Music
"Just Another Old Love Song": Joe Purdy
"First in Line": Matthew Mayfield
"Breathe In, Breathe Out": Mat Kearney
Edward POV
"So tell me, how did you end up here?" the leggy blond prodded. I took another gulp of the coffee sitting in front of me and gazed out the window towards the rainy Seattle street.
"A girl," I started with a small grin. The most gorgeous girl in the world.
"A girl?" The reporter repeated, jotting notes in her notebook and pressing 'record' on her tape recorder.
"Yeah," I laughed slightly, "Isn't that how all musicians end up writing and playing?" She stared back at me with her piercing blue eyes and absently tucked her hair behind her ear.
"I think a lot of people would beg to differ," she quickly informed me with a smile.
"Then those people just aren't being honest with themselves," I whispered and leaned over the table towards her. "There's always a girl."
"Would you care to explain?"
"Well, I started playing because this girl asked me to. More like I had to play in order for her to go out with me. Back home, in San Francisco, she made me play in front of some record guys, I asked my good friend Jasper to play with me, and before I knew it the record was finished and here I am, talking to you."
"I feel like you skipped some of the story in there. All of this happened in the past few months?" she lowered her gaze to her coffee.
"Yes, and after New Years, I'll be touring. It's been a whirlwind to say the least," I grinned a little more and felt my pants start to vibrate. "I'm sorry, but could you excuse me for a moment?"
"Of course," she nervously fiddled with her jeans.
"Hey beautiful," I smiled at Bella's voice. The reporter blushed at overhearing me. I leaned back in my chair again. "Yes, I'll be home by eight for dinner. Yes, I'll pick up cranberries. I love you too." I chuckled to myself as I sat my phone down.
"The girl?" the reporter asked nervously.
"The one and only," I laughed. "I give interviews to lovely reporters by day, and pick up cranberries by night. I'm a jack-of-all-trades I guess." She laughed along with me, still taking notes.
"So, tell me about starting out, what influences your writing, what makes Edward Cullen tick, what's the mastermind behind 'such a simple fool' like to do for fun?" she started firing.
"You're going to have to slow down, miss, I'm kind of dense," I laughed again.
"I doubt it," she corrected me, "I heard your in medical school. Are you still in it?"
"Can I start with the first question?" I laughed. She nodded, slightly embarrassed by her frazzled questions. "Well, my influences would have to be, I can't really explain it, everyday life is the largest influence on me. Or more particularly, waking up in the morning, there is a few minutes where the whole world yawns and starts beating again. That's what I like to hear, to portray in my music, something universal." She stared at me, gawking.
"Wow," she muttered.
"Let's see, me, what is there about me? Well, I love baseball games, and drinking. Is that enough? I think that's all there is to me," I laughed and was joined by the reporter giggling.
"Your family owns a bar in San Francisco correct? That's where you started playing?" She prodded further.
"Yes, Cullen's pub. We're a very narcissistic bunch. I played there my first night in town, all thanks to my other best friend, Emmett. Oh, you can insert a shameless plug if you'd like. That'd be great," I grinned and saw her start to blush.
"Of course," she giggled nervously.
"And it was there that you met this girl, correct? I'm supposing we won't be getting her name huh?"
"No, I'd like to keep her all for myself thank you."
"That's probably best. Once the world sees you, they're going to be throwing themselves at you."
"I doubt that," I scoffed, "I hate to break it to the world, but I'm happily in love, with the queen of my universe."
"She's very lucky," the reporter faked a smile. I'm very lucky. "So tell me about your family. You're adopted correct?"
"I have a wonderful family. I have a twin sister, Alice. She's, well, she's definitely one of a kind. She's actually going out with Jasper."
"That's cute. But how can you have a twin if you're adopted? Is she your biological twin?"
"I have probably the best parents in the world, Carlisle and Esme. In fact, they live over in Forks, about an hour away from here. They're meeting me at the airport and we're all getting together for Thanksgiving in San Fran."
"Are you just going to avoid the adoption questions?" The reporter huffed.
"Yes, as far as I'm concerned, parents are the people who love and raise you, and Carlisle and Esme raised me, they taught me kindness, compassion, respect, honor, love, they taught me everything I know, and I could never have asked for better parents."
"Tell me about them," the reporter egged me on.
"Well, Esme is an interior decorator, but she also volunteers at the hospital that Carlisle works at. It's because of them that I've wanted to be a doctor."
"But you're dropping out of medical school?"
"No, I'm still in school. I just do a lot of work on the road."
"But you dropped out of Dartmouth right?"
"No, I actually graduated already with a bachelors in biology. Right now I'm in med school at UCSF."
"Wow," she gasped. "You're too good to be true Edward," she smiled and took another sip of coffee. "How do you have time for all of this, and on top of it, have a girl that you're madly in love with?"
"Priorities. I know what is most important to me, and what I want to have at the end of the day," I took the last swig of my coffee, "And luck. I'm probably the luckiest guy in the world."
"You're a wise man," she continued, "Can you tell me more about the reason you wrote the song "Miracles"? Its getting a lot of radio time around here these days."
"I hate to cut this short, but I'm needed to go play a song before I'm allowed to leave, and if I'm late for Thanksgiving dinner, I just might be single," I smiled and stood up to leave. The reporter stood up and shook my hand.
"No, I think I have enough for the story. I'll send you a copy, but be ready," she warned me, "once your story gets out there, you're going to be getting a lot of calls for more and more interviews, and your coy answers won't fly."
"Who's being coy?" I gave her a charming smile.
"Goodbye Edward Cullen," she laughed.
"If you're ever in San Francisco, stop by, just tell them you know the owner, I'll buy you a drink."
"I'll be sure to take you up on that," she smiled and started to walk out.
"Aren't you going to listen? How will you know if I'm any good if you don't hear me live?" I gave her a wink.
"One day your charm won't work on getting reporters to hang around and promote you anymore," she chided me and sat down.
"I can at least use it while I have it," I chuckled, "But I'm sure it will always work on beautiful reporters like yourself."
"I'm already staying, you can lay off with the big eyes and quick words, sir."
"Its not something I can turn on and off," I laughed and walked towards the stage to meet Jasper.
"Ok, Jazz, one more and then we're going home." Jasper ran his hands through his long blond hair. I could tell the days have been wearing him down and being away from Alice was just as hard on him as being away from Bella was hard for me. "And make it good, we have a reporter staying to watch, and we need the buzz."
"No pressure," he laughed, easing the mood.
"No pressure," I mimicked. We stepped out on the little stage to a surprisingly large crowd. Flash bulbs went out from every angle. I grinned at Jasper and he just grinned back, completely floored at how packed the coffee shop was.
"Hello," I spoke into the mike. "Thanks for coming. We're just doing one song tonight, but I feel honored that you all came to see it."
Jasper started playing, and I started to pluck along with him. "Maybe two," I trailed off and winked at Jasper. The crowd cheered.
come on in out of the cold, lay your cares on me, cause when your here there's nothing wrong, you're as far as i can see. You're as far as i can see. Just another old love song comin' down, and I've been trying to make you understand that my love for you is real and I can feel it when you take my hand when I'm holding you near. Let me hold you near. just another old love song comin' down. just another old love song comin' down. just another old love song comin' down.
I made my way towards the front row while Jasper looked on, baffled.
"Would you like to come up so I can sing you a song?" I asked this girl. Her face paled slightly and she nodded, following me towards the stage.
I sat back down as she sat down between Jasper and I.
so if you feel the sun is sinking down, just call out my name, cause i would make this whole world spin around, just to see you again, just to see you again, just to see you again. just another love song comin' down.
"Ok, I think we can try just one more, huh Jazz?" I asked him.
"I guess, but we better not be late for dinner," he grinned. Oh fuck.
"And what might your name be?" I asked the brunette.
"Julie," she breathlessly answered.
"Would you mind if I serenaded you?" I asked and put on the biggest puppy dog eyes I could.
"Not at all," she smiled.
"Ok, this is a song I've just started working on, it won't be on the new album, but I figure you will all enjoy it, hopefully."
I started to play and Jasper joined along with me.
I'll run my fingers through your hair tonight. There's no one else, I'm sure of this. I need you now. I'll give you, all of me. I'll make you mine. If you'll take me, and make me, your first in line. Well I made my home in your, heart and your eyes. And you laid your hands on my chest and you called it home. I'll give you, all of me. I'll make you min. If you'll take me, and make me, your first in line. I see you, I've kissed you, two hours, I'll miss you. I've taken I'll make it. I'll give you hope. I'll give you, all of me. I'll make you mine. If you'll take me, and make me, your first in line.
The last few chords played out, and cheers erupted.
"Thank you," I smiled, "We're 'Such a Simple Fool', and we appreciate this warm Seattle welcome." I walked off the stage after hugging the girl and thanking her. She latched onto me and I had to peel her arms from around my neck. Jesus Christ, she's stronger than she looks. As soon as we made our way towards the door, we were assaulted with pens and papers for autographs. I had to stop for a minute and regain my composure. They were asking for my autograph.
"Could I take a picture with you?" some girl asked me. I posed for hers and a few more. This is absolutely crazy. What the hell is happening? After what felt like hours, Jasper pulled me through the sea of girls and we grabbed our gear and made it to the taxi waiting out back.
"I could get used to this," Jasper sighed contentedly.
"Looks like we're going to have to," I grinned even bigger than before. "This is happening."
"Airport please," Jazz told the cab driver. "Let's go home."
Bella POV
"Alice, did you set the table and everything?" I called from the kitchen.
"Of course I did," her indignant voice startled me as she was way closer than I thought she was. "Everything looks beautiful downstairs, miss anal retentive." I shot Alice a glare as she fled from the kitchen. I pulled everything out of the oven and tried to make it presentable. Damn, this smells good. I laughed to myself.
"Hey Alice, I'm going to jump in the shower, I'll be right out."
"Ok," Alice yelled from downstairs in the bar. "Everyone should be here in about 45 minutes." I ran to go get ready. Thoughts of Edward drifted through my head. This whole seeing him every other week was starting to wear me down, and all I wanted was him, close to me, so I could touch him, hear him, see him. At least I would have him all to myself for the holidays. He promised me no record deals or shows, just him catching up on homework and us, together every night. I finished getting ready in record time, and unfortunately I had to busy myself with taking things downstairs before everyone arrived. My stomach was in knots and I could feel the tension I was holding, waiting for Edward to arrive. Alice was just as bad as I was, except she couldn't hide it. She was bouncing around, perfecting her arrangment downstairs. I had to admit, it looked gorgeous; a giant circular table filled the bar, and decorations hung around with candles all over. It even smelled like a home with all the food I had been up making. Pies lined the bar and food covered every spare inch of the table.
"Hey, anyone home?" I heard Emmett's booming voice coming from the front of the bar. I ran into the main area, set down the food I was carrying and threw my arms around Esme and Carlisle.
"Whoa," Carlisle huffed, "That's quite a welcome." He kissed my cheeks and smiled as he took me all in. "Bella, you look more and more beautiful every time I see you."
"You look more and more like your mother," Esme agreed. I buried my face in her shoulder, feeling finally as if my family had arrived. I wiped a single tear away.
"And you guys look better than ever," I smiled at them as Carlisle wrapped his arm around Esme. I heard someone clear their voice behind them.
"Excuse me, but I also think you look beautiful," that beautifully velvet voice seeped through. Before I could even comprehend my own actions I threw my arms around Edward, and I felt him contract his arms around me. I finally found his lips after what felt like an eternity apart.
"Oh my God, I missed you," I whispered as he hugged me tighter.
"I missed you," he sighed and kissed my forehead. Over his shoulder I saw Alice and Jasper locked in the same embrace. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to meorize every inch and moment that I was in Edward's arms. Its scary how much I need him.
"I'm ready to eat!" I heard Emmett yell. I turned to see everyone already sitting at the table.
"I'm here," Edward assured me. "I promise, I'm not going anywhere."
"Swear?" I pleaded with him before I dropped my arms. He brought his lips to mine to seal the deal. I smiled and let him drag me to the table. Everyone started pouring wine and filling there plates as chatter filled the room; everyone catching up, making plans. I caught myself just gazing at each person I loved, remembering for just an instant all those that weren't here with me now.
"Alright, its time to say what we're thankful for," Carlisle cleared his voice before everyone started to eat. "Any volunteers?"
"I'll go," Esme smiled and stood up as Carlisle sat down. "I'm thankful that I have all of my kids together, they're all healthy and happy, and they are doing what they love." Carlisle cleared his throat, "Oh, and of course I'm thankful for my husband, I guess," Esme trailed off and everyone laughed. "Carlisle, you're turn," Esme picked. Carlisle cleared his throat and stood up as Esme sat down, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm thankful for new beginnings, for my family, and for this lovely dinner," Carlisle winked at me. "Ok Jasper, your turn." Jasper stood up awkwardly.
"I'm thankful for every day I'm allowed to wake up next to Alice, and for every opportunity that I've been given." He sat back down.
"My turn!" Alice stood up before Jasper could pick someone else to go. "I'm thankful for the great friends we have, the family, for Jasper, and for my designs being picked up my a fashion house!" she practically squealed the last bit of news.
"Alice that's amazing!" everyone congratulated her.
"Thank you, I just found out a week ago, and its been hell trying to hid it from you all," she blushed and sat down quickly. "Bella, your turn." I stood up quietly, and tried to formulate what I needed to say.
"I'm thankful for all the love in this room, all the love you have all shown me and each other, all the love I've found this year, and all the chances I will have to show you all how much you mean to me," I sat down quickly, trying not to start crying. "Edward, your turn." He leaned in and kissed my cheek before standing up.
"I'm thankful for all the dreams that have been allowed to happen this year, all the things I've gotten that I never realized I was missing, for family and friends, and for the all expense paid European tour I'm about to embark on!" I felt my heart stop.
"Edward are you kidding me!?" Jasper jumped up in disbelief.
"That was the phone call I got when we were on our way back. Aro says the article is a smash and his phone has been ringing off the hook so much he had to disconnect it or his wife would divorce him, again."
"Edward! Jasper!" Esme beamed and hugged them both, "I'm so proud of you!" Alice jumped up and hugged Jasper. Emmett clapped them both on the back.
I put on the bravest face I could muster.
"Yeah, apparently its the best place to start promoting yourself," Edward smiled and laughed.
"I'm so jealous, that's amazing!" Emmett laughed.
"Don't be jealous, you're coming too," Edward laughed. Emmett's face dropped and he slumped down in the chair.
"What?"
"I need a body guard apparently," Edward grinned, "And I couldn't think of anyone better than my favorite brother bear."
"You've got to be kidding me!" Emmett bellowed. He looked to Rosalie longingly, as if for permission.
"You can go," she smiled.
"YES!" he yelled and kissed her cheek. Edward let the chaos ensue as he sat back down next to me.
"Hey, what's wrong?" his green eyes pleaded with me.
"Nothing," I smiled, "I'm so proud of you, this is amazing news," I kissed him, lightly, trying to hide all the anger and fear I was holding onto inside.
"I love you," he assured me and wrapped his arm around me. Before I could answer him Emmett was clinking his glass for everyone to settle down. In a moment everyone was grinning from ear to ear and gazing at Emmett and Rosalie, standing hand in hand.
"Edward, I want you to know that the only reason I'm letting Emmett do this is because we need the money," Rosalie started out.
"Yup," Emmett just nodded his head along.
"I expect you'll have him home in less than six months," Rosalie continued.
"I think so, yeah," Edward nodded. Six months at least? Fear gripped my chest and the room started to spin. Could I make it six months?
"That's good, because I'm due in seven," Rosalie stated as if it were nothing. We all did a double take.
"What?" Everyone asked at once.
"I'm pregnant," she laughed and Emmett wrapped his arms around her.
"That's wonderful!" Esme hugged them both.
"Esme, we've always looked to you as a mother figure, we were wondering if you and Carlisle wouldn't mind being honorary grandparents?" Emmett asked timidly.
"We'd be honored," Carlisle shook his hand tightly, and Emmett pulled him into a hug.
"Oh, this is just so sweet!" Alice beamed. "You know what this means right?"
"Oh God," I rolled my eyes, already suspecting where this was going.
"Baby Shower!!!" Alice yelled.
"That's a while down the road," Rosalie huffed and sat down.
"Doesn't mean I can't dream," Alice stuck her tongue out at Rosalie. Dinner passed with plans being thrown around, talk of Europe and babies, and plans for the future; talk of how big the band was becoming hurt my heart. I spoke when asked a question, but other than that, I couldn't bring myself to comment on the world around me changing so much; everything turning upside down. Dinner waned into dessert, which waned into talking and gossiping until the night was running away from us.
"Well, if you'll excuse us old folks, we're going to bed," Carlisle laughed.
"I'll help you with your bags," Edward got up and grabbed a few, and started making his way up to his apartment. "You guys get my apartment. It should be clean since no one's been in it for a few weeks," he trailed off. Yeah, no one's been in it because you're gone, all the time. I thought to myself, trying to get rid of the bitterness that was seeping into every thought I had. It was taking all my energy to not break down, to not let this weight break my chest. I started cleaning up the dishes as everyone said goodbye and made their way to their own rooms, and Rosalie and Emmett made their way home. By the time Edward came back down, I had the dishes done and was just sitting on the edge of my bed.
"Hey," he whispered.
"You promised," I muttered, still staring at the floor.
"Bella, you knew that I'd have to go on tour eventually," he started, and pulled my chair up across from me.
"How long?" I stared back at him, unworried about the tears that were streaming down my cheeks.
"Four months. We'll leave January first and be there until May," he muttered, grabbing my hand and trying to rub circles on it. I started laughing as soon as he told me how long.
"Four months?" I just continued to laugh. "Four months?"
"Come with me," he lifted my chin so I had to look him in the eyes.
"I can't just leave Alice and Rosalie here alone, especially now that Rosie is having a baby."
"Bella, I love you. We can do it," he started, "I know we can, but I won't be able to do it if your not waiting for me."
"Of course I'll wait," I sobbed, "I can't imagine doing anything else." His lips were against mine, then they moved to my cheeks, kissing my tears away. "I was just worried that you wouldn't wait for me, you'll find someone else in a far off city, and I'll be waiting for you here, for nothing," I trailed off, finally telling him my deepest fear. He pulled me to his lap, kissing away every ounce of doubt I had for the moment.
"That is absolutely absurd. You hold my heart," he whispered against my neck. "I wrote something, just for you, its not going on any CD, it won't get played at any show, its just for you," he trailed off.
"Please, let me hear it," I sighed, wiping away the tears in my eyes. He gently set me on the bed.
"Bella, I love you, I won't ever be able to tell you how much, I won't ever be able to persuade you that you're it for me, but I know that I'm only whole when I'm with you." He pulled his guitar out, the one I bought him.
Breathe in, breathe out, tell me all of your doubt. If everybody bleeds this way, just the same. Breathe in, Breathe out. Move on and break down, if everyone goes away, I will stay. We push and pull, and I fall down sometimes. I'm not letting go, you hold the other line. Cause there is a light in your eyes, in your eyes. Hold on, hold tight, if I'm out of your sight. Everything keeps moving on, moving on. Hold on, hold tight, make it through another night. Everyday there comes the sun with the dawn. We push and pull, and I fall down sometimes, I'm not letting go, you hold the other line. Look left, look right, to the moon and the night, everything under the stars in your arms. There is a light in your eyes, in your eyes.
I didn't realize how much it was hurting me until he finally finished. I felt my body start to shake with sobs. Edward wrapped his arms around me and laid down beside me.
"I love you," I managed to articulate. "I'm afraid of losing another person I love."
"I'm not going anywhere," he tried to reassure me. I just buried my face into his chest.
"Marry me," he whispered.
"What?" I tried to control my sobs.
"Marry me. I can't live my life without you," he sat up slightly.
"Edward, we're too young," I tried to persuade him, still wiping tears from my cheeks.
"Marry me, Bella. I don't want anyone else," his eyes pierced me, down to my soul. There was no one else I wanted either.
"Yes," I finally managed to mutter. He pulled a simple ring from his pocket.
"This is my mother's, my real mother's," he smiled at me as he slipped it on my finger. "Bella, I hope you'll see that I love you, and only you. Distance will not make me love you any less, nor will it make me want someone else more. You are all I want," he spoke sternly as he laid back down and tucked my head back under his chin. "This is where you belong," he whispered and kissed the top of my forehead. He started to hum my song again, and through the tears and continued sobbing, somewhere I fell asleep, in my own personal heaven.
______________________________________________
Yes, there is a lot going on in there.
The next few chapters will take each situation and explain it a little further.
hey did you enjoy it?
I hope so!
let me know what you think!
and what should Rosalie and Emmett's baby be named?