Chapter 6:

Singing With a Soul

As I walked onto the huge stage of the stadium, Edward smiled at me. Could I really do this? I don't think I can. I quickly pivoted on the spot and decided to run off stage before anyone could notice I was gone. Oh yeah, Edward. He's fast. He ran over to me, picked me up, and put me in my spot so fast it probably looked like nothing at all.

All of a sudden, the music overflowed the stadium at an excessively high volume. Not to mention the annoying bass. Anyway, as the first song started playing, I tensed. I didn't even have to sing by myself for this one, so I felt a little relieved, I guess.

It's time to Celebrate good Times.

"Celebrate good times, come on! Celebrate good times, come on!" Emmett sang the first two lines with a great enthusiasm.
"There's a party goin' on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times, and your laughter too
We gonna celebrate your party with you"

I felt my entire body freeze. I didn't even dance like I was supposed to, I literally froze on the spot. Mike looked at me questioningly, Charlie smiled encouragingly, and Jessica just sat there sheepishly, as if she was embarrassed for me.

Edward to the rescue!

Again!

Edward came and saved me from public humiliation. He lifted me up and started dancing. It reminded me of the prom. He was such an amazing dancer. I don't know what it was, but some feeling Edward gave me let off a bomb inside my fragile little body. It's like I was lit up, and through the rest of that song, I danced- and sang- my heart out. Edward looked at me with the proudest of proud expressions implanted on his face, as if to say… I knew you could do it.

"It's time to come together
It's up to you, what's your pleasure" This was the only line that Alice and I had to sing together, and I poured my entire soul into it. It was like a new beginning, like the fear was never there… I literally felt like a star.

After the number, when everyone was still clapping, Edward, Alice, Rose, Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, and I went backstage to quickly change for the next song.

I looked at the song list. That tense feeling hit me again. It crept up to my face, starting in my toes and working its way up. My next song was my solo. A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton. I tried to breathe but nothing came out.

"Bella! Bella are you alright? What's wrong? Carlisle!" Carlisle was next to us in a second. I took in a heavy gust of oxygen, and struggled to steady my breaths. I could hear Alice singing her solo, the karaoke music cramping the entire stage.

"Bella, love, what happened?"

"I'm fine"

"Bella…"

"I'm okay. Really, just do I have to sing that by myself?"

"Of course not, love. Of course not. It's fine if you don't. Don't think about it," He cooed.

"Thank you Edward."

As Alice stepped off the stage, and Carlisle and Esme stepped on, Alice walked over to where Edward and I were standing. She glared at us.

"No, Alice." She narrowed her eyes. I could see that they were having a telepathic conversation.

"Alice, please…" She held up her hand to silence him.

"Fine," she said sternly. "Bella, I hope your happy."

I saw the disappointment on her face, and easily obliged.

"No, Alice. I owe you this much."

She turned around faster thank I could blink. "Thank you Bella," She grinned so wide I was afraid her face would explode. 'By the way, you don't owe me anything any more."

"Alice…" Edward growled.

"Edward. It's fine, I can do this." He gently rested his hand on my shoulder.

"Are you positive? Don't do anything you don't want-"

"I said I'll be fine."

"I will be next to you, playing the piano."

"Bella?" Alice looked worried.

"Yes?"

"your up."

My head started to flutter once again. I could tell Edward could hear it, too.

"You don't have to do it."

"I know." I took a step toward the giant stage, followed by another, and another, until I found myself standing in front of a microphone. A grand piano was put in the center of the stage, for Edward, not doubt.

The music began to play through he giant speaker next to me. Wait… no. It was coming from the huge piano. Edward was playing.

"Making my way downtown, walking fast, faces pass, and I'm home bound" I began quietly into the mic. My eyes searched the audience, everyone was totally focused on me. I turned around to look at Edward. He smiled at me. That same electricity that passed through me before crept inside me again. Looking at Edward's dazzling smile made me want to make him proud. I sang the next verse with pride, both of my boyfriend, and of myself. Self confidence? I've never had that before.

"Staring blankly ahead, just making my way; making a way through the crowd" I could hear Edward's genius piano fill the stadium, and from that point on, I sang with all my heart. I sang with all my soul.

After I finished I got the loudest chorus of applause I had ever gotten in my entire life, and before I could bow, Edward picked my up and kissed me feverishly… completely oblivious to the audience. Cameras flashed, people chucked, some people even cleared their throats, annoyed. I didn't care. I was having the time of my life.

"You were amazing"

"So were you." I blushed.

"And you said you couldn't do it!" Alice gloated. "That was the best performance ever!"

"It really was." Esme assured.

Rose rolled her eyes like she was bored and danced onto the stage for her solo. I had never heard Rose sing, she never practiced during rehearsal. Alice never even nagged her about it. She must have been too good for them. I stepped a bit closer to the stage so I could hear her.

"When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be."

I bit my lip. She was truly dazzling- ten times better than me, equally as good as Edward. Jasper must have felt my emotions, because he walked over to where I was standing.

"Why are you nervous?"

"I'm not." I was never the best liar. I felt my cheeks flush.

"Yes you are." He followed my eyes to Rosalie… singing and dancing like a true star. There goes my confidence.

"She's so pigheaded. Singing has always been her thing." He rolled his eyes. "We never get breaks from her singing. It's like all day and all night. She brags and brags about it. To us, you were ten times better than her- oh, and ten times less annoying."

I couldn't help smiling. "Thanks" I said. I think it came out shaky.

"No problem- remember, you're the real star here. Just between you and me… and Edward because he can probably hear it… Rosalie was honestly jealous when you walked off that stage." He whispered to keep Rose from hearing.

"I don't believe it."

"Well, it's true."

Before I could even ponder it, Edward came running behind me, and swept me off my feet.

"What's your problem?" I teased.

"Over My Head" Was all he said. It was all he needed to say, too, because I knew on the spot what that meant.

It was literally a playback of the mall all over again. The only difference was this time, There was a piano, A stage, no fountain, a microphone, and, oh yeah… a huge audience. The song came quite easily though. I didn't get butterflies once. I got to sit at the piano with Edward for this one, and being near him had an even stronger effect than being smiled at by him. I was also glad this wasn't a solo. If I messed up, Edward made me look good, and we got a rousing applause at the end.

"Good job." He said as we walked off the stage. He gave me an approving smile.

"Thanks."

"You know, Jasper was right."

"About what?"

"Rosalie"

"You heard that?"

"I read minds, what did you expect?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Bella, you sang better than anyone I have ever heard before. Don't doubt yourself, you a truly gifted singer. Don't let Rosalie, or anyone convince you otherwise."

"Thanks mom."

Edward chuckled. "I'm just stating the truth."

"I love you." I said loudly

"I love you" He cooed back.

"Ew! Singers in a love embrace." Emmett.

"Go away Emmet." You tell him Edward.

"No I think I'll stay."

"Your up Emmett." Alice said quickly.

"You lucky brother, I have a camera. It would have been the best blackmail." Edward mouthed thank you to Alice, and turned and kissed my forehead.

"We should watch. Emmett is quite funny."

And yes, it was funny watching Emmett lip sing. I really wish I could have heard him actually sing, though. What I found hilarious was his dancing. He dented the floor with his feet… not like he wasn't graceful, just- he used too much force. He even broke one of the piano legs. Luckily, Alice "saw" this coming and ordered another one to be safe.

"My turn." Edward said. Was that nervousness I sensed in his always- so- sure voice? No… it couldn't have been.

Do I really have to explain Edward's voice? I knew he would be dazzling but the moment he started singing I was in a daze. I couldn't take my eyes off of his beautiful fingers as they caressed the keys on the piano. As I observed the lyrics, I soon discovered that the song was written for me. I loved the line where he went:

"Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive. And I don't Want the world to see me, cause I don't think that they'd understand; When everything's made to be broken, i just want you to know who I am."

Near the end of his solo performance it took all of my will power not to run on stage and kiss him on the spot… I loved him so much.

Just when I thought I would explode, he beckoned me to sit next to him. I followed, confused, but happily sat with him. He pointed to the giant screen behind us… I hadn't noticed until now that the screen was really a projection screen, and on it was a slide show of pictures of Edward and I. Had Alice taken them?

I started to cry. Right there in front of all those people I started crying my heart out. Edward started playing the piano with one hand and put his arm around me… how did he do that?

At the end of the performance the audience went wild, many people crying like me. Alice came running onto stage with a wet cloth in her hand and dabbed the cold water onto my face.

"You have a duet with Edward next, best not be crying."

"Thanks." I said.

… and so our last duet began, and it felt like stars. I felt like I was floating on air with Edward. I was pretty good at it now, the whole not getting nervous thing. Not to boast, but I think I did I pretty good job. After Edward and I took our last solo bows, we went backstage to get dressed for the grand finale…

"Hey Bella," Edward said.

"Yes Edward?"

"All you need is love."

…and somehow, that triggered something within our entire cast, for immediately after he said it, we all repeated it again.

"All you need it love." We all chimed in unison.

How very true.

AN- the next chapter will cover the last song in the concert; All you Need is Love, and the end to the story. I hope you enjoy it, and for those who want more, I am working on a story about Emmett… I figured he needed some attention. It's from his point of view, something I've never done before.

… but hey, there's a first time for everything, right?

Sorry for the delay, it was such a long chapter and took me a while. Please review.