Chapter Four
"So what did you think of the show?" Edward asks from behind me.
"I was surprised at your complete lack of talent." I turn to Edward, winking at him.
"Damn, Swan, you wound me." Edward whines, putting his hand over his heart.
"I actually really enjoyed your set. I think you're a great performer." I smile.
"Well thank you. As soon as I saw you standing in the crowd, I had a good reason to perform at my best." Edward pulls the beer out of my hand, taking a sip of it.
"Can't you ever get your own drink?" I laugh at Edward, moving towards the bar.
"I can. I just like taking yours." Edward laughs as well, following me.
I get another beer from the bartender as Edward hops up on the bar stool beside where I'm standing. I watch him as he downs the rest of my beer and orders another. I take a sip of the cold beer in my hand.
"So, your friends bring you here again? Or did you hear I was playing?" Edward turns to face me as I climb up onto a stool.
"A little of both." I take another drink of the beer.
"Well, how about you make me the luckiest guy in the bar and come home with me?" Edward places his hand on my lower back.
"That line work for you often, Cullen?" I laugh.
"Works enough. But I can see I'll have to do better to get you."
I try to push away the jealously I feel as Edward mentions other girls. I shake my head a little, not wanting to picture that. I put the beer bottle back to my lips, taking a long draw from it, allowing the cool liquid to bring some calm to me.
"You'll have to do so much better." I bump my shoulder into his side as he takes a small swig of his beer.
I smile at him as I tip the bottle back, finishing the rest of the beer.
"How about some shots?" I insisted.
"Haven't you heard 'beer before liquor, never been sicker'?" He scoffs at me.
"Wimp." I mutter as I wave at the bartender to get his attention again.
"Two shots of the…pineapple vodka, please." I make a random choice from the bottles of alcohol behind the counter.
"Coming right up." The bartender smiles at me.
I shudder as I turn away from him, something about him doesn't sit right with me. This isn't the first time I've had this feeling with this particular bartender. But he has never done anything to give me any reason to feel like this. I lean a little closer to Edward, allowing his solid body to offer me some strength.
"You insisting that I take one with you?" Edward smiles at me as the bartender places the drinks down in front of me.
"They are actually both for me." I smile to myself, reaching up to pull the two shots closer to me.
"My type of woman." The bartender smiles and winks at me before turning and walking away.
I try my best to ignore the comment that the bartender threw my way as I pick up the first shot.
"Asshole." I hear Edward mumble under his breath.
I pour the burning liquid down my throat and swallow quickly, doing my best not to make a sour face. I slap Edward's hand away as he reaches for the other shot.
"Get your own." I mumble as I pick up the second shot and put it to my lips.
I hear Edward laugh as I take the second shot, feeling less of the burning in my throat with this one.
"One more." I whisper as I wave at a different bartender.
He makes his way to me quickly and I order another shot of the same drink.
"Make that two." Edward says quickly, catching the bartender before he can walk away to pour my drink.
"Yay, you're joining me." I clap twice as I smile widely.
"I think both of these shots might be mine though…" Edward trails off.
I pout at him, as a shot appears on the bar in front of me.
"Cheers." Edward says as he taps his glass against mine.
"Cheers." I repeat, pulling the liquid into my mouth.
"That's so good." I shift my weight to one foot, pulling away from Edward some. I can feel the electricity sparking between us. Or maybe I'm just on my way to being drunk.
"What's going on, chick?" Rosalie pops up beside me.
"I think I need another drink…" I look at Rose.
"I think you're fine where you're at now." Rose smirks as she looks at me.
"What happened to Alice?" I look around the bar, suddenly remembering the other person that I came here with.
"Out there, dancing with the boyfriend." Rose giggles a little.
I look around the dance floor, quickly spotting the couple catching a lot of attention as they dirty dance to the fast-paced music blaring over the speakers. It doesn't seem that Alice or Jasper know the attention that they have captured. They are so wrapped up in each other.
"They are so cute…" I giggle at the end of the sentence.
"I don't think 'cute' is what they are going for." Rose joins me in the giggling.
"I wish I had that." I sigh, turning away from Rose.
Edward quickly catches my attention now that I'm no longer looking at Rose.
"You'll find it." Edward pats my hand as it rests against the bar.
"Hopefully, in three years." I smile, thinking of the plan that I had.
This plan was put together years ago, based on how my mother used to tell me to live my life. Of course, it's the complete opposite of how she lived her life.
"Graduate high school, graduate college, get a job, become stable, get married, have babies." My mom always used to tell me when I was growing up. I always planned on taking it seriously, even though she might not have meant it so seriously.
"Three years?" Edward asks.
"I have a plan." I state confidently.
"What if you were to find him before that? What if you already found him?" Edward whispers in my ear, watching Rosalie, as if to see if she was paying attention.
"Where?" I look around the bar as I giggle.
Edward lets out a sharp laugh and then pulls away from me.
"Let's dance." I grab Rose's hand.
I pull her out to the dance floor quickly. It doesn't take long until we are surrounded by people, our bodies touching as we dance to the music. My hands are in the air, my head is spinning. This is the most fun I've had in forever. I can't contain the smile on my face.
Moments after that thought, I feel arms wrap around my waist. I turn quickly, facing the person who is now wrapped around me. The bartender from earlier smiles down at me.
"Thought I wouldn't notice you dancing for me?" He smirks as he pulls me closer.
"Let me go." I demand, my head still spinning.
I begin to panic when his arm tightens around my waist instead of letting me go. I turn and look for Rose, who is now dancing with Emmett and neither of them is paying attention to me.
I turn back to the bartender.
"I need to go." I put my hands against his chest, pushing as hard as I could.
"Just dance with me, one song." He doesn't loosen his grip on my waist any.
"No, let me go." My head spins faster. The room seems to be sideways. I can definitely feel the effect of the alcohol, but I can also feel the panic beginning to set in.
"Just do what she says, man." Edward's voice comes from behind me.
"And who the fuck are you to be telling me what to do?" James snarls.
"Let her go before I drag you away from her." Edward takes a step closer.
I reach out for him, wanting to feel the safety of his arms. I know if I could make it into his arms, I would feel safe again.
"Whatever." James releases my waist. "This isn't over." He smiles at me before walking away.
"Are you okay?" Edward puts his hand on my arm.
"Thank you for that." I smile.
"I think it's time to get you home." Edward wraps his arm around the middle of my back.
A/N: I sincerely apologize to everyone who was reading this story when I stopped writing. I am back working on this story and want to resume posting updates. I will try to post regularly.
I want to thank everyone who has left reviews and I would love to hear from anyone with any comments, questions, or concerns about the story! I love hearing from you readers. I definitely want to thank everyone who has taken time to read this!
I look forward to continuing to write and see where this story leads.