Chapter 11 Ring a Ring o' Roses

A/N: Oh, Steph how we love you and your fantastic imagination. All characters are hers!

Yes, these chapter titles are based on Nursery Rhymes; some titles/rhymes are infused into the chapter, others are not, they are merely representative. I'll tell you though, it has been a great starting place, inspirationally, for those times when a chapter is more difficult to get out. You all did great with your guesses, thank you for taking the time! And here we go …

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APOV - Thursday Night, Early Evening

Knock -knock -knock, went the rap of my anxious knuckles on the aggravatingly impenetrable suite door.

"Come on …" I was near whining and it wasn't doing a bit of good. If he were able to see the pout I have going on over here on this side of the door, he'd be a goner. For sure. And it was true; my puppy-dog face put all others to shame. But no one succumbed to its begging quite like Edward.

I rested my cheek against the cold wood, the feeling of defeat setting in.

I'd been banging and pleading for close to forty-five minutes, but no response had come. I knew he was in there. God, I had seen Edward walk into Pike Tower with my own eyes, but had, for the first time in my life, been too slow in my pursuit. He must have sprung into an all out sprint when he heard me calling out to him. By the time I'd made it to the penthouse floor all seemed dead within 7A, and nothing had changed in the almost-hour that had passed.

I really wasn't trying to push him. There had been an overreaction on my part, the night of the Welcome to America party, which had led Edward to turn in early and me to remain distant. After elaborating, though, on what a fantastically misunderstood guy my best friend was with the girls and Jasper Tuesday night, I'd been dying to spend some 'us' time. I really knew nothing about London and why he'd decided to come home so abruptly, and life … I didn't know what his everyday stuff was like these days. Basically, I was missing E tremendously.

I would never have guessed things were going this poorly, though. To be ignored for this amount of time, left stranded in the hall. Edward just didn't shut me out. He always needed me there when he was drowning. Literally.

I was excellent at reading him, so he often left it to me to "shrink" his crazy boy brain, figure out the issue and then kick his ass into fixing it. If he's this detached, perhaps the guy doesn't want you to know this problem.

We just didn't keep secrets. So, if Edward was avoiding me to maintain privacy then whatever was plaguing him was a huge deal.

When Edward felt like a dick for having sex with three different girls, all in one night, during last year's freshman rush he told me. After Jessica came to him claiming to be pregnant, he ran straight to me; even though I'd always detested Stanley for the whore she'll forever be and had never made a secret of it. Well, honestly, the degree of my hatred now is mostly intolerance of her inabilities then … to figure out birth control, or a pregnancy test, or being human. Damn moron. But he still relied on me even though he'd worried I'd think less of him. Which I did - and didn't; he was more important than the hatred and the all around revulsion towards a skank.

He confided in me with parental issues, squandering his potential issues, Emmett issues – no matter how male and shallow – and he'd even come crawling back, groveling incessantly after drunkenly trying to feel me up; even offering up his face, thinking that punching him would make me feel better, more in control again. But I just laughed at him, because no way would I punch Edward for just being himself; and my head found its spot on his shoulder and that was that.

I slid down the door, my full weight pulling and guiding me quickly. I dug around in my Chanel and found the small note pad and decided a different tactic was needed.

E, I love you and you don't have to tell me, but I am here. Ali

I ripped the slip of paper free from its leather binding and slid the note, face up, under Edward's door. But the paper wouldn't go more than half way, like it was coming up against something on the other side, and then suddenly the paper was snatched from my fingers and completely disappeared.

I must have been a sight - and giving quite the show to any passerby - perched on my knees attempting to peer under Edward Cullen's suite door. Ass undoubtedly hanging out. So, I turned myself around and let my back, resting on the wood, hold me up.

I felt a thud on the door like someone was pressing their weight into it, and I waited.

The lock turned first and then the handle; finally Edward's entry way was in full view.

"You were sitting on the other side the entire time?" My sullen Cullen – I'd secretly called him this for years - just looked at me and walked away towards the bar, grabbing lime Perrier for me and a long necked bottle for himself.

"Well, I did learn something new." I quipped, following him. "You are the quietest breather alive. Quite the hidden talent I'd say. You know I have supersonic hearing and never made out even one single sigh. And since you're such a sac of blah, I'm sure there have been quite a few of those. Perhaps you are destined for the circus." I was trying not to be testy and make him regret letting me in, so that really meant I needed to stop talking.

And then no one spoke and we were getting nowhere.

"Do you remember at your welcome home party when I was sort of a bitch for no reason?" There wasn't much use in pretending to be bashful or pitiful; we both knew he always forgave me.

After a long drink he replied, "Yep. Remember when I forgot to thank you for said party and proceeded to allow your silly avoiding games 'cause I got all wrapped up in my own shit?"

I nodded and we both smiled. Mine was more blinding than Edward's though, I was pretty sure, considering his looked exhausted and somewhat pained.

"So, obviously, you were expecting company?" I'd moved to lean against his bedroom door jam and was taking sarcastic stock of the filthy mess before me. Clothing was strewn everywhere, his blankets taking up residence on the floor in a heap, but the most haphazard, as well as interesting, area was his desk. Piano composition rolls were draped every which way and they were written on. Music notes filled staff after staff and I was floored.

"You're composing again. Did you begin this in London?" My fingers gingerly connected with an edge of the nearest page.

"No, I couldn't sleep last night …" Edward palmed his eye right on cue.

"All this in one night?" I questioned, highly skeptical that such a vast amount of work could be laid to paper in eight hours. Not to mention it took E weeks to perfect one sheet, let alone an entire roll. And he didn't even have a piano in here, just a keyboard. Edward always took to ivory when writing something this definite, this audacious.

"… Or the night before, I guess." He smiled down at me with one side of his mouth refusing to turn up. So, I zipped around and collected his clothing, flung the bed sheets into order, and sat Mr. Hello I'm a Train Wreck at the foot. With him sitting, we were eye-to-eye.

"I promised you didn't have to tell me. But now that I'm here, and were having such a great time, " -he always appreciated my dry wit- " do you maybe want to fill me in?"

He pulled back from my hands, which had been perched on his respective shoulders.

"Alice." This was a warning. Why is he shutting me out?

I moved to give him some literal space and stretched out on the bed next to his ridged, hunching form. New topic? It was worth a try.

"I have new friends." At this he mimicked my horizontal comfort, resting his head on a propped up elbow.

"Oh really? Anybody hot?" His playful twinkle was fighting its way back, and that was exactly what I wanted, so I kept on.

"Of course. They are my friends. Well, you sort of know some of them already."

"Go on."

"Obviously you know Rosalie and Jasper Hale." The recoiling reaction I received from that was a step backwards in our progress. Shit.

"No Edward, they aren't what you think. I really like them." I threw in a quick smile. "And they also have a cousin - Emmett may have mentioned her - her name is Bella and she's wonderful. Rose and her don't really get along, well, neither do Rose and Jas, but -" My mile a minute confession slash desperate, and quite incomplete, attempt to convince him of their merit was interrupted.

"Wait." Edward was on his feet now, but otherwise still as stone.

"Everyone knows Rosalie Hale's a raging, totalitarian monster. And, Jas? How could you possibly have been around him long enough to throw around a nick name like that?" He paused, and I let him take a second, because I knew he wasn't finished. Edward was turned away from me now, speaking to the window, hands thrusting through his trademark locks. "And Emmett did mention Bella … but only in relation to Jasper … and fucking."

I could have sworn he held his breath after that.

"That was a misunderstanding." I'd promised not to talk about this anymore.

Edward was wound so tightly I honestly was beginning to worry. He purposefully avoided my eyes while collapsing next to me, spreading his arms out to complete the top of a 'T.'

I rested my head back on an outstretched arm and followed his cue by keeping my eyes trained towards the ceiling. For whatever reason he's keeping a secret from you, but you ARE going to give him space and you WILL let him come to you in his own time.

I could be patient for my friend. For today, at least.

"So … Jas huh?" I could hear the smile in his voice and that, in combination with thoughts of Jasper, warmed me.

"He's amazing, Edward." My animation shook the bed.

"You've felt that way for a while, haven't you?" He knows me so well. My irreplaceable friend turned his faraway eyes to me. "And here I thought you enjoyed supporting me at practices; it would make sense you were there to gawk and drool over him." This came with smiling and teasing and love. You're the first amazing one, Edward.

He turned back to the ceiling then.

"He's not good enough for you, Ali." The sentiment was clearly somber and no-nonsense.

"Will you get to know Jasper better before you make that your final opinion, please?"

And Edward would, because he loved me. And I would figure out a way to help him through his problems because, god knows, I loved him.

EmPOV - Friday

I'd been avoiding the suite at all costs the last couple of days, what with Ed being all moody and temperamental while incessantly banging away on that damn keyboard. You'd think a guy would be allowed to get some much needed rest in his own space and not be forced to sit awake, at three in the morning, by his insane relative; one might also think that Edward should stop acting like a woman and get over this emotional apocalypse. That 'one' I was referring to - no shocker here – was me! This had to stop.

"Go out, take what you want and leave the other shit behind. All will be right again," had been my advice to him this morning at six, when I was heading to the pool for laps and he remained crouched over the previous night's musical hurricane. Bitch was a mess.

I had no idea if he would follow my advice, or what the issue was to begin with, and truthfully I really didn't care if he moped all fucking day as long as he got over it by tonight. I'd see Edward in Calc and English, I'd avoid his depressed ass during free period, get him pumped at practice for our match tomorrow and then insist he make an appearance at Rose and Ali's party. Since London I hadn't seen the proper return of my wing-man. This event was not optional.

Dry and feeling alive from my work out, I was in my Calc seat before the bell rang. Ed was looking more alert, while finally sitting upright, and even smiled back when Alice flashed her sparkling teeth our way. Good thing man, I'm going to need your presence of mind tonight. Girls were drawn in by tortured not torturous.

And if anyone could teach being tortured, brooding and undeniable, it was my baby brother. Lucky for him everyone had missed out on this recent split from reality. I knew for a fact that Angela and Ben were taking a break, and that meant a recommencement of her and Edward's arrangement. I wonder if the hermit even knows. Getting with her should kick him out of this funk.

Edward didn't usually occupy so much of my concern but he'd never given me reason before this week – first scaring the shit out of me and second exhausting the fuck out of himself. He'd been consistently one way our entire mature life – this was not his way. Dude, you're overreacting. He's just adjusting to Fremont again. London sucked. Give him time. Maybe a little Angela action will charge him back to full capacity.

"I hear Ben's pretty messed up over Angela needing a break… again. What's the deal with him anyway? What guy wastes his freedom and dates seriously now? It's supposed to be about quantity, not quality. We have forever to be old bastards who settle."

Edward just looked at me and shrugged.

"So, you gonna call Ang?"

"Sure." At least he seemed as disengaged as per-usual – or his prior "per-usual," before he went cyborg.

"You always said she was your favorite regular. There's no substitute for raging break up sex."

"That's true." He smiled like the cocky son of a bitch he was and I could finally see the lost fire in him returning.

"Actually, she'll be at the party tonight."

"She?" His eyes were still hazy.

"Dude, Angela. She's the only girl we were talking about."

"Right. And the party's at Rose and Bella's place?" With this question, some of his seconds-previous calm was disturbed. He's too interested. My brother always jumped on board at the last second, details be damned. Determining to go to a party before the last possible moment was an over commitment for him. It may not make sense, but it was Edward's charm. He didn't give a flying fuck about anything. Except Alice. Okay, yes, except Alice. Maybe piano, too. Shhhh.

I had a theory brewing now, and needed to clear my head so I could test it in a way he wouldn't see coming.

"That's right. Rose and Alice are throwing it. I never told you that I got straightened out on that Bella stuff. It wasn't true."

But he didn't flinch, didn't get excited, didn't get pissed. He was non-responsive.

Okay, I guess that theory is dead.

I guess it would make sense that Edward was a mess over a chick; there's a first time for everything. And since his changes aligned with Bella's sudden materialization into our lives I'd thought maybe. Whatever. They say it's dangerous to try and understand the deranged because then you start to question your own sanity – it was apparently this huge motherfucking cycle that I really couldn't afford to get caught up in. I'm in junior classes for a reason. No point burning out the only brain cells I've got over Ed.

I'd let him figure it out.

"You'll be at the party." I didn't ask, or tell. I stated how he was going to have my back tonight – crazy or not.

"Yeah."

"Cool." He didn't need to know I actually wanted him there. I didn't have to turn into a woman too.

RPOV – Friday

"Okay, guys, put one tank in each corner and go ahead and wind a hose into the bottom of every one, then turn the water on full blast. There should be dye pills in the tanks already."

Alice was General of this operation, being that she was essentially a professional party planner. I would co-host with her when the time came, but first I'd been given the job of acquiring the muscle – I use that term loosely since we were talking about Fremont guys – to haul around all our larger than life décor.

Massive, three hundred and sixty gallon fish tanks – sans fish, but plus dyed, blue water, glitter and waterproof light tracks that ran throughout – were stationed at each of the four corners of the sitting room. The DJ would plug in where my velvet settee normal sat, which currently resided in my safe-from-vomit bedroom. The bar needed to be front and center, near the kitchenette, so it'd have access to water, and would be manned by this junior named Ben who always mixed my Grenadine cocktails just right.

The well endowed, as far as strength was concerned - since for many of these guys their other areas were sadly a bit touch and go, if my memory served me correctly – of Pike's third floor filled my suite, being good little slaves and succumbing to every one of Ali's whims.

"Great. Now, those tanks will take about an hour to fill up, so please watch them closely. If you two will grab the tables from the hallway and set one up there and the other there, that would be wonderful. Oh and you, you can grab the buckets and cases of beer and liquor and set them by the bar." Alice looked up to catch my eye.

"Rose, what do you think? Still a little sparse, huh? I think I was right about the lighted floor tiles – I am so glad I went ahead and rented those. Hey you, yes you, can you grab a couple other guys and start hauling in the large tiles, please? Oh, thank you! Help me move these bags, Rose, so we can connect the floor."

That had been three hours, two attempts at the dance floor, and one significant face plant – god Bella, two left feet much – ago. It was six now and we'd ordered in from Monsoon on the Hill, because what kind of pre-party didn't include Asian fusion?

Mouths full and anticipation churning, the three of us sat cross legged on the nightmare floor – although, I had to admit the lights from the floor and the fish tanks gave you a surreal underwater experience.

"Damn Alice, this place looks amazing." I couldn't help the awe; it was automatic and unavoidable.

"Thank you, thank you." She took little half-bows and then laughed at herself.

"We've got to get going, though, if we want to be ready on time."

Alice gathered up our empty containers, discarded them, and ushered us into my room. Bella and I were fairing pretty well, considering all of the time we'd been spending together with Alice. Ali seemed to think that being a group was a fantastic idea, but really I didn't know if I could stomach Bella so constantly.

Like now, she was draped across the settee just zoning out. We had major makeup, hair and dressing to do and she couldn't care less.

"Come on Bella, let's start with your hair."

"You know Alice, I think I'm going to grab a quick shower. Hot water sounds sinfully fantastic right now." Alice, obviously disappointed at having her project walk out the door, turned on me.

"Are you two fighting?" I'd guess the look she was giving me was her eagle eye, but it was way more menacing and fairy-like.

"No more than usual. God, Alice, Bella lives in her own world. And in that world it doesn't matter what you wear to a party or the time it takes to look properly fabulous. Now, since we have our own world to get to – lets."

It was moisturizer, bobby pins, red lipstick, Chanel No. 5, black and white lace, style irons and black eyeliner for miles once we began.

My room was definitely the larger of the two in our suite. Because we lived on the top floor, odd ceiling indentions littered our spacious living areas. Bella's room, in particular, had angular cutouts and protrusions which left less walking and storage space. My room was quite rectangular though; large enough, in height and width, to accommodate my queen canopy bed plus all of my clothing and shoe storage.

I had a professional makeup counter and vanity next to my additional clothing rack, which was keeping our dresses for the evening, and a couple last minute options, hanging safely within their garment bags.

In heals, lingerie and silk robes Ali and I put the finishing touches on our hair and faces as I filled her in on the goings on of the day.

"So, did you hear about Angela and Ben - you know, the guy we have covering the bar tonight?"

"Yeah, I know Ben - but I know Angela better." She rolled her eyes, clearly alluding to her foresight of the very near future and keen memory of the repetitive past. Ali knew all things Edward Cullen. And Cullen had a permanent punch on Angela Weber's post break up fuck card.

"I bet you do." I grinned wickedly at all the titillating knowledge only Alice's tiny head held.

"Why? Are they on a "break" again?" Alice seemed a little distant in her interest, or perhaps just distracted.

"God, of course they are. Why they've spent over a year breaking up only to get back together is a mystery to me? Seriously, what could the point be? Either find someone you want to be with or fuck everyone. I didn't make the rules, but I sure as hell worship them. Anything else just causes little bitch drama."

"Well, Ben and Angela are always on the outs, it was only a matter of time really."

"So, obviously you'll be seeing less of Edward now that Angela's all hot and horny for kinky shit she's been missing out while coasting with white bread Ben."

"I haven't seen him too much lately, anyway. But we talked yesterday and he's really concerning me. Maybe getting his favorite spur of the moment action will straighten him out."

"It isn't like he'll have to go out of his way to claim her. Sometimes I think Angela only breaks up with Ben when she needs another go around with Eddie. I doubt he'll even make it through the door tonight." The idea that someone would be getting some later, and that I was still hard pressed to think of anyone but Emmett, was starting to incessantly grate on me. Maybe what's grating isn't the thinking but your own inaction. You're a fucking doer, Rosalie. Cut the shit and claim him. But I didn't want to as they say 'hit it and quit it.' I wanted him to only want to fuck me. I wanted him with only me, every night and every day.

I was losing my stronghold, as well as my attention span apparently. Alice's next words brought me from my daydream into total intrigue. Who could resist juicy predilection gossip?

"God, if he only heard you call him that he'd think I put you up to it. I'd tell you more, but I can't. Let's just say, he really enjoys that name … just not in public." She had a glint to her eye, as she knew she was teasing me with classified information. If she told Edward's secrets she couldn't be trusted with mine, and that's why I knew she wouldn't budge even if I begged. Alice was solid.

"Maybe we'll hear Angela screaming it from Bella's bedroom later tonight."

"Lucky Edward." We laughed raucously at that, although what was actually whipping us into such frenzy were the quickly approaching festivities. Nobody can resist a good party.

"Okay, I'm clean and dry." Bella was rose red. Her shower must have been scorching to leave her that lingeringly flushed.

Knocking sounded from the front room.

"Shit. That is probably the caterer and the wait staff. They're early. Rose, you curl B's hair, I'll go get them set up."

Bella swiveled around to take stock of her options. Alice was already out the door and I was sitting behind the mirror brandishing a hot style iron. It was like I could hear the wheels turning. Her response didn't disappoint.

"You've waited for years for an opportunity to burn the hell out of me. I won't make it that easy, Hale."

"Oh, silly cousin, I've already burned the hell out of you, and it was easy. Now I'm bored with that, so get your snarky ass over here and let me do what I do."

Bella hesitated, a permanent sneer adorning her lips.

"I don't trust you, but seeing as Alice will pussy punch you if do anything to sully this shin dig I think I can take my chances."

Smart-ass retort. But true.

"She is a force, isn't she?" My rhetorical question created the break in conversation that would be the only thing to get me through this Alice-concocted ordeal.

I combed through her hair and felt ridiculous acting like girlfriends, meticulously doting, brushing, curling, applying and perfecting someone who I despised. Alice is conniving. And I thought I had ways. Alice was her own realm of Machiavellian regime.

It all felt absent minded - since I could turn a horse beautiful without ten percent of my efforts - but I began to become more comfortable as I fell into the familiarity of adding shine to her hair and a perfect coat of mascara to her enviously long lashes.

"So, how do you think Edward Cullen came to love the nick name Eddie? I find that insider info tantalizing. Anything that gives me the upper hand is dreadfully intoxicating. I would think you feel the same way, Bella. It's a woman's prerogative to feast on power."

Really, I just wanted to know if she'd been eavesdropping, intentionally or otherwise, on Alice and my earlier conversation. Without delivering it correctly, though, she'd see right through me. I still have some tricks. I smiled inwardly at my panache for everything malignant. No, you're supposed to be loosening those bitch strings, Rose, remember? Oh yeah.

Never the less, I wanted to know.

"Is that what Angela will be screaming from my room? Eddie? How fantastic for me, and my love for debauched furniture and bed sheets."

She was angry. But she was trying to disguise it in sarcasm. And I just might have stumbled upon something more illicit than a snooping relative.

Rosalie Hale may not read people very well, but if there is anything I am fluent in that would certainly be … lust. Lust was a favorite evil fruit that colored everyone the same. One bite was harder to spot. But anyone gnawing on the same apple for long burns red, because lust manifested into fantasized ownership. Was Edward Cullen Bella's choice produce? Did she feel entitled to him because she lusted after him the most ardently?

And I mistakened her for someone sharp. How obtuse of me. Book smarts and street cred – quite different indeed.

"Rose are you almost – oh my god Bella, you look amazing." Bella looked once in the mirror.

Alice was right of course, and I guess that had been the idea. It still felt odd to aid Bella in any way.

"Thanks. I guess I'll go get dressed." She walked towards the door. "Thanks Rose," she said without turning.

"I'm dying to get into my dress. Zip me up will you?"

Alice slipped on her dress and I fastened her in, and we repeated the process for me. One last look, spray and gloss and we were back in the sitting room. Trays of pasta, in individual Chinese containers with chop sticks, and mounds of bananas and chocolate were being prepared and would be circulated throughout the night by the waiters. Everyone knew what our guys needed before and after a game - food, drink and otherwise. We'd take good care of them.

"It is so nice to have a professional staff even though I'm away from home. Why couldn't we hire a legitimate bar staff again?"

"I don't trust just anyone with my cosmos. Ben's an ace – perhaps he was meant to be a barkeep over a boyfriend. That would make a lot of sense."

Alice just laughed.

"You think I'm joking; just wait until you taste the divinely mixed goodness I'll pass your way later. Maybe you'll be Ben's new girl by nights end. Just keep me in martinis baby and I'll never let you go." I said, impersonating Alice's drunken voice and swagger.

"We'll see. God, don't let me get drunk, we have to get up early tomorrow. And this dress is coochie short. Drinking will not increase the likelihood of keeping my privates private."

She smoothed her outfit down as if to secure it around her permanently. The silk, fuchsia was short, but only as short as mine. Except, on my legs, the sequined, skin colored mini dress I'd chosen looked almost indecently tiny. If anyone can pull it off …

We passed through the bustle, and I followed Alice into Bella's room. She still wasn't dressed and Ali immediately decided her options her revolting. Really, they just looked like everyday clothing.

"Hold on." Alice whooshed from the room and was back before I'd have sworn was humanly possible.

"Wear this. Don't argue." Alice thrust a garment bag at Bella.

"But Alice-" Instead of taking it, Bella pushed it back. The tug of war ended before it began, as Alice unearthed the Bella-destined frock.

"I even got it on sale." Alice knew her audience. And sale did seem to be the trigger that got Bella into the black, jersey and taffeta BCBG.

"Let's pin your hair up a little so we can show off your back." My comment surprised even me. But my personal excuse, as I shook off the surprised looks from both girls, was that is would be a shame to waste a cut out, barrel shaped tieback like that. It was all in the name of fashion.

Finally ready for our guests, it was time for the final walk through.

Taking in the entire room, Alice's seamless tabletop and floor top decoupage reminded me of her incredible efforts at putting all of this together. The entire atmosphere resonated wealth and privilege. And winning! After a bash like this our guys wouldn't be able to help but show Puyallup who owns them. This was going to be the kind of fun that had been sorely missing from Fremont since fall term kick off.

At the idea of enjoyment, my thoughts returned to Bella and my little assessment. It sure would be entertaining to watch everything play out. Angela and Edward playing … sassy Bella stepping in to take what she thought was hers, as her social ashes fall around her. She would get what was coming to her if she laid herself out there for any Fremont boy, let alone the mighty Edward Cullen. He was no amateur. And he certainly wasn't a Romeo, though he did leave a trail of poisoned Juliette's in his wake. The toxic fire of course was him.

But if she needed a wake up call, it wasn't coming from me.

Welcome to the game, Bella, where the players burn to kill.

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A/N: I am getting really excited for the party, so much in fact, that I'd planned to include it in this update but knew by the end of this final POV that I couldn't do it justice yet; I need another day to think on it. Hopefully this chapter gives you even more insight into these characters and gets you jazzed for what's to come. Let me know what you're like and not like so much about Girls and Boys, if you have a second. Thank you so much for reading time and time again! RAE

P.S. Links to the party dresses can be found on my profile!