Author's Note: Thank you thank you thank you for all the amazing reviews! But I do have a favor to ask all of you. As much as I love the reviews where you heap your love of this story upon me, I have to ask you guys to give me more….tell me what I can improve on, because I'm feeling kind of…like I'm going nowhere with this. I need something to work towards, and I'm sure you guys like it when people listen to your suggestions. Anyway, I'm so sorry for the sluggish updates! I have a lot on my plate right now. I just transferred schools, and I got a new job! So I'm sorry if I don't update as much as usual in the next week or so. Oh, and have you guys heard about the Eclipse leak? How disappointing! I will be in line on August 7th for my copy, and I hope to avoid all spoilers. Thank you for reading this horribly long author's note, if I haven't already lost you by now. Enjoy the story!
Edward stood across from Mike and I, his stance offensive. His sneer had grown more defined, and I watched with amazement as Mike dashed behind the breakfast bar, no doubt hoping to put some sort of barrier between him and the incredibly pissed off Edward. I almost laughed. As if a small thing like that bar could stop Edward if he were determined. However, the moment was not so funny, when one really thought about it. I ripped my gaze from Mike, and turned it to Edward. I ran up to him, and put my hands on his chest.
"Edward, calm down. It's okay, we…we were just dancing! That's all! Edward!" He didn't even glance at me. He did, however, pick me up by the arms, and set me down so I was no longer in front of him. The music from the sound system was still booming through the house, and the alcohol I had ingested was starting to take even more effect. I watched, slumped against a wall, as Edward advanced upon poor Mike. Mike was literally shaking in his boots. I managed to stand upright and grab onto Edward's arm. He shrugged me off, and continued to walk towards Mike. By the time he finally reached him, Mike was whimpering. I sat myself down on a breakfast bar stool, and watched the scene unfold. Edward grabbed Mike by his shirt, and cranked him up to eye level. He stuck his face in Mikes.
"If you ever, ever touch my girlfriend like that again, I will hunt you down. I know where you live. Understand?" Edward's voice was more menacing than I had ever heard it before. Mike cried out, bit his lower lip, and nodded. Edward set him gently down on the floor, and uncurled his fist from Mike's shirt. Mike took one look at Edward and I, and then fled the room.
"Edward, all it was was dancing! It's not like I was kissing him!" I turned to Edward, my drunkenness making me brave. Usually, when Edward was angry, I gave him time to cool down. Now, I was drunk, and I didn't care if he needed time to cool down. He turned to me.
"He touched you…I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry." Edward did look truly sorry. For one moment of clarity, I knew that I had to comfort him. Then, my moment of clarity went down the toilet. I smacked him on the back, startling him.
"S'okay, Edward." I slurred. "Youwass jus jealous, that's all." I smiled up at him, and his expression went from remorseful to angry all over again.
"Remind me again why we had this party, Bella. Oh, that's right, you can't because you're wasted. Ugh! I'm going to have to sober you up." By the way he was talking, it was obvious his words were not for me. I smiled up at him, and he lifted me in his arms.
"Come on. I'm going to have to make you less drunk or something. Let's go." He carried up stairs to his room. He shut the door, locked it, and kept carrying me until we reached his bathroom. He sat me on the toilet, and grabbed something off of a shelf, and put it under the running faucet. As soon as he slapped the cold washcloth on my forehead, my mind felt immediately clearer. He took it from me several times, and doused it with fresh water. We'd been sitting there for some time when he finally spoke to me.
"Can I ask a favor of you, Bella?" He looked at me, and for the first time since the party started, I saw him clearly.
"Don't be stupid, of course you can." I replied, still holding the freezing washcloth to my forehead.
"Can you never get drunk again? I don't like you when you're intoxicated. I mean, I do like you, but not the way you act. I much prefer you sober." He cracked the lovely half smile I longed for.
"I think I can do that. I don't like the way I act when I'm drunk. I'm sorry, Edward." I turned my face toward him, and was pleasantly surprised when he kissed my lips ever so gently.
"Good. And I promise to never behave like that again." He stood up from his kneeling position on the floor, and offered me his hand. I took it, and we walked down the stairs to the party again. The music was still pumping, and everyone was still dancing. Edward steered me away from the dance part of the party, and outside, to the patio, where people were lounging in the deck chairs, and having relaxed conversations. There were a couple people in the trampoline, bouncing around like Mexican jumping beans in a balloon. He steered me clear of them, too. I turned to question him, when he led me up to the garage. He opened the door, and pushed me inside. He followed me in. I heard the light snap on before I saw it. In the garage, were six cars, lined up and immaculately kept. Edward led me over to his Volvo, and opened the door for me. I got myself situated, and by the time I had my seatbelt buckled, Edward was in the car, and we were already ¼ of the way out of the driveway. I looked at Edward.
"What are we doing? Why did we leave the party?" I was confused. I thought the point of having a party was to be there, not to skip out before it was half way over. I had kind of wanted to dance with Edward again. He'd shown me a different side of himself, and I kind of liked it.
"We, my dear, are going on a little road trip. Don't look at me like that, Bella. It's only going to be a couple of hours. I figured that you might be as tired of the party as I was." He kept his eyes on the road the whole time. How did he know I'd made a face? I suddenly realized what road we were on. It was the one that led to the meadow. Well, sort of. There was an obscenely long hike to be had if you didn't have a vampire boyfriend. I had a vampire boyfriend, so I was good.
"It's not technically a road trip if you get out of the car and sit somewhere." I poked him in the arm, and he let loose that glorious, sexy laugh of his.
"No, I guess not. Well, by any means, we are going somewhere other than the house, which is what I wanted." He turned to me, with a large grin on his face. I didn't even notice when he parked the car. I was too absorbed in his eyes. He shut the car off, and came around to open my door for me. He lifted me onto his back, and started running through the pitch black forest. God, running with him was so exhilarating. We finally reached the meadow, and I gasped aloud.
"Edward, it's beautiful!" He turned to smile at me.
"I know." He grabbed hold of my hand, and we walked forward together.