A/N:

Edward and Bella banter in this chapter using aviation lingo applied to real life situations. My husband and I do this all the time. I find it endlessly entertaining. I'll give you an example. When we go on road trips, I am typically the Mission Commander, and he is the pilot (driver). I will do the flight planning and make the products (print out hotel confirmations, google maps, e-tickets, etc). Before we leave, we will have a brief (meeting in which mission is detailed and logistics discussed) because my husband will get pissy if we don't go over our route beforehand, and he doesn't know exactly what is going on at all times. If he gets too hungry (and cranky), I will ask him if he is Bingo (the code word used by pilots in flight to indicate that they are at the minimum fuel level to make it safely back to home field), and if he admits that he is, we will stop for food ASAP.

Chapter 11

I was dressed in dark skinny jeans with an artfully draped, but skimpy black silk top; on my feet were Naturalizer black heels. Hey, you couldn't tell they were orthopedic shoes. They were tasteful AND comfortable. I had lingered in front of the mirror over hair and make-up. I told myself that the extra effort was due to the fact that I would have to hold my own against girls ten years younger tonight. It had absolutely nothing to do with Edward coming along with us. After I was satisfied with my appearance, I lingered near the door to my suite, double and triple checking that I had moved my driver's license, military ID, credit cards, and all I would need into a black leather clutch.

Suddenly, there were a series of sharp knocks on my door. I jumped in surprise and laughed nervously at my excited state. I checked my watch and realized it was 20:35. I peered out the peep hole, and there was Edward looking hotter than anyone deserved in an un-tucked black dress shirt over a pair of well-fit dark jeans. The sleeves were rolled up to reveal pale, but muscular forearms. A Breitling was hanging on his left wrist. It occurred to me that I may have been staring through the peep hole too long if I was noticing details like that.

Why, oh why was I insisting on the strictly friends status of our relationship? I mentally punched my subconscious for articulating such a thought. This guy had led on a childhood friend, torturing her to the point that she had punched him in a restaurant. Not someone I needed to get involved with. Enough said.

Edward knocked again, a furrow in his brow, when I still hadn't answered. I steeled myself and opened the door. He broke out into The Dazzler as soon as he saw me.

"Sorry, I started to get worried when you didn't come over," he told me.

"Edward, it's only…" I paused and looked at my watch, "…20:37." I finished.

"Look, Doc," he smirked winningly at me, "I show up for briefs on time." I couldn't help grinning back at him for his ridiculousness. I held up my hands in defense to plead my case.

"Sorry, it's just that this mission is a little out of my comfort zone, so I spent a little extra time on the products," I explained. His eyes lit up and a chuckle slipped out at my aviation lingo. He motioned for me to follow him. I felt very clever for my come back.

"C'mon, next door. Let's have a beer before Jacob gets here. I'm pretty surprised he agreed to bring me along. I'm pretty sure I'm not high on his list," Edward said over his shoulder while he opened his door using the key card. I couldn't see his face since I was grabbing my clutch, turning off the lamp, and pulling my door shut at the same time. I was quite glad I had a moment to collect myself as I realized for the first time that Jacob would probably be less than thrilled when he arrived to pick up the TWO of us. Uh oh.

Edward was holding the door open as I pushed underneath his arm and entered his living room. It looked very similar to mine, just the mirror image. There weren't many personal touches here. I tried not to meet his eyes, letting my own roam the room. He closed the door behind me.

"Go ahead and have a seat," he granted, indicating the couch. "I'll get you a beer as promised." I could see that he had already opened his own. I saw the familiar golden label of Shiner Bok adherent to a brown bottle sweating on his kitchen bar. He was in the kitchen nook now, pulling the refrigerator open. I noticed that he had only one photo on the door of the refrigerator, and it was otherwise unadorned. It appeared to be of an attractive older woman with graying hair. The hair that wasn't gray had the same hue as those on Edward's head, so I surmised it was probably a picture of his mother. I didn't comment, too nervous about how to explain about Jacob, and filed it away for later. I realized Edward had said something, and I jerked my eyes back up to his.

"Say again," I requested, embarrassed for my inattention. He frowned at me playfully.

"I asked what you'd like to drink. I have Shiner, Sierra Nevada, and Corona, but I'm out of limes," he cautioned. I amused by his seriousness regarding the lack of limes. Silly boys.

"Shiner, please," I replied, distracted. He popped the top and approached me, handing me the bottle with a paper towel. Not exactly a cocktail napkin, but it worked. I took a long drink and glanced at my watch. I was going to have to come clean quickly. I only had about 10 minutes until Jake and Leah were here. Edward was sipping his Shiner contentedly, having seated himself in the arm chair. I suddenly realized there was quiet music coming from a Bose speaker with an iPod attached.

"Edward, you should probably know that I invited you on a whim, and I didn't clear it with Jacob and Leah," I just blurted out. An array of emotions flitted across his face in rapid sequence. I wasn't sure I could identify them all, but I tried to play close attention. First there was horror, then satisfaction?, then dread, then…resignation.

"I'm sorry, if I put you on the spot, but Jacob invented this whole plot when we ran into Leah on the beach, and I wasn't really sold on going clubbing at my age, so I decided to make the whole thing more fun," I quickly explained before he could react. Edward squinted and seemed to be thinking long and hard about that.

"So, you think if I go, then it will be more fun?" he asked. I nodded vigorously.

"Then, that's good enough for me," he told me. "Black can't take that away from me." A laugh bubbled out of his chest as he made this last statement, and I relaxed as far as Edward's reaction to the situation, but definitely tensed as far as Jacob's reaction. He wouldn't let on tonight, but he might murder me tomorrow. Edward cleared his throat to say more.

"You, and Jacob, do know that Leah has a boyfriend, right?" Edward asked seriously.

"Yes, Jacob knows that, but I think he wishes things were different," I admitted. "He said Sam doesn't treat her well." I added. Edward nodded gravely.

"I don't really know anything. I don't know Sam well, and we don't socialize. He's part of the diamond, and I don't even interact with him much in the air. So, I'm out of it. I don't want to get involved," he emphasized. I quickly agreed with him.

"Me either, and you don't need to worry about Jacob. He's obviously level-headed. This evening is just about four friends having a good time," I said lamely. Edward grimaced, and I winced. We were obviously the most unlikely group of friends to go clubbing in Pensacola, possibly ever. I glanced at my watch. Shit. It was 20:57. Jacob could be here anytime.

"Do you want to go hang out in my room now?" I asked. "Jacob won't know to look for us here," I added meekly. Edward rolled his eyes but indicated he agreed. He gathered our empty bottles on the kitchen counter and motioned for me to head out in front of him. I opened his main door and stepped out onto the concrete walkway and almost leveled Leah Clearwater. She stumbled as I crashed into her but managed to steady herself on the metal hand-railing.

Jacob was poised at my door with his hand raised to knock and jumped a mile at the commotion behind him. He turned and his eyes widened with fury when he saw me exiting Edward's room with the man in question in tow. I quickly moved to diffuse the situation.

"So, I convinced Edward to come along with us," I announced. "I figured we could use all the help we could get at Seville at our ages, Leah excepted, of course," I nodded at her smiling. I wasn't exactly sure how old she was, but I was pretty sure it wasn't over 30. She pursed her lips and shook her head, but I could see her pleasure at the teasing. I'd used the right angle to deflect attention. I mentally fist pumped. Jacob's ire softened when he saw that I had managed to win over Leah.

"Bella, I'm 28, and not exactly a college student," Leah demurred, and Jake jumped in to feed her ego further. "But you could pass for even younger, Leah," Jake told her, and I wanted to gag. Even Edward raised his eyebrows at me. Leah laughed and shoved him away.

"Shut up, idiot," she told him. I liked her a little bit more in that moment. Maybe there was some personality there after all. She had been the one excited for Seville. We all stood there silently and awkwardly for a moment. Finally, I spoke.

"Let's go," I said shrugging. Edward and I went down the stair first due to proximity. I was a little bit behind him, and I did not eye his backside in those dark jeans. Jacob jostled me a little from behind, and I glanced over my shoulder at him. He glared at me silently. I smiled and shrugged. He had absolutely no real reason to dislike Edward, and if he was allowed to go clubbing with his "absolutely not romantically interested" friend, then I was, too. At least I wasn't as deeply in denial as Jacob was.

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The ride into Pensacola was silent. Edward played with a loose seam on the backseat of Jacob's Jeep Wrangler. The two of us had piled in the back, and I, for one, was quite glad that Jacob had the hard top on.

Leah was wearing a one-shouldered mini-dress with platform heels. I was disapproving because while the outing had been billed as a friendly one, her outfit did not convey friendly intentions. I thought it was inappropriate in light of her boyfriend. I did notice that when Jacob tried to brush his hand against her back in order to show her into the jeep, she did jump away to avoid the contact. The situation seemed convoluted to me, but I would be a good friend and trust Jacob's judgment.

We found a parking spot pretty easily. It was still early, not even 21:30. We found a parallel parking spot only two blocks away from the main entrance to Seville Quarter. The sense of foreboding was rising, and I was very worried that we would be very out of place here tonight. We all exited the jeep quietly, all lost in our private thoughts, almost like we were heading to the gallows instead of a night club.

The chatter and ambient noise increased as we turned our death march onto Government Street. There was no line, but the bouncers were waiting to check our ID's. Leah arrived first, and they took her ID and looked at it closely, but I swear they practically waved the rest of us in without really scrutinizing. Assholes.

The four of us entered the narrow wooden hallway that was the main entrance and paused awkwardly. There were seven separate bars, and we needed to make a group decision. This is why I despised traveling in groups to places like this. Even though I knew that Edward and Jacob were probably of like mind with me, I recognized that Leah was driving the evening. I turned to her, just as Jacob had already done.

It was loud inside, and we could barely hear each other speak here in the hallway, not to mention the crowds jostling us, clamoring by to reach their bar of choice. I saw a young girl swaying toward the restrooms with the unmistakable shape of a hurricane glass in her hand. It had been too long since I'd had one of those, I thought wistfully.

Finally, Leah and Jacob's whisper/shouted conversation ended, and they backed away from each other, having leaned in to speak in ears. They turned to relay their decisions to us, exchanging a loaded look before leaning away from each other. Seriously, I seemed to be trapped in some kind of angsty romantic dramedy. I could leave now and be happy.

The negativity was running rampant when I felt a comforting pressure on my left hand. I jumped, startled, and looked down. Edward had grasped my hand and was clutching it comfortingly, looking at me with some emotion; it looked pleading, but I figured it was just sympathy. We were both trapped in this Lifetime movie. I briefly squeezed back and dropped his hand. I leaned in to the group.

"What's the plan?" I shouted. "I'm all for Fast Eddie's and a little pool and, of course, Golden Tee?" I raised my eyebrows suggestively. Jacob looked nervous, and Leah frowned. Shit, why did I even come? Edward gripped my hand again and pulled my ear closer to his mouth. I could feel his hot breath on my cheek.

"Leah's a fan of the band tonight, Adam Holt Band," he informed me, shouting into my ear. "Let's head to End O' the Alley and have a few drinks, enjoy the band," he finished in suggestion. I nodded my assent and motioned for us to move that way and out of the narrow hallway. We exited the roofed part of the building into the open air courtyard. I made a beeline for the open fire in the middle, already feeling the chill in the air. The rest of the group followed me. I grabbed Jacob's sleeve and probably a little bit of forearm skin.

"You owe me, bitch," I ground out between clenched teeth, but quietly so that Edward and Leah didn't hear. Jacob smirked at me.

"You're transparent, Swan," he sneered. "Talk to me tomorrow, and tell me you wish tonight didn't happen," he stepped away from me to prevent a reply and pulled Leah into the crook of his arm. She stiffened and took on a stricken facial expression. Jacob relaxed his arm, and she stepped away from him quickly, but turned back to him with a friendly expression. I was confused by it. I figured Jacob was, too, but if he was going to be an asshole to me, then he could fend for himself. I wasted little time heading for the bar without seeing if I was followed.

There was no wait at the outdoor bar, and I approached the bartender, fumbling for my wallet within my clutch. He was watching with more amusement than was called for, and I leaned in to order an Irish Carbomb. Before, I could speak the words, Edward had slid in behind me and commandeered the order.

"We'll have two of whatever the lady would like to have," he told the bartender confidently. I blinked at him in surprise.

"Are you sure?" I asked him, "I'm feeling nostalgic tonight. I was thinking of ordering the first drink I ever had in this bar," I said saucily. And I meant it. I'd stood in this very spot the first weekend of my flight training and ordered Irish Carbombs with several actual aviation students, aspiring to be pilots, not just flight surgeons, like me. As far as I know, they all had washed out. I hadn't heard of any of them since. Given that track record, I should probably avoid the order, but I was feeling nostalgic like I told Edward.

Edward nodded, not a trace of fear or misgiving in his face. I smiled at him and pinched his cheek. I felt drunk and bold, even though I'd only had the one Shiner back in his room.

"Fine," I told him and turned to the bartender, "Two Irish Carbombs," I ordered. He smiled at us, pleased to be able to make a dramatic drink. He pulled out two bottle of Guinness and poured them expertly into beer glasses. Then, he pulled out the Bailey's and poured two shots. He set the shot glasses next to the beer drinks. Finally, he plucked the Bushmill's from the shelf and poured a quick layer of Irish whiskey over the top of the Irish cream in the shot glasses. Then, he gave us two big smiles, while pushing the beer glasses toward us. Edward looked at me questioningly.

"Have you never had one of these?" I asked incredulously. I mean, give me a break, he had an Irish last name. He shook his head and looked confused. I smiled back gleefully and turned the smile on the bartender, giving him a nod to proceed with the drink. He toasted us with the two shots and then dropped them into our beers. I immediately grabbed the beer glass and picked it up to gulp the contents. I looked toward Edward just before the drink touched my lips, and he was watching me with wide eyes. I paused and widened my eyes at him in encouragement.

"Drink it quick before the milk curdles," I told him impatiently. He looked frightened, but he picked up the glass and tilted it back in tandem with me, and we swallowed the contents. When we were done, I turned toward him. He was smiling widely, beyond The Dazzler again, shaking his head. He leaned in to speak into my ear.

"You're something else, Bella Swan," he said with a strange undertone. His smile didn't break, and his demeanor seemed inviting, so I kept smiling with him. He nodded back at the bartender.

"What do you want now?" he asked. I thought about it for a few beats. It had been a long time since I'd been out.

"I'll have a gin and tonic," I decided. "I don't care about the quality of gin; I'm good with the cheap stuff." He wrinkled his nose at me.

"I don't think you need to worry about that here," he retorted disdainfully, eyeing the surrounding crowd. We weren't exactly in a high end liquor outlet. I grimaced and shook my head, and he moved back toward the bar. I looked around for Jacob and Leah. They were closer to the stage with an appropriate amount of space between the two of them, swaying to the band, which was covering Tom Petty. I scoffed in disgust. I needed to get the real down low on this situation.

Edward returned with a glass of clear liquid that would prove to be my gin and tonic. They didn't seem to be as tasty as I had remembered. He had a glass of amber liquid for himself that I assumed was Scotch. He pulled me toward the fire pit at the back of the courtyard, and we talked for a while, discussing colleagues, difficult bosses, bureaucracy, politics, and a wide variety of topics. We were surprisingly in agreement on most things we talked about. The time seemed to fly by.

We both switched to beer at some point and had had a few when I realized that we had drifted closer, leaning into each other, faces only inches apart while we talked. I found myself leaning into his shoulder, our bodies pressed closely together along my left side and his right. With the realization, I took a sharp intake of breath, surprised at where this might be heading. The drinks were making my brain fuzzy, and I was having trouble remembering why I should only be friends with this beautiful man.

Edward saw the moment my face changed, and he responded. He leaned in even closer; I could feel his breath on my face, warm and inviting. My eyes went to his mouth, roving over his lips. His tongue peeked out to moisten those lips just slightly, and I saw that he was watching my mouth, too. He moved to close those final few centimeters of space between us, and I…panicked.

"Um, I've got to use the head," I blurted out and cringed at my inelegant excuse. But I still jumped to my feet, shooting him what I hoped was an apologetic glance as I slipped away from him into the crowd.

What the hell was wrong with me, I asked myself. That hot guy was going to kiss me, I was sure of it! This was my usual modus operandi: find a hot guy to pass the time with, no big deal. But, I now had to admit to myself that I actually liked Edward. He made me feel something I wasn't used to, something uncomfortable. And, he was a man whore, too, I reminded myself. This situation was just too risky for me. We had to stay friends only.

A small voice in the back of my head piped up to remind me that I was done with training and would be in one spot for awhile, and Edward would be in that same spot. I had stability that could allow me to aspire to something more. I brutally shoved that small voice back into the depths of my subconscious.

I had reached the small alcove for the bathrooms, which was located just off the main hallway. Thankfully, there was no line outside the women's room. I was just reaching to push open the door, when someone grabbed me roughly and dragged me back into the main hallway and through a darkened door.

I lost my bearings with the change of lighting but quickly realized I was shoved against the back wall of Phineas Phogg's, the dance club portion of Seville Quarter. I was confused and surprised that Edward would be so aggressive with me after my escape, but as my eyes adjusted, I comprehended that my assailant wasn't Edward, or even Jacob. It was a man I had never seen, and he was glaring at me, like I had run over his dog.

"You're making this whole thing a lot harder than it should be, you little bitch," he spat at me, twisting my wrist painfully. I took in his appearance and was definitely frightened by his stature, even though I knew this was just a big misunderstanding and would soon be over. He was tall, well over six feet, and broad and muscular. His tee shirt was very tight, and I could see his muscles rippling underneath it as he flexed his arms threateningly. His dark skin gleamed in the flashing strobe lights; his hair was shoulder length and dread-locked.

"Hey," I said conciliatorily, "I think you've got the wrong girl," I tried to explain. He twisted my wrist harder, eliciting a cry of pain from me and shoved me roughly against the wall. I was definitely scared now.

"Well, you are the wrong girl, that's for sure, but this isn't a mistake. You're fucking up my plan. Now, what are we going to do about that?" he asked rhetorically with an evil smile. I took a deep breath, ready to scream, but suddenly, my attacker's body was pulled away from me and slammed into the wall next to me. I stumbled as he let go of my wrist but leapt away immediately.

I looked up to see who had rescued me and saw Jacob holding this guy by the neck up against the wall. His eyes were murderously angry.

"I think that's enough," Jacob ground out, but the guy could answer because Jacob was choking him. "You've got the wrong girl, and you need to forget about my friend here. Don't look at her again." The guy's eyes were angry, but he nodded (as well as he could while being choked), and Jacob let him go. He disappeared into the ground the instant he was free.

"Bella, are you okay?" Jacob asked frantically, plucking arms. I took a deep, calming breath and shook it off.

"Yeah, sure, I'm fine," I said shakily and let out a strained chuckle. "I sure hope that guy doesn't find who he's actually looking for." Jacob looked chagrinned.

"I should have held him and turned him into security," he said guiltily.

"Don't worry about it, Jake. Thank goodness, you were there for the rescue. Let's just go," I suggested. Jacob nodded, and we headed back into the courtyard to find Edward and Leah. This night had just gotten too much for me, and I wanted to go home.

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Uh-oh. Who do you think that guy was? Was it really a mistake that he picked on Bella?

EG