THE PLAY
Disclaimer: All the characters are of SM
Bella has to participate in the play written by Mr Berty , albeit reluctantly . Somehow Mr Berty manages to involve Jacob also in it . While doing the play she realizes her true feelings . A two shot story! Robert lovers please stay away .You have been warned! Timeline : Before the engagement of Bella and Edward in eclipse . (Pairing- taylor l, k stew )
Thank you dips for faving this story and corky, 4gracie04 for your kind reviews!
Chapter 1
"But Mr Berty ! " Bella cried "I can't play this role .You know how clumsy I am !"
"You are one of my intelligent students. My mother wanted to see her play enacted on stage. I have to TRY to fulfill her wish before she dies . I know the story is not so wonderful .! "Mr Berty's brow furrowed in tension as he continued pleading to Bella.
"Please! You know how they are, those students can't work hard even if their grades depend on it . If you agree maybe other good students will take part in the play. "
He looked like he was going to cry. Why can't she be just like others" Sorry Mr Berty .I can't do it "and fled from him.
After she heard the reason she steeled herself to say the words .
When she saw her professor's hurt look which so resembled Jake's hurt face now a days, the words got stuck in her throat.
Her dad had gone easy on her grounding on the condition that she meets Jake but she couldn't bear to see her happy Jacob loosing his spark . She hated now hurting anyone anymore now!
"Yes sir, I will do it!"Bella found herself saying in spite of willing to back out. The professor's smile lit up his face .
The old face which was anguished few moments ago, now looked so happy." Thank you so much Bella! My mother will be so happy .I will see to it that your studies will not be affected by the play "said Mr. Berty and went away happily.
Bella was sitting with Edward in her living room while completing her calculus home work.
"Am I correct that you are in the play of Mr. Berty's?"Edward said in his ringing voice. "Yes "she replied and told all that had transpired between her professor and her .
"And what, about your studies! It's not even a college event. The story is even not upto my taste !"Edward sounded so much like an elder brother .
She didn't retort back as she continued solving her sums, she was exhausted for the day .
After few minutes, Bella replied " He told me not to worry about it, will talk with other teachers to overlook me and the other students for two months. Seeing how sensitive the issue is , I don't think our professors will oppose him" she said while closing her book and letting a long sigh , relieved that her work is finished at last.
"You know, he approached me too. I managed to wiggle out fine. I didn't need my mind reading skills for that. What role did he offer you, love? "asked Edward while playing with Bella's hair and smiled her favorite crooked smile." she could not help but smile back at such a gorgeous man .
"The lead role-Kristen. And , what 's yours?"Bella asked curiously.
"You won't believe it , the villain of the story –Robert . It's so laughable that Mr Berty's still searching for the protagonist who has to be cute looking, energetic….."huffed Edward.
"Really, I will be saved from falling on my face on stage. " Bella replied happily as she took Edward's cold hand in hers.
Unexpectedly, he began to laugh and said "Do you think I will let you fall in front of everyone in the play. If you are in the play….I am in it too"
Edward kissed her chastely on the lips. Bella fumed internally, he was her boyfriend for God's sake! He was supposed to kiss her properly when she was in dumps so she would feel better. Edward and his damn rules! thought Bella
1 week later
"Bella, you left your project at my home yesterday." said Jacob while running towards Bella through the parking lot of the forks high.
Bella and Edward were talking with their professor Mr. Berty regarding the play when Jacob came running.
He had decided to start it anyway without the protagonist for now.
"Thanks ,Jacob! I would have been in a mess without it. I will come with cookies later in the evening. Thank you once again for coming here to bring my project! "Bella said while hugging Jacob.
"Really, Bella" he smiled when Bella looked up at him after hugging him back warmly .
They were not supposed to meet today but she needed to thank him for coming for her inspite of running patrols to protect her against Victoria.
He needed to take rest thought Bella as she saw how tired Jacob looked .
As soon his eyes met with Edward; His smile crumpled and a hard mask returned on his happy face.
"Bye Bella! See you in the evenin" Jacob whispered and turned back to run home.
"Bye" said Bella sadly, she hated Jacob to see so sad but she couldn't leave Edward. Edward would be deeply hurt if she left him now. She couldn't make him sad because she couldn't bear him to so sad for her choices.
It was too late to go back, she loved the Cullen family too. She couldn't turn back on the family who had made her feel wanted in their close knit family.
"STOP! Mr. Black!"
Jacob stopped in his tracks when he heard his name being called. He turned around and found out that he was being called by Mr. Berty. Edward growled slowly when their professor ran like a mad man behind Jacob.
"Can you please, spare some time from your work?"said Mr. Berty to Jacob and then he started talking animatedly with Jacob.
Bella caught Edward snickering on seeing a baffled and confused Jacob. She gave him such a fierce glare that he stopped in hurry and started choking as air entered in his nostrils in a wrong way.
"I am 17, Sir . I have not even acted in a skit in my childhood." said Jacob exasperated.
"Oh don't worry, my lad!let me talk to your dad" as he took and noted down Jacob's number" I will train you in no time, son"
One more fan of Jacob, Bella sighed. She felt little nice that inspite of not being a student of her school he had respected Mr Berty's feelings. He could easily refuse it .
Unlike other seniors;especially Edward who had tried to wiggle out.
Was Edward really so gentle and noble as he showed before her thought Bella while clutching her project tightly.
Chapter 2
Mike had fun while playing the role of Michael, Kristen's first serious love as Edward and Jacob grunted in silence waiting for their parts .
Billy had no problem in Jacob's acting in the skit of Mr Berty.
Jacob was let off from patrols by the Elders so as not to arouse suspicion on him.
Bella and Jacob had a blast playing the role of friends , Kristen and Taylor ,while playing the famous movie stars in making who had become friends.
They were real best friends in real life too.
With Mr . Berty 's help in playing their parts , they were getting better each day in portraying their roles on stage .
After 2 weeks of dress rehearsals, dialogue, props, background change, everyone who were involved in the play were up to the mark as Mr. Berty's constant follow up on everyone's work .
Mark, John and Maria who had flunked in his subjects were handling sound, lightning, back stage prompt and props on stage.
Mr. Berty's daughter Tina who was a manager in a modelling agency gave all the actors in the play, awesome model castoffs .
Jacob looked awesome to Bella when he wore the clothes given by Tina for the play.
Many girls started salivating and drooling behind his back, Bella couldn't blame them as he looked so mouth-watering ….whenever he came out wearing his dapper clothes.
He was not broody anymore and was calm now, like he was before he had phased.
She managed to hide with great difficulty her increasing attraction to Jacob .
She found that she was getting very well in acting , because Edward even being in the vicinity of the stage couldn't read her like he used to do earlier .
1 month later; Enacting last part of the play
Bella: I am sorry, Rob. It was a momentary discretion. I just couldn't take the fear of failure of a child actor who flopped after she did a big movie franchise. You said we won't get any work in an interview . I was not interested in doing music with you. I love acting, damn it!"
She started sobbing while sitting down on the stage while she held Edward's hand. Edward was playing Robert, her co star and boyfriend .
Edward: Well, was it necessary to do that ? You didn't believe yourself, Kristen! THAT'S RIDICULOUS! Who am I to predict our future? Even I am not getting any substantial offers ; did I stoop as low as you? You dilly dallied in a married director's arm .You cheated on me! How long it has been going on behind my back?
Then letting his hand drop from Bella with force , Edward asked facing the other side of the stage "Did you sleep with him?"
"No! I had gone silly. It was for the first time we kissed .. and the paparazzi caught us, Rob. Please believe me!"
"Ok. I forgive you. But I need some space" said Edward and went away.
The scene changed again with background and props showing a mourning mood.
Bella played Kirsten's depressed part very well who refused to talk or eat properly.
People who used to be her fans and friends left her. It was represented on stage by seven people standing around her and booed her for cheating on Robert lead by Lauren in the front.
The fragile girl who was depressed broke down narrated Angela .
Then getting her cue Bella cowered down in front of the crowd, defeated and shamed.
Then a bright light comes and Jacob comes pushing all of them and comforts her" I don't care about them .I care for you! They are singling you out. I don't know why, even brad Pitt and even Lara croft did it!"
"It's Jolie; not Croft, Tay" she said smiling a little for the first time.
Then the lights went off and Jacob had to leave Bella. She let go off his warm arms unwillingly.
The separation in the play caused many memories of Edward leaving her in the forest floor come to the fore.
Like Kristen, no one believed her or even listened to was busy blaming her, as it was not enough she had blamed herself already.
After the background of the stage changed, Edward came and Bella hid her emotions and continued with the play.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Read and PLEASE review.