We walked through the long winding campus sidewalks enjoying the scenery before us, our hands hung between us wrapped around each other for deal life. I was still in shock that Jacob was here on campus with me for an entire week, a nagging feeling of hope I could go home with him lingered but I knew I needed to stop being such a baby, at least that is what he'd tell me.
We'd gotten to the small tavern with no problem, it was close and the sign was visible from every side of the campus. It was naturally swarming with college kids as Jacob held my hand but let me pull him through the crowds of drunken kids as we looked for a table. I spotted one and squeezed his hand behind me slightly which he returned, the feeling of his hand in mine made my heart race and it was incredible. We finally let go of each others hands as we climbed up on the high back bar stools and he wiggled his eyebrows as he grabbed us each a menu.
"So what are we having? There's deep fried fat!" Jacob laughed, handing me a menu.
"Sounds good, can we have a double order?" We laughed again as Taylor Swift's voice filled the speakers, a break from karaoke.
"Oh, for the love of god!" Jacob groaned. "It's no wonder people can't stand her, they overplay her."
Our waitress took our orders and handed us a karaoke song book. "Are you seriously going to go up there and sing?" I looked at him carefully, he wasn't mocking me he was curious.
I nodded, sliding the closed book towards him. "Yes, I don't need the book though. You should pick one and sing it, I have to go sign up. I'll be right back."
I knew Jacob was...confused it was written all over his face but I had a method to my madness. I knew in my heart long before the imprint happened that Jacob was incredibly special to me. He'd brought me out of my depression and mended my heart, something I never could forsee happening again. I was broken, but he allowed me to trust again and I was able to love for the first time. I was afraid of telling him all of that which was stupid but I chose a song that did it for me.
Luckily they had the instrumental track which meant I was on my own for the lyrics but I had them memorized.
Half way through our grease fest my name was called and I clenched my eyes shut and washed my food down. I bit my lip and glanced at Jacob's curious gaze, "Just pay attention." I smiled and nervously headed up to stand under the hot lights. I gripped the microphone in my hand until my knuckles were white and tried to steady my heart as the music began. I couldn't see anything in front of me due to the lights which was probably a good thing, I'd just panic if I saw his reaction.
Sweet love, sweet love. I sang slowly, allowing my emotions to change the chords.
Trapped in your love, I've opened up, unsure I can trust I breathed out, hearing a lot of people yelling and encouraging me to sing out.
my heart and I were buried in dust.
Free me, free us.
You're all I need when I'm holding you tight.
If you walk away I will suffer tonight. The lights shifted to a blue and I could see Jake staring back at me, his napkin hanging from his hand mid wipe.
I found a man I can trust
And boy I believe in us
I am terrified to love for the first time
can you see than im bound in chains
I finally found my way
I am bound to you
I am bound to you. The lights shifted once more and Jake was leaning on the table, staring at me stunned by either the words or my voice which either could be good or bad.
So much, so young
I've faced on my own
Walls I built up became my home
I'm strong and i'm sure
there's a fire in us
sweet love, so pure.
I catch my breath with just one beating heart break
And I brace myself please dont tear this apart
I found a man I can trust
An boy I believe in us
I am terrified to love for the first time
can you see that im bound in chains
I finally found my way
I am bound to you
I am bound to you.
Suddenly the moment's here. I embrace my fears
all I have been carrying all these years
do I risk it all come this far just to fall fall I really felt like a power house, like Christina Aguilera and I belted it out. I guess it didn't sound too bad because the place erupted in cheers.
oh I can trust and boy I believe in us
I am terrified to love for the first time
can you see that im bound in chains
and finally found my way I am bound to you.
I am
Ooooh I am
I'm bound to you.
The entire room erupted in cheers and screams, most of them being drunken ones. But I was blushing, I was embarrassed and had my sights set on the table.I handed the microphone off and headed back to my table with my head down. I was embarrassed but that was kind of the point of karaoke right? I sat down and glanced at Jacob, both his hands were on either side of his coke and he was staring at the stage. I was quiet a few minutes before I spoke up, "Jake?"
He finally looked behind me and I turned to see what he was looking at, only it wasn't a what. "Hello, my name is Jimmy Star. The owner of Star records in Los Angeles, that was outstanding up there! Please tell me you aren't already signed."
I couldn't form a coherent word, I was in shock. I had shaken his hand, I think. Jimmy looked to Jacob and shrugged, Jacob spoke up for me.
"Uh, this is Bella. Bella..." I glared at Jacob, almost annoyed he gave him my name. "I think she's in shock. She's never done that before."
"You mean she's a singing prodigy and never used her talents until that performance?!" Jimmy whispered loudly, pulling a card from his shirt pocket handing it to Jacob. "Please call me. You need signed Bella. You have an incredible talent, one that we can showcase and get you comfortable sharing. This time next year we can have you on your first tour! You are?" He shook Jacob's hand.
"Jacob."
"The..."
"Boyfriend."
"Excellent!" He whispered loudly, "Work on her, this is an incredible opportunity, not many of my clients get discovered this way without extensive auditions. Think about it. Enjoy your evening."
I just stared at Jake, not believing that all of that just happened. He eventually leaned forward and took my hand that was clenching a torn up napkin and un-clenched it. "Say something, what are you thinking?"
"I don't know. I'm just numb."
"I loved the song, by the way." His smile was warm and approving and I had forgotten there was a reason for my temporary madness. The song!
"Did you know it was for you?"
"After the first verse I did, it described how you felt right?" I nodded. "You can always, and I mean always communicate your feelings to me like that but...this?" He grinned widely and gripped my hand, "A public display of affection like that...definitely okay too!" He leaned forward and got giddy, swinging his arms and kicking his feet on the bar stool. "But Bella...Oh my god! I didn't know you could sing like that! You are incredible!"
I shook my head furiously, "Jake, No..."
"What do you mean no?!" He shrieked, "You just got approached by a record exec! OBVIOUSLY you can sing!"
"I dunno, can we go? I feel like everyone is staring at me." I rubbed my cheeks with the palms of my hands furiously attempting to hide the blush on my face and Jacob nodded, finishing his coke quickly.
As we walked back to the dorm though, Jacob made it known he thought I was a gift from God. "You have an incredible personality Bella, you are beautiful and talented. You can't shove it under a rug and ignore that...You owe it to yourself to try new things, even if they scare you!"
I bit the inside of my cheek and stepped to the side of a steel grate, they scared me. You could see all the way through the ground. "I know, I know...I just...I'm not sure I want the world to know I have that talent. I like that some sleazy college bar and you are the only ones that know it."
"Ah, no. You agreed to go out with us for our karaoke night. So they'll know and everyone in that bar will know too."
"Well crap." I couldn't go back on that promise, it was nice that Jake's friends wanted me around. Sadly with college happening after Graduation I never got to go out with them and wanted to, but he was right my talent wouldn't be easily hidden.
"Just think about it, that's all I'm saying. Hey, I'm going to run in here to the bathroom, that ok?"
I nodded and sat down at a table just outside the door watching the college crowds meander in the streets like sheep. But I began to feel short of breath and glanced at the few patrons seated at the table next to me, they were engrossed in a conversation about some club they'd gone to that night. I took deep breaths and wondered if this is what Jacob felt when he'd realized he imprinted, it felt as though a small elephant found sol-ice in sitting atop my chest.
The deep breathing was keeping me alive at best but a creeping burning sensation replaced the need for air and I stood to elongate my torso, hoping it would somehow magically fix what I was feeling. I fought the burning for a few more seconds when I turned and saw Jake coming from the bathroom, filing through the mass of students inside his eyes locked on mine. He looked feral, his eyes dark and focused on me and only me. The burning sensation ceased and by the time he'd made it to my side I could breathe easy again, his eyes lightened and he groaned.
"Shit." He mumbled, slamming his body into the chair where I'd previously been dealing with my own attack, something tells me I wasn't the only one.