Full Summary: When Nessie walk's into an old bar, she doesn't expect much. But what she discovers is an aged piano man, who soon tells the story of Edward and Bella, a journey in the middle of the 1950s. "Why don't you play me a memory, piano man?"
Disclaimer: Any relationship between PM and the Twilight Series belongs to Stephenie Meyer, respectively. I don't own Twilight, or Edward, or Bella. However, I do own this plot line, and anything else that has nothing to do with Twilight, such as personalities, new characters, different settings, etc. I don't tolerate plagarisim. At all.
Sing us a song, you're the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well were all in the mood for a melody
And you've got us feeling alright
- Billy Joel 'Piano Man'
August 15
She walked down the street, gravel crunching under her feet and her hair taking the very brute of the pounding rain. Nessie sighed, and didn't bother taking out her cell phone to try for reception again. The rain would only damage the phone even more, and then she would be stranded.
"Damned weather prediction." Muttered Nessie, stuffing her hands into her pockets before walking faster towards the oncoming building. For once she had thought that wet, drowsy Forks would finally get some sun for the first time in weeks. Like always, she had been wrong.
By the way there telling the weather these days, they may as well be rolling dice or playing poker to determine what to tell the public, she thought.
A crack of thunder boomed, and a thin streak of bright lightning flashed in the distance.
"Bar, bar, bar…" hissed Nessie, breaking out into a run once it seemed that she wasn't getting any closer by walking.
If I was in Seattle, I'd be able to call a cab and go straight home, mentally screamed Nessie. But instead I'm walking for forever just trying to find a single building, a single piece of civilization!
Splashing through puddles and getting her blue jeans more soaked then they already were had not been what Nessie had intended, but she was too cold to even care at this point.
She threw the door open to the bar Eclipse as hard as she could, banging it against the wall and still the anger still lingered in her hands. Breathing heavily and shaking from her wet clothes, Nessie strutted over to the U-shaped bar counter, pulled out a high black stool, and slumped into her chair.
Nessie closed her eyes for a moment, let out a deep breath, and opened her eyes to survey her surroundings.
The bar was dimly lit by possibly five light bulbs and a setting chandelier. It was reasonably spaced for a place as small as Forks. No strippers could be found here; the most entertainment that could be found would either be by playing card games in an open back room, watching the occasional drunk go psycho, or listening to the light piano music from the front. A lone, large and intimidating bartender with a pressed white shirt and black pants was washing the counter in front of her, and a few middle-aged men were sitting in a far table and chatting loudly. The air felt thick and warm, a comforting embrace from the outside. And, surprisingly, it didn't have the distinct odor of beer and wine. It smelled dimly of strawberries, mixed with a slicking honey scent.
Nessie averted her eyes to the bartender, and scanned his chest for a name tag, perhaps on a gold or bronze plate. There wasn't one, although she wondered why she expected a bar like this to live up to something like that. The bartender was eyeing her with interest, and she instantly looked away from the burly man.
"Ma'm," said the bartender carefully, as if he might scare her off. "Would you like a towel or something? You're soaked to the bone, although you're not the first to stumble in her looking like that. But you have been the nicest, not saying a word. I don't bite, but I tend to yap more then do my job." He smiled fully, one of his front teeth crooked and chipped as if he had been smashed in the face. Nessie realized that it reached his eyes, and instantly had trust and faith in this man. He seemed genuine, and unlikely to harm her.
"Yeah, a towel would be great." said Nessie appreciatively. "Thanks." He ducked under the counter, and before Nessie could even blink he had popped back up with a dark blue bath towel. He held it out to her, and she took it with a smile of gratitude. Wrapping it around her shivering shoulders, she asked the man for his name.
"Emmett at your services, Ma'm." he said with a wiggle of his eyebrows. She laughed at his basic humor, and moved the towel to her legs.
"You say ma'm more than any average gentleman I've ever met, Emmett." She said jokingly. "Have you ever been to the south?"
"Nah, but I had a friend who was a true blood southerner man." He said with a shrug of her shoulders. "By the way, I quite like you calling me a gentleman." Nessie giggle once more, before truly taking in his kindness.
Probably because of his age. The elderly are always more of a comfort to me then anyone else, thought Nessie.
Thinning grey-light brown hair laid in patches on Emmett's head as if someone had partially shaved some of it off, but Nessie thought it suited him. Even when he wasn't smiling there always seemed to be dimples permanently etched onto his cheeks, putting a twinkle of humor into his large hazel eyes. Emmett's size surprised Nessie the most though. How could someone his age be so big? She instantly scolded herself for stereotyping him.
"Everyone deserves a good compliment to brighten there day," responded Nessie, before glancing at a nearby clock. Just past eleven o' clock. "Or night." Emmett chuckled and finished wiping down the counter.
"Sorry for chatting off again, but I just can't help it. Don't hesitate to stop me if I get completely off topic, okay?" said Emmett. Nessie nodded, and brushed down her arms. "Could I get you anything? You don't seem like the kind of person to waddle in her everyday, and I'm not even sure if you're of age, but I think I can let it slip just this once, ah…" Emmett looked at her for a name. She smiled at him.
"Nessie. And don't worry, I turned twenty two just a few months ago." She said reassuringly. "What do you have in stock?"
"Ah, well Old Man Denali has owned this place for years, but he's so out of it he doesn't even remember how to tie his own shoes, much les put in orders to order more booze." Said Emmett with an edge of sadness. "Poor fella. But what did you have in mind? I'm sure I could whip it up, or something close to it." Nessie hesitated, and thought about what to say.
"Well I usually have a Mojito, but I'm perfectly fine with just regular be—"
"Aha, a city girl!" cried Emmett, cutting Nessie off mid-word. "I knew it since the moment you walked in with those high black boots of yours. Fraid' we don't have any spearmint, so just mint will have to do. I'll be back with your drink in a sec, Nessie." Emmett whipped behind a room divider and out of her point of view so quickly—again—that he might as well have been a vampire. Nessie let out a small snigger at Emmett's succeeding efforts to impress her.
He must have a wife around here somewhere… she thought.
"Ah, is McCarty feeling you up?" came a velvety voice, causing Nessie to jump off her chair in surprise. Another old man stood in front of her with unruly white hair sticking up in every odd direction you could ever think of. His eyes were the most startling shade of green she had ever seen, and she had to look away to avoid the accusation of staring. Even for an aged man, he was handsomely built, and beautiful in an own man's way.
"Uh…no, no, not at all, sir. He was being perfectly… perfectly polite!" she stuttered. Nessie mentally scolded herself for not being able to speak properly. He let out a soft crooked, half smile and let out a smooth laugh that sounded like wind chimes.
"Of course not, Nessie." He said, sitting on a bar stool next to her. "I'm just teasing you."
"How do you know my name?" she said with a gasp.
"With Emmett's booming voice, it's hard not to hear him whenever he open's his pie hole. I'm pretty sure everyone in this whole place knows your name by now. It's an interesting name, though. Reminds me of…" he stopped mid-sentence, afraid of offending her. She smiled kindly at him in understanding.
"The Loch Ness Monster. None taken, by the way. You're not the first one to wonder about that. Nessie is just short for Nercissa; I never liked my full name." she explained swiftly, scrunching up her face in disgust when speaking of her real name.
What parent's would name there child Nercissa? It sounds like a snake! Nessie thought with resentment. Many taunts on the play ground had made her reside from using her full name; she was shocked that she had decided to use it, especially in the presence of almost complete stranger.
Just then, Emmett returned with her Mojita. He spotted the man sitting next to Nessie, and rolled his eyes with a wide spreading grin.
"I see you've met the infamous Piano Man. Quite charming, isn't he?" said Emmett, elbowing him playfully before handing Nessie her drink. She took a sip of it, and lavished in its tingling taste.
"Trust me, you and him are one of the most kindhearted people I've ever met." Said Nessie genuinely and they both grinned back at her. "What are you doing here tonight, uh…Piano Man? I know Emmett's the bartender, and you don't seem to have a liking for poker."
"On the contrary, I usually play poker every night." Confirmed the Piano Man. Nessie mockingly laughed. Emmett rolled his eyes at there chivalry, before joining the conversation.
"He's the piano man of this place. Quite good, if I do say so myself." Said Emmett proudly, buffing out his chest.
"Of course, considering the name and all. I can't believe I didn't notice it before." said Nessie, wondering why she was acting like such an idiot, and glanced down at his hands. "Well you definitely have the long fingers for it. Would you mind playing a tune or two in it?"
"I don't really play anymore." said the Piano Man with a small shrug of his shoulders.
"You don't play anymore? Why not?" asked Nessie, before pinching herself. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude on your privacy. Forgive me."
"Don't mind him." explained Emmett while the Piano Man played with around with his fingers and thumbs. "He only play's memories nowadays."
"Memories? What do you mean?" she asked with a spark of interest in her eyes.
"Well I mean, he used to play music all the time. Really got people's attention, you know? But one night he just stopped, and now that poor piano's been nurturing dust ever since. Occasionally he'll play when he thinks no one's listening, but most of the time he just tells stories. Well, he'll tell them to anyone who will actually listen."
"What sort of… memories?" asked Nessie, completely intrigued as she leaned forward in my seat. Emmett held up his hand's and shook his head.
"Not my story to tell, Nessie." said Emmett, still shaking his head.
"Nobody listens anyways." Said the Piano Man stiffly, breaking himself back into the conversation. She turned to him, and gave him a sympathetic smile.
"I'd like to listen. By all means, I'm not going anywhere. My cell phone's crap, and I've got no change for a pay phone." Said Nessie, turning to Emmett for a moment. "And that reminds me; you're going to have to write me a note. I'll have to pay you back for my Mojita later."
"It's on the house." Said Emmett, smiling. Nessie smiled back, clucked her tongue and wagged her finger.
"Now, now, Emmett. You know you're not supposed to throw away hard earned money. I insist." said Nessie, before looking once more at the Piano Man. "So what do you say? Why don't you play me a memory, piano man?"
"Well, if you're that interested…" said the Piano Man, flustered and embarrassed that Nessie actually took notice of his attempt to tell his stories. "Well, there's quite a good selection of stories that I could tell…"
"Oh please," huffed Emmett, slapping the Piano Man on the arm with a towel rag. "You've only got one story to tell. Get on with it, man! Hell knows were not getting any younger! I haven't heard this story in ages." The Piano Man smiled, and leaned back against the bar counter, closing his eyes to go deep in thought.
"Don't leave out any details!" said Nessie quickly, on the edge of her seat while waiting for him to begin. The Piano Man's smile grew, and he opened his eyes.
"I've told this story less then five times, and anyone who cared to listen was to drunk to remember it in the morning. It may not be important to you, but let me tell you Nessie, this is a journey, a memory, that you will want to replenish and savor. Don't ever forget it." said the Piano Man. Emmett rolled his eyes with a long grin, hid dimples so far down in his cheeks they could have been tiny holes, but still cute enough to pass.
"Why don't I take you back to the 1950s, and introduce you to two people know as Edward and Bella…"
Get ready everybody, and enjoy your trip back to the 1950s...