A/N: I've been getting ideas for quite a few stories now. I'll be starting another new one... probably soon. I'm just afraid I won't have any time to update. Argh. I'll just see how it goes. This one is slightly... different. But the Cullens are still vampires. Oh, and it'll be like this. Bella's POV and Edward's POV will alternate in every chapter. Which means it'll be Edward POV in Ch 2 and etc.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Twilight characters, nor do I own the songs which I use in this fic. Thinking of You is originally by Katy Perry.
"Thank you New York! Hope you have a great night!" I yelled into the microphone, smiling as the crowd lapped it up, erupting immediately into cheers and wolf whistles. The same lines were used in practically every country I toured in. Combine that, with some humor, some words in a foreign language, and a winning smile- and you get a direct success.
I walked slowly backstage, waving at the audience until I was finally concealed before slinging off my guitar and collapsing into a chair. I guzzled down a bottle of water, aiding the dehydration I was close to feeling. Touring was exhausting. Interviews, photo shoots and endless talk shows in the day, followed by a concert and after party at night. By the time I got sleep it was usually almost 2 in the morning or later.
Tonight would be indifferent. I was driven back to my hotel room so I could take a quick shower and then I changed into the outfit of my choice for whatever club we would be hitting as my after party. They had insisted I get a stylist, but I had refused over and over, until they finally gave up.
I changed into a strapless black dress that only just covered my butt and threw on a pair of hot pink pantyhose with killer boots. I brushed on some dark eyeliner and brushed a shade of bright red lipstick on. Then I grabbed my leather jacket, and I was set to go. New York was freezing at this time of the month, and as much as I had toured, I still never got used to the cold.
The instant my boyfriend and I stepped out of the limo and onto the grounds that would lead to the club, a horde of paparazzi surrounded us, camera flashes blinding my eyes. Questions were thrown, each more ridiculous then the next. I let a coy smirk play up on my face, leaving my mouth glued shut, as he escorted me quickly towards the door, where a long line was already started. Getting an all access into clubs was definitely one of the better perks of being a celebrity.
Music thumped, as the million of bodies writhed on the dance floor to Britney's new song. We made our way up to the VIP room, his hand still curled on my back protectively. The VIP room was the only place where any of us could get any privacy. Unfortunately, up here, everyone was decked out in Gucci or Prada or whatever the hell people wore. And no surprise, I was the exception. We sat at the table where my manager was already sitting with a few familiar looking faces.
"Isabella! So nice to see you again." A brunette girl said up to me, kissing both my cheeks, her smile oozing fakeness. But that's just how it was here.
"Jessica. How is your acting getting on?" I asked, matching her fake smile with my own. I despised this girl. She was plastered on tabloids everywhere, for various scandals of course. She had been discovered when she was acting in some small indie horror movie, where she played a girl getting killed, and then she had gotten this huge part in some other movie. After that she had totally sold herself out, fake boobs and all.
"Oh, it's great. I got a part in this new movie and it's awesome…!" She hammered on, her voice beginning to sound like a buzz in my head.
"That's awesome. Hey, I'm going to get a drink and hang out for awhile. See you soon okay?" I interjected, cutting her off, and she nodded, dumfounded.
"Do you want me to come along?" Bryan asked me. I couldn't help but smile at him. He had been there for me ever since my career had risen. He too, was in the entertainment scene, but he was a photographer. Whom I had known since fifth grade, and now he was my best friend turned boyfriend. We had been dating for a month, but had only gone public a few days ago. I liked him- a lot, but I didn't love him like I should. And he was okay with that. When I told him I didn't believe in love, all he said was 'As long as I'm your favorite man.'
"It's alright. You have your fun." I said, and he rose up to give me a hug.
I threw open the doors to the little balcony just outside the VIP room. In truth, I hated the club scene. My manager Lisa only made me come because it would get me 'exposed' to more people in the business, I suppose. Being a singer wasn't even something I had intended on doing, but I had been discovered in a local talent show a year ago, back when I was living with my mother, Renee. Then I had gotten sent to LA, cut an album… and now here I was on tour.
I sighed, slipping out of the back entrance, which not many people knew existed. I needed a cigarette. I pulled out my packet of Marlboro Lights and lit one, taking a long drag. The silence was calming. The music they played in clubs gave me a headache.
"You really shouldn't smoke, you know," A musical voice said from behind me. I turned around in surprise, unaware that I wasn't the only one on the balcony. There stood a boy who looked my age, except a million times more gorgeous and way taller. Was he a movie star or something? And how come I hadn't seen him before?
Ironically, there was a cigarette poised in his hands, and he drew it gracefully to his lips, which were still quirked up in a crooked half smile.
"I don't take advice from strangers. Especially the ones who don't listen to their own advice." I scoffed, pointedly eyeing the cigarette in his hands.
"What good would that do?" He grinned this time, making my heart do multiple flips in my chest. It wasn't the fact that I had never seen anyone who looked this… dazzling, including all the male models I had met (though most of them were gay), it was the fact that I was this close to a guy that hadn't tried anything smarmy or creepy on me.
I shrugged, forcing my feet to turn my back on him, back towards the not-quite there scenery instead of the statue like person in front of me.
"What's your name?" He asked, and as much as I didn't want to, I turned to stare at him in disbelief. He was at my after party and he didn't know what my name was? How the hell had he gotten up here then? I decided to humor him to see if he would figure it out.
"You said move on where do I go? I guess, second best, is all I will know." I crushed my cigarette under my feet, and sang the lyrics to my hit song, Thinking Of You before shooting him a coy smirk to see if he had gotten it.
Apparently he did, because shock filled his beautiful features. Then it was slowly turned into amusement as he blew out a stream of smoke from his perfect lips.
"You're Bella Swan?" he drawled, an arch curving up on one of his eyebrows.
"That's what I've been addressed as for the last seventeen years. And you?" I chided, matching the expression he wore on his face. Yeah, I wasn't legal yet. No, people didn't really care if you drank as long as you were some big rockstar. Yes, I did get drunk a number of times- most people found it hilarious. No, I didn't care.
"Edward Cullen. My sister Alice dragged me to this thing. She adores your songs." He groaned, rolling his eyes. I couldn't help but feel insulted at his reaction to my songs.
"What's wrong with my songs?" I questioned defensively, crossing my arms over my chest.
He shook his head, his golden eyes gleaming, almost as if he was sharing a private joke with himself.
"It's not your songs, per se. It's Alice. Don't worry… you'll get it when you meet her." He simply stated.
"When I meet her? And what even makes you think I will even meet her?" I replied, my gaze challenging. He replied me with a coy smile, and pointed at a short, pixie-like girl who was literally dancing our direction. She glided to a stop directly in front of Edward, and shot me a huge smile.
"Alice, Bella. Bella, Alice. Now you'll see why she's so… annoying." Edward muttered, as a way of introduction. Alice shot him a glare before turning back to me.
"It is so great to meet you. I love your songs! But… what's with all your outfits? I mean, really. Doesn't your stylist have any taste? No offense." She wrinkled her perfect nose and grimaced. The expression made me laugh. For a girl who barely came up to my shoulders, she was sure blunt.
"None taken. I'm my own stylist." I told her, and she quickly clapped a hand over her mouth.
"It's alright." I assured her when a look of despair appeared on her face. She immediately brightened, and I laughed again.
"Can I have a picture with you?" she asked, brandishing a camera out of nowhere. I nodded, and she quickly stood next to me and handed Edward the camera. We both posed, and the flash went off.
"Thanks!" she hugged me exuberantly, before disappearing back into the club. I glanced at Edward, who wore a sullen expression on his face.
"She seemed nice!" I quipped, my voice cheerful.
"Not when you live with it every day. So, do you want to go back in?" He offered, and I nodded. He opened the door for me, a perfect gentleman, and led me inside. Bryan immediately appeared next to me, worry clear on his face. He looked at Edward with a puzzled expression, before kissing me on my cheek.
"Bryan, this is Edward. His sister brought him here. Edward, this is my boyfriend, Bryan." I introduced them, and they muttered their hellos and shook hands. Edward politely excused himself, suddenly looking uncomfortable, and I stood on my tiptoes to kiss Bryan on the lips. That brightened him up considerably.
I grabbed a cosmo from a waitress who was handing drinks nearby and downed it whole before grabbing Bryan's hand and pulling him over to the dancefloor. 'Let It Rock' was balring, and I grinded my hips and swayed my hands in the air, anticipating the mass of sweaty bodies that surrounded me. All my thoughts just flew out of my mind, leaving just me and the music.
Two hours later, I emerged, my dress dripping in sweat and my head feeling all fuzzy and warm. God knows how many drinks I had downed, but thank God Bryan was still sober, as always. I was singing 'Twinkle twinkle little star' at the top of my lungs and Bryan was carrying me in his arms since I could barely walk anymore.
The second we stepped into the outside world, flashes of lights began blinding us again and questions were being shot from all directions.
"Bella, how serious are you and Bryan?"
"Bella, when is your new record being released?"
"Bryan, is it true that Adrianna Burton asked you out on a date when you photographed her a few days ago?"
I giggled at the first question, and kissed Bryan directly on his lips. The paparazzi exploded, their cameras flashing even more frequently than before. Bryan blushed and put me gently into the car, following in suit.