A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long. It's crucial to the story and it took me about three attempts to get it right. Alas, it's also my favourite. I think you'll enjoy it. And thank you for the reviews last chapter. They really inspired this one.

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.

Chapter Three

EPOV

When I woke up the next morning, it was to the smell of strawberries and peaches, and sunlight streaming through the window. All the things that would undoubtedly lead to my undoing.

"Fuck…" I groaned quietly, shifting my body ever so slightly.

It wasn't that it was unusual for me to have spent the night at Bella's. Being best friends as long as we had, sleepovers sort of came with the package, but the last thing I needed was for Bella to wake up because my hard-on was poking into her stomach. I carefully pried her arms from my chest and started to lift my body off the bed, but stopped when I felt her small hand reach out and grasp my shirt. I glanced down at her nervously.

"Don't go…" she whispered, somewhere between sleep and consciousness.

I let out a sigh and sank back down. Bella knew me well enough to know that I would do just about anything she asked. Hell, she could have told me to spit fire and I would have found a way to do it. It was pretty fucking pathetic.

Bella caught my attention by suddenly stretching her arms. She didn't need to open her eyes to know that I was still there with her. "So, what was it this time?" Bella yawned, trying to sound casual. I smiled despite myself. We both knew what she was referring to and this part of the night I could remember very clearly.

"You said my name."

She turned over on her stomach and blinked at me, once, twice, then let out a sigh. "You have a funny way of always working yourself into my dreams." When she caught me grinning she blushed and quickly pinched my side. "Ah, not like that pervert. You usually just turn out to be the guy behind my shower screen with a knife."

I smiled even wider and pulled her into to my chest. "You didn't say my name like that, Bella. It was more of a... Edward… I need you now... take me, Edwarrrdd…" I moaned and earned myself another, decisively harder, pinch.

Bella shook her head. "Your pretends are getting less and less believable."

"When are you just going to admit that you do need me, Bella?"

She paused for a second before looking up at me carefully. "I'll always need you, Edward... forever," she warned, all previous signs of joking aside. "You're my best friend."

I rolled my eyes and kissed her head. Because even though I hated her for only saying best friend, I still loved her all the same.

"Come on, let's get your cute little ass out of bed and go hunt down some breakfast."

Her eyebrows rose. "Ah, Edward. Aren't you forgetting something?"

I discreetly glanced down to make sure I still had everything under control before shaking my head. Bella sighed.

"Well I'm not a parent, so don't take me on my word for this, but I'm fairly certain Charlie won't be all that thrilled to see us skip down the stairs together."

I laughed and reluctantly glanced over at her window. I'd become so good at scaling the side of her house over the years that I was practically one tight leotard away from becoming fucking Spiderman. I turned back to Bella and playfully ruffled her hair.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll see you downstairs in a bit."

BPOV

Edward just decided to stick around for the rest of the day. It wasn't out of the ordinary for him to do so but I had a feeling there was something more to it today. Not that I was complaining of course.

"Do you have any peanut butter?" He asked over his shoulder, while scouring the fridge.

"Mmm, I think it's somewhere in the back." I took the opportunity while his back was turned to get a better look at his butt. "Dig deeper, I know it's in there."

Edward backed out of the fridge with a triumphant smile and closed the door shut with his hip. "Do you know how long it's been since I've had this stuff? Esme won't even let us keep it in the house, too many calories or some shit."

"So I take it she's still trying to lose five pounds of nonexistent fat?"

"She's got a movie premiere coming up." He shrugged nonchalantly, now digging through the drawer for a spoon. "Doesn't really explain the last two years of bogarting it, but you know Esme."

I sighed. I did know Esme. Both of Edward's parents in fact. They were the type of people that cared more about keeping up appearances and what their neighbours thought of them than the wellbeing of their own children. Both Edward and Jasper. They had never once stopped to consider the consequences their choice of lifestyle had on them… the sort of pressure being thrown into the spotlight creates. When Edward had suffered a rather public and humiliating breakdown last year, their response had been to simply put him in therapy. It hardly seemed fair.

"So what are we going to do tonight? Being our last night of freedom and all?" Edward said, breaking me from my thoughts, a spoon dangling cutely from his mouth.

"Oh, um…" I didn't really want to tell him that I had plans with Emmett for our one year anniversary. Not considering how well our conversation last night had gone where Emmett was concerned.

"Actually, Edward…"

"Oh fuck it's the fourteenth today isn't it? Sorry I forgot." Edward's face visibly fell in front of me and he hastily tried to hide it. But I literally felt my heart start to ache in my chest.

"No that's okay," I rushed. "Why don't you come with us? We were just going to O'Malley's for a drink. And you're right, it is our last night of freedom before school starts back again?"

"Bella, you don't have to do that for me. Go enjoy your night with Emmett."

I shook my head furiously and tried to hold his gaze. "Edward, I want you to come. Please..." I glanced up at him with huge eyes while sucking my bottom lip into my mouth. "For me?"

He sighed and looked at me carefully while he ran his hand through his hair. I knew that he had a hard time saying no to me when I begged.

"Fine," he relented with a sigh. "Just let me make a quick call first."

The happy school girl in me jumped a little inside and I quickly nodded. Edward just laughed at me and shook his head before walking out of the room. I waited the appropriate ten seconds before following him into the living room, and hiding behind the dividing wall so I could listen.

"Hey man." Edward said into his phone. "Nah, I slept at Bella's."

Pause.

"Fuck off. Speaking of which, is your little whore still with you?"

Another lengthy pause.

"Jesus, Jasper. You've only known her for two weeks."

Jasper said something on the other end and Edward made a face.

"Ewe, fuck man I don't want to hear that shit. And just be careful okay? I don't trust her."

Another pause before he sighed.

"You don't know her."

He started to pace back and forth, looking frustrated.

"Whatever, listen. Bella wants to go to O'Malley's tonight. Are you game?"

He listened contentedly for a second before mumbling a sarcastic "great" and disconnecting. He pocketed his phone and sat down on the couch, then put his head in his hands with a defeated sigh. I waited a bit before I tentatively cleared my throat and knocked on the wall.

Edward looked up startled, but smiled when he saw me, and patted the spot beside him. I quickly crossed the room and sat on the couch. This didn't feel right. Something was horribly wrong with Edward and I didn't know what it was. Taking his hand in mine I began rubbing soothing circles on his knuckles with my thumb. He grinned after glancing down at our entwined hands and gave them a little squeeze. I felt the familiar electric current that I usually did whenever he touched me, and tried to hide the blush I knew would soon erupt on my cheeks. Edward spoke first.

"So that was Jasper... he said he's in for tonight."

There was a pain in his voice that made me die a little on the inside. I looked down somewhat nervously, aware of the blush that must have formed by now. It always did whenever Edward was this close to me.

"And what about you, Edward..." my voice came out in barely more than a whisper. "Are you in?"

I looked up slowly and was immediately taken aback by the unreadable expression on his face. For a moment he looked completely torn... and it was almost hard to watch. Then he sighed, defeated, and ran his fingers slowly through his hair.

"Yeah, Bella. I'm in…" he trailed off, staring into the distance. I could have sworn I heard him mumble …way too fucking deep, but I could never be sure.

I just couldn't be sure of anything when Edward was around me.

APOV

The covers around my body felt warm and comforting, much like the arm wrapped securely around my waist did. I'd never felt so safe before in my life. I revelled in the feeling, not daring to open my eyes and chance ruining it. But the moment was broken by a shrill sound coming from somewhere near the headboard.

I heard Jasper yawn and felt the bed jiggle as he sat up. "Aren't you upstairs?" he asked groggily, answering his phone. I squeezed my eyes shut. I could feel his breath on my face as he leaned over to check if I was awake. I guess he bought my acting. The bed jiggled some more. I heard him sigh and immediately I knew who was on the other end.

"Listen to me, little brother. You need to give Stanley a call, and just fuck her senseless. Get your rocks off and then maybe you can stop pining over Bella. She's off the market."

Jasper slid out of the bed and listened some more. "She's not a fucking whore, Edward," he said dryly. "And yes she's asleep right now beside me."

Ugh. Go screw yourself Edward Cullen.

Jasper laughed. "And it's been the best two weeks of sex I've ever had."

More silence.

"Chill, little bro. I know what I'm doing. And you're wrong about her."

I was practically bursting out of myself as I strained to listen.

"I know her better than you think."

What?

"Sure. That sounds good. Alice and I will meet you there." I heard him sigh and disconnect before rolling back onto the bed, and I suddenly felt an arm fall across my shoulders. I decided to stop feigning sleep. I threw my arms over my head and yawned.

"Who was that?"

Jasper seemed startled to see me awake but immediately smiled and gave me a kiss. "Just Edward."

"Oh, what did he say?"

"Nothing important. But he wants us to hit up O'Malley's with him and Bella tonight. You keen?"

Fear gripped me and spread swiftly through my body like ice. Why out of all the bars in the city did he have to say that one? We couldn't go to that bar. I brushed it off and grinned.

"I had a better idea in mind. You, me and breakfast in bed. Then lunch and maybe dinner."

"Oh?" He asked, looking adorably confused. I raised an eyebrow and glanced downwards.

"Oh…" He trailed off and his eyes shifted toward the pile of discarded clothes lying on the floor beside the bed, before he smiled. "How can I say no to that?" Then Jasper started to laugh.

"You sure do know how to wear a guy out though."

I grinned. Taking the sheets with me, I rolled myself back on top of him and grabbed his face in both of my hands.

"Baby, you have no idea."

EPOV

The bartender shook her head as I took out my wallet.

"Honey, this one is on the house." She smiled at me sympathetically and walked away.

I stared down at the beer bottle in front of me.

A fucking pity drink.

I'd never had one of those before.

I groaned and took a swig, moving my eyes down to stare intently at the bar top, like it was the most interesting fucking bar top in the world or something. Jasper and Alice still weren't here yet and Bella hadn't looked up long enough from snogging Emmett to notice my arrival.

I glanced down the bar at them one last time and sighed in defeat.

That was it! I couldn't keep doing this to myself… I would just have to give up on Bella. I drew the line at pity drinks from fucking strangers. Besides, how much longer did I really think I could go on being the best friend? The stupid confidant. And if I was lucky… maybe the back up guy one day. Not with Bella. I just couldn't do it…

And then, as if a light switch was suddenly flicked on in my head, I was struck with a horribly brilliant idea.

There are times you have to ponder and seriously fucking ask yourself, just how far you would knowingly go to secure your own happiness. Would you do it at the expense of someone you loved? Would it make you a complete monster if you did...

I pushed the thought from my mind and took another grateful sip from my beer as I let my eyes wander over to the opposite side of the bar; searching for the girl I needed at that moment. The only girl that could give my fucked up plan a remote shot in hell at working.

As if on cue, I spotted her perfect silhouette round the corner and take a drink order from a much older guy that, no doubt, ordered just to get a better look at her tits. She smiled sweetly at him as he handed her a fifty dollar bill and made her way over to where I was sitting, tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder as she walked.

She didn't say a word to me as she took an empty glass from the spot right beside me and I continued to watch, amused, as she turned her back and picked up a dirty dish rag from the sink. I sat contentedly silent for a minute or two, just watching her work, and she continued to ignore me for a while. After a few more minutes of this, her shoulders finally slumped down in defeat.

"I know my ass is perfect but I don't remember giving you permission to ogle it."

I smirked. "And they say that plastic surgery is the result of low self-esteem?"

She snorted. "Last time I checked, a nose job was cheaper than therapy." She stopped scrubbing the glass in her hand and slowly turned around to face me. "What gives, Cullen?"

I opened my mouth to speak but quickly snapped it back shut.

Was I really about to do this?

Rosalie continued to look at me, her eyebrows raised high in amusement. When I still couldn't bring myself to speak she started to laugh.

"Cullen lost for words? I didn't think I'd live to see the day. Guess good things really do come to those who don't deserve them."

She laughed again and picked up my empty glass, before turning back around. I glanced back towards the end of the bar and was immediately met by the sight of Bella resting her head on Emmett's shoulder. He was saying something I couldn't quite make out but Bella was smiling and laughing about it.

All at once her soft bell like chime seemed to course through me, blocking out every other sound around me and I couldn't for the life of me, bring myself to look away. I watched as Emmett lovingly reached down to brush her cheek and just like that, I saw red.

To hell with morals. Just fucking do it.

"Rosalie, how would you like to do me a favor?"

She didn't turn around. "I would like it as much as I like a bikini wax."

"What if I made it worth your while?"

She slowly stopped scrubbing and turned her head an inch or so in my direction, acknowledging her peeked interest.

"Okay, Cullen. I'm listening."

I exhaled heavily. This was it. The point of no return.

"I need you to seduce that guy over there so that I can steal his girlfriend."

I'm going to hell.

Rosalie looked over towards the end of the bar and her eyes immediately lit up as she took him all in. She licked her lips. "You mean that big hunk of stud over there?"

Inwardly I vomited a little but outwardly I managed to nod. I had to keep going before I could change my mind. "How much is it going to cost me?"

"Depends. How badly do you want her?"

I sighed. "Just name your price, Hale."

She hesitated for a split second. A very split second.

"Five thousand."

I breathed a sigh of relief and quickly reached down to get my check book. I'd been expecting a lot higher than that.

Rosalie smirked and shot out her hand to stop me. "You didn't let me finish. Five thousand and I'll get him to kiss me. Twenty thousand if you want me to sleep with him."

I felt my jaw drop to the floor.

"Twenty thousand dollars... are you fucking insane?"

"In cash," she continued, smiling sweetly.

"Forget it, spawn of Satan." I slapped a twenty dollar bill on the table and turned to leave. "I'll just fucking wait for them to break up."

Rosalie shrugged nonchalantly. "Your choice, Cullen." She looked back towards the end of the bar and smiled ruefully. "And you're right, I can totally see a breakup on their horizon. I mean just look at how unhappy they look?"

I turned my gaze to the direction her head was pointing and instantly regretted it. Bella had moved and was now sitting in Emmett's lap, feeding him bar nuts from the disgusting fucking community cest pool of a tray. It made me feel physically sick to my stomach to watch.

Even more so because I would have given everything I owned to trade places with him.

I sighed and turned back to Rosalie. "How can you guarantee me you won't screw this up?"

She just laughed and tossed her hair.

"Simple. I'm Rosalie Hale, Edward. I don't screw anything up." She paused to take another look down the bar and smiled deviously. "At least not anything I intend on screwing later."

A/N: Now all the characters are in we can really have some fun.

Your reviews make the words fly out onto the page faster than anything else ;)