A/N: Thanks to everyone for reading my little FF. This is my first attempt at sharing anything I have written in an open forum. I was really nervous and you mall put me at ease, so… Muchas Gracias Peeps! Please keep reviewing, I cant get any better if you don't tell me how much I suck in the first place….lol… please…
I will try to post something as often as I can. Please bear with the typos, this monster has no beta at this time.
I noticed after posting, that I left out the requisite saga disclaimer… so…
Things I currently own: An extremely corpulent feline, appropriately dubbed "hoorkie the wonder cat" (she vomits…. a lot) and a crazy beagle that eats apples... and diapers.
Things I don't: All things Twilight related and any of the music/lyrics used in this story.
And now for a little sweet, sweet Edward POV…
EPOV
"How big of a favor do you need, Alice?" I ask, tugging my fingers through my hair.
Alice's favors are never small. Last time she asked me for something, I was picking her and her friends up in Aspen, after they crashed our father's Mercedes during an impromptu ski weekend. Favors from Alice have been known to be costly and involved. Nothing is ever simple with Alice.
"See, what had happened was…" she started, playfully.
"Oh no, I don't have any ready cash for bail, so whatever it is, it better be legal!"
"Oh, how you wound me brother dear. I was just calling to ask if it was OK if I came to hear you play on Friday night."
"OK … since when do you ever ask me anything? What's the catch?" I ask cautiously.
She is slow to respond. "No catch, just me and some friends stopping by to celebrate our graduation and hear some good music."
She is hiding something, I can tell.
"OK, I'll bite. What's the favor?"
"Well, I was hoping that maybe, possibly, if you're feeling up to it…"
"Spit it out tiny!"
"…"
"Wait, what was that?"
"I was hoping that you could let Bella sing a song, at the club, during your set on Friday?"
"Your SHY friend Bella ... that never makes eye contact and froze on stage during your freshman talent show? That Bella? And by Friday, you mean tomorrow?"
"Whoa, wait! She isn't shy, she is quiet, and she makes eye contact with people, she just gets nervous when performing. Come on Edward, she's good, you know she is. Sure she faltered a bit during our High School Talent show, but that was like the first time she had been in front of that many people, so it was totally expected of her. And YES, I mean tomorrow."
"I'm not saying that she isn't good. I just have to think about the club and what the audience will think. We can't have someone on stage that will choke the second the lights hit her, it's not open mic night at the town pub, people expect a certain quality of music here. But I'll tell you what, if Laurent is OK with it, maybe we can squeeze her in at the end of my set. The place will be emptying out at that point anyway."
"Yee, of so little faith Edward. Bella has gotten so much better since high school. You wouldn't even recognize her now. What's the deal with you being so protective of the club anyway? It's not like you own the place…"
Crap. I didn't want to have this conversation with Alice right now. It was bad enough that I had to answer my father's insane questioning about my grades this week. You'd think I was the first Cullen to ever get a C. True that even after my first year of med school; I had yet to slip below a B in any subject. Lately I felt like I was trying to find my place, my purpose. I have spent the last 6 years, totally dedicated to my education, my dream to become a doctor, and lately it has been as if something was missing. That's why I was spending so much time at Laurent's club lately. It was a place to escape, to lose myself in music, in melody, and forget about the empty feeling that seemed to have settled itself in my chest.
"What song does Bella want to sing?" I ask, changing the subject.
"Well, I was thinking of something fun and campy, like Fever"
"YOU were thinking? Does Bella know you're choosing her song?" I stop, realizing suddenly, "Wait, does Bella KNOW she is singing on Friday?"
"Well…" she starts, quietly.
"NO. Alice, you can't just expect someone to be OK with getting up in front of people to sing. It doesn't work that way, you know. You have to get her to agree to it before I commit to anything."
"Don't worry Edward. Bella will sing. This is her dream. She's going to be super psyched to have the opportunity to do this."
"Get her to agree, and then we'll talk about it."
"OK Edward. I better get going; I have some outfits to put together for tomorrow. Bella is going to look fierce!"
"Alice, get her agreement…"
"OK Edward, I'll get it … Oh and Edward?"
"Yeah squirt?"
"Better get practicing her song." She says quickly, right before clicking off.
Ah, Alice. Micro-managing the lives of everyone in her world since birth. She meant well. She really did. It was obvious that she loved our family, and that family included Bella. Bella Swan. She and Alice have been friends since elementary school, when Bella's family moved to Washington from Arizona. I remember Alice's letters to me while I was away at school. They were full of Bella. But that was Alice. Alice seemed to attract people to her. Poor shy Bella swan didn't stand a chance.
I remember the two of them causing mischief during my breaks. Or rather, Alice was causing it and Bella was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like the time they were caught spying in Emmett and Irina, making out in his room. When I caught them in the hall, Alice played it off as educational research. "How else am I going to know what to do when a boy asks me to come up to his room alone, Edward?" Bella just stood there with her head down, red in the face. That was Bella, though.
Bella singing, now that was something different. I had heard her sing only a handful of times to my great regret. The first memory I have of hearing her sing is one of the most vivid memories I have had to date. I heard her before I saw her. It was totally unexplainable how walking into the music room all those years ago to the sound of her rich soulful voice has haunted me. I dream of the sound, of the look on her voice while she sang before she realized I was standing there. I have never seen someone so happy, so lost in what they were doing, as the Bella I saw in my family's music room that day. It was one of the most breathtaking things I had ever seen.
Bella on stage was interesting to behold.
********************************* Eight years earlier************************************
"Alice said she was saving us seats right up front" My mother, Esme, turned to me and whispered.
"I'm just going to wait in the lobby for Tanya and we will meet you inside", I replied while watching the door, annoyed.
"Edward Anthony, if you miss your sister and Bella perform, Alice will never let you live it down."
"I know, I know. I just don't want Tanya to get confused when she gets here." It really irritated me how Tanya was ALWAYS late. It never failed. She would waltz in, 20 minutes late and smile prettily wile apologizing profusely.
"Just make sure you don't miss it, they're going on third." My mother said shaking her head as she walked into the auditorium.
I walked to the front doors of the school to look out into the parking lot just in time to see Tanya's Audi race into the lot and pull into a handicap parking spot right up front.
She rushes up to the doors breezing inside with a huff. "Ohmygod! I'm so sorry I'm late, traffic was a bitch Eddie!"
"You parked in a handicap spot Tanya."
" Oh, yeah. Well I figured we wouldn't be here that long and I didn't want to drive around for ages looking for a spot."
"Tanya, you can't park there."
"Why not? Eddie, we're only going to be here for like 20 minutes, what the big deal?" Tanya whines.
The big deal is that, that spot is for handicapped people, you know old folks and people in wheelchairs. It's not short term parking for the habitually lazy and inconvenienced." I'm starting to get angry now and it's showing in my voice and body language.
"What the hell is your problem today? If you want me to move the damn car, then I'll move the damn car!" She's starting to yell.
"You know what, I'm not going to do this now with you. It's my sister's show and I'm going to go sit down and watch her perform."
"YOU know what Eddie? I think I'm just going to go. If you really didn't want me here you didn't have to invite me." She yells as she storms through the front doors out into the parking lot.
"Fuck!" I turn and stalk toward the auditorium doors, forgetting that there is a show in progress, slam through them only to realize that Alice and Bella have just walked onto the stage. Glad that no one has noticed my perturbed entrance except a few people in the back rows, I decide I'm going to hang in the back until their done with their performance. It dawns on me that I have no clue what Alice is going to be doing as her talent. I focus on the stage and see Bella sit down at the piano and pull out some sheet music, while Alice pulls her violin case from beneath a chair set up to Bella's left. Bella runs her fingers along the keys in a quick key check for Alice and a camera flashes. Bella looks up startled and Freezes in the middle of her intro. This is awkward. Alice plays a few more bars, a fierce look of determination on her face as she silently wills Bella to look her way. Alice stops playing and slowly lowers her violin, glancing at the crowd.
She smiles at the crowd and says, "Sorry folks, a little technical difficulty here. Be with you in a second."
Alice is whispering quickly and almost silently at Bella. Bella is shaking her head, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she struggles to hold it in. Suddenly Alice takes a few steps back and starts to shift the piano on its wheeled legs so it is no longer facing entirely out at the audience. She places her chair in direct sight of Bella so they are now looking at each other. Alice smiles out at the audience again, chuckling softly. She sits back down and picks up her violin, tucking it under her chin in perfect posture.
She looks at Bella, who nods once. Bella begins her intro again, looking only at Alice, who gives her a reassuring smile. I hear Bella take a deep breath into her microphone as she starts to sing.
Something always brings me back to you
It never takes too long
Her voice starts of shaky but by the end of the second line it is rich and sure and I am holding my breath in anticipation of her next line.
No matter what I say or do
I still feel you here 'til the moment I'm gone
I am stunned. The audience is silent. Alice joins her piano and vocals with her violin and the music is mesmerizing.
You hold me without touch
You keep me without chains
I never wanted anything so much
Than to drown in your love and not feel your rain
The auditorium is so silent that I can hear each breath Bella takes as she sings. I realize I am not breathing and drag in a shaky breath and suddenly it dawns on me that I have been slowly making my way down the aisle toward the stage.
Set me free, leave me be
I don't wanna fall another moment into your gravity
Here I am and I stand so tall
I'm just the way I'm supposed to be
But you're on to me and all over me
You loved me 'cause I'm fragile
When I thought that I was strong
But you touch me for a little while
And all my fragile strength is gone
Bella's piano skills aren't great, but with Alice's flawless violin and Bella's voice, it doesn't matter. I am standing towards the front of the auditorium at this point completely lost in the girl on stage with the curtain of long brown hair and I'm finding it hard to believe that the music coming from the stage right now is being made by High school freshmen.
Set me free, leave me be
I don't wanna fall another moment into your gravity
Here I am and I stand so tall
I'm just the way I'm supposed to be
But you're on to me and all over me
I am staring now. Staring at her and it hits me. She is beautiful. Shy awkward Bella, who cant walk on flat surfaces without falling, is beautiful. Without makeup, designer clothes or any artifice what so ever.
I live here on my knees
As I try to make you see
That you're everything I think I need
Here on the ground
But you're neither friend nor foe
Though I can't seem to let you go
The one thing that I still know
Is that you're keeping me down
You're keeping me down
She is looking back at me now and I am rooted to the spot unable to move, to breathe. Her eyes are locked with mine...
You're on to me, on to me and all over
Something always brings me back to you
It never takes too long
The song is over and we are still staring at each other as the audience practically explodes in applause. Alice stands and bows, but Bella doesn't move. she is still sitting at her piano, breathing heavily and looking back at me. Alice walks over to her and the spell is broken. I turn around as make my way back up the aisle towards the rear stopping when I am almost to the doors leading out of the auditorium. I turn back toward the stage. She's gone and they're setting up the next act.
The moment is over and I feel empty.
My front door opens and Emmett leans his head into my doorway.
"Hey Bro, I'm back with groceries." He waggles the bags in his hands as he retreats. "I'll be in the kitchen, making a grilled cheese, I'm fucking starving!"
"Don't eat all the cheese, douche" I reply, shaking me head at his retreating back.
I can't help but wonder about tomorrow night. I haven't seen Bella in almost a year. We usually run into each other at my family's annual fourth of July Extravaganza. Last year I got called into work an hour after I arrived and had to leave, so I missed out on the festivities, and Bella.
I sit down at the piano in my living room and lift the cover. I let my finger stretch and glide over the keys, lost in thought. I wonder How Alice is going to get Bella to agree to sing. I wonder if she has changed and if she still sounds as good as she did all those years ago. Will she stand there frozen as I play? Or will she surprise me and sing loud and sure for all to hear?
I pick up the melody of the song I'll be playing for her if she agrees, Playing the campy tune slowly, absently. It isn't the sort of song I would expect her to sing. I cant imagine Bella playful and seductive. She has always been so serious and quiet. She must have changed since college. Hanging out with Alice it was bound to happen I guess. I just hope that Alice isn't forcing her to do anything against her will. Bella was always so impressionable. I wonder if Alice will give me her number so I could call her to make sure she isn't being pushed to sing? Eh, who am I kidding, I'm bot going to call her. It would be stupid to call someone you don't know just to check on them, right?
I lower the lid on the keys and push back my bench and stand. Lifting my arms above my head in a big stretch, yawning.
"Better head to bed Grandpa Edward, it's after 9 o'clock already." Emmett guffaws as he strolls through the living room n his way to his bedroom, holding a large plate, loaded with 3 rather large grilled cheese sandwiches.
"There better be some cheese left, I'm not playing with you asshole!" I retort.
"Yeah douche bag, there is still some cheese left. And I made your old wrinkly ass a sandwich and left it in the counter, don't forget to secure your dentures with some polydent before you eat though. We wouldn't want to have you choke on your chompers!"
"Hilarious! You should do stand up" I reply grabbing the sandwich on it's plate from the counter and grab a Dr. Pepper from the fridge before making my way back to my room.
"Hey Em?"
"Yeah Dorkward?"
"You coming to the club tomorrow night?"
"Yeah, I asked Lauren and Jessica to meet us there?"
"Really? Why?"
"Cuz you need to let loose, get laid, something. I'm tired of you moping around lately."
"Fuck you, I don't mope!"
"Yeah dick head, you do."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Oh."
"No worries dude, we're gonna have fun tomorrow night. I heard Alice is gonna meet us there with Bella and some friends from work and shit, so that should be fun. And if your lucky, maybe you'll get lucky with Jessica around."
Yeah. Alice and Bella. And Jessica. Tomorrow night should be interesting to say the least. Let's just hope I can get a few hours of sleep in beforehand.
A/N: ok... I know you all wanted the night at the club and I promise we are getting there. I'm just laying a bit of ground work before we get these two crazy kids in the same room. The song Bella and Alice perform is Gravity by Sara Bareillis, if you don't know it, please go and find it ... it is a beautiful song and when I heard it for the first time I knew I had to sing it ... it is still one of my favorites to perform.
It certainly does seem like Edward has a very Specific idea about the type of person Bella is... do you think he will be surprised when they actually meet up again? Whats going to happen on Bella's blind date with Jasper? Will Jake's outfit be appropriately jazzy? Stay tuned for the next episode... oh crap I mean chapter...lol.. Please, leave me some reviews and let me know what you think... I'll take a few sentences... words even... even if the words are... "craptacular" and "suckish"... your reviews help me grow... leave me some love!