A/N Thanks to you who have sent me reviews. I appreciate them. Still don't own Twilight, but I'd be one lucky girl if I did.
Bella POV
Later that evening I was getting ready in our hotel room for the night out at the karaoke bar Alice had planned. I was currently taking a hot shower washing all the chlorine off from today's pool visit. A smile came to my face as I remembered Edward throwing me in the pool. I was outraged at first that he would do that to me, but it was still fun to be picked up and tossed in so effortlessly. Edward must be extremely strong because he made it seem like he was picking up a sack of potatoes instead of a hundred and ten pound girl.
I hopped out of the shower and wrapped the towel around me before padding back into the bedroom. Alice was waiting on me with clothes in her hand.
She had joined us later that day by the pool after she finished looking at everything with Esme. Alice was positively raving about the store and everything she would get to do as part of her job. I'm not sure if she had officially told Esme that she wanted to work at this location, but I'm pretty sure that she will before we leave to go back to Washington.
I was happy for her getting this chance at a job that would lead her in the direction of her dream. Although, I had to admit that I didn't like the idea of not being able to see Alice all the time. As good of a friend as Angela was, Alice was still my best friend and hated the idea of us being separated by such a large distance.
Of course, I could always work on my writing from any location. I wonder how Edward would feel if I decided to stay here. We had a great relationship, but he might think of this as a summer fling. As soon as Alice thought of the idea of dating someone while we're vacationing here, I had thought of it as a summer fling. Being with Edward though, it just didn't feel like a fling to me. It felt right and I hoped that he felt the same way. I pushed those thoughts aside though because Alice had begun to tap her foot impatiently waiting on me to say something.
"Okay, what will I be wearing tonight, Alice?" I asked.
"Glad you finally asked," Alice replied. "I have some dark washed skinny jeans for you with an emerald green baby doll shirt. You know that I would prefer if you wear heels with it, but I'll let you pick out your shoes tonight since you're not arguing too much over the clothes."
"Thank you, Alice," I almost sang to her.
She left the room so I could get dressed for the evening. After putting on the outfit she picked out, I browsed through the shoes I had available to me. I didn't want to wear heels because I'm a walking disaster in those deathtraps on my feet. I pulled out some black ballet flats that would be cute with the outfit and comfortable to walk in.
Alice came barging into the room at that moment with Rosalie. They dragged me back into the bathroom where they began doing my hair and makeup. A few minutes later they finished and stood me up in front of the mirror for me to see what I looked like. They had done a wonderful job on me. The makeup that was applied was light but highlighted features such as my eyes and lips. My hair was perfectly curled and allowed to hang down my back.
"What do you think?" Rosalie asked.
"Wow, I think you guys did a great job," I told them.
"Thanks, now let's get going," Alice said. "We need to meet the guys down by the pool."
Alice looked over at Rosalie who was wearing the outfit she purchased from Walmart. "I still can't believe you found something that would look that good on you from Walmart," she said with a shake of her head.
Rosalie shrugged, "It wasn't easy, but at least I'm fulfilling the dare."
We walked out of the hotel room with Jasper who had been waiting in the living room for us to finish getting ready. Alice linked her arm through Jasper's on the way down to the pool. I faintly wondered what the two of them were planning on doing when the vacation was over.
We arrived at the pool to see a waiting Edward and Emmett. Rosalie rushed forward to Emmett and he picked her up and swung her around while somehow maintaining a passionate kiss. I looked over at Edward, who was looking as gorgeous as ever. He had on some black pants with an emerald green button down shirt which he had rolled the sleeves up to his elbows on. I looked at his shirt and then at my dress and realized that Alice had matched us perfectly.
Edward walked over and gave me a chaste kiss before holding my arms out to the sides. "You look beautiful," he said.
"She made us match," I said with a smile.
"When I arrived back home, I saw the clothes laid out on my bed with a note attached saying to wear it tonight," Edward explained. "I guess somewhere along the way this morning, Alice went shopping and left it there before coming to the pool."
"So will we all fit in one vehicle?" I asked.
"Well, even if we could," Edward began, "I drove my car that way we could leave at any time we choose tonight."
"Brilliant thinking."
Edward placed a hand on the small of my back and ushered me toward where his silver Volvo was parked. Rosalie was already in Emmett's jeep, and Jasper and Alice were riding together in Jasper's rental car. Edward helped me into the passenger seat and closed the door before walking around to the driver's side and getting in.
Soon, we were on the way to the karaoke bar that Alice found. I wasn't really a big fan of karaoke, but I always tried to have fun at those kinds of places. I figured that being surrounded by so many friends and someone I love would mean that tonight might be even better than usual.
Once we arrived a few minutes later, Alice practically bounced through the door of the place. She immediately went up and put our names down to sing tonight while Jasper found a table that would accommodate all of us. The guys went to buy some drinks for all of us while we sat down.
When they arrived back to the table with our drinks, Rosalie's name was called to come up to the stage. Rosalie walked onto the stage like she owned it and waited for her song to start playing. The rest of us waited expectantly with the crowd in the bar to see how she would do. I heard the first familiar beats of "Barracuda" by Heart being played.
So this ain't the end -
I saw you again today
I had to turn my heart away
Smiled like the sun -
Kisses for real
And tales - it never fails!
You lying so low in the weeds
I bet you gonna ambush me
You'd have me down down down down on my knees
Now wouldn't you, barracuda?
Back over time we were all
Trying for free
You met the porpoise and me
No right no wrong, selling a song-
A name, whisper game.
If the real thing don't do the trick
You better make up something quick
You gonna burn burn burn burn it to the wick
Ooooooh, barracuda?
Sell me sell you the porpoise said
Dive down deep down to save my head
You...I think you got the blues too.
All that night and all the next
Swam without looking back
Made for the western pools - silly fools!
If the real thing don't do the trick
No, you better make up something quick
You gonna burn burn burn burn it to the wick
Ooooooohhhh, barra barracuda.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh.
Rosalie finished the song to hoots and hollers from everyone in the crowd.
"Wow, my Rose can sing," Emmett boasted. "And she didn't even go for some stupid pop song."
Rosalie came back to the table just as they called Alice's name. We all cheered as she went up to the stage and told the guy what she wanted to sing.
"Another classic song," Jasper said as the beginning of "Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks began. "At least you girls have good tastes."
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Whoo... whoo... whoo...
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
We watched as Alice did that weird arm flapping thing that Stevie Nicks did during the song.
"What's up with the arm flapping?" Emmett asked.
"I don't know," I replied. "Stevie Nicks always did that."
And the days go by...
Like a strand in the wind...
In the web that is my own...
I begin again
Said to my friend, baby...
Nothin' else mattered
He was no more... than a baby then
Well he... seemed broken hearted...
Something within him
But the moment... that I first laid...
Eyes... on... him... all alone...
On the edge of... seventeen
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
ooo baby... ooo... said ooo...
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
I went today... maybe I will go again...
Tomorrow
And the music there it was hauntingly...
Familiar
And I see you doing...
What I try to do for me
With the words from a poet...
And the voice from a choir
And a melody... nothing else mattered
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
The clouds... never expect it...
When it rains
But the sea changes colours...
But the sea...
Does not change
And so... with the slow... graceful flow...
Of age
I went forth... with an age old...
Desire... to please
On the edge of... seventeen
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
Well then suddenly...
There was no one... left standing
In the hall... yeah yeah...
In a flood of tears
That no one really ever heard fall at all
Oh I went searchin' for an answer...
Up the stairs... and down the hall
Not to find an answer...
Just to hear the call
Of a nightbird... singing...
Come away... come away...
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo... baby ooo... said ooo
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo... baby ooo... said ooo
Well I hear you in the morning...
And I hear you...
At nightfall...
Sometime to be near you...
Is to be unable... to hear you...
My love...
I'm a few years older than you...
Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...
Sounds like she's singing...
Ooo baby... ooo... said ooo
The crowd once again cheered for Alice when the song was over. She bounced back over to our table with a big smile on her face.
"You were great, baby," Jasper said giving her a kiss.
"Thanks," Alice replied. She turned to look at me," Okay, when Mike comes in, you and Rose are going on stage to sing a song that I picked out for the occasion."
I groaned, "Can't I pick my own songs out? And who says that Mike will even show up after Edward shoved him into the pool earlier today?"
"It was necessary to calm myself," Edward replied defensively.
"Hey, I'm still glad you did it," I offered. "Mike needed to cool off anyway."
"Don't worry, Bella," Alice began, "Mike is gullible enough to come tonight regardless of what happened this afternoon."
"Great," I said sarcastically. "So what song do I have to sing?"
"It's a surprise," Alice said with an evil glint in her eye.
"Hey babe," Emmett said to Rosalie, "let's go sing a song together."
"Sure," Rosalie said getting up to walk back up to the stage with Emmett.
I wondered what kind of song Emmett would pick out. I think he would go for something more recent. I saw him tell the guy what song he wanted, which Rosalie heard and gave a slight shake of her head. Emmett just wiggled his eyebrows at her with a huge smile on his face. This was going to be interesting. The dance beat of the song I didn't recognize at first, but Alice leaned over and told me that they were singing "Good Girls Go Bad" by Cobra Starship. Emmet started singing first.
I make them good girls go
I make them good girls go bad
I make them good girls go
I make them good girls go
Good girls so bad
Good girls go bad
I know your type
(Your type)
You're daddy's little girl
Just take a bite
(One bite)
Let me shake up your world
'Cause just one night couldn't be so wrong
I'm gonna make you lose control
She was so shy
Till I drove her wild
I make them good girls go bad
I make them good girls go bad
You were hanging in the corner
With your five best friends
You heard that I was trouble
But you couldn't resist
I make them good girls go bad
I make them good girls go
Good girls go bad
After the chorus was complete, Rosalie began singing the next verse of the song. They were both up there on stage dancing to the beat of the music. I think they were made for each other. She was the only person out of all of us that was able to keep Emmett in line at all times. He would do anything for her.
I know your type
(Your type)
Boy, you're dangerous
Yeah, you're that guy
(That guy)
I'd be stupid to trust
But just one night couldn't be so wrong
You make me wanna lose control
Emmett started singing again after Rosalie finished the verse. I had noticed that the chorus talked about being in a corner with five best friends. Ironically enough, all of us were seated at a table in a corner of the bar. I was surrounded by five people that were definitely growing into becoming best friends of mine. Everyone had their own personalities, but we all just seemed to click well together.
She was so shy
Till I drove her wild
I make them good girls go bad
I make them good girls go bad
Rosalie began singing again while dancing around stage with Emmett.
I was hanging in the corner
With my five best friends
I heard that you were trouble
But I couldn't resist
Emmett cut in at this point with pieces of the chorus.
I make them good girls go bad
I make them good girls go
Good girls go bad
Bad bad
Good girls go bad
Bad bad
Good girls go bad
Emmett began singing at a faster pace and started doing hand movements like a rapper would do.
Oh, she got away with the boys in the place
Treat 'em like they don't stand a chance
Rosalie sang again and began doing the same hand movements that Emmett was doing much to my surprise.
And he got away with the girls in the back
Acting like they're too hot to dance
Emmett seemed to be alternating verses with Rosalie according to the lyrics in the music.
Yeah, she got away with the boys in the place
Treat 'em like they don't stand a chance
Rosalie had the brightest smile I had ever seen on her face as she sang.
And he got away with the girls in the back
Acting like they're too hot to dance
Both of them joined in together singing at this point.
I make them good girls go bad
(They don't stand a chance)
I make them good girls go
make them good girls go
The good girls go bad, yeah
Good girls go bad
Rosalie started singing the chorus again and pointed her finger toward the table where the rest of us were sitting as she sang.
I was hanging in the corner
With my five best friends
I thought that you were trouble
But I couldn't resist
Emmett completed the rest of the chorus for Rosalie. He was funny up there trying to dance to the beat of the song and pretend to be a rapper even though the song wasn't exactly something you would ever catch a rapper singing.
I make them good girls go bad
I make them good girls go bad
I make them good girls go
Good girls go bad
Bad bad bad
Good girls go bad
Bad bad bad
Good girls go
I put my fingers in my mouth and whistled as they finished the song and took a bow on stage. Everyone was clapping, whistling, and yelling loudly in praise of their performance. I guess it was the best they had seen tonight.
Alice grabbed my arm and jerked her head in the direction of the door. I couldn't believe it, but Mike had actually turned up tonight at the bar. Edward saw where we were looking and a scowl came to his face. He really didn't like Mike, not that I would blame him.
Rosalie had just reached the table when Alice asked, "You don't mind going on stage with Bella for one more song do you?"
Rosalie followed our gaze to see Mike and smirked down at me, "Not at all."
I got up and walked toward the stage with Rosalie trailing behind. I wasn't sure what Alice had planned, but I'm pretty sure that Rosalie knew all about it. Rosalie walked up to the DJ and told him to play "I Kissed A Girl" by Katy Perry.
"Oh God," I said remembering why Alice might have chosen that song. "Are you singing with me?" I asked Rosalie.
"No, I'm here to make the performance better," she said grinning evilly. "Don't worry about a thing, Bella, just go with the flow."
"Easy for you to say," I grumbled.
The music began playing and I waited for the lyrics to scroll up on the screen in front of me. I knew the song fairly well, but I didn't want to make a fool of myself on stage. After all, Edward was watching me from our table. As soon as the first lines of the song appeared, I began singing.
This was never the way I planned, not my intention
I got so brave, drink in hand, lost my discretion
It's not what I'm used to, just wanna try you on
I'm curious for you caught my attention
I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Rosalie making an obvious display of putting chapstick on her lips.
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong, it felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it
I began getting more comfortable being on stage, and my performance probably showed it. I was swaying my hips to the beat, and decided that for Mike's benefit I would throw seductive smiles in Rosalie's direction. I made sure to glance around the room to find Mike on occasion. Every time I saw him, his mouth was open as if he was trying to catch flies. I think there might have been a puddle of drool by his feet.
No, I don't even know your name, it doesn't matter
You're my experimental game, just human nature
It's not what good girls do, not how they should behave
My head gets so confused, hard to obey
I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong, it felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it
Us girls we are so magical
Soft skin, red lips, so kissable
Hard to resist, so touchable
Too good to deny it
It ain't no big deal, it's innocent
I kissed a girl and I liked it
The taste of her cherry chapstick
I kissed a girl just to try it
I hope my boyfriend don't mind it
It felt so wrong, it felt so right
Don't mean I'm in love tonight
I kissed a girl and I liked it
I liked it
As soon as I finished the last bit of the song, Rosalie swooped over and kissed me right on the lips. I was too shocked to do anything but stand there. When she backed away, I gave her a shocked look and we walked off the stage toward the table we were sitting at.
"Did you get a look at Mike?" Rosalie asked me.
"No, where did he go?"
She just pointed toward the floor. Where Mike had once been standing watching the performance, he had apparently fainted at some point and was now laying on the floor.
"Wow," was all I could say.
When we arrived back at the table, everyone was cheering for our performance on stage. Edward looked a little dazed, however. I sat down next to him and asked, "Edward, are you okay?"
I watched him closely as he shook his head slightly before turning to look me directly in the eye. His eyes seemed to be smoldering. The next thing I knew, his lips were crashing into mine in front of everyone at our table.
We broke apart to cheers around the table. I looked away embarrassed, but Edward just had a smug look on his face.
"Not that I'm complaining," I said to Edward, "but what was that for?"
"You and Rosalie kissing was hot," he said somewhat shyly. I'm pretty sure that he might have had a tinge of pink on his cheeks.
"Guys, it's time for us to go up there," Jasper said.
"What are you singing?" I asked.
"You'll see," Edward replied with a wink.
All three of the guys went on the stage and waited for their song to begin playing. Alice, Rosalie, and I were all facing the stage waiting to see what they were planning to do. We laughed as we heard them start playing "Macho Man" by The Village People. The guys began dancing and alternating their singing to the music.
Body...wanna feel my body?
Body...such a thrill my body
Body...wanna touch my body?
Body...it's too much my body
Check it out my body, body.
Don't you doubt my body, body.
talkin' bout my body, body,
check it out my body
Every man wants to be a macho macho man
to have the kind of body, always in demand
Jogging in the mornings, go man go
works out in the health spa, muscles glow
You can best believe that, he's a macho man
ready to get down with, anyone he can
Hey! Hey! Hey, hey, hey!
Macho, macho man (macho man)
I've got to be, a macho man
Macho, macho man
I've got to be a macho! Ow....
Macho, macho man
I've got to be, a macho man
Macho, macho man (yeah, yeah)
I've got to be a macho!
Body, its so hot, my body,
Body, love to pop my body,
Body, love to please my body,
Body, don't you tease my body,
Body, you'll adore my body,
Body, come explore my body,
Body, made by God, my body,
Body, it's so good, my body
You can tell a macho, he has a funky walk
his western shirts and leather, always look so boss
Funky with his body, he's a king
call him Mister Eagle, dig his chains
You can best believe that, he's a macho man
likes to be the leader, he never dresses grand
Hey! Hey! Hey, hey, hey!
Macho, macho man
I've got to be, a macho man
Macho, macho man
I've got to be a macho! (all right)
Macho, macho man (yeah, yeah)
I've got to be, a macho man
Macho, macho man
I've got to be a macho! All Right!
Ugh! Macho..baby!
Body, body, body wanna feel my body,
Body, body, body gonna thrill my body,
Body, body, body don'tcha stop my body,
Body, body, body it's so hot my body,
Every man ought to be a macho macho man,
To live a life of freedom, machos make a stand,
Have their own life style and ideals,
Possess the strength and confidence, life's a steal,
You can best believe that he's a macho man
He's a special person in anybody's land.
Hey! Hey! Hey, hey, hey!
Macho, macho man (macho man)
I've got to be, a macho man
Macho, macho man
I've got to be a macho! (dig the hair on my chest)
Macho, macho man (see my big thick mustache)
I've got to be, a macho man
Macho, macho man
I've got to be a macho! (Dig broad shoulders)
Macho, macho man (dig my muscles!)
I've got to be, a macho man
Macho, macho man
I've got to be a macho!
Macho, macho man
I've got to be, a macho man
Macho, macho man
I've got to be a macho! HEY!
Toward the end of the song, the guys started gyrating to the music. That just caused all of us to start whistling and cheering them on. I don't know when they had time to put that together, but they were three good looking guys standing up there. I was glad that I could say one of them was mine.
They came back to our table and we all enjoyed one last round of drinks before heading out.
"So when did you guys plan that out?" I asked Edward as we walked to his car.
"After we left the pool this afternoon, Emmett decided it would be fun to do that. I called Jasper and luckily for us, he knew the song and decided to join in with the fun tonight."
"Everyone looked really good up there," I said with a smile.
"And did someone look better than the rest?" Edward asked in a teasing manner.
I pretended to think about that before saying, "Definitely Emmett."
Edward laughed and ruffled my hair. "So what would you like to do tomorrow?"
"Anything you want," I told him.
"Well, in that case I'm going to monopolize your time tomorrow with me."
"What are we doing?"
Edward smiled his famous crooked grin. "It's a surprise. Just dress comfortably and wear your bathing suit. You can even bring your laptop if you want to do some writing."
I smiled, "Okay, so will you at least tell me what time I should be ready?"
"How does nine o'clock sound to you?"
"I guess I'll be up at nine then," I replied smiling.
Edward gave me a quick kiss before opening the passenger door of his car to let me in. I got into the car and waited as he briskly walked to the driver's side of the car and hopped in next to me.
"So do you have any hobbies?" I asked.
Edward glance over but thankfully kept his eyes on the road for the most part. "I like to cook. Emmett thinks it's stupid that I fool around in the kitchen. I believe his words were 'that job is for women'."
"Pig," I muttered even though I knew he was really a giant teddy bear who would do anything for you in a time of need. "I bet Rose will straighten him out."
Edward smirked, "You have no idea how much she's already done to help fix him."
"So what kinds of food do you cook?"
"I don't really do much that involves baking," Edward replied. "I prefer things that I can keep a constant watch on. I'll make Italian dishes and use the grill. That kind of thing."
"You ought to cook for me sometime," I told him.
Edward gave me that crooked smile I loved so much. "Don't worry, I'll definitely make you a meal sometime soon."
"So why don't you tell me something about yourself that I don't know?" Edward asked.
I thought about what I could tell him. "Well, I'm not sure how much you don't already know about me because I'm a fairly simplistic person. I love reading the classics, prefer strawberry ice cream, and I'm a horrible pet owner."
"Horrible pet owner?" Edward asked with a smile.
I nodded my head, "I killed all of my goldfish, and have decided that I should never own another pet."
I somehow managed to keep a straight face throughout that explanation and it paid off. Edward laughed harder than I had head him laugh so far. It was a wonder to see his face light up with joy like that, and I hoped that I would be able to see it countless times again.
We continued on with our friendly banter until we arrived back at the hotel. Edward pulled into the parking lot and came around to help me out of his car. He decided to walk me to the hotel room where I was staying. The whole way there, his hand lingered on the small of my back and I could feel the electricity between us growing.
Once we reached the door to my hotel room, I opened it after swiping the card in the lock. I turned to face Edward. I didn't want to say goodnight to him and I could tell from the look in his eyes that he didn't want to either.
"Would you like to come in?" I asked shyly.
Edward smiled and replied, "I would love to."
I stepped aside allowing him entry into our room. He looked around quickly taking in the details of where we had been staying the past few days. I decided that tonight might be a nice night to step out onto the balcony that overlooked the pool area. I walked in that direction and knew that Edward was following behind me even though I couldn't actually hear his movements.
I opened the door to the balcony and walked to the railing looking out at the scenery before my eyes. I felt Edward come up behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my cheek before allowing his chin to rest on top of my head.
The view before us was beautiful. I thought that the pool area was nice to look at during the day, but nighttime was even better. There were thousands of stars twinkling down from the cloudless sky along with one of the brightest moons I have ever seen. The pools were giving off a blue glow that surrounded the immediate area. It seemed romantic to me and I was thankful that Edward was standing behind me at this moment to experience it with me.
"What are you thinking?" he asked softly in my ear.
"I was thinking of how thankful I am that you're here with me right now," I answered in that same soft voice. The tranquility of of our environment deemed that we shouldn't speak loudly.
"I love you," Edward said.
My heart filled up so full of joy that I thought it might burst. I turned around so that I was facing him before responding, "I love you, too."
Our lips met once again. This kiss was slow and filled with the love that poured out from both of us. Edward gave me three more soft, chaste kisses before breaking away.
"I really should go," he said. "You do need your sleep after all."
I sighed, "I really hate to see you leave, but you're right."
"Don't worry, love," Edward replied with a smile. "I'll be here tomorrow morning to pick you up for our day out."
"I can't wait," I said grinning back.
"Goodnight," Edward said before walking to the door.
"Goodnight, Edward," I answered before closing the door.