Bella is a famous singer with the stage name "Penny", who has a handsome assistant, Edward. Bella treats him badly, but in fact she actually loves him. When Edward has a dramatic break-up, Bella is, of course, waiting with open arms. But will this fact destroy her career? ALL HUMAN

Chapter 1

There's something addictive about performing. When you have 10,000 screaming teenagers in front of you, it makes you a little crazy. Any other performer will tell you the same. I don't think my manager understands that. Which is why he's telling me off for kicking my mic stand, and breaking it. Apparently they cost a lot. Why does he even think he can tell me off anyway? He doesn't pay for the mic stands.

"Look, you don't have to ruin every little bit of technical equipment in every show. I know that you've been hitting the booze lately, but, just chill," my manager, Steve, is telling me. He walks off in a huff. What does he know? And how does he know that I had a few drinks last night. Okay, more than a few, but still…

As I walk towards my dressing room at the auditorium that my show is taking place in – it's the last night of the tour – my hair and make up person, Elisa, is in a flurry.

"Ugh! Where's the hair straighter? And someone has taken the pink mascara! I know you have! Don't try to deny it!"

"Jeez, Liss, chill. I'm sure you'll find them in time. I mean, the show isn't for 4 hours," I say.

"Don't tell me to chill. Some of us have work to do. We can't all be rock stars." I laugh as she runs off. And they think I'm crazy.

My dressing room is pretty cool. They decorated it so nicely. It's all bright and shiny, with all my costumes on a rack in the corner. I make a lot of costume changes in the show, and one is even on stage behind a almost see through screen. It has a mirror with big light bulbs around it. The hair straightener is on the desk. I don't think Elisa checked very thoroughly in here. A list of all the songs I sing in the show are there as well, along with the list of people in the back-up band. It is here I find peace before the show.

"Miss Swan?" A voice from behind me says. Unfortunately, it's still Miss. I just can't seem to find a guy that isn't just in it for the sex or the money. I haven't found a guy that actually likes me for the rocker chick that I am. I turn around to find some guy standing in the doorway. He is pretty tall, I have to look up, and is balding on the back of his head. He doesn't look very well off, he is wearing ripped jean and a flannelette shirt. "I'm a big, big fan. I just want your autograph!" Um, okay. I'm used to getting asked for autographs, since I do my own shopping, but from obsessed teens, not middle aged men. How did he get back here anyway? Oh good, my assistant is here to take him away.

"Sorry, Bella, he pushed down the security guard," he says as he drags him toward the exit. The guy is still wanting my signature as he is getting dragged away. He practically screams it. Edward, my assistant, helps me with anything I don't want to do myself. He even cleaned my toilet once. I was surprised he didn't quit after that. He comes back slowly, his hair ruffled from the struggle with the deranged fan. Edward is quite a good looking boy, you know, for an assistant. He has bronze hair that sparkles in the sun. He's quite tall, although, everyone looks tall to me.

"There we go. All taken care of," he says as he comes within ear shot. I nod at him and go back into my dressing room. Elisa should be here any minute to start making me over. "Uh, I organised your costumes in the order in which you wear them during the show for you." I nod at him again. He looks disappointed. Maybe fishing for a compliment? Ha. I don't give out compliments. I just get them. Like with candy canes at Christmas parties.

"Could you get me a coffee from the Starbucks across the street? Skinny latte, no - "

"No sugar, I know," he drones. "I know just how you like it."

"And while your at it, a bagel as well." He sighs and walks off to get my order. Now, to prepare for the show.

I don't get nervous any more. Once you've been performing for a while, the nervousness before a show wears off. And when it's the last show of the tour, you just want to go home and never hear the songs again. But I've had fun on this tour. We started in New York, then over to L.A., then to Denver, then San Francisco, then over to Chicago, Seattle, Washington, Philadelphia, and finish in New York again. Sure, I may not be as famous as the Beatles were, but a lot of screaming teens turned up to the shows. Even some adults. My thoughts are interrupted by Elisa and Mark knocking on the door. Mark is my costume person. 'Cause, you know, Elisa can't do everything, as much as she'd like to be able to.

"Are you going to admire yourself all day, or would you like to perform your last show, Miss. Swan?" Elisa asks. It is clearly a rhetorical question, because she picks up the hair straighter straight away. Mark starts filing through my costume rack for the right one. He doesn't have to search long.

"Did you put these in order, Liss?" He asks her as she is straightening my long dark hair.

"No…" she trails off.

"Oh, that was Edward. He just wanted to be helpful, like always," I remember.

"Huh. That was nice of him," Mark comments.

"I guess."

"You know, you should treat Edward with more respect. He does pretty much everything of yours. He gets your coffee, he cleans up your rubbish, he organises everything. And you don't pay him one compliment. You don't even thank him.," he complains. I ignore him. If he wants to bag me, then let him do so. I didn't say I would listen. "In fact, you don't thank anyone but the sponsors of the tour," he continues. I keep ignoring him. What does he know? He walks off, disgusted.

Well, speak of the devil… Edward walks in with my coffee and my bagel. I grab 10 dollars out of pocket and give it to him without a word. He gives me my meal and sighs. He seems to do a lot of that. Elisa flutters her eyelids at him and smiles flirtatiously. Good thing he has a girlfriend. Girls just can't resist him. I have met his girlfriend. She pretty, but, you know. He could do worse I suppose. I guess he misses her back in Los Angeles. He lives near my house just in case I need him for something. Like when my janitor went on holidays, and there was a, um, mess in my bedroom for the night before. I'm pretty sure he knew what had happened as well. I payed him double for that one. Anyway, Elisa knows full well he's taken, but a girl can dream right?

"Looking forward to going home, Edward?" she asks with a giggle. Ugh.

"Yeah, I guess. I do like travelling though," he says. That's a new one. He said to me that he hates being away from home. Meh.

"Yeah, some of the places we've been to really are beautiful though, huh?"

"Yeah. I just wish…" he trails off.

"What?" Liss prompts.

"Nothing. Don't worry 'bout it," he insists with a frown. Liss frowns too, but doesn't press it. I knew what he was going to say. He would have said I just wish Jessica (the girlfriend) was here too. He doesn't like to talk about her though, and that's what stopped him from saying it. Trust me, when you hang around someone all the time, you tend to learn a lot about them. I even know his favourite colour. Mauve. Weird, I know. I start to eat my bagel and realise that there is cream in it. Idiot! Surely he knows that I'm lactose intolerant!

"There's cream in this," I say calmly.

"Uh-oh," Edward says. Well, at least he realises his mistakes quickly.

"Did you forget that I'm lactose intolerant? Do you know how sick this is going to make me?"

"I'm sorry Bella! I'm just really tired! I didn't see the label!" Ugh! I throw it at him, miss, and run off towards the bathroom to hurl. Yuck. I hate cream. It's the worst one. Cheese, I can deal with. Ice-cream, absolutely fine. It's cream that gets me. Edward's running off after me, shouting more apologies at me. Tired! Ha. He doesn't know the meaning of the word. I get the bathroom and chuck into the nearest toilet. Yuckies. I feel horrible. What a way to start the night. I hope I'm okay for the performance. But, knowing me, and my manager, I have to be on my death bed before I won't perform. I can hear Edward, still apologising.

"When we get back to L.A. I'll make it up to you? I'll… polish your Grammy collection? I'll…" He stops thinking of things to do when I come out of the bathroom.

"Don't worry about it. Just don't do it again." I feel like I'm scolding a child or something. "Now, if you don't mind, I've got a crowd to please," I smile.

Okay, I lied about being able to resist him. Of course I'm madly in love with him.