A/N: Ah yes! Finally, 50 reviews! Many thank you's! To show my appreciation, I am posting TWO chapters tonight! I sincerely hope that you all will leave me a review, for reviews fuel the fire and keep me going!
Love to you all!
xo
-A
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The next month was almost unbearable. I avoided Emmett at all costs and focused all of my attentions on Edward. Things were becoming less strained between us, but he still refused any kind of physical intimacy. I would try to extend our kisses by putting arms around his neck, but he would only pry my hands away instead of pulling me closer. It was infuriating. I suppressed my feelings for Emmett, and fought the urge to run after him when he would leave upon my arrival. It killed me to watch him go, but I had to let him leave.
It was New Year's Eve, and due to Alice's incessant need to throw excessive parties, contact with Emmett this evening was unavoidable. I sat on a stool in her enormous walk-in closet and watched as she carried out an armful of dresses for me to choose from for the night's festivities.
"Alice, this really isn't necessary," I said as she plopped her bounty on a nearby couch. "I've got plenty of my own clothes to wear."
"Nonsense," Alice waved me off. "I bought these specifically for you. They're straight off the runway from D and G's winter line."
"D and G?" I raised an eyebrow at her.
"Dolce and Gabana?" she looked at me and I just shrugged. She laughed. "You really know nothing about fashion, do you?"
"Am I supposed to? What's this?" I asked when she threw a piece of slinky green fabric at me.
"It's a dress, silly! Now try it on!"
I stood and held it out in front of me. It was lime green, strapless and fell just barely at mid thigh. I shook my head.
"Not a chance," I said firmly.
"Oh come on!" She pouted. "Please?"
"I won't be able to move in this, Alice! Give me another one," I tossed the death trap aside and beckoned her to give me another. She squealed with glee and clapped her tiny hands. She picked up another and handed it to me, and we went back and forth like that for an hour. She loved everything, and I was skeptical. I stepped out of the back of the closet in our final selection: a simple black cocktail dress. It was sleeveless with an empire waist, and flared out just above my knee. The only part that made me uncomfortable was the plunging neck line.
"I love it," I smiled and spun once in the three-sided mirror. "But I don't quite have enough to fill it." I looked down at my assets. They weren't tiny, but they weren't exactly huge either.
"Silly!" Alice shook her head and turned to a nearby drawer. She rummaged around for a minute, then pulled out a black satin push-up bra. "That's why we have Frederick's!"
I rolled my eyes and grabbed the lingerie out of her hand. I unzipped the dress just enough to slide out and exchange my simple cotton bra for the elegant satin one. I pulled the dress back up on my shoulders and adjusted myself accordingly. I had to admit, it gave me just what I needed. Even a little line of cleavage popped out. I chuckled.
"Wow Bella!" Alice exclaimed. "You look hot!"
"Cut it out," I muttered, blushing. I looked up in the mirror, and saw Alice standing behind me, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh no you don't! Don't even think about it, Alice!"
"You have to let me do your hair!" she grinned. "This will look even hotter if I pin your hair up and curl it!" She started grabbing handfuls of my hair and piling it on top of my head, pulling strands out here and there, trying to get a visual.
"I am not your Barbie Doll!" I shouted as she yanked me into an adjoining bathroom. She sat me in a salon-style chair, flicked a couple of switches for various beauty instruments, then started running a brush through my hair. Another painful hour later and she had my hair up in a high pony tail cascading with perfect, soft ringlets. She even sprayed it with some fruity-smelling gunk that made it sparkle. She quickly applied minimal blush and mascara and I smeared on some lip gloss while she ran back into the closet. After a minute she came back out with a pair of obnoxiously high, strappy black heels and held them out to me.
"You've got to be kidding," I wrinkled my nose.
"These will make your legs look fabulous!" She tossed them at me and I just barely caught them.
"Yeah, they'll look real fabulous when they're in casts!" I tossed them back at her. "I will break my ankles in those!"
"No you won't! I won't let you! Now sit!" She pushed me back into the salon chair, grabbed an ankle, and shoved the shoe on my foot. She swiftly did the same with the other, then dragged me back in front of the three way mirror. She stood back and admired her work. I barely recognized the person staring back at me. She was right. The shoes did make my legs look good.
"Shouldn't you get ready? I think your guests are arriving." I could hear voices traveling up the stairs. "How many people did you invite?"
"Just the senior class," she shrugged. "Give me two minutes." She said, then disappeared into the closet before I could protest at her guest list. In less than two she came out in a slinky silver spaghetti strap gown with a matching pair of stilettos. She naturally looked stunning, and I suddenly felt very dull in comparison to her radiance. I sighed.
"What is it?" she frowned.
"Nothing. You look beautiful, Alice." I said softly.
"Oh this old thing?" She twirled on one foot and giggled. "Don't worry, Bella! You still look totally fab! Now come on!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me out of her bedroom and toward the stairs. "I can't wait to see the look on Edward's face when he sees you in this!"
I knew exactly how he would react. He'd give me a gentle hug and a chaste kiss, and tell me I looked beautiful. He wouldn't hold me close, or tell me I looked sexy, and heaven forbid he should ask me to dance. I knew Emmett would do all of those things and more, but it was futile to even think about it. We couldn't act on those feelings, no matter how much we wanted to. I shook my head and pushed back all of my negative thoughts. This was going to be a fun night.
Alice had the entire living area transformed into a night club, right down to the colored lights and the mirror ball. Oversized speakers thumped out a steady rhythm, and Jasper waved to us from the deejay booth. I scanned the dance floor and sure enough, the entire senior class of Forks High was crowded into the Cullen living room. I smiled and waved when I saw Angela dancing with Ben Cheney, and crinkled my nose when I spotted Jessica gossiping in a corner with the notorious class slut, Lauren Mallory.
"You had to invite them?" I asked Alice and pointed at the two whispering blondes. She just shrugged and pulled me in another direction. I peeked over her bobbing head and saw Edward chatting in a corner with Emmett. I swallowed hard as we approached. They both looked incredible, Edward in a white collared shirt and khaki pants, and Emmett in a black button-down shirt and black jeans. Oh Lord, was this going to be difficult.
"Bella you are absolutely radiant," Edward took my face in his hands and gave me soft kiss. It was sweet, and I couldn't help but smile against his lips. I reached up to hold him to me, but he intercepted me and laced his fingers in mine. I threw him a curve ball when I forced his arm around my waist and rested his hand on my hip. I felt him stiffen against me, but he didn't pull away. I celebrated my victory by laying my head on his shoulder and a hand on his chest. I swore I heard him grumble, but I didn't care.
"Alice you've really out done yourself," Emmett said appreciatively.
"Aw, thanks Brother Bear!" Alice leapt up and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Don't those shoes make her legs look great? She thought she was going to break an ankle, but I said no way, I won't let - "
"You look beautiful, Bella," Emmett took my hand and kissed it gently, his eyes never leaving mine. I blushed furiously.
"Thanks," I whispered and averted my eyes.
"Glad to see you two have buried the hatchet," Edward said rigidly. His arm suddenly tightened around me and I gasped slightly at his grip.
"It's useless to fight," I remarked. "Especially since I spend most of my time here. I hate that Emmett feels like he has to leave whenever I am around."
"Well, like I said, it's nice to see you two get along for once," he eyed his brother warily. " I was starting to get a little worried."
"About what?" Emmett folded his arms across his chest and I suddenly imagined those arms around me, holding me as we made love…
Focus, Bella! Don't let your mind wander!
"That I might have to kill you if you threatened her again," Edward's tone was very serious.
"I told you to lighten up!" I whispered harshly and slapped his chest. My hand stung.
"Maybe you should listen to your girlfriend," Emmett laughed. Edward growled audibly.
"You two are absolutely ridiculous!" Alice threw her hands in the air. " Edward, stop being a jerk. Emmett, stop instigating. Bella…" she grabbed my hand. "Come with me. We're going to dance. Let's let the children have their little tiff."
I just shrugged and waved as Alice pulled me toward the dance floor. It was a little awkward at first, trying to dance in those shoes, but I finally found a groove and went with it. Alice and I twirled and bounced, swaying our hips to the beat. I looked over and saw Emmett and Edward still deep in discussion. They shook hands, and Edward left the room. Then, as if on cue, Emmett's eyes found mine across the room. I felt my heart break when I saw the pain and loneliness reflected in those rich amber pools. He gave a half-hearted smile and nodded slightly, then turned his attention back to Edward, who had reentered the room.
I couldn't hide the sneer when I saw who he was with. None other than Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory. The two dumb blondes giggled like idiots and pressed themselves up against Emmett suggestively. He smiled cordially down at both of them, then glared over their heads at Edward. They each took a hand and pulled him out into the crowd. They began grinding themselves up against him, Lauren behind him and Jessica in front. I felt my blood begin to boil when she ran her hands down his chest and grabbed his hips.
What bothers you more? That it's Jessica with her hands all over him or that it's not you?
Shut up! You can't think things like that!
He was visibly pissed off, but moved in synch with them to be polite. I wrenched my eyes back to Edward, who was shaking with laughter.
"I'll be right back," I growled in Alice's ear. "I have to go maim my boyfriend."
"Why?" she stopped jumping around and looked at me quizzically. "What did he do?"
I pointed over to where Lauren and Jessica had sandwiched Emmett and were now waving their hands in the air like a pair of epileptic chimps. Alice covered her mouth in shock.
"Oh that's just cruel!" she shouted over the music.
"Exactly!" I spat and shoved my way through the throngs of students. I finally made it over to Edward, who was now practically rolling. I positioned myself in front of him and grabbed his chin in my hand, forcing him to look at me.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"Seriously?" I pointed out to the dance floor.
"Why not?" he snickered.
"It's not funny Edward!" I shouted. "It's lewd, disgusting and just plain old mean!"
"After all the shit he's done to you, he deserves it," he barked and swatted my hand away.
"Oh for the love of God!" I threw my hands in the air. "I'm a big girl! I can defend myself!"
"I only want to take care of you," his expression softened.
"By tormenting your brother?" I put my hands on my hips.
"But he was horrible to you!" Edward pleaded with me.
"I'm fine!!" I yelled. "Now go fix that!"
"But Bella…" he frowned.
"I don't want to hear it!" I stomped my foot and pointed to the fiasco. "You made that mess, now go clean it up!"
"But…"
"Now, Edward!" I stomped again. He rolled his eyes and proceeded into the crowd, stopped only once by Alice who slapped him on the back of the head and yanked him toward Emmett. I watched as words were exchanged between Alice and Lauren. Lauren stepped up to Alice, but almost immediately backed off when the pixie stared her down. She grabbed Jessica by the wrist, hauled her off the dance floor and straight out the front door. I could see Edward making a half-assed attempt at an apology, to which Emmett responded by punching him in the shoulder and storming off into the night. Alice slapped Edward upside the head again, then joined Jasper in the deejay booth. Edward made his way back to my side.
"Happy now?" he kissed my cheek.
"This has to stop," I looked up at him. "Please."
"I'm just sick of hearing him say such cruel things to you," he explained again.
"And I'm sick of you two constantly tormenting each other," I was exasperated. "Enough is enough. Please, Edward? For me?" I batted my eyelashes at him and he chuckled.
"You're going to be the death of me, Bella Swan." he smiled.
"Easy to say when you're already dead," I clasped his hand in mine. "Now come on, it's five minutes to midnight and you owe me a kiss, mister!"
We counted down with the rest of the crowd and shared a soft, warm kiss at midnight. He actually kept an arm around my waist, which was probably the most he'd held me in almost two months. I tried to feel good about it, but found that resentment still crept in. People started filing out around 1 am, and the place was completely empty by 2. I flopped down on the couch, pulled off my shoes and started massaging my aching feet. Edward had changed into jeans and a t shirt and sat down next to me. He placed his elbows on his knees and folded his hands. I looked over at him.
"Let me guess," I started before he could speak. "You have to leave."
"It's only for a couple of hours," he explained. "Jasper and Alice asked me to go hunt with them."
"When was the last time you went?" I asked.
"About a month ago," he said. "I usually don't wait that long, but I've just been worried about leaving you alone."
"That's sweet," I smiled and touched his cheek. "But I told you. I can take care of myself."
"I know Bella, but I still fear for you," he took my hand and kissed my finger tips.
"I'll be alright," I assured him. "You go. I'll camp out here and watch some movies."
"I promise, I won't be long," he squeezed my hand and stood. I watched him walk to the back door and exit swiftly into the darkness, to where his siblings surely awaited. I sighed to myself before making my way to Alice's room to change into my pajamas. I brushed my teeth and pulled out my pony tail, letting the curls cascade around my shoulders. I grabbed a throw from the end of Alice's bed and returned to the living room. I flicked on the television and started flipping through the movie stations, finally stopping on the classic film channel to watch The King and I. I wasn't in the mood for romance, but there was nothing else on, so I curled up on the couch and spread the blanket over my legs.
I stared blankly at the television, not really watching the movie. My thoughts kept drifting back to Emmett. I'd fallen head over heels for Edward, and I was still very much in love with him. But now I had feelings for Emmett that I just couldn't ignore. From the moment first he touched me, to that extraordinary night one month ago when he made love to me, something had blossomed. I hadn't been sure it was real until tonight, when I wanted to rip Jessica Stanley's hair out simply for touching him. I so desperately wanted to pursue things with him, but knew not only would it break Edward's heart, but he would also kill Emmett. Either way, I wouldn't be able to live with myself.
"But he promised me I'd never be alone again," I whispered aloud. "What am I going to do?" I scrubbed my face with my hands, then ran them over my hair, exhaling slowly. The clock above the television now read 3 a.m. Perfect. I got up and stretched, then shuffled into the kitchen for some water. I pulled a bottle out of the fridge and returned to my perch on the couch. I took a long swig and turned my attentions back to the television, lost in thought.