Chapter 9 – Surprises

BPOV

It was four days after we had played and won at the VMA's. We had been awarded three awards that night and I felt like I was on a high. I was sure ready to start the tour. This was good because we were going to kick off in Seattle the day after tomorrow. We were leaving tomorrow morning and driving all day to get there. We would be touring until it was time to come back to LA for Christmas and for this year's nominations of the Grammies. We hadn't been in the nominations last year, but we had gone and it was a surreal experience. This year we had a shot of actually be nominated and that was amazing. I couldn't believe it, the Grammies. We were on the fast track. Or at least that was what I thought until I saw Mike come in.

We were all setting up for rehearsal when Mike came into the rehearsal space. "Oh my god Mike!" I exclaimed when I caught sight of him. At first I didn't notice anything wrong until I looked down at his arm. His whole right arm was in a cast. I slid off the stage and walked toward him. "Mike what happened?"

"Well…" He began as the others finally caught sight of him and followed me. "Jess finally made it to LA and I was helping her move in…and…well I had an accident."

"How did…" I didn't even have to finish he knew what I was going to ask.

"Well I sort of was trying to help her brother move her couch up the stairs to her apartment and well…I ended up in the emergency room."

"Oh god…this is bad." I said in a breath as I walked away from him.

"I know Bella. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking."

"No. Mike it's not really fault. I mean accidents happen." I said quickly turning back to him.

"Yeah you're the poster child for that saying." I heard Jasper mutter. I shot him a look. "What?" He tried to ask innocently. "It's the truth."

I sighed and continued. "Jasper please I'm trying to think about what in the world we're going to do. I mean we were supposed to leave for the tour tomorrow. There's no way we can find a replacement guitarist. I mean I could always play but…"

"Bella." Mike said interrupting my tirade. "I already called Emmett he said that he would take care of it."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that you need to drop down and worship the ground I walk upon." Emmett said as he came into the room.

"What?" I asked.

"I got you a replacement for the tour. At least until Mikey here heals." He said walking up and clapping Mike on his good shoulder.

"What do you mean you got us a replacement?" I asked in disbelief. "No guitarist could learn that fast. Not and be ready to perform with no rehearsal. Not with only two days left."

"I actually found out about three days ago." Emmett said calmly.

"Still…Three days isn't long enough Emmett. He'd have to be like a guitar…"

"Prodigy?" Emmett finished for me.

"Yeah."

"Well lucky for you I know one. And he owed me a favor." He said with a smile.

"What are…" I was going to ask what he was talking about, but anything I was going to stay was stuck in my mouth when I saw who came in the doors. It was Edward Cullen carrying a guitar. 'Oh please just let him be here for a visit' I thought over and over again.

"Guys I'd like you to meet your new guitar player." Emmett said clapping his brother on the back. Oh great. Here I was thinking that I was going to be able to escape from Edward for months and now here he was going with us.

"You're joking right?" Rose asked. I sighed I wanted to say something but better Rose than me.

"Not in the least honey." Emmett replied sweetly. "Edward hear can learn any piece of music faster than anyone else I know. I gave him all the sheet music he needed. He's been practicing and I think you'll find that he's more than ready."

"Really?" I asked looking not at Emmett but at Edward.

"Yeah." He smiled and answered for the first time. "I think I can handle anything you guys can throw at me."

The tone in his voice was somewhere between cocky and challenging. I'm not sure if he was meaning to bait me but he did. "And you know the whole tour set?" I asked still disbelieving.

"You bet." He said still with that same tone.

Well if there was one thing that Edward needed to learn if he was going to go on tour with us was that he never should challenge Bella Swan to anything. "Well then…let's see what you got 'wonder boy'" I said as I walked back on stage and took my place at my mic. He stood there and stared at me for a minute. "Well what are you waiting for? We've got a lot of work to do. Think you can keep up?" I asked with a small smile. He jumped up on stage after me. He was followed by the rest of the band who were heading to their places. "You're stage right of Rose, in between her and Jasper." I said pointing. I looked back at Alice at her drum set she gave me a smile and I knew she at least realized what I was doing. I looked over at Edward who was checking the levels on his guitar and making sure he was in tune with Rose. The small smirk that still played on his lips made me want to both slap him and kiss him all at the same time. I wasn't really thinking much as Alice counted us in except that this tour just got a whole lot more interesting.