I groaned as my alarm went off. I will never listen to Mike anymore. Last night he said it was okay to drink a beer or too, and sleep later. Well, I slept three hours and I have school now. I got up and put some clothes on. I drink some coffee, thanking God Charlie wasn't here to see how I was. I got in my truck and drove to school. I met my friends close to Tyler's van, looking awful.
"Hey" I murmured.
"Hey, Bella" Mike said smiling at me.
"I'll kill you, Mike" I growled while glaring at him, "I slept three hours, am hangover, and you say 'Hey, Bella'"
"Okay, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have convinced you" he murmured.
"Fine, is that coffee?" I asked pointing to his disposable cup.
He nodded, I took it and finished.
"Thanks, I was needing it. Now, you're forgiven" I said.
"Nice" he murmured sarcastically.
"Did you rehearsed your scene?" Angela asked.
"No"
"Today we have rehearsal after class" she said.
"Shit, I forgot" I said. "Thanks for reminding me"
"I'm nervous about tomorrow" she murmured.
"Why? You're great!"
Tomorrow night we would have Romeo and Juliet's play. I wasn't going to do it, but my English teacher made me do it. Angela was Lady Capulet, Ben Capulet – he insisted. Jessica and Mike were Romeo and Juliet. I was going to be Juliet but after I convinced the teacher that I would probably fall off the stage if I stayed so long, or forget a line, he chose Jess. Tyler was Count Paris. I was Rosaline. Tyler insisted that our characters deserved a happy ending. So the teacher, just to say that he rewrote the play, would make our characters a couple. I was still mad at Tyler, but I was glad that the extra scene was funny.
"Is your friend, Jake, coming?" Jess asked mischievously.
"I think so" I said shrugging, "He's always busy, I'm not sure"
"You're so lucky" she murmured.
I rolled my eyes. Jake and I grew up together, and always were best friends. When he was twelve his older sister, Rebecca, she was seventeen at the time, sign him up to do a milk commercial. He insisted he wouldn't do it, but once he did it, he became famous in our little town, Forks. After that he always said as a pick-up line "Have you ever seen the milk commercial?" I always told him it was stupid, but he didn't stop it. He grew up, forgetting the commercial, last year, when he was seventeen, and decided to do a modeling photo book. Of couse, with his luck, he got a little famous. He lives in Seattle and sometimes show up in teen magazines as model. Sometimes he comes to see me, and Jess swears he has a crush on me. I don't see it.
We went to class, and to the rehearsal after that. The play would go well, for me. I just had three or four scenes. But the teacher was freaking out. I went home and took a long shower, before doing laundry and dinner. I had dinner with Charlie, he asked me if I was sick.
"No, why?" I asked confused.
"You look really tired. And like you're hit by a bus. Hm… You look like you've been thru hell"
"Is this the way you say I look like shit?" I asked amused, "I'm fine, thanks. Just want to rest before tomorrow"
"You will be fine, don't worry. Don't get too worry about it. Everybody will hate your character anyway. It's Rosaline, right?"
"Yeah" I said amused as I got up with our plates.
"So, everybody hates you! Romeo is Juliet's!" he said in mock annoyance.
I rolled my eyes, and washed the dishes. I sat in the couch, watching the football game with Charlie. I was almost going to bed when the phone rang. I answer it while the milk commercial started.
"Hello?"
"I'm on TV!" Jake answered.
"Are you kidding? Every time you see in TV you say this! It's been six years! They need to change the commercial" I said amused.
"No, they don't! I'm in it" he said chuckling, "How are you doing, Bells?"
"Good, boring life in Forks." I said, "How is the model life in Seattle?"
"It's good. You should join me after you graduate" he said.
"I will crash in your couch while I'm in college. How that sounds?"
"You can crash in my bed" he said in a seductive tone.
"Oh, right. And what will you tell… Amanda? I got right her name this time?" I asked amused.
"Oh, Amanda was last week. Now is Britney"
"You are such a whore" I said laughing
"I'm a model. I'm enjoying my job" he said, "Actually, I've got a thing for you"
"For the last time, Jake. I'm not a model. I don't have the looks for it" I said rolling my eyes.
"No, it's not it. But yes, you do have the looks, you just don't see it. The thing is… I got you a sort of job… And it will start after you graduate, but I'm not sure if it will work"
"What?" I asked picking up interest.
"Do you still play guitar?" he asked.
"Yeah, and your bass is missing you" I said.
"Not anymore. The guys want to start a band. They think it's a good idea, and with my contacts around town we can have a good start" he said.
"And…?"
"You would be the singer" he said, "We need a chick, to make it interesting" he said.
"Oh, I can see you really want me there!" I said sarcastically, "You know it's wrong to choose someone by their sex." I said amused.
"I'm serious, Bells" he said.
"Are you, really?" I asked.
"Yeah. We would use the next couple months to get everything ready, while you finish high school, and when you start college, we start the band too"
"You're not kidding me?"
"Bella, I wouldn't play with something like that. You always said you would like to have a band. Or did you prefer to be an actress? I heard something about a play…?"
"Yeah, high school play. Romeo and Juliet. I'm Rosaline. It's tomorrow. Are you coming?" I asked hopeful.
"Let me check my schedule… Of course!" he said laughing, "I just arrived at my dad's house, actually. I pick you up tomorrow so we can go together?"
"Sure, just let me ask my dad" I said and turned to him, "Hey, dad. Jake wants to come around and take me to the play? Is that okay?"
"Yeah, I think I'll have to work before the play, anyway" he said not taking his eyes of the TV.
"He says is fine, Jake. Do you want to have lunch?"
"Sure. We can talk about the band then. I pick you up at eleven?" he said
"Sure. Thanks, Jake"
"You're welcome. My pleasure. Goodnight"
"Goodnight. Bye"
"Bye" he murmured before hung up.
"Are you going to live with him when you go to college?" dad asked.
"Maybe. He always says for me to" I said, "It will be easier and safer. What do you think?"
"I think it's a good idea" he said, "I would be happy if you lived with him, instead of someone I don't know, or in a dorm"
"Yeah. But I'm still thinking" I said and got up, "I'm going to sleep. Goodnight"
"Goodnight" he called when I reached the stairs.
I took another shower, and thought about tomorrow's lunch with Jake. I had a good feeling about it.
The next morning, I was running around the house. I was late. It was almost eleven and I was still looking for clothes. I couldn't find the shirt I was going to wear. I ran downstairs to look in the washer, when the doorbell rang.
"Jake, is it you?" I yelled.
"Yeah" he yelled back.
"You know where the spare key is. Come in! I'm busy!"
I heard the door open and close and I continue to look in the laundry basket. Where the hell did I put the shirt?
"Hm… Bells, you're shirtless" Jake murmured.
I looked at my right, and he was standing in the door frame, a little uncomfortable.
"Jake!" I said as I jumped on him.
It's been months since the last time I saw him. At least three months. I missed him so damn much!
"How have you been, Bella?" he said hugging me tight.
"I have been… lonely. You left me!" I said pulling back and slapping his arm playfully.
"I call you every night!" he said.
"It's not the same" I said hugging him again.
"Is Charlie home? Because if he sees his daughter hugging me, without a shirt on… I think his useless gun will have use" he said chuckling.
"He's at work. Help me find my red shirt with a black rose on it?" I said looking around for it again.
"Are you going to stay shirtless while we look for it? Not complaining…" he said smiling mischievously.
"Shut up." I said rolling my eyes.
"No, seriously. Are you?"
"Why?"
"Don't you… Aren't you uncomfortable to be exposed to me?"
"I was a lot more exposed to you. I remember changing clothes with you when we were four. You saw me naked before, what's the problem?"
"Hm… When we were younger… There was innocence" he said. "And you were a girl"
"And now what am I?" I asked amused.
"A woman?" he asked extending the shirt to me.
"Oh, are you uncomfortable, because my body… blossomed?"I asked teasingly.
"Just put the damn shirt on, Bells" he said walking away.
I giggled and put the shirt on, before following him. I grabbed my purse and was ready to leave. I looked at his 2009 Ford Focus and smiled.
"Do you miss the Rabbit?" I asked while we entered.
"I do. But I prefer this one. Is faster" he said turning it on.
He drove to McDonald's and I rolled my eyes.
"We always lunch here. It's tradition. Shut up" he said as we parked.
We entered and ordered. We sat and put our food around the table for both of us as we always did.
"So, the band?" I asked taking a few fries.
"It's you as singer and maybe guitar if you want. Me in the bass, Embry in the drums, and Quil in the bass/guitar" he said.
"Okay. And how would we do it?"
"I already have a few places to play. A few clubs and bars. People I know. And the songs, well, you and Embry are good in writing songs, and we could do a few covers"
"Good. And, how do you plan to keep that up? Money?" I asked biting my BigMac.
"As I said, we already have places to play. Not all will pay though. And I have some money, Quil too. It won't cost much, but hopefully will bring money"
"Hm… And college? Are you dropping it?"
"No. I'll keep as it is. My model thing only take a few days of the week, each two weeks. I have time to do college, and we'll probably play at night, anyway"
"And me?"
"What about you?"
"Well, I can do the band thing at night, and college at day, like you. But…" I hesitated, "I have to get settled first"
"You can get settled anytime" he said.
"I have to see if Ang will go to WU, or she's going to San Francisco. If she's going to San Fransisco, I will have to look for another roommate…"
"Wait! You're not going to live with me!" he interrupted.
"I can't impose, Jake"
"You're fucking kidding, right?" he asked amused, "I'm telling you for a year, you have to come live with me! I won't have any other way"
"Well, then I think we have a band, roommate" I said grinning.
"Yes, we do" he said grinning.
"And the name?"
"Hm… We don't know. But we had an idea…" he said hesitantly.
"What?" I asked not liking his hesitance.
"It could call 'Black Swan'"
"No! No way in hell! The name of the band won't have anything to do with me!" I said shaking my head.
"Embry suggested, and Quil thought it was good. It has my name too"
"No!"
"And I think it's good too" he said.
"Jake, no!"
"It's three against one, Bells. In the band is democracy. It's going to be Black Swan"
"What about… Wolves?"
"Wolves?" he said bemused.
"Yeah, it's… you, Quil and Embry. You know, because of the Quileute culture"
"I still think Black Swan is better"
"We talk about it another time, but I don't want Black Swan" I said.
"Get use to it" he said grinning.
I rolled my eyes and continue the lunch, talking to him about what happened last months with us. We went to the school play, and Jake sat in the front row, and grinned like the Cherish cat, when I got on stage. The teacher changed the play, so I appeared in four scenes, in the party in the beginning, when Romeo meets Juliet, a scene between Paris, Capulet and Romeo and Benvolio, and I'm on the background talking to Lady Capulet, when Romeo and Juliet die, and a scene showing Rosaline with Páris, with the two families together, and Benvolio mad in jealousy.
He laughed loudly, when Tyler tried to really kiss me in the final scene. I never used such unfeminine language, when I got off the stage. I was furious with Tyler. I got to the dressing room, to take the dress off, when I got out, I went to find Jake, who was holding a rose. He hugged me when I got to him.
"Nicely done! Here" he said extending the rose, "A rose to Rosaline"
"Oh, how sweet of you" I said and kissed his cheek, "Thanks"
"You're more than welcome. And the final scene… I never saw you squirm so much!" he said laughing.
"It wasn't funny! I'm mad at him! Who he thinks he is?" I said annoyed.
"Come on, let's go home" he said grabbing my hand.
"Oh, God! It's the magazine guy!" I heard someone say behind us.
I grinned and Jake rolled his eyes.
"Excuse me!" someone else called. "Excuse me!" this time, poking his shoulder.
We stopped and turned. It was Lauren and another girl I didn't recognize.
"Hi, Lauren" I said.
"Hi. Do you know each other?"she asked not taking her eyes of him.
No, we're walking holding hands because I don't know him at all, I thought sarcastically.
"Yes, we're old friends. Jake this is Lauren Mallory and…" I said pointing to the girl next to her.
"Kelly Mallory, her cousin"
"Nice to meet you, Jacob Black" he said shaking their hands.
"You're the guy in the magazine" Lauren murmured.
"Yes, he's a model"
"And the milk commercial, but you were a kid then" Kelly said.
"Yeah, hm… We have to go" Jake said uncomfortable.
"Oh, sure. I hope we see each other…" Lauren said.
"Yeah, bye" Jake said turning around. I smiled at them and followed him.
I graduated in high school a ten days later. I got a few acceptance letters for colleges, and I chose Washington University. My dad said he was happy with my choice, it would keep me close, but he would have been as happy if I went to a bigger college. I didn't care. I chose to do English Literature, so the place didn't matter. It's not like I was going to WU instead of Harvard to do law.
I would move in to Jake's apartment in the end of the month. His apartment wasn't big, but was good. It was two bedroom, mine was smaller (Jake insisted we could change but I didn't want to), and apparently the previous owner did a little change. The bathroom's door that went to the hall, didn't exist anymore. The bathroom had two doors, one to each room. I knew I would have to share the bathroom, but this would be strange, at least. I had to admit, Jake's modeling job was taking him somewhere. I won't say the place was expensive and had a lot of expensive advices, but it was nicely done. Embry and Quil helped me move in, and we talked about the band. In the end, Embry and I were sat in the couch, eating popcorn, and writing songs, while Jake and Quil were bringing my boxes. I had a feeling the four of us would have so much fun, we wouldn't be apart.
We rehearsed at evenings, a little before dinner, and I would end up cooking for them. Angela, Jessica and Lauren moved in to a apartment three blocks away from Jake's. I helped Angela bringing her things. She was so excited about college, she was practically bouncing. Jessica and Lauren would come in a couple days, they were still packing. I invited her, Ben and Mike to dinner, and they wanted to stay during rehearsal.
"No" I said shaking my head.
"Bella, come on! Let us hear you!" Mike said.
"Yeah, Bells. They will hear it sooner or later. Let them hear now, and if you suck at it, we can at least drop it before starting" Quil said.
I gave in and asked what they wanted to hear.
"Kesha!" Angela said.
"Yeah, good one" Mike murmured.
"What one?" I asked.
"Take It Off" Ben said.
"No, that needs sound effects. It will suck without it" I said, "Tik Tok?"
"Sure!" they said.
I started singing and the guys seemed to like it. I pulled Angela off the couch and started dancing with her. As I sang, Angela did the back vocal. It was fun. Ben and Mike seemed to enjoy, sitting in the couch.
"You're good" Angela said matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, but we want real rock" I said.
"Okay, let's test you" Mike said, "We tell the song, and you sing at least the chorus"
"No, she has to sing the whole song" Jake said. I glared at him.
"Okay, let's see" Ben said thinking, "Justin Bieber"
"Justin Bieber? Really, Ben?" I asked laughing, "Fine, which one?"
"That one with Smith's kid" Mike said.
"Never Say Never?" Angela asked.
"Yeah" Ben said.
"Fine. Do you know?" I asked Jake.
He, Embry and Quil shook their heads. I sighed and played just with the guitar.
"I never thought that I could walk thru fire,
I never thought that I could take the burn.
I never had the strength to take it higher,
until I reached the point of no return.
And there's just no turning back,
when your heart's under attack.
Gonna give everything I have,
it's my destiny.
I will never say never. I will fight
I will fight 'till forever, make it right.
Whenever you knock me down,
I'll now stay on the ground.
Pick up, pick up, pick up, pick up, pick up,
and never say never"
I gave the song a softer, calmer rhythm.
"God, you rock!" Mike said when I finish the verse.
"Thank you"
"Okay, now a softer one" Angela said and I frowned, "Okay, not so much." She said smiling at my frown, "Coldplay's Violet Hill"
I smiled and the boys joined.
"Was a long and dark December
From the rooftops I remember
There was snow white snow
Clearly I remember
From the windows they were watching
While we froze down below
When the future's architectured
By a carnival of idiots on show
You'd better lie low
If you love me
Won't you let me know?"
We spent the rest of the night playing, singing, until the neighbors complained. Mike, Ben and Angela said goodbye, and went home. But not before they make me promise I would let them come in another rehearsal. I sat in the couch between Embry and Jake, Quil was looking for something in the fridge.
"See, I told you were a great singer" Jake murmured.
"Yeah" I murmured.
"At least now we know that she can sing any type of music" Embry said.
"Yeah, and she plays a little piano too" Jake said.
"I suck at it, Jake" I said.
"No, you just was starting to learn, and you were good. I don't know why you gave up" he said.
"Whatever" I said. "What do we do now?"
"We have a presentation in that friend's club I told you about, in almost two weeks. And then college starts, and at least the next Fridays and Saturdays nights are scheduled" Quil said.
"Until when?" I asked.
"For the next two months we don't have weekends" Jake said.
"Okay" I said, "I have to tell Charlie"
"You didn't told him?"
"No. I was already moving, I didn't want to load him too much. You know how Charlie is. Less is better"
"Yeah, I guess you're right" Jake sighed.
"I think we can count with my friends to see our rehearsals at least a couple times a month" I said.
"I didn't like Mike much, he stares at you" Jake said.
"Jealous" Embry said.
"Not jealous. Just it was… creepy"
"I told him I don't like him like that. When college starts he will see other girl, and stop following me like a lost puppy" I said. "I have a good feeling about the band" I said quietly. "I have the feeling something will change"
"Yeah, me too" Jake murmured.
"What if we got famous?" Embry asked excitedly. "Like, singing with Paramore, Britney Spears and Coldplay!"
"I think your 'good feeling' it's more like 'day dreaming', Embry!" I said chuckling.
I called Charlie and told him about the band. First he was concerned about me being in bars and clubs. But when I told him there was Jake, Quil and Embry, that wouldn't leave my side, he relaxed. Jessica told a few people from high school, and there was a few friends coming. I was now a unsettling, nervous, sweaty mess, in a chair, while Angela and Jessica looked for the perfect outfit. They decided in a black skinny jeans, a red top, with ankle black booties. With heels! I fought them. I would kill myself in stage with heels! I would fall off the stage and ruin everything! They didn't gave up. I would perform in four inches high heels.
To my surprise, everything went well. I didn't fall off stage! The public seemed to like! And the owner of the place said we should come back! As I hugged, Jake, Embry and Quil, I couldn't help but smirk. I was right. The band, will change everything.
