The Spotlight is On!

9

A/N: Ok, I know I said I'd update sooner, but I've been around balancing college homework, new friends, and keeping myself together. But I'm happy I've found time for this chapter! Yay! And, I have two-count'em, two-betas now! Demelza Llivell and ur-vampire-girl! Thanks for all your help, girls!

Disclaimer: Twilight characters are not mine, just used for admiring!

And now with the show!

"Yes, you'd have to move closer to the Hollywood Records branch in Seattle so we can start writing and recording your album," Esme explained.

"But," I rebutted, "Aren't the rest of you moving?"

"Yes," Esme answered.

"No," Carlisle interjected rudely, "I can't move because of my job. You know that."

Edward sighed deeply. I looked to him, and knew he was trying to keep his temper in control.

"Carlisle." Esme started, "We've been through this. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Edward and Bella. Think about that."

"It's all we have been thinking about since we let the boy do this pointless hobby!" he yelled. Then he angrily pushed himself out of his chair and stormed out.

An uncomfortable silence loomed in the room then. I looked at Edward again and saw more anger, but also disappointment. Why didn't his father realize how much his youngest son was hurting without his support? Every boy needed his father, and right now, Carlisle wasn't being one. I felt angry at him, and also very sad for Edward, even Emmett and Jasper too. This meeting was a bad idea.

"I'll just go," I said quietly, standing up.

"No, Bella, it's fine. You guys don't have to leave." Jasper replied.

"No, we should. This seems like a family concern." Rosalie rebutted.

"Rose, you, Alice, and Bella are family. You always have been so nice to us ever since we moved here from Chicago 5 years ago," Esme smiled, which made us smile.

"Um, I have a question?" I said. I meant it to be a statement, but it sounded like a question.

"Sure, honey," Esme said warmly.

"Can my sisters move with us if they want, or do they have to stay here?"

"Well, I'd love for them to come along and support you. But, we're not forcing them to if they don't want to."

"No; wherever Bella goes, we go," Rosalie stated firmly.

"That's right." Alice added.

"Really?" I asked, and turned to them. "Wait, really? You'd do all that for me?"

"Yes," they both said, smiling.

"We love you, and we'll support anything you'll want to do." Alice replied.

"As long as it's not illegal," Rosalie joked.

I laughed, stood up, and hugged them both. "Thanks, guys," I whispered with tears in my eyes.

"Aw, Bella don't cry; you make me cry," Rosalie said, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

"Too late," I sniffled.

We hugged again, and after about five minutes we let go, and Alice started to cry too, which was rare for her, because she almost never cried. Esme passed us a tissue box, small tears forming in her eyes as well. Edward hugged me as Rosalie and Alice kissed their boyfriends. Then after another five minutes, we pulled ourselves together and sat back down with Esme.

"So what will we do about...?" I gestured to where Carlisle left.

Esme sighed deeply before speaking wearily. "We'll just...leave him for now."

I felt so bad for her. She had to deal with a huge family that was falling apart, on top of managing her son's career with a husband who didn't even approve of it. I promised myself then that I would do nothing to cause her even more stress during our project.

I wondered why Carlisle was having such a difficult time accepting his son's choice of career. It wasn't like Edward was hurting anyone or himself; he just wanted to spend the rest of his life doing what he loves, and I was lucky enough to be a part of that. If anything, Carlisle should support his sons, even though he didn't approve. Maybe someone should talk to him, get some sense into that thick head of his.

Later that day, I found myself sitting next to Edward around his grand piano. Emmett and Jasper had taken Rosalie and Alice home; Tanya and Jake went home, and Esme left the house to find Carlisle and talk to him about Edward.

"So what song should we do for prom?" Edward asked me.

"I don't know," I said nervously, wringing my hands together. I did this every time I was nervous or scared, or when I felt my heart racing in my chest every time I was near him. "I haven't really thought of anything, I'm still shocked over the fact that I won it at all!"

He laughed, "Yeah, well you deservedâ€"" he started, and suddenly, the front door opened and Carlisle stormed in. He looked tired, some of his hair sticking out, and his eyes were drained. He saw us, grunted slightly, and walked upstairs. He was muttering under his breath about how Edward could have been studying science instead of horsing around with this "hobby" of his. He quit muttering when he stopped at his bedroom door, opened it, and closed it.

I turned back to Edward, and he looked like he was going to explode. A vein was throbbing by his temple, and he ran a hand through his unruly reddish-brown hair furiously. I laid my hand on his shoulder, and he gasped in surprise, glanced at me, and then looked up at the ceiling. I could see angry tears pooling in his eyes, and he sniffled and sighed sadly. He shook his head and whispered, "Shit."

It was obvious he needed a shoulder to cry on, so I rubbed on his shoulder warmly. He leaned over to me and put his head on my shoulder. I felt him shaking slightly, heard him sniffling and saw him throw his arm over his eyes. He snaked his other arm over my waist and pulled me closer to him. I felt surprised that he trusted me so much to let me see himself so vulnerable like this, but I didn't know what else to do.

All I knew was that I would do anything to save him from the misery Edward was feeling.

When I got home that evening, Rose and Alice bombarded me with questions. I just told them that we tried to come up with original songs for prom, but we thought of none, and we would call each other when one of us had an idea. Then I went upstairs to my room.

I jumped on my bed, grabbed my song journal and started writing what I'd hoped was my and Edward's first single.