They Call Us Show Girls

[KERFUFFLE]

After quietly watching the girls dance, Caden sat contemplatively for a few moments, before hopping down from the sound desk and getting onto the stage. He looked apprehensive to speak for a few moments, before he cleared his throat, the sound echoing through the theatre. "You know, maybe I'm wrong, and I don't for a minute think that my judgement or understanding of dance is nearly as acute as Ellen's, so feel free to correct me, but I can't help but have noticed over the years the emphasis on technicality. The way I see it, and maybe I'm just biased, but musicality is what I want to see. That means you really have to feel the music and the movements and the emotion of what you're doing. Personally, I could care much less about where Mei's blocking is, how sharp Brookelyn looks or how pointed Brielle's toes are if you threw yourselves at it completely and really made me believe what you were doing. Give me attack, give me passion, give me sex. You're great dancers. Now I want you to be great show-women."

 

[B e t h y <3]

Oh, I'll give you sex... Bri thought, catching her self before she made a fool of herself by actually ssaying it out loud. Bri just nodded, asking, "Shall we do it again, then?"

Ellen nodded and replayed the song, stepping back to let Caden be more in charge of this run. What Caden had said really got to most of the girls. Especially Bri. Bri looked like she actually wanted to be in bed with everyone in the audience. Which, of course, was an act. The one thing that wasn't an act, though, was the fire Ellen could now see in Bri's face, eyes, and her whole body. You could really tell how much Brielle loved to dance.

 

[KERFUFFLE]

Caden watched the girls more closely this time, pacing around the stage carefully so as not to get in the way of their routine, but to still see them better. He made encouraging and constructive comments to the girls as he went along, telling the shyer ones how to let go, but at the same time that they were doing a good job. A few girls stood out for him, and he was glad that what he'd said had hit home for them. Brielle, he could see, most definitely had the right idea. Frankly, when he got to her, he couldn't take his eyes off of her, simply because she was really making him believe that she felt every step, that she gave all she had, that she was explosive. "Excellent," he murmured to her, moving along before he watched for a little bit too long.

 

[B e t h y <3]

Bri momentarily looked after Caden, before realizing what she was doing. She continued to dance, pretending the she didn't notice Caden watching her, and pretending like she wasn't wondering why. The song ended, and Brielle was the first of the girls to break her pose. She murmured something about getting water, and hurried off to the snack table, where she picked up a bottle of Fiji water. She opened it and took big gulps, hoping that clearing her throat would get her head clear, as well. Why could she not stop looking at Caden? There was a line, and Brielle was not going to cross it. Unless he crossed it first. Which was highly unlikely, right?

 

[KERFUFFLE]

Caden's reasons for staring at Bri hadn't intentionally been the cause of some kind of attraction or anything of the sort. At the time, he'd thought it was entirely due to the fact that she'd played the part so well that he couldn't help himself, as though it was like show night and that's how everyone would have reacted. At least, he hoped that was it. There were boundaries, people had opinions, there were a bunch of other girls there, he had a girlfriend for goodness sake, he told himself. Yes, said girlfriend had been very busy of late and he hadn't seen her for a while but that was beside the point. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? So, yes. It was all because of her dancing. Why was his throat so darn dry?

 

[B e t h y <3]

Brielle finally shook herself out of what she called 'attention feelings'. You give her special attention, she looks at you for a whole two seconds. Once that was over, she reclosed the water bottle and walked over to the rest of the girls, staying away from both Caden and Mei. Mei of all people would be the one to notice what had just happened. It was only because of the fact that Mei had brought it up in the first place. Brielle decided she would need to have a word with Mei and expressing her ideas, next time they were together.

Ellen had noticed how flustered both Caden and Brielle seemed to be. She raised an eyebrow, already disapproving of what could potentially grow. There should never be anything between these employees besides being co-workers, was Ellen's opinion. She looked back at Bri, who was not at Meimei's side. Ellen knew it was unusual, but she didn't think much else of it.

 

[KERFUFFLE]

Caden knew that it would be all wrong, anyway. He took a drink, then when he was composed again his beliefs that it was all because she'd danced so well that he'd felt that way for a few moments were strengthened, and tried to think no more of it after that. He noticed Ellen eyeing him, and he knew she was right to disapprove of anything like that. The nature of the job just wouldn't allow it. Why was he thinking like this? He was dating someone. A beautiful British violinist whom he'd met at Juilliard and loved a lot, so there was no room for anything or anyone else. He cleared his throat again and said, "That was great, girls. Much, much better. Keep it up, and the technique will improve with time, and then we'll have the best of both worlds. What did you think, Ellen?"

 

[B e t h y <3]

"I do think it was better. Now we're just going to clean for a little bit, if you don't mind, Caden." Ellen said to Caden before turning to the girls. "First positions, ladies." She started counting, letting the girls go through the moves over and over until they were perfect.

Bri headed back over to center stage, no more thoughts of Caden. Or at least, that's what she kept telling herself. 'You always read the wrong signals.' Is what Jeremy had said to her the night they broke up. It was three weeks before their wedding. He had been cheating on her since their junior year of high school. 'Well, then why'd you give me this freaking ring?' she'd asked, not sure what the h`ll was happening. 'Because. I wanted to have sex with you.' Brielle realized she needed to stop thinking about that night. That was the night she had her first panic attack, and she could not let one happen at rehearsal. Especially not since she'd already been late.

 

[Swan_Song]

Mei had been dancing intently, just going along with what the actress inside her told her to do, matching the motions with the expressions and feelings that the song prompted. It came naturally for her. Her musicality always shone through whenever she danced. She knew what passion was, what desire was. There had been one man before, and she used that experience when she remembered longing and desperation. While she wasn't the best dancer, she knew that her acting skills were at the top of the pack. When Ellen told her to move, she did so, not even breaking out of the character she had made for herself. From her past experiences with musical theater, she knew she was truly a triple threat. And she wasn't afraid to show it on stage.

 

[KERFUFFLE]

"Oh, sure, go ahead. Great job, girls," Caden replied, nodding and getting down from the stage, sitting down in one of the seats in the front row and getting out some paperwork, amongst it finding some manuscript paper, and decided he'd busy himself with making some song arrangements while Elle worked with the girls- he'd had plenty of involvement with that routine now, so it was probably time to back off for a while, he figured. Besides, the music would stop him thinking about anything ridiculous, or at least that was the theory.

 

[Swan_Song]

Mei went back to stretching, before sitting to read the book of Shakespearean plays she had brought with her. Right now she was reading Much Ado About nothing for the fourth or fifth time, she couldn't remember. What a good one it was. She preferred it over the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, most definitely. She put the book away after glancing at the pages for a few minutes. She pulled out her ipod and began listening to the "Time Warp". She got to her feet and started doing the dance, then began to tap dance at the point of Columbia's dance solo.

 

[B e t h y <3]

Brielle focused on the moves that Ellen was cleaning, looking back for a moment to see Meimei just sitting on the floor. "Mei..." she murmured at her before Ellen noticed and got angry. "Mei, first positions, let's go..."

 

[KERFUFFLE]

Caden set down his pencil and watched the girls dance for a while, to observe where to best stress the beats of the arrangement and so forth, as well as just to get ideas for everything else about the performance; what looks they could go for, what sort of lighting... He'd forgotten how much there was to do when you were actually in charge of something. He spotted Meimei for a moment, who was sat on the floor reading Shakespeare until Brielle saved her from Ellen's gaze, and chuckled. What an oddity that girl could be on occasion. But, really, this was the sort of thing that Caden wanted to bring out in them. Their personalities. Meimei was quirky, Brookelyn was shy, Juliet was firey at times, Sophie oozed confidence and Brielle was... Brielle was... Never mind.

 

[B e t h y <3]

Brielle was smokin' hot and totally worth dumping the Julliard girlfriend for. I believe that's what you meant xD

Bri blew at her bangs, which were now falling out of the rest of the braid Bri had done on her way in this morning. She rolled her eyes at Mei, only a little and turned back to Ellen, who was too focused on a couple other girls to notice Meimei. Sitting on the floor reading Shakespeare. Bri took out the band that held the braid together, and shook it out, her long mane falling around her shoulders. She bit her lip anxiously, rebraiding quickly, glancing back at Mei every few seconds.

 

[KERFUFFLE]

Perhaps something along those lines, yes xD

As if on cue, his phone buzzed in his pocket and he got a text from his girlfriend, asking him how his 'first day on the job' was going. I love my girlfriend. I love my girlfriend. I love my girlfriend... he thought to himself, texting her back, telling her everything was okay. He frowned at the screen once he'd sent it, however, thinking that this was the first time she'd actually said hi to him through any means first. They hadn't seen each other in a while- but, hey, she was busy, right? The New York Philharmonic worked long hours. Still, it wouldn't hurt to phone every now and then... But I still love her. He slipped his phone back into his pocket and continued to watch the girls again, trying not to think about his personal life at all.

 

[B e t h y <3]

Commitment issues much? Hahaha

Can we time skip? I'm not sure what else to sayyyyyy. Hahaha.

 

[KERFUFFLE]

I think so. But, hey, behind the scenes his girlfriend is a total b'tch. He's just trying to see past it because he's sweet like that :L

You first, hahahaha

 

[B e t h y <3]

Woo! Hooray for horrible significant others! Hahaha

Bri packed up her bag and slung it over her shoulder, waving to the other girls. She looked out the door. It was dark outside. Great, Brielle thought. Brielle's biggest fear was a big city at night. Especially being alone. SHe looked around for Sebastian, who she could usually convince to walk her home. He was nowhere in sight. Bri's turquiose eyes lit up, but not from being happy. She told herself to breath. This was nothing to panic about, she kept telling herself over and over again. She didn't think anyone was still in the building. She opened her phone, dialing Mei's number, about to call her and beg for her to come back.

 

[xXMysticXx]

Brookelyn could have gotten a cab but she lived barely two blocks away. And as much as she hated walking home alone at night the thought of being locked in a car at night with a stranger was worse, at least on the street she had the chance of fighting her way out and in a car that wasn't so plausible. She made it home in one piece and unlocked her door and slippped into her aparment quickly sliding all of the locks back again and sighing a bit letting herself relax just a bit. She went into her bedroom and quickly changed into a pair of pajama pants and a tanktop.

Eli was one of the last ones inside the building. He finished cleaning up and did a quick sweep of the building, making sure the lights and equipment were all turned off for the night. He shutoff the last light and closed the door behind him hearing it lock. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his pack of cigarettes.

Sebastian had already left and had made it a few blocks before realizing he had left his phone at work, turning his car around and heading back to the now vacant building. He used his key to unlock the door and quickly disarmed the alarm. He then jogged inside flicking on a light and searching for his phone. He found it quickly and turned the light back off and reset the alarm and left again heading around to the front of the building and back to his car.

 

[KERFUFFLE]

Oh yes, sounds familiar! She's not as much of a douche as Riley but she doesn't treat Caden the way a girlfriend should

So, eh, I dunno, shall Caden be nice and, although it'd be totally awkward, walk Bri home? :3

Caden had been, in fact, working after hours on something that, unless he did it then and there, the idea would leave him and therefore inevitably annoy him for weeks to come. He took care of a few other admin things while he was at it to save Eli a job tomorrow that really wasn't necessary for him to do, before deciding it was high time to go home, get something to eat, and have a coffee. He sighed at the frequently recurring thought he'd been having as of late whenever he left to go home; the house would be empty when he got there. It was funny but somehow the place didn't feel like home when Maria wasn't there. Despite the episode of earlier, he still missed her. He gathered his things and set about locking everything up, turning off all the lights, and heading home.