Disclaimer: belongs to stephenie meyer. I just mess with the characters.

Anberlin – Feel Good Drag, The Raconteurs – Consoler of the Lonely, Placebo – Running Up the Hill

Pitiful Apologies and Author's Note at the end. Read on! I've made you wait long enough!

Chapter 5 - It's a healthy obsession.

Riley POV

I pulled my car to a stop in the alley behind Trinity. I could see the faint silhouette of a man smoking a cigar with his back against the wall, his chin tilted up, blowing hypnotic smoke rings into the air. I smiled.

"Hey Riiiiles," drawled Joe in his usual lazyass, too-cool-to-be-alive kinda way as I approached him. We shook hands, then, with after a hesitant pause, he gave me a brotherly hug. I winced a little. It had been a long time since we'd last met in the flesh, and as confident as I was now, I still wasn't used to this whole… thing.

I grinned anyway as we pulled back and he looked and squinted at me as if he was examining my eyes. Ah, good ol' Joe: twentysomething, blonde, blue eyes… yeah, he still had all the works.

"Boy, you weren't kidding when you said that you needed tonight."

"Yeah well, that, and a little something that I gotta do for my lady friend in there," I replied nonchalantly, nudging my chin in the direction of the inside.

He snickered.

"You haven't changed a shit, have you? Still dogging Lauren like a lost puppy?"

"I know I'm perfect for her."

Joe shrugged and opened the door to let us both in. "I'll be watching your back, dude. Just in case."

I merely snorted back in response.

We made our way down the corridors, soon entering the sweltering hot main room. I did a once-over the room, looking for Lauren. The wait was killing me... I couldn't even remember when the last time I saw her was.

My eyes skidded to a stop.

Sitting across the room was my Aphrodite; the very personification of perfection.

The way her blond hair caressed her cheek as she looked over to her side, the way her ice blue eyes penetrated my heart, the way each muscle stretched as she reached out for her drink, the way she threw her head back and her soft groans cancelled out the loud music, the way her long, slender fingers pulled her cell out from her hot pink bag and the way-

My cell phone buzzed. I huffed and flicked it open, peeved that I had been disturbed.

Ri,

GET over here.

L

Beside me, Joe gave a short laugh and slapped me on the back. "Go get 'em tiger." I laughed, somewhat nervously, in return as I tucked my phone back in my jeans. I was met with Lauren's murderous glare the moment I looked up. I feigned a bothersome look at her by rolling my eyes, but I pushed past the hordes of people on the dance floor and made my way towards her, my insides praying desperately for her forgiveness...

"Hey babe," I said, flashing my best smile.

"s'bout time you got here! I've been like waiting for ages!" Lauren screeched over the din of the music with her glorious voice as she hit me across the head with her purse.

"Ow… owwww Laurrr-" I said while rubbing the back of my head. Damn that girl could whack! I wonder -

"O.M.G. Like stop thinking about me, you perv! UGH. You are like, so sick. I mean like, seriously..!"

Woah… She knew what I was thinking...

I sighed. Could this girl possibly be any more perfect?

I shimmied closer to her. The distance was just too much. I needed to feel her. Smell that fruity scent of her hair that teased my nostrils as if it was a dewdrop from heaven.

"Will you please get on with it? Stop being such a slowass!" Lauren exclaimed as she gave my shoulders a shove.

Could this possibly be the sign I was waiting for? Did she finally return my feelings?!

I tried to snake my arm around her waist. I got closer… and closer.

"ACK! EW RILEEEEEEY get awayyy! You're here for Bella remember?!"

I knew it was too good to be true…

"Ugh. Fine. All business and no play then… So where is the little slut?" I wondered out loud.

"There… No over there! Right next to that blonde guy!" Lauren said as she pointed out to where Bella was dancing.

I left without another word, seething only so slightly with rage and frustration.

------------------------x--------------

Emmett POV

" – SHE'LLLLLLLLLL BE COMING AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WHEN SHE COMESSSS, SHE'LL BE COMING AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WHEN SHE COMESSS. SINGIN-

"PLEASE refrain from singing that atrocious song Emmett," Edward said with a sigh.

"Oh c'mon Eddie m'boy! It's a road trip innit? SING WITH ME!!!!!!! SHE'LLLLLLLLLL BE COMING AROUND THE – " I stopped abruptly.

"What's wrong Em, cat got your tongue?" Edward chuckled.

"Pull over at the pump."

"What… why? We have enough gas if that's what you're worried about."

". Pull. Over."

"Okaaay, calm down man."

Edward pulled the car over to the side.

I hopped out and started to make my way to the little convenience store.

"Can I at least know why we're stopping?" Edward looked confused and a little terrified so, I looked back and told him.

"I want jello."

He scoffed but got down from the car anyways. I tried my best not to grin. I always liked bending Edward to my will; it was like telling Superman to take off his cape. Underneath all the brooding and nonchalance was a softie inside. He wouldn't admit it, of course, but it's in there all right. Somewhere.

"Why do you actually want to eat anything, anyway?" asked Edward as we entered the convenience store. It was empty except for us and the female cashier, whose eyes were fixed at something below the counter. I took a quick peek; a fashion mag, heh.

Just then, she looked up, annoyed, but it changed the moment she saw Edward. She immediately shoved the mag in a drawer and stood up straight. "Can I get you guys anything?" she asked, flashing Edward, and me I guess, a brilliant smile.

Edward, bless his soul, had already been through this situation one too many times. He smiled kindly back at her and put up his hand to tell her no, then promptly looked away. I grabbed the jello pack and put it on the counter, smiling widely at her.

Her grin faded a bit but she kept smiling anyways as she asked, "Is that all?"

"I'm Emmett," I blurted out. "And you are – " I glanced at her nametag, "Lily. I'm Emmett."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah I kinda got that the first time."

I wanted to slap myself so bad. I could hear Edward snigger behind me as he investigated the magazine rack.

"I'm sorry, I'm not usually like this, heh, you know? I'm just a guy – a guy can get nervous, can't he?"

She arched her eyebrows and tried to keep her pleasant smile, but I knew that I was trying her patience. I could feel that she was THIS close to throwing me out physically. So I fumbled with my wallet, paid for the jello, and said a quick bye before grabbing Edward abruptly by the shoulder and headed for the exit.

"Bye," she called out, but I knew it was directed for Edward. And Edward, bless his soul for the millionth time, didn't reciprocate.

--------------x-------------------

Riley POV

By the time I caught up with Bella, she was dancing with a redhead.

I tapped her on her shoulder and called out: "Hey Jingle Bells!"

Bella spun around smacking me with her out of control limbs.

"Rye rye! What are youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu doing 'ere! " A red-faced Bella slurred.

"Heard you were hanging around this place, so thought I'd drop by," I said giving her my most charming smile.

Bella shrieked for joy and flung her arms around my neck. "Awww, that's sooooooo sweet Rye Rye!"

I definitely could work with this new Bella. At least one thing hadn't changed. Bella's low tolerance for her alcohol. You could make Bella do literally ANYTHING once she was all drunk and feisty like this. Sure she would cry and mope about it a day later but hey, she'd willingly get drunk again the next night; just rinse and repeat.

"Hey, I want to show you something! Come with me," I grabbed Bella's wrist and started to pull her towards the VIP rooms.

"No, Rye ryeeeeeeeeee I wanna dannnnnnnnnnnnceee. Come dance with meeee!!" She started to pull the other way.

"Jingle Bells, you trust me right? And besides, this thing I wanna show you, is waaaay more fun than dancing." I lowered my voice to give it that dangerous glint I knew she would love.

She tilted her head at me, her eyes wide but glazed. "Really?"

"Have I ever lied to you?"

"Ermm…." she looked up, stuck her tongue up at the sky, then shook her head back at me with a giggle. God, she was really intoxicated this time. All the better.

"Then what are we waiting for?" I gave her my most charming grin and tugged her hand once.

This time she followed me willingly straight into the VIP room.

Emmett POV

We handed in our ID's for checking at the entrance to Trinity.

"I know you're smarting, Em," said Edward suddenly. He'd been deathly silent all the way from the convenience store to the club, till now that is.

"Oh thanks, Ed. How did you know that I was smartypants in my family?" I joked back. I knew what he really meant, but man he really needs to keep the fancy words to a minimum. He narrowed his eyes at me and me, being the big softie I am when it comes to Edward and girls, sighed and gave up. "Fine. Smarting from what? The girl at the convenience store?" I snorted. "She's just a girl."

He scoffed. "You're a bit miffed that she snubbed you."

"Wow, rocket science, Ed. Here's a gold star for you!" I pretended to attach a ribbon to his collar. He gave me that soulless stare again and I put my hands up. "Okay fineee, so I am a little mad. But it isn't a big deal, I mean – you're Edward Cullen. Girls have been tripping over their hair for you since the Spanish flu."

"You know that I don't enjoy that kind of attention, Em," he said in an exasperated way.

"I know, but well – it's nice to be the rock star once in a while," I mumbled the last part out.

Edward glanced at his watch and pretended not to hear me. "Jasper's not going to like this... His shift ended 20 minutes ago. He's probably working overtime so that you can get that free drink."

"No, you worrywart, Jasper still owes me from that bet we made last summer after graduation remember? He can't complain, and he won't."

Once we got our IDs back we made our way inside.

Jasper was behind the bar, looking as if he was born and raised there the way he juggled tumblers and shook them up and pouring his concoctions from over his shoulder precisely into his customers' cocktail glasses to the sound of wows and claps. The guy really loved his summer job; he actually got it extended to a month after starting college.

Jasper saw us coming his way.

"Hey guys! What took you so long?" Jasper asked, flipping a tumbler behind his back with one hand and catching it expertly with the other. A few really fine-looking young ladies looking for one helluva night about town oohed and did little dainty claps of their own. I wanted to laugh; I could do that too if the club owner wouldn't mind a few dozen broken glasses in case I missed during practice. I hadn't taken my reflexes for a test drive for a while now.

"Emmett here stopped for jello," Edward replied nonchalantly.

Jasper snorted. "Apparently your food cravings didn't die with you. What are you waiting for, guys? Take a load off while I shake something up for ya," he winked at the ladies, who giggled in response. Edward and I exchanged looks, but we sat on the barstools anyway, with Edward next to the girls and me on the far end. As expected, they tossed their hair immaculately and gave him their most charming and seductive smiles, all of which were only met with tight-lipped smiles and flat responses.

My eyes caught an impossibly good-looking, surfer dude-ish man take a seat at the bar. Who wouldn't have missed him, especially from the way he smelt. Edward, Jasper and I tensed up, and as if he could sense it, he turned his eyes in our direction. Our eyes met, and the air seemed to vibrate and shimmer from the tension that hung in the air between us. He turned his head away nonchalantly from us, and we looked away as well, and everything went back to normal, as if we hadn't seen anything odd at all.

Jasper made our drinks without the usual spectacle, which disappointed the ladies, and quitted the bar shortly after. The ladies, with nothing left to talk about, took their drinks and excused themselves. I watched them go wistfully. If only I'd been able to get a few sentences of getting-to-know-yous across…

"Come on, let's get outta here," said Jasper as he came up behind us, shouldering on his black leather jacket. He looked super surly.

"Aww come on, Jas," I moaned, gesturing at the murky white cocktail he'd made for me. "We ain't even touched our drinks yet."

"I can make another mojito at home if you want to," he said harshly. His eyes were fixed on Surfer Dude with a hatred so intense it kinda creeped me out.

"Calm down, Jasper," said Edward, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Tell us what happened."

Jasper exhaled loudly and nodded stiffly, taking the chair beside Edward. "Seven girls have been found dead over the past month," he said in a low voice, "and they were all last seen here." He cast a sharp glance at Surfer Dude, who was fiddling with his beer, occasionally glancing in the direction of the dance floor.

Jasper grabbed Edward's drink, took a sip, squeezing his eyes shut and grimacing. "God, they weren't joking when they decided to name this the Graveyard. Anyway, the police have been coming in and out of the joint, questioning the regulars, the staff; bullying, even, just so that they have something to work on."

"Why hasn't the media gotten onto this?" said Edward, his eyebrows raised.

"Trinity bought the coppers off to keep this quiet. Else there won't be any business, I won't have my job, and you won't be drinking any free drinks."

I lifted my cocktail glass in acknowledgement. Jasper laughed and Edward smiled; the tension subsided for a moment.

Edward shot another quick look at Surfer Dude. "So you're of the opinion that this has something to do with him? Does that explain your hostility?"

"I saw his eyes once," said Jasper grimly. "He went off with a teenage girl for a few hours and came back for a drink, refreshed, smug and satiated – it was all I could do to keep myself from ripping his heart out there and then." He fell silent, his eyes became distant and glazed over. Edward frowned slightly and put his hand on Jasper's shoulder. "Let's just finish the drinks and go home, all right?"

Jasper jumped, as if awoken from a trance, and nodded quickly. "Right, right. Hey, have some, it's your drink anyway."

Edward looked wistfully at the drink and shook his head. "You need it more than I do."

Riley POV

I waved at the club attendant who handled the VIP rooms, who nodded back at me with a grudging smile. Joe was tight with the management here, and since I was tight with him, he'd let me use his tab to get free drinks and free rooms once in awhile.

I led Bella down the winding corridors of the VIP rooms, hearing her gasp and giggle and half-trip over her own shoes. I tried not to grin too widely. Stay cool, Riles, stay cool. The walls were padded with velvet, with pretty baroque-ish wall lamps emanating soft lights that could make any drunk person sink right into stupor there and then.

"Aaaaam thirstyyy, Rye rye," Bella spluttered out suddenly, tugging my hand. I immediately put one arm around her shoulder, thus pulling her into a hug and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "You're so pretty, Bella," I said, looking into her eyes for full effect. Her pupils dilated and I could hear her give a soft sigh. "Aaand I really REALLY need to show you this. Then I'll get you drinks – kay?"

She broke into a dreamy smile and nodded giddily. "Mmmmm, kays. I love you too, Rye rye."

I laughed and held her close to me, in case she'd trip and slip from my grasp and make a mad dash for the bar or something.

Finally we got to Room No. 6, which was always reserved for Joe, since he used it on an almost daily basis. I opened the door, knowing it wouldn't be locked, and gave Bella a gentle push inside while I shut the door. She tumbled and landed on a squeaky leather sofa, giggling at the same time and pulling one of the faux fur wraps that draped over the sofa into her arms. Putting on the most charming grin I could, I sat beside her and gently pushed her onto her back, until she was lying on the sofa. Her cheeks were flushed red and her smiles and giggles were still tipsy. Lauren had drugged her good.

Oh Lauren…

"I know you…" said Bella suddenly, in a hoarse whisper. Her fingers plucked at the faux fur as her lips carved into a coy smile. "I know you like Laur- Laaaauren." Her wide, unfocused eyes looked up teasingly at me. "I th-th-thinnkk she likes you too."

My heart ached and leapt at the same time. "Really?" I croaked out. Damn it, stay calm and cool, Riles! I scolded myself. Thoughts of Lauren, sitting there all by herself where I left her, looking bored and sad, rushed into my head. There were other thoughts too; Lauren dancing with another guy, Lauren talking happily on her cell with some guy from school about the date they had last week, Lauren being chatted up by a stud at –

Then Bella suddenly pulled my head down and kissed me on my lips.

It was quick and harmless; over as soon as it had begun, but all at once, thoughts of Lauren flew away. My world whittled down to just me and Bella, who giggled now and asked me if I liked it. I barely heard her – my senses were now focused on the red flush in her cheeks, her fluttering eyelashes, her wide, sloppy, intoxicated grin…

And the smooth, ivory nape of her neck that sang out to my need to quench my longstanding thirst.

------------------x-------------------

A/N: I am so SO SO Incredibly sorry! I've just been so busy with exams after exams! and I had writers block for the longest time! I'm so sorry for having all you guys wait for so long! I'll try to have the next chapter up incredibly fast!!! Oh and a HUGE thank you to my beta, cascade! you're awesome :D

Please Please Please Review!!!!!