Performing was always my strong suit. I could act my way out of almost anything. In high school, I acted my way out of failing my SATs, I acted my way out of breaking up with my boyfriend, I even acted my way out of giving a salutatorian speech at graduation. But I could never act my way out of this.
"Isabella Marie Swan. You will be vising us for the summer come hell or high water."
"Ma madrina…", I whined.
"Don't you 'madrina' me. Io sai meglio. You will see us this summer. I already discussed this with your mother and father and they agree with me. Bambina you haven't see us in five years! Five years without seeing my heart, my daughter! Do you have any idea what it's like, living through your vlogs just to feel close to you? E il tuo padrino!? Mi amore, please see where I'm coming from. We miss you, dearly." She pleaded with me.
"Si madrina, I completely understand but I've been b-"
"Bella, if you say busy..."
"I've been preoccupied with my auditions. I've had four this week alone and I've been trying to nail this solo. I'd love to be Cathy in the Broward Center's production of The Last Five Years. It's one of my-"
"Your favourite musicals by one of your favourite composers, I know I know. Anyways my love, Carlisle will be home soon with the boys we'll purchase your one-way ticket to Manhattan in a few hours so you better start packing. Talk you soon mia principessa. Send my love."
"Will do. Send mine to Papa as well. Ciao Mama."
"Ciao."
I hang up the phone and proceed to run through my sheet music.
When you come home to me, I'll wear a sweeter smile. And hope that for a while you'll stay…
I remember very vividly when was younger hearing my father play this on the baby grand piano as Esme, my godmother, sang. My father's family were family friends with the Cullen's for decades prior to his and Carlisle's birth. Both coming from a strong Italian background, they were raised in the old school style. They grew up alongside each other building two very different empires. As my father's grew more well-known and more within the lime light, Carlisle's business was more lucrative and emerged from the shadows, allowing his name spreading throughout all parts of the globe, drawing in more illegitimate attention. My father, Charles Swan was always a quiet and predictable man who met and married my mother, Renee Higginbotham, who on the other hand was rather sporadic and harebrained woman, that still finds spontaneity to be one of the better things in life. They eventfully gave birth to me on September thirteenth, the day where both my father and Carlisle passed out at the sight of my birth and Esme had to step in making sure my mother knew when to breathe. There's a picture of that day hanging right over the stairs in my grandparents' house.
As I wrap up my personal rehearsal, I place my waist length brown curls into a low bun at the nape of my neck and slip into a pair of gray shorts with HOLLYWOOD embroidered on the seat and a white Forever 21 camisole. I begin to prepare dinner when Papa calls me.
"Papa!"
"Ciao Bambina, come stai? Tu madrina canta su di te!" Carlisle chuckles.
"I'm well Papa. I'm ecstatic about my trip to Manhattan. I miss you all." I sighed as I admired my sautéed button mushrooms.
"I am as well. We do have a party that we're throwing to introduce you to the family."
"To make me untouchable." I state blatantly dropping the container of black pepper on the floor.
"Think of it more so, as a celebration. A homecoming. Many members haven't met you, and I would prefer it if you were generally known to be off limits just as Esme and Renee. It's much safer this way Bambina." I hear rustling in the background along with shuffling. "Fanculo. Figlio di una cagna incasinato per l'ultima volta." He growled to someone else, then I heard a gun cocked.
"Papa?" I whisper.
"Si mi amore?" His tone was much softer.
"We're not supposed to talk business on the phone."
He chuckles, "Si Bambina. I'm sorry sweetheart." I hear him grumble again for the men to get out. "Start packing your bags mi amore, your flight has been set for Wednesday at noon. Your old room is already set up to go. The blue is still in there from when you were ten but everything is almost the same."
"Thank you so much Papa. I can't wait to see everyone. Talk to you soon."
"Of course mi amore. I have some business to tend to." I rolled my eyes. "Ti amo il mio Tesoro. Sleep well love."
"Bueno notte Papa."
"Bueno notte Bambina." Then the line went dead.
I stared out my window as I sat and ate my dinner, enjoying the Aventura skyline and the stunning cotton candy sunset that was gracing the tops of the mirrored buildings wondering how my Untouchable announcement would go over with the families. Especially the Volturi's. After I clean up from dinner, I finish up the most recent episode of American Horror Story, admiring Evan Peters' acting skill, and snuggle into my queen sized bed until I drift away on the thought of green eyes and smile lines.
The next day I spent all morning packing and buying travel sized versions of my essentials at Sephora for everything except my hair, because a travel sized bottle will do absolutely nothing for my curls. I have too much hair for that. I put on a nude maxi dress and a camel waterfall duster to with a pair of nude sandal for the flight. A girl can be fashionable and comfortable, being comfortable is was more important. With my hair in a loose ponytail and my carry-on bag in one hand and suit case in the other, I catch an Uber to the Fort Lauderdale International Airport. As I board the flight, I place on an eye mask with oversized sunglasses to hide them, order a Pellegrino with pistachios, because knowing Esme- dinner is going to be big, and listen to my Musical Theatre Playlist on Spotify then I close my eyes as Lin Manuel Miranda graces my ears with Hamilton. When I wake up ,the fight is about to land so I reapply lip balm and remove my eye mask and pat in the excess. I text in the group chat with my parents, Esme and Carlisle that I've arrived safely at JFK Airport. When I look up I see an older, greying man in a black suit, holding a sign saying
Isabella M. Swan
I snap chat Carlisle a picture of it and then a picture of my confused face because I will not be getting into some car driven by a man I've never seen in my life. He snaps me, upside down, nodding his head, laughing and directing me to go with this man. I must teach him how to use this app. So with my contorted confirmation sent, I walk towards this man.
"Miss Swan?" He asked.
I take off my sunglasses and place them on the top of my head and smiled, "Yes that's me."
"Hello I'm Peter, I will be your driver for today, allow me to get your bag."
"Oh no, I can get it."
"No I insist, your Godfather made sure to take care of everything. He told me you would try to go against it but gave me specific instructions to make sure you never lift a finger."
I sighed and conceited, "Okay. Thank you."
We proceed to get into a black Cadillac Escalade with pass the legal limit of tinted windows. I get comfortable and listen to my music.
"Miss Swan, would you like to use the auxiliary cord?"
"Yes please Peter." I put on one of the ensemble pieces from Hamilton. And started jamming out it with him.
"Um what is this if you don't mind me asking?"
"This is one of the greatest musicals of all time written by my idol Lin Manuel Miranda. It's a rap opera that is about the Secretary and Treasurer of State Alexander Hamilton. The guy on the ten-dollar bill. I went to Lin's acting, dancing and singing workshop last May to prepare for my summer auditions." I explained.
"Mr. Cullen never mentioned that you do Theatre? I used to as well in younger years."
"That's amazing."
There's a million things he hasn't done, just you wait. What's your name man? Alexander Hamilton.
By the end of the song we'd had arrived to large steel gates leading us up to a huge brownstone mansion, covered in Ivy leaves all over the face of the house up to the third story. There's a large circular driveway in front of a garage that was home to a Vanquish, a custom made Jeep Wrangler, yellow 911 Turbo. As the Escalade pulled to a stop, I inhaled, adjusted my glasses at the top of my head and proceeded to exit the car.
Welcome Home.