A/N: This scene is what I envisioned when I heard Nick Wilson's "Closer". It just gets me every time! Like I said the last chapter if you've not yet listened to Nick Wilson's "Closer", you're doing yourself a disservice. I digress. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, only the things I make them do. All creative credit goes to Stephanie Meyer for creating the universe I like to meddle in ;)
Chapter 3: Part One - Asking
EPOV
I start to strum a rhythm that is so unlike anything that I've ever put out there. It's soft, sweet, honest. All of my recorded songs are bitter or angry odes to the common breakup. This song, however, is my heart put into words, transfigured into the shape of music. When I start to sing, my eyes are fixated on my love. After all, the song is for her.
I'm on top of the world with you
So let's admire the view
There are so many things we've left to do,
But we've got nothing to prove
Except, that I love you…
There's another collective 'whoop' that flows through the crowd, and I shake my head with a smirk working its way to my lips. Bella's cheeks have taken on a dull red hue. My brow drops. This was the hardest part to put into words. I briefly sing of the bleakness of my life before her, of how she brought out the best of me.
I fell out with a broken heart
Someone split it in two
Then you came and you took the best of me
I took the best of you too
We held them closely…
'Cause all this talk of finding love and all its beauty and I…
I was starting to give up
But how the world is good at,
Throwing one more hook into the ocean
Oh, into the ocean!
You're the one that I fall for everyday!
I do it all for you
And every day is like the first time I saw your face
You know I haven't a clue
How I went so long without you, darlin'
I'm not sure when it started, but Bella has been slowly making her way to me. At this point, there are maybe ten feet between us. She's got tears glimmering in her eyes, the tip of her nose pinked, yet she's never looked more gorgeous to me. I continue singing, but there's a furrow in my brow now. As I lead up to the chorus, I feel the wash of emotion that always accompanies the memories of my old life. I sing about my fear of losing the one that has wrought such change in my life. I close my eyes tightly and belt out the chorus of the song, laying myself bare, begging for closeness, reminding her that I'll be her compass, her light, as she's been to me.
'Cause all this talk of finding love
And all its beauty and I,
I was starting to give up.
But, how the world is good at throwing one more hook into the ocean
Oh, into the ocean
Bring yourself closer to me
Bring yourself closer to me now
Closer to me now…
And if you are lost you'll find me
And when you're lost you'll find me somehow
You'll find me somehow…
And losing you terrifies me.
Losing you terrifies me now
Terrifies me now
When I open my eyes, all I see are those chocolate orbs swimming in tears, tracks running down her creamy skin. With every line, Bella takes one more step in my direction.
So bring yourself closer to me
Bring yourself closer to me now
Closer to me now…
Closer to me now…
Closer to me now…"
'Cause all this talk of finding love and all its beauty, and I…
Oh, think I found it
And then my beautiful girl is at the edge of the stage, right at my eye level. After a moment I stop strumming and set my guitar on the stand. There's a thunderous applause from the audience when I pull her in for a chaste kiss. At the same time, I reach into my pants pocket for something that's been burning a hole there all day. I sink to one knee in front of the love of my life, and she gasps.
I speak the words that I've been dying to release for months now. "Bella, when you met me, I was a cynic. I didn't believe that beautiful and untainted love existed. I've never been happier, in my life, to be proven wrong. I promise to love you every moment of our forever. Would you make me the luckiest man alive and marry me?" I grasp her shaking left hand in mine and settle in to wait for my answer.
Chapter 3: Part 2 - Answering
BPOV
From the first notes that he pulls from his guitar, I already know this will be a different experience than watching him in concert. This song, this melody is so tender. My eyes immediately sting from my impending tears. When he sings the line "We've got nothing to prove, except that I loooove you", his voice drops into that deep timbre reserved for when he's inside me, and mmm damn. I feel my belly twinge a little. It doesn't help that almost all the women hoot and he lets loose that sexy smirk of his. My feet start to carry me in his direction of their own volition.
Edward is singing of falling for me daily, and of being lost, and giving up on love. I know that I'm glimpsing a piece of his soul in its purest form. I am madly in love with this man. I love him so much that it's killing me to not be able to just lay one on him. One single thought slams into me: I will never love another man. I stand alone, directly in front of my love, beyond all the tables and chairs. There are maybe ten feet separating us, so I move in closer. I stand in front of the stage and take him in while he sings so beautifully. He stops strumming his guitar, and instead of thanking the crowd he steps directly off of the stage. My arms burn with the need to grab him and show him just how much I loved it.
Before I have the chance, Edward pulls me in gently by the back of my neck, caressing the skin there lovingly with his thumb, and kisses me with just enough urgency to set me on fire. He draws back and then drops to one knee. And I'm confused. Again. Then it hits me that it's happening, the man I'm head over heels in love with is proposing. I gasp loudly.
Edward grasps my left hand in both of his and says: "Bella when you met me, I was a cynic." I smile at him despite the tears pouring freely down my face. "I didn't believe that beautiful and untainted love existed. I've never been happier, in my life, to be proven wrong. I promise to love you every moment of our forever. Would you make me the luckiest man alive and marry me?"
Yes! The word reverberates loudly in my head, louder than the shadows of my past trying to creep in and ruin this moment. I open my mouth to put Edward out of his misery, but a wet sob bubbles up out of my throat. I'm ugly crying now. Awesome… I clear my throat roughly and try again. I nod my head rapidly, tears flying, and practically squeal out "Yes! Yes, babe, I will."
For a moment Edward is stock still, a look of abject disbelief crosses his face. He looks so confused like he can't believe that I agreed. Then he's on his feet in a flash, and I'm in his arms being swung around wildly. There's thunderous applause from the crowd, cameras flashing, and a chanted "Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!" probably started by Emmett. I don't have long to contemplate it because the very second Edward's lips meet mine, the whole world falls away.
A/N: *le sigh* Gah! I just love this Edward. I would totally jump that boy if he sang to me ;D Let me know if you liked it or not!
