OK folks, this is a one-time deal – the first I've ever written. And it's all told from Bella's perspective. I've had that Beyonce song "Single Ladies" stuck in my head, so I got some inspiration from that – in case you couldn't tell :-)
Enjoy!!
Tonight's going to be a good night.
That's the mantra I keep repeating to myself. I haven't had a night out, just me and my friends, for...well, years now.
It's only been two weeks since Edward told me he wanted to start seeing other people—after three years together. My boyfriend since our junior year of college, he seemed like the perfect guy. He's in his second year of law school, while I'm enjoying some pretty sweet success as an associate producer for a local TV news program.
We were supposed to be together forever—he told me that, time and again.
So, needless to say, I spent the first week post-breakup in my pajamas, walking around my apartment crying, like I'm Bridget Jones or something. I even gained four pounds.
I had some vacation time to use up anyway, so I took that week off work and refused to answer my phone under any circumstances. My best friend Alice did not take this well.
I was considering taking another week off when she ambushed me at my place and demanded I stop feeling sorry for myself.
"Bella! This is pathetic!" She screamed as I rolled my eyes with indifference. "Do you think Edward is sitting in his apartment crying over you? No! He's out having a great time being single, and so should you!"
"He's not crying because he did the dumping, Alice," I retorted. "And I don't feel much like partying in my condition."
"I see what you mean, tubby," she teased, patting the spot where my normally flat stomach now featured a little paunch.
"Stop it," I complained, cowering away from her. "And I mean it! No going out right now, I'm just not in the mood."
"Fine," she replied. "We won't go out tonight. But, so help me, if you're not back to your old, chipper self by next Saturday, I'm going to come by here and drag you out whether you feel like it or not. I don't care if you're in your PJs, either!"
I simply blew off the threat to begin with, but I knew it wouldn't be wise to go against Alice on this subject. So, I went back to work and went back to the gym—working twice as hard as I normally did to get those extra pounds off.
In fact, by the time Alice showed up at my door with Rosalie Saturday night, both beheld me with extreme shock.
"What did you do?" Alice said as she twirled me around in my new Nicole Miller mini-dress.
"Nothin'," I replied sheepishly.
"Yeah, that sure looks like nothin'," Rose countered sarcastically. "It looks like you've been living at the gym."
"Well, that's pretty close to the truth," I grinned as I grabbed my coat and turned to leave.
We made our way to the club where we all used to hang out before relationships and careers took over our lives. And, we were delighted to find the old bouncer still worked there and let us in ahead of the rest of the riff raff. That earned us a few dirty looks from some of the other scantily clad girls in the long line.
But, I was in no mood to deal with cattiness tonight—I was here to have the best time I've had in months. We walked right up to the bar, and I ordered a gin martini, light on the vermouth.
"Hittin' the hard stuff already?" Rose asked after she ordered a white wine spritzer.
"And I don't plan on stopping until we leave," I said as I took the drink handed to me by the bartender.
"It's on the house, ladies," he said with a smile as Alice reached for her wallet.
She smirked at me as we walked to find a table, "I kind of had a feeling it was going to be one of those nights."
"What nights?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
"The kind where every guy in the place wants to buy the three of us drinks and dance with us," she replied. "Or, more specifically, with you."
I smiled and took a sip of my drink, "Tonight's going to be a good night."
We sat at a table near the dance floor and began scanning the room to see who was there. It was already midnight, so the place was pretty well packed with all the beautiful people. Just as I was finishing my drink, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and found myself face-to-face with a gorgeous, tall man with dark eyes.
Though it was dark in the club, I could tell he must have some Native American blood in him.
"I'm not going to play it cool with you," he said with a bright smile, the lights gleaming off his white teeth, "You're the most beautiful woman in this place, and I'm not leaving until I get to dance with you."
I polished off the rest of my martini and set it on the table behind me, "That is bold, I must say. OK, you only get a dance if I get a name."
"Jacob," he replied.
He held out his hand to me and I accepted it, letting him lead me out to the middle of the floor. I turned to wink at Alice and Rosalie, who gave me a pair of salacious grins in return.
There was some random hip hop song playing, one of those ubiquitous ones I never know the words to, or who the artist is. But, I was past caring at this point; I just wanted to lose myself for a few hours. And Jacob was a most desirable partner for getting lost with. He smelled really good and he knew exactly how to touch a girl while dancing—you know, where if you and your partner weren't in the middle of the dance floor, fully clothed, this could start getting very Cinemax at Night.
It didn't even matter that he towered over me by more than a foot-and-a-half.
Now, I'm not usually the type of girl for a one night stand, but I think I may be taking this tall drink of water home with me. Of course, that could be just the Tanqueray talking.
We led me off the floor and to the bar where he got me another martini. Jacob was about to take me to a place where we could talk, when I felt my arm being grabbed and I was suddenly whirled around. I came face to face with a very upset Edward, and I felt my breath catch in my throat.
"Doesn't take you long, does it?" He spat at me, "We've been broken up for two weeks and now you're here getting all over that douche bag?"
I ripped my arm out of his grasp and tried my best to stare him down, "You've got to be kidding me! You broke up with me, after three years together, and are probably out every night with a new girl, and I'm the one who doesn't take long?" I felt like I was going to explode from my rage, "FUCK YOU, EDWARD!"
I slapped him and threw my drink in his face before running over to grab my purse and coat. Alice and Rosalie, noticing the scene from where they stood on the dance floor, ran after me to try and calm me down. They stopped me before I could leave and pulled me into the bathroom. I stopped trying to struggle when I realized it would do no good, and sat on the counter near the sink instead.
"What the hell happened?" Alice said.
"Edward...that's what happened," I replied. "He saw me dancing with Jacob and tried to make me feel like a whore for dancing with someone else."
Rosalie and Alice looked at me in shock for a moment before Rose turned towards the door, "I'm going to kick his ass!"
"Rose, no! Stop!" I called, but she was already out the door.
Fortunately, she didn't have to travel far to find Edward, he was waiting just outside for me. In fact, Rose almost missed him as she turned the corner, not expecting to see him there. I must say, the man does have balls to come after me, knowing that Rose and Alice will be waiting to castrate him for hurting me.
Rose lifted her arm to take a swing at him, and he didn't move to block it. That made her stop in mid-air and stare at him incredulously.
"Come on, at least put up a fight, dickhead!" She cried.
"I don't want to," he replied, turning to me with sad eyes.
Alice stood in front of me, blocking Edward. But, he didn't make a move to get past her, he just stared at me sadly. I was beyond torn in that moment—I wanted to rush to him and hold him close, but I also wanted to just let him suffer for how he treated me.
He stood as close as he could get and leaned towards me over Alice, "Can I please talk to you? I think we have some things to discuss."
"I don't think she has anything to discuss with you, asshole," Alice said, pushing him back slightly.
He ignored my little friend, "Please? I just want five minutes of your time, and if you don't like what I have to say, you can tell me to fuck off...again."
His attempt at a joke did soften me a bit. I put a hand on Alice's shoulder and whispered to her that it was alright. She looked up at me with skepticism, but nodded and let Edward lead me outside.
We were in the alley behind the club, heading towards the parking lot. He wasn't saying anything yet, and I was starting to get impatient.
"What do you want to talk about, Edward?" I asked, stopping just after the first line of cars.
He looked around nervously, "Not here...let's talk in my car."
"No," I said, pulling away when he reached for me, "Talk here, or I go back inside and find Jacob."
The threat to go back and find my new friend—potentially with benefits—made Edward grimace and cross his arms over his chest. He sighed and looked up at me with those same sad eyes. It took every ounce of strength for me to stand my ground.
"You're wrong, you know? About what you said in there—that I've been sleeping around since we broke up," he said. "I haven't seen another girl since, and I found out that I really don't want to."
"Then why were you here tonight?"
He sighed again, "Because Jasper said I had to get out of my apartment and stop moping around. I know I'm the one who said we should see other people, but, I...I just don't have it in me, I guess."
I wanted to run into his arms and cover him in kisses, but I wasn't about to give in that easily.
"Well...have you really tried?" I asked.
He shot me a hurt look, "So, you still want us to break up? Is that why you're here?"
"No!" I retorted, offended. "Just like you, my friends forced me to come out tonight. I spent that first week after you broke up with me crying and feeling sorry for myself, but now that I've pulled myself out of that, I don't think I should let you off so easily. You have to prove that you want to be with me."
"We're here, aren't we?" He asked.
"That doesn't mean anything," I spat. "What if you hadn't found me here tonight? Would you have gone home with another girl?"
"Never!" He yelled, it was his turned to act offended. "You know I'm not like that! You know I'd never be so disrespectful to a woman."
He had me there, he was always a gentleman while we were together. And he was never once manipulative, jealous or petty. So, why did I find it so hard to forgive him? I sat down on the nearest curb and wrapped my arms around myself.
"Why did you break up with me in the first place then?" I asked.
He sat next to me, "I was stupid, and afraid. I knew that it would only be a matter of time until we started talking about getting married. And, for a brief, ridiculous moment, I thought getting married would be a bad thing. I didn't think I was ready to give up my freedom yet.
"But, now I know I was being an idiot. And it wasn't just because I saw you here with that guy tonight, and it isn't just because you look so incredible I could take you right here on the sidewalk. I love you, Bella...I always have."
He was barely able to get the words out of his mouth before I threw my arms around him and tackled him to the cold concrete. I practically devoured his lips and it didn't take him long to pick me up and take me some place more private.
He began to open the passenger side of his car when I stopped him, "That's going to be a little uncomfortable, don't you think?"
"I...I thought we'd wait till we got back to my place," he stammered.
"Come on, you said you could take me on the sidewalk, right?" I asked, my bare leg hitching itself around his waist so our pelvises were pressed together firmly. "Well, why not take me in the backseat?"
"Are...you sure?"
I captured his lips in another rough kiss and that seemed to be all the answer he needed. He opened his backseat door and lifted me onto the seat. After he closed the door behind him, I tangled my hands in his hair and brought his face back to mine.
"A little impatient, are we?" He asked, his lips pressed to mine.
"Yes," I replied simply.
He chuckled and began lifting the hem of my dress up slowly until he revealed the white, cotton panties underneath.
"I half-expected there to be a thong under here," he laughed. "Wearing the cute, safe panties...it's so you."
He leaned forward to hover over me as he dipped his right hand under the waistband of my underwear. I wrapped my arms around his neck tightly as he began to stroke the very center of me. He knew exactly how to drive me wild—how to touch me, what to whisper in my ear.
As soon as he gave me a breathless "Bella, I love you," I was completely gone.
He removed my panties completely as I reached for his pants and took down the zipper. It wasn't the most romantic setting I could have ever imagined us in, but it was the most exciting by far. Just the thought that anyone could come along and find us here, in the throes of passion, was enough to make my heart beat a little faster.
Edward entered me so slowly, I thought time had literally stopped. But, once we worked ourselves into a nice, steady rhythm, the world began spinning again—almost too fast, in fact.
The sensations hitting me were more incredible than any other time I had been with Edward. Even our first time, almost two-and-a-half years ago. We had known each other for a little over six months and he took me to his parents' summer home at Martha's Vineyard. He made me dinner, gave me my first-ever glass of real, French champagne and made love to me all night.
In the morning, when the sun shone through the window onto our entwined bodies, he looked deep into my eyes and told me he loved me for the first time, as well.
Thinking of that night just now brought a tear to my eye as we both found our release at the same moment. He rolled us over onto our sides and wrapped his arms around me gently.
"No," he began, "I don't think I could have lived without that much longer."
I giggled and swatted him in the chest playfully, "That's all you want from me, huh? It's just all about the sex?"
"No way," he said with a shake of his head, "It's not sex—it's making love to you. If I had to go one more week without touching you, I think I was going to beat down your door and beg you to come back."
"I'm a little sorry I'll miss that," I replied with mock seriousness.
We stayed there a little longer to compose ourselves before jumping into the front and passenger seat and heading to his apartment. As he drove, I felt my cell phone buzz loudly in my purse. I pulled it out to see Alice had sent me a text.
Where the hell are you, it read.
I laughed and replied, I'll tell you tomorrow.
"What's so funny?" Edward asked.
"Nothing," I said. "Just overprotective Alice again."
He smirked, "We've got to get her a hobby. Or, better yet, a boyfriend."
"Jasper's still single, right?"
"Oh no," Edward said. "Let's not go there."
We got back to that familiar building and Edward held my hand as we greeted his doorman and headed up to apartment number 814 – a place I was afraid I'd never see again.
Once we were inside, we wasted no time making up for the past two weeks apart. To be honest, it felt like it had been a lot longer. We even did things we had never tried before—like in the shower and on his kitchen table.
We finally drifted off to sleep around four in the morning.
I woke a few hours later to the sound of him opening his bedroom door. It was now about 9 a.m., and he was completely dressed and looked like he was trying to be stealthy about his escape.
"Where do you think you're going?" I asked.
He turned and smiled sweetly, "Go back to sleep, I'll be back with breakfast in just a bit."
"Don't be long," I said, trying to sound seductive.
"Oh, I won't be," he replied.
He left and I dozed off again. When I woke up the second time, I heard Edward rummaging in the kitchen. I found the shirt he wore last night on the floor and threw it on before walking out to see him making coffee. There was a box of Krispy Kremes on the counter next to a bag from a store I didn't recognize.
I walked up behind him and covered his eyes while kissing the back of his neck. He turned to face me and took my face in his hands.
"Good morning, beautiful," he said before kissing me thoroughly. "Sleep well?"
"Better than I have in a while," I said with a blush. "You kind of wore me out there, Tiger."
"That was the general idea," he smiled.
He continued to kiss me, turning us both so I could sit up on the counter. I wrapped my legs around him and brought him closer to me, I felt him chuckled against my lips as I did so. We stayed like that for a while longer until my stomach gurgled, embarrassingly.
"OK, I see it's feeding time," he laughed as he reached for the box of donuts.
He noticed the bag sitting there next to them and quickly tucked it inside a cabinet.
"What was that?" I asked.
"Nothing," he replied as he handed me a glazed donut. "Just something I picked up for my mom."
Come to think of it, that did look like a jewelry store bag. I wondered if he had found a gift for his mother for Christmas. It was so like him to be the perfect son like that.
We ate our breakfast and drank our coffee while we talked quietly about nothing in particular. Neither of us wanted to bring up the terrible time we spent apart—it had a pretty profound affect on both of us.
After we ate, we spent some more quality time in his shower before settling down on his couch for a Sunday movie marathon, like we used to do. We were halfway through "High Fidelity" when he started to get antsy. He squirmed in his seat, and at first I thought I should just ignore it; but when he sighed in a disgruntled tone, I finally had to ask him what his problem was.
He stood up suddenly and moved towards the kitchen, "I just can't wait any longer, this is killing me."
"What?" I asked as I got up to follow him.
He turned to me, grabbed both of my arms and stopped me near the table. "Here, sit down," he said as he steered me to a chair.
He reached into a cabinet and pulled out the jewelry bag again. My heart started racing when I realized what was in that bag was for me, not for his mother. He removed a red box and turned to me with a shy smile.
He knelt in front of me while he opened the box, revealing the simple, solitaire diamond ring and I couldn't stop the gasp from escaping my lips.
"Isabella Marie Swan," he began, "I'm never letting you slip away from me again. Will you please do me the pleasure, the honor, of making me the happiest man in the world and being my wife?"
I slipped out of my chair and sat near him on the floor while he put the ring on my finger.
"Yes," I said breathlessly.