A/N: This is a packed chapter, everyone. I hope you enjoy it! I'm so stoked to bring you the moment I think you've been waiting for.... The song in this chapter is 30 Seconds to Mars "The Kill." It's not the type of music OCS does, but Edward adapted it for his purposes:)

Psst: Thanks to my beta, Adrena. You rock for putting up with me writing four chapters in two days!

Here we go!

BPOV

The next day, I woke up groggy and confused. Last night after Alice had cornered me in the bathroom, I returned to the table and averted my eyes as Edward stared her down with a surprisingly stern expression on his face. She didn't fidget, though; she just stared right back at him as if she could lay all his secrets out in an instant if he so much as opened his mouth.

The rest of dinner had passed in an uncomfortable silence, with only the occasional question about the food or plans for the following day. I tried to minimize my presence as much as possible, but Edward reached out to touch me in small ways on more than one occasion.

Every time he did, it felt like I was touching a live wire. I became accustomed to it by the time we returned to the hotel and he bid me goodnight at my door.

I had no idea what was going on between us, but I was certainly mystified by this new Edward. He was considerate, comforting, and friendly. I was utterly and completely charmed by him, in ways I'm sure he couldn't even begin to imagine.

I spent the night tossing and turning, trying desperately to get a hold on my feelings. I knew that I had a major crush on him, but I also knew that something between us could never work because we were so very different. We were on opposite sides of the fence, and this wasn't some Romeo and Juliet situation in which we would toss everything aside because our families were keeping us apart.

No, the things keeping Edward and I apart were entirely up to us. I had my beliefs and convictions, and he had his.

Ne'er the twain shall meet.

I felt more than a little disappointed at the thought, but it didn't stop my imagination from dreaming up all kinds of fantasies in which he was Tony and not Edward, and we could be together completely...in every way. No fighting, no huge gulfs between us, just our shared passions and my complete lust for him.

Could it ever happen?

I didn't really think so, but a girl could always hope...

EPOV

I woke up to my alarm and dragged my butt out of bed to get ready. It would be another sweltering day and I was dying a little bit inside at the thought of covering up like I'd had to yesterday.

For the first time I could remember, I cursed Carlisle in my head and wished that I could just show my arms and legs and let myself be free. To hell with the people who would judge me on my appearance.

Still, I grudgingly dressed in a long-sleeved white button-up and some lightweight khaki pants. A braided faux leather belt and shoes completed my preppy little ensemble and I headed out the door with a heavy heart weighing me down.

Was it really so wrong for me to want to be my own person? To dress and act the way I wanted to, without worrying so much about everyone else's opinion of me? I asked myself for the thousandth time why Carlisle couldn't simply accept me for who I'd become over the past few years, but as usual, no answer was forthcoming.

I walked down the hall just as Bella's door opened and she smiled up at me. I blinked and looked away before smiling back at her. We'd come such a long way now, and I was relieved. I wanted to be Bella's friend. When she was relaxed (meaning she didn't want to rip me a new one), she was intelligent, funny, and cool. She had interesting ideas and we'd spent a lot of yesterday going back and forth on a lot of topics.

Naturally, we'd avoided the hot topics by some unspoken agreement. I was fine with that for now, but I knew it would come up sooner or later.

I'd taken her to dinner with Alice last night, and I could tell that Alice had said something to Bella when they went to the bathroom. When Bella returned, she'd been quiet and withdrawn, as if she were trying to disappear into the background. That just wasn't like her, but I didn't really know what to say, so I didn't say anything at all. I merely tried to make her feel comfortable, even though Alice was obviously in a mood.

We walked down the hall to the elevator together and headed for the group in the lobby. We'd be touring the White House today, and I could tell everyone was really excited. I'd been there a couple times, myself, but I was always really fascinated with the history and ambiance of the huge monument to our government.

The day went by quickly, and thankfully, we weren't out in the heat for very long. Bella kept casting me sympathetic glances and she even patted my arm a couple of times in a consoling gesture when everyone opted to eat lunch outside. Bella and I settled for a feast of raw vegetables and fruit, topped off with huge amounts of ice water to keep the heat stroke at bay.

After the White House, we went to a couple of the Smithsonian museums and raced through them, not really taking our time to enjoy and soak it all in. My personal favorite was the Air and Space Smithsonian, but we didn't really get to spend much time there.

We returned to the hotel, sweaty and exhausted. The heat had robbed me of my desire to go out tonight, so I called Alice and begged her to come hang out at the hotel instead. She promised to bring food and I thanked her gratefully.

By the time she arrived at my room, I was freshly showered and dressed in a more comfortable outfit of jeans and a plain black t-shirt. My hair was dripping wet and my feet were bare, so the A/C made me a little chilly. I threw on a FATA hoodie just as Alice rapped impatiently on the door. "Edward! Come get this food!" she demanded through the door.

I opened up to find Alice loaded down with some grocery bags. I quickly took them from her and she produced a white take out bag from her large purse. "You have a mini-fridge right?" she asked. I nodded. "Good, because I brought you some soymilk and some cereal for breakfast, and I took the liberty of buying you some pre-packaged dinners that you can either eat cold or throw away, for all I care. I don't want you to starve here," she said grumpily.

Alice was a hilarious person. She always felt like it was her job to take care of everyone, and you could tell she secretly enjoyed it, even though she grumbled and grumped around like it was such a huge inconvenience. Who knew why she acted this way...she just did.

I thanked her profusely and walked over to the fridge to unload the goods. She'd also bought some Clif bars, a package of cookies, and some fresh fruit. I smiled appreciatively as I put everything away and turned back around to give her a big hug. She was dwarfed by my frame, but she hugged me back just as tightly. "Thanks, peanut," I said into her inky black hair.

She scoffed and shoved me away. "Don't mention it. Now, I brought you some curry from a place down the street. It's really freaking good, so I hope you give it the appreciation that it deserves."

I grabbed the white bag she held out and opened it up to smell the spicy sweet scent of red curry. "Mmmm, thanks. This is awesome. You're aces in my book."

Alice rolled her eyes, still playing the inconvenience card. I just laughed and ruffled her hair. "Did you wanna hang out and watch a movie or something?" I offered.

She shook her head. "Jasper's going to call soon, and then I'm going to go out with my snooty brat of a step sister to help her find a dress for some stupid function coming up. My dad practically begged me to make nice with her, even though she's horrid."

I laughed and set the bag down so I could pat her on the back sympathetically. "Don't worry, Al. You'll be home before you know it, and Jasper will be really happy to see you."

She nodded and wiped a tear away. I hated to see her missing Jasper so much. I pulled her in for another comforting hug and then she said she had to go. I walked her to the door and said my goodbyes before returning back to the bed.

I stared down at the curry and thought about it for a moment. Bella was probably hanging out in her room all by herself right now. I decided it wouldn't hurt to check it out and see if she'd like to share some of this food with me.

Without second-guessing myself, I wandered down the hall to the next door and knocked softly. She pulled the door open, looking worn out and freshly showered. Her hair was sticking up all around her head in spikes and her eyes were puffy and red. I wondered if she'd been crying again, but she acted completely normal. "Hey, what's up?" she greeted me.

I held up the bag and pointed to it. "D'you like red curry?" I asked with a smile.

Her eyes lit up and she looked at me questioningly. "Alice brought me a huge amount of food, which is good, but I can't eat all of it. I figured you might be able to help with that," I chuckled.

She pushed the door open and ushered me inside, obviously ravenous. I laughed and we dug out the complimentary coffee cups next to the coffee maker. I dished up the rice and curry, and we dug in eagerly. She paused in her eating only to thank me with her mouth full. "This is...mmmm... awesome. Thank you," she said between bites.

I picked up the remote and turned on the television. Comedy Central was playing another stupid movie, so we settled in and ate the rest of the curry. Bella laughed uproariously and I watched her with amusement as she enjoyed herself. She looked so young and innocent without her hair and make up done.

I kind of liked it. She didn't look anything like the angry, bitter girl she used to be when we first met.

When the movie was over, we rinsed the cups out and sat back down on the bed facing each other. She shifted around and looked up at me with a question in her eyes. "What?" I asked.

She looked sheepish. "I was just wondering something," she replied quietly.

"Oh yeah? What was it?" I pushed.

She met my eyes. "Did you quit the band?"

I sighed and scrubbed a hand down my face. "No, I didn't. I just...it's a long story."

Bella grabbed the pillow behind her and fluffed it up before sitting back against it. "Would you explain it to me?"

I stared at her for a long moment before conceding. "My dad...wants me to be Edward all the time. He doesn't like or approve of my band, or my tattoos, or my veganism."

She looked surprised. "Is that why you put up this front whenever you're around people who know your father?" she asked curiously.

I nodded. "I mean, it's not exactly a 'front.'" I could tell she was confused, so I tried to explain the best I could. "I am a Republican and a Christian, but if it weren't for his influence, I'd be a lot more relaxed in my beliefs. I certainly wouldn't dress the way I do, and I wouldn't hide my tattoos or my music. I'm not doing anything that goes against my religious beliefs or my political views."

She nodded but looked like she still had something to say. I wasn't sure I wanted to hear it, because it was probably the same thing I'd heard from my friends a thousand times before.

"Was he always like this?" she asked finally.

I shook my head. "He was really awesome when my mom was alive, but after I came back from Stanford and she died, he turned into this whole other person. I feel like I don't even know him anymore, but...he's the only family I have left, so I have to hold it together for him," I told her sadly.

She appeared to think about this for a time. "Have you guys gone to counseling or anything?"

I laughed bitterly and shook my head again. "Carlisle doesn't believe in therapy, even though he's a doctor. Well, what I should say is that he doesn't believe in therapy for himself. He thinks this whole mess could be fixed if I simply stepped in time with his beat and left my entire future up to him."

Her forehead crinkled and I could tell she was feeling sorry for me. "Hey, I didn't tell you this so you could feel bad for me," I joked lamely.

She quickly changed her expression and reached a hand toward me. I sat still and let her grip my hand gently. "You're much stronger than I could ever be," she whispered.

I was shocked by her words. The shock quickly gave way to anger at myself, and my father. I scoffed and shook her hand off. "I'm not strong, or brave, or anything else people tell you when people you love die. I'm a fucking mess and I don't know how to fix it. If I were stronger, then I could just tell my father to go screw himself and do what I want to do..."

"Then why don't you?" she asked quietly, placing her hand on top of mine once more. Her grip was tighter this time, as if she refused to be pushed away again.

I dropped my head and felt the pain clench in my chest. "I can't lose my father, too. If I told him that, he'd disown me and I would be alone. He's my father, Bella. I love him, even if he's a judgmental prick sometimes."

Her fingers were soft as they ran across the back of my hand, soothing me. "You'll never know if you don't try," she replied softly.

I looked up at her and wondered how she could cut to the heart of the matter so well, when it was so easy to deflect everyone else who tried to tell me this. "I...guess you're right," I said hollowly.

Bella's eyes teared up a little and she leaned forward to hug me. It was awkward, because our legs kept her from getting too close, but her arms still wrapped around my shoulders and I buried my face in her hair, inhaling the scent of hotel shampoo and Bella's skin. It was comforting and sweet, and it solidified my sudden resolve.

"I should go," I muttered as I pulled away from her. If I stayed here now, I'd be kissing her, and if I were kissing her, then I'd be weak and she would know it. I couldn't let her see me even weaker than I was right now, so I got up and left reluctantly.

She stood at her door and watched me leave with those big, sad brown eyes. I wanted to reassure her, to tell her that everything would be okay...not just with me, but with her as well, but if there was one thing that I'd learned over the past few years, it was that life wasn't fair and simply wanting and trying your best didn't always mean you got what you wanted.

Sometimes life just sucked, but you had to keep living because dying wasn't an option, and neither was giving up.

I gave her one last tiny wave before I returned to my room and pulled my phone from my pocket. I saw his last missed phone call still on my screen, so I clicked on it and hit the button to return it. It would be a lot earlier there than it was here, but I figured he'd be home by now anyway.

"Edward? So nice of you to finally call me back," he said bitterly.

My chest tightened and I felt the words building up in my throat. "Sorry," I mumbled guiltily.

"It's okay, I forgive you. How's D.C.?" he asked, sounding mollified.

The anger I'd felt in Bella's room returned tenfold. "No, I didn't mean I was sorry for not calling you back; I meant I'm sorry that I can't be what you want me to be. I'm done."

I heard his sharp intake of breath. "What gives you the right to speak to me this way?" he demanded angrily. "I'm your father, and I think I deserve a little bit of respect!"

His words only fueled the fire. "You have a choice, Carlisle: you can either accept me as I am, or I can move out and you can say goodbye to your only son."

My ultimatum sat there in the space between us, insurmountable and terrifying. I held my breath, waiting for anything...a sign, a word...

But all I heard was a click.

BPOV

Edward was distant the next morning, but I figured it was only because he was embarrassed by his confession the night before. I wanted to tell him it was okay, that I wasn't judging him for it, but I didn't really get the chance.

He was still kind and considerate, and I was grateful. He slipped me some food in the morning and I smiled thankfully at him as we ate in silence.

I tried to give him some space to let him work out whatever was going on in his mind, but I still hoped that he'd come hang out with me once we returned to the hotel. I was sorely disappointed when he stayed in his room and left me to my own miserable company.

I hadn't spoken to Charlie since the night I'd called him at the bar, but that didn't mean he wasn't trying to reach me. I ignored his calls and everyone else's, because I just wasn't ready to talk about what happened the other night. I knew I'd have to tell Leah, Jake, and Emily about the bar and breaking my edge...but I just wasn't ready right now.

The last morning for our group in D.C. was hot and smoggy. We headed for the airport and Edward once again spent most of his time staring out the window. I moved back a couple rows to give him some space, because it was obvious that he was brooding over something. We definitely were not close enough for me to try and drag it out of him, so I just kept my distance and felt like that was the right thing to do.

The plane ride was boring and long, and I was seated next to a middle aged woman who ignored me in favor of her romance novel, which was just fine by me. I whiled away the ride listening to music and finishing my book.

By the time we landed, I already missed Edward and the tentative friendship we'd formed. I wondered if it would continue once we returned to school, or if we'd go back to bickering and fighting. I sincerely hoped not, but I wasn't sure. Maybe his aloofness was to prepare me for him pulling away from me again.

At the baggage claim, he came up to me and looked at me with a serious expression on his face. "We're having a show tomorrow night. You should come."

I gaped at him as the implication set in. "You're having a show?" I asked, surprised.

He nodded his head but didn't say anything else. He reached out to give me a one-armed hug, because he grasped his suitcase in the other hand, and didn't meet my eyes as he turned and walked away. I stood there, completely stunned.

Apparently Edward was standing up to his father, and it seemed like he'd done it right after our talk. It certainly explained his distant behavior the past couple days, but...and this made me feel awful...what if he'd taken my advice and his father had shut him out?

Had my advice just ruined his relationship with his only remaining family?

The thought made me absolutely sick to my stomach.

When I got home from the airport, Charlie's cruiser was gone and I wasn't terribly surprised. His presence would have been more of a surprise at this point. I headed up the stairs and plugged in my phone, debating whether I should call Leah now or later.

I stared at the screen on my phone for a few minutes before deciding to just get it over with. I dialed her number and waited for her to pick up. "Hello?" she asked, sounding busy.

"Hey, it's me. Are you busy?" I asked, hoping she'd say yes so I could get out of this.

"Not at all, just a sec." I heard her shout to Jake that I was on the phone and then his deep voice saying something in response. She must have gone outside, because it was quiet all of a sudden. "Okay, I'm back. How was your trip?"

I sighed guiltily. "I did something really fucking stupid," I blurted. I might as well rip it off like a band-aid.

"What did you do?" she asked in her menacing mommy tone. I flinched and reminded myself that she wasn't my mom.

"I sort of...broke my edge," I admitted.

"You what?" she yelled into the phone. "Isabella Marie Swan, I cannot believe you! What happened?"

I collapsed back on the bed and stared at the popcorn ceiling. "I called Charlie, and he was at the bar again, and I was just so fucking mad and I hated it...and it was like something just took over and I decided to be a gigantic idiot. It was just one time and I fucking hate myself for it," I explained.

Her breathing calmed down and she sounded sad now. "Oh, honey, I wish you'd waited to get home so you could talk to Charlie. He really wants to talk to you," she said.

I was confused. "What are you talking about? He hasn't been around since Renee left. If he wanted to talk to me, he'd have been here," I replied bitterly.

She sighed heavily. "Well, he was being a dipshit before. His head was so far up his ass, but it's all good now. Isn't he there?"

"No, he's not," I said.

Leah hummed. "He must be at work, then. Just try and be patient, Belly. He'll be home soon and you two can talk about all of this, okay?"

I wondered if she was right, but decided that she probably was. Leah seemed to know a lot of shit these days. I told her I was going to take a nap and we got off the phone.

A couple hours later, I woke up to the sound of the front door slamming. Heavy boots crossed the floor and I ran downstairs to see my father trudging in, looking exhausted but sober. I stopped at the foot of the stairs and stared at him. "Hey," I said quietly.

He looked up at me as if he hadn't seen me standing there. I watched his face carefully, realizing this was the first time he'd seen me since I'd chopped off all my hair. His eyes widened and he suddenly looked so sad. He looked me over as if he were taking stock of all the changes in my physical appearance. I wasn't completely out of it; I knew I'd lost some weight, and I had some dark circles that had taken up permanent residence beneath my eyes. He recovered rather quickly, however. "You're home."

I nodded and wondered if he was okay. He toed off his boots and removed his holster before unbuttoning and removing his uniform dress shirt. Now in a white t-shirt and his starched pants, he crossed over to the couch, bypassing his chair completely. I was surprised.

He sat down and patted the seat next to him. "I want to talk to you," he said gravely.

I walked over and took a seat. "Okay..."

Charlie ran a hand through his close-cropped hair and dropped his hands down to slap his thighs nervously. "I heard about what Renee said to you," he began.

"You did?" I asked, surprised.

He nodded. "Why didn't you tell me, Bells?"

I looked away. "I didn't know if you'd care or not..."

I heard a sharp inhale and snapped my head around to look at him. He had an expression of anguish on his face. "Of course I'd care, Bella! You're my daughter!" His face collapsed then, and I watched him warily. "I know I haven't handled this very well, honey. I should have been here for you. I'm so sorry."

I examined his face carefully. "She said...she said I was a mistake and that you forced her to keep me," I stuttered pathetically.

His face got hard and angry then. "She was wrong. You were never a mistake; you were a blessing. You were my blessing. I've loved you to distraction since the day you were born. It's her own fault that she never saw what an amazing gift you were to us, Bella. Don't you ever think for one minute that I didn't want you."

His words stunned and amazed me. Charlie was never one to speak about his feelings, so I could tell that he was completely out of his element right now. I was amazed I wasn't crying like a little baby right now, actually.

I supposed it was his calm and collected demeanor that kept me from losing my shit in the face of his vehement declaration.

He reached out and pulled me close for a hug. I sat frozen for a moment before I was able to return it. "When I held you for the first time, you became my entire world. I'll always be grateful to Renee for giving me you, but that's all I will ever feel for her again. She won't bother you anymore, honey."

The tears finally came, and I held him tightly, absorbing his familiar scent of starch and stale coffee. It was so comforting to be with him like this.

"I want you to know I'm not going to go to the bar anymore, either. I lost myself a little bit, but I'm here now. I won't do that again, okay?" I nodded and buried my face in his shirt again.

It reminded me of how safe and sound I felt whenever Edward touched me, but I pushed that thought away as quickly as it came.

I pulled myself together enough to break the hug and sniffle. I wiped my nose and looked up at his worried face. "I love you, daddy."

He seemed to relax. "I love you too, sweetheart."

I knew we still had a lot to work out, but the most important things were out of the way now. I was still hurt over his absence, but the anger was no longer there. I knew he'd talk to me in his own time, and things would take time to fix, but I felt much more optimistic than I had before our talk.

We spent the rest of the evening relaxing and watching television. I hated Seinfeld but my father loved it, so I sat through two episodes with him before giving in to my physical and emotional exhaustion. I kissed him goodnight and headed upstairs, floating on a cloud of relief.

We were going to be okay.

EPOV

The venue was full and I was looking around, hoping to spot Bella. I wasn't sure if she would come tonight or not, but I had my fingers crossed.

Tonight would be the night I declared my independence from my father, and I felt like she needed to be here to witness it.

I finally saw her enter through the front, followed by Leah and their friend Emily. Jake's band was also playing tonight, so I knew they'd be hanging around for that, too. I caught her eye and waved as we finished setting up. We ran through the sound check and got ready for our set. Only three bands were playing tonight, and we were the second one to play.

I headed over to the bar to get some bottles of water and when I returned, Bella was standing up front to the side of the stage. I smiled and she smiled back, but she looked like she felt bad about something. I wondered what it could be, but I had no idea, so I let it go.

Emmett, Seth, Jasper, and I all took our places onstage. I lifted the mic from the stand and greeted everyone before telling them we would be doing a somewhat unconventional cover.

The music started pounding, hard and melodic. People started swaying and I began singing, infusing the song with all the pain and frustration that I'd been feeling for the past three years.

I was completely surprised when I looked up to see Carlisle and Esme coming through the crowd. His eyes were locked on mine, and I felt my heart freeze in my chest. I shook myself and broke his gaze only long enough to tear off my shirt and stand tall in front of him, each of my tattoos showing. His eyes clenched in anger and something that looked like disgust.

I bent forward, aching and filled with pain as I sang the last verses directly to him. The original song was much more melodic, but our cover was fast and pounding. My voice was seething, snarling, full of the fury and anguish I'd kept locked inside all these years.

"Come break me down

Bury me, bury me

I am finished with you

Look in my eyes

You're killing me, killing me

All I wanted was you

I tried to be someone else

But nothing seemed to change

I know now, this is who I really am inside.

Finally found myself

Fighting for a chance.

I know now, this is who I really am."

His face paled and I saw Esme grip his arm. The song finished and she gave me a sad smile before yanking him out of the club. I watched him go, feeling broken in two.

My eyes found Bella and she watched me, tears streaming down her face. She looked so sad. Her hand came up, covering her mouth and then sliding down to her neck. She didn't turn away when she saw me looking at her. It dawned on me that she'd realized that my father was here, and what had just happened. Her large brown eyes were full of grief and pain, and for some reason, I knew she was feeling the pain for me.

I stared at her, trying to tell her in some small way that I would be okay. I hated to see her cry for me.

The music for our next song started and I pulled myself out of it, turning back to my band. Jasper watched me as he plucked the bass, his eyes full of concern and shock. Emmett nodded when my cue to sing came, so I turned back to the crowd and stood on the edge of the stage, throwing myself into the music. The drums were loud and savage, the guitar ripping through the small club. People were going crazy and I put my all into the song.

When the set was over, I had to sit down and breathe deeply. My throat was raw and my pulse was racing too fast. I almost passed out a couple of times, but Emmett poured water over my head and shoved it between my legs, forcing me to calm down.

Once I recovered, I realized how relieved I felt. I was angry, but it was also freeing. I had released myself from the tyranny of my unreasonable father, and I was now free to be the person I wanted to be. When school came on Monday, I would be wearing the clothes I chose; I would show my tattoos, be myself, and stop caring so much about everyone's opinion.

The only thing I had to figure out now was where I would live.

The next band started up and I watched Jake doing his thing. He stood, one leg up on the amp as he shouted into the microphone until his face turned red. People were going nuts all around him. Bella and Leah were right up front. I watched her, seeing the people bumping into her from behind. She didn't seem to notice or care, but I found I did.

BPOV

The dancers were getting crazy now; sweaty bodies were slamming into each other, and I was taking hits from elbows, fists, and knees across my back. "Oof!" I grunted as another fist accidentally landed right between my shoulder blades, causing me to bend over the stage in pain.

Suddenly, I saw a pair of colorful arms surround me as his strong hands rested along the edge of the stage on either side of me. His solid body was all around me, protecting me and my back from the brunt of the moshing going on behind me. I stood, completely frozen, as he bent low to speak directly into my ear. "Better?"

Edward's scent was all around me, just like his arms. I shot a look at Leah, who gave me a confused look. She finally shrugged and turned back to Jake. I saw her nudge Emily, who bent around her to get a look at the spectacle I was sure Edward and I made. It probably blew their mind, because they weren't aware of the friendship we'd formed during the trip.

I relaxed a bit and nodded, hoping he saw me. It would have been useless to shout over the music.

Jake was in his element right now; everyone was going nuts when the breakdown came. I looked over to see Emily melt into the back of the crowd, trying to avoid the pit. I knew I should have followed, but I didn't want to leave Leah here alone in case something happened. The drop D boomed through the room and Leah whooped as she raised her hands in the air, pumping her fist and shouting the lyrics back at her husband. They were probably the coolest married couple I'd ever met, but that was Jake and Leah for you.

Edward stayed behind me for the entire set, and I knew his back would probably be bruised by the time it was over. He kept getting pushed into me, and every time it happened, my heart sped up and I felt like I would go insane if I couldn't touch him.

His arms gradually migrated until they were practically wrapped around my waist. I held my breath, terrified that he would realize it at any moment and move away from me. I had to resist the urge to lay my head back on his shoulder or allow my body to press into his on purpose.

The last song started and it was their most popular, so the crowd rocked into a frenzy. Edward was shoved against me, and it nearly knocked my breath from my body. Leah was thrown against the stage also, and I felt Edward tug me toward the exit. I looked back to see he had another hand on Leah's arm, and she was following him out. Once we got closer to the door, he stopped and asked Leah "Are you okay?"

She nodded and thanked him, but I was completely distracted. Edward was holding my hand tightly, and it was making my heart clang around desperately. I looked up at him, wondering what the hell was going on with me. He met my eyes and looked just as confused as I felt.

"Let's get out of here," he said as he pulled me toward the exit. I followed willingly, wondering what was going on with him.

Once we were outside in the fresh night air, Edward released my hand and turned to look down at me. We stood still, staring at each other as the energy around us crackled and shifted. His eyes darkened and my eyed widened as knowledge of what was about to happen washed over me.

He advanced on me slowly, as if giving me time to change my mind. I held my breath and waited for him, not daring to look away from him lest he change his mind at the last minute. He came to me, slowly and deliberately, and I felt I would go insane in the time it took for him to reach me.

When Edward's arms reached out for me, I knew it wasn't for a hug this time. His eyes were on my lips, my neck, and my chest. My cheeks were flushed and my heart was galloping a mile a minute. He bent down, so slowly, until his lips slid over mine...softly, carefully, so smoothly. I released my pent-up breath and pressed myself against him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and bringing him down lower so I could have better access.

His lips were firm and so soft that it made my mind spin. I wanted so much more of him. My hands dropped down to run over his inked arms, relishing in the feel of finally touching him the way I'd been dreaming about. His tongue peeked out and I opened my mouth eagerly, willing to take this as far as he'd let me.

His taste was my new addiction. I couldn't get enough. Our lips and tongues met and moved together, bringing quiet sighs and the deepest pleasure I'd ever felt when kissing someone. He backed us up slowly until my back was pressed against the cool brick wall outside of the club. His hands skimmed down over my sides and cupped my hips.

I moaned into his mouth and he took advantage of it to gain control of the kiss. His hand came up and cupped my cheek, tilting my head back so he could take over. I was so lost in him that I lost track of the time and place. We could have been in the middle of a tsunami for all I knew, and it wouldn't have mattered a bit.

When he pulled back and broke the kiss, I let out a pathetic little needy whimper. He smiled down at me and brushed the pad of his thumb across my lips. "This is crazy," he whispered.

My vision cleared and I suddenly realized where we were and who we were. I straightened up and brushed a shaking hand through my short hair, belatedly realizing that there wasn't much to comb through anymore. "I know," I replied helplessly.

He blew out a breath and rubbed a finger down my cheek. "I guess we should go back inside, huh?"

I frowned. "I think I'd rather stay out here," I grumped. I flushed red in embarrassment when I realize what I'd just admitted. What if this was a one-time thing, an accident? A sort of in-the-moment kind of thing that happened when the adrenaline was pumping and...

He chuckled and kissed my nose, which caused my heart to speed up all over again. "I'm pretty sure our friends would start to miss us, and then they'd come find us...and I really don't think that's something we want to get into right now."

Curse him for being right. I sighed longingly, staring at his deliciously swollen lips as we headed back inside. I wasn't clear on what this had meant to him, but I knew exactly what it meant for me.

I wanted to do that again, and soon.

A/N: Remember, review and you will get a preview of the next chapter!

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