CHAPTER ONE: Ebony and Ivory

"So, the big day is just two months away. Is everything ready?" Darren asked.

I smiled charmingly. "The only thing not ready is the flowers. But this isn't the wedding of the dead we're planning, so that's okay." As the audience and Darren laughed at my ironic response, Edward squeezed my hand. I quickly glanced at him and he flashed me a smile of reassurance. He didn't really want to be in this nationally broadcasted interview either, but Alice had dragged us both away from the piano where we had been working on a new song. She claimed this interview was important-we hadn't been to enough and if we didn't go to one soon, the public would cook up their own stories and may start to get suspicious.

As the laughter died down, Darren turned to Edward. "So, Anthony," he began, using the name that Edward used while wearing his blonde wig, "what's it like having a world famous pop star flocked by fans as your future wife. How do you deal with the jealous boys drooling for Violetta?" The audience seemed to find this amusing, but I could feel Edward stiffen beside me. I squeezed his hand this time, taking my turn in reassuring him. We were both very careful with the screaming fan girls and the guys wanting their underwear signed. We always had at least t two spare cars hidden close by in case it was to hard to get away.

"Well Darren, I don't see Violetta as an adored famous celebrity. She's the beautiful, talented, caring woman I've fallen in love with and makes my heart sing. That's all that matters to me. Although the next guy who asks for Vi to sign his Glutiex Maximus may find themselves in a spot of bother." Edward concluded. I pretended to be affronted.

"And what of all their girlfriends claiming they kissed you in high school and asking you to sign their bras?"

This caused a massive hoot from the audience. Edward play shoved me and I shoved him back. We had had nearly a year to perfect the interaction between Violetta and Anthony (affectionally known to themselves and their fans as Vi and Tony) and were now experts at acting and knowing when to make the jokes, about what and how to respond to some of the more inappropriate jibs.

"Well you two seem to be very collected with what most celebrities call the "down side" of fame. Why is that?" Darren asked, getting on with the interview.

Edward and I looked at eachother. What could we say? We're vampires and since can't sleep, throw up food if we eat it and have no need for a bathroom, we can spend as much time as we want being actual selves when we're not in the public eye. Oh and by the way, our names are not Anthony and Violetta but Edward and Isabella, but everyone calls me Bella.

I don't think so.

"Neither of us gets fussed easily," I 'explained', "if people appreciate you and love to listen to something you enjoy doing, their doesn't seem to be any reason to kick up a stink about it." Chuckling, Edward pulled me into his arms and I leaned slightly into him as the audiences laughter turned into a collective "awww".

"So, does that mean you can organize the wedding and still go that world tour being talked about?" Darren suggested.

Edward and I laughed. "No, that tour is just a rumour," said Edward. The audience cried out in protest, groaning and shouting at their burst bubble.

"But we're releasing a new CD soon!" I added quickly. I winced inwardly as the crowd began to cheer. Alice was going to kill me.

Since I fired Mark all those months ago (I have no idea what happened to him, although another celebrity called me and asked about him as he gave as a reference on his resume. I told her why I fired him. I don't think he's going to have anymore jobs in this life time.) Alice had been my agent, publicist, wedding organizer, sister and best friend. With the two weddings to plan, the publicity of both Violetta and Anthony to release, school and actually spending time with me and being my friend, Alice had been a little more high strung than usual. Jasper was having a hard time controlling her emotions as anything could send her off. She had specifically warned me not to announce the release of the CD-she wanted to announce it after Violetta and Anthony had got back from their honeymoon. This may tip her over the edge, again.

"Would you be able to give us a taste for the album now?" you could almost see the thought in Darren's eyes-imagine what his boss would say if Violetta and Anthony sung a song from their future album on his show before anywhere else had even heard about it!

"Now Darren, you know we can't do," I mockingly told him off.

"Well how about a live performance of your current chart topper, Ebony and Ivory?" I saw the disappointment in Darren's face and I really didn't want to say no. I turned slightly in Edward's arms and looked into his face. The song had been released eight months ago…

"Sure," Edward told Darren.

A piano was wheeled out and microphones set up. Edward sat down at the piano and I stood next to him with a mic. The audience was screaming. Violetta hadn't given a live performance since my concert last year and none of them had ever heard Anthony play live.

I looked to Edward and nodded. He began to play the opening notes and the crowd quieted down, with only the occasional scream of "We love you Vi!" or "You have my heart Tony!" When I heard the familiar notes of my entry, I began to sing;

Living in separate worlds

Worlds I never thought to collide,

Different souls in different worlds

Together and apart.

You felt out of reach

And I was selfish

For wanting you more than I should

Taking over your heart.

I sat next to Edward as he finished his verse and we began the chorus.

Ebony and Ivory

Together and apart.

In black and white

Through hot and cold

Never do us part,

Ebony and Ivory.

Different and the same

Beauty and the Beast

Monster and Madame

I lost my heart

And then you came,

Back to me.

I ran and ran

Losing my mind

Needing the change

Of the crazy and sane

Praying for you to come home,

Back to me.

Ebony and Ivory

Together and apart.

In black and white

Through hot and cold

Never do us part,

Ebony and Ivory.

They say opposites attract

(could we be more different?)

Maybe that explains

(could we be more the same?)

This twisted love.

(I love you anyway)

Loving you!

How much I love you

(how much I love you)

Loving you through and through

(through and through)

This everlasting love.

Everlasting love!

Ebony and Ivory

Together and apart.

In black and white

Through hot and cold

Never do us part,

Ebony and Ivory.

Ebony

Ivory

Loving together…

The audience burst into screaming applause as the last notes of our woven voices faded. Edward's left hand entwined with my right hand's fingers. Looking into his eyes, I saw such I depth of devotion that one hundred years ago may have scared me. But not today, not now.

"I love you," he whispered. I smiled, thrilling at the words.

"I love you too," I told him quietly. And continued to smile until our lips met in a not entirely inappropriate kiss as the crowd exploded in screams and Darren beamed with all of his recovered pride.