Author's Note: Thank you for all the wonderful (and helpful) reviews. I will try my hardest to make the chapters longer, I promise. Anyway, yeah, I think Bella could be more assertive, and believe me, she will be. What you are expecting in this chapter is not what's going to happen. Anyway, keep reading and reviewing. Enjoy!
Edward and I walked, holding hands, deeper into the meadow. There was a tree on the far side, and it was absolutely filled with fireflies. Their lights went on and off, and lit up the tree with a brilliant green light. There were also fireflies zipping around the meadow, away from the tree. The stars were out in full force, and the moon was full. The flowers in the meadow gave off a strong, heady fragrance. I turned to Edward, and he smiled down at me. I looped my arms around his neck, and kissed his lips.
"This is perfect Edward, but how did you know?" I asked, all I had to do was whisper. He could hear me.
"It's like this every night. Except for the nights it rains, of course." He chuckled, and again, the sound was like music. He sat fluidly on the ground, pulling me down with him. Then, he lay on his back, his hands folded under his head. I laid my head on his chest, and stared upward too. The stars were breathtaking, and it looked like they were several feet above us, instead of millions of miles away. I felt Edward's arm come around me, and I snuggled into his chest more. Then, some of the fireflies started dive-bombing my face. They wouldn't let up, even when I swatted at them. Edward sat up, and I rolled off his chest, still swatting at the flies. Edward shook my shoulders.
"Bella? Bella, are you okay?" He held me in his arms, and the flies were swarming all around me. Why wasn't he doing anything?
"Bella, Bella, talk to me. Bella, talk to me." Suddenly, there was a bright light, and I woke up in the Cullens kitchen. The music was still booming through the speakers. I was lying on the breakfast bar, and all the Cullens were bending over me, worried looks on their faces.
"What's going on?" I asked groggily. Edward let out a sigh of relief, and the smell of his breath left my head spinning. He crushed me to his chest, and sat me up.
"You passed out. I was…talking to Mike Newton, and you fell off your stool. What do you think happened?
If I told Edward what I think happened, he would think I was nuts. "Nothing. It was nothing. Can I get up now?"
"Of course." Edward helped me off the breakfast bar, and then over to the sink. He had me splash cold water on the lower part of my face, because Alice and Rosalie refused to have me mess up my makeup. I saw Alice take Jasper over to a corner, and Edward whispered to me what they were saying. Alice was apparently upset that Jasper had danced with Jessica so provocatively. He laughed softly, and I turned to him.
"What is so funny about that? I happened to watch you grind with one of your groupies. It hurts to watch. She had her hands all over you, Edward! What was I supposed to think? I can totally understand why Alice is so upset." I snarled. I was sober, but angry nonetheless.
"I can't believe your hypocrisy! I dance with one girl, and then you grab Mike Newton, and practically start fornicating on the dance floor! How many drinks have you had tonight anyway? Good lord, Bella. I'm only a man." He growled back at me.
"You know what? I don't have to deal with this." I tried to move away from him, but he had me pinned to the counter. His arms were on either side of me, and I couldn't escape
"I'm sorry, Bella. I really am. I'll never dirty dance with another girl again. Ever." A smile played around the edges of his mouth. His eyes burned into mine, and who was I to be angry?
"Good. Make sure you don't." I played along, and a smiled lingered on my face too. Pretty soon, we were back to normal, he was nuzzling my neck, and I had my fingers curled in his hair. It looked like Alice and Jasper were alright too. I saw them kissing, heavily, out of the corner of my eye. After they had made sure that all was well, Emmett and Rosalie hit the dance floor again. Edward made me some sort of fruity drink (alcohol-free) in the blender. After that, we went to the living room, and crashed on the couch.
I spied Jessica and Lauren dancing together, and Angela and Ben together too. Mike was with that girl that Edward was dancing with earlier. I narrowed my eyes when I saw her, and Edward followed my stare. He leaned down, and put his lips to my ear.
"She could never be as beautiful, as smart, or hold as much attraction as you do, Bella. Never forget that." I could feel his lips moving, and it was heaven. I wound my fingers in his hair, and he leaned his head into my neck. I looked around the room, and caught ugly stares from several girls. I rolled my eyes, and Edward looked at my face. I whispered in his ear about the stares I was getting, and he kissed me repeatedly, making sure the girls could see us. They looked away disgusted, and we collapsed in laughter.
It was one thirty in the morning, and the party was still going strong. Edward went up to his room to unwind, and I told him I would be up later. I found Emmett leaning over the bar, pouring drinks for giggling girls. He called me over.
"Hey, Bella, want another drink? I have specialties." He smiled hugely, and I came over, laughing.
"No thanks, Emmett. How many drinks have these girls had?" I looked at him sternly.
"Uh, I don't know, actually." If Emmett could blush, he would. I smiled at him.
"Don't worry about it, I'm not the booze police…have you ever seen those movies where people throw wild parties, and guests end up getting trashed and" Emmett cut me off to finish my sentence.
"making out in the rooms?" He got it, and smiled a wicked little smile. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Bella?" I could almost see the gears turning in his head.
"I'm thinking exactly what you're thinking, Emmett." He came around from the bar, and offered me his arm. I took it, and we started up the stairs.
We started with Rosalie and Emmett's room. Emmett threw the door open, and sure enough, there was an entwined couple on their bed. They jumped up, straightening out their clothes. Emmett's booming laugh echoed around the room.
"Its fine you guys, go back about your…busty ness- I mean, business. I'm sorry for interrupting." He closed the door, and we fell on the floor laughing. We went to the next room, and the next, until we reached Alice and Jasper's room. Once again, Emmett threw open the door. We peered in, and our mouths dropped open.
"Oh my god." Emmett whispered. His eyebrows were raised and his jaw was on the floor. I was equally shocked.
"Wow. Um, we'll leave you guys alone." I nudged Emmett, and he swung the door closed. Once it was shut, I leaned against the wall, and clapped my hand over my mouth. Then the giggling started.
"I can't believe that!" Emmett whispered to me. I shook my head.
"Me either. Wow. Who would've thought? Eric and Conner. Wow." I couldn't get that mental picture out of my head. They were laying on Alice and Jasper's bed, arms around each other, heavily making out. Eric whipped his head up when he saw the light from the hallway, and had immediately disengaged himself from Conner's arms.
Emmett was dragging me down the hallway when the door flew open. Eric Yorkie came barreling out into the hallway. He ran right up to me.
"Please, Bella, can you tell no one about this, ever? Please? I'm begging you. If the guys knew…" He trailed off. He turned to Emmett and said the same thing.
Both of us agreed vehemently. Eric turned around, and went back into Alice and Jasper's room.
Emmett and rushed to the end of the hallway. We made a pact never to tell anyone. Then, he went back downstairs to resume his bartending duties, and I skipped up the stairs to see my beloved Edward.
I knocked on the door, and before my fist left the wood, it was open, and he was standing there. Soft music drifted out into the hallway, and he beckoned to me. I stepped forward into his arms, and he carried me over to the couch. We were getting settled, when a giant crash came from downstairs. Edward was on his feet immediately, and I managed to heft myself off the couch and join him within a few seconds. Edward grabbed my hand, and we practically flew down the stairs and into the living room. We got there, and Edward's mouth dropped open.
"Uh-Oh." He said. Uh-Oh was the understatement of the year.