A/N: Hey there, folks. It's that time of the week again, so here's another chapter!
Special thanks to my wonderful beta, SunflowerFran, for fixing all of my punctuation and grammar mistakes :)
WARNING: There are mentions of physical abuse in this story. I don't go into graphic detail
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
Chapter 4
Bella
The cafeteria was teaming with new students. Bella scanned the area for any sign of Alice, and quickly spotted her sitting at a round table in the center of the room.
She was about to head over, when she noticed that Alice wasn't alone. She was sitting with an attractive looking boy with shaggy blonde hair. Alice was laughing at something he said as he grinned down at her triumphantly. Bella seriously considered bolting out of the cafeteria, right then and there. She wasn't ready for more male interaction after the horrific experience she just had with angry piano boy.
She didn't' have time to make a final decision though, because Alice suddenly looked up and noticed her standing in the doorway.
"Bella! Over here!" Alice excitedly waved her over, and Bella, not wanting to seem rude, walked over to join her.
"Hey Alice," she muttered shyly once she reached the table. She sat down and placed her bag at her feet, avoiding eye contact with the other occupant at the table.
"Bella, this is Jasper. Japser, meet Bella."
"Hey there Bella, pleasure to meet you," the boy, Jasper said. Bella noticed he had a slight southern drawl to his voice. She absent-mindedly wondered where he was from before replying.
"Nice to meet you, too." She allowed her eyes to meet his quickly, before looking back down at the table.
There was a brief but awkward silence, and Bella mentally slapped herself for being so socially inept.
"Well, I've gotta go Al. I promised Ms. Cope I'd help her set up for the assembly." Jasper said, not seeming too enthused about his task. Bella found herself relating to him. He was a people-pleaser, just like herself. She always did things she didn't necessarily want to do, and lacked the ability to say no to anything.
"Aw, okay. Well are we still on for tonight?" Alice seemed genuinely disappointed that he was leaving.
"Sure thing. I'll meet you at your room around eight."
"See you then, Jazz!" Alice waved at him and batted her eyelashes.
"Bella." Jasper nodded in her direction and smiled. She gave him a tight-lipped smile in return. Jasper seemed affable, but Bella wasn't comfortable around him. Phil had seemed nice at first too. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought of that monster.
"Aren't you hungry, Bella?" Alice asked once Jasper had left the cafeteria.
"Um, no. I'm fine." Bella wasn't lying. Her appetite had been ruined by her earlier incident.
"Bella you have to eat! You're too skinny- here," Alice put half of her sandwich on a napkin and placed it in front of Bella. "Eat!"
Bella really didn't want to, but, like the people-pleaser she was, she caved.
"Thanks Alice, you didn't have to."
"That's what friends are for, Bella."
Bella's heart swelled at Alice's comment. Friend- she had a friend. Bella felt brave enough to strike up a conversation.
"What are you here for, what do you study?" She asked.
"Oh, I play violin. My mom and dad are extremely musical people. I had a violin in my hands before I could walk. What about you?, what do you do?"
"I sing. I'm an Alto."
"Oh! I would love to hear you sometime! I bet you have a remarkable voice ... you have that vibe about you, ya know?" No, Bella didn't know, but she nodded her head yes anyway.
"My brother goes here too; he's a sophomore this year. He plays piano."
Her thoughts flashed to angry piano boy.
"Is he any good?" Bella asked.
"Good? Try phenomenal. He's better than some of the professors here. And he knows it, that cocky ass." She laughed a light, bell-like sound. "I used to be extremely jealous of him. I mean, he picked it up so easily! He doesn't even need practice, even though he basically lives in the practice rooms here." She shook her head and took a sip of her coke.
"If he's so amazing, why is he here?"
"Our parents are adamant that we complete our education. That and the fact that it would look awful if the CCM's biggest donors had children that didn't go here, or anywhere."
"Oh, wow. So your parents must be rich."
"Yeah, I guess. We definitely aren't your typical snooty rich people, though. We still have souls." They both laughed.
Conversation flowed easily between Bella and Alice for the remainder of lunch. They mostly talked about Alice, which suited Bella just fine. Every time Alice would ask her about her parents, or her childhood, she would give non-committal answers and change the subject. Bella suspected Alice realized that her past was a touchy subject, because eventually she stopped asking those kinds of questions and focused instead on topics like hobbies and favorite TV shows- safe things like that.
Once lunch had ended, the two girls followed the flow of students heading towards the auditorium. Bella was dreading having to sit through the two-hour long assembly. What could they possibly talk about for two hours?
Due to Alice's insistence that they sit up close, Bella found herself seated front and center. Alice said she wanted to be able to see her brother without heads in the way.
Alice was basically jumping up and down in her seat. Bella couldn't help but be excited about the performance too. She didn't quite know what to expect, but she knew that it was going to be amazing. CCM was known for producing impeccable musicians, after all.
A tall balding man came onto the stage, and all of the chatter slowly filtered away. The man stood at a podium and cleared his throat.
"Welcome, new students, to the Chicago College of Music. I am thrilled that you have all chosen CCM as your place of continuing education ... "
Apparently, a lot can be talked about for two hours. After Mr. Banner, who Bella learned was the Dean of the college, made his intro, multiple people took the podium to speak, including some up and coming composer that Bella had never heard of. Everyone was boring and long-winded, and she had a hard time not nodding off. Her lack of sleep over the past twenty-four hours was quickly catching up with her.
Just when she thought it couldn't get any more boring, the end of the assembly was announced. People started clapping, and Bella liked to think it was because they were all happy it was finally over.
They were allowed a brief intermission, during which Bella took the opportunity to use the restroom. She and Alice took turns going so that they wouldn't lose their spot.
Once everyone was back in their seats the lights dimmed, and the curtains opened to reveal a small chamber orchestra. They began with a piece by Vivaldi, and Bella let her self get lost in the music.
That was how the concert went; various groups, and sometimes soloists, performed a variety of music- ranging in theme from classical pieces to modern day songs.
"Ugh, Tanya. What a bitch," Alice whispered to Bella. "She loves hanging all over my brother, it's sickening." Bella turned her attention to the pretty strawberry blonde that was walking on stage.
She sang "Popular" from the musical Wicked, one of Bella's favorite Broadway shows. She was amazing, and Bella felt a sense of inferiority while watching Tanya perform. She was graceful and full of confidence- things Bella would never be. After she had finished, the crowd cheered loudly. Tanya blew kisses to the audience and made a colossal spectacle of bowing, and strutting off stage. Bella could tell she thought she was all that.
"Edward is up! He's the finale!" Alice nudged against Bella's shoulder causing her to wince in pain. The hand-shaped bruise that had been there for weeks was still sore. Alice gave her a questioning look, but Bella brushed her off and focused her attention on stage, where a baby grand piano had appeared.
Seconds later a tall figure walked on stage and Bella gasped.
It was angry piano boy!
He was Alice's brother.
This was just downright unbelievable. The one friend she had managed to make was related to the person who yelled at her and made her cry.
Edward sat down at the piano and closed his eyes. Bella was entranced by his beautiful profile- all strong jawed and masculine. She felt her face flushed at her thoughts. He lifted his hands to rest on the keys, and began playing the same piece he had been practicing when Bella interrupted him earlier ... Clair de Lune. Bella's eyes welled with tears at how beautifully he played. She felt as though she was once again back in her mother's studio watching her as she painted.
"Isn't he amazing?" Alice leaned over and whispered.
"Yeah ... So amazing" was Bella's dazed reply.
The piece reached a crescendo, and Edward's body leaned in towards the piano and out again, flowing with the music. She was transfixed on Edward's fingers flying over the keys.
The piece came to an end, and people started applause. Edward looked out at the audience and gave a small nod of appreciation. He was scanning the crowd, seemingly looking for someone, when his eyes caught Bella's without warning. Her heart stopped, and time seemed to stand still as his gaze burned into her. He stared at her for what seemed like a lifetime, but what was actually no more than five seconds, before shifting his gaze to the left and smiling at Alice.
Edward stood and bowed to the audience before exiting the stage.
Bella's heart finally started beating normally again, and when the blood stopped pounding in her ears she realized Alice was talking to her.
"... Like it? Bella, are you listening to me?"
Sorry, Alice. What were you saying?"
"Did you like Edward's performance?"
"Oh, yes! It was unbelievable. You weren't lying when you said he was phenomenal."
Alice continued to chatter on about how much she loved the concert as they exited the auditorium. Bella was still somewhat in shock. He had looked right at her. She wondered if he remembered her from that morning. She certainly hadn't forgotten him.
Bella and Alice reached the student housing building
"Well, this is where we part ways neighbor." Alice said once they had arrived at their rooms. "I have plans tonight with Jazz, but we definitely should hang out some time. Maybe tomorrow after class?"
Bella nodded her head, yes. "That would be awesome, I can't wait." She genuinely couldn't wait to spend more time with her new friend. "I'm exhausted, I have literally gotten two hours of sleep in the past day and a half, so I'm going to go and pass out now."
"I bet, what with flying all the way here from Arizona. Jeez Bella how are you even conscious right now?" Alice joked. "Well I'll see you tomorrow. We can walk to class together."
Bella enthusiastically agreed, and bid Alice good night.
She immediately stripped out of her uncomfortable jeans and threw on some sweatpants. She crawled into bed and snuggled deep under the warm blankets. The past day had been hectic. It seemed like years since she had fled from her house, when actually it had only been half a day. She wondered if her mother noticed she was gone ...I f she even cared. Bella knew better though- Renee was probably passed out drunk on the couch. She wondered how Phil was doing without his punching bag there. He was probably livid. She pushed thoughts of Phil and her mother out of her head, or she would have nightmares from them.
Her thoughts drifted to Edward.
Edward, the angry piano boy.
Edward, Alice's older brother.
She still couldn't believe her rotten luck. Even though she was afraid of him and his obvious temper, she was resolute in the fact that she wouldn't allow Edward's outburst to chase her away from being friends with Alice.
Hopefully she would have some decent luck for a change. She knew their paths would have to cross at some point; after all, he was Alice's brother. However, she hoped it would not be for quite a while.
She closed her tired eyes and was asleep within minutes.
A/N: Hope you liked it!
Reviews are the reason I get up in the morning.
