Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. I only own what I can come up with.

"Good evening again, everyone." My voice didn't shake thankfully, and I smiled at everyone. There was applause as I spoke up. "So tonight is obviously themed 'Trip Down Memory Lane' and I have to admit I'm loving everyone's style. Anyway, I'll be the last one to tell a story tonight, but I'll be singing some songs that have to do with my past. I hope you enjoy them! This first song is called Unforgivable."

I closed my eyes as the music started.

(Unforgivable by The Material.)

There really was flashbacks playing in my mind. The lyrics didn't lie, but they weren't exactly as they seemed. I didn't sleep with anyone. This happened after I had been living here a few years. I had gotten in a fight with people, and being the stubborn person I was, I had left. The things that happened were not things I was proud of. At all. The next day I came home in a mess and Demetri had just hugged me and told me everything was alright.

Speaking of Demetri, he was looking at me with knowing eyes. Next to him Jasper was looking up at me curiously. I knew he had probably caught on to some of the truth, but he didn't understand. He would ask me questions, and when he did, I wouldn't lie. He could take the truth and think of me in whatever way he wanted after that. It was his decision.

At the end of the song there was a quiet round of applause. Everyone was also trying to figure out how this was part of my story. From what they had seen, nobody really knew about that 'dark side' of me. Not yet at least.

"Our next song will be Stand in the Rain."

(Stand in the Rain by Superchic(k).)

The words flowed out of me easily. The sudden song change wasn't surprising after tonight's earlier performance. It was only a surprise to Jasper who had heard us planning our song list for the night. I smiled at him a little, but got back into my performance.

More people clapped this time, seeming to realize that I would probably explain everything later tonight. I smiled sweetly as we moved on to the next song. "This next piece is called Innocence."

(Innocence by Avril Lavigne.)

Jane sang the background parts. I made sure to look around the room for this part. This song was very moving. In more ways than one. For me and my family, it was a true story. Part of the story that I would also share tonight. It was funny how easy it was to make everything calm down with this song. The whole room seemed to hush. Like you could feel the innocence in the room even though we all knew it was long gone by this point.

"This last song will be sung as a duet between me and Demetri. If he doesn't mind, that is." The last part was added hurriedly as I realized I hadn't asked him. He had a gentle smile on his face as he hopped up on stage. I saw him mouth the question of the day. 'Are you sure?'

All I could do was nodded as he took my hand and stood next to me. "This is Safe and Sound." Felix started on the guitar part behind me. We stared at each other, and one hand reached up to rub his thumb across my cheek as he sang the first line.

(Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift. This version is the cover by Me vs Gravity. It doesn't have a girl singer in it, but just imagine Bella singing the chorus with him and the ooh's.)

We stared at each other the whole time we sang. Even when we got the the climatic 'ooh' section and the end of the song. Never once did we break eye contact. When the last note of the piano hung in the air and the whole room fell silent, Demetri pressed his lips to my head.

That's when the room erupted into applause. The whole room, even the people who tended to look at me like they were better, were applauding. It filled me with happiness. Sadly, I didn't know if it would last. Nobody knew the true story behind my coming here except for my family. Even then, only Demetri knew absolutely everything.

My band members left the stage after putting away their instruments. Demetri hopped off, but never moving to far away. He could read me like an open book, knowing everything I needed before I did. I couldn't lie to him, even if I wanted to. I turned to face the crowd, forcing what I hoped was a believable smile on my face.

"Thank you everyone. I would like to spend the next couple hours sharing stories. I don't expect everyone to share in front of strangers, nor would I want to pressure anyone into doing so. If anyone would like to share anything about your past, please come up." I directed my attention to the audience, making sure everyone knew. "This is not a time to bring up old grudges and fights. I do not believe that will help the vampire community as a whole. I am not here to gain your approval or start wars. My job is to unite everyone. If you are in the mind to only share a story to bring someone else shame or tear them down in anyway, I will have you escorted out."

Everyone nodded at that. Some looked annoyed, other grateful. I knew there were some things that did not need to see the light of day again. Especially in front of people you were technically supposed to live with for the rest of your undead life. I certainly wasn't ready to tell them everything. Yet I would go up there later tonight to get it all out in the open and let the judgements come as they would.

Demetri helped me down from the stage and handed me over to Jasper who pulled me into his arms again. He was acting much sweeter. I couldn't tell if it was genuine, or if it was just because of the bet we had in place. I believed it was because of the damn bet, so I wouldn't let a few sweet words and nice gestures win me over. I wouldn't let my guard down again just because someone batted their eyelashes and told me I was pretty.

I blinked out of my thoughts when the first person made their way onto the stage. A nervous expression was on Nia's face. She looked at me, and I smiled up at her encouragingly.

Nia was a member of the guard. She joined us two years earlier and was one of the members I talked to almost on a daily basis. She had the amazing power of being able to change how you appear. Since she was a new-ish member to the vampire world, only seven years, she could only distort a whole persons image one at a time. Which meant if I really needed to go out during the day with someone else, she was the person I took with me.

She spoke cheerfully about how she was changed, saying that she didn't know who her maker was, but she was glad that she was changed. Nia mentioned friends that had stepped up and taken care of her. Then she mentioned how she had been accepted into the guard. It was a pleasant tale, and she finished with people applauding her.

That first person seemed to spark everyone else. Many people flooded the stage. They spoke about how it was like to change. How they lived. Their mate. Their coven mates. Their wishes, hopes, old dreams. Some of them spoke about what they would like to see changed, and I took notes of that.

Finally the time came for me to go. I knew that by the look Demetri sent me. The clock on the wall read one in the morning. Much later than I should be up considering the nightmare ordeal that had haunted me last night. Jasper lifted me on stage, but I just sat down on stage, spreading out my dress in a circle as I crossed my legs in a criss-cross position. Everyone's eyes were like a weight on me as I tried to figure out where to start. I felt a slight wave of confidence and grabbed at it immediately.

"When I was twelve, I ran away. Not because I was unhappy. I lived a happy, albeit tiring life at home. My mother, Renee, was flighty and often needed me to take care of her. No, I ran away because of vampires." The silence in the room was deafening. "Almost a month prior to me running away, I had been attacked. At the time, I was eleven."

My hands clenched into fist as I fought down the emotions raising in me. "I was attacked by a man with red eyes. The only people I had met with red eyes were kind people. They looked after me. I was supposed to me them their, actually. When I reached the place, instead of familiar people, their was a man. He was holding the limp body of a girl. A teenager no more than eighteen.

"I remember the horrified expression on her face despite the blank look in her eyes. Her neck was tore open, her crimson blood staining her shirt and the man who held her. His lips were painted in her blood. When I squeaked in fear, his eyes darted toward mine and he dropped the girl in a pile of dead bodies at his feet. Out of nowhere, more of them came. All had bright red eyes. They tsked quietly, talking amongst themselves in silky smooth voices."

The whole room seemed to hold their breath as realization seemed to be dawning on them. "All the men I later found out were vampires stalked forward. They spoke sweetly, talking about how they should kill me. What they should do to such a young, naughty child sneaking out of the house. I was terrified. One man picked me up and ran a blood covered hand down my cheek. I specifically remember trembling. He moved his lips toward my ear and when he spoke it was like venom covered honey.

"His words were simple, really. 'You shouldn't have seen that, little girl. But you did. Now, should I kill you quickly? Or savor the screams you'll make as we kill you slowly?' That was when I started screaming. I begged them to let me go. That I really hadn't seen anything even though it was a lie. I screamed at them not to touch me, not to hurt me.

"That's when the others showed up. They were like my avenging group of angels, even though I knew they all had the same red eyes as the men who were just threatening to kill me. It was almost ironic actually. I got nothing more than a few scars, bruises, and mental trauma that I couldn't talk to with anyone. Seeing my fright, we all agreed it was time."

I stayed quiet, letting people absorb that story. No, I had not given the exact details, nor had I given the full version of what really went on that night. Instead I opted to end my story telling their for the night. My father and uncles had wanted me to get the story out all at one time, but being up here right now, I could tell that wouldn't happen. It seemed better to put it off, break it into chunks. Then I could get the most important part out later, towards the end of the week. That way people could hear the rest of my story and not jump to conclusions right away.

Demetri, as always, seemed to sense this. With just a look, he hopped on stage and commanded the crowds attention.

"My little Firefly will continue her story throughout the week. For now, she will be retiring to bed. We ask that you enjoy the festivities and remain in the ballroom or the guest quarters. If you must hunt, please go outside of the city walls, and not all in one place. Thank you."

Demetri helped me up and handed me down to Jasper. He looked at me with a mix of curiosity and awe. I laughed a little. "Come on, Whitlock. Demetri is obviously coming with me, but isn't it a gentleman's job to make sure his date gets back to her door?"

"Why yes it is, Princess."

We walked in silence, Demetri walking behind us at a reasonable space. We didn't talk. I had my arm looped through his in a comfortable gesture. When we arrived at the door, I gave him a curtsey and he bowed. Then he surprised me by taking my hand and kissing in. He winked at my surprise.

"Good night, Isabella. I will see you in the morning." Nothing else was said. Jasper simply turned and walked away. Demetri let out a whistle as he opened my door for me. I turned my head to look at the spot Jasper had disappeared. A smiled tugged at the corner of my lips.

"Well played, Whitlock. Well played."

A/N: Yeah... So this is all I got. Not that it's an excuse or anything, but I've finally got my shit together in my life and realized that I need to go to counseling. So that's what I'm doing now. Apparently I've got issues I didn't know about which explains my lack of motivation when it comes to keeping up-to-date with my stories. I'm hoping this will help me update more often. Anyway, thank you for reading! Please review. You guys are the best!

P.S. Tell me what you would like to see happen in this story! :)