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I Should Go copyright 2013 nikkipattinson
I Should Go
Chapter 37
I looked around and saw Alice sitting at a table at the front of the room. It was right beside the dais and just under where Bella was sitting with her dad. Alice found me in the crowd and waved for me to join her. I threw up my hand and then pointed to the bar.
"Could I get a Sam Adams Light, please?" The bartender reached in the cooler, opened the bottle, and handed it to me. I took a drink and tried to relax.
I walked to the table and sat next to Alice. Emmett and Rosalie were also at our table.
"Hi," I said to them. "You look very nice, Rosalie."
"Nice my ass," Emmett said. "She's smoking hot." He draped his arm across the back of her chair.
"Kindly remove your arm," Rosalie said curtly.
"Aw, c'mon, Rosie. Just admit that you like me a little. I saw how you looked at me when I walked out of my room tonight. You think I'm cute. Just admit it."
"I think no such thing. I think you're obnoxious and childish. You just surprised me with that suit. I didn't know that you had a uniform for every occasion," she replied.
"A year... tops," Alice said as she took a sip of her wine.
"My dad says six months," I said.
"We should start a pool."
"You can both kiss my ass," Rosalie said as she stood. "If you will excuse me, I need something a little stronger than wine." She walked away to the bar. Emmett watched her the entire time.
His eyes never left Rosalie as he said, "Can I get in on that pool? I think I can wear her down in three months."
Rosalie made it back to the table just as the waiters were serving the food. As dinner was winding down, my mother walked to the podium and began the evening's proceedings. She introduced everyone sitting on the dais. The president of the Chamber of Commerce spoke first about how much Charlie's contributions to the community were appreciated. My dad praised The Chief's work with the youths on the reservation. The mayor spoke about Charlie's work ethic and his commitment to the safety of Forks. Finally, Billy Black, who was for all intents and purposes was the leader of the Quileute nation, presented Charlie with the Man of the Year Award.
Charlie humbly accepted the award. He talked about how much the young people on the reservation had taught him. I saw the pride on Bella's face. I leaned over and whispered to Alice, "I didn't think she could be any more beautiful, but look at her now. She's so proud of him... she's beaming."
Everyone on the dais shook Charlie's hand as he took his seat. My mother went back to the podium and said, "Please, everyone, the evening isn't over. Please stay and enjoy the bar and the band." As if on cue, which it probably was, the band began playing.
Alice nudged me and said, "Go ask Bella to dance."
"But no one else is dancing yet," I replied.
"Then get the party started. Go ask."
I finished my beer and excused myself from the table. I walked up onto the dais and approached Bella. She was talking to her dad and admiring his plaque.
"Bella?" I said to get her attention. She turned and smiled at me, causing my heart to flutter. "Um, would you like to dance?"
"Oh, I don't... I can't dance."
"Everyone can dance," I replied. I held out my hand to her. "C'mon, dance with me... please."
She glanced at her dad and then looked back at me. She took my hand and said, "Okay. It's your feet."
I led her off the dais and onto the dance floor. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her to me. She smelled like the sweetest of strawberries. I inhaled deeply and sighed.
"Did you just sniff me?" she asked.
I smiled sheepishly. "I did. You always smell so sweet. Like strawberries and just a hint of something else. I can't really put my finger on it."
"It's freesia. I use strawberry shampoo, but my bodywash is freesia."
"Well, it's intoxicating."
She smiled. "Alice looks very pretty tonight," she said.
"Yes, she does," I replied. I pulled her a little closer to me. "Rosalie looks very nice too."
"I think Emmett agrees with you," she said as she nodded over my shoulder.
I turned to see that they had joined us on the dance floor.
"Emmett thinks that he can convince her that they belong together in three months."
"He must really like a challenge," she said with a laugh.
I noticed that the dance floor was beginning to fill up. This just gave me an excuse to hold Bella closer to me. I noticed that her body fit perfectly into mine. The band began playing a slow, instrumental version of 'Maybe I'm Amazed.'
"I love this song," Bella said as she laid her head on my shoulder.
"It's becoming one of my favorites too," I replied.
I rested my cheek on Bella's head and reveled in the moment. She felt so right in my arms. I looked around the room and saw Alice dancing with Mr. Whitlock. She smiled and gave me a thumbs up.
I leaned down and whispered in Bella's ear, "I still say that you're the most beautiful woman in the room."
"You're very sweet, Edward."
"I'm very honest," I replied. "Do you want to get some air? There's a courtyard with a fountain in the back. We could go there and talk."
She looked around the room and finally said, "Okay...I guess."
I took her hand and led her to the courtyard. The night was surprisingly clear and unseasonably warm. The fountain was on and the courtyard was in bloom. It was beautiful, but not nearly as beautiful as the sight of Bella looking up at the stars. The moon was full and it gave her face an ethereal glow. I couldn't help but stare at her.
"You're staring," she said.
"You're gorgeous," I replied.
"You're taken," she said.
"No, I'm not. Not yet anyway."
She looked at me and asked, "When did she do it?"
"Do what?"
"When did Alice break up with you?"
"Last week... before I bought the comics for the course and it was kind of mutual."
"Really?"
I nodded. I took her hand and said, "I think we both always knew that we weren't right for each other. We're better off as friends. She wants someone else anyway."
"Jasper?" I nodded. "I thought so," she said.
"Are you okay with that?"
"Totally!" she exclaimed. "Are you?"
"More than you will ever know." I took her other hand. "I kind of know how she feels. I want someone else too."
"Really?" I nodded. "Who?"
"You," I said as I leaned in and my lips finally were allowed to meet hers. I'd never felt a sensation like it before. I could feel her kiss all the way to my toes. I let go of her hands and wrapped my arms around her body. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me even closer to her.
Her lips parted, inviting me in. I deepened the kiss. She tasted like mint and wine. A soft moan escaped from one of us. I still can't tell you who; it could very well have come from both of us. I was completely consumed by this woman and our perfect kiss.
"I'll never get enough of that," I said.
"It took you long enough to do it," she said with a smirk.
"You have no idea how torturous the last week has been," I replied.
"I know. It seemed like someone was always there!"
"And Alice had a plan," I said before I thought.
Bella stepped back from me and said, "Oh she did, did she? And just what was that plan?"
I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "It was this… tonight," I said. "It was about patience and getting to know you. It was about seeing if it was more than just a physical thing. It was about more than just want and desire. It was about something deeper."
"Good plan," she said with a smile.
I took her face in my hands and kissed her again. Her sweet smell and delicious flavor invaded my senses. My whole body felt like it was on fire and I knew then what I wanted. I wanted to be with her for the rest of my life. I couldn't imagine ever feeling this perfectly happy with anyone else. If I had thought that what I had with Tanya was love, then I was so naïve. This… with Bella… this was love.
Our moment of complete and total bliss was interrupted suddenly.
"What the hell are you doing?" I turned to see Jasper standing a few feet away from us. "You asshole! What are you doing?"
"Jasper, it's okay. Alice..."
"What about Alice? Are you just now remembering that you have a girlfriend, you bastard?"
"Jasper, please," Bella said as she stepped out from behind me.
"You shut-up. How could you do this to your friend?"
"Don't you dare talk to her like that! We've done nothing wrong. You need to go find Alice."
Jasper jabbed me in the chest and said, "Maybe you should go find Alice, you two-timing jackass. I trusted you! I let you have her. How could you?" He shoved me and I stumbled backward.
"Seriously, Jasper... you need to calm down and back off," I said as I held up my hand to stop his advance.
"I'm going to fuck you up!" he yelled as he took a step toward me.
"Jasper!" Bella exclaimed. "You have no idea what's going on."
"I can figure it out! Get ready for the beating of your life, Cullen!"
"You'll do no such thing." We all turned to see Emmett and Alice standing across the courtyard. Alice began stomping toward us, which looked kind of comical in her four inch heels. I would have laughed if the situation wasn't so fucked up.
"If you lay one more hand on Edward, I'll have Emmett arrest you," Alice said as she came to a stop in front of Jasper. "What do you mean by you let him have me? I belong to no man, much less that one," she said as she pointed at me. "I don't want him and he doesn't want me. God, you are such an idiot. Look at them together. They're meant to be together. Get your head out of your ass and see what's right in front of you."
Jasper looked at me and then at Bella. I reached out and pulled her to my side. "Alice and I decided that we're better as friends over a week ago."
"He didn't hurt you?" Jasper asked Alice.
She shook her head and said, "No. I want someone else."
"Who?"
"You, you idiot. I want you."
"You want… me?" Jasper asked as he stepped in front of Alice.
Alice sighed and touched Jasper's cheek. "Oh, honey, I've wanted you since I was fifteen."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"You weren't ready… I wasn't ready. It was complicated. I don't know. Maybe I should have. I guess I was afraid that you didn't feel the same."
"I do… I do feel the same," Jasper said as he took Alice into his arms.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Alice asked.
"You're too good for me, Ally."
"Why don't you let me be the judge of that, silly boy."
"Everything all right here?" Emmett asked with a smirk.
"Everything is perfect," Jasper said as he stared into Alice's eyes.
"Well, it's about time," Emmett said as he clapped Jasper on the back. "You do know that he's been in love with you for almost a decade, right?"
"Really?" Alice asked with tears in her eyes.
"Really," Jasper replied as he leaned in and gently kissed her lips.
"Well, now that all that's settled. I think maybe we ought to go back inside to the party… at least for a little while longer," I said as I looked down at my Bella. I wanted nothing more than to escape the evening's festivities and find a nice, quiet, secluded place to be with her, but social conventions dictated that we stay a little longer.
"Unfortunately, you're right. We should go back inside," Bella took my hand and started leading me to the doors.
I stopped her just before we stepped inside and kissed her again. I'd truly never get enough of kissing her.
We hadn't taken two steps inside the great hall when we heard the scream. I turned to see Emmett's eyes go wide.
"Rosie!" he exclaimed as he pushed past us.
The scene was straight out of a bad Lifetime movie. Royce had Rosalie by the hair and was waving a gun at the surrounding crowd. People had their hands up and were backing away.
"Back it up," Royce yelled. "I'm just taking back what's mine. Back up and no one gets hurt." He jerked Rosalie around behind him by her hair and she screamed again.
"Shut-up! Just shut-up!" he yelled as he began dragging her toward the front doors.
"Fuck that," I heard Emmett mutter before he took off in a full sprint toward Royce and Rosalie.
"Emmett… no!" I called out, but I knew it was useless.
Emmett was within two feet of Royce, when he was noticed by the gun-wielding madman. Royce turned and aimed the gun. I heard the shot and saw Emmett stumble slightly to the right, but it didn't stop him. He tackled Royce.
As Royce hit the ground, Rosalie went one way and the gun went the other. Bella ran to Rosalie and pulled her away from the scene. We all watched as Charlie snatched the gun from the floor and Emmett began to beat Royce to a pulp.
"How does it feel, asshole!?" Emmett screamed with ever punch. "How does it feel to get a taste of your own medicine!?"
"Emmett! Emmett, that's enough," Charlie finally said. It did little good. It took four of Emmett's fellow officers to pull him off an unconscious Royce King.
"Emmy! Emmy! Oh, my God." Rosalie ran to Emmett and threw her arms around him. She pulled back and looked him over. "You're bleeding. He's bleeding!"
"I'm okay, Rosie," Emmett said as he stumbled to the side. "I just… I just need to sit…." Emmett slowly fell against Rosalie, dragging her with him as he fell to the floor.
"Call an ambulance!" Charlie yelled as my father pushed through the crowd.
"Help him! You have to help him! He's been shot! Royce shot him!" Rosalie screamed.
I bent down and took a hysterical Rosalie by the shoulders. "Rose, you need to let my dad take a look at Emmett, okay? Just step back and let him do his job."
"He's been shot," she whimpered.
"I know. Come with Bella and me, okay? He's going to be fine. My dad will help him." I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her back to where Bella was standing. I looked up and saw my aunt, Aubrey, sobbing into Uncle Joe's shoulder.
"He can't die. He can't. He can't leave me," Rosalie sobbed.
"He's not going to die, Rose," Bella said as she wrapped her arms around her cousin. "He's going to be fine."
I knelt down beside my dad and watched as he grabbed a handful of cloth napkins from Charlie and began applying pressure to the wound.
"What can I do?" I asked.
"Nothing right now," Dad replied. "It's not as bad as it looks. It's a shoulder wound. He won't be able to use this arm for a while until everything heals, but it isn't near any of his organs. Right now, I'm most concerned about stopping the blood loss."
We looked up as we heard the sirens.
"Go get the door," Dad ordered. I sprinted to the doors and jerked them open. I motioned for the paramedics. I pointed to Emmett first and then to a still unconscious Royce.
Several minutes later, both men were loaded into the ambulances. My dad went with Emmett while one of the officers went with Royce. When he finally woke from Emmett's beating, he would be placed under arrest. Aunt Aubrey and Uncle Joe left immediately to follow the ambulance that held their injured son.
I think that the entire room was in shock. Most everyone had stayed, but now that the excitement was over, they didn't really know what to do. Rosalie was inconsolable and insisting that someone take her to the hospital. I finally found my mother in the crowd. We made eye contact and she nodded.
"Everyone," she said loudly. "Everyone. I think that after all that has happened tonight, we should just call it an evening. I'm sure that Chief Swan needs to get to the hospital and I want to be there for my nephew."
Mom turned to Mrs. Whitlock and asked that she stay to make sure that everyone left safely and that the caterers and the band were packed up and paid.
"Of course, Esme. You should go," Mary said.
"Jasper and I can stay too," Alice volunteered.
"C'mon," I said as I put my arm around my mom's shoulders. "I'll drive."