Ficawesome Gift Echange

Title: Right In Front of Your Eyes

Written for: MyEdiction

Written By: Readingmama/Vampiremama

Rating: M

Summary/Prompt used: Geek starts a band to get the girl.

If you would like to see all the stories that are a part of this exchange visit the facebook group: Fanficaholics Anon: Where Obsession Never Sleeps

Or check out the C2 on Fanfiction –

http:/www . fanfiction . net/community/FicAwesome_Gift_Exchange/81343/

Disclaimer- I don't own Twilight or anything related to it. Stephenie Meyer owns that right.

Thank you to CullenLovingMom who was beta extraordinaire for this piece.

Thanks to all the wonderful people who participated in FAGE.

Chapter 3

Walking into the building, Edward took a right, but quickly corrected himself. He had this planned out to a tee. He headed to the left and the elevators. The nervousness he felt for what he was about to do was nearly gone. He had a hard time worrying about what Rosalie would say when he could still picture the hurt look on Bella's face.

He had only seen her really smile once since that day.

Bella was sitting, talking with Jasper. She had been doing that more and more since he had backed off from the almost kiss. He saw her sigh before standing up and walking over to where he was. He knew that she was moving in his direction so that she could warm up, but he wanted her for more than scales. He wanted to talk to her- to return to that easy conversation that they had developed over the past few months.

"Hey," she said quietly.

"Hi, Bella," he replied. Edward wanted to say something more, maybe something clever and witty, to make her smile, but he couldn't think of anything like that.

"The band is getting really good."

"Yeah, I really enjoy it," she replied.

"Me too," he said in a way that he hope that she understood that he enjoyed her being in the band as well.

Carlisle came bounding through the door with more energy than he had ever displayed before. He held up a sheet of paper above his head and said, "Take that, bitches, we've got a gig!"

Bella screamed, and the noise startled Edward. Before he knew it, she leapt into his arms. Her smile was radiant, but it didn't last long. Bella seemed to remember herself and pulled herself out of Edward's arms.

She barely glanced at him again that rehearsal.

Edward watched the numbers light up above the door on the elevator. He found that this way he didn't have to make eye contact with anyone on the elevator. Edward remembered why he hated elevators so much when "The Girl from Ipanema" came on. Holding in a groan, because it's never good to groan on a crowded elevator, Edward shifted from side to side, wishing he could plug his ears.

Finally, when the light stopped on floor fifteen, Edward stepped out. He had been on this floor before. He had been on all the floors before. He didn't normally deliver the mail, but he had filled in on occasion, volunteering in hopes of catching a glimpse of Ms. Hale.

He knew exactly where her office was, and his body was on auto pilot when it headed that way. Her door was open when he arrived there, but she was on the phone, laughing. He saw her eyes flicker up to him so Edward stood outside her door, nervously holding the flyer in his hand.

Rosalie carried on a personal conversation for a good ten minutes before she hung up. She knew Edward had been waiting outside for her and liked it. She had seen the way he looked at her, and it fed her ego. He was not at all her type, but she didn't care where flattery came from as long as it was directed at her.

"What is it, Edwin?" she called out.

Edward entered the room and stood awkwardly in front of her desk. Being left outside had annoyed him. It wasn't the first time she had done this to him, but it was the first time he reacted to it. He wondered if she treated everyone this callously.

"It's Edward," he replied curtly.

Rosalie could see that he was losing interest. She didn't like that, so she pulled out her pout. Pressing her lips together, she pictured how she looked to him. Hot.

"Sorry, Edward," she purred. "What can I do for you?"

"Oh," Edward said, surprised at her change in tone. He thought she looked genuinely interested in what he had to say so he continued. "I have a band…"

"Oh- sexy," she cooed.

"Right," he squeaked, "Well we have a gig this Friday at The Meadow, and I was hoping you might stop by and hear us."

Normally, Rosalie would have never said yes, but she liked the way Edward followed her around. She thought if she threw him a bone, he might keep doing that. Surely, an after work attendance would keep him going for another year or so.

"Sure," she replied.

Edward was thrilled. All of the feelings that had faded over the last couple of months came flooding back to him. Rosalie Hale had accepted his invitation. Sure, it wasn't a date, but if the band was good, maybe it would turn into one.

"Okay, then. Um, here's the flyer with the details. I'll see you there," he said.

Rosalie smiled at him as he handed the flyer to her. Edward strutted out of her office feeling better than ever. The moment he was gone Rosalie took a look at the flyer.

"Ugh," she said, rolling her eyes and tossing the paper off to the side.

Bella sat on a wooden chair with her head between her legs, taking deep breaths. She had arrived shortly after Jasper and Carlisle, but hadn't said much to either of them. When she sat down and stuck her head down, Carlisle became worried, but Jasper just shook his head. Edward saw her immediately when he rounded the corner to backstage.

"Bella, are you okay?" Edward asked, crouching down beside her chair. He placed his hand on her back and rubbed small circles.

Bella smiled between her legs, but Edward couldn't see it. She allowed him to comfort her for a moment before she lifted her head up and met Edward's eyes. She was ready. She could do this.

"Yeah, let's do this."

Edward led Bella back to the dressing rooms. Carlisle and Jasper were already in their Alice-approved wardrobe, so they waited in the small area backstage, chatting. Edward dressed behind the raggedy couch in the room while Alice did Bella's makeup. When she was finished with Bella, she fixed Edward's hair.

As Alice tugged and pulled at his hair, all Edward wanted to do was turn around. He could hear the sounds of Bella's clothes rustling, and he knew that Bella was only partially dressed behind him. Edward would have given just about anything to be able to see that.

"Hold your head still, Romeo," Alice quipped.

"I didn't move it," he grumbled back, feeling like an ass. Here, he was trying to sneak a peek at his friend while he was preparing to woo Rosalie.

"Okay, all done," Alice said. "You decent, Bella?"

"Yup," he heard the soft voice call from behind him. Alice moved away from him, and Edward stood up.

Edward had seen Bella in her outfit before, but with her hair and makeup done, she was a sight to see. Their eyes locked, and Edward couldn't help but think how pretty those eyes were, like pools of liquid chocolate.

"I'll just let you two warm up," Alice said, sporting a grin a mile wide.

They didn't break eye contact until the door closed behind Alice. Bella looked away first. Her attraction to Edward felt so raw after the rejection. It was like an open wound, and when he looked at her like that, it was akin rubbing salt in it.

"Do you think she'll really show?" Edward asked, trying to make conversation.

"She's already out there. Jasper saw her before you got here."

"Oh . . . that's great," Edward said, but his voice didn't sound nearly as excited as it should.

A knock on the door was followed by Jasper's voice, "Five minutes, you two."

Edward suddenly looked very nervous. Bella thought briefly that if she messed up, then Rosalie wouldn't like him and her problem would be solved, but she loved the band too much to do it.

"Are you okay?" she asked. She wondered briefly if he was feigning it as she had done earlier to feel his touch.

"I just . . . I haven't played in front of anyone for so long."

"You'll do great," she said, but he scoffed. Bella took this as an invitation and walked up to him. She put her hands on his arms and gave a gentle squeeze. "I believe in you, Edward."

Edward reached his arms around her waist and pulled her in for a hug. Bella sighed softly, yet contentedly, in his embrace.

"Thanks, Bella," he said sincerely.

When they took the stage, the crowd didn't even notice. They were too busy drinking beers and having their own conversations. But after one bar of music, they had everyone's attention.

Rosalie Hale sat in the front row. If she was going to have to endure this, she wanted to make sure she was seen. That way he could make eyes at her all night and pump up her already inflated ego.

When the band started playing, she looked through the members. Where was Edward? She wondered through the whole first song if this was the opening band.

But when the guitarist announced that their next song was for Rosalie, a dedication from the keyboardist, she sat stunned.

There behind the keyboards was Edward, but not like she had ever seen him before. His hair was a beautiful bronze, and the way it stuck out was unbelievably sexy.

"I thought you said this guy was lame," her friend stated next to her.

"Shut up, Esme," Rosalie bit out. "That is not what he looks like at work."

"So are you going to tap that?" she asked. "'Cause if you do, I am totally humping the drummer."

"Gross, Esme, that guy is dirty!"

"I know, but did you see those arms? I'd like a ticket to his gun show." Esme tossed her caramel hair back over her shoulders, never taking her eyes off Carlisle.

Rosalie rolled her eyes at her friend, but thought she may get her chance. Edward Cullen was going to be a very lucky boy tonight after all.

When the band finished their set, they all relaxed briefly in the green room, all except for Carlisle who had gone MIA shortly after the show. It was Alice who answered the knock on the door. A stage hand was on the other side, but Edward couldn't make out what he was saying. Alice turned and shot Bella an apologetic glance before resting her eyes on Edward.

"Rosalie wants to see you."

Edward stood up, immediately feeling excited. He was still full of adrenaline from the show. He looked at his band mates, but neither Jasper nor Bella would look at him. He frowned, but went out to hopefully claim the prize he was after.

Rosalie was dressed in a barely-there red dress, and Edward thought she looked like sin. He smiled shyly as he approached her.

"Edward, you were fabulous," she purred and meant it this time. She ran her hand down his chest and rested it on the front of his pants. "I didn't realize you were so talented."

Edward took a quick step back. Everything he had thought he wanted was standing in front of him, but he had been so wrong. Rosalie's fake nails and brassy come-ons weren't what he wanted—at all. He'd made a terrible mistake, and he hoped that he could fix it.

"Why don't we go back to my place, Edward, and you can show me just how talented you really are."

"No, thank you, Rosalie. I appreciate you coming to our show, but I'm not interested in you like that anymore."

Edward missed the look of fury in Rosalie's face as he turned and walked away from her, but did hear the clacking sound of her stilettos stomping off and her shrill voice calling out for her friend. He turned the corner and opened the green room door.

"What are you doing back so soon?" Jasper asked. He and Alice were throwing Smarties into each other's mouths.

"Where's Bella?" Edward asked.

"She left," Alice said.

"Why?"

"Are you really that blind, man?" Jasper retorted.

"Not anymore, that's why I need to find her."

Alice squealed and jumped up out of her chair, earning her a Smartie right in her goody bag. Jasper laughed, but Alice was too excited to scowl at him.

Edward ran out the door. He swung the adjacent door open only to find Carlisle. Apparently Edward wasn't the only one who had made an impression that night, because Carlisle was making out with a young lady with caramel colored hair.

Edward shut the door quickly and headed out the back exit of the club. His eyes searched wildly around the parking lot, but a sniffle from beside him caught his attention. Sitting on an old crate just off to the side of the door, Bella was crying.

"Bella," Edward said.

"Just don't Edward. You can't get shot down and then come to me. I don't want to be second place," she sniffled.

"She didn't shoot me down," he said.

"What?"

"I turned her down." Bella looked up at Edward to gauge the sincerity of his words. He wore a frantic expression.

"Really?" She looked excited and then suspicious. "Why?"

"Bella, I've been such an idiot. You've been in front of my eyes for so long, and I've never seen how amazing you are. Will you give me a chance?"

Bella almost laughed at the ridiculousness of his question, but instead, she answered him by jumping into his arms and kissing him. Their lips touched, and they both moaned. The kiss was everything Bella had wanted her first kiss with Edward to be, passionate, sweet and no longer just in her unconsciousness.

"There you two are . . . oh . . . sorry," Jasper said, breaking the moment.

Edward looked at Bella and smiled. "Wait here, okay. I'm just going to grab our stuff, and we can go talk."

Bella nodded, and Edward made his way inside, shooting a glare at Jasper for his timing. As soon as the door closed, Bella gave Jasper a huge smile.

Jasper ran up and hugged Bella, and she returned the hug with all her might.

"See, Bella, I told you starting this band would work."