A/N: This is another filler chapter, too short to really be a chapter but I wanted to separate the events that happen in the next chapter from these ones. So it's short, but I have posted a new chapter almost every day so I think I'm justified. :D
Disclaimer: Reminding myself and everyone around me that I don't own Edward Cullen or his cohorts.
Finally, after 7 rounds and another bottle, we took a break, Edward was now only wearing a tight black undershirt and jeans with no belt (he convinced James one round that it was either the belt or the pants and James allowed the belt to be considered an item of clothing), James was surprisingly completely dressed in his wife beater and black dress pants, and Jasper was wearing jeans and a smile and Alice – poor Alice. She was clinging on to her dress for dear life; she had lost her underwear and bra and convinced us that she couldn't strip down completely so whenever it came time for her to strip, she simply took another shot of tequila.
Man, I am getting wasted but at least I'm having fun!
Within 15 minutes everyone at the table was feeling good. We were all talking about our lives and what we were doing. We found out that James graduated early from university with a degree in business and decided to revive Seattle's night life. Edward had just graduated and was about to start a Masters program at SU. It was amazing the effect that the alcohol was having on us. Alice and I were getting giggly, and laughing at anything anyone said. The boys were more composed, well except Jasper who momentarily forgot he was shirtless and kept asking why it was cold in the club, accusing James of messing with the temperature.
I couldn't help be let out a huge grin at the thought of someone screwing with the thermostat just to mess with Jasper. I looked over at James and saw him smiling. He looked more at ease, almost relaxed, than earlier. Like he wasn't trying to impress any of us, but was focused on having fun. He caught me staring and I flushed red. He shook his head slightly and smiled at me almost ... sweetly.
A foreign noise interrupted our talking and we found the source to be Jame's cell phone. He took the call and it was obvious that he was perturbed by the other end.
"Sorry guys, I have to cut this short. My mom just called and needs me at the hospital with her." James said begrudgingly. His sister, Tanya, was having surgery and they were expecting to hear big news within the hour.
"So I hate to go, but I want you guys to stay and have fun. Promise me I'll see you all again next week? I'm only at La Push on Fridays." He said never taking his eyes off me.
We all agreed and made planes to meet beforehand and grab some dinner. He stood up and said his goodbyes. Edward and Jasper shook his hand and Alice grinned while saying "See you soon!" His eyes gave a hint of regret when he turned to me, he leaned down closed and whispered "Until Friday..." He lingered a second longer than they should have and suddenly he was gone.
I looked around, and Edward and Jasper were whispering about something and Alice's eyes were dead set on me. She raised her eyebrow, obviously inquiring as to why James' goodbye to me was more intimate and personal than his others. I shrugged my shoulders, pretending not to know, when deep down something about the way Jame's eyes kept drifting to me, leering at me, made me very uneasy about the whole thing. It was as if he looked at me like I just made the top of his "to-do" list, right above getting milk and eggs. A shiver rippled through my body and I realized that no one had said anything for a few minutes.
"Well, I have to pee." I announced, both telling the truth and hoping to break the mood.
"Me too, let me escort you." Edward volunteered.
We stood up from the table and I quickly discovered that I was beyond drunk. I started to walk to the bathroom in the opposite direction that it actually was. I heard Edward chuckle and he put his hand on the small of my back to guide me to the correct location of the ladies room.
"Am I going to have to follow you in there to make sure you get out okay?" He said only half serious.
"Nope" I said poking him square in the chest. I turned and pushed open the bathroom door, half walking in, and half stumbling. After I finished peeing, I walked up to wash my hands. I looked at myself in the mirror and starting having that talk that all drunks girls do to psych themselves up for the kill.
God you're sexy. He knows you want him and you like that he knows. Now you just want to show off for him, tease him, let him know what he's in for. You are a sex kitten and he is your toy. It's in the bag sexy. Now just don't let him know how drunk you really are, splash some water on your face, straighten up and let's go get'em. Chins up, boobs out - it's showtime.
I winked at myself, straightened out my clothes and cleaned up my makeup. I finished washing my hair and walked confidently out of the bathroom.
As expected I ran straight into Edward who had, surprise surprise, another drink for me. I willingly took the Long Island and sucked down half of it. If I was going to do what I was planning to, a lot of liquid courage was going to be involved.
I smiled and looked up at him; he was distracted by something by the dance floor and took this opportunity to lay my plan into action. I looked over by the stage and saw that there was an opening near the area I had been previously dancing in.
Without hesitation or asking, I grabbed Edward's hand and pulled him through the crowd. We were pushing forward to the stage and I felt him grip my hand tighter. I lost my footing only slightly, reacting to the grasp he held on me. I wouldn't mind if his hand never left mine.
Oh god… oh god… This better work. If he rejects me I'll be heartbroken, crushed…
"Where are we…?" He couldn't even finish his statement because he knew exactly where we were headed: the dance floor. I grabbed his drink out of his hand, feeling braver than ever partly because of the alcohol, but mainly because of my unending need to be near him, to touch him, feel him on me.
He stood there stiff as a board, unsure of what to do. I took his drink, set it down and in a low, husky voice I whispered in his ear, "Don't worry, I'll lead, you follow."
A/N: So this chapter's short, I know - don't kill me!
And I have personally done one of those pep talks and they always seem to work.
Phantom was amazing. I'm just not sure I want to put Edward in the typical hero's role or twist it up a little and make him the villian. Personally, I have always been a bigger fan of the phantom so it may be fun to do a backwards type of fic. I'm still ratting ideas in my head.
BUT: R&R, so far I've been able to respond to all my reviews and I would love to hear where you think this is going, I've got 3 more chapters written and waiting to be posted after some editing.
Review review review :) :) :)
