Party

Bella

I'm nervously fidgeting as I debate on whether to call her or not. Rose is my best friend in the whole wide world and she's been there through everything. Now, why is it so hard to just pick up the phone and tell her what's going on?

It's hard, because you're a wimp.

I groan out loud at my internal monologue. I just have to suck it up, I tell myself hoping somehow my fingers will move on my Blackberry.

"What's up?" Rose says when I finally call.

Success!

"Rosie, I need my best friend right now."

"Wow, I'm flattered you actually called me." She says dryly, "I'm amazed you didn't call Alice Brandon."

"You can't honestly tell me you're jealous of my friendship with Ally, can you?"

"Well, when your best friend stops calling and starts having secret private conversations with someone else in the hallway, what would you think?"

I suck in a breath, "I haven't been such a good friend lately."

Rose laughs softly, "Understatement of the year. What's going on, Izzy?"

It's like ripping off a Band-Aid, it's always best to do it quickly. "I like EJ, a lot." I'm met with complete silence. After waiting a minute I begin to think maybe we got disconnected. "Rosalie, are you there? Or are you ignoring me?"

"I'm not ignoring you, Iz. I'm just wondering why you chose to tell me now."

"I'm confused and I want to talk about it. Plus, he invited me to a party later on today and I have no idea what to wear. Do you hate me?"

Rose sighs, "You're my best friend."

"And you're mine."

"Best friends are still best friends even though one decides to abandon all reason a date a gangbanger, right?"

"I hope so."

"Izzy, don't shut me out again."

"I won't. And you can share this info with Emmett as long as he promises to keep it to himself."

"Thanks for trusting me. You may not think it means a lot but it does."

I laugh. "Thanks for still being my friend. What about my outfit?"

"I'm already in my car. Be there in ten." Rose's laugh as she hangs up makes me laugh. Somehow I feel lighter now that I know things are back to normal with her.

"Aren't you scared about what your parents will say when they find out about EJ?" Rose asks me as she puts the finishing touches on my hair. It was a simple half up hairdo.

When she showed up thirty minutes ago, she went straight to my closest and pulled out my Hervé Léger one shoulder gray and black bandage dress. "This," she smiled handing me the dress. "With this," she laughed handing me a pair of Donna Karen platform sandals, "Will leave any man drooling."

"I mean, don't you think your mom is going to blow a gasket? What do you think they'll say?"

"I don't know," I sigh, sticking my lip gloss in my clutch. "For right now, I want to live in ignorant bliss."

I don't think I'm scared about what I'll do if my parents found out about EJ. I'm more scared of EJ, himself. When I'm with EJ, everything is more intense. My feelings, my emotions, my desire. I was never addicted to Mike, but I am to Edward. I crave him.

I think I'm falling in love.

I know loving someone means losing a part of myself. And tonight, with EJ and the party, I'm already afraid of losing control. My entire life is about staying in control, so this is not good. It scares the shit out of me.

It's almost three when I spot EJ leaning against his motorcycle. I knew at that moment everything had changed. I finally realize I'm in too deep when my heart skips a beat.

Oh, damn. I'm in trouble.

His bandanna was gone from the top of his head, his thick auburn hair was a wild beautiful mess resting on his forehead. Black slim fit jeans and a crisp white button up shirt replace his usually loose fitting ripped jeans and regular t-shirts. He even has on a black skinny tie. But he tops off his whole outfit with his leather jacket to give him a daredevil bad boy look, which is not hard considering his stitches are still in place and his broken finger is still in a splint.

I can't help but smile as he opens the garage door so I could park inside. After I was sure I had everything I would need, I walk out the car and met him outside in the front lot.

"Whoa," he smirks. "You look, wow."

I turn in a circle. "Is this dress okay?"

"Love, that dress should be illegal. What did you do, paint it on?" He pulls me flush against his chest. "I don't want to go to the party anymore. I'd rather stay here with you."

"No way," I laugh, pulling on my trench coat.

"Tease," he scoffs jumping on his bike and taking out his helmets. "Get on."

Ugh, not a helmet again. "Do you think it's okay for me to get on that in this?"

"Why not?" he asks as he pucks a cigarette out of his Newport pack and sticks it in between his perfectly shaped lips. I cringe when he strikes a match and lights it. "What?"

He can smoke if he wants. This might be our first date but I'm not his girlfriend or anything like that. "Nothing."

He exhales a huge puff of smoke, it burns my nose and I suppress the urge to cough. "If you got a problem with me smoking, just tell me."

"Okay, I've got a problem with you smoking."

"Why didn't you just say so?" he laughs, and stomps his cigarette into the asphalt.

I slip on the helmet he hands me and groan as I realize it's going to ruin my hair. "I can't believe you actually like it, it'll kill you."

He puts on his helmet and looks at me. "It relaxes me."

"Do I make you nervous?"

His gaze travels from my eyes to my breasts and down to where the dress met my thighs. "In that dress you do."

"Where are we going?" I ask as I climb my way on top of his motorcycle, making sure my dress doesn't ride up in the process. "This isn't going to end well," I mumble, "Someone is going to get a great view of my underwear."

"Broadway first then we're off to Queens." He chuckles, "And if you just make sure to keep your legs wrapped tightly around me no one will see what's mine."

My breathing hitches when I feel EJ's hands run up my thighs. I have a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach and I can't concentrate on anything else besides the way EJ puts his hands on my legs every time with hit a stop light.

It's like he's making sure I'm still behind him. My finger's idly play with the tip of his tie and I wonder how Manhattan Prep's student body would react if he walked into school wearing a shirt and tie. I try and stifle the giggle that's threatening to escape but it doesn't work.

"What are you laughing at?" EJ asks as we come to another stop light.

I lift my face mask so he can hear me, "I'm not laughing."

"I can feel your body shaking as you giggle so don't give me that shit, love."

I sigh, knowing he won't let it go until I tell him. "I was thinking about how many jaws would drop in school if they saw you dressed like this."

He turns his head towards me and looks at me seriously, "Not my fault I have a hot body and a face that would make angel's weep."

I roll my eyes, "Do you ever lose that ego?"

I can't tell if he's smiling cause of his face mask, but I can see that mischievous little glint in his eyes. "Nope," he revs his motorcycle and continues on driving.

All Saint's church is not as big as Saint Patrick's Cathedral where my second cousin Sierra got married last year, but it does have the same gothic style to its architecture.

An hour into the mass, we were both sitting completely confused. The mass was in Spanish and I couldn't understand a word of it. EJ made us sit towards the back of the small crowd that had gathered in the front of the church to listen to the priest give his blessing.

"Want to bail?" EJ yawns. I had thought he fell asleep after he put on his ray bans and leaned his head against the wall. "I'm hungry and McDonalds is right around the corner."

"Why did you bring me to church if you just wanted to leave again," I whisper back to him.

He grabs hold of my hand and starts pulling me down the pew and towards the door. "Sue me for wanting to spend more time with you."

As we walk down the street towards McDonalds, he never let go of my hand. He actually weaves his fingers through mine and brings my hand up to his lips and kisses my fingers.

The fourteen year old girl in me swooned.

"How's that brother of yours?" He asks before taking a bite of his cheeseburger.

I toss around the leaves of lettuce in my cesar salad. "He's good, he started eating again. But he's still angry; I don't think my parents are going to change their minds about sending him away."

"What does that mean for you?" He asks raising an eyebrow.

I shrug, "I'll follow my brother wherever they end up sending him."

He thoughtfully nods his head while popping a french fry into his mouth. "Can you do me a favor," when I nod he continues, "You tell him I'm positive that Cleveland is going to make the playoffs this year."

"I will." I laugh, "I think he's waiting for you to come over again."

"If he wants me to come over and watch a game again, I'm in," he shrugs.

My head snaps up and I look at him, I can tell my eyes are all glossy, "Really?"

He smiles softly, probably knowing that his comment just made my day, "Absolutely."

I look at him carefully before I turn my attention back to my salad. "Thanks," I say softly.

EJ has his mouth full but that doesn't stop him from speaking, "For what?"

I sigh as I stab a piece of grilled chicken and pop it in my mouth, "For treating him like a human being."

EJ looks at me in confusion, "I don't understand."

"Besides myself, Rose, is the only other person that treats him as if the accident never happened. She doesn't talk down to him or treat him like a child. That is how my parents treat him all the time. Sometimes I think maybe that's why he's angry, because he isn't treated his age. Most people see him and figure he's stupid but he isn't. They never even take the time to find out what happened, they just ignore or dismiss him."

"Most people are idiots," he says softly, looking into my eyes. "I'm not most people."

Edward

If I keep staring at her legs, I'm going to end up wrapping us around a tree.

The drive to the main party wasn't as long as I expect it to be, traffic wasn't a hassle for a Saturday night thankfully.

This party probably won't be as big as the parties she's used to, but I'll make sure she has a good time.

Pulling up to Roma View, I laugh at the surprised face on the valet boy as he eyes my motorcycle. I find a spot relatively close to the edge of the parking lot, knowing that I won't get boxed in by other arriving guests.

Helping Bella off my bike without accidentally catching a peek of her underwear was another matter completely. I never knew how long and silky smooth her creamy milk legs were.

Focus, Masen!

I rest my hand on the small of her back as we walk up to the catering hall. I don't know why I feel the need to claim her as mine. Maybe deep down I am a Neanderthal.

After we hit the coat check and I, not only hand them our jackets but my bag that has my two helmets in them. I walk her towards the door. I can hear loud music blaring from the other side.

"Remember my family is big and they're nosey. Don't believe a word they tell you. Ready?" I ask, my signature smirk taking residence on my face.

She swallows loudly and takes hold of my hand, "Yup."

When the doors open, my cousins are the first people I see. They yell greetings to us and start pounding me on the back. I'm used to being kissed to death my aunts and getting handshakes from my uncles. I'm not sure she is, though. I pull Bella closer and tuck her into my side to make sure she knows I haven't forgotten about her. I attempt to introduce her to my family but give up when I realize she'll never remember everyone's name.

"E!" a voice shouts from behind us.

I turn to find Jazz and Ally walking away from a group of my cousins. "What's up?" I say, giving Jazz and pound and kissing Ally's cheek. "Bella, I'm sure you know Ally but you've probably seen my best friend Jazz around school."

"Hi Jazz, it's nice to finally meet you."

Jazz winks and tilts his head, "The pleasure is all mine, darling."

I roll my eyes at Jasper's imitation of an old southern gentleman. Jazz cleans up nice and Ally looks pretty in her black and purple dress. "Where's Lyric?" I say sudden looking around for my goddaughter.

Ally turns her head and points towards the other side of the room. "She went with Luis to see your mom."

From the corner of my eye, I notice a looming shadow coming up next to me. I quickly tense and wrap my arm around Bella. It's not until Ally screams Garrett that I loosen my hold and relax my posture.

Garrett's a year younger than me but just as tall. He has dark brown hair and snowy blue-gray eyes. I slap my cousin's boyfriend on the shoulder, "It's been too long man, and you clean up nice."

"Thanks, so do you. You gonna introduce me to your friend, or not?"

"Bella, this is Garrett. He's the poor guy… I mean, lucky guy that gets to call himself Kate's boyfriend."

Garrett opens his arms to Bella and engulfs her in a hug. "Any friend of EJ's is a friend of mine."

"Where is Kate anyway?" Jazz asks.

"Downstairs," Garrett shrugs. "I should probably get down there; I'm supposed to walk her in."

As Garrett disappears out the room we walk towards our designated table. My mother is the first to spot Bella and pulls her into a hug.

"I'm so happy you could come, sweetheart." My mom gushes, "You look so pretty in that dress."

"Thanks, Liz." Bella smiles happily, "I'm happy EJ invited me."

My mother doesn't even acknowledge me as she pulls Bella away to meet her sister and brother-in-law. "Sasha, this is Bella. Bella is Edward's, ugh… "

"Girlfriend," I interject quickly, before Bella can say she was just a friend.

"Oh, there you are Edward. I have been looking for you," My mother scolds.

I roll my eyes, "I've been behind Bella all this time. You just haven't cared to notice."

"I'm sorry, Edward," my mom pouts and plants a big kiss wet kiss on the side of my face.

"Edward, what the hell happened to you?" My aunt Sasha gasps when she notices my injuries.

"I got in a fight," I shrug nonchalantly. "It's nothing new and it's not like it won't happen again."

The DJ lowers the music and asks us to take our seats. My cousin Kate is a small girl. Not as small as Ally but a good head shorter than me. She looks like my uncle more than she does my aunt, with his same brown hair, dark brown eyes, and slightly tanned skin. I could almost say she resembled Bella if not for the different skin tones; Bella's brown hair had red streaks when it's touched by light and when she looks directly into the sun her brown eyes had specks of green.

Once the presentation is over and the party really starts, Kate makes her way over to us dragging Garrett behind her. "Cousin," she smiles hugging me hard. "I've missed you." She notices Bella sitting behind me, "And who's this?"

"Bella," I lift her hand and walk her over towards my cousin. "This is my cousin Kate."

"It's nice to meet you, Bella. I'm so glad you could come," Kate smiles pulling Bella into another hug.

"Your dress is beautiful," Bella says when she's released. "It's a really great party." Kate smiles her thanks and leaves quickly when she hears her father calling her.

It wasn't until Kate left with Garrett that I notice the guy standing by the doors. Laurent, one of James' set members. Pulling Bella along with me, because I refuse to leave her alone, I walk up to him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I snarl as I press him into the wall.

Bella's eyes widen and she tries to pull my shirt sleeve, "EJ, what's going on?"

"I come in peace," he smirks, looking Bella up and down. "I'm only here to deliver a message."

I twist the front of his navy blue shirt with my right hand, "Speak, before I rip your face from your skull. You're boss has a lot of nerve sending you here, where my family has gathered."

"James wanted to make sure this meeting took place somewhere he knew you wouldn't flee." He shakes me off and adjusts his shirt before continuing. "As you already know James wants a… rematch, so to speak. Meet him in Prospect Park behind Vanderbilt Street Park at midnight on Halloween."

I rolled my eyes, "A little dramatic, don't you think?"

He shrugs, and walks towards the door. "Maybe, but it ends once and for all. We'll miss you EJ." He throws his head back and laughs as he walks out the room.

"EJ, what the hell is going on?" Bella asks in a panic. "Who was he? What did he want?"

I put my hands on either side of her face. "Shhh," I said quietly giving her a gentle kiss on her lips. I have to talk to Jazz but not with her around, she won't be able to understand what has to go down. "Do me a favor and go over to Luis and hang out with him for a bit, I need to talk to Jazz and Ally."

"But E-"

I cut her off. "Please love, just for a minute." She finally relents and walks over to the table Luis and Lyric are sitting, while I pull Jazz and Ally from the dance floor.

"What the hell, dude?" Jazz groans.

Sighing, I run my hands over my face a few times before my right one finds purchase in my hair. "I have a problem…" I continue to explain the situation to them and then decide to tell them what Rick had ordered me to do.

After we get Ally to stop panicking and begging me to find a way out, we come to a decision. The only thing left to do is meet James and take care of everything. Jazz offers to come along but somehow I know this is something I have to do on my own. Though he may have fought in many battles, this isn't his war. And, I won't risk him getting hurt if I can avoid it.

Silently cursing everyone in the whole world I make my way back towards Bella. This is not how I imagined tonight going. Bella and Luis have their back to me and Bella is bouncing Lyric on her lap. Lyric is playing with Bella's shiny tennis bracelet and no one notices me approaching.

I don't arrive in time to hear what Bella asks him but I catch Luis' response. "I'm sure it's nothing major, Bella. You're probably the best thing that's ever happened to him so I highly doubt he's going to do something stupid and risk it. You're like magnets, if you move, he moves. I've never seen anything like it before."

I clear my throat and Lyric's head shoots up. "Eddie!" She squeals when I take her from Bella's arms and hug her close.

I look over at Bella and she looks paler than she usually is. "You okay?"

"You haven't t-told me what's going on, Edward," she stutters. I know she's freaked out from the way she calls me Edward instead of EJ.

Instead of answering her, I kiss Lyric's forehead and hand her back to father before taking Bella's hand and leading her to the dance floor. Slow music is playing and when I pull her close, she backs away. "What are you doing?"

"Dance with me," I whisper down to her. "Don't argue with me. Put your arms around me and dance." I don't want to hear about how I'm in a gang and how it scares her.

"But –"

"Don't think about what I said to that asshole or what he said to me," I whisper close to her ear. "Don't think about anything else except you and me and this song."

"Edward," she says so softly, I can barely hear her.

"Yeah."

"Promise me nothing's going to happen to you."

I can't. "Just dance," I say quietly as I guide her arms around me and we dance.

Hours pass. When we arrive back at the auto body shop it's past midnight. The party was still going strong before we left, Bella wanted to stay but I didn't want her getting in trouble with her parents.

I'm able to push my motorcycle through the garage door and park it in here for the night. Turning on the lights, I find Bella already in the front seat of her car. I walk around to the passenger side and hop in for a minute.

"I can never get tired of this car," I sigh as I running my hands on the dashboard. I look over at Bella and notice a small smile on her face. "Come here," I say softly.

She leans over the middle console, closing the distance between us. "I had an amazing time," she whispers. "Well, expect when you spoke to that guy."

"Forget about that and kiss me," I chuckle.

I weave my hands in her hair and find comfort in the fact that it's exactly as soft as I remember. She wraps her arms around my neck as I trace the line where her lips meet with my tongue. Parting her lips, I deepen the kiss. It's like nothing I've ever felt before. It's slow and rhythmic but as it progresses it turns hot and fast and I lose myself in her panting and our colliding tongues. It's confusing because I never want this to end.

We're still in the car and it's cramped and getting really annoying having to lean over the damn console. Before I realize what's happening, we're in the backseat. Still not ideal but with the way Bella's tugging on my bottom lip, I hardly notice.

I'm not going to push her too far tonight. But, I'm getting lost in her moans and kisses and the way she tugs on the hair at the nape of neck. Without thinking, my hand slowly moves up her bare thigh.

"You feel so good," she says breathlessly.

I lean her back while my hands explore on their own. My lips land on the hollow of her neck and I slowly kiss down shoulder of her dress.

In response, she unbuttons my shirt. When it's open, her fingers train over my chest and shoulders, searing my skin.

"You're perfect," she pants as she takes my left lobe into her mouth and gives it a little tug.

Right now I'm not going to argue with her because that felt too damn good. Moving lower my tongue follows a path down her exposed skin. She grabs the back of my hair, urging me on. She tastes so damn good, almost too good. I can't help but wonder how she'll taste down there.

I pull away a few inches and capture her gaze with mine; those shining chocolate orbs are glowing with desire. Talk about perfect.

"I want you, love," I say, my voice hoarse. She presses against my erection and wraps her hand around my tie to pull me back down to her. Her dress is pooled around her hips and I can see something lacey and black covering the thing I want most. But when I start to pull them down, her lips still on mine and she pushes me away.

"I-I'm not ready for that, EJ."

I move off her and sit back in the seat, waiting for my body to cool down. I can't look at her as she adjusts her dress, covering her body up again.

Shit, I went too fast.

I told myself not to get too excited, to keep my head together when I'm with this girl. Tugging on the ends of my hair, I let out a slow deep breath. "I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry. It's not your fault. I urged you on and you have every right to be pissed off. Listen, I like you EJ, a lot. But I don't want to be…" she trails off, putting her face in her hands. "I'm so confused." She opens the door and steps back into the garage.

I follow her out, my white shirt open and tie hanging loosely around my neck. "Bella, wait."

She's pacing behind her car, "Please…open the door to the garage. I need to go home."

"Don't go," I say as I push the button to open the door.

"I'm sorry," she says once more.

"Stop saying that. Listen, no matter what happened; I'm not with you to get into your pants. I got carried with the way clicked tonight, the way my family loved you, and your strawberry scent that I just want to keep inhaling forever…shit, I really messed up, didn't I? "

Bella opens her car door and turns back to me. "Can we take it slow, EJ? This was going way too fast for me."

"Yeah," I say nodding, pushing my fingers into her hair and kissing her repeatedly on the cheek. "Just don't be mad at me," I whisper into her ear.

I feel her arms snake their way into my shirt and around my back. "I'm not mad," she whispers and places a lingering kiss on my chest. "Good night, Edward."

I'd been too caught up in her exploring hand and went over-board. I forget about everything except her when her body is close.

The bet.

This thing with Bella is supposed to be about a bet, not falling for her. I have to keep in mind that I'm only interested in Bella because of the bet, and I better ignore what I suspect are real feelings.

Feelings can't be part of this game.

Links to everything are on my profile.

A lot of what I've written before, is mostly a jumbled up mess and doesn't fit with the ending of this story.
So I can't use it. I went back to the original story and started writing from scratch.

Life is hectic. I have work, school, and three little girls to take care of, so I'm not going to promise an update date that I can't honor.
I will promise that I am writing again, mostly because of all the people that take the time to actually read what I write.

I have a twitter account. Since I started writing again I usually post what I'm currently doing on there.
You can also gain insight to when I will update again. Link to my twitter page is on my profile.

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