Have you been waiting for this part of the story? Hi from Wellington (Lower Hutt) New Zealand, on my Rigby World Cup Adventure:
Chapter 10: Bella and The Ticket
Earlier, Yesterday actually-at the Office
Bella had stared at the note on her desk Monday morning.
Six pounds, seven ounces.
That had been her guess in the little contest over the weight of Mike's baby. He was the Southside director, and he and his wife had just had a son.
The cash from the pool had gone to buy a gift for the new family. The prize was a ticket to a Studio C performance. Rose, her longtime friend, had sometimes invited her to those. New music was her favorite, and because old songs meant old memories– well Bella did not dwell or reminisce much.
Bella lived in the now and planned for the future, at least she helped plan and coordinate the future events at the parks in the center of the city. Mike had gotten this ticket and knew he couldn't use it. The band had started in a bar across the street from Mt. Greenwood Park, and he had heard them many times before they'd become so big.
Bella had plenty of vacation, and was able to get the next day off. She checked on iTunes and realized she had heard their music.
She didn't know if she loved or hated that song.
On one hand, it was kind of a thrill to hear her life in rhyme and meter; someone cared enough to share the heartache, for the writer and the singer of that ballad could not be without their own pain. That fact was evident in the singer's voice each time she heard the melody.
On the other hand, it was her life, almost perfect in detail, and it was on display for the entire world to see, or hear. It was as if her life was a limbo bar, and it just kept dropping, and she just kept bending, trying to just keep going.
In a few days, her mother would get her biopsy results. Bella was already steeling herself against the bad news that would be arriving any day. Why worry? With her luck, there was no chance Renee could be in the clear, right?
The only thing she truly worried about was rain on her outdoor festivals and concerts. Just because her parade of life was a washout, it wouldn't be fair for that to extend to the innocent who just wanted a good time.
She decided to take the middle road. The verses were depressing. No need to like those, even if they made those events sound pretty. The chorus was much better. In fact it made her smile when she heard it. She clicked buy on the album, there was no way she'd not own her biography in song.
She typed a text to Rose, forgetting to hit send as the music flowed out of the tiny speakers.
Hey, I bought that CD - Edward and Crew - R they in studio?
Oh Brown-eyed girl
Hair a curl
Let me take your blues away
My heartbreak girl
I'll change your world
If you'll only let me stay
The song was playing on her iPhone as she drove over to the radio station. She really did need a day after the weekend in Florida, but if she'd missed Monday, she might be missing this. This was a better day away. The band looked good on the cover of their CD, one fellow with reddish hair, tall, lean and fair, two brown-haired guys, and one with dreads. Not a typical Irish band, but their ballads all told stories on the sad side.
It was perfect for her, sort of musical comfort food.
She found a seat in the middle of the second row. She hadn't seen Rose when she came in; she'd planned to surprise her. She felt just a tinge of pride at getting the ticket on her own, maybe; maybe those muses of misfortune were finally finished with her.
As she listened to the band, she noted Edward was the long, lean one who sang, but hardly spoke. Paul and Embry were brothers, and Laurent was born in Haiti.
When she heard Edward speak about her song, it almost broke her heart. Who would use her life as the foundation of a story? Who knew? It could light up a help line for a month!
Still, there was hope. Right? That someone loved the girl, wanted to find her and?
And well, whatever. There was Jasper, right? Maybe at thirty she would be in a place where?
Yeah, and then the tears threatened at the corner of her eyes for the last song.
She didn't jump up, her eyes following as the band exited the platform. They were headed down the side isle to a table in the back of the room. At least three of them were. She didn't notice Edward was now close, moving to straddle the chair in front of her. He cleared his throat, partly from nerves and partly to get her attention. As he sat, he gently touched her shoulder
"Excuse me, Miss. I'm Edward, Edward Cullen. Are, ah did you go, I mean did you have a classmate by the name of Tanya Denali?"
Ok. What would you do?
Press the button and tell me, Please.