I have written and rewritten this Chapter a dozen times and I am still not happy with it. So it is mostly filler. So sorry guys!!!
No Copyright infringement intended.

Chapter 5

I realized, as I was getting ready that I was nervous. Un-fucking- believe-ably nervous. I stood in front of the closet with my robe on and hair wrapped up turban style, trying to find my favorite jeans and a halfway decent shirt. I didn't really have the desire to get all fancy schmancy after the roller coaster of emotions that I had ridden on earlier, nor did I feel the need to try to fit in with the 20 something's who would be out there shaking their asses. I finally settled on a black backless halter top a matching jean jacket and big silver hoops for the ears. In fifteen minutes I was ready and nervous.

The doorbell chimed. When I looked out I could see that the porch was loaded with my new friends. It was soon decided that we would grab some dinner then go from there. Like a middle school dance we split guys and girls for the drive to the NET, a local dive, the girls told me had the best burgers and onion rings.

Like the Spanish Inquisition, the torture began shortly.

"Soooo, what did you and Edward discuss when we left?" Alice literally bounced in her seat when she shut the car door.

"Alice! Give the girl some time to buckle her seat belt" Rose hissed.

"We discussed the probability of me being a serial killer and that I could possibly be the next black widow." I replied.

" I knew we shouldn't have left him there with you." Alice didn't even blink when I gave her my smart-ass response, " he can have the tendency to see and bring the worst in people. "

"No, really it wasn't that bad. He did have some questions about my intentions with you, and he said he thought I might be a good piece on ass."

The car swerved and came about an inch from hitting the guard rail;as there was chaos erupting in the car. I do believe that Rose forgot she was driving for a minute - as her head whipped around. I am assuming it was to look at my face to see if she could tell if I was serious or not.

There was a moment when all you could hear was something like this "OH MY GOD! -HE DIDN'T!-YOU LIE!-WATCH THE FUCKING ROAD!- OH SHIT!-OH MY GOD!"

I am not sure who exactly said what though.

Thankfully, Rose righted the car quickly. It was like she channeled the spirit of Dale Earnhardt there for a minute. I didn't even want to think what the guys were thinking as they were watching all of this unfold behind us in the car.

We had a moment of silence. It was I think so we could all make sure that we didn't need to go home and change our clothes. But of course, being the ladies that we were no one us would own up to it.

"Well that was enough excitement for me for one evening." I deadpanned. "You can take me home now."

We were all snickering- the panic had passed. Don't get me wrong, were all still a little shook up. There is nothing like sharing a life or death experience with someone to bring you closer.

We pulled into the parking lot of the bar. As we were getting out of the car, the guys were pulling in.

"What the hell was that? Rose you scared the crap out of me!" Jasper yelled as he grabbed Alice by the arms to make sure she was OK.

"I was just showing Bella my amazing reaction capabilities," Rose replied over her shoulder as she joined Emmett and started walking toward the door.

We entered the bar and quickly found our table. It wasn't to long before we were elbow deep in burgers, onion rings, pitchers of beer, and just plain good conversations.

As I drank my Miller, I looked around the table at my new friends and was really enjoying myself. Alice was sitting on Jasper's knee feeding him onion rings, Rose was watching Emmett stuff the biggest burger I had ever seen in my life into his mouth. Edward was sitting beside me, looking at me. WHAT?

"Do I have something on my face?" I asked him

"No, I was just looking." he replied with a half smile.

"Oh, well let me know if I am going to embarrass myself would ya?" I told him. It was disconcerting to have someone staring at you. Much less having someone who could have been a stand in for a male model in GQ. I am not being silly- the man is beautiful.

It was decided by our own little tour guide that we would head across the street for a little rhythm therapy. I like to dance, only when I am by myself and the blinds are shut. I am more of a closet dancer. I tend to get nervous when I think people are watching me, and have been know to fall,numerous times in one night.

Alice was thinking I needed something a little stronger than beer, or at least that's what I was hoping she was thinking when she got a round of shots. Tequila, lemons and salt were passed around. I am just glad there were no suggestions of body shots. Licking, sucking and slamming in front of these people was enough for me. I wasn't worried about holding my alcohol, I had held my own with those guys in Phoenix. In fact, it was kind of a running joke with James and his buddies that I could drink most of them under the table. Lightweights, I would tease them. I was just starting that trip down memory lane...

"It's going to be OK" a male voice whispered in my ear. Jasper had read my mind.

"Thanks" I said as I turned to face him. " I am a little nervous. This is the first time I have really been out in a long time."

Emmett had leaned in, "no reason to be nervous in here, everyone knows us."

"That's what I am afraid of." I chuckled.

Alice and Rose were up talking to the DJ that was setting up for the evening. It seemed that they were selecting music for the evening. I turned back to the bartender and ordered a jack and coke. Edward was talking to a pretty blond that was sitting at the bar. She was pretty in a way that reminded me of a wanna - be actress, you know the type, everything is perfect. To perfect to be real, hair- is -to blond, teeth are to white. I wondered if she was his typical type.

Alice plopped down next to me on the stool. "Billy said that he would get things going here in about an hour. What are you drinking Bella?"

"What things are we getting going and a jack and coke."

"Aren't you worried about getting sick? I can't mix drinks at all"

"it has never really bothered me."

"Let's go play some pool in the game room." Rose said, she had returned from the bathroom. I was glad to learn that these girls didn't find it a necessity to travel in packs to the bathroom all the time.

The game room was attached to the back bar there were a few people in here. We grabbed a table and a high top that was nearby. I sat down at the table. I wasn't a big pool player, more content to watch. I noticed that Edward didn't come back with us. I wasn't sure that I cared. I soon was laughing and cheering the girls on as they played their men and was smack talking. Alice was a little bit of a pool shark.

There was a jukebox in the corner. I decided to go check it out. There was a nice mix of music on it, I was surprised. I chose some oldies but goodies, and made my way back to our table. It was beginning to get crowded. I was stopped a couple of times by guys with the same lame pick up lines that I heard when I was 21 and would go out with our friends. By the time I made it back to our table, my songs were playing. Rag Doll by Aerosmith blared out over the speakers. It is impossible not to walk to the beat of the beginning of that song...

Alice caught my eye and tilted her head towards the table. I saw that Edward had joined us, and he had a tag along. The girl from the bar was sitting in my seat.

"Ahh, there she is now, Bella, I was just telling Lauren that we were taking you out tonight to show you the town." Edward waved me over to the table.

I could tell that Lauren was less than thrilled to meet me. She did the appraising look with the quick surmise that I wasn't competition, leaned her body into Edward, and said," So nice of these guys to invite you out, it must be very hard moving to a new town alone and not knowing anyone."

"Actually everyone I have met so far has been wonderful. I feel as though I fit right in with the atmosphere." liar, liar, my pants on fire.

"Bella, let's head over to the other bar and get a drink." Rose, said as she came up beside me.

As we walked back over to the other side, I noticed a pained look cross Edward' s face. I almost felt as though I should turn around and go rescue him some how. But, he's a big boy right?

We grabbed another round of drinks and Alice joined us. She bounced up to the rail where we were watching the dancers on the dance floor. "Let's go." she shouted.

"Go? Go home? " I shouted back.

"No, let's GO!"

"I don't dance. At least not in public places."

"To bad, so sad," Rose shouted back at me as they lead me on to the dance floor.

I made it through the wilderness...
Somehow, I made it through...

Laughing our asses off to Rose mimicking Madonna's "Like a Virgin" video, I realized maybe earlier I wasn't such a liar. I was enjoying myself. I never was a dancer, but I could keep up with the Rose and Alice, thanks to some strip aerobics I had taken.

I was beat... incomplete

I was turning in a circle, not paying attention to what was going on...

"I've nothing to hide. Like a Virgin"

I guess that's how I ended up dancing with Mike from the sporting good store the other day. I felt hands on my hips coming from behind me and all I could see was Alice's face.

It was a mix of horrified laughter and astonishment. I was hoping the laughter was from the look on my face when I realized who was slobbering in my ear, and not my dancing.

"Hey Newton, Lauren is in the back bar, she was talking about how much she missed you." Rose leaned in and grabbed Mike's arm. I used this as my diversion tactic to move across to dance beside Alice.

"She is? hey thanks Rosie, about the other day, I am sorry. Where is that new girl? I would like to tell her sorry too. " Burp, Mike was holding on to Rose now, it was as if he needed to be touching someone to be able to stand.

I guess he didn't recognize the ass he was holding on to. Not that I was complaining.

"You had better hurry Mike, she said she was going home early." Alice interjected.

Mike tripped going up the stairs as he scurried to the other bar.

As it turns out the guys were looking for us, drinks in hand. It was a little breath taking to see the three cutest guys in the bar walking towards us. Emmett grabbed Rose's hand and lead her back out on the dance floor to finish dancing to "Brick house." Alice and Jasper were cuddling, leaning up against the rail. I think she was soothing his hurt feelings over beating him earlier.

Watching the bodies on the dance floor, I was very much aware of the warm body pressed up against my side. Maybe I should stop with the whiskey. It seems to be doing strange things with my temperature regulation. The table that we were standing beside was empty, so I slipped off my jacket and set my drink down. I was thinking about that country song, something about tequila and clothes, but I couldn't exactly remember the way it went.

"Are you having fun?" Edward said, having to lean in close for me to be able to hear him. Dear God! This man smelled good enough to lick, a mixture of soap and the best smelling cologne that I have ever smelled.

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME?

Note to self, no more jack and coke, or tequila, ever.

"Yes, are you?" there that was a well put together reply. I thought smugly.

"I like seeing them have a good time." He gestured to Alice, Jasper, Emmett, and Rose. They were all dancing to Bust a Move. Emmett was doing the running man and the lawn mower. Rose was acting like she didn't know him. It was very cute, nice to see people who could give a crap what people around them thought. There was a decent amount of people on the dance floor. It was around midnight. I wasn't really sure when it had gotten so late. The DJ was playing mostly older music that everybody knows. It was nice.

Edward and I were still people watching and making small talk. It seemed neither one of us wanted to shout, and I wasn't about to get myself within licking room again. I felt I could finally a few songs later, when Alice noticed us. She motioned for us to come out to the floor. Vanilla Ice was playing, I was enjoying watching them have fun, I just wasn't so sure I wanted to partake myself.

"Where did Lauren take off to?" I asked.

"Mike came in and swept her off of her feet."

"With his breath?"

Edward laughed. "They have been a couple for years. We all went to school together. She isn't my type, I have to remind her of that every once in a while, then she runs back to Mike."

"It must be hard having to turn all the women away." Captain Smartass at your service.

"I didn't mean it like that." "She isn't my type."

"So what is?"

"What?"

"Your type? Never mind you don't have to answer that."

"No, I can answer, I like smart women, who aren't afraid of a little adventure. Someone who can enjoy a evening out with me and my friends." He did have the most amazing brown eyes. They were the color topaz. When had I noticed this?

The rest of our party joined us at the table. Playfully making fun of one another.

"I am going for one more drink then we are all dancing." Alice informed us.

Oh, what the hell, in for a minute, in for a mile. I thought as I walked with them over to the bar. I wasn't sloppy- I never got sloppy. I just felt good. We returned to the table with our drinks.

"Where did they go?" Rose asked Alice.

"Oh my God" I said. Big chug of drink- now, I had the feeling I wasn't going to be left behind when they returned to dance. "They are dancing"

On the floor, there was an awesome rendition of Michael Jackson's Thriller going on.