Author's Note: I'm sorry! I know I have been absolutely terrible at updating recently but without further ado here is the much awaited chapter 18!
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of its characters. I just like to have a little fun with them =)
Alice and Rose could tell I was in a funk still, by the time I arrived home after work. Jacob had been on my mind all afternoon, granted they weren't good thoughts but it still pissed me off. He was not a person I ever wanted to waste any time thinking about, ever.
"Okay Swan you're in a foul mood tonight what happened today?" Rose asked as I joined them in the kitchen to have a beer while we waiting for Emmett to pick us up.
"Jacob fucking Black sent me a friend request on Facebook" I growled.
Alice raised an eyebrow at me, "Did he message you or something too?" she asked.
"No" I replied with a huff.
"Bells don't let it get you worked up" she told me, "It's just a friend request, it's harmless" she said trying to soothe me.
"Like bloody hell" Rose piped up, "It'll start with an innocent friend request but I guarantee you he'll take it a step too far. If I remember correctly he's done this before."
"Okay yes you're right but I don't think you should let it bother you Bells" Alice told me, "You ignored him yeah?"
"Of course" I replied in an isn't that obvious tone.
"Well then message sent" Alice said.
I thought about it for a moment, "I am so immature" I groaned feeling like an idiot.
Rose and Alice both laughed, "Such a drama queen" Rose said fanning herself before handing me another beer as I joined in their laughter.
The next day us girls headed out on our epic shopping expedition, our mission was to complete our Christmas gift shopping. Alice and Rose were heading back to Forks to spend Christmas with their families with Alice dragging Jasper along to meet the parents. Emmett and Edward were spending Christmas in Seattle and I was headed for Florida since I had spent Thanksgiving in Forks with Charlie and Sue.
We spent hours at the mall and left successful, we headed home to get ready for our night out and to have a glass of wine to celebrate our completed mission. It was freezing cold again today with the chance of snow overnight, so I dressed in tight black jeans and a midnight blue top with boots.
Alice and Rose had followed suit wearing jeans, dressy tops and heels. We caught a taxi to the restaurant we were meeting the guys and Angela and Ben at.
We headed inside to find the rest of our group already at the table. "Sorry we're late, I blame Alice" Rose said sitting down next to Emmett and giving him a peck on the cheek.
"Hey!" exclaimed Alice who had squeezed into the both next to Jasper, "How is our being late my fault exactly?" she demanded.
"Five outfit changes" I offered taking the only available spot, which happened to be next to Edward. He grinned at me and I smiled back.
"Fair point" she conceded smiling at me, "But you know fashion is an art, it takes time to get it just right and look this good."
We all laughed and when the server arrived we placed our drink orders while making small talk. I glanced around our table and noticed that to an outsider it probably looked like four couples out on a group date. Ha group date I thought to myself, because the last one was such a success. Somehow though I figured with Tanya and even Riley out of the equation it could be fun.
Whoa slow down Bella, thinking you're Edward's date is totally getting ahead of yourself. Figuring I probably looked like a bit of an idiot, sitting in silence with my face scrunched up in thought, I decided to stop talking to myself in my head and actually make conversation with Edward.
"So did I provide a safe haven for long enough the other night for you to be able to return home and not be scarred for life?" I asked Edward.
He smiled his gorgeous crooked smile at me, "You did actually and thank you once again for that" he told me. "I am eternally grateful to you; there was utter silence when I got home."
I giggled, "They would have worn each other out, I wish I didn't know that for a fact but it's true" I said.
Edward shuddered, "Uh too much information there Bells" he said.
I grinned at him stupidly, it was the first time he had called me Bells. It made me feel all warm inside which was pathetic considering everybody that knew me well had called me that since I was about five years old.
"Tell that to them" I said gesturing towards Rose and Emmett who were gazing at each other the way they always did before they sucked face.
"Hey you two not at the dinner table" Edward said raising his voice slightly.
Rose winked at us and Emmett flipped Edward the bird before whispering something to Rose making her giggle.
I rolled my eyes at Edward who smirked back at me. "I think we should just ignore them" I told him, "Giving them attention just encourages them."
He barked out a laugh, "Well Emmett is somewhat of an attention seeker."
After dinner we headed to a quiet bar for a few drinks and to play some pool. Emmett and Rose played the first game against Alice and Jasper while Angela and Ben went and said hi to a group of friends Ben knew through work.
I sat with Edward observing the game and sipping on a margarita while he nursed a beer. Emmett of course was treating this game of pool the same way he did with any other team sport, competitively. It was incredibly entertaining watching him antagonise Alice who had also become incredibly competitive and loud after the countless margaritas she had consumed.
They razzed each other and shot some friendly insults back and forth a while as we watched on before Edward spoke. "So" he began draping his arm around the back of my chair, "I haven't forgotten about our conversation the other night" he said a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.
I knew immediately what he was talking about, I smirked back at him. "Is that so?" I flirted back.
"Mmmmmm" Edward murmured, "I'm curious as to what you were about to tell me before we were interrupted by that damn delivery boy."
I almost choked on my drink, either he could read my mind, which was not at all logical or he felt the same way about me as I felt about him. Maybe he did realise after all? Until the other night I wouldn't have thought of that as a possibility either. Damn delivery boy indeed.
"If I remember correctly" he continued, "We were discussing this newly single guy you have a thing for and something about making a move."
I felt my cheeks flush; I took a huge sip of my drink and looked up at him from under my lashes, "Mmmm I still haven't decided when I'm going to make my move, maybe I'll take him by surprise."
He looked at me with smouldering eyes, "Or just maybe he'll make a move first."