BPOV

Age 10

Alice and Rosalie became my best friends as soon as I met them, and Jasper and Edward became Emmett's too. We were a pretty close group, we did everything together. Emmett and I spent the night at the Cullen house almost every week, but Jasper and Rose weren't always there.

Mama C and Doctor C weren't their real Mommy and Daddy. Mama C is Rose and Jasper's moms best friend, they'd known each other their whole lives. Rose and Jasper's dad wasn't around anymore, he left before they were born, but their mom got remarried and her new husband was mean sometimes. That's why their mom sent them to live with the Cullen's sometimes. They went back and forth a lot between their mom's house and the Cullen's house. They'd usually only live with their mom for about two months before they came back to the Cullen's again. Every time they came back, Jasper always seemed scared and Rose was quiet. Ali and I caught her crying in her room a few times, but she always said she was okay. Jasper usually just said he didn't wanna talk about it.

It was a Friday night and Emmett and I were sleeping over the Cullen's. I woke up at about 8:30 in the morning and walked down stairs to get a drink. I grabbed a bottle of water and was going to go back upstairs to Alice's room, but decided to go down to the music room. Emmett, Jasper, and Edward spent most their days playing down here, but I usually would just listen. They were all so good, it was unbelievable.

I walked in and turned on the light, putting my drink down, before walking over to the guitars that lined the wall in guitar stands. Most of them were Jaspers (he left them here since he still came over after school every day and we all knew they'd be back in two months), but a few were Edward's.

I reached out and picked up one of Edward's acoustic guitars before sitting down in the nearby chair and beginning to play around with it. I'd never played any kind of instrument before, but I had always wanted to.

One second I was just playing around with it and the next minute I was actually playing it, and I mean really playing. I don't even know what happened, it was like… like I was made for music… I felt… whole?

Once I stopped I heard I throat clear behind me. I gasped and jumped up and spun around and saw Emmett and Edward in the door way. Edward looked shocked and Emmett looked… smug?

"Edward!" I said, "I'm sorry. I promise I didn't break it! I just wanted to try it out! Wait. Did I wake you guys up?"

Edward walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulders, and, just like always, I felt a small shock run through my body. I think we'd both grown use to the shock, it was kind of comforting in a way. "Bella," he said, "Breathe." I took a deep breath and he smiled that crooked smile that gave me butterflies in my stomach every time. "I don't care that you used my guitar, you know that. No, you didn't wake us, Jasper is coming over to practice with us. Now, do you want to tell us how you know how to play like that?"

I shook my head a little, "I've never played before," I said.

His eyes widened a little, "Are you messing with us? I told you, it's okay if you use the guitar. I'm not mad if you've used if be-"

I shook my head again, "I haven't," I said, "It's like when Emmett first played the drums. I just kind of knew how to play it."

Emmett ran up and pulled me into a hug. "Belly!" he said, "This is amazing! Wait until mom and dad hear!"

"No!" I said, "Don't tell them! Please, I hate the attention!"

He put me down and stared at me for a moment. "Okay, Belly," he said softly.

I shoved him a little, "Stop calling me that!" I said. He just laughed and walked over to the drums. I looked at Edward and he winked before going to the piano.

Age 12

I was sitting in my 7th grade Honors Math classroom when I heard, "Isabella Swan and Mary-Alice Cullen, please come to the office. Isabella Swan and Mary-Alice Cullen, to the office, thank you."

Of course, then all the kids went, "Ooooooooh." I rolled my eyes before grabbing my back and walking into the hall.

As soon as the door closed behind me, Alice stepped out of her Art class, which was the classroom right across from mine. Alice and I had most of our classes together, but I'm better at math then she is; so I have honors.

"Did you do something?" she asked me.

"No," I said as we walked down the hall, "I think you're asking the wrong Swan."

She laughed, "You're right," she said, "Well, I didn't do anything."

I shrugged, and was about to say something, when I opened the office door I saw Alice's dad, Carlisle, standing in front of me. "Dad?" she said, at the same time as I said, "Doctor C?"

He gave a half smile, "I'm here to pick you girls up."

"Why?" I asked.

"Is everything oaky?" Alice asked.

Carlisle didn't say anything, he just led us out to the car. We all climbed in and Carlisle still didn't any anything. "Where's mom?" Alice asked.

"Getting the boys and Rose from the high school," he said, pulling out onto the main street.

"Is everything oaky?" she asked again.

He still said nothing.

"Where's my mom?" I asked.

"Your house," he said. I looked at the clock in the car, it was 11:30. She isn't supposed to be at work yet, so there's nothing odd about her being home at this time. I looked at Alice, she looked worried, but she just shrugged.

Five minutes later, we pulled into the Cullen's driveway, Mama C still wasn't there yet. I climbed out of the car and looked across the street to my house and saw that my dad's police cruiser wasn't there. He worked the night shift last night, he should be home by now.

He worked the night shift.

I felt numb.

I spun to Carlisle. "Where's my dad?" I asked. His face fell, and he didn't say anything, but I knew. I just needed him to tell me. "Where's my dad?" I repeated.

"Bella…" he said.

I dropped my bag and stared running toward my house. "Bella!" I heard Alice yell after me before she started to chase me.

"Mom!" I screamed as I busted through the front door. I found her on the couch sobbing. I fell in front of her, I could already feel myself start to cry, "Mom," I whispered, "Mommy… Where's dad?"

She just cried harder, "I'm so sorry, Bells," she said, "I'm so sorry."

I stared at her, not knowing what to say. I knew I should comfort her, but I couldn't move. I saw Alice sit down on the couch next to my mom, she had tears streaming down her face too, but she did what I couldn't do, she pulled my mom into a hug.

I slowly stood before walking to Carlisle, he looked like he was trying to hold it together, I knew he and my dad were good friends, you kind of have to be when your kids are as close as all of us are. "I'm so sorry, Bella," he said, "He was shot on duty. He was brought into the hospital at 9:00am… I was there… I tried, Bella, I promise you, I tried. We were just too late…"

That's when I lost it, I started sobbing and threw my arms around Carlisle's waist. I felt him hug be back, rubbing my back soothingly.

I heard Emmett's booming voice coming up the driveway, I let go of Carlisle and ran to the door. I flung the door open and ran down the driveway toward my brother and our other friends. I saw Esme behind them and could tell she was crying as well.

Emmett stopped walking when he saw me, his face full of worry. "Bella?" he said, voice full of concern. I said nothing, I just threw myself at him.

He stumbled a little with my weight, but he caught me. "Bella," he said, "Belly, what is it? What's wrong?"

"It's dad, Emmett," I sobbed.

I felt him freeze, "What about dad, Bells?"

"He's gone, Emmy," I sobbed, "He's gone."

Emmett pulled back and looked at me, "Where's mom?" he asked.

"Inside with Alice," I said through tears, "Doctor C said he got shot on duty."

I saw the tears threating to break down his cheeks, I knew he was just being strong for me. He kissed my head before handing me off to Edward. "I'm going to check on mom," he said.

I felt Edward pull me to him, that comforting shock going through me once again. "I got you, Bella," he whispered to me, "I'm here."

I sat in the front row of the funeral, sandwiched in between my mom and Alice. I wasn't really listening to anything anyone was saying, I was staring blindly at the front of the room. I saw everyone begin to stand and I slowly stood too before walked outside. I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that he was gone. It seemed like a dream… a nightmare. I just couldn't believe it…

"Bella?" I heard from behind me.

I turned and saw a tan boy behind me, "Hi," I said timidly.

"I'm not sure if you remember me," he said, "My name is Jacob, my dad and your dad were friends."

I nodded, "I remember you," I said as I stepped toward him.

"I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry for your loss," he said, "If you ever need anything do hesitate to call."

I nodded, "Thank you," I whispered.

Then he smiled and turned to walk away.


Later that day, I was sitting on the floor in the music room of the Cullen home, just staring at the guitars. I kept thinking about how my dad never heard me play, no one every heard me play other than my friends. All because I hated being the center of attention. It seemed selfish.

I felt so guilty, I knew he'd love to hear it, but now he never would…

"Bella." I looked up and saw Carlisle at the door.

I reached up to wipe the tears off my face. "Hi, Doctor C," I said.

He stepped inside the room, "What are you doing in here all alone?" he asked as he sat down on the floor beside to me.

I looked at my hand in my lap, "Just thinking," I said quietly.

"Well," he said, "I like to think I can be a good listener."

I looked at him and he smiled at me. I sighed and looked back at my hands on my lap. "You know Emmett played the drums like a pro without ever having a lesson a day in his life?" I asked.

"I wasn't here for it," he said, "But yes, I know about it. You dad told that story very well." I smiled softly to myself as I remembered how proud he was of Emmett. "Just because you didn't play music like Emmett, doesn't mean your dad wasn't proud of you too, Bella."

Tears started to fall, and I looked up at him, "That's just it," I said, "I do play. I just picked up that guitar," I pointed to Edward's acoustic, "When I was 8 and began to play like I've played my whole life."

He looked confused, "I didn't know that," he said.

I shook my head, "Only Emmett, Alice, Jasper, Rose, and Edward know," I said, "I made them swear they would never tell anyone because I didn't want to be the center of attention. Now I feel bad because I know he would've loved nothing more than to hear me play."

His face softened. "Well," he said, "I know, for a fact, that your father is still here every day. I know that he's here with you, listening to you." I didn't say anything, I just looked back at the guitar.

"Why don't you play for me?" he asked. I looked up at him. "If he's not here to hear you play, then play for me. I'd love to hear it."

Daddy would like if I played for Carlisle.

I nodded and got up to get the guitar, before walking over and sitting in the chair. I wasn't really sure what to play, so I began to play Hallelujah, it seemed fitting.

No one had ever heard me sing before other than Emmett, but I wanted my dad to hear this.

EPOV

I was in the living room with Emmett, Rose, Jasper, and Alice and my mom and Renee were in the kitchen cleaning up.

None of us were really saying anything at all, just sitting around silently, but then I started to hear a guitar playing.

"What's that?" Alice asked.

I looked around, "Where's Bella?" I asked. We all looked at each other before jumping up and running toward the kitchen.

"Hey, Kids," mom said, "Wait, if you're here, then who's playing downstairs."

Emmett walked up and grabbed Renee's hand. "I want to show you something, Mom," he said, before leading her downstairs.

I took my moms hand, "Come on," I said.

We headed down, and, the closer we got, the easier it was to hear.

Well I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
Well it goes like this:
The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

I looked at Alice, "Is that her?" I asked.

She shrugged, "I've never heard her sing before," she said.

We all walked into the music room and I saw Renee's hand go to her mouth. My dad was sitting on the floor silently watching Bella as she played Hallelujah.

She had the most beautiful voice I'd ever heard. It was soft and sweet, and absolutely perfect even though she was crying.

When the song came to an end, we all clapped, and Renee walked over and hugged her sobbing daughter.

I think I fell for Bella a little harder that day.

Thank you for reading! Please review!

Love,

Nykiddo