Well hello there, friends!! I'm back with a new chapter filled with fun. Edward ain't in it much, though. This is the chapter before Bella makes her grand arrival in the Big Apple. So yeah, here you go, and thanks to everyone that reviewed last chapter, it was freakin' awesome. Sorry I couldn't reply to all of you, like I said before, my life is crazy hectic right now and I'm hardly ever able to update, let alone write. But anyhow, back to The Getaway.

Rosaile spoke first. "Do you realize how like Esme and Carlisle the two of you are?"

"No?"

"I can't believe you just calmed him down like that...I've just never seen that before."

"What?"

"Well as you know, Edward has a temper and can be a little irrational sometimes."

"Ya think?" I interjected sarcastically.

"Hardy har Bella. Anyway, he gets it from Carlisle. Esme's the only one who can make him calm down, or change his mind on something. She owns that man."

"Well I hardly own Edward. I wouldn't want to. I just can't let him do things like fire an entire staff of people over nothing. It's ridiculous. I'm flattered that he listens to me at all."

"You own him and you know it."

"Rosalie, please," I replied dismissively.

"Yeah, he's like a new freakin' man. Thank god for you Bella," Emmett said and hugged me tightly. I couldn't breathe.

"Em-mett, can't- breathe." I squeaked.

"Oh, sorry," he replied and released me.

"So, you ready to get out of here?" Rosalie asked and looked around the space.

"I'm so ready," I replied and took a last look around the loft.

When we got to the Hale-Cullen residence, I got settled in the biggest guest room down the hall from the elevators. It was big and tall and blue. It was like a hotel suite. Emmett had to leave to do some work at the club and Rosaile and I decided after the long day we had that we should have a "girls only" margarita and Mexican food night at her place.

I called Angela and asked her to come over, but she said she had dinner plans with Jessica. I guilted her by saying that we probably wouldn't be able to hang out before I left, and I told her to bring Jessica along. Jessica agreed quickly, as I'm sure she wanted to take a peek into the life of a New York socialite.

There was another phone call I needed to make, and this one wasn't going to be as pleasant. I dialed the number I had dialed millions of times before.

"Hello?"

"Dad."

"Bella? Hey kiddo. What's up?"

"What's up? What's up? You give Jake my address is what's up. How could you-"

"Bella-"

"No, Dad! You knew I didn't want him finding me. What happened to protecting me, huh?"

"Young lady, that's exactly what I was doing," he replied and raised his voice," I gave him your address so he could talk some damn sense into you! Moving in with a man you hardly know...I just...I can't believe you're being so reckless."

" I can't believe this! You thought Jacob Black of all people could convince me not to go?"

"Bella, he said he'd moved on, and you obviously have as well. He said you were friendly so I-"

"Friendly!? Not at all! He asked me for money, Charlie. He's marrying Leah! He doesn't give a damn if I move! Can't you see? He'll say anything to you so he can get to me."

"Well," he hesitated," that's...uh...a surprise. I didn't know that."

"No shit."

"Watch your language."

"Don't you ever tell him where I am again, Dad. Are we clear?" God, I sound like Edward.

"Fine, Bella. Just please....don't do this. It could ruin your life. I love you so much, sweetie, I....I just don't want to see you get hurt." I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. My father and I knew we loved each other, we just didn't say it much.

"Dad, please understand that this is a risk I have to take. I'll call you when I get to New York, alright?"

He sighed on the other line.

"And Dad?"

"Yep."

"I love you, too."

At least my father and Edward's father had something in common. We weren't going to listen to them this time.

I took a shower and shaved, taking my time so I would be extra smooth. I dried off, covered myself with some expensive lotion Rosalie left for me and threw my still damp hair into a messy bun. I threw on some jeans and a wife beater as my ensemble for the evening. It was just us girls, and besides I had a man, so no need to impress anyone.

I meandered out of my room and into the kitchen and paused when I saw the spread being laid out before me.

"What the fuck?" I whispered to myself.

When I thought "margarita and Mexican" night, I thought it would be just whipping up some 'ritas in the blender and calling in a to go order. Apparently Rosalie didn't roll like that.

She had gone and had the shit catered.

The large island in her kitchen was covered. There were people arranging platters of tacos and marinated chicken and beef, separate bowls of sour cream, salsa, fresh avocado, limes, and jalapenos. There was even a man filling up four salted margarita glasses with the lovely frozen concoction.

He walked up to me and smiled, handing me a glass.

"Thank you," I said to him still dumbfounded.

"That will be all guys! Thanks again for coming on such short notice," Rosalie said from behind me.

As everyone left, they thanked Rosalie profusely, and I saw her hand out a large wad of money to the man who I assumed was in charge.

"What the hell is this, Rose?" I asked and quirked my eyebrow at her.

"Um, its girl's margarita night," she said and looked at me like I was crazy.

"You had margarita night catered."

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever hosted a margarita night before?"

"Um...no, but I thought this would do on such short notice, why?"

"Ok, I'm hosting margarita night when you get back to New York."

"What's' wrong with my night?" She asked and huffed a bit.

"Nothing. Nothing at all," I said and grinned at her.

"Well, ok, I may have overdone it a bit, but taste that margarita and you'll be singing a different tune, sister."

I rolled my eyes and took a sip. It was the most heavenly margarita I had ever had.

"Oh my God," I said and licked my lips.

"Ha!" she said and pointed at me.

"Why'd you let the man leave?" I whined, "Now I only get one of these. This has to be the best margarita I've ever had!"

"Oh, Bella, how simple you are," Rosalie said and flung the freezer door open. I looked inside and saw what looked like a construction bucket full of the stuff.

"Rosalie, have I ever told you how smart you are?" I asked and tossed my cup back.

After Angela and Jessica's initial shock wore off, we ended up having a pretty stellar time. Jess just kept saying "wow" over and over as we took a tour of the mansion in the sky. Angela was amazed at the food, and I never parted with my perfection in a glass. We all began to get a bit drunk after a few hours and went out onto the huge patio to talk. It was a gorgeous night. The stars were hardly visible, so I watched the lights from the buildings. This would be one of my last nights in Seattle, and I wanted to enjoy it.

We sat around the glass table, giggling and talking about men. Surprisingly, Miss High Society herself was getting along swimmingly with us common folk.

"Oh my god, Emmett does this thing, ok, you know when we're doing it-"

"EW! No!" I cut her off drunkenly, "I think of you as a brother and Emmett as a sister, you can't say anything about my siblings fucking each other, Rose-a-lee," I said and took another sip of my drink.

Ok, I was kinda trashed.

"You know, you're going to be my sister one day Bella Marie," Rosalie replied and took on a more serious tone. "Edward Anthony is super in love with you. He says you're The One."

Wait. What? "No way, biatch. We've only been together like…for not that long, ok?"

"Well he says he's going to marry you one day."

"You are a liar Rosalie!" I slurred.

"Nope, I swear he did. He was talking to me and Emmett about it when we...oops…never mind." Rosalie threw her hand over her mouth and began to giggle.

"Tell me Rose. I want to know! All of it," I said and slammed my fist down on the table.

She shook her head "no" over and over.

"Rosalie, you have to tell now," Angela said and pointed at her," that's mean."

Jessica began to refill all the glasses out of the bucket that was now sitting on the table half empty and half melted. We decided a soup ladle was the best serving utensil to use.

"Fine. You guys can't say anything, he will kill me," she said and smiled. She took a long sip of her margarita and looked at me.

"We hung out with him at the hotel one night after he worked late. You were sleeping…."

The night he got pissed about my faux date with James. Had to be.

" We sat out on the deck, it overlooked the water. Gosh it was just a gorgeous night. It was beautiful."

"Rose," I said harshly.

"God, Bell, I was just setting the mood. Fine. So we get into like three bottles of wine, and he starts spilling the beans on you," she said and pointed to me.

"He said it was like so weird when he first saw you. Like love at first sight or something. He said he knew he loved you since he left Hawaii because it made him sick not to talk to you, not to know how you were. He never felt that before. He felt so shitty when Carlisle said we couldn't hang out with you. He felt even shittier for going along with it. That made me and Alice really super mad."

"Continue." I was all nerves at this point. Well sort of. As nervous a drunk chick can be.

"He said this is the happiest he's ever been, a hundred times happier than when he was with Tanya."

"Eww, I so hate her," I said and took another drink.

"Eww. Me too. I thought he was ruined after her. Anyway, he said he realized Tanya leaving him was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He never would have met you if she wasn't such a whore. Well, maybe he didn't call her a whore, but she so is."

"Ugh. Rosalie please get to the good stuff! I'm dying over here," I whined.

"Fine, fine. Gosh, so impatient," she smirked.

"This is what he said in a nutshell. "I really want to tell her this but I'll scare her, so I'll tell you. She's perfection. Smart, sweet, beautiful, sexy, charming, and caring. I want to love her and take care of her and marry her and I want her to have my babies. I'll never want anyone else. I've stopped looking because I've finally found my soul mate. She's the one." So, see, you're gonna be my sis."

I let the words fully sink in. He wants me. All of me. He wants to marry me, and let me have his babies. Everything that I want with him, he wants back. I began to sob. Full on. Gasping for air and snotting all over myself.

"Shh. Don't cry, Bella," Rose said and rubbed my back. I looked at her and she had tears running down her cheeks as well.

"It's a…happy cry. Sorry," I gasped and blew my nose on a scratchy napkin with a sombrero on it.

"Wow," Jessica sighed, "You're the luckiest gal on planet earth."

Angela said ," You know guys, I love Ben so much it hurts. It like feels like someone shot me when he's gone. Like, ow."

Angela began to start crying along with me and Rosalie.

" I want Edward," I whined and sniffled.

"Well I hate all of you," Jessica said ,"I'm single and no one will ever love me!"

She began to sob, too.

Fucking tequila.

After a few minutes of consoling Jess, we wiped our eyes and began to giggle.

Emmett poked his head out onto the patio. "Is everything ok ladies? I thought I heard crying, Rosie."

"No, sweetie."

"Uh, Bella you better go call my bro, he called me and said he tried to call and hadn't heard from you."

"I will."

"Like how soon? Maybe pretty soon? He's texting me as we speak."

I giggled, "Yes bro, I'll call him in like five minutes. Tell him I love him and I miss the shitness out of him. Oh and that I love him."

Emmett grinned. "You guys are drunk as shit, aren't you!" He began laughing and shaking his head and walked back inside.

"Well, ladies, that's my queue," Angela said and got up from the table. "I miss Ben. I have to go. And I'll miss you so much, Bella Swan." She gave me a hard hug, and I cried again.

"Love you Ang. I'll see you soon, ok? You have to come to New York. You too, Jess. Promise." They said they promised and both gave Rosalie and I a hug as we walked them to the elevator.

The evening was officially over. It was sad to say goodbye to my friends, but all that was really on my mind was getting back to Edward Cullen.

I turned back to Rose who had somehow wrapped herself around Emmett and had her head resting on his shoulder.

"I'm going to put her to bed," Emmett whispered.

"Ok, goodnight, guys."

"Goodnight sis, I love you," Rose whispered as Emmett carried her through the living room and down the hall.

"Love you too, Rosalie. You too, Emmy."

"Goodnight Bella," Emmett chuckled and shook his head.

Rosalie's giggles disappeared as Emmett carried her down the hall.

Unfortunately for me, I had no one to put me to bed.

I skipped into my room and tripped over my suitcase and fell on my face. I winced as I got up and checked my blackberry.

Two missed calls from Edward and one text. I think.

I opened one eye and steadied myself so I could make out the words.

I need to hear your voice before I go to sleep tonight. Please call me.

I scrolled to his number and pressed send. He picked it up in two rings.

"Baby?" he said instead of "Hello."

"Hi."

"Hi," he replied back sweetly. "Whatcha been doing?"

"Hangin' out with Rose and Angela and Jessica. What about you?"

"Just sitting here watching Sports Center thinking about how nice it's going to be to have you here next to me in just twenty four hours."

"Oh, yes. That will be very, very nice."

"Have you been drinking, love?"

"No."

He was silent on the other line. I could just imagine his quizzical eyebrows shooting up, questioning me.

"Ok, don't be mad. Yes. Margaritas. Lots of 'em."

He chuckled, "You can tell me if you've been drinking. I'm not mad."

"Well I don't know. Sometimes you get mad at me for like not taking care of myself and stuff."

"Just as long as you ate you should be fine."

There was a long pause. Had I eaten?

"Bella, did you eat dinner before you got sloshed on margaritas?"

"Yep."

"Really. So what did you have?"

"Tacos, duh."

"What kind?"

Drunky Bella draws blanks when she has to answer Sober Edward.

"Um, the good kind. With stuff in 'em." Fuck, I was losing this conversation.

"Promise me you'll eat before you go to bed, baby. You'll feel like shit in the morning if you don't."

"Ok, I promise. I am kind of hungry now that you mention it."

"Good. I'll hold you to it," he said all low and seductively.

"Um, your voice is [retty dreamy. I love you, Edward."

He held the phone away from his face while he chuckled. "I love you, sweet girl. I miss you. I wish you were right here snuggled next to me so I could stroke your hair and kiss you…and force feed you."

"There isn't anything else you'd do?" I asked in mock-defeat.

"Well of course, baby."

"Like what? What else would you do, Edward. Tell me." I was entering uncharted waters here, but I was drunk and truth be told, a little horny.

"I would lie you down gently in our bed and bring you a glass of water and two tylenol, so when you woke up hung over in the middle of the night, you wouldn't have to get up."

"You are no fun, Mister.

"I'm sorry, I just wouldn't want to take advantage of you, even though you're still so beautiful and tempting when you're drunk."

"That's not fair because I always want you to take advantage of me. Now. You know what I'd do to you if you were here with me?"

"What?"

"Naughty things. " I said and plopped myself up on the giant bed. All I could hear was his steady breathing on the other line.

"Do you want to hear more?"

"Tell me Isabella. What would you do to me?"

I laid back and propped myself up on the pillows and thought for a moment.

Just as I was about to tell Edward all the very naughty things I would do for him, my door flew open and in came Mrs. Hale-Cullen. I was so stunned that I had almost been caught telling my sweetheart all the ways I was going to love up on his dick, that I dropped the phone onto the floor.

"Bel-la!" Rosalie sang and flitted into the bathroom. "I just came to grab some extra pillows. Jessica came back up. She's too drunk to drive. I told her she could stay in the room down the hall."

Cockblocking bitch. I'm going to kill her. Tequila can really take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, you know.

"Edward?" I asked and picked up the phone.

"Fuck. Is that-?"

"Yep. I guess I have to go. Jess is here and can't drive home."

"I'll have Demetri take her right now. Hold on?"

"Babe, it's fine. She can sleep it off for a few hours."

"Shit. Well I guess I'll talk to you tomorrow, and we can um..."

"Finish this?"

"Mmm. I'm glad you know what I'm thinking. I love you. Call me in the morning."

"I love you, too. Goodnight, handsome."

"The two of you are absolutely disgusting," Rose said as she fled the room with an arm full of fluffly pillows. Frustrated, I threw my phone down onto the bed and followed behind her.

"Yeah, well, you just interrupted my first attempt at phone sex you cock blocker."

"Eww. Don't even," she scoffed.

"Oh, Rose. You should see his penis. It's like the holy grail of penises. It's so-"

"La la la la la la la," she said and attempted to cover her ears.

When we walked into the other guest room, Jessica was nowhere to be found. The bed was still made and her purse was lying there, items scattered about. Rose threw the pillows on the bed haphazardly and stepped away from it. She had clearly never had to do much bed making.

"Where do you think she went?"

"Probably upchucking Patron in the bathroom."

"Hmm. You're probably right. Anyhow, I'm freaking starving, so I'm gonna go get some late night tacos. Wanna join?"

"Are you kidding," Rosalie replied," I'll throw up if I smell any kind of food right now. I need a pain reliever and a water."

"Fine, suit yourself. I'll see you in the morning, sweetie," I said and waved goodbye like Miss America. I was still pretty damn tipsy and stumbled a few times in the hallway. Damn it's dark in this place. When I was sure I made it to the kitchen, I felt all along the walls for a light switch. I flipped the light on and really didn't know what to make of what I saw.

Jessica was pretty much swallowing Demetri's face as he felt her up. Holy. Shit.

My hand flew over my mouth as they both looked at me and gasped.

"Uhhhh....ummm," I said and made a move toward the fridge. "Sorry, guys, I'll just be really quick. If I don't eat I'll be in trouble."

Demetri moved away from Jessica quickly.

"Hey Bella," Jessica said in a sing songy voice.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath.

I grabbed the makings out of the refrigerator and began to assemble my taco. I was trying to act like I hadn't walked in on anything. Nothing had happened. Edward's assistant slash driver was not just making out with my friend Jessica. We were not all standing here as they awkwardly watched me make a gimpy taco.

"Miss Swan," Demetri started. No one calls me Miss Swan but Edward.

"Bella, Demetri. It's just plain Bella."

"Sorry. Bella. Will you...I mean...can you...not tell Edward about this?"

"Why would I Demetriph?" I said and took a large bite of my taco.

"Well...I'm sort of...supposed to be keeping up with you twenty four seven, until we get back to New York. If Edward found out I was having a little...um...fun...and not standing right outside your door, he would probably run me over with the car first and fire me second."

Jessica gasped.

I began to laugh and almost spit out my food in the process.

He began to look panicked, "Please. Please, Bella. I'll do anything. Please don't tell Edward. This is the best job I could ever ask for. Please don't tell on me." I thought about this for a second. Why was he so worried? Edward must have really been an ass.

"Yeah, Bella, please," Jessica said and mushed herself into Demetri's side.

"I won't say anything. It's not fair that Edward has you working around the clock like that anyway."

"Well, it's not like he's not compensating me or anything," he shrugged. "It's just that, well, after the Black incident today he's been very on edge. He's been very unhappy concerning your safety.

"The Black incident?"

"Um, yes."

"That was hardly an incident."

"Not to Edward."

"What did he say?"

Demetri began to speak but then hesitated. Ugh.

"C'mon. Spit it out."

"He said that if I ever slipped up like that again, he was going to toss me out on my ass. Then he did the usual, like threaten my life and all if anything happens to you. And as for Jacob Black? Well, let's just say you won't have to worry about him again." Uh, huh. I'll believe it when I see it.

"I'm sorry Demetri. Why the hell do you even work for Edward? Are you crazy or something?"

"He's only ornery when he's angry. And usually if you are involved, he can sometimes be extreme in the way he wants your safety handled. But he's very generous usually and pays me very well. I just bought my parent's a house in upstate New York and can help my newly divorced sister with the bills and the kids. I'm going to be able to retire at forty-five. I don't want it to make it seem like he's terrible or anything. I apologize if I made it seem that way. He is a good boss and a great friend."

"Good to know. I'm glad he pays you well, you deserve it. Anyhow, secrets safe with me, kids. I'm blasted. I think it's safe to say that I'll be just fine until morning. Goodnight Jess, Goodnight Demetri."

"Night Bella," Jess said and grinned at me.

Demetri let out a breath of air as I scarfed the rest of my taco.

"As you were, people," I said and switched the light off as I walked out of the kitchen.

Do you think Edward will find out about Jessica and Demetri's little tryst? Think Bella will slip up about Edward's confession? Is Charlie right? Will Edward and Bella ever get to finish their phone conversation? Some of these questions will be adressed in the next episode of The Getaway.

You guys know I live for the drama. Anyway, hope to see you all sooner rather than later...

twihigh.