Can you believe it? Another chapter! I do not pretend too own any of these characters.

Also, I need to mention that my friend jedibubbles edits all of my work, she's a doll! For some bizarre and unfathomable reason, though, she reviewed my first chapter. She's also an odd duck. An odd duck doll I suppose. What a cute little stuffed animal that would make.

It was the day after the opening night of Hannibal and I was extremely excited. The production had gone beautifully as a whole and I did my part fairly well. I only tripped twice and did not miss a single note. Alice gave me a crushing hug while Carlisle, Emmett, and Jasper praised me too highly, embarrassing me. I also felt like such an evil, cruel woman; I had thought that Emmett would be angry with me for replacing his angered wife in the play. Anyone in the opera house should know better than to believe Emmett capable of such a feeling. No man has ever been kinder or more forgiving than Emmett McCarty.

The person happiest for my success was my angel, although he was so proper that it was hard to tell. I knew, though, because that night he insisted on extra practice (to keep me sounding good, he said) and often entertained me by singing love songs while playing them on the piano-forte. It is impossible that anyone is more accomplished then him on the instrument.

The next show day seemed so routine, that there was no way I could have known that a series of bizarre events was to be set into motion, changing my life. I woke up and my angel was gone, as always. I went to rehearsal where I sang and did my short dance segments. These had been largely cut down for me in order to minimize problems due to clumsiness. Jasper did not come to me while I was practicing, but that was not unusual behavior, he had an opera house to run.

Finally the time for the production came. I knew I'd done well previously and I was not as worried as I had been. To further give me daring, my angel spoke encouragingly to me just prior to my entrance to the stage. He had confidence in me, thus I should have confidence in myself.

While I was walking to my dressing room from talking to Alice (trivial gossip and compliments, nothing of importance like her relationship with Jasper), I saw a man who caught my eye. He was speaking with Carlisle. It was hard to be sure, but he seemed very much like someone I had met before. He was tall and built strong. His dark eyes, although not turned towards me, spoke to me of intelligence and kindness, a generosity I'd know before. He had to be the Vicomte, Jacob. He'd grown much since I'd last seen him as a child; he'd blossomed into a man. I was so shocked that I stood and stared at him. However, the bustling people around me did not stop their activities just because I had seemingly been rendered incapable of walking; they simply treated me as an obstacle in their path. Someone did not clear the obstacle.

I felt warm arms around me. I heard someone rambling quick apologies. I saw people gather around, hoping for a spectacle. I had fallen; I couldn't keep my balance after someone accidently ran into me. I looked up into the face of the Vicomte. "Did you enjoy the show?" I asked, not knowing what to say.

He grinned, "I really enjoyed your singing. Hannibal will never be the same again after our Miss Isabella Swan has swept the stage. No woman will ever be able to compare to your singing performance. The dance, perhaps, is a different story."

I blushed and thanked him in confused spurts. He never stopped smiling immensely and offered to escort me (after judging my ability walk) to my dressing room. I happily accepted.

My room was full of flowers and other small gifts from people who had enjoyed the performance. Jacob picked up a rather large stuffed bear made with beaver pelt and jumped back and dropped the bear as it began to play a tune. He had accidently hit the little key on the back. The bear fell to the floor lightly and I picked it up, laughing, to set it on my bed. I sat down next to it.

"It's been a long time, Jacob."

"So you do remember me."

"Of course I do, we were best friends when we were children. You don't forget a bond like that. Also, when we were little I had a crush on you, there was a reason I baked you burned cookies and wanted you to walk with me in the park all the time." He smiled, remembering.

"I really liked you back, you know. You were the reason I kept telling my mother that girls were disgusting and that I would always hate them."

I had to laugh at that too, "How is your mother doing?"

Jacob's face grew serious for a moment, "She died. It's just me and my father." I felt like I had no more air in my lungs. She had taken care of me often when I was little, tied my hair in ribbons and such. She loved me as the daughter she couldn't have and I loved her as the mother I never had.

"Oh Jake…" I breathed.

He shook his head and smiled, "Don't worry. She's in heaven now."

That reminded me of something, or someone rather. I looked up at the ceiling seeking the angel, my tutor. He had yet to speak and I was slightly concerned about where bringing Jacob here was an insult or not.

"Well?" a deep voice asked.

"What?" I replied stupidly.

He laughed at me, "Do you want to go down to the park with me tonight? It's really beautiful right now in the twilight."

I shook my head, "I can't, I really need to sleep for rehearsal tomorrow. I'll be up bright and early. See you tomorrow."

He looked confused but smiled, "Tomorrow, then."

My angel did not come that night.