AN: I don't own Twilight. I just thought of this little story. Any songs used are also not mine.

BTW the betas at Project Team Beta are awesome sauce, without this would be so full of comma splices it would make your head spin.

Rolling in the Deep

Chapter 1- White Blank Page

BPOV

I stared at myself in the window of the subway; and not subtly starring, I was hard core checking myself out. I was trying to see if I looked any different than I had yesterday, before I received the call that the New Moon Contemporary Ballet Company wanted me as a principle dancer in their company. But no, I was still the same. Becoming a principle hadn't made me any more beautiful or really look any different at all. But I felt that I was holding my head a little higher, walking with a little more purpose, and overall was just feeling more confident.

I had graduated Julliard a few weeks prior after senior showcase I had gotten a few calls, mostly for corps in lesser known companies. Then the call from New Moon came. I had fully intended to take a position as a background dancer in Brooklyn Contemporary, which was a great company but I would only ever dance in front of fifty people at a time and the pay was terrible. I never dreamed that I would get a call from a major New York company where I would get to perform in front of thousands. I especially wasn't expecting to get offered the spot of a principle.

Principle.

I shuddered at what exactly that title was going to bring me—my name on a dressing room door, my image on promotional pictures, the lead in their new ballet—it was everything that I had worked for since I was six when I bought my first pair of ballet slippers.

I got off at my stop and walked the rest of the way to the studio for my first rehearsal, willing myself to get ready to relax into the steady rhythm of the barre exercises. I'd assumed it would be like every other rehearsal that I had ever been to, that I would blend in with the other dancers. I hadn't expected every eye to be on me from the moment that I stepped in the door.

Everyone was looking at me. Some with curiosity and some with hatred as if they wished that I would incinerate on the spot. I shrugged my shoulders and let my bag drop to the floor by the mirror and silently prayed that the others in the company would begin to talk, stretch, or really do anything to cover up the immense wall of tension that had filled the room the second I entered it.

"Isabella?"

I turned to look at the most petite girl I had ever seen, staring at me with the brightest sky-blue eyes; she looked at me with such an expression of genuine kindness that it instantly put me at ease. It almost felt like kismet, like we were destined to be friends, and for the first time that day I felt a real smile come across my face.

"Please, call me Bella. I only use Isabella when I want people to think that I'm some snooty primadonna," I answered with a laugh. In an instant it was like the entire room changed; everybody snickered and the tension relaxed a little.

The petite girl squealed. "Well, I'm Alice, and I for one am so glad that you've come to New Moon. I saw you at Julliard's showcase. You're incredible." She leaned toward me a little bit and said in a hushed voice, "Plus I get the feeling we're going to be great friends."

I smiled at Alice, and she and I began chatting as we did our stretches. She asked me about Julliard and told me about her own training at the American Ballet Theater. I learned quickly that this petite ballerina could talk, and talk fast. She also pulled information from me as if I was a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay. I will give Alice this—she was a sneaky one.

"So, what do you know about the ballet?" I asked.

Alice shrugged. "I don't know anything about your ballet. I'm currently rehearsing for the September ballet. In fact, most of the company is in that one. I think only you and Edward are in October's."

That got my attention.

"A two-person ballet? I haven't heard of that before."

"It's some sort of love story. I don't know. Aro hasn't talked about it much. He just announced that we were getting two new principles and they were for a ballet in October. Besides announcing your name and Edward Cullen's, he hasn't said a whole bunch."

Shit.

Shitty shitty .Fuck. Shit. Fuck. Shit shit.

"Edward Cullen?"

Alice quirked an eyebrow at me. "Yeah. I know. He was with New York City. I'm surprised he jumped ship to come here."

"I have to dance with Edward Cullen?"

"What's wrong with that?"

What was wrong with that? A whole lot. The bastard broke my heart.

"Let's just say we have some history, and that I kind of hate him. It's going to be extremely hard to dance with him and not punch him in the junk. Maybe I'll even gain ten pounds to make it harder to lift me….Fucking bastard."

I heard a dark chuckle behind me. "That would be a shame, Bella. You're gorgeous just the way you are."

I turned around and my brown eyes met the same green ones that had haunted my dreams for the past year since he had left. He had left me broken hearted at Julliard. Just like that, one day we were completely happy and the next we were done. I was devastated and started putting everything I had into my dancing and he got an offer from NYCBC and started chasing tights like our three years together meant nothing. I had loved him and he left me. If I hadn't been able to throw myself into my last year at Julliard, I would have gone completely catatonic and even then I had gotten a reputation of working myself to exhaustion.

"Edward."

"Yes, Bella?"

I breathed through my nose, walked close to him and was immediately engulfed in his familiar scent. I had to fight back the urge to sink into his chest and bury myself in his arms. I spoke quietly, "Listen to me closely. Unless it has to do with dance, I don't want to talk to you ever. We'll dance, we'll do our jobs, but I don't want to ever talk to you about anything that isn't absolutely necessary. It's like we never existed, just like you said. Is that clear?"

His lips curled up into that dangerous smirk, the one he always gave me before he started to do wicked things to my body. I knew then that I was in trouble, big trouble. With just that smirk he brought back memories to what it was like to be held by him, to be touched by him, to be loved by him. It sent a shiver up my spine and the bastard knew it.

"Crystal, for now," he whispered into my ear.

I shoved him backwards, turned my back to him and continued to stretch and warm up. I didn't want him to be here, so it was better that I pretended he wasn't. I would pretend that I was dancing with someone else.

I took a deep breath and eased myself into a standing split, bending my right leg and extending it further and further, getting lost in the slight pain. I breathed in and out, warming up my muscles and doing my best to forget that I was in the same room as Edward. I almost succeded.

I was almost so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't notice Aro Volturi walk in.

"Hello, darlings! Come around, come around!" Aro's loud, flamboyant voice called.

He was wearing a sparkly purple cape over his suit. Kind of hard to miss. If it wasn't for the fact that he owned and directed the company, it would be really easy to discount him, but as it was, the man was a genius.

"Okay, I told you that we were going to be joined by two new principles: Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan." Aro paused and motioned for us to join him up front. I reluctantly rose and stood beside Edward, purposefully not looking at him. I didn't want anyone in the company to think that I was unprofessional.

"They're going to be performing in a new ballet called Rolling in the Deep, about a couple who falls in love, breaks up, and lives with regret until they meet again. It's going to be very powerful and intimate, which is why it will be performed solely by Edward and Isabella. After Summer Strings is finished it's run, the rest of you will begin preparing for our Christmas ballet which has yet to be cast. But we have four months till we even need to think about that." Aro finished with a wink to the rest of the company.

"In the meantime, Edward and Isabella will join the rest of you for morning training and exercises, and then we will go to separate rehearsals. Summer Strings will continue to be directed by myself, while Tanya Denali and Benjamin Amun, formally from the New York City Ballet, will be choreographing Rolling in the Deep. I'm sure you are aware of what caliber of dancers Tanya, Benjamin, Isabella, and Edward are and I want you to make them feel welcome in the company."

It felt strange to be lumped into a group with New York City Ballet alumni, but at the same time it made me a bit proud. Even though I couldn't help wonder if Tanya and Edward had ever slept together.

I didn't know how I would handle it if my new director was one of the tights Edward whored around with.

It wasn't until I felt Edward shift his eyes to me that I realized I was breathing heavily through my nose, the way I always did when I was angry. I looked up at him, and his smirk was back; he knew what it meant when I breathed like that.

Damn him.

I gave him my best bitch-brow communicating, Her, right? You slept with her.

Edward sighed, raised his eyes to the ceiling and shook his head. No, of course not. It wasn't lost on me that even though we hadn't seen each other in a year, we were still able to communicate without words.

Again, damn him.

Aro interrupted our thoughts. "Isabella, Edward, I was just thinking back to a showcase that you two did about a year and half ago at Julliard. Tanya and Benjamin aren't with us so maybe you could brush up on one of your old pieces during the second half of rehearsal and show off a bit for the rest of the company? "

I took a deep breath; I really didn't want to revisit the pieces that we choreographed together, the pieces that we had used to describe our love for each other. I especially didn't want to go anywhere near any of the ones that were inspired by our sex life.

"That's fine. Do you want soft shoe or toe? The allegro from the 'Company' suite was always one of my favorite pieces," I said, confidently naming the least sexual piece that we had done together.

Aro looked thoughtful. "I'd prefer to see something a little more contemporary, something that shows off the spark that the two of you have. Other than that though, surprise me! Now, everybody to the barre; it's time to start rehearsal."

I walked to the barre, listening to the piano and drum kit which was a little different than the usual classical piano music. I began breathing in time with the music, stretching and elongating with each planned tendu, plié, and relevé.

Irina, the ballet mistress, came by in the middle of my port de bras in fourth position. She stopped and watched as I leaned back and let my torso and my arm extend parallel to the barre. I saw her taking me in, conscious of everything from my toes to the tips of my fingers.

"Beautiful, Isabella. Your extension is simply exquisite. I'm so excited that you're here. I think you and Edward will bring a new class to the company."

"Humph."

One of Irina's perfect dark eyebrows arch up at whoever was behind me. It wasn't until we turned around to do our exercises on the left side that I even had an idea at who it was. She was a tall, blonde, picture-perfect ballerina.

I watched her in the mirror. She was perfect. She had perfect extension and perfect turn out. My aficionado's eye took in how every movement from her feet to her pinky was controlled in a way that I had been trying to perfect for years. Why the hell did they need me when they had her?

It wasn't until we were in line for jetté and turning exercises that I had a chance to even find out who she was.

Alice just rolled her eyes at me when I asked. "Has she been giving you trouble? She said she was over it…"

"No, she hasn't even said anything. But look at her," I said, pointing to her as she executed leap after leap flawlessly. "Why did they bring me in when they have her?"

Alice snorted. "That's what she said. She's the current principle and doesn't understand why she and Emmet McCarty couldn't do the new ballet. But I wouldn't worry about her; she's really nice once you get to know her. She just didn't take too kindly to Aro raving about how amazing you and Edward are. "

Suddenly it was our group that was up. I took in a deep breath, and stepped and leaped in time with the music, stretching my legs as far as they would go. When I came down, my eyes caught Edward's, and I saw for the first time that day, a genuine smile come across his face. It was the first time since I had seen him that he hadn't looked at me in lust, aggravation, or even pity. He was looking at me with pride. It only lasted a second, but it was there.

Alice snapped me back to reality.

"Rosalie is just jealous, but once you and Edward show her how good the two of you are, she'll back off. And if she doesn't, I'll make her. She's my sister-in-law; I married her brother, Jasper, back in January."

I looked at her in surprise. "Congratulations!"

For next forty five minutes of rehearsal Alice gave me a full play-by-play of her and Jasper's wedding. Several of the other company members gave me empathetic looks. I didn't mind it though. The other members of the company's looks strangely made me feel a lot more at ease and less on display during the rest of rehearsal. I really didn't want to let her go when it was time for us to split up.

Apparently, she felt the same. "Please tell me you'll go out with me after rehearsal? Pretty please?"

I laughed. "Definitely. I'll need a drink after six hours alone with my ex."

"Aw, I don't think it'll be that bad. I bet dancing with him is like riding a bike; you guys will just fall into it naturally."

"Thanks, Alice," I answered with a smile. I looked over and saw Aro gesturing wildly. I couldn't exactly pin down what Aro reminded me of. He was a typical ballet director, tall with dark shoulder-length hair and he had one of those thin European moustaches. Add that to the fact that the man as flaming as the day is long, he triggered something in my brain; I just couldn't pinpoint it. I watched as he talked with his hands to Edward, as Edward smiled and nodded politely.

"Ah, Isabella! I was just telling Edward that you two should probably do 'Come Back to Bed.' I loved that piece. So organic! So raw! So sexual!" Aro raved.

I locked eyes with Edward, silently begging him not to make me do that piece. Please, please, I can't do that one.

Edward nodded.

"Actually, Aro, you're giving us six hours until you want us to perform, right? That's actually plenty of time for me and Bella to choreograph a new piece, if you want. Start our beginning with the company with a bit of a bang."

Aro's eyes lit up. "Wonderful, my dear boy. That would be wonderful. Well, I'll just leave you to it then. Go get 'em tiger," Aro said with a slap on Edward's ass before walking away.

Edward shrugged. "Occupational hazard. Shall we go?"

"Sure," I sighed as I followed him to the studio.

Edward's eyes shifted to me a little uneasily. "It's your turn, you know, to pick the song?"

I sighed. I guessed if we were going to dance together it would be best to just pick up where we left off. We had rituals for everything from picking the music to performing. The best I could hope was that the last ritual could be amended.

"Right, well I guess that's okay. I've had a song kind of in my head anyways. How do you feel about Mumford and Sons? I've been thinking 'White Blank Page'," I said confidently.

Edward didn't say anything, just nodded. "Album version or Bookshop sessions? Personally, I love the session version, but I think the album version would be better for this venue."

That was weird. Usually he fought me more on song choices. My shock must have registered on my face. Edward smiled kindly. "Bella, it's not an angle. I really do think that song is a good choice."

I took a deep breath. "Well okay then, I guess we'll go with the album version. I'll put it on the speaker so we can start."

As I connected my iPod to the speakers, Edward sat down in front of the mirror, expecting me to sit in front of him while we visualized. Just like breathing together was the most natural thing in the world…which it was, because that's how we had always done it. So I took my seat with my back against his chest so we could feel each other's breaths rise and fall together.

Breathing in as the song started, the natural progression of the dance began to play in my head, our breaths coming in and out in time with the music. Suddenly Edward interlaced his fingers between my own as the song voiced, "Tell me now, where was my fault, in loving you with my whole heart?"

"Edward," I sighed, resting my head back against his chest. "It can't be like this."

"Bella, you said we were just going to talk dance. I haven't said one word that wasn't dance related."

"With your mouth, no, but your hands are saying other things."

"Bella, my hands are going to be in a lot more places today besides in your own. I was just trying to make you comfortable. Besides, this how we always did it. This is the best way we can work together. Aro hired us because he wants that chemistry. If we act like it doesn't exist, it won't exist on stage. We just need to embrace it."

I raised my eyebrow. "Alright, but if it goes too far we're going to have to draw up some new ideas on how to work together. I can't do everything the way we used to, Edward, I can't. As it is, it's all I can do to look at you and not break down."

Edward finally let out his own sigh, pinching his nose the way he always did when he was frustrated. "I know. I know you don't trust me or even like me as a person, but you know you can trust me as a dancer. So let's just start with that."

I nodded. "Alright, I was thinking that for the opening we could start out apart, and not connect until after the bass comes in…"

We ended up with a piece I was absolutely in love with. It wasn't perfect, but on some level it was right that way, as if we could capture the song better because the choreography was a bit rough.

The thing I could not shake was how right it felt to be working with Edward. He blew away every other partner I had had in the past year. It was so easy with him. I didn't have to work as hard to be in sync with him, I wasn't constantly worried that he wouldn't be there for a lift, and choreographing with him was so simple; he knew what I wanted to do as soon as I figured it out. Most of the time we didn't even need to communicate with words to get what we wanted.

It worried me more than a little. He was like a magnet; I was impossibly drawn to him. But I couldn't even begin to think about trusting him outside of dance again.

The rest of the company and a few of the crew and musicians were sitting on the floor in the main rehearsal space, waiting for us. Before I could walk in, Edward stopped me and led me so my back was to the wall and he was standing in front of me. Before I could even really process what he was doing, he brought his hand to cup my face. His eyes searched mine to see if I would ask him to stop.

"Tradition?" he breathed.

Losing myself to the familiarity of his touch, I nodded. Immediately, he pressed his body into mine. My hands went into his hair and my mouth opened to accept his.

It felt so good, so right and I was lost in the sensation. I couldn't help but want more. It wasn't until I moaned out load that I realized how very, very bad this all was. And from the way that Edward immediately stepped back, he noticed it too.

"Right, we should go perform…" he stated, looking as if he was waiting for me to start screaming at him.

"Right, let's go."

We walked in, and Aro began introducing us. But it was like nothing else existed. All I could think about was Edward. The way Edward felt, the way he tasted, the memories of the way…

Seriously, I needed to stop.

I saw Aro walk toward the back of the rehearsal space, taking a spot behind everyone else. I took my mark. It didn't take much acting. When we started out apart dancing in tandem, it was so easy for me to summon a look of longing. When the music climaxed and we finally touched, a wave of relief came across my whole body.

This wasn't a dance I was performing; this was a dance I was living.

As soon as the piece ended, I couldn't hear anything. It was all a blur. I didn't notice the other members of the company clapping, or Aro talking to me and Edward.

And it takes a lot not to notice Aro.

It wasn't until Alice came up to me with Rosalie that I was even able to speak. "Bella, that was amazing—"

"In a little bit, Alice," I interrupted. "I really need that drink."

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