Hidden Talents

Chapter 3

Bennett's POV

Why did I agree to this again? Oh yeah, that's right. Malcom thought we needed to "evolve" our sound. I still don't understand why I have to do that. It sells. The girls love me. There really isn't need for us to change our sound. And why of all places Chicago? Malcom thinks that with the cultural differences we may find some inspiration. I think its bullshit. And if we are here to study music and "find inspiration," why the hell are we in an ice rink? I really don't think we need a grand tour of the entire school. Alex of course is hanging on to every word the Dean is saying, while Marcus and Jared are running around like chickens with their heads cut off. The dean leads us up a set of stairs to a viewing gallery and then continues on talking about the spoiled rich girl's parents who had the tunnel that leads to this built for her. Who does that? And what respectable school allows that to happen? I think Malcom has really gone off his rocker with this idea.

I am seriously considering the idea of leaving this tour and going back to my room when suddenly music starts playing on the speakers in the rink and in the gallery. I would know the song anywhere because I am not a shut-in, but I am surprised to not hear Celine Dion's voice during the Titanic theme. I take a look back at the Headmaster Wells who looks just as surprised that there is music playing as the rest of us, and then we all look down to the ice. There is a girl in the middle of the ice just standing there and then she starts to move. She starts skating with such ease that it looks like anyone could do it. Adding in these fancy tricks with her feet and then she does the jump that looks like she will break her ankle when she lands. She continues on with the twirling and the jumping and the fancy footwork and she look so... peaceful. And then she stops and the music stops. She turns towards the door leading to the ice as if expecting someone and the excited body language she holds turns to one of disappointment. Almost as if she was expecting someone to be there. She looked up to the ceiling, kissed her fingers and lifted them above her head for a moment, and then skated off the ice. We all stood there for a couple of minutes, and then suddenly we all started bombarding the dean with same question.

"Who was that?!"

Wells kept staring as if he couldn't believe what he had just saw and then seemed to snap out of it. "Oh, um, I have no idea who that was. Probably just one of the students." He looked awfully uncomfortable at the moment, which was the exact moment Marcus decided to take on his old childhood nickname "The Terror".

"I thought you said you know who every single one the students are?" He had that mischievous look on his face.

"Well, she must be a new student who I haven't acquainted myself with." He was starting to turn a cherry red color. "I think I have shown you the entire campus. We have a special dinner set up with the entire board and staff in your honor and it will start at 8 o'clock! I will see you boys there." And with that he turned and left.

"Way to go Marcus, you scared him off!" Alex snapped.

"I did no such thing! I merely asked him a question, which he was avoiding," Marcus defended himself.

Then Jared shot back laughing, "No way man, did you see the way he bolted out of here once you started talking. Definitely scared him off. Not that I'm complaining," muttering the last part.

"Well boys, I think we should all go back to our rooms and get ready for this dinner. We can all meet back up in one of our rooms at 7:45. Okay?" Malcom looked at us with this look that said, "Agree or die."

"Yeah," Alex responded.

"Yes dad," retorted both Marcus and Jared.

They all turned to me and looked at me as if I was about to throw a fit or something. "Yeah, yeah I will be there. And you all can meet at my room so you can drag me there if you have to." They gave me a look of contempt and then began heading down the stairs, I followed.