A/N: Here I am with another story. My other story has been on hiatus for awhile and I will be posting a new chapter in a few weeks. I will still work on it as I work on this. This is an Edward/Bella story and im super excited about it. I hope you enjoy it! This has been betad by Fran Walsh and the banner was made by heartfortwilight. On to the story.
Bella
"Oh my God, B." My friend Alice squeaked. "We're going to be doing Beauty and the Beast. I'm so freaking stoked!" She winked as she sat at a lunch table.
My eyes widened. I love that movie and devoured the Disney books. "You're joking! This is serendipitous."
"You're going out for Belle aren't you? You're so going to get her."
"Quiet, you can't jinx it, but yes, of course, I'm auditioning for her."
"This is going to be the best play so far this year."
"This is the first one of the year, Ali. A lot of it depends on the stagecraft team, which we have yet to meet." I said after swallowing my bite of salad.
"You know we won't meet them until our first collaborative meeting, which happens after auditions."
"I'm just saying."
"Yeah yeah, blah blah," She said waving me off. Alice was always high energy, exhaustingly so sometimes, but I loved her and she was my best friend. "I have a feeling this play will be epic!"
I had learned to trust Alice's feelings because she was rarely ever wrong. I shrugged non-committedly.
Auditions were being held the next day. Even though I had been in a lot of plays last year, there were new kids vying for the same spot as me, and they could be better. I was very nervous, but all I had to do was perform a monolog and sing a song from Beauty and the Beast. I sang Home. I was my biggest critic so I thought I only did okay. Alice encouraged me the way she always did, but I wouldn't really know the outcome until the next day. It was over, and I did the best I could. All that I could do now was wait.
Edward
"Yo, Eddie, let's go." My brother, Emmett, bellowed.
"I hate that nickname, Em. Stop calling me that."
"Always so serious, you'll never get laid with that attitude. You ready for this?"
I nodded. Emmett always had these 'great' ideas, and they usually ended up getting me in trouble. I had a bit of a reputation for being a troublemaker. I had no reason to object, it made things easier and it kept Emmett out of trouble. He never took the blame for the things I had gotten in trouble for and his newest idea was to 'toilet paper' his teacher's house. He was riding him about his grades when he had a B+ and told him to try harder.
I had a bad feeling about tonight. I knew we were gonna get caught, and it turns out I was right. I made Emmett leave without me, as the sirens got closer. So now, I was currently at the police station sitting with Charlie Swan in an interview room. Neither of us was saying a word. I had called my dad, but instead, in came Mom and I actually winced from guilt. Charlie left the room to let us talk.
"Mom, where is Dad?" I asked.
"Your father is at work. You know he's on call this week."
I sighed. I had totally forgotten that when I decided to call and leave a message that I was at the police station. "I'm sorry. I forgot."
"It's fine, but Edward you got caught red-handed. This is not something that we can just make go away."
"I know, Ma."
"Well I can bail you out, but your lawyer said you will probably get community service, which we may be able to transfer to your school. We'll have to see." I nodded. With all the trouble I got in, nothing ever stuck. My parents paid a lot of money for our lawyer and he did a good job, but, this time, I was caught and it was black and white. "I don't understand why you insist on doing these things, Edward. You know this is not the way your father and I raised you."
I nodded, not saying anything. I knew that the crying was going to come soon. That's why I called my dad when I got in trouble. He yelled and looked disappointed, but he never got emotional and cried. Seeing my mom cry made me feel like the piece of shit everyone else saw me as.
Mom sighed and stood. "I'm going to go talk to Charlie so we can get you out of here."
She left the room and I sighed again, glad that for now, I was spared the tears. I looked out the window and saw Bella Swan, Charlie's daughter make her way inside. She was carrying a Tupperware container so I imagined she was bringing him dinner. Charlie was the sheriff in our town, and Bella was his only daughter. My parents were good friends with him despite my indiscretions. Bella's mom had left when she was just five, leaving Charlie to deal with a young girl by himself. While Bella and I went to the same schools since kindergarten and had some classes together we really weren't friends. We didn't have the same friends and we didn't hang out in the same places. She was into drama and was in all the school plays. I guess, looking at it objectively, you could say she was good looking but not my type. She was too uptight.
The deputy came in and ushered me out of the room and out to the lobby to wait for my mom to finish. Bella saw me and rolled her eyes.
"Hey, Drama Queen. How's it going?"
"Obviously, better than your night is going. But then again, I guess you're used to this type of thing."
"You know, I really don't get why my parents like you so much because you can be such a bit-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Edward Anthony." My mom interrupted. "I'm so sorry, Bella. As you can see, he is having a bad night." She explained, then turned toward me. "Let's go, your dad is home now and wants to talk to you."
I followed my mom out without another look at an angry Bella. The lecture started in the car and I tuned a lot of it out. I wasn't going to apologize for what I was about to call Bella. Maybe it would make her think twice about being so quick to judge. When I got back home, the lecture continued from my dad and I showed the right amount of remorse and respect to keep it from continuing. Making my way up to my room, I pulled my t-shirt off, put on a pair of sleep pants and fell into my bed ready to forget this whole day.
Bella
I couldn't believe that Edward had actually been punished for doing something wrong and got his car taken away. I also couldn't believe that Esme could still guilt me into doing favors for her that I really didn't want to do, like go to her house and take Edward to school.
I pulled up to their house, got out of my car, and headed to the front door. I rang the doorbell and waited. I saw an outline of a tall figure through the frosted glass and readied myself to be nice. Edward opened the door and I held my breath. He was shirtless and only wearing a pair of low hanging sleep pants. I tried not to stare, but the toned planes of his pecks and the hard ridges of his six-pack were mesmerizing. He chuckled softly and my eyes snapped up to his and narrowed. Of course, the bad boy with the hot body would catch me staring at him, and of course, he would find it funny.
"So, did you just come over here to stare or at me, or you want to come inside and make it even?"
"Ugh! Could you be any more crude."
"Ugh! Could you be any more of a prude?"
"I'm supposed to give you a ride to school because your mom begged me to."
Edward looked at me, eyebrows raised. He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Fine. Come on in. I gotta go get dressed and as much as I'd like to make you wait outside, my mom would kill me."
He pulled the front door open, turned and headed towards his room, leaving me standing there. I came inside, shutting the door behind me. I busied myself with looking at the pictures lining the hallway. Edward and I did not get along or even try to communicate. really. I loved his parents, Esme was like a surrogate mom to me since my own mom left. I also loved his brother, Emmett. Regardless of this, I did not hang out with the Cullens much because of Edward so I didn't see Emmett much at school cause he was usually with Edward. Emmett had to be to school early, and both his parents had to work early leaving me to be stuck with Mr. Congeniality.
I don't know why, but he had the ability to frustrate me like no other, and he was just so rude to me for no reason. Ok, maybe last night I had provoked him a little, but he still didn't need to resort to calling me that particular name. It was hard to believe that the cute little kid in the pictures I was looking at, and who had actually played tag and hide and go seek with me when we were younger, turned into the present Edward. I really wondered how much of it was an act, and how much of it was just the way he was. I huffed and rolled my eyes. There was no reason to stand here trying to figure out Edward. I would be able to figure out a cure for cancer faster than I could figure him out.
"What's the matter, princess? Did you break a nail?" Edward asked coming up from behind me.
"Oh shut up Cullen! Are you ready now? Can we go to school?" I asked, leading the way out of the house towards my car.
"You know we could ditch. I can think of a lot of other things we can do with our time instead." He gave me a sly smile.
"Unless one of those things involves you dying in a bloody heap, I'm really not interested."
"Ooh. That's a little violent Swan. Maybe you should have those homicidal tendencies checked out with my dad."
"Only you bring them out, Cullen." I bit back, getting in and starting the car. Edward got in the car and I may have started backing out before he fully got inside. We spent the rest of the drive in relative silence, neither of us was willing to be the bigger person and start idle chit chat. It was fine with me; I had other things to think of, such as whether the cast list was going to be posted today with my name as Belle. I guess Edward had other things in mind when he interrupted my musings.
"Are you thinking about my chest, darling?"
"I'm not your darling, ew, and not everything is about you. Plus, who says I haven't seen better chests."
"Oh, please. I know you're a virgin, B."
"Don't call me that either, we aren't friends. And so what if I am. Better than being an uber slut like you."
"Oh, like I've never been called that before. Plus, maybe you need someone experienced." He said softly, placing his hand on my thigh.
I pulled the car into the school parking lot and slammed on the brakes. I slapped his hand away. "What the hell is your problem? Does this asshole and oversexed thing really work for you?"
Edward starting laughing. "Of course, it does, girls our age are really stupid. Calm down, Swan. You really could stand to get laid, maybe it'd make you less of an uptight priss, but even I can't work miracles."
I narrowed my eyes at him and leveled him with a glare that could scare my dad. He actually looked a little surprised. "You know nothing about me, Cullen. I know exactly who you want everyone to think you are, and I know some of it is an act, but I could care less to get to know the real you, so you won't get to know me." I said and got out of the car slamming the door. I pointed my keys at my car and locked my doors without looking back, after I heard him get out.
I walked toward the front of the school as Alice walked over to me. "Why did Edward Cullen just get out of your car? And why does he looked scared and turned on?"
"Oh, please. You can't tell that from one look."
"Maybe you can't, but I can. Answer the question, B."
"I don't know about the second part, but his mom asked me to give him a ride to school. He lost his car because he toilet papered Mr. Grant's house."
Alice scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Like to see his parents get him out of that one."
"Whatever, he's an ass and I need to talk about something else."
"Well, then I have good news for you. I saw Mr. Davis walk by with a cast list."
"Yes, let's go."
We were all standing around waiting for the rest of the advanced acting and stagecraft kids to all arrive. I had gotten the part of Belle and Alice was Babette, the feather duster/maid. I was sitting with Alice, watching Edward talking to Mr. Davis, and he looked more serious than I remember seeing him. Shortly after, in walked my co-star, the guy who was to play the beast, on crutches and a soft cast. Before I could try to ask him what had happened, Mr. Davis called all the students to attention.
"I have a bit of news. As you can see, Andrew has injured himself and he will unfortunately not be able to perform the role of the Beast as needed. The good news is we have a replacement. Edward Cullen will be stepping in to take his place." There were some gasps and mumbling. "He did an audition for me this afternoon and he has some...circumstances that caused me to ponder this. I think that this is the best decision since a lot of the males in this class are only sophomores."
I was shocked. There was no way I was going to be able to work with Edward Cullen. I had to kiss the Beast. I had to be sweet and caring. Oh God, I felt like I was going to pass out and quickly stumbled into a chair. Unfortunately, this got me unwanted attention.
"Bella, are you okay? Please don't tell me you're getting sick. You look a little pale."
"No, Mr. Davis, I'm fine. I didn't eat well at lunch so I just need some food. Can I go grab something from the vending machine?"
"Yes, please do. We need to start getting things going. Alice, go with her to be sure she makes it."
Alice and I made a quick exit. "Holy crap, B. This is so weird."
"I can't do this. I cannot work with Edward Cullen. This is a disaster!"
"No, you're a great actress, B. Think of this as a challenge. If you can convince an audience you love him, then you have done your job."
"What about him, though? Can he even act?"
"Mr. Davis wouldn't have given him the part if he didn't think he could do it."
I nodded and we went to the vending machine because I had to keep up the ruse of getting some food. We headed back to the auditorium and Edward was already on the stage with a script and a pen. I grabbed my script from Mr. Davis.
"Are you doing better, Bella?"
"Yes, I am. Thanks."
"I know this is a little unorthodox, but he has some stage experience and he did a very good job in his audition."
"I trust your judgment, Mr. Davis. I'm sure you picked the best person for the part."
"Thank you, Bella. Now go ahead and start reading with the rest of the cast and I will get the stagecraft students started on what they need to do."
Mr. Davis hurried off to the kids sitting on the far side of the auditorium. They got up and followed him backstage. I sat next to Alice, and saw her intently watching one of Edward's friends; I think his name was Jasper. I poked her and she focused on the script reading. We read through the first few pages and I was surprised by how well Edward was doing.
I was beginning to think that I may not know Edward as well as I thought.
A/N: I hope that you like the first chapter. My update schedule is a little unsure right now, but it will be probably two weeks. Leave some love and let me know what you thought.
