Chapter 8

BPOV

Edward Cullen was the most maddening man alive!

"Family emergency," I scoffed.

He had to know how much this dance and after-party meant to me. I had even endured the social niceties of planning and decorating the gym. It would have been our big "coming out" as a couple – something that would have finally put to rest my doubts about how he felt about me.

I watched his shiny car disappear around the corner before trudging through the door and straight up to my room. I flopped down on my bed; actually, I threw myself onto it. My backpack suffered worse. It got flung across the room. It didn't matter how much noise I made since Charlie would be working at least until midnight. It seemed Halloween was prime time for pranks in Forks. Lots of tricks instead of treats.

My phone buzzing in my pocket disrupted my major meltdown.

"Hello, Ang." I didn't bother trying to sound upbeat.

"Bella? What's wrong?"

"Seems I have to go stag tonight. Edward has a family emergency." I made air-quotes around the words "family emergency." Angela couldn't see it, but it made me feel better.

"Oh. I'm sorry. But I hope you are still going. Listen, Eric and I will pick you up. You can be our plus one."

Angela was a sweetheart, and although I wanted to bark out my dissatisfaction with her Bella's-the-third-wheel plan, I acquiesced to her offer. "Sounds great. See you at eight?"

"We'll be there."

I hung up and stared listlessly at my costume – Little Red Riding Hood. Jessica had picked it out for me, insisting it would make my boobs look good, adding that would be like an early Christmas present for Edward. I was more convinced he'd think it was April Fool's Day if my little lady lumps actually made a major appearance.

Unfortunately, there weren't many costume choices left and if I didn't act, I'd have to make my own costume. That just wouldn't happen. But when I suggested to Edward that he dress up as the big bad Wolf to my Riding Hood, I swear his head was going to spin around Exorcist-style.

No doubt something strange was going on with Edward, and the approach of Halloween only seemed to intensify his weirdness. He was hiding something; I was convinced of it. I just wasn't sure what to do about it.

The dance was creep-tastic. Complete with strobe lights, fake cobwebs, and costumed faculty jumping out at unsuspecting couples; their screams added to the frightening atmosphere. As heads of the decorating committee, Angela and Jess practically beamed with pride. But as the music started and the festivities began in earnest, I found I could do little except wonder where Edward was and what he was doing.

Couples were everywhere, dressed in coordinating costumes: Jessica was Aurora with Mike as her Prince Phillip and Eric was pumped up with him and Angela dressed as caveman and cavewoman.

"Bella," Angela approached as I lingered in the shadows of the bleachers, a club-wielding Eric tagging not far behind her. "Cheer up. Maybe Edward will show up after the emergency is handled."

"I don't know, Ang. I mean, I already knew he wouldn't be coming to the after party, but he didn't seem too upset about missing the dance either. Maybe he just had a better offer, you know?" I felt like a wet blanket at the party and sounded just as flimsy.

But Angela pursed her lips and placed her hands firmly on her pelt-covered hips. "Listen, if you think Edward is not that into you, you need to show him why he should be! Take control. You're a strong, independent woman."

"What are you suggesting?"

She winked and tossed me her car keys. "I'm sure you can think of something…Red."

Eric snorted and wagged his eyebrows. "I just love role-playing – don't you?"

They walked off, Eric grabbing Angela by the hair. It took a minute for their words to sink in. I realized, in a creepy kind of way, maybe they were right. Perhaps an altered identity was just what I needed to give me some courage to take control. Perhaps my plan to show up at Edward's window was not completely lost.

I looked around the dance floor. Couples were bumping and grinding, casting cares to the wind as their alter egos partied. I refused to be left out no matter what Edward had to say about it.

While Jessica danced, I snagged her cast-off stilettos and made my way out the gym doors.

It wasn't easy finding the wooded driveway to the Cullen house in the dark. Once I did, I cut the lights and drove slowly down the crackling gravel drive. The sight of an unfamiliar car in front of the house gnawed at my self-doubt, but for "Red" it only solidified her determination to prove to Edward she was the woman for him.

The house was lit up. Everyone must have been home – it made me wonder if there had truly been some sort of family emergency. I zeroed in on Edward's bedroom. From behind the partially drawn shade, I could see his profile – tall, lanky, his tousled hair making his head look larger than it was… It appeared he was pacing around his room, even waving his arms about from time to time.

I cut the engine. Cracking open the glove box, I pulled out the flask Eric and Mike had squirreled away. Twisting off the cap, I took a big swig. The burning liquid shot out of my mouth as quickly as it had gone in. Crap, Tequila was nasty! Untying my cape, I attempted to wipe down the liquor I had sprayed all over Angela's steering wheel and dashboard. Once satisfied I had cleaned up the best I could, I tossed the cape into the backseat.

"Over the lips and past the gums, look out Edward, here I come." I took two quick gulps of Tequila, wiping my mouth on my sleeve. I felt like I could breathe fire.

With the cape out of the picture, I noticed that Jess had a point – my boobs did appear to, well, appear. I shed the knee-high socks and Mary Jane shoes and donned Jessica's stilettos. I pulled the ties out of the braids on either side of my head and ran my fingers through my hair. The waves created by the braids gave my hair much needed sex appeal. Finally, I rolled some of the skirt fabric under the belt of my dress lifting the hem from just above the knee to mid-thigh.

Only one more touch was needed. Angela had asked me to keep her cosmetic bag in my prop basket for emergency touch-ups. I pulled it out and coated my lips with a sultry shade of red.

With a deep breath, I tossed the flask into my basket before exiting the car.

As I attempted to balance in the heels across the gravel drive, the house almost seemed to move further and further away. Crapity-crap. It was like wearing weapons of mass destruction on my feet!

But as I inched closer and closer, I began to wonder how I was going to manage to get Edward's attention and not gain attention from his family. Dr. and Mrs. Cullen seemed so old-fashioned, my sexed-up appearance might give them heart attacks.

It was then I noticed the trellis. A trellis that ended just below Edward's bedroom window.

"Oh, Swan…what are you thinking?"

As I continued to watch his shadow move about his room, I convinced myself one more chug of Tequila was a good idea. Certainly a better idea than climbing a wooden trellis in an altered Halloween costume to seduce my boyfriend.

Standing under his window, I could hear Edward's muffled voice. Somehow, it still sounded like velvet. My reward was just a short climb away – or so I told myself. I dropped the basket and tested the strength of the trellis. It was covered with age-old vines, but seemed secure. I stuffed a toe into the foliage and hiked myself up.

The going was slow. Lead with the right hand, follow with the left, and then try to find footing while hanging on for dear life. The leaves of the ivy kept tickling my legs and poking me in the face. At least that's what I thought was tickling my legs… I shouldn't have looked down.

SPIDERS! A whole swarm of spiders were making an ascent as well – up my legs!

Muffling a horrified scream, I reached down to swat them off. Just as quickly, I was reminded why women don't hike in heels –

My feet slipped off the leaf-slickened trellis and for a ridiculous and totally terrifying ten seconds, I hung from the trellis like a freaking one-handed monkey!

When I managed to swing myself back to the trellis, I clung to it like a long-lost sister.

All this and I'd only climbed five feet.

That man better be worth it.

Another five feet to go. Cursing the man (surely it was a man) who invented high heels, I inched up and up and up.

Finally, the window sill came within my reach. I wrapped my fingers around the edge and slowly peered in hoping for a glimpse of Edward sprawled on his bed – maybe reading a good book – of course, with his shirt off…

At first glance, I was shocked to find his shirt in shreds hanging off his shoulders. Edward was agitated by the look on his face as he moved about his room reaching behind him. As he spun around I saw the source of his agitation –

A wrinkly, furless Chihuahua-looking creature was clawing and climbing on Edward's back!

My jaw dropped, and I must have uttered something because I gained its attention. It flew off Edward's back, landed on the sill, bared its pointy teeth, and screamed in my face with a blast of putrid breath:

Gravity did the rest.

My ungraceful and wholly unplanned landing onto the landscaping below Edward's window, not to mention the wail that pushed its way out of my mouth as I landed on my back, may have garnered some unwanted attention from within the Cullen house. As I lay there sprawled out semi-unconscious over a patch of crushed rhododendrons, I could only hope it would be Dr. Cullen who'd arrive first.