New Job
Bella's POV
Edward is so strange. He told me he hates me, then physically winced as if the words 'as much as I hate you' actually caused him pain. Deep, emotional pain.
"Are you okay?" Alice asks.
"Yes, I'm fine. Geez, Alice stop pestering me!" I snap, completely confused by Edward and my own actions.
Alice looks rightfully shocked amd hurt at my outburst. "Alice I'm-" I begin.
"Save it, Bella," Alice cuts me off coldly. "Just save it."
Alice, my best friend, someone I count as the sister I never had, turns her back on me and stalks away to her desk.
Oh God! Why couldn't Batman just leave me alone?! Why does he always have to mess everything up?! GEEZ!
"Hey, Bella?" Jasper asks next to me, and I look up warily.
"Yes?" I almost whisper.
"Alice and I are going to a karaoke bar tonight. Alice says that she'll pick you up at eight," Jasper smiles slightly.
"What if I don't want to go?" I ask, slightly annoyed.
Jasper sighs and pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket, "Alice says: I don't care if you don't want to go, I will drag you kicking and screaming from your house, gag amd blindfold you, then tie you to a chair in the bar."
"Stupid, violent, pixie," I murmur, laughing very slightly.
"Yes, well. Alice is going to pick you up at eight. Don't forget," Jasper smiles one more time before walking back to his desk next to Alice.
As I look over Alice gives Jasper an urgent look and waves him back over. Jasper groans and walks and puts his hands on the edge of my desk. He leans forward slightly, and waits a second before saying, "Dress appropriately." Before abruptly straightening up and walking back to his desk.
That night I'm sitting in my living room in a purple mini dress that Alice gave me last christmas. I haven't worn it until now, same for the knee high black leather boots that are already incredibly uncomfortable.
"Bella! Open the door!" Alice shouts, banging on the front door violently.
"Good God, Alice calm down!" I yell back, opening the door. But Alice doesn't stop knocking in time and I'm promptly punched in the face.
"Oh God! Bella I'm so sorry!" Alice exclaims, and Jasper suhes forward to help me up.
"Yep," Jasper says as he examines my face. "You'll be alright, but your nose is bleeding."
"Oh," I murmur in shock, lightly touching the sore, bloody skin just below my nose.
"Come on," Jasper pulls me up by my arms and helps me over to the sofa. The smell of the blood is making me dizzy, and my vision becomes blurred.
"I'm so sorry, Bella," Alice almost whimpers.
"It's fine Alice," I mumble, trying to swallow back the nausea coming up my throat. "I just hate the smell of the blood."
"I'm so sorry!" Alice cries again.
I grit my teeth. "Alice, if you keep apologising you will only make it worse."
She's quiet after that.
The karaoke bar is loud and bright, yet still strangely dark. "Bella!" Alice calls. "Jasper's going to get drinks! And I want you to promise me something!"
I watch silently as Jasper disappearsthrough the packed crowds, probably towards the invisible drinks bar. "What Alice?" I shout back to my pixie friend over the heavy beat of the music.
"I want you to sing a song!" Alice smiles.
"No! No way!" I almost scream at her, frowning as the dancers push me and bump into me continuously.
"Pease Bella!" Alice whines. "If you do, I'll never force you to wear anything you don't want to again!"
Now, that, is a tempting offer. Alice is always getting me new clothes that I hate, then forcing me to wear them. It's probably the one thing I despise about her.
After a minute of thinking, I shout, "Fine!"
It takes me ten minutes to get across the dance floor to the stage. When I get there the DJ gladly says I can sing, because apparently not many people have been up to it. After paying two dollars to sing I tell him my song choice, and jump onto the stage.
"Now we have Bella singing I Hate Everything About You by Three Days Grace!" The DJ says into a microphone, and then I spot Jasper over at the bar as the music begins. But then I spot someone else talking to Jasper, looking straight at me.
Batman.
Aw fuck.
I barely start the song in time during my shocked state. In a tight grip, I join my hands and sing nervously into the microphone.
Every time we lie awake
After every hit we take
Every feeling that I get
But I haven't missed you yet
Every roommate gets awake
By every silent scream we make
All the feelings that I get
But I still don't miss you yet
Only when I stop to think about it
I. Hate. Everthing about you
Why, do I
Love you?
I. Hate. Everything about you
Why, do I
Love you?
Every time we lie awake
After every hit we take
Every feeling that I get
But I haven't missed you yet
Only when I stop to think about it
I. Hate. Everything about you
Why, do I
Love you?
I. Hate. Everything about you
Why, do I
Love you?
Only when I stop to think about you
I know
Only when you stop to think about me
Do you know?
I. Hate. Everything about you
Why, do I
Love you?
You. Hate. EVerything about me
Why, do you
Love me?
I. Hate
You. Hate
I. Hate
You, love me
I. Hate. Everything about you
Why, do I
Love you?
As I finish the song everyone claps and some even whistle. I blush slightly as Alice screams at me to do another song, but I just smile at her and jump off the stage.
As I make my way over to Alice, Jazz and Batman, I'm stopped by a man in a pinstriped suit. "Hello?" He says, and I smile at him. "You're a very talented singer."
"Thank you," I smile nervously, a blush covering my cheeks.
"Well, Bella...?" He says.
"Bella Swan," I hold out my hand for him to shake.
He takes my hand in his firm grip and I smile at him, my chaeeks heating up in a nervouse blush caused by this stranger. "Well, Bella," He says. "I'd very much like you on my team."
I frown in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"I'd like to offer you a record deal."