The Sirens of Calypso- Chapter 11- Innocence, Stolen

            Footsteps scampered up the steps leading to the stage. Alejandro materialized holding a broom and a dustpan. Avoiding Talia’s line of sight, he scanned the room until he found the pool of shattered glass.
            It wasn’t until he finished cleaning up, he finally spoke. “I broke a glass the other day. Now it seems we may have to consider ordering a new set.” Panting, Talia kept her eyes plastered to the door. On his way out, he cautiously shifted his gaze. Talia wasn’t throwing daggers and her feet wavered in the heels that usually fit so securely around them. “I’ll walk you home. Just give me one minute.”
            Breaking through the surface of her daze, a groan escaped her lips. “I don’t need an escort.”
            He pointed downward with the broom handle. “Your ankles tell another story. It’s no trouble, I promise.”
            Swallowing back the hiss in her throat over that final word, Talia waited for Alejandro to disappear before allowing her hands to collapse on her knees. Drained of oxygen, she gasped until she was on the brink of hyperventilation. The tears she fought back finally won. Her cheeks tickled with running mascara. After giving herself a few moments, she regained control. Seeing the makeup smudge her palms, she ran into the bathroom to reapply.
            Alejandro just finished zipping the luggage when Talia reemerged. Typically, there were only two or three costume changes in a night. But for special occasions, there were more. In those cases, instead of holding three garment bags, one for each siren, Alejandro packed the clothes away in two large luggage pieces. The brothers’ connections ensured everything would be cleaned, pressed and ready for ShowTime within a 12-hour time period. So overnight deliveries were not uncommon.
            Answering Talia’s quizzical expression, he reasoned, “I figure our dry-cleaning guy is on the way, so why not? Not to mention my uncles would kill me if I let you leave in this state.” He made his final attempt to lighten the mood.
            Her lip curled, but her response didn’t follow in the way he had hoped. “Oh, how I have wanted to see that. But I will humor you this time.” She took the lead and he followed behind with nothing more to add.
            Activity in the streets finally ceased and the remaining street corners were all lit. Some had denizens underneath, either propositioning local strangers or getting high with burning spoons and needles. When tourists retreated to their inns and hotels, the low lives came out of the shadows and the corners foreigners dared not go. Shortly after Talia realized her vision for Calypso, the brothers had their people broker this arrangement. It helped foster a healthy income of seasonal tourism that secured a foothold within the first year. But for reasons they kept to themselves, this change only affected the neighborhood where the sirens lived. The downtown area known as The Underground, which Amber explained she hailed from when she joined the group, got its nickname because its lewd atmosphere had worsened in recent years.
            “Was the drink okay?” Alejandro asked as they turned the first corner.
            Talia kept her body extra straight and her eyes dead ahead. “It was perfect. The same cannot be said about the rest of the night.”
            “Honesty didn’t work, huh?”
            She sighed heavily. “Stupid American boy. So clueless.”
            “Don’t take offense for this, but he is far nicer than some of your regulars. They only come to you with one thing in mind. This guy, he looks like he actually wants to know you.”
            “If he knew the rest of what we do, he wouldn’t be so nice.”
            “Wait,” the wheels scuttling along the cobblestones stopped, “are you saying…”
            Before she could stop herself, Talia rattled off everything that sprung to mind, growing increasingly irate by the second. “It was the only way he might understand how pointless this conquest is. But I also admit I said more than I should have. He gave me his word he wouldn’t tell anyone. He said this before I could even ask. I still have no reason to believe the word of any man, American or not.”
            “Yet for some reason, you have no problem telling me all this?” Alejandro pulled up alongside her. She sighed again and braced for another migraine. A million words boiled onto the surface, but she extinguished them all.
            After dropping off the luggage, Alejandro held out his arm. “Lean on me. Your ankles haven’t stopped shaking since we left.” Well aware of this, she opted out of looking down and shot him a dirty look instead. “It’s either that or I carry you.”
            “Fine.” She begrudgingly chose the first option, but on one condition: no more words would be exchanged for the rest of the journey.
            It wasn’t Talia’s style to drink to excess. She had other preferred paths of overindulgence, none of which were available to her at this point in time. If she could swallow her pride and subject herself to the same honesty she’d given Juan Paulo, she would admit it wasn’t her one drink that weakened her ankles. Her new suitor confounded her to no end. He was immune to all of her tricks. Perhaps even more distressing, he saw through her tough demeanor the way no one but the brothers had. And they had met Talia in the direst of circumstances, before she developed into the romantic cynic she became.
            For most of her life, Talia only had her mother. Although she had asked about him several times, her biological father was never discussed under their roof. She could only assume there was a big falling out or he simply left without explanation.

            Juanita Montez worked two jobs to make ends meet. In her spare time, she taught her daughter the art of belly-dance. What began as a childhood passion soon blossomed into a 10-year long career that ended with Talia’s arrival. But unbeknownst to Talia, her mother began struggling to maintain their household as she grew older. She also hated to leave Talia alone. She worked so late that her daughter was already asleep when she came in to kiss her goodnight.
            Talia never learned the exact details, but her mother started bringing home a man she met after a long shift at her waitressing job. She waited in bed for her to kiss her goodnight, only to see her canoodling with him through a crack in her door. In truth, Adrian Shapiro was a regular patron where Juanita worked. Over the past several nights, she had been out of sorts and he lent a sympathetic ear as she explained their situation. One thing led to another and the two were married by the end of the summer. Between school and her mother’s work schedule, the wedding was the first time Talia met him. Although her mother never allowed her to see the cracks that had begun to show, she knew that this new man made her mother happier than she’d ever seen her.
            Adrian left early in the morning for work, but he was always there to greet Talia when she came home from school. Juanita, meanwhile, quit her first job and took the night shift at the restaurant. Thanks to her seniority, she was promoted to manager. The job paid more, but it was more demanding. The end result was Talia spending more time with her new stepfather and seeing less of her mother than she had before his arrival.
            She still remembered it so vividly, the day she lost her virginity when her relationship with stepfather became more than what was considered normal. She caught her boyfriend of six months making out with a tall girl with long blonde hair in the hallway outside her last class. Not allowing herself to steal a better look at the other girl, she ducked behind the wall against the classroom door before either of them saw her there. But against her better judgement, she eavesdropped.
            The girl broke away for a moment and said, “I should go. Your girlfriend will be here any minute.”
            “Don’t you worry about her. The two of us never agreed to be exclusive. Besides, I always preferred blondes anyway. They’re more of a handful in the bedroom. Now that’s my kind of girl.”
            Talia covered her ears. She’d heard enough. An ache built in her chest like nothing she’d experienced before. Her eyes blistered with tears. Breathing became impossible with the rage pent up inside her. She knew if she tried to speak, the sound of her voice would embarrass her. Left with no other option, she turned her heel and ran all the way back home.
            However jumbled her words were, she bared her soul to her stepfather at their dinner table. He held her hand, nodding occasionally, but otherwise remained silent while she spoke. Once finished, he stood up, “Come with me,” and escorted her to her bedroom. She sat on the bed and he took a space next to her. “Teenage boys are idiots. They don’t know what’s good for them even if it was right in front of their faces. You’re too good for any of them.”
            “I do not think I can go back there. I am humiliated.”
            “There is no rush. I can school you at home if you like. I will take time off work to do so until you are ready to go back.” Seeing how dejected she still was, he asked, “Why don’t you lay down for a moment?” Wiping the remaining tears away, she did as he asked. He laid beside her, cradling her body in his arms, stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. “You are so beautiful. Any boy who does not see that is too stupid to be worth your time. Here’s a little secret.” He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. Little by little, he inserted his tongue in her mouth, giving it no choice but to cave in. He broke away to say, “It’s like this. You let your mouth and your tongue do the talking. Convince them that this is what they want and they can’t be without it.”
            The kisses continued and grew more passionate with each passing second. The tenderness and care of his touch felt so good, she never stopped to think that it didn’t make sense. This being her stepfather and having a 25-year age difference between them. However, if there were concerns, he answered them before they could creep in. “Your mother and I have not been intimate in a long time, so this arrangement will work out for both of us. I get what I need and you will feel what it’s like to be truly loved by a man. The way you deserve to be loved.”
         *** “Men are helpless when it comes to sex. If you make them feel good, they will melt at your very touch and do whatever you want them to.” *** She cried out, not out of fear, but surprise at how good it felt. He started slowly *** She met his wild eyes with gratefulness as he kissed up her neck, making his way back to her mouth. His tongue slipped easily back into her throat, her tongue strengthened to keep up with his as the fire in her belly built and exploded. He gasped with such ecstasy, she felt better than she ever had in her life. The fact she made someone else feel this good made her feel incredible and she never wanted to lose that feeling again.
            Talia never returned to school. Her stepfather taught her everything she needed to know, both in education and the manners of seduction. But their relationship felt so good to her, she couldn’t imagine wanting to leave home to be with anyone else. She was never convinced anyone else would understand her in the same way. Even when her mother discovered the truth about their relationship and left them both, the resulting distress only drove her closer to him.
            Then, without warning, it all ended. She discovered her stepfather dead on the living room floor. The brothers, his employers, had come to confront him about misconduct in their business. Instead, they found Talia leaning over his body, searching his pockets and struggling to wake him up. They explained as delicately as possible all Adrian Shapiro had done and it was more than she could bear. After that day, she resolved never to allow a man to have that degree of influence over her again.

            The remaining terrifying thought she had before sleep found her that night: what if her uncharacteristic body language was the result of her attraction to Juan Paulo? After everything she’d been through, what if she decided to give in to his advances and the result was exactly the same? As much as she didn’t want to think about it, it might only be a matter of time.

The Sirens of Calypso- Chapter 10- Not That Innocent

 

            “Good evening,” Juan Paulo said as he took a stool directly across from where Alejandro was cleaning cocktail shakers.

            He put them back in their place under the bar and flickered the nearby switch to flash the ceiling lights. Over his shoulder, he called, “Ok, bar is closed! The first number is set to start in a minute!” All of the people on the floor cheered, some hoisting their drinks up in the air while doing so. Alejandro leaned forward over the counter to address the newcomer directly. “You must be Juan Paulo. There’s no need to be so formal, my friend. Although it does help if Talia is the one expecting you.”

 “Yeah, I was thinking of ordering her a drink. Do you know what she likes?”

            “I think I know just the one. For now, it’s time to get on with the show. I must say you picked a pretty good night for your first time here.” He slid his hand underneath again, finding the far-right switch to dim the ceiling lights and the one next to it to trigger the row of spotlights directly above the stage.

The outermost curtain opened. Armed with a microphone, Vanessa took center stage. Talia and Scarlet flanked her on either side, swaying side to side on the heels of their feet, as she sung along to the track. As she explained earlier to Amber, this first song was about demanding respect and trust. She knew what she wanted for herself and nobody was going to tell her otherwise. Occasionally, she’d comb her long nails through her hair and toss her head playfully to the side. The crowd loved that flirtatious attitude whenever it came out. She attacked the rest of the number with the kind of sass garden variety suitors would find intimidating.

            The lights came back on and the conversations among patrons on the floor resumed. Alejandro fulfilled a few more drink orders while he and Juan Paulo made small talk. His eyes were glued to the stage, expecting Talia to make an appearance any minute, but quickly realized she wouldn’t greet him until she’s ready.
            “Here you go,” Alejandro slid a rocks glass toward him, “whiskey sour with a wedge of lime. Talia’s favorite as long as I’ve known her.”  

“When can I meet with her? I know she’s busy so maybe when the night is over…”

            “That would probably be best. This is a weeknight so I imagine they should be wrapping things up after Talia has a solo. Tonight is Vanessa’s birthday so she picked the theme for the night.”

“Oh wow. I’ll be sure to wish her happy birthday when I go to see Talia.”

            Alejandro triggered the lights again and the noise level rose again. “Now if you will excuse me, I need to get on stage. I have a small role to play to the next number.”

            When the curtain opened again, it revealed a bizarre scene. Stage right, Alejandro was seated in a chair. Talia and Scarlet stood behind him, each holding onto a shoulder to restrain him. Both were still wearing the same clothes from the first number: Talia in her red belly-dancing dress and Scarlet in a sparkling tangerine dress with fringe running down the front as well as the hemline. At the top of the music, Vanessa strutted out in a maid’s outfit complete with a matching head scarf and feather duster. She carried an air of contempt as she dusted his face and shirt before hurling it out of sight in the right wing. Shortly after, her scarf was discarded as well, except she stuffed it into his lapel pocket. The message was loud and clear. She’d had enough of catering to his every need and she was ready to strike out on her own. The chorus was her victory dance, ending with a gratifying slap across his face. Talia and Scarlet dragged the chair backwards and out of sight as he pled for forgiveness. Vanessa skipped off to the other side of the stage, but her vanishing act was only temporary.

            The second curtain opened. Hanging from the ceiling was Calypso’s name etched in neon lights. On either side was a café table paired with a couple of chairs. Vanessa tore off her apron, leaving only a simple mahogany dress underneath. Talia and Scarlet returned to support her. They repeated many of the same steps together, occasionally exchanging glances and smiles to relish in their triumph.

Just past the halfway point of the routine, Vanessa’s imagination drifted. She recalled the day Talia came to her old dance studio and performed for her students. All of them knew what she’d been going through with Richie but it took Talia’s determination to convince her to finally make that move. If she could go back, she would have loved to leave him the same way she had on stage. She’d do a dance for him, reprimanding him for screwing things up, before running out into the street. Slowly, the façade of Calypso would come into view. Talia would place a hand on her shoulder as her way of saying “welcome home.” Then once inside, all of her students would be performing a routine they’d choreographed without her knowledge. But by the time the song ended, she’d fall in line with the rest of them without missing a beat.
            “Vanessa? Vanessa, are you ok?” Scarlet jostled her shoulder to grab her attention.
            “Oh…” She shook her head. It slowly dawned on her that tears had been streaming down her face. She wiped them away with her palms. “Yeah, sorry. My mind went somewhere else for a minute there.” Looking around, she also realized that the curtains were once again shut and the music was gone. How long it had been that way, she didn’t know. At this point, she couldn’t have cared less. This dance had been therapeutic in a way none of her performances had been before and the sense of euphoria lingering in its stead felt amazing.
            “Believe me, I know. You were great up there.”
            Talia came over and brought her in for a warm hug. “Happy birthday… you have come so far since I brought you here. I cannot begin to say how happy I am for you.”
            The only thing that could put a damper on the mood was Alejandro clearing his throat a few feet behind her. She let go of Vanessa and they all turned around to face him.
            Noting her narrowing eyes and shrinking smile, he raised his hands in front of his chest in self-defense. “Juan Paulo is here. He wondered if he could meet with you after the show.”
            "Does he have the drink in hand?” Her hand rested comfortably on her hip.
            “He does.”
            “Fine. Tell Juan Paulo to meet me here in five minutes.”
            “Very well.”
            “Thank you,” she added, “you can send the rest of the customers home now. This is going to be a private show just for him.” He quickly bowed out and disappeared before more objections followed.
            “Thanks a lot, Talia.” Vanessa said.
            She nodded. “That was an incredible moment. It deserves to be the last impression everyone has before they return home for the night.” Inhaling deeply, Talia peeked at Juan Paulo around the curtain. He and Alejandro were exchanging words and his entire body was trembling with excitement. Speaking at a volume only she could hear, she muttered, “without question, this flirtation has to end tonight.”
            Juan Paulo was in the palm of Talia’s hand from the word go. The other Calypso denizens, meanwhile, reached similar conclusions within seconds of each other. While Amber hadn’t claimed the music for herself, they couldn’t help but imagine what she’d do with it. Her favorite nuances to use on stage were gimmicks. Alejandro would cause the overhead spotlights to flash in time with the pop bass line. She’d wear a combination of halos and angel wings and later swap them for horns and pitchforks. Vanessa giggled in spite of herself. Having spent a lot of extra time with Amber recently, she could picture it so clearly in her head she’d almost forgotten Talia was the one on stage and the ultimate reason behind this charade.
            Talia had earned her reputation because she was simply the best at what she did. From her half-closed eyes to her slow scintillating belly rolls, she could cast a spell as effortlessly as a snake charmer. But with this music, she was more than just a pretty face. The verses were playful, but she used the chorus to go on the offensive. Whatever antagonism Vanessa had brought to the preceding routine looked like child’s play in comparison. What Juan Paulo thought had been flirting, to her, love was a game and the only reason she won was because she never surrendered to it. At last when the music stopped, she flipped her hair and disappeared behind the curtain with a renewed swagger.

The bar and tables lining either side of the room were littered with glasses holding varying heights of liquids. Some of their contents formed puddles on the dance floor. Alejandro had a mop, bucket and towels ready to go for the clean-up, but he had another duty to take care of first.
            “Right this way.” Alejandro led Juan Paulo up the steps leading to the stage. He parted the curtains to grant him entry.
            “Thank you, Alejandro.” He nodded to him graciously.
            “Forget it.” He waved it off and left him and the sirens to their business.
            The moment Talia heard this exchange, she turned her back. While she tried to keep her posture neutral, she couldn’t help shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Maintaining her confidence on stage came naturally to her but for some unknown reason, the same couldn’t be said for any of the occasions so far she conversed with Juan Paulo in a rudimentary setting.
            “Hello ladies. Great set tonight.” Juan Paulo beamed, clapping his hands together.
            “Thanks.” Scarlet spoke first. She followed by tilting her head to the lanky ash blonde girl on her left. “Vanessa put the playlist together. It’s kind of a special night.”
            “I heard. Happy birthday, Vanessa. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He held out his hand, throwing a glance in Talia’s direction. Her back remained turned.
            She shook it without hesitation. “Likewise and thank you.”
            “Scarlet,” he nodded, “good to see you again.”
            “You too.” She returned the nod.
            “Juan Paulo?” Talia recaptured his attention the moment she placed a hand on his shoulder. “Follow me, please. Vanessa, I’ll see you at home. Don’t wait up. Congratulations on another successful show.”
            She promptly escorted Juan Paulo through the backstage door into the back alley. Only distant street noise penetrated the peaceful silence of the night.
            His jacket creased at the shoulders as he shrugged. “Are you sure you don’t want to go somewhere we can sit and talk? I know you must be on your feet all day.”
            “I am just as comfortable standing, thank you, Juan Paulo.” Inside, her nerves were aflame with irritation and impatience. But for each complimentary remark he made, it was impossible not to smile.
            “Ok, if you’re sure… oh, I bought you a drink. I hope it’s to your liking. Alejandro said it was your favorite.”
            She took a good sip from it and gave a satisfied exhale. “Usually when I get one of these, it’s because someone wants to fuck me.”
            “I’m sorry? I don’t quite understand.” Whether or not he was shocked, it was impossible to tell. His countenance showed no sign of change. Regardless, Talia abruptly changed the subject.
            It’s not important right now. We have other business to take care of tonight.” She put her glass down on the edge of one of the nearby trash bins, freeing her arms to cross. But instead of holding them tight to her chest, she braced her elbows with opposite hands at her waistline. “What did you think of tonight’s show?”
            “I enjoyed it. Vanessa did a really nice job putting it together.”
            She smiled proudly. “I’ll tell her that you said that. Usually, we take our birthdays off, but she loves dance so much she puts together a special show each year to celebrate.” Taking a moment, she traced between her lips with the side of her right index finger and nodded. “I believe this is her best yet. It tells her story and how she came to be here with us.”
            “Oh, so do all of your dances come from personal experience?”
            “Some but not all. I have yet to put an entire night together, but every night I perform, there is always one dance that is personal to me. Or I use the opportunity to send a message to someone in the crowd.”
            “What, you mean like ex-boyfriends?” He joked.
            The side of her mouth curved upward. “Not exactly, but you are not too far off the mark. Maybe you noticed I performed lead for the final number?”
            “Yeah, again, you were amazing.” Then he paused to think about what she said seconds earlier. “I thought maybe it was because you always close the show since this is clearly your invention. But now that I think about it, if this is Vanessa’s…”
            She interrupted, eager to broach the subject at hand, “You are wondering if there’s a reason I asked to see you alone?”
            “Actually, I was thinking about the night we met. The song you chose. Was it directed at me? Because just so you know, I’m not that kind of guy. Javi can vouch for me. I’d been working so hard to provide for my family—I haven’t been with anyone since high school. Even then, I’d only had a couple of relationships.”
            “I usually don’t accept the word of other men, but your friend has been good to Scarlet. It’s been some time since I’d had the company of a gentleman outside of what I do here.” Looking away, she half-heartedly shrugged.
            “You didn’t answer my question.” He titled his hand, trying to catch her eye, only to fail.
            “I thought the song had a great beat and would make a good show. I am not a regular at karaoke like Scarlet so I try to leave a lasting impression.”
            “Every time I see you, you do exactly that. And I’m already excited to see you again.”
            “Stop,” she held out her hand and took a quick sip of her drink, “Juan Paulo, this needs to stop. You are a nice guy. And I am sorry if maybe I gave you the wrong impressions. My last two performances, they were a message to you. To anyone who claims they are in love with me because of my dancing. And the case used to be that…” Another hair flip disguised eyes that started to moisten with tears. She took a healthy gulp, but on her way to slamming her glass down, her hand shook and the opposite hand rushed to stabilize its descent. The rest of her body skewed sideways away from him. “You need to understand there is no future with me. My job as a siren is about the performance. Luring men into falling in love. That way, I always have the power. Several of us have had that power taken away from us by men in our lives. So with Scarlet and Vanessa’s dancing talents and mine, I created the sirens of Calypso. It saved this business, but in the big picture, this business has saved us.”
            Immediately after catching her breath, her palm collided with her forehead and delicately, she reached the other hand to brace the brick wall behind her. She cursed under her breath. “I’m sorry. I said too much.”
            “It’s okay. I won’t say anything. I’ll give you my word.” As she opened her mouth to correct him, he beat her to the punch. “I know that might not mean much to you now, but I want to change that.”
            Lifting her head, she studied his expression while searching for the words. Even after she lost control, he hadn’t. The quiet confidence remained in his fixed gaze. Meanwhile, she fought back tears, afraid blinking would unleash a waterfall. Idle chatter, completely unaware of the intense discussion, and stray cats rustling in garbage bins filled the growing gap in the conversation.
            “Talia,” she refocused her attention upon hearing her name, “you say this is an act. I don’t believe you.” Her heart sank and a heavy swallow of saliva came before she could stop it. His eyes softened as he took a step forward. Her eyes shifted with uncertainty until his progress stopped a foot away from her. “I appreciate your honesty. I really like you and deep down, I know you feel the same way. The dim lighting here can’t hide that.” Wanting to caress her shoulder, he reached around, but he quickly thought better of it and pulled back. Instead, he did the maneuver with his eyes for a different reason entirely. “You might want to finish that before the ice melts.” Her hand grasped the glass, but she couldn’t break the stare as he stepped away. “I’ll be back for your next performance. That’s a promise and I never break my promises.” One last flash of a smile and he was gone.
            Talia’s entire body exhaled as if she’d spent the last several minutes holding her breath. Drink in hand, she reentered the backstage door. After emptying three-quarters of its remaining contents, she threw the glass at the door that now served as a reminder of the greatest moment of weakness she’d felt in over a decade.

***
Music: I have a playlist on my iPod for Vanessa's birthday, including the one Talia used for her private performance. But between pacing and the fact the numbers for this chapter were among the last I wrote, only a handful of them made the final cut.
All but two of those 8 songs are Britney Spears songs. 


"What you see is what you get" is the singing performance at the start of the night.

"Cinderella" was the epic production... the last time I listened to it, I wanted so badly for it to be an actual scene I could see with my own eyes. It would be SO cool.
It's a bit unrealistic for storytelling, but some of Vanessa's daydreaming was what I'd wanted it to be. A combination of a scene you'd see in "Glee" or the "Dancing Queen" scene in the Mamma Mia movie.

"Oops... I did it again"- I actually had not listened to this song in several years. You could say it was a hit I slept on for 20 something years. But I gave it a listen to try it out for Talia's solo performance and it was exactly what I needed.

The Sirens of Calypso- Chapter 9- A Tale of Two Cafe Tables

 

            Alejandro arrived at the club early Tuesday morning to begin setting up for that night’s performances. He made sure the liquor at the bar was stocked, the books balanced, and the stage equipment and lighting worked flawlessly. Sometimes, Talia would send Vanessa to help when it opened on consecutive nights. But she relied heavily on him to ensure everything was taken care of. She would never admit that to him personally, but deep down he knew. Her insisting he teach Emilia what they referred to as “club maintenance” immediately gave that away.
            Talia’s predicament with Juan Paulo coupled with doctor’s orders to abstain from sex have made her so irritable she hadn’t gotten much sleep. Not only did she relinquish Monday night to Ruby and Amber (the chair routine with her and Vanessa was a hit in its live debut), but she postponed rehearsal until after lunch. 
            Exhausted both physically and mentally, she explained to Alejandro over the phone how she expected Juan Paulo to make an appearance that evening.

            “What do you want me to do with him?” He asked, “Show him the door or just throw him onto the street?”

  “No, not this time. I need to settle something with him. I suspect he will want to order me a drink.”

            “The usual whiskey sour?”

“Yes, but with a quarter lime. Thank you.”

            Alejandro exhaled, trying to keep his smile from penetrating the phone connection, “Anything else?”

“Escort him backstage to meet me after the show when everyone else has gone. And have everything ready to go by noon. I should be over there by then.”

            “Will do, see you…” The phone went dead before he could finish, but he took it in stride after receiving a rare pat on the back from Talia.
            “Alejandro?”

He snapped out of his daze when his head did the same upward. Scarlet donned a simple black cocktail dress with matching ankle boots. Blue eyeshadow made her green eyes pop, although it could have also been her wide smile. “Hey Scarlet. You’re here early. Would you like something to drink?”

            “Water’s fine, thank you.” He poured her a quick glass from the tap. She took a healthy gulp, cupping her glass with both hands. “Can I ask you something?”
            “Of course, what about?” She put her cell phone on the counter, the message screen still visible.
            “Javi just texted me. He wants to meet me for lunch and I told him to meet me here to pick me up. Could you pass the news onto Talia for me?”
            “Sure, no problem.” He handed her phone back to her and she dropped it into her bag. “You know, if this keeps up, we might have to find a replacement for you.”
            “Please,” she playfully rolled her eyes, “I’m not going anywhere. At least not right away.” Taking a second to readjust the purse strap on her shoulder, she added, “I never got to thank you for last night. I’ve been such a bundle of nerves lately and your support meant a lot to me.”
            “It’s no problem at all. You and me, we’ve been friends a long time. So anything I can do to help, feel free to say the word.” He smirked while polishing some glasses. “Considering that even Talia approves of this guy, you may not even need my help.”
            Scarlet leaned forward. “I’m still new to this, remember? I’m still going to need advice on a few things. Besides, Talia likes him for me. It’s the guys interested in her that she doesn’t like. No offense.”
            “Eh,” he shrugged, “I’m used to it by now. I do have to commend Juan Paulo for being persistent, even if it’s all for nothing.”
            “Hey Scarlet, are you ready to go?” She spun around and found Javier wearing a white Polo with the first two button undone, holding a single rose matching the shade of red in her highlights. “This is going to sound completely cliché, but I saw this and it reminded me of you. I made sure they removed the thorns.”
            “It’s beautiful, Javi.” She took it and inhaled.
            Javier eased his hands around Scarlet’s bare shoulders and gave them a nice massage. “I promise I’ll have her back in a couple hours, Alejandro. I’m sure Talia runs a tight ship around here.”
            He sighed, his hands resigned on his hips, “You’re not wrong.”
            “Thanks again, Alejandro.” Her eyes flickered up at him apologetically as Javier escorted her out the door.

 Five short minutes later, Vanessa arrived with Talia. Although it was tapering off, the discussion sounded so heated, Alejandro jerked his head up to gauge the best friends’ demeanors further. Vanessa posed question after question, only for Talia to shrug them off.

            “Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

 “My mind is made up.” Talia threw up her arms and took a bar stool. Alejandro held an empty glass in his hand, a question on his lips, but she waved him away. “No more games. Juan Paulo needs to hear the truth from me.”

            “Well, this is certainly a first. A guy should be so lucky to get a dose of your honesty.” Alejandro didn’t even attempt to keep the bitterness from coloring his tone.

“Stay out of it, Alejandro. This is none of your business.” Talia hissed deep in her throat like a rattlesnake preparing to strike. But the tirade of insults that typically followed never came. Instead, she massaged a headache with no interest of going away.

            After the dust settled, Alejandro explained, “Javier took Scarlet out for lunch. He promised to have her back in two hours.”

“Good for them.” Vanessa glanced at Talia, who hadn’t moved. “I hope I get to meet him. He sounds great.”

            “He is great,” Talia lowered her hand, “great for Scarlet. This is what she wants and she deserves it.”

“You know, my uncles would say you’re selling yourself short. Everyone deserves happiness, Talia. Even you.”

            “No. I have happiness in my job and when I perform. I do not need a man to be responsible for my happiness when all they have done is destroy it.” Her eyes flickered, launching daggers into his. “Now if you will excuse me…” She hopped off the stool and disappeared behind the velvet curtain.

            Sighing, Vanessa stepped down as well. “I’m sorry, but I have to go too. I’m meeting Amber for lunch.”
            “No, it’s all right. I’m sure once rehearsal starts, everything will settle down here.” He rung out another towel and wiped down the bar—for the third time since he arrived. The various narratives unfolding within the siren collective created a perfect distraction. “So, you and Amber, huh? You seem to be getting on great.”
            “Yeah, it’s been interesting to say the least.” Looking away, she combed hair away from her ear. She’d promised Amber she’d keep her secret and didn’t want to leave anything to chance. Not until she was ready to explain everything herself. “I thought maybe I could open her up to the idea of collaborating with us and it’d be one less thing for Talia to worry about.”
            “You’re a great friend, Vanessa. Talia’s lucky to have you. And I think Amber is too. She was amazing last night, almost like she was a different person, when it was the two of you performing.”
            “You have no idea…” She carefully muttered under her breath before adding at full volume, “Now I really have to go. Hold down the fort until I get back.”
            “I’ll do my best.” He smiled back, but only did so halfheartedly.

*           *           * 

            Javier helped Scarlet into her chair at the al fresco café before taking his seat. “So how’ve you been since we last saw each other?”
            “Oh,” she gasped in an attempt to contain her excitement, “everything’s been fine. Except Talia’s been stressing out and it’s kinda been getting to the rest of us.”
            “It’s about JP, isn’t it?”

            “You heard that, huh?” Swallowing, she looked up at him. His expression was surprisingly resigned.
            “It’s okay.” He said with a shrug. “I know about Talia’s reputation with the guys. She’s more likely to sleep with them than have a real relationship with them.”
            “Well, that’s certainly it in a nutshell.” She flushed, turning away. “But don’t you care about your friend’s feelings enough to warn him? Talia can be pretty stubborn.”
            “I do, and he can be stubborn as well. But I’m sure Talia’s already noticed that…” He broke off and chuckled, “What are we doing, talking about all this drama with our friends? You have Talia’s schedule to keep so we should be making better use of our little time together.”
“Right, of course… how the La Scala gig going so far?”
“Going very well, thank you. We’ve had a good crowd these past couple nights. And from what I hear, the other bands are only pulling in crowds half the size. Of course, we probably won’t be as lucky when Calypso starts doing daily shows again.”
            “Well, we generally operate for four hours from seven to ten. Three or four performances throughout the night, each at the top of the hour. Maybe you can just save your best material for after ten in case the crowd wants to visit both places on the same night. And,” she bit her lip, “maybe I’ll come see you guys after I finish.”
            “I’d like that very much.” 
            Suddenly, a burst of cheers and loud singing took her and Javier out of their private bubble. Upon entering the cafe, Vanessa was greeted by a rousing rendition of “happy birthday” from the hostess and wait staff. Her face was completely red, and her smile was so vivid it could have lit a city in the middle of a blackout. Once it concluded, applause from employees and patrons alike moved through the area like a tidal wave. Vanessa made eye contact with a few people, nodding and mouthing thank you’s until she took a seat across from Amber four tables left of Scarlet and Javier. Just as quickly, everyone went back to their business without missing a beat.
            “Wow…” Javier grinned, shaking his head with amazement, “there’s never a dull day in your lives, is there?”
            “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I mean, the locals know us, and our names are on the marquee in bold letters. Usually, we do get plenty of breathing room in public so we can mingle without the extra attention.”

            “Having that anonymity is nice. Not that I would know personally but having a spotlight on you all the time… it can’t be an easy thing.” He studied Amber, who was busy chatting away with Vanessa as they split a piece of chocolate cake, and added, “JP talked about meeting Amber the other day to pass a message onto Talia. He was like ‘all these Calypso girls are so gorgeous they’d stop traffic in big cities just crossing the street and cause a pileup going back 20 miles.’” The comment made Scarlet giggle so hard, she almost spat out her drink, making both of them laugh twice as hard.
            “Your friend’s quite the poet.”
            “And a hopeless romantic… songwriting brings that out in him like nothing else.”
            Finding themselves at another conversation crossroads, they turned their attention back to Amber and Vanessa. Both were very animated but even though they were close by, the chatter from the surrounding tables made the subject matter indecipherable.
            Javier stole a few glances back toward Scarlet in the meantime and spoke his suspicion aloud. “If you want to go join them, I wouldn’t mind.”
            “What?” She snapped out of her trance and shook her head as her blush overcame her freckles.
            Javier’s comment wasn’t entirely off base. Her friends often said they were jealous they didn’t have a sister like Ruby. Sometimes it was difficult for anyone to get a word in edgewise when they were in a room together. Seeing how Amber and Vanessa were faring together gave her a pang of jealousy but for a different reason. She’d tried to be Amber’s friend since she joined the group and every attempt had been thwarted. She couldn’t bring herself to begrudge Vanessa’s good fortune, but she kept wondering to herself how Vanessa broke through that ironclad facade so easily.
            After recovering, Scarlet waved off Javier’s comment, “Oh no, not at all. That reception earlier got me thinking about something kinda silly.”
            “What is it?”

            She grinned, looking him straight in the eye before rolling hers back. “Have you ever noticed that when people sing that song, they tend to do it off key?”
            “I never thought about it actually but now that you mention it…”
            “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But I try to make an effort any time I sing even it’s just me in the shower.”
            “You do have an amazing voice.” He reached across the table, resting his hand on her wrist. “If you want, you could come on stage and sing with us. It could be something to keep the customers on their toes”
            “I don’t know… I’d like to, but…”
            “If you’re self-conscious about your voice, don’t be. I’d been listening to you sing for years.”
            “That’s really sweet, but that’s not it. I… I’m not comfortable with being the center of attention on stage.” She rubbed her arm with her free hand. “I don’t know why at karaoke, it’s not like that. I always feel safe there.”
            “Safe?” Her jaw dropped. This was the last subject she wanted the conversation to change to. “Is this about your father?”
            “I’m sorry, but can we not talk about this here right now?” It was moments before she realized that she’d raised her voice. Her face burned from all the eyes staring at them.
            “Okay.” He turned her hand over, took it in both of his and kissed it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push you. If it’ll make easier, I could arrange some of our songs so they’d be duets the both of us can sing.”
            “Sure, I think I can manage that.”

*     *     *

            When the waitress came to take away the plate laden with cake crumbs, Vanessa thanked her and handed her a generous tip.
            She slipped it in her back pocket and returned her smile. “I appreciate it, but you should really be thanking Amber. This was all her idea.”
            Vanessa immediately took her advice once she walked away. “Thanks a lot, Amber. That was really nice. Act or no act, you still have it in you to be sweet every now and again.”
            “Yeah I know, I must be slipping,” she blew her bangs out of her eyes, “I spent so long creating this reputation, I’d hate to blow it pulling more stunts like this.” She caught sight of Scarlet and Javier just as both of them were in stitches over the “stopping traffic” comment and an unconscious sigh escaped her. “I really hope things work out with those two… Scarlet went through so much hell that she deserves that kind of happiness all the time.”
            “I think we all can agree on that…” Vanessa concurred but with less enthusiasm. It was enough to regain Amber’s attention.
            “What’s wrong?”
            “Nothing… that just made me think about Talia and what she’s planning to do tonight. At least she’ll be saving it for after my showcase, after most of the people have left for the night.”
            Amber groaned and quickly shifted their focus. “Forget Talia. Today should be about you. What are you planning for your birthday celebration this year?”
            “I have a couple songs in mind. One to sing, a couple to dance and some to fill the void in between sets. It’s all burned on a single CD disc.”
            “I noticed you have a couple of them. That’s really clever: having set lists all in one place instead of flipping through different discs.”
            “Still… sometimes I wish I could do more. Scarlet said the other day how she’ll sometimes imagine music like they’re movies playing in her head. I wish I were that creative.”
            “Well, if you could do that, what would tonight’s movie be about?”
            She shrugged. “Me, I guess. And all the things I wanted to say to Richie when we were together. How stupid his jealousy was. Fantasies about locking him out of the house and he couldn’t get in no matter how hard he tried.”
            “What happened to him anyway? I’ve heard you talk about him but not about how it all ended.”
            “Only Talia and possibly Alejandro know the answer to that. She appealed to the brothers on my behalf. I don’t want to speculate too much but whatever they did to him, I don’t think it can be undone.”
            “Whoa…” Amber trailed off, staring into space. When she returned to the present, she noticed Vanessa studying her as if she could see into her soul.
            “They helped you too?”
            “Well they did hire when I first came here off the street. Actually, Alejandro helped me out my first night back here… I must have done a really good job blocking it out cuz I haven’t thought that in years.”
            Vanessa checked her watch. “I guess I should be heading back. Thanks again, Amber.” She pushed her chair in and turned her heel to leave when she noticed her still lost in thought. “Hey… are you ok?”
            With a renewed glare, she replied, “if you don’t mind, I’d rather keep this between me and Alejandro. Just because we’re friends now doesn’t mean I have to tell you everything.”
            “Hey, it’s ok. You’re entitled. I was just going to say when I’m done with the show tonight, you can help yourself to whatever props you need for whatever you’re planning next.” Gauging her befuddled reaction, she added, “this new idea you want to bring Emilia into.”

            “Oh yeah, right… really?”
            “After today’s surprise serenade, I owe you. With everything going on lately, it was something I really needed.”

The Sirens of Calypso- Chapter 8- Lace & Leather

            Still in a huff over the previous evening, Talia arrived at Calypso on little to no sleep. She received a text from the eldest brother saying Juan Paulo’s band received high praise with their audition and the new owner was very pleased with the overall showcase. Although she echoed his enthusiasm, she regretted all of last night’s snap decisions. Thanks to them, Juan Paulo had a steady job two streets away. There would be no avoiding him now. To make matters worse, sitting on the edge of the stage was the one of the last people she wanted to see.
            Amber’s talent as a siren earned her two nights a week to headline with Ruby. Her reputation among the clients, second only to Talia’s, derived from her inclination towards S&M and role-playing. She also had the notoriety of being difficult to work with and she was almost always late to rehearsal. On the rare occasions she showed up early, she was never in a good mood.

            Talia rolled her eyes before beginning the all-too familiar routine. “What do you want, Amber?” She pinched the bridge of her nose.

  Amber reached behind her back and threw a bouquet of lilies at her feet. “Your admirer from the other night dropped these off for you. He says he’ll be here for your next show.”

            Talia cursed under her breath. Exasperation froze her in place for a moment or two before she dared ask, “Anything else?”

            “Yeah,” Amber put her feet back on the ground, “Quit stealing my songs. I don’t have many to begin with and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t use them for your personal shit.” She flipped her dark mahogany hair, the ceiling lights bringing out the shine of its honey-brown highlights. “He’s still raving about it, by the way. Says it inspired him to write the two news songs they performed last night.”
            “Look, I am sorry, Amber, but can we not do this now?” Talia’s hand covered her face. “I already have one headache today…”
            “I could care less about this Juan Paulo guy. I’m here because I have new material I’m working on and I want Emilia to be a part of it.”
            She removed her hand. Her body immediately grew rigid. “Emilia is not ready to be anywhere near your experiments.”
            “Oh, relax. I can tone it down so it doesn’t scare away the virgin.”
            “This isn’t about her virginity. She is special. She is still learning how we do things here.”
            “Admit it. You want to keep her all to yourself so you can have that ace up your sleeve like you always do.”
            Talia quickly changed the subject. “You and Ruby have had the same night for many years and you have yet to collaborate once. You gave us one group routine we still use on occasion, but that was five years ago. Why should I let you have Emilia until you work with the other sirens first?”

It was then the two of them noticed they were a foot away from one another. Neither willing to give up their position, they turned their backs and crossed their arms.

            “What’s going on here? Did I miss something?” After dropping her things by the bar stools, Scarlet skirted past the flowers to meet with the feuding women.

“Amber wants to work with Emilia. I said she should teach more routines to other sirens first.”

            Amber’s eyes darted to Scarlet. Her tense posture slackened. “And I asked for a second opinion.”

 Scarlet shrugged. “I mean, she does have a point, Amber. Talia is responsible for us dancing in the first place, so she needs to show any newcomers how she wants things done. It’s kinda important that they know the main dance styles before receiving more individual instruction.”

            Unsympathetic, Amber yawned. “Just what I expected.” She walked back towards the stage. “I continue to be the bad girl in this.”

Talia sighed, “You know that isn’t it at all, Amber. Your quality of work is too raw for Emilia at this early point in her career.”

            “Yeah, yeah.” She proceeded to drag a couple chairs onto center stage. “Do I at least get to pick who my first victim is for this routine?”

Talia nodded. “Of course.”

         “Do you know when Vanessa will get here?”

“She was blow-drying her hair when I was there earlier. It shouldn’t be much longer,” Scarlet volunteered.

           “Fine. Could you do me a favor? Call her and tell her to come in her finest black lingerie. And bring her rhinestone-studded stiletto boots too.”

Cell phone in hand, Scarlet was poised to dial when the last sentence stopped her. “Rhinestone-studded stiletto boots?”

            “I’m sure they’re in the back of her closet somewhere.”

She shrugged it off and continued. “Okay, if you say so.”

            It seemed an odd request, but despite the fact she’d never seen Vanessa in those particular boots, they materialized all the same when she arrived. Amber, now dressed almost identically from head to toe, met her at the edge of the stage. “Glad you got my message. It’s a good look for you. It’s sure to make this routine look even better than it did in my head.”
            “Thanks… but how did you know about my stilettos? I must not have worn them in years. There was so much dust, I had to break out the polish, so they’d look halfway decent for a performance.”
            Rather than answer the question, Amber lamented, “it’s actually kind of a shame they don’t see the light of day more often,” before leaving to set up the other parameters for rehearsal.
            As Vanessa patiently waited for Amber to find her music in the folder of CD’s, she thought back to a time she hadn’t in ages. The boots were among the few possessions she had when she left her boyfriend and moved in with Talia. While she was getting her life back together and making friends that would become her new family, one person stuck out in her memory. They didn’t get to spend a lot of time together before her abrupt departure but Carmen’s compliment on these particular boots reassured her that her flair for fashion was one thing nobody could take away.

 Amber took Vanessa through the steps of her number’s “chair-o-graphy” with a spark none of the other sirens could recall seeing from her, possibly, ever. While echoing the twin aspect of Scarlet and Ruby’s duets, their use of props (café chairs in this case) set it apart. Hair-flipping and leg-flicking in time with the music dominated the routine. The vibe ranged from sensual to provocative—Amber’s most risqué to date. Vanessa picked it up quickly, so they only needed to run three rehearsals before Talia signed off on it.

            Ruby and Emilia showed up during the final run-through. Amber lost time with her steps, her eyes fixed on Ruby. Vanessa took notice when her stilettos were the only ones making solid contact with the floor. Suddenly impatient, Amber waved her hand in the air—her cue to stop the music. “We’re good. I need a break.” Her vapor trail appeared and vanished within seconds through the exit door next to the bar.

Ruby sighed as she came onto the stage with her sister and Emilia. “She always does this. Like she’s afraid I’m going to steal her ideas. I could say how this routine is a rehash of one of mine, but I’m not that kind of person.”

            “She’s like that with a lot of us, Ruby. Don’t take it personally.” Scarlet reached over to reassure her, but Ruby shrugged away from her.
            “At least she takes your thoughts into account every now and then. Amber’s crazy talented and I want to work with her, but every time, she changes the subject or walks away.”  

  “I plan to work with her on her teamwork,” Talia said, “She expressed to me interest in dancing with Emilia, but she has to earn that. Behaving this way is not a great way to start.”

            Emilia gasped, suddenly self-conscious. “Me? Why me? I’m not even that good. Not yet anyway.”

“She sees something just as I do.” Talia beamed at Emilia with pride, but quickly resumed her train of thought when her protege left to get into costume. “Or she wants some fresh blood for her routines.”

            Ruby stood firm. “She can ask me or Scarlet any time she wants to, but she hasn’t.”

            “Like I said, I will work on that.” Talia sighed, having lost the energy to pursue the conversation any further.
            Amidst putting her jeans and leather jacket back on, Vanessa suggested, “I’ll talk to her. Every once in a while, she does listen to me.”
            “Oh, thank you. That would be a big help. I have enough going on right now.” Talia braced her temples, letting loose a groan.
            An air of caution colored Vanessa’s tone as she asked, “Did something happen?” Of course, she already knew the answer. She was in the middle of a phone conversation with Scarlet when Talia came home last night, slamming every door shut as she passed through. But she wanted to hear any information she willingly volunteered.
            “That idiot American boy from karaoke. He came to the showcase last night with the intention to ask me out. My encore didn’t discourage him. It inspired him. He’s a songwriter. A really good one too. I got a text this morning confirming that his band will be the headliner at La Scala for the summer and the other two will alternate on their off nights.” Scarlet massaged her back, but Talia’s face remained in her hands. “Then he came here this morning looking for me and found Amber instead. He told her all about it, including my final song choice. I should have realized when Alejandro tried to warn me that it was from her playlist. I was in no mood to listen to anyone last night, but I had no excuse for that.”

            “Talia, I am so sorry. If I had known he and Javi were friends…”
            “Scarlet, if it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine.” She lifted her head. “I picked him and started this whole thing. The next time he comes here, no more tricks. I have to be honest with him.”

Vanessa nodded in agreement before announcing her departure. Murmured goodbyes followed her out the door. Once outside, she called Amber and asked to join her for lunch. When Amber gave the name of the restaurant, that feeling of déjà vu she had earlier returned with a vengeance.

*           *           * 

The hostess escorted Vanessa to Amber’s table. It was at a cozy outdoor café situated on the opposite end of the main drag from Calypso. Strings of lights suspended 10 feet in the air bordered all four of its corners. A Cobb salad (minus the hard-boiled eggs) was in front of her, primed for eating. But Amber waited for Vanessa to get a drink before exchanging pleasantries.
            “This is a nice surprise. Nobody’s asked to have lunch with me before, at least not for a while.”
            “It could happen more often if you were a little more accommodating.” The blunt sarcasm in her voice almost propelled the fork out of Amber’s hand as it came down unexpectedly.
            “Which one of them sent you? I’ll bet it was Ruby, asking again to be included in my work. Or maybe Scarlet because she thought I hurt her sister’s feelings…”
            Vanessa calmly raised a hand to cut Amber’s rant short. “Actually, I came on my own. For what it’s worth, I think Talia’s right. Team building never hurts. Besides, how can you share the spotlight with Emilia if you don’t know how with the rest of us?”
            Amber scoffed but ultimately conceded, “When you say it like that, it makes perfect sense. I just hate feeling like the odd girl out. I want Emilia to help expand my brand rather than having just another version of Talia or Ruby to contend with.”
            “Everything’s always a competition with you. Why? We’re all playing for the same team.”
            “Not from where I’m sitting.”
            Vanessa mulled things over as Amber went through her salad and she ordered herself a panini. Once the plates were cleared, she tried again. “Why me?”
            “What are you talking about?” Amber rolled her eyes as she reapplied her lip gloss in her compact mirror.
            “Why did you automatically think of me when you had to pick someone to dance with today?”
            “We have similar body types with all the curves, so I thought we’d look good together. And you have a quieter sexuality that I wanted to see you bring out. It reminds me of my first audition. It was good enough for Alejandro, but not quite enough for Talia. Yet Ruby comes out of nowhere and gets the spot that should’ve been mine because she’s Scarlet’s sister…”
            “Wait, hang on a moment…” Vanessa massaged her temples and took a few deep breaths. Amber’s recollection of her audition was nothing like the firecracker circus act that earned her a spot as a siren five years ago. Yet she saw it clearly in her mind as if it’d happened yesterday. Then her mention of Alejandro threw her for another loop. Amber never talked about him in any of their previous conversations, which typically focused on work or her latest gripe with Talia or Ruby. Nor had she referred to anyone, except perhaps Scarlet, with that degree of warmth. All of the puzzle pieces finally came together as she watched Amber, mirror still in hand, trying to find the perfect position for her bangs without any luck. Having seen Amber do this for year, Vanessa wrote it off as a personality quirk at first. But as she looked closer, she noticed small isolated patches of jet-black hair buried beneath the highlights.  
            Again, Vanessa asked, “Amber, how did you know about my boots? For someone who always claiming to be an outsider, that’s an oddly specific thing to remember about another person.” Amber froze. Her eyes widened as if she’d witnessed something horrific. She slowly put the compact mirror face down on the table and turned away. “There was someone I knew years ago. She said how she admired anyone who could walk in boots like mine and make it look effortless. And maybe one day she’d be able to pull that off herself.” She leaned forward to study her more closely. Amber averted her eyes to avoid meeting Vanessa’s, but no avail. Vanessa reached to push her bangs out of the way. She gasped, “Carmen?”
            Amber pursued her lips. Seeing no other choice, she relented. “Yeah, it’s Carmen.”

*    *    * 

            Vanessa and Amber stared at each other for several moments. Neither knew how to put this revelation in words. Amber couldn’t control her blushing or manage any degree of eye contact. Meanwhile, Vanessa’s mind drifted off to the last time she saw Amber as Carmen. 

            Talia’s arrival drove a wedge between Carmen and Scarlet, who had been her best friend. Carmen auditioned to be a siren, only for Ruby’s more provocative routine to win out. That same day, Carmen’s friends, Michel and Misha, were fired to make way for Talia’s grand plan—turning the brothers’ dying restaurant into a night club featuring an all-female cast and crew. As far as she knew, she was the only one who heard the parting words between Carmen and Alejandro. He tried his hardest to convince her to stay, but Carmen wanted none of it, vowing never to come back.
            But in truth, she had returned. The person whose audition fell short of Ruby’s and the person who now thrilled with her role-playing theatrics were as different as night and day, but they were one in the same. All of sudden, Amber’s standoffish behavior over the years made perfect sense.
            Amber blew her bangs out of her face. “I still haven’t gotten used to these.”
            “They look great. I always thought those highlights were really pretty.”
            Amber managed a smile. “Thanks. They’re permanent.”
            “Permanent?”
            “The product of a hair-coloring gone haywire. You know how it is.” She gestured toward Vanessa’s locks and she conceded the point.
            “Yeah, I thought it could be the fresh start I needed after leaving Richie but I got a little carried away and my follicles never recovered... So, how are your friends? Michel and Misha, right? Or do you not talk to them anymore?”
            She shrugged, as if too exhausted to put up the bravado anymore. “We do, just not as often as I’d like. They’re busy giving dance lessons and saving up for their own venue. I give what I can to help them with that, but I don’t earn nearly as much as I would like.”
            “I could help you with that. Routines featuring more than one siren have a bigger payout.”
            “Thanks, but really, you don’t have to just because you feel sorry for me.” Vanessa merely inhaled when Amber added, “Don’t tell me that you don’t. I know it’d be a lie.”
            “So, why did you come back? And why the disguise?”
            The check came for them at that moment. The rising noise level indicated the next lunch rush was imminent. Amber took it in hand and searched her bag for her wallet. “That’s a lunch break all its own, but there is one huge reason why I came back.”
            “And what’s that?”
            Amber put the check and $30 under the saltshaker. “Alejandro.”

***

Music: "Lace & Leather" by Britney Spears
Dance: The closest thing to this might be "All that Jazz" from Chicago. I'm not super knowledgable about Bob Fosse, but his influence does come up a coupl more times