(21) Settle
"Well, Emmett, my dear sweet happy-go-lucky brother. This is what I mean by wager." Alice spoke to Emmett like she was speaking to a blind, dumb, and mute person. He was standing by the curb waiting for her to explain herself. "You, Jasper, Carlisle, and Edward are going to sing a song then Bella, Rosalie, Esme and myself will sing a song. Then we ask the crowd to vote who sang better the boys or girls."
"No fair. Right away that's not fair. Girls have more choices in songs and they get by with their looks." Emmett reasoned and Rosalie nodded her agreement to confirm his crazy notions.
"Well I don't actually agree with that. Look at some men singers or rock bands if you will. They have crazy screaming stalker groupies." Alice bargained and Jasper was getting a pained look.
"Like John Mayer? How did that happen?" Jasper quipped and Alice nodded with him.
"Exactly." She chimed and waited for the boys to say yes or no.
"Any song?" Emmett questioned or what sounded like a taunting query.
"Oh Emmett you are so funny." Alice doubled over in laughter and Edward rolled his eyes. He went over to Alice and picked her up so she straightened her comical pose.
"Tell them the rest of your bet." Edward let go of Alice and shook his head clearly not enjoying this scene in front of the karaoke bar.
"Gosh, Edward. You're no fun. Okay so the last part is of course we get to pick each other's songs." Alice trilled and clapped in enjoyment.
"I have a problem with that." Rosalie piped standing beside a parking meter. She walked over to Alice and leveled her gaze. "This is your bet I neither agreed to anything or want to sing. I especially don't want to sing a song that Emmett picks out." Rosalie turned to Emmett. "No offense."
"Why should I be offended? You basically insulted my choice in music." Emmett guffawed and Rosalie smoothed it over.
"You know what I mean. I don't want to get stuck up there singing, Like a Virgin." Rosalie cracked and Emmett laughed hysterically.
"That was so not the song I was thinking of. Damn that was a good one too." Emmett snapped his fingers in frustration.
"I'm sorry Alice but I'm out too." Carlisle began and Alice went to Carlisle immediately.
"Carlisle I would never choose a song that you would not feel comfortable singing. And I can attest that the boys would not do that to Esme." Alice confided and smiled broadly.
"Just tell us are we doing this or not?" Esme teased clearly not that bothered that she was going to sing in front of people.
"Yes you are. Everyone." Alice gave me a warning look and I scoffed. That hurt. Like I couldn't have fun with the rest of the family. Although I was worried when I saw Emmett's eyes light up with a newfound glory.
I looked down and gulped. What was the worst that could happen? I would be on stage with three other people and I give it thirty seconds before Alice completely takes over the stage. I suddenly felt better. I looked at the men and felt sorry for them. There was no male equivalent of Alice for them. Unless Emmett took the reins which I definitely could see him doing that.
"Alright let's break up into teams. Girls on the sidewalk with me and boys go a few blocks away. Edward don't listen." Alice warned and Edward nodded his compliance.
The boys took off towards the Paris Hotel. The streets seemed emptier without them.
"Why are we doing this? Edward will know what song we pick." Rosalie stating the obvious nothing gets past her.
"Au contraire my sister. He will know what song I tell you we pick but I will change it at the last minute. I can keep him out of my mind if I want." Alice boasted.
"What are you going to think about instead?" Esme asked in a knowing voice.
"Umm, I'm not sure but I will tell Bella my song choice so she can tell the DJ." Alice pointed to me. Of course, I would be chosen since Edward couldn't read my mind.
"The song I want you to think of is, Rock and Roll All Nite by KISS. But I have a whole different song in mind." She grinned like the Cheshire cat. I saw the men coming back towards us.
Edward squinted his eyes and snorted. "Real original Alice."
"Thanks I try." Alice sarcastically replied. "By the way Bella knows the song we're really using."
Edward's smug smile disappeared. He looked as if he had forgotten that he couldn't read my mind. He hung his head and walked next to me.
"Sorry I didn't want to do this in the first place." I lamely said.
"How about a trade-off? I tell you our song and you tell me theirs?" Edward teased.
"Don't you dare, Bella." Alice appeared next to me and took my arm. "You can't romanticize the answer out of her that is cheating." Alice pointed her finger at Edward.
"I can do whatever I want she is my girlfriend." Edward challenged and I noticed a small spark heating up his eyes.
"She's my friend. We stick together like glue and paper." Alice put her two fingers together. "Unbreakable."
"Let's go." Emmett suggested. "Before they kill each other with lame remarks on the Vegas strip."
"Very funny." Alice chortled and remained by my side. I walked behind Alice and noticed that the karaoke bar had doubled in size with patrons. I could count the number of people when we left now it seemed half the room was filled with loud drunk people.
"Perfect." Alice breathed and Rosalie stopped walking turning to give Alice an evil glare.
"What are all these people doing here?" Rosalie had a venomous sneer and Alice shrugged her shoulders.
"They came to hear music. This is Vegas I don't know. Why don't you ask them?" Alice scoffed loudly and turned to me. "Let's go tell the DJ."
Jasper stood in front of Alice and she halted. "Ladies first of course."
"No we want to save the best for last." Alice countered.
"That's why we're going last." Emmett chuckled and bumped Carlisle's fist.
"In your dreams. Oh wait a minute you can't dream that's why we're going last." Alice spewed and winked at me.
"Call it." Edward held up a rare coin. Only Edward would have a rare coin lying around in his pocket.
"Heads. I win." Alice announced as Edward threw it up in the air. It landed on the floor heads up. Alice smiled at him and we went to the DJ.
She told me the song and I gave her a second glance. "Just say it." She ordered and I told the DJ our song choice for the men.
The Cullen men went to the stage like a bunch of jailers about to be put to work in the yard. They were not happy to go first. Alice ran up to the stage and took the microphone from the stand.
"Hello everyone. I need your help tonight. These hot young guys have made a bet with us because they think they sing better. We need you to vote after hearing both of our groups to decide who is the better singer." The crowd looked at Alice and then they shouted in agreement. "Excellent. They are going first." Alice handed the microphone to Carlisle. A worker at the karaoke bar brought three more microphones for everyone. They stood in the middle of the stage waiting. The song started…
"Oh perfect." Emmett grunted and put the microphone to his lips.
Author's Note: I am having a hard time choosing the song I want the Cullen men and women including (Bella) to sing. Any ideas??? The person whose song I choose will get a special mention in the next chapter. Thanks so much for your help.