Disclaimer: We don't own Twilight, but we do have a few tattoos...and there might even be a Twilight one in the mix somewhere.

Removed - Chapter 5

EPOV

Long chestnut hair falling over my face . . .

Soft skin under my fingertips . . .

My name escaping, breathlessly, from her lips . . .

That's the recurring dream. It started after my first appointment, but initially, the encounters were platonic. We were just talking; occasionally, she'd laugh and our eyes would lock. But with each night, they progressively increase in intensity. Now she not only takes over my sleeping hours, she also consumes my waking hours. I'm sure this is bordering on fucking stalker behavior, but I can't help it.

The slight burn on my chest subsided today, but I have another four weeks to wait until my next appointment. I tried bribing the receptionist to bump my next treatment up, but apparently it's non-negotiable.

I thought about just calling up and asking to speak to Dr. Swan, but I doubt that'd go over very well. I'm sure there's some sort of protocol she follows concerning dating patients.

Scrubbing my face with my hands, I attempt to clear my mind and get back to work. I have a lot left to do, thanks to my day dreaming sessions.

I'm supposed to meet Jasper after work at the liquor store down the street. He and Alice are hosting a "We Bought a Fucking House! Now, Get Your Asses Over Here and Help Us Unpack!" party this weekend. It should be loads of fun. I'm going for the booze and Alice's amazing empanadas. Her old roommate was Mexican, and lucky for me, and Jasper, I suppose, Alice picked up several culinary skills from her.

We haven't all been able to hang out that much since the two of them got married. When they returned from their honeymoon, they moved in with Alice's mom and dad in order to save money for a house. Jasper described the last six months as being his own personal hell. Needless to say, he and Mr. Brandon don't always see eye-to-eye. I think his exact words were: he'd rather pitch a tent and piss in a can than spend another night at Hotel Brandon. So, this party is also a celebration of their freedom.

Somehow, I manage to get Dr. Swan out of my mind long enough to finish what needs to be done at work. As I shut down my computer, I text Jasper to let him know that I'll meet him at Pike & Western in ten minutes.

"So, how's the appointment with the tattoo doctor going?" Jasper asks, as we zip up and down the aisles, filling Alice's wine wish list.

"Great," I say, as I blow out a deep breath of air. I haven't told him about my infatuation with Dr. Swan yet, and I'm not sure if I'm going to.

"What do you think about the lovely Dr. Swan?" he asks, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

"She's great."

What the hell is wrong with me? I can't come up with anymore descriptive words than 'great'? Fuck, yeah, I can, but then I'd have to start listing presidents again.

When I get down to the end of the aisle and the bottom of Alice's list, I turn around to see Jasper, standing half-way down the aisle, giving me a shit-eating grin.

"Great, huh?"

"Yeah, that's what I said." I'm hoping my indifference will get him to shut the fuck up. Jasper always thinks he's the king of romance and he's worse than some old woman when it comes to matchmaking.

"You like her! I knew you would!"

What the fuck?

"Jasper, stop this shit! Every time you start meddling, things get fucked up."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he says, incredulously. His face is the picture of innocence.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Like the time you set me up with Alice's cousin Angela?"

"You cannot blame me for that! How was I supposed to know that she was into that sort of shit?"

Whips and chains? No, thank you!

"That was an isolated incident, man!"

"Okay, what about the time you set me up with the receptionist at your office? What was her name? Lauren?"

"Okay, well . . . see, I can explain that. She told me she was single!" he says, stomping his foot like a petulant child. "I had no reason to think she was lying to me! How was I supposed to know that her boyfriend was a wannabe WWF wrestler?"

"I think I've proven my point here," I say, turning around and walking up to the register.

Pulling up outside of Jasper and Alice's new house, I see a few cars that I recognize, like Emmett's and Rose's, but there are a few I don't. For the most part, we all hang around with the same group of people, but since Jasper and Alice have been married, they've started hanging out with several couples that I don't know.

Sometimes I really hate being the third wheel.

I reach into the back seat and grab my house-warming gift, a sneaky smile on my face. I can't wait for Alice and Jasper to open it; it'll be the highlight of the evening, I'm sure.

Alice opens the door and hugs me tightly around my neck. "I'm so happy you're here, Eddie-boy! We bought a fucking house!" she yells, throwing her fist up in the universal 'rock on' move.

Looks like someone's hit the sauce pretty hard already.

"You bought us a prezzie, too?! You're really the best, Eduardo! I can't wait to introduce you to my friend. She's a hottie, and I promise you'll like her."

"Yeah, that's great, Alice. You really don't need to fix me up with anymore of your friends, okay? I'm just here to help with the house and visit with the group."

Completely ignoring me, she grabs my hand and drags me into the living room where everyone seems to be hanging out.

"Everyone, I'd like for you to meet Jasper's BFF, Edward! Edward, this is everyone!" Alice waves her arm like she's Vanna White or some shit before twirling herself into Jas' lap.

Fucking drunk pixie.

Various people throughout the room yell out greetings and I give an awkward wave before putting the gift bag down and heading to the kitchen for a very strong drink.

I'm in the middle of making a perfect Black and Tan when the last voice I ever expected to hear in this house speaks.

"So, you're the famous Eddie I've heard so much about."

I'm so caught off-guard that I drop my spoon into my beer mug, splashing both the Guinness and the Bass Pale Ale all over the counter.

A/N:

We'll be back on Monday . . . same Tattward time, same Tattward channel!

Thank you so much for reading! You guys have been completely amazing this week! All of the alerts, recs, and reviews have been awesome! We appreciate the support more than you'll ever know. Hopefully, we'll catch up on review replies, but just in case we don't, know that we read and love each one of them! The interaction is what makes posting our stories so much fun.

As always, a big thanks to our rockstar beta, Mauigirl60!