A/N - Happy Holidays, y'all! Big hugs and kisses xoxox

Chapter Sixteen: Thirsty

In high school, Alice used to harass me because I dealt with awkward, uncomfortable situations by eating my feelings. How can you eat all that and stay so skinny? she'd complain. She was one to talk. Now, I liked to deal with discomfort in a much more adult and rational manner: Alcohol.

"This is such a bad idea," I warned her, as she forced me ahead of her, so that if I bolted, she'd know. Please, Alice. If I wanted to sneak away, you'd catch me anyway, because of two things called 'side walk cracks' and 'these stupid effing heels you forced on me.'

"Suck it up," she advised cheerfully, directing me toward the club. Clubbing. It was our first night off as Resident Assistants at NERD CAMP and of course the obvious activity choice was to go clubbing. Because these kids weren't smart enough to recognize a hangover...right? Right.

I wasn't worried about the kids, though. Rosalie was on duty with my and Alice's halls, and Emmett had Jasper and Edward's. It was actually kind of cute, in a way - how they were left behind together. Rosalie hadn't thought it was so cute, though. If I recalled correctly, her words had been something along the lines of: "If your kids set one fucking toe out of line tonight, I will eviscerate them, and then I will burn all your hair off your head for leaving me with them. JK, bitch - love ya! Have fun clubbing." That had been a little disconcerting, but when it came down to it, Rose was a fantastic RA. She was strict in the cool way that everyone wanted to please her - not in the way that made everyone hate her. Like Jane.

I glanced sideways at teeny-miss-bitch. Apparently, she'd made four girls on her hall cry, and had already sent one girl home for throwing a hairdryer. It was quite obvious that she had a little bit of a thing for Edward, but I was pretty sure he preferred his women to be not totally frigid. Then again, what did I know?

I glanced to my other side and saw Edward chatting with Tanya. Ugh. As if I had called his name, he turned to look at me, and I ducked my head to the pavement.

That was what I was worried about. Clubbing with Edward, Jasper, Alice, Tanya, Jake, and Jane was sure to be awkward. And I was sure to get drunk. And there was no way of knowing what manner of unfortunate things might come spilling out of my mouth then. I mean, it was bad enough that I talked in my sleep, let alone this.

For a college town in mid summer, the place was surprisingly jammed. Alice jumped into the fray almost immediately, an allured Jasper following. Tanya sashayed to the bar and started flirting with the bartender, and Edward followed - not to flirt with the bartender, as far as I knew, he didn't go that way - bringing a round of drinks to the little table that Jake, Jane and I had secured, and were now sitting around awkwardly. You could almost feel the relief emanating from us as he set the drinks down.

I had enough common sense and decorum not to lunge for mine right away, but I was toeing the line. The drink was good - I was surprised to note that Edward had gotten each of us a different drink, and that he hadn't guessed wrong.

"How did you know?" I marveled nodding at my margarita in wonder. The last time I had had one this good, I had been in Arizona.

"I make it my business to know these things," he winked. He laughed then, at the expression on my face, and shrugged. "I'm just exceptionally gifted at guessing drink preferences."

Jake coughed. "Um, Bella, do you want to dance?"

"Oh. I don't know..." I said doubtfully. For one thing, Edward was sitting right there. For another, I had two left feet.

"C'mon, it'll be fun," he promised. Oh, no! He did the same puppy-dog thing Alice did! I was sunk.

"Sure," I agreed without enthusiasm. "Let me just um...put my bag in the coatroom." Edward raised an eyebrow at this. As it turns out, it is very difficult to subtly hide your drink behind your bag.

Jake didn't notice anything amiss, though, so I ran behind a potted palm and downed the rest of my drink in one giant gulp, giving myself a brain freeze the size of Antarctica. Whatever - the pain was worth it. There was no way that I was dancing sober. I may have been able to semi-gracefully break it down at nerd-dances, but there had been no grinding. It was easy to pretend you were sexy in a crepe-papered gym full of non-touching nerds. Clubs and clubbers were out of my league.

Ditching my glass in the pot of tree, I returned to Jake and glanced to see what Edward's reaction would be, but he was out of his seat, dancing on the floor with Tanya.

I grabbed Jake's hand and stomped out to the dance floor, giving a repeat performance of the moves that had made Emmett and Jasper go all 'big brother' on me five years ago.

Once my brain freeze wore off, the alcohol kicked in, and I was good to go. Suddenly, dancing was fun, and the lights were fun, and people and Jake were so much fun.

"Slow down there, cowgirl," he laughed, as I downed another margarita. Suddenly, the drink was out of my hand, and Jake had somehow been shuffled to the side.

"Hey," I complained, squinting in search of my drink. I found Edward's too-bright eyes peering back.

"Let's just dance," he suggested. I got a little shy then. Edward wasn't fun. Edward was...smoldering. He placed his hands on my hips and swayed with me to the beat, and though the song was fast, our movements were slow and sensual. I could feel his heartbeat throbbing in his chest. I vaguely wondered if he could feel mine.

I spun and pressed my chest against his, twining my arms around his neck.

"I love you," I whispered.