Rock Band

"Hey, guys, check this out!" I called to Bella and Edward. I had just bought Rock Band, the new Guitar Hero, which had a microphone, drum set, guitar and you could use the Guitar Hero guitar if they went to the same gaming system.

It was so damn awesome- and took up 7 hours of my summer Wednesday already. Rosalie and Alice were out shopping for God- knows- what with Esme and Carlisle was at the hospital. Jasper decided to watch for a while; he'd played almost 6 hours with me.

I heard Edward explain to Bella what I wanted and then he picked her up (ignoring her humanly grumbles) and flew down the stairs.

To show off, I selected a pretty tough song for the average human… it was something I'd bought earlier on the XOBX Live Marketplace.

Yes, I know I'm a vampire and am good at everything, and no, I didn't think that was hard. Okay, maybe a little, but I had a three person audience. That's bound to put some pressure on a guy. And Jasper was no help, either, adding even more nervousness to me.

Bella had walked out of Edward's arms when I finished it and picked up the other guitar.

"What are you doing?" I asked, totally confused. She only smiled, tossing the strap over her shoulder.

I watched as Bella added the other guitar and the microphone to the band and the song Dani California (I had no clue she liked the Red Hot Chili Peppers). She didn't look at me, but her face was very smug and un- Bella like.

That was when Edward walked in with Alice's mic stand, don't ask, and set it up to the Rock Band mic.

No way! I thought. Edward snickered at my gaping. Bella, the human- the klutz-, was going to sing and play at the SAME TIME!

We played through the entire song, and I totally sucked. I was ogling at Bella's performance. Man, she was on EXPERT for both instruments, not that the song was tough on guitar though, and got a 99 on BOTH! She could also sing very, very good. I mean well. Shit! Does it look like I care?

"Holy crap, Bella!" I yelled. "What the hell is your problem, chick?"

She grinned and shook her head. "How could this... this human beat you? You're a vampire!" I stared her down long enough after the last jab so that she blushed and explained this outrage to me. "When I visited my cousins back in Phoenix, they had Guitar Hero, so we would battle. And yes, I was beat by some rotten naives. Don't worry, Emmett, you aren't the only one who sucked at first." She 

patted my shoulder. "So I did enough and I got halfway through the songs on hard, and then Phil bought it for him and me. I played it all the time and soon I was on expert. And totally kicking my step- dad's butt." We all laughed.

I suddenly got an idea and shared it with my telepathic brother, who laughed even harder at it. Bella and Jasper looked at him, so I told them what it was.

"Bella, I know that the song Timmy and the Lords of the Underworld is on here." She gave me a look that I got more than enough from my wife. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you've never seen South Park... with that kid in the wheelchair and all he can say is 'Timmy' but it sounds like Tim- ay."

"Phil watched it," she thought for a moment. "I'm pretty sure I remember the kid. Anyway..."

"It's the funniest song in the world; it's like screaming. We could pick a song for Rosalie and- without her knowing what it is- have her sing it. Please tell me you'll help me beat the songs up until then and she'll probably be home by then."

A wicked smile flashed over Bella's face as she listened to me. "Let's do it."