Author's note: Thanks for reviewing! Hope you enjoy the new chapter =)
Disclaimer: I'm not Stephenie Meyer, nor do I own Twilight
Chapter Songs: Hot N Cold – Katy Perry, Heavy in Your Arms – Florence and the Machine
The rest of the weekend in Vancouver passed in a blur, quite possibly due to the fact that we ended up barely leaving the hotel suite.
I was on cloud nine when we headed for home late Sunday afternoon, the weekend had been perfect. Edward had declared his true feelings for me, something I had been hoping to hear for a long time.
Know I realised what being in love truly felt like and felt more content than I had in my life.
"They'll all be waiting for us you know" I told Edward. "Just you wait little Miss Queen of Details will pounce as soon as we walk through the door."
"Hmmm, maybe I'll have to smuggle you in and keep you prisoner in my room then" he smirked at me. "I don't really want to have to share you."
My breath hitched "Okay" I breathed.
He chuckled, "Come on love let's face them now so they leave us alone later."
"Ha! I'm not sure it'll work out that way knowing Alice."
As I expected they pounced on us as soon as we walked into the house.
"Oh you're back!" squealed Alice, "Did you have fun?" she asked.
"Yeah Ed, Bellsy, did you have fun?" Emmett asked wiggling his eyebrows.
Edward groaned, "Girl time" demanded Rose grabbing my hand, "You boys can go get us all dinner and we'll help Bells unpack" she told Emmett.
"Sure Rosie" replied Emmett turning to look at Edward, "Come on Ed man" he said whacking Edward on the back.
"We want to know everything!" Alice told me excitedly as soon as Rose had shut my bedroom door.
"Of course you do" I replied smiling. I told them most of what had happened, leaving out a few of the more intimate details.
"Oh Bells that is so romantic" sighed Alice. "I knew you two would fall in love, you are too perfect together not to."
"Definitely romantic, maybe Edward should give Emmett a few pointers" Rose added.
Laughing we made our way back downstairs.
A week later it was a Friday afternoon and I was sitting at home alone. Edward had a major assignment to finish as did Alice, and Jasper and Rose didn't finish class till later on.
Sighing I pulled out a thick text book from my bag that I knew I should probably start reading and making notes on for class.
Just as I had begun to read the first page I heard the front door open, "Hey Bellsy you home?" Emmett called.
"Yeah Em through here" I called back.
"Hey hey B!" he greeted me with a grin.
"Hi Em, I thought you were working this afternoon?"
"Yeah my client that had a training session booked in cancelled so I thought I'd take the afternoon off and come and hang out with my favourite little sis!" he replied.
"I wasn't interrupting anything was I?" he asked.
"Nope, in fact you saved me from an afternoon of studying" I replied with a smile snapping my book shut.
"Awesome" he grinned back at me.
"So, what do you want to do?" I asked him.
"Well we all have that party to go to tonight right?" he questioned.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." Tonight we had been invited to Riley's 2011 New Year party; apparently he had one at the start of every year. If the last party Riley was involved in was anything to go by tonight would be drama filled.
"Let's get a head start on the others" he beamed pulling two bottles of vodka from a bag behind his back.
We both headed into the kitchen with the vodka, "What mixers have you got?" Emmett asked eagerly.
I opened the fridge and began to pull out options, "Heaps of different flavours of juice, lemonade, there are some liqueurs in that cupboard" I answered pointing.
"Sa-weet! Let's experiment!" Emmett replied pulling out different bottles and setting them on the bench with the juice and lemonade.
After mixing our concoctions we headed to the living room and turned on the stereo.
"Alright here goes vodka, lemonade, tropical juice and tequila!" announced Emmet clinking his glass to mine.
We both took a sip, "Em this is really good!" I told him taking a bigger sip of my drink.
An hour later we had had five of the concoctions each, "I think we should name this drink!" he announced excitedly.
"Yes!" I cried, "We shall call it the Tropical Emmett."
He laughed loudly "I like it! The Tropical Emmett!" he shouted. "We need to make a drink to name after you!" he announced.
"Okay" I answered eagerly following him to the kitchen.
"Okay hmmm vodka, strawberry liqueur, cranberry juice, Berry Bella!"
I laughed "I love it!" grabbing the glass he had poured for me. "Emmett its sooo good!"
"YUM!" he answered smacking his lips together.
Laughing we stumbled into the living room.
"Bella?" Emmett asked in a serious tone.
"Yeah?" I replied.
"You know I haven't seen you wear your t-shirt yet, you know the one I got you for your birthday."
Oooops, "Oh! I was saving it for a special occasion" I told him, apparently I was better at lying when I was drunk because Emmett bought it.
"OH!" he said loudly, "That's a great idea!" he added enthusiastically.
"Like now!" I told him, "I'll go get it" I said excitedly jumping up and stumbling towards the stairs.
"Don't fall down them!" Emmett yelled after me, "Edward will never trust me to be alone around you again if we have to make a trip to the hospital" he laughed.
"Promise" I replied laughing.
I somehow made it upstairs with only minor difficulty; I rummaged around in my drawer until I found the t-shirt and quickly changed. Making my way back downstairs was a hell of a lot more difficult but I managed to make it down in one piece.
"Look!" I cried excitedly.
Emmett beamed at me "It looks awesome" he said giving me the thumbs up. "This is fun!" he told me turning up the stereo.
"Very" I agreed dancing a little on the spot.
"Bella it's our song!" Emmett yelled when Katy Perry's Hot N Cold came on.
"Oh! We have to dance!" I cried excitedly.
"You change your mind like a girl changes clothes, yeah you PMS like a bitch I would know!" we sang together.
"And you always think, always speak cryptically, I should know that you're no good for me!"
Being as drunk as we both were we came up with our own little dance for the chorus.
'Cause you're hot then you're cold
We sang licking our finger and touching our shoulders then Emmett would shake like he was cold.
You're yes then you're no
Thumbs up, thumbs down
You're in and you're out
Emmett pulled me towards him then I pushed him away.
You're up and you're down
He jumped I went down to the floor
You're wrong when it's right
Emmett shook his finger at me laughing
It's black and it's white
We fight we break up
Pretend slapping
We kiss we make up
Air kiss
We both collapsed on the sofa in fits of laughter. "We have to request that hic song at tthe partay tonight" Emmett slurred. "Then we can ssshow everyone our dance!"
"Yes!" I yelled enthusiastically.
"Holy sshit Bella Edward isss going to be ssssooooo pissed when he sssees I got youd drunk!"
I laughed "Why?" I demanded.
Emmett froze looking confused "I'm not ssssure" he slurred.
We both cracked up laughing again, "More like you'll be in trouble with Rose!" I told him poking him the chest.
For a second he looked terrified, "Nah when we let her try those drinksss we made ssshe'll be ssso impressed."
I nodded enthusiastically, "We have to make them all drink them. They are soooo good!"
"Do you know what would be fun?" Emmett asked.
"What?" I asked curiously.
"Karaoke!" he shouted.
"Yes!" I yelled scrambling to my feet only to fall over straight away. "Oooops!" I laughed.
Emmett started to laugh with me, "Clumsy Bellsy!"
Just then we heard car doors slam and someone opening the door.
"Ssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Emmett whispered loudly. "Who's there?" he asked in a high pitched voice.
I burst out laughing again and Emmett joined in. "Your voice went so high!" I giggled.
Alice and Jasper walked into the living room.
"Why hello little Alice" shrieked Emmett, "Helllloooooo Jazzper!"
I began to laugh hysterically again.
"Hi guys" said Alice her eyes wide.
"Holy shit you two are drunk!" exclaimed Jasper.
"Touche!" answered Emmett.
We both burst into fits of laughter, just as Edward and Rose walking into the living room.
"Rosie!" cried Emmett struggling to his feet but failing.
"Now who's clumsy?" I mocked.
"It's contagious!" he laughed, "Watch out everyone Bella's catching!"
"What the...?" asked Rose looking confused then she laughed "Are you both drunk?"
"Very" I slurred struggling to my feet with Emmett's help. "We made these really yummy drinks."
"Oh yes!" Emmett nodded enthusiastically, "The Tropical Emmett and the Berry Bella, sooo good!" he smacked his lips together.
I nodded in agreement just as I spotted Edward watching us amused.
"Edward!" I cried excitedly.
"Hello love" he chuckled walking towards me and pulling me into his arms.
"I've been hanging out with Emmett and look" I announced pointing at my t-shirt.
"Very nice" he chuckled.
"Don't be jealous Ed, you'll all be getting one for Christmas" Emmett teased. "Aw shit I ruined the surprise" his face falling as he suddenly realised.
"We'll all act surprised" offered Rose, that seemed to cheer him up.
"Em and I wanted to make you one of our drinks" I told Edward looking up at him.
"Okay love" he answered helping me to the kitchen following the others.
"Bellsy, Rosie said we can make them all a drink but that we can't have anymore for a while" he told me pouting.
"Aw why?" I asked pouting too.
"She said we are too drunk, HA!"
"We are pretty drunk" I told him frowning.
He thought about that for a second, "Hahahahaha we are!" he agreed.
After the others had tried our drinks all assuring us they loved them Alice suggested we all go and get ready for the party before we drank anymore.
We all agreed except that it was too late in Emmett and my case. Alice and Rose picked out a pair of jeans, a black sleeveless top with embellishments and bright yellow heels for me to wear.
"Aw Allie why can't I just wear this t-shirt?" I asked tugging on the I heart Emmett shirt I was wearing.
"Because" she told me firmly.
"Rosie?" I asked.
Rose looked at me amused "When we all get them for Christmas then we will all wear them out kay?"
I thought it over, that seemed fair. "Okay" I agreed.
Alice glared at her causing Rose to laugh.
"All right well I'm ready, almost done Al? I'm keen to try and catch up to Emmett and Bella. By the way Bells, how many drinks have you two had today?" Rose asked.
"Ummm I have no idea!" I told her happily
Finally they were ready. Rose was wearing grey skinny jeans and a dark purple top of some kind with sparkly silver heels, while Alice was also wearing jeans and a sparkly blue top with matching heels.
In my intoxicated state I wasn't really able to focus on the finer points of their outfits, I was just eager to be with Edward and have another of Em's drinks.
We headed back downstairs where Edward, Emmett and Jasper were waiting for us
We all mixed some more drinks and ordered some pizza to balance out the alcohol. Before long Jasper was just as drunk as Emmett and myself.
When the cab arrived that Alice had called us, we all stumbled outside into the cold winter's air.
Ten minutes later we pulled up outside an apartment building where I assumed Riley lived. After paying the driver we headed up the stairs and to the party.
As soon as we got inside I felt as though I was being watched, I looked up to see James sauntering towards us.
Edward tightened his arm around me, "Hi there Bella your looking as lovely as always" he greeted me as he reached us. "Rose, Alice" he continued winking at them.
Rosalie stared him down unimpressed, "What do you want?' she spat.
"Ouch, icy reception" he drawled still looking at me.
"I was hoping you'd take the hint" she replied.
"Feisty aren't you blondie?" he asked her, "I like that."
"Back off James" snarled Emmett.
James rolled his eyes, "So Bella I'll see you around" he told me winking.
"What the hell does he want?" asked Edward angrily.
"It's James, who the fuck knows" replied Emmett.
After our encounter with James, Edward wouldn't leave my side all night. Finally I managed to convince him I could dash to the bathroom alone and make it back safely, he didn't look happy at the idea of me going on my own but I insisted then quickly made my way upstairs.
I found the bathroom easily and before I headed back down I checked my hair in the mirror, satisfied with my appearance but slightly frightened that I was indeed turning into Alice and Rose I opened the door and headed down the hall.
As I passed on of the bedrooms a door opened and someone pulled me inside closing the door. I wrenched my arm free and turned to look at who it was.
Of course it was James; he was standing up against the door clocking my exit. I glared at him and he laughed.
"No need to get angry I just wanted to have a quick chat" he told me.
"About what?" I demanded my happy drunk buzz now officially gone.
"The fact that you lied to me at the Halloween Party" he answered.
"I didn't lie" I replied, furious and just a little scared. He looked so intimidating.
"Oh but you did" he told me glaring at me, "You told me that Edward was your boyfriend, I found out that you only started up with him about a month ago" he leered at me.
"Well I really don't think that's any of your business" I replied crossing my arms.
"I think it is. I'll tell you now Bella Swan, one I don't like being lied to and two when I want something, or in this case someone I always get what I want."
A shiver went down my spine upon hearing those words, "So far my efforts may have failed but they won't" he told me taking a step towards me.
"Stay the hell away from me" I warned him.
He laughed, "Or what? You'll set you little boyfriend on me?"
He reached out to touch my face, I smacked it away.
He glared at me, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
I wasn't going to back down, "If you'll excuse me I'll be going now."
"I don't think so" he replied smirking.
Panic washed through me, I slapped him with all my strength across the face.
He grabbed my wrists roughly, "I did warn you" he growled.
"Let go of me!" I shrieked.
Just then the door burst open; standing in the door way was a furious looking Edward and Emmett and they looked far more intimidating that James.
"Let her go" Edward growled stepping into the room.
"We were just talking" he smirked.
Emmett took a step closer to James looking far more menacing than I had ever seen him.
"Listen you bastard, my brother said let go of her" he spat.
"Oh it's so sweet" James taunted, "Can't you fight your own battles Edward? Do you need your big brother to stand up to the big bad bully for you?" He taunted and then let go of me and I hurried away from him towards Em and Edward.
Just as I reached them Edward walked towards James and stopped right in front of him.
"You won't hit me" James smirked. "You just don't have it in..."
He was cut off by Edwards's fist connecting with his face.
"Don't you ever touch her again" he growled.
I stared at the scene in front of me in horror, Emmett saw my face and put a comforting arm around me.
James scrambled to his feet, "You'll pay for that" he spat clutching at his sore cheek before stalking out of the room.
Edward turned to look at me, his expression softened immediately, "Are you okay love?" he asked striding towards me and taking my face in his hands. "Did he hurt you? Did he touch you other than your wrists?" he asked frantically.
"No, I'm fine, I'm okay" I told him.
"What happened?" asked Emmett concerned.
"I'll tell you all when we go home, can we go home?" I begged Edward.
"Of course my love" he told me helping me out of the room and downstairs.
We rounded up the others who all looked confused until Emmett gave them a brief run down, the confusion soon turned to fury.
"Where the fuck is he?" Rose demanded, "When I'm done with him he'll..."
"No Rose" Emmett told her, "As much as we all want to hunt him down we need to go, get Bella home."
We hurried towards the door; "Hey!" we heard a voice call. Riley jogged towards us; "Leaving already?" he asked frowning.
"Yes, your friend James threatened Bella, bailed her up in one of the rooms upstairs" Edward told him matter-of-factly.
"What?" asked Riley horrified.
"Yeah" added Emmett "Had her by the wrists, man he really is bad news."
"I'm so sorry Bella" Riley apologised.
I shook my head, "Riley it's not your fault, thanks for inviting us to the party."
Edward held me close to him while we waited for the cab and didn't let me go even when the cab did arrive. When we got home the gang assembled in the boys living room where I filled them all in on what had happened.
"So wait he said his efforts so far had failed? What does he mean by that?" asked Alice. "Holy shit!" she exclaimed her eyes wide.
"What?" we all asked concerned.
"Bella, I bet James was behind that guy that tried to kidnap you from campus" she whispered.
I stared at her in utter shock, could she be right? Could James be that dangerous?
"Yes, Alice you're right" Edward replied softly, "How did I not see it before?"
I stared at him incredulous, "You must be joking?"
"No love, it makes sense."
"How does it make sense? I asked.
"James has a somewhat unsavoury reputation" Jasper began to explain, "Which I'm sure by now you figured out. Let's just say that his 'friends' are not exactly nice people. Now I'm talking dealers here, people that have done time inside."
"It wouldn't be the first time he has gone to extreme lengths to get what he wants. When he first arrived here in Seattle half way through our first year at UW he began dating this girl, he was jealous of any men that talked to her and as a result was violent" Jasper continued.
"She broke up with him and he didn't take it well. All of a sudden she disappeared, no one saw her for a week. When the police searched her apartment they found nothing but a diary entry indicating she was depressed. They had already begun to treat her disappearance as a possible kidnapping and homicide but then they began to consider that perhaps she killed herself."
I stared at Jasper my mouth agape.
"About two weeks later they found her, her body was found in the woods with another note. It indefinitely looked like suicide so no one was charged."
"What about James? How could they not see he must have had something to do with it?" I asked.
"When all of this happened James's criminal record was clean, he was a good student, straight A's. She hadn't told anyone about James's violent behaviour even thought everyone knew. There was no proof as a result of her keeping quiet and he obviously had been careful in the weeks leading up to her disappearance has the police found no bruises or markings to suggest someone else was involved. Plus he had an alibi" Jasper told me.
"The most likely scenario there is he paid a friend with a clean background to lie for him, to say he was with him that night" Edward explained.
"You think he killed her?" I whispered.
"Yes" Jasper stated, "Bella he is dangerous and he wants you."
"That's why you were so protective of me at Halloween" I told Edward.
"Yes love, because I knew how I felt about you and would have done anything to protect you" he told me softly.
They were right, of course they were right; it was now one hundred percent obvious that James had had a part in the attempted kidnapping that night.
He was after me, meaning I was in more danger than I ever could have realised. It also meant my friends were in danger, that he could hurt them, hurt Edward. That scared me more than the thought of myself getting hurt.
"So what do I do?" I whispered.
"We" stated Rose, "You don't have to do anything alone honey and we are all in this as a group."
"We need to call Charlie love" Edward told me.
"No, no way Charlie will totally over react."
"Love, James is dangerous, incredibly so, he has every right to over react."
"Text him Bells, see if he's up he might be doing patrol tonight" Alice told me.
I picked up my phone and sent off a quick message to Charlie. Typically he didn't reply but rang instead.
"Hey honey what's wrong?"
"Hey Dad, ummmm I kinda need to talk to you about something. Promise me you won't over react okay?"
"Isabella I'll be the judge of whether or not I need to over react. What's wrong honey?"
"Umm someone has been threatening me" I told him wincing, waiting for Chief Swan to start his tirade.
"Who is he? Tell me who he is Bella" Charlie demanded.
"His name is James Walker" I told him after Edward whispered it to me.
Charlie then demanded I give him a rundown of what happened purposefully leaving out the part about the suspected murder.
"Bells honey, I just got Matt to run a background check, he's dangerous and he's been charged with drugs, wielding weapons and assault. I want you to hang up now and call the Seattle Police Station, file a report immediately, it looks like they have had a complaint about him recently and were trying to locate him anyway."
"I know you don't like people making a big fuss but you have to do this honey, he could hurt you" his voice broke making me tear up. "Not only that but he could hurt other people too."
"Okay Dad I promise" I told him honestly.
"Good girl, please Bella be careful" he begged.
"I will" I told him.
"Night honey, remember if you need anything just call? I'll keep close contact with the Seattle Department so I know what's going on."
"Okay, night Dad, thanks. I love you."
"I love you too Bells, always have always will."
I hung up choking back the sobs that were threatening to give away just how scared I really was, I blinked back the tears.
"I called the police Bells, they have asked us to make or way to the station immediately" Jazz told me softly. "We'll all be there; we'll all make statements and tell them what we know about everything."
"Thanks Jazz" I whispered.
We were at the police station for hours, each giving individual statements and telling them everything we knew about James Walker.
They did tell us however that without the proof they needed they couldn't investigate James on the death of Stacey Smith.
We headed home and compared notes on what was said to the police and what they had told us.
"You know" Jasper said thoughtfully, "There must be a way to give them the proof they need, to prove to them just how dangerous he really is."
"I agree" said Emmett.
"But how?" he asked thoughtful pondering for a moment.
"Laurent" said Emmett looking at Jasper and Edward, "We need to talk to Laurent, if anyone has any proof it would be him. Something he could turn into police that he wouldn't have thought to before."
"You are a genius Emmett!" Jasper exclaimed patting him on the back. Emmett looked rather pleased with himself.
Edward was nodding in agreement as were Rose and Alice.
"Who's Laurent?" I asked frowning.
"James old roommate, if anyone know anything that would be of any help it would be him" Emmett told me.
"Can he be trusted?" I asked worried.
"Yes, they are no longer friends. Laurent is smart enough to know that James can only equal bad news" Jasper replied.
We decided to pay Laurent a visit tomorrow, we all said goodnight and Alice and Rose went home to grab over night things for me since I had decided to stay with Edward.
He told me he would wait in his room for me while I had a shower in his en suite and got ready for bed.
As soon as I was alone it was harder to keep it together, I just managed to have a shower and dress myself before the full reality of what was happening set in. I slumped to the floor blinded by tears, sobs finally breaking their way free.
What if he hurt someone I loved, what if he got to Alice or Rose? I couldn't let that happen, Alice was so tiny and sweet or loving Rosalie, such a loyal friend.
What if it was Jasper he got too, level headed, kind Jasper. That would break Alice's heart. Or Emmett my burly, warm hearted big brother? Now that would hurt Rose too.
Worst of all what if he hurt Edward, my amazing, caring, wonderful Edward. I gasped for air, panicking.
"Bella?" asked Edward loudly his voice full of concern, "Open the door love please?" he begged. He tried the handle which I must have unlocked somehow and opened the door.
He looked down at me sobbing on the floor with a heart breaking expression, "Oh love" he whispered scooping me up from the floor. "Oh Bella love its okay" he whispered soothingly.
"I won't let him hurt you love" he murmured stroking my hair.
"Wh-hat iiif he hur hurts you?" I choked. "I co couldn't handle th that."
"Oh love he won't. It'll be okay, everything will be okay. I promise you Bella."
Edward held me, comforting me, until finally I fell in a fitful sleep plagued by nightmares.