Chapter 7 – How Bazaar

The day of the bazaar was fast approaching. After football practice and me picking up Esryl from daycare, we all would meet with Mr. Anderson to rehearse for our performance. Mr. Anderson didn't mind having Esryl in the room, as she had charmed him thoroughly, just like everyone else. The guys also spent two weekends building the stage we would need, with lumber and hardware donated by a large home improvement store in the neighborhood.

We had just enough people left with diverse musical talents to put together a pretty decent group. James was on bass guitar, Edward was on keyboards, I was on lead guitar, Mike was on drums, three more the guys were doing brass, and the other six were filling in with strings, percussion, and synthesizers, plus we all were doing vocals.

Since my parents hadn't replaced the full-sized piano in the family room yet, Edward had asked to come into my attic room and use mine. Esryl played on the floor with my old toys, while he practiced on the piano, and I played along on my guitar. I'd gotten an idea for a song to help kick off the adopt-a-friend campaign that would also be going on during the event, and Edward helped me flesh it out. I would find myself singing and playing, watching him intently, as we worked on the song. When he would glance up at me, I'd blush and close my eyes, trying to imagine cute little furry faces, instead of the face of the beautiful boy in front of me. It didn't work for long, because I'd find myself staring again.

I was lead singer, and I was going to play my acoustic guitar, but Mr. Anderson was concerned about whether my playing would be heard amongst all the louder instruments everyone else would be playing.

"Bella, I'm afraid you're going to be drowned out during everything but your solo. Have you ever played an electric guitar before?" he asked one afternoon during practice.

"No, Mr. Anderson, but I'm willing to give it a try if you think it'll help our performance." I was committed to the cause and was happy to do whatever it took to make it a success.

"Please, Bella, call me Adam when we're off the clock, so to speak. I keep looking around for my dad when you call me Mr. Anderson," he laughed. I agreed to call him Adam, although it felt weird when he was still Mr. Anderson in the classroom, and to everyone else.

After a few one-on-one sessions with him, I was picking it up quickly. Edward insisted on hanging around, while Mr. Anderson worked with me on learning how to use the electric guitar. I was baffled by the way Edward watched his every move with a frown, as Mr. Anderson stood behind me, showing me how to use the whammy bar and do a few complicated slide moves and riffs.

On the last day of my electric guitar lessons with him before the bazaar, Edward had a conflict and had to stay late at football practice. I picked up Esryl and then headed back to the school, where Mr. Anderson was just finishing setting up. "Hey, munchkin, you ready to hear your big sis rock it out today?" he asked a grinning Esryl, as he ruffled her hair. She nodded enthusiastically and climbed up into one of the chairs, taking the shakers he handed her, so she could "accompany" us. Amazingly, she had a pretty good sense of rhythm and loved to play with us. It also kept her out of mischief.

I fitted Esryl's ear protection on her, and after a quick warm-up, we spent the next hour working on the songs we were performing. I was fairly confident I would be able to play good enough for the show, as was Mr. Anderson. I finally played my solo song for him on my acoustic guitar as our adoption kickoff number, and his eyes were full of emotion, as I sang the lyrics for him. After a long, silent moment, he stood up and walked slowly towards me. "Bella, you're amazing. The audience isn't going to know what hit them," he murmured softly.

I went to give him our usual high-five, but instead, he pulled me into a very close, tight embrace and softly kissed my cheek. Stunned, I backed up immediately, right into Edward's chest. I hadn't even heard him come into the room. His arms wrapped around me securely to keep me from falling, and I could feel the stiffness in his stance. Mr. Anderson seemed surprised by his own actions and mumbled something before quickly grabbing his stuff and bidding us a good evening. As he scrambled from the classroom, Edward glared after him as he went.

"Well, that was…"

"Highly inappropriate," Edward spat, his arms still wrapped protectively around me. I turned around and looked up at him, as he finally began to relax, dropping his arms. "Are you alright, Bella?"

"I'm fine, really. Please, don't make a big deal out of this, Edward. I'm sure Adam was just happy to finally be done with our lessons. It was really nothing, just a surprise is all." I didn't know who I was trying to convince more, Edward or myself. He looked at me for a long moment, but he agreed to drop it.

"I don't want you to be alone with him anymore, though, Bella. Promise me that, okay? And it's Mr. Anderson from now on."

I agreed, not looking for trouble for either of us. Mr. Anderson was young, only a few years older than me, but as a teacher, he could get into serious trouble over something like this, ending his career before it had even gotten started good. I liked him, and I didn't want that for him.

The morning of Halloween dawned cold, crisp and foggy on a mid-autumn Saturday. We had gotten permission to leave school early the day before to help organize, price and set everything up in anticipation of a sizable turnout. Donations for the bazaar had poured in, and so much had been donated towards the event that it had taken all day and late into the evening to get everything ready. Unfortunately, mom was out of town again, Elliott was going to have to work until very late, and anyone else who could have watched Esryl was busy or also out of town, so Edward and I would have to take her with us for the day.

I got up at the ungodly hour of four o'clock in the morning and stumbled into the kitchen to start breakfast, peeking outside and shivering at the dense fog that wrapped everything up in an eerie blanket of cold mist. Edward came into the kitchen a few minutes later and stared groggily at the hot chocolate I was making, willing me to go faster. I giggled at the extreme bed hair he was sporting, but he looked absolutely adorable in spite of it. I was standing on the stepstool to reach into the pantry, pulling out snacks and juice boxes to make Esryl a bag for the day, when he stretched and yawned, coming to stand next to me, laying his head on my shoulder. He looked so much like a sleepy little boy in that moment that my heart melted.

He noticed what I was doing and asked, "Why aren't Emmett and Alice helping with her again as usual today?"

"They're at Rose's beck and call today. Dad and Sue left last night for a quick overnight getaway to celebrate Sue's birthday, but they had Sue's mom come and stay at their house at the last minute to 'keep an eye on things,' so Rose and Emmett wouldn't have full unsupervised reign of the house, if you know what I mean," I laughed and winked.

"Anyway, Rose decided she wanted to have a Halloween party of her own, but at our house, away from her grandma, and she'll have Emmett and Alice busy with that, since they do everything she says. By the time we get back tonight, there's no telling what we'll find going on here. Your dad gave them permission to have a small get-together with close friends, but only if they were responsible and kept things under control, didn't involve any alcohol or drugs, and didn't do anything he'd have to bail anyone out of jail for tonight."

Edward nodded. "Alice did mention something about it being too dangerous for anything shorter than waist high to be around the house with them today, whatever that means. I just figured they didn't want to watch her. They'd probably completely forget about her and let her wander off or starve knowing those three. She's better off with us, anyway."

We cleaned up and were out of the house by five o'clock, Esryl tucked into her car seat, sound asleep between us in Sir MANSLUT, as we made our way to the Humane Society grounds. Honey was lying on a blanket between Edward's feet, since leaving her behind was no more an option than leaving Esryl. It was still pitch dark outside, and the fog was challenging to drive in. Edward poured another cup of cocoa from the thermos I had filled, taking a sip before passing the cup to me. We were both awake now, but the chill in the air had me longing for my warm bed.

We pulled up to the site, apparently the first ones to arrive. Edward looked at a very soundly sleeping Esryl and sighed, gently brushing her curls out of her face. "It's going to be hard on her being out here all day. Who's going to watch her while we're playing?"

"The SHAGNICs promised they'd take turns with her while we're performing if she starts getting restless. I would've left her with Esme and Carlisle, but they're out of town, too, at a medical conference until tomorrow night. Once she wakes up, she's going to have a ball, though, so I'm glad she's here. Besides, she's part of the band," I grinned, as I held up her shakers.

I removed Esryl from her car seat, and then Edward unbuckled it and placed it in the back of the truck. I wrapped her up in a thick blanket and laid her back down in the seat, and then Honey climbed up and squirmed under the blanket with her, resting her head beside Esryl's. Those two certainly loved each other.

The folks from the Humane Society pulled up just then, as well as four cars full of SHAGNICs, the rest of our group, and Mr. Anderson. We had about an hour before the early-bird bargain hunters were expected to start descending, so it was all hands in service, as we set up the tables and got everything ready. Clarissa wasn't nearly awake enough to be useful, so she climbed into Sir MANSLUT to stay with Esryl and Honey and went back to sleep. The rest of us worked quickly and had everything set up and ready to go, just as the first cars pulled up.

It wasn't long before the grounds were swarming with shoppers, and the day was officially underway. As predicted, the temperatures warmed up nicely, and the fog dispersed. By ten o'clock, the place was packed, and the street fair atmosphere was so much fun. Sales were brisk, and the donation jars were filling up quickly. Kids were trick-or-treating from all the vendors, lining up for face painting and to get balloons tied into animal-shaped hats. The adults were enjoying the complimentary hot cider and shopping for bargains. The whole thing really was like a huge carnival, with all the booths and games in full swing.

By eleven o'clock, the food vendors were getting ready to start offering lunch, which was our cue to get ready to play. We left the sale to the Humane Society folks and went to go get into our costumes. We had all agreed to dress up, and I was going as Morticia Addams, only I had been smart about the dress I'd made for myself. The bottom of my "dress" was actually split and made like pants, but it still looked like a dress. I had also made Esryl a simple cute Wednesday Addams dress and did her hair in braided pigtails. Once I straightened my hair and added sleeking gloss to it, it looked almost black and hung down to my knees, just like the original actress.

Edward and the rest of the guys had decided to dress up like eighties hair band rock gods, and they all looked amazing with their frizzy wigs, animal-print spandex pants, and leather vests. However, when James stepped out dressed like Gomez Addams, I thought Edward was going to punch him.

"What are you playing at, James?" Edward yelled at him. "What happened to your Ozzy Osborne costume?"

"I changed my mind," James said coolly, as he hopped up on the stage and started tuning his bass guitar. He saw me struggling to get up on the stage and reached down, picking me up under the arms and setting me down in front of him, placing a soft kiss on my cheek. The sharp, angry sound that came from Edward's keyboard at that moment startled me, and when I looked over at him, he looked on the verge of losing it completely. I moved away from James quickly to keep the peace and got Esryl situated in her chair with her shakers before fitting her ear protection into place. She hated the earpieces, but she knew it was non-negotiable with me if she wanted to be on stage and play with us. Mr. Anderson came through, making sure we were all ready, and then he grabbed a microphone.

"Welcome, everyone, to the Humane Society Halloween Festival!" Everyone applauded, and the crowd settled slightly. He thanked all the sponsors and everyone for coming out to support the cause, and then he introduced us. "We have a special treat for you today. The Stanford High Performing Arts Troupe will be playing for your listening pleasure. This whole event was organized by their efforts, so let's give them a round of applause for a job well done!"

We all took our places and began our set. We played for an hour, and it was some of the most fun I had ever had. I managed to keep up decently on my electric guitar, and Edward and James were perfection on keyboard and bass. Mike was a beast on the drums, and the rest of the guys were amazing as well. We actually sounded like a real band, and I could tell how proud Mr. Anderson was by how intently he watched us. I grinned at him during a guitar solo, where I was using some of the moves he had taught me, and he winked at me and smiled back, but then he looked almost sad, as he turned around and disappeared into the crowd.

The Adoption Center was scheduled to open at noon, and I was set to do my special number right before they opened. Edward got two chairs and my acoustic guitar set up with a microphone for me, while the rest of the band came and sat down along the front edge of the stage. Mr. Anderson reappeared and came up on the stage next to me.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have an exceptionally talented student in our midst who not only masterminded most of this event today, but she also wrote a special song to kick off the opening of the Adoption Center. Pay close attention to the amazing lyrics she wrote herself, and if you're at all able, take home a new friend today. They need someone to love them, too. Please, give it up for Miss Isabella Swan."

All eyes were now on me as the applause died down, and for once, I didn't cower. Edward had taken his wig off and came to sit down next to me, where he pulled a very drowsy Esryl up into his lap. They were smiling at me, giving me the encouragement I needed in that moment. Clarissa brought Honey up to the stage and placed her in Esryl's arms, as I began to sing.

What will my life be without you?

What life do I have anyway?

I hope and I wait one day longer

Just praying that you'll glance my way

And who will I go to if not you?

There's no one who I will forsake

I promise I'll be yours for always

Don't wait 'til tomorrow

Please say that you want me today

And just where will I find another

Who makes me feel safe like you do?

When I know for me there is no other

Who I want to be with but you

I know nothing of tomorrow

Tomorrow's not promised they say

But I'll love you until my last heartbeat

Don't wait 'til tomorrow

Please say that you want me today

I found myself looking straight at Edward while I sang. The words of the song were meant to inspire people to adopt a pet today, but I found myself singing the same song with a different meaning. Edward watched me intently as well, and for a moment, I was almost certain he understood what I was saying beyond the words.

Please don't walk away now and leave me behind

Let me love you, and I'll do the same

Take the chance that together is where we belong

And beside you is where I always will stay

Now when will you say it's forever?

The sand in the glass slips away

Take me with you while we have this one last chance

Don't wait 'til tomorrow

Please say that you want me today

Silence hung in the air for a few seconds, as Edward's eyes bore into mine. He leaned in and gently kissed me on the cheek, as the crowd burst into applause. Esryl had fallen asleep, so I quickly slipped her from him and laid her up on my shoulder, and then he hopped down off the stage before reaching to scoop Esryl and me into his arms. He set me down on my feet and left a lingering kiss on my temple before jumping back up on the stage to start the next set. Mr. Anderson came up and gave me an awkward hug, since I was still holding Esryl.

"That was brilliant, Bella. I couldn't be any prouder of you." He patted Esryl's back. "It looks like you have your hands full, so I'll take over for now. Go get something to eat and relax. You've earned it." He smiled at me again, and again, he looked so sad, as he climbed up on the stage to take my place with the band. Our relationship had never been the same since that day in the classroom, and while I was grateful there had been no further complications, I did miss the camaraderie we had developed. I glanced up on the stage and saw Edward glaring at him, a hard look darkening his otherwise perfect features. I smiled at Edward, trying to relieve some of the tension radiating between him and Mr. Anderson, and it worked somewhat, but they still kept their distance from each other. I just hoped we could get through the rest of this day without any more problems.

Those would definitely turn out to be famous last words…

A/N: Sorry, wasn't going to add any notes to the story, but if want, you can go listen to the song "I've Done Enough Dying Today" by Larry Gatlin. That melody is what I had in mind when I wrote the above lyrics. The link for the song is in my profile.