Singing is a way of releasing an emotion that you sometimes can't portray when you're acting. And music moves your soul, so music is the source of the most intense emotions you can feel. When you hear a song and you're acting it's incredible. But when you're singing a song and you're acting it's even more incredible.
Amanda Seyfried
BELLA'S POVI tried not to look at the audience as I took a deep breath and waited for the cue to start singing. I can do this.
Edward and I were starting the show off with "Every Time It Snows." When my cue finally came, I started the sweet, romantic melody. I was positioned so I was facing both the audience and Edward.
Edward took over, and just like in rehearsals, we came together in a loving embrace. He looked deeply into my eyes, sending a small shiver through me as I stared up into his golden ones.
We had broken apart at some point, and I rejoined Edward in a slow dance as he sang "return my heart." An electric shock coursed through my left hand when it came to rest on his shoulder, but I didn't have time to think about what it meant as Edward lifted me. My legs took on a hurdler jump as he spun before setting me on my feet again. I felt like Baby during the final dance number in Dirty Dancing, except it was unrehearsed… spontaneous. And to me, it was the most natural thing to do in that moment.
Applause erupted as we completed the song. Edward and I didn't break apart but continued to stare into each other's eyes. Written in Edward's was pure disbelief and something unrecognizable. It seemed like he was telling me he loved me.
"Christmas is the season for love," Alice said.
"And what a great time of year to share that love with our friends, family, and everyone we meet," Angela recited as scripted.
"That is the message we wish to share with you this evening and hope it will inspire you to go out and spread the love in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season," Mike concluded as the music for the next song began. Edward and I separated, joining the others in the rousing group number of the "12 Days of Christmas."
When we were over halfway through the playlist, I hazarded a glance at the audience. My eyes locked with Garret's. Turning away, I clenched my jaw. Edward glanced over at me but didn't move from his position for the next number. All the anger I had pushed aside before the show came rushing back to me.
How could he?
Get a grip, Bella. You're about to lose it.
Out of now where a different song started playing. I didn't care; it expressed exactly how I felt. With measured steps, I sauntered to the front of the stage, swinging my hips as I began to sing. "Right now he's probably slow dancing…" My fellow performers didn't try to stop me.
As the song neared its end, I saw shocked faces in front of me. With a quick glance over my shoulder, I saw the same on some of those performing with me as I belted out the last line, "… Oh, maybe next time he'll think before he cheats."
It felt great to let out all my rage, but I was still angry. And once again, the song I knew was supposed to begin didn't start playing. Instead, another song of heartbreak took its place, and again I sang not caring what anyone thought. "I realized you love yourself more than you could ever love me…" My left hand hit my chest hard, but I was numb and didn't feel the pain.
The song completed and yet another song started. I couldn't stop myself from singing it, and as the first line filled the air, I caught Grandfather's eye. His arms were crossed over his chest, lips in a hard line, and his eyebrows drawn together. It was clear he didn't like the message I was delivering. He did a little five finger wiggle, letting me know he felt something magical was happening. Looking away, I kept singing like nothing was wrong, like these songs were planned. "… and I should've been there in the back of your mind – I shouldn't be asking myself why."
Descending from the stage into the audience, I once again caught Grandfather's eye. What I saw had me feeling guilty. The last notes were fading when I dropped the microphone and ran toward the closed doors. I was hurting and didn't want everyone to know I had actually ruined the show.
The guards opened the doors and allowed me to pass without question. I heard Alice speaking in the background, but I didn't stop to listen to what she said.
An unrelenting headache pounded against my temples, and the sound of the doors shutting had my hand going to my head. I didn't stop and veer left toward the stairs. Running up them proved to be a challenge and I fell twice in my haste to hide. Once I was safely on the third floor, I dashed into the bathroom and grabbed the Tylenol. Then I locked myself in the library. I shook three pills from the bottle, retrieved a bottle of water from the mini-frig, and down them quickly. Only then did I collapse to the floor in a fit of tears, feeling lost and alone.
EDWARD'S POVShocked coursed through me when Bella began singing a song we hadn't rehearsed. I glanced over at Alice with a raised eyebrow, silently asking if she saw it.
"No, Edward. I didn't see this happening. I'll cover as best I can when she's through."
I had no choice but to let Bella sing and then be there for her in the aftermath. No one moved but, through Jasper, I knew everyone was confused. I scanned the room. Ms. Brandt was at the back of the room, her face in her hands.
"What in the world is Bella doing?" she thought. "The show is ruined."
Bella sang three unplanned songs before descending the steps into the audience. The microphone fell from her hand, hitting the marble floor with a loud thump, and a second later, she was rushing to the doors. The guards opened them, letting her pass without a word. I wanted to go after her, and I would have had it not been for Jasper thoughts.
"Don't you dare," he warned with his thoughts. "She's upset and embarrassed. Give her time to calm down and pull herself together."
"Even at Christmastime not everyone is happy. Heartbreak and lose has them wishing for any other time of year. It is our duty to make sure they feel our love," Alice said.
Good cover, Alice, my eyes said, glancing over at her.
"She needs to be alone and will be fine until we finish," she remarked, mirroring Jasper's thoughts. "And remember, Carlisle and Jasper are both monitoring her."
I nodded, and the show went on as if nothing was wrong. Angela took Bella's place, but it wasn't the same. Bella and I had developed some sort of chemistry as we rehearsed and, as a result, Bella knew what I was going to do before I did it. Angela did great, even if, she stepped on my toes a few times.
As soon as the show was over, I made my way into the audience. My progress toward a gentleman regally dressed was impeded by various people wanting to thank me for a wonderful show. When I finally reached the gentleman, he was talking to two guards in Scottish Gaelic.
"Excuse me, sir," I said, waiting from him to turn to me.
"You performed wonderfully. Isabella told me about all the hard work everyone put into this show," he said in a heavy English accent.
"That we did, sir. Are you Bella's grandfather?" I asked.
"I am."
"I need to find her and make sure she's okay. Is there any way you get me permission to look for her or point in the direction of the person who can?"
He smiled. Ah, so this must be Edward whom Isabella spoke fondly of earlier. Hmmm … I wonder.
"You need no one's permission but mine. If I know my granddaughter, she's probably locked herself in the third floor library. The room is clearly marked," he said, digging a key out of his pocket and handing it to me.
"Thank you, sir," I said, walking out of the room. More audience members stopped me in the foyer to express how much they enjoyed the show. I politely but impatiently listen to their comments and thanked them for coming.
Ten minutes had passed since the show ended and I had finally reached the stairs. Taking them three at a time, I ran up the stairs following Bella's sweet and intoxicating scent to the library.
It wasn't until I was outside the room that could hear Bella's heart, and it was beating way too fast. Jamming the key into the lock, I twisted it and swung the door inward. Bella was lying in the middle floor and her breathing was faint. Pulling out my cellphone, I called Carlisle as I entered the room. I went slow, looking around for the possible cause of her physical state as I explained Bella's condition. I noticed a bottle of decongestant and an open bottle of water on a nearby table.
"Find Bella's grandfather and get up to the library," I said. "She's in distress."
Less than five minutes later, Carlisle, Bella's grandfather, and a guard were in the library. Carlisle rushed to Bella's side, taking hold of her wrist.
"She needs oxygen," he thought. "I didn't think we'd need that." Aloud he said, "I need a bread bag filled halfway with ice, duct tape, and some heavy string." The guard ran from the room, yelling instructions into a walkie-talkie. "Edward, do you know what she took and how much?"
"There's a bottle of decongestant on the table with three pills missing," I replied, having already counted the contents.
Carlisle pressed his lips together. "Does she have any allergies?" he asked.
"None that I'm aware of," Bella's grandfather answered.
The guard rushed back in two minutes later, carrying Carlisle's medical bag and the other supplies.
"Your daughter, Alice, said you might need this," he said, setting the black bag next to Carlisle before handing him the bag of ice and a ball of heavy twine. The guard then started ripping lengths of duct tape, passing the strips to Carlisle.
I knelt and open the black bag, getting out the ipecac syrup. Carlisle shook his head as he tied the makeshift oxygen bag around Bella's head.
"Not a good idea, Edward. Her breathing is too labored and the syrup will do more harm than good. Give me the IV bag and kit, Bella needs fluids to counteract this reaction. Until she's conscious, I won't give her anything else."
Mentally I berated myself. "And this is why you're the doctor," I whispered, handing him what he asked for.
"Do you always carry an IV bag with you?" the guard asked astonished.
"Not always, but it's a good thing I have one with me," Carlisle answered, quickly finding a vein and securing the plastic catheter.
"It was a good thing you were here, Dr. Cullen," Bella's grandfather said.
Carlisle sighed, sitting back on his knees. "I've done what I can with what I have. Do you know why she would have taken the decongestant?"
"Nay, lad. She was fine all day. When we arrived, an envelope was waiting for her," he answered.
I was kneeling next to Bella, holding her hand and listening to the conversation. My head snapped up at the mention of the envelope. I saw in her grandfather's mind, my handwriting as it was handed to Bella. I didn't think she would have had the time to look at the contents before the show. "How long before the show did you arrive?" I asked.
"Three hours. Why do you ask?" he responded, turning his attention to me with his forehead furrowed.
"Do you know if she opened the envelope?" I asked.
"Nay. She came up here, wanting to read."
I got up and on another table was the envelope. Scattered across the surface were the pictures of Garret. "I don't think she liked what she found inside," I said, picking up one of the pictures and bringing it over for Bella's grandfather and Carlisle to see.
"Oh my! That's Garret Gillpatrick," her grandfather said. "Well, this certainly explains why she ran from the room." He left the room, pulling out a phone. I have to call Charlie.
Bella started to stir. I knelt next to her again. "Easy, Bella," I said as she pushed down the bag and threw up.
Carlisle handed me a cool bottle of water, and I held it to her lips as after pulling her up into my lap.
"Thanks," she whispered, collapsing against me.
I looked at Carlisle as I pulled repositioned the ice bag.
"We need get her home," he said.
Nodding, I gathered her up in my arms as the guard radioed for a maid to be sent up. "Sorry," I said.
The guard waved off my apology as if it was an everyday occurrence.
When Carlisle and I reached the ground floor, Ms. Brandt was arguing with Bella's grandfather.
"Mr. McCullough, she is not staying here. Her godfather would be furious with me," Ms. Brandt said.
"I'm her grandfather, and she's in no condition to go anywhere. If I could reach Charlie, he could confirm who I am. He'll understand and will nay blame you."
"How do I know you're her grandfather," she said, rifling through the permission slips and pulling out one. "You're not listed as an emergency contact."
"What?" he yelled.
Ms. Brandt wasn't fazed. "She'll be going back to Forks with us."
"Bloody Hell, Sassenach," Bella's grandfather said. "She's my granddaughter, and she's nay fit to travel anywhere."
"Like, I said Mr. McCullough, she'll be going—"
She was cut off by Carlisle. "Malcolm is correct, Ms. Brandt. Bella is in no condition to go anywhere. But you are also correct. How do you know that Malcolm is her grandfather? Bella isn't awake to confirm and he can't reach Charlie. What I suggest is that she rides with me and if she gets worse, I can stop and treat her or take her to the nearest hospital."
Ms. Brandt threw up her hands and walked away, saying over her shoulder, "Fine."
"I still say she needs to stay here, Dr. Cullen, but you're her doctor at the moment. I trust your judgment."
"Malcolm, go ahead and try calling Charlie again. Bella has been staying with my family as he tries to figure out who is terrorizing her. Let him know of the pictures, too." Carlisle turned and gave me a stern look.
"I was afraid of this, Edward."
"Sorry," I mumbled, following Carlisle out to his car.
Alice was waiting for us. "I sent the others home. How's Bella?"
"Doing a little better then when I found her," I said, climbing carefully into the backseat with Bella still in my arms. "I wish we knew why she took the decongestant."
"Give her body time to get it out of her system," Carlisle said, attaching the IV bag to the hook above the door.
"Edward, I saw Bella talking to you about this." Alice projected with her mind what she had seen.
BELLA'S POVRadiating warmth filled me, and it comforted me, making me feel safe. Stanger still, my body felt as if electricity was flowing through it. I opened my eyes and after they adjusted to the faint light I saw Edward looking down at me. Was I in his arms?
"Bella," he said, stroking my face with the back of his fingers in a loving and caring way. "Are you okay?"
I nodded. My mouth felt like there was cotton in it. "So thirsty," I whispered.
He put a bottle to my lips. "Drink slowly," he said as the cool liquid soothed my parched throat.
"Where are we?" I asked once some of my thirst was quenched.
"Halfway between Seattle and Port Angeles," he replied.
It all came back to me. The show, the way I had run from the stage. I had taken something… my heart racing and my chest tightening. "What did I take?"
"Some decongestant," he replied to what I thought was an unspoken question.
"I'm allergic," I said, before succumbing once again to the black void.