Chapter Three.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly made my way onto the stage. A few people in the crowd hooped and hollered my name, giving me cheers of encouragement. I glanced at the crowd from the corner of my eye. I grimaced when I saw them sitting at the circular table in the middle of the room. As if sensing my gaze on, he looked up at me, a sad smile playing at the edges of his mouth. I rolled my eyes, resiting the urge to flip him the bird.

Sitting down, I adjusted the mic to my liking, and grabbed my gutair. I cleared my throat, and spoke into the mic. "I wrote this song a couple of years ago, I hope you guys enjoy it, this is All I Want." I said softly. With one last look at the crowd, I strummed my gutair making sure it was in tune.

Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth to sing the first few words, strumming the first few fast paced chords.

"I'm always screaming my lungs out, till my head starts spinning.
Playing my songs is the way I cope with life.
Won't keep my voice down, know the words I speak are the thoughts I think out loud."

I leaned further into the microphone, getting slightly animated as I sang, my lips turned up into a small smile.

"I like to keep things honest. I'm a safe bet like your life's staked on it, for real.
I'd hate to keep you all wondering, I'm a constant like the seasons.
I will never be forgotten, man.

Let's leave no words unspoken and save regrets for the broken.
Will you even look back when you think of me?"

I couldn't stop myself from grinning as I sang, my fingers vigorously strummed the strings of the guitar as I approached the chorus of the song.

"All I want is a place to call my own, to mend the hearts of everyone who feels alone.
Whoaaaaa.
You know to keep your hopes up high and your head down low. Keep your hopes up high and your head down low.

Still got something left to prove, it tends to keep things moving while everyone around me says my last days are looming overhead.
But what the hell do they think they know?
My head's above the water while they drown in the undertow."

The more I got into the song, the more I forgot about the people watching me. I poured every ounce of emotion I could muster up into my voice.

"Let's leave no words unspoken, and save regrets for the broken.
Will you even look back when you think of me?

All I want is a place to call my own, to mend the hearts of everyone who feels alone.
Whoaaaa.
You know to keep your hopes up high and your head down low.
All I want is a place to call my own, to mend the hearts of everyone who feels alone.
Whoaaaaa.
You know to keep your hopes up high and your head down low.
And if you take it from me, live your life for yourself
cause when it's all said and done you don't need anyone else, come on."

I grinned when I heard people clapping along to the beat of the song. I opened my eyes, looking out at the crowd, and for a few moments I didn't have a care in the world.

"So let's get back to when everything seemed perfect. Not a worry in the world, tell me was it all worth it?
I get what I want, so everyone's always judging me.
I'm not afraid of anything, I've got the whole world in front of me."

"All I want is a place to call my own, to mend the hearts of everyone who feels alone.
Whoaaaaa.
You know to keep your hopes up high and your head down low.
All I want is a place to call my own, to mend the hearts of everyone who feels alone.
Whoaaaaa.
You know to keep your hopes up high and your head down low.
Keep your head down low.
Keep your head down low.
Keep your hopes up high and your head down low."

I sighed deeply, and smiled into the microphone. "Thank you." I said, blushing a deep crimson as the room applauded me. I rushed off the stage, holding my guitar by the neck. I placed my guitar back inside it's case, and returned to by seat at the bar. I took a large sip of my coffee, smiling as Emmett aproached me, his father following right behind him.

"Hello Bellla," Carlisle greeted me with a warm smile, I returned the smile pulling him into a tight hug.

"Hey Carlisle, how was work?" I asked, taking another sip from my drink.

"It was good today, not too busy" he smiled.

"You were great Bell," Emmett complimented me, which caused a deep blush to appear on my cheeks. "Thanks," I murmured sheepishly. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Renesmee sitting at a table in the corner next to her boyfriend, Jacob who had his arm drapped across her shoulders. I turned and smiled at both of them, Renesmee winked in response.

I turned and faced Emmett, "what happened to Embry?" I asked. Emmett let out a soft chuckle "he's over there somewhere, putting the moves on some chick." I laughed, not surprised. "Figures." I replied.

"Did Rose ever show up?" I asked suddenly.

"Nah, I don't think so. I haven't seen her." Emmett frowned. My eyebrows furrowed together in confusion, the uneasy feeling returning to the pit of my stomach. "That's werid," I commented.

I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right, it wasn't like my sister to just bail on me. Especially for a performance at Esme's. I pulled my phone from my pocket and quickly dialled her number only to be sent to voicemail. I ended the call not bothering to leave a message, and turned to Emmett.

"I'm gonna head home, see if Rose is there." I told him.

"Alright Bells," he said ruffling the hair on the top of my head, "see ya tomorrow."

I hopped off the barstool, gathered my things and headed straight for the door. "See ya!" I called over my shoulder.

"Bella!" Esme called after me, I stopped mid step, turning around to face her. "You're leaving so soon?" she said sadly, a small frown playing at the edge of her lips.

"Yeah, I'm gonna go see what's up with Rose, she bailed on me." I explained. Esme nodded in understanding, pulling me into a tight embrace. "It was so good to see you sweetie, stop being a stranger!" she laughed. "I hope you had a great birthday."

"Thanks Esme, I'll see you soon, okay?" I smiled as I pulled away from her. "Give Carlisle my best!" I called over my shoulder. I rushed over to my truck, sliding my guitar over to the passenger side, and shut the door behind me. I rolled down my window, and lit a cigarette. I put the truck into gear speeding off as fast as the ancient beast would let me. The engine roared in protest, as I pushed pass 60. Something wasn't right about this, I could feel it at the pit of my stomach. I took a long drag from my cigarette, the smoke blowing out of my nose. I hung my arm out of the open window, allowing the smoke to blow outside. When I reached the drive way of my house, I took one last drag from the cigarette before tossing it out of the window.

I parked the truck behind my sister's red BMW, took the keys from the ignition and grabbed my guitar on the way out, rushing inside. My anxiety grew as I sprinted up the steps. I fumbled with the keys for a few moments before I managed to get them in the hole and unlock the door. "Rose?" I called out as I stepped inside, shutting the door behind me.

I wandered into the kitchen, sitting the keys and my guitar down on the table. "Rose?" I called, a little louder this time. I heard a small grown come from the living room, worried I dashed into the room.

"Oh my God! Rosalie!" I exclaimed.

I rushed over to my sister, who was curled up in a ball at the end of the couch, sobbing into a pillow. "What happened? Are you okay?" I breathed. She said nothing, and glanced up at me. My jaw dropped when I noticed her swollen eye, "what the hell happened Rose?" I asked, lightly running my fingers down the side of her face, her eye was red, poofy, and turning purple.

"Who did this to you?" I almost growled. She stared up at me, tears streaming down her face. "Royce," she whispered so softly that I almost didn't hear it.

A/N: The song Bella performed in this chapter is All I Want by A Day To Remember.