A/N: I feel so lucky to be telling this story. It's one I've seldom seen in reality, let alone in the fanfic world. I hope you like it!
The title comes from Kings of Leon's album "Only By The Night." It's phenomenal. Well worth the investment. Go, shop, buy.
Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns it all.
**
Chapter 4 – Revelry
BPOV
When I got home, Jessie was all wiggles and drools to see me and I took her out for a short walk. Wow. Only 11:45 AM and it was already in the mid-80s. North Carolina, why do you hate me so?
I dropped off Jessie's trash in the dumpster and started across the parking lot to our building when I noticed Angela's car was in her space. She traveled so much for work and it seemed like she spent more time away from home than she did at home. We always tried to spend time together when she was in town but I was also aware that Ben definitely wanted some alone time with his girl.
Jessie and I walked up the stairs and instead of stopping at our door, she continued onto Angela's as if she knew our friend was back. I followed Jessie to Ange's door and rang the bell. Laurie barked like a mad dog and Ben answered the door.
"Hey Bells. Ange! Bella's here! Come on in sweetie." He hugged me and then bent down to scoop Jessie up in a big hug. She returned his greeting with enthusiastic wiggling and kisses.
He put her down and she immediately ran to Laurie who was now dancing around under foot and licking my shoes. I bent down to give her a smooch and Angela came out of the bedroom at the end of the hall. I stood up and smiled at one of my best friends.
"Hey chica!" she said as she hugged me tightly. "I've missed you!"
"Angie. I've missed you too, you have no idea. When are you going to get transferred to a job that actually requires you to spend time in the state?"
"You know she's just trying to get away from me," Ben said with a smile on his face as he came up behind Angela and wrapped his arms around her waist. He buried his face in her hair and she tilted her head to allow him access to her neck. He kissed her neck softly and then rested his chin on her shoulder.
They both stood there looking at me with goofy lovesick grins on their faces and I couldn't help but roll my eyes and smile.
"And on that note...I think Jessie and I will make ourselves scarce," I said as I fidgeted with Jessie's leash.
"Hey! I was just telling Ben that we should go out tonight. You and Rose in? She can bring Emmett, of course."
"Yeah, I can swing that. I've got some work stuff to do, but it should only take the afternoon. What time did you want to leave?"
I needed to backup my hard drive.
"We can meet over here at 10:30 and Ben said he would drive for us so we can drink!" She tightened her hold on his arms that were still around her waist.
"Ok, that works for me. I don't know about Rose though. I'll have to ask her."
Someone pounded three times on the front door. The dogs ran to the door and started barking in the most menacing way that two tiny dogs can bark. We all stiffened and Ben let go of Angela and walked to the door.
"Let me in you bitches," Rose said from outside.
We all breathed a sigh of relief and started to chuckle as Ben opened the door for Rose.
"Welcome back. How long are you staying for this time, tramp?" Rosalie was such a sweet talker.
"Ha! Hey Rosie Lee. I'm here til Wednesday. Then it's off to Atlanta for a conference and then I'll be back Saturday and Sunday." She walked behind Ben and mimicked his earlier posture by wrapping her hands around his waist and locking her fingers together. "We're going out tonight. Are you and Emmett going to come?"
"You two," she pointed at Ben and Angela, "You make me want to vomit. Just a little." My mouth gaped open and I stared at Rosalie in shock. She was in rare form today. "Yeah, I'm down. I'll tell Emmett. Later."
She turned around and strolled out, lightly slamming the door behind her as she went. Ten seconds later, I heard the door to our house slam as well. I looked up at Ben and Angela and I knew my cheeks were pink. They just rolled their eyes and smiled.
I hugged them and told them I was heading out. I didn't bother leashing Jessie since we were fifteen feet from our front door.
The rest of the day was spent backing up my laptop, writing, taking a nap, and eating dinner. If I was going to be a drunk, dancing fool tonight, rest was necessary.
**
"Rosalie, come on! Ange and Ben have been sitting in the car for ten minutes! Emmett's going to wonder if we're standing him up!"
She came sauntering out of her bedroom. "No, he won't. He lives further out than we do. If anything, we'll get there at the same time now."
My eyes widened. She was wearing a short, red, shiny flapper dress and four-inch, gold, fuck-me heels. I had on darkwash jeans and a teal, cap-sleeve shirt with two-inch, dark teal strappy sandals. Next to her, I looked like the Old Maid from a game of Go Fish. No man in his right mind would even glance at me with Rose in the room.
I started getting that sinking feeling that sometimes happens when you go out with your girlfriends and realize you're the "fat one." Rosalie and Ange were both so slender and I was so not.
I'll just hold out hope that the club is dark enough that no one will notice that from the side, my boobs and ass occupy their own zip code.
Rosalie stood in front of me tapping her foot.
I sighed.
"Finally," I said, "Let's go Princess."
**
I felt a little bit awkward in the car on the ride over to the Martini Bar. I had just spent 45 minutes getting ready and feeling great about myself and then had it go right out the window at the mere sight of Rose. I hated feeling this way because I knew that if I were that gorgeous, I would most likely flaunt it too. Also because I knew that Rosalie loved me just the way I was. She wasn't the type for false friendships and niceties. She said what she meant and she meant what she said and everyone be damned.
"You know, Bells, you really just need to get some."
Case in point.
"Rosalie," I sighed, "I get some when I feel like it. I just haven't felt like it lately." That was partially true. I had a friend who would come visit periodically and take the edge off. The weird thing was that lately, it wasn't enough. I had started distancing myself from him. Maybe I was growing up. I felt like if there was no emotion behind the action that maybe it wasn't worth the effort. Besides, I didn't go out with my friends to pick up guys. I went out to enjoy their company. When they weren't being assholes, that is.
"Oh really. Then why have I heard buzzing coming from your room late into the night, hmm?"
"Rosalie Caroline Hale! What are you doing listening at the door?" How could she possibly hear the silver bullet unless she was pressed up against the door specifically listening for the telltale buzz.
"Actually, I was just guessing. Thanks for the confirmation." She smirked for a second. Then her face softened and she gave me a little smile and a wink.
I flipped her off and wouldn't look at her for the rest of the car ride. I hated feeling "less than" in front of Ben and Angela. They just seemed like such a perfect match for each other and their happiness was something of which I was extremely envious.
My seething rage was disrupted by a buzzing coming from Rosalie's purse.
"Who's buzzing now?" I said laced with sarcasm.
"Yeah. You're right, Bella. You don't need to get laid. At all." Rosalie rolled her eyes.
She opened her purse and got her cell phone. She flipped it open and read the text that she had received.
"Jazz and Alice are coming."
Ah yes. Three swizzle sticks and a chunky dunk. It was going to be a stellar evening.
I'd only met Alice Cullen a few times. She seems nice enough. Sometimes she seems overtly nice, as if she's trying too hard to get everyone to like her. I guess when you are trying to win over your boyfriend's sister, and that sister is Rosalie, you've got to work for it.
As much as I don't want to admit it, I think I resent Alice a little bit. She's barely 5' tall with short black hair barely down to her jaw. She is a teensy waif of a girl. Aside from the obvious physical differences, she also spends entirely too much time with Jasper.
My feelings for him are far from romantic. I love him like a brother. I'm also very protective of our relationship, just as I am of Rosalie and mine. I've never had siblings and they are the closest things I've got to that kinship. I just don't want to see it degrade.
I continued to stare out the car window until we were closing in on our destination.
Ben pulled up to the curb in front of the Martini Bar and let us out. He drove off to park the car in the public lot over by the bank. Angela wanted to stay outside and wait for him but Rosalie had other plans. She sauntered up to the bouncer who was taking IDs and whispered something in his ear. He blushed and smirked and let us in without having to pay the cover. Poor Ben.
Rosalie pushed her way up to the bar and immediately ordered us all a shot and a drink, Ben included. A Lemon Drop and an Appletini later, Ben, Angela, and Rosalie were all scoping out guys for me from our perch at the side of the bar. I wasn't quite drunk enough for that yet. I told everyone that I'd get the next round and turned around to lean on the bar. I found if I pushed my chest up just a little so that it rested on top of the bar, I would get my shots and drinks much faster and sometimes at a discount.
In the corner across from us was a group of guys that looked about college age or a little bit older. Rosalie pointed out the blonde to me and then proceeded to wave at them. I know she meant well, but honestly, did she think they would want to have anything to do with me after seeing her? I knew better.
I downed my second shot and grabbed my drink and led Angela out to the dance floor. I was at least tipsy now and could handle a little dancing. A few random hiphop songs later and I heard the opening notes to Kings of Leon's Revelry. Not exactly typical club music but one of my favorite songs of theirs. Angela and I didn't quite know how to dance to it, though, so we started this ethereal swaying and twirling that had us both rolling with laughter.
A few seconds later, I felt a hand on each hip. I stopped moving for a second and glanced at Ange and she gave me the thumbs up sign so I put my hands on his to hold them to my hips and I started dancing back into him. He was a little stiff at first but as we danced, he loosened up and molded himself to my body and he put his head down nuzzling into my hair on the side of my face.
I ground my ass into him slightly and removed one of my hands from his to reach back and caress the back of his head. This caused him to move in even closer to me and I felt a hot, open-mouthed kiss on my neck through my hair. I involuntarily groaned and reflexively pushed back against him. He moved his hands up and down my sides and rubbed my hips gently. I realized simultaneously that he was hard and I was wet.
I heard someone yell my name. All of a sudden I was picked up and twirled in the air by a massive beast. Emmett.
"How's my Bells?!" Emmett's loud voice boomed over the minute silence in between songs.
"Jesus, Emmett! You scared the shit out of me! Can you please put me down now?"
He gave me one more twirl and a kiss on the cheek and placed me on the floor not far from where I was originally, but this time facing my dance partner. I was floored. He was at least 6'2" and had a track star build. Long, thin muscles without any real bulk. A chiseled jaw line and about a day's worth of scruff on his face. His eyes were a vibrant green that followed mine towards Emmett and then back to each others'. His hair was a coppery brown with flecks of gold highlighted by the flashing lights of the club. He was beautiful.
He tentatively looked at Emmett and I standing there, obviously at ease with our close proximity.
Rose came up from behind me and snaked her arms around Em's waist and pressed her finger to his nose and wiggled it as she kissed him on the cheek.
"Hey baby bear. My brother's here already. Want to meet his girlfriend?"
"Sure babe, point me in the right direction."
Jasper and Alice were already walking over to where we were standing and Emmett put his hand out to shake Jasper's. I could see Jasper's lips moving to introduce Alice and Emmett but I couldn't hear anything. I wondered if it was due to the loud music in the club or the strange humming I felt radiating in my head. It was like an electrical storm in my mind.
"Rosalie, Emmett, Bella – this is my brother, Edward." Alice walked over to my dance partner and put his arm around his back to introduce him.
Alice Cullen's brother. Edward Cullen.
Edward, Edward Cullen.
He said I was lovely.
Emmett took two short strides over to Edward and extended his hand. Edward flinched when he shook Emmett's large hand but his eyes kept glancing over to catch mine.
"Hey man, what's shakin?" Emmett boomed.
"Not much," Edward answered.
"Hi Edward," Rosalie said nonchalantly.
"Hello."
"Hi," was all I could muster. Classy, Bella. Way to go.
"Wow, Bella. Emmett must have scared the daylights out of you. Are you alive in there?" Jasper came to stand by me and dramatically pressed the back of his hand to my forehead as if to check for a fever.
I had to normalize so I wouldn't embarass myself any further.
"I am now! You saved me!" I went Scarlet O'Hara on that one.
I hugged Jasper hard and he just laughed and kissed the top of my head.
Emmett looked sheepish like he felt bad for violating my personal space. "Aww, come on. You know I love my little Belly."
Oh no he didn't.
In a flash I was at Emmett's side and I kicked him square in the shin as hard as I could. He knew I hated that nickname. I was so self-conscious about the little pooch on my stomach.
"SHIT! Bella! I'm sorry, ok?!"
"Better be sorry...Emmy." I grinned widely at him.
Emmett scowled and rubbed his shin til the pain subsided. "Ok, we're even." That's what he thought.
"For now," I gave him the most devious eye waggle I could muster.
I noticed that Angela had come up beside me and she lightly grabbed my elbow. She whispered in my ear, "Can I talk to you for a sec?"
I nodded and she led me off to the corner that was previously occupied by the blonde hottie and his friends.
"Ok. What the hell just happened back there? What was up with the vicious staring contest between you and Alice's brother? I thought you were dancing together."
"He's Alice's brother! Edward Cullen!"
"Oh, Alice's last name is Cullen? I didn't know..."
"Angela, focus please. The AppleCare guy – Mr. Put Up With My Verbal Diarrhea on the phone guy. The one I emailed you about."
Realization dawned.
"Oh. Oh!! Are you sure? Edward and Cullen seem like common names."
"I actually think I recognize his voice. I'm sure it's him."
"So go introduce yourself."
"Ange, I can't. Ten minutes ago, I had his lips on my neck and my ass on his crotch."
I glanced over as I said it and noticed that Edward and Alice were conspiring across the room. His eyes met mine and I shifted my gaze back to Angela.
"Yes and you both looked like you were enjoying it, so what's the problem?"
"I don't know. Awkward, maybe? You think I should?"
"Yes. Be casual. Just go over and thank him for helping you with your computer. Don't be 'that girl' on him and I think you'll be fine."
"Ok. I can do that. I think."
I steeled myself and started to walk over toward Edward.
**
A/N: Muahahahaha. I'm an evil bitch.
Review for hot open-mouthed kisses from Edward.