24/25. Hallucinations

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BPOV

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I still couldn't see him anywhere as Jasper and Alice left to go dance leaving me and Rosalie alone to fend off the unwelcoming advances from various boys, some of them I had never seen before and a few looked old enough to be in college.

Rose was her usual self when it came to guys she wasn't interested in hitting on her. She was a plain bitch, she was nasty and put them down time after time, but they still kept it up. It was pathetic to watch and I almost felt sorry for her, it must be hard being that beautiful. My method was to act oblivious to anyone who approached me and if I couldn't, I just smiled politely at whatever they were saying.

Finally, the unwanted group of boys dispersed, and it took me only seconds to realize that the cause was Emmett. He lumbered over menacingly, his face dark and intimidating as he stared down any guy within a ten meter radius of Rosalie and me. Once he finally made his way to us he wrapped his arm around Rosalie's waist pointedly and kissed her deeply, turning to smile smugly at any boy that still had the nerve to stick around. He then slipped his other arm around my waist and pecked me on the cheek, and Rose and I erupted in a fit of giggles as Emmett growled loudly, "Mine!" as he clutched us tightly to his chest before he escorted us from the bar.

After his display of caveman possession, Emmett led us over to a couple of lounge chairs and motioned for us to sit before he took off quickly returning with drinks in hand. "Drink," he ordered, handing us each a Smirnoff mixer, and lying down next to Rosalie.

I quickly searched the crowd again for him, as Rose and Emmett got comfortable sharing a seat. I couldn't see him on the dance floor or with any of the other baseball players and I was about to give up and go talk to Mike, who I had noticed was here talking to someone. But then I noticed who he was talking to. My heart tightened as I noticed Edward's bronze hair and then it sunk to the floor when I noticed someone had their hand in those beautiful locks, and her body was sickeningly close to his. Tanya Denali was playing with Edward's hair while she pressed her body against his whispering in his ear. I couldn't make out his expression because Mike was blocking my view but I had seen enough. From the closeness of their bodies, to the flirtatious smile that played on her lips as she whispered to him, I could tell he was a goner.

My mind starting running at hyper speed as my stomach churned. I had lost my chance with Edward and he was moving on; quickly. I had stuffed up by snubbing him. I had hurt his feelings and now he was preoccupying himself with someone else. I had no one else to blame but myself; but I couldn't help the hurt and anger that burned within me. I snatched Rose's unfinished drink from the table between us and skulled it quickly before I excused myself to get more refreshments.

There was a dry ache in my chest and my eyes burned as I stormed over to the bar. My thoughts were running wild and I was breathing heavily. If he cared about me like he often ensued then why was he able to give up so easily? He obviously didn't feel the way I thought he did. Who I was kidding? It was stupid of me to hope that someone so perfect could be interested in someone like me, someone so plain and uninteresting, and someone with a multitude of baggage. But even so, I liked to think that I was better than Tanya and it disgusted me that he had chosen her. Even if he didn't want me, I wanted him to do better than her.

I ordered myself two shots, throwing them back quickly while the barman stared at me apprehensively and ordered three beers. I went to sit back with Emmett and Rose and handed them their drinks, while I chugged mine quickly.

"Someone's in a hurry," Emmett teased as I finished my beer. I gave him a pointed glance that told him I wasn't in the mood for his teasing, immediately he closed his mouth. I suddenly really didn't want to think anymore. I thought too much and there was too much to think about, Edward, James, Laurent, Jacob, Jess and Mike. It was too much. I had promised myself that I would have fun tonight and I was planning on doing that, I just needed to forget a little to do that. I leaned back in my chair marveling at how quickly the warmth of the alcohol had spread to my limbs and that's when I noticed that the three of us weren't alone.

"Can I get you another drink?" Tyler asked as he stood over my chair. My expression hardened as his eyes returned to mine after lingering on my bare legs a little longer than necessary but I nodded anyway.

"That would be great," I responded, changing my expression to give him a warm smile. I saw the hope in his eyes as he scampered to fill my request and I felt a little guilty before I shrugged to myself. Think of yourself for once, I reminded internally. What was the harm in letting Tyler get me a drink? I wasn't leading him on. It was innocent. If he read into it too much that was his fault not mine, I thought bitterly.

Rosalie leaned over me to grab her drink that I had picked up without thinking. She gave me a quizzing look. "What was all that about?" she asked quietly.

"What?" I asked innocently. "He wanted to get me a drink and I wanted one."

"What happened to Edward?" she asked raising an eyebrow. Emmett was pretending to preoccupy himself with his drink but I could tell he was listening in.

"Another boy can't get me a drink without me forgetting about Edward?" I snapped. "Besides," I continued. "That's what happened to Edward," I said nodding in the direction of where he and Tanya were standing. Mike was no longer with them and she had her back was to me as she spoke with Edward but I could see him smiling at her. I winced a little as my stomach flipped at the sight; it was his beautiful crooked smile. Rose followed my gaze and then turned to roll her eyes at me.

"So he can't talk to another girl without forgetting about you?" she asked sarcastically, throwing my words back in my face.

"It's Tanya Denali, Rose. I can't compete with that," I said somberly. Even now as I watched Tanya I knew it was true. She was Rose's cousin after all. Her long, thick, strawberry blonde hair flowed down her back in soft curls and her perfect, slim but curvy body was on display in her fitting green strapless dress. Besides Rose she was by far the most beautiful girl at the party.

Rose gave me a funny look and opened her mouth to speak but Emmet bet her to it. "Bella he is crazy about you, you would have to be a fool not to see that." He looked at me earnestly. "He keeps looking at you…no scratch that, staring at you. Trust me; he doesn't give a stuff about Tanya."

I shook my head and swallowed I wanted to believe what he said but I couldn't. "He hasn't been looking at me," I contradicted.

"Not while you've been watching Bella, he's careful. Jasper would have his ass if he knew that Edward was still after you. Trust me no matter what either of us says he's determined to continue to want you." I looked at Emmett confused and he sighed. "We think…no Jazz thinks that it would be prudent if Edward didn't try to steal you from James, even though you aren't together anymore you're still his in a way. It's a guy-slash-team thing; you don't go dipping into each other's old toys," he explained. Rosalie stared at him in disgust and slapped him.

"Bella can date whoever she wants, it's not up to James," she growled.

"Hey," Emmett raised his hands in defense. "It's not my fault, I don't care if they both want to get it on, Jasper has the problem not me; he doesn't want any issues in the team."

"Stuff the team," Rosalie spat.

"Rose," I said quietly. "It's ok, they're right… it's too soon…I can't," I stuttered, realizing the helplessness of the situation. I didn't want to cause trouble for Edward and the other guys; it was bound to happen. Even if James didn't care about me anymore, I knew he didn't like Edward and he was likely to jump at a reason to wail on him which would mean the guys would have to choose sides. And that was based on the assumption that Edward did like me, which I wasn't sure of despite Emmett's reassurance that he did.

"No it's not," Rosalie began to argue but was interrupted by Tyler who had returned with drinks for us all. He handed a beer to Emmett and a couple of girlie drinks to Rose and me. Rosalie didn't even try to hide the disgust as Tyler sat down next to me and made himself comfortable, I gave her a hard glare sending her a mental message to drop it. Thankfully she complied, turning to face a pouting Emmett, who obviously hadn't gotten over Rosalie's previous comments about the team.

I tried to feign interest in the things Tyler was telling me and the night seemed to drag on forever. The only peace I got was when he left to get us new drinks-I learned to down them quickly in order to get the five minute break from him. I didn't care about his hobbies, what he was going to do next year, or where he was going to study. I really didn't care. All I could do was nod and drink and I was starting to feel rather inebriated after a few hours and a few too many drinks.

Rosalie and Emmett had left us a long time ago to go dance or make out or whatever. I tried to get away from Tyler, making a point to move from where we had been talking to mingle with other guests. I was sure to always avoid Edward and Tanya, who seemed to never leave his side. But Tyler always found me. The only positive thing about that was, he brought more booze.

I caught Edward looking at me often during the night but it did nothing to dispel my worries. He didn't once come talk to me, and when he did look at me he seemed to be frowning or glaring and in my drunken stupor-I couldn't tell if it was at me or at Tyler.

Somehow, I ended back where Tyler first found me with Rose and Emmett-except it was a lot later and the other two weren't around. I only faintly remembered going back to the seats, but had no idea how Tyler's arm found its way around my shoulders, all I knew was I didn't like it. I tried to straighten myself and subtly shrug his arms off me but he wouldn't budge. It was then that I noticed his eyes were closed and he was dribbling on my shoulder. Disgusted, I tried to push him off me but his limp body fell forward onto mine, pinning me to the chair.

"Tyler, get off me," I groaned, pushing helplessly at his head, it lolled to the side and he moaned but he didn't move.

"Arghh," I cried out. "Get off!" I tried to shove him again but it was useless, I was too weak and intoxicated and he was too heavy, he didn't budge an inch. I spent what felt like the next ten minutes fighting with Tyler's comatose body before I gave up. I looked around the backyard and noticed that the party had mostly dispersed or had gone inside. Most of the guests had paired off and were sitting together in various places around the yard and I could hear loud music thumping inside. I couldn't see Rose or Alice anywhere and was about to call out when someone from behind us spoke.

"Need some help?" A velvety voice asked. I tilted my head up to look above me at the sound of Edwards voice and saw his smirking face. Instantly I felt myself blush.

"Please," I groaned, trying again to push Tyler off me. Chuckling Edward walked around the lounger chair and, not so gently, pushed Tyler's deadweight off me and onto the ground where he landed with an audible thump. Surprisingly, Tyler only moaned and rolled over making himself more comfortable on the damp grass.

I stood up quickly, re-arranged my outfit, and turned to thank Edward but he just shook his head.

"I've wanted to do something like that to him all night," he chuckled staring down at me with his crooked grin. I felt my heart falter as I took in his appearance fully for the first time tonight; he was wearing dark jeans and a black shirt which was tight enough to show off his broad and sculpted frame. His lips were slightly red from drinking sprits and his hair was its normal sexy disarray. He looked amazing. I almost forgot how to speak.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes," he nodded still smiling, "Ever since he started talking to you." I shook my head at his words; I couldn't even comprehend what he was saying.

"B-but," I looked at him confused. "Tanya?" I looked around us and noticed to my relief she wasn't at his side anymore.

"Tanya is somebody who can't take a hint…much like your friend here," he said indicating Tyler's sleeping form. I couldn't help the elation I felt at those words.

He doesn't want her! my mind shouted

"So you haven't replaced me with her?" I blurted out before slapping my hands across my mouth in horror. "Oh my god! I didn't mean to say that out loud!"

He laughed loudly at my words. "I didn't realize you were mine to replace," he said smiling but then his expression turned hard, "But if you were…mine that is, I would never replace you." I stared at him in absolute disbelief before I stamped my foot

"Damn it!" I growled loudly stamping my foot again. "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

"What?" he asked stunned at my sudden outburst.

"I'm still under Tyler aren't I? And he's cutting off my airflow and I'm hallucinating!" I threw my hands up in the air. "Damn it!" I tried to stamp my foot again but this time the ridiculously long heel on my stupid shoes sunk into the soft ground and I pitched forward. As per usual, Edward caught me winding his warm arms around my waist to hold me up as he stared down at me with a mixed expression of bewilderment and amusement.

"What are you on about?" he asked looking at me with his confused green emeralds.

"I'm hallucinating," I mumbled, shaking my head. "You're not real."

"Um, I've very real Bella," he laughed. "How much have you had to drink?"

"Irreleevvant," I said dismissing his question but answering it as I slurred the word. "I know that you're not really here saying those things. You're really off somewhere with Tanya," I huffed.

"You are unbelievable," he chuckled pressing me to his chest. "I'm real Bella, honestly," he assured again as he pushed me away from him, still staring at me. I felt a momentary loss at being away from his warmth and I could feel myself pout.

"Prove it," I dared him. "Prove that you are real and I'm not imagining this." He frowned slightly at my words and I could tell he was thinking hard about what he was going to do, finally his face lit up and his smile turned smug, I felt my heart falter for the umpteenth time as he took me in his arms smiling devilishly.

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Nope it's not the kissing chap….man I'm so evil. But I bet you can guess its coming next. So get to reviewing and maybe…just maybe you might get this chapter before Monday…maybe even Saturday…just depends how much you want it. Hint hint!