A/N: I just whipped this up this evening. I think it's just a bit of fluff to set the stage for the next chapter. I'll let you read it now.
After we found out Bella was in a relationship via Facebook, Emmett suggested we got out that night.
"Come on, Edward. It'll be therapeutic."
"No, it won't. When I get drunk, I get sentimental. No one wants that right now." I grumbled and turned my music up. The last time I got drunk, instead of sleeping with the girl Emmett found for me at the bar, I spilled my life story to me and woke up in her lap, with her stroking my hair.
"But it won't help being holed up in our room, either. You don't have to drink, just come out with us." Jasper, the voice of reason, offered. It didn't sound that bad when he put it like that.
"Fine. But I'm leaving by two, because I have rounds tomorrow." I shrugged on a jacket and followed the two of them out to the bar off campus. I broke my cardinal rule and rank all night. I regretted it, waking up late for my rounds at the hospital. I was bitched out by my resident and I left early when I was puked on for the third time in a hour. That night, with persuasion and support from Jasper and Emmett, I switched my major, to music composition.
* * *
Switching my major was the greatest idea I ever had. I was more relaxed and that was a huge change, everyone who knew me was grateful. The first night after switching, I went out and bought a secondhand upright piano. With a little help from Jasper and Emmett, we maneuvered it into the common room of our dorm. No one really seemed to mind it; in fact, I think they actually liked it. I loved the way it sounded, but it would never come close to my precious grand piano, which was back in Forks. My parents got me it for my sixteenth birthday, instead of a fancy car, like the Jeep Emmett got two years before. For years I had been asking-no, begging-for a new piano. The electric keyboard just wasn't cutting it for me anymore. I was upstairs in my room with Bella when Carlisle knocked on the door.
"Edward, your mother and I want to show you something." I glanced at Bella, who shrugged her shoulders and rolled off the bed ungracefully. She stuck out her hand to me and we walked downstairs hand-in-hand behind Carlisle. Carlisle opened the door to the library part-ways. I let Bella go in first and Carlisle went in behind her. And abruptly shut the door in my face.
"What?" I was so confused. The door opened, cheers and excited yelling deafened me. My entire family, including Jasper and Bella, were surrounding a glossy black grand piano.
"Happy birthday, Edward!" Everyone screamed. Laughing loudly, eyes dancing, Bella flung herself at me, hugging me tightly.
"Is that mine?" Bella nodded and wrapped her arm around my waist, bringing me over to my gift. I was too afraid to touch it, but apparently she wasn't. She slid right onto the piano bench and plunked out a few notes. Grinning, she scooted over so I would have room to sit.
"Go ahead, try it." I ran my fingers over the ivory keys and placed them gingerly on top. I closed my eyes and channeled my emotions into music. My fingers began to glide across the keys and soon the room was full of rising and falling notes, upbeat tempos and mellow beats. I finished after a few minutes and opened my eyes. My mother discreetly wiping her eyes and the rest simply stared.
"That was beautiful, Edward." Bella whispered and leaned over to kiss my cheek. I smiled and hung my head.
"It was nothing, really." I had already memorized it even thought of a title: Bella's Song. From that day on, I played that song, either on my piano or in my mind, whenever I missed her. It sounded even sadder and melancholy on the piano in the common room at college. I would go late at night and scribble down a random tune or melody, but would ultimately start the familiar song.
* * *
"Bro, Mom called. She said she saw Jacob today, with Bella. She and Alice came home for the weekend and introduced him. Real gentleman, that Jake." Emmett said as he entered my room. Jasper stopped plucking his guitar and put it down next to him. I glared at my brother and continued working on my psych paper.
"Did you tell I said hi?" I asked.
"Who? Bella?" I could hear him rummaging through our mini-fridge and pulled out a beer.
"No, I meant Mom."
"Then yes. Yes, I did." He popped the top and drained half the beer on one swallow. No wonder he's a hit at parties…
"She also wanted me to remind you about what day is coming up soon." "Who? Mom?"
"No, Bella. Yes, Mom. Geez, Edward. Thanksgiving is on Friday. You were supposed to get the four of us plane tickets, remember?"
"Shit. I totally forgot. I'll go it right now." I hit the Internet icon and typed the airline we always used into the search bar.
"Don't worry. I took the liberty to book our seats. Here you are, Emmett. Rose's tickets are in there as well. I'll hang onto these, just in case." Jasper slipped the boarding passes back into his bedside drawer.
Thursday night, we flew out of O'Hare International and landed several hours later in Seattle, where Alice and our parents greeted the four of us enthusiastically. I looked around the gate to check for a familiar brunette.
"She and Jake are with his family and Charlie tonight. She wanted to be here tonight, Edward. She misses you dearly." Esme told me as she hugged me tightly. I sighed and readjusted my carry-on strap as I followed my family to baggage claim.
That night, I didn't play piano. I didn't know if it was the jet lag or not seeing Bella at the airport, but I went to bed earlier than anyone else. I woke up late as well and my stomach flipped when I got to the kitchen. Bella was sitting there with Alice and Jasper, laughing about something I had missed.
"Morning, Edward." Alice said, sipping her coffee. Bella spun around in her chair, jumped up and was tackling me within a split second. She spoke quickly while kissing my face furiously.
"I missed you so much! Why haven't you called? Oh my God! Look at you! I heard that you changed your major and I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of you. I was just telling Alice-"
"Bella, shut up." I laughed and squeezed her hard around the middle, relishing the feeling of her so close to my body. I felt complete and whole with her finally back in my arms.
"Did you miss me? You haven't said you missed me. It's okay, I guess. It's because I stopped calling, isn't it? Or that I changed my profile picture on Facebook. I'm sorry, Edward. I knew you liked that one a lot-"
"Bella! You're rambling again." Alice said from the table. Her cheeks burned bright red and I grinned.
"Of course I missed you, silly girl." I whispered and kissed her forehead softly. She sighed and I inhaled her scent greedily. A few seconds went by and she released me. I immediately missed the feeling of her and followed her like a lost puppy back to the table. Esme came out of nowhere, with a cup of coffee and a stack of pancakes and set it in front of me.
"I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever wake up." She smiled and ruffled my hair lovingly.
"Flying usually gets me. Thanks, Mom." I added as I dug into the fluffy cakes.
"Is Jake coming tonight?" Alice asked after I had started eating. I choked on the last bite of my breakfast and all three of them watched me with growing concern.
"It's alright," I wheezed, "It's not like I'm dying or anything."
"You've always been one for dramatics, dear brother. Just chew your food better." Alice stated simply and waited for Bella's response. Bella rubbed my back and took a sip from my coffee. She was always doing things like that, drinking from my glass or stealing pieces of food off my plate. I was fairly sure I was the only one aware that she did this and it only contributed to the reasons I loved her.
"He thought it would be awkward, meeting you all at once on a holiday. I'm not supposed to say anything because he wants to keep it a secret, but Jake's taking us out tomorrow night." She whispered excitedly, her eyes sparkling. Jasper kicked me under the table, jarring me from my thinking.
"Rose did find last year at Christmas. I think Jacob would do just perfect." I blurted out and instantly regretted it.
"Really? Is that okay with you all? If it is, I'll tell him right now. Esme will want to know…" Bella pulled out her cell phone and rapidly clicked the keys, sending off a text to him. She reached over and grabbed my hand.
"Trust me, Edward. You're going to love him. I do."
Great. Just fucking great.
So...how did you like it? I know it wasn't much, but at least it was something. Please review. I love seeing my inbox full of email notifications.