HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!
I know it's a little weird that I am still posting Christmas chapters, but ... just read them again next Christmas, then it'll fit ;-)
"Get ready everyone, we need to leave!" Esme called and waited for her children to finally show up in the kitchen.
They needed to get going, the drive to Fairholm would take at least twenty minutes.
To Maddie's sorrow, her whole family wanted to attend the Christmas party her school was holding.
It was exciting to them, since it was a different grade than what they have been in for quite some time now, over and over again.
Plus, there was a long show planned with music, plays and the like.
Maddie had eventually told them she wouldn't participate in being onstage singing - that had curbed their excitement a little. Esme had sounded a tad disappointed but she told Maddie that it was her choice. If she didn't want to do something, she wouldn't have to.
Yeah, Maddie would keep that in mind, definitely.
Emmett told her he wanted to bring his camcorder and record everything ... well, he would one way or the other, no matter if she sang or sold something in a heavily decorated booth, wearing a Santa hat.
"Are we complete?" Carlisle asked and scanned the room to check if all his children had finally made it to the kitchen.
"Okay ... where is Maddie?" Emmett asked after a second.
"I'll go get her," Rosalie said, handed her husband her purse and left the room.
It took only a minute until the two of them walked into kitchen, Maddie was pouting a little.
"What is it, sweetheart?" Esme asked with concern in her voice and hurried over to her.
"It is so ridiculous that we have to wear the uniforms for that evening. You have seen them already, where's the point?" she complained.
"Oh darling, that is bothering you? All the other students will also wear one, so you will not stand out."
"Why do you all wanna come?" Maddie whispered into her mother's ear, looking at her siblings.
"Because it's going to be beautiful. Your siblings are all so very curious, sweetie."
"Then let's go!" Carlisle exclaimed with a clap of his hands. He didn't want to be late, because Maddie had to work at the booth and set things up, while they wanted to find good seats for the show.
Grabbing his car keys, which had been lying on the counter, he then motioned to his wife and children to enter the garage.
Rose, Emmett and Maddie would be driving with him and Esme, while Edward, Alice and Jasper would take the Volvo.
They met again some time later, parking in a street near Maddie's school.
It was very busy - all parents and other relatives had been invited to participate in this charity event. Maddie didn't really get why this school would do something like that - it was an expensive school and they could just take some of the fees and donate them, right? But instead the parents were expected to pay even more.
Esme accompanied her youngest to the stand where she would be working for the evening while the rest of the family would go find seven seats in the big assembly hall.
Maddie rolled her eyes when she saw with whom she would be working with.
What a funny coincidence.
The bitchy girl she had thought to be downright ridiculous since her first day here was already there arranging bags of cookies to sell.
Oh, joy!
A blond lady Maddie didn't know was standing next to her, telling her how to do this and that - it was laughable. This lady seemed snobby and arrogant and like everything Maddie disliked.
Her guess - it was the girl's mother.
It must be, they wore the same stuck up expression on their faces, had the same pale blue eyes ... the only difference was that the woman was wearing a white Chanel suit and way too much perfume. And too much make-up.
"Hey Maddie, you're late. Were you having dinner?" the girl asked in a fake sweet voice.
"How was History, Val?" Maddie countered with a rapt smile and walked around the table to stand next to her classmate.
"You two are friends, Valérie? How sweet." So she was indeed her mother, Mrs. Montgomery. When she talked, she sounded a little as if she was having peas up her nose that just wouldn't come out again.
"Of course, Maman. My friend Madeline Cullen," Valerie introduced her.
Friend? My ass.
Maddie could have cracked up with laughter then. This girl already ran around the school like she owned the place, usually with two sidekicks in tow, and now she wanted to pretend to be popular beyond belief in front of her Mom?
Well, then so be it.
"I am overjoyed to meet you, Ma'am," Maddie said and curtseyed.
Maybe the curtsey was a bit overdone, but the lady looked impressed with Maddie's manners and even Esme smiled.
Ha.
"I didn't know we would be working together today! That is ... like ... so awesome!" Maddie then exclaimed while looking at Valerie again, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Why haven't you invited your friend over yet, Valérie?" Oh, the mother again.
"Maddie doesn't live in town, Maman. They don't have any good schools where she comes from." This girl was seriously trying to provoke her in front of their Moms ... but unfortunately chose the wrong subject. Maddie didn't give a damn about schools.
"Oh, I understand." Her Mom - pardon, her Maman - said and turned to her side then, noticing Esme standing right next to the table.
"I am so sorry, Mrs. Montgomery, how rude of me. This is my mother Esme Cullen. Mom, this is my friend Valerie's mother, Mrs. Montgomery," Maddie introduced them. Oh, she was so curious what her Mom would think of these snobs.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Montgomery."
They shook hands and smiled.
"It's so sad we haven't met before, Mrs. Cullen."
"Indeed. Will you be watching the show? It is about to start. I just wanted to accompany Maddie to the stand before finding the assembly hall."
"Yes, of course," she replied, then turned to her daughter and Maddie, pointing a perfectly manicured finger at them. "You won't sell anything if you don't put on a smile, girls."
Gah.
"Goodbye, Mrs. Montgomery. Enjoy the show," Maddie smiled sweetly, then looked at her mother. "Have fun, Mom!"
"I'll see you when the show is over, sweetie," Esme answered and walked in the direction of the assembly hall with the weird lady.
Valerie wished her mother and Esme a pleasant evening, then went back to work.
When both mothers had rounded a corner and were out of sight, Maddie turned to face Valerie, a pitying expression on her face. "Seriously Val, bulimic? That's low, even for you."
"Aw ... were your parents concerned and want to send you to therapy now?" the girl asked with a sneer.
"No, they laughed about the silly girl that would say I puked all over the school," Maddie countered, before exclaiming happily, "then we left early and went shopping!"
The girl's face fell. "Bitch."
"Fuck you," Maddie replied, then left the stand again to go wash her hands before selling food. Yes, vampires knew of hygiene, too.
"We are supposed to wear these hats," Valerie snapped at Maddie, who had just come back from the restrooms, and held a Santa hat out for Maddie to take.
"Awesome," Maddie replied and put it on. How classy to wear that along with a school uniform... But it would distract from the checkered skirt, she figured, so she was cool with it.
During the break, the girls had been really busy selling cookies.
What, were these rich people incapable of baking? ... or maybe they bought so much because it was for a good cause, who knew.
Her family had come by once, but Maddie didn't have time to talk to them. Besides, there were so many other stands, that they probably wanted to take a look around anyway.
After maybe forty minutes, the guests were back in the assembly hall for the second half of the show and it got calmer in the hallways.
They cleaned up a little, put the remaining bags of cookies out on the table and counted the money they just earned, trying to ignore each other as best they could.
"Valerie?" A teacher approached their stand, coming to a halt right in front of it. "Our stage appearance is next, so please be behind the stage with your classmates in about five minutes."
It was their English teacher, Mrs. Lader. She pushed her gold-rimmed glasses back up and looked a little stressed. She always wore her greying hair in a bun, but today it was open and very frizzy. It resembled a bird's nest - she had probably fiddled with it a lot out of nervousness today.
"Yes, Mrs. Lader," Valerie replied, smiling.
"And Madeline? You, too, please."
"Excuse me?" Maddie asked in disbelief. "I'm supposed to be watching the stand, I'm not singing."
Her teacher took on a pained expression. "I know, and I am really sorry that I couldn't tell you before, but Kaitlin Sinclair is sick and won't be able to participate."
"It's just a song, Mrs. Lader, I'm sure one voice less won't be noticed," Maddie replied casually with a wave of her hand.
"You have been to all the rehearsals, Madeline. You know the song and the choreography. We need an even number on stage."
"My family is out there, I'm not performing on stage. Nuh-uh, no way," Maddie argued, holding her hand up.
She wasn't nervous about being on stage, she just had no desire to do it. Simple as that.
"They'd be happy to hear you sing," Maddie's teacher tried to encourage her.
"I don't think so." Well, they probably would, but whatever.
The teacher bent forward a little to be at eye level with Maddie, who sat on a chair behind the table with cookies. "Madeline, we need an even number. You knew that if someone wouldn't be able to participate, then you would have to fill in."
"You don't understand ... my brother will be teasing me for all eternity!"
"All eternity? You are exaggerating, dear. Besides, it is a beautiful song. Now get ready," Mrs. Lader said and straightened up again.
Nope, no exaggerating here.
Maddie stood up and motioned towards the table in front of her. "But ... who will be watching this here then? I cannot leave. And ... Oh my! All the money for charity! What if it got stolen? I could never forgive myself."
"Mr. Benson will be watching it. Everything is arranged, don't worry," the teacher answered and walked away, but called over her shoulder, "Five minutes, girls!"
Maddie slumped into her chair, groaning, and let her forehead rest on the table.
"Aw, is somebody having stage fright?" Valerie asked her, her voice laced with mock sympathy.
Oh, that girl should have just kept her stupid mouth shut.
Maddie lifted her head to face Valerie and answered with a wicked smile on her lips, "No."
Valerie frowned, not knowing what was going on.
Maddie cleared her throat then bent towards her so she would be looking her straight in the eye. "Go to the restrooms, but walk along the walls over there. Make sure you step into the chewing gum."
Some child must have dropped his pink bubble gum on the floor, and it was just so incredibly convenient right now.
Valerie stared right back at Maddie, then blinked her eyes before leaving the stand to walk along the walls to the restrooms, like Maddie just told her to.
She was getting better and better with this compelling thing. To be honest, what Maddie had just planned really was a very silly thing to do, but she so did not care right now.
Her face lit up like a Christmas tree when she saw her classmate reappear from the restroom.
Valerie waved at Maddie in annoyance, because she was still sitting on her ass on the chair despite the fact that they should be heading for the stage now.
"Mr. Benson? We'll be right back ... would you keep an eye on the table, please?" Maddie asked.
"Yes, go along with Valerie, you do not want to be late," he replied and took Maddie's place.
Hurrying over to Valerie, Maddie did her best to shield the girl from their teacher's view. This guy could ruin everything in a matter of seconds, after all.
"Trip a little when you leave the stage," Maddie ordered in a whisper while lightly pressing two fingers to the palm of Valerie's hand. They were already walking down the hallway, so it would have been a little difficult to do this without touch.
It was kind of dark behind the stage when they arrived, but that was fine. Each of the girls got a lit candle and then they were sent out onto the stage to perform in front of parents, siblings, relatives and the rest of the school's staff and students.
Maddie quickly scanned the audience for her family, then grinned and waved at them. She could hear Alice and Esme gasp when their eyes fell on Maddie, and Emmett cheered. She had told them she wouldn't perform today, so this came as a surprise now.
Emmett's hands with his camcorder in it immediately shot up, ready to film.
The girls formed three lines ... and then whispering and giggling could be heard coming from the audience.
Oops, so the people have noticed something...
Ha ha, Maddie thought.
She could have laughed along with them, but that wouldn't be very professional, now would it?
They sang the song, taking steps to the left or the right, turning around, and in the end they blew out the candles and the light went back on. The audience applauded like it was expected of them ... and whispered again.
Maddie could see her parents beam at her - they had obviously enjoyed the show.
When they were supposed to leave the stage again, Valerie - being in the first row in front of Maddie - stumbled a little and Maddie reached out to steady her.
"Careful there," she said and frowned at the sudden clumsiness of the girl.
Okay, it wasn't very honest of Maddie, but come on! ... her brother had been filming everything!
Valerie suddenly gasped and dear Mrs. Montgomery looked terribly ashamed.
Maddie smiled.
Being on stage had really been fun!
Why had she ever declined to do this?
"What a great show!" Emmett exclaimed while waiting next to the stand for Maddie to finish packing up. They would meet the rest of the family outside and then drive back home for a peaceful night in front of the TV.
"You said so before." Maddie laughed and locked the cash box. They had made quite some money this evening - nearly all of the cookies in the little cellophane bags had been sold.
"I have it all on tape, we can watch it over and over and over and over again now!"
"Uhm ... sure ...," Maddie replied, then said to someone standing behind her brother, "Hey, Valerie? I'll take the box to the office."
Emmett turned around to see whom she was talking to.
His eyes went wide. "You are the one with the toilet paper stuck to her shoe!" Emmett burst out, which made Maddie quickly cover her mouth with her hand to stifle a laugh.
The blonde, bitchy girl glowered at him, forcefully threw her Santa hat onto the table and stalked away before glaring at Emmett once more.
"Huh?" Emmett blinked his eyes at that display. Why wasn't that girl laughing along?
Maddie couldn't hold it in any longer and suddenly snorted with laughter. "It's okay, Em, let's go."
"Did I say something wrong?" he asked with furrowed brows.
That was funny about Emmett. Because he could laugh about himself, he assumed that everyone would be like that, too. Sometimes he really had no clue what 'embarrassment' meant.
Maddie giggled. "I think she's a little embarrassed, don't worry."
"But that was so funny!"
"Haha, I know!" Maddie snickered.
They went to the office together, gave the cash box to one of the teachers and then left the school.
It was dark and cold outside, and Maddie hoped it would be snowing soon. Unfortunately it didn't smell of snow yet.
When they turned into the street where their cars were parked, Alice squealed.
"I thought you wouldn't be on stage! You lied!" she said in a fake admonishing tone. Then she bounced over to Maddie, hugged her and said, "That was great, I didn't even know you could sing!"
She stared at her. "You could hear me?" Maddie had tried to be really, really quiet while singing.
"Maddie, don't be daft," Emmett playfully nudged his baby sister with the elbow.
Yeah, fine, they had the best hearing and therefore could single out voices, of course. Blah.
"Good job," Jasper praised and ruffled Maddie's hair, then took a step back and put his arm around Alice.
Wow, they had gone pretty long without fighting, Maddie noticed. That was truly interesting.
"We'll see you at home." Alice smiled and left with her husband to join Edward in his car.
Emmett and Maddie got into their Dad's car then, because Rose, Carlisle and Esme were already seated and buckled up.
"Sweetheart, that was a beautiful night," Esme said lovingly from the passenger's seat. "I am glad you thought it over and participated."
"Me, too." Maddie grinned and fastened her seatbelt.
"What made you change your mind?" Carlisle asked curiously.
Maddie sighed. "A girl got sick and they needed an even number so the choreography wouldn't look stupid," she explained but cracked up at the last word, because it sure as hell had still looked stupid. "That's why I had to fill in."
"You did well, it did not look stupid," Rosalie remarked, but Maddie wasn't sure if she could believe her words.
"And I have it all on tape." Emmett grinned, proud of himself. "That girl was hilarious! You have to watch her expression after she tripped and noticed that she had toilet paper on her shoe. Her face is priceless, let me tell you! And then she couldn't get it off!" His laugh boomed throughout the car.
"Emmett, stop laughing about a school girl, that isn't very nice," Esme rebuked mildly.
Maddie looked up at Rose to see what she thought of it. Judging by the smirk on her lips, she totally agreed with her husband.
Maybe, maybe, maybe I manage to update again tomorrow ... but I can't promise anything!
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