Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.

In Six Months I Lost My Mind But Found My Heart

Chapter Twenty-Two: Cute Ass

15th April

2 Months 2 Weeks & 2 Days Left

Bella's POV

The diner wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. No spilt drinks, no fires. I didn't mess up since Edward was there to help me at all costs. The dancing went rather well and I didn't fall the entire night, though that probably had to do more with my partner rather than my ability to dance or walk in those shoes.

The six of us headed back to the house to some 'fun and games' according to Emmett. I wasn't quite following what that entailed until the guys set up a table for poker. Now I simply thought we were going to play poker for cash but when they didn't bring out money I got slightly worried.

"What are we playing?" I asked nervously.

"Strip poker!" Emmett declared happily. "We finally have three girls and three guys so we have to play. I was told that we would all play strip poker when there were three girls and three guys so Bella you have to play. Please don't upset me?" He tried to give me what can be only described as puppy eyes.

"Fine I'll play." I gave up and conceded.

"Bella have you played poker before?" Alice asked shuffling the cards.

"I've played a little bit or regular poker before but never strip poker." The guys all smirked and I could only guess that they thought I was going to lose easily.

"Well maybe we should do a practice round. You know, just to get warmed up." Jasper suggested. He was either trying to see how bad I was or was being genuine about warming up.

The rules of the game were pretty simple. It was just like 5 card poker except we were only given two chips. Every time you fold you give in one chip and if you don't have any chips to fold you have to play. We decided that the winner gets to choose whose clothes they would want to remove, therefore allowing us to play a little longer than we would otherwise. I think they only decided this because they felt that I was going to lose every time.

Edward was the one who suggested that rule and he told me that it's okay if I'm not very good, I'd get the hang of it. He was being slightly cocky and thinking I was going to be terrible. He was underestimating my abilities and I was not a fan. Therefore I decided to use that to my full advantage.

Alice's POV

Edward was being his usual self, an asshole, from the second it was decided that we were going to play a variation of poker. Every time we play for money he wipes the floor with us. I don't know how he got so good at it but he did and I hate playing him. Obviously I'm going to be safe here since when Edward wins he's not going to ask his sister to undress, definitely not. Therefore I stand a better chance than the rest of them.



I am slightly worried for Bella since she seems unsure with what she's doing and a little apprehensive. Edward might make her his target for the night and I really don't want her to feel she has to take off more clothes than she's comfortable with.

We didn't get changed so automatically the guys have on more clothes than us. We like to start off even so there is no claim of someone cheating; it usually comes down to that between Emmett and Edward.

"Okay so the rules with the clothes, belts, bowties, shoes and socks don't count, everything else does and once we get back from getting changed we'll play." I told them as Rose and Bella followed me out of the room.

After getting changed the six of us were all wearing six items of clothing that counted for the game. We did a practice round, not removing clothes and Bella lost miserably, she didn't have anything with her cards and I could tell from the smug look all the guys had that they thought she was going to be easy prey. Rose also seemed perkier with Bella's lack of poker skills.

God I hope she's wearing matching underwear since that lot seem to have found their victim.

"Right can we begin?" Emmett asked excitedly rubbing his hands together. From there Edward dealt us our cards.

One card was dealt face down then the rest were to be dealt face up. For the first game no one folded and just as suspected Edward won. He saved Bella this time round and went for Emmett since this was his genius idea then he should get us started with the striping. Emmett didn't mind and just removed his jacket.

The games continued and the drinks kept getting refilled and some more clothes were abandoned on the floor. Bella had lost every game so far but Edward and Rose, who was also on a winning streak, hadn't picked her yet.

The only ones to remove clothes were Emmett, Edward and Rose. I think they were all trying to get to each other so that their strongest competition would leave the game. I doubt any of us would still play naked, well maybe Emmett but other than that, if we lost all our clothes we would leave. Very quickly.

The cards were dealt and Edward was sitting with a pair of kings dealt face up. He had his confident smirk in place and thought he had it in the bag. Bella was still playing though she had garbage by the seems of her cards, ace high, and that was not going to help her. The rest of us either had a pair, not as high as Edward's, or nothing.

Edward, having decided he had the best hand spoke up before all our cards had been shown.

"Jasper, you're looking a little over dressed. I'll have your jacket please."

"Wait." Bella said turning over her cards. Surprisingly she had a pair of aces and Edward's face fell. He was beaten, not the first time but I think he was surprised that Bella beat him. "I'll have your waistcoat please Edward." She asked smiling innocently, elated that she won. He sat there flabbergasted for a while then slowly began to remove it, handing it to her.

"I can't believe I won." She said as she inspected his waistcoat. "I knew I was good at this." The guys put their heads down, trying not to smirk. "I'll have your boxers by the end of the evening so get ready to strip." She said confidently, not even a blush, to Edward.

Jasper, Emmett and Rose were out right laughing at the absurdity of the situation. I sat there worrying about what my dear brother was about to unleash on naive Bella.



"Is that so?" He asked shuffling the cards. "I think I'll get your bra and panties by the time the night is over. I don't lose often Bella. You still think you'll get my boxers?" It was a challenge and the rest of us loved it.

"I'm more confident now than I ever was." She smirked artlessly.

"So you accept my challenge?" He was far too confident for his own good right now.

"Oh yeah."

"Rules?" He stated, eager to begin.

"I can only remove your clothes and you can only remove mine. Oh and since you're so confident that you'll beat me you won't mind that we'll be continuing with the clothes we're already wearing." That meant Bella had six items to be removed and Edward had four. "Think you can handle that?"

"Certainly." The arrogance was rolling off of him and Bella was lapping it up. She had a certain glint in her eyes that seemed devilishly dangerous, like she knew something we didn't.

I hope for her sake that a miracle happens and she at least wins a few hands before Edward feels sorry for her and stops taking her clothes.

Since they were having their own little challenge the rest of us just decided to continue like they weren't available as options. Rose had a glint on me and Emmett, she wouldn't ask for Jasper's clothes since he is her brother. Jasper was okay at poker so he stood a chance but that meant me and Emmett were going to be his targets, again he wouldn't ask his sister to remove her clothes.

So I guess things just got a little interesting.

Edward's POV

I loved the idea of a challenge, especially when she was that confident. It only had a slight nagging feeling in the back of my mind that someone as bad as her wouldn't be so sure she was going to win. Hell she won on a fluke before so I doubt she'll be able to beat me.

I believe you're mistaking the confidence for arrogance.

My speciality was reading people. I win easily because I know what everyone else had. I don't count cards or cheat but I just have this talent of knowing what cards they have. People are predictable and I can tell whether or not they have anything good or bad in their hand but with Bella, I honestly was surprised that she had something worthy, let alone a winning hand.

From then on out it was a constant battle between us. Whoever won ended up with a smug grin when they asked for that persons clothing. The game went on for most of the night and by this time we were all on our way to being drunk. We were all close to being finished since we all didn't have a lot of clothes on. Emmett was only in his boxers, Jasper was in his boxers and t-shirt, Alice was in a tank-top, skirt and bra, Rose was in bra and panties, Bella was in a shirt and panties and I was in a t-shirt and boxers.

The next game was going to be crucial if either Bella or I won. We would both lose our shirts except she didn't have a bra on under since I already won that. I don't mind taking off my top but I really think she will.

The cards were dealt and I was glad to say I had a possible flush. Bella had a pair so she was doing better than me at that point. As the cards continued to be dealt I had a definite flush and Bella had two pairs. For some reason I wasn't getting the same satisfaction for taking her clothes, yes I would like her to take it off but perhaps not in front of everyone else. The others in the group had all folded out only leaving it to us.



"I'm sorry." I said, flipping over my last card, showing her the flush of hearts.

"Why?" She asked turning over her card. A full house. The grins all widened on my friends and sibling as they saw Bella had beaten me. Well it wasn't over yet, I still had my boxers.

I removed my t-shirt and passed it to her. She was smiling at me coyly, rather pleased with herself. Somehow this wasn't the same girl we were playing earlier. Before this challenge Bella was dreadful, truly atrocious. But now, well she's actually kicking my ass. This hasn't happened before. I'm usually the winner, not the loser.

"Thank you. So ready for our final game?" She asked, shuffling the cards and making a mess of it. Yeah she's definitely an amateur. I can beat her.

"We still have two games left. But the real question is, are you ready to sit half naked in front of us?" She was dealing but really slowly.

"I won't have to. But I am looking forward to you stripping." There was a slight blush on her cheeks but other than that I would say she was one hundred percent confident that she was going to win.

"You know if you wanted to see me undress all you had to do was ask." The red tint increased on her cheeks but she just pursed her lips and looked at her cards. Deciding it was time to focus I did the same. There is no way I'm getting naked in front of them, Emmett and Jasper would never let me live it down.

Bella's POV

I glanced at Edward's cards and just about died. He had what looks to be a straight-flush of spades, the top hand. Nothing I had could beat him. The dread washed over my face and Jasper sent me a reassuring smile. Alice didn't seem put off at all by what Edward had and encouraged me just to continue to the end.

All I had was a lousy pair of twos and three garbage cards. He had won and I was going to have to lose my second last item of clothing. I could give him my panties but I really don't think the shirt is long enough to cover me up completely, especially if I had to walk away from the table.

Surprisingly there was no smug look on Edward's face, maybe he was feeling bad about this. I certainly was dreading it. Though I'm guessing they wouldn't force me to undress. Sighing I waited for Edward to demand my shirt.

"So what you got?" He asked calmly.

"A pair of twos." I started undoing the top buttons when he flipped over his card last card. A three of hearts.

He had four spades and one heart.

I won.

It didn't register until Alice and Rose practically cheered and Emmett and Jasper were laughing hysterically. I won.

I won Edward Cullen's boxers.

The grin plastered across my face must have made me look insane but I was elated. Edward on the other hand had his face in his hands groaning. The blush then crept across my face as I thought of him getting naked. A goofy grin and bright red blush then hit m so I looked down into my lap, hoping that my curtain of hair would hide what I was thinking about.



"So come on Edward, give Bella your boxers." Emmett encouraged, slapping him on the back.

"Oh disgusting." Alice said covering her eyes with her hands then turning herself into Jasper's shoulder so that she couldn't see anything.

Edward stood up apprehensively and shook his head smirking. He probably hated that he had to do this but was going to do it anyway. He looked at me grinning broadly.

"I just want to say that when I get the chance I will get you back for this." I laughed and looked at him expectantly. He briskly pulled his boxers off, immediate blush then threw them at me and walked away.

"Cute ass Eddie!" Emmett called as he left.

I couldn't help but look when he pulled then off. I did not want to look there but it was like my eyes were a moth drawn to a flame. My cheeks have probably never burned more crimson than in those three seconds. When he walked away I looked over again when Emmett yelled.

That was one thing I did agree with though. He definitely has a cute ass.

This was one night I will never forget.