The Sirens of Calypso- Chapter 42- Where Have I Seen Him Before...

            Amber rested her back against the wall, her body rigid. Tears welled up in her eyes that she struggled to hold back. Meanwhile, all the adrenaline Ruby felt after performing her latest masterpiece disintegrated. Even while Emilia showered her with praise, she couldn’t bring herself to enjoy it seeing how destroyed Amber was. “I’m really sorry, Amber, but I tried to explain…”
            “It wasn’t supposed to be you! Scarlet, she…” Amber’s voice broke. Pressing both hands to her forehead, she turned her back and forced herself to breathe in an effort to calm down. “Now everything’s ruined. All my hard work. Just one time, I wanted my ideas to leave the lasting impression. But once again, you stole my spotlight!”
            Her own euphoria finally wearing off, Emilia searched Vanessa’s face for reassurance, but only found exhaustion. With a sigh, Vanessa whispered, “I’ll be right back. Alejandro will be here soon for his routine congratulatory speech and he can’t be in the middle of this.”
            Although taken aback by this turn of events, Emilia remained strong. “You’re right. Amber would never live it down.”
            Vanessa quickly added, “Feel free to leave if it gets to be too much. Nobody would blame you.” She patted Emilia on the shoulder, “great job tonight,” and went through the curtain. Alejandro had already begun ascending the staircase leading up to the stage when she blocked his way. “I don’t think you want to come back here. Ruby and Amber are at it again.”
            He let out a long groan, letting it all sink in before saying, “I should take care of it.”
            “Really,” she tightened her grip on the handrails, “you should go. It would only make Amber more upset if you saw her like this.” Back by the bar, a cell phone began to ring and neither party seemed in a hurry to answer it.
            From the sidelines, Emilia glanced back and forth at the feuding women as each spoke. On the off chance that she could help, she wanted to stay, but she was clearly out of her depth. Ruby crossed the room but kept her guard up. “I thought this was supposed to be a theme night. It’s about all of us. It’s Emilia’s first performance in a starring role.”
            “Don’t you think I know that?” Amber gritted her teeth, trying to control her volume.
            “Then why did you want Scarlet instead of me? Why did you have to get her alone to talk to her? To offer her the friendship she always wanted from you?” Unwilling to answer, Amber turned away.
            The shuffling of heels broke through the silence. “Amber?” She met Emilia’s query, her ire slowly dissolving into embarrassment. “Vanessa said I could go if I want, but if you want me to stay…”
            “No, it’s fine, Emilia. It’s probably better that you leave. Sorry if this ruined the night for you.”
            “Don’t be. Tonight was so much fun. Nothing could ruin it for me.” They smiled at one another but knew full well it was a half-truth. “Good night, Ruby,” she tacked on as an afterthought on her way out the back door.
            “Good night, Emilia,” she halfheartedly returned, her eyes still fixed on Amber.
            Back at the staircase, Alejandro frowned, but gave in. “Are you sure you can handle this thing, Vanessa?”
            “It wouldn’t be the first time,” Vanessa sighed, “or the last. I have to go. Besides, you should probably answer that call. It might be important.”
            “Oh right, my uncles’ meetings conclude tonight…” He departed mid-sentence and took the important call into the office.
            Vanessa sighed out of relief and disappeared behind the stage curtain. Not surprisingly, Emilia took her advice to leave and Amber hadn’t budged.
            Ruby, meanwhile, had become more irate with impatience. Her voice cracked through her tears. “What'd I ever do to you to make you hate me so much?" Amber only responded by crossing her arms.
            “Okay, that’s enough.” Vanessa positioned herself between them. “Look, we’ve all had a long night. It might be best to sleep on it and we’ll touch base in the morning.”
            “Fine by me,” Amber muttered on her way through the curtain to take her bow. To her disappointment, the club was deserted. She’d gotten so caught up in everything with Ruby that the silence on the main floor hadn’t registered. Panicked, her eyes swept over the bar. Alejandro was nowhere to be found. She withdrew backstage. “Great, he’s gone too,” Amber grumbled under her breath, but Vanessa answered, “He left to take what might be an important call. Trust me, you don’t want Alejandro to see you like this.”
            “You’re right.” Her shoulders went slack. “I just thought… this was my chance and I blew it.”
            “What are you guys talking about? Is there something I’m missing here?” Ruby demanded, her arms hugging her ribs.
            Amber stepped forward with a shrug. “You wanted answers? Fine. Tonight, I’m giving you some answers, but first, we need a change of venue.”
            Saying no more, Amber led them back to Evangeline’s. Michel and Misha were counting their tips at the bar. Before they could say “sorry, we’re closed,” they recognized Amber and received her with open arms.
            After exchanging pleasantries, she showed the girls to one of the empty tables and sat on her chair backwards. “Michel and Misha, we go way back.” They provided the drinks while Amber spent the better half of the night taking Ruby as far down memory lane as she had gone previously with Vanessa. There were a few remaining secrets she planned to hold onto. Ruby was attentive, nodding occasionally, but kept her poker face on the entire time. Once all was said and done, she took her leave without saying a single word.

*      *      *

            “Excuse me.” Emilia’s heart skipped when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Her ears were still ringing from the fight; it snapped her back to reality. The culprit was a young man close to Alejandro’s age, but with more muscle tone in his upper body. His dark eyes were almost black. He seemed familiar somehow, but she couldn’t quite place him. “You were really great out there.”
            “Thank you.” She blushed, nervously combing her hair behind her ears.
            “How would you like to go for some coffee?”
            “Sure.” Her body relaxed—the tension of the argument now a distant memory. They started down the street. Emilia prattled away absentmindedly, unable to contain her excitement. “Was there some place you had in mind? Because I’d been wanting to try this new cafe that just opened up around the corner from my apartment.”
            After turning a couple corners, the man, who had trailed a few feet behind her, reached for her shoulder again. “Actually, I was thinking right here would be fine.” He spun her around, backing her against the alley wall, and kissed her. Automatically, her hands braced his arms. He leaned further into her mouth, his tongue wrestling with hers. A smoky whiskey smell lingered on his breath. She gasped, her arms wrapping around him as his lips grazed her neck.
            “Hold on.” She dropped her arms when his hand started rubbing the inner part of her thigh. His arm wrapped around her back, pulling her body into his as his other hand slid under her panties. “Wait, I don’t think I like this…” He didn’t stop. In fact, a distinct murmur began building deep in his throat. “Stop!” She shoved him away.
            The man’s chin stiffened as he ground his teeth. His pupils burned like furnace coals. “You know, it didn’t have to come to this. You could have just left me and Talia to our business. But because of your meddling, I lost my arrangement with Talia. And to top it all off, tonight, my family cut me out of their business because I’m only a liability to them.”
            The air of familiarity from before suddenly made sense. The blurry image in her memory of Talia entangled with a guy that wasn’t her ex-boyfriend cleared up. “That was you? In that alley with her? Look, I’m sorry about that. I had no idea what I was walking in on.”
            He shook his head. The sarcasm dripping from his lips made his voice raspier by the second. “That’s just too bad then, isn’t it? I don’t know about you, sweetheart, but I would like to finish what I started with her. All of you sirens are just sluts by trade anyway. It shouldn’t make that much of a difference, right?”
            A combination of rage and acid built in her throat, but Emilia stood her ground. “That’s not true. I was never a part of any of this. I was just a back-up dancer until tonight.”
            “Hmm…” His elevator eyes sized her up. “Judging from your reaction that night, I should have figured you were a virgin.” He braced the wall with his hand inches away from her. Hesitantly, her eyes met his. “You look good enough to eat.”
            Before she could react, the man grabbed her wrists and forced her to the ground. Each hand pinned her arms down. She furiously kicked her legs, screaming, “Help! Someone, help me!” The sudden movement of his fists made her shut her eyes. The slaps and punches to her face, throat and torso stung more the louder she screamed. The gold ring on his right ring finger left an impression in the middle of her forehead, though not quite enough to draw blood. Her upper body struggled under his weight with little success. Finally, the pain got to be too much. Emilia found herself unable to move in spite of how much her mind urged her to.
            Her attacker ignored this. He simply licked his lips and said, “I’ve never had virgin before.” The slow opening of a zipper pierced the air. Not far behind, an unrelated crescendo of footsteps thundered, arriving at a swift conclusion.
            “Hold it right there, pig.” The familiar voice broke through the fogging of Emilia’s vision. Juan Paulo had a switchblade at the man’s neck. “Now back away, slowly.” He dug it in just enough that the edge of the knife drew a tiny stream of blood. Reluctantly, the man obeyed. “Straighten yourself out. Now, when I release you, you had better run like hell in the opposite direction. Or God willing, I will kill you right here.” Juan Paulo removed his knife and supplied an encouraging shove. Emilia’s attacker didn’t pause for even a second as he made a hurried escape.
            Emilia loudly gasped. Her body spasmed before collapsing into itself. Juan Paulo got on his knees, coming immediately to her side. “Emilia! Oh my… what did that monster do to you?” She only managed a whimper. He helped her sit up and wrapped his jacket around her shoulders.
            “No! Let me go!” She pushed against him before he took her into his arms.
            “Emilia, it’s ok. It’s me. It’s Juan Paulo.” He reached forward, parting her bangs to have a look at the impression. His stomach turned, but he held himself together. Tears streaked down her shivering cheeks. Milliseconds after the light of recognition rekindled in her eyes, her entire body seized up and she passed out in his arms.

*      *     *

            “Talia! Vanessa! Anybody, open up!” Juan Paulo battered the door. “I’m here with Emilia! She’s been hurt!”
            Having regained some color in her face, Scarlet answered the door. Even if she wasn’t under the weather, Emilia’s bruises and shaking alone would have turned her stomach. She gasped, “Emilia! Come in.” She supported his shoulder while bringing the door to a swift close. “You can put her in Vanessa’s bed for the time being.” He did as he was told, adding the blankets Scarlet handed him. The mascara she applied earlier in the evening, before she cancelled her plans to perform, smudged her eyes and her sight. Swallowing hard to ease the shaking in her voice, “Talia, you need to get in here…”
            The other bedroom door slammed against the wall within seconds of opening. Talia’s knees quaked, her hand over her mouth, but there was no hesitation. There were only tears as she shakily stroked Emilia’s cheek. “My Emilia…” Her bangs covered her shut eyes, but the angst was unmistakable.
            Even Juan Paulo, who stepped back into the hallway, had to fight to hold back the hysterics to tell his tale. “I heard her screaming as I was returning home for the night. Pulling a knife on the creep was enough motivation to make him get lost.”
            Scarlet left the room for a box of tissues and to find her phone. She handled it to Talia. “Here, use this number. This doctor helped me years ago and I still keep in contact with him.” She took it into the other room where she’d be out of earshot. Scarlet wiped her eyes and sniffed back the snot building in her nose. “Ruby helped me… leave home after a really horrible night… when I came here, the brothers sent that doctor to examine me. Our father… he did a lot of damage… but that time when he raped me, he knocked me up… weeks later, I lost the baby.” She broke into sobs. Juan Paulo rubbed her back to offer reassurance, but she quickly recovered. She shook her head, speaking with almost an air of irony, “All these years later, even though it was conceived out of malice, I still haven’t forgiven myself. But sometimes when I need to talk, Dr. Rodriguez makes time to see me.”
            Talia returned briefly. “He’s on his way. I’m going outside to wait for him.”
            Dr. Rodriguez materialized five minutes later. He and Scarlet regarded one another, exchanging glances of respect, before he disappeared into the room with Talia.
            The screaming started the moment she revived. “Get off me! Don’t touch me!”
            “Emilia!” Talia braced her shoulders. “It’s all right. It’s all right, you’re here with us now.”
            Amidst her panting, she looked up at her. “Talia?”
            “That’s right. That’s right, I’m here.” She securely wrapped an arm around her back, moving it up and down in a soothing motion.
            The screams had dissolved into sobs when Alejandro came through the front door. Scarlet received him while blocking his way. “It’s not a good time, Alejandro. Talia’s in there with a doctor looking at Emilia. JP brought her here after someone attacked her.”
            “Jesus…” Dumbstruck, he sank onto the sofa cushion next to Juan Paulo without noticing him there. He shook his head, staring into space. “Everything got so heated with Ruby and Amber. Vanessa insisted she could handle the situation and I received a call with some important news…. It’s my fault… I should have been there to walk her home.”
            “They’re fighting again?!” Scarlet exclaimed, but quickly covered her mouth and swallowed back the liquid building in her throat.
            “Are you okay?”
            She nodded, clearing her throat. “I’m fine for now… None of this would have happened if I didn’t pick tonight to get sick.”
            “Nobody planned for any of this to happen, Scarlet,” Juan Paulo said. “The only thing we can do is hope I got there in time before any real damage was done.”
            She inhaled deeply, but the give in her stomach prevailed. “Excuse me…” Scarlet dashed into the bathroom, swinging the door closed behind her.

*      *      *

            The moment Dr. Rodriguez reentered the sitting room, Juan Paulo and Alejandro leapt to their feet. He switched his medical bag to the opposite hand and calmly waved his right hand in a downward motion. His neat mustache crinkled with a reassuring smile. “Emilia will be fine. I gave her a sedative so she can get some rest. Hopefully that will aid with her mental recovery from this ordeal.” Both returned his smile but upon sitting back down, their postures resumed their previous state though with less foot tapping and tension in their backs.
            Noting the empty space between them, the doctor inquired, “where’s Scarlet? I was hoping to discuss something with her before I take my leave.” The guys both pointed toward the shut bathroom door. Rapping on the door with his knuckles, he asked, “Scarlet?” Retching and gasping responded. He tried again, “Scarlet, is everything all right in there?”
            “Yeah,” she mumbled, following her response with a flush. “Come in.” She sat on the closed lid, her knees facing inward. Looking up, she asked, “Could you shut the door?”
            “Of course,” he obeyed. After handing her a handkerchief, he knelt in front of her.
            “Thank you.” She wiped her mouth and bent over her knees. “This stomach bug has been killing me all day.”
            “May I?” He tilted her chin upwards and felt around her throat. “You look a little pale. How long has this been going on?”
            “Since this morning. It was really bad this morning. I’d been on saltines and ginger ale all day, but it was only a temporary fix.”
            “You looked fine a moment ago. I imagine these events have you a little rattled, given your history.”
            Suddenly remembering, Scarlet gasped, “Oh Emilia, how is she?”
            “It’s hard to say. Physically, everything is fine aside from the cut and bruises. The young man arrived before any internal damage could be done.”
            “Oh thank god…” Her shoulders sank. “She’s innocent. None of us ever wanted her to suffer like we have.”
            He nodded, but the furrow remained in his forehead. “So, what about you? It’s been some time since our last talk. Have there been any changes? Good or bad? Besides this ‘bug’?”
            She bit her lip. “I know I didn’t check in for our regular appointment this year. It’s just that… I didn’t feel like I needed it this time.” The smile proved futile to hold back at this point. “I met someone. Javier was such a sweet guy. Strong, but patient. And so kind.”
            “I don’t mean to pry, but I couldn’t help noticing you mentioned him in past tense.”
            “It’s complicated.” Her hands clenched together on her lap. “The nightmares came back. It was the first time I’d had sex since… I left home. I explained it to him, and he was so understanding... tonight was the first time I saw him in a month, but I guess I’m still not ready to...”
            Dr. Rodriguez laid a hand on her shoulder. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, Scarlet. Few would be able to understand the horror you went through.”
            “The sex was amazing too… it was spontaneous and romantic… Rehearsing for this show came with a lot of nerves, but it was a good distraction from everything.” She stared at the wall, her smile blissful, “It was so perfect too. Something I’d been wanting to express for a really long time. But I guess I’m still not ready for that first solo moment.” Her composure dissolved upon seeing Dr. Rodriguez’s concern. “What? What is it?”
            He removed his glasses. “How long has this sickness been going on?”
            “I don’t know. As much as I want to blame it on nerves, things have felt different the past three, maybe four days. What are you thinking?”
            “Is it possible that this could be morning sickness?
            Scarlet gasped, immediately covering her mouth, muffling her “oh my god” exclamation. Then when she removed it, she beamed. “That would explain a lot.” Each attempt to say any more led to a fit of nervous giggles.
            Satisfied, Dr. Rodriguez replaced his glasses and stood. “If anything else turns up, for you or Emilia, don’t hesitate to give me a call. It was good seeing you again, Scarlet. Take care.” Alone with her thoughts, Scarlet rubbed her arms to erase the remaining goosebumps.

*     *      *

            Talia came part of the way out of the room. “Juan Paulo?” He stood up just as quickly as he had earlier when the doctor left. “Emilia wants to see you before the drugs finish putting her to sleep.”
            “Sure, ok…” Despite Dr. Rodriguez’s reassurances, his entire body tensed up and slowed the pace of his stride considerably. He glimpsed Emilia and the shuddering of his heart compelled him to hold the archway for support. Her cheeks had bleached with scattered black and blue splotches. Where Rodrigo’s ring had cut into her forehead, a bandage now concealed it.
            “Oh, Emilia…” he gasped, lost for words.
            Her closed eyes scrunched, her hoarse voice asked, “JP?” With difficulty, she opened her eyes and immediately tried to sit up.
            “Hang on.” He rushed over and knelt by the bed, pushing her down gently enough for her to get the idea. One hand held hers while the other stroked the top of her head. Her breathing had slowed, but the pulse present under Juan Paulo’s grip was still very quick. “Doctor’s orders, you should be resting.”
            “I know,” she sighed. Her bright blue eyes flickered occasionally with anxiety, but they slowly grew heavy with drowsiness.
            “So he says you’re going to be ok.”
            “Yeah…” She struggled to meet his eye but succeeded in adding the most crucial detail. “You stopped him… he didn’t get a chance to…”
            “Thank goodness…” Because he was caught up in the moment, Juan Paulo didn’t realize his voice broke with that statement. Emilia and Talia did; they shared a glance and conflicting emotions emerged in both of them. “I’ll just let you rest then. Do you need anything else before I go?”
            “You saved me… No, I’ll be fine here. Thank you.” Finally, after a healthy exhale, Emilia drifted off to sleep. Juan Paulo swallowed back the lump in his throat, leaning over to kiss Emilia on the top of her head, before returning to his feet. Talia met him there, her eyebrows askew. He answered the anticipated question before she could speak it. “I forget who said Emilia is like a little sister to all of you. I guess that company now includes me.”
            He had his hand on the doorknob when she added, “Juan Paulo, I…” She ground her teeth, pausing for a moment before the right words came to her. “Thanks from me as well. For saving her life.”
            “Well, you know me, Talia. Always trying to be the hero.”
            Scarlet was the last to see him leave, during which she noticed something peculiar. His steady breath was somewhat jagged and every few steps, he took a brief moment to regain his balance. But what took her aback the most— his far-off stare burning a hole in the door, as if he’d seen a ghost. She couldn’t put her finger on it but something in her gut told her there was more on his mind than the scene he was leaving behind.

*      *      *

            “Talia?” Alejandro lightly tapped on the door frame outside the second bedroom. “May I sit with you?” She nodded. Her hand absentmindedly combed through Emilia’s hair as she slept. “How is she doing?”
            “A little better...” She wiped her eyes quickly.
            “Did she get a good look at the guy?”
            “That’s what makes this hard. That indentation on her forehead? That’s from a ring I gave Rodrigo ages ago. I took him in the alley the night I broke it off with Juan Paulo. Emilia saw us. This was his revenge for her interrupting.”
            “You know, I always said Rodrigo was no good. He was always too eager when you gave him ‘the call’.”
            “Yes, I remember you telling me that several times. I was never the best listener.” She shook her head. “Juan Paulo was so good to me when we were together. All I could think about these past couple weeks… how I refused to listen to him when he said I was meant for better than this. This life that I live.”
            “You really like him, huh? I see the way you look at him. Something was different about you, a good different, when you were seeing him.”
            “You always think you know me so well… but this time, Alejandro, I must admit you are right.” She hung her head. “He was never like any of the other guys I’d been with. I was afraid that maybe he wanted to change me, but… he only wanted me to be the best version of myself.” Emilia gasped, prompting Talia’s posture to stiffen, but she simply rolled over in her sleep. “So what brought you here so late, Alejandro?”
            “My uncles contacted me tonight about the results of their negotiations. Rodrigo is cut out of his family’s business. I came in part to warn you and the others, but it seems I was too late. I just have to tell them what happened and they will see to it that he’s handled.”
            Resigned, Talia nodded. “Whatever punishment is carried out, I need to be there. So I can be sure he will never hurt anyone again.”
            Alejandro’s memory flickered back to Amber’s own altercation with Rodrigo and decided to redirect the conversation to a more pressing matter. “I was also planning on reporting to you about Amber’s theme night. Everyone involved was amazing. Emilia handled herself especially well… before everything else happened. Before Amber and Ruby got into that fight.”
            “Amber…” She groaned. “What was the problem this time?”
            “She worked really hard on this project with the other girls. She just didn’t count on Ruby coming in Scarlet’s place and that the crowd would be chanting her name instead.” He quickly added, “Amber did her best routine in many years. She looked like she brought herself to the stage. Not hiding behind another character.”
            “She’s probably so consumed by this irritating vendetta of hers that she has no idea Emilia left.” Her knuckles bleached at her sides. “Such recklessness. I cannot overlook this behavior in favor of her talents. Not anymore.”
            “Wait a minute, Talia.” A month ago, she wouldn’t listen to anything that came out of his mouth. But because she was being unusually receptive, Alejandro was determined to make his voice heard. “I’ve been watching her in rehearsal. She’s been very good to Emilia. She’d certainly taken her thoughts and ideas into account. Something you failed to do the one time she pitched you a routine.”
            “Hurry up and make your point,” she grumbled.
            “This was just an unfortunate accident. A temporary lapse in judgement that could happen to any of us. Amber isn’t all bad. She just feels misunderstood and wants us to see the person she is. On her own terms.”
            “Well then,” she paused as she assessed his new attitude, “if she’s really as good a person as I’m led to believe you think she is…” She coyly flashed her eyes at him. He swallowed with no choice but to nod and agree. “…she will accept the responsibility if the wrong person is blamed for her actions.” 

            “But who?” Before he could formulate a list of possibilities, he met the eyes boring into his forehead. “Really?”

***

The title of this chapter is a reference to a song that plays a major role in a later performance. 

Like with several of the chapters, I'd written most of this years ago and spent the last 2 years touching things up, making connections to other story points and so on. Alejandro's comment "you really like him, huh" was one of the earliest sparks of a story I had and it was a long time before I figured out how to get there.

I'm not sure if I was working on this chapter at the time but when I was listening to "Eyes Wide Open" by Ashlee Simpson a couple years ago, the scene with Emilia played in my head like a movie. So vivid it was scary- the song ended and I'd be gasping for air. The only bit of trivia I found about it online was her saying in an interview how it was about her fear of having a ghost in her house. 

Don't know why but I always interpeted it as #MeToo statement long before any hashtags existed. Being a survivor of assault and recognizing that someone else in your day-to-day life had gone through it. They're still in the denial phase of their grief and you're at a loss about how to help them.

Again, I want to stress that none of this is autobiographical. But the way I put myself in the shoes of my characters, it certainly feels that way. Especially in editing.

The Sirens of Calypso- Chapter 41- Raising Hell

"Would you love me if I ruled the world..."

            During her untimely departure from La Scala earlier in the evening, Scarlet contacted her sister to stand in her place for the remainder of the showcase. “I don’t want Javi to get the wrong impression, but I just couldn’t take any more. Talia really did a number on JP and she’s gonna hear it whether she wants to or not.”
            Juan Paulo’s spirits improved as the evening went on and his material took a turn for the better by the time Ruby arrived. Once or twice, Javier caught her shaking her head as she thought, “what was Scarlet going on about? JP looks fine to me.” It was when he entered the home stretch Ruby finally found the answer she was looking for. Not only was each song about what could’ve been and feeble attempts at moving on, but he went as far to use troubling phrases like “I’m losing my mind” and being “set up only to be knocked down.” Some of the best songwriters have made names for themselves with gravelly voices and women were attracted to them for that reason alone. However, in Juan Paulo’s case, his voice sounded less sexy and more strained. It was the most difficult performance he’d given in his life. He fought his hardest to keep his complicated emotions in check and he wouldn’t know until it was over whether he succeeded.
            The set ended around 10 o’clock at night. Juan Paulo managed a quick and polite “thank you for coming” to Ruby before going into the office to meet with the executives.
            Javier patted her on the shoulder. “It was good of you to come, Ruby. It means a lot.”
            Her cheeks flushed, “Wait, you knew it was me the whole time?”
            “What? You think I can’t tell my own girlfriend from her twin?” He smiled with such ease despite his disappointment. “I was looking forward to us seeing each other tonight but I understand if she still needs a little time.”
            “Wow, you really are too good. I’m so sorry about Scarlet. Next to Emilia, nobody was more invested in Talia and JP as a couple than her.”
            “Yeah,” he scratched the back of his neck, “I mean, most days he is better than this. Maybe it just hit him that the summer is almost over, and he wanted to accomplish something, you know.”
            “So, what? Does he go back to America when the season’s over?”
            “Oh yeah. He’s starting college in the fall to support his mama but she insisted he try once more to fulfill his music dreams. It’s a long story.”
            “Guess I shouldn’t be surprised. He has such a good heart. I wonder if Talia knows anything about that.” She crossed her arms, staring off into the distance.
            “I’m sure she knows he’s only here for the summer but maybe not about school. Who knows what those two were talking about when they were together?” He checked his watch. “It’s getting late. I hope Scarlet made it to Amber’s show.”
            “Oh yeah,” Ruby gasped, “She told me she was going to talk to Talia but maybe I’ll stop by Calypso on the way there.” She jumped off the stage and raced for the exit.
            “Give her my best, ok?” He called after her just before she vanished through the doors. Juan Paulo reappeared shortly after with some good news. Their spectators enjoyed the show and would reach out in a couple weeks when they made their decision. Despite this, he looked as defeated as he had during the sadder parts of the set. Deciding not to press his friend for further details, Javier commended him and sent him on his way while he stayed behind to pack up their equipment. Juan Paulo needed one important thing right now—some alone time to clear his head.

*      *      *

            Back at Calypso, the show had just ended and the audience couldn’t be more appreciative. Slowly, the roars transformed from hooting and hollering to chanting demanding, “Encore! Encore!”
            Amber was beside herself with pride. She beamed at Emilia. “They loved it. They want more. I couldn’t have done this without you.” Shaking with enthusiasm, she threw her arms around her. Vanessa gasped, covering her mouth. She’d never seen Amber so uninhibited and happy.
            Emilia broke away, her nervous giggling indicating that she’d been caught off guard as well. “So, what do we do now? How do we follow that?”
            “I really wanted Scarlet to be the one to finish things off,” Amber scrolled through her phone, “but she hasn’t called. Not even a text message. Hopefully everything went ok with Javier.” The volume of the crowd suddenly picked up and the encore chants reverted to cheers. “Wait, maybe that’s her now.”
            The newcomer raced up the stage right steps and bent over, hands on her knees, panting.
            “Oh good, you made it. All your stuff is in the dressing room ready to go. Anything else you might need is near the front of the warehouse in the back.”
            She stuttered amidst catching her breath. “My stuff? But…”
            “You came all this way, Scarlet. The least you can do is go through with it. Besides, listen to that crowd. You don’t want to disappoint them, do you?”
            “Wait, what did you… but I’m not…” Ruby managed to open her eyes and kept them firmly fixed on the floor. She knew how she and her sister were hard to tell apart without their contrasting highlights, but Amber never mistook one for the other.
            But even while she tried to explain, Amber was too hyped up on adrenaline to get her meaning. She got behind her and practically pushed her into the dressing room. “If you need anything, we’ll be at the bar celebrating. You missed a hell of a show.”
            Her heart thudding against her ribcage, Ruby investigated the box of items sitting at Scarlet’s station. Under the mess of wigs, there were glow sticks and glow-in-the-dark bangles. Noticing the electronics sewn into the black dress on the clothing rack, the light-up props made more sense in her head. After getting dressed and suiting herself up with the bangles, she placed a call on the phone attached to the wall that was a direct line to the bar. Despite her misgivings, she kept up the pretense with Alejandro so he could arrange the lighting scheme. Before hanging up, he added, “and Scarlet, I’m glad you came out tonight. Amber is thrilled.”
            She hung up without saying a word. She buried her face in her hands and groaned, “oh god, Amber will kill me if she finds out.” She took a few deep breaths and resigned to her fate. It took her a few extra minutes to wheel the set pieces off stage. The last remaining detail: the music. She examined the tracks on the disc to see which one fit her look the best and the choice was immediately clear.
            Music started pulsing through the speakers and the crowd grew louder with anticipation. Utilizing the control panel under the counter, Alejandro opened the curtains and activated the strands of light hanging from the ceiling. The lighting aspect of this contraption was designed to synchronize with the rhythm of the beats. It only worked well with EDM so it’s only been used a handful of times. They flashed together for the first couple of bars. Then they rapidly cascaded from front to back numerous times until they all went out. After which, they blinked together on every other beat.
            Thanks to the red LEDs in her dress, Ruby was the only other thing visible on stage. She kept her face as neutral as possible. She held her arms out, locking them at the elbow, as she pivoted her waist from side to side. All of this enhanced the robotic vocal delivery. One flick of the wrists later, her bangles lit up as well. She paused for a moment just before the chorus took off. As Amber had done in her number, Ruby treated her arms like the hands of a clock. In her case, she had her left hand at twelve o’clock and did a full revolution with her right arm until they met together above her head. On the next beat, she moved them apart and braced her head on both sides, titling her body to the left three times. Following this, she brought her arms in front of her midsection, one arm tucked against her ribs with the other pointing outward and then the other direction. And the whole pattern repeated for every chorus.
            If it was possible, the audience still had more than enough energy to show their appreciation. Emilia shook her head, almost speechless, “wow… when did Scarlet even have time to put this together? And how long have we had those lights in the ceiling?”
            “I actually have no idea.” Vanessa shrugged. “Whenever it was, I wasn’t there that day. Talia certainly never mentioned it. She thinks this sort of thing is a little tacky. So only….” A thought popped into her head and her heart stopped. She whispered, “oh no…” She turned toward Amber and she gulped. Judging from the drop-dead stare on her face, the aftermath of this mix-up wasn’t going to be pretty.
            Despite the flames of anger licking her insides, Amber found herself equally as entranced as the rest of the crowd. The whole thing felt like a scene straight out of a sci-fi movie. All that was missing were backup dancers and lasers. When Ruby arced her arms down from her head before the signature choreographic section, lasers could jut outward from the ends of her fingers. It’d start with her on stage alone, followed by two more and by the second chorus, there’d two dozen girls moving together like an army of androids. Then because of one or two lyrics referring to a downpour, it’d be outside in the pouring rain and the drops would roll off like nothing.
            She snapped back into reality when it was all done and the crowd was chanting “Ruby! Ruby!”
            “Ruby?” Emilia gasped, taken aback. “But how…”
            “Yeah, I’d like to know the same thing…” She dejectedly replied, her eyes narrowed toward the stage. To herself, she added, “…how could I be so foolish to let this happen?”
            As soon as Alejandro drew the curtains closed and started closing things down on his end, Amber took off for the stage. Vanessa cursed under her breath and followed her with Emilia close behind.

***

Music: 

"Heavy Metal Lover" by Lady Gaga

As was the case with "Starstruck," the fantasy aspects of this performance were my original intentions for it. That was before I decided it'd be too complicated to have dozens of backup dancers also working here. How would all of these secrets stay secret for so long? 
The funny thing about this song was that I didn't get it the first few times. Then once, I played it twice in a row because I wasn't paying it full attention the first time. I'd had a soft spot it ever since. 

The dress Ruby wore for this number (as well as the dresses featured in "Mannequin" and "E.T.") was inspired by my favorite cosplayer in the short-lived SyFy series "Heroes of Cosplay", Victoria- aka Scruffy Rebel. 
I saw this costume maybe 10 years ago but it left a strong impression. But I kinda forgot that her Tron-inspired dress didn't have green lights in them, lol

(All credit goes to @ScruffyRebel on Twitter & Instagram)

The Sirens of Calypso- Chapter 40- No More Asking Permission

"A bad kid... the way they made me."

            Amber rolls her eyes, groaning, “those toilets are obscene. If men can’t find the decency to clean up after themselves, they’re not allowed in here anymore.”
            “Amber?!” Vanessa gasps, “how long have you been here? When’d you even get back?”
            “Not long.” Brushing off her query, Amber removes her jacket and throws it over her shoulder for Vanessa to catch. She quickly stows it in under the counter, unable to contain her shock with her mouth agape. Emilia wears a similar expression; blush spreads across her cheeks as she gets the bigger picture.
            Under her jacket, Amber has a leather vest with a black laced corset underneath. Her stockings, the lace cuff barely visible above her boots, are attached with straps running down both sides of her legs. She walks over to Emilia. Stopping a few feet away, her hand rests on her hip. Emilia gulps but quickly regains control of herself. “You heard everything?”
            “Yeah.” She then smiles and reaches over to pat her twice on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not like you’re the first sob story to come in here.” Amber turns her back and makes her way to the stage. In the meantime, everyone within earshot is treated to a speech she’d give hundreds of times. A rock instrumental accompanies her. The chords shift and the overall intensity builds as a result.
            “I hear it all the time. When we can’t meet the needs of others, it’s always our fault. We let them down. We’re blind to their flaws. To see that we deserve better than what they put us through.” She casts a soft glance of sympathy toward Vanessa, who looks away. Emilia observes this and shifts her gaze back to Amber. The energy in the room changes as her words hit home and become more personal. “We bring ourselves down because we don’t meet the expectations of the other people in our lives. Well, I’ve got news for you. That’s their problem, not yours.” Without making the cognitive decision to do so, Emilia nods. Her eyes cloud with tears, which clear as soon as she blinks and short streams trickle down her cheeks.
            Satisfied with her point firmly made, Amber smirks and flips her hair. She takes a stick of gum out of her breast pocket and chews it until she blows a bubble the size of a baseball before popping it and pulling it back inside. Mid-chew, she says, “let me show you how it’s done.”
            The volume of the music goes up as Amber dives into the box of props. Vocals come into play, all of which relate back to Amber’s speech. How people are assigned meager roles by the people around them and their true selves are never allowed room to shine. Two choices are left to everyone. Either you can surrender to those expectations or rise above them.
            After several moments of rummaging, Amber emerges holding two batons. She takes center stage, clenching one in each hand as she shuffles left to right for a spicy salsa. The volume decreases as she adds, “me, I’ve always been the bad kid. The girl everyone made narrow minded judgements about the moment they met her. Fearing I’d lead the innocent down the wrong path. Thinking I only put myself first.” Arms crossed over her chest, she spins in a circle and comes down on one knee. She pops another bubble; in the same breath, she flicks the switches on the batons to activate their LED lights. Two red rings on each side pulse in a pattern similar to a turn signal- innermost first, outermost next, both go off, then start the sequence again.
            The music builds back up. Amber rises to her feet and winks in Emilia’s direction. In a dizzying display, Amber uses every trick in her arsenal. She throws the batons in the air, spinning them in opposite directions and catching them behind her back. Positioning her arms at three and seven o’clock, she spins one leg in a circle over her head, rotating the baton at seven while keeping the one at three stationary. Then pulling both in tight with her arms crossed, she spins around twice and stops on a dime to raise her right hand in the air. For every trick, Emilia and Vanessa hoot and whistle. When all was said and done, ravenous but appreciative applause erupts from both of them.

            Wiping the sweat off her brow, Amber folds her gum back into its foil wrapper and replaces it in her pocket. She slogs over to the bar and throws down the remaining margarita as if it was just a tequila shot. Amber smiles through her gasps. “I’m not proud of how I obtained the funds to buy and restore this place but, in the end,, it was worth it.” After taking an extra moment to catch her breath, she addresses Emilia, “it took a lot of guts to do what you did tonight, kid. Be proud of that.”
            “Yeah, I took the first step and left him. But I don’t know where to even begin… where do I go from here?”
            “A good friend of mine took me under her wing when I had nothing and taught me everything she knows. In her memory, I want to be that person for others.” Briefly, she catches Vanessa’s eye and points, “after this, I’m not taking in any more strays, got that? Any girls that come through here, we make them feel like they’ve got a safe place to call home, give them the tools they need to thrive and send them on their way. Understood?”
            Fighting not to crack a smile, Vanessa nods. “Got it, patrons are ok but no more roommates.”
            “Good. Besides,” she wraps an arm around Emilia, “this one’s special and we gotta start her off right.”
            Together, all three clean up the place and the scene fades to black as they exit stage left.

            The lights come back up one last time and the story finishes on the street view, Amber’s bar in the far distance. There is no more dialogue. Only synchronized footwork to the last song. It’s a celebration of many things. Womanhood, taking control of your own destiny, new beginnings. The possibilities are endless.
            Similar to Emilia’s solo performance, a multitude of dance styles are on display and bleed seamlessly into each other. The verses alternate between cha-cha and salsa, swaying hips and legs back and forth as well as side to side. The pre chorus, all three shuffle upstage with samba walks. Then for the chorus, the rapid-fire kicks of jive for Amber and Vanessa in the back and step dance with a little balletic flair from Emilia, commanding front center stage effortlessly.
As suddenly as the number begins, it also ends. A velvet curtain falls on the scene, drawing everything to a close.

*      *      *

            “Well,” Talia finally said after Scarlet communicated that she’d finished, “that’s quite a story, I must say. But will it really be exactly like that?”
            “The introduction number was a little too ambitious with the little time we had. Our last show was almost a month ago. Alejandro made adjustments where he could but even with his budgeting skills, he can only do so much. Amber did one last job to finance the show and that covered all the expenses plus the month we lost. At the very least, we’ll break even this year. If everything went perfectly, we have a good chance of coming out ahead.”
            She raised a slight eyebrow. “I assume all those tricks were well rehearsed, then?”
            “Exhaustively. And there wouldn’t be actual alcohol in the drinks for the show. Of everyone, Emilia worked the hardest to show Amber she could rely on her for future projects.”
            “Right…” Talia picked herself off the ground and dusted herself off. “Thank you for telling me everything.” She had her hand on the doorknob to her bedroom when she asked, “where would you have fit into this?”
            “I honestly don’t know.” She shook her head, half exhausted, half wistful. “Possibly some time before Amber makes her grand entrance. My idea probably would’ve made more sense for an encore…” At the reminder of where she’d been that night and where she currently wasn’t, she gulped and her grip on the toilet seat tightened. “I should be there now…”
            “What about Ruby? If she wasn’t part of the show, as Amber wanted it, how she’s spending the night?” “No idea. I left so suddenly. I think I told her to watch the rest of the showcase in my place and to meet me at Calypso afterwards.”

***

Music:
"Bad Kids" and "Scheibe" by Lady Gaga

...if I'm being honest, "Bad Kids" didn't come out quite as good as I hoped it would. I knew for years it was the song I wanted to use for Amber's solo. But I could never get a visual together that would translate into words. All I could think was some sort of music video with tight synchronized choreography a number of female artists would put on MTV, whether it was Madonna, Pat Benatar or Gaga. 

The Sirens of Calypso- Chapter 39- Love and Revenge

"I want your revenge..."

            Inside the bar are three different set pieces. To the far left, there is a small elevated stage with a microphone stand. A jukebox and a box at least three feet tall overflowing with various props and paraphernalia for open mic nights lay just to the left of them. On the opposite side, the three large signs hanging above the well-stocked bar make a big first impression on Emilia. Between the one declaring that women drink at deep discount prices and the other two listing daily specials with a peculiar theme (Maneater Mojito, Manicure Margarita, etc.), she knows she’d found the solace she craved. The doors to the restrooms are situated in the middle. A pair of angel wings are painted above the ladies’ room. Meanwhile, on the men’s side, a dartboard hangs just below the lettering.
            The six stools at the bar are empty, but she isn’t alone. Wearing a black dress ornate with fringe crisscrossing from her collarbone to her hips, Vanessa is keeping busy behind the counter. She selects one of the tequila bottles off the top shelf and throws it behind her. Quickly, she reaches behind her back with her left hand and grabs it. Emilia gasps, holding her heart, and exhales with relief. With a wink, Vanessa throws the bottle up again. It makes two revolutions before landing upside down in her grasp. She loads one generous pour into a shaker and slides it to the opposite end of the counter. Next, she grabs the triple sec, having it perform a cartwheel behind her back, before pouring half the amount into the shaker. Finally, she removes a bottle of lime juice from the mini fridge under the bar. On the beat, she shakes it three times into the shaker and stows it back underneath. Vanessa emerges with three margarita glasses and places them in a pyramid formation. After shaking the cocktail shaker furiously for 10 seconds, she pours its contents into the top glass and the overflow fills the two beneath it. Gingerly, Vanessa removes the top glass and slides it over to Emilia. She takes a quick sip from one of the remaining glasses before vaulting over the counter onto the main floor.
            Vanessa sashays her hips side to side, the fringe swaying at twice the speed, as she comes forward. Planting her feet, she snaps her fingers three times, each snap occurring at a different coordinate as she draws a giant Z across her body with her hand. Keeping one eye on Vanessa, marveling at her every move, Emilia reaches to sample her drink. She coughs, the drink a little too potent for her palette, and slides it away. Vanessa offers a sympathetic shrug but continues about her business.
            The next stage is curiouser than the last. Vanessa reaches behind the counter and comes out with six darts, a thumbtack and a piece of paper riddled with pinholes. She attaches the paper, featuring a picture of a young man with dark hair, thick eyebrows, a big smile over a goatee and his arms crossed over his chest, to the center of the dartboard. Emilia attempts another sip, almost choking with surprise when Vanessa throws her darts. The first lands in the guy’s forehead, followed by one in each arm. In quick succession, she throws the remaining three below the belt in close proximity. Mouthing ‘wow,’ Emilia takes a gulp and clears her throat to force the margarita down. She grins in spite of herself.
            Vanessa disappears into the ladies’ room, returning a short moment later pulling a massive clothes rack behind her. Emilia cranes her neck for a better look; her eyes expand with astonishment. Negligees, corsets and every article of lingerie under the sun in a multitude of colors occupy every hanger. Choosing one at random, Vanessa hangs one of the articles over her front and shows it off like a model on a catwalk. She turns back around and does the same with a second. The number closes with another dance break, but with added conviction. Her sultry samba walks meld perfectly with the quickness of her cha-cha laden footwork.

            Emilia reaches into her wallet and pulls out a few bills but Vanessa waves it away. “That’s not necessary. The drinks are on me tonight.” She grabs a rag from the bucket under the counter and cleans off the surface.
            “Thanks. Nice place you got here.” Emilia gazes around the room to take in the decor. The picture pinned to the dartboard has long rips running down the length of it from the excessive abuse.
            “Oh no, it’s not mine. I’m just looking after it for a friend while she’s out of town.” She wrings out the rag and throws it over her shoulder into the sink. “So what’s your story?”
            “There isn’t much of one to tell.” Emilia cups her glass with both hands.
            “Please,” Vanessa rolls her eyes with a playful smile, “you reek of lighter fluid. There’s gotta be a story to go with it… it’s at your discretion of course. That’s the rule of thumb around here.”
            Emilia chokes down another sip and pushes her glass to the side. Folding her hands while leaning her elbows over the edge of the counter, she explains, “I dropped out of school and ran away with my boyfriend. He promised he’d take care of me so I’d never have to work a day in my life. I found today that the jerk was cheating on me!” She passes the back of her hand across her eyes but her anger bubbles over like lava. “With MY best friend. We were engaged. Then the wedding invitations we ordered came today and it had her name on them. Everything I had saved from our time together, it’s nothing but ashes now. All that’s left behind is the ring.” She reaches over for another healthy gulp and shoves the glass further away from herself.
            “Whoa, hang on, you set your whole house on fire over this loser?”
            “What? No, it’s all in a trash can down the alley from here.”
            “Ok, good.” Vanessa pats her chest to steady her accelerated heartbeat. “I was about to say I wish I was that badass when I left my disaster of a relationship behind.”
            For a brief moment, Vanessa disappears into the ladies’ room and comes out with an 18x24 cork board. The top of it read ‘wall of shame’. “If you have a picture of the bastard in your wallet, you can add it here.”
            “What is all this?” Emilia marvels.
            “It’s become a growing tradition around here. All the women who come through here with a story of heartache and betrayal contribute to the wall.”
            “So what’s the story behind yours?” Emilia asks as she pins a picture of the two of them next to the man from the dartboard.
            “Let me show you.” Vanessa takes the rag she threw in the sink and wipes the makeup off the right side of her face. The area below her right eye still has remnants of black and blue from a shiner. Emilia covers her mouth to stifle a gasp.
            Vanessa shrugs and lays the cork board on the bar in one fluid motion. “And that little fashion show catwalk I was doing… that’s how he always got me to take him back. Gift me the frilliest lacy lingerie and bam! I’m back in his bed like the whole thing never happened. But the next time he doesn’t come home to a clean house with dinner already made for him, or worse, he gets jealous when he catches me talking to another guy, it happens all over again.”
            “If it’s over, why are you still holding onto all that?” Emilia asks as Vanessa crosses the room to put the cork board back in its proper place.
            “Lingerie with this quality? It’d be a crime to throw away but I see your point.” After going into the ladies’ room and coming back out empty handed, she adds, “After my friend convinced me to leave his sorry ass, I swore I’d never be anyone’s Cinderella again.”
            “Amen to that!” Emilia runs over to the microphone on the other side of the room and declares, “this next song goes out to our exes…”
            Vanessa finishes her sentence, raising her glass up high, “Without whom, neither of us would be here together tonight.”
            Emilia searches the jukebox for the perfect song. Meanwhile, Vanessa dives into the box of props for the perfect accompaniment. She emerges with a bandanna tied around her head and an old broom missing several of its bristles. Peeking over, Emilia’s jaw drops. “There’s so much in there.”
            “Yeah, another part of the tradition here. For anyone who’s interested, we have everything they need to roast their exes.” Emilia digs her own bandanna out of the box and ties it up tight. “Ok, I’m ready whenever you are.”
            Emilia takes the mic and Vanessa takes the floor for the first verse. She diligently sweeps the dirt in front of her, wiping the sweat off her brow. But as the narrative of the song shifts away from being an agreeable lover, Vanessa spins the broom with the same dexterity she demonstrated earlier with the liquor bottles. The broom soon drops to the floor and Vanessa shifts her rapid-fire footwork directly on top of it. Observing this, a grin creeps across Emilia’s face as the perfect idea for her own solo materializes.
            The girls cross paths, exchanging a high five before switching places. Holding onto the ends of her bandanna with both hands, Emilia feigns innocence and forgiveness with a doe-eyed gaze. It isn’t long before she throws her headwear to the ground and stomps on it. Jumping over the broom, she tap dances vigorously like she’s celebrating over someone’s grave. Vanessa steps away from the microphone, clapping and cheering her on.
            For the big finish, Emilia and Vanessa come to the center of floor together. They synchronize their steps, first with cha-cha, followed by tap and jive. They complement one other like partners who’d known each other for years. But slowly, the euphoria wears off and Emilia runs back to the bar. Leaning over the side, her tight grasp bleaches her knuckles and she gasps to catch her breath. Vanessa shuts off the music and rushes over to comfort her.
            “What’s wrong?” She rubs her back.
            Between sobs, Emilia says, “this is the most fun I’ve had in ages. But sooner or later, I have to face reality. I burned all my bridges and I have nowhere to go. I barely have enough money for a month’s worth of rent.”
            “Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out.”
            “If my parents find out what happened, I’ll never hear the end of it. They told me going with him was a mistake.” She wipes her eyes and spins back around. “I used to be their perfect little girl. Now I’m just a big joke.”

            “Excuse me, but that’s bullshit...” Slowly, billows of white smoke seep from under the bathroom doors. A guitar revs somewhere in the background. Wearing a chained leather jacket and thigh high boots on skinny six-inch heels, Amber shoves her way through the door on the men’s side.

***

Music: 
"Bad Romance" and "Judas" by Lady Gaga

...originally, I meant for this show to completely revolve around Gaga's "Born this Way" album. But things evolve over time as they tend to do. 
These two songs always felt kinda similar to me in terms of structure so I thought it'd be cool to put them together. Plus, "Judas" is my favorite off the album so I was hoping to integrate it in this somewhere.

The Sirens of Calypso- Chapter 38- Meet me in a Safe Place

 

"I won't deal with your lies anymore..."

(Note: The narrative in the following chapters derive from Scarlet’s imagination unless stated otherwise)


            As an electric guitar revs in the background, the three bedrooms of the three main characters come into view. On stage left, Vanessa urgently rummages through her closet and dresser to pack away as many of her belongings as she can fit into a large brown suitcase. At center stage, Amber sits at her desk scribbling a ballpoint pen across a sheet of paper. Then stage right, Emilia meticulously removes photos from an album, throwing some to the floor with more fury than others.
            Amber has full control of the spotlight when the song officially begins. The scratching of her pen matches the song’s tempo with remarkable precision. Amber’s letter, as it turns out, is an invitation to Vanessa. An invitation to escape an abusive relationship and stay with her. The next four lines serve as a call and response. On lines one and three, Amber instructs everyone in earshot to follow her lead. Then on two and four, the light around her dims and illuminates Emilia and Vanessa, voicing their reply verbally and through mirrored crisscross footwork.
            A knock on the door startles Vanessa, prompting her to move faster. She reviews the address on Amber’s letter and slips it into her bra before climbing out her window onto the fire escape. Amber opens her closet, revealing multiple black dresses and tops with a wide range of leather boots lining the floor. She spends the remainder of the scene deciding what to wear before making her own departure.
            Finally, the spotlight gives its full attention to Emilia. She smashes multiple picture frames and loads a cardboard box with items that had sentimental value at one time. Everything from ticket stubs to photo-booth keepsakes to lingerie and stockings. Her phone rings multiple times. She glares in its direction but otherwise refuses to acknowledge it. Church bells peal in the song’s final moments. She opens her closet. Its only occupant: a wedding dress tatted like a doily around the neck and sleeves. She stares it for a few seconds before cramming it into the box. The last thing to go is an engagement ring. She rips it off her finger and drops it onto her bed. Box under her arm, she exits, slamming the door closed behind her.

            “Hold on, hold on…” Talia demanded, ejecting Scarlet from her train of thought. “Emilia was engaged? She never told me this.”
            Scarlet rolled her eyes. “Yeah I said that too and I’m sure she’d say this to you as well. You never asked!“ She quickly discovered she’d pushed herself too far and reached back over the toilet. Only dry heaves came out. Once everything relaxed again, she explained, “she also said on multiple occasions how you decided what role you wanted her to play without asking.” The stunned expression on Talia’s face, eyes staring into space and mouth hanging open, was almost hilarious. She inhaled, ready to add a follow up question with a sense of urgency but Scarlet cut her off. “She’s still a virgin. Actually, that’s one of the key reasons why things didn’t work out between her and her boyfriend. She wanted to wait and he couldn’t.”
            “Oh…” Talia nodded, letting this revelation sink in. Then her mind quickly went in a different direction. “So Amber makes herself into the hero that saves everyone? Creating the sirens when I was the one…”
            “Let me tell the story and you can decide that for yourself later.”
            “Did she explain her role to the rest of you? Is there any truth behind it or is this another act?”
            Scarlet shrugged. “Amber never explains the reasons for the things she does. All I know for sure is that she wanted us to feel comfortable enough to tell our own stories. Show a vulnerable side the audience has never seen before… can I continue without interruption?” She heaved one more before Talia gave her a go-ahead nod.

            Emilia finally answers her ringing phone as she enters an empty alleyway. Its only two occupants are a metal trash can and a flickering streetlamp. Gingerly, she lays her phone down on the lid of the trash can. With a flick of her wrist, her white babydoll dress with black trim transforms into a black dress with white trim. The song serving as her counterstrike blasts through the speakers. Her lips sneering with defiance, all of the words she’d held back through the course of the relationship pour out of her in a steady stream of catharsis.
            At the same time, her footwork tells a different story. She executes each movement with meaningful precision, all while maintaining a sense of grace and beauty. Various techniques of ballet, stepdance, tap, jive, and contemporary blend together seamlessly into one unique style. And thanks to her quickness and cleverness, no two sequences are identical. With pointed toes and bended knees, she sways from side to side. Sometimes she completes the sequence with a flurry of taps. Others, she flicks her kicks outward and spins like a top into a dazzling pirouette. For the transitions in between, she leaps into a split jump, flipping forward or from one side to another. Her flexibility, whether in her jumps or her turns, is perhaps the most awe-inspiring aspect of the spectacle.
            She picks her phone up in one hand while the other transfers the contents of her box into the trashcan. The fury within her grows hotter with each passing second. Once the box is emptied, two items remain: a matchbox and a bottle of lighter fluid. She douses the open trash can, strikes a match and flicks it inside. Just as the contents inside burst into flame and the lightbulb in the streetlamp finally bursts, Emilia shuts her flip phone and declares, “I am so done!”
            After the flames die, leaving only ashes in their wake, Emilia’s expression slowly shifts from triumph to panic. She takes a step back and gasps, “oh god what have I done?” Pressing a hand to her forehead, she paces back and forth. “What do I do now? I don’t have anywhere to go. I can’t go home. Mom and dad told me what a big mistake this was, just running off with him and getting married. Even if I begged, they’d never take me back. ‘You made the bed, you have to sleep in it,’ they’d say. ‘Being impulsive is going to get you into trouble someday.’”
            Emilia reaches into her purse, fanning open all of the money in her possession. “Not enough to pay for rent but it’s at least enough for a drink. After that, I’ll figure out what my next move is going to be.” She puts her cash away and smooths the wrinkles out of her dress. “I just wish there was a sign, something to tell me I didn’t make a huge mistake.”
            Slowly as she departs the alleyway, a new melody begins echoing through the air. Emilia follows the sound, her stride quickening with a resurgence of anticipation, and stops as soon as she uncovers its source. Her jaw drops. “It’s beautiful…”
            The building at end of the main drag combines elements of old and new architecture. The wooden facade has an awning held up by pillars on either side. In the open area beneath, there is room enough for two rocking chairs or a pair of bar tables with accompanying stools. The whole structure, painted a pale bluish-green, looks like it was lifted from the reenactment of a Wild West shootout— except in pristine condition. The rest of the building behind it is more modern with 21st century brick and concrete giving it additional integrity. Stretching across the oval roof sitting atop the awning, a neon sign with bright red lettering reads “Aphrodite’s Sanctuary.”
            As Emilia makes her way toward it, the music crescendos and everything else fades to black as the ongoing scene transitions to the next.

***
Music: 
"Electric Chapel" by Lady Gaga (opening sequence)
    -the setup would be similar to something you'd see on "Glee" or MTV back in the day

"I'm so Done" by Alexis Grace (Emilia's solo)
    -a unique fusion of ballet, jive and Irish step dance. Some of the moves in my head, I saw years ago from an Irish dancer on a competition show "World of Dance" that featured Michael Flately and other dancers from around the world as judges
    -the music video for this song is on YouTube. It's nothing like the vision I developed in my head but the idea of it was really fascinating. Alexis (who left American Idol in 9th place in season 8- WAY too soon) is in two roles where she plays the good girl and the bad girl. 

 

The Sirens of Calypso- Chapter 37- Accepting Your Phantoms

            Scarlet kept her promise. She told her sister she’d be performing in her first solo when Calypso reopened to the public and showed off the dress Vanessa designed for her. It was black, decked out with rhinestones, and had a skirt, layered like rose petals, running just short of her knees. What made it extra special: thin ribbons of LED lights sewn into the fabric. The palm sized battery pack controlling them, which clipped to the dress’s belt, had switches that changed their color as well as how frequently they flashed. While Scarlet disclosed the idea Emilia had for a future twin routine, for which they would need to dye their hair to an identical auburn, she gave away no further detail regarding the show that was right around the corner.
            Ruby respected this pretense of maintaining secrecy, but she’d had the pieces put together long before her sister’s return. Amber was getting what she’d always wanted— one night at Calypso without her so-called interference—and she was giving it to her. She was done with the constant bickering and decided to accept what fate had in store for her.
            She’d never admit it to anyone but in times like this, Ruby was jealous of her sister. Even when they were in school, Scarlet was the one everyone wanted to hang out with. Her face was always marked with an infectious smile that drew boys and girls to her like moths to a flame. On the other end of the spectrum, Ruby carried herself with a quiet confidence but lacked her sister’s personable disposition. Working at the strip club helped liberate the extrovert that slept below the surface. In a bizarrely twisted way, the years of abuse at the hands of her father helped make up for the years Scarlet’s shadow left her lonely. Yet despite these feelings, Ruby would gladly lay down her life to ensure their father never hurt Scarlet again. She accepted her lot in life and the accompanying pain without hesitation; Scarlet suffered worse because that choice was made without her consent.
            Finally, after three solid weeks of brainstorming, rehearsing and tweaking, the big night arrived. However, it came with a last-minute snag. Javier kept Scarlet in the loop about the band’s upcoming showcase for a group of top record executives. Both, as it turned out, were set for the same time slot on the same night and neither could be rescheduled. The executives had an opening in their schedule that night and the next chance they’d be available was long after the end of the summer season. Amber was adamant that their show had to be on the date she’d chosen months earlier; the reasoning behind it, she disclosed to no one.
            After Scarlet finished explaining her dilemma, Amber pleasantly surprised her with her response. “Go to the showcase and support your boyfriend.”
            “But…”
            “We can handle things here no problem. And if it ends early, you can always swing by just in time for a last-minute encore.”
            “Really?” She blushed. Overwhelmed, she hugged Amber with a resounding “thank you!”
            Scarlet spent so much time trapped in indecision over what to wear that she arrived at the showcase a few minutes late. All of the tables were pushed against the walls by the entrance. The only three chairs left on the floor were in a row five feet away from the stage. The two executives, both men in their mid-50s, sat at either side of La Scala’s owner.
            Scarlet deduced that she’d missed the introductions and the band was midway through the first song. She kept her footfalls soft as she occupied the back-right corner of the room, which happened to be the exact spot Talia stood the night of the big breakup.
            Turning her attention to the activity on stage, everything appeared to be exactly as she’d left it. Javier’s sleek smile still took her breath away and his tan skin had a warm inviting glow. Juan Paulo remained a confident front man, performing one of the many songs she’d heard dozens of times. It wasn’t until the second song that things took an unsettling turn. Phrases like “I’m getting over you” and “she’s a liar” had replaced the compliments that had come to him as easily as breathing.
            The final straw was the return of the song she’d heard in its beginning stages the morning after the breakup, before her nightmare drove her from Javier’s bed to Amber’s couch. Her stomach churned with the anxiety that put ice in her veins. Just as quickly, the ice dissolved as a contemptuous fury consumed her. Her vision blurred as tears formed behind her eyes. Unable to withstand much more, she wiped her face with her arm and shoved her way through the doors. She rushed over to Talia’s building, calling her sister for a quick favor on the way.

*      *     *

            “Talia!” Scarlet pounded with rapid success. “Open up! We need to talk!” Instinctively, she grabbed the doorknob to throttle it. Quickly, she realized it was unlocked and wasted no time letting herself inside.
            Talia, who jumped in response to the intrusion, sat in the middle of the sofa in the common room. On the coffee table, a freshly uncorked bottle of red wine and stem glass, filled almost to the brim, were her only company for the evening.
            After taking this in, Scarlet muttered her comment with so much sarcasm that she surprised herself. Somehow, the amount of anger brewing inside her had grown so hot she’d lost all sense of discretion. “Pity party for one, huh, Talia?”
            Talia squinted as if she was looking at a creature with two heads but didn’t know which one to focus on. Maintaining her stance, she took a healthy sip of wine before speaking. “I’ve been away from Calypso longer than I thought. Which one are you again? Were you the one with red highlights or the blonde highlights?”
            Scarlet blushed bright red but remained firm. “It’s Scarlet. The solid hair color is just temporary. It’s for a new twin routine Emilia will be teaching us soon.”
            “Emilia?” The glass in her hand shook so suddenly she lowered it to keep from spilling. Even a month later, she spoke that name with a sense of reverence.
            “Yeah, she had an idea for Amber’s show with a lot of costume changes. Both agreed it’d work better for us.”

            Clearing her throat and running her hands down her front to compose herself, Talia turned away. She crossed her ankles at an angle leaning away from Scarlet as she sipped her wine in silence. Her lashes were highlighted with mascara and her hair had the perfect amount of curl to it, but the way she carried herself told a different story.
            “Yeah, that’s right. Everyone has moved on just fine without you. JP is doing his audition for the executives tonight. He’s still hurting but at least he hasn’t given up on himself.” At the sound of his name, Talia choked on her wine and put down her glass as she coughed to clear her lungs. “I’m sure if Emilia wasn’t doing the show tonight and saw what I just came from, she’d say the same thing I’m thinking. You ruined him! You ruined him with your petty selfishness.”
            Through her peripherals, Talia observed as Scarlet began pacing the room. The vigor in her stride had her convinced she’d soon burn a hole through the floor. She’d witnessed similar tirades from Amber and most recently from Vanessa, but Scarlet was the last person she imagined seeing this way.
            “Want to know what the worst part about this is? What you did made me question my own judgement. I let my fears and stupid nightmares get between me and Javi. We were so happy and I finally let my guard down for him. But I’m still that frightened girl that ran out of their father’s house at 15.”
            Scarlet reached down and inhaled the remaining contents of the lone wine glass. “I don’t know why I even came here to tell you all this. Amber’s show is tonight. Her and Emilia and Vanessa are waiting for me and I’m not about to let them down like…” Suddenly, Scarlet’s stomach gurgled in response to the wine and she reached her mouth in what felt like slow motion. “Oh god…”
            Quickly as she could, she shuffled her ankle boots across the floor until she reached the bathroom. The next several minutes were spent hovering over the toilet bowl, purging herself of the wine and what was left of her lunch from hours earlier. As she caught her breath, Talia walked over and reached to rub her back. Scarlet jerked away. “Don’t touch me!”
            “I’m sorry…” She sat down and backed away until her back rested against the bathroom wall furthest from her.
            Once she regained herself, Scarlet rummaged through the vanity for a spare cup and swished some mouthwash around before spitting it into the sink. She flushed and gasped the thoughts reeling in her head into reality. “I thought all these unsettled stomach issues were just nerves… maybe I’m coming down with something.”
            “It’s ok if you need to stay for a while. Nobody else will be coming. I only got the wine in case Vanessa and Emilia come back here and they want to celebrate a job well done.”
            Scarlet raised an eyebrow. “And Amber? She may have given herself a supporting role, but this show started with her idea.”
            “You’re right.” She chuckled in spite of herself, “that will take a little getting used to. Amber being in charge of a whole production. Of course, she left Ruby out of it on purpose.”
            “Well, my sister really doesn’t feel like fighting with her anymore. So many times she’d bent over backwards to get on her good side. The only thing she hadn’t tried was just staying out of her way. It may not make sense in your mind but it’s kinda freeing not trying to control everything.”
            Talia nodded but added no further comment. Instead, she redirected. “How are you feeling?”
            Scarlet shut her eyes, concentrating on keeping her breaths even. “As long as I can keep myself distracted, I might be able to get through this.”
            “Tell me about the show. Knowing Amber, it’s sure to be a spectacle.”
            “It is but in a different way from what you’re probably thinking.” Her lips curled into a smile and she recalled the production as if it was a movie playing inside her mind.

***

No specific songs come to mind, but the chapter title is a play on a band name. "Phantoms" is actually the album title and Acceptance was the band.

During one of my recent listens, I imagined these songs as a breakup album Juan Paulo wrote after Talia broke up with him. Just for fun. He's prolific but not at this particular level. The phrases mentioned in the band section did come from "Take Cover" and "Getting over you" but they're generic enough they could come from songs elsewhere. 

The Sirens of Calypso- Chapter 36- Praying to Live Free

 

Scarlet's living her best life

            Vanessa returned to Calypso the following day. Alejandro brought her up to speed the moment she arrived. “Good to see you, Vanessa. Amber messaged to let me know she’d be late. It sounds like Emilia’s routine is coming together really well.”
            “That’s good…” She sighed as she laid her purse and her elbows down on the counter.
            Before the silence between them grew too awkward, he addressed the elephant in the room, “So, how is she? Still not talking to you?”
            “Yeah… the good news is that the flow of random strangers has stopped. It’s just been her and Carlos for the past day. He hasn’t given me much to go on but at least he’s someone I know we can trust in case something comes up.”
            He nodded thoughtfully. “He is a good man… one of my uncles’ oldest friends. If they weren’t so busy with ongoing meetings… well, they’d be grateful someone like him was looking out for her in their place.”
            “They can’t postpone just to check on her?”
            “Not with these meetings… they focus on the next five years of business and possible personnel changes to go along with that.”
            Noticing how Vanessa’s lips pursed with interest, he quickly steered the conversation back to Talia before further questions arose. No matter whose perspective it came from, it wasn’t his story to tell. “I’m assuming there is some bad news as well.”
            Vanessa hissed to express her discomfort, “Well… whatever plan she had to keep herself numb to her feelings, she had to put it on pause. At least until the pain resides.”
            “Pain?” Alejandro gasped, but before he could ask further, she clarified, “monthly women’s pains.”
            “Oh…” Realizing he was blushing, he quickly cleared his throat and excused himself before returning to the office.
            Vanessa leaned forward, sighing again as she recalled the state of things before she left. Through the course of the night, Talia’s cries of pain had woken her up multiple times. Then while she gathered her things before leaving, whispering from two distinct voices were barely audible through her walls. One was decidedly downhearted while the other tried its best to be optimistic.
            As a courtesy, Vanessa knocked to inform the others. “Hey Talia? I’m leaving now for rehearsal. I know you’re still mad at me but if you need anything, I can pick something up on the way home.”
            The door opened slowly, her heart skipping in response. It sunk when Carlos was the one peeking his head out the door. “I have everything handled, Vanessa. You have nothing to worry about.” He allowed her room for a proper glimpse. Talia deliberately avoided eye contact, staring at the floorboards. She was sitting up in bed, her bent legs still covered with a layer of blankets, with her arms wrapped around her knees. A white cord, to what Vanessa could only guess was a heating pad, stretched from under the blanket covering her stomach to the nearest outlet. Even without makeup and her hair in slight disarray, Talia still radiated beauty. But her self-confidence was so diminished, the signature aura that dazzled all who laid eyes on her was all but gone.
            “Ok, thank you…” Carlos walked her to the door, assuring her in passing her he’d help in every way he can. It was his way of repaying Talia for her assistance with his “performance issues” two months ago.

*     *     *

            Calypso saw a whirlwind of activity over the next several days. Amber and Emilia were nearly inseparable as they played different ideas off each other for the show. There would be three different sets: the back alley where Emilia did the opening number, the interior of a club where the bulk of the story took place and an exterior street view for Amber’s solo and the grand finale. As they experimented with different songs for various sequences, Amber said more than once how she wished they had a full script to set this show apart but wasn’t having any luck. A day or two later, Emilia came to rehearsal with three notebook pages full of ideas. While her character arc was completely fleshed out, she was unsure about the others.
            “If the others just speak from experience and improvise, there’s a lot of potential for encore presentations. It would be a slightly different show every night. I also thought it’d be cool if we played off each other… not just attacking our exes but showing how we’re a group of friends that lift each other up.”
            “So, kinda like a ‘sisters before misters’ type of thing?”
            Emilia screwed up her face, somewhat confused, “I’ve never heard that phrase before, but I can’t think of a better way to put Talia’s philosophy.”
            Talia’s name didn’t come up nearly as often as it used to, but when it did, an awkward silence filled the void until someone changed the subject.
            “Have you figured out your character yet, Amber?”
            “I have the song picked but I’m still working out the minor details…” She eyed Scarlet over by the bar stools where she was having a spirited conversation with Vanessa.
            Ever since her falling out with Talia, Vanessa’s face had gained a few wrinkles from excessive worrying. Scarlet was the only one who asked her for any updates, but with so little to report, both of them lost the desire to dwell on something that would only depress them.
            Through her regular texts with Javier, she asked about Juan Paulo once every day. The only response he could muster was a variation of “he’s keeping himself busy with his music.” Beyond that, she regularly filled him in on the progress with Amber’s show. Her enthusiasm was so palpable, even in print, Javier encouraged her more than once to ask Amber if she could join in. Whether they were messaging for 10 minutes or 10 hours, Scarlet abruptly ended the exchange every time he brought this up. Vanessa didn’t think too much of this until one day when Scarlet rushed into the bathroom with her hand clutched over her mouth before she could complete her latest reply. She peered over at Javier’s last text, which read:

You performed with me no problem

How hard can a solo be?

Amber really wants to work with you

She won’t say it but when she taught me that dance I could tell she did it to make sure you were happy

            Vanessa started toward the bathroom when a startling realization made her take pause. For the first time in several days, the stage was completely silent. Amber was next to the stereo console, her pointer finger firmly on the pause button. Emilia asked Vanessa, clutching her fist to her chest, “is everything ok?”
            Vanessa opened her mouth to answer but Amber quickly stepped in, “no… it’s not. I should’ve known this wasn’t going to be a perfect solution.”
            Vanessa studied the knowing glint in her eyes and asked, “what do you mean?”
            “I thought Scarlet would feel better if she stayed in touch with Javier even if it was just texting. I think we’re at a point where that isn’t working anymore.”
            “I don’t understand,” Emilia shook her head, “I’d been at your place almost every night and she seems fine to me.”
            “Yeah but after you leave, she chooses that exact moment to stop texting him and call it a night.”
            “Unbelievable…” Emilia groaned, “I thought we were finally at a point where we can talk to each other about everything.”
            Vanessa rubbed her shoulder. “You need to remember, Emilia… Scarlet has been through much more than most other people can begin to imagine. My abusive relationship with Richie was child’s play compared to how she and Ruby grew up.”
            Amber turned her head down, rubbing her own arm out of nervousness. Emilia tilted her head for a better look, just barely able to notice the blush that colored her cheeks.
            “What are you thinking, Amber?” Emilia asked. Vanessa held her breath, anticipating a comment about her own past. Even though she was the only one privy to Amber’s former identity, she still kept the full extent of her past under lock and key. Ultimately, she was disappointed, but not wholly surprised, about her pivoting in a different direction.
            “As much as I want to blame Talia for Scarlet not getting the chance to work through her pain, we don’t have any time to waste on that.” When she finally resumed eye contact both of them, Amber’s face was marked, not with smugness, but with sympathy, catching them completely off guard. “As much as this show needs another role, Scarlet might need the opportunity more.”
            Vanessa added, “Just going off this last text exchange with Javier, she’s still struggling with the idea of leading a solo. That might be what’s really upsetting her.”
            Almost on cue, their conversation was interrupted by a toilet flush from the ladies’ room. While Scarlet run the taps, Amber quickly delegated, “I think I have an idea that might work. Emilia, we’re going to do something a little different tomorrow. We’ll need to arrive here a little earlier to get everything set up.”
            “Sure, I can do that.”
            “Vanessa, I need you to come by my place so you can be there when Scarlet wakes up. I’ll text you when we have everything set over here and you can come on by.”
            “Sure…” She studied her face and, again, tried to discern the glint in her eye. Even though working with Emilia had made Amber more of an open book than she used to be, she still hadn’t lost that flair for unpredictability.

*     *      *

            The nervous excitement Vanessa and Scarlet felt on their way to Calypso the following morning evaporated into awe the moment they walked through the doors. With a little help from Alejandro, Emilia and Amber transformed the stage into a catwalk. Spotlights lined both sides of the foldout walkway. At center stage, a microphone stood lonely, eagerly waiting to be wielded.
            Scarlet thoughtfully paced the room, taking in every detail for several minutes until she was able to compose a coherent thought. “So, what’s all this?”
            Amber replied, “we’d been working hard for a while. I thought it’d be good to take a day off to let loose and have a little fun.”
            “You know, Amber, you could’ve just come to karaoke with us all those times I asked you. You didn’t have to do all this.”
            “Actually,” she stepped forward to partially close the gap between them and handed her a CD case, “I’m not doing this for me. You get to choose the first song.” Scarlet studied the cover art and immediately recognized it as the music for Amber’s soon-to-be theme night. “By now, you should be familiar. Which of these is speaking to you right now?”
            “Really, Amber, you’ve done more than enough for me lately. You don’t…”
            Vanessa interrupted, finally finding her voice, “come on, Scarlet. What have you got to lose?”
            Scarlet turned to Emilia and saw an equally encouraging smile.
            “Ok, fine. One song.” She handed the CD back to Amber. “Track 6.”
            Smiling with her lips but otherwise keeping the rest of her face neutral, Amber responded, “coming right up.”
            The song began as a sad ballad. The narrative brought Scarlet back to the first time her father snuck into her room in the middle of the night to cut her hair short. A sob lingered in her throat from the memory of him saying “now none of the boys will look at you the same way again” as well as numerous times she lied to her friends about “forgetting” to take out her gum before bed.
            The tears streaming down Scarlet’s cheeks soon dried up as her voice slowly gained strength and resolve. After the first chorus came and went, the ballad transformed into an up-tempo empowerment anthem. She removed the microphone from its podium. As if possessed by the music, she strutted down the runway with reckless abandon. Her legs automatically performed her signature “blink or you’ll miss them” cha-cha steps. The biggest surprise, however, was the killer stare in her eyes. The other girls looked at each other, mouthing “wow” before returning their full attention back to the catwalk.
            Amber bit her lip, strategically covering her mouth with one hand to hide her smile. Not only did the music work its magic for Scarlet as it had for her on numerous occasions, she found herself tripping through a daydream. She imagined how this number would fit in the context of her show. Scarlet would start singing in the shadows of stage right and the spotlight slowly illuminated her figure. She pictured her as she was the day she arrived: fishnet stockings full of holes, eyes bleeding mascara, skirt torn at the hemline. Then when the dramatic change occurred, lights would flash rapidly as she did a quick costume change. Once the lights settled down, she’d be at center stage in a gorgeous black dress ending in a mullet skirt accented with matching lace. She’d wear a wig of long flowing hair and parade herself with unshakable confidence.
            The other numbers they had planned for the show so far flashed before her eyes but sprinkled between every other instance was Emilia’s original idea. While her song choice didn’t work for the show, the quick-change motif had a lot of potential to create some incredible show-stopping moments.
            “Amber? Hey Amber!” She shook her head out of the fantasy, discovering that Scarlet was calling her name. “I asked how you liked it. That was ok, right?”
            “Yeah,” she quickly cleared her throat and paced while maintaining perfect eye contact, “that was more than ok. You’ve never looked better.”
            Vanessa interceded, “you looked like you were thinking hard about something. What’s on your mind?”
            She held her right pointer finger out in front of her and waved it a couple times as she gave an abridged version of her epiphany. Omitting her thoughts on Scarlet’s wardrobe, she explained Emilia’s quick change idea and how it could be used to distinguish between the performance numbers and everything else in between them.
            Emilia’s mouth hung open, her face aglow with joy that her first idea still had a use for the show. But after Amber finished, she added, “That sounds amazing… but I don’t think it’d be a good idea to use it too much. If every number used a quick change, the audience will learn to expect it and it’ll stop being a surprise after a while.”
            “Hmm… I think you might be right. Less is more, after all.”
            The rest of the day was spent holding a marathon brainstorming session. The tracklist was narrowed down to six songs- a solo for each of them, a duet between Emilia and Vanessa and a large group number as its conclusion. The quick change would be reserved for Emilia to open the show with a bang and the epic finale. Scarlet asked where her number would fit in and Amber assured her there was plenty of room for flexibility. “It could be halfway through the show or it could be an encore at the end.”
            Emilia and Vanessa supported this but were sure to remind her they’d still love her even if she got cold feet at the last minute. She acknowledged them with a gracious nod but spent nearly every minute since watching Amber as her head teemed with too many questions to count.
            Before turning in for that night, Scarlet finally asked, “hey Amber, how is it that you know me so well but we never spent more than five minutes in the same room together?”
            She rested her back against her bedroom’s archway and crossed her arms securely under her chest. “I’m not sure what you mean by that.”
            “That whole story you pictured for me in the show… that was the exact image in my head. Except for the costume change. That’d be a little much.”
            “Right. Look,” she stared at her feet hoping to gather her thoughts and edit them so she wouldn’t give herself away completely, “just because I focus on myself all the time doesn’t mean I’m blind to what everyone else is doing. I’ve overheard enough conversations you’ve had with the others even I know your backstory by heart.”
            A nervous laugh escaped Scarlet before she regained control of herself. “I’ve told a lot of people, haven’t I? At least it gives them a little comfort that they didn’t have it as bad as I did.”
            “That still doesn’t make happen what happened to you ok.” Noticing the slight break in Amber’s tone, Scarlet refocused her eye line on her. Amber kept her deeper emotions hidden without exerting any effort but felt comfortable enough to offer a rare compliment. “You are the nicest person I know. The fact you started out in such a horrible place while still having generosity and compassion in your heart, I admire that more than I can…” She turned away to wipe away her tears.
            “Are you ok?”
            “Yeah,” she cleared her throat again, still fidgeting, “old demons …”
            “Will you tell me about them sometime? I promise it’ll stay just between us.”
            Amber took an extra moment to make sure she was composed before looking back in her direction. Her tentativeness put Scarlet on edge and the longer it went on, the more she doubted this conversation’s future. For a brief moment, she asked herself if she truly believed sleeping on Amber’s couch for the last few weeks was going to change anything. “Sure…”
            “What?” Scarlet gasped, “really?”
            “After we put on the show, I promise I’ll tell you everything.”
            What happened next took both of them equally by surprise. Scarlet threw her arms around Amber for a hug. “It means so much that you’re trusting me like this.”
            So many thoughts ran through Amber’s head and none of them came out. She’d wanted this for such a long time and at long last, it felt everything she’d prayed for was finally coming true.
            Before they left for their separate corners, Scarlet announced that she was ready to move back in with her sister tomorrow while swearing to keep a tight lid on what they were working on.
            Amber nodded. “Thank you. I mean, no offense, but the only way I want to see Ruby anywhere near this show is in the audience.”

***

Music: "Hair" by Lady Gaga