I struggled to open my mouth and release the words.
"Back away from my fiancée RIGHTNOW."
For a second, the room grew deathly silent. Everyone had stopped talking to look at us and I saw Alice quickly cut the music. I felt ten pairs of eyes staring at me fearfully. But my eyes were physically unable to unlock their hold on the boy currently standing almost naked in front of my girlfriend.
"Hi Edward!" shouted a drunk Bella, breaking the silence. Her sweet voice sounded unnatural compared to the raging war going on inside my head. Despite my warning, the boy hadn't moved from his position. I started to advance on him.
"Edward," warned Alice. I ignored her.
He dropped his leg off the arm of the chair and stood in front of Bella, blocking her from my view. "Dude what's your problem, I'm sorry you weren't chosen, but the party is not done yet, get over it."
I came to stand within inches of his face, trying to control my contracting muscles. I didn't even regard the words that were coming out of his mouth, and I knew my eyes were smoldering as they held his gaze.
Then, I snapped.
I grabbed him roughly with one hand by the throat and lifted him in the air above my head. I watched his stunned expression as he tried to release himself from my vice-like grip. I let him dangle for a moment, before I spoke.
"Once I put you down, you have one second to get your clothes and remove yourself from my house. And if you ever come near Bella again, especially in that position, that won't be the only thing I'll be removing." I tightened my grip around his neck slightly for emphasis. His eyes widened, due to the wrath of my words, or the tightness of my hold, I didn't know.
I kept my eyes locked with his as I lowered him to the ground. I released his neck and he stood there rubbing his hand where my fingers had been.
"NOW," I yelled in a booming voice. He angrily picked up his shorts, glaring at me the entire time. I snarled in response.
"That means you too!" yelled an angry Emmett at the boy behind Rosalie. Rosalie sat there still sipping her champagne, an amused smirk on her face.
"C'mon, let's get out of here," said the boy that Jessica was standing with. I watched as her face turned into panic, and she rushed in haste to follow him to the door.
All of the strippers retreated to the front door, picking up stray clothes along the way, grumbling under their breath. One of them, I wasn't sure which slammed the door for emphasis on the way out.
"Bye!!" Bella exclaimed naturally, as if she were saying goodnight to Charlie.
She turned her head in my direction. "Edward, you're here!" she tipped her glass back to drink the remaining drop she had left. She woozily reached up and latched her arms around my neck. "Where did you go? You missed my party, guess what-"
"Not now Bella," I interrupted. It pained me, but I didn't make a move to grab onto her as I usual would. I went to take a step forward and realized her arms were still hooked around my neck. Thinking she would let go, I continued walking. She ended up hanging there limply by her arms. I grabbed her quickly around the waist and hung her over my shoulder.
I turned to Alice.
She gave me a frightened grimace and ran to hide behind Jasper.
"Oh no you don't Alice, you've got to face this one on your own," he said angrily. "And frankly, I myself am very interested in the explanation. How could you?" He crossed his arms, watching her with disappointed eyes.
"Oh puh-lease," retorted Rosalie, who hadn't moved at all since we came in. "We were having a little fun, this was a bachelorette party, not a 50th wedding anniversary."
"Edward, where are you?" questioned an obviously confused Bella. I felt her squirming and tightened my hold around her. I easily resisted her futile attempts to break free.
"Edward, I think-I think…I think I'm stuck somewhere, I can't really move," said Bella, slurring every word.
Rosalie snorted. "See, F-U-N. Bella was actually having a great time till you showed up."
"So getting three eighteen year old girls drunk and harassed is FUN to you Rosalie!?" I heard my voice echo off the walls. "You're lucky we came here when we did! If it went on any longer some really bad things would have happened here tonight, and you knew that."
"Harassed?!" Rosalie looked scandalized.
"Actually," Alice piped in softly peeking out from behind Jasper's large back. "I wouldn't have let anything happen to Bella, she was relaxed and comfortable for once-Oh I'm sorry Edward, please don't be mad at me…You either," she added, peering at Jasper.
"Um, should we go?" The words startled me, and I saw Angela slowly getting up from her position on the infamous chair. I had completely forgotten her or Jessica were there. Jessica sat stone-faced by the front door, trying to awkwardly avoid the argument going on around her.
"Angelaaaa!" shrieked Bella. "Hi!" Bella twisted around in my arms and lifted her head to meet Angela's eyes. Bella burst out laughing, and Angela, who was still a little drunk herself, couldn't contain herself and giggled along with her.
Jasper let out a heavy sigh, "I'll take them home, lets go." He walked swiftly to the door, Alice following him with pleading eyes. She quickly glanced back to me with a remorseful look and thought I am sorry Edward. But then her focus was immediately back to Jasper, who I could tell was trying his hardest to stay mad at her.
"Hey!?" called a confused Bella when Angela got up to walk away. "Where are you going silly?" Angela shrugged and waved goodbye, grabbing an angry Jessica on the way out. "I'll er, call you tomorrow Bella," said a departing Angela.
"YEOW!!" I yelped, as the door slammed shut. If I didn't know any better, I would say that Bella had just pinched my butt? It didn't hurt, but it took me completely by surprise.
I heard a guilty snicker coming from her direction.
I then heard Emmett laugh for a second, then quickly regain his original furious expression to look at Rosalie. She glared right back, testing him, as if she knew he wasn't serious.
"Upstairs Rosalie, we need to talk. Now." She stared at him for one more second and pushed her nose into the air. "Fine," she agreed. "I'll bring the champagne." She stood up and pranced by him. I didn't miss the wink she threw him as she passed.
Emmett let out a loud frustrated sigh and ran his hands through his hair. "Damnit Rosalie," he began, following behind her up the stairs. "You can't do that, I'm really mad this time…seriously," his voice trailed off.
I closed my eyes and gave myself a moment to absorb everything that had happened. I realized my rage had reached a new unknown level tonight, and it unnerved me a bit. I needed to work that out, but a high pitched persistent humming was invading my thought process.
Bella was still slung over my shoulder, humming a tune that it seemed she was making up as she went along. I slowly lifted her off and cradled her in my arms. As my eyes met hers she flung herself at me.
"Edward!" she began to rain kisses all over my face. "I missed you, so much, I love you, I love you." She didn't stop her relentless kissing. I was torn. She had never been this forward before, it was nice. But then again, I knew she was drunk, and I couldn't get the image of her and that guy out of my head. I realized it would probably haunt me for my entire existence.
"Stop, please." I told her flatly. "I'm hurt by what happened tonight, Bella." I searched her eyes, feeling the sadness that were betraying my own. I needed an explanation; I needed to feel better about what I saw.
"Sad?" She looked utterly confused. "I'll make you feel better mister, why are you sad?"
"Don't you remember anything Bella, your party, and the strippers?" I heard the sadness laced in my tone.
"Strippers schmippers," she declared blankly. I felt two small hands grab the sides of my face, and felt her tongue lick the tip of my nose.
"Mmm, you taste good," she said. Her face brightened. "Edward! Edward! You know what; you what know else taste good? Champagne!" The last word came out in a mangled sing song voice.
"I don't think you need anymore champagne Bella." I said calmly, starting to walk slowly toward the stairs. She babbled on the entire way up to my room, and I lay her gently on the bed. It was clear I wasn't going to get any of the answers I needed from her tonight.
The second I let go of her and placed her down, she jumped up and grabbed onto my neck again, continuing her path of kisses down my face. "Oh Edward, you just have the best looking face," she said in between kisses. She ran her hands slowly down my arms.
After a while, when she realized I wasn't responding, she pulled back and placed her hands on her hips.
"Hey," she said angrily, but a cute pout formed on her lips.
I felt my resolve reluctantly start to crumble. She was just so adorable, and if I wasn't so upset, I would have to admit that she was a delightful endearing drunk.
Her mind had obviously drifted elsewhere because she flopped onto her back sighing, and raised a dainty foot in the air while she stared at the ceiling. It took me a moment to comprehend that she wanted me to remove her shoe.
I felt the corners of my mouth twitch into a silent smile, and I tenderly grabbed her ankle to remove it. "Oh Edward, I can't wait to be married to you." She absentmindedly raised her other foot.
I could tell she was intently thinking about something, because her eyes stared off into the distance as she raised her arms distracetedly above her head, signaling me to remove her dress.
She did it so nonchalantly, I knew what she was asking me to do really didn't register in her mind. She snapped out her daze and met my apprehensive expression. A large grin broke out, animating her entire face.
She reached down to the edge of her dress smirking at me. I knew something had just clicked in her brain. I backed a foot away from the bed terrified.