CHAPTER ONE
Edwards fingers danced across the piano into a lullaby that I knew too well. If tears were possible I would of cried, but they weren't. They never will be. I shouldn't think like that, like the old me, cause I'm not her anymore. I'm Nana Cook, top European model. The song was nearing the end. My blurry human memories told me that there would be a lingering note, then it would stop. Just like I had planned it, there was a lingering note then stopped.
Applause erupted through the audience, some seemed breathless by the song, I do believe that in my human experiences I was too, but that was many life times ago. I exhaled. Was I holding my breath too. I don't remember doing that. Edward stood up from his leather bench seat in front of the polished instrument. He strode to the center of the stage. Taking a graceful bow to the west wing, then the east, final he bent to the center. The clarity of my vision acknowledged his hair wisping with the slight breeze. The perfect way he bent to conclude his performance.
As he stretched upward his eyes fell upon me. The two black coals burning through my gold eyes. Yes, they were scorching but not like I remembered from my human life. The agony too much to even look at. Did he know it was me sitting in the first row. He couldn't, I'm completely different. My hair has been dyed black and is in a fierce layered look, utterly straight. My clothes nothing even close to modest like I use to wear when I was human. For a full second, which is a long time, for a vampire a least, his eyes stayed on mine. I wanted to look away, my movements betrayed me. They stared onward at the pain filled creature on stage.
Edward, with weary movement, walked off stage. Did he know? My worst fears filled every drop of blood in my mutated body.
The seats around me began to empty as people left. I had to go, and quick if I wanted to keep my word. Walking through the crowd would slow me down, and if Edward really knew it was me he wouldn't hesitate to come to me, but I won't let him break the only thing we are tied by. His promise, to be as if he never existed. As long as we don't make contact his promise is as good as kept.
"The strangest thing." A bell like voice said beside me. My muscles tensed to see the threat. My gaze landed on the pixie like girl, Alice. Her hair spiky like always. I relaxed. "I see you walking outside...into the sunshine." She looked me down, up and back down agian in one quick motion. "But your one of us?"
"In a way I'm human, but also in a way I'm a vampire." I said trying to not blush, that would give me away more then anything. When I was human I always blushed as I do now. Alice turned back to the stage.
"That was my brother." She said almost like a question. "That song was about a human."
"Was?" I asked trying not to sound to interested, of course inside I was burning to find out what they all still thought of me.
"Yes, She died. He still loves her you know. His love...Bella." My body flinched at my human name. Alice noticed. "Is there something wrong?"
I tried to compose myself.
"Fine." I breathed, "That is just something that is rare to hear of."
"Yes," Alice flashed me a smile, a twist of dark humor trembled from her lips. Her smile faded and returned expressionless. "I'm sorry to keep you. I know you must be busy."
I flashed her my best catwalk smile. "I have plenty of time and,I love to talk to people, it gets lonely sometimes."
Alice looked at me for a second then turned back to the stage.
"I'd better go, I have to a lunch on with some clients."
I nodded, just wishing to go, seeing Alice like this was only in my nightmares. I stood up, "Bye Alice," I said, but froze as soon as I realized what I had done. She hadn'tgiven me her name. I forced my legs to work again. "Oh, and Nana, here's my number." She held out a card. I took the card and put it in my designer bag.
Maybe Alice didn't notice.
Outside I breathed in an air full of fresh air. The sun bathed my pale skin as I walked past a trash can, nonchalantly I drop the card in dumpster. Even if you don't love me Edward...I'll still love you, I always will.