New Girl

All Humans and Vampires Merely Players

Putting together a play just in time for the Christmas holidays was stressful and time-consuming work that made Jessica wonder why she and her friends signed up for this insanity every year. The answer was Eric. He liked to think of himself as a director-in-making and they were his practice time before he went off to his film school. Eric made them all join the drama club freshman year by staring at them with the most dejected expression that could be likened to a sad Victorian orphan.

Jessica had usually been part of the supporting characters in the ensemble, never getting the lead parts in favor of the upperclassmen. Due to the budget being cut that year, the seniors had opted for other curricular activities and were too busy to join. This left them severely lacking in numbers. They had been forced to let in more lowerclassmen than usual who were green as could be and had to be taught what to do.

The Cullens besides being the not-so-secret angel donor of the drama club had practically taken over. Mister Munroe seemed content to let Alice do her thing. She was a one-woman army making costumes from scratch for the entire ensemble and had been giddy for days. Aside from practicing for his role of Mercutio, Emmett had taken over heading the construction for props and the stage including an elaborate balcony with vines crawling up a trellis.

Jasper helped whichever of his family members needed assistance from helping Emmett build the balcony to getting all the materials Alice needed for sewing. Rosalie had been dragged into the ensemble to play a variety of background characters and she did it all with an air of patronizing boredom. The blonde was either glaring daggers at Edward and Bella or flirting with Emmett as he worked on the props. People were either too intimidated or too busy to call her out on her behavior.

Jessica didn't mind Rosalie's presence as the blonde would run lines with Jessica when she asked. They sat together off stage as Rosalie whispered advice to Jessica while Mr. Munroe was going over the ever important balcony scene. Bella had a copy of her script in hand as she and Edward recited lines to each other.

"But soft, what light yonder window breaks–"

The wood of the balcony cracked before it collapsed underneath Bella, sending her and Edward sprawling to the stage with a thud. It happened so quickly people stared in wide-eyed shock as Bella tried to sit up, yelping in pain as she moved her leg. Her ankle was twisted at an unnatural angle. Edward hovered over her to see the extent of the damage.

"Her ankle's broken!" Edward called out. "Someone call an ambulance!"

That snapped Mister Munroe into moving and he reached for his phone to call for an ambulance.

"Should we take her to the nurse?" Angela asked in concern.

Edward carefully took Bella into his arms, her eyes tearing up from the slightest movements causing her pain. "Out of the way!"

The ensemble parted like the Red Sea to let him past as he rushed Bella to the school clinic.

Emmett came over and took a seat beside Rosalie. "Whoops. I think that's my fault."

"Shoddy workmanship on that balcony," Rosalie pointed out. "I thought you were above mediocrity like that."

Emmett shrugged. "We all have off days and I may have miscalculated some measurements."

Jessica narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. "You bragged about working on the railroad and how you're really good at building things."

"We all make mistakes from time to time."

The glib answer didn't quell Jessica's suspicions. "You planned this."

"Me?" Emmett put a hand over his heart. "I would never do such a thing. What horrible person would put Bella in danger like that?"