Things are going well. It's been ten months since the band's first show. The name? Apparently the democracy won, three votes against one, and 'Black Swan' stuck. I told them I preferred tyranny than this. Didn't work. Things got better, really fast. The first month we did shows every Fridays and Saturdays, but weren't paid. We were playing in clubs and bars, just as a test. The second month came payments, and later we became famous around town. "Famous". We are famous around clubs and bars, and to a few university students.

It helped pay the bills. My week now was pretty busy. I worked in one of the bars we played. It was easier, and the owner was an awesome boss. So between eight am and two pm, I was in college. It was going well. I started in the bar at four until ten. At Fridays and Saturdays the days we usually played somewhere, Bill, my boss, let me out earlier, at six. There was one condition, we had to play a couple Sundays a month, and I would have to work a couple hours on Sunday. I didn't mind. The band was making considerable money. It wasn't much, but we didn't have the financial tough life of a college student.

But my truck, my beautiful Chevy 1953 red truck, was dying! Jake laughed! Apparently the truck was so old and in such a bad state that people were surprised it didn't happened sooner. I didn't have the money to buy a car. Even if it wasn't a new one. We were financially good, but we still were college students! So I got an idea. Jake thought it was good, Charlie hated. My other friends thought it was weird, but okay. I was getting a motorcycle. I would get license, Jake taught me how to ride when he still lived in La Push. I know… How do I plan on surviving moving around in a motorcycle in Washington state's constant rain? I don't care. A leather jacket and helmet would be enough. And I wouldn't ride much. Jake still had his car, free time, so he sometimes would be my chauffer.

I was looking around the motorcycles with Embry, Quil and Jake. We were looking around the sporting bike section, and I was looking at a red one. It looked good, and was in the price range.

"Bella!" Jake called, "I found it!"

I went to him and followed his gaze. Hell yeah! If I thought the other looked good, this looked wonderful. It was perfect, black. I approached and scowled.

"What?" Embry asked.

"It's four thousand dollars expensive than what I was going to spend!" I cried.

"Come on! Bella! This is a bike! What you were looking at… You can't even call an automobile" Quil said.

"I can't pay for this one" I said.

"I help you" Jake said.

"Me too" Quil and Embry said.

"No, no way!" I said shaking my head.

"Take it as a loan. You pay us back later" Jake said.

"No, Jake" I said and my cell rang.

I looked at the caller id, and it was my dad. He hasn't stopped calling all day.

"Hey, dad" I answered.

"Did you find one?"

"Yeah"

"No!" the guys yelled.

"Let me speak to him" Jake said extending his hand.

"No, you will try to convince him, to help me buy this one" I whispered so Charlie didn't hear.

"Bella? Why you don't let Jake talk to me?" dad asked.

"Nothing. It's just… They found a stupid bike, and they don't understand I can't afford it"

"Let me talk to him!" Jake asked trying to take my phone from me.

"No!"

"Give me"

"No, Jake. Stop it!"

"Let the boy talk for God's sake!" dad murmured.

"I'm putting on speaker" I sighed.

"Hey boys" Charlie said.

"Hey" they answered in unison.

"How are things over there Charlie?" Jake asked.

"Good. How's the search going?"

"Your daughter insists in buying a horrible, what she calls bike, just because she doesn't listen to me" Jake said.

"Bella, listen to him. He knows this stuff"

"Dad I was looking at a bike of almost six thousand dollars. He's trying to get me buy one of ten thousand" I said annoyed, "I can't afford"

"We told her we would help her, and she could pay us back in the future" Quil said.

"What color?" dad asked.

"What?" I asked.

"What color you like the bike?"

"Black"

"Jake, talk to the seller. I'll send money to your bank account" Dad said.

"What! No! Dad, no! You won't pay for this! I won't spend a penny of your money!"

"Bells, it was going to be yours anyway. See as a debt from your inheritance. And if I need money in the future, I promise I ask for your help" he said.

"But dad, you already paid for the pickup. It's not fair!"

"Not fair is buying a horrible bike because you're too damn stubborn" he said. "I'm going to the bank. Jake take care of things there"

"Thanks, dad" I said with tears in my eyes.

"You're more than welcome, honey" he said, "Bye"

"Bye" we said.

A few hours later I was riding my new 2009 Honda CBR600RR. Black! It was amazing. Speed! God, I loved it! We reached our apartment building I took my helmet and grinned at the guys.

"I don't want to go. I want to stay with the bike" Embry cried.

"Go, she'll be here when you get back" I said.

He and Quil grinned and said goodbye. I practically had to drag Jake from the bike to the elevator.

"You know, this bike will bring me problems" he said.

"What? Why?" I asked.

"Did you ever thought how guys will react to see you when you're riding that?" he asked with a eyebrow raised.

I rolled my eyes and exited the elevator as it opened the doors.

"So, the magazine I took a shoot last week, wants us in the next edition. It's not much, really" he said as I opened the door.

"Okay" I said.

"We would have to take some photos next week" he said hesitantly.

"What?" I asked glaring at him. I thought he meant something wrote about us.

"Think positively. We are getting more famous" he said going to the kitchen.

"Jake, you know that I'm awful with photos!" I shrieked.

"You're not. Is your imagination" he said.

"And what would I wear!"

"What you wear in the shows" he said shrugging.

"Fine. But if I ruin this, don't tell me I didn't warn you" I said and stomped o my room.

The girls freaked out about the magazine thing. Jessica and Angela chose my clothes. It was a 'rocker but still girl' look. The first few photos were awful, 'cause I couldn't relax. The photo in the magazine was my favorite. Jake made a stupid joke, and we laughed. The photographer used the moment, and it was good. We were laughing, and I was poking Jake's ribs, so it showed how much fun we had with each other. Quil met a girl in the studio. She was an assistant and they went out on a date the next day. I think it went good because I saw her in one of the clubs we played, but she didn't approach.

But the best of all, we would get a record. Our own CD! We met a guy, Shawn, and he's helping us. He's really nice. We are deciding what songs will be on the CD, and we decided all our songs but two covers, Kings of Leon's Use Somebody, and Boys Like Girls' Love Drunk. It's been a month since we recorded, in a week the CD would be released.

"I can't believe" Jake murmured beside me.

"God, Jake! It's been a month, and everyday you say this! It's happening, believe!" I said rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, just… I didn't really thought that we would have a CD" he said sipping his beer.

"I know, me too. But come on! Let's celebrate" I said.

"Where is Shawn anyway?" Jake asked.

We were in Midnight Club, and we would play in fifteen minutes. Shawn said he would be here, but not sign of him.

"I don't know" I said shrugging.

"How you don't know?" Jake asked amused.

"Why would I?"

"Aren't you two together?"

"What? No" I said.

"It seems like it sometimes"

"He's nice, just it"

"Hmhm" he said giving a mischievous grin.

I rolled my eyes, and went find Quil and Embry in the dance floor. I found Embry and he went find Quil. I was going back to Jake when someone put a hand in my waist, turning me around.

"Hey, Bella"

"Oh, hi, Shawn" I murmured.

"Ready for the show?"

"Yeah, Jake still can't believe in the CD thing" I said as we walked to the backstage.

"Listen, do you want to… have dinner sometime?" he asked.

"Oh! Hm… Sure" I said.

"Okay, we talk about it later"

"Okay"

I found the guys talking and saw a girl with them.

"Hi" I said.

"Bella, this is Claire. From the photoshoot" Quil said.

"Oh, right" I said and extended my hand, "Nice to officially meet you"

"Officialy?" she asked shaking my hand.

"You know… Quil don't shut up about you since that day" I said.

Quil glared at me and blushed. Claire smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Did you saw Shawn?" Embry asked.

"Yeah, and he invited me to dinner"

"Oh, lovebirds!" Jake said mischievously.

"Shut up! Let's do this, and go home. I'm tired" I said grabbing the guitar.

Dinner with Shawn was nice. We became a couple, but after three weeks we broke up. We both were busy. He was doing college and working almost the whole day. We continued to be friends, but it was that awkward situation. I didn't have time anymore. Between college, work and the band, I could barely sleep. I didn't have time for myself. Angela and Jessica were going shopping for me. Angela took care of groceries at our apartment. I was an awful friend and they were still there for me. I tried to spend time with my friends, so I invited Ben, Angela, Jessica and Mike for dinner. For my embarrassment, I asked Ben and Angela what was going on, and they told me they broke up a week ago. I wanted to dig a hole and hide. They were still friends, at least. That just proved the good friend I was.

A week later, Angela and I found a free time, and were at my apartment. She told me she and Ben were becoming distant, and decided to end before it got worse. She wasn't too upset. She said it was a high school thing, and she loved being with him, but didn't expect to spend her life with a high school sweetheart. She was coming to our presentations in clubs, and got a few dates, but none of them work out. I realized one thing though, Embry and Angela, got along. They talked, they laughed, they got a few drink together while Quil was with Claire, and me and Jake were preparing for the presentation. I decided to be a matchmaker. I made a comment with Jake, about the friendship between then, and he grinned mischievously. I got an ally.

"Embry?" I asked before starting an presentation.

"Yeah?"

"I will help you with her, but if you hurt her, I swear… I don't care if you're my friend too, I'll kick your ass, and Jake will help me" I said.

"You told her!" Embry said glaring at Jake.

"Embry, it's obvious. He didn't say a thing" I said rolling my eyes, "I help you, but if you hurt her in any way…" I said trailing off, not finishing the threat.

"Fine, thanks" he said rolling his eyes.

I was back to be a good friend. Two weeks later, Embry and Angela had a date, and in the end of the month, they were a couple. And what was nicer, Ben still showed up when the two were around. Angela and Ben were still friends, and cared about each other, but there wasn't jealousy. Well, except from Embry. Every time I suggested them to come around for dinner, he asked if I invited Ben. Angela thought it was cute his jealousy. I don't see how. So, now, I'm the single one around. Jake has a few dates, and I stay home. People suggest us to date, but there isn't the… spark. We were really great friends, we spend time together, I loved him, I would be lucky to find someone like him, but… me and him? I couldn't picture it. I was watching a movie, waiting for Jake to come home from the date. His sisters thanked me for moving in, because at least he stopped bringing so much girls home. Jake said I was cockblocking him, and I thought it was a little funny.

"Honey, I'm home!" he yelled from the door.

We used this greeting to announce it was one of us arriving. Angela, Quil and Embry had the key for emergencies, so they were here all the time, especially when Quil was without beer. Emergency.

"Living room" I called.

"You won't believe what happen!" he said standing in front of me.

"Okay, you can tell me all about your date with that chick, but get out of my way!" I said trying to push him out of the way.

"Chick? Forget the chick! I got something better!" he said sitting beside me.

"Guys? I didn't thought you were gay, Jake" I said teasingly.

"Haha, very funny" he said sarcastically, "It's about the band"

"Say it"

"We are on MTV" he said.

I turned the TV off, and looked at him.

"What?"

"MTV, baby!"

"What? How? You're kidding?"

"No, one of our songs will be playing, and they got a video of us, that they will show after the song"

"Video?"

"Youtube. One of our presentations" he said.

"MTV? You're kidding?" I said still not believing.

"No" he said grinning.

"How?"

"We are more famous than we thought, apparently" he said.

We called our friends, told what was going on, and the next day we were having a party in our apartment, while the song and video were shown. My dad stopped watching Sportscenter to watch MTV! My mom recorded, because she was at Phil's game. After that, we got a lot of offers for presentations around town. We stayed in our schedule, playing just in the weekends, and every six weeks making a break. The song played a few more times on MTV, and a couple of other songs too. We were getting famous. I couldn't believe that just 18 months ago, we were playing for free. A month after the MTV thing started, I received several phone calls in my cell, while I was in class. I didn't recognize the number, and it didn't left a message. So I waited. Three days later again. This time I excused myself from class, and answered.

"Hello?"

"Isabella Swan?" a male voice answered.

"Who's this?"

"Sorry. I'm Emmett McCarty. I would like to talk to you about Black Swan"

"About?"

"I'm would like to be your manager. I think you have great potential. I heard in MTV, and bought your CD"

"Oh, thanks" I said a little confused, "How did you get this number?"

"I asked a few favors, and people told me I should talk to you. Are you the leader of the group?"

"No. We're a democratic group. There isn't a leader" I said.

"Oh. Can we discuss it?"

"Hm… Can I talk to the guys?" I asked.

"Sure, you have my number, please, call me" he said. "Maybe we should have lunch together to discuss"

"Yeah, hm, I'll talk to them" I said.

"Okay, thanks. Bye"

"Bye"

I called the guys and we would meet in Quil and Embry's apartment, so I went there. What the hell? Who was this guy? It was freaky people could find out my phone so easily. I entered the apartment with my key, and just Quil was there.

"Hey, Bells"

"Hi"

"So, what's going on?"

"I got a call from a guy. He wanted to be our manager"

"Who?"

"Hey, guys" Jake interrupted, entering.

"Hi" we said.

Embry followed him, and we all sat in the kitchen, eating Doritos.

"So, what's up?" Embry asked.

"I got a call from a guy who wanted to manage our band" I said opening a can of soda.

"Who?" Jake asked.

"Hm… Emmett McCarty? I think that's the name he gave me" I said.

"Emmett McCarty?" Embry asked excited.

"Yeah. You know him?" I asked.

"He helped Kelly Clarkson" Quil said.

"Oh, so… He's good?" I asked uncertain.

"Do you know Kelly Clarkson?" Jake asked amused.

"Yeah"

"Well, then he's good" Jake said.

"What did he said?" Embry asked.

"He said we have potential. He heard us in MTV, and bought a CD after that. And he would like to be our manager. He also said we should meet to discuss it" I said.

"How did he get your number?" Quil asked.

"He said people told him to talk to me, apparently they think I'm the leader. He asked a few people and got my number" I said.

"And what did you said?" Jake asked.

"I said I would talk to you and call him back" I said.

"So what we're going to do?"

"I don't know" Embry said, "Do we want a manager?"

"We weren't looking for one" Jake agreed.

"Yeah, but is Emmett McCarty. He can help the band" Quil said.

"Bells?" Jake asked.

"Okay, I don't know. I want the band to go well, but I don't think we want to go into this head over heels. It can ruin everything." I said.

"So, you think we should be careful about it" Jake said.

"Yeah" I said.

"So, we're going to talk to Emmett McCarty?" Embry said.

"Yeah" Quil said.

"Okay, Bells, what time you said you would call?" Jake asked.

"He called me an hour ago, but I didn't say what time I would call him. Maybe we should wait a couple hours. We don't want to seem desperate" I said.

"You're right" Jake said, "Well, so I'll go to my last classes, and we call from here in…" he checked his watch, "four hours, is that okay?"

"Yeah" we agreed.

I went back to my classes too, but couldn't concentrate. I was nervous about the call. When my last class was finished I ran back to their apartment to find it empty. Damn it! Why were they always late? I grabbed a beer, and sat on the couch waiting for them.

"Aren't you too comfortable in our apartment?" Quil asked entering.

"Well, aren't you too comfortable when you go to our apartment just to grab a beer?" I asked amused.

"You're right." He said sitting beside me, "But I still can go to grab a beer right?"

"Yeah, I can still come and grab a beer while waiting for you, right?"

"Sure" he said.

Embry and Jake arrived and we sat around the coffee table, with my cell in it. I dialed Emmett's number, and put on speaker.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Hello, Mr. McCarty. This is Isabella Swan, we talked earlier" I said.

"Oh, of course. Please, call me Emmett. So, you talked to the guys, Isabella?"

"Please, call me Bella" I said, "Actually, you're on speaker, they are here"

"Hi" the guys said.

"Hi, nice to talk to you" Emmett answered.

"Is the offer for a meeting still up? We would like to have lunch with you, and discuss a few things" I said.

"Of course. I'll be in Seattle in five days. Say the time and the place"

"Hm… Saturday at noon?" I asked.

"Sure. Where?"

Jake chose the restaurant and Emmett agreed to meet us there. Once the call was finished, we all let out a breath we didn't even realize we were holding.

Saturday

"Bella, you're going to wear it!" Angela said.

"No!" I said.

"What's going on?" Jake said entering my room.

"She says she won't wear heels! It's an important meeting, Bella! You can't wear Converses!" Angela said.

"I always wear my sneakers! Why do I have to wear heels?" I said.

"Because this isn't any show, or going to college! It's a meeting that will change your career!" she said.

"For God's sake, Bells! Use the damn heels!" Jake said before exiting the room.

"Traitor!" I yelled and I heard him laugh.

I was forced to wear heels. I don't have balance problems anymore, but I prefer riding my motorcycle in sneakers. Once we were ready, we went to the restaurant. I had to go on my bike, because I had to go to work after the lunch. I got there first. That's why I love my motorcycle. I took off the helmet and someone extended a hand to me. I looked at the person and swallowed hard. The guy was huge. A mountain of muscles. He was 6'5'' tall, and burly. He looked bigger than a football player. Intimidating, was an understatement.

"I'm Emmett" he said grinning, showing his dimples.

"Oh, hi" I said taking his hand.

He helped me out of the bike and shook my hand.

"Let's say, I think once you're famous, Playboy will want a photo of you in this baby" he said eyeing the bike.

"Hm… Thanks?" I said uncertain.

"Bella?" Jake asked getting out of the car.

"Hey. This is Emmett McCarty" I said pointing to him, "Emmett, this is Jacob, Embry and Quil" I said pointing to each one.

"Hi, nice to meet you" Emmett said shaking their hands.

"Thanks for meeting us" Jake said.

"My pleasure. Let's go?" Emmett asked extending his arm to me.

I nodded and linked my arm with his, as we walked to the restaurant.

"I must say… This bad ass look you've got, it's really good" he said helping me with the jacket.

"Thanks" I said, "Actually, if it wasn't by my friend Angela, I would have an awful look"

"Stylist?" he asked.

"No, just… She cares more about this things than I" I said.

We talked for two hours. Emmett said he was glad to meet us, and thought we had potential. He would schedule a couple things for us, and if we were happy with his job, we could talk about managing us properly. I began to realize he was just a goofy. He loved to make jokes, and he grew up with his cousins, three girls, and he was a softy. I began to think about him like a teddy bear. Of course he could beat the crap out of someone, but just if it was necessary. He would go to our show tonight, at a club. I was nervous, because it was important, but he was really nice, and was certain we would go far. And I was certain we would use his help.

I hope you're enjoying.

Links with Bella's outfits in my profile - and her bike too.

Thanks!

Oh, I love reviews - - just saying...