~oOo~
I opened the door to Edward and Masen when they arrived for Masen’s Thursday lesson. The lessons had become routine by now, but no less anticipated. Mr. Darcy was as ecstatic as ever to see Masen, and as usual, Edward was less than enthusiastic about seeing Darcy. The little clone and my beloved mutt ran out to the porch and around the corner, out of view. Over the last few weeks Edward had grown more relaxed around my big lug of a dog. He said his main problem with Mr. D was the way the animal chose to greet him each time he saw him: muzzle to crotch. When I'd teased him about being afraid of losing his jewels, he reacted exactly the way I thought he would. Defensively.
"How would you like it if every time you saw someone they stuck their nose in your crotch?"
So help me, I know it was evil but I couldn't help but answer him with, "Well, if it were your nose doing the nuzzling of my nether regions, then I'd have no arguments whatsoever." To which he responded with a noise that sounded a hell of a lot like a growl as he pressed me against my piano and warned me in a raspy voice that unless I wanted the sexbargo to end right that instant, then I had better cease and desist. Just as he was moving away from me, we heard Masen's sweet voice as he and Darcy bounded into the room.
"Hey, Miss Swan! I'm ready for our lesson."
"I knew you would be, little man, and I told you that you could call me Miss Bella or Miss B when it's just us. How about you let me get set up and then we can start."
"Oh, yeah. I keep forgetting, Miss B. Hey, can I take Darcy out for a few minutes before the lesson?"
"Sure, you know where his leash is hanging up, right?"
"Sure do!"
"Well then, go for it, and don't let him push you around out there!"
"Aw, he's a good boy for me. Aren't 'cha, big guy?"
"How about I call you when I'm ready?"
"Sounds great. Come on, Darce!"
Masen took off with Darcy right on his heels. Both looked so happy as they ran out the door. I felt Edward's arms as they circled my waist from behind. As I leaned back, I felt my body melting into his chest and I was overcome with so many feelings: safety, peace, the rightness of this moment. He turned me to face him. The softest whisper of a kiss brushed over my lips. In that one, brief gesture, I felt the most wonderful feeling of all; I felt treasured. No words passed between us, just the rhythmic rise and fall of our chests as we stood looking out the window. Rather than analyze the moment to death, I decided to just revel in it. And breathe. With my head tucked beneath his chin, our arms linked around each other, I filled my lungs with the smell of him. He was a mixture of aftershave, cologne, laundry detergent, engine oil, and that musky man scent. It was a heady concoction that had me wanting to trade shirts with him so I could keep the smell of Edward with me after he left. I pressed a kiss to his chest, taking one last deep breath of him in before pulling back.
"I gotta get ready for Masen's lesson. Besides, we'd have a hell of a time explaining this if the little man decided to come back in early."
"He's a pretty smart kid. I think he'd get the picture easily, and I'm not ready to let go of you just yet. Make out with me."
"What?"
"You heard me, make out with me."
I snickered at the man before me.
"Yes, I did hear you, but of all the ways you could have phrased that...."
"Would you have preferred me to say, 'Suck face with me, Bella' or 'Swap spit'?"
"Way to kill the moment, Edward." I gently pushed away from him, the moment squashed by his crass, juvenile joke. I actually thought it was pretty funny, but I wanted to play with him for a bit; make him work for his make out session. He fell for it, because he tightened his grip on me and started back peddling.
"No, baby! I was kidding! I'm really sorry.... I know, it was gross, but I didn't think you were the 'delicate flower' type. I didn't mean to offend you. I was just being an ass. I am an ass. Forgive me?"
"You're right, you are an ass, but you’re my ass," to emphasize my point I reached behind him and grabbed the body part we were discussing, giving it a tight squeeze.
"Now, shut the hell up and put that tongue to better use!"
It only took a second for him to catch up, then it was me trying to catch my breath.
All too soon the "making out" came to an end, and it was Edward who had to break it off.
"I thought you had to get ready for a music lesson, Ms. Swan."
"Yeah, I do, but you have to promise me that we can pick up where we left off ASAP."
"I can't wait. Go get ready."
I stretched up to kiss him once more, reminding him of his promise and what was to come. My hand brushed teasingly across his chest as I walked away. Edward grasped it gently and kissed the palm. I barely heard his quiet words as I walked away.
"I promise."
~oOo~
Edward had left to run some errands. Our date was later that night and he said he needed to get some things taken care of beforehand. Masen sat at my piano, his feet dangling several inches from the floor. I'd just finished showing M the new piece that he needed to work on for Tuesday's lesson when I noticed he had an odd look on his face. After months of working with this kid I knew that look well.
"Hey, M? What's up? Do you have any questions about the assignment? I'm happy to go over it with you again."
I loved how his little legs swung back and forth as he considered what he wanted to say.
"Well, I was wondering if... if you would teach me a song that you really like? You know, like, maybe your favorite piece?"
"Uhhh, I don't know, Mason...."
"I mean, you don't have to. I just thought it would be fun to play something that you liked, that's all."
"No, that's really sweet, M. I just need to think about it for a second and pick one. I have so many favorites"
"Okay...."
The little man sat patiently while I flipped through a mental list of songs I enjoyed playing. It didn't take me long to think of the song I wanted to teach him. It had been rolling around in my head for weeks now, and one I was playing a lot recently since the dreams had started back up. I just wasn't sure if I could share it with him. The melody was perfect for him to learn, and the modern composition would expand his range nicely. I'd first heard it in college a few years back. Hana Pestle's voice was so haunting and clear that it had grabbed my attention from the moment I'd heard it. The lyrics spoke to me, as if they had been written for me. I knew this was a song that would be with me forever. I wasn't sure why I was choosing to share this song with the child who sat bone still beside me as I considered my choice. I rarely played it in the daytime. But maybe if I played it now I would sleep tonight.
"Alright Masen, this is a piece that means a lot to me. It reminds me of someone very special to me. Someone who isn't in my life anymore. It's called 'Need,' and it’s a modern piece. I'll teach you the melody, then we can play it together and I'll pick out a harmony and sing the lyrics for you, okay?"
"Okay, show me how it goes."
I played the song all the way through a few times for M. He caught it quickly, joining in near the end of the song the second time through. We paused as both of our hands hovered over the keys, preparing to play together.
I could clearly remember going straight home and finding the song on the Internet and then downloading the sheet music. One time. That's all it took for me to learn the song. It was like it was carved into the very marrow of my bones. Recently, whenever I'd wake up panting in the blackness, I'd creep down the stairs. I wouldn't bother with the lights. The moonlight seeping in through the windows was all the light I needed to find the way to my therapy. My piano.
I'd sink to the bench and my palms would smooth over the lid of the keyboard; a kind of greeting almost. Without fail, Darcy would be lying at my feet, keeping me company in my despair. The shaking in my hands would calm as soon as I lifted the cover. It was as if they knew what was coming, that this would quiet the unrest within me, meet the need that ate at me.
The first notes were like deep breaths drawn in by suffocating lungs. They were cool, soothing. Life bearing. I pictured the little girl who had once been my life as I played the melody and sang the words that brought me out of myself and back to the present.
I'm not quite sure how to breathe without you here
I'm not quite sure if I'm ready to say goodbye to all we were
Be with me, stay with me
Just for now
Let the time decide when I won't need you
I could recall those weeks of days and nights, lying in the cold hospital and praying that it had all been a nightmare. That I'd wake up and she would still be there. It was in that sterile room that I began dreaming of the black obscurity and pleading with Reese to stay and fight.
My hand searches for your hand in a dark room.
I can't find you.
Help me!
Are you looking for me?
As I sang the words I could see the bleak darkness that surrounded me in my dreams. It was thick, like sludge, and I had to struggle to find my way through it. I knew she was in there with me. She was always with me. I had never stopped reaching for her, crying out to her just as I had the night of the accident. And each time I had the dream I would reach out again, desperate to connect with her but never making it.
Can't I feel any more
Light in me, I'm fading
I can't drop you!
Tell me I don't need you
Night after night, endless darkness. Groping, searching. Knowing that if I could just find her in there that she would come back to us. Then we would all be alright again. Maybe then Mom and Dad could finally forgive me. Maybe they would finally see that all I wanted, all I had ever wanted, was to know that I was enough. Even with Reese gone, that I was worthy of their love. Every night I looked for her in the dark, and each night I'd awake with a start, knowing that I had failed all over again. She was not there next to me as she had always been.
Etch this into my brain for me.
Tell me how it’s supposed to be,
Where everything will go
and how I'll be without you by my side
After all these years, all the shrinks, and all the searching, I'd yet to find a way to move on. I could not let her go. If I did, then it was like I was admitting that I had a life and she didn't. A life of promise that I had taken. Reese had been a part of every moment of my life, always a part of what I was experiencing. I needed her there. It was the only way I could alleviate the pressure that would settle on my chest, pressing on my lungs until they burned. Guilt.
My hand searches for your hand in a dark room
I can't find you
Help me
Are you looking for me
So I searched. My entire life I had searched for a solution in my dreams. Desperate for a way to merge the past and the present. As the final notes played out their lifespan, I would picture my sweet sister, not as she was, but how I imagined she would look now. Tall, with cropped chestnut hair that reflected the sun's rays in deep copper colors, her endless brown eyes. She stood taller than I did, and she was stunning. Her outstretched arm just out of my reach.
When the song was finished, I took a deep breath. I inhaled the peace that came with my brand of therapy. My eyes closed, just enjoying a moment of calm. I flinched at the touch of a small hand over mine which rested on the edge of the keyboard. I smiled as I looked over at the angel of a boy sitting next to me.
"That's a beautiful song, Miss B. I'm sorry that it makes you so sad."
"Oh, no, Masen. It doesn't make me sad. It actually helps me feel better."
"Who was it? That you lost, I mean."
"Her name is Reese. She died when I was very young and I miss her very much. That song helps me through the sad moments. Do you have a song that helps you through sad or difficult moments?"
"Yeah, I do. 'You Are My Sunshine.' Dad used to sing it to me. He doesn’t anymore, though. I like to play it when I'm upset or mad."
"I love that song, M. Will you play it for me now?"
The boy lit up like the dawn at my request. He played the simple notes beautifully and with so much feeling. It was evident that he had played it frequently. Masen, usually so mature beyond his years, for once looked like the nine year old vulnerable little boy that he was. I patted his shoulder as the last notes hung in the air.
We wrapped up the lesson just as my phone buzzed. Edward had texted to tell me that he was leaving the grocery store and that he'd be a few minutes late picking up M. If it'd been any other student I would've probably been a little annoyed, but not with this one. And it wasn't because he was Edward's kid. This pint sized version of his father was a joy in every way. I welcomed any time I got to spend with him.
I told Mini E that his dad was on the way to get him. Then, I had an idea.
"Hey, buddy? You like video games?"
"Well, duh, Miss. B! Of course I do! You got any?"
"What? What did you say? 'You got any?' What kinda sentence is that? That was terrible grammar! Who's your teacher, kid? She should be fired!"
"Nah! She's the best teacher in the world!"
"Really? Well, she needs to work on your grammar come tomorrow, but to answer your horribly phrased question, yes, I do have games. Lots of them. Let's head to the game room to check them out."
Masen and I settled into a highly competitive game of Rock Band. He on the guitar, me on the drums. We were rocking out hard when Edward poked his head in the door to see what we were up to.
"Wow, I had no idea he'd be getting a guitar lesson out of this, too! Your methods are unconventional, but I think they rock!"
Masen didn't even turn to look at him.
"Shut it, Dad. Me and Ms. B are in a battle of the bands! I need to focus here!"
I gently corrected his grammar once again.
"Ms. B and I, Masen."
"Sorry."
Masen and I were the victors in the battle of the bands. We were invincible. Edward was genuinely impressed by my mad XBox skilz and said that he called me to be on his team if we ever played against Emmett. I told him that would be only way I’d play. I was strictly a Team Edward girl, all the way.
After they left, I spent the next hour and a half getting ready for our dinner with Alice and Jasper. I tried a number of things to keep my nerves to a minimum, but the bottle of wine I opened seemed to work the best. That, and Michael Buble’s new album blaring through the house. I glanced at the clock on the kitchen stove for what was probably the hundredth time in the last ten minutes and decided my wine glass needed another refill. This one had to last me longer than the last two, though, or Edward was going to have to pour me into the car to get me to the restaurant. The last thing I wanted was for my significant other's twin sister to think I was a lush on our first meeting. After that mental image, I decided to opt for a strong cup of coffee. Decaf. I didn’t need to add caffeine to the alcohol. Man, this night couldn’t be over soon enough.
~oOo~
Not long after I finished my coffee, Edward was back on my doorstep, and for the first time I was actually less than happy to see him standing on the other side of the glass. Looking edible in dark pants and charcoal grey pinstriped dress shirt, I had to force myself to open the door. I let him in and instantly found myself in his arms. He looked down at me with a cheeky grin then kissed me. It was one of those kisses you never want to end: long, deep, all consuming. The kind of kiss you prayed would lead to something more. Unfortunately, he broke our embrace for the second time that day.
Damn this sexbargo! Whose shitty idea was this again? Oh, yeah. Mine. Stupid fucking idea, Bella.
"You ready, hon? We're supposed to meet Jazz and Alice at eight."
"As ready as I'll ever be. Let's get this over with...."
I collected my clutch and wrap. We were headed downtown, to the historic district, and one of my favorite restaurants: The Columbia. Edward chose it because he said if I had to be miserable at least I could be miserable and eat good food. I could only hope that I'd be able to eat anything; my stomach was doing back handsprings.
"You look amazing, Bella. It's a good thing we have a moratorium on the smexin' because I doubt we'd be making our reservation otherwise. It wouldn't fucking matter who was waiting to meet us for dinner. That dress is hot!"
"Well, Mr. Cullen, I'm so glad you approve."
I did a little spin so he could get the full effect. I'd chosen one of my best loved dresses. It was a 40's inspired wiggle dress with a tiny all over plaid that hugged all the right places. And it was comfortable as hell to boot. My long curls were pinned up loosely at the nape of my neck to show off the beautiful neckline of the dress.
He swore under his breath and led me out to his ride. Knowing Edward, his little outburst was due to the view of my ass that his vantage point afforded him. Now, I knew he wouldn't be bringing his bike, but I was surprised by what sat in my drive. It was sex. Pure, unadulterated sex. A black BMW M6 convertible with tan leather interior. It was beautiful and everything about it reminded me of Edward. Just like the man helping me into the sex mobile, this car was sexy. I found my mind drifting to the things that we could do in its tiny backseat or on its hood. I pictured me straddling him in the front seat with my skirt bunched up around my waist. I silently gave thanks for the Lycra in the dress. My fantasies came to a screeching halt as the word "sexbargo" echoed in my head. I really was regretting that whole fucking brilliant idea of mine. Mentally, I began calculating how much longer I thought we'd have to continue with the "no nookie" game plan.
I was vaguely aware of the door shutting after I'd slid onto the buttery smooth seats. My hand caressed the leather on either side of my legs, imagining what it would feel like against my bare skin. My thighs rubbed against each other at the mental picture of Edward below me and the extracurricular activities that could take place in his sex-on-wheels. I was aware that my breathing had picked up as well. Each breath kept time with the movement of my thighs. Apparently, both were under the impression we were all running a marathon.
"Baby? Everything okay? Bella?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, Edward. Just nervous I guess."
"Don't be nervous. There's nothing to be nervous about." He placed his hand on my leg, just above my knee. The material there stretched tight and thin across my thighs so that I could feel the heat radiating from his hand. "They're gonna adore you just as much as I do."
Edward leaned across the console. His lips pressed to my cheek and then my neck. I gasped at the contact, but also because it was at the moment that I realized, with great disappointment, that no matter how I calculated the time remaining on the No Sex Act, it would not be overturned tonight.
Yeah, Bella. Some fucking genius you turned out to be.
~oOo~
All in all, the night turned out way better than I could have hoped. Dinner was delicious. Alice and Jasper were wonderful. Edward was, well... distracting. He had his hand on my thigh during the entire meal. It never left its post, like it was guarding the muscles that lay beneath it. Unless of course it was placed on the small of my back. We walked that way into the restaurant, him guiding me through the waiting patrons, and as the hostess showed us to our table, that hand of his slid down over the curve of my ass. It stayed there until we reached our seats and I required that part of my anatomy to sit. The man was evil.
I adored Alice from the moment I met her. I had little doubt that I'd get along just fine with Edward's twin. Jasper had that mellow, southern gentleman thing going for him, and his presence had a calming effect on me. Edward had said earlier that Jazz could keep his cool if a bomb was strapped to his chest and was about to detonate. I could totally see that. I doubted that there was very much in life that would set him off; a personality trait that would come in very handy with Alice as a spouse and Edward as a brother-in-law.
I was beginning to wonder what I would find when I met the rest of the Cullen clan. The idea both warmed and scared the hell out of me. Then there was the minor detail that if I met Edward's family, then he'd need to meet mine. An involuntary shiver ran down my spine. I could only imagine what Edward would think of my hippie mother and sports obsessed step-father. I wasn't even going to consider how the meeting with my dad and his wife would go. I had no worries about Sue, she was the most normal of us all; but that really wasn't saying much, considering who I was comparing her to.
I couldn't remember when I had laughed so hard or enjoyed myself so much before. My girlfriends and I always had a great time when we got together, but these two people were strangers to me and we still had a great time. Alice had a way of making you feel like you'd known each other forever. Edward was right; she was sickeningly optimistic and a tad troll-like. Although, I might compare her more to a leprechaun. Except that she was the pot of gold. I could see the two of us spending a lot of time together. Especially after we both discovered that we had gone through a rather intense boy band stage. That little factoid about myself wasn't knowledge that I let just anyone in on. It was a heavily guarded secret known only by a select few that I had, and may or may not still have, a bit of a boy band obsession. I still can't believe that I'd admitted this to complete strangers and my poor boyfriend. The conversation had started out innocently enough. We'd been talking about the different types of music we were each into. It seemed like we all had very similarly aligned tastes: eclectic.
I liked all kinds of music, as did Edward. Life was too damn short and the world was filled with way too much amazing music to limit yourself to one style or genre. Alice apparently felt the same way, and her ever agreeable fiancé was just like her and nodded his blond head in agreement whenever a new band was mentioned. No music snobs here.
This led to us talking about the last concert we'd each been to. The guys had just seen U2 in October- twice! Turns out, it was a pretty fucking awesome concert. They were a bit shocked to know that I'd flown out to Vegas to see it myself, and I completely agreed that it was every bit as incredible as they thought it was. The guys had seen it first in Atlanta and were so impressed that they drove down to Tampa two days later to see it again. And I thought I was bad flying to Vegas! But, Charlie had flown in from Washington to see it with me. We were hardcore U2 fans, and it was beyond anything we imagined. The boys had only glowing things to say about Muse who had opened at both of their shows. You would've thought that they had some kind of weird ass bromance going on with the guys in Muse as much as they went on and on about them. I couldn't comment on that part of the show, though; The Black Eyed Peas had opened for us in Vegas. But I had plans to see Muse in February when they came to Tampa. They were impressed that I'd gone all the way to LV to see a show, and there was talk that maybe we'd all try to see Muse together. Alice mentioned something about boy bands under her breath, so quietly that I almost missed it.
"What was that Alice? Did I just hear you say what I think I heard you say?"
"What do you think I said?"
"I think that you said something about boy bands, but I know that can't be right. What does Muse have to do with boy bands, and if you did just mention the boy band, then I may have to leave your brother and switch teams, 'cause I think I might love you..."
Alice's laugh tinkled through the restaurant. Yep this woman was gold.
"Bella, I have a feeling that, judging by the way Edward is glaring at you right now, you'd ’switch teams‘ over his cold, dead body."
"Maybe so, but that can be arranged.... So what's this about Muse and boy bands? Are you a groupie?"
"Um, well, I don't know what to say to that, but the way Jazz and E were fawning all over Muse just now reminded me how my girlfriends would fawn all over boy bands."
Alice seemed genuinely hesitant to discuss the musical genius that is an all male singing group. Shit, I was practically on the edge of my seat waiting to see if we shared this unhealthy, shameful obsession. She fiddled with the white cloth napkin that had been resting in her lap. She looked up at Edward, and the tentative look that had been there flashed to one of frustration and then resignation.
"Fine! I'm kinda a closet boy band fan-"
"Closet?" I was surprised by the tandem response from the two men at our table. Apparently, Alice had at least one foot out of the boy band fan club closet, 'cause both her twin and her lover were very aware of her "interest" in the bands of the boys.
"Shut it, pricks. Okay, not so much closet as low profile."
Snickers and "Yeah, riiiight's!"s erupted from the table and I got the distinct feeling that we were on shaky ground.
"I SAID shut it! I haven't been to a concert of theirs since March of '08!"
"Yeah, and you haven't been to any other concert since, either! Some crap about not wanting to ruin the best concert of all time by seeing anything that might sully its memory."
Edward sounded like a seven year old as he teased his sister mercilessly. It did something to me to see him interact with these people who knew him so well and vice versa. This had me wanting more, and I wondered, for the first time, if all this secrecy was really necessary. My thoughts were distracted by the display of "sibling love" that erupted at the table.
"Edward, you and your hairy palm can go fuck yourself. How would you like me to tell our Bella about your disgusting fascination with Danity Kane and The Pussycat Dolls?"
Wow. I guessed that my man's interest in the female equivalent of the boy band was close to legendary status when his best friend piped in.
"Well, it used to be Destiny's Child, so at least they've gotten a little older...." Jazz's betrayal of Edward's secret was rewarded with an obscene gesture of the fowl nature.
"I thought we were talking about boy bands, not 'sex on a stick.' Tell us more about your last concert experience, Alice.” Edward's voice held a hint of desperation to change the subject. I made a mental note to discuss this with him more when we were alone. It could lead to some very telling insight into this man sitting beside me. My man. "I, for one, know that I'm just dying to hear about the Backstreet Boys’ last concert for the millionth time."
What? I was shocked when it clicked and I put two and two together, realizing that Alice and I'd been at the same place at the same time.
"Wait- you went to the BSB concert in '08? Atlanta? I went to that one too!"
She nodded confirmation. Alice and I erupted into quiet squeals and bouncing as we scooted our chairs closer so we could better talk. We were like thirteen year old girls crushing over cute boys, except with the occasional expletive tossed in. We were lost in our own little world of rainbows, unicorns and all things BSB; completely oblivious to the real life fuckhawt men sitting beside us. After a few minutes, we excused ourselves to use the ladies' room. We could hear our men commiserating over the monsters they'd unleashed. I linked my arm through Alice's as we walked to the bathroom and she snuggled in close. If I didn't like Edward as much as I did I might have seriously considered batting for the other team. I hoped this was the beginning of a long and beautiful friendship.
We chattered about our favorite parts of the concert, and I was even more surprised that we sat just a few rows apart and liked most of the same parts of the concert. Everything was going great until I asked her if she'd ever seen *N SYNC live. I'd been to every fucking tour they'd been on, sometimes to several different cities for the same tour. They always put on an amazing show that any boy band groupie worth their weight in fan paraphernalia wouldn't dare miss.
"Oh, Bella! I wouldn't waste my money on something as trivial as an 'Nsync concert. Life's too short to listen to subpar music." My mouth fell open at her words. How could anyone think that *N SYNC was subpar anything? And I had a doctorate in Musical Studies, dammit! I think I might know a thing or two about music.
"You think *N SYNC is beneath BSB? Say it ain’t so, Alice! Say it ain’t so!"
"Sorry, beautiful, but I speaketh the truth."
"No. You speaketh the crazy! BSB is in no way above *N SYNC. They put BSB to shame in every way possible!" Thus began the downward decline of our conversation which kept us holed up in the ladies room for fifteen minutes. We actually sat on the comfy couches that graced the elegant ladies' room, sitting side by side and turned to face each other.
"Puh-leese! BSB kicks 'Nsync's ass. I can almost hear the asterisk at the front of their name when you say it, Bella. It's kinda cute, in an annoying sort of way. Very 'Nsync fangirl-ish of you." My new friend winked at me and gave me a good natured elbow nudge to assure me that she was teasing me.
"Whatever, Alice. Give me one way that BSB is better than *N SYNC."
"Pft! Just one? Well, I guess it’s best that way. Otherwise we'd be here all night with the laundry list I have."
"Shut it. Name one."
"Okay, we'll start with their fashion sense - I'll admit that both fell victim to some of the less desirable 90's trends, but BSB much less so then 'Nsync. Don't roll your eyes at me, Bella. Velvet jeans and mesh shirts? That should be enough ammunition for me to win the battle right there. When was the last time you saw a member of 'Nsync in an Armani suit? And Justin Timberlake doesn't count!"
"Oh, whatever. I know for a fact that A.J. had a thang for the mesh shirt, too. Don't act all pompous and sanctimonious when it comes to boy band fashion. They all wore what they were told to put on. End of that argument. Besides, this isn't about boy designers, they're boy bands, and everyone knows that *N SYNC out sung and out wrote BSB. If I had to listen to even one more BSB heartsick ballad in the 90's I was gonna intentionally shatter my eardrums by shoving sharpened No.2 pencils deep into my ear canals. At least *N SYNC had a little variety, and something you could actually dance to. The only tempo BSB ever sang to was 'comatose,' and to make it worse, it was all retarded drivel. *N SYNC wins where it counts, pipsqueak; the proof is in their body of work." I was feeling fucking proud of the way I'd defended my boys until Alice piped in with a very convincing argument.
"Bella Swan, Backstreet Boys have sold over 100 million copies of their albums and have had 3 albums on the Billboard ’Top 50 Albums of All Time‘ list while 'Nstync hasn't even had ONE album make it on the list."
"Oh, whatever, Alice. Its *N SYNC all the way, biotch. They're the shit."
"BSB are more popular, so Backstreet Boys are much better. I'm putting my money on the BSB!"
Not wanting to end our friendship before it even had a chance in Hell to start, I decided to take the high road and agree to disagree. Surprisingly, Alice was game to do so as well, and we left the ladies' room laughing and giggling, arm in arm, just as we had gone in.
I was again surprised when Alice stopped a waiter on the way back to the table. That little imp batted those ridiculously thick lashes at him and trilled, "May I ask you a question?" He looked the two of us - arm in arm - up and down, no doubt letting his imagination run wild with all the possibly lewd questions she might ask him. She motioned between the two of us and chimed, "If you had to choose one over the other.... would it be Backstreet Boys or 'Nsync?" His shock and then disappointment showed instantly on his face. His answer was more like a question, "Uhhhh, Backstreet Boys?"
Alice squealed her thank you's and I-told-you-so's as she dragged me back to our men. "Now it's two to one. BSB wins." I was mildly shocked that my new friend had just manipulated the libido of a strange waiter to win a debate over boy bands. "This is not over! That was not fair, you little troll, and you know it!"
"What isn't fair?" Edward stood to help me into my seat, placing a kiss on my neck as he asked me with a little more concern than necessary. Jasper was busy helping Alice into her own chair. I wondered to myself if she didn't maybe need a booster seat.
"Your manipulative little ankle-biter of a sister just manipulated a waiter to get him to side with her on a discussion we were having! Can you believe that?"
The men at our table exchanged knowing glances, "She used 'The Eyes', didn't she?"
It was all beginning to make sense. Alice was fully aware of her inhuman powers of persuasion, and she apparently wasn't above using them for evil, and not good. When I confirmed their suspicions, Jasper did the same for mine, "Yeah, we know all about that. We call it 'Dazzling' when she does it. She can get just about anyone to do just about anything with that look. How do you think she got me?"
"Yes, Jazz I dazzled you. That being said, and considering who you hope to be spending the night next to, which would you choose- 'Nsync or BSB?"
"Definitely BSB, darlin'. No two ways about it, and I ain't just sayin' that either, Bella. Sorry, but I've seen both in concert and I preferred BSB over 'Nsync."
"I understand, Jazz. You’re a horny son-of-a-gun, and you're hoping to score some tonight. I get it, really I do. Edward? Who's your vote for?"
"I'm in the same boat as Jazz, so I say 'Nsync."
I leaned over to place a congratulatory kiss on his lips. "Good choice, sweetie. But you’re still not getting lucky tonight."
"What? Why not? I said 'N Sync! I said 'N Sync!"
I mouthed the word "Sexbargo" to him where Alice and Jazz couldn't see. Alice was going on about how it didn't matter what Edward's vote was because with the waiters "vote", BSB was in the lead three to two. She was also kind enough to point out that we were out of people to poll, therefore BSB were the winners of the Battle of the Boy Bands. Edward seemed intent on arguing to topic. I wasn't sure if he actually felt that strongly about *NSYNC or if he was trying to change my mind about his getting lucky. That didn't help my own faltering resolve over the "No nookie" nonsense. That had to be nipped in the fucking bud ASAP. The sooner the better. It was becoming ever more clear that the plan to abstain had done what it was intended to. It was time to explore other options.
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I hadn't realized that Edward had fished out his iPhone and was calling someone. I was about to ask who or what was so damned important that he needed to call them at the table.
"Hey, man. What? No, Jazz, Alice, and I are still at that meeting. We'll be a while yet; we have a few topics to iron out still. Hey, I need you answer a question for me. Don't think, just answer. And don't ask any questions either. I'll explain it all later. Just answer one way or the other, okay? Okay. Backstreet Boys or 'N Sync?"
We could all hear the thunderous laughter that rolled from Edward's phone. Hell, I think the entire restaurant heard it. I assumed that was the voice of his brother on the phone. I was right. Edward had called his brother to get his "vote". My heart swelled with pride that the little Pixie Stick sitting next to me hadn't been the only Cullen twin who had inherited the "conniving gene." No matter what Emmett's vote was, just the fact that my man had tried to even the score earned him a million bonus points. Emmett could still be heard roaring into the phone.
"Shut the fuck up, Em, and just answer the question, you dumb ass."
"Lemme get this straight. You call me, and ask in a completely random fashion, 'BSB or 'N Sync,' and I'm NOT supposed to laugh my fucking brains out? That's even better than the actual question, Eddie Boy!"
"Answer. Now."
"Fine, you need to loosen up dude. Sounds like you need to get laid. Well, I was more of a New Kids on the Block fan, but if I have to choose between those two I’d say- 'N Sync. 'N Sync is my final answer, Regis. And you had best be prepared to explain how all this fuckery has anything to do with the little 'business meeting' you three are at tonig-"
"Edward! Did you just hang up on your brother?"
"Yeah, Bella, I did. Believe me, you'll, a) thank me for it later, and b) do it yourself at some point."
Alice huffed on her seat, "Well, that did us no good, we're back to a tie!"
"Can't you two just kiss and make up?" Edward's suggestion made me feel like a scolded child. So I acted like one. I picked up the argument where it had left off in the ladies' room.
"Alice, BSD may have held the record for most albums sold in a day or week, but when *NSYNC released their album, they smashed those records!"
"Well, Backstreet Boys have put out more than double the number of albums that 'N Sync has!"
"And *N SYNC was way more marketable that Backstreet! They had gobs of fucking merchandise for sale like board games, Game Boy games, dolls, hats, watches, hit clips, phones, to name a few. While BSB had a few similar items, *N SYNC had a hella lot more and they were promoted by corporations like McDonald's. All BSB were ever promoted by was Burger King, and it’s pretty clear McDonald's is more successful than Burger King! Annnnd, *N SYNC did a fuckton of commercials: one for Chili’s, some beer brand, an anti-drug campaign, and more!"
"Enough, ladies!" Jasper's quiet but firm voice broke through our pathetic boy bands argument. "It would seem that we are at an impasse."
"Really, Jazz? An impasse? Please."
"Shut it, baby. We need to get the fuck out of here before you two start chucking bread plates and tuning over tables. This conversation can be resumed at a later time."
"Exactly," Edward agreed with him, "Let's get outta here. Besides, I seriously doubt you two are going to fucking settle this shit tonight."
Alice and I agreed with our men, but I'd been burned by the tiny raven pin cushion once already. I wasn't about to let her think she and Edward were the only ones with mad ambushing skilz. As we walked out the doors of The Columbia, I turned to Alice and her love and said in the calmest voice I could muster, "You know, there really is only one way to resolve a dispute of these epic proportions...."
"Oh, really? Pray tell what that might be, Bellissima."
"Why, an epic dance off, of course!"
Alice's heavenly laugh swelled behind Edward and me as we all filed out into the night.
"Why, my dear Prima Bellerina, I do believe you have the perfect solution to our predicament. We'll need to discuss the how's and when's, but I think that would be a very civil and fitting end to our 'Great Boy Band Debate'! Edward, have I told you that I love this woman of yours?"
"You may have mentioned it, Alice." Edward was grinning like a tard.
"Well, I do. I fucking love her."
I recognized a temporary peace treaty when I saw one, so I decided to accept.
"Dearest Alice, I feel the same way about you."
Jazz, always the voice of reason, piped in, "Alright, you two, break it up! No making out in the historic district! You'll end up in the pokey for indecent conduct, and then Edward and I will have to break your hot asses out of jail. We'll all end up modern versions of Bonnie and Clyde."
"Whatever!" I shot back at Jazz. "I guess that would make you Bonnie in this scenario, 'cause Clyde was a foot shorter than his woman. Just stop being such a whiney ass and kiss your woman." With that I took my own advice, stopped in mid stride, and planted one on Edward. It took a throat loudly clearing to break us up. Sure, I already loved this shrimp, but if she was going to make a habit of slowing my roll, I was gonna have to teach her a thing or two. Good thing I was an educator.
The four of us walked and talked for another hour. Edward's hand resumed its resting place on my ass as we walked down St. George Street and looked in the shop windows. He made some snarky remarks as we passed a lingerie shop, and started pointing out things he'd "like to take off me slowly." With his teeth. He was really playing dirty tonight! The Castillo de San Marcos was beautifully lit against the night sky. The black night was perforated by the stars, and the moon reflected in the water of Matanzas Bay. When we made our way back to the cars I was genuinely sad to say goodnight. Standing there, saying our goodbyes, I was struck that in those few short hours I had gained not only an ally, but a friend. Alice caught me up in her pocket-sized frame and hugged my fiercely. She assured me that our secret was safe with her. Promises were made to see each other again soon, and maybe even for a girl’s night. And then there was the little matter of the Old Skool Dance Off Alice and I had challenged one another to. I could see disaster spelled all over that shit, even though it had been my idea to being with. I had a feeling I'd regret that suggestion later.
Conversation was limited in the car during our ten minute drive back to my house. By confiding in Alice and Jasper we had bought ourselves more time together, and now we had people who supported us. My hand draped across his thigh as he drove and Edward rubbed delicious circles on my bare neck. I was so content that I almost fell asleep on the way home. As much as I wanted Edward to stay, he had to get home to Masen, and I needed rest. I was pretty sure that it would have been another sleepless night, but not because of nightmares. With all the flirting and petting that had gone on that night, the sexbargo would have been in serious jeopardy had he stayed. Surprisingly, I slept better that night than I had in weeks. Maybe it was due to my piano therapy with Masen earlier in the day, or the newly forged friendships. Maybe it was just being content with life as it was. Whatever the reason, that night, I slept like a baby.
~oOo~
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