A/N: Hello again! Sorry for the delay in this chapter, but real life was quite hectic and slightly emotional this week! I promise that the next update will not take as long.

I want to send out a huge thank you to my beta and pre-reader Nicole (Iamthealleycat), and my other lovely pre-readers, Jen (Chartwilightmom) and Lori (Lo21). I literally couldn't do this without their input and guidance, and their friendship as well :)

See you at the end!

Disclaimer: Twilight and its characters are property of Stephenie Meyer. This story is in no way an attempt at copyright infringement. However, this story and all plot lines therein are the property of Shpwhitney.


Turn My Life Around - Chapter 2

Edward POV

May 07, 2010

When I woke up that morning, I could barely contain all the emotions I felt about what I would be doing later in the day. It took everything in me to calm my nerves as I brushed my teeth and shaved, preparing for work. Bloody gums and razor cuts were not a good look for a vice president, after all. It didn't escape my notice that I had never been quite this excited about going into the office to oversee blueprint designs and structural needs to our accounts as I was about performing at a local bar.

Even as I walked into the building, greeted my secretary, and sat down behind the cherry wood desk in my office, I felt like I was lying in a sense. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy my job – far from it. I liked what I contributed to the company and how satisfying it was to be a part of the constructive process from start to finish — but as satisfying as it was as a job and even as a career, it wasn't my dream and it wasn't all I wanted out of life.

I'm sure a lot of my feelings around my current position in the company were also influenced by all the social and personal aspects that accompanied it. My father and his partner, Eleazar Denali, had been best friends as well as colleagues for as long as I can remember. They had gone to the same Ivy League institution, travelled in the same upper echelon social circles because of their parents' wealth, and married the women every other man was unable to attain. Despite all those factors, they were the most honest, hardworking, and loyal men I'd ever met and I respected them both greatly. Our families had been close forever, and it was truly a relationship built out of affection and respect as well as business matters.

However, that closeness combined with their sense of loyalty made it very hard for one to feel as if they could branch out and do something different, especially when you were the oldest and have been groomed to take over the company for years.

I was pulled out of my musings by the beeping of my phone followed by the voice of Mrs. Clearwater, my secretary, coming over the line.

"Excuse me, Edward, but your father is requesting to speak to you. He's holding on line one."

"No problem, Sue. I'll get it right now. Thank you," I called out as I prepared to answer my father's call.

"Hey, Dad," I decided to finally get some work done today as I took the call, starting with turning on my computer to check the emails I amassed over the night.

"Hi, Son. I know you probably have a lot to do today with the Palmer account being near ready to break ground, so I'll make this social call quick. Do you have any plans later tonight? I spoke to Eleazar last night and we thought it might be nice if he, Carmen, and Tanya came over for dinner, and I wanted to know if you'd be available?"

I was glad we were on the phone because there was no way I would've been able to hide my eye roll at my father's statement. Although he was very good at wording his invitation, I knew what he really meant — he and Eleazar thought it would be a good opportunity to try and hook Tanya and me up again.

"I actually have plans tonight, Dad. Sorry. Did you ask Alice and Jasper?" Even though I knew that both Jasper and Alice were coming to my show, I wanted to know if my father knew where they were going. I also wanted to know if I was correct in assuming this was supposed to have been another match-making session, or if it was actually going to be a nice family gathering.

"Actually, I hadn't called those two yet. You know how busy they are with the wedding planning, the opening of the new boutique, and Jasper preparing for his oral examinations." And even the powerful and debonair Carlisle Cullen sounded sheepish as he made that statement. I was sure he was now well aware that I was on to him.

"Well you'll definitely have to send my apologies and regrets to the Denali's, but I'll still be by for the family brunch on Saturday morning."

"Alright, Son, but if you change your mind or your schedule changes for the night, call and let me know."

"I will, Dad. Talk to you soon, bye," I answered before hanging up. Even as I shook my head and thought about my father's scheming, it wasn't Tanya or the proposed hook up that kept coming back to my mind. It was the beautiful brunette bar-owner whom I was more than a little excited to see later on that night.

And even as I performed my duties during the workday, I couldn't help but fantasize about what tonight could mean for me – as a musician and a man.

When I entered the bar later on with my guitar in hand, I was amazed at how great the place looked. Although I had loved the atmosphere when I came in yesterday, the difference in this place – between a Thursday during early evening and a Friday during the beginning of the social/party hours – was clear. The lighting was still a nice dim glow, but now there was an addition of low burgundy lights around the seating area near the stage and a small spotlight in the middle of the stage floor. Whereas the stage had been somewhat bare yesterday, tonight it was framed by two speakers and a small sound board.

As I switched my focus from the stage area to the bar, it was clear that Bella had done some changing of her own. Yesterday she was wearing a pair of denim shorts, black Chuck Taylors, and the staff tee shirt, and now sported a slinky black dress that was somewhat low cut in the front and fell right above her knees, and a pair of electric blue heels that made her legs look spectacular and infinite. Her hair, which had been pulled back by a headband last time I saw her, was now hanging loose around her face in soft waves and accentuated the smoky makeup she wore. I thought she was alluring before, but now she was simply breathtaking, and I was powerless to move my gaze away from her.

As I walked toward the bar where she was standing off to the side, she looked up at me and her lips curved to form a small yet inviting smile. Once I reached her, I noticed that she looked a little flushed and anxious. Although I wanted to know what was wrong, I wasn't sure it was my place to ask, considering we barely knew one another. Before I could make a decision, she started to speak.

"Hey, Edward. It's nice to see you again, but you're here early! You know the show doesn't start until eight and you don't have to go on until nine, right?" she asked while looking down at what appeared to be a list of phone numbers.

"Yeah, I know, but I figured it was better to come early and hang out rather than let my nerves get the best of me at home," I admitted somewhat sheepishly. Although I was still feeling the same amount of excitement that I felt while at work, the nerves and doubts were definitely setting in as well.

Something in the tone of my voice or my facial expression must have tipped Bella off to the anxiety I was feeling because she looked up at me with a sweet smile and said, "Edward, you're going to do great. You were amazing on the tape you sent in and you were amazing in person for your audition; there's no reason to be nervous. Besides, aren't you just supposed to imagine everyone in the audience naked while you perform?" she finished with a little giggle.

I laughed along with her, all the while trying not to let my mind wander to what a naked Bella would look like. That would present problems I did not need before I had to sit down on a tiny stool on a stage.

"Well, I don't think I'm quite that nervous! Nothing a little liquid courage can't cure," I said, winking at her and motioning to the bottle of Jack that sat behind her. She quirked an eyebrow at me as she turned to grab the bottle before pouring one shot. Before she could replace the bottle, I stilled her hand.

"Whoa, whoa, you're not going to let me drink alone, are you? I've heard that's bad luck, especially right before a performance," I said cheekily. I was sure she knew I was full of shit, and I myself was surprised with how bold I had been with her in these last few minutes. It seems that when it came to Bella, her presence brought about courage all on its own.

She laughed while shaking her head, and prepared to pour a shot for herself as well. "What the hell? With the night I'm having, maybe a drink we'll do me some good!" She passed me the first shot she poured and picked hers up.

"To your Night Hawk stage debut," she said as we clinked our glasses together and downed the shots at the same time.

"Thanks. So, if I may ask, what kind of night are you having that requires alcohol?" I asked, curious once again about her demeanor when I first walked in.

"Just business stuff. We had a bartender call out tonight because his daughter is sick and the sound guy called to tell me he's running about thirty minutes late to get us all setup," Bella said as she blew the hair from out of her face agitatedly.

"You know, if you want, I could help out behind the bar before I have to go on," I offered. Although it had been a while since I bartended, I didn't think it would be hard to get back into the groove of it for one night for a couple of hours. Besides, with as good as Bella looked tonight I'd probably find a way to make the liquor if she needed me to.

"Really? Do you have any experience bartending?" she asked with equal parts skepticism and hope.

"Yeah, I bartended my senior year in college. It was only a few nights a week, but considering the crowd, I like to think I'm pretty skilled," I stated confidently. I didn't want to appear cocky, but I didn't want her to think I was inept at pouring drinks, either.

"I don't know, Edward. I don't want to inconvenience you. I mean, you're performing tonight! Don't you need to prepare? You know, warm up your voice, tune your guitar, check your facial movements in the bathroom?" she asked quite animatedly and with a lot of hand movements. I couldn't help but laugh at how adorable she appeared and it stunned me how she could go from this confident and sexy business woman to this quirky, rambling girl.

"I can do all that stuff and help you too." I looked at my watch. "It's only a little after 7 now. I only need about five minutes to warm up my voice and tune my guitar. I don't worry about those pesky facial movements too much," I said while making a strange face at her to prove my point. And to make her laugh, because, well, she had a nice laugh.

"If you're sure…"

"I'm sure, Bella. I'd be happy to help out. Besides, I'm so grateful for this opportunity, I'd scrub floors if you asked me to!"

She laughed and shook her head at my comment as she unlocked a side panel on the countertop and lifted it up so I could join her behind the bar. As I went to pass by her so I could take care of the group of people who'd just sat down at the other end, I got a peak at those electric blue shoes again – and the amazing legs that were attached to them. In the dress she was wearing, I could tell that Bella had some very nice curves on her, especially when it came to her ass, and I was so sure that her skin would be smooth and creamy. But her legs were a real thing of beauty; so long and sharp in their lines and angles but still seemingly soft to the touch. I suddenly had to resist the urge I felt to run my hands up and down them.

"Something interesting down there?"

I startled when I heard Bella's amused voice and looked up to see her standing there with her hands on her hip, one eyebrow raised, and a smirk firmly placed on her face. So caught up in my fantasies about Bella's legs, I hadn't realized I'd just been standing there staring at them when I was supposed to be making myself useful.

Trying to cover up for the fact that I had spent the last few minutes checking her out, I stammered out, "You're shoes. They're different; really interesting color. I like them."

She looked at me with the same expression for a beat longer, before she smiled and turned back toward the counter.

"Thanks. I like them too. What's life without a little color, ya know?"

Before I had a chance to respond, someone sat down right in front of Bella and she began to fill their drink order. I took that as my cue to get to work and avoid further embarrassment. I followed Bella's lead at the other end of the bar, and after a few drink orders, I got back into the flow of bartending that I'd mastered in college.

Bella and I worked side by side seamlessly, handing each other things when necessary without talking and moving around each other in the small space, always with an awareness of where the other person was at the moment. She stayed back there with me for the majority of the time, leaving occasionally to get the sound guy setup when he finally arrived and to great people who I assumed were other performers because a lot of them were carrying instruments and looked as nervous as I imagined I did when I first entered the bar.

A little before eight, two new bartenders – Leah and Paul – came behind the bar and told me that Bella wanted to see me at a table right next to the stage. As I walked over, I saw that she was surrounded by the people she'd been greeting throughout the last hour.

After leading introductions between all of us – at which point I learned that they were indeed the other performers – Bella went over some last minute details about how the night would go in terms of lineup, set time, and so on. When all was said and done, she stood up and directed the first performer to get setup on stage before she returned her focus to the rest of us and stated, "All you really need to do right now is relax until it's time for you to go on and enjoy your fellow performers. I'll introduce every act, so you'll know when you're up. Good luck everyone."

With that, she walked onto the stage and stood in front of the act at the microphone. When the spotlight hit her, she was immediately met with a mix of applause, whistles, and a few catcalls. I knew it was irrational, but I was suddenly jealous of the fact that the other men in the room were looking at Bella as I had before, behind the bar; probably noticing how beautifully her curls framed her face, how flattering the black dress was on her body, and how sexy those heels made her legs look. I had the fleeting thought of running on the stage and throwing my jacket over her shoulders. Before I could really entertain that idea, she began to speak.

"Welcome everyone to the Night Hawk's 'Music for the Masses' event! We're so happy to be able to host some of Seattle's finest talent and we're thrilled that you came out to be a part of this. So, for those who don't know, we'll be hosting these five acts every Friday for the next two months. We want you all to tell us who you love because this is all about bringing you entertainment you enjoy!"

Bella went on to explain the setup of not only the event, but the competition as a whole. As she talked, the servers brought feedback forms to each table so they could provide scores for all the performers, and the bartenders pointed out the tip boxes that lined the wall to the left and right of the stage. Bella concluded her speech by saying, "We're asking you to do this because at the end of the two months, the performer who's received the most positive feedback will be offered a spot as our bar's featured entertainment on the weekends. How does that sound?"

After another round of applause and whistles, Bella introduced the first act. As I looked out at the crowd's reaction, my eyes were drawn toward the door where I noticed a familiar flash of dark hair on a tiny body. I made my way over to the group that had just entered, relief flooding my senses at having at least some of my family here to support me. As I reached the group, my sister was the first to notice me and flung herself into my arms.

"Oh, Edward! I'm so excited! I can't wait to see you up on that stage. You're going to be great. I brought my camera and two memory cards so that I can document every moment!" Alice squealed out, all the while bouncing and hanging from my neck. I heard Jasper laugh beside her as he slowly disentangled her from my arms.

"Calm down, sweetie. I'm pretty sure you accidently choking your brother won't bode well for his singing voice, and I'm sure just one memory card would suffice!"

I laughed at Jasper as I accepted his handshake and then turned to be introduced to his co-workers. By this point, the first act was already halfway through his first song, so we quickly found them a table close to the stage. As I got there, I noticed that Bella was standing off to the side, watching our group with a look that was somewhere between curious and cautious. After everyone was settled at the table, I waved her over so that I could introduce her to my family and their friends.

When she reached the table I said, "Bella, I just wanted to introduce you to my sister, Alice, her fiancé and my best friend, Jasper, and these are some of his co-workers. Guys, this is Bella. She owns the bar and came up with this amazing event."

A chorus of greetings came from Jasper's co-workers as Jasper himself stood up and offered her his hand. "Hello, Bella, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you, too. I've actually heard great things about you from my brother, Emmett. It's nice to put a face to the name!"

As soon as Jasper let go of Bella's hand, Alice was right there, front and center, smiling up at her.

"Hi Bella! It's great to meet you! Thanks so much for giving Edward this chance; he's a great musician! And I LOVE those shoes! Steve Madden, Bevy, right?"

"Yeah! Wow, you're good with shoes!"

"Thanks. I own a clothing boutique so I kind of have to be. I love shoes though!"

"Well it's nice to meet you in all your shoe-loving glory!" Bella said jokingly to my sister and they both laughed. "I'm glad you could all make it tonight."

"So, Bella, are you going to do us the pleasure and honor of hanging with us during the show?" Jasper drawled out. For some reason, Jasper's Texan twang always seemed to come out more when he was speaking to beautiful women.

"I'd love to, but I really should stay close to the stage, just in case anything requires my attention. Besides, I'm so nervous I don't think I'd be such good company right now, but thanks for the offer, and I hope you all enjoy the rest of the acts." As Bella finished her goodbyes to everyone at the table, she turned to me. "I'll see you up there in a few. Remember to practice on those facial movements, okay?" she said cheekily with a wink, before she walked off toward the stage.

I was so caught up in watching her walk away that I don't know how long I sat there staring before I heard Jasper's loud laughter. I turned around to see him smirking at me. "Oh, yeah, she's definitely 'cool'!"

"Shut up," I muttered, hearing Alice join in his laughter with a twinkle in her eyes, probably because Jasper had already told her about his 'cool = hot' theory. I couldn't deny that in this case, he was absolutely right.

As the first act finished his last note and the audience applauded, our focus was finally brought back to the stage. I felt somewhat bad for not paying more attention to his act, but what I heard was good. He was an R&B singer, and he had a really smooth and rich voice that emanated a lot of soul and passion. In my opinion, he could definitely give Usher a run for his money, and judging from the audience reaction, they seemed to agree.

The next performer was a woman who was a mix of Amy Winehouse with Nora Jones. She had a bluesy-jazzy style, but with a raspy tone that was captivating. Sure enough, for one of her cover songs she chose "Back to Black," and it was definitely one of the best renditions I'd heard of the song.

Although I was enjoying the performance and the company of my friends and family, I couldn't help but seek out Bella every now and then. While she was clearly busy with making sure the event was running smoothly – and also noticeably stressed because of it – it was clear that she was also being consumed by the music. Even when there was an incident at the bar and she walked over to right any wrongs, there was a sway to her hips and a bop to her head.

Not long after she'd caught my attention, those swaying hips made their way toward me. "You're on in ten minutes. I thought I'd come and give you a heads up. Are you ready?" she asked gently.

Before I allowed my nerves and reservations to settle in, I answered, "Yeah, I'm ready." After a quick goodbye and wishes of luck from the table, I went behind the bar to collect the guitar I had left there, and then headed to a corner off to the side of the stage to make sure my guitar was tuned and my voice was warmed up.

A tap on the shoulder alerted me that it was time, and it wasn't until I looked up and saw Bella's confident smile that I knew I was ready. "Come on, it's show time," she stated, leading me to the stage.

As I stepped on the stage and took a seat on the stool, I could hear the unmistakable voice of my sister screaming, along with a smattering of applause and whistles. As I fiddled around with my guitar and tried to taper down the nerves that had suddenly reappeared, Bella began to speak.

"Alright everyone, next to the stage is the captivating and talented Edward Cullen. He's a born and bred native of Seattle, and he's here to share his voice, his guitar, and his soul, so make some noise and welcome him!"

Bella's generous and flattering introduction was met with even more applause than before, and as she turned to leave the stage, I gave her a small nod of my head with a smile on my face, hopefully showing my gratitude. She winked at me once again before stepping down, finally allowing the full force of the spotlight to shine down on me.

After taking one last deep breath, I settled my guitar across the center of my body and approached the mic. My last thought before I opened my mouth was, "here goes nothing."


Sorry for the slight cliff-hanger, but this felt like a good place to end things :) I'll see you all in two weeks with Edward's performance and some other fun times! As soon as I stop being so technologically challenged I will post pics of Bella's outfit and other fun goodies on my blog; still trying to work the kinks out.

See you soon 3