So far, I've only gotten a good review no bad ones, so I decided to continue the RETAKE. I'll keep the original up for now, but I probably won't update it.
Chapter 5: Music
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I forced myself to go with Bella and her gang down to the beach. "You're alive!" Mike Newton joked as I wobbled down the beach.
"I wish," I muttered, "that my tutor wasn't." Bella is going to figure this one out. Then you better watch out, because if you hurt her… I let my thoughts wander toward Cullen, willing him hear them. I blushed, realizing that I hoped they would.
"Your tutor?" the curly, dark-haired girl asked. "Who is he? A senior? Is he cute?"
"Edward Cullen," I muttered. "He's weird."
"You've got that right," one of the approaching Quileute boys said. "They don't come here."
I nodded in realization. I'm glad I'm not the only one in the know.
Bella was planning something. Her head was slightly slanted, and she was twirling her hair. I followed her line of sight. Straight to Jacob. Poor Jake-Jake. Bella's going to flirt.
----*----
That night was horrible. My right foot had turned in and my entire leg was rigid. I bit my lip, closed my eyes, and plugged my ears. It was the only way I could block pain.
"Still hazy," the familiar voice whispered from the corner.
I almost screamed. GET OUT! I thought, looking in the direction of his voice.
He flinched into the light. "Tone it down," he hissed. "Please."
I wanted to hit him. "What are you going here?" I hissed back.
He sat on the edge of my bed, staring at Bella. "I find your sister…" He frowned slightly.
"Fascinating? Intriguing? Amusing? Perplexing?" I offered again. "Do we Swan women always leave you at a lost for words?"
"I can't always think when I can't hear someone's thoughts." He admitted. "I think I've come to rely on my extra sense far too much."
"How old are you?" I asked. "Physically, I'd estimate 16 or 17."
"It was 1918," he whispered. I watched him grimace at the memory.
"If you don't want to talk about it," I said quickly, "you don't have to. We're all allowed to have secrets. I have my full share of them."
He pointed at my arm. "Like that tattoo?"
I groaned. I should not have worn a tank top. "Yeah."
"Ducky?" he questioned, "that is an interesting nickname. Who came up with it?"
"My ex-boyfriend." I shook my head. "You really should go. I'm sure Phil told Charlie to keep males away from me. Human or not."
"You really were in over your head."
"Yes. I'm easily influenced." I took a deep breath. "So is she." I looked over at Bella's restless form. "If you kill her…" You'll have to kill me too.
"I know," he said, after a second, "but I don't want to be a monster, Liza." As he flew (for lack of a better word) out the window, I noticed he was humming an unfamiliar melody.
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The next day was Sunday, and I decided to take a walk. It was sunny and dry.
I heard some rock music coming from down the street. As if by instinct, I headed towards it. It was by no means the best I had heard. The singing voice was a high, as if some guy was trying to sound like a girl. The drum beat was off. "Excuse me?" I asked, walking into the small space.
The band stopped on a sour note. "Oh, hey," the singer said, turning off the mike.
"Nice guitar," I smiled in approval. "So, um, who are you guys?"
"I'm Titus," the singer replied. "That's Nate," he pointed the drum player, "and that's Grant." The bass player.
"I'm Liza. Nice to meet you."
"What do ya think?" the drummer asked, standing up.
"There's room for improvement," I admitted. "You've got a lyric and cord sheet?"
"Sure," Grant passed it to me. "Go for it."
"May I, Titus?" As he handed me the guitar, I sat on the amp.
You want to hold my hand
But I can't even stand
The sound of your voice
You never gave me a choice
No 'yes or no'
Now, I'll never know.
What am I supposed to do?
And what am I supposed to say?
I can't take the pain.
No, I can't take this pain.
"Dude," Nate whistled. "Girl's good and hot."
I snorted. "I'm right here," I muttered. I stood and handed Titus his guitar.
"You're in!" Grant said, slapping my hand. "High five!"
"I wasn't auditioning, guys. I just like good music." I pointed at the sheet. "Who wrote this? It's amazing. Really emotional."
Titus scratched his head. "That would be me. I'm still working on the second verse."
Grant and Nate playfully punched him. "Now, if only he'd get a girl friend," Titus smiled.
"But that'll never happen," Nate looked in my direction.
"Of course," I smirked, "it would sound better if the percussion line could be followed."
Nate frowned. "Oh, ouch."
"Liza, there you are."
"Dad," I gulped. "Hey. This is…"
"Grant Murphy, Nathan Green, and Titus Lyons. I'm in here every few weeks." He stared at them. "What are you doing here?"
"I was just leaving, Dad."
"She's really good." Titus blushed. "I mean, she's got talent. She was working with Nate on the drum pattern."
"Dad, really, I was about to come home." I looked down. "I have a Spanish test tomorrow."
"No, it's good you've got some friends. They're a little loud, but they're better than the last set." Charlie walked towards home. "Be home in 20 minutes."
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I took my viola with me to school the next day. During lunch, I headed to the band room, hoping I could use the practice space.
"Hi, Ms. Oliver. Can I use a practice room?"
"Liza, right? Violin?"
"Viola, actually. Eight years strong." I opened my case and rosined my bow. "I might sound horrible at first. It's been a few months."
"Go ahead."
I hit a key on the old piano. A 'C' rang in my ears. It came back easily. I started with scales and some first year tunes. The bell rang.
"Thanks, Ms. O." I loosed everything and put in back in the case. "Can I come in a few days?"
"Sure Liza."
----*----
I hadn't realized that Titus was in Gym. I sat on my place on the bleachers, and he walked up to me. "Hey, Liza. Were you carrying a violin earlier?"
"Viola," I corrected. "I was practicing during lunch. I've played for a while."
"Is that what I was hearing?" He was watching my face carefully.
"It was horrible, wasn't it?" I muttered, closing my eyes. "Don't tell me."
"No," he said. "It was great. Do you have a date for prom?"
"I'm a sophomore, actually. I can't go."
"Your sister is a junior. I would have sworn you two were twins."
"We are. I was held back."
He nodded in understanding. "That's okay, I'm a junior. I'll get you in." He smiled. "What do you say?"
"Sure, I don't see why not."
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Bella asked Charlie if she could go to Port Angeles the next day. "Jessica Stanley and Angela Weber want me to help them pick out prom dresses."
He nodded. "That's fine. Are you going?" He was asking both of us.
"No," Bella said as I said, "Yes." I blushed and chuckled.
"With who?" Charlie asked. "Grant?"
"Titus Lyons. He asked me in Gym today."
"He's better than Grant, at least. Why don't you go with them and buy one too." He pulled out his wallet. "Three hundred enough?"
I blinked. Since when did we have that type of money? "Dad, I was just going to wear a skirt. BTW, carrying that much cash is dangerous."
"Consider it a reward for good behavior."
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