A/N: Hey! This one's my favorite chapter so far, and it's pretty long. So enjoy.
Also, when I mention a song in the chapter, you should listen to it. It either inspired me or goes along really, really well with what's going on. Links are on my profile.
BPOV
I got to know this stranger, who turned out to be a close 24 years of age, over the next few hours. As people danced around us and drinks were served, we talked.
We talked about everything about everything imaginable. From New York weather to memories from our childhood, from pets we had owned to exes. We talked loves and hates, and compared likes and dislikes. Our conversation twisted and turned in every direction, and we were content simply talking, sitting at the bar in a noisy night club. Family and friends, hometowns and school, music and movies, the past, present, and future, mothers and fathers, and our interests and hobbies.
We laughed together and, in my not-so-objective opinion, connected a great deal.
Soon, the excitement in the club's atmosphere started to dwindle, and a few groups began to leave. There was still too many people for my liking, though.
I had grown so comfortable with this man. Along with the gradual decrease of people in Club Rave and the large amount of alcohol I had consumed, I could feel myself losing all my once-rock-solid inhibitions and confidence issues. Or maybe I was just telling myself that, when, in reality, it was just him that made me feel so perfect.
Even though I was drunk, it hadn't escaped me that I still didn't know his name. I couldn't keep referring to him in my head as "him" or "handsome" or "The Perfect Glorious God-like Man Across From Me Who Seems To Be Interested In Me". No sir.
Maybe I could try to slip it in smoothly and ask? Or laugh off the creepy fact that we didn't know each other's names, despite knowing a ton of other information about the opposite person?
My drunk, determined, slightly dazed self had other ideas.
"Hey, what's your name?" I asked directly.
"What's yours?" he returned.
"Isabella Swan. Bella, that is," I told him. He looked away, nodding thoughtfully. "And yours?" I coaxed.
He didn't answer, but only stared out into the darkened, faceless crowd. "Huh. He must not have heard me..." I thought. No matter. I was already distracted staring at his profile, back-lit by the strobe lights.
"Would you like to dance, Bella?" he asked suddenly, snapping his head quickly in my direction. I blushed under his green-eyed gaze.
I was at a loss. It was in my very DNA to protest and claim two left feet, but I felt myself actually wanting to go dance and be close to him. How bad could it be? Somehow I had a feeling that he would never make fun of me.
I opened my mouth to say so, but he had already taken my hand and pulled me off the high bar stool. I grabbed my heels from the ground, thinking better of putting them on. He then led me, barefoot, through the crowd to a vacant spot.
It was a dark portion of the back wall of the club, where some people stood alone, arms crossed, faces twisted in a mixed direction of loneliness, boredom, and sadness. I could sympathize. If I hadn't gone to the bar earlier tonight and met the man who was now gently holding my small hand in his own large one, I would be right there beside them. I'd be the tried and true Bella the Wallflower. But something about "him" made me more outgoing and more...me.
I sighed and dropped my shoes next to the wall.
He bowed down low in front of me, old-fashioned, and kissed my hand sweetly. "May I have this dance?" he asked with a beautiful crooked smile.
I curtsied, playing along, and said, "Of course, my dear sir."
He straightened up and put his hands on my hips as I put my arms around his neck, just as the song "Far Away" began to play. We didn't so much as dance as just sway, leaning into each other, but it was all for the best with my dancing skills.
I rested my head in the crook of his neck and his arms tightened around me. I closed my eyes and we stayed like this for a while, content.
"Bella," he said after a few minutes. I felt the vibrations in his throat as he spoke. I looked up and turned my head to face him, but, when I did, our faces ended up just inches from each other. Somehow I still registered the fact that a new song was now blaring out of the speakers, and that it was a popular song by the band Rise Against. I moved to back up, but he held tighter, locked in place. His eyes were intense and oh-so-gorgeous. He brought his head closer to mine, so that our foreheads were touching.
My breathing picked up, fed by our closeness and the adrenaline rush I was getting from the crowd and the lights and the loud, edgy, fast-paced music. But, channeling all of my newfound Anti-Bella attitude, I dove in and kissed him. If I was being honest, I would say that I was beginning to like my new alter ego.
He responded eagerly, returning the kiss. I smiled into his mouth. Success.
Eventually, somehow, I ended up between his legs as he leaned lazily against a wall, arms holding me close to his chest. I couldn't have guessed how long we had been there. All I knew was that he was an excellent kisser and that I was enjoying every moment of it.
We were both out of breath when he stood up and spun me around to press me against the wall.
A random thought drifted into my head at how strange I was acting, seeing as I was publicly making out with a guy who's name I didn't know. And that I didn't care one bit.
Meanwhile, my hands were twined into his hair, and his mouth was firmly on my neck.
EPOV:
I was in the closest thing to heaven on earth that I had ever stumbled upon. Bella was...what?
Amazing? Beautiful? Interesting? Smart? Perfect?
I would have to think up more adjectives later when I was less...preoccupied.
Suddenly, I felt a small tap on my back. I ignored it thinking it was some drunk who had been walking by and accidentally bumped into me. But when I heard a small "Hmmph!", I broke away from Bella, and turned my head slightly. I saw a short girl with black hair, who I remembered was Bella's friend, Alice. I could have guessed most of what Bella had told me of her just by the look in her eyes: excitement, hyperactivity, and curiosity. Rosalie was behind her, eyes narrowed and chin tilted angrily. I was about to say something, but Bella hadn't noticed her friend, and pulled my face back to her. I immediately forgot about Alice, needless to say.
What can I say? She was perfect.
Alice was relentless though, and made her way closer to Bella. She tapped on her shoulder, in the same manner that she had used with me. Bella ignored her, and I smiled as she continued to kiss me. Alice said "Bella,", but she continued to at least pretend to not notice them. Alice, growing annoyed, took a firm grasp on Bella's arm, and shook it. She slapped her hand away, like shooing a fly. I laughed, but played along with her.
Finally, after some whispered strategizing between Bella's friend, Alice managed to wedge herself between Bella and me. She pushed us apart, using all her strength. "Jeez, do I need to turn a firehouse on you two?" she yelled.
"Alice!" Bella whined, making a grab at me, but missing.
Turning to her friend, Alice spoke. "Now, Bella. You told us to warn you if you started acting crazy." Bella tried to protest, but Alice put her hand up to silence her. "And I think making out with a stranger in a dark corner is a little crazy."
"Psshhhh!" Bella said, making exaggerated, drunk facial expressions. "He is not a stranger. I know everything about him. He's-" She looked at me oddly, obviously confused. She wormed past Alice and whispered, serious, "You never told me your name." She looked up at me with wide brown eyes.
No, I hadn't. Normally, it's just my way of avoiding clingy, annoying girls and not committing to anything, but I didn't want that to happen with Bella. I wanted her.
"My name is Edward," I said, smiling. She looked back at with with a wide grin, making her, if possible, more gorgeous.
Rosalie, of course, interrupted our "moment" by pulling on Bella's arm with a jerk, and began to drag her towards the club's exit.
"Well, it was nice to meet you, er...Edward...but she really must be going," she said, looking me up and down in distaste. I raised an eyebrow at me, but she just curled back her lip.
"Oh no I don't!" Bella yelled. "I'm staying here with Edward, Rose," she continued, sticking out her chin, daring them to say otherwise.
She grinned at me then, urging me to back her up. But doing so would be selfish, right? "Maybe you should go, Bella, darling." I cupped her cheek. "You look tired." She leaned into my hand without hesitation. Alice looked amused, but Rosalie clucked in distaste.
"Well, bye," said the sociable Rosalie.
I tipped my head to them, but then remembered, "Wait, Bella? Could I call you?"
"Of course, Edward! My number's 412-" but she was silenced by her tall, blonde friend's hand.
"What are you doing, Bella?!? You can't just go handing out your phone number to random creeps in clubs!"
Bella tried to pull her mouth free, but was only able to shriek out, "Rosalie, no! I want-" before she was cut off once more.
"Okay, let's go, my little hoe friend," said Rose, as she picked Bella up and threw her onto her shoulder, forcibly removing her from the area.
Alice, who had been quiet for the entire time, giggled, and picked up Bella's shoes from the floor. She said a cheerful, "Bye, Eddie!" and followed.
Bella kicked and screamed in protest, but I had to admit I had a nice view under her short dress. I inwardly kicked myself, hard, for thinking such thoughts about Bella. Damn vodka. By this time, they were by the front door. I started to run after them, but they were already next to a big black SUV by the time I broke through the mass of bodies and into the cool night air. Rosalie was now attempting to shove Bella inside and strap on a seat belt. "I am going to kill you guys! Let me go!" she screamed.
"Bella!" I called.
Her head snapped towards me. "Edward!" she yelled. The other girls jumped in and slammed the door, though, and the car sped away down the road.
As it turned the corner, I felt a pang of loss. Bella was the girl of my dreams.