Chapter 17 I'm a Little Tea Pot
A/N: Twilight belongs to SM.
I don't know if it's quite normal to spend over five hours scouring the internet for perfect first date attire, and I'm okay that I went a little crazy, because these girls couldn't look better if I suddenly turned into Patricia Field and waved my fashion wand. Check out the girl's First Date digs on my profile! Hey, I haven't said it in a while … thank you for reading and coming on this journey with me. Now back to our Girls and Boys!
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BPOV
My stomach was in my throat, no matter the coaxing swallow I was repeatedly inflicting on it in an effort to dislodge. Gulp, swallow, clear throat, repeat.
Girlfriend?
I wasn't anyone's girlfriend.
No. No. No.
If I was being brutally honest, I was a cousin to two people at this school, one of which happened to be my best friend – until I kill him dead, dead, dead, that is - and had one teeny tiny person who insisted on dragging me behind her like a rag doll; but there was certainly no gang of gal pals or boyfriends.
And, fine, if I was going with the honesty thing, I did have something else.
I had a man. And he happened to be attached to my heart like strings to a violin – exposed to every fret and wound up tight, with all purpose seemingly lost without him. I am a fucked up girl. I felt the tug – more like the ceaseless desire to open up - but I refused to relent. Hell, I couldn't even handle the term girlfriend.
But, even without an official Ken, this doll had a date. Tonight. And as I climbed into the convertible I had to desperately try and hold myself back from squealing right out loud.
Literally.
With my hand fastened around my mouth and my eyes undoubtedly bugging out of my face, I was feeling bulldozed by a delicious mixture of anxiousness and anxiety.
It was under that emotional scrutiny I realized I was terrified. I've never been on a date.
Sure, I'd hung out with guys like the fucktard Jake who whined when I wouldn't let him touch over my bra and couldn't even really give my undivided attention to while we kissed. Gilmore Girls was on. Can't be missin' GG even if it is in syndication. I still can't believe I had to explain my reasoning for that one. Fuck ... it was GG, dude. Can't a girl have a guilty pleasure that rules her life?
But, god, kissing Edward - well, fucking shoot me to the moon.
And now dating Edward … the guy who wasn't my boyfriend.
Fuck.
"You can't smile and frown and smile and frown again like that without telling me why. You do realize you are subjecting me to a slow, torturous death by curiosity, right Bella?"
I was beginning to really enjoy being around Alice, but that didn't mean I was ready to sift my way through opaque, undefined details with her riding shotgun.
"Alice. What did I tell you this morning?" My eyes were relaxing into a thoughtful stare that lazily directed itself just past Alice's head.
"That you didn't know the answers to my questions, but come on Bella. Edward just kissed you, right in front of anyone paying attention – which will always be everyone, never forget that – and that did not look like any first kiss either. And the way he held onto you, so possessive. Eeeeck. Are you two together, 'cause you looked together?"
God. I blinked.
"Who's together?" Rosalie couldn't have chosen a more ideal moment to interrupt, but definitely should have selected a more helpful leading question.
"No one is together." The dragon fire lapping at the end of my words nearly ignited Alice's short, black strands into flames. They should really just leave me alone and they won't incur injury from any verbal lacerations. I was leafing through my Edward hazed mind for something to use as a redirection from the incalculable questions … Well, duh.
"I guess I do know one thing."
"Oh my god, what? What?" Alice was shaking right there in the passengers seat, like she was living the next moment of her life just for my words alone.
"I have a date tonight, and nothing to wear." I kept this small, informational gift no-nonsense but Alice still yelped and bounced up and down as Rose flashed a smile into the rearview mirror.
"Fuck, sister, I need a dress too. Little Rosie has her self a date as well."
"Are you kidding me? You both have dates?" Alice's attention was pulled in an entirely new direction at this news and huffed dramatically towards the window, biting back a mutter that sounded like, "Jasper is such a fuckup today."
"Hear, hear." She looked up at my agreement and grimaced. I doubt she'd really wanted me to overhear her personal chastisement of my friend, but I couldn't be in more likeminded agreement.
"So, Bella, Edward's taking you on a date?" Thank you Rose, make this difficult.
"Well, yeah." Again with the verbal laceration warning.
"You'll have to get something new. Are you willing to spend any of your money yet? Because if not, I can pick it up."
Well, this felt odd.
A nice Rose.
Fuck, who am I to question it? Just ride it Bella, she'll be a bitch in two seconds again anyway. But wait, use my money? Shit – I should be fine with using my money. I'm on my own now, I have a fucking exhilarating evening ahead of me, I have a credit card; why the hell not?
"I suppose I could get some new things; what's a credit card for if you never use it?" I still wasn't totally sure how I felt about this. Spending money, the way I was sure we'd end up spending it, would make me a legitimate part of this world. But looking at the girls in front of me helped reduce the hate this new society generally caused to well up inside me.
"Hear that, Ali? We're going shopping."
"We are?" She'd been so sad, gazing out at the passing freeway, but shopping seemed to be just the nugget of joy needed to end her pouting as her chin turned up and her eyes smiled.
"Hell yes. Where to baby-cakes?" Rose was milking this angle as her prime defense against Alice's left out funk.
"Barneys, hello." Sarcasm, thrill and an imploring need only a true addict could produce seeped from Alice's retort.
"Damn, Barneys sounds fuckgood after the shit we've been repeatedly impaled with – well, Bella - but it's all still exhausting and deserving of some Prada or Chloe, or any and all."
So, Rosalie drove us homeward with visions of her possible Pike and Pine purchases dancing through her head, while I replayed how I'd allowed myself to get here. No, not here here as in Rose's car – well, actually yes … How had I come to be riding in this convertible feeling continually more like friend than foe with my enemy cousin, with Alice's continually prying interest verging on a level of investment more than a mere acquaintance would have and on my way downtown to spend my mother's left behind money? And if I was questioning absurdities, how had I allowed myself to teeter on sky high heals and prance around in a fancy dress?
God, that dress. I'd felt so far outside myself the night I wore that get up; hell – that was just last night, not even twenty-four hours ago. But when Edward unzipped me and slipped the taffeta down around my feet so went my humor, so went my trembling fear, so went my familiar self. My sense. My warnings. And with his arms wrapped around me and through me, I reveled in how light I was, how freeing it was to be with him, so close, everything touching inside and out. And we just were. And in my heart I could still find the fear, I'd even admitted it receiving reciprocated honesty in return; but it didn't pollute the moments or the kissing or the perfection that had been finally sharing some of my past pain; those unavoidable issues that still seemed to be paralyzing me.
But a morning sun will dawn a new, frightening day. So, I had to leave Edward before he read the hesitancy and doubt in my eyes. Because it was to his arms, so snug, and warm breath against my hair that I'd awoken. But it was the lingering smile flirting with his sleeping form that tore at my backpedaling heart. Edward was it; he was everything. And I knew, as I ran back to my suite, that I was more than simply scared.
My head dropped back to the headrest as I envisioned the coming steps with Edward.
It seemed like my only option with him was to jump. He had, and his arm was stretched so far out to catch me, to pull me right up next to where he'd laid down roots. And even though I knew today Edward cared and was dedicated, tomorrow would be a fresh start with unexplored possibilities and a whole new crop of problems to overcome. Tomorrow he might not care anymore. And the unpredictable nature of that reality made me sick.
"Park near Nordstrom, we'll take the sky bridge when we're ready to hit there instead of trekking through the rain. I didn't wear a hood." The day had started out nice but inevitably, the closer we'd come to Seattle the more likely rain seemed. And just in time for us to make our exit from the car, onto the streets of downtown, the sky opened fully. Underground parking it was.
Two escalator rides through Pacific Place, eliciting about a trillion ooh's and aah's as our threesome passed Tiffany's, and soon we were walking through the doors of a store with blue manikins in the window display. How do clothes look enticing hanging from a blue person? This was beyond my comprehension.
"So, I agreed to do this. The hell if I'm a professional shopper, though, so you two, make it happen." Cohesive combing through open racks led Rosalie and Alice to countless dresses that they either completely agreed to discard or proceeded to traverse among us in a round-robin type examination. They'd hold every potential ensemble up to each of our bodies and then discuss its merits and shortcomings. At the end of it all, only I had something to try on and, after battling the dressing rooms, quickly vetoed it. I'd just worn black, and for nine hundred fucking dollars I thought I should at least find a color Edward hadn't seen me in yet.
"Alice, I would really like to be as comfortable and as much myself on this date as possible." I mentioned to her, as we continued our crusade with the parade of shoe cubbyholes.
Alice nodded, as she remained disinclined to pick up anything and scowling repeatedly at the unsatisfying selection. Luckily, she had already found a silver clutch to complete an outfit that was safely hanging on Rosalie's dress rack, so this stop wouldn't be a total bust for her.
Rose desperately wanted an entirely new outfit and, with the dresses leaving much to be desired, shoes were next on her Barneys list. Quickly she zeroed in on a pair of dark grey bootie heels that were edgy hot and thrust them towards me.
"Bella, Prada, booties, sale. You are trying these on. Can I please get these in a seven and a seven and a half?" Rose wagged the beautiful shoe at an employee and nudged my shoulder down so I was sitting on a leather ottoman.
The saleswoman attempted to help, bringing out the only remaining size of the two requested and unwrapped the pair from the box and tissue, but Rosalie was all over it.
"Thank you, but I am going to need to be the one to put her first ever pair of Prada booties on her feet." She snatched the shoe right out of the surprised, and rather pinched-faced woman's fingers, and bent over my leg, slipping the unlaced bootie right over my footie nylon.
"Oh my god. Yes." She stood back, hands out at either side, almost like stone as she admired and reveled in this apparently auspicious moment. I guess my designer footwear virginity goes to Rose. I really am a whore … giving a slice of all my firsts to each person I know. I guess it isn't anyone's fault but my own that I stopped living life three years ago. Frack that.
I had both shoes on now, and was attempting to work myself up to the reality of their heel height and my limited ability to actually meander a little around the store. But as I took a couple steps – with a new zeal from all the fracking going on in my head - I realized that I could walk just fine, the height being totally manageable. Taking in my suddenly taller and sexier appearance in a floor to ceiling mirror, I realized how truly "me" the shoes were and how they'd fit with what I already owned, whether my wardrobe primarily consisted of vintage and second hand items or not. "These will look amazing with my leather jacket. You know, the one Jasper bought me for my birthday?"
"You mean the one I bought?" This confession didn't faze Rosalie, as she continued to digest all I had going on from the ankles down and my outfit suggestion.
"Jasper just keeps rackin' up the shit fire points today, doesn't he?" Is he incapable of doing anything right? Seriously, how hard is it to pick out a gift for your best friend? God.
"They will match. You know what will complete this, Ali? That neutral ruffled Givenchy you sent out to be shortened but ended up coming back not altered enough. That would be divine with this pairing on Bella."
Alice smoothed her fingers over her lips in concentration. "What color is the leather jacket?"
"Gunmetal." Rosalie answered with a knowing smile.
"Fucking hot." Apparently, she was sold on the idea.
Botched plastic surgery clerk woman eyed Alice disdainfully, most likely over her malapropos language. I was ready to go anyway.
"Fucking-a, Edward's gonna need a few minutes alone after you walk out in that." God bless Rose for her abnormally loud voice, and the hilarity that surged through my body, as the already perturbed saleswoman fucking gaped at us colorful ladies and tisked – tisked - as I made my way to the register with my purchase.
Part of me couldn't believe that the first foray with my credit card ended up being shoes, instead of books or music or maybe even a plane ticket somewhere sunny, but in essence this purchase was for Edward. I had a feeling he would be the motivation behind a lot of my first forays. Fuck, I hope his lips never leave me tonight. Or his hands. The memory of every part of him basically naked and pressed against me resurfaced and I accidentally let a quiet sigh escape. Fucking chiseled masterpiece. I shook my head and waited for lustless clarity to intervene. Right.
And now with an apparently flawless outfit, I was getting antsy and insecure. I hope I look like myself tonight. I wonder if he'll like that better anyway. And, god, where will he take me? It better not be smug and stuffy. Part of me hoped he'd fail, and the date would be a disaster, so I could see what he did when things turned messy. But the fanciful girl in me was rooting for the perfect first date.
Nordstrom came next. Immediately Herve Leger – Alice's currently most worshipped designer –provided the piece de la resistance in the form of a rose red, form fitting creation with a deep V neckline, which was funnily enough named the Isabelle Dress. Nothing like Rose going out on her first Emmett date wearing me all over her. The name didn't deter Rose, no matter how similar it was to my detested full moniker, and she settled the garment bag next to the Christian Louboutin's she'd snapped up at Barneys, which just happened to flawlessly complement one another.
Although I had been a willing enough participant in the beginning, I now knew shopping was an exhausting affair. This assessment was also gathered after only being required to follow along. I don't think I'm a particularly enthusiastic consumer.
Rose insisted we stop and get quick manicures at Seven, and, at the direction of our grumbling bellies Red Mango provided us much needed yogurt sustenance. Finally, outfits complete, nails painted and satisfactorily satiated hunger, we were headed back to Fremont.
I let my body lounge in the backseat as my brain whipped about faster than the speed of light, full to the brim of excitement and anticipation. Despite the store-to-store work out, I realized with my neck relaxed and feeling the sliver of brisk wind coming through the cracked window, I hadn't felt so physically liberated since arriving in Seattle.
An afternoon away from the true confines of such pretentious air and society had been priceless and almost like a surge to my dilapidated perseverance: there was life beyond the gates of Fremont.
But if the outside world could feel so damn good, how come everything inside me just wanted to be back behind the fence? And why, despite my current boundlessness, had I felt my true emancipation while being cradled in someone else's arms?
If I was supposed to release myself, then how come it seemed Edward Cullen was what had suddenly set me free?
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APOV
As we walked through the suite doors to find everything in its rightful place, I sent a silent thank you into the vast, wide open world of money and cleaning companies. After yesterday night, and the events of today, I was more than grateful we wouldn't have to bother with party clean up. Or that damned floor.
We'd waded around in enough mess already, what with our personal shit having been dragged out for all of Fremont to snap a picture at. Stupid Jasper and his need to save and protect and jump to inflamed conclusions.
It seemed like I was the only one still upset over Jasper's sudden snap. Both Rose and Bella were floating on the date cloud and I was left down here on earth, all my eggs having cracked 'cause Jasper was my basket and he'd seemingly imploded.
I felt like at any moment I could launch mouth first into a rant, but in that same second I could find no words as my lips opened for delivery. Everything was a jumble of disappointment, frustration and exasperation. And the relief I'd felt at the sight of a clean suite was quickly replaced by dread and an increase in blood pressure as Jasper stood up from Rosalie's settee. He had to have a back bone if he was seriously standing in front of the three of us, unmanned, unarmed – he must have been unaware of the fury my tiny body was capable of spouting off. That doesn't even take into account the soon to be awoken bears that were Bella and Rosalie. Ignorance was the only plausible explanation.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Well, shit Bella; beat me to the punch much.
Jasper bowed his head in visible shame and hurt from words I doubted Bella frequently used against him.
"I love you, Bella. I just misunderstood the situation." His eyes implored her to listen. "Well, sort of."
"You sort of misunderstood what situation, Jasper? The one where you're supposed to go after the fucking ball instead of your fucking teammate when the whistle sounds?" Bella's body remained motionless as she squeezed her arms tight to her sides.
"Bella-" Jasper took a step forward and with the interruption so did Bella.
"Jasper! What did you think he did?" Her head was cocked, truly baffled over his attack's motivation.
"You said he satisfied you." Hand over mouth as if he might get sick, then moving to rub his flexing jaw, Jasper's dedication to my friend - his best friend -washed over me. I understand. He loved her like I loved Edward.
And she loved him just as much as Edward loved me, and I knew the strength behind such a fierce platonic love. I knew it and ached for them, because getting a step behind, a page off from your favorite person was a nightmare.
"God. You heard me, and you couldn't tell I was screwing with that twat Angela? You're supposed to be the check to my mate, dude. When the hell did you forget how I handle?" Her arms unlocked and flailed out in disbelief as her face distorted in horrified disillusionment.
"I didn't forget." He knows you still, he was just afraid for you. "I was hearing the conversation though a second party, so I never heard the influx in your voice or the attitude or whatever – I only heard the words and … and well, I snapped."
"Because you thought I slept with Edward?" And she was quieting down, because she heard my silent pleas and her own knowledge of Jasper was snapping back to attention.
"Hell fucking yes. Shit, Bella, I thought you gave it up to that rake."
"But, I didn't." She was whispering and looked suddenly so hurt and lost and I longed to go to her and wrap her in my arms, but I knew they needed to do this alone – even with Rosalie and I in the audience.
"Are you two, like, together? Has he got you thinking he's reforming or some shit so he can get in your untainted panties?"
Why he had to be so cold, my mind understood, but just as Bella seemed to see in Edward the changes over the course of one week, today I had been privy to the hint of a miracle in my best friend. I'd thought he couldn't possibly be ready, but when he touched and kissed Bella he meant it more than I've ever seen him mean anything. For anyone. Ever. And then his words sunk in - she was a virgin, too. Rosalie was more surprised than I was.
"Fuck, B, you're a virgin?"
"You're not actually surprised, so shut the hell up." Bella quipped, before turning back to Jas.
"Jasper, this is all so beyond the point. Don't make my life more difficult because you have no self-control. I need you to be fucking consistent, stable. Don't fuck around on me." Wow.
"I am being consistent. I've always been protective, but this is new terrain for me. You, legitimate guys, sex; not to mention you've chosen the worst sort of dude." Okay, I'm tired of this 'worst dude' shit.
"I am not going to defend anything." Bella's hands went up as she turned and walked slowly toward the bags that had been discarded in the entryway. "This is mine, I will decide. And now I need to get ready because I have my first date and you are fucking agitating me more than I need right now. Rosalie, let's start on our hair, I guess." Bella flipped the shit out of all of us as she grabbed both the bags and the crook of Rose's arm, causing Rose to blanch like someone was about to light her on fire. But she stabilized herself and actually supported Bella as they headed out of the sitting room.
At Rose's bedroom door Bella turned, locking her tired brown eyes on Jasper's worried baby blues, "Stop letting me down, Jasper. I need you to keep your shit together otherwise we're all fucked."
I walked slowly towards him and held out my hand as a peace offering. Silently, Jasper locked our fingers and inhaled a stuttered breath. He pulled me into his arms and I tickled my fingertips up and down his forearm, trying to ease away his tension. If Bella gets to horde all the anger, all that leaves me with is guilt.
"I hate to be a bitch right now, but when the hell are you going to ask me on our date?" I felt a little whiny, but I couldn't help how heavy being overlooked weighed on my heart.
"Ali, I hate that you had to spend all day thinking we wouldn't have our date." Jasper brought his hands to either side of my neck as his thumbs directed my chin upwards, so my eye line met his.
"It's okay if tonight isn't the night." It really is. You've had such an out of control day. I let my eyes do the pleading, since my mouth wanted to betray my noble efforts and beg for the date.
"Tonight's the night, darlin'. That is if you'll have me after I've acted like such an insufferable jackass." Yes I'll have you!
"I have one condition." Jasper may have wavered on his self-control today, but mine was securely in place. I knew what I wanted.
"What's that?" My shy grin was a fake out, I was working an angle, but he didn't know me well enough yet to get a lead on it. This was just too important not to push.
"You'll calm down about Edward and Bella." Please.
"I'm calm." Right.
"When you're actually in the same room as them, watching him kiss her. You'll be calm then?" He took a deep breath and buried his nose into my neck.
"If you let me take you out tonight and kiss you, I can manage anything."
And it was not lost on me that Jasper failed to look into my eyes as this promise passed his lips.
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RPOV
Fuck, I looked good.
Hale yes, Rosalie you are beauty personified. My dress couldn't fit any curve tighter if it tried, and believe me, it was huggin' and squeezin' with a vengeance. The color, the cut, the cleavage – favorite. Herve fucking Leger is a genius. Mental note, go to one of his shows.
I tucked my toes into the brand new shoes that would inevitable cause my arches to slowly cave in as the night progressed resulting in foot fatality - but fuck I'd make death look good - and slipped my phone, credit card, lip stick and a condom into my trademark black, rose evening bag.
"A condom? Is that our responsibility now, too?" Alice was rolling her eyes at my packing choices; Bella's proceeded to grow wide as realization dawned.
My three fingers flipped the Boy Scout Sign as I sing-songed, "Always be prepared." Visions of Emmett's finally naked body inching slowly up mine flickered across my vision. At that thought I slipped two more plastic wrappers in and zipped my bag shut. Once would certainly not suffice.
"And no, Bella. It isn't our responsibility." I smiled slightly, trying to hide my humor from her, as I still reeled over my potty-mouth cousin having a crisp and stamp-free V card, as well as the fact that she'd probably give herself an anxiety rash wondering if she needed to go out a buy some Magnum's with King Edward as her man. Shit. I didn't even think of that until now. Lucky and unfortunate all at one time.
"Hey, B?" This nickname came from an affectionate place I'd found deep within my well of seriously limited Bella relatability the moment I slipped Prada over her heel. She didn't suck to me so much today.
"Yeah?"
And as she turned towards the direction of the question, swiveling in my vanity chair, I breathed out my pride at the vision she was. That I fucking built. She wasn't a Fremont lassie, definitely not a Forks logger and certainly more beautiful than any girl that fuck up Edward Cullen had ever been attentive to.
Her long curls hung loose and free over the sleeveless ruffled dress, that would soon be mostly covered by the jacket I hand picked – as a rare favor to Jasper – so she'd have at least one piece of new clothing in her wardrobe. The only part of the dress remaining visible would be the center ruffle, and about five inches of the balloon bottom – seeing as Alice had the garment shortened and it was now an undeniable mini on Bella's faller frame. The corset style lacing that crept down her bust line would make Edward squirt in his boxer briefs every time she accidentally squeezed her cleavage with a crossed arm. Shit, I'm good.
And did I think that was a normal Edwardian response? Hell no. But, I'd been watching Edward since sophomore year, fascinated by everything I thought I hated about him, and then seeing him with Bella this afternoon shook things into perspective a little bit. Apparently everyone hides who they're capable of being. I'm certainly not the most fucked up person at Fremont. That didn't mean I wasn't screwed up enough, though.
"Have you seen Edward's dick yet?" I could have eased in, but why dilute her inevitable future. If you can't say dick you shouldn't see one.
"No, I haven't seen his dick yet." Good girl. She never backed down from a challenge, even a silent one.
Alice's eyes perked up, because she realized what had only jumped back into my mind a minute previous. Her face said uh oh as she climbed onboard my thought train.
Bella noticed Alice's reaction and then blinked back and forth between us.
"Why?" Alice sat up straighter, which I took as my cue to let her lead on.
"Edward has a reputation of being, well … he has a big cock."
"How big?" Bella managed to keep her reaction minor, but I saw her fingers clench around her thighs as she processed the visuals no doubt swarming her mind.
"Bella, why do you think he's such a legend?" I couldn't help myself; although I'd momentarily forgotten, it was still common knowledge. He was the Edward Cullen. This had nothing to do with his rakish bronze hair. Well, not on top anyway.
"I haven't heard any rumors about his size before, though." Well, duh.
"People don't have to talk about it anymore. Everyone is already aware." I picked up the plum Dior bag Bella would be carrying and emptied her own purse's contents into it.
One glance at Bella's response and I realized she was sifting through instances, before she settled on realization and slight awe.
"He did seem pretty well endowed." You were doing so well, Bella. Come on, just say fucking huge. I know you want to.
"What? When?" Alice shot away from the side of the bed she'd been leaning on – instead of sitting and crushing her own sequined, stripped Herve Leger – and her hands smoothed down the descending colors of her gown as she moved; pansy, royal purple, orchid, heliotrope, steel blue, majorelle and silver. Fuck, I should be a fashion designer with that superior color knowledge.
"Why does it matter, Alice? I just noticed. But, I don't have anything to fucking compare it to, so whatever. Anyway, what is the point of this … warning of sorts?" She is so private. If no one else would come right out with it …
"If you're going to let Edward go there for the first time, as your first time, be prepared to work up to it."
Bella licked her lips. Yep. Dwell on that one.
A knock sounded at the suite door breaking up the fun and sending us each into our own mild tornado.
Jasper had left to get ready a while ago, so the knock indicated that all three of our guys were waiting, together on our stoop of sorts, as it was eight o'clock on the dot. Edward and Jasper in such a confined space had us all hurrying.
Ali, fur cape in hand, sprang to the door as Bella grabbed her purse, jacket already on, and I tugged on my heavy shawl making sure it didn't cover any of my good bits.
One final hair fluff and our men were before us, standing in a line, Emmett of course occupying the middle slot. A weird energy seemed to pass through them, like we'd missed something good and they wanted to keep us oblivious by stunning us with their sex.
The three of us girls were a mirror image to them in placement and the quiet that came over the group as we took in our date was electric and tangible. Instead of a rush of movement and words coming all at once, everyone seemed to think and travel in slow motion. Jasper said nothing, but walked intently towards Alice, as his eyes seemed to drink her in. Edward was frozen in his spot, mouth slightly ajar and Emmett just left all those fools in the dust, as he smiled so charmingly and rushed over to palm my hips and kiss my mouth. It has diffidently been too many hours without these lips.
Finally everyone seemed to get their shit together; Edward had Bella's fingers intertwined with his, as he slowly kissed her knuckles and wrist. God. And Jasper held Alice around the waist as he leaning over her from behind, listening with the rest of us as she relayed the highlights of our shopping excursion.
"… and Rose was adamant, while also being absolutely right, so Bella bought the shoes."
"Wait, you bought - what was it you said - Prada shoes, G? Heeled Prada shoes?"
I was glad to see Jasper got right back to yanking Bella's chain, even if she seemed more interested in letting her remaining anger seep out around the edges. That's exactly what they needed - normal.
"Edward will keep me fucking upright, don't you worry about me." She rolled snarky and endearing into one neat package as she foul mouthed Jas and clutched Edward around the torso.
"Eventually though, you'll hopefully find yourself unable to walk upright, and it'll all be Edward's fault." I had to go there. I just had to. Don't laugh. I had to straight face this to maximize Bella's understanding of my innuendo. Alice trilled behind me, but tried to pass it off as a high-pitched bark-cough.
"Rose, I have one word - brothers." One of Bella's eyebrows crept up and I realized I was enjoying the shit out of our newly defined dance.
"Oh B, I'm counting on it!" I subtly wagged my brows back. Dropping my voice an octave, I continued the banter suggestively. "Did you need to borrow something from my purse?"
"God." Her responding eye roll was classic, but the moment I felt Emmett smooth his hands down my hipbones in an effort to egg on our departure I was done with this suite and the company.
"We're out of here. Don't wait up!" I called behind as Em got the hint and whisked me through the doorway.
"So, where are you taking me?" I want you to hold my hand.
Emmett whipped us around the corner and pinned me against the nearest wall. This is good too.
"Somewhere people will be sure to see you, in that, on this motherfuckers arm. Honestly, Rosalie, you look unbelievable."
I smoothed his azure, button up's collar, running my hands back over his shoulders and down to the pinstriped, charcoal dress pants covering his fine ass.
"I'm on a date with you, I have to look good." I let my fingers drift all the way down and give a soft squeeze as I returned his unwavering gaze.
"This ain't about me baby, you're always gorgeous – I just get to be the lucky bastard enjoying you up close." We needed to leave before I pulled him into my room and locked the door, effectively making it a night in.
"Don't you forget it." I took a step forward, encouraging his body to move, which it finally did and he lead us towards the elevator.
"Ahhh, the black rose." Emmett murmured inquisitively, holding up the arm my bag was dangling from, as he recognized Rosalie Hale's infamous calling card. "Am I on a date with Dark Rosalie tonight?"
This tote had left the scene of many man crimes as I'd spent the last year littering the streets with my conquests. Nothing in me wanted to perpetuate my cycle tonight, though, to be that sort of criminal with Emmett.
"You better hope not, that is if you want to see me past tomorrow morning." I held my breath, because many men lavished in the freedom of my dark side, enjoying the stringless exploit just as much as I did. But I didn't want that inconsequentiality with Emmett in anyway. This time I had something to loose.
"Then, how about we put your dark side away, call a spade a spade, and let me show you a night you'll never forget? And, let's also make a promise that you'll return my advances even after tomorrow."
I swallowed a little too obviously, as I nodded, finding my signature smile a second too late, and silently scorned myself for letting the "first date with the guy you secretly love" nerves penetrate my resolve.
Truthfully, I was relying on this token clenched in my hand to help me through this evening. Because, no matter the negative and scandalous Rose connotation, this purse had signified my confidence for so long. And tonight, finally on the arm of the only man I wanted, I'd need that courage more than ever. Courage without collateral damage. The circular purse would now be my reminder that Dark Rosalie was dying.
Tonight this symbol, along with the girl, would be reborn.
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A/N: I meant for at least one date to make it in this update; now this means the next chapter will be packed to the brim with fabulous firsts! There's a thread for G&B on Twilighted (under AU-Human) now – Thank You Luv – and I'll respond like crazy over there if anyone wants to discuss or question! Please, let me know how you felt about this transition chapter. ~RAE
P.S. The outfit links are on my profile … I spent a crazy amount of time searching - and then re-finding when what I picked sold out at the respective site, blah - so see if you can envision what I slaved over and let me know what you think!