A/N: Thank you for all the reviews, congratulations, and "welcome backs" I got after the last chapter! It really helped set the pace to keep writing all this week. You'll probably notice that this chapter is much shorter than the past couple chapters I've posted. What can I say? Longer chapters = longer waits for updates.

My beta is Coleen561 and if you haven't figured it out already, she pretty much rocks :)

Do you even know who you are?

A rising dream or a fallen star?

- Pink

Bella's POV:

"Edward."

He stood in front of me, hands shoved in the pockets of his grey suit pants. My eyes traveled up his body, taking in his open blazer and the hint of a bare chest revealed by his partially unbuttoned shirt. His body was toned, his skin a golden tan. He looked amazing. Better than I had seen him in a long time. Did he work out in rehab? God, his muscles seemed bigger than I remembered them.

My gaze finally landed on his face, and I was taken aback by his beauty. The last memories I had of Edward were of his pale, sunken in face on the hospital bed. Now, as he stood in front of me, there seemed to be a glow about him. He seemed so relaxed, yet his eyes were still filled with so much intensity. He was still the same Edward, but there was something about him that was different…better.

As I stared up at him, memories overwhelmed my mind.

I wondered how his hair would feel if I could just run my fingers through his messy tresses one more time.

I looked at his lips and wondered how they would taste. Vivid memories flashed through my mind of his lips brushing against mine, traveling down my body, and exploring my most intimate places. Only Edward had ever known how to kiss and lick me until I was wild with desire.

I blushed and broke eye contact with him, staring at our feet, while I silently admonished myself for letting my thoughts drift to places they had no right to be. Thirty days didn't suddenly make him my knight-in-shining-armor again, especially after the months of hell he put me through.

"Bella."

My head shot up, hearing his voice for the first time in months. But it wasn't his voice that had me unnerved; it was my name. The name that only he used for me. I was his Bella.

But I wasn't anymore.

"God, you look beautiful," he breathed out.

"You too."

My eyes widened as I immediately realized what had inadvertently spilled out of my mouth. I could feel the heat rushing to my face and took a step back, creating more distance between us.

"What I mean is you look good," I rushed out, stumbling over my words to try and correct myself. He gave a slight smile and nodded his head, letting me know he understood my faux pas.

I stared at him intently, and felt the need to let him know how honest I was being. "You look really good, Edward."

Edward flashed a genuine smile, showing his perfectly white teeth. "Yeah, I feel good…better than I have in a long time."

I nodded, unsure what to say next. Part of me wanted to stay in that moment, staring up at him and reliving our past forever. The other part wanted to flee as quickly as possible. I couldn't do this, not now. Not when I had to stay focused for my performance tonight.

He couldn't just come back into my life, not when I had finally started to put it all back together.

Edward exhaled loudly and ran his hand through his hair, pulling it at the ends. "God, Bella, I spent so many nights imagining what I'd say to you if I ever saw you again. And now…"

He trailed off and looked away. I gulped, becoming acutely aware of how much my breathing had increased.

Please don't do this, Edward. Not here. Not now.

"What I put you through was horrible," he rasped out. Once again, his eyes were staring intently at me. "You deserve so much more than just an apology. I know that nothing I do or say could ever be enough."

Hearing his admission was becoming unbearable. This was not the Edward Cullen I had known for so long. This was Edward Cullen knocked off his pedestal; a humble Edward that I had rarely seen. I opened my mouth to try and stop him, but my throat was closed and my mouth felt parched.

"I've been talking a lot with my therapist…he's been helping me see how everything turned into such a shit storm. Why I'm so fucked up." He said the last part barely above a whisper.

My heart betrayed me; it wanted nothing more than to reach out and take his hand. But my head refused. His words may have chipped away a little bit of the wall that was now surrounding my heart. But I had too many defenses up to let down my guard that easily.

"Listen, I'm in town until Tuesday. I'd like to…if you'd let me…just talk. I'm not expecting anything to change," he rushed out. "But I owe you an explanation…I owe you a lot."

I shook my head, unsure if I could give him that. Before I could respond, Edward's eyes darted beside me, and he bristled. Jacob walked up to my side, holding two drinks in his hands. His eyes darted warily back and forth between Edward and me.

"Jacob," Edward said tersely.

Jacob gave a quick nod, handing me one of the drinks. "Edward."

Edward shifted uncomfortably, shoving his hands back into his pockets. "Listen, um, if you're willing…give me a call. Good luck tonight."

Edward turned to leave, but stopped and turned back toward us. Had I not been standing right there, I would have never believed the next words that came out of his mouth.

"Jacob, I owe you an apology. I'm sorry for fighting with you. You should have never been fired."

Jacob stared back at Edward, dumbfounded, before finally giving him a small nod. Edward's eyes flashed between the two of us again before he turned and walked away. I let out a deep breath I didn't even realize I was holding. Jacob placed his hand on the small of my back, steering me towards the entrance to the theater.

"You okay?"

I nodded, but couldn't say anything more. My mind was still trying to make sense of the entire interaction with Edward.

Jacob shook his head in bewilderment. "When did tonight turn into the ghosts of exes past?"

An hour later, I stood backstage in a long, billowing, white dress, waiting to be called to the stage. I paced around in a circle, shaking my arms, and blowing air out of my lips, trying to focus. My conversation with Edward had left me completely unnerved.

I had looked for Edward a few more times throughout the night in the theater, but never saw him again. I hadn't seen Emmett or Jasper either. I wondered if The Volturi was doing a surprise performance. Why was Edward here?

A loud, frustrated sigh escaped my lips. I could not be thinking about him right now! My entire career was hinged upon this one performance tonight. I could not let Edward Cullen get in the way of my music anymore.

I was caught off guard when a hand roughly grabbed my elbow and whipped me around. James stood so close to me, our noses were almost touching. He wore a menacing sneer on his face.

"Did you think I wouldn't find out about your little scheme, Isabella?" he spat at me.

I wrenched my arm out of his grasp and stood up straight. Inside my heart was pounding, but I refused to let him see he was scaring me.

"I don't know what you're talking about, James. Had you contacted me at all this past week, or even been here for my dress rehearsal last night, you would have known I decided to change the song."

"Oh, now poor, little Isabella Swan wants me to hold her hand throughout the entire process?" he sneered.

"I expect you to do your job, James – it's what you get paid to do."

"My job was to make sure you had the next hit single for Aro. We decided on Since U Been Gone. You don't get to call the shots here!"

"No? I thought you made it perfectly clear in your office that you were giving me more control over my music. I have only myself to blame for my career – isn't that what you said?"

James stayed silent. I could see his jaw twitching, and he flexed his fists a few times. I knew I finally had the upper hand and got braver in my confrontation with him and stepped closer.

"So tell me, James, what are you so worried about? If I'm about to create career suicide, you can easily just wash your hands of me. That's what you want anyway, right?" I poked my finger into James's chest, causing him to take a step back. "I'm onto you, James. I know exactly the type of backlash I would have received with Since U Been Gone – and you can be sure I'm going to let Aro know too."

James threw his head back and laughed, immediately causing me to lose some of my nerve. "You stupid, little girl! Do you actually think I suggested Since U Been Gone to Aro? As far as he knows, you've been insisting on that song for weeks, and I've been trying to persuade you differently."

My fists were balled so tight that I could feel my nails digging into my palms. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to hold back the angry tears that were ready to spill out. Not now, Isabella. Not in front of him.

"Why are you doing this?" I hissed. "If you didn't want to manage me, why'd you make me sign that contract?"

"Oh, I saw potential in you, Isabella. But then I got to know the real you." James stepped closer to me, practically growling in my face. "You're nothing more than a spoiled, little brat. You want a manager to be like your daddy – someone that will say yes to your every whim. You want to ride on your famous boyfriend's coattails, but only when it's convenient for you. But what happens when you take all that away? I'm left to work with a no-talent bitch."

My hand cracked against his face, his head whipping to the side. When he turned back to face me, his eyes held so much hatred that I was genuinely scared of what he would do next. I took a wary step away from him. He brushed his fingers across his cheek, gave me a wicked smile, and then stepped towards me again. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for contact.

"Isabella? We need you to take the stage now. You'll be on right after the commercial break."

I opened my eyes to see a stagehand, with headphones on her head, standing next to me. I quickly nodded and stepped away from James, giving him one last glance.

"Good luck on that new song of yours, Isabella," he mocked behind me. "You're going to need it."

The stage was cloaked by a large curtain as I sat down at the piano and tried to calm my nerves. James had left me completely rattled. My heart was racing, my breathing was shallow, and my hands could not stop shaking. How the hell was I going to perform in five minutes?

I closed my eyes, wishing I had let Jake come backstage with me when he asked if I needed moral support. I imagined him standing next to me and decided to give myself the pep talk I knew he'd be saying to me right about now.

"Ok, Isabella, you will not let James get the best of you. That is exactly what he wants. Go with your gut. You've got a good song. If you didn't, James wouldn't be so threatened. Just close your eyes and play the song. Nobody else matters."

I took a few more deep breaths and opened my eyes; my hands now lay still on the piano keys.

I could do this.

On the other side of the curtain, the crowd roared to life. I knew whoever was introducing me had just stepped out on stage. This was it.

The applause continued to go on for much longer than I expected, and I started to wonder what was happening at the front of the stage. And then I heard his voice. Edward.

"Thank you. It's been a long road to recovery, but I'm happy to be standing here tonight – alive and thirty days sober."

The crowd immediately started applauding again, and I could only imagine he was getting a standing ovation. I wondered if this was another one of James's schemes to throw me off of my game. Glancing towards the side of the stage, I could see James furiously yelling at some of the nearby stagehands. It looked like he wasn't enjoying this surprise anymore than I was.

"But I'm not here to talk about myself tonight. I'm here to talk about our next performer – someone who means more to me than, I think, she'll ever know."

All the calming exercises and the pep talk I had just given myself immediately flew out of my mind. My heart started hammering all over again.

"Isabella Swan is one of the most talented singers and songwriters I have ever known. Unfortunately, during these past couple of months, her music has been overshadowed by the gossip of our breakup. She was portrayed as the villain. But let me tell you…the only thing Isabella was guilty of was loving a guy who wasn't good enough for her. I chose drugs over Isabella."

The truth of his admission felt like a weight pressing heavily on my chest. I couldn't breathe and I tried, desperately, to quell the sobs that were building up inside of me. A bottle of water sat on the end of the piano and I grabbed it, trying to drown the tears that threatened to spill out.

"She was slandered in the media for no reason. And instead of telling the truth and letting everyone know that I was a cheating drug addict, she took the high road. Something I never did. So I'm here tonight to not only tell you how drugs can destroy your life…but the lives of all the people you care about the most.

"Isabella is performing tonight because of how talented she is. So now, it's time to start focusing on her music…instead of having her continue to pay for my mistakes. Ladies and Gentleman…Isabella Swan."

The curtain began to rise, and I could see the crowd on their feet, applauding; I wasn't sure whether it was for me, Edward, or both of us. I closed my eyes, trying to tune out everything around me and get control of my emotions. Edward's words cut directly to my heart. And as much as I wanted to hear everything he said, I was nowhere near ready for it.

The musicians on stage started in with the haunting melody I had chosen for my intro. I took deep breaths, focusing on the music. The background singers broke in, singing the same two lines from another one of my songs I had chosen.

Do you even know who you are?

A rising dream or a fallen star?

The lyrics were from a song I wrote after American Idol, called "Lonely Girl." While I didn't choose it for my next single, the questions I posed in that song years ago were still relevant in my life today. I decided to start off my performance with the words to that song to show my transformation. I was choosing my destiny.

I let the singers' voices fill my head, as I reminded myself of who I was. This is your dream, Isabella…don't let anyone else take it away from you.

Taking one last deep breath, I opened my eyes and started playing a new melody on the piano. My head remained down; I didn't dare look anywhere else except my fingers as they slid across the keys. Here at the piano, I was safe – this is where I knew myself the most.

Skies are crying, I am watching,

Catching teardrops in my hands.

I looked up and saw James staring maliciously at me from the side of the stage. No doubt, he was going to try and make my life a living hell after this performance. But all that mattered now was this song and what it meant to me.

Only silence, as it's ending,

Like we never had a chance.

I looked up again and was startled this time to see Edward standing in the wings. He was leaning against a wall, his arms crossed over his chest, and his eyes never left me; a huge smile spread across his face as he watched me sing. Of course Edward knew the song; he helped me write it.

You can take everything I have,

You can break everything I am,

Like I'm made of glass.

Like I'm made of paper.

I glanced at James again. He was still frowning, glancing back and forth between me and Edward. Another figure stood next to James, who I immediately recognized as Aro. My heart soared when I saw that he was beaming back at me. This was it! Maybe my plan was working! With renewed confidence, I turned my focus toward the crowd, singing louder than before.

Go on and try to tear me down,

I will be rising from the ground,

Like a skyscraper.

Like a skyscraper.

When I finally ended the song, there was a brief moment of silent across the theater before the crowd rose to a roaring applause. I stood up next to the piano and took a bow, while trying to discretely wipe some of the tears from my eyes. If it all went downhill from here, at least I would have this moment to remember.

I stepped off the stage and came face-to-face with Aro and James. My eyes briefly scanned the rest of the backstage area, but Edward was no longer in sight. Aro clasped his hand on my shoulder, smiling broadly at me.

"Well done, Isabella! Beautiful song choice! I'm so glad James was able to convince you to change singles!"

"Well, you know how stubborn Isabella can be," James said, nervously laughing.

"What can I say…it was a last-minute decision." I had to bite my tongue not to curse at James in front of Aro. As much as wanted to tell Aro the truth about James's schemes, it was futile. He clearly wouldn't believe that his "best manager" had been setting me up this entire time.

"And I must say, my idea to have Edward come out and introduce you was brilliant!" Aro continued. "I know James wasn't pleased with me keeping it a secret from him, but I couldn't risk ruining the surprise! This has gone so much better than I planned! Now whenever anyone hears Skyscraper on the radio, they're going to immediately be cheering for you and Edward to make it back up to the top."

My smile dropped as I realized just what Aro was implying. Of course…the song was going to be about Edward. The song I had chosen to show my independence from this entire mess was now going to be used as his "comeback song." Everything was always about Edward.

"I have big plans for you, Isabella! Big plans!" Aro gushed. "I'll be in New York all week. Let's set up a meeting on Tuesday to discuss your next steps from here."

I nodded mutely and watched as Aro walked away, leaving James and me still glaring at each other.

"You got lucky, Isabella."

"Luck had nothing to do with it," I seethed. "I expect our contract will be annulled at the meeting on Tuesday?"

James laughed. "And lose my biggest stake in the company? Not a chance in hell."

I clenched my fist again, but this time I resisted the urge to swing at him. If he was going to make a game out of my career, I refused to play the role of pawn. I spun around, walking away from him as fast as I could.

"Go fuck yourself," I muttered as I made my way to the dressing rooms.

Jacob and I sat together on the floor of my loft, already into our second bottle of wine, with bags of potato chips strewn around us. Once the VMA's were over, I decided to skip the after parties. I was still in a foul mood from my confrontation with James, and I didn't want to have to deal with the countless questions I was sure to get about Edward. Truthfully, I also didn't want to run into Edward anymore tonight either.

As soon as we got back to the loft, I changed into a pair of pajamas and wiped off my makeup. Jacob's blazer was thrown across one of my couches. His shirt was disheveled and un-tucked, with half the buttons undone. We both looked like complete messes, and neither of us cared.

"Fucking James! I'll show him who's a no-talent bitch!" I muttered into my wine glass.

"Why'd she have to look so goddamn beautiful?" Jacob whined.

"Trying to take credit for my song while he was sabotaging me!"

"'You used to be interested in telling the story, not being a part of it!'" Jacob mocked in a high-pitched voice.

I paused, mid-sip, and stared at him. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Jacob looked down at his empty wine glass. He went to pour himself another drink, then shrugged and placed the whole bottle against his lips. When he finally pulled it away from his mouth, he looked at me sheepishly. "Vanessa."

"Oh my God, Jake! Why didn't you just go back and talk to her?"

"There was nothing to say."

"No?" I asked, raising my eyebrow. "'Cause it sure looks like you have plenty to say to the wine bottle that you're pretending is her."

"It doesn't matter. She's heard it all before."

I sat there, mulling over my glass of wine, trying to think of a solution to Jake's heartache. "Tell me, Jake…have you ever apologized to her when you weren't drunk?"

Jacob shrugged. "What does it matter?"

"It means a lot if you're only calling her to drunk dial!"

"It's not like that…"

"Listen," I cut him off. "If you want her to take your apology seriously, then you have to have a real conversation with her, face-to-face. Give her a call tomorrow morning. Or better yet, show up at her office."

Jacob snorted. "Yeah, like I'm going to take any love advice from you!"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I asked, indignantly.

"It means you don't follow your own advice! I know you heard the same speech I did, and it sure as hell sounded like a sincere apology."

I bristled, not wanting to turn the conversation to Edward. "That was different. That was for show."

"Oh yeah, because publicly telling the world that you're a cheating drug addict does great things for your image!" he said sarcastically.

Not wanting to hear what Jacob had to say, I yanked the bottle out of his hand and took a swig of wine.

"What did he say to you before the show?"

I shrugged. "He wanted to apologize…he said he owed me an explanation and wanted to meet up."

"Are you going to?"

I shook my head.

Jacob looked at me sternly. "If you want me to meet up with Vanessa, then you have to go talk to Edward."

"I don't think I can!"

"You're an idiot, Isabella," he said, matter-of-factly, ignoring the death glares I was now sending his way. "You are! You've been dealing with this Edward Cullen shit for months! I've watched your heart get ripped out time and time again either because there's a new scandal in the news, or he's had an overdose, or he's gone to rehab. Whether you like it or not, both of your names are always going to be tied together. So the least you deserve is some closure."

"He's going to want more than that."

"It doesn't matter what he wants! You don't owe him your forgiveness, Isabella. But you owe it to yourself to get the apology he never gave you."

I sat and contemplated what Jacob was telling me. I thought back to everything Edward had told me tonight. Hearing him apologize and own up to his mistakes wasn't something I heard often. I wanted to believe that he had changed and truly taken rehab seriously. On the surface, it looked like he did. But I was scared to allow even the smallest part of me open up to him. What if he hurt me again?

Still…Jacob did have a point. I needed closure. Perhaps knowing that Edward was in a better place would allow me the chance to move on, to not feel so obligated to him. To finally rid myself of the guilt I still felt.

I stood up and walked into my bedroom, grabbing a spare pillow off my bed. Returning back down the hall, I tossed the pillow at Jacob, who looked at it curiously.

"I'm going to bed. You can crash on the couch tonight."

Jacob looked at me and smirked. "Is going to bed your way of not wanting to talk about this anymore?"

"No, going to bed means we're both cut off, and I need to sleep on it," I said, picking up the last of the wine bottles and dumping them in the trash. "Now give me your cell phone."

"What? Why?"

"Because friends don't let friends drunk dial." I snatched his cell phone out of the pocket on his blazer and walked back into my bedroom, closing the door before he could protest.

Once I was alone in my room, I took out my own phone, staring at it and contemplating my options. He was only in town for one more day. Could I really go through with this?

"It's just a talk, Isabella…nothing more," I reaffirmed to myself.

Before I could second-guess my decision, I quickly tapped in his number; a number that was still seared into my memory.

"Hey, it's me….we should talk."

A/N: When I originally thought about the plot to this story, I was just going to use Pink's "Lonely Girl" as the song Bella sang at the VMA's because I wanted to tie the title of the story into the plot. However, as soon as I heard Demi Lovato's "Skyscraper," I couldn't picture any other song for Bella. Hence why I have a mixture of both.

So next chapter we get even more E&B interaction. Yay!