Keep You

Bella

Rose was able to convince Mike and I to go to Club Exit tonight, with her, Emmett, Tyler, and Tanya. It's a club in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Mike hates to dance, so I ended up meeting a guy named Jake and dancing the whole night with him. He was an amazing dancer, and amazingly good-looking too. He was tall and dark, with his hair in a faux hawk, gorgeous dark eyes, and beautiful smile.

Funny thing is when he started to flirt, his eyes turned green and his hair turned into a messy disarray of bronze. Talk about buzz kill.

After he gave me his number, with the promise that we can be friends, we headed back to Manhattan beach and to Rose's second home. Manhattan Beach was a private residential area to the west of Brighton Beach with a beautiful waterfront.

Rose and I were already on the beach setting up blankets, while Tanya was staying behind with the guys, who were taking out beer and wine coolers from the back of Mike's car.

"Emmett and I had sex last week," Rose blurts out. She might look like a sex goddess but she's really not as experienced as she seems.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah," she blushed. "I know I wanted to wait but his parents were out of town and one thing led to another, and we did it."

"Wow. How was it?"

"I don't know," she smiled. "It was nice but kinda weird. He was very sweet afterwards too. He kept asking me if I was okay and later that night he came to my house and brought me three dozen roses. What about you and Mike?"

I sighed heavily, "Mike... wants to have sex."

"Every guy over the age of fourteen wants to have sex."

"I just don't want to. At least, not now."

She looked me straight in the eye, "Then it's your job to say no."

"How will I know when it's the right time?" I ask.

"You'll know it's the right time when you don't have to ask me about it," she smiled, running her fingers through my hair. "Listen the first time isn't fun or easy. It was kind of sloppy and most of the time I felt stupid. Opening yourself up to making mistakes and being vulnerable is what makes it beautiful and special with the person you love."

Could that be why I haven't wanted to do it with Mike? Maybe deep down inside I don't love him as much as I thought I did.

Tanya ran off with Tyler, while the rest of us stayed on the blankets surrounding a small bonfire we made out of sticks and wood.

It felt good sitting there with my friends and Mike. Almost normal. And for a little while I forgot about my chemistry partner, who's been occupying most of my thoughts lately.

After a while Rose and Em went for a walk, and left me leaning against Mike's chest. I grabbed another bottle of wine coolers. The guys have been drinking the beers. I brought the bottle to my lips and finished it off. I felt buzzed already. So I knew it wasn't going to end well.

"Izzy," Mike slurred. "When are we going to do it?"

"What?" I stuttered, crawling out of his embrace.

He didn't let me get far, he reached out and wrapped his long fingers around my wrist, squeezing.

"Ow," I cried. "Mike, you're hurting me."

"Isabella," he slurred. "I want to do it."

"Now?" Where everyone can see if they come back? You got to be kidding me, that's not romantic at all.

"Why not? We've waited long enough."

"You're drunk," I stated. "I wanted it to happen naturally."

"What's more natural than doing it outside."

"What if our friends see us? What about condoms?"

He looked serious for a second before pulling me closer, "I'll pull out."

"Sex means a lot to me," I mumbled, as his grip tightened and he nestled his face in the crook of my neck. "I want it to mean something to you too."

"It does. So let's do it already."

"What happened to you?" I cried, his vice grip bringing tears to my eyes. It would leave a bruise, that much I was sure of. "I feel like this summer changed you."

"Maybe it did," he said defensively pushing me out of his way. "Maybe I need more. Whoever heard of a senior being a fucking virgin? Everyone thinks we've done it, so let's just do it. Shit Izzy, you even let EJ Masen think he could get into your pants."

I could feel the blood pulsing under the skin of my wrist. My heart also slammed into my chest the moment he said EJ's name. "You think I rather have sex with Edward than you?" I hate myself for thinking about my chem partner way to much. But right now I hate Mike for pointing it out to me. "What about Tanya?" I throw back, with what I hope was enough bite, "You two look cozy."

I was retreating backwards, away from him. But he was was walking towards me, "Get off it Iz! So some girl pays attention to me. At least someone does, you're to busy arguing with Masen. Everyone knows it's just foreplay."

The blood boiled under my skin and I raised my hand defensively, ready to slap him. Before I was able to react, he reached out and took hold of my wrist again and pushed me harshly to the ground.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Rosalie screamed, rushing past Mike and pulling him off him.

Mike was stronger, causing Emmett to jump in. "What the fuck Mike! You're hurting her. Get off!"

Emmett was able to pry Mike off me and I was finally able to get my knees out the sand and stand up, my sandals in my hand, "I want to go home."

"I'll go with you," Rose spoke, coming next to me.

"No," I said, feeling lightheaded. "I want to go alone."

"I don't want you going alone."

"I just want to be alone right now. I need to sort things out," I whispered, tears pooling in my eyes.

"Don't go into Brighton" she warned. "It's not safe."

"Isabella," Mike boomed. "Get back here."

I ignored him as I walked away towards the shoreline. Closing my eyes as the sand sank in between my toes, I breathed in the scent of the fresh cool air. For the first time I actually realize its really cold. Forgetting everything I continue to walk as I study the bruise already discoloring the skin of my wrist.

I continued to walking, only stopping to look over at the dark water. I hadn't realized how far I walked until I heard the music.

That and the sound of laughing made me freeze.

People wearing black and red bandannas in front of me clued me into the fact that I might have gone too far. And I'm actually kind of drunk.

"Look everyone! It's Isabella Swan. Manhattan Prep's sexiest cheerleader," a guy I didn't know laughed.

I scan the crowd for a familiar face. My gaze lands on EJ and I visibly sighed in relief, until my eyes focus of the world around him. Sitting in his lap facing him is Roxanne Avila.

Another guy advances on me, "You okay?"

I recognize this guy, it's Luis, one of EJ's friends.

"No," I mumbled, my head hurting more by the minute. "I don't know."

I stagger backwards and Luis reaches for my wrist before I hit the sand.

"Ow," I screamed as his light grip on my wrist hurt the bruise Mike left. He let go, alarmed and I fell to the ground.

"Luis?" EJ's voice called out. "Leave her alone."

EJ was caressing Roxy's shoulder, his lips mere inches from it. This is a nightmare and I want so badly to get away.

"EJ, shut up!" Luis yelled back. "I think she's hurt."

I scrambled to my feet and start to run. I can't run fast enough though, it feels like a dream where my feet are moving but I'm not going anywhere.

"Bella, wait!" a voice calls from behind me.

I turn around and come face to face with the guy that haunts my dreams.

Edward.

The guy who I hate. The guy who I can't get out of my head, no matter how hard I try.

"What the fuck Bella?" EJ says panting, "Luis said you were hurt." I'm stunned when he steps closer and wipes a tear from my cheek. "Don't cry. What's wrong?"

"Why do you like Roxy?" I ask as the world spins and I stumble backwards. "She's mean."

His hand bolts out to help me and I flinch when he grabs my bad wrist, so he stuffs his hand in his pockets. "Why the fuck do you care? You stood me up."

"I had stuff going on."

"Like what? Washing your hair or something like that."

Or having my mother yell at me and me blame me for my brother's current way of life.

I jab my finger into his chest, "You're an asshole."

"And you're a bitch," he stated as if it was a simple fact. "A bitch with a kick ass smile and eyes that can seriously screw with a motherfuckers head."

He winced, as if he didn't mean to say that. I was expecting him to say a lot of things but not that. That's when I noticed his bloodshot eyes. "You're high."

"Yeah, well you don't look to sober yourself. Maybe now is a good time for that kiss."

"No way."

Kiss EJ? Never. Although I've been thinking about it. A lot. More than I should. His lips are full and inviting.

"Fine. Kiss me," I whisper, stepping forward and leaning into him.

His hands are braced on my shoulders and slowing travel down. This is it. I'm going to kiss him and find out what it's like. He's dangerous and he mocks me. But he's sexy and beautiful. Being this close to him is exciting and my head spins.

His hands graze my bruise again and I flinched back.

"What's wrong?" he said, making me open my eyes.

He took my wrist delicately and examined it in the moonlight. There were clear marks of a hand print on the slightly swollen skin.

"Who did this?" he growled, looking me straight in the eye. "Who hurt you?"

"No one," I said snatching my arm back. "Its none of your business."

"Like hell it's not!" he yelled, fuming. "Tell me who the fuck put their hands on you."

I felt like shrinking back into myself, "Its nothing. I-I guess I deserved it."

"Who?" he asked a little more calmly.

"M-Mike."

EJ's eyes glazed over, "Where is he?"

I stuttered, I didn't know what to say. "He's probably with Rosalie. We were hanging out in Rosalie's beach house when he got upset at something I said, resulting in this."

I shrugged not knowing what else was left to be said, "Why do you care?"

"Because," he said slowly, pulling me back towards his friends. "I don't like guys that hit girls. It's not fucking proper."

EJ's hand felt warm in mine. My head was still spinning and I felt like I was about to pass out. But surprisingly for the first time tonight I felt safe.

Edward

I'm trying not to think about how her hand feels in mine. I'm trying not to think that for once in my life, I feel complete.

Thoughts of being a pirate and stealing her away to my ship race through my mind and suddenly it seems like a dream come true. Although I'm not a pirate and she's not my captured princess. We're just two teenagers who hate each other.

Okay, so I don't really hate her.

Her tears are still sliding down her cheeks. I slide off my bandanna and hand it to her, "Here. Wipe your face."

I don't know what to say or do. I know for a fact that I want to beat the shit out of Mike Newton. But I'm currently alone with a very drunk Bella Swan. I'm not used to being alone with a sloppy-drunk girl, especially ones who turn me on. I can either take advantage of her in her fragile state and win the bet, or...

"Let me get you someone to drive you home," I say before my fucked up mind can think of a million ways to violate her tonight. I'm buzzed from alcohol and high, too. Besides she just got drunk and I don't know what the fuck happened between her and dick-face, but I don't want to push my luck tonight.

She purses her lips and pouts like a little kid, "No, I don't want to go home. Anywhere but home."

Oh, fuck! I'm in trouble.

She looks up at me, her eyes in the moonlight sparkling like rare, expensive jewels. "Mike thinks I want you, you know. He says our bickering is foreplay."

"Is it?" I ask, holding my breath to hear her response. Please, please let me remember the answer in the morning.

She looked like she was about to answer before she put her finger up, "Hold that thought."

She turned around and bent over to puke her guts out. I reached my hands out quickly to save her hair from the mess. When she's finished she's too weak to walk, she allows me to carry her the rest of the way back.

When she wrapped her arms around my neck, I sensed she needed someone to be a champion in life. Surely Mike isn't the one. But, I sure as hell ain't it either.

I heard a lot of locker room talk about what kind of experience Bella Swan has. So how come right now she looks so innocent? Sexy as fuck, but innocent.

All eyes are on me when I get close to my friends. They see a limp, rich girl in my arms and they immediately think the worst. That and she decided to fall asleep during the walk back.

"What did you do to her?" Luis asked rushing to my side.

Chris stands up and looks at me totally pissed off, "Shit! I lost the bet, didn't I?!"

"No, dumbass. I don't do passed-out chicks." Out of the corner of my eye I see a very pissed off Roxy. Shit! I fucked her over, I deserved her wrath.

I motion for Ally to come over, "Ally, I need you."

Ally looks up from her make-out session with Jazz. "What the fuck Masen? What the hell did you do to her?" She rushed over and moves the hair off her face. "What do you want me to do?"

"Help me get her out of here. I'm wasted and I took the train here. You're the only one I know with a car."

"It's my dad's," she shook her head. "You do realize that she has a boyfriend."

Damn, it! Stop reminding me. "I need your help, Al. Not a lecture. I've got Jazz and Luis giving me crap already."

Ally held up her hands as a show of peace. "I'm just pointing out facts. You're a smart guy, E. Add it up. No matter how much you might want her in your life, she doesn't belong. A triangle can't fit into a square. Now I'll shut up."

"Thank you," I grumble, rearranging Bella in my arms. I don't point out that if it's a big enough square and a small enough triangle, it will fit perfectly. All you have to do is make a few adjustments. I'm too drunk and high to explain it now though, so I just stay shut.

"I'm parked across the beach," she says, letting out a big, frustrated sigh. "Follow me."

I follow Alice to the car, hoping we can walk in silence. No such luck.

"She's a good person, Edward," she sighs.

I cringed, "Most girls hate her."

She shrugs, "Most chicks wish they looked like her. And they wish they had her money and boyfriend."

I stop and regard her in disgust, "Dick head?"

"Oh, please, EJ. Michael Newton is cute, he's captain of the basketball team and Manhattan Prep's hero. You're like Danny Zuko in Grease. You smoke, you're in a gang, and you've dated the hottest bad girls around. Bella is Sandy, a Sandy who'll never show up to school in a black leather jacket and a lucy hanging from her mouth. Give up the fantasy."

"I'm going to put the car seat in the trunk, alright Alley-cat?" Luis called to Ally.

Ally winced a little at the given nickname and nodded her head.

I laid my fantasy in the middle, while Luis climbed in next to her and Jazz took the front seat with Ally in the drivers seat. She snuggled up, using my chest as a pillow, her hand falling on top of my crotch. I closed my eyes for a second, trying to get the image out of my head. And I don't know what to do with my hands. My right one is on the arm rest and my left is hovering over her.

I hesitate. Who am I kidding? I'm not a virgin. I'm an eighteen-year old guy who can deal with having a hot, passed out girl on top of me. Why am I so afraid? I held my breath as I settled my arm on top of her thigh. She cuddled closer and I'm feeling weird and light-headed. Either it's the aftereffects from the joint or, yeah I don't want to think about the "or".

Without thinking I weave my hands through her hair and watch as the silky strands fall through my fingers. I abruptly stop, there was this huge scar that ran from the base of her neck to the center of her scalp.

"What's wrong?" Luis asked, looking at my face.

I quickly cover the scar, not wanting to show anyone her imperfection. I'm not about to analyze my motives for that matter, since it'll cause me to think too hard. Thinking hard in my condition will hurt, badly. "Nothing."

Jazz turns around and looks at my arm on Bella's shoulder. He tsk'd at me and shook his head.

"Shut up," I growled.

"I didn't say anything."

At that moment a cell phone rang. Everyone reached for their sidekick before we all met each other's eyes.

"Not it," Luis and I said at the same time.

Jazz turned around with his and Ally's kick in his hand, "Not us either."

"It's hers," I said slowly, feeling the vibration.

"Answer it," Ally instructed, looking at me through the rear view mirror.

I already feel like I'm kidnapping the girl. Now I'm going to answer her phone. Rolling her more on top of me, I feel for the bulge in her back pocket.

"Answer," Luis laughs.

"I am," I hiss, my fingers clumsy as I fumble for the phone.

"I'll do it," Jazz said, leaning over the seats and reaching for her ass.

I whacked his hand away and growled, "Get your hands off her."

"Fuck man!" he laughed. "I was only trying to help."

I responded with a glare as I pulled her phone out of her pocket. A blackberry of course. "It's her friend Rosalie."

"Pick it up."

"Are you fucking crazy? I'm not talking to one of them."

Luis raised an eyebrow at me, "Then why did you get it out of her pocket?"

Thats a good question. One I don't know how to answer. "Hello?" I said, clearing my throat.

"Who is this?" Rosalie's voice fell from the ear piece.

"It's EJ Masen," I answered.

"What the hell are you doing answering Izzy's phone?! Where is she?!"

I sighed, "She's here. In the car with me and Alice. She's drunk and we're taking her home."

"Don't you dare lay a hand on her! Bring her back here. I don't trust you!"

"What?" I asked shocked. "You don't trust me?! When her own damn boyfriend hurt her?"

"Mike was drunk. He didn't know what he was doing!"

"You're stupid as hell if you think I'm going to let her go back to him tonight."

"Listen Masen, she's my best friend and I will not let him hurt her."

"Well, I get that. But I don't trust him if he's still drunk. Sorry Rosalie but I can't bring her back or I'll kill Newton myself."

"Masen! I swear to God I will hunt you down and fucking cut your dick off myself if anything happens to her! I will bury you so far into the earth that the heat – "

I shut the phone off before she could continue her little rant."Told you I shouldn't have answered it," I huffed.

"Who hurt her, E?" Luis asked concerned.

"Her boyfriend," I sighed. "I don't know why but they fought."

"We should take her home," Jazz mumbled. "You can't keep her."

I know that. But I'm not ready to give her up just yet. "Ally, lets go home."

By the time we reached the Williamsburg housing projects, a lovely place I call home, it was almost two in the morning. We all live in the same building, Ally only being one floor below me. Jazz helped me carefully carry Bella in and lay her on the bed in Alice's room. Her parents are out of town and that meant Alice and Jasper could sleep on her parents bed.

She looked peaceful in her sleep. And for a moment I sat back and just watched her in her alcohol induced slumber.

Some part of me wished that she belonged in my world, because then it would be easy to get up and walk to the couch. Because she would be here in the morning and everyday after.

But another part of me said what I already knew was the simple truth. Bella Swan didn't belong in my world. No matter how much I wanted her too. She was just a girl that I happened to meet, when fate threw us together.

I didn't belong to her and she sure as hell did not belong to me. And as cruel as life is, in the morning I will have to return her to the world where she stepped out of. A world full of money and designer clothes, and all these other things that I could never hope to give her.

A world that I can't provide her with, but one that he can.

"Edward?" she mumbled in her sleep with a smile. For the first time I was actually happy to be called by my given name because she said it. She was dreaming of me, and hopefully a happy dream. I leaned down briefly and kissed her forehead. "I wish I can keep you," I whispered before getting up and returning to the living room.

"EJ, I told your mom you're staying over to watch a movie and hang out," Ally smiled, walking through the apartment door, Luis not far behind her with a sleeping Lyric in his arms. "Put her in her bed," Ally told Luis, giving Lyric a kiss on the cheek, "Good night angel."

"Jazz, I think already knocked out on your parents bed." I informed her as she flopped down on the couch and Luis disappeared behind Alice's bedroom door. "I'm tired too, so I think I'm going to knock out soon."

Ally smiled and stood up. Walking to her parent's bedroom door, she paused and turned back towards me. "Do you know you're falling for her?" I raised my eyebrow as I made myself comfortable on the couch. "I can see it." Ally took my silence as a hint and ducked into the room. "Love you, E."

"She's right, you know?" Luis said, softly closing the door of Alice's room and walking to the apartment door.

"No, she's not." I sternly said, getting up to lock the door behind him.

"I wouldn't bet against Alice," Luis chuckled. "See you in the morning, man."

I locked the deadbolt and shut the lights before resuming my spot on the couch.

I couldn't be falling for Bella Swan.

That was the last thought swimming in my mind before I succumbed to, what I hoped would be, a dreamless sleep.

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