This chapter doesn't have a song to it but I'll try to get one worked into the story soon.

WooHoo! The top four just performed their final dances and it was fantastic. Vote for Evan! I really hope he wins this and if he doesn't I think Branden should. They're both really good.

Chapter 15- You could stay

POV- Bella

Max pulled on my hair one more time and tightened one of the straps on my top. "There you go Darlin', all done. What do you think?"

I spun around and looked at myself in the long mirror. This costume was the neatest thing I'd ever worn. The baggy pants hugged my hips and matched the same bright green color the top was made of. The top had straps that hung loose over my shoulders and left my collar bone exposed. It was laced tight in the back and the clear straps over my shoulders would keep it from falling down.

I had an orange scarf tied around my waist and a matching veil pinned in my hair. A gold circlet adorned with beads and ribbons was pinned in my hair and it held the veil in place so only my eyes were visible above the mesh fabric.

I was bare foot and my ankles and wrists were lined with thin gold bangles. I had gold hoops in my ears and a gold necklace around my neck. I even had a fake belly button piercing. She had showed me how my hair would curl around the circlet and showed me the color of the make up I would wear around my eyes.

"It's beautiful Max."

She nodded. "The ties around your ankles will keep the pants out of the way so you don't trip yourself and I'll make those clear straps tighter as well. We don't want your top falling off during the show."

"No we don't."

She rummaged around in a box along the wall and pulled out a strapless bra in the same green color as my costume.

"I believe this is your size. Try it on."

I pulled tube top up and swapped my sports bra with the green one. It was a perfect fit and it would hide under my costume. Just in case.

"Why don't we go see if Edward's done?"

I nodded and jumped off the platform I had been standing on for the last hour. The costume jingled as I walked. As I followed Max out into the main room I tried a few of the moves Nakul had showed me. I would have to get use to the weight of the pants. The beads weighed them down and would have pulled the loose pants right off if it wasn't for the tie hidden in the fabric that was pulled tight around my hips to keep them on.

Max knocked on the wood next to the red curtain that acted as a door for the boy's dressing room. All of the doors in Max's costume shop had been replaced with curtains. Girls could go behind the purple curtains, boys could go behind the red curtains and the black curtains were for Max and her staff.

"Are you boy's done in there?" She called.

"One more second Max."

A boy's voice I recognized responded and I could hear more beads rattling on the other side of the curtain. There was some shuffling, a thumping sound and then Edward emerged from behind the curtain. He smiled when he saw me waiting for him and we took in each others costumes. Max was brilliant.

Edward was wearing pants similar to mine only in light blue. He was layered with scarves and beads and even had a silver circlet in his hair. Instead of a tube top like I was wearing he had on a traditional vest in the same blue color as his pants.

The vest was embroidered with gold designs and he had on gold bracers around his wrists. The vest hung open and I loved the view of his chest it gave off. There was a large amulet around his neck and it matched the color of the gem around my neck and stuck to my belly.

"Wow, Bella you look great."

I blushed. "You too."

"Think you can dance in that?" He asked walking around me to take in the whole costume.

"I'll make it work."

There was a knock on the front curtain and Leah walked in with Emmett.

"We're here for our fitting." Leah said as Max walked over to talk to them.

Emmett spotted Edward and I and whistled. "Looking good Bell."

I spun around and shook my hips so the beads rattled. "Thank you Em."

Leah ordered me to spin around so she could see the whole thing and Edward spun me in a circle. Once I was done I took Edward's hand and made him spin too.

"That's beautiful." Leah said as she admired the circlet in my hair. Max popped up at her side and pointed back at Emmett.

"You go with Edward back in that room." She pointed to the red certain. "Jason is waiting for you."

Jason was the boy who had done my hair for the partner shot. Now I remembered why I recognized the voice. I walked up to the curtain and knocked on the wood next to it.

"Jason?!? Are you in there?"

There was some rumbling and then Jason's frosted head peeked around the curtain. He smiled when he saw me and walked out into the main room so I could give him a hug. His blue eyes matched the color of his tie and he looked fantastic.

"Bella, I didn't know you were Edward's partner. Good to see you again girl. How have you been?"

"I'm good, It's good to see you again." I spun around and showed him the costume, making sure all of the beads and bracelets jingled. "What do you think?"

He smiled. "I think, I dibs helping you and Edward with your quick change during the show."

Max nodded and shoved him back behind the curtain with Edward and Emmett. "Fine, you can have her as long as she's comfortable with that. Right now I want Edward's costume packed in his box and Emmett on your platform. We still have a bunch of people to get in here today."

Jason poked his head back out of the curtain. "What do you say Bella can I be your quick change helper?"

"Isn't that a bit inappropriate?" I giggled, as Edward voiced his opinion from the other side of the curtain. Jason raised an eyebrow and glanced over his shoulder at where I assumed Edward was standing. "Why? I don't think my boyfriend would mind. I don't like girls like that. Bella would have no reason to feel uncomfortable with me."

I giggled and I could hear Emmett howling from the other side of the curtain. "You walked right into that one Eddie."

There was a whap and Emmett cursed. I smiled back at Jason and nodded. "It's fine by me as long as your boyfriend doesn't mind."

The black curtain along the far wall moved and a boy with sandy colored hair and dark brown eyes popped his head out and smiled at us. "I don't mind."

Jason smiled at the boy and blew him a kiss. "Thanks Kev."

"Just as long as that Edward boy doesn't make a move on you." I shoved my hand in my mouth to muffle my giggles and Emmett started howling again. Leah fell off the stool she was sitting on and Jason made a face like he smelled something bad.

"No worries Kevin, baby. I prefer blondes."

Kevin winked at Jason and then disappeared back behind the black curtain. Max rolled her eyes and glanced at Jason who still had his head poking through the curtain.

"Why did I hire you two again?" She asked.

Jason winked at her. "Because we're wicked awesome."

"Go get those boys changed." She ordered whapping Jason on the head with a magazine she was holding. He ducked behind the curtain and cursed.

Max turned on me and Leah and pointed at the purple curtain. We got up and hurried into the girl's changing room before she could get mad at us. I jumped back up on the platform and Max helped me undo all of the hidden ties keeping the costume up.

She showed me the box I would be using to hold my costumes for as long as I was on the show. I pulled my clothes back on and she showed me how to fold the costume and gave me a box to keep the jewelry neat.

"You'll put your group dance costume in here as well as your solo outfit. Everything you want brought to the stage needs to be in this box. I will make sure the boxes get there. If you forget something it's not my fault."

I nodded. "Where do I get my solo outfit?"

"Talk to Kevin as soon as we're done. He'll show you where you can find one." She showed me where I could store my box in a rack along the back wall of the girls changing room. There were ten boxes in the rack, one for each of us.

"Leah dear, get on the platform and strip."

Leah gave Max a look similar to the one I had given her and then glanced over at me. "What did she just tell me to do?"

I nodded. "Strip."

Leah shrugged. "That's what I thought she said."

Leah pulled her top over her head and I slipped back into the main room. Edward wasn't back yet so I knocked on the wood next to the black curtain. Kevin's head popped out and he smiled at me. "Back again so soon Bella. What can I help you with?"

"Where can I find a solo outfit?"

He smiled. "This way."

He stepped out from behind the black curtain and led me down a long hall in the back of the costume room. The hall was painted black and it was lined with pictures of past dancers. There were hand prints in bright colored paint along the wall and some of them had names painted under them.

"What is all of this?"

Kevin glanced at the wall. "Every year there are a few dancers who befriend members of the costume shop. Your hand print only gets in this hall if one of the costume shop workers asked you to add it. It doesn't have any meaning on the show but the dancers who get here generally do well."

He pointed to a pair of neon orange hands. "That was Benji from season two." He pointed to another pair of hands. The hands were a mix of bright blue and yellow and it looked like the hands had been dragged along the wall while the pain was still wet. "That was Lacey from season three."

The neon colors of the hand prints stood out against the black walls. I started recognizing more of the people in the pictures. All of the pictures were of dancers who had been on the show. I recognized most of the faces but couldn't remember a lot of the names.

We turned around a corner and passed through another curtain. It was like we had walked into a warehouse. It looked like a smaller version of the prop shop. The large room was filled with racks and racks of costume bags. Boxes of shoes and racks of accessories lined the walls and filled the room from ceiling to floor.

"Go wild." Kevin said motioning to the room.

"Where should I start?" I asked glancing at the rack closest to me.

Kevin glanced at me and ran his eyes up my body. "You're a size two?" I nodded. "About five four?" I nodded again. "And your bust is what, a B?" I nodded again and my cheeks flushed.

He smiled. "Damn, I'm good." He led me to a rack along the far wall and waved for me to look. "Start here, I better go see if Edward needs to find something to wear as well."

I looked along the wall and found a simple dress in the same color as my sleeping tank-top. It was Edward's blue. The dress was a halter and stopped just above my knees. It was perfect. Hopefully I wouldn't need to wear it for a while since only people who fell into the bottom three couples would need to do solo's but I was going to stash it away until I needed it.

I made my way back to the main room and found Edward waiting for me.

"Don't you need a solo outfit?"

He shook his head. "I have clothes I can wear for a solo."

I had the dress wrapped in a bag and I quickly slipped back into the changing room before he could ask to see it. Leah was on the platform wearing a dress that made me double take. It was black and purple.

"Wow, Leah that dress looks great."

"Thanks." She said smiling at methrough the mirror she was facing. The dress hugged all of the right places and had large holes in the sides so her great figure was visible. It only had one shoulder and a plunging v-neck.

There were black and purple feathers around her hips and she was wearing a pair of three inch purple heels. Max pinned part of the dress and Leah jumped. "Ouch."

"Sorry dear, don't move."

I tucked the dark blue dress into my costume box and returned to find Edward waiting for me. He took my hand and led me out into the hall.

"Now what?" I asked as I glanced at a clock on the wall. It was only four. Dinner would be served at six and the show would start at seven.

"Your flip still needs work." He pointed out.

"Yours isn't perfect yet either." I grumbled trying to look offended. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back against his chest.

"I didn't mean to sound mean Bella. It's just a statement of fact. You don't want to go home week one do you?"

I shivered and pulled myself out of his hold grabbing his hand and dragging him along behind me as I slipped back into one of the empty practice rooms. "No, I don't."

By the time six o'clock rolled around, Edward and I were both landing on our feet every time we did the front flip. We had worked on the first two opening sets and working my flip into the first lift. Overall we had the beginning of our dance down.

"That's really coming along Bella." Edward said as he laid down on his back. I nodded and pushed my hair out of my face. We were both breathing hard and I was regretting not having a hair tie so I could get my hair off my neck.

"Let's go get dinner." I suggested, as I offered him my hand and pulled him to his feet.

He nodded and opened the door for me. "Sounds good, I'm starving."

Dinner was fantastic. Chicken and some kind of noodle dish with vegetables. It was like something I would have made at home. My mom liked to think she could cook so it was generally my job to make sure something edible made it to the table. Phil had been helping me with the food since he and my mom got married but his skill seemed to be limited to the grill.

After dinner, I excused myself early so I could tidy up my room a bit before everyone came up. I had just finished shoving all of my clothes back in my dresser and tucking my suitcase under the bed when there was a knock on my door.

"It's open!"

Alice and Rose let themselves in and flopped down on my bed. Emmett, Erik, and Jasper were close behind them and Emmett waved a bag he was holding in the air. "I brought snacks."

"How are you still hungry?" I asked as he unloaded his bag.

"I'm always hungry Bell." Emmett said it like it was something I should have noticed a long time ago. I rolled my eyes and let him make his food.

Emmett's snacks consisted of ingredients to make s'mores in my microwave and Mike's hard lemonade for him, Rose, Ben and Jasper. Alice ran to her room and came back with an extra box of soda for those of us who 'couldn't legally drink' and flipped the TV on.

"Where's Edward?" I asked. Just as the words left my mouth there was another knock on my door.

"He's right there." Rose said as she and Alice made themselves at home on my bed. I opened the door and found Edward standing in the hall with Tanya and Ben.

I waved them all in and then forced myself in-between Alice and Rose on my bed. Emmett made s'mores for everyone and then draped himself across the bed until Alice and I scooted over and made room for him.

Jasper and Edward took the easy way out and sat on the floor in front of the bed and Tanya pulled one of the bar stools along the breakfast counter up so we could all see the screen. Angela was the last to arrive and she sat on a bar stool like Tanya.

The room fell silent as Cat Deeley's face showed up on the screen and she welcomed everyone to the show where we would finally get to see who the judges would pick to be in the top twenty.

We cheered as she vanished and the theme song for the show came on. Emmett sang along with the bass voice and Alice elbowed him when the show came back on.

"Shhh!"

Cat's face came back and there were clips of the dancers working behind her.

"This week our top forty were faced with solos. They could pick any song they wanted in order to show off their skills for our judges. However, two of our dancers faced an accident almost more terrifying than the judge's wrath. Let's see what happened.

I flushed as the show flipped to a shot of Edward and I in the medic's room. We were in our dirty ripped clothes and the wound on my arm hadn't been wrapped yet so I was still splattered with blood. My mom was going to flip.

They showed the clip where Nigel asked what had happened and Edward explained briefly about the almost car crash. I flushed as the others made a few smart comments and I smacked Emmett on the back of his head. There was no need to hit him, but it made me feel better anyway.

The show flipped back to Cat and we watched her talk. "Will this accident cost them their chance to make it to the top twenty? This and even more when we return to 'So You Think You Can Dance'."

The show turned to commercials and my phone started buzzing on the bed side table where it had been for almost two days. I hadn't gotten ahold of my mom but I left her and Summer both long messages trying to convince them that I was alright.

"Damn it." I mumbled under my breath and the others giggled at me as I turned to face the phone.

I grabbed the phone and glanced at the caller ID. It was my mom. Big surprise there! I excused myself knowing she wouldn't calm down until she heard my voice for herself. I stepped into the hall and answered the phone.

"Hi mom."

"Oh Bella! We just saw you on the TV, your arm looked so bad. Are you sure you're ok?"

"It looks worse than it is. I'm fine, really, I promise."

"When Charlie called me I was so panicked. I got the message your doctor left us and then I talked to him a bit, but I couldn't get ahold of you. Summer's here with us right now by the way she says hi and she wants you to call her later."

"Hi Summer. I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner mom. I've been really busy with the show." ...and other things, other people.

I talked to her for a few more minutes convincing her that I was ok and that Edward had gotten to me just in time.

"I really own him my life mom. If he hadn't pushed me out of the way I would have been run down by that van."

"You tell him I said thank you and stay out of the road from now on. We're coming to see you on the show and I want to meet that boy."

"Yes mom. I'll tell him. I promise."

"Tell all your new friends we said hi and good luck. We're all rooting for you dear. Oh, the shows back on. I'll talk to you later ok honey? Have fun and be safe."

"Yes mom, I'll talk to you later. Bye, I love you too."

I hurried back in and jumped over Emmett back to my place on the bed. Cat was showing clips of the different dancers and talking about what the judges were looking for in the top twenty. I leaned forward so my head was next to Edward where he was sitting on the floor in front of the bed and placed my lips at his ear.

"My mom says thank you for saving my life."

"Anytime babe."

I blushed and crawled back to my spot on the bed. We watched as the show moved from clips of the dancers working, to clips of the judges talking, to clips of Cat in the auditorium talking about how the show would work out.

The show moved to clips of the actual solos and everyone got about five seconds of screen time.

"Look there's Alice."

The Alice on the screen was dancing and we clapped as she took a bow. Every time we recognized someone on the show we started talking again until someone reminded us to shut up and then the room would fall silent again.

"There's Emmett."

"Look that's Leah."

There were slightly longer clips for me and Edward as the judges asked us both how we were feeling after the accident. I noticed that all of the contestants who made it to the top got a little more screen time than those who hadn't.

Cat talked for a bit and announced that next we would get to see the judges decide who would make it to the finals and who would have to go home after such a grueling week.

I helped Emmett make more s'mores during the commercial break and everyone fell silent as the show came back on and the judges started talking. My heart was thumping as they talked about who would make it to the top twenty even though I already knew I was in. I was waiting to hear my name on the television.

Nigel's face came on the screen and he talked with Mary. "All of the dancers who make it to the top twenty have to be able to handle anything we throw at them. This show isn't designed to find the best dancer. America will get to pick their favorite but it's up to us as judges to make sure only good dancers get that far."

"All of the dancers we've seen so far have done a great job, but twenty individuals stood out among the rest."

The show flashed to a clip of Mary talking to some of the dancers on stage. She smiled into her mic. "Alice, you little chicky-poo are quickly becoming one of my favorites this season. I love the energy you bring to everything you do and I am very pleased to say that you are the first of this years top twenty."

The screen flashed to a clip of Alice jumping up and down and we cheered as the Alice in my room started jumping with the Alice on TV. After Alice, the show continued to show clips of the judges as they asked person after person to come to the top twenty.

"Ben, every season we have a Broadway dancer in the top twenty. The judges love them and they have all been great dancers. Never before has a dancer who specializes in Broadway won on this show. I have a feeling you might break that streak. Welcome to the finals!"

We cheered again and Angela gave Ben a big hug.

"Good job Ben!" Jake's voice shouted down the hall and we could hear Jane and Leah cheering behind him.

We could hear cheering coming from the seventh floor and from other rooms on the sixth floor as the little pods of dancers watching the show cheered when their names were called. One by one all of the people sitting my room flashed across the screen as they were called into the finals.

"Look at Edward's face." Emmett pointed to the screen and laughed as Edward tried to stay calm after Nigel asked him to come to the finals.

"I can't believe I missed that the first time. You look like you're trying not to implode." He said slapping Edward on the back.

"I'm surprised you just used the word implode right." Edward commented and Emmett smacked him on the back of his head.

"You were to busy sucking face with Rose to notice much of anything." Alice reminded him.

I was probably the only one who caught the look Jasper threw his sister, who was purposely not looking at her brother. The camera switched to a shot of me and Monika and Cat's voice spoke over the judges as they talked with us.

"Will Bella's accident keep her from the finals?"

The screen moved to the judges and Nigel was talking. "Bella, you have shown not only great skill in your area of dance but an ability to adapt. You dance from the heart and it is clear to us that you belong here. We would love it if you joined the top twenty."

I cheered with the others as the Bella on stage started crying and thanked the judges. The other dancers ran back on stage and I watched as the Bella on the screen wrapped her arms around Jake and then the camera moved to a scene where Cat was standing with the top twenty.

"Two pairs of siblings. Two Broadway dancers, and twenty great dancers all in one season. Make sure to tune in next Wednesday to see week one as our dancers learn who they will be partnered with and what styles they will draw from the hat."

Cat held out her arms and all twenty of us crowded around her on the stage. "These are your top twenty America and this is 'So You Think You Can Dance'."

Everyone in my room burst into cheers and we could hear the other dancers yelling from their rooms. The show ended and Alice flipped off the TV.

We talked about the show for awhile and Jake came to visit us from Leah's room. Jane jumped on the bed with us and pushed Emmett off so there was room for Angela to sit with us.

"Bella your bed's turning into a babe fest." Emmett said sourly as he picked himself up and moved to stand with Jasper and Erik.

We giggled and Leah jumped into the center of the bed with the rest of us and we all squeezed together to make room for her. "Now it's a babe fest."

"Couldn't be a babe fest without yagirl." Jane said holding her hand out for Leah to high five.

Tanya was standing next to Edward and she looked like she was trying not to get offended at not being invited to the 'babe fest'. A part of me wanted her to leave but a larger part felt bad for leaving her out. I reached out and grabbed her fingers pulling her towards the bed.

"You gonna to join us Tanya?"

She pulled her fingers out of my hand and shook her head. "No thanks. I'm going to go take a shower."

Tanya spun on her toes and walked away. So much for feeling bad.

"Let's watch a movie." Alice suggested.

A few people excused themselves but most settled onto my floor or draped themselves across my bed. I grabbed my PJ's.

"You guys go ahead. I'm going to take a shower."

Emmett raised an eyebrow at me and grinned evilly. "You sure you trust us enough to take a shower while we're all in your room?"

I nodded and shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly. "Sure, I trust you." I trusted Edward to keep his brother on a short leash and toss him out if he tried to do anything stupid.

"I'll watch him." Edward and Alice promised at the same time flashing me identical smiles. Emmett thought about his chances at getting around both of them and grumbled.

"Party poopers."

Everyone settled down to watch the move Alice had put in and I locked myself in the bathroom. I showered slowly and let the hot water work all of the kinks out of my shoulders. My left wrist hurt from all of the flip practice and my arms were still sore from the road rash. I'd been able to take off the doctor's bandage yesterday but, the gash on my arm was still scabbed and purple. It would probably leave a scar.

I stayed in the shower until the hot water was gone and took my time drying my hair. I pulled on my pajama bottoms and piled my hair on top of my head. I brushed my teeth, regretting the four s'mores Emmett had talked me into and pulled on my tank-top.

Most of the group had cleared out while I was taking a shower. Alice was still lying across the end of my bed and she had her fingers tangled in Jasper's hair as he laid on the floor in front of my bed. Edward was sitting by my pillow and he patted the space next to him so I could sit down.

I slipped under the covers and tucked myself into his side. I was suddenly very tired. Jane was sitting in the chair by the window but she looked like she had fallen asleep awhile ago. Lying on the floor in front of her was Erik who was also asleep.

I didn't know what movie was in and I gave up trying to understand what I had missed after about five minutes. A building exploded and some girl with black hair was trying to find a killer. I didn't care enough to ask what movie it was.

I laid my head on Edward's shoulder and drifted in and out of sleep while I waited for the movie to end. There was a draft coming in from the open window and Edward was very warm.

"Bella? Are you awake?" Someone shook my shoulder gently and I pulled my heavy eyelids back to look up. Edward was looking down at me and he smiled. The lights were off and the only light was coming from the main menu of the movie Alice had put in.

"The movie's over Bella."

I nodded and tried to think of something to say. Nothing came. Why did I care if the movie was over? I was sleepy and he was warm. I snuggled into his side and tucked my head back into his arm stifeling a yawn.

"That's nice."

He chuckled. "Alice fell asleep on the floor."

I pulled my eye lids back again and peeked over the side of my bed. Alice was asleep with her head on Jasper's chest. They were both breathing softly and I didn't feel like waking them. Jane was still asleep on my chair and Erik was gone.

Edward picked Jane up and I used her key to get into her room. He set her on her bed and we left the lights off behind us. We tiptoed back into my room and I tried to talk myself into waking Alice and Jasper.

They looked so comfortable and I was willing to bet Alice would kill me if I woke her. I sat back down on the end of my bed and yawned again.

"Let them stay there." I said dropping an extra blanket on top of them. Jasper had already stolen one of my pillows and Alice looked fine with using him.

I fell to my side and my eyelids dropped again.

"Your exhausted Bella." Edward pointed out.

I nodded into my pillow and scooted over so I could pull the quilt over me. I patted the spot next to me and invited him back under the covers. "You can stay if you want."

"Are you sure?" He asked as he laid down next to me.

I nodded again and tucked my head into his side. He smelled good. "Are you going to take advantage of me while I'm sleeping?" I asked sarcastically with another yawn.

He looked offended. "I would never do that Bella."

I patted his arm and snuggled closer to him. He was so warm and I could tell I was about to fall asleep again.

"I kno- know that." I said yawning in the middle. "I wouldn't have asked you to stay if I didn't trust you Edward."

I felt his lips in my hair and I shivered.

"Goodnight Bella." He whispered.

I tried to say goodnight but it came out kind of mumbled with another yawn in the middle. He started humming as I fell asleep. I didn't know the tune. I would have to ask him about it. It was soft like a lullaby and I soon found myself asleep.

That night, my dreams were filled with the same green eyes I had been seeing all week. This time there was a soft melody playing in the background. I didn't know the song and whenever I tried to focus on it, it would disappear.

~Darkrose

Let me know what you think. Your reviews really inspire me to update and just adds fuel to the fire that I have for this story. Although I feel kind of bad because I've been neglecting my real book to work on this fan-fic. I'll make it up for it later I really want to work on this story right now.