18.
A few days later, during a rehearsal for the entire advanced class, the strangest - and most disgusting, in Marben's personal opinion - possible thing happened: Sir Reginald Hargreeves entered the School's Theatre self-confidently and took a seat in the stalls. He didn't say or do anything, yet Mister Kai, the Conductor, faltered in his movements resulting in the entire orchestra to lose its focus. Turning to his unexpected guest, Mister Kai nodded profoundly in greeting; Sir Hargreeves nodded back with far less deference and then lifted his chin imperiously as if to say he was ready to be entertained. Marben exchanged a furtive look with her cousin and their friends. They couldn't utter a world in the surreal silence of the Theatre, but their glances spoke volumes.
As Mister Kai found his focus again, however, the girls had to follow the lead and get back to their studies.
"From measure number 37" said Mister Kai, and the Theatre was instantly filled with the swish of music sheets being turned to find the right staff; after that, a moment of silence and then the Allegro started anew, so flawlessly played that the kind, poetic Mister Kai lost himself in it afresh, as if nothing had interrupted it the first time around. On her part, instead, Marben couldn't dispel the presentiment that the spiteful Hargreeves was there to detect what (or who) in the School had caught the attention of his most rebellious son. At first the thought gave her some anxiety (what if the horrid man had already set his small eyes on her? And what if he wanted to punish her for having proven to be distracting Five from his trainings?), but then, at the end of the second movement she forcefully shrugged off the nonsense and told herself Reginald Hargreeves knew absolutely nothing. He didn't know her and even if he did Marben had nothing to hide: being someone's girlfriend wasn't a crime, not even if said someone was one of Sir Reginald Hargreeves' kids. And sure as hell, she wasn't going to give up on Five anyway.
Toward the Allegro's end, Headmaster Pembroke burst into the Theatre with the air of one who is always the last to be informed about important things: he made a beeline for Hargreeves, ungracefully crossing the whole Theatre until he reached him, and then proceeded to obsequiously greet him in such a noisy way the orchestra was forced to stop its rehearsal for the second time in a row. Mister Kai looked dispirited, and lowering her bow Marben felt bad for him: she knew he lived for music and considered a real injustice to see it diminished like some sort of mere embellishment.
"…assure you, Sir Hargreeves, had I known you were about to visit I would have arranged for something grander…".
"There was no need at all to stage something different, Mister Pembroke" Hargreeves authoritatively interrupted the blathering Headmaster, snapping closed what looked like a journal with an elaborate, shiny hardcover. Had he been reading all along their performance? Marben hadn't noticed…
"What I just heard had been an exemplary execution, and I intend to offer my compliments to this young and remarkable orchestra".
The girls seated on the stage were so dumbfounded that, with a quick exchange of glances, the applause started from Marben, Myery and their friends, and luckily all the other teens readily followed. Sir Hargreeves looked moderately pleased at that, so even Headmaster Pembroke joined his students in their cheering.
"However" said the billionaire unexpectedly overhanging the noise without shouting, "I'm not here to simply offer congratulations and exchange pleasantries. I came here with the precise intention to involve this School and its prestigious orchestra into the organization of a benefit concert". Suddenly, the sepulchral silence which had fallen as soon as he had taken word turned into an indistinct buzz.
"A…a benefit concert, Sir?" stuttered the Headmaster, not following. That earned him a look of superiority from his guest.
"Exactly, Mister Pembroke, a charity event to raise funds to be donated to the families of the unfortunate victims of the fire occurred a few days ago. If you'll be so generous to offer this Theatre and such an outstanding musical entertainment, I shall be able to provide the right sort of audience". Headmaster Pembroke's confused expression swiftly changed in one of absolute excitement at the prospect of his School gaining all the prestige and fame such an event could bring.
"Disgusting" whispered Marben, noting neither of the two men appeared to be thinking about the tragedy behind their resonant project.
"Spine-chilling" agreed Myery, knowing what her cousin was thinking without even looking her way.
"Yeah. Those two should have been thrown in a dumpster the day they were born. Closed tight in a plastic bag". Lear had never been one for mincing words, having been called like a Shakespearean King - thing she insisted had infused her with just the right amount of drama. In other circumstances her truculent worlds may have snatched disapproving looks from her friends, but not today, in front of the bleak little show of two powerful men shaking hands at the prospect of making money on the deaths of others.
"Indeed" hissed Marben, her eyes two pools of boiling rage fixed on Hargreeves' face. "If I get chosen as Leader I'm not shaking his hand. He can merrily go shake the devil's, for what I care of him and his influential friends!".
"Oh, my" sighed Myery, rolling her eyes "It's gonna be entertaining".
"I knew you would die to see me refuse to shake Mister Arsegreeves' hand in front of an entire Theatre!".
"I'll bring the popcorns!" chirped Diana, enthusiastically.
Despite everything and everyone, the four girls found themselves sharing a soft and complicit laugh.
A/N: I don't wish to bore anyone or be redundant, but wherever you're from, whatever your occupation or social status may be, even if your family is young and healthy or above all if you live in close contact with elderly people or small children, PLEASE STAY SAFE. Prudence is never too much. I'm telling you from the red zone.
I hope you're fine.
Love, Stieglitzz
