When other little girls wanted to be ballet dancers I kind of wanted to be a vampire.

Angelina Jolie

Chapter 6 - Perceptions

Some things are quintessentially American. Baseball. Apple Pie.

Rock and Roll.

The band that Alice was all fired up to see had a soft spot for 90's rock and grunge. I wasn't sure what I had anticipated, but is sure as heck wasn't Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers covers.

The crowd at the club was younger, mostly in their twenties, and boisterous. There was no standing and listening. Bodies moved to the rhythm, and given the right song, there might even be some moshing.

"This is nuts!" Rose shouted over the music. "I feel like I am at home!"

Alice grinned as she tapped her foot to the beat. "This is one of my favorite places. It drives Jasper batty. He's much more of a jazz and blues aficionado."

We settled at a table with our drinks during a break in the music. Royce stood at the bar talking with some of the men that had come with him. He kept his body angled at all times so that he could see Rose.

"Where did you land him?" Alice was fascinated by how smitten he already was with her. "He's quite the toff."

"Bella's backpack decided to rebel at the airport. He was nice enough to help us retrieve everything. He is kinda cute, isn't he?"

"What are you doing over here? Why not go chat him up?"

I laughed. Alice had yet to be exposed to Rose's rules.

#1: Men always come to you.

"Speaking of men, I hope you don't mind, I invited Edward along. He had something going on earlier in the evening, but was hoping to be here by the second set."

"Why would I mind? He's your brother after all."

She smiled at me, all innocence and sunshine. "I wasn't sure how you would feel after that little sparring match you two had the other night."

"Bella sparred with someone? My Bella? Has the earth stopped turning?"

"Ha, very funny Rose." I took a drink of my pint. "Edward pushed a few buttons, that's all."

Alice smiled and whispered conspiratorially to Rose. "You should have seen them. I didn't know if she wanted to hit him or shag him."

I felt my cheeks flush. I thought the conversation had gone unnoticed.

"Would this have been Tuesday night?" Rose asked, her interest piqued.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, it was."

"Tell me, Alice, does your brother drive a black Aston Martin?"

Shit. I was cornered.

"Yes, but how did you know that?" Alice looked confused.

"Well that explains the rant I saw on the sidewalk after a lovely black Aston Martin pulled away. Is there anything else you would like to tell us, Bella?"

I looked back and forth from Alice to Rose.

"Yeah, I think I need another drink. Would anyone like anything?"

I escaped to the bar before they could ask anything more.

"What can I get you, love?" The bartender asked as he popped the top off a bottle.

"A shot of tequila and another pint please." I leaned forward to rest my elbows on the bar. If I was going to survive this night, I was going to need a bit of liquid courage.

I felt a tug on my elbow. Rose stood next to me, a look of dismay on her face.

"The fucking Redneck is here. I can't deal with his shit tonight. Do you mind if I bail? You'll be okay to get home?"

I looked around the room, trying to identify her source of frustration.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I can catch a ride home or flag a cab."

Rose slipped in next to Royce and whispered something in his ear. He nodded, waved a goodbye to his friends, and led her out of the club.

Was her nemesis here, or had she simply wanted to leave with Royce? I may need to think long and hard about what time I go home tonight. There is no telling what I could walk into. I didn't want to sleep with my headphones on. I've done it before. Rose was not quiet when she had a 'sleepover.'

I tossed back my shot, cringing at the burn of the alcohol as it ran down my throat. I quickly chased the tequila with a sip from my pint.

"Anesthetizing already?" I didn't have to turn around. I knew the voice.

"Yes. I heard you might be here. I figured I should be prepared."

"Ouch. Hello to you too, Isabella. You look very rock and roll."

I set down my pint and turned to face Edward. I knew I looked good; he did make a comment about my appearance after all. It didn't go unnoticed. Time for him to be the one thrown for a loop.

My intent was to toss out some smart alec comment to put him in his place. I wanted him to be the one affected. He should feel like a blithering idiot.

But every clever line or pithy remark dried up the minute I focused in on him. The crowd at the bar didn't allow for the normal personal space, and he was closer to me than he'd been in the car the other night. He wore the same amused expression, which made him look all that much more amazing. And those eyes, oh my god those eyes.

I didn't know what to do. What to say.

Someone bumped into me, knocking me forward into Edward. His hands went up immediately in an attempt to steady me. It was the same shot of electricity that I had felt in the car.

The amused look was gone, replaced by a darker expression. His left hand was at the small of my back, and I felt him pull me in closer. I couldn't resist, my eyes darted back to his lips. What was the lure of this man?

The hand that had been on my upper back was suddenly tracing slowly underneath my jaw, stopping over the pulse point on my neck.

I felt my face color, giving me away. He caught it too, and smiled.

The arrogant bastard. He wanted to see if he could get a rise out of me.

"I thought you said if I wanted something, it was up to me to take it. That you wouldn't touch me again." I don't know how I formed the words. I didn't want him to let go.

"That I did. Breach in judgment." He dropped his hands and stepped back.

I immediately missed the contact. How could he be so infuriating and attractive at the same time?

Needing to regain control of the situation, I took a sip of my pint and looked around the club. Edward stepped in next to me and ordered one as well.

"Thank you for my surprise today. It was very clever. How did you know about the wild rose myth?"

The look of amusement was back on his face. "I grew up in Whitby. Vampire mythology is required course work."

"Bella! Hey, there you are!" A man's voice with an American accent rang out from behind me. There was Emmett, a few feet away, dimples flashing.

"Hey, you made it!" I took advantage of the break in conversation to step further away from Edward, an attempt to break his spell.

That's exactly what it was, a spell.

"This place is a madhouse! Thanks for the invite. Who would have thunk we'd be rocking out to some all American tunes here?"

I could see Edward out of the corner of my eye, sizing Emmett up. Take that Dr. Masen, other men are interested in me too. You might have to wait in line.

"I'm sorry. Emmett McCarty, Edward Masen."

Emmett extended his hand, "How's it going?"

I almost expected Edward to walk away. For a moment, he looked furious. Then, as quickly as he had before, he regained his composure and extended his hand.

"Another yank. There seems to be all sorts of you tonight."

Emmett laughed off the comment, shook Edward's outstretched hand, and stepped up to the bar to order a drink. He launched into a long winded summary of his week, including some ice queen at work who was 'busting his balls' to no end.

As much as I enjoyed Emmett's light heartedness, part of me wanted to go back to when it was just Edward and I. His attitude was exasperating. He was arrogant, pompous, and absolutely infuriating. Yet at the same time, he was clever and intriguing.

And all I could think about was getting my hands in his hair and sticking my tongue down his throat. I'm Bella Swan. I don't do stuff like that.

Alice had called it right. I didn't know whether I wanted to hit him or shag him. It scared me.

At some point, the music had started back up, and Alice and Jasper joined us at the bar. I made introductions, and Emmett and Jasper found a rapport over sports. I noticed Alice shooting surreptitious glances at Edward, then back to me.

At one point, she and Edward exchanged a long look. He raised his eyebrow at her in expression that I would interpret as 'What?" She inclined her head and returned the same look. Almost as if to say 'You know.'

I needed a break from the noise and the anxiety that had knotted up inside me. When the band was stopped to change instruments, I leaned in to whisper to Alice.

"Going out for some air, back in a bit."

I slipped out the front of the club, and made my way down the street to where I could lean against a wall. It was cold, but the fresh air helped push away the smell of smoke and beer. I pulled in a few deep breaths, enjoying the crisp feeling of the night air.

"It's not safe for you to be out here alone. You never know who might swoop in and try to accost you."

I kept my eyes closed. I had come out here to clear my head. That included him.

"I'm fine. I just needed a breather. I don't need anyone to baby sit me."

"You'll catch your death out here."

I didn't want him to be here. If I didn't look at him, maybe he would get the hint and go away.

The noise from the club, or the sound of the cars, must have masked his footsteps. I didn't register the sound of him moving closer. I didn't realize he was standing next to me until I felt his arms wrap around me. He pulled me in close and ran his hands up and down my back in an attempt to chafe some warmth into me.

"You are damned stubborn. Can't you just acknowledge that I want to be out here with you?"

"Why can't you just leave me alone?" I brought my hands up to his chest in an effort to push him away. "I know that you have fun fucking with my head, but I can't deal with this. I am not a game!"

I felt totally vulnerable and exposed. I didn't understand all these feelings and reactions he brought out in me, and I didn't trust my judgment.

But instead of letting me go, Edward pulled me in tighter.

"You aren't a game. I wish you were, lord help me I wish you were. But I can't get you out of my head."

I didn't need to hear this. I pushed my hands against his chest in an attempt to break free.

"Isabella, stop. You need to hear me out, please."

I tried to push away again, but it was feeble effort at best. I liked the feeling of his arms around me.

"Say that you'll spend the day with me. I'll take you to the some of the places that you'll need to find for your research, and we can talk. Please?"

I didn't trust myself to speak. I nodded, my eyes still closed. His head dropped to my shoulder, and I could feel his breath on my neck.

"God help me, I want to stay away from you, vampire girl. But I can't."

I pulled in a sharp intake of breath as I felt his lips on exactly the spot where his hand had traced earlier at the bar. First a hesitant kiss, gentle. Then his tongue ran over the same spot. My hands were still against his chest, and they twisted into the material of his jacket and I dropped my head to the side in anticipation of more.

Without warning he dropped his arms and walked away.

"Your friend Emmett will give you a ride home. Please be safe."

And he was gone.

I slid down the wall until I was in a kneeling position. My arms instinctively wrapped around my knees.

What the hell am I doing? I'm here to work on my dissertation. I just got out of a long term, totally unfulfilling relationship. I didn't need a man around confusing my already mixed up life. This time was for me to figure out what came next.

I didn't even know who I was. How the hell was I going to figure him out?

I took one more deep breath, and then stood up. I needed to go back inside. Get something to drink, preferably non alcoholic, and get my head on straight.

Emmett and Jasper were still deep in conversation. Emmett gave me a wave as he saw me return.

"You look bloody awful. What happened?" Alice inquired. I could hear legitimate concern in her voice.

"Just a little overwhelmed is all. I'll be fine, Alice."

"My brother does tend to do that to a girl." She paused, gauging my reaction. "Although, it is a bit nice to see it turned around on him for once. He can't always have the upper hand."

I ran my hand over my face, trying to compose myself.

"Things are just confusing right now is all, Alice. I'll be fine."

"I'm sure you will. Him, not so much."

"I think I am going to call it a night." I waved at Emmett and hooked my thumb in the direction of the door.

"Are you headed home?" He called after me.

"Yes, I am beat."

"Can I call you tomorrow? I was thinking we could go sightseeing."

"I'd like that."

I gave Jasper a wave, pulled on my coat, and headed for the door. It was easy enough to catch a cab, and soon enough, I was safely ensconced in our flat. It was quiet, and I couldn't tell if Rose had come home yet.

I sat down on the sofa, and opened the note that had come with the rose. I re-read it, wondering if immobilization meant something other than what I had originally interpreted.