Have you ever wished your life would change?
Woke up and you lived your dreams
Baby I could help you make that change
I could show you how to do this thing

"Change Your Life" - Iggy Azalea FEAT T.I

(~)(~)(~)(~)(~)

Bella grumbled and wished, not for the first time, that Izzy was a 'real girl' so she could slap her. She had been informed by her not-so-better other half that she was going out with Paul. She wasn't sure where exactly they were going but she was told to "enjoy" and not worry about anything.. That was impossible, because Bella WAS the worrier.

Izzy helped her to get ready, giving little tips about hair and makeup and clothing as they went along. A glance at the clock showed that Paul would be arriving any moment. She walked into her bedroom to look at herself once more in the mirror as Izzy gave her tips about carrying her items, since she would not be carrying any kind of handbag.

The doorbell rang and she popped her head out to yell at Paul to come in. She took another look at herself.

She didn't look like her old self, but she didn't feel like she looked as good as Izzy did with their body. She had on a pair of dark washed jeans with a few frayed places along the legs. It was paired with a dark-purple tank top that matched her dark-purple heels that she KNEW would end up hurting her feet.. But this was her first night out without a chaperone or anything except for herself holding her back.

She stepped out of her room after taking a deep breath and looked up at Paul almost shyly to check his reaction.. She had never thought a simple black t-shirt and jeans would look undeniably sexy on a man, being so basic.. But they always were with Paul.

(~)(~)

Paul was shocked. Had he not known for a fact he was taking out Bella, he would have thought it was Izzy almost- There was just something missing from the outfit to make it perfectly Izzy. Perhaps it was the fact that Izzy showed more flesh or wore her hair different.. Bella was biting her lip and looking at him in such a vulnerable way that made him realize he hadn't said anything.

"You look great, Bella."

A soft blush rose across her cheeks, "Thank you."

"You're missing something."

Paul smirked at the confused look that graced her face. He shrugged out of his black leather jacket and handed it out to her.

Bella's heart pounded in her chest. Paul was offering her his jacket. She knew the significance of that jacket, along with the fact that Izzy had been the only one of them to ever wear it. Sure, she'd had a few short little kisses with Paul but she knew that Izzy was his ONE.. She'd never worn the jacket.

Their eyes locked and she silently asked if he was sure, Izzy screaming at her to take the jacket. He nodded and she blushed again before sliding it on. She shivered at the body heat that enveloped her, along with the scent of leather mixed with one that was only Paul.

"Now you look perfect."

She locked her house, slipping the clip-on set of keys to her belt-loop like Izzy had told her previously. She froze when she saw Paul's motorcycle, sparks of both elation and fear running through her. She'd never been on a motorcycle... Ever.

"Something wrong?"

She was pulled out of her inner musings by Paul, his eyebrow raised as she stood there shell-shocked.

"Uhm.." She fidgeted, "I'm just a little.. Scared."

A look of confusion crossed his face, "Why?"

"I've never been on one.."

Paul's heart almost melted. Bella was so vulnerable compared to Izzy. He took the few steps to be close to her and tilted her head up as she looked at her feet, "There's nothing to be afraid of. Izzy has been on my bike tons of times and it's honestly all about muscle memory.. And you can hold me as tight as you want to."

The thought of pressing herself against Paul made her tingle and Izzy snorted at Bella's innocence. She nodded once and Paul helped her on his bike before hopping in front of her. She instantly clung to him and listened as Paul told her where to place her feet.

The ride was surprisingly smooth and she enjoyed the feeling of freedom more than anything. It was better than when she had dreamed she was Izzy.

She was back to the club with the name she couldn't pronounce, which brought more teasing from Izzy since she was supposed to be the college girl. Paul led her to the usual table and everyone greeted her carefully, as if trying to see which personality she was that day.

"Bella." Paul stated simply. She noted Embry's eyes light up and she smiled. The younger boy had a soft spot for her it seemed, probably after her crying.

Sam gestured to a thin tray with different drinks and shots, "Since this is YOUR first time, we ordered a flight for you. They all have different names, different alcohols and different tastes. Pick your poison."

"And no hints from Izzy!" Embry crowed, earning support from the other males. She glanced up at Paul and he smirked down at her.

"Like he said, Princess. Pick your poison. Personally, I prefer Vodka.. Anything with Vodka."

Gingerly, Bella picked up the shot glass from the 'vodka flight' and sniffed at it. She wrinkled her nose and there was the flash of a phone as Sam captured her facial expression. She put it back down quickly and Paul laughed, sitting and pulling her into his lap.

"You don't sniff it," Angela instructed, "You shoot it really really fast, hence the term shot."

"And then what?"

"Well, if you're like us you drink the liquor straight without a chaser. Izzy drinks that way. But with you being new to this, kinda, I'd suggest either a beer chaser or a soda chaser. It helps cleanse it out."

With another weary look at the Vodka shot, she picked it back up and snatched a Budweiser from the beer tray. Quick as a lick she had the shot down and, after the first hint of after-taste, a large mouthful of beer followed.

She let out an almost gasp, "That was HORRID! Why do you do that?"

"Because the after-burn is great." Angela squealed.

Bella cocked her head in almost contemplation and then she felt the warm spreading feeling through her stomach. She looked down at it and Paul laughed, "I've never been with a first time drinker. It's kinda cool."

"You look cute with your confusion." Embry teased, earning a glare that was almost up to par with Izzy's.

"If you call me cute again, I'll use a few of the tricks Izzy taught me to make you suffer."

Embry held up his hands in surrender and Sam laughed before passing Bella another shot.

"Rum. It also comes in flavors but you don't get that luxury yet."

Bella found she liked the rum shot better than the Vodka shot.. And then after trying Whiskey, Tequila and several other she didn't really want to know the name of, she found that she preferred Whiskey over all of them. She also really REALLY did not like beer. She had long since discarded her shoes, saying they were annoying even when she was sitting.

"Feet!" she'd screamed after several shots. "This stuff tastes like FEET! Why do you drink it? It looks like piss!"

Angela covered her mouth with a snort, trying to hold in her own drunken giggle, "You just said piss!"

Bella frowned and Paul thought she'd never looked cuter, "Izzy's a bad influence. She tells me things."

She shivered when she felt Paul's warm breath against her neck, "I think you're pretty wasted, Princess. How about we see how you fare on the dance floor?"

Bella nodded, seeing as all her negative emotions were drowned in liquor for the time being and let Paul slide his coat off her before they went hand in hand to the dance floor.

"Don't let me fall!" she yelled over the music.

Paul rolled his eyes and pulled her flush to him, causing her to let out a squeak. "You won't fall.. Just feel me."

As the DJ mixed the ending of the current song with the beginning of NO MEDIOCRE by T.I, he learned the difference between Izzy and Bella on the dance floor. With Izzy, it was all about commanding his attention and driving him wild. Bella seemed to have listened to what he said about just feeling it because she moved like water.. Albeit water that made his body scream with want.

It was very hard to tell the difference in feeling between Izzy and Bella, but the lines became blurred as they continued to dance. At one point, she spun and he trapped her body back against him. Her breath came in the pants of anyone dancing in a hot-ass club but he heard the moan that came from her mouth as she ground her ass against the growing bulge in his pants.

Bella's body felt like it was on fire as she moved against Paul. His hands on her hips made her have wild thoughts about if they'd just move a little lower and inward. Her brain felt itchy and she got the mental image of Izzy dancing around like Snoopy in their headspace.

The music slowed and Paul tilted her head back and crashed their lips together. She could taste the beer on his tongue that he'd been drinking but she didn't care. She turned to face him and he broke the kiss, his eyes darting around before pulling her back to their table in the corner. No one was sitting around it, all of them out on the dance floor. He caught the eye of Sam at the bar and motioned towards the back exit before bursting out the door, taking her with him.

Bella had no time to think as Paul pressed her against the cool brick of the building outside and brought their lips back together. She ran and hand up to try to tangle in his hair on impulse. He let out a growl at the feeling of her nails and lifted her by her thighs to press against the apex of her thighs. She bucked her hips against him and he pulled his mouth away.

"I'm not going further than this tonight, Bella... I don't care how much it hurts and I don't want you to feel bad but I refuse to take advantage of you when you're drunk."

Even intoxicated, Bella felt touched by his words and nodded silently. Sam popped his head out and his eyes widened at the position they were in,

"Uh.. Paul?"

"No worries man, I'm not going any farther than I already have."

Angela stuck her head out underneath Sam's. "Bella! Come to shots with me."

Bella slid down to rest her feet back on the concrete and looked unsure of the idea, hearing Izzy tell her to know her limit.

"I got coconut rum..." Angela practically sang. It was enough to convince Bella to kiss Paul swiftly on the cheek before practically skipping back inside with her friend. Paul blinked after her, astonished at feeling like she'd blown him off... For liquor.

Sam laughed and clapped a hand on his shoulder, "First timers.."

(~)(~)

Paul arrived back to the table to hear Embry explaining the rules of a shot race to his pseudo-girlfriend.. Who was drunker than she had been perhaps five minutes ago already. She had balls, he'd give her that. Even Izzy didn't drink this much...

Bella's eyes lit up when she spotted Paul, "It's a race!" She chirped, holding a hand out for Paul to join her side. He chuckled and stood behind her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Good luck, Princess."

A look of determination crossed her face as she faced off against her friend. Embry yelled GO and she was taking shots like a Pro.. Like Izzy. As soon as one hand put a glass down, it was picking another up. They had added a small tumbler of Vodka/Cranberry as their ending chugger.

He had to admit he was quite proud when she won. Angela pouted and demanded a re-match. He saw the glazed look in Bella's eyes swirling with the triumph of victory and pulled Bella into his lap as he sat again, "It's her first time, Ang. Give her a bit."

(~)(~)

They left the club and Paul held Bella to him on the front of his bike as he drove. He was safe at the bar with her, only drinking a few beers in a leisurely pace. He parked the bike in her driveway and she hopped off, clearly energized. Angela hopped off Jared's bike behind her, the couple having followed them since Bella was Angela's cover for the night.

"WOO!" she screamed out into the silent night.

"Shh!" Angela shush-giggled, "You're gonna wake up the people."

"Ohh. Good point." Bella replied, looking at her friend in wild innocence. They stared at each other before Bella once again yelled out "OH MY GOD ANGELA!"

Angela clapped a hand over Bella's mouth, "What?!"

Bella crouched as if to tell her a secret and whisper yelled, "We should totally go play on a swing set..."

The two girls stared at each other again before they both tossed their shoes down and ran through Bella's back yard to the small playground at the abandoned daycare that was there. Jared and Paul followed at a leisurely pace, laughing to themselves and each other.

They found their women swinging in a rather odd way- standing. Thank goodness there were no houses around because they surely would have gotten arrested for public intoxication.

Bella was hanging on, swinging back and forth wildly while singing "IIIIIIIIIIII wanna Swiiiiiiiiing!" and then Angela would go "From the chandelierrrr" and they would both repeat it. That must have been the only part of the song Bella knew. After about thirty minutes, Angela stood stock straight. "I HAVE TO PEE!" And the girls took off for Bella's apartment.

Jared laughed and looked at his friend, "Dude. We gotta get them to sleep or they're going to be soooo sick."

Paul smirked, "Izzy wanted Bella to have the experience.. Besides, I think Angela's drunker than usual."

Jared rolled his eyes, "You think? Bella's clearly just as bad of an influence as Izzy."

They walked into the apartment to see both girls had found Izzy's special bottle of Southern Comfort whiskey and were passing it back and forth like soda..

"Oh ho no! Ladies! You're going to be soooo sick." Paul gingerly plucked the bottle from between the girls and hid it in the kitchen.

He lifted Bella into his arms, causing her to squeal. "You guys take that couch bed. Nite!" he yelled, carrying Bella into her room.

She giggled as Paul tossed her on her new very bouncy bed. She pulled him to lay with her where she promptly curled up against his chest.

"G'nite Paul. I had fun tonight."

He kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her. "I had fun too, but you won't like me very much in the morning.. And I think Izzy's going to be pissed you got into her liquor."

"Ya think? Nite!" came the gruff reply and he knew Izzy had surfaced. He wondered if it was because Bella was so drunk she had sunk into their shared subconscious and forced the other girl forward. He didn't care either way. Something about this female, this broken female, had called to him and now he didn't want to let her go.. But that was an issue for him to work out on his own.