Hey guys!
Thanks to those who reviewed! I really LOVE them! So much! So, keep 'em coming! :)
I promise to make an EPOV from the prev. chapter to the one coming up. So technically, it'll be the 9th chapter of this story.
Disclaimer: I own no Cullen or Twilight character.
I bring to you, Chapter 8: A Picture is All it Takes
We reached home at record time. Turns out, we all like to drive fast and Edward owned the Volvo from the parking lot this morning.
Alice immediately ran out to Jasper while I took my time inside my car. Clair de Lune was playing in my stereo and I listened to it, waiting for it to finish. I reached for the door handle absentmindedly then I realized it wasn't there. A hand grabbed mine instead and pulled me out of the car so I stumbled out. Alice.
"Why do you even stay in your car to listen to that kind of music?" She asked.
"It relaxes me…" I said. I looked around and bushed. Everyone was looking at me, it seems I took too much alone time inside my car.
"Well, now that you're out, let's get in and have a little snack before we start band practice!" Alice said as she pulled me and we barged into the house, everyone laughing behind us.
"WE'RE HOME!" she squealed and mom came out of nowhere.
"Hi girls! I see you've brought new people with you." She said as her eyes reached Emmett and Edward who were absorbing their surroundings. Emmet was looking at the tray of cookies in the kitchen while something caught Edward's eye from the shelf of pictures.
"Oh, yes mom. They're new. This is Emmett" I said as I pointed to Emmett. "and this is Edward." Then I pointed to Edward. They all shook hands.
"This is a very beautiful home you have, Mrs. Swan." Edward said.
"Why, Thank you Edward. But please, don't call me Mrs. Swan, I prefer Renee or even Mom." She said as she smiled at Edward.
"I must agree with Edward, but I bet you're a great cook judging by the smell of those…." Emmett said as he eyed the cookies and we all laughed.
"Help yourselves kids. I'll just be up in my room if you need anything."
"Bye mom!" Alice, I, Rosalie and Jazz said. We were used to calling the other's parents 'mom' or 'dad' since we were all really close.
"Bye Renee!" Emmett and Edward said.
We all headed for the cookies in the dining table and started to eat them. Good thing Renee made a lot. Emmett half of it! Which leaves the rest of us with only two each!
After eating, we decided to start playing some of our compositions.
As we were headed to the music room, Edward poked me and said, "Hey, can I ask you something…?"
"Sure. What is it?" I asked, curious.
"Well, here, I'll show you." He said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me to the shelf of pictures. I felt the jolt of electricity again but I invited it.
"You guys go ahead…We'll follow!" I screamed to the others who nodded, confusion all over their faces.
"Just hurry back. And no monkey business!" Emmett said and they all burst out laughing as I rolled my eyes.
By now, we reached the shelf and the others were out of sight. Edward got one of the pictures in the second level of the shelf and handed it to me. I looked at him, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Just look at it first before I ask you anything." He said, eying the picture frame which was turned upside down on my hands.
I turned it right side up. It was a scanned version of the picture Eddie left for me. I missed Eddie so much, I hope he's doing well. I smiled and absentmindedly stroked Eddie's face in the picture.
"Uhm…Bella, can you tell me about this picture?" Edward said nervously.
"Sure…This is a picture of me and my best friend, Eddie in the orphanage where Alice and I came from. He was always there for me especially when I fall, he would always help me back up." I laughed a bit at some memories. " And this tree," I pointed to the tree behind the two children in the picture, "was our special place, we would play games here or just enjoy each other's company. But then, one day he got adopted. I was pretty devastated at that time because he was everything to me. I had to keep in mind that it was for his future and I better not ruin it. The day of his departure, he gave me this heart and asked me to keep safe and to never forget him." A few tears escaped my eyes as I brought back memories of Eddie especially his good bye while I toyed with my pendant.
Edward surprised me when he pulled me into a hug.
"I can't believe it. Bella, is it really you?" He said in a shaky voice, a few tears also escaped his eyes.
"Huh?"
"I have a copy of this picture…" He pulled out his wallet and showed me. The front photo was the same as the one in the frame, only smaller so it would fit.
"So…YOU'RE REALLY EDDIE?" I squealed.
"and you're REALLY BELLSEY?" he said with glitter in his eyes, he's so cute! I smiled when he called me that, that's what he usually called me or sometimes, 'Izzy' slips.
By now, our friends were around us. I bet they were eavesdropping.
"Oh my gosh. Am I meeting THE Eddie of Bella's childhood?" Alice squealed as she pulled Edward into a hug. I was right about the eavesdropping.
"Yes you are! I was wondering in Biology how she had that pendant because as I remember, the one I gave my best friend in the orphanage was very unique, one of a kind if you may and she had the same chocolate brown eyes." He said as he blushed. Why did he blush? I don't know…
"I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!!" I squealed as I pulled him into another hug.
"I missed you too." He whispered.
"Oh trust me Edward, she missed you alright. When I met her, she had nothing else to talk about but you!" Alice said to my embarrassment. I buried my face into Eddie's chest as I blushed, trying to hide it from everyone. Which only made everyone laugh harder.
"Edward missed THIS GIRL like hell too! When I first went home, he was so cold towards me. He said that he didn't want me as a brother because he wanted a sister, he wanted his best friend." Emmett said, faking hurt.
"Aww…It's been years, you'll get over it! Plus now, you met Bella!" Edward said to Emmett. Patting his shoulder.
"I guess I couldn't blame you. Bella here is like the younger sister I never had." Emmett said as he patted my head like a kid. In return, I shot him a glare, making everyone giggle at my stubbornness.
"Yeah. Edward Cullen. So it's you. Did you know that some of the songs Bella wrote was--" Rose started but I covered her mouth so she wouldn't finish.
"A lot was about you, you know." Jasper said while wiggling his eyebrows at me and snaking his arms around Alice. I threw him a glare which only made everyone laugh…more.
"Okay…ENOUGH HUMOR AT MY EXPENSE!" I said.
When I said that, they only doubled in laughter, clutching their sides and tears in their eyes. I made an irritated noise and attempted to stomp or walk away but I was only stopped when a pair of strong arms snaked their way around my waist.
"What, you done laughing at me?" I said a little sharper than I intended.
"Sorry Bells, you were really funny. And thanks for the songs. I also wrote a bit about you…" He said, sincerity rang in his every word.
"Thanks Eddie…I can call you that, right? Like old times?" I asked, I wasn't sure…he might not like it.
"Sure. But only YOU can call me that and I can call you anything I please." He said and I giggled.
"Okay…enough chit-chat, LET'S PLAY SOME MUSIC!" Emmett boomed and we all laughed at his excitement.
We got into the Music room only to laugh at the faces of Edward and Emmett when they got in. Their faces here shocked and their mouths formed an 'o'
"Welcome to Sky Fly's Jamming Room!" Jasper said and the four of us laughed some more while Eddie and Emmett were still dumbfounded.
"Guys, shut your mouths, you might get flies in them!" Rosalie said and we doubled in laughter at the face of embarrassment of Edward and Emmett. Edward just looked down as he blushed while Emmett had a goofy grin plastered on his face as he scratched the back of his head.
"Sorry, it's just…" Edward started.
"SO FREAKIN COOL!" Emmett screamed like a girl, making us laugh again.
"Alright. Listen up guys, you're the first ones here besides us, our parents and the construction people, technically. I know how it feels to be here for the first time." Jasper said.
"And we'd appreciate it if you don't tell anyone and just keep it in the band?" Rosalie said.
"We won't." they both said.
"Okay…LET'S GET THIS STARTED!" Alice screamed into the mic.
"Whatever Alice. Get out of there first!" I said and she proceeded to sit on the yellow couch which she claimed as hers. We all claimed the different colored couches as ours. Just like Alice, she always stayed on the yellow one while Rosalie sat at the red one, Japer at the green one and I always sat at the blue one. Well today, there were two additions to that. Emmett took the orange one since it was besides Rose's while Edward settled in the seat next to me which was purple.
"So, what instruments do you guys play?" Jasper asked, business like once again. I wanted to laugh but I tried to hold it in.
"I compose, sing, play the piano and a bit of guitar. While Emmie here is a drummer." Edward said.
"COOL! Eddie, Emmie, play for us please!" I said with my best puppy dog face. Which only made the others giggle.
"Sure." He said then he whispered to Emmett what they were playing and Emmett just nodded, no comment at all. I watched as he gracefully made his way to the grand piano and Emmett went to the rarely used drum set. He began to sing and play the piano without Emmett's drumming while looking directly at me:
You look so beautiful today
When you're sitting there it's hard for me to look away
So I try to find the words that I could say
I know distance doesn't matter
But you feel so far away
And I can't lie
But every time I leave my heart turns grey
And I, I wanna come back home to see your face tonight...
By this time, Emmett had already joined him in playing. They were marvelous. Especially Edward's playing and voice. He knew the piece by heart that he didn't have to look at the piano and instead, he looked at me the whole time. I blushed and looked down at that thought.
Cause I just can't take it
Another day without you with me
Is like a blade that cuts right through me
I can wait, I can wait forever
When you call my heart stops beating
When you're gone it won't stop bleeding
I can wait, I can wait forever...
You look so beautiful today
It's like every time I turn around I see your face
The thing I miss the most is waking up next to you
When I look into your eyes, man, I wish that I could stay
And I can't lie, but every time I leave my heart turns grey
And I, I wanna come back home to see your face tonight...
He never broke his gaze from me, I guess he was trying to tell me that he wrote the song for me, that I inspired it, that I was his muse. Edward…I missed him so much and judging by the song, he missed me too.
Cause I just can't take it
Another day without you with me
Is like a blade that cuts right through me
I can wait, I can wait.. I can wait forever
When you call my heart stops beating
When you're gone it won't stop bleeding
I can wait, I can wait.. I can wait forever...
I know it feels like forever
I guess that's just a price I've gotta pay
But when I come back home to feel your touch makes it better
'Till that day there's nothing else I can do
And I just can take it
(Just can't take it)
Another day without you with me
Is like a blade that cuts right through me
I can wait, I can wait.. I can wait forever
When you come my heart stops beating
When you're gone it won't stop bleeding
I can wait, I can wait.. I can wait forever...
The song was so beautiful that it was heart breaking. For me, it talked about how much it hurts to miss the one you love especially when you don't know if you'll ever see each other again even if you would wait forever. I could feel the tears threatening to spill as I tried to blink them back. Edward was perfect. His composition was perfect, I couldn't reach such level that it hurt me that he was too good for me, not just at music but his looks and all. And I knew that already. Just trying to absorb it, I guess.
I can wait forever
I can wait forever
I can wait forever
I can wait forever
I can wait forever...
By the time he finished, everyone was giving them a standing ovation and a single tear fell from my eye. Before I could do anything about it, Edward was already in front of me, wiping that single tear then he pulled me into a hug.
"Let me guess, you wrote that for her?" Jasper asked from behind when we pulled away from the hug.
"Yes I did. It's my favorite composition besides something else that I started working on…"He said as he eyed me, I just ginned at him.
"Thanks for the song number Edward and Emmett, that was some mad drum skills!" I said happily.
"My pleasure, Izzy." Edward said then he played with my hair, making it messy.
"Oh no. you're in trouble." I whispered in his ear as I eyed Alice who's eyes were practically blazing.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO, EDWARD?" she screamed as she charged at him. We all laughed at the weird scene, a 6'2" guy, backing away from a 4'11" pixie.
"I played with her hair?" He said it like a question while backing away from a very angry Alice. We all doubled in laughter and I shot him an apologetic look while he threw me a pleading one. He just basically asked me to save him from Alice…Fine I'll try.
"Hey Alice!" I said.
"Yes Bella?" she said as she looked at me.
"We still have to play for them. So you can't kill him…" I said as I eyed Edward who had a goofy grin plastered to his face. "YET." I added and his face fell. Why did he have to be so smug, now it's my turn to be smug.
"Okay…What song do you wanna play?" She asked me.
"I wanna play…" I said. I thought of Edward, I ended up smiling.
"Okay…Hey Jazz, Rose what do you say to us playing…." She whispered to them and we all nodded our heads in agreement.
"But wait, I want Bella to be the only one to sing…" Rosalie said. How weird, she usually wanted the spotlight all to herself…now, she just gave it to me. I really didn't like attention but there was nothing I could do about it, I couldn't just force them to sing so I had to do it.
"Fine." Was all I said.
We took our places and our respective instruments. Since I was the only one singing, I didn't have to play anything. Rosalie made her way to the piano which was really important to this song. Alice got her violin from the stand. She decided to learn to play violin a couple of years ago and now, she plays really well. Jasper grabbed the acoustic guitar from it's own stand and he sat on the stool next to where Alice was standing.
"1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4!" Alice screamed and we started to play:
At first it was just Rosalie with the piano, then Jasper with a little guitar chords and a bit of Alice's violin notes.
Got a picture of you, I carry in my heart
Close my eyes to see it when the world gets dark.
Got a memory of you, I carry in my soul;
I wrap it close around me when the nights get cold.
If you asked me how I'm doin', I'd say "Just fine,"
But the truth is baby, if you could read my mind...
Not a day goes by, that I don't think of you.
After all this time you're still with me it's true.
Somehow you remain locked so deep inside,
Baby, baby, oh baby, not a day goes by.
As the song developed, they played and I sung, I just looked at Edward the whole time. He was looking right back at me. His eyes filled with what I think adoration and something else I couldn't quite comprehend. I just continued to look at him, hoping that he gets the message of the song I wrote.
I still wait for the phone in the middle of the night,
Thinkin' you might call me if your dreams don't turn out right.
And it still amazes me that I lie here in the dark,
Wishin' you were next to me, your head against my heart.
If you asked me how I'm doin', I'd say "Just fine,"
But the truth is baby, if you could read my mind...
Not a day goes by, that I don't think of you.
After all this time you're still with me it's true.
Somehow you remain locked so deep inside,
Baby, baby, oh baby, not a day goes by.
By this time, I decided to close my eyes and really feel the song I wrote. I sang every word without worry, flawless if you may. I could feel everyone's eyes on me because of my weird action. Alice, Jazz and Rose knew that when I did this, I was pouring my heart into it, which was what I was doing as memories of Edward flashed through my mind.
Minutes turn to hours, and the hours to days.
Seems it's been forever that I've felt this way.
Not a day goes by, that I don't think of you.
After all this time you're still with me it's true.
Somehow you remain locked so deep inside,
Baby, baby, oh baby, not a day goes by.
By the time I was done, I had a few tear tracks on my cheeks and then I was in a hug that I didn't know who gave me. I looked up, Edward. He didn't let go of me so everyone joined into the hug.
"That was...AMAZING Bella!" Edward said.
"You're so good! I think you're even better than Edwardooo here." Emmett said as he patted Edward's head.
"Oh no Emmett, I'm not even good! Edward was the stunning one! Not me!" I insisted, trying to divert the attention from me.
"Bella, since we're done singing, can I kill him now?" Alice asked.
"Sure. But we need to watch and please stay in the garden." I suddenly had a great idea. I guess Alice got what I was planning because there was an unmistakable sparkle in her eye.
"Sure! Now, Edward Cullen, you shall face the consequences of messing with my creation." She said as she dragged Edward out of the room and into our garden, us following behind her, laughing quietly.
OOOH. WHAT WILL THEY DO? /:)
If you guys were wondering what the song's titles were:
Edward's: I Can Wait Forever by Simple Plan
Bella's: Not a Day Goes By by Lonestar.
Please Review, guys. THANKS SO MUCH!
All my love,
C.