I can't believe it! The Love of a Friend is almost to six hundred reviews! Thank you all so much. You honestly blow my mind with all of your love and passion for this story.
I am posting a bit late tonight. My mother is law was in the hospital this weekend, so I made dinner and took it over to her and my father in law, along with tidying up their house a bit for them. But, better late than never!
This chapter is unbetaed, so any and all mistakes are all mine.
The amazing Stephanie Meyer owns all that is Twilight!
BPOV
Why and I so nervous tonight? I just can't shake this uneasy feeling for some reason. I am standing back stage bouncing up and down a bit, trying to shake this unease from my body. I begin doing some stretches to get my mind into dancer mode. I was so lost in thought that I didn't hear Maggie come up behind me until she spoke.
"Great crowd tonight." She says as I spin around, grabbing my heart. "Chill Bella! What's got you so worked up tonight. I don't think I have ever seen you so...nervous."
"Hell if I know. I just...I don't know. I just feel...I can't describe it. Like something is going to happen tonight." I answer, stretching my arms out behind my back.
"It's just nerves. You'll be fine." She says while rubbing my back. "There are a lot of suits in the house tonight.
"Yeah, I know!" I say, rolling my eyes. The business men are usually the pervy cat callers. I give Maggie a quick hug as I go to take my place, waiting for my cue.
I stand behind the curtain, and get into position. I glance over to the DJ who is in my line of sight and nod that I am ready. As soon as the music hits the spots are on me, and the audience is blacked out to me. The lyrics take over and my pointe shoes carry me across the stage.
It's not so easy loving me
It gets so complicated
All the things you've gotta be
Everything's changin
But you're the truth
I'm amazed by all your patience
Everything I put you throughWhen I'm about to fall
Somehow you're always waitin
with your open arms to catch me
You're gonna save me from myself
from myself, yes
You're gonna save me from myselfMy love is tainted by your touch
Cuz some guys have shown me aces
But you've got that royal flush
I know it's crazy everyday
Well tomorrow may be shaky
But you never turn awayDon't ask me why I'm cryin
Cuz when I start to crumble
You know how to keep me smilin
You always save me from myself
from myself, myself
You're gonna save me from myselfI know it's hard, it's hard
But you've broken all my walls
You've been my strength, so strongAnd don't ask me why I love you
It's obvious your tenderness
Is what I need to make me
a better woman to myself
to myself, myself
You're gonna save me from myself
(Save Me From Myself by Christina Aguilera ~ Back to Basics)
By the end of the song, I am reduced to tears as I take my final pose on the floor. One knee bent under me, the other leg outstretched as my chest meets my knee and I hide my face so that the audience can't see my tears. They aren't tears for them, they are tears for him. This dance is for him. Because for so long he saved me. Saved me from the pain of Charlie, from the pain of my self loathing, from James, from everything and everyone. He saved me. He tried to make me stronger. And now, here I am, trying to save myself, but failing. Because all I can think about is being back with him.
Why am I crying? I have danced this dance at least twenty times now since the new show started, and it has never affected me like this.
As the lights dim, I stand and walk off stage. I am met with the open arms of Peter who holds me while I cry. He helps me back to the make up room where I freshen up, and get ready for the second half. He disappears, and I don't see him until we dance together in the second half of the show.
I finish the night, and actually enjoy myself after my cry on stage. Maybe there wasn't anything to worry about. I clean up for the night, and grab my bag and walk out with everyone else. I say my good byes and start my walk to my apartment. It actually isn't that far from the club, only about a ten minute walk.
I get to my door and put my key in the lock and let myself in. I walk over to the mail box, unlock it and get my mail. Looking over my bills, I blindly make my way to the stairs. And then it hits me, that smell, his smell. My head snaps up and I am met with tired green eyes. The green eyes of my best friend, former boyfriend, Cullenza Mafia Prince. I feel the bills slip from my hand as he rises to his feet. "Bella." He breaths out.
FUCK! No! He can't be here! God no! I can't see him, I am too weak! RUN! RUN NOW! I scream in my head. I take a step back as he takes a step forward. And then he figures it out, he knows I am going to run. "Bella, no! Don't run! Just give me.." He begins to say.
I turn from him and run down the stairs and throw the door open. I am met with a brick wall that is Emmett! "Bella!" He says to me.
I look up into his eyes as I am struggling to get around him. "Just let me go Emmett, I can't do this." I beg him.
"Bella, I can't. You need to come home." As he says this his puts his hands up on the door frame in an attempt to block me. I weave to the right and he moves, but I fake him out and duck under his arm. "FUCK! BELLA!" I hear him yells as I run down the stairs and to the side walk. I panic for a second trying to figure out what way to go. I see Jasper running at me, so I turn and run in the other direction. I don't know where it leads or where I am going. I just run. I run from the one person who I should be running to, fuck it all. I can't be part of his life and watch him with Tanya and their baby.
I turn around to see Emmett, Jasper, Sam and Jacob running behind me. I keep running as fast as my feet will take me. I see an alley coming up, so I duck into the alley. I run all the way down and look to the right and see Edward running towards me shouting at me. I turn left and run into another brick wall, only this time it is Felix. He wraps his arms around me and puts me in a death lock.
"Felix, let me go damn it!" I yell. "Just fucking let...me...go!" I yell again, kicking and screaming.
Edward catches up to us at the same time that Emmett, Jasper, Sam and Jacob do too. I keep kicking and screaming, watching as the three of them are doubled over trying to catch their breath. Suddenly by body begins to get tired and it is getting harder to kick.
"Come on Bella. Calm down. It's me, Felix. I've got you. Edward's got you. We've all got you. You are going to be OK. Everything is going to be OK." He whispers in my ear trying to calm me down. I see the four men in front of me, and I finally give up. I close my eyes and I go limp. I am exhausted.
Exhausted from the running; from the fighting; from the dancing; from the emotions that have been running through me for five months. I am exhausted from the sadness; from the haze of depression that has taken over my life. Thank God for the death lock that Felix has on me because I am pretty sure that my exhaustion has rendered me utterly weak.
"Hey Boss!" I hear Felix yell out.
Suddenly, I feel Edwards arms around my limp body. He wraps his arms around me and I am lifted bridal style into his arms. I feel his nose come down to my hair and smell me. It sends shivers through me. I hear his breath catch in his throat and his hold on me tightens. "Grazie a Dio ti ho trovato. Ho così perso in questi ultimi cinque mesi. Oh, la mia Bella. Non sono mai lasciarti andare di nuovo." [Thank God I found you. I have been so lost these past five months. Oh, my Bella. I am never letting you go again.]
As his words linger in my ears, it all becomes too much, and I fall into darkness.
So...what did you think? He found Bella, she is safe...so far! Tomorrow will be this scene from Edwards POV. And then some explanation on Bella's part, them maybe some make-up lemon? See you all tomorrow.