AN: The song that Ella and Edward as supposed to have composed is Alicia Key's 'If I Ain't Got You'. I chose this song because it perfectly captured the emotion I wanted to be explored. It's sort of how Ella feels towards Edward and she's singing from her heart.

Chapter Twenty-One – The Gala

I stood nervously behind the wings. I was wearing a black skater dress with a black lace overlay and black heels. I wrung my hands together in fear and uncertainty. An hour ago I had no nerves and I was looking forward to the gala but now I was overcome with all the emotions I was feeling. I knew my Dad and Bella were somewhere in the audience along with the rest of the Cullen's and my other friends.

I knew our music teacher had high hopes for this concert and I was really beginning to feel the pressure getting to me. Edward stood before me, standing in the wings opposite from me. He was smiling yet it didn't make me feel any calmer. We were supposed to go on last and I think that was what had really started my nerves. I'd had to listen to all the amazing talent that performed before us and now I was having doubts about our performance.

When we took to the stage and I stood behind the microphone I felt sick in my stomach. The lights were bright and beaming down upon me. The intensity of the brightness some-what blinded me from the audience but didn't diminish my nerves in any way. As Edward began playing the piano I felt myself relax slightly. I'd never had stage fright like this before and had always been a confident performer. I wondered why I was suddenly feeling like this.

'Some people live for the fortune

Some people live just for the fame

Some people live for the power, yeah

Some people live just to play the game

Some people think that the physical things

Define what's within

And I've been there before

But that life's a bore

So full of the superficial'

The more the music played, the looser my limbs became till I wasn't stage frightened anymore.

'Some people want it all

But I don't want nothing at all

If it ain't you, baby

If I ain't got you, baby

Some people want diamond rings

Some just want everything

But something means nothing

If I ain't got you, yeah'

As we came to hit the second verse I really felt myself getting into the music and feeling the passion of the words. The lights were less bright now and I could see out into the audience. I could see our music teacher beaming with pride, I could see Bella smiling up at me and I could see my Dad getting emotional.

'Some people search for a fountain

That promises forever young

Some people need three dozen roses

And that's the only way to prove you love them

Hand me the world on a silver platter

And what good would it be

With no one to share

With no one who truly cares for me'

Edward's piano playing became stronger for our final chorus. I could feel the electricity on my skin like an incoming thunderstorm. I felt so emotionally involved in the song that I felt I might collapse at the end of it.

'Some people want it all

But I don't want nothing at all

If it ain't you, baby

If I ain't got you, baby

Some people want diamond rings

Some just want everything

If I ain't got you, you, you

Some people want it all

But I don't want nothing at all

If it ain't you, baby

If I ain't got you baby,

Some people want diamond rings

Some just want everything

But everything means nothing

If I ain't got you, yeah'

The performance was almost over now and I could feel how the audience had risen and fallen in time with the song. I was filled with a sense of relief and a deep meaningful joy.

'If I ain't got you with me, baby

So nothing in this whole wide world don't mean a thing

If I ain't got you with me, baby'

I sung the final note of the song and heard Edward play the last keys on the piano. The was a breath of utter silence before the crowd erupted in cheers and whoops of joy. I knew then we'd done a good job and wouldn't be surprised if we got an A on this project. I bowed and felt Edward take my hand in his as we walked off the stage.

I threw myself at him in the wings, I was so overwhelmed by our performance that I just needed to feel him near me and wasn't worried about how he'd be able to cope with my neck pressed up against his.

"We did it," I whispered, my head taking up residence in the crook of his neck.

"You were magnificent," he replied.

I wanted to go meet with everyone then and there but the teacher was ushering us back on the stage. In fact, all the performers were being ushered back. I suppose this was the teacher's version of a theatre production's bows and thanks at the end of a show. I wasn't into all that though and now the performance was over I'd prefer to be out of the limelight.

I'd been thinking about how I didn't want to still be up on the stage so hard that I'd missed my name being read out and it was only when Edward tugged on my hand and pulled me forward did I realise we were getting a special mention. A girl, much younger than me, who was probably in middle-school came forward and presented me with a bunch of beautiful red roses and while Edward stood charmingly by my side, the teacher droned on about how wonderful our performance was. We ended up winning a special trophy and were each given the prize of being accepted into a prestigious musical summer camp in Seattle.

I was truly amazed by what we could come up with as a paring. What we had produced was more than I'd ever come up with in a music class before. I couldn't put it down to just being chemical or being because of our emotions because it was so much more than that. Edward and I connected with music, we both had a passion with it and were both compelled to create amazing pieces of music with it. Of course that was just my opinion and probably one that different from the general population but I rather liked that it was something we cared deeply for and something we shared.

I was a little apprehensive about our families mingling past the stage of acquaintances. Dad and the Cullen's hadn't spent time together since Dad found out that it was a vampire that killed his friends or that the Cullen's themselves were vampires. I only hoped that he had moved passed his initial shock and that this evening wouldn't be full of awkward conversations. It helped ease my mind that Angela and Adrian's families would be joining the celebrations as well for that surely meant there would be little awkward silences. Grownups knew how to talk politely right?

"I'm so proud of you Ella that was amazing," whispered Dad as he hugged me tightly.

I held onto his hug for a moment or two longer as I relished in the fact that one parent supported my achievements. Parting from Dad, I was swept into a hug with Bella.

"I've never heard you perform like that. Usually you're a force to be reckoned with but with Edward it was like you were in your element, an angel sent from heaven. Your performance was stunning and the song, wow Ella, I didn't realise what a talent you had for song writing."

"Thanks Bella," I mumbled into her hair that was swamping me as the hug continued. Really she needed to control her hair more!

The congratulations continued, from my family to the Cullen's to Angela's and Adrian's. I was overwhelmed with how many congratulatory hugs I received and how many pats on the back I received. It was a new experience for me as I was used only to Bella being by my side cheering me on as I performed. In the past I'd always got her to record my performances so I could send them onto Dad but it wasn't the same as having a proper cheering section. Renee had never once come to a performance of mine and had moaned continually on how much money my singing lessons cost. In fact, she'd cancelled them by the time I was thirteen and they had only restarted when I was fourteen because Dad had found out about it and started to pay for them instead.

"You were wonderful out there," said Rose.

She was the last to congratulate me and hugged me in such a way that had my emotions in a dither. I knew Rose was important to me and Bella knew but I didn't want Dad to feel uncomfortable by just how much Rose meant to me.

Sometimes my thought process continued on a loop, I should fix that. I'm not even sure that last thought made sense.

I was stopped from further talking to myself when Esme announced that we should head to their house to continue the celebrations. She also mentioned that she'd made several different types of cake which had Dad walking to his car faster than anyone could imagine.

I glanced at Edward longingly but followed after my Dad. I knew Bella had left behind Adrian as well to drive there with Dad and I appreciated her solidarity. I spent a lot of time with Edward and the Cullen's and I also spent a lot of time with my friends but since my social life exploded I hadn't spent much time with Dad. A car ride might not count as much but I would still use it.

We arrived only second to the Cullen's, probably because of Dad's fast driving in an attempt to get to the 'house of cake' quicker than anyone else. I used this to my advantage for it meant I would be able to see first-hand the wondrous expressions on people's faces as they entered the Cullen's home. Dad's reaction alone had been amusing. He'd been channelling the look of a goldfish for several minutes now and with no sign of stopping I eventually leaned over and closed his mouth for him. He blushed in his embarrassment and managed to compliment Esme on her house even if his voice was a little strangled.

Alice offered us drinks and nibbles which I gladly accepted. I had been too nervous to eat before the performance and now I was starving. The appearance of food led Dad into a detailed conversation with Carlisle about food vs. vampires. It wasn't long before the others arrived and I saw Alice turned into hostess mode. She was crazy scary anyway but as a hostess it was magnified tenfold. Never did I see her without a tray in her hand and our drinks were filled once more before they ever finished.

Edward had come to sit beside me, his arm draped casually across the back of the sofa. He was smirking slyly but I shook the uneasiness off my shoulders. Edward only looked like that when he was amused, reading someone's thoughts or plotting something. None of those reasons appealed to me as I knew no good could come from a mischievous Edward.

There was music playing and I saw Emmett hook the games console up so they could play. I was only vaguely aware of the adults disappearing but I didn't miss how attentive Dad was to Angela's Mum or how Adrian's parents were still noticeably absent – Tyler's parents followed the other adults without concern. I wondered if I should ask Adrian about the absence of his parents but decided against it. I didn't know much about Adrian and wouldn't want to step on any toes by sticking my foot in things.

"Who wants to play Mario Kart?" asked Emmett.

I heard groans from all the Cullen's around me and assumed that meant that Emmett was unbeatable. Well I was in the mood to take on Emmett and I couldn't agree to a wrestling match because he'd probably end up killing me. Mario Kart though was something I could do, Bella outright refused to play and console games with me regardless of the platform because she said she stood no chance. It wasn't my fault that I was naturally good at playing games.

"Bring it on Emmett."

My words were followed by groans from the others around me and I playfully hit Bella on the arm when she joined in with the groans.

"Are you sure you want to go up against Emmett? He's unbeatable," said Edward.

"That's what makes it so fun! Emmett's too cocky and it'll be fun to knock him down a peg or two."

"You wish Ella, you won't beat me and then it'll be Edward comforting you while you cry with humiliation," said Emmett.

I glared at him and took my seat on the sofa next to him. The others it seemed ended up taking sides and discussing who they thought would win. On my team I had: Edward, Bella, Rose and Angela. Emmett had everyone else. It appeared that the majority didn't think I could beat Emmett. Alice had been left out of the decision making because it had been decided that her vote would make things unfair – for she would surely look into the future to see who would win and that would take the fun out of things.

When the race started the two opposing teams started shouting at both Emmett and I, cheering us on and shouting insults at each other. For the most part I ignored their enjoyment for I wanted to concentrate on what I was doing. They hadn't been lying when they said that Emmett was good at Mario Kart. Did he really spend all his time playing it? It didn't matter how good he was however, for I still beat him. I didn't just beat him, out of the four race tracks we completed, I won three out of four. Emmett demanded a rematch but I declined. I could hold this win over his head for a long time and who's to say I'd be able to win against him the next time.

While Emmett sucked in the corner and refused to talk to anyone, the rest of us started chatting among ourselves and I tiptoed briefly into the kitchen to get more food. I'd tiptoed because I was worried that the adults might still be here and I didn't want to interrupt them. They weren't, luckily, though I knew not where they'd gone. I grabbed another plate and began loading it up with food. I was ridiculously hungry and was definitely going to use the Cullen's amazing food to feed my hunger. I was actually getting seconds, I hadn't even started on pudding yet but Alice had taken me up on my suggestion and set up a finger food style buffet and I was loving it.

Rose had followed me into the kitchen, not that I'd know it. She made me jump when she started to talk though and I jumped a foot in the air in fright. Clutching my chest in fright I turned to mock glare at her but I couldn't keep it up for long.

"We really are proud of you, you know."

"I know Rose."

"You've done wonders in changing Edward and by extension, us."

"What do you mean?"

"We've spent decades trying to fit in with humans but never getting close to them. We took a risk with you and we're still at risk from the Volturi because of it but it doesn't matter to us anymore. You're such a special person that it's worth any risk that might present itself. What I wanted to talk about was the change in Edward. He's been moping for the better part of a century that he has been alone while we have all found someone to share our lives with. You've made him into the best version of himself and he in turn, has helped you shine like the star that you are."

I blushed, I wasn't used to all these mushy feelings talk. Bella wasn't one to talk deeply about what she was feeling, a trait she'd inherited from Dad and I'd been without someone I could clearly express myself to. As much as I'd wanted someone like Rose in my life for years, finally having it was more nerve-wracking than I had anticipated. I loved Rose though and would never want to be parted from her – even if it meant I would be blushing more than usual.

"Ella, hello? Ella? Can you hear me?"

Hearing the concern in Rose's voice I backed away from my thoughts and looked up at her in confusion.

"Sorry, what?"

She smiled at me, "away with your thoughts?"

"Sorry, they tend to carry me away from the real world."

"There is nothing wrong with that, actually it's rather amusing to watch you getting carried away in your own head."

"Sorry," I said blushing further.

"We should head back before Edward gets anxious," said Rose. "Are you sure you've got enough there?"

Looking at my plate I realised I'd piled quite a lot of food on it. Perhaps a bit more than I should have put on it but who cares.

"I'm hungry."

Up Next: Chapter Twenty-Two – Dissecting…No Thanks!