18. Belonging

Alice, Esme and I woke up first. I had an internal alarm clock that woke me up every morning at 5 am. I was hoping changing time zones would influence that alarm, but it turns out it did not.

The three of us went for a run around the huge property. The property was a foreclosure, and was on the market for a very long time. We were about a 20 minute drive from Forks, but Esme wanted us to be surrounded by nature.

She was excited to be going back to teaching kindergarten. After we left Anchorage and moved to Denali, she was stuck teaching high school math. She was ecstatic to be back with the younger, more impressional students.

The rest were still asleep when we got back, so we each had a shower and went into town.

Everything in Forks was off the highway. We found the highschool, and Esme regististered the 4 of us in school.

"What do you think Rose wants to take?" Esme asked,

I glanced through the senior level classes, "Well she was really excited to take accounting and auto in Alaska, so I'm sure she would want to take them here too"

"And she loved Physics and Calculus" Alice interjected, "and she liked Spanish and art class"

"I think she would like History, and doesn't she need to take English too?"

The receptionist laughed, "You two filled up her entire schedule! What is Rose Cullen's full name?"

"Rosalie Lillian Hale" Esme automatically, "She's not a Cullen; she's my niece and insisted on keeping her biological parents last name"

The receptionist did not comment on that. I signed.

"Jasper Whitlock Hale wants to take Psychology, Spanish, English, Computer Science, Government, Drama, and Geology" Alice said, reading a text message he sent her.

"And what do you two want to take?" The receptionist asked,

"French, Biology, Trigonometry, English, History, Home Economics, Psychology and um…. " Alice tapped her chin, thinking, "Accounting"

"Sure thing. Mary Alice Brandon Cullen, right?" She clarified,

"Yes' Alice said politely,

"Brandon" The receptionist said "That's a very… masculine middle name"

"It was my biological parents last name" Her tone had no emotion to it

The receptionist looked awkward when she looked at me.

"Do the music classes require auditions?"

"Yes, but Mrs. Tanner has a spare block right now and she is desperately looking for more students. I'll take you there right now and you can audition for her"

I was a little nervous. I didn't know if I was good compared to the other students here, nor did I have anything prepared.

We walked to the basement hallway, which was lined with doors. She knocked on the middle one.

Mrs. Tanner came and opened the door.

"Oh hey, Shelly- I mean, Mrs. Cope" She corrected herself when she saw the three of us.

"Hi Mrs. Tanner, this is… um…"

"Edward Cullen and Alice Cullen" Esme said from behind

"I'm sorry if we are disturbing you" I said apologetically,

"No, I'm just organizing sheet music" she said, "You're the new doctors kids, right"

"Yes" I tried to smile, but I was too nervous. I fixated my eyes on the small piano in the corner.

"Please tell me at least one of you is here to audition" She said, looking at Alice and I.

"That would be him" Esme injected

She smiled at me, almost relieved,

"Well what do you play?"

"Piano, mostly. But I can play the cello and flute too"

"Great. Can you play Symphony 40 on piano and cello?"

"Yes, of course" I said

She looked shocked, "I was joking! I was just going to make you play something easy, but now I want to hear you play it"

Great. This is what happens when I talk.

I sat at the piano and began to play it, relieved I had it memorized. I tried not to look at anyone.

Mrs. Tanner looked impressed when I turned around. She clapped as she looked at me, and I knew she had plans for me.

"Yep. You can play piano in concert band and jazz band. Can I hear you on the cello?"

She let me use an old cello from her office. It did not sound as good as mine, but I played the same song"

"I want you to be the first cello in the senior class" she said after I was done.

"I'm only a junior though" I said, trying to hide my desire to play with older students

"That's okay. I'll let you take the senior class twice. Can you sing too?"

I nodded, "Can I sing Never Say Never?"

"As long as you are talking about the one from The Fray and not Bieber"

I smiled. I knew I waa going to like her.

I went back to the piano and started to play it.

I felt the music begin to run through my body. My entire body was invested in it, and I felt like me and this piano were one. It always felt like this when I was singing and playing together. It was the one time where I felt like I belonged.

Mrs. Tanner couldn't hide her enthusiasm, "You're good kiddo. Can you play me How to save a life too?"

Did she see my enthusiasm? Could she tell that I was pouring every part of myself into this music? Could she tell that I needed her to like me enough to put me in her music classes?

She smiled. "Have you thought about music professionally?"

I nodded, "I have always wanted to go to Julliard"

"Remember to save me a seat to your first performance when you get in"

I ended up signing up for English, Biology, Spanish, Pre Calculus, History, Choir, Strings, Concert Band, and Jazz band. Jazz Band was before school, and she asked me to play the piano for the elementary choir Mrs. Tanner taught on Tuesday mornings.

"I have a feeling you will be in that basement more than just for your classes" Esme laughed as we left the school, "Mrs. Tanner is going to make you help with everything"

"That's okay," I answered honestly, "I'm glad she seems to like me"

Alice rolled her eyes, "Yeah because you are the embodiment of the typical high school misunderstood emotional emo kid"