Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or People Magazine.
I'm so sorry! Its been months since I've last updated, and I doubt anyone who was reading it originally still follows it. But thanks to anyone who's stuck around, and new readers too.
"Bella? Bells?" Edward whispered outside my door. He had left me alone for about three hours, and I knew he was anxious to see me. I really wanted to see him, too. I had had my moment, my period of deep sadness. I was much better now. I was glad that Jacob had found love and peace before his untimely death. And I had a husband and family that I deeply cared about. It was no use to mourn for Jacob. Doing so would only cause the people I cared about most sadness.
"Come in," I told Edward as cheerfully as I could manage. When he appeared by our bed, he gave me a deep hug.
"Are you okay?" He asked with concern in his voice.
I smiled without showing any teeth. "Mhhm. I'm much better now."
Edward looked at me skeptically. "Are you sure? That was very sad news. Don't try to hide your feelings from me. I fully understand if you're upset. Don't hold anything back on my account."
"No really. Its okay," I said, meaning it.
"I love you so much, Bella. I'm so sorry about what happened, and I'm sorry you heard about it that way."
I responded by giving him a hug. "I love you," I said into Edward's ear.
"I love you, too," he replied.
There was nothing more to say. We sat like that for an hour, in an everlasting embrace.
The next night, I was singing on stage in Seattle. And soon, we were on our way to Los Angeles. But when we stopped to get gas, trouble erupted.
"MARIA!" yelled Alice as she lept into the bus. She had gone into the truck stop to buy a new load of fashion magazines. "LOOK WHO'S ON PAGE 39 OF PEOPLE MAGAZINE!"
"Oh my God," I breathed. There I was! Me, hugging Emmett and about to fall apart. Me, when I had just heard the news of my former best friend's death. And the headline read: Bad News for Maria Masen?
"How did they get this picture?!" demanded Edward as he read the article from behind me. "We definitely would have heard someone in our room, or a shutter click."
Then I noticed the next page. There was a picture of the song I had written for Jacob. It was there, in black and white, for the world to see.
"It says here that a member of the hotel staff sold the picture to People. They must have gotten it from the security cameras in each room," Alice said. But I wasn't paying any attention to her. I was still aghast at the fact that my private, personal song would be read by everyone in America.
You were my sun
You lit up my sky
When I was left to die
You changed my life
I should have saved yours
I glad that you were happy
I'm glad that you were free
From the love that bound you to me
I love you
You're like my brother
You're my best friend
And I wish I could have been there to make amends
I wish I could have been there to say goodbye
I wish you were still alive
All in all
It's not fair
That you had to die right then and there
I hope you felt no pain
I hope that it was instant
And what you said
When you left
Just left me cold and out breath
I can't believe that you're really gone
I wish I could have apologized
I love you
You're like my brother
You're my best friend
And I wish I could have been there to make amends
I wish I could have been there to say goodbye
I wish you were still alive
You stood by me
I should have been there for you
You loved me
Despite I put you through
I love you
You're much more than a brother
You're my best friend
And I wish I could have been there to make amends
And I wish I could have been there to say goodbye
I wish you were still alive
"Oh my God," I said again. This was really bad. Not only did it show a vulnerable part of me to everyone, but each article that made people more intrigued about me risked someone discovering our secret.
I read the article three times. It explained how distraught I looked when I had supposedly received the news of the death of a friend and then went back to my room when I wrote the song. The last paragraph greatly bothered me.
"It looks like Maria Masen has herself a new boyfriend. But are they really dating, or is she just his mistress? That looks like a wedding ring on his finger. Or maybe Maria has a secret marriage we know nothing about. Stay tuned for more information about this mysterious new star!"
Someone thinking Emmett and me a couple was laughable. But I didn't want anyone getting the wrong impression. I definitely did not want my fans thinking I was the type of woman that would help a man cheat on his wife.
"You know we have to release a press statement now," said Edward. I sighed. Things were about to get messy.