SM owns everything.
I've decided to post the songs for the chapters here at the beginning for those of you that are like me and like to que up the iPod when there are songs in the story.
So for Chap 3 we have:
Carry Out by Timbaland
The Tease by Evens Blue
The Climb by Miley Cyrus
According to You by Orianthi
Two Is Better Than One by Boys Like Girls ft. Taylor Swift
"So," I ask Edward "did you say your brothers are twins?"
"I did. Jasper is seven minutes older than Emmett," he tells me.
"Wow, how wicked is that! Rose and I are twins too! I'm four minutes older," I say with a quick raise of my brow. I think it's law that the older twin always points out and brags about the time difference in age, while the younger twin rolls their eyes or completely ignores said comment. "Rosie and I are 28 and Alice is the baby at 26," I let him know. I see Alice roll her eyes at being called the baby.
"Jazz and Em are 31 and I'm the baby, at 28, until next month anyway," he says, looking over to Alice trying to convey to her that he knows how she feels about always being called the baby.
"So, your sister Rose said that you are the editor for the Baltimore Sun?" I nod. "How did you become editor at such a young age? Isn't that a bit uncommon?" he asks.
"It is. Just luck I guess. It's a stressful job, but I enjoy it. Most of the time anyway," I say with a bit of indifference in my voice thinking back to today's earlier problems at the office. "I got my degree in English Lit but minored in journalism. After being editor of the school paper my junior and senior years in high school and then again thru college, it just seemed the way to go. But what I really want to do is write children's books." Wow, did I just say that, I've never told anyone about my desire to write children's books. Way to go word-vomit, not even Jake knows that. I maintain a grin on my face as to not let on that I've let something slip.
I used to talk to Jake about everything, there was nothing he didn't know about me. Here lately it seems that there are more and more things that I'm not sharing with Jake. He's been my best friend my entire life, I used to tell him everything, up until it seemed like he stopped listening.
"That's quite impressive," he smiles at me and I see something spark in his eyes. Jessica returns yet again with another tray of ice water. She sets down the waters but doesn't take her eyes off of Edward. It looks like she is making him uncomfortable, surely he is used to this kind of attention, he's absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. I unsuccessfully fight the urge to laugh at his predicament. He asks her to have the djay put him on the list for a song, trying to end her stay at our table and I let her know I'm ready for another turn at the mic as well.
I wait for Jessica to walk away, "So, Rose filled you in on me, what is it you do Edward?" I ask while watching the smile return to his face as he turns to look back at me.
"I'm a doctor," he says shyly.
"A doctor?! Wow, what do you specialize in?"
"General Pediatric Surgery. I love being able to make a difference in children's lives. I almost went into obstetrics but after a rough night in the ER during my residency, a mini-patient changed my mind," he says with a smile and look of contentment on his face showing that he truly loves what he does.
"Sounds like we both have a soft spot for the little ones. Speaking of little ones," I say as I see Leah returning from checking on Sammy, "how's Sammy doing?" I ask Leah.
"Oh, he's doing just fine. I knew he would be but I miss the little guy so much even when I'm away for a few hours." You can see the look of love in her eyes as she speaks of her son. "Jake actually just took him back to my place and put him to bed. From the sounds of it, Jake was ready for bed too."
"I'm sure he kept Jake busy, he usually does," I say thinking to the times I've spent with Sammy and how tired I am after just a few hours.
With that, Carry Out ends and the djay calls Edward up for his turn. Jasper and Emmett turn to Edward looking a bit surprised to which he just shrugs his shoulders. I look at him curiously to which he informs me, "this is a bit out of my comfort zone." Then he turns and walks to the djay and toward the stage, grabbing the mic and looking a bit nervous.
The guitar chords begin and Edward closes his eyes briefly and then he begins with a look of determination on his face.
Hold your hands into the sky
Pray for mercy, instead of time
Big cities' action of my big city girl
Think she builds her own heaven
Cause she finds it's a lonesome world
Filled with dirty street cars and dirty signs
I hope there comes a time when
I get to see your dirty mind
And you're captivating , standing in front of me
Is the reason, Im still wondering why everyone we loved has broke away
Hold your hands into the sky
Pray for mercy, instead of time
You are the massacre, the masochist, the tease
And you're captivating, standing in front of me
Hold your hand into the sky
Pray for mercy, instead of time
As the song comes to a close the look in his eyes becomes even more intense like he's trying to convey something to me and I find it impossible to look away.
So be my massacre, be my masochist, be my tease
Cause you captivate me when you stand in front of me
Our table erupts into cheers, applause and whoops and hollers for an encore. He waves off the encore invitation and takes his seat. I'm so caught up in the emotion of the look in his eyes while he sang that I'm frozen in my seat for a moment, unable to look away.
The djay calls my name to come up on stage, breaking the dreamland I was stuck in.
"Maybe later, huh?" I ask while getting up and walking toward the stage for my next turn at the mic.
"Yeah, maybe," I hear him say while I walk away.
Again I whisper my selection to the djay and take the stage while my table has now decided to start with the cat-calls until the song starts.
The piano notes ring out for The Climb by Miley Cyrus and again, I close my eyes to make my connection to the song.
I can almost see it.
That dream I'm dreaming, but
There's a voice inside my head saying
You'll never reach it
As the song picks up I open my eyes and look towards my sisters and friends. I see a sense of understanding among the girls and a bit of awe from the guys. And a bit more from Edward, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is, but it allows a smile to cross my face.
The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down, but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it, but
These are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most
I've just gotta keep goin', and
I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on, but
Just as the song slows down before picking back up for some intense vocals at the end, I find a spot in my heart that allows me to open up like never before. A new understanding floods me, and to be honest I don't remember much of the last minute or so of the song.
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb
Keep on movin'
Keep climbin'
Keep faith baby
It's all about, it's all about
The climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, woah
I close out the song and try not to blush at the cheers from the crowd. The last minute must have went well. Again they chant for an encore. I'm feeling good, so why not. I smile at the crowd with a nod and walk back over to the djay and let him know what I want. I grab my ice water then make my way back to center stage and let the crowd know I'm thankful for their appreciation and have decided to pick up the pace a bit. The djay nods that he has located the song of my choice and I think to myself that while this song may not literally be my situation, it's close enough.
It's time to let loose! I hear the two intro notes for According To You by Orianthi and decide to just let go. As soon as the I sing the first few bars I start dancing and really getting into it.
According to you
I'm stupid, I'm useless,
I can't do anything right.
According to you
I'm difficult, Hard to please,
Forever changing my mind.
I'm a mess in a dress,
Can't show up on time,
Even if it would save my life.
According to you. According to you.
I look to the dance floor and see that my girls have all joined in the dancing and slowly the crowd is following. When the brief guitar solo rips about two thirds way thru I join the girls down on the dance floor taking the mic with me. Jumping around and dancing with my girls I feel loved.
According to me
You're stupid, You're useless,
You can't do anything right.
But according to him
I'm beautiful, Incredible,
He can't get me out of his head.
According to him
I'm funny, Irresistible,
Everything he ever wanted.
Everything is opposite,
I don't feel like stopping it,
Baby tell me what I got to lose.
He's into me for everything I'm not,
According to you.
According to you.
I get back on stage to end out the song.
According to you
I'm stupid, I'm useless,
I can't do anything right.
I briefly lower my head with a deep breath and eyes closed. Everyone is screaming and applauding and I can't help but look around and blush. I replace the mic in the stand and take my place back at the table. I see a fresh drink on the table and gladly drink to sooth the dryness of my throat.
"You're quite talented," I hear from across the table. I look up and notice that Edward is looking at me again with that look that I just can't quite place.
"Aww, thanks," I shrug, "that's really nice of you. Really, I find it to be a great stress relief. And today it was much needed." I say then catch myself before I say too much.
"I know exactly what you mean."
"Well, I'll tell you what, before we leave tonight we can make your encore a duet," I offer wanting just one more song before calling it a night but also securing my chance to hear Edward sing again.
He accepts my offer and the seven of us all fall into easy conversation. We all take turns laughing at each others worst date experiences. I have nothing to offer since Jake and I have been together since high school and when we first got together we were too young to really date.
Edward just shakes his head and says, "after today, I'm hoping I don't have to date anymore." Emmett and Jasper start laughing hysterically, there must be an inside joke there somewhere that I'm not getting. He rubs his hands thru his hair. "It's too recent to be all that funny to me right now, but I'm sure someday I'll look back and see where I went wrong." And he leaves it at that.
I flag down Jessica and ask for a final round of water, deciding I've had enough to drink for tonight and let he know I'm ready to settle my tab.
"There's no tab to settle, Mr., sorry," she looks towards Edward, "Dr. Cullen here has taken care of everything." Grinning at him, waiting for his attention. When he doesn't turn her way, her face falls slightly and she turns and walks away.
"Why Dr. Cullen," I start, flirting just a bit and batting my eyes with a giggle, "it seems you are disappointing our waitress by not showing her a bit of attention. And you really didn't have to do that, pay for our tab, I mean."
"Really, I hadn't noticed. And after being allowed to experience your amazing talents, it's the least I could do."
"Well aren't we just full of compliments," I blush trying to accept the compliment without complaint.
I look over to my sisters and notice they each have a cell phone in their hands that doesn't belong to them. Both just a typing away on the phone in their hands. And then it dawns on me, this must be the time of the evening where they exchange numbers. I've never really been part of the dating scene so sometimes I'm a bit slow on the uptake when it comes to these things. I smile to myself thinking how happy I am that Rose and Alice have both met someone could be really good for them.
I turn back to Edward, "ready for that encore yet?" I ask.
He nods, "if you're with me, I'm ready for anything."
"Good, I know just the song," I say while looking in his glorious green eyes before raising from my chair and returning for the last time tonight to the stage. Edward follows behind me and takes the second microphone. I fill him in on the song I've selected and see a smile spread across his face, not that it ever really left to begin with.
The sound of guitar strings come to life thru the speakers and I notice
Edward's fingers twitch on the hand that's not holding the mic.
Edward is has the first lines and I practically melt at the sound of his velvety voice as he begins.
I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life and I thought, hey
You know this could be something
'Cause everything you do and words you say
You know that it all takes my breath away
And now I'm left with nothing
I join in for the chorus and it doesn't go unnoticed how fantastic we sound together.
So maybe it's true that I can't live without you
And maybe two is better than one
But there's so much time to figure out the best of my life
And you thought that it got me coming undone
And I'm thinking two is better than one
I remember every look upon your face
The way you roll your eyes, the way you taste
You make it hard for breathing
'Cause when I close my eyes and drift away
I think of you and everything's okay
I'm finally now believing
We carry on to the end and as the song comes to an end I feel a weight being lifted from me. Something just feels right.
And I'm thinking, ooh, I can't live without you
'Cause baby, two is better than one
There's so much time to figure out the best of my life
But I figured out with all that's said and done
Two is better than one, two is better than one
I look down at my sisters and the whole table is looking at us with dropped jaws. What's that all about?
We replace our mics and make our way back to the table. Edward offers his hand to accompany me down the two steps for the stage and I feel his hand on the small of my back while we walk to the table. We get back to the table and he helps me with my chair. Where is this guy from? It's like he's from another time. But I smile at him and say thank you, everything feels so natural and not the least bit forced.
"What?" I ask my friends around the table, still not understanding the looks on their faces.
Suddenly they all straighten up where they sit, Rose and Alice still in the laps of the other two guys. "Oh, n-n-nothing" they stumble together, acting nervously and trying to straighten the empty glasses on the table.
Jessica returns with the tab for Edward and he slips her his credit card with out even looking at the total. Edward refuses to allow me to pay for any of the tab, so when she returns with his card and signature slip I wave her over to the other side of me away from Edward. I wave her down so I can whisper to her and slip her forty dollars telling her to add it to the tip for our bill. She nods while slipping the money in her pocket as to not let Edward see what I've done. She stands and sees that Edward is looking and trying to hand over the receipt slip and pen. She winks and turns to walk away.
"Well ladies," Jasper finally speaks up, "it looks like it's time to head out. May we walk you to your car?"
We all speak our approval and stand from the table. Again Edward's hand finds my lower back and we make our way to exit the bar and out to the parking lot. Edward asks Leah more about her son which makes her glow. Leah tells Edward about the joys of having her little boy all to herself and how Jake and I watch him so that she can work Saturdays to bring in extra money. Then she mentions that Emmett is the one that helped her have Paul's parental rights terminated when he was just a month old.
To that Emmett turns and looks at Leah with squinted eyes, "yeah, you do look a bit familiar. Did you have shorter hair then?" She nods. "Yeah, I remember now? Sorry, I was a bit distracted here by your friend." He turns towards Rose, his hands have yet to leave her waist since we got up from the table. He glides his lips across Rose's shoulders, leaving a soft kiss upon them before turning his head back to ask, "has he tried to have any further contact?"
"No," she tells him, "I never really thought he would try, was never much for responsibility, but I just wanted to cover all bases to easy my mind. Sammy will be four in July, which means I will be working Saturdays again here for a while until after his birthday. But I still fear that one day Paul will realize what he's missing and try to come back into our lives."
"Well," Emmett says, "if that ever happens you need to call me immediately. Where's your cell?" Leah hands over her phone and Emmett programs his number in. "If that bastard ever tries anything, you have my services at your beck and call." Leah looks like she is going to protest. "And don't ever worry about payment. You shouldn't have to deal with his type of scum. Ever. You shouldn't be punished for a previous error in judgment," he says with a wink.
"You are way too kind. I hope I never have to use this, but thank you all the same."
"Ooh, ya got any pictures of the little dude now? I'd love to see how big he's gotten." Emmett asks and it looks like Rose's heart melts just a smidge more hearing that Emmett is interested in children.
Leah taps some buttons on her phone and brings up some pictures of her Sammy to show Emmett but all the guys lean in to look. "You having a big party for the little guy?" Emmett asks Leah.
"No," she replies, "thanks to Jake" and I feel Edwards hand fall from the small of my back "he's become hooked on video games. I was thinking I would get him a handheld game system. I'm not sure which one because I know nothing about them other than they cost a good bit of money, and that's before you buy any games for them. But for a party, we usually just have his favorite dinner, which is what ever he picks that day, and cake and ice cream. Bella and Jake usually join us, but other than that he's never had a real birthday party."
We reach Rose's car and the guys all say good-night like gentlemen. I see Emmett point out a beast of a vehicle to Rose and it looks like her smile got even bigger. I roll my eyes, she's such a motor-head.
We all get in the car after saying goodbye and watch the guys walk over to Emmett's. As soon as we see their lights come on, Rose puts the car in gear and we head home.
Rose pulls up to our building and Leah and I get out. I bend back down in the window to tell my sisters that we should do lunch tomorrow to which they agree.
Leah and I walk to our apartment doors, conveniently right next to each other. I tell Leah good night and walk into my apartment. I slip off my shoes and walk to my bedroom, ready to call it a night and slip into bed. And that is exactly what I do.
A/N: Leave me some love. Let me know what you're liking or what you're not.