Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns the Twilight universe and characters. As if you didn't know by now.
Chapter 9
BPOV
Fuck, I was nervous. Like, really nervous.
I hated performing for this reason, and it never got any easier for me no matter how much I had practised.
Fucking Jacob Black.
The Black Sow was a dive, pure and simple. Small stage, small black and white tiled dance floor and thirty dirty looking tables with mismatched chairs surrounding them, and surrounding the stage. There was barely enough room for Jacob's band and their belongings, which involved a drum kit, keyboard, and a variety of electric guitars. To the right of the stage was a black piano, and surprisingly, it was in perfect condition. I had cleaned it myself until it gleamed like a son of a bitch. It was actually shocking to see such a magnificent instrument in such a shit hole.
I travelled light with my own guitar, computer, projector and a portable screen. I had more costume changes than equipment. There was no dressing room; just a green room off from the back of the stage, and the boys had somehow managed to erect a curtained area for me to change in privacy. There was a full length mirror as well, and a table to hold my makeup items and wigs.
Yes, wigs.
Marcus, my sort-of manager, had schooled me in the fine art of performance preparation, and not-so-secretly wished for the opportunity to doll it up as well. I had told him that was what drag nights were all about, but he wasn't a performer, he said, he just liked pretty things. Fuck, I missed Marcus. He never gave me shit about being quiet, never forced me to socialise and yet, he encouraged my music in a way that never seemed pushy or controlling.
My first number, after Jacob's anthem rock cover with his rag tag band, was, admittedly, quite a smash. I covered an oldie as well, as we had previously agreed that there were to be no originals performed during our contest. Jacob had received a polite round of applause, but it was hard to judge the response so soon. It was early, and there were still people trickling in.
The Cullens sat right up front, with Carlisle and Esme sitting in the middle of the long table and all their children surrounding them. I couldn't help but look fondly at them, as the table was littered with pitchers of cheap beer and bowls of stale pretzels. Esme took a long drink from her pint glass, and leaned into Carlisle as Rosalie talked with her, pointing at the performers.
I could only imagine what Rosalie was saying. The rest of Jacob's band were simply guys around town with a little bit of musical experience. Though he had made formal introductions in the past, I never got around to matching the names he had said with the faces. Invariably, I'd call a guy by the wrong name, and would shrug my shoulders whenever corrected. In turn, the guys started calling me by any other random female name, though it didn't piss me off like they thought it would.
I stepped out onto the stage wearing a torn rock shirt, ripped blue jeans and black boots. I knew from practices that Jacob was performing his anthem rock song first, so I followed up with one as well. It called for big hair, and big hair was what I had. The wigs that Marcus had sent me went with all the songs that I was playing, and I was almost unrecognisable with the teased and crimped mullet perched on my head. Well, the Dee Snider makeup helped out with that as well.
I enjoyed the costumes that I trucked out, because I felt somewhat anonymous under the hair and makeup. I wasn't bothered by wearing the short skirts, fitted dresses and high heels that went with my other numbers. As each costume change was made, the applause grew louder. It didn't hurt that my music was tight. I only fucked up a couple of times, but I couldn't tell by the audience if they noticed at all. My voice was strong and grew huskier as the night wore on. It sounded pretty sexy, I had to admit. By mid-evening, it was clear who the winner was.
Jacob Black didn't seem upset by my landslide victory. In fact, he smiled up at me encouragingly from the band table to the left of the stage, and clapped just as wildly as everyone else. Every time the call to rate us came and went, he'd saunter over to me, shaking my hand for the win.
I didn't have any time at all to visit the Cullens as I had costume changes, but every once in awhile I caught the eyes of my friends. Carlisle and Esme beamed up at me in pride, and cheered wildly after every song. Rosalie and Alice screamed with girl power when I rocked the sexier outfits and sang along with some of my chick rock songs. Jasper and Emmett pounded the table with their beers and whooped loudly as well. Edward though, Edward seemed to be in shock. I couldn't help but smirk at him when I crossed the stage during my numbers, or wailed out on the guitar.
Some of my songs were done with accompanying shots of me playing other instruments and shown on my rickety projector and screen. It required precise timing, and I pretty much shit my pants whenever I used it. The power grid at The Black Sow was unpredictable at best, but it lasted throughout the majority of the night. It only cut out on my last song, and I shrugged as the guys tinkered around with it as I paced the stage.
I finally decided just to enjoy the piano, which was left behind in favour for the electric keyboard that Jacob's band loved to use. After Jessica had gone around to the many tables with tealights, she approached me at the piano and gave me several candles stuck into empty wine bottles, after laying a protective cloth over the top of the piano. It gave me enough light to play, and I lost myself in the music and my singing.
After the last note rang out in the eerily quiet room, there was a moment of dead silence followed by thunderous applause. I cleared my throat, gave a spastic half-wave from the piano, and pretty much bolted for the dressing room.
I guess Jacob had anticipated that, and he cut me off, wrapping an arm around my waist and dragging me to the front of the stage. We took our bows, and he handed me the hat, which was filled with money. He gave me a kiss on the cheek and I elbowed him in the chest as I waved at everyone again. He held me tighter, and I locked eyes with Edward, who sat with his hands clenched tightly. I elbowed Jacob more firmly, and left the stage area to finally sit with the Cullens. By that time, the power issues had been resolved and the jukebox was fired up for those who wanted more music before last call.
I sat down beside Edward and he immediately reached for my hand as the others began to tell me how much they liked my performance. I smiled and laughed with the others, and was grateful for the pint of beer that Jasper had slid over to me.
"Girl, you really rocked it," Rosalie said with a grin, as Alice fawned over my clothing, makeup and footwear.
"Hells, B, that was great," Emmett crowed, clanking his pint glass with mine.
"Bella, I'm impressed," Carlisle said and Esme leaned over Edward and pulled me into a quick hug.
I had to release Edward's hand to hug her back, but as soon as she pulled away, he reached for it again. He leaned into me and said lowly, "Bella…" and then gave me a slow smile.
"Thank god that's over with," I sighed, and quickly finished my pint. Emmett laughed and refilled it again. I drank this one more slowly, and Edward said, "I can't believe that you… your music, and your voice…"
I laughed at the fact that he couldn't even complete a sentence and squeezed his hand, "Thanks, Edward."
"No really," he breathed into my ear, and I could feel a blush begin to spread across my cheeks.
He turned his body towards me, effectively blocking me from the others. He grabbed my other hand and said, "That was simply superb. You play wonderfully. Your video projection was pure art, and I can't believe your range…"
"Edward," I cut him off, "Thanks, but seriously, I need to calm down from all that. I'm going up to get a shot," I told him, and stood up.
He stood up as well and said, "Don't. I'll get it. What do you want?"
I looked at him thankfully and said, "Tequila, please. I'm going to go get changed, then. See you in a sec." I handed him a twenty from my hat, but he waved me off.
He turned to the others to get their drink requests as I crossed the dance floor and headed to the green room. I dashed away from Mike Newton who strode towards me, giving him a quick wave and smile, pointing apologetically at my outfit, hoping he would get the hint.
I entered the green room and was met by cheers from the guys, who began to tell me about our success at The Sow on a Monday night.
"They never get that many people here," Jacob told me, as I closed the curtain behind me and began peeling off my stockings and dress.
"You must have promoted a hell of a lot," I said, fluffing out my hair after I had changed back into my black jeans, t-shirt and hoodie.
"Not at all," he told me, as I began wiping the heavy makeup from my face, and applying a bit of eyeliner and lip balm, "After your first number, everyone began whipping out their cellphones and making phone calls. Within the first half hour, Sid had to stop people from coming in because of the capacity limit. That's all you, Bella."
I stepped from behind the curtain and he moved to approach me again but I backed up in surprise.
"Hey," he said, looking hurt, "I was just going to give you a hug."
"I'm not much for that," I told him, not wanting to hurt his feelings.
"But you can hold hands with Cullen?" he asked, frowning.
"Edward is my best friend," I told him.
"Who wants you all to himself," Jacob responded in disdain.
"Jake, I'm not here to discuss Edward. In fact, I'm going back out to finish my beer, then I am going to pack it up and go home. I'm sorry that you don't like him, but that doesn't mean that I don't. Thanks for tonight, though. I had fun, and it was a blast." I told him, trying to move past him.
He blocked me again, and this time I gave him a shove, "Seriously, Jake, I gotta jet."
"Bella, you don't really like that douchebag, do you?"
I sighed in exasperation, "Frankly, Jacob, that's none of your fucking business. God, I am so sick of this."
"Well, I'm sick of that pasty freak fawning all over you. His family is cool enough, but Edward Cullen is all wrong for you. He's a stuck up snob."
My eyes widened but I said firmly, "Get out of my way, Jake. If you don't let me pass, I'm going to fucking kick the shit out of you. If you ever say another word about Edward Cullen to me again, you might as well forget about speaking to me again, period. Got it?"
Jake looked upset about this, but wisely kept his mouth shut. I tossed a wave at the others, who were already starting in on him. I headed for the table where the Cullens sat, and Edward eyed my dark expression with concern.
He slid my shot over to me, and I succeeded in giving him a half-smile in return.
"What is it?" he asked, as I smoothed my expression before the others could notice.
I shook my head at him, and I slowly drank down the shot of tequila. I watched as Jacob walked to the front of the stage and began gathering up his things. Jacob fixed me with an apologetic look, and managed not to scowl at Edward.
This time, I was the one to reach for a hand to hold.
