JPOV
The guys and I made it to Port Angeles in no time, and were currently waiting on the outskirts of town for the girls to arrive in the vehicles with our clothes. I saw the headlights coming in the distance before I heard the distinct roar of Sam's ute, Emily pulled off the main road and took a satchel from the passenger's seat, running to the outskirts of the city's limit and placing it behind one of the trees that outlined the forest.
I felt each of the guy's phase back into their human forms before racing over to grab their selected clothes and quickly chucking them on before heading to the awaiting vehicles and jumping in. We were soon looking for a parking spot at a bar called Ramones. Paul and Jarred had come here once, a long time ago, and suggested we start our night of here, before making our way over to karaoke bar.
As I made my way into the bar, I found it hard not to notice the apparent 'party bomb' that seemed to have gone off, and the cleaners working quickly to clean some of the mess up before it became too much of a hazard. Walking up to the bartender with Embry at my side I ask for a rum and coke on the rocks before asking what had gone on previously.
"dude, craziest thing ever. We had a bachelorette party come through. I think they were bar hopping tonight, but one of the bridesmaids ordered a stripper for tonight.. and well" he gestured towards the area that was starting to look somewhat tidier "that is the end result."
"huh!" was my intelligent reply as I took a sip of my drink turning to look at Embry, who had just placed his own order and was now awaiting on his drink.
Once the bartender had returned and placed Embry's drink on the counter he continued with his story.
"you should have seen it man, the Maid of honour was definitely up for a good time. They brought the stripper out and she just joined in on the fun.. I would be lying if I said I didn't want to bend her over backwards and just have my way with her"
Embry and I just shared a look with each other, I mean we did appreciate a good show, but we weren't the type of guys to verbalise it with complete strangers. The bartender seemed to have finished his story and was now just standing, staring at us, I can only assume it was to gather some sort of reaction from us. I assume Embry noticed this too and simultaneously we both grunted and nodded our heads in appreciation. Clearly happy with our response the bartender moved on to another customer, leaving Embry and myself to re-join our group.
"Dude, check this place out. From the looks of it, there will be a few sorry heads tomorrow" Seth stated in bewilderment.
"haha yeah not just a few bud, there looks like there will be a group of young ladies who will be regretting tonight's decisions tomorrow" Embry corrected as we sat down at one of the tall tables located at the back of the bar.
"yeah, apparently there is a hen's night party in town tonight" I added
"and how exactly do you know this" Sam asked raising an eyebrow pointedly at me.
"bartender" I simply said, taking a sip of my drink.
"yeah, the dude told us everything.." Embry said moving in closer to the guys, not really needing to knowing that we could all hear him pretty clearly even if we were still situated over at the bar and paying attention "..apparently they hired a stripper for the bride and had themselves a nice little show. One of the bridesmaids even got in the act, giving everyone a nearly x-rated viewing annnnnnnnnnnd.." he continued dragging out the word ".. according to the bartender, the bridesmaid was pretty damn irresistible" he finished raising a suggestive eyebrow at Quil.
"WE. HAVE. TO. FIND. THEM." Quil said dramatically, making his intentions clear and the rest of us to laugh.
We ended up staying at the bar for a little over an hour before we decided to move on. We had all drank more than a normal person would have in that amount of time and weren't showing any of the tell tale signs that the alcohol was affecting us.
"Okay, I think it's time to move on" Sam announced with authority.
"Alright.." Quil declared "…Hen's night here we come" he finished high fiving Embry. These two were definitely up for finding some random chick to take home with them tonight. Me. I only had one girl on my mind.. and those kind of thoughts would have to wait until later when I was safely home alone.
We arrived at Vibes in no time entering the building and having to fight our way through the crowd to find a table. There was a lady up on the stage busting out her version of Cyndi Lauper's 'Girl's just Wanna Have fun' when I noticed a bunch of, definitely, drunk ladies. Dancing, singing and well just partying it up. It looked as if they had been allocated the tables up near the stage. And I think it was fair to say that these were definitely the ladies that Quil and Embry were looking out for.
"Hey Quil, I think they.." I said pointing in the groups direction "..would be the girls from the othe.." I trailed off mid word as I caught glimpse of one of the ladies.
"ALRIGHT" he said getting my drift, walking off to grab Embry to prowl.
I on the other hand was staring at the group of girls, well one in particular. To anybody else from behind she would look just like another drop dead gorgeous girl, but I would know that body anywhere. GOD, I had been dreaming about that body in various positions for the past year. Before I knew it she was gone.
"Bro, you feeling alright?" Paul asked walking past me and slapping me on the back, forcing me to tare my eyes away from searching for her.
"Yeah" I said a bit dejectedly, figuring I was just seeing things "thought I saw an old friend.. guess, my mistake" I offered as way of an explanation, clearly not convincingly enough.
"If you say so.." he said clearly not buying it ".. you guys want a drink?" he asked looking at everyone for confirmation. I nodded and took a seat. My mind drifting back to Bella, all I could think about was her. What would I do if I saw her again. I mean I knew she was back in Forks for a while. What would I say, would she even want to talk to me. Would I be happy or angry to see her again, should I be happy or angry to see her again, would she be happy or angry to see me again. Since that night I never let myself get that close to a girl. Yep much to Paul's dismay I was still a virgin, He couldn't figure it out, he thought that if anybody out of this group would have the girls lining up, it would be me, well after him that is. I looked around the table at my pack brothers and friends. All so humble, relaxed.. normal.
Huh... normal. That is not something we normally don't associate with ourselves. It feels kind of.. nice. I began to feel that tightening in my chest that was a tell tale sign that I didn't want to be normal. If I was normal I would never have imprinted.
I looked down the table to where Sam and Emily sat. I had dreamt every single night for the past year of holding my imprint like Sam got to hold his, of looking into hers like Sam did Emily's, making love to my imprint for the first time.. making love for the first time EVER. I looked up to Sam and Emily's relationship. I wanted their relationship with my imprint.
Emily was situated on Sam's lap. Her arm wrapped lazily round his neck, obviously enjoying this rare outing for us. Sam on the other hand was always being the Alpha. I swear he didn't know how to relax. His arm held onto Emily like she was a pot of gold. Our first instinct as wolves – protect your imprint. While you could see the evident strain on Sam's face as he tried to relax and enjoy his night, his eyes always told a different story. Always scanning the crowd, calculating, anticipating everyone's next moved. It was his job to maintain order, expect danger and eliminate when necessary. I thought if anyone would pick up on the fact that I had imprinted. It would be Sam.
But as my world would have it, no one knew. Not one of my pack brothers was privy to the fact that for the last year and a bit, I had been suffering in silence. Always in constant pain. The bond with my imprint stretched way to thin. I could only imagine what it felt like to her. I found it hard to sleep and eat. I would managed maybe a couple of hours a sleep a week and only ate when my brothers where around to keep up the appearance that everything was fine. When they started picking up it, I would easily pass the blame on patrolling or helping Billy.
A voice from the stage bought me back to reality. It was her. I hadn't been dreaming. And she was up on stage. What was she doing up on stage. Was she going to sing? I haven't heard her sing before. I sat back as she started to strum the guitar in her hands. She looked so calm, but I bet under the surface she was a bucket of nerves. And then I heard it as she began to sing, that angelic voice that was constantly on replay in my mind.
I could honestly say
You've been on my mind
Since I woke up today (up today)
I look at your photograph
all the time
These memories come back to life
And I don't mind
I listened intently to every word she sang. I recalled the MC announcing that Bella was going to sing a song she had composed. I was interested to see what she had written and was hoping that this was a slight peep hole into the last year of her life.
I remember when we kissed
I still feel it on my lips
The time that you danced with me
With no music playing
i remember those simple things
I remember till I cry
But the one thing I wish I'd forget
A memory I wanna forget
Is goodbye
Oh god, did she just sing in what I thought she did.
I woke up this morning
And played our song
And I know my tears sing along
I picked up the phone and then put it down
Cuz I know I'm wasting my time
And I don't mind
I remember when we kissed
I still feel it on my lips
The time that you danced with me
With no music playing
I remember those simple things
I remember till I cry
But the one thing I wish I'd forget
A memory I wanna forget
I watched as I saw tears slid down her face. It was in that moment that I got my confirmation. This was our last summer together, she was singing about our last summer together. With that bit of information I unknowingly lent in further to the table, subconsciously trying to get closer to her to hear the next chorus.
Suddenly my cell phone's glowing up
With your ring tone
I hesitate but answer it anyway
You sound so alone
It does it right to hear you say
Remember when we kissed
You still feel it on our lips
The time that you danced with me
With the no music playing
You remember those simple things
We talked till we cried
You said that your biggest regret
The one thing you wish I'd forget
Is saying goodbye
Saying goodbye
Ohhhh
Goodbye
I couldn't help as my jaw hit the table. I mean I could be completely reading that wrong, but that sounded to me like, she was regretting how we left things. I can finally see a light at the end of the table, I still have a chance.
I was then almost up and out of my seat as the two goons, Quil and Embry practically rip her in half as they knock her off her stool. I watch in amazement as they help her stand up and begin to sing their own song. I watch her look down at the crowd, not quite sure of what she should be doing. I'm not certain who she is looking at but whoever it was must have done something right. She picked up a fresh drink and began joining in with the guys on the stage. Jumping up and down and playing along with them singing.
As the song finished I watched the guys pull Bella off the stage and over to the bar. I was not all that impressed that they were encouraging her to drink more, but it made me happy to see that she welcomed them back into her life so easy.
"so who's hens night are you attending and are any of them single?" i heard Quil ask.
" the hens night is for best friend Angela Webber, you guys remember her, when i wasn't in La Push i was always with her, I'm actually the maid of honor, and yes there a few single ones in there. Want me to get their numbers for you?" She answered. That's my girl always looking out for us.
"oh man, that would be awesome. Your the best Bella" he exclaimed making them both laugh.
I was bought out of my ears dropping when a chip hit me in the face. Not one to let food go to waste, i picked it up and put it in my mouth, glaring at the culprit who threw it at me. Paul. I rejoined my attention back to the conversation up at the bar.
"Hey you guys didn't happen to go to a bar named Ramones's did you? Quil asked
"ahh yeah, we were there earlier, why's that?" was all Bella could say.
"where you there when they had the stripper. The bar tender at the bar said that two of the girls were getting pretty handsy with him?.." Quil asked with a tone "..wondering if you could point those two fine ladies out for me?" he finished.
I laughed to myself. Trust Quil to try and get into a bunch of drunk impressionable women.
"Come on which one's were it?" he pushed
I watched as she looked out to the crowd dancing up the front and found who she was looking for, raising a hand in her direction, making both of the guys look.
"that's Angela, the BRIDE" she said emphasizing the word, i couldn't help the smile that spread across my face upon noticing Quil's face drop "and the other.." she said trailing off.
"OH MY GOD IT WAS YOU, WASN'T IT" they exclaimed
"Jealous that it wasn't you i was grinding up on?" she said as she began to make her way back over to the girls. What in god's name did she just say! I was still mulling over that one when i heard
"What the fuck..". i was up and out of my chair ready to rip whoever made her say that in half
"we only just got you back, think we are going to let you go that easily? Hell come sit with us for a bit, and we will introduce you to our friends" Quil said making me relax a little bit.
Within a second she was standing at our table. The guys on either side of her.
"Hey Guys, this is Bella Swan. Chief Swan's daughter, Head's bridesmaid at that.." Embry said pointing in the direction of a pretty much legless women "lady's wedding, and apparently, she is also one of the fine ladies that Joe the bar tender was telling us about back in the bar" he finished looking at Bella, who just slapped his arm in apparent embarrassment.
"Bella, this is Sam & Emily" Embry continued, gesturing to the man and woman who's relationship I idolized and hoped one day to have with her. They both raised their hands in greeting "… that's Paul, Brady, Colin, Jared, his girl Kim.." he said continuing around the table ".. Seth and his sister Leah, Lisa and Karina who are friends of Emily's.." he continued ".. and then of course.. you remember.." he trailed off pointing to me.
I held my breath. Waiting for her reaction. I hoped.. no dreamt that she would run and jump into my arms, kissing me until neither of us could breath anymore. Just as i was about to give up hope I heard a faint whisper.
"Jake!"
Something i had imagined her screaming out over and over again in a completely different situation. But in that moment she sounded a mixture of shock and scared.
"Hey" I replied easily.
A/N: Sorry for back tracking, but i wanted to Jacon's POV in before i continued on. Anyway again, i'm begging. Reviews please! I love them, they help make me want to continue on with the story. So until next week. Enjoy and i promise there will be some lemony goodness!