The next day in school was just so drama. At least in the words of Jessica. It turns out that Leah brought Anne aside and told her that her boyfriend was cheating on her.
"What?"
"I'm not lying."
"I know you're not..but I don't understand…. I didn't do anything wrong, did I ?" Anne asked in between broken sobs.
"I don't know anything about relationships and stuff like that but I do know what Alex did was wrong."
"Leah…I don't know what to do…" Unconciously, Anne hide herself in the bosoms of Leah. "I just wanna hurt him badly, Leah…very badly."
"I guess that's what people who are sad will do." She coolly replied. And Anne jerk away suddenly.
"Sad?! You think I'm sad?! I'm distraught! I wanna kill him!"
"Kill him? And how are going to do that?" silently, Leah had huge doubt that Anne has the guts to wield a knife and stabbing Alex in the chest.
"I know…I know how…I just need someone who could…." She whispered to herself, staring at mid-air. "…who could…" she turns to Leah. "Can you play the piano?"
Right after hearing that questions, Leah actaully smiled. And it wasn't a creepy smile or a fake smile or even a polite smile. It was a genuine happy smile.
"Yes, indeed I cauld play the piano. I could sing too."
"Good…yes, perfect!"
"Yes? What is there anything you would like me to do? Does it involve the piano?"
"What songs can you play?"
"A lot. You name it, I play it."
And then Anne tells her about her plan to "kill Alex".
During recess, Anne passed out flyers with a great determination in her eyes. They knew something was going on when she even hand one to Alice, Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper.
"Here's one for you too, Edward. Oh, and could you give this to Bella too if you've seen her." she smiled while shoving two pieces of paper to Edward. Edward read the flyer.
They say that the students of Forks hardly have any excitement, apart from prom of course. But today, after school, drop by at the school auditorium and I, Anne Barker, promises you an afternoon you will never forget.
"What's that?" Bella ask holding her tray of food.
"Oh, there's one for you too." And he gave the flyer to her. She took and read it.
"What's she up too?"
"I don't know. You're her friend, why not you tell me?"
Bella smiled. "You care to know?"
Edward didn't care. But he knew it had something to do with Leah Turner.
"You know, I meant to tell you yesterday that you looked very pretty."
Bella blushed. "Am I pretty today?"
"You always looked pretty." He whispered in her ears.
Bella gave him a look. She felt good, in a bad way. She smiled awkwardly.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, sensing her uneasiness.
"Nothing." And Bella walked towards her friends.
Edward stared at her until she sat down. Then he went to the table where all his siblings were seated.
"You guys going after school."
"I don't give a crap what excitement she's talking about." Rosalie said. "Let them see me under the sun then we'll talk about real excitement."
"I dunno. Must be something big if Anne gave me one with the hugest smile on her face. Think I'm going. Just to see what the school's up to." Alice replied. "You'll come too, won't you Jasper?"
Jasper just grunt.
"Are you going, Ed?"
Leah will be involve in some way, directly or indirectly. And besides, Bella would be going too with her bunch of friends.
"Yes." He sighed. "Yes, I'm going."
The whole school was buzzing through the doors of the auditorium. It was probably the first time the seats were full. Even the Christmas drama hadn't draw much viewers. Some were too late to grab a seat and was forced to stand aside. The atmosphere was full of tension and suspense. No one had a single clue as to what Anne meant in her flyers. And the whole suspense was killing them. The curtain was drawn together and people was dying to see what was behind it.
Bella came with Jessica, Angela, Mike and Eric. They were on of those who were lucky enough to get "premium seats" as what Eric calls them. It was right at the middle of the front row.
"You guys better thank me for these seats." Said Jessica.
"Well…even if we hadn't push you to rush here, you'd still come here in a flash." Muttered Mike.
"Hmm…you're right."
"What do you think Anne's up to?" asked Bella. She wasn't as excited as Jessica but the fact that the whole school was, made her burning with curiosity as to why they were.
"Anne is a very…well…how should I put it…" Jessica thought.
"Quiet." Interjects Eric.
"Yes, quiet but of course she can be spontaneous at some times." Agreed Jessica.
"Yeah…like now." Eric said.
"Guys…guys, you have to see this…" muttered Angela. They looked at the direction of the auditorium doors. And gasped.
"It's the Cullens!" whispered Jessica. At the mere whisper of the name, the whole auditorium look at them and was in chaos. "What the heck are they doing here?!" "Beats me." "Omg….it's the Cullens!" "Man…they came!" "Do they know what's Anne doing?" "Oh, Rosalie Cullen isn't here though." "She's hot, that's all I know."
In the middle of the chaos, Bella caught the glance of Edward. Somehow, she felt that he was pleased to see her. She gave a small smile and look away. She was NOT going to let him know how she felt for him. In fact, she felt pretty stupid for having rushes when she sees him. And to make the matter worst, she doesn't even know whether he feels the same way or is he a plain womanizer. But one true fact remains, no one has ever, EVER made her feel like this. And it was driving her crazy. She was always so compost in her emotion and here comes a boy that manage to stir feelings in her heart.
The Cullens walk right behind all the seats and stood behind the last row. Just then the curtains was drawing apart and the audience hushed.
On the stage was a piano and in front of the piano was a chair. On the chair was, to everyone's surprise, Alex. A bounded and gagged Alex. The audience burst into laughter. But Alex doesn't seemed so happy. He begin to attempt to unbound his hands, which after sometime, doesn't not seemed to be successful. Then, Anne emerged, holding a microphone.
"Thank you for a hot response, my fellow friends. I am extremely happy that many of you showed up." She began. "As you can see here, joining me is my ex-boyfriend, Alex Dunham." It was clear she was stressing the word "ex". "Someone had told me that Alex here was cheating on me and no girls like a cheater."
The crowd was shocked. Shocked of the unfaithfulness of Alex, of the bravery of Anne to stage such a drama and even more shocked when another person appeared on stage, Leah Turner.
She walked towards the piano and made herself comfortable on the seat. She then placed her fingers on the keys and began to play. And sing.
If I were a boy,
Even just for a day,
I'd rolled out bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted and go.
The crowd was mesmerize. Her voice was so melodious. No one dared to speak. And when Eric wanted to say something, Jessica slapped him on his head.
Drink beer with the guys
And chase after girls,
I'll kick it with who I wanted
And I never get confronted for it
Cause they stick up for me.
It was obvious that the song was Beyonce's 'If I Were A Boy'. Edward watched her from the back. She was a good with the piano and even though she may not have the vocals of Beyonce but her voice was still pleasing to the ear. So this was how she's involve. Playing the piano and humiliate Alex. He grinned to himself. That WAS what Alex deserve anyway. If you have a girl, stick to her. It was totally against his policy to be unfaithful, that's why if he has Bella….Drats, Bella. Does she feels anything toward him? He knows he does. But what about her? Edward glanced at her, sitting between Jessica and Angela. He didn't want to think more. It was because he knew the consequences if Bella reciprocates his feelings. It was one consequences he could not bear. Edward tried to shut Bella out of his mind just as Leah finished the last chorus and he clapped his hand, joining in the loud applause which he felt she quite deserved it.
As the curtain draw shut, Leah was smiling at herself. She felt good, very good. Not to mention the first time since she moved into Forks. However, she was not sure how her mentor would react to this little stunt. She doesn't want to fail him, after all, what he said was true: "You're the best I've ever got." She was the best. Leah got up and walked towards a humiliated Alex. She bent down to him.
"Thanks for your performance." And she left the stage.
As for Anne, she decide to left Alex to the mercy of the school janitor whom she knows have a grudge for him. Alex loves to upset him. Pranks like misplacing the tools or hiding his lunch meal always amuses Alex. Not any more now. As the lights were turned off, Alex began to scream behind his gagged mouth.
Bella was in awe. She clapped as loudly as she can until her palms were red. Leah really had caught the attention of Forks High. It was a beautiful song and Leah managed to catch the exact feeling of a scorned Anne. After the performance, almost half of the girls hated Alex for what he had done to her. some of them who had a weak heart, for example, Angela, cried while cursing about how guys suck.
The curtain closed without a bow from Leah as everyone had expected. She just sat there until everything was over. However, Anne seemed very pleased with the drama she created. She was the one that did the bowing at the end of the song.
"Wasn't she just awesome?!" praised Jessica.
"I hate guys!" sob Angela.
"C'mon, Angie. You don't hate guys." Jessica patted her back. "For example, you don't hate Eric do you?" she winked and Angela broke into a laughter.
"Man, I gotta interview her for the school mag!" Eric said, missing whatever Jessica told Angela.
"She was great, wasn't she, Bella?" Mike asked.
Bella was watching as Edward walked out of the auditorium along with his adopted siblings. "Uh huh." Was all her reply for Mike.
Carlisle listened with great amusement when Emmett told him about the little stunt of Anne. He was really excited about the whole thing. Even Rosalie had a small regret not going. But it wasn't Anne he was amuse about. It was Leah Turner. He had a strange respect for her and he really wanted to know more about her. Her background, her family, her hobbies. Anything.
"I supposed she played well?"
"Oh, you mean Leah. Yeah, she was good."
"More than good you mean? She totally rocks the socks of the audience." Adds Alice.
Yes, she was the music kind of people, he thought. It goes with her cool personality, like Edward. Carlisle looked at his youngest adopted son.
"Does she play better than you, Edward?"
Edward jaw clenched. Somehow, for some reason, he had acted a bit strangely. He was more quiet and kept much to himself. He didn't laugh as much as he used to and Carlisle also noticed he spent more times outdoor.
"Maybe." A curt reply from him. Then, he stood up and went to his room.