Disclaimer: Okay, I don't own Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended, so please don't sue the pants off of me.
A/N: For the purpose of this story, please pretend that Les Miserable came back to Broadway…and that the way rehearsals are run, what happens backstage, and other things musical-related actually happen. Because, I don't really know much about that stuff, considering I've never been in a Broadway musical…
So, please overlook my lack of rehearsal knowledge. I do know a lot about this musical, though, 'cuz it's my favie!
Edward 26, Bella 25, Jasper 27, Alice 27, Rosalie 25, Emmett 27
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1. She'll Be Nothing But Trouble (line from At the End of the Day)
I leaned against the counter, drumming my fingers against the cool marble. Jasper was crossing his arms, raising his eyebrow at me. The coffee pots were bubbling, light chatter and soft music roaming around my head. Starbucks was always busy in the morning.
"What?" I asked Jasper. Jasper shrugged, glancing away innocently.
"You seem a bit tense," he laughed, "And I don't think it's because you're anxious to get your coffee."
"It could be," I sniffed, stopping the movements of my fingers, "You know my addiction."
"Yeah, okay," Jasper said, rolling his eyes to the ceiling, "Do you know something I don't?"
"No," I said immediately. Jasper looked at me with doubt, narrowing his eyes.
"It's not about this pop-star-girl, is it?"
I looked away my eyes trained on a black speck on the counter.
"So you're…not excited to meet her, then?" Jasper laughed, amused. I turned my head up, glaring at him.
Before I could attack him, a person behind the counter slipped two cups of coffee onto the counter so that they slid towards us.
I smiled in thanks towards the girl, and she blushed, but skipped back to get to work. I took my coffee, warm around my hand. Jasper opened his and blew some smoke off the top before placing the cap back on. I tightened the strap on my brown messenger bag so that it flapped lightly against the side of my thigh. Jasper and I headed towards the door, me taking a deep sip of my coffee, immediately feeling some relief.
"Edward, you don't even know her," Jasper said, shaking his head as he pushed the door open, "How can you already dislike her?"
"C'mon, Jasper," I said, rolling my eyes, "She's the typical celebrity girl. Rich, shopaholic, photogenic, beautiful…"
I trailed off when Jasper gave me a disapproving look.
"You're so shallow and judgmental, Edward," Jasper said, rolling his eyes at me, "You don't know anything about her. Treat her like a normal girl, just another co-star we have to work with."
I scoffed, taking another sip of my coffee. We were walking down the streets of Broadway, honking cars and shouting filling the air. Never a silent moment here.
"Unless you're jealous of her success," Jasper said, laughing. I shoved him playfully and he laughed again.
"Watch the coffee, man!" he said, "But seriously, is that it? That she came out of the Broadway business into stardom and you're still scraping for jobs?"
"You know damn well that she only got those movies and deals because of Renee Swan."
"So, you are jealous!"
"Not of her success."
Jasper creased his brow, looking at me strangely. I sighed.
"I envy her luck," I said bitterly.
"Yeah, lucky her mom was a blooming Broadway star."
"And now she's living the pampered life," I said, shaking my head in disappointment.
"Still, you know nothing about her. Those rumors about her could all be the press's fault," Jasper said, shrugging, "Besides, you party, Edward. You don't see me hating you for that. And so what if she shops?"
"Sounds like you're sticking up for her there, pal," I teased, "Got a little crush on the superstar?"
"I'm just protecting her from the bitterness of a pessimistic, workaholic," Jasper laughed, "And trying to get it through your big fat head that judging someone before you meet them is bad."
"I know it's bad," I said with a shrug, "But that won't stop me from doing it. It sounds awful, but sometimes I can't help it. It's human nature, Jasper."
Jasper shook his head, sighing dramatically. We turned a corner, walking down an alley that was less crowded. People were leaning against the walls, puffing their cigarettes. As Jasper and I walked by, their eyes trained on us, and their chatter stopped. They eyed us with blank expressions and I fought the urge to flick them off. I merely took another swig of my coffee, raising my eyebrows expectantly at them as we walked by.
Typical New York actions towards us. We were on Broadway, but barely got noticed. Not like Bella Swan, I thought bitterly.
We walked a little further down the block until we reached a grey door that led to the back of the theater. I pushed it open. Jasper and I flashed our IDs to the security guard who was sitting at the desk inside. He nodded to us, flicking his eyes back to his desk.
Jasper and I walked down the quiet, blue-carpeted, hallways. Each door had something different. Finally, we got to the back of the curtain, where we pushed it open, walking across the stage. There were low murmurs from some of the actors who were chatting in the seats where the orchestra usually was. The director, Carlisle, was talking to one of the actors, a short girl with jet black, spiky hair. She was bobbing her head as he gestured something with his hands. Her eyes turned to us as Jasper and I walked in and Carlisle turned around.
He beamed at us.
"Welcome to Hell," he said, grinning devilishly at us. The girl behind him snickered and Jasper rolled his eyes. I laughed, though.
"Thanks Carlisle," I said sarcastically as we walked towards him. He gave me a fatherly hug and laughed.
"Good to see you again, Edward," he said. He did the same to Jasper before stepping back.
Carlisle was a great director, and the first one to cast me in a musical on Broadway. We were good friends, but I had to audition just like everyone else for a part in this play. Jasper and I met later in another production, and Carlisle went on opening night, and so that's how Carlisle knew Jasper.
My part in this musical, however, was pretty big and a step up from the parts I had been doing. I was going to be Marius in the revival of Les Miserable. It was pretty exciting, and I was glad to know that Jasper got the part of Enjorlas. I didn't know anyone else in this production besides Carlisle.
Except for Bella Swan, of course. And everyone knew her. She was a popular singer these days, and had her fair share of Hollywood movies. Gorgeous, as most celebrities were, and got attention from all ages of both genders in this population. Her mother was the famous Renee Swan, one of the most popular female Broadway stars for a few years before she retired in Florida. That's all I really knew about Bella Swan, along with a few scandalous dating rumors here and there, but it's all I really needed to know. Celebrities were celebrities, and she was nothing different.
Anyway, she was going to be the part of Eponine, and she better have a good set of lungs, because that part was hard. Carlisle insisted that she didn't get the part because she was Renee Swan's daughter, or that she was a famous singer. Bull shit.
"Boys, I'd like to introduce you to our Cosette," Carlisle said, grinning, "This is Alice."
The girl behind him stepped forward, smiling at us, and then inspecting us carefully. She was wearing tight, black skinny jeans and silver studded flip flops. There was a silver chain hanging from the belt loop, dipping down her thigh and then slipping into her front pants pocket. She was wearing a tight white tank top, and silver bracelets on her arm. The funky outfit matched her funky hair. Jasper and I gave her friendly smiles.
"You two are gay, aren't you?" she said after inspecting us, raising an eyebrow. Jasper looked shocked, but after a brief moment, I broke out in laughter. Carlisle chuckled too.
"No, we're straight," I said, getting a bit of a hold on myself, "At least….I am."
I raised a playful eyebrow at Jasper who glared at me, but then smiled mischievously.
"Oh please," Jasper said, "If I was gay, you wouldn't stand a chance against my charm, buddy."
At this, Alice and I broke out into laughter, Carlisle rolling his eyes and walking away.
"Sorry," Alice giggled, "But you two are pretty well groomed for straight guys. And you are in the theater business."
"Thank you….?" Jasper said, laughing a little. Alice smiled shyly at him, and their eyes locked for a moment. Did I sense some on-stage romance?
"Um…so, Edward," Alice stuttered, breaking the eye contact, "You're Marius?"
"Yes," I said, wondering where she was going with this.
"You a good kisser?"
Jasper's mouth fell open, and I broke out in laughter again. She was blunt and to the point. She was going to make this very amusing for poor Jazzy.
"I don't know," I laughed, "I guess we'll have to wait and see."
Alice laughed this time and Jasper turned to glare at me slightly. Then the door at the front of the theater opened, loud screaming and shouts coming in. Everyone stopped talking in the theater and turned towards the door. The door was shut again, the screaming muffled, and a girl with sunglasses and a black coat was ushered in by a bodyguard on each side of her. I almost groaned out loud in frustration.
She was here. And wasn't she smart enough to use the back entrance?
Bella
"Are you nervous? You seem nervous."
Rosalie asked me this for the millionth time, leaning against the doorframe of the big bathroom in my hotel suite. And I, for the millionth time, rolled my eyes at her.
"I just don't know what to expect is all," I shrugged, brushing my hair and looking at myself in the mirror of the bathroom.
"What do you mean? You did a Broadway play before!" Rosalie exclaimed, her brow creasing as she flipped her blonde hair behind her back.
"I was a sophomore," I said looking at Rosalie incredulously, "In high school."
"So?"
"So, I don't know. I haven't been to the theater in a while. Things could have changed."
"I thought the theater was timeless," Rosalie said, rolling her eyes and quoting me from before.
"It is," I said, "But…I don't know, really. The traditions and rehearsals could have changed."
"You're freaking out for nothing," Rosalie said, shaking her head. I put my brush down and turned to her.
"I'm not freaking out! You are the one that is prodding me for any type of emotion, and then taking that emotion and spinning it into anxiety!"
Rosalie laughed as I glared at her.
"Bella, I love you, but you are a little stiff today."
"Gee, I wonder why," I said sarcastically. I got my face lotion and began washing my face.
In a few minutes, I'd be heading down to the theater to go to my first rehearsal. And there'd be a lot more to come. Rosalie was slightly pissed that I wasn't going to hit the clubs every night with her in New York. I was going to be hitting the showers after every long rehearsal. I dragged her along, because she was my closest friend from high school. She treated me the same as she did years ago. She slapped me if I was acting like a spoiled brat, yelled at me if I stole her shirt, hugged me and comforted me as I cried…and then tried to go kill the person who made me cry. And she always told things honestly, even if I really liked the outfit I was wearing, she'd tell me if it looked okay or not.
I ran my fingers through my hair again, huffing angrily when it wouldn't stay on my head the way I wanted. Rosalie walked over and gave me a tight hug.
"You look fine, Bella," she said, petting my hair gently, "They'll all love you."
I tried to trust this, giving her a sigh and a tight smile.
Edward
There was murmuring among the actors as Carlisle jogged up to talk to her. We couldn't hear them, but they were talking about something. Bella was nodding, and she took off her sunglasses, waving the bodyguards away. I couldn't really see either of their facial expressions. Or seem them clearly at all, for that matter.
But just seeing Bella made my heart beat erratically, even if it was from far away. I'll admit, I had a bit of a crush on her when I was in college, but I pretty much got over it once reality hit me, and I had a hard time getting casted. While she was up on the movie screen and on the radio.
Her songs were….definitely not my taste. Fluffy, throaty, and had a lot of electronic beats in the background. Still, her voice was (I'll admit) very nice, and she definitely had some talent. And I agree to this bit of information grudgingly.
I shared a glance with Jasper, who was smirking at me. He leaned towards me, humming the tune to At the End of the Day, a song from Les Miserable. I rolled my eyes.
"At the end of the day she'll be nothing but trouble," he sang under his breath. He was referring to the commotion Bella caused outside. I laughed a little and Alice turned to us with a confused expression.
"And there's trouble for all when there's trouble for one," I sang back quietly, the next line after the one he sang me.
Jasper grinned, trying to keep in his laughter. I smirked at him. Alice raised an eyebrow at us, crossing her arms. She opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Carlisle's loud clap. We all sprung to attention, all fifty or more actors in theater.
"Let's get started, shall we?" he asked, rubbing his hands together eagerly.
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Okay, so more will be explained next chapter. And, before you ask me why I made Edward so bitter or Bella sing trashy songs, I will tell you. Characters (well rounded characters) need to have some faults. They need to grow.
I'll be honest, I got a little tired of Bella being the perfect little, shy, doesn't-know-her-own-beauty girl. And so, I gave this canon couple a splash of reality!
Even if reality doesn't necessarily mean big parts in a famous musical…on Broadway. Still, I switched the roles around a bit so Bella was the one better off, and Edward hated her. Kind of opposite to the whole Edward-playboy, Bella-badass, thing going on.
Ahemyywe150: I really, really like the plot line Sammy has set up. You guys are in for a ride! And although I'm not really her official co-writer, or beta, I still inspired the story! (I was listening to the Les Miserable soundtrack when she had her epiphany)
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