Here's the official final chapter!
Epilogue: Perfection
At the end of the concert, I sang the second single from the third album.
"Well, some may say I need to be afraid
Of losing everything, because of where I
Had my start and where I made my name
Well, everything's the same in the La La Land machine
Well, I'm not gonna change in the La La Land machine
I will stay the same in the La La Land
Machine, machine, machine
I won't change anything in my life
(I won't change anything in my life)
I'm staying myself tonight
(I'm staying myself tonight)"
The crowd cheered and the critiques, press and media in the VIP section gave me a standing ovation. For the first time since I performed onstage, I burst into tears. Tonight was the best night of my life (well, existence) so far. I could say that tonight, everything had turned out perfectly.
Jake, Cale and I walked to the dressing room together. Of course, Cale knew better than to hold my hand.
Dad was still a bit mad at Jake, but he found it hard not to forgive him. Mom instantly forgave him, having experienced the same thing before.
When we went back to the house, after promising Caleb to hang out the next day, Jacob and I took a walk in the forest. We stopped by Dad and Mom's meadow. We were both sitting on the grass, and I held onto his hand while my head was rested on his shoulder.
"I'm so very sorry I ever left," Jake said, pressing his lips on top of my head.
"You know what, for some reason that I can't find, I forgive you," I replied. I turned my head to face him and kissed him lightly on the lips.
The next day, I was woken up by a phone call.
"Yeah?" I said when I answered.
"You have a lunch meeting today at noon," Caleb replied.
"For what? And where?"
"You're meeting with a special committee and a few other artists," he replied. "You're nominated for the Grammys."
"What?!" I said, disbelieving. "You're joking!"
"I'm not," he replied with a laugh. "Come with Jacob. Dad wants to talk to him as well."
"Okay. You're sure you're not joking?"
"Very sure."
"Okay, I'll see you later." I snapped the phone shut.
And then I screamed.
"Wha—? Nessie, where's the fire?" I'd woken Jacob up.
"There's no fire," I said with a huge grin across my face. "Caleb just called."
"What did he say?"
"We have a lunch meeting," I said. "I've been nominated for the Grammys!"
"That's great!" he replied. "Wait, then why am I coming?"
"Mr. Jameson wants to talk to you," I said. "Now, come on. I'm sure Aunt Alice would want to use this as an excuse to go shopping."
As soon as I opened the door, I was enveloped in hugs.
"Congratulations!" Mommy Esme gushed. Daddy Carlisle and Uncle Jazz hugged me. Of course, Uncle Em didn't forget to tousle my hair.
"Of course, no one could be prouder than us," Mom said, enclosing me in a tight embrace. Dad did the same.
"Okay, okay, no time to dilly-dally," Aunt Alice said, pulling my arm. "We've got . . . four hours to go. New York awaits." She dragged me and Jacob to the garage.
In fifteen minutes we were back on the streets of Manhattan.
We managed to do all the shopping in two hours. Luckily, the meeting was just in Seattle.
"Hey," I whispered to Cale as soon as I saw him outside the venue. I had Jacob on my right arm. Caleb positioned himself on my left and the three of us walked inside.
By the end of the meeting, I was already crying. I had been nominated for Best New Artist, Song of the Year (Don't Forget) and Album of the Year (Breaking, Broken). We met Mr. Jameson in one of the penthouse suites of the hotel.
"Are we going back?" I asked Caleb before we entered.
"It's a surprise." He opened the door and let us in. Mr. Jameson was waiting for us in the sitting room.
"Ah, Jacob, Nessie, please take a seat," Mr. Jameson said, waving his hand towards the couch across the armchair where he was sitting. Caleb, Jake and I sat together side by side. "I called you here today because of your contract."
So I am going back, I thought with a note of bitterness. Jacob squeezed my hand.
Mr. Jameson pulled out a leather envelope from his briefcase and put a fountain pen in front of me.
The contract contained the same things, except there was no expiration. I could bail out as soon as I want or need to.
But the last condition made me want to jump up and down.
"You're setting up a studio here? In Seattle?" I asked incredulously.
"Well, we figured it will be the best for our star . . . and star-to-be," Mr. Jameson said, throwing a furtive glance at Jacob. He turned to his briefcase once more and pulled out another leather envelope which he handed to Jake.
"What's this?" he asked, slightly opening the envelope.
"Your contract, of course."
Jake's eyes widened as he saw the contents of the heavy paper. He glanced at me and locked me in a tight embrace.
"Do the honors," I said and handed him the fountain pen. He read the entire contract, which had the same details as mine.
Mr. Jameson shook both our hands.
"Well, I wish I could stay," he began "but my flight back home leaves first thing tomorrow."
"You're going back to London?" I asked. "Then who's taking over the Seattle office?"
"Caleb, of course," he replied, clapping a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Me? But—Dad—"
"You can do it," he replied simply. Then he ushered us out of the suite.
We slapped each other high-fives.
Of course, a party was waiting for me and Jake. Aunt Alice was able to see through Caleb and Dad confirmed his thoughts.
There was still too much to worry about. In two weeks, we planned our collaborative album. Collectively, we'll be called Undercover Antics and our first album together would be Outside Edition. Jake would be doing a single with me on my third album and then he'll be recording his first studio album.
More days passed. We were getting nearer to the Grammys. Aunt Alice had booked us on flights for two weeks to Paris, London, Hong Kong and Rome so that we could pick out the best outfits imaginable. But of course, nothing could pass Aunt Alice's tastes except the top designers and Perrine Bruyere.
Perrine designed me a special dress that would match my customized Manolo Blanhiks. The design was made by (who else?) Aunt Alice.
"Are we really here?" I asked Caleb. He was our chauffeur for the night. We used the Vanquish that Dad had preserved for so long.
"Yes we are," Jake replied. "Don't freak out, okay?"
"I'll . . . try," I replied. I felt my temperature drop down a few degrees.
When we entered the venue, I was shocked. Here were the singers whom I looked up to. And now, I was sitting with them. Only Caleb and I were allowed near the front.
Today was Judgment Day.
The deal was whoever wins the Best New Artist award would sing their latest composition, whether or not it was in the upcoming album.
The presenters had already finished announcing the nominees.
"And this year's Best New Artist," she began "is . . . Nessie Cullen." My eyes widened in shock. Had she really mentioned my name?
Caleb patted my back to make me stand up. I can't believe I was actually walking up the stage to take that trophy!
I just gave a short speech. I would save the best for the best. Well, if I win the best.
They ushered me to the back so I could prepare for my number.
After the Best Male artist had walked off the stage, the stage director gave me the cue.
"Now, please welcome back our Best New Artist of the Year, Miss Nessie Cullen."
I walked up the stage and the people in front of me applauded.
"Suddenly I am in front of the lights
Everything I'm feeling scary and beautiful at the same time
And every day I try to a supreme
I wanna show the whole world the truth inside of me
Suddenly people know my name
Suddenly everything has changed
Suddenly I feel so alive
In the blink of an eye
My dreams begin to reign
Suddenly time it feels like the wind
It changes everywhere I go
I'm just trying to fit in
Now here I stand
And I'm still just that girl
I'm following my heart
In this amazing crazy world
Suddenly people know my name
Suddenly everything has changed
Suddenly I feel so alive
In the blink of an eye
Suddenly I am center stage
Suddenly I am not afraid
Suddenly I believe again
In the blink of an eye
It's happening now
As my dreams begin to reign
I wanna say love me for me
What's inside
I will be positive, not run away
So much for you
This is life"
Just like the song, suddenly I began crying in front of everyone. Gosh, how embarrassing was this?!
"Suddenly I am center stage
Suddenly I am not afraid
Suddenly I believe again
In the blink of an eye
My dreams begin to reign"
For the second time, I was given a standing ovation. The fact that the audience was composed of critiques, artists and veterans made me cry even harder.
This was it.
This was my dream. I'd already won Best New Artist and Song of the Year, but this was way beyond reach. It's only now that I feel this want to win Album of the Year.
The presenter had finished announcing the nominees. I had no other hand to hold but Caleb's. I knew Jake wouldn't mind. I bet he's holding Mom's hand.
Being unable to hold my emotions any longer, I let out a snigger. Cale looked at me and shook his head.
"And our Album of the Year award," the presenter began "goes to . . . Breaking, Broken; Nessie Cullen."
That took the cap right off the bottle. Caleb hugged me and went to approach Dad, Mom, Jake and the others to meet me backstage.
"Oh. Em. Gee," I said as I received the award. "Wow. Wow. Thank you so, so much to Mr. Jameson for giving me the big break. Thanks to Mom, Dad, Aunt Alice, Aunt Rose, Uncle Em, Uncle Jazz, Daddy Carlisle, Mommy Esme and the rest of my family far and wide for giving me the endless support. Thank you, God! Wow, without You I wouldn't even be here. Um . . . thanks to my fans for their passionate support even though I don't even deserve more than half of it. Of course, Caleb, you're the greatest ever. And finally, Jacob, you know how much I love you. This album is actually for you. Once again, thanks everybody!" I bowed in front of everyone and was met backstage by my family.
Much later that night, Jacob and I were back in the meadow, lying side by side, looking up at the moonlit sky.
"What time is it?" I asked him.
"Midnight."
"Feels like noon to me."
"Huh?"
"You know, when it's noon, it's really, really hot. And that's the time you're on top of the world because you're close to the sun," I explained. "That's exactly how I feel now."
"So it's . . .noon?"
"Not exactly," I replied. "More like . . . noon-slash-midnight."
And I pressed me lips softly on his.
This was the time of my life.
Once again, a MILLION thanks to you if you've been with Nessie ever since Dusk. Please , please watch out for the third installment, Starless. I'm still not sure when I'll post it, probably when I'm already ten chapters into it, to be sure. Again, thanks! And please read the next chapter(s). I didn't forget about my surprise.