Chapter 6: You Spin Me Right Round (4 Years)

"Emmett, make sure you don't lose them," I said, frantically straightening Charlotte's coat.

"Wow, thanks for the support, Bella. Nice to see you think I can't handle two kids."

"It's just the first time you've ever taken them out by yourself. And it's going to be busy there," Edward said, wrapping his arm around my waist. "She just wants to make sure you're careful with them."

"I will be. I love these two kids," Emmett replied, tickling Charlotte and ruffling Thackery's hair.

"Can we ride the ponies, Uncle?" Thackery asked.

"Of course. That's a given."

"Emmett, don't you go trying to ride the ponies," Edward said, walking to the kitchen.

"Funny, Edward. Really."

"Are the rides going to be big?" Charlotte asked.

"Quit being a 'fraidy cat, Charlotte," Thackery said.

"Be nice to your sister, Thackery James. You two better not argue."

"The rides won't be too big. You're not tall enough to ride the really big ones anyway. You have to be this tall," Emmett said, holding his hand a foot above his head.

"Uncle, no one could possibly be that tall," Charlotte replied, giggling.

"You're such a little kid, Lottie," Thackery replied. "Of course there's people that tall."

"I hate to break it to ya, kid, but you're only a few minutes older than your sister. I'm pretty sure that makes you a little kid, too," Edward said, coming from the kitchen, a sandwich in his hand.

I turned to Emmett, still fretting over him taking the children to the carnival. "Make sure they keep there sweaters on. It's chilly outside tonight," I told him.

"Bella. It is the end of August. It's got to be sixty-five degrees, minimum," Emmett replied.

"I just don't want them sick."

"Yeah, 'cause tomorrow, we're going to school," Thackery said.

"We're only signing you up tomorrow, Thackery. School doesn't start for another week."

"All right, let's go, before all the good food's gone," Emmett said, spinning his keys around his index finger.

"Can we get cotton candy, Uncle?" Charlotte asked.

"The green kind?" Thackery added.

"We can get one of every kind."

"And hot doggies," Thackery said, walking toward the door.

"With lots of onions," Emmett replied.

"Ew!" both kids said together as the door closed.

I gave Edward a worried look, and he rolled his eyes. "They're fine. Emmett's more responsible than he looks."

"I hope so."

"So, Mrs. Cullen. We have the night to ourselves. However shall we spend it?" he asked.

"Keep your pants on--" I began.

"But I'd so prefer to have them off," he cut in.

"We're going to Sid's show. We already told him we would."

Sid's punk band was putting on a show at a local underground club, and we had promised to attend. Sid's broad taste in music was definitely one of his better qualities. His band was technically labeled punk, but they played a wide variety of rock music--from Clapton to Nirvana. I was excited about seeing him for the first time in a professional setting, as opposed to in his basement.

"Okay, the show starts at nine. We have an hour before we have to leave. That's plenty of time," Edward said, running his finger over my arm.

"And I need to get ready," I replied.

"What? You never get all dolled up, and now you decide to--when we're going to a punk show?" he asked skeptically.

"I'm not getting dolled up. I'm wearing the traditional black converse, ripped jeans, and band tee. Don't you worry your pretty little face," I told him, patting his cheek in a smart ass way.

"How about we just have a little fun, and then you can go get ready," he asked, his velvety voice much too persuasive.

An hour later, I was examining my hair in the mirror. "I look like sex," I said, frowning at my reflection.

"I love that look on you. Hair mussed, lips swollen, skin flushed. It's absolutely delicious," he told me.

"My hair looks like shit. It's all sweaty and stuck to my forehead."

He took his hands and flicked them through my hair, messing it further. "There. Now you look like a little vixen."

I glared at him. "You and your damn persuasion. This is all your fault."

"We are going to a punk show," he reminded me once again. "You'll stick out because you aren't stuck with safety pins and Mohawked."

I pulled on a tight Clash t-shirt, faded to gray, and my favorite black jeans. "God, that's sexy," Edward said, examining me as he tied his shoes.

"You are such a freak of nature. Most guys are turned on by cleavage and a big ol' booty. You like me all grungy and sexed up."

"Damn straight. Since we were seventeen."

"Do you find it sad that we haven't changed at all since we were seventeen?" I asked.

"That's not true. We are way more mature now. We just happen to like the same things we did back then. And who could blame us? I mean, Zeppelin's magic never fades. And neither does the beauty of a clean cut Les Paul. Or the sight of you in one of my old Van Halen shirts. It's still just as great as when we were in high school."

"I must say, Cullen, you are much sexier now. We've almost been together a decade. Can you believe that?" I asked, dazed at the thought.

"We've been together for twenty-six years. Nothing will change. We have a good sixty or so years ahead of us. Now put on your shoes so we can get out of here."

"My shoes would be on already if you hadn't pressured me," I reminded him.

"As though you could turn down a frolic between the sheets," he replied.

"Don't go getting smug, now. Pass me my shoe."

"I'm not smug. You're a lady on the streets, but a freak between the sheets."

"You are such a pig," I said, wrinkling my nose at him.

He pulled out a article of clothing form my side of the closet. "Oh my God. You have to wear this," he told me.

It was a plain black jacket, with a Led Zeppelin patch sewn onto one sleeve. It was their Swan Song Icarus logo, and Edward had swen it onto this jacket when we were fifteen. I slipped it on. It fit much snugger now, but managed to look better than it had when I was fifteen. I hadn't worn it in years, bt I couldn't bare to part with it either. He smiled approvingly.

"Let's go, before you cause me to attack you once more," he said, grabbing his keys.

We walked to his car, a brand new Volvo (the old one had finally given out on him, and after many moans and groans of despair, he finally gave it up to the junk yard and bought the new Volvo--a beauty). It took us a short time to make it to the heart of the city, mostly because Edward had taken to driving extremely fast when the kids weren't in the car. Finding this underground punk club took a little longer. We eventually saw the club's name (Cat's Claw) painted on the door on the side of a building, along with some crude and punky cats painted underneath.

Edward parked the car on the street and we went to the door. A large man walked through it, and stood, arms crossed, looking intimidating. "What is it?" he asked.

"We're here to see the Hullabaloos. We're friends of Sid's," Edward said kindly.

The man gave us a skeptical look and stepped out of the way as a new couple, who looked more like they belonged here, came up behind us. We went through the door, into a hazy plume of smoke and the stale smell of alcohol. Ah, nothing like the lovely smell of a bar. I knew I'd have to do some major showering when I got home, wash my hair twice to get the stench out…

Edward grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the bar. "We'll take two beers," he told the bartender. "You can get drunk tonight, if you'd like. I can be the designated driver," he told me.

I shook my head. "Nah, Em's bringing the kid's home in the morning and then I have to sign them up. I'll drive. Have some fun, kid. You deserve it."

"You're only saying that so you can ravish me later, without me putting up a fight. Taking advantage of a drunken man. Shame on you," he teased, grabbing the two beers and handing me one.

"Like you'd ever put up a fight. And I think I did enough ravishing before we got here," I told him as I felt a hand on my back.

I spun around and Sid hugged me. "Hey, thanks for coming. I didn't know if you'd come."

"Of course we did. I love hearing you play in your basement. In a club, you're probably amazing."

"We go on in ten. I'll catch up with you both afterward and we'll have some fun," he said, eyeing Edward as he drank his beer quickly. "You might want to slow your drinking until after I go on. That way, you won't be too smashed to mosh."

Edward laughed at the thought of joining a mosh pit. "I think I'm all right."

"Your loss, man," Sid laughed and punched Edward's shoulder before walking back to the stage. He climbed up and walked around to the amplifier where his bass was plugged in. A man of many musical talents, Sid sang and played bass for the Hullabaloos, forfeiting the guitar to a man nicknamed Skunk. He always said playing bass gave him more freedom to mess up, and to concentrate on the lyrics. I was glad that traditional punk, like he'd be playing tonight, didn't have a set formula: it was a lot of distortion, easy chords, anger, and attitude. Messing up wouldn't matter much.

A few minutes later, we heard a lot of shouting and cheering and then we heard Sid scream, "Are you ready to fucking party, Seattle?"

A loud cheer followed. "Well too bad. We're not here as fucking party entertainment. We're here to fucking blow your mind!"

With that, the first song started. I took to people watching and listening to Sid's angry lyrics. Our lovely Republican president would have an aneurysm if he heard those lyrics. That thought made me smile. This anti-government tirade was like a blast from the underground London punk scene in the seventies. I took a long draw from my beer, savoring the flavor, seeing as I wouldn't be allowed anymore than three drinks if I was to drive home.

I watched as the tightly packed crowd began a round of pogoing, a violent mosh in the corner. The crowd's heads bobbed up and down as they jumped. "You want to join them?" Edward asked.

I gave him an "Are you insane?" look. He shrugged. Why not. It'll be like we were seventeen again."

I laughed and grabbed his hand. We stood on the edge, where Edward gave me a "Here goes nothing" look and started jumping up and down. I followed his lead and started to bounce, letting out a long laugh. He laughed at me and we just bounced to the end of the song. Sid's voice came back on, wherein he screamed more obscenities and a new song started. After six songs, their show ended with a "Fuck you and goodnight" from Sid and a rather crude comment from Skunk.

Sid headed our way. "Sorry about all that cussing and raunchy talk. It's a punk club, ya know. Gotta have a stage presence that hardcore punk fans will appreciate."

I nodded my understanding as Autumn approached. Sid wrapped an arm around her waist. She let out a long breath. "That was…really something. Much different than the stuff you play around the house."

Sid laughed at her comment and then looked at us. "How you holding out, Eddie?"

"Only my second beer, Sid. God, you remind me of my dad," Edward commented teasingly.

"Hey, hey. I never said you can't get shitfaced. I simply asked you to wait until after my set. Now, shall we stay here? Or did you have another place in mind?" he asked as a new band came on.

There was a lot of actual screaming, which was completely incoherent, and I looked from the stage to Sid. "Why don't we go outside so we can talk."

Once we got away from the haze and horrific screaming, I could think more clearly. "The new band really isn't my style. I'm all for some punk, but screaming, not so much," I told them.

Sid laughed, and nodded. "Yeah. Gives me a headache after a while."

I laughed too. "Well, Alice texted me a few minutes ago. She and Jasper are meeting Jeremiah and a friend of his at Time."

Sid gave me a look. "That's like an actual club. Like...grinding will take place," he said, looking horrified and intrigued.

"I'm well aware. Not exactly my kind of club, but, we could still go and have a good time."

Sid looked at me like I had lost my mind. "Do you see how I'm dressed?"

"Sid…you always dress that way. It's how you are. You never cared about standing out before," Edward said.

"It's not that. I don't think the bouncer will let me into the club," he said.

"This may be true… we can de-Sex Pistols you a bit," I replied.

We reached the Volvo and I opened the trunk, "Here, take off the anarchy shirt and put this on," I told him, handing him a plain black tee. "You can take off the bullet belt, too."

Sid sighed and handed me his belt of strung bullets. "Anything else?" he asked.

"No. I mean, look how I'm dressed. Clash shirt…converse. You and I look like a couple," I told him, pulling on my jacket in the nippy air.

Edward let out a low growl and pulled me close to him. "You're mine."

I smirked. "So, want to go to Time?"

"Yes. We had fun last time," Edward said.

Autumn smiled. "I'd like to. I've never been to a dance club before."

I smiled at her innocence. Such a flower child. I looked at Sid, who, even though I had made him a little more presentable, looked reluctant. "I guess," he finally replied. "Changing who I am to go to a club," he sighed.

"You are wearing a plain black shirt and combat boots. Come on, get in the car," I told him.

"I need to get my bass and tell the guys I'm taking off. I'll be right back."

We arrived at Time a few minutes later, to find a long line and a lot of drunken girls dressed like hookers. We definitely stuck out. But we didn't care by the time we got to the front of the line. The bouncer gave us an odd look, but he was a small man, and Sid's rough appearance seemed to intimidate him, so we had no problem getting in. A loud hip hop song, with a pumping rhythm was playing. Sid looked a little confused, seeing as there was no band and everyone dancing looked like they were having fully clothed sex. He laughed. "I need a drink or five to get into this. Come with me, Autumn," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the bartender.

"We're going to find Alice and everyone," I called after his back.

He lifted his hand over his shoulder to let me know he had heard me. I walked toward the small, crowded dance floor through the swarm of club-goers. Alice was in the middle, dancing with Jasper in a sexy, yet innocent way. I pushed through people, Edward holding onto me by my back pocket. "Alice!" I called.

She looked up and smiled widely. "You came!"

"Are we so unreliable that people think we're automatically going to blow them off?" I asked Edward.

He shrugged. "I want a stiff drink."

I nodded. "Get me a beer."

"You're driving."

"And this will be my third. Don't worry. I'm not even tipsy yet."

He rolled his eyes. I went to Alice and started moving my hips and shoulders awkwardly. She grabbed my hand and lifted it into the air. "Get sexy, Bella."

"I don't think so. I think I'll just stick to simple movements."

She shrugged and continued moving her hips sensuously. I felt a tap on my shoulder and a tall Hispanic man asked, "You wanna dance with me."

I shook my head. "I don't think so."

He furrowed his brow and shrugged, walking away to go prey on some other young girl. Edward returned minutes later to a very uncomfortable me. I had been getting quite a few looks since we arrived and I hated attention. Edward handed me my drink and then stood behind me. He rested his chin on my shoulder and pressed himself against my back, his pelvis against my butt. "How 'bout a dance?"

I smiled and started moving in time with the song, in an innocent, "I'm unfamiliar with this form of dance in public" way. After a few songs, we went to the bar once more to get a water for me and a shot for Edward. He wasn't yet drunk, but he was getting a little tipsy. I was glad he was able to let go and have fun. Work was killing him lately.

While he was ordering drinks for everyone, Alice and I stood back a few feet from the bar and shouted at each other in conversation. We watched Sid dance with Autumn, forst in a crazy, funky, "don't give a shit" way, then in the more traditional grinding way. "He's having fun. I'm glad he agreed to come."

"I'm glad you agreed to come," Alice shouted back. "You guys never come out anymore."

"Emmett took the kids to the carnival."

She widened her eyes. "You let him take them…by himself."

"Emmett's not so bad. He's much more responsible in his old age."

"He's thirty."

"He's fine. He would call me if something went wrong."

Even though I believed what I said, an uneasy knot turned over in my stomach. Alice moved her shoulders slightly to the song while we waited for Edward. "Where's Jeremiah?" I asked.

"He went to his friends house. She was really wasted, puking and everything. He took her home."

I shook my head. "Pity. I really wanted to see him."

"We're doing this again soon!" Alice called. "You guys need to get out more."

When she said that, a stout Filipino man passed by us, smiling widely at me. I smiled kindly back, not realizing this was the signal for, "Please, cme talk to me and try to pick me up."

The man turned around and came to stand by Alice and I. "Hey, ladies. My name's Jesus."

"What?" Alice asked.

"Like Hey-Zeus."

I nodded, giving him a once over. He was wearing a red velvet jacket that reminded me of a smoking jacket, and faux crocodile skin boots. On his head was a fedora, and he looked to be about forty years old. I raised an eyebrow at him. "Hey. I'm Christie and this is Karen," I lied, trying to be polite, but wishing this creep would go away.

"I'm just here to meet some girls, you know. Have a good time."

My first response was that he should be in a bar that had middle aged divorcees who were desperate for a hook up, but I said instead, "Is that right?"

"Yeah. How 'bout you come up to the VIP room with me?" he said seductively, giving me a wink.

"I don't think so."

"Oh, come on," he pushed.

"She said no," Alice said at the same time I shook my head once more.

"We don't have to do anything. We can just talk," Jesus replied.

I knew full well that was not what he had in mind. Luckily, at the same time, Edward returned. He stood in front of me protectively. "I do believe she told you no already."

"Who are you?" Jesus asked.

"Her husband."

"Husband? Funny, she didn't tell me she was married," Jesus said.

Edward took a step forward. "Well she is. So why don't you get to stepping?"

"Why don't you get out of my face, man?"

I groaned and tried to pull Edward away. "Edward, please don't get into a fight."

Edward shook his head and turned away. "Let's go dance."

Before I registered what was happening, Jesus had spun Edward around and given him a sound punch to the eye. Edward recoiled and grabbed his eye. "What the hell?"

And then he punched Jesus in the nose. Blood flowed freely and a bouncer ran up to us. "Take it outside or were calling the cops."

"No need. We're leaving," Edward replied, glaring at Jesus and then turning and striding as quickly as he could through the staring crowd .

I followed him. "Alice, can you give Sid and Autumn a ride?" I asked her.

"Of course. I'm sorry that guy was such a creep. I'll call you in a minute. Let me go get Jazz and the other two."

I strode angrily to the Volvo. "What were you thinking, Edward?" I yelled at him.

"I didn't really have a whole lot of time to think, Bella. I reacted to being punched and then got myself under control."

"Under control? He's bleeding! His nose could be broken."

"He'd deserve it. He needs to learn how to take no for an answer," Edward was yelling now too.

"Yes,. But how do you plan on explaining your black eye and bar room brawl to your children?" I asked him, climbing in the driver's side and snapping my seatbelt in irritation. "Put your seatbelt on."

Edward did as told and shook his head. "What an asshole. He could have been a rapist for crying out loud."

"Are you serious, Edward. Do you think I would have gone anywhere with him? Even if you and I hadn't been married for years?"

"That's not what I'm saying. But some girl will be stupid enough in the future," he shook his head once more.

I sighed. "It's over now. I don't want to argue."

"You shouldn't argue. I was protecting you and defending myself."

"I know. Thank you for that," I replied sincerely. "You better figure out a good excuse for the kids."

"I'll tell them the truth. A bad man hit daddy."

I sighed and pulled into our driveway. "Come on. Let's go get you a bag of frozen veggies to stick over your eye," I told him when I had the front door open.

"Will you kiss it and make it feel better?" he asked, flinching when I lightly poked his rapidly swelling eye.

"I think you've had enough action for one night. Come on. Let me get you into bed."

O.O.O.O

Okay, end. I don't know why I wrote about this, but I did. I really love Sid, at least…how I picture him. Jesus is all real. Everything he said was real. Jesus is a forty year old Filipino man in faux croc boots that tried to pick me up at a club a few weeks ago. The only thing that didn't happen was the throwing of punches. He went away after I turned my back on him, luckily. Anywho, reviews would be absolutely lovely.