Author's Note: I've decided since I haven't been able to update as frequently as I would like to be doing, that I will make each chapter longer to make up for it =)
Now on to the good stuff, who's ready for a good old fashioned show down or two? Tempers flare….. Read below and don't forget to review!
Disclaimer: I do not and never will own Twilight. No copyright infringement intended.
I spent the whole weekend catching up on the work I was supposed to be doing on Friday, but had been too hung over to even look at. Sunday night had consisted of another date with Riley; luckily it was dinner and a movie. I think he'd got the message about my terrible co-ordination after the almost disastrous bowling incident.
It was now Wednesday and I was contemplating faking an after work meeting to get out of the plans we all had tonight. Group date night - ugh even the name sounded dreadful - was Alice's idea. For reasons unknown she thought it would be fun for all of us couples to go on a group date. Now when I say everyone I mean everyone, Alice and Jasper, Rose and Emmett, Riley and I and of course Edward and Tanya.
Rose was also on board and thought it was a great idea. Personally I think it was just so she could bait Tanya into behaving badly so she'd have an excuse to finally slap her. I seemed to be the only one who could see that tonight was going to end in disaster.
I sat staring at my computer screen willing it to crash so I'd have to stay behind and call the IT department to help me 'save' all of my files, damn then I wouldn't be able to go tonight! For once I even began to hope that Mike come in and hold me up for long enough that I'd be late and they'd leave without me. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I couldn't even believe I was hoping for that, how sad.
My phone began to ring interrupting my thoughts; I grabbed it off my desk and checked the screen. Alice, of course it was. Damn psychic pixie.
"Hey Al" I greeted her.
"Isabella Marie Swan I know what you're thinking and it won't work. Get your ass home now so we can get ready for group date night" she ordered.
I huffed, "How do you always know?" I asked a little frustrated.
"I just do" she replied as if that was a good enough answer. "Tonight will be fun, you'll see."
"Sure sure Alice, I'm on my way" I sighed.
"Great! See you soon" Alice chirped ending the call.
I sighed and gathered my coat and purse, before switching of my computer and heading down the elevator to the parking building. I drove home slowly knowing it would irritate Alice, I really wanted to get the message across that I did not like the idea of socialising with that blonde bimbo by my own free will.
When I got home I headed straight for the shower and tried to unwind with my favourite strawberry shampoo. The hot water and familiar smell usually always put me in a better mood, but not this evening. I padded down the hall to my room and stood staring into my closet trying to make the perfect outfit magically appear.
Alice poked her head around the door, "Hey Bells, listen I know you really don't want to come tonight so I'm sure no one would mind if you didn't" she said sitting down on my bed looking apologetic. "I'm sorry for being pushy."
"Don't be Allie, I just need to suck it up" I replied turning to face her. "I'm sure you're right, it'll be fun" I said with a grimace.
Alice laughed, "It will be and besides why are you so dead against tonight?" she asked curiously.
Why indeed I thought, I wasn't even sure. "I don't know" I sighed.
Alice raised an eyebrow at me, I could tell she had her own ideas but I didn't want to talk about them right now.
"What the hell should I wear anyway?" I asked her gesturing at my closet.
Her blue eyes sparkled, despite the fact that I now had great fashion sense due to her tutoring over the years; she still loved playing Bella Barbie.
"Well jeans and a cute top will suffice" she said rifling through my closet looking for something. "Here put these on" she said throwing a pair of skinny jeans at me "And this top" she continued, the top was an emerald/jade kind of colour with cinching under the bust.
"Wear our leather jacket over the top and your black high heeled boots" she said, "Get dressed quick and I'll do your hair and make-up" she offered.
Half an hour later I was ready, thanks to Alice and waiting in the living room for Riley and the other guys to get here. Rose and I poured ourselves and Jack Daniels and ginger ale and found a random sitcom to watch.
"Man I hope she gives me reason to kick her skanky ass" Rose said hopefully.
"Oh I'm sure she will Rose" I told her, "I have a feeling she is going to be a giant pain in the ass tonight."
Rosalie laughed, "Yeah you're right, hopefully Edward will forgive me for whatever happens."
"Emmett will make him" I replied smirking.
Our conversation was interrupted by a loud knock at the door that we left Alice to answer. A few minutes later Alice walked into the room hand in hand with Jasper, they were followed by Emmett, Edward and Tanya.
Tanya glared at us before putting her arm around Edward in a possessive manner, Rose muttered bitch under her breath before winking at me subtly.
"Hey Rosie, hey Bells" Emmett said greeting us, before dropping into the empty space on the sofa beside Rose and giving her a kiss.
"Hey Em" I replied sipping my drink and wishing I had made it stronger, I could already feel the hostility in the room. Seriously, you could cut the tension with a knife. I grabbed the bottle of Jack off the table and topped my glass right up, it was practically straight alcohol now, but somehow I sensed I'd need it. Rose nodded at me to indicate I top her up to which I did.
"Where's Riley?" Jasper asked making himself comfortable and pulling Alice into his lap.
"He's on his way, got held up at work" I replied.
Tanya huffed haughtily.
Rose's back was up immediately, I could tell by the way she was gritting her teeth.
We waited for Riley, chatting causally about how our days had been and laughing at Emmett's bad jokes. Tanya huffed and sighed several times, refusing to join the conversation. Finally Rose couldn't hold back any longer.
"Oh I am so sorry" Rose said turning toward Tanya, her eyes narrowed and deadly looking, "Are we keeping you from something more important this evening?"
The room went so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. "Excuse me?" Tanya replied, glaring right back at Rose. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"You're excused" Rose replied with attitude, "What I mean is I can hear your huffing and puffing from over here and quite frankly I find it rude."
Tanya pursed her lips and raised her eye brows, "Rude? I think it's rude that her boyfriend" she spat pointing one of her talon like fingers at me complete with hot pink nail polish "Thinks it's okay to show up as late as he damn well likes."
"Stop right there" Rose warned, "Her name is Bella, show some respect and call her by her name and point that finger Bella's way one more time and I'll snap it right off."
"You wouldn't dare" Tanya replied.
"Trust me I would, try it again at your own peril" Rose threatened.
"Eddie are you going to let her talk to me like that?" Tanya whined.
"Don't start this shit Tanya" Edward moaned frustrated.
"I will talk to you however I damn want" Rose spat interrupting them, "Watch yourself blondie, I have had it with your bad attitude."
Riley chose that moment to arrive; I was so absorbed by the argument going on around me that I didn't even hear Alice answer the door.
"You're the one with the bad attitude" Tanya muttered under her breath.
"What did I miss?" Riley asked putting his arm around me and giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"Rose finally putting Tanya in her place" I replied quietly, "This is only the beginning of the entertainment tonight will have on offer."
Riley laughed "I'm sure" he whispered back. I glanced up to see a very annoyed looking Edward watching our exchange with his hands balled into fists. Hmmm maybe he was really annoyed by Rose's comments?
"Let's get this show on the road" Alice announced in a perky voice trying to break the tension.
It was decided that we would take two cars, for Tanya's safety we decided that Rose and Emmett would ride with Riley and I and Edward would drive Tanya, Alice and Jasper. This was a very good idea if we wanted us all to make it to the restaurant in one piece.
As soon as we piled into the car Rose piped up, "Who the hell does that bitch think she is?" she asked me. "I cannot for the life of me understand what Edward sees in her; she is an absolute mega bitch."
"I don't either" I replied, the Jack Daniels was coursing through my veins making me incredibly opinionated and outspoken. "He could do so much better than her. And anyway what the hell is her problem with me?" I asked angrily.
"She's jealous of you that's why" Emmett said suddenly.
I laughed loudly, "Why does everybody keep saying that?" I asked.
"Because E…. Owww Rose what the hell" Emmett yelled as Rose smacked him on the leg.
I frowned, Emmett was clearly about to blurt something important out, why'd Rose stop him? Riley looked tense, his jaw was clenched and his arms folded across his body. Soon enough we pulled up outside the restaurant and piled out of the car, Rose was now rearing to go for round two with Tanya. We were shown to our table and placed our orders; Tanya made a big show about ordering some pathetic little salad for herself, saying she had to watch her figure.
I rolled me eyes at Rose who sniggered in response.
Dinner passed without drama, surprisingly. Emmett and I distracted Rose enough for her to not snap at Tanya for being over dramatic over her dinner and telling the most inappropriate stories to ever grace the dinner table.
Emmett announced the second he'd finished his meal that he wanted to play some of the arcade style game machines they had in the back room of the restaurant, agreeing this could be fun we joined him. Tanya of course refused to play because it was lame, she didn't want to break a finger nail and it was boring.
Rose had been holding her tongue all night and apparently Edward had been too. He finally had had enough of Tanya and beat Rose to the punch by having a go at Tanya himself.
"For fucks sake Tanya" he spat suddenly, turning away from the game he was playing with Jasper to face her. She had just whined for the millionth time that she was bored.
"I have had enough of your shit, stop whining like a fucking spoilt child" he ranted.
"Eddie" she whined in reply with wide eyes, clearly she was just as surprised at his outburst as the rest of us were.
He glared at her, "Honestly Tanya just leave, please" he replied holding the bridge of his nos. "We'll talk tomorrow; I can't deal with you anymore."
She huffed angrily and stormed out but not before shouting a string of obscenities at Edward.
"Good fucking riddance" Emmett said loudly before turning back to his game. "C'mon Ed forget about her" he added slapping Edward on the back.
The rest of the night was great, without Tanya there the atmosphere was far more relaxed. However Edward still seem on edge, he seemed pissed off still, I put it down to the fact that Tanya was stressing him out.
We all had a few drinks except for Edward and Emmett who were driving; Riley had gotten quite drunk and was becoming incredibly pushy.
"Bella" he said in what he must have thought was a seductive tone, "You should come home with me tonight" he whispered, "We've been going out for a while now and you have no idea how much I want you."
I cringed instantly when he uttered those words, yes we had in fact been going out for a while now but for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to take that next step with him. We hadn't slept together yet and we both knew it was because of me. Riley had understood, up until now at least. He thought I just wanted to take it slow and I was more than happy to let him think that. It was far better than the actual truth; while I thought he was very good looking I just wasn't attracted to him in that way. I tried to be, but it just wasn't working.
"Ummm" I replied, "Maybe not tonight." I tried to look apologetic, which made him look sadder than before.
"Okay sure" he sighed.
We left not long after that, Riley gave me a brief kiss on the cheek before he left. "I'll come by and pick up my car sometime tomorrow" he told me.
"Sure" I replied as he got out of the car and walked towards his front door.
"Bells what happened?" Rose asked. "Riley looked, well disappointed and frustrated."
"Uh" I replied running my hand through my hair, "I really don't want to talk about it just yet" I told her.
She nodded, understanding. "We'll talk tomorrow."