A/N Thank you readers and reviewers!
Chapter 29
I stood off to the side of the choir room and began doing my breathing techniques to calm my nerves. Today was the day. Solo tryouts. I can do this. Suddenly my arm was being griped tightly. My eyes snapped open to meet Tanya's. I'd seen eyes like that before. James. She wasn't just a bully, she was dangerous.
"Get your hand off me," I said, in a firm quiet voice.
"Poor Bella, I heard you have a problem with stage fright. Don't worry, you're too much of a loser to win." Instead of releasing me, she dug in deeper.
I quickly rolled my arm turns me, which broke her hold, and I stepped back to gain distance between us. She looked at me, confused at the quick loss of my arm. I continued, "Don't ever touch me again."
Mrs. Munez entered the room, "Alright, girls, let's get settled. I'm very impressed with the number of girls trying out. Good luck to you all."
A few girls sang, and then it was Alice's turn. She had chosen "Popular" from Wicked. Leave it to Alice to pick a song that mentioned about giving makeovers. I had helped her work on this and it was going to be a real crowd pleaser. The girls giggled and clapped as she finished.
Tanya sang "My Heart Will Go On" (Celine Dion) badly. She got tripped up on the lyrics and was off key at times. By her expression as she returned to the risers, she knew she'd blown it. She glared at Edward like it was his fault. There was a smattering of applause for her.Another set of girls sang and then I was up. I was impressed with the songs and the singing so far.
I opened and closed my hands at my sides, which relaxed me as I tried not to look at the full risers. I nodded to Edward and returned my focus to center. I began singing Bella's Song, focused on Mrs. Munez as I had done for the partial choir. All was going well until I started to build full out into the song. A very loud and sustained cough sounded from the risers, and I faltered to a stop. Edward stopped playing a few seconds later.
"Sorry, Mrs. Munez. I must have a tickle in my throat after singing."
Tanya. Apparently there wasn't a level she wasn't beyond sinking to.
"Tanya, why don't you wait out in the hall until tryouts are completed."
I watched her guardedly as she walked by me. She looked at me with rage on her face. She snarled, "Stupid, no talent Bitch."
The keys of the piano sounded discordantly. The girls behind me gasped.
Mrs. Munez commanded, "Tanya, to the office right now. Class, I'll be back soon."
I turned my back to the choir and began my breathing techniques again, as I heard the girls continue speaking in shocked murmurs.
Mrs. Munez returned shortly. "Bella, I've very sorry about that. You can stay after class to sing if you'd like."
"If you don't mind, Mrs. Munez, I'd like to finish now."
She nodded, and her eyes held approval. "That's very professional of you, Bella. Start from the top."
I shook out my hands again, and then turned to Edward. He mouthed "I love you" and I gave him a small smile. I nodded my head and returned to center.
The music began and I focused on the music and Mrs. Munez. The first part was more challenging to sing than usual because it was difficult to channel the uncertainty and the tentativeness. The second part sounded better than before though, my recent anger adding an edge to the confident tone.
When I finished there was complete silence for a few seconds and then the choir erupted with cheers and exclamations. "That's showing Tanya." "Bella's awesome!" "Can you believe Edward wrote that for her? How romantic!" "Ha, ha looks like we're getting a new soloist!"
I knew I'd done well, but I didn't savor the moment as much as I would have expected. My mind was on Tanya. I knew without a doubt we weren't done yet.
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EPOV
I had seen Bella's and Tanya's exchange prior to the start of class, but Alice stopped me from intervening. "Edward, this is for Bella to deal with."
I pushed aside the protective feelings as I played for the girls. I chuckled to myself at Alice's choice. And then there was Tanya. I would have felt sorry for her cringe worthy performance if she hadn't been evil to Bella.
As Bella came down from the risers to sing, I could hear some of the girls' whispers. "She has an awesome voice. This is going to be great." "Edward wrote the song. He's so talented." "I hope Bella gets solo."
Bella signaled me to start playing. I would never tire of playing her song for her. I felt so much love and pride for her.
Loud coughing broke in rudely. Bella stopped singing, and I stopped playing.
"Sorry, Mrs. Munez. I must have a tickle in my throat after singing." Tanya was shameful. How could she do that to Bella?
"Tanya, why don't you wait out in the hall until tryouts are completed."
I was still facing the piano when I heard those hateful words from Tanya's foul mouth, "Stupid, no talent Bitch."
My hands slammed onto the keys as I pushed myself up and turned, pulling myself to my full height.
The girls were buzzing in the horror at Tanya's despicable behavior.
I remained standing as Mrs. Munez escorted Tanya out of the room. I wanted to go to Bella, but she was still in front of the room and had started her breathing exercises. I looked at Alice. She was watching Bella with a worried expression on her face. What Tanya had done was truly vile, and I wondered if Bella would be able to recover enough to finish the tryouts.
Mrs. Munez came back to the classroom, her features set in a grim expression. "Bella, I've very sorry about that. You can stay after class to sing if you'd like."
Yes, that would give Bella some time to compose herself and remove the added pressure of being in front of the full choir. I was confident she could sing then.
"If you don't mind, Mrs. Munez, I'd like to finish now." Bella said in a steady, determined voice. That's my girl.
Mrs. Munez said, admiration in her voice, "That's very professional of you, Bella. Start from the top."
I watched Bella's back as she continued to remove tension by moving her hands. She turned to me and the look on her face surprised me. I had expected to see at least a trace nervousness but her face was full of resolve, her eyes glittered with determination. I mouthed, "I love you." She gave me a slight smile and nodded.
I faced the piano and paused a second to center myself. Edward, play your best. Play for your angel. You can do this, Bella.
And she did, despite Tanya's horribly distracting actions, Bella sang well. In fact, she sang even better than before. There was a take no prisoners edge to second part of the song that was amazing.
She received much praise for her singing, and as we left class Alice chirped on about it.
"Bella, had I known you'd sing better after getting pissed off, I would have pinched you or something."
Alice continued on about needing a big shopping trip for dresses, which I started to tune out as I glanced over at Bella. She was watching the ground with a great deal of concentration, as if she was particularly fearful she would trip. I noticed she didn't appear to be listening to Alice closely either.
Alice hugged her and left for her locker. I watched Bella open hers and put some books in her bag. She closed her locker door and looked up at me.
I gazed into her eyes, "You're angry but don't want to speak because you're afraid of what might come out."
She nodded. I pulled her into my arms. "Babe, I'm so sorry that she did that to you."
She snuggled in closer and said into my chest, "I wanted to punch her in the head."
"Bella, it's okay to feel anger. Lord knows, if I were a girl, I would have punched her myself. The important thing is you stood up to her crap without using violence and you won by not letting her keep you from singing. Love, you were incredible. "
She giggled.
"What?"
"It's a good thing you're not a girl because I wouldn't be doing this. She reached up and pulled me down to her for a magnificent kiss.
