The Sirens of Calypso- Chapter 5- "Promiscuous Girl"

(Scarlet in her element)

            

(close-up of Talia and Scarlet's wardrobe)

            Shortly after her appointment ended, Talia decided to pull out of Calypso’s lineup that night. She brushed off Emilia’s concerns, insisting this would be a good opportunity for her as a new siren to increase her rapport with the audience. The show went off without a hitch and the applause was just as appreciative as it had been the night before. At different times, Scarlet and Vanessa observed Talia while she watched the show alongside Alejandro and knew from her rueful expressions how much she wished she was up there with them.
            Their favorite karaoke spot, located one street over from the twins’ apartment complex, already had a thriving crowd that night. Luckily, Talia called ahead of time so one of the bar tables in the back of the room would be reserved for them. Once there, she ordered all of their favorite drinks: blue margarita for Emilia, Pina colada for Scarlet, frozen margarita for Vanessa, and a whiskey sour for herself.
            Scarlet scanned the room, aglow with enthusiasm, “Wow, it’s almost a full house tonight. Any volunteers to go first?”
            “It was your idea,” said Emilia. “You should start the night off.”
            “All right, see you guys in a few.” Scarlet was practically a pro. She and Ruby not only put on shows on a bi-weekly basis, the performances they brought to Eclipse’s annual end-of-summer karaoke contest made even top-tier contenders look like amateurs. Out of superstition, she took that all-important sip of liquid courage before approaching the emcee. They shook hands and he escorted her onto the catwalk that halved the building.
            Big screen TV’s displaying the lyrics were located at each of the room’s four corners plus two additional screens at either side of the catwalk’s center point. At both ends, there was a pole for those who wanted to bring that something extra to their performance. When Scarlet came with Ruby certain weekends, they took full advantage and received ample applause. Although she was flying solo tonight, she easily won over the crowd with a coy belly dance/cha-cha number.
            As she left the stage, Scarlet made eye contact, as she always did, with a couple people in particular. Typically, she focused on those who enjoyed themselves the most, hollering her name and clapping voraciously. But today, she locked eyes with one individual whom she’d seen at Eclipse a number of times. Handsome as he was with his bronze skin, dark hair and chocolate eyes, she blushed and turned away.
            “All right,” Scarlet exhaled, taking her barstool back at the table, “who’s next? Vanessa?”
            Somewhat distracted, Vanessa lagged in giving her response. “Actually, I’m going to sit out tonight… Emilia, you can go.”
            Bright-eyed as ever, she launched herself from her seat. “Okay. Wish me luck.”
            Everyone quickly murmured the sentiment and turned inward towards one another. With Emilia occupied elsewhere, Vanessa wasted no time beginning her interrogation. “So, how did it go with the doctor?”
            Talia tentatively knit her fingers together and stretched out her arms. “Everything is fine… there are no physical signs of distress.” She bit her lip. “But I have to abstain for at least for a week or two. Just as a precaution.”
            “I’m so glad. We were really worried about you.” Scarlet patted her shoulder, which she halfheartedly acknowledged.
            After taking a quick sip of her margarita, Vanessa suggested, “You know, this could be a good thing. You could use this time to actually meet people. Someone who sees you more than just…” Before she could launch into her latest attempt to dissuade Talia from what the other sirens considered her most notorious client, she was immediately beat to the punch.
            “Vanessa…” Talia cut her off, feigning a headache. “Really, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I told you before. Normal relationships, that’s not for me.”
            “Come on, Talia. You won’t know until you give it a try.”
            “Why try?” Both hands immediately came down on the table. Some of the nearby parties reacted but just as quickly returned to their own conversations. “When every man I get close to lies to me? No, I will not put myself through that humiliation again.” A moment later, her phone vibrated. Not looking up from the text, she said, “One of the brothers’ associates is starting a small club for the summer. As a favor, he wants us to help open tomorrow night for him and his investors.”
            “Is there a fee?” Scarlet craned her neck around, hoping to get a better look.
            “It says 500 per dancer, but 2000 for a maximum of three girls. Just to appear for a couple numbers.” A subsequent text appeared a moment later. “Interesting… he’ll also be holding auditions for a house band and wants our feedback. I remember him saying about going to America and being fascinated about all the clubs where big-time music acts start out.”
            “I’ll do it. I have some new moves I’d been working on with Ruby that I’d like to try out on a small crowd. And you know me, I love my music, especially live music.”
            “All right, I’ll text him back right now. You don’t mind sitting this one out, do you, Vanessa?”
            “Of course not. But this conversation isn’t over.”
            Talia’s thumbs clicking away were the only thing distinctly audible outside of the poppy upbeat music, the droning of their neighbors, and Emilia’s alto voice. Once she replaced her phone in her clutch purse, she folded her hands on the table. “I’m listening.”
            “Look… I’m sorry if I’m coming on too strong. Tonight was supposed to be fun, just like last night was supposed to be fun. Now I’m the one ruining it for everybody… I just want you to enjoy yourself for once. We hate seeing you so unhappy. And every other Wednesday when you’re with…” The rest of her speech was drowned out by the increasing volume in the building. Talia’s attention was drawn toward its source and Vanessa had no choice but to put it on pause indefinitely.
            Emilia came off the stage to a warm reception from the crowd. She fielded high-fives left and right while others clapped and cheered. Talia glanced in her direction and let out a sigh. “You’re right. Tonight should be fun.” She sprung out of her seat. “I can take the next song… unless you want to go.”
            “No, you go ahead.” Vanessa raised her hands, palms forward. “Do you know what you’re going to sing?”
            Talia inspected the crowd. She fixated on a young man in his late 20’s. He had light tan skin, a complexion that didn’t detract from his thick blonde hair and dazzling blue eyes. “I have a good idea. And I think I see someone else in need of a good time.” Whenever she did karaoke, Talia brought a guy on stage to do a duet. Usually, it was someone she recognized in the crowd while dancing on Calypso’s stage This time, it was a complete stranger. The three girls looked at each other as if to ask if they’d seen him before; the consensus was a resounding ‘no.’
            “Wow, he’s cute,” Emilia spoke first.
            “I don’t think he’s from around here.” Vanessa’s eyes narrowed. “I wonder what she’s up to.”
            “Vanessa,” Scarlet leaned across the table, softly rolling her eyes with a teasing smile, “we are here to have fun and support each other, remember? Quit being a wet blanket. Come on, let’s move closer.” She swallowed half of her drink and rushed to the edge of the catwalk. Vanessa and Emilia were just as quick to follow.
            After saying a few words to the emcee, Talia crossed the catwalk. The lights flickered a couple times. Many conversations evaporated and billowing roars of enthusiasm erupted in their place. Talia always made an entrance. The locals knew this. And those who didn’t know her yet, it was only a matter of time before they did.
            The soft red spotlight stayed on Talia until she stepped off the stage. This signaled that she’d made her choice. Engrossed in conversation with friends, the young man was oblivious to the building anticipation of the crowd until its reason stood in front of him. His skin flushed a darker shade as his eyes panned upward. The lace in Talia’s green dress showed off her arms as well as the scoop of her neck. Together with the thin belt across her waist, it sheathed her figure while allowing more than enough breathing room for dancing.
            Once his lower jaw returned to its proper place, she asked, “What’s your name?”
            He exhaled, caught off guard by her warm accent, but just as quickly recovered. “Juan Paulo Esposito.”
            “Oh,” her eyes lit up upon perceiving the tenor of his voice, “an American. Why not come on stage with me? I will show you how we like to have fun around here.” The crowd immediately voiced their support. Unlike her previous partners, who were prone to intimidation, Juan Paulo didn’t need further convincing. He joined her side at the emcee’s stand by the bar where they picked up their microphones and she made her music selection. “Do you think you can handle this?”
            “It’ll be my first duet, but yeah. You don’t need to worry about me.” He met her fearless bravado with a pleasant smile. Talia found this combination refreshing, but she didn’t dwell on it long.
            The crowd chanted her name as she took center stage. “Everyone, I would like to introduce Juan Paulo. He’s not from around here, so please give him a welcoming round of applause.” She turned to watch his reaction, amazed to find it hadn’t fazed him at all.
            He raised a hand, making eye contact with as many people as he could manage in a short time. Lowering his mic, he whispered to Talia, “I’m here with my band. So this isn’t exactly my first rodeo.” Two guys, one dark-haired and goateed and the other bald and clean-shaven, waved back when he pointed in their direction.
            “Hm, this is a first for me as well then,” she murmured back. She flipped her hair. “Be ready. Your line is first.”
            He nodded. “Ready.” She echoed him at a louder volume and the music started.

One after the other, words appear on each of the screens. Talia’s gorgeous swaying outline disarms Juan Paulo. But finding the screen that allowed him to divide his attention evenly between her and the lyrics only takes an extra second and he is back on track. He keeps pace with the rap, a cool swagger radiating from the movement in his shoulders and through his eyes. Talia knows the song so well that improvising to the beat comes to her with utmost ease. By the chorus, their rhythm synchs up and the crowd immediately responds.
            Soon enough, promiscuity expands beyond the lyrical content. The R&B groove provides a nice pocket in which to remain, but Talia’s belly wants this dance even more than her hips. Sexuality oozes from the rolling of her midsection. Juan Paulo notices this change and rises beyond the challenge. He takes his eyes off the lyrics, focusing their smolder exclusively on her while her lines appear on the screen. Another surprise—and adjustment—comes when she leans her body against his. She gasps a moment for breath, and he does the same, but for different reasons.
            Uncertainty finally finds him when his mic-free hand reaches for her stomach. Just as quickly, the tension in his breath subsides when she encourages the gesture. He pulls her body within inches of his own. Together, in perfect synchronicity, they groove for a steamy dirty dance. Ooh’s and aah’s explode through the audience. Cheers follow close behind.
            Talia leans in. Juan Paulo swallows and shuts his eyes. His heart races, anticipating the meeting of their lips. Her mouth, instead, lingers by his ear. “Thank you for the dance.” The music ends, taking the warmth of Talia’s body with it. Juan Paulo’s eyes reopen to meet his new supporters. But upon finding Talia had gone, his heart sinks.
            “Talia?” Juan Paulo’s calls fell on the deaf ears of the applauding crowd. Remaining on the raised stage, he frantically searched all 360 degrees of the karaoke bar—a pointless effort. Talia vanished into the mass that generally came for her and Scarlet before leaving; their exodus was the perfect smokescreen. The moment he turned to search in a difference direction, she separated herself from the crowd long enough to share a glance and nod with Vanessa. 
            “Come on, hurry.” Vanessa led the charge towards the back door with Emilia in tow.
            Eying their former table, Scarlet called after them, “I’ll be right behind you. I need to take care of something first.” She withdrew a few small bills from her purse to leave for the waitress. Thanks to regular business from the young locals and tourists, Eclipse was among the more successful establishments in town, but thanks to personal experience, the girls knew full well that every dollar helped.
            “Excuse me. Scarlet?” A man’s voice caught her attention just as she was leaving. Slowly, she turned around, coming face to face with her bronze-skinned admirer.
            “Hi,” she exhaled. She bowed her head to hide her smile.
            “You were really great up there. But of course, you’re always amazing.”
            “Thank you.” She nodded timidly. Her eyelashes acted as a veil. “I’ve seen you here before too. You don’t… you don’t come here just to see me, do you?”
            “Well, sometimes I like to sing myself,” he approached her, his hand positioned over his heart, “but you ladies kinda shut the place down tonight.”
            “What can I say?” She shrugged, still smiling. “Talia likes to make a clean getaway after she performs. I’m glad you enjoyed us.”
            “So, those other girls that performed, they’re with you? I’ve seen you with your sister, but this is my first time seeing either of them.”
            “Yeah, we’re dancers at Calypso, the club at the center of town. Oh shoot,” she suddenly gasped and looked around the room. Beside the staff, they were the only two left. “I need to go after them. They’ll be wondering what’s taking me so long. It was nice talking to you.”
            “Wait, when I can see you again?” Again, the smoothness of his voice elicited a knee-jerk reaction in her to stop.
            Even though her damaged past had been behind her for over a decade, Scarlet still found it difficult to accept advances from anyone. She’d sooner turn them down than risk bringing back any of those dreaded memories. But there was something different about this one. She felt calm in his presence, a quiet confidence.
            Whirling back around, she found her admirer by the table—the same spot she left him. The fact he didn’t pursue her extinguished whatever doubts remained. She approached as casually as she could manage, her smile working its way up to her eyes. “Tomorrow, I’m performing with Talia and my sister Ruby at a new club that’s opening up for the summer. For an associate of our bosses and his investors.”
            “All right. How about I give you my number and you can text me the address and time?” They exchanged phones to add each other’s information. Once he replaced his in his inner jacket pocket, he took her hand to kiss it. “See you tomorrow, Scarlet.”
            She waited for him to leave before allowing herself to giggle and swoon. “Oh my gosh. Such a handsome guy,” she mused to herself as she read his name off her phone: Javier Taylor-Lopez. “I can’t wait to tell the others about this.”

*           *           * 

“Tonight turned into a pretty good night,” Vanessa said as she unlocked the door to her and Talia’s flat. Emilia had invited Scarlet to spend the night at her place. It was a short walk from the karaoke bar and she was eager to hear more about Javier. “More fun than I think any of us have had in a long time.”
            Talia conceded, “It was a good crowd.” She closed the door behind her. “It was even better for Scarlet. She was the real star tonight.”
            “Yeah, she was. I’m so happy for her excitement about this guy. It’s not easy reopening your heart to love. All of us know too well what that’s like.”
            “Not Emilia,” Talia quickly added, “and I hope to keep it that way.” The seriousness in her tone made Vanessa stop in her tracks. Talia brushed past her towards the bathroom. There, she began to take off her makeup and jewelry.
            Vanessa leaned in, bracing the doorway. “Is that why you sidestepped her questions about your dance partner?” Talia hung her head, almost in slow motion. Her hands clenched around her newly removed dangling earrings on the sink.
            Before Scarlet caught up with them, Emilia had gushed about Talia’s performance and how good she and Juan Paulo looked together. In response, Talia simply said, ‘the siren name is about drawing men into falling in love. And it would seem I have not lost my touch.’ Understated as her tone was, that had been a major concern. Now, she wanted nothing more than to take this victory and look ahead—to the next performance.
            “There’d be no point, Vanessa. Juan Paulo is an American tourist. Sooner or later, he will leave and all of us will move on.” She shrugged.
            Avoiding all eye contact, she strolled past Vanessa. But before she could disappear into her bedroom, Vanessa opined, “For a moment there, you even had me believing you liked Juan Paulo, and I know your style better than anyone.”
            “Vanessa,” Talia half-heartedly sighed her final word on the matter, “long ago, I chose this life. That is never going to change. I accept that… and I wish you and everyone else would too.” 
***

Music: "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera (Scarlet),
"Promiscuous" by Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland (Talia and Juan Paulo)

...even now, I still don't know what song I would've had Emilia sing at karaoke. But unlike a lot of the other songs I'm using that are a little more urban or sexy, she'd probably do something poppy and... for lack of a better word, tamer than a lot of these songs. Something that's not super sexy in its meaning.

Dance: not a specific style exactly, but definitely a lot of slinky/sexiness. 
JP and Talia's number slowly turns into a "Dirty Dancing" type of number but with maybe six inches separating them