You and Me: Chapter 12
"That I want to say"
"Bella," Jasper sounded from behind me, "Alice was asking for us all to meet. She has an announcement."
I nodded as I brushed my dress off and headed towards the family room. I made small talk with Jasper as we waited for Edward to return. About twenty minutes later, Edward entered looking withdrawn. He had just put Auden to bed, and I could see that the day was wearing on him.
"Alright, what's the news," Edward asked as he took a seat beside me.
Alice perched herself on the edge of the sofa, her bubbling excitement returned, "Max said he wanted us to compete for Cover night."
There was a chorus of one long moan.
I gulped, "Cover night?"
Alice nodded excitedly, "I know, wonderful right? Oh Bella, in two days we get to take you to get a makeover! I'd do it myself, but Max insisted for your premier we go professional," her face scrunched in the end, "Although I argued that I'm more professional anyone-"
"Alice, honey," Jasper calmed her down immediately, "Bella doesn't even know what cover night is."
"Basically, a group of famous and unknown bands get together and do their versions of popular songs from certain time periods. Then the crowd does a vote for which band they think covered the song the best. It's something that started off local, but once we crashed it other mainstream bands joined in. All of the profits made from the night go the charity of the winning bands choice," Edward explained.
I nodded in understanding, "So what year is it this year?"
"We've finally got 2008," Jasper groaned, "and its Emmet's turn to pick."
Emmett pumped a fist, "Already got one in my noggin. Don't even complain Jasper, we had to sing your song for the 80's."
"What did you pick?" I asked.
"In Love with the 80's, Pink Tux to the Prom," Jasper winced.
"The judges almost had a fit because the song isn't actually from the 80's, but they let them pass," Rosalie said, "at least I got to see Emmett in a pink tux…"
I almost spat out the coffee I was drinking, "How did you-"
"Let's not talk about this," Emmett cut in, "Alright, drum roll please…"
We all stared at him, not moving an inch. He rolled his eyes, pulled out a pair of drumstick from only God knows where and began drumming.
"Em, I told you to stop hiding those things all over the house," Edward growled.
The drumming got louder, "And the song is…Remembering Sunday from All Time Low's album 'So Wrong. It's Right," released from iTunes in 2008."
Thankfully I knew the song very well. It would unnerve me more if I had to learn something from scratch.
"So what do you think Bella," Alice asked me, "Excited?"
"Does excited make you feel like puking?" I tried to laugh through the nervousness.
"Don't worry Bells, you'll do great. Heck, Eddie couldn't eat for the whole day when we first performed live. Granted he didn't puke on stage-"
"Emmett shut up," Rosalie slapped the back of his head, "It's in the next week and a half so you all should probably start practice tomorrow. I have schedules printed out that I'll drop off tomorrow on my way to Axe Records. We're going to be discussing the album."
Edward sighed as he leaned back, "This is going to be a long week."
We all said hour goodbyes soon, Emmett almost killing me when I gave him food to take home. I sunk into my bed, exhausted from the night's events, yet all the same excited at the aspect of my first band practice with the guys.
...
Auden had come into my room, his timing was like clockwork. I'd woken up literally five minutes before he'd toddled into the room, a blanket trailing behind him.
He didn't even have to ask me as I carried him to the TV room. Tonight, instead of SpongeBob we watched Diego, which was slightly unbearable, but it was fun to see Auden excited. A few times I had to quiet him down because of his enthusiasm. Through the third episode, Auden was knocked out on my lap, softly snoring.
I was up in the next few hours. Auden had walked back to his bed and was now still sleeping, as was Edward. It was odd how much that little boy slept and I understood now what Edward meant by 'he was his father's child.'
The food seemed to be flying from out of the pots and pans as I made breakfast for anyone and everyone who would be coming in and out of the door. It was as Emmett rang the door and came in that I realized I'd over done it.
His eyes were wide, "Bella…"
"I- I overdid it didn't I?"
"This is like a food wet dream," he said as he walked over slowly to the kitchen. "Should I be scared?"
"I don't know, I am," I froze from mixing the pancake batter, "I don't even remembering making muffins."
"Not even I can eat this much," his eyes were almost glazed over, "Muffins, hash browns, sausages, bacon, deviled eggs, scrambled eggs, waffles, bagels, toast, oatmeal and what's that,"
"Quiche," my cheeks heated.
"Really Bella?"
"I had a valid reason for that…" I tried, "There was left over bacon and eggs-"
"No Bella," he shook his head, "not even."
"Do you want a plate," I offered.
"You mean a tray," he muttered.
"Mm something smells good-" Jasper waltzed in eerily cheery, "Woah."
"I know. You're awake, don't worry."
"But I mean, wow," Jasper wiped a hand over his face, "I'm half expecting to see Martha Stewart crawl out from under the table."
"Martha Stewart aint got nothing on this," Emmett murmured, "she made quiche."
"I'm still here," I waved a hand, "there was left over-"
Jasper held a hand up, "nothing can justify this. Where do I start?"
"I think I'm just going to start going from left to right and seeing where I end up," Emmett scratched his head, slightly confused.
I looked at the pancake batter in my hand, wondering how it got there. Well I couldn't let it waste… I racked my brain, blueberry, raspberry or chocolate? Maybe raspberry and chocolate was a good combination? I'd have to experiment with that one day…
"I- Is she malfunctioning?" I heard Alice ask from behind me, I hadn't even noticed her walk in as I flipped the pancakes. I had decided on all three types.
"Don't fix her," Emmett was able to say through a stuffed mouth.
"The only thing that isn't here is-"
"Coffee," I butted in, "In the left corner over there. Irish Coffee, Cappuccino, Black, Espresso or French Vanilla, you pick."
"I heard the word coffee –where did all this food come from?" Rosalie stumbled on her heels.
Three fingers pointed at me as I turned around, plate steaming, "Pancakes?"
Edward's Point of View
Emmett crawled to the drum kit groaning something about his spleen popping, Jasper didn't even try to stand up with his bass, and I was considering becoming bulimic with the amount I had just eaten. The only person who didn't seem to be in food coma was Bella, who had prepared that feast. I didn't understand how a person so frail could eat so much and still be so thin. She almost rivaled Emmett. When she was on her third serving of eggs, fifth pancake, second serving of sausages and second cup of coffee I had to ask of her secret.
"I have a great appreciation for food," she shrugged.
Auden had even eaten so much he started crying from his stomach hurting. I couldn't determine whether this was a good or bad thing. I could see him gaining a lot of weight with Bella here.
"How am I supposed to sing," I complained, "Bella, I'm so grateful for you making breakfast but don't ever do that again."
Her cheeks turned red, "I think I was tired –trust me, I don't think your stove can handle that again."
"Thanks though Bella, that was delicious," Jasper called from over in his seat, "Feel free to give Alice cooking lessons whenever you feel like it."
"I thought you liked my cooking," Alice pouted.
"You cook lasagna, cheese sandwiches and waffles Allie. I love you but there only so much Ego I can take," he replied.
"Yah, even I'm tired of my cooking," Alice shrugged.
"At least things go in the oven before your girl gives it to you," Emmett commented, "Rosalie gives me frozen Kids Cuisine."
"I told you," Rosalie suddenly sounded as she strutted in, more awake from her five cups of coffee –she'd had one of each; "It's either hot dinner or hot sex. You choose."
Emmett shrugged, "What can I say I'm a man with needs."
"Rosalie, I left some food on the counter in Tupperware if you could take it to Max for me. You know, extras," Bella said.
Rosalie nodded, "Will do. Thanks for the coffee by the way. Next time just make the Irish one though. The guys don't drink it and I thought it kicked ass."
Bella let out a chuckle, "See you Rosalie."
The blonde raised a hand as a goodbye as she left with Alice in tow. I looked at our very informal schedule.
Monday Schedule: Done by the Lovely Alice Whitlock,
Little hearts were placed behind Whitlock and I almost gagged. Only Alice would do that.
9:15 (if Edward can get off his ass that early) – 9:30
Voice Exercises, yes, even you Emmett.
9:30-10:00
Preparation get Bella comfortable. No Emmett, not in that way. Please also remember she is a female and will not appreciate innuendos. Bodily gases are also not funny.
10:00-11:00
Emmett Time Emmett will explain,
11:00-1:00
Actual Practice Time, I'm serious, get work done. Bella, they'll tell you that they normally goof off.
Don't let them, be productive.
1:00-2:00
Break Time, this is when they normally eat lunch Bella. I have extended it half an hour because I suppose you want to make something elaborate. Just don't blow out ok? It's an hour.
2:15-4:00
Practice , as you've probably notices I've allowed 15 minutes of free time. This is for you to let you digest before you sing. It's also Emmett's potty time.
4:00,
End of Practice, do whatever you want. Emmett go plow Rosalie, Jasper go read, Edward go take a nap and Bella do whatever it is that you do. Dinner is at nine.
I looked up to see Bella, a wide smile on her face as she finished reading. Seeing her smile like that created some kind of cosmic shift; it was suddenly on my list of priorities to make her smile like that again.
"What's Emmett Time," Bella laid the paper down.
Emmett snapped his head up, "The best time in the world."
"That consists of…"
"Playing whatever songs you like, throwing around ideas, stuff like that. They do it so I don't get unfocused. You know, creative outlet."
"Sounds fun," Bella nodded, "But…I can't play any instruments."
"No one cares," Emmett shrugged, "You just embrace whatever musical talent and let it free; scream, shout, do whatever you want. But we're running five minutes late on voice practice so we should start."
I sat at the keyboard, wanting to forget about practice and just write but I knew we had things to do. Bella looked slightly awkward as she stood in front of the instrument, tugging at the hem of her shirt, and biting her bottom lip. "Alright, so for the next ten minutes we'll warm up and then we'll figure out Bella's range and type ok?"
"Type and range," she raised a brow questioningly.
"Pitches as well as most flattering style…loud, soft," Jasper trailed on, "stop worrying so much, I can practically hear your pulse."
She gave a large sigh, "I don't know, I'm not used to singing in front of people. I mean I'll do it when I have to but…does no one else feel awkward with me here?"
"There's no such thing as awkward in Emmett's vocabulary, Edward's infatuated with you and I'm perfectly fine," Jasper patter her shoulder, "Now let's go. We're seven minutes late."
I pressed middle C, and sang the same key and pitch as the synthesizer. Everyone sang it perfectly. I continued up the keys, Emmett and Jasper stopping sooner than Bella and I. I began going down an octave, Bella going out after the fifth-sixth note.
After the fifth round of exercises, Emmett stopped, "Ma- are we done now?"
I looked at the watch. 9:30 on the dot –I hated exercises as well.
"So now we're getting Bella prepared," Bella asked.
I nodded, "So what are you most comfortable with singing?"
"I can't sing very strong at a high pitch," she answered, "I choke."
I chuckled, "It takes training Bella. But it doesn't mean you're any less of a singer for it. I'm sure Hayley Williams didn't have her pitch right from the start."
"Her range is amazing," Jasper whistled, "We don't expect that."
Bella sighed, "That's a relief; I might have had an aneurysm."
"Ok, well let's see how high you can go?"
She swallowed before nodding. I went up the C scale slowly before reaching the next octave. At the E, she tried, slightly straining. I looked up to see her face beet red,
"I can't hit that."
"That's fine," I shook my head, "Better than I thought. I don't think we need to do so much today about finding out your style. I think we'll figure that out along the way."
"So it's Emmett time?" Emmett's ears perked.
"Yes Emmett," I sighed, "It's Emmett time."
Emmett's Point of View
Bella looked a bit lost as we all turned to our respective instruments. That is so not the vibe you need to be feeling Bells. Edward had tuned us out when he put his head phones on, Jasper was shuffling through a guitar case and honestly I hadn't even given her a second thought when the drums were calling my name. It wasn't as if Bella wasn't noticeable because damn that girl was a looker, but music can distract me from almostanything.
"Pst, Bella," I called out. She turned around to face me, her little bun bobbling. "Come over here."
She trailed over, trying not to trip over the many cords snaking across our floor. After about thirty seconds –the room was pretty large- she managed to make her way over to the platform on which the drum kit stood. Once she was close enough, I hooked my arms around her and pulled her onto my lap, making sure she was inside.
"Emmett what are you doing-" her cheeks were flaming red beneath her spackle of freckles.
"Aw, how cute you're blushing. You've never sat on a guys lap before have you," I chuckled as I pressed the button.
"What's happening," she looked around her as the glass panes began to rise. They reached above our heads and then sealed, creating a sound proof chamber for me. Ah, I love my bubble.
All I could hear was our breaths, "It's really silent," Bella noted.
"That's because these are sound proof," I smiled as I readjusted her on my knee, "This place is just unbearably small. Sorry about the space."
"You have a very muscular knee," she chuckled. "So what am I doing in here?"
I shrugged, "I feel like I'm the only one who hasn't been able to give you some good old Emmett wisdom."
"Nah, I'm quite sure Jasper and I haven't had the talk yet, so you're not last," she patted my shoulder, "Please don't lecture me."
"Me? Lecture? Psh, as if," I don't think I even knew how to lecture, "just making sure we're cool."
"We're cool Emmett," she gave a light laugh, "So, are you going to teach me to play these things or what?"
Those had to be my favorite words (besides food and sex) in the world.
"Alright then," I said, trying to keep the mischief from my voice, "hold on to your seat."
"You do realize that would be you," she said cheekily.
I wrapped my hands around her smaller, slender ones and began dishing out an intricate beat that required a lot of speed. The look on Bella's face was priceless as her arms flailed about creating a rhythm.
"You're…really good," Bella smiled largely. It was something I wished she'd do more often, "I mean I always thought so when I listened to your songs…but I love this room. I love it when you can feel the music."
"You understand me!" I felt myself smiling. Finally there was someone who didn't shout at me for locking them in the bubble.
After a few tries, I could see the red spread from her cheeks and down her neck. She turned to face me, which was a little difficult and even I had to say, awkward. "Emmett," she said softly, "Would you really…teach me how to play the drums?"
I almost dropped the stick, something that just doesn't happen to me,
"Bella, I think we'll be great friends."
Thanks for reading!
~Christie Hart
