Sorry about not updating, but I got a new job and it's been really wild. Plus, it didn't really seem like anyone was interested in this story and I didn't want to waste time writing it if no one was reading it. However, the story just kept rattling around in the old noggin, so here it is, even if no one reads it. Please review if you do, just so I know you're there. Thanks!
At just that moment the scarred oak front door creaked open revealing a woman with long caramel brown hair, streaked with silver, in a riot of waves falling down her back. She was wearing a brown maxi dress and so much turquoise jewelry I would have sworn we were in Arizona or New Mexico.
"Mummy!" Alice shrieked and ran towards this ethereal looking mother earth figure.
"Mary Alice! Oh, I've missed you!" Both women embraced fiercely; the love between the two was almost palpable.
During the reunion I took a few seconds to process the information my overworked brain had just received. My new friend, Alice, was actually Mary Alice Whitlock, nee Cullen, who had grown up with the likes of Lizzy Jagger and Theodora Richards. Her parents were founding members of one of the biggest rock groups of all time. She owns a bar, that I happen to sing in, that I will be singing in tonight, in front of said parents. I think I'm going to throw up.
"Mum, this is my friend Bella, Bella, my mother Esme. Remember, Mum, I told you about her?"
"Of course, Bella Swan, the singer/shopgirl. You know, I was a shopgirl too."
"Mum, you worked at Papa Tom's candy store until Grammy said you couldn't anymore because you gave all the cute boys free stuff. Bella sells antiques from, like, the 17th century." Wow, Alice actually new her stuff.
"Well, it was the free stuff that attracted your father. Lonely musician living above a candy shop in New York, blond hair all in his eyes, tight jeans, plus the cutest British accent," Esme gave me a mischevious look that said all it needed to say and more.
"Did I hear something about a British accent? I do believe I'm the only one here with one of those," and with that Carlisle Cullen, Rock God, walked into the very room I was standing in.
See, the thing about Carlisle Cullen is this: even at 52 he was still super sexy. Golden hair, toffee colored eyes, and a body that could still rival a man 25 years younger than him. Plus, there was the sexy British accent…
"Darling, where is that husband of yours?" Esme asked, spiking Alice's hair in a few places.
"Downstairs; Rosalie is coming with her husband tonight so he's nervous about things looking nice. Dad, this is my friend Bella," Alice said, gesturing to me and swatting her mother away.
"Rosalie? Who's Rosalie?" I blurted. This was just too much for my tiny, non-famous brain to take.
"Oh, sorry Bella. Rosalie is Jasper's older sister. Surely you've heard of her," Alice said, frowning at me.
"Rosalie Whitlock? Should I have?"
"Rosalie Hale. She uses her middle name professionally."
Rosalie Hale. Yeah, I'd heard of her. Minus possibly a tiny band of Native Americans in a jungle in Brazil without methods of modern communication, the entire world knew who Rosalie Hale was. Not only had she graced the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit a record tying five times, but she was one the face, or should I say body, of Victoria's Secret.
Oh, and her husband? Yeah, that's right, Alice said he was coming too. If I wasn't already completely overwhelmed by the fame game that was being played inside my, until now, boring universe, Emmett McCarty was an action star the likes Hollywood hadn't seen since the days of Die Hard Bruce Willis and pre-Eyes Wide Shut Tom Cruise. Even I had seen his movies, and that was saying something.
"Um, Alice? I don't think I can do this tonight," I squeaked.
"Bella, I told you, the gold shoes just make the outfit. You'll be sitting down all night anyway. Deal."
"Sweetheart, I don't think she's referring to her footwear," Carlisle said smirking.
"The hair dye doesn't wash out. We discussed this!" Alice was getting more exasperated.
"No Alice! I can't play my stupid song covers in front of your parents, who actually know something about music, in front of Rosalie Hale, possibly the most beautiful woman in the world, and Emmett McCarty, someone who snaps his fingers and can get anything he wants! I have two degrees in English Literature! I'm not a musician!" There. I felt marginally better after my outburst. That is until Alice started laughing.
"Honey, you really crack me up! Okay, one: my dear ol' Dad here? He can't read music—in fact he can barely read," Alice said, grabbing her father by the shoulders.
"Now, that's not fair! I can read, I just don't understand this ridiculous language you use when you text. The letter U is no substitute for the word You," Carlisle said, pouting a bit. I got that what Alice said was probably more true than he would admit.
"And my Mummy? She is about as musical as those gorgeous stilettos you're wearing. The only reason she was in the band was because Dad had a crush on her and wanted an excuse to take her touring with him," Alice continued, kissing her mother on the cheek.
"It's actually true Bella. I can sing harmony because Carlisle taught me and the lighting director actually lights up the keys for me to play during the songs. Alice, I didn't even tell Behind the Music that. You are a naughty little monkey!" Esme said good naturedly.
"Plus, Rosalie and Emmett, Bella? Rose is a bit standoffish at first, but you can't blame her with all the Yes Men surronding her in her industry and Emmett is seriously one of the nicest most laid back guys you will ever meet. You'll do great. Just pretend it's like any other night!" And with that, Alice pranced off down the stairs to the bar, dragging her parents behind her, talking a mile a minute about what she and Jasper had done to the space.
Great? Yeah, right.
The bar was packed. It's like the whole world figured out who Alice was and that Jasper was related to Rosalie Hale and they all decided to come to the opening that night. My hand were shaking so much I could hear the faint clinks as my rings knocked against one another.
"You ready Bella?" Jasper gave me a reassuring smile and I suddenly felt calm. I could do this. I glanced behind me at the crowd. I couldn't do this.
"Sure," I said, but I could feel how shakey my smile was. Jasper just chuckled and led me through the crowd to the piano.
"Good evenin' everyone. I am Jasper Whitlock, owner of this fine establishment," at this Jasper had to stop due to the applause, catcalls, and one very loud wolf whistle which I was such came from Alice, "Okay, okay, settle down. Right now we have the very talented Isabella Swan, or Bella as we like to call her here in the Big Easy, ready to entertain y'all. If you behave, she might even sing something you like. Without further ado," Jasper finished with a laugh and began clapping, leading the crowd.
Oh, shit. Here we go. I sat down on the bench, adjusted the mic, and realized that with all the lights Alice had installed for the performance tonight, I couldn't really see much of the crowd. I could make out the outlines of people, sometimes some hair here and there, but no faces, thank God! I really could do this.
"Well, thank you Jasper, for that fine introduction. Um, okay, well, good evening everyone, welcome to Midnight Sun," cheers, applause, etc., "Tonight I'm just going to be putting my own spin on some songs that everyone probably already knows. Hope you all have a great time," more cheers, applause, and Alice's whistle.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise…