Bella POV

Semi Precious Weapons – Semi Precious Weapons

"Do we have to do this?" she asked, and I rolled my eyes.

"It's my fucking birthday, so we're doing it. Shut up, you know you'll love it."

She sighed.

"At least we look good," she said with a small smirk. I turned around and shot her my most winning smile.

"Damn right, we do."

It was my 19th birthday and I was hitting the town, fake ID in hand, fully intent on having an amazing night my room mate Lauren. She wasn't necessarily my first choice, but Angela was attached at the hip (in every sense of the phrase) to her brand new fiancé and there was no way we would have been able to lure her out for a night of man eating.

We had made a bet as a way for her to have some fun, because apparently, at places like this, fun was impossible for her without some kind of gimmick to keep her entertained. Whoever could score the most free drinks got their laundry for the month done by whoever got the least. I was absolutely down for the bet, seeing as there was absolutely no way that she would beat me. Lauren came across as a super hot ice queen, that is, until she was drunk. Then she would latch onto the first guy who smiled or winked at her, and there are very few guys who will buy a girl drinks when she's already rubbing her hands on his crotch. I, on the other hand, had the doe-eyed, innocent looking thing down to a science. An infallible, guaranteed science. It was gravity 2.0.

Lauren hadn't been lying when she'd said that we looked good. She was dressed in a black dress and outrageous hot pink peep toe heels, but her platinum blonde short do, with a heavy fringe and short sides, made her look edgy and alternate, rather than like a barbie wannabe. Her long limbs and waifish frame meant that she never looked tacky or slutty, even when wearing torn up stockings and daisy dukes with a men's flannel shirt. Lucky bitch. I hadn't liked Lauren a lot when we met, but I found that underneath her cold exterior was a cool girl with an amazing wardrobe, who'd lived in New York her whole life and introduced me to an awesome scene that I would never have discovered on my own.

I was in a strapless dress covered entirely in silver sequins. It wasn't often we went to a place like this, so we had decided to go all out. My hair was fluffy and wavy, coming down to just about where the top started, and the longest layers tumbling down my back, almost hitting my waist. I had thrown on some black strappy heels and my grandmother's antique sapphire pendant, which hung just between my collarbones. She'd left it to me because she said that blue was my colour, and I loved it to death.

We smiled and batted our eyelashes at the bouncer, then sashayed into the club. It was a Friday night, and so the place was full of men in suits, which I certainly wasn't objected to. There was no denying that a man in a good suit was a fun thing to look at, especially when you're used to guys in ripped skinny jeans. Non-descript electro music blared around us, and we found ourselves involuntarily moving to the beat that was pulsing through the ground.

"This place actually isn't too bad," Lauren spoke into my ear, and I smiled. Lauren was a self confessed indie snob, she hated anything that was even remotely like this, so I was thrilled that she wasn't going to sulk all night. Two guys, neither one particularly memorable, waved at us and motioned to their drinks, a wordless invitation. We smiled, clasped our hands together and moved to join them. The game was on.

Two hours later, I was sitting on four drinks, to Lauren's five. However, she was now underneath some weird guy who looked coked out of his mind on a couch, so I was now free to retake the lead. Lauren saw me looking at her, smiled smugly and waved, moving each finger individually to remind me that how many drinks she was on. I rolled my eyes and headed to the bar, needing a drink, regardless of whether or not I had to pay for it. I leaned over the bar slightly, trying to attract the attention of the bar tender, who was flirting with some idiot guys for tips.

If the bartenders had been men, I would have had a drink by now. I'm just saying.

"Hello," I heard a quiet but commanding voice that somehow seemed to transcend the volume of the music and chatter address me. I turned around, smiling in the hope that I could maybe catch up to Lauren's score.

"Hell-oh." I looked up to set eyes on a man who almost made my legs give out. I actually had to place my hands behind me on the bar to stop myself from falling. I should have known that voice was attached to something like this. My mouth was hanging open slightly as I gazed at the man. He looked a little older than me, 5-6 years I would estimate, and was the most impeccably dressed man in the place, if not the city. His charcoal suit contoured his frame, accentuating broad shoulders and a long, lean body. Suddenly, my mission for free drinks was abandoned.

"Are you all on your own?" He asked, leaning next to me on the bar like he owned the place, exuding a sense of comfort and confidence that was utterly magnetic. I cleared my head and tried to converse with the gorgeous man before me.

"No, I'm with a friend, but she's," I stressed the female pronoun, "missing. I'm hanging here because I can't seem to get the bargirl to give me her time," I growled, leaning over the bar again to try and lure her away from the 40 year old men who were ogling her tits as they ordered drinks with sleazy names. How very original.

All of a sudden, the bartender headed straight towards me, and I couldn't believe my luck. I turned to see the god nodding at her. I should have known that she was responding to him.

"Of course, she only comes over because there's a hot man here now," I grumbled. He laughed and I was mortified at being caught, even though the sound of his laughter made it hard to think.

"That might well be it, but I think the fact that I'm related to the owner helps," he replied playfully.

"What can I get for you?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at him in a way that made me sick. What a skank. She may as well have taken her top off. I turned to look at him, and his eyes were on me. Suck on that, Sluts McGee.

"Heidi, this gorgeous young lady and her friend are my guests, so whatever they desire tonight, you will give to them, free of charge of course, alright?" She nodded, then shot me a glare. I was surprised at his generosity, and a little part of me was excited to throw my good fortune in Lauren's face. Truth be told, I probably would have bought him a drink if it had given me the chance to speak to, and look at him some more.

"No, really, it's fine –"

"Do you drink vodka, beautiful?" he cut me off. I simply nodded. I probably would have accepted methylated spirits from him.

"Heidi, I think we'll start her with the house special, don't you?" She nodded and reached for the various liquors she needed. "And my usual, thanks." He turned his gaze to me, and half of his mouth lifted into a smile that would drop panties all over the world.

"I just realised, I don't know your name, beautiful."

"I'm Bella Swan." Shit, I sounded like I was 14 and introducing myself at cheer camp.

"Bella, how very fitting," he mused. I'd heard variations of that line before, most of which made my stomach turn, but with him, I was flattered. "I'm Edward Cullen." He extended his hand, and when I took it, he quickly brought mine to his lips before releasing it. I felt heat moving up my arm, originating from his hand on mine. When he released me, I had to stop myself from frowning… or snatching his hand back, which would have been completely mortifying.

"So you're on your own, Bella?" he inquired.

"It seems that way. Where are your friends?"

"They've all left me. If you like, I have a booth, you could call or text your friend and have her meet you there. In the meantime, we could talk for a while?" As if synchronised, Heidi the Whore set our drinks down on the bar.

"That sounds good to me," I agreed, before grabbing my drink, which looked much fancier than my normal drinks of choice. He put his hand on the small of my back and led me through the crowd to his table. He had the best spot in the place, which I didn't find surprising in the slightest.

I took a seat, and sat my drink down on the table. I realised then that I had no idea what I was about to drink.

"So what is this, Edward?" I asked gesturing to it. I liked saying his name. If I was being honest, I liked more or less everything about him.

"Don't you trust me?" he asked and winked at me. I rolled my eyes playfully but took a sip.

"Wow, it's so yummy. What is it?"

"It's a Georgia Peach. My brother-in-law, who owns the place, is from the south so sometimes he makes little jokes on the menus." I looked down at the drink and saw a piece of peach in it. That made sense. His arm rested on the couch behind my head and he leaned in to talk to me. He smelled delicious.

"So what do you do, Bella?"

You, hopefully.

Whoa. I'd never been happier that the verbal filter was still in place.

"I'm a photographer, and I work in a gallery."

"I should have known you would be beautiful and talented." I looked away, not used to this kind of flattery, especially not from such an attractive man.

"You've never even seen my photos, how do you know they're not terrible?" I teased.

"I sincerely doubt there is anything terrible about you," he replied.

"But you don't know me very well at all," I contradicted, and his smile turned wicked.

"Are you saying you're bad, Bella?"

"I have my moments." We were leaning into each other now, and the electricity was palpable. In an effort to stop myself from crawling into his lap as I sorely wanted to, I returned to the conversation.

"So what do you do?"

"I'm a lawyer." I should have known, he was so effortlessly smooth. It also explained the beautiful suit.

"That makes sense. You're quite the charmer, aren't you?"

"I have my moments," he mimicked my earlier words, and I laughed. I suddenly remembered Lauren, and quickly reached for my phone to text her when I saw the message icon flashing.

B – Babe, went home with Chris, appt is urs. Brunch 2moz defs – L

I laughed to myself, completely unsurprised and texted back.

L – Who is Chris? You slutbag lol, 12pm tomoz or death awaits – B

I looked back at him. He had leaned down to check his phone, and I took a moment to shamelessly ogle him. He had strong, masculine features, which were highlighted by a head of reddish-brown, almost bronze hair that spiked up over his head, not from a contrived effort, but just naturally, I suspected. A straight nose, obscenely appealing lips and a jaw line that couldn't be described using the confines of the English language completed his striking face. His looks were overwhelming, but I found myself focusing on his eyes. Jade green, the colour almost unsettling, and his irises were ringed with black. They were framed with long black eyelashes that only intensified the colour. They drew me in and I was completely powerless to break his hold on me. He was hypnotic, completely unescapable.

I finished my drink and a few moments later, he gestured Heidi over again and ordered us something else. The sheer hatred that radiated from her made me smile, and when he caught my expression, he smiled back, making my heart palpitate slightly. Before she could take away my empty glass, I reached in for the piece of peach at the bottom. It was infused with the liquor, and tasted so good. My tongue flicked out to catch a drop of liquor that had accumulated on my lip, and I looked up to see Edward watching my lips. I gently wiped it with my thumb, and he followed the movement before looking back to my eyes.

"So what's happening with your friend?" he asked, his voice smooth, deep and oh-so-attractive.

"She's… already gone," I couldn't stop the giggle that burst from my lips at that. He looked at me questioningly.

"She made a new friend and is having a sleepover at their house." Euphemism of the century, right there.

"Ahh," he said, smirking a little as he understood what I meant. "I guess you're stuck with me, then."

"Poor me," I scowled jokingly. I was going to have to buy Lauren a thankyou gift.

The next thing I knew, the bar was closing, and it was 3:30 in the morning. Not cool. I was nowhere near ready for this night to end. He extended a hand to me and I took it, happy for any excuse to make contact with him, and he pulled me from the booth. A little drunker than I thought I was, I let his strength pull me right into his chest. He laughed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, leading me from the bar and onto the street. Being so late at night, it was slightly freezing outside, and I was starting to regret my outfit. Without a word, he pulled off his jacket, and placed it on my shoulders. It was almost a trench coat on me, but I didn't mind, because it smelled heavenly.

He pulled a packet of cigarettes from his back pocket, and offered it to me, but when I reached for it, he pulled back. I was perplexed by his gesture, but then he lit one for me and passed it back, ever the gentleman. Edward was a man of few words, but his movements and expressions told me more than any inane chatter. He was leaning against a wall, and I was standing in front of him, about two feet between us. We finished our cigarettes, exchanging looks and smirks, and he sighed.

"I guess it's home time," he said softly, although I could hear him perfectly. It felt like my ears had attuned to his quiet voice.

"It seems that way." I kind of wanted to cry at the thought.

"Where do you live, gorgeous?" he asked as a cab pulled up and he opened the door for me. I hopped in the back and he followed.

"SoHo, near the village."

"That's on my way. Well, not really, but I'm not putting you in a cab at this time of night on your own."

"Where do you live?" I asked suspiciously.

"93rd and Lex," he almost mumbled. The cabbie looked gleeful but I was horrified.

"Not happening. That's the opposite direction! I can't ask you to do that!"

"You're not asking. Please, Bella?" I slouched into my seat, pretending to sulk. I looked at his face, and couldn't sulk anymore. The charm was on with a vengeance. A crooked smirk was on his face at my childish actions and I couldn't help but smile back.

"That's my girl," he said affectionately as he brushed some hair back from my face, and I melted a bit. I rested my head on his shoulder for the duration of the ride, soaking in his presence. He rested a hand on my leg, his warmth tingling through me. The cab pulled up at my place, and I was devastated that our time had come to an end. I reached for my purse to get money, and he stopped me, shaking his head.

"I'll walk you in." He nodded to the cabbie and then opened the door, climbing out before reaching for my hand. We walked up the stairs and stood on the doorstep to my building.

"It really was a pleasure to meet you, Bella. Do you think we could do this again?" I nodded, too excited to say anything back. He passed me his phone and I entered my number, fumbling with the touch screen. I hated those damn things, especially when I was slightly inebriated. He took it from me and saved it quickly and easily, of course.

"Your jacket," I reminded him quietly, trying to hide how disappointed I was that the evening was ending so soon. He moved his hands towards me, as if to take his jacket, and placed them on my shoulders, brushing an errant strand of hair from my face. Our eyes were locked as he slowly tilted his head towards mine. I took a step closer, so that our chests were almost touching, showing him that I wanted this just as badly. Light as a feather, he brushed his mouth against mine. We both pulled back an inch, then pushed our lips back together with a greater intensity. I leaned into his kiss, trying not to stumble because let's face it, I was a little bit loaded. A couple of quick pecks later, he let me go, smoothly removing his jacket from my shoulders. He gripped my hand, pressed it to his lips and bid me goodnight.

I watched him get back into the cab and pull away, before heading inside. I closed the door to my apartment and leaned against it, sliding down to the floor. I sat there for a few minutes trying to clear my head before I got up, cleaned my teeth and crawled into bed. Just as I was dozing off, my phone chimed.

Sleep well, beautiful. – E