Rehearsal

You need to make mistakes in rehearsal because that's how you find out what works and what doesn't.

Clarke Peters

BELLA'S POV

Pacing back and forth in Grandfather's private study, I said, "I don't get it, Seanair. If the marriage isn't supposed to happen, like the prophecy says, then why is the council still insisting that I marry Garret Gillpatrick?"

"They have their reasons, lass. It all boils down to the fact that they don't believe what the prophecy says."

"What is this prophecy?" I yelled in question, throwing up my hands. "Like I said, it added to itself again, but it really didn't tell me anything."

"Aye, lass, you did say that but you didn't tell me what was added."

Throwing myself in a leather club chair, I sighed. "The latest addition only tells me it is my choice, and I am doing the right thing by questioning the council. Then it goes into my magical heritage and reminds me of how our greatest grandparents came to be members of the clan. Finally, it tells me to ignore what everyone else wants and focus on what I want. I don't even know what that means or what I want." I was frustrated.

"I know that you are flustered but take a step back. Look at your life from today backward."

Closing my eyes, I did as he instructed and what I saw was disturbing. My life had been sad and pathetic—a life of being told what to do and where to go. I frowned, opening my eyes.

"Are you happy with what you see?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Not at all. I've always done what I was told and gone where instructed. I've never done anything for me."

"So, what do you want?" He steepled his fingers and lean forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

I thought a few minutes. A normal teenage relationship was what I needed, not a marriage contract. I didn't want someone planning my future. Edward came to mind. I wanted to get to know him… date him… get close to him. "I think it's pretty obvious… I want to be happy. Free from all the pressures and expectations everyone is piling on me."

Grandfather looked at his watch. "You need to get back to Forks soon. Before you go, I want to give you something to think about in the coming days and weeks. When are you the happiest? And why are you happy at those times?"

"Thanks."

"Now, you had best return and get some sleep."

After giving him a quick hug, I snapped my fingers and returned to the room I was staying in. I had just laid down when I thought I heard the door opened. Strange, I thought, not looking around but instead closing my eyes and letting the dark void of sleep claim me.

~~ B3W ~~

School was school, and Edward was right, the principal had no problem with me shadowing him nor did any of his teachers. Plus, Edward wasn't that much different in school then I thought he would be. Quiet and attentive, answering questions only when called on, never raising his hand to volunteer an answer—okay, that was a little peculiar, but I didn't blame him since I was like that.

Of course, there were stares and whispers as I walked with Edward to each of his classes. Everyone probably wondered who I was, not that I was going to talk to anyone. Only one teacher, Ms. Brandt, made me introduce myself, and I could tell she was happy I was shadowing Edward.

"Hi, I'm Bella Swan. Today, I'm shadowing Edward Cullen." Everyone gasped and looked at each other. I wasn't sure what to make of that, so I continued. "At the moment, I am being homeschooled and, through special arrangements, I tried out and made the cantata."

"What type of music do you like?" someone asked.

I thought a moment. "I like all kinds, but I can't stand songs with lyrics you have to look up to know what is being said."

Edward was tense when I took a seat next to him, and his lips were in a hard line.

Leaving over, I asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yes," he whispered back. "A slight headache, it will pass… hopefully." He glanced over at me, giving me a pained smile.

The day pretty much sailed by and soon it was time to head to the auditorium for rehearsal. Ms. Brandt greeted us and had us go around the room introducing ourselves. She also asked us to name the music style that described us.

"Bella Swan," I said when all eyes settled on me. "I guess classical would best describe me."

Edward gave me an odd look before introducing himself. He, too, chose classical to describe himself. He was still staring at me as the next person introduced themselves. Blushing, I gave him a small smile before looking away.

It took half an hour for everyone to introduce themselves. Once everyone was done, Ms. Brandt passed out our binders. "Inside are all the songs we will be performing as well as a partial list of where we would be performing. Our first performance will be in Seattle at the Scottish Embassy on first Saturday in December."

Of course, I already knew this was a possibility having talked to grandfather about it.

"Seattle," Angela said. "Wow! How do we get to perform there?"

"We were invited," Ms. Brandt answered, glancing over at me.

"Holy cow!" Mike said. "I wonder how they learned of us." He glanced over at me and I shuddered, looking down at the binder in my lap.

Flipping through the sheet music, I found that I knew all the songs. What surprised me was that they would primarily feature Edward and me with everyone else in the chorus. Joy.

"Edward, Bella, you will be rehearsing in the music room with Ms. Cora," Ms. Brandt said, motioning to a gray-haired woman.

EDWARD'S POV

Bella and I would be singing nearly every song. I gulped, swallowing the venom pooling in my mouth. Fearfully, I glanced over at Alice, and she shook her head before Bella and I left with Ms. Cora.

"I don't see anything, Edward," she said, her voice entering my mind.

I was in the hallway by that time, but I knew Alice not seeing anything was a bad thing.

"We'll start with 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree,'" Ms. Cora said once we were in the music room.

Bella and I both opened our binders to the song. The song had a fifties feel to it.

"All right, Edward, you'll start this song off," Ms. Cora said.

She started playing the piano. A few bars in I started singing. "Rocking around the Christmas tree / At the Christmas party hop…" Bella joined me a stanza before the chorus. "Rocking around the Christmas tree, / Let the Christmas spirit ring / Later we'll have some pumpkin pie / And we'll do some caroling."

The first time through was rough and choppy. Bella seemed unsure and timid, unlike the time we spent together last night... her singing and my accompanying her on the piano.

I leaned toward Bella and whispered, "Relax. Pretend Ms. Cora isn't here and it's just you and me in the music room."

Bella peered up at me, a small smile on her face. "Can we run through it again?" she asked.

"Of course," Ms. Cora replied.

Bella and I ran through the song twelve times before rehearsal was over. Ms. Cora didn't like how it was sounding and kept making us sing it. Hell, I didn't like it either. The harmony Bella and I had together during tryouts must have been a fluke.

"I'm still not happy with it," Bella said as we joined my siblings in the parking lot. "There's something missing, but I don't know what."

Her sentiments mirrored my own and I was shocked by that. "We'll figure it out. After all, today was only the first day of rehearsal," I said, glancing over at Bella as we stopped next to Emmett's jeep. "We have plenty of time. Plus, we can work on it when I get home, and I'm sure we can talk Rosalie into accompanying us on the piano."

Rosalie nodded. "I'll be happy to help."

"Don't you mean when we get home?" Bella asked.

"I have an errand to run for Esme. I'll be home in an hour." For some reason, I hated lying to Bella, but I didn't want her to know I was going to speak with her godfather.

"Okay… I'll see you then. I have a few assignments from last week that I want to go over again."

I watched as Emmett helped her into the jeep before walking over to my Volvo. I sped off to the base and reached the front gate five minutes later where I was stopped by the guard.

"I'm Edward Cullen. Would it be possible for me to speak with Captain Charlie Swan?" I asked.

The guard went into the shack and picked up the phone. A moment later he emerged and opened the gate, handing me a visitors badge and giving me directions to the security building. I thanked him and drove on.

Charlie met me outside the building. "Edward, has something happened to Isabella?" he asked. His eyes held fear in them.

"No, sir," I replied politely. "I wanted to ask you something, and I hope you'll answer."

"Let's go into my office."

He led me into the prison-like building—well, in that it was square and tall but the windows lacked the bars—and down a short hall. Once we were sitting comfortably, he spoke again. "What do want to know?"

I fidgeted a little in an effort to fool him into thinking that I was uncomfortable with what I was about to ask. "Bella and I were talking yesterday and she said something about an arranged marriage." I rubbed the back of my neck. "She didn't come right out and say it, but I don't think that's what she wants." I paused a moment, rubbing my neck again. "I wanted to ask her more, but I felt that she wouldn't answer. Could you tell me why the council won't listen to her?"

My eyes didn't move from Charlie as he sat silent, considering what I said.

He didn't flinch, but his thoughts betrayed him. I wonder how this conversation came up. Knowing Isabella, she opened up unknowingly. Probably rambling.

Charlie sighed. "Edward, the council is made up of very stubborn men and women. When Isabella was one, her mother approached them and asked them to arrange a match. Isabella's grandmother, Annabella, fought against this arguing that Isabella had a right to choose for herself. Despite the efforts of Annabella, a preliminary marriage contract was signed." He paused for a moment to look at me to make sure I understood what he was saying.

I nodded, and he continued.

"This arrangement was kept from Isabella. However, she found out about it two years ago, while in Scotland, when her grandfather took her with him when he visited other clans." He ran a hand down his face. "After she was introduced to her intended, she took off. She disappeared for three days, and no one could find her. Her grandfather was devastated but couldn't fault her, and he let her have the time she was gone to think."

I shallowed. "I can only imagine. Was she found?" I asked.

"Yes. Three days later… in her bedroom at her grandfather's house. When she was called to her grandfather's study, she was ready to hear him out. I don't know what they talked about exactly, but they went before the council. When Isabella was sent out she had tears in her eyes, and I tried comforted her."

Charlie sighed, looking out his office window.

"What happened?" I probed.

"The council had refused her requested to terminate the contract. According to her grandfather, they said she was too young to make a decision on matters of the heart. He was able to get them to agree to her other requests, though." He pursed his lips, and was silent for a couple of heartbeats. "She doesn't have to accept the marriage proposal until she graduates college, but the contract will be terminated if her intended gets intimate with another and word reaches her."

Charlie's thoughts once again betrayed him, giving me the information I sought. If Garret Gillpatrick hurts Isabella, he will have to deal with me.

"Thank you, Charlie, for helping me to understand her dilemma. I won't take any more of your time."

Once I was in my car, I took out my phone and called Jasper. "I need your help."

"What kind of help?" he asked.

"Can you use your connections and hire a private investigator in Scotland to find out as much information about and to follow Garret Gillpatrick? I'll explain later."

"Sure. And you better explain."

I hung up almost home. Entering, I asked Rosalie if she was still willing to help Bella and me. She followed me into the music room where we found Bella.

I was stopped in my tracks. Bella was so beautiful and singing in a language I wasn't acquainted with. She seemed so absorbed in what she was singing. I was mesmerized by her voice, so mesmerized that I didn't realize she had finished and was looking at me.

"Edward," she said. "Are you ready to work on the song?"

I snapped out of it and shot Rosalie a looked that stopped her snickers. "Yes," I replied.

We rehearsed for the next three hours. Bella was a little more satisfied and headed off to bed.

Jasper cornered me before I had a chance to make it to the stairs. "I was able to arrange what you asked. So, will you tell me why?"

I related to him and the others what Bella had told me yesterday and what I had learned from Charlie. "She clearly doesn't want it, Jasper, and I was hoping that I could find something out that would strengthen her case."

I caught Alice's eyes, and she was smiling. Quirking an eyebrow, I questioned her with my eyes.

"Nothing, Edward. I'm just proud of you," she replied mentally.

The other's thoughts were strangely missing. I looked at each of them, but they were staring at me. Rosalie had a look of pure shock and disbelief; she would need time to digest and come to a decision. Emmett was just shaking his head, and I knew that when he digested what I had told them, he would support me. Jasper just looked confused; no help there, he was just channeling everyone's feelings.

"If looks could kill, I wouldn't be standing here," I said seriously.