AN: It's time to hear from Bella.

Thanks so much to Hadley Hemingway who is a wonderful Beta and has kindly agreed to help us out with this story. Thanks to Jan for pre-reading this chapter.

BPOV

Thank ya'll for comin' out tonight, hope you enjoyed the show," I yell to the crowd, as I take my final bow. It's been a long month since I performed at Smoke on the Water and met up with Emmett … and Edward.

I sigh just thinking 'bout him. I don't know how just a few hours could alter my life so completely, but they did. He's all I think about during the day and he fills my dreams at night.

I exit the stage to see Alice standing there with concern etched on her features. She knows something's up, but hasn't pushed me for answers. Before she can say anything, her little sister, Rose, comes barreling into me out of nowhere.

"Bella, Bella that was amazing! Thank you for letting me come to the show," she says, as she hugs the life outta me.

Imagine Alice's surprise when, at seventeen, she learned she had a sister on the way. Then just twelve years later, to lose their parents in a drunk driving accident, leaving a young hurt Rose as the only survivor. She and Jasper, her husband, stepped up and took custody of Rose. It was a rough time at first, since everything was so unexpected. In the past few months though, Rose seems to have come outta her shell and she's been happier than she has in a long time.

I squeeze her good and tight before letting go and giving her a smacking kiss on the cheek. "Of course, you can always come to my shows; it's that one over there you gotta convince." I point to Alice and give her a smirk for good measure.

"Alright you two, break it up. No conspiring against the older sister over here." Alice walks over and puts her arm around Rose. "You know not to let that one"—she points to me—"drag you down with her."

We all laugh and continue down the hall to my dressing room. Alice is my manager and has been since I first landed in Nashville. She's been like a second mother to me, always watching out and making sure nobody takes advantage. I don't know what I'd've done so far away from home without her.

As it is now, I live in their guest house and always have an open invitation for supper. Since my visit home I feel a little spark, not a good one though. A spark of what could've been, and it hurts to consider it. I know Emmett's just a kid, same age as Rose. I really do like him, but he hit a sore spot pulling that stunt and I don't know if I can get over it.

My mom was the most beautiful person on the planet to me, and to lose her like I did, watching her wither away, marked me for life. It's something I might never fully recover from.

Somehow though, them few hours with Edward seemed to have done the same. I know he didn't have no clue either, but that blow hit me hard. Emmett couldn't have picked a more touchier subject to lie 'bout.

After a hot shower and a change of clothes, I follow Alice and Rose out to the car and we head to the hotel. Another night in another city I'll never get to explore 'cause it's on to the next one right away.

I long for a little bit of normalcy. For a few minutes I almost felt like I coulda had that with Edward.

By the time we make it to the hotel Rose is already asleep in the back seat. "You need me to get her?" I ask Alice, since there's no way she can tote her. Hell, I don't even know if I can.

"Nah, let's just sit for a minute and talk." She turns to me and I can see the worry in her eyes. Guess I'm not getting much farther without at least telling her something. Before I can say anything though, she starts. "Your dad called earlier." Not what I was expecting.

"Yeah, he prob'ly forgot I had a show tonight; you know how he is." I chuckle just thinking 'bout him. Him and his nine to five job not realizing the late hours I keep, even though he's missed talking to me plenty when I hadda perform.

"He knew you had a show, but wanted to make sure he passed on a message. Said it was important." I quirk my brow at her, even though I know she can't see me in the dim light.

"Oh?"

"Yep, told me to let you know you had a visitor today. Wanted to make sure you knew about it and said it was important that I tell you as soon as possible. Bella, what in the world is going on? First you come back from your visit home a hot mess and now your dad's calling about a visitor. One named Edward Cullen. Ring any bells?" She's the one smirking now as my whole face turns white as a sheet.

"Edward came to my dad's?" I choke out.

"It seems he did. Now can you please fill me in?" I sigh, knowing there'll be no putting it off. I need somebody to talk to anyway. It's eating me alive as it is, so maybe some good advice is what I needed all along.

"Let's get inside and order some food and talk," I say. We wake Rose and all head up to my room where I tell her to lay on my spare bed. Alice takes a minute to order us some food before settling down to hear my tale.

By the time I've told her the whole story, I'm a sniveling mess. Not for any one reason in particular, but just the relief to have shared it with someone. And now Edward has been to my dad's. I'm torn and confused and still a little heartbroken over it all.

"Sweetie, listen to me," Alice says, as she wipes my tears away. "I know you're hurt and confused, but it sounds like you might've met someone special. And I know it hurt because your mom, but Emmett's just a kid who wanted to make a connection with someone he looks up to."

I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly. "I know, Alice, I tell myself that every day. I'm just havin' a hard time gettin' past it."

"Is it really that or are you just scared of what you felt?" she asks quietly.

"I don't know," I reply, 'cause I don't.

I do know that I can't get him outta my head and want to so bad. And now knowing he's looking for me is almost more than I can bear.

I do know I'm going to have to do something. For my sanity and his, it seems. As soon as this small tour is over, in a couple weeks, I make a promise to myself that I'm going to at least make an effort.

And maybe it won't work out, but at least I'll know I gave it my best shot.

So how do we feel about Bella now?