Chapter 3/
I looked down at my hands and then looked up into the gazes of one confused human and eight unbelieving vampires.
"Are you a vampire?" Edward asked again. His hand seemed to have lost it's grip in Vivian's hand. Even she looked downright confused out of her mind.
I hesitated, then answered truthfully. "Yes...I'm a vampire." They all just stared at me, still getting their brain around me actually being a vampire.
"But you were...you...human..." Alice looked at me with confusion written all over her face.
"Vampires? What are you guys talking about?" Chris sat up and looked around with wide eyes. He made a move to stand up and I lent a hand to help him. He took it without a pause. "And Bella, you look really different. More pail and..." He trailed off, not voicing the obvious new curves.
Carlisle looked at Jasper and tilted his head to Chris. Jasper, understanding, let out a very tiring and exhausting wave at Chris. It was only a two seconds later he began to sway and fall.
I quickly caught him as he fell backwards, in a deep slumber. His face was calm but you could still see the lines of confusion on his face. I briefly touched his forehead for his temperature and then slung him over my shoulder with ease. Then, without further ado, I ran to the house and laid him down on the living room couch.
Everyone filed into the room after me, taking their seats as well; looking more confused than ever.
"An explanation would do good here, Bella, if you please," Carlisle said politely.
Where to start, where to start? I took a deep breath and sat down on the armrest of the couch Chris was on. "What do you want to know?"
"How about why you are a vampire, or look like one, at the moment?" Edward asked briskly, his eyes boring into mine.
"Oh..." I rubbed my arm nervously, being the center of attention isn't really pleasant. "Well, I was changed right after you left by Andy."
"By who?" Carlisle asked.
"Andy, my old boyfriend," I said. "He didn't really die of cancer, he was actually killed by...werewolves...trying to...protect me," I whispered. Tears were forming in my eyes.
"You can cry!" Carlisle exclaimed, his face extremely curious.
"Yeah," I wiped away at the tears. "Something I got after I was changed. I can turn into a human and...heal." I could see it not...
[Flashback
"Bella, run!" Andy pushed me towards his car, the keys in my hand. Five werewolves began to surround him. Their growls filled the air.
"Andy, don't! I can fight them too!" I tried to get to him, my eyes blurry with tears.
Andy growled lethally as one of the werewolves tried to approach me. "Bella, just run!" Then Andy was pounced on by the five wolves at the same time.
I opened the car door and began to drive as fast as the car would go. What was I doing? Why was I running? Shouldn't I be there, fighting with him?! I quickly turned the wheel and did a U-turn. Now I was racing back to where Andy was.
Hopefully, I wouldn't be...too...late.
I stopped the car as soon as I was near the place. Then I opened the door and didn't bother turning the engine off. As soon as I saw smoke, I knew what had happened.
The werewolves looked at me and then broke out into a run. They dispersed in seconds. Right there in the middle of the field, was Andy's ashes. I fell to my knees in front of it.
Tears were flowing out of my eyes as I reached down to touch the ashes lightly with my fingers. "Oh Andy... If I had just stayed... Andy," I cried. I cried into my arms for a while, the sun was setting when I realized that there was something growing where Andy's ashes were. It was a tiny blossoming plant, possibly a tree.
So in a way, as Andy's spirit left this world, another was being reborn in his place.
[End of Flashback
"That's so sad..." Alice wiped her eyes although there were no tears there. "So this Andy changed you?"
I nodded sadly, "Yeah. I met him two months after Edward left. He was reluctant at first to change me, but he did after he realized we loved each other." Edward seemed to twitch at that, but maybe he had an itch.
"So your gift is to change into a human and...heal? The human part would definitely explain why we didn't know you were a vampire. But how does the healing work actually?" Carlisle asked.
"It's just healing." I shrugged. "I don't use it much since I have to hunt a lot after it. Here, let me show you."
Then I reached out grabbed Edward's hand and slit his wrist with a special knife I had hidden in my shoe. Edward cried out with surprise since knives don't usually cut through a vampire's skin. "Now...watch."
I pressed my right hand over the cut gently and let my power do it's job. That same green glow surfaced and after a few seconds, I pulled my hand back. There was no evidence of any cut what-so-ever. Edward stared at his wrist, touching it as if to see if there really was no cut.
Carlisle leaned forward and looked at Edward's wrist with an inspecting eye. "Amazing," he breathed.
"Not really," I replied. "It's nothing really special."
"No, it is special," Carlisle said. "Its a marvelous gift, it is."
I shrugged again and continued to stare down at the floor. Then Vivian interrupted the thoughtful silence.
"So what'll happen to Christian?" Her voice had a hint of steel in it, but it was kind nonetheless. She waved her hand at Chris, "He did hear what lovely Edward said about Bella."
"He'll just think it was a dream. We can say he fainted while walking with Bella," Carlisle said. Then Carlisle stood up and looked at his watch. "Well, it's 2:00 in the morning; I'll be in my study." Carlisle left us to just sit there in our chairs.
Vivian sighed and pulled Edward up from his seat. "Let's go outside, Edward." The two, holding hands, left the room to do whatever they wanted to do in the night.
I stood up too, "Um, guys, I think I'll go to my hotel room. I have to get ready for tomorrow...actually today's concert. So, see ya!" I picked up my guitar and purse and opened the door.
Alice jumped up, "Wait, Bella! Do you have to go now? It's only 2 o'clock! Do you have to leave?" She pouted, batting her eyelashes like a little girl wanting to play with her barbie doll.
"Yeah," I answered, a bit regretful as I saw Alice's long face. "Sorry, you can come watch me again, okay? I'll reserve front row seats for you." I winked and then stepped out into the cold night. I called for a cab from my cell and waited in the freezing night for the cab to come...
I heard a soft giggle and a sigh. I turned around slightly to see Edward and Vivian making out next to the house. I didn't really mind, I gave up on Edward a long time ago, didn't I? And yet...what is this feeling?
The cab came in record time, saving my ass from watching the couple.
"The Bellagio Hotel," I said to the driver. He nodded and pulled out of the driveway. As he did, I could see Edward glance up and look at me through the window only to look back down to kiss Vivian fiercely in the mouth. "Quickly, if you could," I whispered.
"Bella! What are you doing here?" Macy ran over to me and put a jacket over m shoulders.
"What are you doing here, also?" I retorted. "Anyways, I have to tell the band what music we're playing today."
Macy blinked then nodded slowly, "Um, okay. They're sleeping right now, so I'm not sure if it'll be a good idea to wake them up." Macy grinned and whispered, "So, did you kick the hottie out of your room again?'
"Nope," I answered. "I actually went over to his house."
Her eyes widened and her mouth hung open. I swatted her on the head, "No! I didn't do what your thinking. We're old friends, so I thought I should visit his family and stuff."
Macy snickered, "Mmhmm, sure. Yeah, family. Got it." She winked at me and ran off, thinking whatever she desired.
We were only friends.
I quickly got the electric guitar ready, the pick in my hand. Today, I would be playing with my band. Only some lucky nights I would turn from a country singer into a rock, pop-star.
"Bells, we're doing the song list you gave us last night, right?" my drummer asked.
"Yeah. Make sure not to forget your solo part, Garrett." Garrett nodded and walked away, his drumsticks in hand.
I breathed in deeply as I patted my purple and white guitar for good luck. Just play like you did yesterday. The Cullen's are here, but who cares? They were here yesterday...
Macy came running towards me with lip gloss in hand. "Okay, just a bit more gloss on you, sweetie, and your ready." She finished with the gloss. Macy patted my arm, "Your on in a minute!"
The band and I quickly got into our positions. I fixed the mike's height so that it was just right. Macy motioned from the side: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!
The curtains opened. I could clearly see them in the front row. Everyone was there, even Carlisle and Chris!! I smiled widely as I spoke into the mike.
"Good evening everyone! Are you ready to start dancing?" I was greeted by huge cheers and I grinned even wider. "Good! Enjoy the music while you can, people!"
I looked behind me to my band members and signaled them to start.
I started the song, playing my electric guitar. I leaned towards the mike.
"I hope the ring you gave to her turns her finger green
I hope when your in bed with her, you think of me
I would never wish bad things, but I don't wish you well
Could you tell, by the flames that burned your words"
Celia was playing bass and singing with me. Then, Garrett started to play the drums to give the good beat.
"I never read your letter
'Cos I knew what you'd say
Give me that Sunday school answer
Try and make it all OK
[Chorus
Does it hurt to know I'll never be there
Bet it sucks, to see my face everywhere
It was you, who chose to end it like you did
I was the last to know
You knew exactly what you would do
And don't say, you simply lost your way
She may believe you but I never will
Never again"
I looked directly forwards and I saw Edward staring intently right back at me. His hand was entwined with Vivian's and yet, his eyes were only one me. I broke eye contact and instead I looked away into the crowds.
"If she really knows the truth, she deserves you
A trophy wife, oh how cute
Ignorance is bliss
But when your day comes, and he's through with you
And he'll be through with you
You'll die together but alone
You wrote me in a letter
You couldn't say it right to my face
Give me that Sunday school answer
Repent yourself away"
I played the guitar more fiercely, an emotions building up in me that I never knew before. And emotion that entwined with the song I picked just for tonight.
[Chorus
"Does it hurt to know I'll never be there
Bet it sucks, to see my face everywhere
It was you, who chose to end it like you did
I was the last to know
You knew exactly what you would do
And don't say, you simply lost your way
They may believe you but I never will
Never again"
Then I stopped, as long as everyone else. Now it was only the drums that were playing. I stepped back from the mike and gave Celia a high-five for no reason. Celia smiled at me and played the bass for a while before stopping. It was only drums again.
[Bridge
"Never again will I hear you
Never again will I miss you
Never again will I fall to you
Never"
I brought my hand down and the sound of my electric guitar filled the concert hall. I looked down to capture Edward's eyes in mine. His topaz eyes that used to make me melt...
"Never again will I kiss you
Never again will I want to
Never again will I love you
Never
[Chorus
Does it hurt to know I'll never be there
Bet it sucks, to see my face everywhere
It was you, who chose to end it like you did
I was the last to know
You knew exactly what you would do
And don't say, you simply lost your way
They may believe you but I never will
I never will
I never will
Never again." I sang the last words into the mike.
Everyone clapped and some whistled and some hooted. But I didn't recognize any of this since I was looking at only Edward. His eyes bore into mine, they had a sadness in them that I knew I had brought.
I sighed and stepped back for a minute to catch my breath. I whispered into Celia's ear the next song. She looked at me strangely but nodded all the same. Garrett and the others would know what we were going to play as soon as we started.
Then I went back to the mike. I tapped my foot: 1, 2, 3. Garrett, me, and Celia started the song loudly. My guitar's sound echoing against the walls while Celia's bass made it sound stronger.
"His little whispers.
Love Me. Love Me.
That's all I ask for.
Love Me. Love Me.
He battered his tiny fists to feel something.
Wondered what it's like to touch and feel something.
Monster.
How should I feel?
Creatures lie here.
Looking through the window...
That night he caged her.
Bruised and broke her.
He struggled closer.
Then he stole her.
Violet wrists and then her ankles.
Silent Pain.
Then he slowly saw their nightmares were his dreams.
Monster.
How should I feel?
Creatures lie here.
Looking through the windows.
I will.
Hear their voices.
I'm a glass child.
I am Hannah's regrets.
Monster.
How should I feel?
Turn the sheets down.
Murder ears with pillow lace.
There's bath tubs.
Full of glow flies.
Bathe in kerosene.
Their words tattooed in his veins."
I breathed in and shook my head to clear my thoughts. The claps and the feedback that followed was more louder than before. Probably because the song I had just played was one of the favorites of most of my rock fans.
"Is everyone enjoying the night?" I asked into the mike. I smiled at the response, "Well then, maybe I should continue with the concert!" I took the pick and started to play again...eight more songs until I see them...
