A/N:
Hi Guys, I am so sorry for keeping you waiting so long. Let's do this!
HappyMess: If the world were a giant car lot, you would be the shiniest one, with all the best features.
*Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns twilight…I'm just a girl that FINALLY got her mojo back. Lookout world!
Love my name, Love left dry, Frost or flame, Skeleton me
-Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Skeletons
The screeching could be heard for miles.
There was jumping, flailing and jingling. You think we'd be used to it by now, but this…this was far beyond anything I'd seen before.
"How long has she been like this?" Alice yelled above the painful noise surrounding us.
Emmett glanced at his watch. "About fifteen minutes."
"I thought it would be a happy surprise. Maybe I should have prepared her." Alice grimaced at a particular high note.
We covered our ears in unison.
"Maybe you should have prepared US!" Mike glared at Alice bitterly.
She nodded, lowering her eyes in remorse.
"It's a happy surprise." Rose smiled wide. "This is how Jessica expresses joy. She'll calm down soon." She tried to reassure us.
"We need her. She better pull it together soon," Emmett said, leaning in closer.
"She's never met him before?" It seemed impossible to me. "I mean isn't she his number one fan, ever?"
"Her mother's been bringing her to his concerts since she was in the womb, but she's never actually met him," Rose explained.
"Well, if she doesn't snap out of it fast she's going back in the womb. I saw her mother out there." Mike pointed past the curtain to the crowded ballroom.
Before anyone could reply I turned to Jessica and smacked her across the face, hard. She froze, her mouth finally closed and her eyes widened at my outstretched hand.
"Thank you." I smiled at her confused expression. "Look, Jess, we know how much you love…him." Saying his name aloud would definitely set her off again. "But we really need you to pull yourself together. Do you think you can do that?"
She glanced at my hand still up in the air and poised for action. Her bright pink coated lips puffed out as she contemplated my request. Slowly her head nodded.
We all let out a sigh of relief.
Why Alice sprung it on Jessica at the last minute that she got Sir Mix A lot to be one of the talent show judges at the charity ball was beyond me.
Tonight was our big night. If any act was in it to win it that would be us.
Never had I rehearsed for a performance so many times in my life. I peeked out from backstage and smiled as I took in table five, Jazz, Angela and Jake laughing hysterically at a very animated story being told by Alex. My eyes scanned the crowded room.
Edward was nowhere in sight.
He had planned to spend the night in his office working, only making a brief appearance at the end of the evening. The man never stopped working. Through much trial and error, mostly error, I was learning how to get him to loosen up.
It took some creative encouragement, but he agreed to attend his own party this year. One thing I discovered during dessert at the Vermillion was that my boobs were a powerful weapon and I wasn't afraid to use them.
He almost made it too easy, I thought as I continued to search the crowd for his brooding face, but the Lion had yet to arrive. Edward was always easy to spot. His presence changed the energy in the room.
By the third act we were feeling pretty smug backstage, convinced that we were going to rock the house. Emmett must have reminded us ten times that Deliverance hadn't performed yet. They were apparently the ones to watch out for. Being last year's winner gave them the right to the coveted grand finale. The magical mail people of Cullen Publishing sat quietly in the corner. Our group was anything but quiet.
That was nothing new.
Mike pranced around, gathering us in a hurry to take part in what he called a deep spiritual cleansing, which involved chanting an unknown language and drinking Lord knows what from a pewter chalice.
Normally, I wouldn't drink anything served by him, but he needed me too much to kill me, so I drank to appease them. They were on the edge of sanity and I didn't want to be the one to push them over.
Alice hired Snooki to emcee the show. Why, I don't know, but her over the top clothes and makeup made Jessica look like an Amish girl.
"PLACES! PLACES!" Mike screamed frantically, clapping his hands in my face.
My eyes shot him daggers as I headed to the stairs. We called ourselves 'The MisFITS'. Jess came up with the name. She explained with her snorting laugh that it was the perfect name, since we're the fitness club staff.
And because we're the company freaks, I had chimed in, stating the obvious. They balked at that. I guess the saying was true, crazy people don't know they're crazy.
Standing high above the stage on the grand staircase I watched Jessica sitting in the dark, foggy, graveyard we spent days creating. Flawlessly she talked to the skeleton puppet propped up on the gravestone she sat beside, she cried over a love lost.
As I watched the puppet speaking I had to admit she actually was a talented ventriloquist. The music started. The spotlight shone from behind me, bringing a warm glow to my flowing white dress. I descended a few steps and began singing.
Mike and Rose gracefully lowered from the rafters. They clung to black aerial ribbons wearing glow in the dark, skeleton bodysuits. They performed in complete synchronicity as I continued singing.
Jessica looked up with tear filled eyes as they danced in the sky above the grave. It was all going exactly as we hoped, dare I say even better than I imagined.
All the rehearsals paid off and made the performance feel effortless, we knew our parts well. Performing with the full set in place and the audience's powerful vibes put me in a creative trance. The crowd gasped as Mike and Rose stunned them with daring moves.
The music soaked into my soul.
Until that moment I didn't realize how much I missed performing. Like a flower deprived of the sun, only to see it once again, every cell of my being burst beneath my flesh.
My spirit soared to the most euphoric of highs, consuming me so deeply I lost all cognitive thought.
Bright flames ignited beside me, the scorching heat nearly engulfed my flowing, white gown. The fire ripped me from my zone so violently I lost my balance. My heels twisted too fast to recover. My body fell down the long, dark, staircase. I didn't make a sound, it all happened within a flash of light.
Everything went black before I reached the bottom.
I slowly regained consciousness to the sounds of chaos around me. Confused, it took a few moments to remember where I was.
"Absolutely not!" Edward roared ferociously.
That voice opened my eyes. My surroundings were blurry at first, but I soon realized I was in Edward's arms. Jazz stood in front of us, looking more livid than I have ever seen.
My gaze wandered beside Jazz. Why would Edward's Robo Dad be standing there? I closed my eyes and reopened them.
He was still there.
"Look, man. I'm not saying it again. If you don't let the doctor look at her we're gonna have a real problem," Jazz threatened. I knew that tone. He was seconds away from using his fists to get his point across.
"Edward, let me examine her," his father's calm, robotic voice replied.
"NO!" he roared more viciously. "She needs a doctor, not a noxious parasite." He pulled me in closer, protectively. His murderous tone made even Jasper pause.
"Dude, listen. Whatever daddy issues you got going on, I don't give a fuck. If you don't let the doc look at Bella she won't be the only injured one here." Jazz stepped closer to us.
"Edward," my groggy voice croaked. His eyes shot down to mine. "It's okay. He won't hurt me."
The turmoil in his eyes struck me like a hammer. I hadn't thought it possible, but he looked scared. Not just concern covered his face, but absolute terror.
He held my gaze several moments before opening his mouth to reply, but just as the words were about to come out he was interrupted by the paramedics briskly sweeping into the room, whom, I might add he was also skeptical of.
His trust issues ran deep.
Edward began barking orders at the paramedics from the moment he set me down on the stretcher. Lying there, I took in my full surroundings. We were backstage in a dressing room. I wondered how long I was unconscious. I had a killer headache and my left ankle throbbed.
Jazz made his way to my side and grabbed my hand. "How are you feeling? You scared the shit out of me."
"Remember when you had the stiletto heel stuck in your forehead? " I asked.
He nodded. "Not something I'm likely to forget."
"Feels like I have a dance troupe of stilettos doing jumping jacks on top of my head." My eyes closed as I winced when one of the paramedics touched my ankle.
After a quick examination a tall, burly EMT told me we we're going to the ER. "Just lay back. Don't move, alright?"
I nodded and then groaned.
As they rolled me down the hall I saw the gang. They jumped to attention the moment I came into view.
"Bella!" They screamed in unison.
"Ouch." I cringed, rubbing the top of my head.
"I knew she was alive!" Jess screeched.
"Of course she is," Mike huffed. "She drank my elixir right before the performance."
They briskly walked beside the stretcher.
Emmett's sad eyes met mine. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what went wrong. The flames went off too soon. You weren't supposed to be anywhere near them. This is all my fault." His face paled.
"It was an accident." I smiled lightly. "Stop looking like you killed me. I'm a superhero remember? A little fire can't beat Buttercream."
"Buttercup," he corrected, still frowning. "She's the toughest fighter."
The paramedics picked up the pace.
"MISFITS MOOOO-BILIZE!" Jessica's battle cry could be heard as we reached the door.
She was mooing. I couldn't help but smile as my eyes closed, suddenly too tired to keep them open.
This time I woke to silence, in a hospital room alone, my head still throbbing. I lifted my leg to check on my ankle.
"FUCK!" I yelled. Still hurt like a bitch.
The door swung open. Edward strode into the room with Jazz close behind, the door almost slamming in his face.
My leg hovered in the air. I froze when the pain hit then lowered it slowly.
"Your ankle is sprained," Edward explained, glancing down at it.
"Are you sure?" I looked up at him. "It feels more like it's broken."
"Quite sure, I had my personal physician look over the x-rays to confirm the diagnosis." He watched as I massaged the top of my head. "You have a slight concussion as well."
"Slight?" I continued massaging. "There's nothing slight about this headache."
"You'll be alright, Bells. The doctor is releasing you soon. I'm bringing you back to my place," Jazz spoke in his most fatherly voice.
Edward glared at him. "She will stay with me while she recuperates," he stated as though it was now law.
The vein on Jasper's neck bulged. "The fuck she will."
I held up my hand to get their attention. Edward was just about to strike. "Guys, thanks, but I'm going home. Angela will be there. Not a problem."
Edward's head was shaking before I even finished speaking. "She's leaving in the morning for Los Angeles. She won't be back until next week. I have a full staff that can take care of all your needs."
"She doesn't need your staff," Jazz spat out harshly. "She has me. That's all she needs."
Edward growled low as his eyes shot to Jasper. "Don't push me."
Jazz's hands fisted at his sides. "Pushing you isn't what I had in mind."
I pulled myself up with a grunt. "Are you two going to whip them out and piss on me? Because it will be the last thing you do."
Jazz pointed at Edward. "He acts like he owns you. I'm not letting him treat you that way. He's your boss, not your master."
Edward's eyes narrowed on Jaspers' finger. "You're incapable of providing for her as efficiently as I can. Her well being should be your primary concern." He turned his back to Jazz in dismissal.
Within seconds Jasper got in Edward's face. "What the fuck is this about man? Are you trying to get in her pants?" He glared at him. "Cause no way is that happening. Take your stuffy suits, expensive cars, and efficient staff and shove them up your fat cat ass. She don't need none of it."
Edward's brow arched. "What she doesn't need is a crude, womanizing, alcoholic."
Jasper's fist flew, but Edward blocked it, his face hard as stone. He was ready to pounce.
"STOP!" I yelled tossing the water in the pitcher beside my bed at them.
Two sets of enraged eyes landed on me.
"I can't even believe what I'm seeing right now. I'm not going anywhere with either of you psychos. What I need is my best friend and my boss to act like adults and not little boys arguing over a toy. I AM NOT A TOY!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
They looked concerned.
My eyes shot them each a deathly glare. "I'm asking Alice if I can stay with her for the weekend and then I'm going home." I fell back on the bed with a thump and closed my eyes hoping they would go away.
No such luck.
"Fine," Jasper huffed. "As long as you're not staying with him."
"My thoughts exactly," Edward's stiff voice replied.
I opened my eyes to search for something else to throw at them, but found nothing.
The doctor entered the room and did a double take at Jazz's wet hair and Edward's soaked shirt. He didn't ask any questions though. After telling me to rest and follow up with my private physician he released me to go.
Jasper announced he would go talk to Alice about me staying with her. He leaned in and kissed my forehead before leaving.
Edward's intense eyes bore into mine from across the room.
"Are you okay?" I asked, wondering what was going on in his head, as always. "C'mere." I waved him over.
He surprised me by not only crossing the room, but sitting beside me on the bed.
"I'll have my doctor come by Alice's house tomorrow." His gaze ran over me from head to toe.
"Are you okay?" I repeated, catching his eyes, remembering the terror I had found in them at the thought of his father examining me.
His hand ran through his hair. "I'm a bit…soggy." He glanced down at his drenched shirt.
"You needed to cool off." I smiled.
"Did I?" His brow rose.
I nodded. "Definitely."
He leaned in close. "What would a toy know of such things?"
"I am not a toy," I grumbled as he leaned in closer.
"So you keep saying." His lips hovered over mine.
"What was your father doing at the charity ball?" I asked just as he was about to kiss me.
He let out a deep sigh. "Violating boundaries I set. He will be dealt with. I assure you of that."
Judging by the lethal look on his face I fully believed him.
"Why would you set boundaries against him? What did he do to you?" I reached out and placed my hand against his jaw.
His gaze grew more intense. "How is your head feeling?" his hand moved to the side of my head.
"This may surprise you, but falling down a flight of stairs was not the big finish we had planned." I joked.
He didn't laugh, instead pulling away and gripping my eyes with his. The intensity of his gaze made my smile straighten.
"Watching you fall was the second most terrifying moment of my life." He confessed his tone deadly serious.
"What was the first?" I couldn't help but ask.
"My sixth birthday." His eyes grew so dark they chilled me to the core.
"Will you tell me about it?" I massaged the side of his face gently.
"No." His head shook. "Definitely not."
"Okay, but if you ever want to, I'm here to listen." I leaned up and brushed my lips softly against his. "I'm here," I repeated, hoping it would sink in that he wasn't alone.
His lips moved against mine, hungrily deepening the kiss. Edward had as much passion as he had anger inside him.
He gripped the sides of my face, taking full possession of my mouth. My arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him down on top of me. Just as I was about to rip off his wet shirt the door flung open.
"HOLY SHIT!" Alice screeched. She froze in place, her jaw on the floor.
Edward sat up, licking his reddened lips. "What is it?" He glared at her, unfazed by the shock on her face.
"Umm..." Her eyes were wide as saucers. "I just wanted to tell Bella that I could…uh…that she could…uh… stay at my place. Sorry to interrupt. I'll be outside when you're ready." She spun around quickly and smashed into Mike and Jessica.
"What the hell!" Mike yelled as Alice shoved them both back into the hall and slammed the door.
"Guess the secret's out. Now they know you're madly in love with me. Mauling my poor mouth as I lay here delirious with a concussion," I sighed dramatically as I threw my hand across my forehead.
"Bella," his voice became serious. "I will never love you." He watched me carefully a moment before asking, "Can you accept that?"
"What if I say no?" I challenged him.
He looked down at me a few moments in contemplation. "Then this ends, obviously."
Now, I wasn't a hearts and flowers type of girl. He knew I didn't expect a fairytale, but him being so strongly opposed to falling in love put up a red flag. Some sane part of my brain I didn't know existed rang a warning bell.
"I've never loved a man…other than Jazz," I confessed. None of my maniac boyfriends had ever reached that level. I deeply liked a few of them, but never love.
His back stiffened. "You're in love with Jasper?"
"He's the person I love most in the world," I told him with sincerity. "But, I'm not in love with him. I've never fallen in love. I would never want to rule that out of my life though. Why would you want to do that?"
He shrugged. "There's nothing about it that appeals to me. People in love are emotionally unstable and have poor judgment. Love is the greatest weakness I can imagine. There isn't a single benefit of it that I would desire. I certainly wouldn't want to be coddled or any other pathetic form of intimacy someone in love might feel compelled to unleash on me."
"How can you know so much about something you've never experienced?" I shook my head to gather my thoughts. "By coddling do you mean talking baby talk? Maybe calling you a cutesy name like Fatty Catkins?"
Edward's eyes widened. "If you ever call me that I will fire you immediately."
"Not if you're in loooove with me. You'd give me a great big cuddly hug and call me your little Sugar Poop." His disgusted expression made me laugh so hard I gasped for air.
He watched me as I wiped the tears from my eyes.
"Come on! That's funny." I poked at his ribs. "You really need to loosen up."
"I see the pain killers are working quite nicely." He frowned down at me.
"No, I refused them. They make me nauseous." I waved my hand through the air.
He had an odd expression on his face. It looked like relief, which made no sense. He was so hard to read.
The nurse popped her head in the door and announced they were just about ready to discharge me.
I looked at Edward. "Can you check to see if Emmett's still out in the hall? I want to let him know I'm doing okay. He looked so worried."
Edward's face hardened. "As he should be. He nearly killed you."
"It was an accident," I shrugged. "Emmett's like a big kid. It probably wasn't smart of us to put him in charge of the pyrotechnics," I laughed lightly.
"The man is an incompetent buffoon that will be fired first thing Monday morning," he spat.
"You can't be serious," I laughed at the insanity of his words.
"Oh I'm serious," his harsh tone cut my laughter off immediately.
"You can't just fire someone over a mistake," I argued back at him.
"Actually, I can. I do it quite frequently," he stated emotionlessly.
Just as I opened my mouth to fight with the Lion, Jasper barged into the room.
"Let's get the fuck out of this place. They're starting to concoct another freak ass game out there that I want no part of." He walked over to my bedside.
Edward stood up, gave a sharp glare at Jasper and headed for the door. He turned to me before opening it. "Oh, by the way, your performance tonight was exceptional."
As the door shut Jazz rolled his eyes. "Dude, could he be any more desperate to fuck you? What an asshole."
The door flung open and the gang came piling in, with Angela close behind. Her eyes wide and body trembling from anxiety.
"WE'RE LEAVING!" Jessica announced so that everyone on the floor could hear her. "By choice this time," she added.
They surrounded my bed. Emmett stood at the foot of it like a lost puppy. The man wouldn't hurt a fly. I couldn't let him lose his job over a completely unintentional mistake. He wouldn't be able to stand up to Edward on Monday. They were all so terrified of him, especially when he went full on Lion. Poor Emmett wouldn't know what hit him.
There had to be some way to reason with the Tyrant. Could I change his mind in a weekend?
"Change of plans," I looked up at Alice. "I'll be staying with Edward."
There were several gasps and a "What the fuck?" from Jasper. Alice sent me a knowing smirk. She thought she knew, but she had no idea.
Although my boobs were a powerful weapon, I had a feeling I'd need something much stronger this time.
A/N:
Next up…Saving Emmett. Will Bella find a weapon strong enough?
Huge love to: the honest to God best readers ever! I am truly grateful. My mojo is back right now. I plan to suck it dry.
Fun Fact: Check out my twitter page (at symbol) Tropicalsorbet for the video of the song Bella was singing at the talent show. I can't seem to find a way to get the link to my blog back on my FFN profile page.
That's all for now folks. Let me know what you think…it makes me want to coddle you and call you Sugar Poop.