She Rocks My World

80's Rocker, Edward Cullen, is the frontman for the enormously popular band, Cullen.

He's every woman's dream; handsome, wealthy, and talented, but the elusive rocker has something to hide until an overwhelmingly gifted, doe-eyed beauty steals his heart at first sight and sound.

This is Beta'd by my queen, Fran. I love her! I am a lousy typist, so any mistakes are ALL mine.

A/N: C'mon, readers, I need a name for Bella's band. Best name gets a prize from NOLA.

Thank you, Christy, for the idea for a personal chef.

Chapter Ten: The Solutions

BPOV

And when we break from the kiss, we both touch our lips.

"Did you get a shock?"

I smile at Edward. "It was more like a tingle … all over."

"I know what you mean." He closes his eyes. "I don't want to lose control with you Bella. We have to build up to this."

"Edward, we're already there. There's an old story in Chinese folklore about a magical connection between two people who are destined to be soul mates. It's called the 'red string of fate' from the heart to heart. The two people that are connected by the red thread are destined lovers, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. This magical cord may stretch or tangle, but never break. My heart may race when I see you, but Edward, you bring me so much peace and comfort."

He takes my face in his hands. "You gave me back my life. I thought I was dying."

"That's the thing … others already see this. After we sang 'Almost Paradise', the cat was let out of the bag. Ria and the rest of my band already believe we're together."

"What did you tell her?"

"She said you were quite as 'taken' with me, as I'm taken with you. I told her about your plan. That I couldn't explain all of this to her." I hum. "She felt it was very romantic. That as we fall in love, so would the world. She was very supportive."

"Alice says I'm very transparent."

"Gus caught me daydreaming."

He drops his hands to my shoulders and looks at me from eye level, turning his head to the side. "I wouldn't happen to be in that daydream, would I?" He smiles.

I heat up with a red face. "Maybe, you were that daydream. You're making me blush."

"I like the way you look when you turn all pink and flushed." He kisses my neck behind my ear breathing on my pebbled skin. "Oooh, goosebumps."

"Stop," I giggle and impersonate him, "What happened to, 'I don't want to lose control?' huh?"

He rests his forehead on mine. "Sorry."

"Hey, I trust you with all of this, but I'm not the one frustrating you. We should write a song about blue balls and wet unmentionables."

He emphasizes, "I like the word wet."

I sigh. "What do you want to do?"

"My better instincts say to throw you over the mixer and have my way with you, but my plan is for your future."

I get bold. "You are my future."

He runs his hands through his hair. "I need to stop. We have to stick with the plan."

I roll my eyes and agree. "Okay."

He stands straight. "Hey, I have self-control."

I stand on my tippy toes and give him a quick kiss on the lips, singing, "We'll see."

After three hours of mixing songs and behaving, Edward's stomach growls.

"Did you eat anything today?"

"No, but that reminds me that Dad and Mom will be here at noon. He said something about a nutritionist."

We head up to the kitchen, as the doorbell rings.

Edward opens the front door to find his parents and a smiling woman holding grocery bags.

Esme introduces, "Edward, Bella, this is Christy."

She broadly smiles. "Hi."

Edward and I greet her.

Carlisle continues the intro. "Christy is the nutritionist/chef I was telling you about, Edward."

"Yeah, nice to meet you, Christy."

She smiles and nods.

Esme interjects, "We were lucky to find her. Her husband is in the service and is somewhere in Europe."

Christy adds, "Germany."

"Well, she will be available for your next tour, and she can be a live-in if you like." Dad claps his hands.

I question, "Live-in?"

Esme actually giggles at me. "Chef, silly. She's going to plan meals, snacks and cook for the two of you. Well, if you decide that's what you want."

"You hired a chef?" Edward asks.

"Well, we didn't actually. This is your decision. But when we tell you the rest of Dr. Ye's findings, I think you'll welcome her with open arms."

Edward smiles, "If she feeds me now, she can be our new best friend." His stomach growls on cue.

Well, I think Christy is my new best friend. Not only does she know about our conditions, but she also has a vast knowledge of the type of diet we need to maintain.

The four of us sit around the island, as Christy prepares a vegetable dish. "Candida is a good bacterium, which lines the stomach walls. But when the immune system is off balance that bacterial overceeds, and the body fights back with a vengeance. You can become tired, really tired to the point of exhaustion for days, weeks, and worse, months. You can have joint pain, headaches, dizziness, stomach discomfort from bloating and body hives that can last for months."

Edward moans. "I know all of that, except the hives."

"Oh, I've had the hives. They were awful," I say.

Edward takes my hand. "Did they itch?"

"Horribly, after I ate something sugary. I had no idea what was happening."

Christy nods. "Yeah, sugar is the number one thing you have to avoid. White flour, starchy vegetables, fruits are carbohydrates that feed the Candida.
She points at Edward. "And no alcohol."

"I'm afraid many people have the wrong idea about Edward and alcohol," Carlisle explains. "I made him a protein drink, but there was sugar in it. He would get a rush high but become loopy after a few glasses."

"Yeah, I find alcohol a deterrent."

"You need purified water in your system to hydrate and flush out the infection," Christy adds. "When you're on stage, I suggest having cold bottles off stage for you."

Edward nods. "So what's best for you, Christy, moving in or living out?"

"Well, if I'm here, I can make sure you're on a schedule; eat your three meals, snacks and take your natural medications on time. I can do all the food shopping. Since my husband is overseas, I won't need a day off unless he has a leave."

"No one works seven days, not even my manager."

"Ali wouldn't hear of it," I say.

Carlisle hoots, "I guess you have a cook." He looks in the wok and then at Christy. "Those veggies look good."

An hour later, I Ieave Edward and his parents to settle Christy in as I drive back home to find Ria vacuuming, Bitsy dusting, and Barry and Danny cleaning up the backyard.

"You guys don't have to do all of this," I say.

Ria stops and shouts, "It's the least we can do."

I shut off the vacuum. "You're my bandmates, not housekeepers."

Bitsy says, "Well, speaking of the band, your friend Rose called, and she's in another bind. She asked if you weren't too busy with Edward," she clears her throat, "Would you come play a few sets tonight."

"I can't even make Edward my dirty, little secret."

Ria laughs. "Is he your secret?"

I roll my eyes. "He wants to follow his plan."

Both Ria and Bitsy laugh.

I stare at them in disbelief. "Really?"

Bitsy whispers, "It is what it is, chickie."

Once I can get the guys away from the backyard, we rehearse a few songs. I have an idea that I jot down and Bitsy flies with it. The harp adds such a nice touch while Ria's harmony blends like a bell with my voice.

I call Edward about Rose, but Emmett beat me to the punch. We'll meet up at the club around nine and work out the sets. He seems very happy about something tugging on our red string.

When we get to the club, Garrett stands outside. I go in for a hug, and he boldly greets me, "OT, what have you done to my boy?"

I stand back and frown. "What do you mean?

"The man can't stop smiling. He actually has some color on his cheeks."

I kid, "Oh, that's not me. That's his new chef."

"I heard she's going to feed his sorry, skinny ass." His face softens. "Thanks, Bella. We were all scared."

"He's going to be fine."

He nods.

We enter the club, and Rose bitches me out for no contact. But that's a ditto, and she reels her pissiness back and tells me to go to her office.

Before I can get the door open, I feel lips on mine with running hands on my behind.

Gasping for breath, I break away and look up at Edward. "Good thing it was you."

He bends down for another peck or two. "Yeah, good thing."

"Christy made me a protein drink that jump-started my heart."

I mumble on his lips, "And your libido."

"Did you get a few hours in with your band?"

"Yeah, we did."

"I have a surprise for you,' he softly whispers on my neck.

I sigh. "Me, too."

"When you two finish, I need you to perform," Rose quips. "Wait until you see the new stage."

Edward and I follow her down the hallway out to the bar area. To my surprise, the stage is twice the size with room for the equipment of both the bands. Ria and Emmett compare basses as Danny and Jasper play out a song without amps. Garrett and Barry have their sets side by side. Bitsy silently practices on her harp.

Ali sits at the front table, and Rose joins her.

Edward takes my hands and helps me on the stage. We both wrap our guitar straps over our heads. He taps the mic on the stand and announces, "Hey, everyone."

The crowd answers.

"We're going to jam tonight, no set order. Just going to try out a few new songs, lay back and play for a few hours. You good for it?"

The crowd favorably shouts.

"Bella, you want to introduce your band?"

"Aw, we don't have a name yet. It's a work in progress." I giggle. "On bass, my girl, Ria Belgium."

Ria quickly moves her fingers thumping up and down the neck of her bass. Emmett joins her.

Edward says, "Joined by, my big brother, Emmett."

I continue, "Danny Newman on lead guitar."

He plucks out and vibrates each note. Jasper twangs his strings along with him.

Edward croons, "My beast of a brother-in-law, Jasper Whitlock."

"On the drums, Barry Belgium." He rolls his sticks from one drumhead to the other while Garrett rolls each cymbal.

"And my cousin, Garrett Norman, bashing his Zildjians!"

"I don't bash!" Garrett shouts.

"Next to me is Bella Swan." Edward smiles at me.

"And you all know, Edward Cullen!" I proudly announce.

We play an instrumental of rock and roll showcasing each musician; generally defining their talent and impromptu movements.

It's very intimate with the crowd, as though we're playing for a group of friends.

Some people shout a song, and we play it as a solid band. There's a cohesiveness comfort with everyone.

Edward clears his throat. "I've got a new song here." He coughs. "Only a few hours old. So, hang in there with me."

I sit on a stool and watch him cozy up close to the mic.

Edward

"It's hard to stand back

And not let my feelings go.

I want to scream out

And I'll let everyone know.

It's time to hold off.

I have to give you this chance

And step to the side

You gotta shuffle the dance.

I want the world to

See who I see

Know what I know

Feel what I feel.

I want the world to

See who you are

Know who's the girl

Feel what you give.

I'm building my claim

And showing you to the world

You've got the talent

No one will question you girl.

You stand by the mic

Sing anyone of your songs.

Show them what you got

It makes sense that you belong.

I may have your hand

But I'm working on your heart.

I want all of you

I want every bit and part.

You are my equal.

You bring out the best in me.

You saved my life.

You knew how to set me free.

I want the world to

See who I see

Know what I know

Feel what I feel.

I want the world to

See who you are

Know who's the girl

Feel what you give.

You make me live."

The crowd irrupts with ear-shattering howls.

Rose and Ali stand to shout our names. Ali mouths, "Finally."

The emotions flow through me, and I can only stare at him. He shyly smiles, and I wipe my tears.

"I don't know if I can top that, Edward, but I'm going to try."

Bella

"With a little touch

My heart skips a beat.

With his crooked smile

I can feel his heat.

When he gets too close

I move to get near.

I feel his warm breath

My skin starts to sear.

Whispers in my ear

Chills go down my spine

I don't take a breath

I exhale feeling fine.

His hand is on mine

Caressing my skin.

His thumbs draw circles

All out and within.

This is all so new

As though I'm dreaming.

The weeks are like years

With so much meaning.

We've done this before

In a different time.

Many lives we've shared

You've always been mine.

You wear like a glove

All comfy and fit.

We know each other

Familiar spirits.

So tell me you care

It's all in our fate

You are my only

You are my soulmate.

You can read my mind

And I am your shield.

Yes, my thoughts are yours

All neatly concealed.

There's nothing to hide

The world has its view

We are on display

But not for a few.

Just open your eyes

And look at my face

Destiny is yours.

You have found your place.

I have found my space.

Together we brace

But we set the pace.

It's a two soul chase.

Against the rat race.

In haste

So chaste

Your taste

I'm paste.

Paste?

Ha. It rhymes.

I chime.

My time.

Sublime.

Can't hide.

Low tide.

Quick ride.

Red string.

My thing ...

With you.

Edward stands behind me, and I look up. He touches my cheek, then my jaw and leans down. Our lips meet and I hear Ali over the crowd, "There is a God."

A/N: Awww.

A/N: Pay It Forward will be featuring fics in four different categories on their new blog. Number one will be our Rookie ... A new, first-time writer showcasing their first fic on our blog. Number two will be our Encore ... A new fic from a seasoned author giving us a sneak peek. Number three will be our Classix ... one from the vault, a time-tested oldie. And four, is an Overlooked fic that needs some love.
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