This chapter is only between Alice and Bella, and in this story, Alice is the sister of Edward. It didn't take me long to write, at all. So I'm sorry if there are any mistakes or something wrong with it.
I know where this story is going, but I'm not sure how long the story will take before we get to the end. Each chapter is inspired by the song used in it, and finding songs for each chapter is a struggle sometimes. Like finding the song for this chapter for instance. I needed a song that I could believe Bella could have written, and I've known this song for a while, and when it came on on my iPod I just knew this was the one. Also, when I sit down to write, I don't have a set idea in my mind, it just comes out. Sounds sort of weird, but that's how it happens. I have no previous plans of each chapter, I just know what I want to happen in the end. So please bare with me. This might be a long ride.
Alice gave Bella one glance and then focused herself on the piano. She shifted in the seat for a moment before her fingers began to travel across the keys, playing back a song to Bella she wished she'd never had to write. But writing songs was an outlet, and at the moment she needed a lot to get out. Alice, being Edward's sister, would have had a lot to say, but she kept her mouth shut. She just sat there and played.
Bella felt extremely self-conscious letting Alice hear this song, but she'd learnt to not be scared anymore. When you lived in the spotlight you had to learn and be prepared for all your skeletons in the closet to be revealed. Bella didn't want to keep secrets from Alice. Especially her feelings. It had been a week since Edward had talked to her, and Alice must have known, at least thought she knew, what Bella was feeling, but Alice hadn't brought it up yet, and Bella knew that this song would give her a look inside Bella's head. At least for a couple of minutes Alice could understand what Edward did to her.
Bella's hands ran down her thigh and then squeezed them as she closed her eyes and licked her lips. She saw the words behind her eyes, and then she sang.
I remember years ago,
Someone told me I should take,
Caution when it comes to love,
I did, I did,
Alice didn't look up at Bella once. Bella didn't know what to think; whether she was ignoring the message or giving Bella her space. With Alice's back to her she didn't have a clue.
And you were strong and I was not,
My illusion, my mistake,
I was careless, I forgot,
I did,
The moment when Edward called Bella to ask her to meet up with him at a small cafe on the edge of town came to her, and she shook her head. Shaking the memory from her head. At least for that moment.
And now when all is done,
There is nothing to say,
You have gone and so effortlessly,
You have won,
You can go ahead tell them,
Dark green eyes looked up at Bella's, and Bella held Alice's stare. She didn't know for sure what she saw there. But she thought that it may have been sympathy. Sadness. Bella felt so naked and open at that moment, the words were so honest and from her heart. But she imagined sitting in front of a crowd and singing this, and compared it to singing to Alice. In some ways it sounded a lot more frightening to sing in front of a crowd, but when the sister to the boy who broke your heart is the individual you're singing it to, then a crowd that doesn't know you doesn't seem so bad.
Tell them all I know now,
Shout it from the roof tops,
Write it on the sky line,
All we had is gone now,
Tanya's malicious smile as she leaned in to hug Edward played back in Bella's mind. She remembered the sugary and totally fake laugh of Tanya's when Edward said something funny and a fire of anger rose in the pit of her stomach. But Bella knew this wasn't all Tanya's doing. She wasn't the only one to blame.
Tell them I was happy,
And my heart is broken,
All my scars are open,
Tell them what I hoped would be,
Impossible, impossible, impossible, impossible
Bella sighed and sank her hands into her hair, letting her fingers comb through the mahogany knots.
Falling out of love is hard,
Falling for betrayal is worst,
Broken trust and broken hearts,
I know, I know,
Thinking all you need is there,
Building faith on love and words,
Empty promises will wear,
I know, I know
Bella focused on her breathing as she sang, trying to keep the tears from her voice. It had only been a week since the break-up, so tears were understandable, but she didn't want to seem weak in front of Alice. If Alice said anything to Edward about this, and Bella wasn't entirely sure whether she would do that, she wanted her to say that Bella was strong and capable. That, even though Edward left her, she was still able to stand on her own two feet and she was doing just fine without him.
And now when all is gone,
There is nothing to say,
And if you're done with embarrassing me,
On your own you can go tell them,
Tell them all I know now,
Shout it front the roof tops,
Write it on the sky line,
All we had is gone now,
Tell them I was happy,
And my heart is broken,
All my scars are open,
Tell them what I hoped would be,
Impossible, impossible, impossible, impossible,
Ooh, impossible
Bella tapped her hands on her thighs, her foot on the floor, anything to keep her mind from the tears that were threatening to fall. Even though Alice had her back facing her, Bella wasn't sure at what moment she could turn around.
I remember years ago,
Someone told me I should take,
Caution when it comes to love,
I did,
Bella voice grew softer as she sang, not stronger as it should have. The lyrics flowed from the heart, and she remembered all the tears and the tissues that came with writing this song. She remembered being locked away in her room with her guitar and the words just flowing from pen to paper. She remembered closing the window and the curtains, afraid paparazzi or neighbors would look in and see her. She didn't want photos splashed all over the internet of her crying and looking like a total wreck. She wanted photos that showed her being strong. Being in control; completelly unaffected by Edward's abrupt departure from her life.
Alice stopped playing the piano and Bella looked up, only now realizing that she had started crying. Alice got up from the piano chair and encircled her arms around Bella, pulling her close to her chest and stroking her hair.
Sobs turned to hiccups and then slowly the tears went away, but the mark they made remained. Alice pulled back to look Bella right in the eyes. "I could kill him." She said simply.
Bella tried to smile, but there was nothing there. "It doesn't matter. I mean, God, was I really that stupid? I'd heard what he was like. I'd seen it splashed all over the tabloids and on T.V." She breathed in and out, trying to calm herself down. But now that the overriding feeling of sadness had gone, anger was rising up and taking over. "But I was a bloody idiot and I let him fool me into believing that he ... loved me."
Alice sighed and pulled back from Bella, hugging her knees to her chest as she leant her back against the coffee table. "I really thought he was settling down." She said solemnly. "I thought he was done with that whole ... player image. I guess I was wrong." Alice bit her lip. "But he seemed so different when he was with you. Like he genuinely wanted to change."
"He's good at fooling people, Alice." Bella said, wiping the trails of tears off her face.
Alice frowned but nodded, and when Bella thought she was about to say something, she didn't. She just got up and went back to the piano, and then she started playing the song again.
I hope you enjoyed that. And if you did please favourite/alert/review this story; it means the world to me when I get feedback.
Also, for a list of the songs used in this story, please head to my PP (profile page), I will post them all on there each time First is updated.