A/N: No, this is not an illusion. Here I am, actually updating AGAIN! I had this chapter planned out in my head for months and I finally got to write it and make it come to life. To be honest, it's one of my favorites.

Hope you all enjoy the surprise! Happy reading!

It was impossible. What was one supposed to wear to a bachelorette party when one has never been to a bachelorette party? Pants? A skirt? A dress? How fancy was too fancy? How casual was too casual? Ugh! I threw another outfit on my bed amongst the other thousand pieces of clothing and let out a sigh.

"I think you're reading into this too much." Ellie says over webcam from my laptop sitting on the desk in the corner. "I don't think Emily cares what you wear to her party. And it's not like you're going to run into Mr. Achy Breaky Heart. Just wear whatever makes you feel pretty and comfortable."

I guess she's right. Determined, I hold up two dresses. One is a royal blue baby doll dress and the other is pink with a lace cover. "Blue or pink?" I ask.

"Blue. With your light denim jacket and a pair of dark brown sandals." She says. I look at the dress for a minute, nod and throw the other one on the floor. I hear her exhale in relief. "Finally! Okay it's like seven. I have to go. I'm already late for dinner at your house. It's spaghetti night!" She's speaking excitedly and I just roll my eyes. Only Ellie would go to my house for dinner when I'm not even there. Granted, her parents are never home but still. "Love you!"

I turn towards the computer. "Love you-" the call ends. "Too." I shut the computer down and put all the strewn clothes away as quickly as possible. After I'm dressed in the specifics that Ellie had picked out for me, I straighten my poof-like mass of hair so it's sleek and falls down to my chest. I don't bother with any other make up other than mascara, considering I have no idea how to put it on anyways and then I'm ready to go.

I walk downstairs to meet Paul, who is watching TV. Our glam princess Rachel is upstairs getting ready still and I don't expect her for another half an hour or so, so I sit down beside him. He glances at me and then shakes his head. "What?" I ask him accusingly.

"Nothing. You're just lucky you're going to an all girls party or I would have marched you right back up the stairs to change." He says.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing…?"

He gestures wildly to my chest. "Ummmm, hello? Those things!"

I swat his hand away. "'Those things' are called breasts, Paul. I know you've never seen them anywhere but the Internet but they actually exist."

He scowls at me. "I've seen plenty of breasts thank you very much." He mutters in an indignant voice.

I smile and shake my head at him, and then change the subject. "So what are you men up to tonight now that your girls are out of commission?"

He shrugs. "No idea. Probably hang out at Quil, Embry and Jake's and have some beer. Guy stuff."

"Sounds fun." I say it like a sentence, but it ends up as a question.

"It's the first time all of us will be together in one room since the packs split. Minus Leah of course, not like I care. It'll be nice to have the family back together again." He has a warm tone to his voice.

I can't help but giggle. "Wow, you actually miss the three stooges don't you?"

He's defensive. "I never said that."

"But you implied it. You like them." I nudge him playfully and I'm reminded of the time when I teased him for liking me. It feels like another life ago.

He scowls at me. "Why did I invite you here again?" But I know he's kidding, so I don't take any offence. His eyebrows rise for seemingly no reason, and then he turns back to the TV. "Rachel's ready. Can you just be ready to go when she comes down so you can leave?" I give him a funny look and he elaborates. "Well, I know for a fact that she's going to look super hot. And I would rather not see her looking super hot until after she comes home, so I can actually utilize it. Understand?"

I make a face. "Yes, gross, but I understand." I give him a kiss on the cheek and pat his arm. "Have a good night Paul."

"Don't get into too much trouble okay? And don't let Rachel and Leah corrupt you, I'm serious."

"Us? Corrupt Kim?" Rachel says sweetly as she comes down the stairs. "Never."

"Mhm." Paul says, unconvinced.

Rachel smiles at me and Paul is right, she looks great. She's wearing a black mini dress, red pumps and her long hair in a high ponytail. "Ready to go Kim? You look fantastic."

"Yeah I'm ready. And so do you."

I turn and follow her out the door. "Bye Paul!" She calls and she shuts it before he can answer. As we're walking the short walk to Emily's, she throws her arm around me. "I'm not going to corrupt you, Kim. However, I am going to make sure you have an amazing time tonight. We all are." She has a sweet smile on her face, but the tone of her voice scares me and as I walk, I wonder what kind of night I'm in for.

My question is answered when I get to Emily's. There's a giant banner that says "CHEERS BITCHES" on the door and balloons everywhere. I could hear the music from down the street and the beat is now vibrating through my entire body. Walking through the door, Leah is in the kitchen lining up bottles of liquor and mixers on the counter. Beside her is a giant cooler full of beer, palm bays and different types of alcoholic coolers. She's got snacks on the living room table and a karaoke machine set up by the TV.

Emily is standing by her wearing a white sundress, a bride-to-be sash and a veil in her hair and her sister is rushing around putting up decorations. Emily looks worried, but Leah is grinning from ear to ear. Her expression matches Rachel's, who immediately rushes over to the liquor and starts chatting her up. I smile gently at Emily and she waves me over. "You look wonderful." She gushes, hugging me.

"So do you. Loving the veil." I tease, tugging at it.

"Leah's idea. She's really excited about the whole night. Mostly to get drunk, I think." We both laugh as Rachel rushes towards us, hand full of beads.

She puts two on each of us, a white one and a pink one. Leah and Anna are wearing theirs already and Leah is lining up five shot glasses on the table. I can tell she's pouring tequila, because Anna is putting slices of lemons in the middle of the table. "Okay bitches, get over here!" Leah calls and the three of us walk over to the table. She slides a shot glass over to each of us and everyone except me grabs a lemon. "Kim, don't be a baby. Grab a lemon."

I reach for it slowly. "The last time I had tequila, I barely remember anything that happened."

Leah grins at me. "Good. Drink up." She holds her shot glass up. "To Emily!"

"To Emily!" We all cheer at once, clinking the glasses together before tossing it back. My face scrunches up as the burning feeling slides down my throat and I suck on my lemon hastily. "God that's awful." I claim.

"Get ready for a wild night, babe." Rachel says, wrapping her arm around my shoulder.

Oh dear.

By the time ten o' clock rolls around, I don't recognize half the people in the house. Half are from either the Quileute or Makah Reservation and half are from Forks. I'm almost certain Leah just invited every single person Emily has ever come in contact with. I'm nursing my vodka cranberry with very little vodka and watching drunken Rachel butcher karaoke, when Leah grabs me by the shoulder and steers me over to the kitchen table where four other girls are sitting. Not only does she shove me into a chair, she grabs my drink and downs it in one sitting. "That's horrible." She declares. "There's no alcohol in there at all."

"I'm not trying to get drunk." I tell her.

She shakes her head. "You're doing it all wrong. Yes, you are. Now, here." She passes me a shot of rum and a red cup. I sniff the cup and realize its just Cola. "We are playing Never Have I Ever. Now I'm going to assume even you know how to play this game, Kim." She sits in the empty chair one person from my right. "Okay, Hannah you're up."

The brunette across from me thinks for a minute. "Never have I ever… Got caught having sex." A girl I don't recognize takes a shot, but so does Leah. I look at her in surprise and the girl, Hannah, smirks. "With Sam or Jacob?" She asks.

I'm afraid Leah's going to get mad, but to my surprise she laughs genuinely. "Both." Everyone at the table, including me, laughs along with her. "Naya, you're next."

Naya, who I know went to high school with Emily, is quick to speak. "Never have I ever had my heart broken." Hannah and another unnamed girl take their shots. I grab my shot glass and look at Leah, who has hers in her hand and she raises her eyebrows at me and then we clink our glasses and toss them back.

After I chase, I reach for the bottle again. "That one deserves a double." I declare, pouring myself another shot.

Leah cheers and shouts, "Amen!" Then, she grabs the bottle from me and tosses back her own second shot. "Now that's the spirit."

After a few more rounds and a few more shots, I'm finished at the table. "I need a drink." I say, getting up and half stumbling my way over to where the liquor is.

Emily comes over as I'm pouring myself a whiskey sour, and puts her hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay, Kim?" She asks me. She seems concerned, but I wave her off.

"I'm great. I'm finally having some fun. Don't worry about me, Em. Honest." I reassure her and then I take a long drink. "Hey Rachel, how about a duet?" I call across the room. She gives me an over enthusiastic thumbs up and rushes over to the karaoke machine. I down the rest of my drink in one round and place the glass on the table. Emily is giving me a look. "I'm fine." I tell her again and then I make my way over to Rachel. "What are we singing, partner!"

The music for "Baby Got Back" comes on and she squeals in delight at the look on my face. "I know that you know the words to this song, Kimmy!" She laughs. "I heard you singing it in your room last night!"

My cheeks flush, although I can't tell whether I'm embarrassed or just drunk and I grab the second microphone. "Bring it on sister."

Halfway through singing, my shots must have really kicked in, because I've somehow ended up on top of the kitchen island, singing at the top of my lungs. "Shake it! Shake it! Shake that healthy butt!" And I'm actually shaking it.

The rest of the girls are gathered around cheering and clapping their hands. I've managed to convince Rachel to get up here with me and I snatch the cup that she's drinking from, down it and attempt to throw it into the garbage across the room. I miss by a mile, but it doesn't even matter. I'm too drunk to care.

Why did I not do this before? I think to myself as the song ends and I clumsily climb down to the floor. I can have fun. I don't need Jared. The thought of him makes me sad, so I walk over and I take another shot of tequila. Wow, alcohol solves everything.

I'm not sure how much time has passed. It's a blur of drinks, laughing and truth or dare with girls whose names I can't remember. In need of a familiar face, I start my search for Rachel. Instead, I find Emily talking to Leah. I stand a few feet away and eavesdrop, although I doubt I'm doing a very good job. "This isn't her, Leah. How much did you let her drink?" Emily asks.

Leah, who has had way more than me, is nearly sober. I suspect it's her freaky werewolf genes. "What exactly is she? Wary of everyone around her? Scared to get close to us again? She knocks at your damn door, Emily. She's a paranoid shell of her former self. I mean look at her. Since she's gotten here, have you seen her smile and laugh genuinely like this? It's one night. She deserves to let go."

"I'm just worried…"

"She is going to be fine. She'll wake up tomorrow with a nasty hangover, a hint of shame and then everything will go back to normal. I promise." Leah says.

When I'm sure they are done talking, I make my way over. "Leah, come take one more shot with me."

It's hitting one, I realize as I look at the time on the microwave, and most of the guests have left. Emily has gone to say goodbye to a couple of her friends and Leah is holding me steady by the arm. "Kim, the party is over. Are you sure?"

I hold up a finger. "Just one more! A last hurrah!"

She's wary, but she agrees, pouring us both one more shot of vodka. "To us!" I cheer way too loudly, tossing it back. I can feel Emily watching me as she makes her way back over. "What? It was just one more, I'm fine." How many times have I said I'm fine tonight? Oh well, who cares? I am fine.

And half an hour later, I was not fine. "You had to let her take that last shot, didn't you?" Emily lectures Leah as she attempts to hold my hair away from my mouth. I'm leaning over the railing on the front porch, puking my brains out.

Leah sounds defensive. "It was one shot. I didn't know it was going to kill her." I retch again and I can hear her groan. "I'm going back inside. The smell is strangling my nose." And she shuts the screen door.

"I was wrong." I manage to say with my head in my arms. "Alcohol doesn't solve anything."

Emily just rubs my back. "I could have told you that sweetheart." She says, but her voice is sympathetic.

"Sorry I never visited." I mumble again. Apparently the signals that tell my mouth to shut up were not coming from my brain. "It was never anything to do with you."

"Shhh, I know. It's okay."

And just when I think I'm starting to not want to throw up, I hear him. "Kim! Are you okay?" The sound of his voice makes my stomach churn again and I start again. "Emily what's wrong with Kim?" Jared asks her.

"She just had too much to drink, Jared. She'll be okay." She reassures him.

Paul is with him too. I hear him talking angrily about Leah and Rachel and he slams the door to the house. Two more sets of footsteps follow him. I don't bother looking up. I'm too dizzy to move. "You should go ahead and get inside, Em. Start cleaning up and get to bed, you look exhausted. I've got her."

"Mmm." I try to disagree, or agree, or say something, but no words come out.

Emily is hesitant, but she agrees for me. "Get her home safe please, Jared." She begs and then turns to go inside.

I'm starting to slump against the side of the railing. I can feel myself falling before he grabs me and tries to keep me upright. I swat at his hands. "No. You don't touch me. I hate you." I muttered.

"I have to touch you, honey. I have to get you home."

I shake my head for a second, but stop when everything starts to spin. "No. I want Paul. He's the only boy who really loves me."

"Kim…" I can tell by his voice that I hurt his feelings.

"You broke my heart." I whisper.

I'm leaning into his chest now. Why does his body make me feel so good? "Please let me take you home. Now is not the time or place to talk about this. Come on. Can you walk?"

I push away from him. "Yes." I declare, taking a few steps before I blindly miss one of the stairs and almost tumble onto my face. Jared catches me, of course, before I hit the ground. "No."

"Alright, I'm going to carry you, okay?" He warns me. I want to object, but the part of me that is not rational stops me. I don't respond, so he sweeps me up bridal style and I rest my heavy head against his arm. He opens the door. "Sam, let me borrow your truck."

I hear keys whiz by my head and I know Jared has caught them without any effort. He lays me in the truck so my head is leaning against the window. And he gets in and starts to drive.

The walk is quick enough to begin with, so the drive is even quicker. Before I can even comprehend it, he's carrying me out of the truck again. I think I might have fallen asleep. He carries me up the stairs, lays me in bed and goes downstairs. I don't hear the door shut, so I know he hasn't left. He comes back up a minute later with a bottle of water and props me up. "Drink please." He says and I do. The cool water is a nice change from the burn of alcohol. I take as much as my stomach can handle and then I pull away. He leaves it on the night table along with Advil.

He pulls back the covers and slides me down so I'm underneath them. He lingers for a moment, probably debating on what to say and decides not to say anything. When he turns to leave, it's me that speaks. "Jared, wait." I call out. "I have to tell you something."

Wait, what? Mouth, what's going on here? Why are you talking? Stop! He turns around and comes to sit on the bed gently next to me. "What is it, Kim? You can tell me anything." He says softly.

Okay, why am I sitting up? What's my body doing? Stop it, stop it! "You broke my heart." I repeat what I said earlier. "But I still love you. I can't stop." And then my drunken ass of a self leans over and presses my lips to his.