A/N: howdy folks! Happy Tuesday everyone! Okay this chapter is I think the longest chapter I have written yet. So enjoy it, but don't expect that they'll all be this massive. Okay for the playlist I actually have four songs, three chapter songs and one song that is actually used. I'll tell you in the story where I switched songs…you might have to switch before you're done listening but that all depends on how fast you read. I just couldn't find one song that worked for this one. So they are the Beatles Here comes the sun, Selena Gomez Naturally, Jay Sean Down, and of course Paramore's Brick by Boring Brick. See you at the end.
BPOV-
We had spent the last week in Orlando and now we were headed toward Miami. Our show had gone off without a hitch and crowd was rocking right along with us. It had been a busy week. We had visited all of the Disney parks and both of the Universal parks, that could easily fill up a week on its but with our escort through the park it went faster than it would if we had been just regular visitors. We hadn't had any real issues at the park there was a general buzz of excitement whenever we would come out to get on a ride, but in general the security guys kept them mostly at bay. We left the night after the show and headed to Miami. We pulled in at four in the morning and now I was being tortured by my so called best friends.
Alice and Rose were shopping, and I was being tugged along. It was the first day I had spent away from Edward since we had gotten together. We were only in our first store of the day and Alice was flitting around the store throwing one object after another at me to try on. I sighed, realizing resistance was futile as I went to the dressing rooms. I tried on while Alice and Rose vetoed or approved of the outfits. "So." Alice said after she had handed me yet another dress to try on.
"Yes Alice?" I asked through the closed curtain as I stripped and pulled on the next outfit.
"So Bella tell us…You have yet to really tell us about you and…" I heard her pause before she continued. "Edward." She finally finished.
"What's there to tell Rose?" I asked distracted by trying to figure out where to put my arms in the dress that I was attempting to try on.
"What do you mean what's there to tell? I want the details! Have you two—"
"No. Rose we haven't" I cut her off poking my head out of the curtain so that she could see that I wasn't joking with her.
"Really?"
I sighed and walked over to her turning around for her to zip me up. "Don't sound so surprised! I swear you think I'm a whore, and he thinks I'm a fairy tale character."
"What?" Alice asked joining us with another armful of clothes.
"Nothing." I said looking at Rose hopefully she would let the subject rest. I really didn't want to tell them about our conversation last night.
"Uh huh" Alice said and I knew she didn't buy it for a minute.
"So you two haven't at all?" Rose piped up evidently she hadn't let the subject go. "But I mean you guys spend like every night together."
"Rose we can control ourselves. We can sleep together without really sleeping together. We enjoy each other's company."
Alice finally determined that it was time to interrupt. "Oh Rose. Leave her be. She's right you know. It's not always about the physical things." Rose rolled her eyes. "Bella if you don't buy that dress I'll hurt you. It looks fantastic on." Alice continued.
"Thanks Alice." I said hopping that compliance would get me an early reprieve. No such luck. She through another outfit at me and the torture continued all morning, both the shopping and Rose's questioning and innuendos. When we got back to the hotel, our car full of bags, I walked up to my room with my purchases and collapsed on the bed for a total of five minutes. I was at a loss to do.
The boys had something planned to do today but they weren't back yet. It was Miami and it was still early afternoon. I pulled on my bathing suit and my cover up. I reached for my large sun hat and sun glasses and looked at myself in the mirror. I think I looked acceptable. I leaned out in the hall and called out for Sam. Sam followed me to the private beach that the hotel owned where I claimed a chair with an umbrella that shaded me mostly from the sun. I rubbed some sun tan oil on and laid back to relax in the sun. Sam did a fabulous job at keeping the people at bay for over an hour, so imagine my surprise when I felt someone throw a blanket over me. "Hey…what…" I shot up and slid my glasses off my head but smiled when I saw who it was. "Why, hello there." I said sliding my glasses back on over my eyes and relaxing. "What brings you out here?" I asked him as he sank down into the chair next to mine and sat facing me.
"What I can't come and visit with my best friend?"
I looked over at Jake for what seemed like the first time in forever. Jake and I had always been close, but we were used to separation. While we were going up we would be apart for long periods of time. Every now and then it wouldn't be cool to have a girl who was just a friend and Jake would ditch me to hang out with his guy friends in public, but it hadn't made me like Jake any less now. "Of course you can. You just haven't visited much lately Jake."
"I know. I'm sorry about that Bells but—"
"Hey. I get it." I stopped him mid sentence. "It's okay."
"No it's not." He said shaking his head and looking at his bare feet. "Ness and I got to talking about a lot of things…"
"Things are serious between the two of you aren't they?"
"Yeah…Bells."
"I'm happy for you Jake."
"I'm happy too."
"Good."
"Are you happy?" He asked me. I thought about my answer. The relationship between Jake and Edward was tenious at best. But I thought about his question and I looked over at him and answered after only about one minute.
"Yes. Very."
"Really?"
"Yes really."
"I hate that I didn't know that you were in a realionship till after everyone else knew."
"I'm sorry about that Jake…"
"I don't blame you. It's this whole situation…since the tour started…I feel like I'm losing you Bells."
I sat up and faced him. Here was probably my best friend struggling to say that he felt like he was losing me. "Jake." I said trying to get his attention and failing in getting him to look at me. I sighed and tired again. "Jake." This time he looked up at me. "Hey. Jake we've been friends since…birth. Lately things have been crazy, but that's not gonna change anything. It never has in the past why would it matter now?"
"Because Bells things are different now. They're more complicated."
"I know they are, trust me I know, but it still doesn't matter." I smiled thinking about something that he had said to me at my junior prom when he had crashed to make sure that my date kept his hands to himself, at my father's request might I add, and I had given him hell for it. "I'm afraid you're stuck with me. You can't get rid of me that easily." I said earning a smile but not a really genuine one. I reached out to touch his cheek. I missed Jacob so much. I missed his smile. There were days when I needed Jacob's smile to get me through, especially after I had lost both mom and Charlie. He had been my rock, my safe harbor. I hated to see his fake smile, I needed to see his real one. "We've both been a little busy lately. It happens. Ness is a lot like me. We demand attention." I said the last part melodramatically putting the back of my hand to my forehead and leaning back down in the chair. I managed getting it all out before we both broke out into laughter. I threw the blanket he had put over my legs at him. "Why did you do that for anyway?"
"If you would have seen the way Sam was having to stare down some of guys on this beach you wouldn't think that it was such a bad move." I rolled my eyes. "What? That bikini is barely acceptable attire. What would Charlie say Bells?"
I was quiet for a moment. It was getting closer to the second year anniversary of my father's death and it was beginning to really affect me. I thought about Charlie and how he would hate any of us fussing over him and what happened. He was doing his job, and I knew that he wouldn't trade those little girls' lives he saved for his even if he had the choice. I sighed and looked toward the sky. "He would probably drag me back to the hotel and refuse to let me out until I changed."
"Exactly." Jake said with a tone that made me turn to see him.
"Jake…" I warned, but before I could articulate a full warning he lunged at me and threw me over his shoulder. I screamed in surprise. "Jake! Put me down right this minute!" I saw Sam whirl in my direction and then heard his deep laugh as Jake trotted past with me still flipped over on his shoulder. I eyed him as we passed. "Some help you are!" I yelled as I saw him double over in another fit of laughter. When we had gotten inside the hotel lobby Jake finally set me down. I looked up at him to find that smirk on his face that I had always hated. I reached my hand back and smacked him hard in the arm. "What was that all about?"
"Just doing what Charlie couldn't. Now cover up you shameless hussy." He said throwing my cover up at me." I pulled it over my head and gave him a sarcastic look. Now get up to your room right this instant young lady!" He said and pointed to the door of the opening elevator. His tone of voice reminded me so much of his father that I laughed as he followed me up. He had effectively gotten me out of the melancholy mood that thinking of my parents often put me in. I was still laughing with Jake as we came to my room.
Edward popped his head out of his room next door to mine. "There you are…" he said smiling at me. "Jacob." He said nodding curtly at my best friend.
"Edward." Jake said in the same tone.
I sighed as I pushed my door open. Jasper and Edward were getting along better, I had been able to have a chat with Jasper about the whole thing, and after finally mostly convincing him that Edward had been a perfect gentleman he was starting to get along with him just fine. Jake on the other hand. I hadn't seen Jake much, that's true, but every time I did I could really sense the hostility in the air when he and Edward were in it together. It was a bit silly in my opinion. I guess I just didn't get the whole chest beating, 'Me Tarzan. Me right' approach to problem solving. "Really boys, really?" I said as I took off my glasses and hat and discarded them on a nearby table in the entryway.
"What?" Jake asked as he followed me into the room and Edward came in right behind him.
"You know very well what Jake." I said as he and Edward stared each other down in my room. "Will you both just knock it off? Please." I made a point at looking at both of them when I spoke. I really wanted them to get along. I mean how could I live with my best friend and my boyfriend hating each other. I smiled inwardly. I still couldn't get over the fact that Edward was my boyfriend.
"Sorry." They both muttered. They were already forgiven. I flopped down on the bed again, while Jake and Edward both stood, Edward near the window and Jacob near the hall we had just left.
After a minute Jake spoke up again. "Hey Bells I was wondering…about earlier…well let's not wait so long to talk again okay."
"Sounds good to me Jake."
"Good. I…" He stopped, looked in Edward's direction and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "I hate to do this but I gotta run. I'm taking Nessie out to dinner tonight and…"
"Jake. It's perfectly fine. I have to get ready for the night anyway. Have fun tonight." I told him as he ducked into the little hall that leads to the door from the bedroom. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" I yelled after him as he disappeared from sight.
He popped his head around the corner again. "And that leaves?" he asked and ducked into the hall again before the pillow I threw at him hit him. I heard him laughing as the door closed. (A/N: Change chapter song here)
I scoffed and I heard Edward laughing too. "Your friends seem to have a very interesting opinion of you." He said as he crossed over to me on the bed.
"Yeah well. You should know that I haven't always been this little innocent lamb you see before you."
"You don't look so innocent right now."
"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about." I said with what I hoped was a sexy grin.
"Really?" He asked climbing toward me.
"Really." I said smiling before he kissed me. I pulled away after a moment and he groaned. "Now if you excuse me I need to go and change for tonight." I stood up picking up the bag of clothes Alice had picked out earlier that lay next to the bed and slipped past him to the bathroom. We were evidentially hitting a club opening tonight. Well making an appearance. We had to do a song, but that was it one song and then we would be done. I was fine with that, plus we got to enjoy most of the night, and the owner was a huge fan so how could we really say no. We also wouldn't be the only one's performing tonight. It had been ages since I had been to a club. I got dressed in the bathroom and about halfway through my routine Edward yelled through the door that he was going to get ready and would be by to pick me up. After I heard the door close I left the bathroom and went to the vanity in the bedroom to do my makeup and finish my hair.
I was getting better at the whole heel thing. I still wasn't completely comfortable in them, but I had to admit even to myself by the time I was done that I looked good. I had tamed my curls but left them down my back to make me feel less naked in my top that was backless. It was a dark midnight blue sequence number with ties lacing the back. I wore a pair of low rise leather pants that Alice had insisted that I wear over this pair of medium height black heels. I had done my makeup slightly smoky like Alice had shown me and I looked in the mirror and determined that I wouldn't be an embarrassment if the press did in fact show up to this event. A few minutes after I finished I heard a knock at my door. I wasn't surprised to see Edward at my door. I was surprised to see his reaction to my outfit. After a few minutes of him staring open mouthed I smiled and bit my lip and he finally spoke. "Are you…Are you ready to go?" He finally managed to ask.
"Yeah. Let me just grab my jacket." I said as I reached onto the bed to pull on my matching leather jacket. I tucked the credit card, my phone and the lipstick I was wearing in the pockets and took the arm that Edward offered to me.
"Wow Bella." Emmett said as we joined everyone in the limo that we had gotten for the night so we could all go together.
"It looks even better than I thought I would." Alice praised as she looked at me with a critical eye. I had passed inspection. Thank god, because I really didn't want to have to go and change before leaving and Alice would have made me go and change for sure if she hadn't approved.
"You look very nice Bella." Jasper said sounding a little uncomfortable. What could I say he was one of my best friends? He was a little concerned about me showing skin. He was probably more worried about the attention I would be grabbing in this get up.
"Thank you." I said to all of them. "Did you make sure they had everything we needed there for the performance?" I asked Emmett.
"No. Worries. We went over and checked the place out ourselves this afternoon. Didn't we guys?" So that's what they were up to this morning. Well…"I can't wait till you see the place." Emmett began a description of everything, but I had to admit I was only half listening. After we pulled out of the hotel Edward had placed his arm over my shoulders and was currently drawing lazy circles on my bare skin.
"You look far more than nice, by the way." Edward whispered into my ear. No one else was even paying attention to us. They were all listening to Emmett's very vivid description of the club. "I have a feeling I'm going to have my work cut out for me."
"And what work is that?" I asked keeping my voice low as the others talked around us.
"Keeping the club flies away from you." He whispered back to me.
"You better not let me go tonight then." I teased. I knew that we would be in the VIP room that was on the second level and not on the ground floor with the 'club flies' as he called them.
"I don't plan on it." He said looking me in the eyes. "Not ever." I bit my lip and then Alice asked me something and drew me back into the conversation. We pulled up to a very nice looking building and yes the press was there, of course. The Vultures were everywhere. We sucked it up and took a few pictures and avoided answering any questions, especially those that alluded to Edward's and my relationship. We had told our friends…and I assumed that Esme and Carlisle knew, about our relationship, but he had yet to make an official statement about it. We were avoiding then inevitable right now and we knew it, but we didn't care. So we answered questions with "We're very good friends." And "we have a lot in common." Instead of giving them any real concrete answers. It worked for the time being, but who knew how long that was going to hold up.
(A/N: change chapter song) We walked into the club and it was amazing, just like Emmett had said it would be. The music was already going full blast and the crowd was already large by the time we got there. We were shown to the VIP floor of the club, where we would get to see who else would be performing. It was actually an interesting group of artists and celebrities that were there. There were lots of Actors and several socialites there. The pussycat dolls were there along with the boys from Cobra Starship. We also met a very pleasant Jay Sean who would be going on right before us. He was very nice and we talked for a while before Edward came over and put an arm around me. I thought it was cute that he was jealous, irrational, but still slightly cute. "Dance with me?" He whispered into my ear.
I grimiced. "I don't know…"
"Come on please?" He said sweetly kissing just bellow my ear. I was putty and he knew it as he chuckled and pulled me to the dance floor.
As we moved the rhythm of the song on the dance floor his hands traveled my body. Hesitantly at first, but soon his hesitation left him as he traced my curves and exposed skin. It didn't escape my notice that this was a very public display that he was initiating. I was curious about that. He leaned down to whisper in my ear. "I couldn't keep my hands off you anymore." He said softly. I looked sideways at his face and before I knew it our lips met. I spun to face him and wound my hands in his hair as his pulled at my hips as he deepened the kiss. I pulled away after a moment. Well I guess if the fans hadn't figured it out and they saw that they would know now, but at that moment I couldn't care. We danced for two more songs and rocked out as the other performers did they're songs and we were getting ready for ours.
Jay Sean was on stage now performing his song Down and I was ambushed on the dance floor by Alice and Rose and we all danced together for the first part of the song. We were having a good time, singing along and moving to the music, just like we used to before all of this happened to us and we were just college kids sneaking into clubs to drink and have fun. I hadn't even realized how amazing my friends looked tonight. Edward had completely taken over my brain it seemed. They looked awesome as usual. Rose was wearing her signature red color, wearing a beautiful mini dress, and Alice was beyond beautiful in all black. I was sure I looked ridiculous in comparison. How anyone could see me as beautiful standing next to them on stage was a complete mystery to me. I didn't see it. I didn't see what other people saw in me. I was just plain Bella, nothing really special, but the fans will make up their own minds.
About halfway through the song I felt a pair of strong familiar hands on my hips. I smiled and looked over my shoulder to see his mop of bronze hair. Edward. He really couldn't behave could he, not that I was really complaining. This was about as physical as we had gotten in our relationship so far. And everywhere his hands touched it left a trial of fire. It was the most amazing feeling I had ever felt before in my life. I would be willing to sell my soul to feel that forever. I was nervous about the PDA we were partaking in tonight, but at the same time I was happy about it. I knew Edward's past experience with women. He was saying tonight, not really in words, but in actions, that I was his and no one else's. It was slightly cavemanish but I had to admit the fact left me a pile of goo on the floor.
As Lil Wayne took over the song I focused on Edward's eyes. I could get lost in them. He looked back at me as if he could see all the way to my soul. He smiled and I could tell that he liked what he was looking at. It made me smile too. We danced like that, watching each other until the song was almost over and we had to stop dancing and make our way toward the back sairs to get to the stage to do our song.
After he had finished Antonio, the owner of the club came on the stage and took the mic. "Wasn't he fantastic ladies and Gentelmen. Jay Sean and Lil Wayne, Ladies and Gents." He said as they waved and passed us on the stairs. "Well we're almost through with our live performances for tonight, but we saved for you an amazing new group for last. This group has taken the world by storm, Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Bella Swan and Twilight!" he said as the screams erupted and smiling we took the stage and made our way to our places.
I took the microphone from Antonio. "Thank you." I said trying to get the club to quiet down. "thank you." I said again. "Wow." I said after another moment. "Thank you. We sort of feel like the black sheep of the night with all of these amazing club bands that were here tonight, but we just couldn't say no to the thirty calls we received from Antonio." I said smiling and the club laughed at my little joke. "We're going to do a song for you tonight that's called Brick By Boring Brick. You may have heard of it…" I trailed off smiling as the music began.
She lives in a fairy tale
Somewhere too far for us to find
Forgotten the taste and smell
Of the world that she's left behind
It's all about the exposure the lens I told her
The angles were all wrong now
She's ripping wings off of butterflies
keep your feet on the ground
when your head's in the clouds
Well go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle
Go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle; bury the castle
Ba da ba ba da ba ba ha
So one day he found her crying
Coiled up on the dirty ground
Her prince finally came to save her
And the rest you can figure out
But it was a trick
And the clock struck 12
Well make sure to build your house brick by boring brick
or the wolves gonna blow it down
keep your feet on the ground
when your head's in the clouds
Well go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle
Go get your shove
We'll dig a deep hole
To Burry the castle, bury the castle
Whoa, whoa……
Well you built up a world of magic
Because your real life is tragic
Yeah you built up a world of magic
If it's not real
You can't hold it in your hand
You can't feel it with your heart
And I won't believe it
But if it's true
You can see it with your eyes
Oh even in the dark
And that's where I want to be, yeah
Go get your shovel
We'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle
Go get your shovel
And we'll dig a deep hole
To bury the castle, bury the castle.
The band x2:
ba da ba ba da da ba da......
Bella joins them x2:
ba da ba ba da ba ba da.....
When we finished the crowd erupted again. And Antonio once again joined us on stage. "Wow." He said into the mic. "Wow. Twilight Everyone." He said gesturing to us as we waved and made our way back toward the stairs stopping a few times to sign some autographs for fans. The DJ took over the music and Antonio came up and thanked us profusely for our performance, and talked business with Emmett for a while. After a few minutes it was time for us all to head back to the hotel. It was rounding its way toward two in the morning and we were beyond exhausted.
I must have fallen asleep in the car on the way back to the hotel because I don't remember the drive at all. I opened my eyes and I was being carried into my room by Edward. He set me on my bed and went to his room while I changed for bed. A minute later he reappeared in my room ready for bed. We climbed under the covers wordlessly and Edward pulled me close to him. I laid my head on his chest and within minutes I was asleep.
End notes: Well what do you think? A little more fluff but it's setting up for some major drama later trust me! Tell me what you think it is in a review!