BPOV

It had been a slow morning and I was starving. I overslept this morning and was starting to feel woozy. "Time for my favorite daily ritual," I said to myself as I snaked my way through the cafeteria to the campus cafe where I grabbed the same lunch every day. I was a creature of habit, solidified in my routine when I found out my favorite director, David Lynch, ate the same thing every day, claiming that the daily routine allowed his mind the freedom to go anywhere. I paid for my cup of Greek yogurt, an apple I scarfed down as I walked to the back building, and a cortado I shot back as soon as I set my stuff down, now the perfect drinking temperature for a shooter. I liked my routine and the level of care and control it gave me. It soothed me. I said hello to Mr. Becker, quickly ate my yogurt, and then entered the booth to set up the four-string bass I had lugged from home.

I played several instruments-piano, bass, guitar, drums, I even dabbled in modular synths. I loved music and I loved to jam, I've always wanted to make music but not knowing any other musicians, I learned how to do it all myself. The one-man band of Bella Swan. I laughed at the thought of myself with a drum on my back, a guitar in my arms, and a harmonica in front of my face. I had spent much of the previous night down a chiptune rabbit hole and was eager to blend the hearty plucks of bass with such a childish song I had picked.

As I finished my setup, I spotted the new kid from yesterday and I watched him having an exchange with Mr. Becker before he entered the booth adjacent to the one I was in, visible through the plexiglass that separated us. He set up with a trumpet, and after playing a few warm-up scales, I could hear him playing La Vie En Rose. A romantic, I smiled to myself.

I continued plucking along to Prom Night by Anamanaguchi feeling like I was being transported to a neon 8-bit world. There was something so physically immersive about listening to and playing music. I could feel every note and harmony through the vibrations of my skull, feeling the soundwaves reverberate around me settling on my skin and causing goose bumps to spread.

"Hello-" I was interrupted from my thoughts, the boy from yesterday stood at the door trumpet in hand. "Woah, wasn't expecting you to be listening to this" he commented on the video game-like tune I was playing along to.

"Sorry-I meant after yesterday, I heard you playing Brubeck. Big leap to this you know? Anyway, I'm Edward Cullen, I just wanted to introduce myself and say you were great yesterday. Sorry to have interrupted you and-er I guess again today." He smiled sheepishly. I noticed he was still holding his trumpet.

"Hi Edward, you know Sir Duke?" I asked as I cued the backtrack, hoping he did know it, seizing this opportunity to play accompanied.

"Oh yes! I love Stevie Wonder!" he answered and relief washed over me as I realized I had been bracing myself for rejection.

I teemed with excitement as he blew the iconic intro through chipmunk cheeks. I plucked my bass along to the beat. I let myself get a little carried away as I belted along the last verse with Stevie Wonder letting Edward play out the finale on his trumpet. The song ended and I felt heat spread up my neck and over my cheeks.

"God, I love that song! Thanks for playing with me!" I said to Edward, I'd never experienced anything like that. I felt invigorated and shocked at the out-of-character stroke of confidence that inspired me to ask him to join me.

"That was awesome!" He beamed at me. His face was flush as he panted a bit trying to catch his breath.

The bell rang, bringing my high vibrations down a couple of pegs, a cruel reminder I had class to get to. I didn't have time to run back to my locker to drop off my bass. "Shit, I gotta get going. It was nice playing with you, Edward" I said shoving my bass into its case. "See ya!"

I left with a wave and made sure to tell Mr. Becker I would be back after school to pick up my bass. I'd never done anything like that, I don't know what emboldened me to ask him to play with me, maybe it was that he recognized Brubeck. I'm glad I did it though.

EPOV

Holy. Shit.

I just jammed with Bella. And she rocked. And holy shit she plays bass too? The way she played was incredible. Fluid and erotic, like she was almost possessed by the beat.

"That was awesome!" I gushed. And then the bell rang.

"Shit, I gotta get going! It was nice playing with you, Edward!" She said as she stuffed her lavender bass into its case. "See ya!" She said with a smile and wave.

She left with me standing there in her wake, unable to say anything else to her before she was gone. I overheard her saying she would be back to pick up her bass after school. Bingo. I had to talk to her again. And jam with her again. I didn't know anything about her besides she was a great piano player and a beast on the bass but I wanted to know more. I needed to know more. Especially since no one had mentioned her to me as a part of the introductory new school gossip. I could feel my curiosity getting the best of me.

I went to my next class on a high. It was French. I asked my desk mate Eric, if he knew of a shaggy haired brunette named Bella. "She hangs out in the music room during A lunch?"

"oh yeah! Bella Swan, she sits next to me in Biology. She's nice but tends to keep to herself. Her dad is the chief of police so I think that puts most people off, including me. It's too bad, she's got a nice ass. She's pretty nice too, always letting me borrow her notes and stuff," he divulged. It didn't surprise me that he spoke of Bella this way. Eric was a pimply faced boy, of average height, and an attitude that suggested leering at women was the only action he was getting.

Huh, so her asking me to play with her was out of character. I wondered why she would do that as I left the class with more questions about her than answers. My last two classes dragged on, eager to see her again, a little perplexed at the amount of curiosity I had about this stranger.

I met up with Alice, who was leaning against the passenger door of my Volvo.

"Eddie, hurry uuup, I'm ready to go hoooome" she whined. My sister, Alice, was impatient, fickle and pixie like. She had a magnetic childish energy that made any irritation to her constant whining next to impossible.

"I actually have to get my trumpet from the back building" I motioned to her to follow me, "so how was your day?"

"Fun! We played volleyball in gym and I've been mingling! It seems weird here. Like everyone is nice but not? Does that make sense? I never thought I would miss the simpletons of Forks. But they either liked you or didn't and you never had to worry about not knowing"

Ali was always well-liked, joyful and earnest, people never had a reason to not like her and the inscrutability of this city and these people were getting to her. We entered the building, Ali leaving me at the entrance, marching in the opposite direction I was headed. She carried herself with a confidence that would have anyone fooled that she'd walked these halls a thousand times. Her self-assuredness had always been something of envy and I channeled my inner Alice as I marched to the music room. As I walked down the long hallway I could feel my heart pounding in my ears. I felt the impulse to sprint down the hall to see if she was there but I resisted. I entered the music room but she wasn't there though her bass was still there. I stepped into the booth we had occupied, and there she was, crouched behind the piano, searching for something on the ground.

"Hey, sorry I just came to grab my trumpet. You okay?" I asked as she picked up a white tube and gripped it tightly in her fist.

"Huh?" She said, startled as she whipped her head up clipping it on the edge of the piano. "Fuck!" She yelped as she rubbed the back of her head. Shit. This was my fault.

I quickly dropped to my knees, "Shit, Bella. Are you okay? I'm so sorry I didn't mean to startle you"

"You're really making a habit of creeping up on me in here, huh?" She raised her eyebrows at me, not really asking but stating.

"Sorry, I didn't, sorry, I can just leave" I muttered as I stood up to leave but she grazed my hand, feeling the hum of energy radiating where our skin met. "Hey, wait. Can you help me up?" she eyed me with a hand outstretched. I readjusted my grip on her hand and hoisted her up to her feet. She stumbled a bit and I reached out to steady her by the shoulder, feeling the energy spread. "Thanks," she said sheepishly.

"So uh, thanks for playing with me earlier, I had a lot of fun. Do you play here often?" I asked with a forced flirtatious tone. Ugh, the classic "come here often" pickup line. Why did I say that?

"Yeah, I come here during lunch every day." She stated matter of fact, ignoring my bad line. "I'm not a fan of the cafeteria crowd and me and Mr. Becker are sort of besties." She chuckled to herself. "I gotta go though, smell ya later," she said as she grabbed her stuff and left. Once again leaving me in her wake.

I walked into the music room for the third day in a row, she was there before me today, speaking with Mr Becker.

"Come on, I know you don't interfere with student projects but this is personal! I swear, I just need you to keep an eye on the EQ while I record, you don't have to do anything else! Please!" She sounded exasperated and a little desperate.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I can't start showing you preferential treatment even if I do see you more than the students actually in my classes. Edward!" He said as he spotted me walking in "Maybe Mr. Cullen here can help you, Bella!" She turned red

"Oh, no, I wouldn't want to intrude on your lunch, don't worry."

"You sure? I really don't mind" I answered. Truthfully I was eager to jump at an opportunity to spend time with her. I hadn't been able to shake her from my thoughts.

"Okay, if you're sure. But maybe not now? Are you busy after school? I kinda ate up a bunch of time arguing with Mr Becker here." she walked to a nearby table and set her stuff down, I noticed the small cup full of a brown creamy liquid in her hand

"Sure, after school works. Hey, where did you get that? I haven't had a lick of coffee since we moved here." I asked, cocking my head at her cup.

"Oh! Did no one show you around? I swear this school," she grumbled. "With the amount you have to pay to go here you'd think they'd give you a tour. There's a campus cafe like just west of the cafeteria, through the side doors you know?" She answered as I recalled the door she was speaking of. I guess after that first day I hadn't done much exploring outside of this building, "I can show you where it is on the way back, I have class right by there after this."

"I'd like that thank you, it's been weird being the new kid," I broached

"Oh I bet, where'd you move from?"

"Washington, like outside Seattle."

"Dope! I have a friend who lives in Bellingham, it's nice there. Very green. So do you only play trumpet?" she asked.

"I play saxophone and a bit of piano, I was in jazz band back home," I answered, trying to downplay my skill so she wouldn't think I was bragging.

"That tracks, anyone that knows Brubeck must know jazz."

I smiled recalling the similar thought I had after our first meeting.

The bell rang and she collected her things, motioning for me to follow her. We walked through the quad in silence. We made our way through the building and approached the previously mentioned door. "This is the cafe," she said opening the door for me, "I gotta get to class, meet me here after school? We can walk over together?" I nodded and she turned to walk away.

Fuck. How was I gonna get Alice to wait around for me? I wasn't sure how long this was gonna take and I'm sure she would give me hell if she had to sit around and wait. Maybe I could just give her my keys and she could pick me up later. I pulled out my phone to text her, hoping my plan to leave my keys in the ignition with the door unlocked wouldn't backfire.

I rushed out of my last period to the cafe, anxious to meet with her. As I approached the door I spotted her facing away from me. She had the most beautiful hair. Long and chocolatey waves cut in what resembled a shag. She saw me over her shoulder and I noticed how well her hair framed her face, complimenting her soft features.

"Edward! Thank you again for helping me, I really appreciate it. Did you wanna get a drink before we head over?" she asked, she was so nice and polite. I wondered what she was like as a kid.

"Hi Leah! Can I get a cortado with oat and 1 sugar in the raw, please?" she said to the tan dark haired barista.

"Hi Bella! You come here every day, you don't have to tell me what you want every time. Anything else?" she asked eyeing me suspiciously. I felt a bit of threatening energy from her, getting the sense she felt protective of Bella in some way.

"Can I just get a drip coffee? Black?" I opted for something basic.

"Uh huh, your total is 8.40" I went to reach for my wallet but Bella beat me to it, tapping her cell phone to the card reader, "you didn't have to do that," I said

"Consider it a thank you. Although I don't think a three dollar coffee is a fair trade, at least it's a start." I hoped what she was saying implied there would be more coffees to come, excited at the thought of coffee dates on rainy days with her. This tender fantasy took me by surprise and i felt my heart racing.

"So how was the rest of your day?" she asked me.

"In all honesty, pretty dull. I was definitely looking forward to this. What are you recording?"

"Just a couple of covers of my Nana's favorite songs. Nothing special. She and Pa live in Texas, they were pretty upset about us moving away after the-" she cut herself off as a blush washed over her face "Anyway yeah just some country stuff and a piano cover, I'm hoping to just get one done today."

"Interesting, I don't know much country music so I'm excited for what you have in store," I admitted.

We made it to the music room and she set her backpack and coat down. I watched her queue up a backtrack and adjust the levels to an appropriate baseline. "Can you just make sure it sounds ok? nothing too compressed?" The way she spoke made me acutely aware of the fact that she knew more about this than I did. I hope this wasn't a bad thing that I volunteered. "Okay just give me a signal and please don't laugh, my grandma loves country and I love my grandma. You know what? Turn around I don't even want you to watch me," she said. I could tell she was getting nervous, maybe she didn't sing a lot or at least not in front of people. "How am I supposed to make sure if everything is okay if I can't face the booth?" I countered.

"Fine." She stepped into the booth and slipped on the headphones. She adjusted the microphone to her height, I noticed just how short she was.

"Okay, ready?" I spoke into the outside mic. She smiled and nodded. I pressed play and a honkytonk tune filled the room, complete with a fast plucked steely beat.

She belted out the words in a rich tone with a country twang to her words

"I want to be a cowboy's sweetheart

I want to learn to rope and to ride

I want to ride o'er the plains and the desert

Out west of the Great Divide

I want to hear the coyotes howlin'

While the sun sinks in the West

I want to be a cowboy's sweetheart

The life that I love best"

She broke into a yodel and my jaw dropped. I wasn't big on country but the energy she had was magnetic. I was in awe, I always thought yodeling of something hicks and Swedes did and I couldn't believe how captivating she had made it sound. I was stunned at the song choice, having been thrown by everything I've heard her play since that first day. Her choices were so out of left field I just knew her knowledge of music ran deep. She stepped out of the booth

"Holy shit! That was awesome! I've never heard anything like that, what was that?" I asked, not bothering to hide my enthusiasm or play it cool.

"I Wanna Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart by Patsy Montana, she's a legend and a Texan sweetheart just like my Nana, so I had to."

"That was incredible, I can't believe such a large sound came out of such a tiny person"

"Er- thanks and thank you again for helping me and shout out to my uncle for mailing me his steel guitar"

"Wait you made this arrangement? Do you have a band?"

"Ha- I wish. I mean I wish I had a band, I did make the arrangement though, I just recorded the instrumentals separately and mixed them into essentially a karaoke version I could sing over"

"Holy shit, is there anything you can't do?" I was stunned at the amount of talent in one person.

"I can't do it all at the same time?" she said answering confused "Anyway I just have to do a piano cover but I can do that on my own tomorrow." she fussed with the computer downloading the recording to a thumb drive. "I gotta get going though, catch ya later?"

"See ya," I nodded to her. Shit. I gotta call Ali. Hopefully, she doesn't drag getting here. I collected my things and walked to the front of the building thumbing my phone. I could see Bella walking to her car, an old orange beater truck. As I pulled up Ali's number I heard a muted honk. Bella's truck was in front of me and she was reaching over the cab unrolling the passenger window, "Hey, need a ride?" She shouted at me. I hesitated but saw the looming rain clouds overhead and stepped up to the truck. "Sure! I don't really want to wait for my sister in the rain" She let me get settled as she fussed with the aux queueing up a song. She pulled something out of her jacket pocket and sang along in a perfect impression of the nasally singer "It ain't no joke I'd like to buy the world a toke and teach the world to sing in perfect harmony" she sang along as she handed me the object she pulled out of her pocket, a doob tube, in it a perfectly rolled joint. It dawned on me that this was the item she was searching on the ground for yesterday. "How'd you know I smoke?" I asked, incredulous over what had given me away. "They call it JAZZ cabbage for a reason" she chuckled.

"Good point," I said fishing a lighter out of my pocket. I brought the lighter to my lips and inhaled, letting the smoke burn in my lungs. As the clarity from the weed hit me I realized how funny this situation was. "I can't believe you just put Smash Mouth on" amused at another out of left field music choice on her behalf. She laughed as she peeled out of the parking lot.

"Hey, Smash Mouth is a classic for anyone that grew up in the 2000's. I actually saw them live once and the singer Steve, was like "We're all getting fucking stoned tonight!" and they had to publicly apologize to the town since it was like an all-ages family festival, it was really funny."

I handed her the joint and watched her take a drag as she bopped her head to the surf beat "Plus no one gives them the credit that they were obviously inspired by The Doors and are like objectively a GOOD band" She spoke enthusiastically. I wondered why Eric had said she didn't talk much, she seemed very easy to talk to, going on longwinded tangents about whatever topic was brought up. We were driving but I realized I had no idea where we were going, I hadn't told her where I lived. "Where are we going?" I asked. "To my favorite smoke spot, what did you think we were just gonna drive around? My dad's the chief of police, I'm a stoner, not an idiot." She laughed and we drove down a residential dead-end road. When we reached the end, she stopped the car and took her keys out of the ignition. "C'mon," she said as she reached behind me to grab a small bag under the seat. I was painfully aware of how close she was and how low the joint was burning on my fingertips. She stepped out of the truck and walked towards a heavily wooded area that had a trail leading through it. I followed her a stride behind, flipping the done joint to the ground, wondering why we were here when we just finished smoking.

"This is technically just a forest preserve but it's nice, there's another entrance with a parking lot but the rangers have my dad on speed dial and I don't want my truck to be recognized," she explained as she led me to an area just off the trail with a large rock overlooking a small lake. She climbed onto the rock perching herself on its flat surface patting the spot next to her and I sat. She opened the toiletry bag and a skunky smell filled the air. In it she had a small bowl, a dab pen, a pack of rolling papers, and a dugout. "Are you a sativa man or do you like hybrids?" she asked pulling out two small baggies of weed.

"Uh, whatever my guy was slinging? I never got to pick" I answered truthfully. I wasn't picky about my weed and would smoke whatever I could get my hands on back home.

"Cool, no sweat," she said unphased by my indecision. She crumbled the weed from one of the baggies between her fingers and into a flattened rolling paper, she intricately folded the filter and rolled it up, delicately between her fingers, petting the edge of the paper to the tip of her pink tongue sticking out of her mouth. I was suddenly aware of the tension building behind the fly of my jeans. She was very pretty, with shaggy curly hair that framed her face and head like a halo and soft full lips always tilted in a pensive quirk. She brought the joint to her lips and lit it. I watched the cherry tip burn closer to her lips. "Here you go," she handed me the skillfully rolled joint and I noticed she had folded the filter into a heart. We traded off the joint in silence enjoying each other's company. She took the final drag of the joint, flicked it to the ground, and laid flat on the rock.

"So?" I said hugging my knees to my chest. "What's your deal?" I was so perplexed by this girls behavior and had an insatiable need to know why she was sitting here with me of all people.

"Mine? What do you mean?"

"Well all I know about you is your name is Bella and you're a killer musician and you have amazing weed, I asked my classmate about you and he said you tend to keep to yourself yet you're here with me"

"I don't really know why everyone thinks of me as a fly on the wall, I kind of have a lot to say but I guess no one has ever asked. I don't mind though, I like being alone, it gives me time to think, and listen to music, and play it of course, I also like to read, and make art. Oh and I play video games. I have like a major only child complex which can get lonely at times but I deal. What about you? What's your deal?"

"Well, you know I just moved here. I come from a big adoptive family but that can get pretty lonely since I'm the only single one and they're all coupled up. Rose and Emmet have been together as long as i can remember. Same thing can be said for Ali and Jas. Before you say anything my parents are holdover hippies so they're all about spreading the love. Plus we're not blood related and we met as teens so it's not that weird. At least not to me anymore. What else? I play music and whatnot, we moved around a lot so I was never able to get into team sports or anything."

"Were you sad to leave your jazz band?" She asked, I was surprised she mentioned that as I remembered our conversation from earlier.

"Yeah definitely, I miss playing with others and being a part of something bigger"

"I get that, I've never been in a band before but I'd imagine it's nice being able to connect with others through music that way"

"yeah definitely" i smiled at her recalling the lyrics of the Stevie Wonder song we played yesterday. "Music is a world within itself with a language we all understand." He really hit the nail on the head with that line.

"It's getting dark, we should probably get going," she said and I looked at my watch, it was only 4:30. Damn, the sun sets early here.

I followed her back to her car realizing that the looming rain never came. She handed me the aux cord but unsure of what to play to impress her I made up some lame excuse about my phone being dead to get out of it. She put on a song I recognized as the song she played us out to the first day Mr. Becker interrupted her. I peeked at her phone sitting in the cup holder between us to look at the name of the song, Leave Me Alone by Michael Jackson. I let out a low chuckle and she glanced over at me.

"What? Don't tell me you don't like MJ?"

"Of course not. He's the king of pop or whatever, The Man of the Millenium. I just recognized it as the song you played Mr. Becker and me out to the other day. Leave me alone." I let out a dry laugh "That's pretty funny"

"Thanks, I thought so too." Huh, so she wasn't just communicating in musical code, she was cracking jokes. I directed her to my house, embarrassed at the grandeur of it as we approached.

"Thanks for the ride," I said, unsure what else to say to elongate the time in her truck. I held the door handle tentatively.

"No problem, thanks again, I'll see you around," she smiled at me and I exited the truck. "See ya," I said as I shut the door to her truck. I hurried up the walkway, forcing myself not to look back but relenting at the last step only to see she was still there, watching me. She smiled at me and drove away.

I went up to my bedroom hoping to fight through this marijuana induced haze and get some homework done. As I turned the corner to my bedroom Ali cornered me before I could go by unnoticed.

"What the hell, Edward! You never called me I was getting worried! I was just about to go back to school and look for you! I didn't even know what to tell mom! What the hell were you thinking? What the hell were you doing!" She prattled on. When I didn't answer she grabbed me by my shoulders. "Oh my god! You're stoned!" Shock came over her face then a devilish grin."No way, where did you get it and can I have some?"

"Damn Ali, at least let me set my stuff down." I pushed past her into my room, cringing at the sight of boxes I still had to unpack.

I entered my room and slipped off my jacket, hoping she wouldn't get close enough to smell the lingering weed on me. It's all speculation at this point. "If you're really so curious to know, I was helping someone in the music wing with recording a song"

"Who? What song? What the hell do you know about recording music? That still doesn't explain why you're barely opening your eyes and absolutely reek of reefer," she continued.

"Uh, this girl Bella, I don't have any classes with her but I met her in the music wing. She sang some country tune and nothing but thankfully that didn't come up," I answered.

"Oh! Bella Swan? She's in my art block! She seems quiet, I haven't spoken to her yet though. You were hanging out with her?" she eyed me suspiciously. That made sense. Mr Becker mentioned Bella was not in any music classes because she was in a two period art block with my sister. Of course. The first interesting person I meet has to deal with Ali. Hopefully, she doesn't try to befriend her. Alice had an intensity that scared most people and I didn't want my sister to be the one to ruin this for me.

"Anyway, I helped her out and then she gave me a ride home"

"Right and the weed? Can't imagine the daughter of the chief of police would be okay with that," she continued to press.

"Funnily enough it was hers, we smoked two joints and went to this sick smoke spot that was a little out of the way. She seems chill though," I answered, trying to downplay my interest hoping Ali wouldn't catch on.

"interesting" she eyed me "well Mom and Dad are home and in their bedroom so I would maybe put some eye drops in and lay low until dinner"

"right, thanks Ali, sorry I left you hanging," I said hoping an apology was enough to dismiss her. I needed to shower, brush my teeth, and get rid of the weed smell lingering on my skin. My parents were cool with my experimentation but I didn't want to get the whole "make sure to test your drugs" lecture that always ended with my mother, Esme, shoving a bottle of Narcan in my hand. "You never know, sweetie. We know we can't stop you or anyone else from living their lives and it would be worth it if god forbid you ever needed it." Thankfully that has never happened but I always carried one just to be safe.

I undressed in my bathroom. Thoughts of today and Bella stirred in my head as I turned the shower on. I stepped under the stream letting the heat relax my muscles. I thought of Bella and her nimble fingers as she played the piano, and as she played the bass. I wondered what her fingers would feel like in my hair as I lathered my shampoo. I thought of how gracefully and delicately she rolled the joint we smoked, how the heart-folded filter revealed an inner sweetness. And her tongue as she sealed the joint shut. I wondered what it would feel like in my mouth. I felt myself getting hard, instantly gripping my cock to alleviate the pressure. A flash of remorse at these indecent thoughts about an almost stranger came over me but I shooed them away replacing them with the thought of me taking Bella on the rock where she lay this afternoon. Bella on her back, her tits pulled out of her top. Jeans dangling off one ankle, legs spread on the rock as I fuck her while my jeans pool at my ankles. I continue pumping my cock to this fantasy, stroking my shaft with one and rubbing the head with the palm of my other hand. I felt my balls tensing and streams of cum poured onto the glass shower door as I released. I quickly finished my showering, washing away any remorse brought on by post-nut clarity.

AN: Thanks for the reviews! This is my first fanfic so I appreciate the favs and saves. Peace and love, M.