed at his choice of words, but was happy to have distracted him from being so focused on Mike Newton.

His smile grew wider when he saw my face heat up, "Hmm, well, someone tall, incredibly handsome, intelligent. He has to have green eyes that I love looking into, messy bronze hair, a perfect smile, soft lips…"

I left the sentence hanging, looking up at Edward.

Then I watched as Edward's lips captured mine in the most heart-racing embrace we'd ever shared. He pulled me towards him, as close as he possibly could, so that our bodies melted into each other. My hands wound around his neck, and my fingers found their way into his always-soft, copper-toned hair.

It was Heaven.

"Did I mention you how amazing you look tonight?" he said, looking dazed as we broke away, panting. I couldn't help but giggle, and nod, pulling him in for another kiss. He gladly responded, moving his lips eagerly against mine. It was a heated, excited kiss – unlike any other one we'd ever shared. All of our other kisses beforehand had been gentle and soft, and expressive. This one was equally expressive, just in a different way.

"Bella?" he asked the second time we broke away, after catching his breath.

We'd moved to his bed, and I was sitting on his lap while his chin was resting on my shoulder. "Hmm?" I answered, a little distracted while playing with his hands, tracing the lines of his palm.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" I froze, hands still on his own, in a state of disbelief that he'd finally asked a question I'd been dying to hear for ages now.

Edward mistook my silence for rejection, "I figured it'd be too soon to ask. I just had to, because honestly, it killed me when I couldn't oppose what Mike said. I understand if you want some more time, of course, but I just –"

"Yes," I cut him off, turning in his hold to face him. My expression was serious, but I hoped that my eyes showed how excited and euphoric I felt after hearing that he wanted me to be his girlfriend.

His emerald eyes looked startled at my interruption, and I could tell that he hadn't been expecting that.

"What?" he breathed, fighting back a smile – probably just in the event he'd misheard me.

"Yes, I'd love to be your girlfriend," I stated, feeling my smile growing wider and wider by the second. "I've wanted to be your girlfriend since our first date."

"Well, I've wanted to be your boyfriend since the day I met you, so," he said through a grin, before instantly and seamlessly our lips crashed to each other. My hands went to Edward's neck, lightly drawing him closer to me – as close as he could possibly get. He couldn't exactly move me in my position since I was sitting across his lap, but he still held onto my waist as tightly as he humanly could.

Our lips moved rapidly against one another, in sync. At this moment, I felt like kissing Edward wasn't enough to describe how incredibly over-the-moon I was about this. My lips were already starting to feel swollen from all the kissing, but I didn't care right now. I wanted to be with my boyfriend.

My heart skipped a beat, as I had a revelation. I could finally call Edward my boyfriend. The thought, of course, made me smile against Edward's lips, making him smile back.

I couldn't believe that he'd wanted to ask me all of this time. Alice and Rose had been right, after all. I'd been completely wrong in my thinking that he hadn't wanted exclusivity.

I was feeling myself getting out of breath, but we both kept going, not wanting to break this moment. This bliss.

But even though we didn't want to break away, something else did. Someone else did.

It sounded like a strangled gasp, before we actually heard words, "What the fuck?"

I didn't even need to look up to see that it was Emmett.

A string of profanities immediately entered my mind, as me and Edward broke away from each other. This was not happening. This was not happening. I couldn't believe that this was happening. This was exactly what I'd wanted to avoid.

I was practically hyperventilating as we separated, standing a foot apart. Edward noticed how flustered I looked, and inconspicuously reached for my hand, rubbing soothing circles into it. They helped, if only a little.

I chanced a glance at Emmett, who was still standing at the doorway, feeling the colour immediately drain from my face. He was pissed. I'd never seen him look so furious, especially not at me. His face was red, borderline purple, and his hands were balled up into fists, making his already bulging muscles that much more prominent and intimidating.

"I can explain," I started, but I couldn't think of anything else to say. What could I say? 'I'm sorry I'm dating your best friend'?

"You can explain? I don't even want to hear what you have to say. Because frankly, I don't care. I can't even look at you right now," Emmett stated, more like seethed. I felt a sharp prickling behind my eyes, already feeling them fill. I wasn't looking at him, but I could practically feel his glare on me. And it wasn't pleasant in the slightest.

I felt Edward go stiff beside me, and I tried to squeeze his hand and tell him that it was okay. But he wasn't going to let this one go.

"Emmett, I don't care if she's your sister, she doesn't deserve to be spoken to like that. Like she's committed some kind of crime. If you want to let your anger out, let it out on me," Edward said clearly, boldly. I tried to keep the tears at bay, but I could already feel them silently spilling out. He was standing up for me, against my brother and his best friend no less.

Emmett obviously didn't feel the same way about Edward's actions as I did. He wasn't impressed.

"You're right," he simply stated, before he did something that I couldn't have anticipated, and apparently neither could Edward.

In the next instant, I heard the sound of a sharp blow as Emmett's fist connected with Edward's jaw, causing him to lose his balance from the impact and fall back. I heard a loud cry, only realizing a minute later that I was the one who'd let it out.

Edward was on the floor, adjusting into a seated position, wincing slightly. I practically dropped to my knees, already seeing the tell-tale signs of a black and blue forming on his cheek.

Tears were flowing freely down my face now, and I shouted at Emmett, "Emmett, how could you?! He's your best friend!"

My brother only seemed to have the patience to shake his head at me, "Best friends don't kiss each other's sisters behind their backs." He practically spat the words out.

Then he said, without looking at either of us, "Let's go, Bella." His face was expressionless. I felt like a snake had been wrapped around my torso, constricting and constricting. I was practically gasping for air.

"No, I'm not leaving," I said without looking at Emmett, my eyes trained on Edward. He wasn't saying anything, wasn't doing anything. Then he reached up and started wiping my tears away with his thumb, looking pained. As if it hurt him to see me cry. "Go," he whispered, urging me to follow Emmett out.

I shook my head, "I can't leave you like this." I tried to stop the tears, but I just couldn't. It was my fault that Emmett had gotten upset. It was my fault that Edward had gotten hurt in the process. Things would've been so much easier if I hadn't been so terrified to tell my brother what was going on from the beginning. This was exactly what I'd been afraid of, all along.

Edward smiled, squeezing my hand, before releasing it, "I'll be fine. It's just a bruise." His emerald eyes burned into mine, and I couldn't read the emotion in them. It was unfamiliar, but it gave me comfort at the same time.

I kissed his cheek gently, as if that one touch could cure all the pain I had caused. Then I looked at him one last time, "Goodbye."

He didn't say anything to that. He just looked into my eyes, as if telling me that this wasn't goodbye for him.

My heart broke with each step I took away from him. I felt numb, like the shock of this entire thing had taken over my body. I couldn't do this. I couldn't not be with him.

He was my everything. Without Edward, I couldn't be complete, couldn't be me. But Emmett wouldn't get that. He wouldn't ever see that, and I wondered as I walked away from my everything, what the hell was I going to do?

A/N: Do you guys hate me yet? I personally hated this chapter. I tried to fit so many things in. The part with Tanya wasn't really necessary, but I didn't want her appearance in the last chapter to be completely irrelevant, so I decided to just add in that little bit.

Send me your thoughts!

This was a really hard chapter to write, so please tell me what you thought?

Xoxo

LoveACullen