Ok, I have one thing to say. FLUFF!

This is a two-chapter thing, and what'll happen next…we'll just have to see!

DISCLAIMER – I OWN THE VODKA! *swigs from vodka bottle* BWHAHAHH!

Read on, my brave warriors!

Bella's POV

I felt like screaming with frustration as I watched the clock tick away – I could have sworn that the second hand was moving deliberately slowly just to taunt me.

5 minutes left…

Angela was busily typing away opposite me; I had long since finished my work and was now just waiting for it to be 5 o'clock so I could race home, all the quicker to see Edward again.

4 minutes left…

"Hey Bella, what're you up to tonight?"

I didn't take my eyes off the clock as I replied, "Alice and I are going to Edward's for a game night."

I heard Angela shut down her computer and begin to gather her papers, "Over to Edward's huh? Think anything…interesting will happen?"

"Really, Ang," I turned to roll my eyes at her as she smiled knowingly at me, "It's not like that."

"Oh, it isn't? So you haven't been spending half this afternoon day dreaming about a certain green-eyed man?" She laughed as I set my mouth, determined not to answer, "What happened at lunch anyway?"

"Nothing."

I didn't convince her, "Bells, I found you half dead in the lift, something must have happened."

I winced and shook my head, glancing at the clock again instead of answering. 2 minutes left…

"What about you, Angela?"

"What about me?"

"What are you doing this evening?"

She shrugged, "Hanging out with Ben, looking after the cats…you know, normal stuff."

I smiled, "You don't have cats."

"Well, Edward Cullen doesn't know that," she smiled impishly then stood, "Well, I'm off. See you tomorrow, Bells."

"We can go?" I shot up and grabbed my bag; Angela laughed.

"Well, yeah, it's 5."

"It is?!" Yay! I screamed to myself in my mind, before rushing straight out the door, throwing a, "See you tomorrow!" at Angela as she followed, much slower than I.

Alice called me as I half-ran to the tube station, "Hey Bells! Are you coming home?"

"Yep."

"Cool, we'll leave for Edward and Jasper's as soon as I have you dressed."

"What?"

Alice giggled, "Seriously, Bella, you think I'm going to let you anywhere near the outside world without making sure you're properly attired? I bought some new stuff for you in my lunch break today. Don't complain," she said before I could, "it's all for the greater good, I promise. See you soon!" she hung up and I sighed, threw my phone back in my bag, and hurried on.

I jumped on the first train I saw, much unlike myself, but too impatient to sit and wait for the second train as I usually did. There were no seats, so I contented myself with leaning against the mostly unused doors on the other side of the train. The train moved torturously slow as it left the station, and I could've screamed yet again.

Finally we reached my stop, and I launched myself off the train and up the steps, probably frightening a few people along the way. As I reached the street, I tried to regulate myself to a normal walking pace as I made my way across the common, if only to prevent myself from slipping on the icy patches on the path.

"I'm home!" I called, throwing the front door open and hurrying up the stairs to the top floor Alice and I shared.

"Finally!" she squeaked, coming into the living room already fully dressed, "C'mon, let's get you ready so we can go!"

I laughed as she pulled my bag out of my hands, threw it onto the sofa, and pushed me into my room, her small hands already tugging my hair out of its ponytail. "Right," she said, handing me a brush before throwing open my closet. She surveyed it for a second before pulling out a midnight blue tank top (which I'd never seen before), a white cardigan with big sleeves that tightened at the ends (which I'd also never seen before), and skinny jeans (which, thankfully, I had seen before). "Put these on," she turned her back to me and I obeyed her, not bothered to kick up a fuss. The clothes were nice, after all.

"Good," she said, holding up her make up bag and grinning wickedly, "now stay still!"

Again, I let her attack me with her make up, all the while telling myself it was for my own good. She brushed through my hair one more time, nodded in approval, then beckoned me to follow as she left the room, brushing her hair in the process.

"Ok, now, what games do we have that they don't?"

"Erm…" I turned to our little game closet – I had saved all my childhood board games in the hope that I would someday feel the need to play them again. Like my father said: you never know when you might need them. "We have Monopoly, Cluedo, and several packs of cards."

"We'll bring them all," she said, stuffing them into her bag (which was half her size), "And, now we can go. Make sure you bring a coat," she called as she went down the stairs; I shook my head, wondering whether she ever forgot anything, then took my coat off its peg and followed.

We trudged through the now-hard snow, the street lamps already flickering on in the growing darkness. I shivered and drew my coat closer around me as Alice led the way to Edward and Jasper's house. Unlike us, they owned the entire thing, due to both Jasper and Edward being substantially wealthy. Emmett and I both envied them, but Jasper, Alice and Edward seemed to think nothing of it. I didn't think Alice would have survived without her healthy budget – she couldn't do half the shopping she did without it.

I couldn't feel my fingers, my ears, or my lips by the time Alice knocked loudly on Edward's door, "Edward, you fool, let us in, before Bella gets frostbite!" she called. "Really," she said to me, "You should've brought a hat."

"Al!" Jasper cried, a giant smile on his face as he opened the door; Alice blushed and I smirked.

"Hey Jazzy," she said, a little quieter now. As we walked in, me rubbing my hands together in an attempt to make them warm, she took his hand, saying, "my hands are cold," as an explanation. Jasper only smiled wider, and took her other one.

I stayed in the hall as they walked into the living room – I could hear that it was full of people. I put my hands on the radiator and stood there for a while, humming to myself as I waited to regain feeling in my fingers.

"Bella?"

Edward poked his head out from the living room, smiling gently at me as he spotted me, "Alice said you were out here. Are you ok?"

I shrugged, keeping my hands on the radiator, "I can't feel my fingers, or my ears."

"Your lips are blue."

"Another thing I can't feel," I smiled at him and he looked worriedly back at me.

"You should've worn a hat," he said as he came over and stood beside me.

"Funny, that's exactly what Alice said."

"Mmm," he pushed back my hair, tucking it behind my ears. "Here," he said, placing his warm hands over my frozen ears; I tried not to shiver as a tingling sensation swept through me, my skin burning where he touched it. We stood there for a while, then he said quietly, "how are your hands feeling?"

"Better. I can feel my ears now too," I replied, just as quietly, my voice hardly louder than a whisper as I struggled to control my racing heart.

"Good. Your lips are still blue though…" I blushed as an idea of how to warm them up flashed through my mind, and I quickly pulled my hands up and put them over my lips, all the time wondering what he meant by that.

Edward was still staring at me, his fingers still warming my ears and mine at my lips. Slowly, he moved his hands down to mine, gently pulling them away from my mouth and holding them tightly. My body was practically trembling with electricity; I was completely unable to move.

Edward gulped, then looked away, breaking the connection and letting me move again. "I think we should…be getting in there…don't you think?"

"Oh, erm, yeah. Sure." I nodded quickly, looking down as my face burned; he sighed and dropped one of my hands.

"Let's go then." We walked into the noisy living room, and I only looked up again when my face felt like it had gone back to its normal pallor.

"Hey Bells," my brother grinned at me from the sofa in the corner, his arm around Rosalie, "where've you been?"

I let go of Edward's hand and twisted mine together, "Outside…my hands were cold."

"Oh." He grinned, "Well, come on, sit down, we're all partnering up!"

For the first time I took a look around – there were a lot more people than I expected there to be.

Alice and Jasper were sitting in a chair by the window, talking quietly. Angela waved at me from her position next to Ben on the floor, "Hey Bells!" she smiled, "Alice invited us."

"Cool. Hey Ben."

He nodded, "Nice to see you again Bella."

There were a few people there I didn't know: a dark skinned duo sitting together on the floor, a black headed man standing alone by the fireplace and a frizzy haired girl who looked so excited I thought she might explode.

Edward took my hand again and led me to a small sofa in the corner, "Sit with me?" he said, smiling crookedly.

As if there was any other place I'd rather be. I nodded shyly and sat next to him, crossing my legs in my usual way, his hand still holding mine. "You look beautiful tonight, by the way," he whispered in my ear; I had no chance to respond as Emmett had already started talking.

"Right, everyone, welcome to game night!" he boomed; several people jumped, "Ok, let's all introduce ourselves. I'll start with me. Hi, I'm Emmett Swan." Rosalie rolled her eyes but followed suit.

"Rosalie Hale."

"Alice Cullen!" Alice smiled widely at everyone.

"Jasper Whitlock."

"Leah Black," said the dark skinned girl.

"Jacob Black," the dark skinned boy next to her, obviously her brother, smiled just as wide as Alice had – I did notice that his smile was mainly directed at me. Edward tightened his hold on my hand.

"Eric Yorkie," said the black haired boy.

"Jessica Stanley!"

"Edward Cullen," Edward said quietly.

"Bella Swan," I finished, blushing as everyone looked at me.

"Right, good!" Emmett clapped his hands together, "Now, let's all partner up and get going! Alice, what will we play first?"

She picked up the Monopoly and held it up, "Monopoly!"

We all partnered up, Edward and I together, Jasper and Alice, Rosalie and Emmett, Jessica and Eric, Angela and Ben, and Jacob and Leah. Monopoly took hours to finish, but eventually Emmett and Rose won; though everyone swore Emmett had been stealing money out the bank when he thought no one was looking.

I was thoroughly enjoying myself, especially with Edward as my partner. After a few more board games, Emmett jumped up and cried, "Time for the alcohol!"

"Oh brother…" Edward dragged one hand through his hair and smiled at me, "Just for the record, Bells, I apologise in advance for whatever else happens tonight. I have a feeling that we're all going to get extremely drunk."

When Emmett brought out about ten bottles of vodka and god knows what else, I winced and replied, "Yeah, I apologise too."

Edward laughed, then kissed my cheek, "Just in case I don't get another one in tonight," he whispered in my ear, and I blushed for the millionth time in the course of two hours.

"Alright, alright, break it up you two; we haven't even started drinking yet!" Alice giggled; Emmett's head snapped towards us and I tried to look innocent.

"Right," he said slowly, setting out 12 shot glasses in front of each of us as we sat in a circle, "we'll go round the circle, everyone says something they haven't done. If you have, you take a shot, then refill your glass. Got it?" We all nodded, very familiar with this game, and I rubbed my head, preparing for a massive hangover in the morning.

"I'll start," said Emmett. "I have…never read a book without pictures." We all stared at him in surprise, and he shrugged. Everyone took a shot, and Edward and I both winced as the vodka ran down our throats. Rosalie shook her head in disbelief.

"I have never ridden a motorcycle." Sighing, I refilled my glass, along with Jasper, Jacob and Leah, and we all drank down.

"I have never gone a whole week without shopping."

"What?!" I groaned, filling up my glass again and downing it. Edward and nearly everyone else, except Eric, drank too.

"I have never eaten a sausage," said Jasper.

"Now that's just weird," Emmett stated, as everyone, except Eric, took a shot. I could already feel the alcohol going to my head, and I leaned against Edward heavily.

"Are you ok? Do you want to stop?" Edward whispered to me; I shook my head and he kissed my cheek before sliding an arm around my waist.

"I have never owned a cat," Angela said, smirking at Edward, who smirked right back. Edward and Alice were the only ones who drank then.

"I miss Fifi Cuddleypoops," Alice sniffed, already a little punch-drunk.

"That's where you got my name from? A cat?" I said to Edward, who simply reddened a little and ran his hand again through his hair, messing it up even more.

When it got to Jacob, he said clearly, "I have never been in love." Everyone groaned, but immediately, Alice, Jasper, Ben, Angela, Rosalie and Emmett all reached for a shot. Edward reached forward at the same time I did, and we both caught each other's eye. I quickly looked away and downed my drink quickly, blushing furiously as I felt Edward's gaze on me. I wondered who he had been – or was – in love with.

I certainly knew who I was in love with.

The game went on, and by the time we'd been round the circle twice Emmett was completely hammered, Rosalie was on the way to it, and Alice and Jasper had disappeared off somewhere. Not that anyone besides Edward and myself noticed. I was more than a little tipsy, but I'd had the sense to go drink a glass of water or pretend every now and again, so I wasn't as drunk as I could've been. Still, it was enough to make me sway and fall every time I tried to stand. Edward seemed to be nearly completely unaffected by the alcohol.

Eric was the only one totally sober…because he had only taken one shot. He must have a very boring life.

It was Edward's turn, and he said, "I am in love."

My heart pumped faster, and Emmett scoffed, "Eddie, thatsh no' right. Y'have ta have NOT done it…"

Edward shrugged, "It's still true. Bella," he nudged me, "aren't you going to take a shot?" I turned to him as Emmett swigged from the vodka bottle.

"No," I said firmly as I could, looking straight at him, "I'm not."

"Oh," he said softly.

"Alright, I've had enough," I said, as my world began to spin, "I think I need to go outside for a bit."

"I'll come with you," Edward said immediately, holding me up as I walked out of the living room. I went straight outside, pulling the door open and walking out into the falling snow; Edward followed behind and put my coat over my shoulders. "I don't want you to get cold now," he said, taking my hand as I walked out to the steps and sat down, leaning on the railings. The cold air was doing me some good, and I was beginning to be able to think clearly again. God, I hated being drunk.

"Are you ok?" Edward said, "You don't feel sick or anything?"

I smiled up at him, "I feel much better now." I held out my arms, "Sit with me?"

Edward smiled back, "Of course." He slowly put an arm around my waist, and when I didn't object, tightened it a little. I put my head on his shoulder and watched the few cars drive slowly by. "What're you thinking about?" he said suddenly.

I shrugged, "How stupid I was for joining in that game. I'm never going to get to work tomorrow," I yawned and rubbed my head, which was beginning to ache a little.

Edward laughed, "Anything else?"

"I don't know. Why did you say you were in love?" I said abruptly, my normal timidity thrown out the window as I tilted my head and looked at him questioningly, my insides burning.

He looked back at me, his eyes confused, but he said slowly, "Because I am." With who?

"Oh," I said, turning away to hide the pain I knew was evident on my face. "I am too," I said quietly, not bothered with subtlety anymore.

It was probably some girl who was much prettier and much more interesting than I was. There was no need to get my hopes up, because there was no chance a guy like him would like me.

"I gathered," he said complacently, and his grip on me tightened even more as we both sighed in synchronisation. "Would I know this person you love?" he asked dryly.

I laughed inwardly, "You do know him. Pretty well, I would say," I turned back, my hair whipped around my face by the wind, to find he had shuffled closer. I gasped when I found his intense green eyes were inches from mine.

"I know him?" he said. I nodded.

"Do I know her?"

"Pretty well, I would say." Well, that narrowed it down. Who could it be?

I looked away again, but then Edward put his hand on my face, "Bella…" Slowly, I turned my eyes back to him, and found his were burning. "Bella…" he whispered again, and I was frozen still, watching him come closer and closer whilst something bubbled excitedly inside me.

"Bella, Edward!" Emmett threw open the door and we jumped apart, "It'sh truth or dare time!"

Emmett stumbled back inside, singing quietly to himself. It sounded something like, "Rosie, Rosie, I've gone crazy," he shouted louder at the crazy, "over my love for you," he held on the you as he rounded the corner and disappeared out of sight.

Drunk Emmett really was no different to normal Emmett.

Edward and I looked back at each other, and for a while there I knew I had nearly believed that Edward Cullen, the god himself, had just been about to kiss me. It had certainly felt that way, but he slowly stood up and offered me his hand. "We should go inside."

"Ok," I said, keeping the disappointment from my voice. I got up, then followed him inside; looking back for a second at the dark steps, wondering what could have been if Emmett hadn't interrupted.

Phew! I had a hard time stopping myself there, but this is so juicy I just have to stretch it out a little longer!

Next chapter will be TRUTH OR DARE TIME! Now, I'm not too good at thinking up the dares, so would you guys be my little stars and send in any dares or truths you think would be funny? I will try to use them all if I get any!

Tell me your thoughts and opinions, guys! I write for you all!

TTFN folks!

Love, ATO xxxxx