30
I woke up the next morning and saw Edward still with me. He was watching me sleep with a smile on his face.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Tia told me to stay with you," chuckled Edward. "She was worried about you. I went to leave and you started whimpering in your sleep."
"I don't like not sleeping with you," I whispered as I snuggled into his arms.
"I don't like not sleeping with you either, Baby," whispered Edward. The door to our room opened and we turned to see Tia and Benjamin come in.
"How are you feeling today, Bella?" asked Tia.
"Better. Thanks for letting Edward stay," I said softly.
"It's no problem," said Tia. She peeked over at Benjamin, who ducked his head and blushed. "Do you want to get some breakfast before your interview?"
"Yeah," I said softly. I climbed out of bed and stretched. My body was still sore. "I'm going to take a quick shower."
"Ok, I'll meet you downstairs," said Edward.
"Ok," I whispered.
He kissed me and left with Benjamin. I grabbed my shower stuff and went to take shower. I quickly washed my body and head. I turned off the water and dried off. I put my robe on and went out and stood in front of the mirror. Tia, Jane, Maggie and Heidi were putting on their make-up. I pulled out my bag and started putting on some lotion.
"What's the deal with you and Edward?" asked Heidi.
"He's my husband," I said softly.
"Your husband?" asked Jane. "How long have you been married?"
"Six weeks," I said softly.
"How long have you been sick?" asked Jane.
"Six weeks," I said. "We got married the night I found out I was sick. Edward and his twin sister, Alice were new to Forks. He and I clicked right away. The day I found out, I didn't handle the news very well and I ran out of my school with Edward, Alice, my brother, Emmett, and my best friends, Rose and Jasper following me. Edward got in my car while the others got in Emmett's. They followed me down to this really beautiful beach. We walked down to the sand and I fell to my knees and bawled. I don't want to die. Emmett was holding me while we cried together and Edward asked me what was wrong and I told him. He begged me not to give up. He begged me to live for him. I looked into his eyes and I knew I was in love with him. I knew that the only way I could fight the cancer and win is with him. So I asked him to marry me. He said yes. His parent's, my dad and the six of us flew to Vegas that night and we got married."
"That's very romantic," whispered Tia.
"He's my life, my air," I whispered.
"Why didn't your mom go?" asked Heidi.
"My mother died from leukemia when Emmett and I were two" I whispered.
"Oh. I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Emmett was ok with you getting married?" asked Jane.
"Yes, he saw that I was right. He and Rose as well as Jasper and Alice got married a week later."
"Seriously?" asked Jane.
"Yes, our friends Garrett and Kate Mitchell and Ben and Angela Cheney did also," I chuckled.
"Are they all sick?" asked Jane.
"No. They just wanted to live their lives to the fullest," I explained.
I turned and went down to my room. I pulled out a blue and white pencil skirt, a blue sweater and a pair of blue flats. I pulled on my blue hipsters and a blue bra and pulled my clothes on. I tied a blue silk scarf on my head. Tia and I made our way down to the lobby. Edward and Benjamin were waiting for us. The four of us went down to the dining hall. I wasn't very hungry but I did manage to eat half a muffin and a bottle of orange juice. After we were done, Edward and I made our way down to the music hall. Carmen told me to go on in to the conference room that I was in yesterday. I walked in and found Aro, Cauis and Marcus sitting at the table.
"Aw, Isabella. I hope you are feeling better today?" asked Aro.
"A little," I said softly as I sat down.
"A little is better than nothing," chuckled Aro.
"I suppose," I chuckled.
"It says here that you plan to play the guitar. How long have you been playing?" asked Marcus.
"Since I was five," I said softly. They all cocked their eyebrows.
"Who taught you?" asked Cauis.
"I taught myself," I explained. "I have a photographic memory. When I was five I found a book in the library that was a how to play guitars. I read it. When I got my first guitar I spent nearly every second of the next thirteen years playing."
"Do you play anything else?" asked Aro.
"Yes, I also play the piano, the cello and the drums," I explained.
"That's impressive," said Aro. "Now tell us who Isabella Cullen is."
"Which one?" I asked.
"What do you mean?" asked Marcus.
"Do you want to know about the Isabella I was before I got sick or the one I am now?" I asked.
"Both," said Cauis.
"Ok, the Isabella I was before I got sick was lonely. I thought I was happy but I was missing a huge part of my life. I pretended to be a rebel but I was just like every other girl. I just wanted to get by until I went to college," I explained.
"How did you pretend to be a rebel?" asked Marcus.
"I was the head cheerleader with blue streaks in my hair. I complained when my classmates voted me homecoming queen. I hid behind my music instead of living through it," I explained.
"Who are you now?" asked Aro.
"I'm a fighter," I said.
"What are you fighting for?" asked Marcus.
"I'm fighting to live. I've come to realize that I have to live everyday like it's my last because it might be. I don't want to die. I don't want to have to go to chemo and be sick all the time but I do because I have people to live for," I explained.
"Edward?" asked Aro.
"Yes, he's my life, my air, my music. I just found him and I won't let him go. I will fight to live until my last breath as long as I have him," I said softly.
"Why do you think you should win this competition?" asked Cauis.
"I don't," I said.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because I'm sure there are better musicians than me in this competition. I am not doing this to win," I said.
"Why are you doing this?" asked Marcus.
"I am doing this because it's one of my dreams. I have always dreamed of coming to New York. I have dreamed of singing on the stage of Carnegie Hall since I was little. Right now, all I care about is doing the best I can," I explained.
"I think that is all we have, Isabella," said Aro. He handed me a piece of paper. "This is your rehearsal schedule. Is there anything you need?"
"No, sir," I said softly.
"Good luck, my dear," said Aro.
"Thank you," I said softly.
I got up and walked out of the room. I waited while Edward went in for his interview.
EPOV
I kissed Bella before I made my way into the conference room. I took my seat at the table in front of the judges.
"Edward, how are you doing today?" asked Aro.
"I'm ok," I said.
"Well, I see here that you are playing the piano for the show. How long have you played?" asked Aro.
"I started piano lessons when I was six," I said. "My mother plays a little and I used to sit at her piano and try to play her sheet music. She and father finally decided to start me on lessons."
"I see," said Aro. "Do you play anything esle?"
"Isabella's been teaching me how to play the guitar when she's up to it," I said.
"Tell me who you are, Edward," said Marcus, leaning back in his seat.
"Right now, I'm just a husband who is terriflied that I am going to lose my wife," I said softly. "I've spent the laast six weeks, watching Isabella go through so much. I..."
"You love her?" asked Marcus.
"I love her so much it hurts," I said softly. "I'm scared that I am going to lose her. I don't know how to deal with that fear. Sometimes, I just watch her sleep just to make sure she's still breathing."
"What do you think you should win this competition?" asked Cauis.
"I don't think I should. I think Isabella should," I said.
"Because of the cancer?" he asked.
"No, because she's a spectacular musician," I said.
"Thank you, Edward," said Aro. "Here is your rehearsal schedule. If you or Isabella need anything, please let us know."
"I will," I said, taking the paper from him. "Thank you."
BPOV
Felix and Jane came in and waited with me. Half an hour later, Edward came out and Felix went in. Edward and I made our way back to the dorms. I changed out of my skirt and sweater. I had just pulled on my jeans and t-shirt when my cell phone rang. I picked it up and saw that it was Carlisle.
"Hello."
"Bella, how are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm ok. I'm really tired. I had a rough night Saturday. I think the traveling made my body sicker from the chemo."
"It could have," said Carlisle. "What time are you going in this afternoon?"
"Two p.m.," I said. "Siobhan is very nice, Carlisle."
"Yes, she is. She helped me through my chemo. I knew she would help you," said Carlisle.
"Is Emmett and everyone ok?" I asked.
"They are fine, Bella. Emmett is worried sick but Rose is helping him," chuckled Carlisle.
"Tell them we miss them., I said softly.
"I will. We will see you in a few days," said Carlisle. "We love you, Bella."
"I love you, too," I whispered.
"Take care of your self," said Carlisle.
"I will," I whispered before I hung up.
"Is everyone ok?" asked Edward.
"Yes," I chuckled. "They are all so worried about me."
"They love you," said Edward.
"I know," I sighed. "Let's go sight seeing."
"Ok," chuckled Edward. "Bella?"
"Yes?" I asked.
"I love you."
"I love you, too," I chuckled.
Edward and I went downstairs. Peter and Charlotte were fixing to go sight seeing to so we joined them. The four of us went to the statue of liberty, the empire state building and the 911 memorial. We stopped and grabbed some lunch before we made our way to the hospital for my chemo treatment. Peter and Charlotte came in with us this time. Peter flinched when he saw the bruises on my arm from all the IV's. I just chuckled at him and called him a baby.
Siobhan didn't stay with us today. Edward wrapped his arms around me while Peter and Charlotte told us how they meet. They were going to school at Duke when he saw her sitting in the quad. He said she took his breath away. He said he didn't have the nerves to go up to talk to her but that he would come out and sit and watch her everyday for a month. Then one day, she wasn't there. He was sitting on his bench when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He looked behind him and Charlotte was standing there with two ice cream cones. She sat down and they spent the whole day talking. He walked her back to her dorm room and kissed her good night. They have been together for five years. I let a few tears fall. Charlotte said she waited for him to talk to her for a month before she decided to make a move. Peter just blushed.
Siobhan came in and unhooked my IV. The four of us made our way back to the dorms. Everyone was sitting around in the lobby when Edward carried me in. They all stopped talking and watched as he carried me to the bathroom. I spent the next four hours in the bathroom throwing up. Everyone came in and sat around and talked with Edward as I got sick. They were making an effort to treat me as normally as they could. It was a nice gesture.