Okay, I hope that ya'll are liking this, because I'm working hard on this. Please review for me! I hope to get five review per chapter; you don't have to say all praises, I would love some critisism as well, as long as it's not really mean. Well, on with the story...
Chapter 3
"Quiet; quiet please! Everyone stop talking!" Mrs. Carmichael shouted, trying to get everyone's attention. Slowly, everyone stopped talking. "Thank you; everyone gather 'round. Okay, now we have all worked very hard for the last three months. I guess I'm supposed to say that tonight will go by with no problems, but I just hope we get through the show. Carle, make sure you know when to cue the lights, and the trap door!"
"Yes Mrs. Carmichael, I know when to do it." Carle assured her.
"I have made sure that all the props are all in the right places, so don't move them!" Mrs. Carmichael continued. "Mike, I'm sure that you will hit all of your notes, so don't worry about it. Maggie, I'm going to play the soundtrack underneath you, so if you can't get to your notes, just drop out. Can you do that?"
"But Mrs. Carmichael, that's not fair!" Maggie protested.
"Well, would you rather me have someone singer under you? I didn't think so. Chorus girls, if you forget a step, just look at Leslie. That is why I put her in the front in every number. Leslie, I'm sure you will do just fine, you are a wonderful dancer."
"Thank you Mrs. Carmichael." Leslie said a little embarrassed.
"Well, I guess that's it! Break a leg everyone! Oh, Please, don't talk while backstage! I'll see you all after the show!"
As they watched their teacher retreat into the auditorium, everyone immediately began talking. "I thought she said no talking!" someone shouted over the noise, immediately stopping the talking.
Ten minutes later, they all heard Mrs. Carmichael's voice announce the beginning of the show, which was the cue for everyone to take their places for the auction.
Leslie was one of the people in the first scene, so when the curtain went up, and just before the lights came up, she stole a glance around the auditorium, and saw that her father had not changed his mind about his dinner with Sandra. My gosh! Their anniversary isn't even until Sunday! He knew I wanted him here, so why couldn't he have missed the last show instead of the first? She thought angrily, but her train of thought was cut off as the auctioneer started talking.
Auctioneer: Sold. Your number, sir? Thank you. Lot 663, then, ladies and gentlemen: a poster for this house's production of "Hannibal: by Chalumeau. Turning her attention back on the show, she quickly forgot all her anger and became deeply involved in her role, as if Leslie never existed; only the ballerina she was playing.
Everything was going fabulously. The auction went with no problem. Maggie did end up dropping out for the high B in Think of me, and the high E in Phantom of the Opera, rather reluctantly. Mike hit has long falsetto note with no problem as well in Music of the Night. The kiss between Maggie and Luke in All I Ask of You, almost didn't happen, because they had never practiced it.
Wow, Leslie thought to herself watching. That was a little long! I wonder if they like each other? Before they knew it, it was time for the second act to start. Everyone was hurrying to get to their places for the masquerade scene. Leslie was up at the top of the stairs casually talking with some friends for the scene, until the phantom entered, when she would hurry down the stairs along with Christine and Raoul.
Christine: "Think of it! A secret engagement! Look-your future bride! Just think of it!"
Raoul: "But why is it secret? What have we to hide?"
Maggie and Luke sang, standing up at the top of the stairs, next to Leslie.
Christine: "Please, let's not fight…"
Raoul: "Christine, you're free!"
Christine: "Wait till the time is right…"
Raoul: "When will that be? It's an engagement, not a crime! Christine, what are you afraid of?"
Christine: "Let's not argue…"
Raoul: "Let's not argue…"
Christine: "Please pretend…"
Raoul: "I can only hope I'll…"
Christine: "You will..."
Both: "…understand in time…"
All: "Masquerade! Paper faces on parade! Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you!"
The cast was now dancing around the stage again singing.
All: "Masquerade! Every face a different shade! Masquerade! Look around-there's another mask behind you! Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads…masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you! Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds…masquerade! Take your fill-let the spectacle astound you!"
Suddenly the music stopped and everyone stopped singing. Mike, playing the phantom, walked to the top of the steps. Everyone shied away from him. Christine and Raoul, or really Maggie and Luke, ran down the stairs, with Leslie just in front of them. Getting irritated because Leslie wasn't moving fast enough, Maggie plowed right past her. Losing her balance because Maggie had rammed into her shoulder, Leslie toppled head over heals down the stairs, which made Maggie lose her balance making her slide down the stairs. Thinking that they would just get up, Mike went on with his lines.
Phantom: "Why so silent, good messieurs? Did you think that I had left you for good? Have you missed me, good messieurs? I have written you an opera!"
As he was singing, Mike had slowly descended the stairs. When he got to the bottom, he realized that Leslie and Maggie were still on the floor, and that Leslie was now lying at his feet. Kneeling down quickly, he tried to get her to stand up. "Leslie, are you okay?" he asked.
"Forget her, she's fine!" someone hissed, thinking that she had pretended to fainted at the sight of the phantom. "Just get on with the show!'
"Leslie, get up. Did you sprain your ankle or something?" Mike continued to ask. He shook her by the shoulders for a little more emphasis. He glanced over to Maggie to see that Luke was trying to get her to stand up as well. Looking back down as Leslie, he realized that her eyes were not open. "Leslie, are you even awake?" Now thoroughly concerned, Mike shook her harder. "Leslie, can you hear me? Leslie! Somebody call an ambulance, she won't wake up!"
At his words, the entire auditorium went into frenzy. Some of the cast members ran up to see for themselves, others just stood in shock. Mrs. Carmichael sent one of the parents around her to find the school nurse, another to call for an ambulance, and yet another to find Leslie's father. She herself ran up to the stage to make sure that she was unconscious. "How did this happen?" Mrs. Carmichael demanded, staring at Mike.
"When I came on stage, all I saw was everyone shy away from me, like they were supposed too; Leslie was right in front of Maggie going down the stairs. You should ask her." Mike said, still looking at Leslie.
"Maggie, what happened? Why are you on the floor?" Mrs. Carmichael asked again.
"I don't know; the klutz probably tripped over her own feet. All I know is that she fell; pushing me and making me fall as well! I think that I broke my leg!" Maggie complained, obviously angry that Leslie had made her fall, and had stopped the show.
"Um, Mrs. Carmichael?" Luke spoke up hesitantly. "Mrs. Carmichael, while Maggie and I where going down the stairs, I felt Maggie run into Leslie. I think she lost her balance, making both of them fall."
"Mrs. Carmichael, I can't find Jim Donnelly. I don't think that he is even here!" the mother that was sent to find Leslie's father said.
"Thank you Mrs. Robinson. I'll try and find his cell phone number in a minute. Now where is that nurse?" Mrs. Carmichael asked.
"I'm right here. Why was I called?" Nurse Armstrong asked, walking up on stage.
"I think I broke my leg! The twit made me trip!" Maggie cried from where she was sitting a few feet away.
"Okay Maggie, let me have a look." Nurse Armstrong said walking over to her. Inspecting Maggie's ankle, she couldn't tell what had happened. "My advice is to go to the hospital when the ambulance gets here, and have some x-rays taken. Anybody else need me?"
"Yes, Leslie Donnelly is unconscious." Mrs. Carmichael said.
"I'm sorry; there is nothing that I can do for her. She will have to go to the hospital. Where are the girl's parents?"
"We can't find Leslie's father, and Maggie's parents are away. She is staying with the Andersons if I remember correctly. Has anyone informed them?" Mrs. Carmichael asked.
"They didn't come." Maggie told her. "They were expecting me to drive myself home."
"Did someone call for an ambulance?" and EMT said from the auditorium door.
"Yes, we have two girls that need to go to the hospital. One has a possibly broken ankle, and the other is unconscious." Mrs. Carmichael replied.
"Okay, if you will come with us, assuming that you are in charge; you can fill out all the paper work." The EMT said.
"Coming through please!" another EMT said coming in with two gurneys.
"Just hold on Leslie, you'll be okay." Mike said to her as the two men lifted her onto the gurney.
