CHAPTER 14- Interviews

EPOV

I didn't even bother asking the record company. I knew they wouldn't let me sing the song. Instead, I went straight to the top. Last week, I had privately recorded the song at a local studio and made a quick demo. Now it was ready for distribution.

I know that I'm under contract, and I know this could mean the end of my career, but I don't care. Bella means more to me than that.

I walked into the radio booth and handed the girl behind the desk my CD. She took it without looking up and I left. It was as easy as that. They get CDs all day long from random unknowns waiting for their chance in the spotlight. The job was done, so I went back home. When the radio station looks through the CDs and sees my name on the case, then they will probably play it, just because it is me. Once I got this station playing it, then others would too, which would, in time, lead to the whole world hearing it.

"Edward!" someone shouted angrily from the other side my hotel room door. I looked up, surprised. We were in Ohio, and I was gathering all my stuff so we could get back in the car and go to the next signing. In every single state we've been in so far, I've watched the crowds come in, hoping Bella would be there. I don't know what else to do. I don't even know where she is. She could be anywhere in the world.

I left my half-closed suitcase and went to open the door. There, I found my red-faced manager and a worried looking Alice.

"Edward," my manager said. His name was Laurent. "Let me in," I opened the door wider and let both Laurent and Alice in.

"Ok," he said. "Now, I just heard a song that was announced as one of yours. I have never heard it before. Was that your song?"

So that was what this was about. Well, there was no point in lying. "Yes," I answered. You could practically see the steam coming out of his ears.

"Why?" he asked. "Why would you do something like that?"

Short answers seemed like the best for know. He had come in here to talk, not listen to me talk. "For a girl," I answered truthfully. Of course, he exploded.

"A girl?" he shouted, somewhat bewildered. "You blew your contract for a girl!" I stood still, careful not to flinch, and, out of the corner of my eye, I could see a small smile Alice's face.

"You are lucky that so many people liked this song, otherwise you would be out of a job!" Laurent continued. "But, from here on out, you will do as I say. First, the song will play on a few major stations, all of which you will give an interview to. You can call in from the limo and give the interview."

"Ok," I answered, cutting him off from whatever rant he was about to continue with. And, just like that, his anger evaporated.

"What?" Laurent asked, confused. "You've never given in that easily. What's gotten into you lately?"

Of course, Alice had to open her big mouth. "He fell in love," she said in a dreamy voice as she spun out of the room. I scowled at her.

Laurent gave me one last curious glance, then walked out of the room, forgetting what he came in here for in the first place.

I shook my head and watched him walk out. These next few weeks are going to be hard, but I truly believed that this song would work, and would bring Bella back.

"Here," Laurent said, handing me the phone. I took it, then leaned back in my seat. The rest of the cast was inside, helping set up, along with my brother and sister. I, on the other hand, was stuck in the car, making calls and giving interviews over the phone.

I called in, just like I have done numerous times now. This was getting tiring and painful, especially since the one question I've been avoiding comes up in almost every interview. Edward, who is the lucky lady you wrote this for? And I couldn't answer anyone. I couldn't mention Bella's name, I couldn't tell them why I wrote it—nothing. I just kept the station on dead air until the DJ asks another question.

I had called so many stations that I couldn't even remember which city I was calling. Hopefully that won't come up in the conversation.

Someone answered and I could hear my song come on. I sat there, waiting, as I listened to my voice. Finally, the song ended.

"And that was the song that is already bringing in calls," shouted the DJ. "Here on the phone with us today, right now on his tour, we have Edward Cullen!" I was starting to regret telling Laurent I would do twenty-three interviews.

"Hello," I said, trying hard not to sigh as I talked.

"First off, I would like to say welcome and tell you how much we loved your song," the guy shouted, in the way that only a DJ can.

"Thank you. It's great to be here," I said in a monotone. Laurent glared at me, and I rolled my eyes in response.

"So, Edward, we already have fans calling in. Tell us, did you write this song for a special someone?" Of course he had to start with that one.

"Yes, I did write this song for someone." I said in a somewhat mocking voice. Can you blame me? I was bored. All I got for that was another glare from Laurent.

"Now, we would all like to know, what was your inspiration for this song?" Ah, yes. The million dollar question. The one I held so close to me, hoping the only person in the world that mattered would be able to answer it herself.

I broke. Something inside of me snapped, and I took a deep breath.

"The inspiration for this song," I started. "And the dedication for that matter, is a girl who was a really good friend. Not only to me, but to the rest of my family as well. I never had the courage to tell her how I really felt about her, and before I could, she left. I don't know where she is, but, if she can hear this, I want her to know that everything I said in that song was true." I was breathing hard, and quickly cut myself off before I said anything more. Laurent was eyeing me and I had the feeling I was in for more questioning even after this interview was done.

"Wow," the DJ said, bringing me back down from whatever world I had just been in. "That's some story. And can you tell us who this girl is?"

"No," I said. Did they really think I was going to reveal every single one of my secrets to them? "But I'm sure she knows. That's all that matters." I hope she knows. I think she knows. She has to know.

"Okay," came the DJ's voice again. "The song has already brought in many calls. Let's hear one of them. Hello, you're on air. Do you have a question?"

"Edward?" asked a high, hopeful voice.

"Yes?" I asked quietly, bracing myself for the screaming.

And it came, so loud I had to hold the phone away from my ear. Eventually, the screaming stopped and the same girl who was on before came back on air. "Hello, Edward?" she asked.

"I'm still here," I said, the pain almost evident in my voice.

"I was wondering, are you still going out with that Bella chick?" That was all it took. Well, that and the fact that I had been thinking about her all day. I was about to scream into the phone, but Laurent saw the look in my eye, and reached over to grab the phone. He held up all fingers, and I knew what he meant. I closed my eyes, breathed evenly, and counted to ten.

I nodded when I was done, and Laurent gave me back the phone. There had been dead air for a while now, and I was sure that girl was still on the phone. I got on the phone just in time to hear the DJ saying, "Okay, Next caller."

I answered the next questions that came my way. None of them were as personal as the first, though there was still a lot of screaming involved. Occupational hazard.

I finally hung up with whatever city I had just been talking to. I expected Laurent to ask a whole new round of question, but, instead, he just looked down at the paper in front of him and said, "Six more and then you're done. Think you can do it?"

I nodded, not sure at all, but I don't think that would have mattered. Laurent looked up at me.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't realize how much she meant to you. I didn't mean to make it more painful than it already is."

Sometimes Laurent could be a pain in the ass, but it was good to know he actually had a heart. "It's fine," I said. "I think this might actually help. If she hears the song and the interview, then she has to come back." She just has to.

"Yeah," said that annoying voice in the back of my head. "You just keep on telling yourself that..."

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