A New Start

Chapter 7

“So… what are you going to wear to the concert?” Alice asked when we had returned to the hotel. I showed her my mini-skirt, tube top combo, and she nodded her approval.

The next day was Alice’s favorite day. She got to play Guinea-Pig-Bella for the first time in months. I gave in after about 2 hours of arguing.

The concert was amazing and so much fun. Alice and I had front row seats, we screamed, and sang along. After the concert I fell asleep as Alice raced to the hotel as if it was a NASCAR race. I was up long enough to make it to my bedroom and then fell back asleep..

“Bella!” called a sing-song voice. “Wake up! It’s 11:00 am anyways.” This got my attention.

“What?!” I said as I tumbled out of bed and went to the bathroom to change. We were supposed to check out by 11:30, and I still had to repack. I ran back outside, combed my hair with one hand, and ate my toast with the other. Alice, enjoying my show more then she should have, just watched me pack like a maniac. Luckily we checked out with about 3 seconds to spare. Alice and I complimented and criticized, not much criticism, Taylor’s ingenious outfits from the night before.

Alice dropped me off at my house, I walked up to the dorm, and checked my messages.

There was only one and it was from Cody. He was begging me to take him back. “It was a mistake. I’m sorry.” He cried into the phone.

But I couldn’t.

I couldn’t take him back.

Not now.

“Will you?” said a simple voice.

“No. Not him. Not now.” I responded.

“What about me?”

“I can’t think about this right now. I’m sorry. I have not decided.”

For the next month I was swamped with practicing for the talent show, going to costume fittings with Alice, homework, and recoding the background music for the show. I would spend days at a time staying at Alice’s because that was where my recording stuff was.

I wouldn’t tell anyone but I wasn’t just staying away for the talent show but I was also staying away from an awkward question that was always answered by: “I haven’t decided.”

Finally the day of the talent has arrived. I prepared four songs, two new songs, and two that I had written a year ago. There were three rounds. First everybody preformed and 10 people were chosen to perform a second time. 5 people were chosen from this round and they preformed again. Then the 3 people were chosen for the third round, and the winner performs a last time. Alice and I had already worked out the hair/makeup styles and costume changes for each round.

If I made it.

I still didn’t know if Edward was coming, but Cody and Jacob were. Jake had bought an expensive plane ticket just to see me, but it felt good to know that I had some visible support besides Alice and Jasper. Angela, Ben, Renee, Phil, and Charlie had already emailed their good lucks.

The winner of the talent show would win $1000 which would help me to buy a new acoustic guitar. The one I have was a gift from Charlie 2 years ago.

When I was preparing for my first song, wearing a black camisole, skinny black jeans, black high heel boots, a red belt, my hair in a high pony with a couple of wispies and a red headband, I received a text from Edward.

Vampirehater: Good luck Bella!

Forksgirl127: Thanks

Forksgirl127: Are you here?

Vampirehater: Yes.