A/N: I can't thank everyone enough for following & reviewing this story. I'm almost at 100 followers, which is more than I ever could have imagined! I would love it if you could spread the word to help me reach that milestone. :)

Thanks to Prillylove25 for the Scotch Bonnet story, which I have mentioned in this chapter. And merci to lmou84 for my first review en francais - it has made me feel very continental! Oh la la!

It might be a good time to mention that I am writing in UK English, so you may notice a few extra U's in some of the words and the odd British phrase slipping in!

Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight (even if she is "over it").

Chapter 8 - Spartans

"Well, you know what they say, Bella," giggled Rosalie. "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!" She doubled over with hysterics, while Alice choked on her glass of white wine, tears streaming down her face.

After her disastrous evening with Carlisle, Bella had felt it was time to call an emergency meeting with her friends. Rose had gotten tickets to the opening of a new bar downtown, so the girls were now getting ready round at Bella's apartment, where Rose and Alice were taking great delight in her recent misfortune.

"You guys, this is not funny!" scolded Bella. "The poor guy could be scarred for life!" She recalled the look of agony and shame on Carlisle's face as he'd left her apartment to return back to the hospital where he was interning to get his chilli-charred parts treated.

"Bella, he'll be fine," reassured Rosalie. "The same thing happened to a guy I know, but that was a scotch bonnet. Sure, he had to go to the ER, but there was no lasting damage done. Trust me, I should know…" She winked, sipping her vodka and tonic.

"Come on, Bells, you can't give up now," urged Alice. "All of the models so far have been really into you – you've just been unlucky. And at least you've got a massage and a kiss out of it. That's more action than your love life has seen in months."

"Gee, thanks for reminding me, Alice." Bella downed the rest of her drink in frustration. The girls were not going to let her give up on this.

Bella couldn't stay mad at her friends for long, though. She was really enjoying getting ready for a night out with them. She couldn't remember the last time they'd done this – certainly not since before she moved in with Mike. It was like old times. Plus, who wouldn't want Alice as their own personal stylist? If Bella had been left to her own devices she'd be going out in her usual skinny jeans and a t-shirt. Instead, Alice had picked out a stunning strapless mini-dress in her favourite shade of blue. She admired herself in the mirror – she was looking pretty damn hot, if she did say so herself.

The girls hailed a taxi and sped downtown to the new bar, Spartans. After stepping out of the cab, Rose dragged them straight to the front of the long line and flashed a flirtatious smile at the doormen. "Rosalie Hale, Eclipse magazine." The bigger of the two bouncers checked his list and ushered the three of them inside (failing to lift his eyes from Rose's spectacular cleavage the whole time, Bella noted).

The bar was already packed with a mixed crowd of media darlings, hipsters, rich young socialites and Z-list celebrities. Bella pulled a face at Alice behind Rosalie's back, as she led them to an empty table with a 'Reserved' sign on it. This wasn't really their scene. Still, if there were free drinks and good company, they couldn't really complain. Rose quickly checked no one was looking, before slipping the small 'Reserved' placard into her handbag. "Rosalie!" exclaimed Alice, shocked but not surprised at her friend's action.

Rose smiled, mischievously, and beckoned over a waitress carrying a tray full of champagne flutes. "What, you think there are people here more important than us?" Bella and Alice laughed, sat down, and grabbed themselves a drink. "Mmm," said Rosalie. "This stuff always tastes better when it's free." The girls clinked their glasses in a toast. "To Bella getting her man!"

Bella smiled and shook her head. The bubbles from the champagne, coupled with the pre-party drinks at her apartment, had started to go to her head, causing the despair she felt after her three failed attempts to dissipate. She was strong, she was sexy… and she was starting to get pretty drunk. "If at first you don't succeed..." she said, raising her glass. "Try, try again!" the girls chimed in.

Alice abruptly paused her glass mid-sip, her eyes focusing on something in the distance behind Bella. "Hey, isn't that… Edward?" She nodded her head in the direction of the DJ booth. "Over there in the blue shirt."

"Edward? As in Esme's cock-blocking nephew?" ask Rosalie. Alice nodded, laughing. "Wait – you guys didn't tell me he was cute!"

"That's because he's not!" said Bella, craning her neck round to try and spot her assistant.

"I don't know, Bella. He scrubs up pretty well," said Alice, who much to Bella's horror was waving and trying to catch Edward's attention. She had to see enough of the guy at work; she didn't want him pestering her on a night out as well.

Bella finally spotted Edward, just as he retuned Alice's wave and started to walk over to their table. While she hated to admit it, her friend wasn't wrong. Edward was actually looking all right. Okay, maybe a bit more than 'all right.' Gone was the shabby, old baseball cap and dorky retro t-shirts that he wore every day to the studio. Instead, Edward was dressed in a crisp, pale blue shirt, which contrasted beautifully with the unusual bronze colour of his tousled hair. As he approached, he adjusted his black-framed glasses – a gesture, Bella thought, that made him appear a little nervous.

"Bella, Alice, this is a nice surprise! I didn't know you ladies would be here tonight," Edward said, leaning in to give Alice a peck on the cheek.

Well, you pop up everywhere else I don't want you to be, so why not here as well, thought Bella, politely offering her own cheek for a 'hello' kiss. "Rose here had free tickets. She works with your Aunt Esme," she explained, introducing Edward and Rosalie. "What brings you here, anyway? I didn't think this would be your kind of place. Don't your kind live in coffee shops and comic book stores?" She ignored the shocked look Alice was giving her.

"You got me," said Edward, holding up his hands in mock surrender. He lowered his voice and leaned close to Bella's ear. "But that's just a cover for my secret double life as an international millionaire playboy." Damn, he smelled good! "Shh, don't tell anyone." Bella laughed, despite herself. This guy had an annoying way of making her smile when she didn't want to.

"No, seriously," said Edward, "an old friend of mine is one of the co-owners here. I'm just here to support him." Tennis clubs, bar owners, a magazine editor for an aunt – you do move in the right circles, don't you Edward? thought Bella. She couldn't quite figure this guy out. He certainly wasn't like any of the rich kids she'd met before.

"There you are, Edward! I go to get us a couple of drinks and you do a runner on me." A tall, pretty girl with caramel-coloured skin and short, black hair handed Edward a bottle of beer. "Although I can see you've upgraded to some much better company. Hi, I'm Leah, by the way." She smiled at the girls, warm and genuine.

"Leah, this is Rosalie and Alice, and this is Bella Swan – the photographer I'm interning with." Edward gently placed his hand on Bella's naked shoulder as he introduced her. She felt the patch of skin underneath suddenly become very hot. It must be the champagne, she told herself.

"So this is the famous Bella!" grinned Leah. "This guy does not stop talking about you. It's so nice to finally put a face to the name."

Bella smiled awkwardly. Great, she thought. Edward has probably been filling his girlfriend with stories about what a total bitch-trog from hell I am.

Bella's thoughts were interrupted by Alice grabbing her arm. "Oh my god, Bells. Look who it is!" she squealed. "Only Mr. January himself. And he's coming this way!"

A/N: Awk-ward! Please review if you enjoyed. :)