Truth in Music Chapter 36: Observing the Fall, a twilight fanfic

A/N: Okay…so just know I'm going to try to crank these chapters out quickly, because writing about heartache on Valentine's day sucks!! Anyway…this chapter is from Alice's POV because…well it just kind of happened that way…Both the songs for this chapter are used Paramore songs. The chapter song is Franklin and the song that is performed is All I wanted.

Alice POV-

When Bella had called me a week ago to say she wouldn't be able to go dress shopping I could tell that something was wrong, but she didn't want to share it. I asked but all she said was that she didn't feel well and I left it at that. I hadn't seen her for seven long days. She wasn't answering her phone at home or her cell. I was starting to get worried. So I felt completely and totally justified in calling Ness and getting her to tell me when she was going to be at the studio. I smiled at the guard and asked where Bella Swan was recording, after flushing and asking for an autograph he told me she was in studio 6. I headed down the hallway toward the recording booth. I noticed the light was glowing indicating that she was already recording. I slipped in quietly next to Renesmee.

"Hey." She said softly.

"Hi. You don't seem surprised to see me here." I said grinning.

She raised an eyebrow at me. "At this point Alice…nothing you do surprises me."

I laughed quietly and looked at Bella who was talking to other members of the band. I doubted she noticed I was there yet. So I decided I would wait until she needed a break to show her I was there. I grabbed a seat in the back of the booth with Ness. I watched Bella. I could tell that she had had a rough week. Her whole body was seemingly dragged down. When she turned around to don her headphones I could see the dark circles under her eyes. "How's she doing?" I asked Renesmee.

"She's been better."

"What happened?"

"I've got no clue. If I had to guess though I would probably say it had something to do with Edward."

"Why do you say that?"

"She's avoiding him."

"Oh. How so?"

"Blocking his calls, not going out in public, he's even come to the house a few times and she's had him removed by security."

"Wow. Do you know…"

"No, but it had to be…"

"Bad." I finished for her.

"Yeah. She's been…It's like she's not even there. I think she's only here now because she has to be. The old spark that used to be Bella is just gone." She said but stopped with the guitarist started the song they were recording. It was the first time I would hear something that was going on the new album besides what she sang at the Grammys. I wish it had been under different circumstances.

Think of me when you're out when you're out there

I'll beg you nice from my knees

And when the world treats you way to fairly

It's a shame I'm a dream

All I wanted was you

I think I'll pace my apartment a few times

And fall asleep on the couch

And wake up early to black and white re-runs

That escape from my mouth

All I wanted was you

I could follow you to the beginning

Just to relieve the start

Maybe then we'd remember to slow down

At all of our favorite parts

All I wanted was you

Alice watched as her friend sang. She didn't know what happened exactly, but Bella had been hurt. Bella had been hurt by someone she had trusted completely. She was broken. He had broken her. Alice was already making her way toward her when her friend crumpled to floor in front of the microphone and began to sob.

"I've never seen her like that Jazz. It was…" I couldn't finish. I stopped chopping the veggies for the salad I was making for me to take with me tomorrow and turned around to face him. He slipped the knife out of my hands and laid it down on the counter before wrapped his arms around me and pulling me to him. I rested my head on his chest taking comfort in being with him.

"Hey…It's okay. She's going to be fine."

"You can't know that. Jazz you didn't see her." I said my voice a little muffled my his shirt I turned it so he could hear me properly. "She's wasn't…it was like she was broken, completely and totally broken. And worse I could tell that she had been holding it in. She looked like she hadn't eaten or slept in days. And that song, I guess the song just opened up the wound. Then she insisted on me helping her pack up to go clear across the country. I agreed. Maybe I shouldn't have. Maybe I should have told her no, but then she just would have done it anyway, without me."

"Exactly."

"What?" I looked up at him in confusion.

"Sweetie…Bella's hurt. Right now she's hurting…and she will be for while. I hate to say it, but there's not much we can do except be there for her. She just needs time and space."

"I feel so helpless though."

"I know you do." He kissed my forehead. "You're far too sweet to sit back and do nothing, I know that." I sighed and laid my head against his chest once more. I felt his hands rubbing my back. "Knowing that…I know you'll rest at nothing until you know what it is that is exactly bothering her. So…I figured as the wonderful soon to be husband I am I would say my peace and then let you do what you want."

I bit my lip, a habit I had realized I picked up from Bella and pulled away a little to look up at him with worried eyes. He stroked my cheeks and waited for me to speak. There were often times when I wondered how he did it. How he knew exactly what it was I needed. "Jazz…the wedding…we can't…we can't get married like this. Not with Bella…" I couldn't finish. The Wedding was set to be in a few months. I know that Jazz had been looking forward to this day for…well as long as I can remember. It had been me who had always put it off, saying that we should wait until we had enough money now here I was again. Here I was asking him to wait longer. How long would it take before he would say that I wasn't worth it?

I was met with a patient and sweet smile. "I know sweet one. I know. You think I could marry you without Bells there. I've waited years to marry you, a few more months won't kill me."

I studied him to maybe see if he was joking but he wasn't. "Why are you so perfect?" I asked.

"Well…I could give you a list." He said with a smile. I reached up on my toes to kiss him but I couldn't quite make it all the way. He lifted me up in his arms so I could reach him. I giggled as his lips met mine. After a few moments he put me down but he held me in his arms for a while longer before he pulled away to go to bed. After cleaning up in the kitchen and getting ready myself, I sat awake in the bed long after Jasper had gone to sleep.

I couldn't help but think that letting Bella leave was a huge mistake. At the time I guess I really did understand the whole situation. I guess hindsight is 20/20 but…still it was eating away at me. I guess part of it was that it definitely felt like she was running to me, but I didn't know what she was running from. I didn't know what was wrong with my best friend, but I was going to find out, but Jazz was right she needed some time. And if she needed to be in New York to get that time I had to be supportive right. That's what friends do. I just had to accept that when she was willing to tell me I would be willing to listen.

End Notes: I know that some of you hate me right now. And that is completely understandable…okay…but you have to trust me…I don't want to say too much, but I believe in happy endings. Remember that. I believe in happy endings!