The Ultimate Question
(Formerly Band Practice)
#Misguided
ghost/Travelling endlessly/The ones we trusted the most/Pushed us far
away/And there's no one role/We should not be the same/ I'm just a
ghost/And still they echo me
They echo me in circles #
Misguided Ghosts, Paramore.
Disclaimer: Unlike Stephenie, I Changed My Story Title Today
To Lucy: Thanks for deciding the fate of my story :) I Couldn't! Ly xx
EPOV(Yes you can scream :)
Just as Mr. Ram was about to announce the winner, a groan sounded throughout the hall as the lights blacked out. We stood in the dark before everyone panicked. Did I care? No. Do I know what's happening right now? Yes, it was dark. Should I find Bella? She doesn't like the dark that much.
"Edward! Over here! I'm the one with my arms in the air!" Emmett shouted across to me. Did he seriously think I could see in the dark? I mean, I told him that like nine years ago and he believed me? And why was he speaking so slowly? I was unable to see, but I could hear.
"Emmett, I cannot see in the dark you idiot! How the hell am I supposed to see your arms in the freaking air? It's a blackout!" I shouted back.
"You lied to me? You can't see in the dark? See, this is why I hate the dark. The truth is revealed and I HATE THE TRUTH! Mom! Edward lied to me! Shout at him Mommy." Emmett whined. He goes from macho, to whiny three years old in one sentence. Seriously.
"Edward? It's Alice. Blackout throughout midtown Chicago. Electricity will be on in a day or two. Thunderstorm taking place. Lightning strikes...NOW!" She whispered in my ear. Great, one sibling thinks I can't hear and the other thinks I have super-sensitive hearing. Her "Visions" as she calls them were weird, true but weird. She'd know the truth before I did. She knows that I- The light filled the room so brightly it almost burnt my eyes. The hall walls were windows, glass so I could see if only for a few seconds. I saw Bella standing beside Torri, hugging her. I wished it was me.
"Alice, I know it's you and I can't hear you." I told her.
"Yes you can. You just did hear me." Alice pointed out.
"I'm going to find Mom."
"Wait! What about Bella?" She asked with her voice full of concern.
"What about her?" I replied, my voice harsher than before.
"She hates the dark."
"And? I'm supposed to do what Alice? She hates me and I'm not wanted by her. I'm not going to force myself on her."
"You did before." Alice said quietly beside me. I turned and glared at her despite the fact that she couldn't see me.
"What are you saying Alice? If you want to say something, say it now."
"I think you're inconsiderate. Ever since you came here you had the chance to prove yourself to Bella but you're too stuck up to seen realise it Edward."
"I'm not the one that's changed, she has."
"In a good way, unlike you."
"Alice, if you love her so much like you say you do, leave me alone."
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"She claims to love me. Doesn't that include that if I'm annoyed, she's annoyed at that person too?"
"Shut up Edward. I never want to speak to you again. I hate the person you've become. It's not the real you. The moment you decide that you can face that well I'll be at home waiting. Until then, goodbye Edward." She snarled before walking off. You could hear a pin drop at the silence in the room. Everyone just heard that Edward Cullen's sister hates him, despises him and never wants to see him again. Great, just great.
I heard someone sob and run across the room. Alice. I knew straight away that it was Alice. I was about to turn and run when the lights re-lit the room. I was right, everyone was staring at me.
Mr Ram made his way to the stage again, pushing through the crowd.
"Quieten down folks! Ok, let's continue with the generators backing us up. The winner is... Isabella Swan!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as Bella stood with her mouth practically touching the floor. I heard Emmett before I saw him. He ran straight at Bella like when he plays football. She was on his shoulders and on stage in seconds.
"GO BELLA!" He screeched before jumping off the stage, expecting the crowd to catch him. Never gonna happen. He fell to the floor with a thud.
"I'm okay everybody!" He groaned before walking off.
Bella was standing beside Mr Ram and the talent scout. The man had dark hair that was a styled mess on his head and slightly tanned skin. He was wearing black glasses over his eyes, beneath his black leather jacket was a tight white t-shirt. He was wearing blue converse and traditional blue designer jeans - Alice would have kittens when she saw him.
"Hey Isabella. I'm Jacob Black, but call me Jake. If you're up for it, I'd be your manager at Hollywood Records. You wanna do this?" The man asked her. He looked no older than twenty at most.
"Y-ye-yes!" Bella stuttered, shaking his large hand. "Please, call me Bella."
Jealousy surged through me, anger flushing through my body at the way they gripped each other's hands. This was unfair to Bella but she was still mine.
Everyone cheered around me, congratulating Bella on her success. I could hear Rosalie shouting with Alice, Emmett and Jasper clapping loudly everyone could've stopped and it would still be the same. Renee and Charlie were hugging, saying how their little girl was now stepping into the limelight of millions of people. Phil stood there, holding Renee's hand as he did not know Bella like everyone else but despite this he had one of the brightest grins in the room. My own parents were hugging, my mom was crying since she was like Bella's own mom. My dad was shouting along with Emmett and Jazz. What was I doing? I was standing there, looking at my family, not even glancing at Bella or congratulating her. I wanted to but it would mean I gave up the fight we didn't know we were having. I'm not proud of that but it was the one thing I could hold of Bella's.
"Edward?" I thought I heard her whisper which I knew wasn't real because she was standing three foot higher than I was and a whole crowd ahead of me. I turned around to find a pair of perfect chocolate eyes looking into mine. We could still find each other in the middle of a full room. I guess that it doesn't fade in time like they say.
I turned around again. I was about to walk out of the room with Bella's image in my head but something stopped me. Maybe it was Jacob Black calling out my name from the microphone.
"Edward Cullen? Please come up here." He said. Everyone parted to create a path like the Red Sea. I walked through, my head held high not knowing what to expect. I stepped up on the stage and looked down. The spotlight stopped my view from seeing the crowd.
"Yes?" I asked him, my body facing him.
"Would you like to come to California with me and Bella?" He asked me. My mouth dropped down just like Bella's.
"What?" I breathed, definitely a shock to the system.
"A record deal. I couldn't pick between you both so I'm signing you both, if you're up for it?"
"Hell yes!" I shouted. My family screamed for me.
"Congrats guys! Plane's leaving tomorrow at 7 in the morning, ok? Pack everything you will need and I'll meet you at the reception at 6 ok?" He told us. I nodded before he walked off stage to his hotel.
I ran to my family and into my mom's arms. I was so happy right now. My dad hit my back and gave me a manly hug. I saw Alice run out the room as I came off stage. Mom saw me looking for her.
"Give her time Edward. Now, go pack!" She whispered into my ear. I didn't need to be told twice.
I walked through the crowd as fast as possible with people congratulating me. I reached Bella.
"Congrats B." I smiled at her. She nodded and continued talking to Renee.
I continued to my dorm room. It was a ten minute walk but I ran it. I opened my door expecting it to be locked. On my couch was a suitcase full of clothes with tags and a letter on top.
Turn Around x
I did and my sister was there with the biggest smile I'd even see on her face. She ran into my open arms as I closed them around her. Her head didn't reach my shoulder so she settled for quick hug.
"I hope this means that you'll become the better person Edward."
"I'll try." I promised. "I really will." Alice smiled at me and told me that she'd packed everything and that I only had to sleep.
After a cup of coffee for my dad and saying goodbye to my family, I was left alone. Sleep is what I was told to do. Did Edward Cullen ever listen? No, that is why he is miserable and single.
I practised my singing until 1 am and drank 11 cups of coffees since I'd been up since 6AM the day before. Then there was a knock on the door.
I placed my guitar on the couch and opened the door. There stood Bella with a suitcase.
"Running away again?" I smirked at her, leaning on the open door. She ignored my question and asked her own.
"Can I come in?"
"S'all yours." I said, swooping my arms in the air. She dragged her suitcases and went back outside to come back with another three big bags. Her hair was shoved up messily in a bun on the top of her head. Her face had black lines running down, she'd been crying.
"What's up?" I asked her, sitting on the floor.
"Saying goodbye stinks." She muttered.
"Tell me about it. Emmett was about to open the waterworks, Alice wouldn't let go of me but they were coming to the reception at 6 tomorrow anyway." I told her. She laughed.
"Mind if I stay here till the mornin'?" Bella asked, picking up a bit of Jasper's accent.
"Nah, all's good with me. I'll be practicing though, I can't sleep."
"Sure. I need practice too. And sleep but that can wait for the plane. It's about four hours. In fact, I'll sleep now and wake me up at 4 ok?"
"Sure. I'll go in my room." I said, walking away.
"Mind if I go in there? You can have here then." She asked cautiously.
"Yeah, whatever."
Bella picked up the smallest bag and took it into her room with her. I settled down to play my guitar quietly.
X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
I gently shook Bella awake at 4. She woke up and smiled.
"Thanks." She said. I smiled and walked away. I hear the water running from the bathroom. She was taking a shower. I made her coffee and waited for her to come out. Thirty minutes later she was out in black jeans, a pink tank top and pick Converse. Her hair was curly and her face was made up in make-up. She looked beautiful.
Bella went over to her guitar case and got it out carefully. She began to sing a cover of Beyonce's Halo. She sounded amazing with her guitar.
X
It was 5:30 when we got to the reception. My family were waiting, all in line and all tearful and quiet. After tearful goodbyes, promising to call home every day ands to make sure we told them when to expect to see us in magazines or whatever. They certainly have high hopes!
After a huge send off for my family, millions of tears later, we were in silver 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. We almost flew to the airport we were going so fast. Jacob was driving. He was wearing a blue dress shirt, jeans and dress shoes with his black shades. He looked cool.
"So, you guys from Washington?" He asked, making polite conversation.
"Forks. Heard of it?" I asked him from behind. Bella was in the front seat alongside him.
"Sure have. My dad lives on the Rez." He answered, nodding his head.
"Billy Black? You're his son?" Bella gasped. I had absolutely no idea what was going on here.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" He asked her.
"My dad often goes to La Push to go fishing with him. My dad's the police chief of Forks." Bella nodded.
"Charlie Swan? Ooh, can't let you misbehave too much Bella." Jake teased.
"I can do what the hell I bloody want to thank you very much." She muttered.
"She's being serious you know." I told him.
"You know that how Cullen?" He asked.
"Well we dated."
"Until he cheated on me that is." Bella said, sitting up straighter.
"You cheated on her?" Jake asked me, lifting an eyebrow.
"No I didn't." I said, glaring at Bella.
"You were kissing another girl on the couch!" She exclaimed. "If you call that being truthful, I'd hate to be your wife."
"If you actually let me explain you'd understand."
"I can't be bothered to listen to your drabble Edward. So shut up." She told me.
With the expression I save for Emmett when I'm extremely mad on my face, I pulled out my iPhone and listened to Death Cab for Cutie.
We pulled up at the airport once a song had just about finished.
"Come on guys, chop chop. We need to be in Hollywood in 4 hours." Jacob ordered.
He grabbed Bella's stuff leaving her with pull along suitcase and shown us the way through.
Now, well I'm skipping the plane ride. A little left to go
We were now in a black limo. We had a chauffeur and Jake had champagne after toasting us with our success. We're going to be meeting the team behind our songs in a few hours and we'll hear them then head to our hotel. It was a long day since they want us to be practicing them tomorrow. Within a month, we're going to go head to head in the US charts. Bella Swan versus Edward Cullen. The pair with all the looks. Who will win?
Bella's gasp pulled me from my reverie. I looked out her window and saw the Hollywood sign. I held her hand and lent against her. No one could pull her away from me. No one. Now all I had to do was admit the truth.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A/N: Hope you guys liked it! 2,492 words. This chapter was the true beginning of the story. I changed the plot halfway through.
There's a change in this one! My story is now called The Ultimate Question. Why? Well you'll have to wait but basically, it's all down to Edward to answer his Ultimate Question.
Now do you get why I added Jake despite you all not wanting me to? There's no story without Jake :P But no romance, I don't think :P
Review! Xxxxx Until the next chapter :)