Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns any Twilight characters that may appear in this story.
It took me so long posting this chapter, I'm sure I've lost any interested readers in the long wait. So forgive me. It's been a hellish month and I've had little to no time to do what I like best - writing fluffy escapism for my own entertainment.
The lovely Ditte beta'ed this (and she also got me through this month, so you can say, she beta'ed that too and made it better). Sloppy wet kisses to her!
~oOo~
Chapter 9. Musicality
Musicality: The ability to hear and interpret music in a way that is both mechanically correct and artistically expressive.
BPOV
i can sense it something importantis about to happen it's coming upit takes courage to enjoy itthe hardcore and the gentlebig time sensualitywe just met and i know i'm a bit too intimatebut something is coming upand we're both includedit takes courage to enjoy itthe hardcore and the gentlebig time sensualityi don't know my future after this weekendand i don't want toit takes courage to enjoy itthe hardcore and the gentlebig time sensuality
Wow. That Björk isn't into hinting anything. It's quite literally…literal. Hmm. Should be interesting to sing on prime time national television.
I've listened to the song about ten times this morning, trying to decide how to crack this song nut of Kate's. It's nuts alright! I guess, I can get away with singing it with a little less edge than the original?
I pour my third cup of coffee and limp back to my most comfortable recliner cradling the cup. I put my feet back onto the chair, strategically placed in front of my seat to adequately elevate my poor, sore, tired feet.
I press play again and listen once more to the lyrics about great sex. I know them by heart now. I can't help but smile at the irony of it. Yesterday was great! Tiring and frustrating and hard work. But also exhilarating and funny and playful. It was a lot to take in. A lot of new experiences and impressions and learning new things. Overwhelming.
And one hell of a lot of exciting. As in arousing. From the moment Edward "invaded my personal space", I was more or less aroused for the rest of the day. When I think about it, I actually think the arousal set in even earlier than the Invading of the Space. Maybe it was when he surprised me as I was standing at the door, not entering? Or maybe in the car on the way to the gym, when I was contemplating a few hours of being physically close to him?
Anyway, yesterday was a whole lot of getting ready and a whole lot of not getting any.
It's weird. My entire physical frame is so sore it leaves me thinking that I've been thoroughly fucked. But the satisfaction that should have lingered - had such a thing occurred - is roaringly absent. Now, that is the definition of sexually frustrated: All of the bummer, none of the thrill.
My phone rings, and I realize with horror that I have to get out of my chair again because the damned thing is all the way across the room. I wince and groan noisily as I get up. The post-dance state I'm in has me experiencing pain from muscles I never knew existed. Did you know that there are muscles between your ribs just below your boobs? I know that now. I wish I didn't know that. That knowledge comes at a high price.
"Hello?" The groan hasn't completely left my voice as I answer the call. I try to sound normal because the caller is not a number my phone recognises.
"Bella?" That voice is pure silk. I'd know it in my sleep. I hear it there often enough…
"Yeah, it's me. Edward?" I pretend that I have to ask. I don't. But it's just a tiny bit more cool if I have to ask. Because that would imply that I'm not thinking about him way more than he would ever be thinking of me. This is me, revisiting puberty. And to make the puberty scenario more authentic, my heart starts racing, my hands start shaking and I get sweaty palms. Smooth. Not.
"Yeah. Hi!" He croons.
"Hi…" There is way too much air on my voice. But I'm having the most vivid flashback of the kiss in the parking lot by hearing his voice. Man, that was some kiss… I actually start fanning my heated cheeks with my sweaty hands. It is not pretty. It's kinda wet, really.
"So, how've you been?" he asks.
I cant help but laugh. "Since yesterday?"
"Well, yes. I'm not just asking to be polite, Bella. I remember the first night after my first time. It was like someone had really shaken me up…"
Huh? That was presumptuous.
"I have kissed a guy before, Edward…" So don't get all cocky about it, albeit the hottest kiss I ever had.
"What? I didn't mean the, uh, kissing. Even though that was…really…hot." He clears his throat. "I meant the dancing."
"Oh…" Doh! Foot in mouth.
"After my first day with Kate, I couldn't sleep, my head was spinning and my whole body was twitching. I had the weirdest dreams that night and tossed and turned until I actually fell out of bed. The whole thing was weirding me out!"
"Well, in that case, consider me - weirded." I laugh in relief. "I'm glad, I'm not just…disturbed…"
"Shaken, not stirred," he chuckles.
There's a pause.
"So, Kate gave you my number…" I say, just to break the silence.
"Most readily," he answers. "I think she's trying to set us up." I can hear his smile, so I guess he's not too resentful of that.
"Oh…" I reply because… What do you reply to that? 'Great'? 'Neat'? 'Damn'?
"So, I was thinking," he lets me off the hook, "and Kate was thinking… You see, I'm going to the sound studio tomorrow for some dialogue dubbing and hopefully some music recording. You know, The Buddy Holly Movie?"
I laugh, "I know."
"So, do you want to meet me there? I know it's a Monday and you have band practise, but maybe you can slip out for an hour or two? It'll be in the morning… Then we could talk some more about maybe doing the promotional single… You can meet Weber and Angela and maybe Alistair, the director… I'm rambling… Did you talk to the band about the offer?"
Wow. Did he breathe through that?
I think back on last night. We all met at Jasper's and the others weren't against the idea. They thought it would be good for the album sales and how well known Forks Divide would get. Maybe we could even become b-list, Rose guessed. After that it was just some shrugging. "If you'd like to try it, Bella," was the general opinion.
"Bella?" The velvet voice interrupts my thoughts. Right, I'm supposed to answer something.
"I'm here. Just figuring which question to answer first."
"Um, maybe start with the last one?" he suggests.
"Um, I got lost. Which was the last one?" I cringe. Not on a roll right now.
There is chuckling through the phone. "Did you talk to the others in the band?" he repeats.
"Right! Yes I did." I shake my head at how clueless I sound.
"And…?" I swear to God, I can hear the smirk loud and clear.
"And… they think I should just go for it… if it's something I want to try out…"
"So…?" What's with the one syllable questions? Is he on an syllabic diet or something?
"So… What?" I decide to let him work a little for my answers.
He laughs.
Did I mention before, that I like his laugh? I did, didn't I? It's worth repeating. His laugh is deep and warm and contagious and sexy as fuck. Makes my whole body tingle.
"So… Is it something you want to try out?" he specifies.
"Depends on the song, really. But I said that yesterday, didn't I?" I say.
"That means you're open for negotiation! Great! I'll call Garrett right away!" Wow, he sounds enthusiastic. Sweaty palms and racing heart are back and they brought their good friends, the butterflies, and they found the direct route to my stomach.
"Okay…?" Again, I sound like I'm asking a question. I clear my throat.
"Okay." This time I sound a little more confident.
"So, what should I tell him?"
"What should you tell who, what?" Okay, that doesn't qualify as a sentence. Jeez, Bella, get a grip! I take a deep breath as he chuckles.
"I'm sorry Edward, I'm confused. What are you asking me? What's the question?"
"Sorry. It's me who's unclear. Should I tell Garrett to meet us tomorrow at the sound studio or can't you make it? Shall we find another time? …Or maybe another place? …Unless you would like to meet at the sound studio." His rambling makes me laugh. Which makes me gasp. My poor ribs. Ow!
I hear him laugh again. "Yeah, that wasn't a hell of a lot clearer, was it?"
"A little clearer," I answer after I carefully get my breath back. No gasping for the rest of the day. Too sore.
"I'm actually free until three o'clock tomorrow. Eleazar goes through the instrumentals on Monday mornings and tomorrow they are rehearsing with a guest soloist, so it's a little longer than usual. So we're in luck!"
"We are indeed." Again, I hear his smile loud and clear and it takes my breath away even over the phone. I'm such a goner.
~o~
"Do you have picture ID, Ma'am?"
The guard at the Peninsula Studios' gate takes his sweet time to scrutinize my driver's license and then make a phone call after I stated my errand. Apparently meeting an actor and an agent isn't on the list today.
I try to look patient but I'm sure I'm failing at it. I'm nervous. Again. There'll be no Kate as a buffer this time. On Saturday I could always look at her or talk to her when I felt too awkward. Am I wearing the right outfit today? Jeans and a blue cotton wrap-around shirt is underdressed, I'm sure. But I went with safe and accessorized instead with a pair of heeled sandals with gold straps to dress it up a bit.
I don't know why I even try. Nothing goes with neon orange wrist cast anyway. It doesn't help that Emmett wrote "Park this!" on it in bold, black, vertical letters, using permanent marker last Saturday night. He had just showed me the parking lot paparazzi photos on that glossy webpage and given me hell about it. I'd asked what it would take to make him not talk about it anymore and the marker was our compromise. I was very tired and slightly tipsy from two beers, so there was definite lack of judgement on my part with this compromise. Now, I'm not sure "Park this!" is better than "Kiss this!" or "Bella and Edward sitting in a tree, p-a-r-k-i-n-g." No, wait. It's definitely better than the last one.
Rosalie wasn't making any jokes about the pictures. She was livid. Apparently you're supposed to know not to kiss movie stars in parking lots, so as to avoid being caught on film. Apparently it's common knowledge. Now I know.
Should I talk to Edward about the pictures? I haven't decided yet. What's the norm on such an occasion?
"Ma'am?"
I jolt and look at the guard.
"Go straight through and then your third left. Studio E. Mr. Weber and Mr. Jones will meet you there." I thank him and drive through. Mr. Jones? Perhaps he meant Garrett. It's embarrassing that I don't know his last name. I'm supposed to be doing business with him soon.
Studio E has at least ten free parking spaces. As I get out into the hot, sunlit space, a dark haired woman at about my age comes to meet me.
"Bella Swan?" she greets me as I climb out of my car.
"That's me. Hello." We shake hands. She looks at me with kind, dark eyes through hip glasses.
"I'm Angela Weber. I'm the musical director on The Buddy Holly Movie."
"But you can't be… I mean, the guard at the gate said "Mr. Weber"… You are clearly not a Mister." I tilt my head to look at her more thoroughly. She did say her name was Angela, didn't she? She still looks like a she to me. Now she's smiling widely.
"Yes, Mister Weber is waiting inside. He's the executive producer. He's also my dad. Hence the last name." The smile is still there.
"Oh, right. Shit. Sorry!" I'm so not making a good first impression here.
She just smiles some more. She really is nice. "Let's go meet him and the others. This way." She shows me to an inconspicuous door, clearly not the main entrance to the building. She swipes a key card through a reader, and the door beeps and opens.
"There's no reception service in these studio buildings. That's why I'm here to take you inside."
She leads me down a hall way and through an open door. It's a small conference room type space with a large stereo system at one wall and a huge screen hanging on another. Two other people are here: Garrett and a kind looking middle aged gentleman. After informing me that I of course know Garrett Jones, Ms. Weber introduces me to Mr. Weber. He's very cordial. He has easy manners that would do well in a small town like Forks. I'm wondering how he's managing a post as executive producer. I thought you would have to be badass to be successful as something like that. The few music producers I've met have been kind of hardcore. Mr. Weber seems more like an appreciated reverend of a small parish than the boss of many.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Swan. I've heard much about you from Garrett and Edward. So glad you could come!" he says and shakes my hand warmly. "I've seen you on the show, of course, but I understand you have a band as well?"
"No. Well, yes. I mean, I'm in a band. I don't have it any more than the others in it do." Jeez, I'm rambling already. Why am I so nervous? "It's called Forks Divide. Maybe you've heard about it? It's not really well-known."
"Where's Edward?" Garrett interrupts, sparing Weber the discomfort of honestly admitting that he's never heard of the band. "Shouldn't he be here by now?"
Angela smiles again. "He's been dubbing some concert rough cuts with Ben since seven. When they are in the zone, they forget everything else. Maybe I should go remind him of his schedule?"
"Can I come?" I immediately say. I would love to see how they work.
We walk to the end of the hallway where a red light is telling us that someone is "RECORDING". Angela - she tells me to call her by her first name as we walk - unceremoniously opens the door and we're in a tiny room with the most enormous sound desk.
There are many, many buttons, dials and wheels on this thing. Someone is sitting at it, working the many, many buttons etc. But I'm not really taking any notice of this guy. Maybe he says something to me or Angela, but I'm not certain.
The reason I'm so rudely ignoring Sound Desk Guy is that through a large glass pane I can see another room. A somewhat large room with padding on the walls and some fabric hanging in sections from the ceiling. A room like this is not unknown to me, although we recorded in surroundings a little less luxurious than this studio. In this room is Edward. I might as well be seeing him for the first time. Because I had no idea!
Edward Cullen is somehow transformed into this glorious being. He was very noteworthy in the other settings that I've met him, but now he is in his element!
Holy Hell.
He's never really standing still, his eyes transfixed to a large screen on the wall to our left. He seems to be copying the rhythm and movement of someone - Buddy Holly - on the movie that is currently playing. I yank my eyes from Edward to have a closer look at the movie. It's Edward too! Edward as Buddy Holly! And quite convincingly so. Wow! The hair and clothes are different, of course, but also the nose, I think.
The Buddy-Holly-Edward on the screen is also glorious! It's a concert scene where girls and boys in fifties' outfits are cheering him and his band in a concert hall.
When 'Hollyward' is singing, Edward in real life is just moving in the same rhythm. Then it's obvious that Hollyward is saying something between the lyrics and real life Edward jumps in and dubs over with the dialogue: "And say hello to Niki, Joe and Jerry!" Hollyward gestures to his band mates. "The Crickets!" both Hollyward and Edward seem to yell into their microphones. Then real life Edward jumps back a step and bounces some more. The movie screen blinks into some numbers and Edward visibly relaxes.
"Okay, playback!" the guy at the sound desk says into his mic.
"Okay!" Edward answers and the screen blinks some numbers again. The same movie clip plays on the screen. This time we hear the sound from the movie and it's the song Shake, Rattle and Roll, Hollyward singing, the crowd clapping and cheering. Then a little louder Hollyward repeats what Edward just recorded, the timing just right. The dubbing is probably a little louder than it will be in the finished result, but both Edward and Sound Desk Guy seem pleased.
"Oh, hey!" we all suddenly hear over the movie soundtrack.
I look from the screen to Edward and see him looking straight at me through the glass pane. Grinning widely. And I lose all breath again. I wonder if that will ever stop or I'll be breathless until our paths cross no longer.
"We done?" he asks Sound Desk Guy and reaches for his headphones to take them off.
Desk Guy pushes a button and says, "For now we are…." into the mic at the desk.
"Bella, this is our sound technician Ben Cheney," Angela tells me. "He'll probably be the one helping us record the single, when we get that far."
Ben offers me his hand. "Great to meet you, Miss Swan!"
"Oh, please just call me Bella!" I say and shake his hand while I try to keep tabs on Edward through the glass. He's coming towards the door that's separating us. He moves to a table with a towel and a water bottle first and wipes his face and neck while he closes the distance and disappears out of sight behind the door. Stupid thing doesn't have a window in it!
"Then please call me Ben!" someone says. Right, Ben! I look back at him and withdraw my hand. I might have shaken it for a second too long, so I smile apologetically at him.
There's a soft click and a sudden hand at my waist. I start, and in surprise my left hand flies up to my left ear, where Edward's face apparently also is.
"Ow!"
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" I swiftly turn and almost deck him with my cast - again!
"It's alright!" He laughs and rubs his nose. "I should be expecting this from you by now!"
He gives me a real, albeit awkward, hug, trying to reach around both me and my still raised left arm. He manages it with some grace, and when we break his left arm is still around my waist.
"How are you doing?"
I smile, "Since yesterday?" Then I laugh. Right. We were through this yesterday as well.
"I'm better! Not weirded anymore," I tell him, even though I have to strain my neck to look at his face, since we're standing so close.
"What's this?" he grabs my orange cast to read Emmett's masterpiece on it. His eyes widen and then he grins.
"Emmett…" I begin awkwardly. I'm still completely blank about what to say to Edward about the paparazzi photos.
"My sentiment exactly!" Edward says with emphasis. "That orange thing can throw a mean punch an I hope you park it right where it's most deserved!"
"I should've known better," I begin but he stops me with a light squeeze.
"No! I should've known better! I'm sorry you've been dragged into this, Bella."
This makes me feel all mushy inside. And angry! I really want to punch someone with my hideous cast. Preferably someone with a long lens camera.
"Well, maybe next time I see someone lurking, I will park this in their face!" I raise and shake the orange avenger.
We grin at each other in agreement.
"Ahem!" Angela clears her throat unconvincingly. The moment is over and I have to remind myself that we are not alone. It felt like we were, for a minute there. Hmmm.
"I think the others are waiting." Angela gestures at the door.
"Right, the meeting!" Edward leads me towards the door, his arm still around me. We fit so well, side by side. It feels completely natural to have his hand right on my waist like this. As we walk, it shifts to the small of my back. Still a good fit. His hand, my back. Nice.
~o~
"So: One single, one feature on the official movie soundtrack, one music video, three promotional appearances on TV-shows; two of which will be with Edward and the possibility to negotiate a three city concert tour with the other bands of the sound track." Garrett checks off his list as he cites the terms of our agreement. "My people will send the papers to your people and we'll shake and sign on it by the end of next week?" He looks to me for confirmation. I nod and he briskly gathers his papers.
I have done a little promotional appearances and a couple of interviews before with the band. But that has all been minor league. This is the big league! I gulp in some air. Time to play ball, I guess.
Mister Weber, who's been quite passive through the meeting - only nodding once in a while to agree with Garrett - grins widely and gets up from his seat. He claps his hands together and says, "That's settled then! We'll leave the song choice and arrangement up to the artists and directors now." He man-hugs-back-slaps Edward, squeezes Angela's shoulder and shakes my hand. "Nice to meet you, Miss Swan, looking forward to working with you!" Then he walks out of the room. Garrett quickly hugs us all before he follows Mister Weber.
"Now for the real part of the negotiations!" Angela opens her laptop and points a remote at the giant stereo. She clicks around on her computer, and soon familiar notes fill the room.
We listen for a while and Edward is the first to comment, "It is very, very relevant."
"But too obvious, right?" Angela nods, then shakes her head.
"Yeah, too obvious," I say. "I was thinking about that song, when you first mentioned a video, but I don't want to feel like we're doing the same cover as Madonna when she also did a video for the Austin Powers' movie around that time. Even if it was an awesome movie!"
"Psychedelic, baby!" Edward yells. In perfect parody.
"Alright! American Pie by Don MacLean is off the 'possible-list'. Next…" She clicks and American Pie is replaced by some very different sounds.
It's string music with a very mellow beat. And then we hear the original Buddy Holly sing about true love.
Edward grin from ear to ear. "True Love Ways! Nice!"
Really?
"Really?" I say, "you don't think it's kind of, um, elevator music?"
"I think it's very elevator music. But it wasn't elevator music when it was made. It just got very popular in the sixties and was played everywhere in the seventies. Right, Angela?" Edward looks at her for confirmation.
"Right," Angela answers. "So I guess Bella isn't really into a true love song?" she looks at me with some amusement in her eyes.
"Um…"
I'm undecided. I'm not sure I like the song, but we could perhaps lose the strings and make it a little more edgy. Hmm. No. That would be very hard to do. I go for moderately diplomatic. "Maybe a different love song?"
Edward chuckles, but he doesn't seem to want to fight for this song.
"Then I have just the love song," Angela smiles.
From the very first guitar riff I know exactly which song this is. "That's Mickey and Sylvia!" I just have to say at once, as if I've now won a prize for being the first to know. Gotta say, I'm feeling a little smug.
Angela just lifts her hand in reply but doesn't say anything. So we listen some more. It's definitely Buddy Holly singing. This cover of the song is very different from the version we all know from the famous Cha Cha scene in Dirty Dancing.
"So, this was just the first private recording Holly made in his apartment. This is how he recorded it for an album with The Picks." Angela clicks again.
We listen again and it's kind of the same version but this time with strings, backup singers and the annoying gloss of elevator music.
"So, no 'Come here, Lover boy'?" I'm a little disappointed. "Could we make it a little more like the first version and then perhaps put a little Mickey and Sylvia on top?"
Edward is not talking, but he is squirming a little. What's up with him?
"Don't you like this song?" I ask.
He squirms again. "I think it's kind of perfect." He smiles in a weird kind of way. Like he's in on some joke of which Angela and I are not a part. "It's so appropriate, it's almost ridiculous. I mean, Buddy Holly and a song we all associate with dancing…" he shrugs in emphasis.
"I also agree with Bella," he continues, "lose the violins and put some Mickey and Sylvia on top. I really want to hear Bella singing 'baby, you're the one'." He grins at me smugly.
"You're not saying anything, Ang. What do you think?" Edward asks.
"I don't have to say anything when you both say what I think!" she smiles triumphantly.
"So we've decided? 'Love is Strange'?" Edward looks at us both.
"I think we have!" I'm impressed. That was easy.
"Yes, we have!" Angela slaps both her palms on the table top. "I'm pretty sure we have some sheet music and a guitar recording from the preproduction days. Might be enough for you guys to try the song out right away!" Angela is all business now. She dials her phone and runs out the door as someone picks up at the other end. "Ben…" we hear as she disappears from hearing range.
~o~
Love mmm
Love is strange mmm
Lot of people
take it for a game mmm
We're rehearsing in the sound studio, Edward starting the song alone. He really does sound like Mr. Holly Himself. It's impressive!
By the next bit I join him for the mmm part, a third above him.
Once you get it mmm
you're in an awful fix mmm
After you have it mmm
you never want to quit
The next verse is mine and he joins me for the humming.
Many people mmm
they don't understand no no
They think loving yeah yeah
is money in the hand
Your sweet loving mmm
Is better than a bliss yeah yeah
If you leave me mmm
sweet kisses I'll miss
The recording which we are rehearsing to, is true to the original except that it continues for twice as long. For the second half we start playing around with our own version of the Mickey and Sylvia routine. Edward being all, "Oh Bella…" an me replying with my best, "Yes, Buddy?"
By the time I'm supposed to sing, "Baby", I'm in a fit of giggles just from looking at Edward's face. He's looking at me with the biggest, smuggest grin; eyes lit up with expectation. He's even leaning forward in anticipation. That leaning started when I was singing, "Come here, lover-boy".
Soon I'm breathless from the laughing and the continued smiles that still make me forget to breathe, and I have to ask for a break.
Ben on the other side of the glass, says on the intercom, "Why don't I show you how to use the player yourselves? I'm an hour late for my lunch and I'm getting crankier by the second."
"Sure!" Edward says at the exact same time as my startled, "What time is it?"
Both men look at me as Edward says, "Almost two o' clock."
"Shit! I'm so late!" I hop off the tall stool I've just been perched on.
I say 'hop off' but that's not the right term. The right term would be, 'attempt to hop off the stool, but miscalculate and hurt my ankle and break the heel of my fancy new gold-strapped sandal'.
And I was doing so well for a change. I was being cool and funny and flirtatious. The high-heeled accessories on my feet making me feel all girly and pretty, almost forgetting the ugly cast on my wrist.
'Accessorize', my ass! Those accessories have me right back on said ass.
Can't catch a break from clumsy Bella Swan. Who is now late for her work.
~oOo~
A/N: Thank you for reading. Reviews make my month.
The songs:
American Pie by Don MacLean. It was also performed by Madonna in 2000.
Madonna made a video starring Mike Myers as Austin Powers for her song Beautiful Stranger which was a very successful promotional move for both the song and the Austin Powers film The Spy who Shagged me (1999). Both songs are very alike in their dance-beat and have the same feel. I associate both songs to the Austin Powers universe. So I made my characters do the same.
True Love Ways by Buddy Holly. Cute story, he wrote it for his wife. They had a real love-at-first-sight love story going on. He proposed to her on their first date and they were only engaged for a few months.
Love is Strange by Mickey and Sylvia. Holly made a cover of it. There are recordings of just him and a guitar (the apartment tapes) and another recording with complete string orchestra and [awful IMO] backup singers.
I'll make sure there are links to all the songs shortly after I post this chapter.
I'm revising previous chapters and studying the laws of English punctuation, but I'd still really like to get some help from a native English beta or pre reader. Interested?
Till next time my sweethearts. Kthnxby