Hey, people! I'm soooo sorry it took me ages to update but now since I'm back from my summer vacation I hope to carry on with my stories as usual. So, I left you on an awful cliffy 3 months ago and you must be impatient to find out who that woman was. Well, go ahead and read! Don't forget to leave a little nice review for me). And thanks for all of your previous positive comments! Here goes
Chapter 3: We will rock you (part 2)
«Cornelia Hale and Caleb Saleman? You really have a potential in singing! » the woman of approximately thirty years with shoulder-length light-brown hair, who neither the guardians nor Caleb had ever seen before, said merrily as she was approaching the guys.
«Thank you» Caleb and Cornelia answered in unison.
«You both have very good voices and a potential in acting» the strange lady continued rubbing her chin. «Do you have any acting skills? »
«Well, not really. I've just took part in a number of school plays» the Earth guardian responded wondering who the woman was and why she was asking them such sort of questions.
«Me too » Caleb lied.
«Oh, sorry, I totally forgot to introduce myself» the woman said hastily seeing the guys' confusion «My name is Abbigeille Scott and I am the producer of this musical. You see, me and Mrs. Knickerbocker…» (the principal assumed an air of significance) «are good friends and she offered her school to organize the listening and select a couple of kids with good voices for the chorus, but when I heard you sing I got an absolutely crazy idea…» her eyes were shining with excitement «Were you going take part in the listening today? »
«Yes, we were just rehearsing before the casting as Mrs. Knickerbocker had given us her permission» Cornelia explained.
«Perfect! » Mrs. Scott smiled «So, this may sound totally crazy, but I've decided to give you the leading roles! »
Caleb and Cornelia along with other guardians, guys, Elyon and he Grumper sisters, who were already green with envy, opened their mouths in surprise.
«Leading roles! » Caleb whispered.
«The LEADING ROLES? » Cornelia re-asked in little disbelief «Seriously? Do you seriously mean it?? »
«I always say what I mean, girl » the lady winked «The point is that I currently have little problems with candidates for roles of Romeo and Juliet and I think you two suit these vacancies the best. You both have a pretty big talent in singing and acting; if professional tutors work with you for a couple of weeks, you will be able to perform in front of big audiences. Besides, » she added with a playful smile «you look perfect together and since you're going out together it will be easier to perform the world's most famous lovers. The roles will be more truthful when you have genuine feelings towards each other. So, what do think about it? »
Cornelia and Caleb exchanged glances. Both thought that Mrs. Abbigeille's offer sounded very tempting and that it was a good chance to show their talents. Cornelia had always been dreaming about big stage and Caleb, who was a warrior and had never thought of himself as an actor or singer, also found this opportunity interesting.
«Well, » Cornelia started «I think that the opportunity to get the main roles sounds great. I'm really in it! But I still need to ask my parents' permission»
«I also accept your offer and it is an honour for me, but I also need my father's consent» Caleb replied.
«Of course you'll ask your parents» Mrs. Scott nodded «But the most important thing is that you want to take part in this. So, the conditions are the following: tomorrow we go to our theatre in Los Angeles, we're staying there for two weeks and rehearse and work out hard and in the end of the second week is the performance. It is not Grande Opera or Broadway but still the audience is supposed to be pretty big and this event is significant for me and the troupe as the first performance in my new theatre. Do you agree? »
«OH MY GOSH, we're going to Los Angeles! » Cornelia screamed in delight «L.A.! That's the dream of my life! » and she danced with glee.
Caleb remained pretty indifferent to the L.A. fact. He had heard something about it but still didn't know much and that place wasn't really popular and famous in Meridian. So he couldn't wholly understand why his girlfriend was in the seventh heaven with happiness.
«Well, the theatre is actually located in the outskirts of the city, so don't expect it to be Hollywood » the woman amplified «But you'll be able to go to the centre during our stay there and look around or have an excursion»
«Oh, that will be very interesting! We'll definitely organise excursions since I'm also going with Abbey (this was the nickname the principal called Mrs. Abbigeille due to their close friendship) » Mrs. Knickerbocker, who always wanted to introduce her students to the culture, clapped her hands «And it is a big luck that the time of your stay in the theatre is exactly the spring break because it won't bother your studies»
«We're in! » Caleb and Cornelia said in one voice.
«Very well, » Mrs. Scott said «Then I think you can go now and ask your parents at home. Then let your parents call to the school and tell me your final decision and I'll give you more useful information if you agree to take part»
The other girls and guys looked at one another and got each other's thought without words. Of course, they all were very happy for Caleb and Cornelia but it was a pity that they would be away during the whole break time and wouldn't be able to spend the vacation together as they had planned.
The guardians conversed in whisper for a minute and then Will as the eternal leader approached Mrs. Scott.
«Mrs. Scott, excuse me, but maybe we could also stay in the theater for these two weeks? » she started shyly «I mean we were all planning to spend the vacation altogether and that would be a great pity if Cornelia and Caleb were away for the whole time. Besides, we want to see their rehearsals and final performance and encourage and support them morally since they're our best friends. Furthermore, we haven't yet thought of a place where to spend the vacation and Los Angeles sounds awesome. Maybe, if there is enough room to stay and we won't bother you, we could go with you? »
«Yes, please, let us go with you! Please, please! » Irma, Hay Lin, Taranee, Elyon, Matt, Eric, Nigel and Martin all started to plead vying with each other and Irma even cried that they would met all the necessary expenses.
«Oh, please, not altogether! » Abbigeille laughed and waved her hand slightly to stop the loud pleadings. «Well, let's think» she pondered aloud rubbing her chin «I heard some of you sing and you have pretty not bad voices, I might even give you a part in the chorus. And of course, supporting your friends is very important and there will be dorms enough for everybody. So I think that nothing prevents you from going with us. And surely you don't need to pay! Your toil and participation in the performance will meet all the expenses» she added with a smile.
«And what about those, who can't sing at all? » martin asked shyly recalling his latest unsuccessful singing experience.
«Oh, then you can help with the decorations and the equipment» the woman replied «The boys can help with mending something out of order or carrying heavy things. There will always be work enough for everyone»
The guys shared delightful glances and Martin grinned widely cause he had an eye for technics and could help in that sphere.
«I also think all of you can go » Mrs. Knickerbocker nodded approvingly «Los Angeles is a cultural centre and it will be very useful for you to attend our excursion» she always cared only about cultural education.
«So, it's decided! » Mrs. Abbigeille said «All nine of you can go, with your parents' permission, of course»
«Yay!! » the four guardians and Elyon squealed with joy and started to hug Cornelia. The boys were also very glad but they didn't show their emotions so impetuously.
«I'm glad to make you so happy! » the woman aid and smiled like an anime character, her straight light-brown hair fell on her shoulders as she bent her head slightly on one side. «So, I think you can go now. Remember, I'm waiting for a phone call from each of you tonight! »
«Thanks you, Mrs. Scott! Thanks, Mrs. Knickerbocker! » all the guys cried happily and ran out of the Assembly Hall. Soon the two women, the teachers and other kids, who gathered to listen to Caleb and Cornelia sing, also left the room. Only the Grumper sisters stayed back for a little. They frowned and crossed their arms.
«Oh, right! » the two of them hummed scornfully «Cornelia Hale! What a celebrity! She's just a show-off! » Concluding with such an opinion the sisters remained very pleased with themselves and although they envied greatly Cornelia's big success, they still considered themselves superior than her.
That time the bunch of eleven teenagers ran out of the school building with glee. All of them were really happy with what had just happened, Caleb and Cornelia most of all. Especially Cornelia. Going to L.A. and becoming a celebrity was her big dream and although it still wasn't Hollywood that musical performance was much more serious than just a school play. She was skipping and jumping joyfully around Caleb and was expressing delight with her entire being.
When she saw a small bench on her way she, without thinking long and forgetting about all the rules of decency, jumped on it with her feet and sang one of her favourite songs in French right in the street:
L'amour brille sous les étoiles(the French variant of "Can you feel the love tonight" from Lion King)
«
L'amour brille sous les étoiles,
D'une étrange
lumière.
La Terre entière, en parfaite harmonie,
Vit
sa plus belle histoire. »
(A/N - Translation:
Love
shines under the stars,
With a strange
light.
Whole Earth in perfect harmony
Watches its most
beautiful story)
Caleb was also more than happy that he was going to play one of the leading roles together with his Cornelia and when he heard her sing he couldn't resist, also jumped non the bench and they continued in duet holding hands:
«L'amour
brille sous les étoiles,
Illuminant nos coeurs.
Sa
lumière éclaire à l'infini,
Un sublime
espoir»
(A/N - Translation:
Love shines under the stars
Illuminating our hearts.
Its light will be glowing forever
Over a sublime hope)
That little performance caught the attention of the passers-by. They looked at the singing couple, most smiled at the craziness of the first love and everybody noted the young people's beautiful voices.
Two old ladies were passing by the bench and when the earth guardian and the rebel leader finished the second verse one of them shook her head with little reproach and said: «Young people, why do you dirty the bench with your shoes? Apropos, people sit here! »
The two lovers realized that they were really breaking the social rules, so they blushed, jumped off the bench quickly and apologised to the old lady: «Oh, we beg your pardon! »
The old lady smiled with approval and continued her way with her companion. «Oh, don't be so stern to them, » the other old lady said to the first one «They are lovers! It's typical for them»
Caleb and Cornelia, who heard that comment, smiled and blushed as they did every time somebody spoke of their romantic relationship. But before they could do anything else they were surrounded with the guardians and Elyon (the other boys had decided to go home).
«Congratulations! We're so happy for you two! » Taranee said with sincere joy. «And the best thing is that all of us also go with you and can spend the vacation altogether as we have planned! »
«I told you you would get the roles of Romeo and Juliet! » Hay Lin was jumping up and down with excitement «You're gonna become famous! »
«Yup, I'm also really really happy about it! » Cornelia confessed with a smile «I still can't believe that all of that has just happened! That Mrs. Scott is a real fairy godmother! I still can't believe we're going to Los Angeles! That's gonna be wonderful, I'm sure my parents will allow me to take part in it! »
«And I'm not sure about my dad» Caleb said suddenly. He sat on the bench, which wasn't now really clean (thanks to him and Cornelia), with his chin in his hands and his elbows on his knees. «Father has never thought of me as an actor. Honestly, I've either never thought of myself that way. I've always been a warrior, a rebel, the defender of meridian and have never shown my singing abilities. I'm not 100 sure that dad will approve of it, although we have never talked about such things. I don't know why I think so, I'm just a little nervous about it»
«Come on, Caleb, I'm sure Mr. Julian will give his permission» Cornelia said softly to her boyfriend sitting next to him. «Just think, what's bad in your participation in a musical on earth? It's on the contrary very good! » Caleb smiled to her.
«That's all nonsense! Listen to me! » Elyon said and cleaned her throat «Ahem, I, as the Queen of Meridian (as she was spending the vacation on earth with her friends), order you two to play in that performance without any objections! » and she made an imperious gesture.
«Hey, Ely, you can't order me» Cornelia put her hands on her hips «I am the Earth guardian and not your vassal, remember? » she reminded playfully.
«Oh, yeah, right» Elyon was confused for a second but then found a solution «Then I order Caleb to forget that nonsense about his father! Everybody knows that Mr. Saleman will agree; he's just dramatizing! And you can't break the queen's orders! »
Caleb crossed his arms with fake offence «Again I'm guilty for dramatizing! »
«Hey, Your Majesty, you've been ordering around a lot since you became a queen! » Irma noted playfully.
«Oh, I'm practicing on you until I return to Meridian » "Her Majesty" smiled «I guess I've got into the role of a royalty too well, see what power can do to people? »
«Alrightly, » Will rubbed her palms «Now the main aim is to persuade our parents to let us go to L.A. with the troupe and it's in the bag! »
«Don't worry, we're experts in begging and pleading our parents and making puppy eyes! » Irma and Hay Lin said proudly «So, if you need any help around with your mom, just let us know! » they winked.
«OK, I'll go now and we'll ring up as soon as it's done» Cornelia said and stood up to go away.
Everybody said goodbye to each other, wished Caleb luck with his father and went away to deal with their own parents. Something was telling them that it was going to be not just a simple trip but an exciting adventure…
Well, that's it! I'm planning to work on the next chapter of my other fic "Love is forever" and I'll certainly try to update ASAP! Please, review, hope you like it! Also check my new fanart account (the link is on my profile). Thanks to all of you once again! Hugs & Kisses!