Hiya,,

fourth chapter up and running

Also letting you know that most of the time when I write long sentences in italics that they are most likely Bella's thoughts.

My longest chapter so far, I feel so proud. Hehe
Anyways hope you like it!!

The Black Notebook.

Song: Longer, by Delta Goodrem.

Previously

"Um ... yeah. We should probably get to class now," I ran towards our music room. Great I just humiliated myself in front of Edward Cullen. I sighed and entered the classroom.

~~*~~

The music room was well equipped with different types of musical instruments. In the back corner of the vast room, positioned on a raised platform was a stunning, ebony grand piano. I stared at the instrument in amazement. It was so much like the piano Renee had when I was a little girl. I sighed Renee ...

Ms Lilly's voice brought me back to reality. I walked swiftly over to the piano and sat at that desk in front of it.

As I was pulling my things out of my book bag I heard the chair next to me scrape along the floor.

"Hello again."

I looked up to see Mike Newton making himself at home at the table.

"Hi Mike." I said politely as I could managed.

He opened his mouth to speak but Ms Lilly beat him to the punch.

"Good afternoon class," she spoke in a majestic way which captured our attention. She looked unusual as well. There were lots of bangles and necklaces which -when they hit each other- rung. Also she wore a knee length flowery dress and let her brown hair curl down her back. A modern day hippie.

"Today girls and boys, I just want to get to know you. So when I call out your name give me a wave," she shimmied her arm in the air making her jewelry clink together. A few people muffled chuckles," And tell me if you play anything."

Ms Lilly started reading off the list.

"... Tory Brown?"

"Here," a cute redhead lifted her arm," I can play the oboe."

"Impressive," said Miss only for her ears, but my hearing picked it up.

"Um, okay where was I up to..." she mumbled quietly to herself,"Okay here we are."

"Edward Cullen?" Ms Lilly spoke louder to the class.

I didn't notice that Edward was sitting a seat to the right of me. His muscular arm was in the air for a quick second then back down on the table.

"Piano," some of the girls in the class turned around to hie irresistible voice and was stunned by his beauty. I chuckled almost inaudibly to my own ears. I know the feeling. Edward smiled politely to them and then turned his attention to me. There was humor in his eyes. Could he have heard me? That's impossible, I barley heard myself.

Ms Lilly finally reached my name.

"Bella Swan?"

What the hell? On the sheet I know it says Isabella. I felt my brow crease. Huh?

Ms Lilly frowned at my expression.

"Would you prefer Isabella?"

"No, no," I backtracked quickly," Bella's great."

"That's good," she smiled again,"Now do you play anything dear?"

"Um yeah, I play the piano," I instantly felt Edward's gaze on my face. I didn't look at him because that wouldn't help me answer the question anytime soon,"And a little singing," I was about to mention the guitar but I didn't want to seem like a try hard.

Ms Lilly looked impressed.

At the end of the lesson, I noticed Mike was a little nervous. Best just ignore him.

He cleared his throat and once he got my attention, took in a deep breath. Please don't do what I think you're going to do, I begged him in my head hoping that somehow he could hear me. Fat chance.

"Hey Bella, would-" but Mike got interrupted.

"Bella," said a shockingly familiar voice. Edward came and stood beside me,"I never knew you were musical," He was talking to me like we had known each other for forever. I briefly saw a hint of anger in his eyes.

"I guess the subject never came up," I shrugged playing along with him.

"No, I guess not," then he looked at his watch,"Shouldn't you be off to English? Alice will probably kill you if your late."

"Probably," I agreed,"Bye Mike."

His shoulder's slumped and he nodded.

I could feel Edward behind me as I raced out the door.

"Thanks Edward."

"Anytime."

I turned to face him. He gazed into my eyes and I swear my knees started to shake.

He looked away dissatisfied again.

"I'll see you later Bella," he said then turned gracefully and walked away.

"Yeah, later," I mumbled as I stared after him. I sighed and strolled to my English room.

I got to English just before the teacher. Alice had a seat saved for me in the back row. I guess the Cullen's like sitting at the front as much as I do.

"How was PE Alice?" That one little question opened up the flood gates.

"Oh it was terrible! I knew no one, I repeat no one. I was paired up with a nice girl though- good at sports- Nessie I think her name was."

I remembered meeting Nessie in French this morning. She was a nice girl.

Alice was watching me.

"Do you know her?"

"Yeah, I met her in French."

She nodded her head. Then her eyes lit up as if she had remembered something.

"Now it's my turn to ask the questions," Great I thought, where's the techer when you need him.

"How was music with Edward?" Seems like the teacher wasn't coming fast enough.

"Fine."

Alice raised her eyebrows as if to say, 'fine, I ask you about music with Edward and you say fine'.

I closed my eyes and sighed and then opened them back up to speak.

"Edward saved me from Mike."

Her eyebrows knit together in confusion.

"Mike was about to ask me out and Edward stepped in and interrupted the conversation. He seemed a little angry about the situation," I was positive I saw some resentment in his eyes.

Alice's eyes glistened while I told her what had happened and by the end she had a tiny smirk on her lips.

"What?"

"He seemed angry did he?" Her eyes danced.

"I think so, maybe ... I-I'm not sure."

Her smirk grew more pronounced and it made me feel self conscious.

"What?"

She just shook her head. I was going to bring the subject back up again but the teacher finally came through the doors, hurray!. But at the wrong time, I felt like growling at him.

Later that night I was propped up in my bed with my soft, turquoise quilt draped across my lap. I was finishing up some last minute homework while Alice was flipping through some fashion magazines.

"Hey Bella," she looked up from the magazine," Would you like a hot chocolate?"

"Sure."

"Okay," she rolled off her bed," Be back in two secs," and breezed out of the room.

Great, I thought. I'd had an idea for a new song flowing through my head all day and I've been dying to get it down on paper. I very rearly wrote songs, but sometimes I needed a way to express myself.

I picked up my notebook and started writing.

I was so engrossed in my activity that I didn't notice Alice entering the room again. Not to mention that my sensitive ears can't hear her heartbeat.

"What are you doing?"

Alice was sitting on the edge of my bed holding two ups of hot chocolate.

"Gah!" I jumped and dropped my pen,"Don't do that," but she just rolled her eyes.

"What are you doing?" she asked again while placing both cups on my bedside table.

I felt my cheeks heat up.

"Oh, nothing," but my voice wasn't right. I closed my book.

"What's this?"

Alice ripped my notebook out of my hands. I used all my strength- something I shouldn't do- to hold onto the book. I'll tell you something, she may be small but she's strong. Too strong...

She danced to the other side of the room while reading my work.

I quickly jumped out of my bed and to her side.

"C'mon Alice," I reached for my book,"Give it back."

She swirled around so I couldn't get a perminate grip on it.

"Alice," I groaned.

She held up her index finger -signalling for me to wait. I jumped impatiently side o side from foot to foot. After a long moment, Alice popped her head over my book.

"Well?" I asked.

She had a blank look on her face. She seemed surprised.

"Bella it's really good. Why didn't you tell me you wrote music?" she handed me back my book and I snatched it from her, holding it securely to my chest.

"I guess it never came up."

"And is that written for the piano?"

I nodded my head.

Alice's eyes lit up,"Can you play it for me?"

I was shocked. I never played any of my pieces for anyone, not even Charlie.

"I can't. I only just wrote it, I don't know how it sounds. Plus I haven't finished it. And I don't have a piano . . ."

She was still excited, not effected at all by my reluctance.

"I know someone who has a piano." Then she danced over to my wardrobe and handed me a long brown coat- to cover up my pajamas, I think. In record time Alice was in her own jacket and standing byout front door .

I had no clue where she thought she was taking me.

"Quickly Bela, let's go,"her impatience was making me edgy.

"I don't know about this Alice," I said as we walked out of our room.

"Don't worry, we're not going to get caught in some random music room."

That made me feel a bit better.

We travelled down the elevator just one story and ended up in front of D14. Alice knocked on the door quietly. A few moments later the door opened to revel that Edward lived here.

His face was friendly as he smiled at Alice and I. She didn't wait to be let in, she just waltzed in like she owned the place. I felt like a complete idiot staring after her while she walked.

"Would you like to come in Bella?" Edward gestured for me to come in, he had a small grin on his lips.

I walked into the room clutching my black notebook tighter to my chest. His dorm was slightly larger than mine. The front room had a large black leather lounge which took up most of the back wall. And then there were 3 doors leading off the lounge room.

"Hey Bella!"

I then noticed that Edward already had company. Emmett, Jasper and Rosalie were huddled in the back corner with their heads stuffed in some books.

"Hey Emmett," I called back to him,"Jasper, Rosalie."

Jasper looked up from his book and quickly nodded his head. Rosalie smiled at me and went back to her work. While Emmet lunged off the lounge and gave me a bone crushing hug, ruffled my hair and when back to work.

"So I'm guessing from the time," I jumped. Edward was standing right beside me. My heart beat frantically from the fright and his expression made me wonder if he could possibly hear it," And the , um... outfits," I blushed remembering that I was in my pajamas covered by a coat," That this isn't a casual visit."

"No it's not," Alice spoke up this time. She danced up to my side and tapped on my notebook,"This is the reason we're here."

"Oh, so it's not that you're just dying to see me," he teased his sister,"But it's because of a book."

I frowned, I didn't like the way he spoke about my book. It's not just a book, it was a place where I could express my feelings without being embarrassed or self conscious about it. A place where I could escape from daily life and do something that helped me remember the people I had loved most. The way Edward talked about it made it seem insignificant.

He had clearly seen that he had upset me and started to backtrack immediately.

"But I mustn't understand," he seem simply frustrated by that fact,"Why is it so important?"

"We'll explain later. But first I want Bella to see something," Alice dragged me by the arm around the massive TV to place me in front of something spectacular. I gasped.

There stood on a raised platform (just like the one in my music room) the most beautiful, cream baby grand piano I have ever seen.(A/N, picture on my profile) I slid my notebook into my left hand and practically glided over to the stunning instrument. I stretched out my long, right arm and swept it across the keys without making a sound. I marvelled at it's texture, it seemed brand new, never been used before.

Everyone crowded around me while I was in my own world. I placed my notebook on the stand and walked around to the back of the piano. I lifted the lid so that I could peak at the strings.

"Wow," I murmured in awe.

"Do you like it?" I turned to see Edward raising an eyebrow at me.

"This is your?" I faintly heard a few chuckles- mostly coming from Emmett I think.

He just nodded his head.

"Wow," I mouthed and walked back to pick up my book.

"So from all this commotion I take it you play?" asked Rosalie who had changed her position from the lounge to standing next to Alice.

"A little," I shrugged it off.

"A little," Alice scoffed,"Actually that's why we are here."

Because I was still marvelling at the gorgeous piano I didn't notice Alice was sliding my notebook carefully out of my arms.

"Hey!" I called out to her as she held my book behind her back. I ran towards her, trying to pry the book away- but Alice wasn't having that.

"I'll give it back, if," great I thought sarcastically," You promise to play for us."I grimaced. I knew it was going to go something like this.

Alice rolled her eyes,"Don't be such a baby Bella."

"Yeah," agreed an egar Emmett," I wanna hear you play."

"But-"

"No buts," Alice shook her head," Here you go," she pulled out my black notebook and I snatched it back. She turned me around to face the piano and gently pushed my shoulders," Now suck it up and play for us," I could tell that she started to smile.

As I dawdled over to the piano Jasper smiled encouragingly, Emmett -who had an arm slung across Rosalie's shoulders- gave me a thumbs up while Rosalie smiled. Edward was the closest to the piano, so he was the last to walk past. He didn't smile but his eyes were clearly curious to how this situation would play out.

I took my time getting settled. I opened my black notebook to my most recent artwork then turned to face everyone.

"Now just so you know, this isn't finished and-"

"Oh quit stalling and start the song already," Alice crossed her arms in front of her cheat, impatient.

"Okay," I breathed, as I chewed on my lower lip.

I turned back to the keys, sighed inwardly the begun letting the magic flow from my finger tips.

The introduction swirled throughout thr room. It was so soft and gentile. I took in a deep breath and begun singing.

I see you everyday
I guess we walk the same way
To wherever we're going
Every moring and every night
Do you smile to be polite
No way of knowing
I can't explain it
But I'm not complaining
If I'm happy or sad
If only we had

Just a minute longer, than this
Just a little closer than this
I would get to know you
A little bit better
I could tell you
If only we had
Just a minute longer

I glanced up to see everyones' faces plastered in disbelief. This made me smile while I sang.

A moment had arrived
It was just the right time
For conversation
And he asked me
What do you do?
What is your name?
Where are you from?
But before long
We're at the station

And I was so frustrated
In fact devastated
I feel happy but sad
If only we had

Just a minute longer, than this
Just a little closer than this
I would get to know you
A little bit better
I could tell you
If only we had
Just a minute longer

I was really enjoying myself. It had been so long since I've played any of my music. The tempo of the song started to pick up, which was giving me more energy.

I wonder
I wonder what you think about
Do you think about me?

This was where I had stopped writing so I had to improvise... fast. Okay brain think, think, think, think, think, think. But the amazing part was I didn't have to think about it at all, I just embraced the feelings of the song and let the words spill out of me.

Maybe I'm a dreamer
But I just believe
And I know what I see
Forever wishing
There would be another day
Oh if only we had
I don't care happy or sad

Just a minute longer
Just a little bit longer
Oh a little
A little bit longer
Oh baby
I would get to know you
A little bit better
I could tell you
If only we had
Just a minute longer

I let my voice fade into the last couple cords, dimmed, then vanished completely.

I lifted my head up from the piano and looked at the people behind me. From the shock of my talent they had turned into gaping idiots. It made me giggle. They seemed to thaw out from the sound of my voice- I think. Edward was the quickest to recover.

"That was..." he seemed lost for words.

"So totally AWESOME!" Emmett was never lost for words. Or if he was I'm sure he'd make up his own.

I could feel the heat rising up my cheeks, so no doubt there would be some faded pink (A/N, in my world Bella has most human traits but they're not very strong).

"Wow," Jasper and Rosalie said in usion. Which made me blush deeper- but I don't think the colour changed much.

Alice came up and gave me a hug,"Bella that was brilliant." I had a huge smile on my face as she let me go. I turned around to face Edward.

"I've had my go," I told him,"Now it's yours," the smile still on my face.

He raised his eyebrows.

"You didn't expect me to play without getting something in return, did you? I asked with fake innocence.

"Don't be such a baby Edward," I used the same words that Alice had used on me. When I said his name I felt something weird pass through me but I shook it off. Probably just the breeze because his large window was open.

"Okay, okay," he lifted his arms as if to surrender. Then he walked over to the piano and started playing. I gasped as he played. It was to extraordinary, actually that word doesn't even cover how beautiful the music sounded. It was so hard to believe that it was just Edward playing- there must've been something helping him. But no, as I glided to stand beside him it was just Edward, only one set of hands was playing this complex piece.

The rest of the night passed with me listening to Edward play on his magnificent piano. The others went back to their homework while my eyes stayed transfixed on the hands which made the beautiful music.

I yawned and lok down at my watch. 11:30pm,Edward had stopped playing and caught my eyes for a brief second. I turned to see Alice staring a me.

"I think I better go now," I informed her just before I yawned again.

"Okay."

We said our goodbyes and were just about to walk out the door when I heard Edward call.

"Wait Bella!" he was holding my black notebook. I can't believe that I had forgotten it," You're notebook."

"Thanks."

"Goodnight Bella, Alice," he nodded to us.

I pulled the corner of my mouth up into a lazy smile,"Good night."

The song in this chapter was writen by the fabulous Delta Goodrem and not me.

That chapter was ... wait or it ... 15 PAGES LONG!!!!
My hands hurt a little :(
But all is good :D

Okay so when I went over Twilight again to figure out how Edward's piano looked, I couldn't find what colour it was :( But I have always adored cream baby grands- I play and when I'm older I really want one- so that's what I gave Edward. Sorry to anyone who doesn't like my decision.

Please let my know what you think so
REVIEW ... REVIEW ... REVIEW ... REVIEW ... REVIEW!!!
loads of love
XXO.