Sing for Me

by Penelope Reece

  Chloe shot a glare at Rhys and opened her script. She took a deep breath and nodded at Jett. So, she was really going to do this? She must be crazy. But it was time she faced her fears.

  This time would be different. The story was much brighter than that of The Magician. And she was older, more mature. This time she wouldn’t let herself become lost. This time her heart wouldn’t beat to the dark rhythm of the music, instead it would beat to the rhythm of the love story.

  This time there’d be no Earon

  Chloe and Jett performed the scene with hardly any flaws. She felt comfortable with Jett and they worked well together. It was only a reading, but both of them jumped into the scene as though it were a performance instead of an audition.

  Chloe slapped her cheeks in embarrassed triumph as she watched Jett return to his seat. It wasn’t over yet. Next came the hard part. The singing audition.

  “Whenever you’re ready, I’d like to hear Think of Me.” Professor Wilson said as she moved to stand next to the piano. Personally it wasn’t her first choice of songs. She’d have rather sang Wishing you were Somehow Here Again, but Think of Me was the popular choice. And it was what the director wanted, so she had no other option.

  Taking a deep breath, she nodded to Rhys and he began to play. And as her voice rose and filled the awestruck theatre, she sang not for them but for herself. It had been years since she’d let herself even hum a tune and now here she was back in the spotlight. She was afraid her voice had grown weak, but she hit each note flawlessly, as if she’d never been on a singing hiatus.

  As she sang, she couldn’t help but let her gaze settle a few seconds on Rhys as it traveled around the theatre. In that brief moment, she wished that Rhys could know exactly what was in her heart.

  The song ended, and as applause echoed beneath the auditorium roof, Chloe swayed a bit on her feet overcome with pleasure and nerves. Rhys met her gaze and he smiled as she took Professor Wilson’s offered hand and allowed him to help her down.

  “That was exquisite Miss Haskell, simply wonderful.”

  Chloe smiled shyly as she took an empty seat next to a girl who was jealously singing her praises.

  “If you’ll give us a few minutes we will announce the cast in a few moments,” the professor announced and sat back down as Rhys took his seat in the front row. While they talked in hushed voices, Heather snuck up behind her.

  “I should be paying you to teach me.” Heather said throwing her arm around Chloe’s neck. “I can’t get over how good you are.”

  “Thanks.” Chloe said. “I just hate it that he put me on the spot like that. I can’t believe Rhys would do that to me especially after I told him I didn’t want to. How could he just go blab his mouth to Professor Wilson like that?”

  Heather sat down and lowered her head. “So you’re mad?”

  “Yeah I am. You see, I was in a musical once when I was eighteen. I hated it and quit. And I had no intention of performing again. And now…” Chloe waved her hand. “He really put me in a tough position.”

  “Why are you so sure it was Professor Ryther?” Heather asked. “Maybe someone found you on the internet.”

  “I doubt that. The musical wasn’t even that famous. Anyway, Rhys is the only one here who knew I could sing.” She felt like punching him and said as much to Heather.

  “I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose. Besides, you didn’t seem too upset up there singing. In fact you looked positively glowing.”

  “Well –“

  “So…” Heather trailed off into silence and looked a bit shifty eyed. “I guess a few of us are going to Steps later, you in?” Heather whispered.

  “Sure, but only if you find me a date.” It was time she moved on. She would make sure Rhys never meddled in her life again. Once he knew she was taken, he’d have no choice but to leave her alone.

  “Great. I know the perfect guy.”

  Chloe unconsciously glanced over at Rhys. He was deep in conversation with Wilson, and didn’t seem at all troubled that’d he’d just turned her life upside down. Once again he’d taken it upon himself to do what – what had he said the other night? To do what was best for her. What kind of excuse was that? How had dumping her been to her benefit?

  “Yo Chloe?” Heather said snapping Chloe out of her thoughts. “Aren’t you going to tell me?”

  “Tell you what?”

  “What you think about Simon? He’s cute right?”

  “Who’s Simon?”

  “He’s that tall guy standing next to Jett? He’s an international graduate student from Korea, I think. Isn’t he totally hot? I mean look at those muscles. Jett said he just got out of the military or something before he transferred here. What do you think?”

  Chloe took in the long black hair, the smooth boyish face, and the muscles. “He’s attractive. But why do you ask?”

  “You said you wanted a date.”

  Chloe blushed. “Yeah but I don’t even know him. And who’s to say he’ll even want to hang out with me?”

  “Oh come on! You’re super pretty. And he was totally smitten with you when you were on stage. He couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”

  Chloe smiled shyly. “If you say so. But I’m not sure.”

  “You aren’t backing out now. I won’t let you.”

  “Okay. But if he says ‘no’ just walk away and not badger him.” Chloe said her insides starting to tie itself into a big sailor’s knot. She shouldn’t have said anything about getting a date. She’d been trained in dance, but grinding against a cute boy on the dance floor was a whole other matter.

  “Hmm,” was all Heather could say because Professor Wilson had stood.

  “So we have made our decision.” He announced and proceeded to read off a list of names and characters. Chloe, of course, was to be Christine. There had never been any doubt about that, as Professor Wilson insisted on telling everyone.

  Jett was cast as Raoul and Heather, much to her excitement, was Meg. Chloe listened as the rest of the cast was announced, and was pleasantly surprised when they announced that Simon would be playing the role of the Phantom. She was disappointed that she hadn’t been able to hear his audition. But he must be pretty good to have gotten the role.

  The rehearsal schedule was handed out. Everyone got up and began heading toward the doors. Chloe stayed back and busied herself with her script while Heather approached Simon. She frowned behind the pages. This was a bad idea.

  By chance Chloe happened to glance around and saw Rhys staring at her. She knew he was going to come talk to her, and she made sure he never got the chance. Before he’d taken a step, she’d already hurried up the aisle and struck up a conversation with Jett.

  When Chloe congratulated him on his role, she’d lost sight of Rhys. It was better that he just stay away from her. She was in no mood to talk to him. If she did, she was afraid she’d lose her temper, or worse, she’d end up crying. And she’d already been crying way too much recently.

  The few remaining students and staff were chatting in small groups. Some of the students were agreeing to meet at the club later, while others declined and headed out. The Staff was busy discussing money and show essentials.

  Slight movement from one of the private boxes caught Chloe’s eye. She ignored it too engrossed in her friends’ discussions. It was probably a janitor or theatre manager making his rounds.

  Chapter Nine

  The club was dark except for a dozen multicolored pot lights that glittered like Christmas lights. The lights reflected off the puddles of spilled booze on the smooth cement floor making the liquid sparkle like ice.

  There was a line at the bar and not an empty stool or chair in sight. House music was blaring through strategically placed speakers. The bass hammered into Chloe like a wooden stake to the chest. The electronic beat jerked and careened sporadically as if the synthesizer was suffering from an electrical shock. Either that or the thing was overheating.

  This erratic techno sound didn’t seem to
faze the patrons. In fact everyone seemed to be enjoying the hellish tempo. The dance floor was crowded. No one could bust a move without knocking into someone else.

  It was as Chloe had feared. The only dancing possible was the modern crotch grinding that would make the likes of Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey hide their heads in shame. This wasn’t dirty dancing. It was fully clothed sex. She was supposed to do that with Simon?

  Chloe looked at Simon, smiled nervously, and tugged at the bottom of her too tight t-shirt dress. She couldn’t pull it down much further or she’d risk exposing more than just her cleavage. She should never have let Heather dress her. With the shoulders cut out, the top cut low, and the bottom riding way too high, Chloe felt naked.

  She pulled at the bottom hem again worried that her butt was hanging out. She wished now that she’d worn some thick tights or a pair of leggings that way if her shirt rode too high, nobody would be able to see her panties.

  Chloe stood in line at the bar with Jett, Heather, and Simon as they waited to order some drinks. The security of the club was usually very lax on the weekends, and to them the money of a twenty year old was no different from that of a twenty-one year old. But the patrons knew that they all better just keep their traps shut and not go blabbing to the cops.

  Trying to force the image of her and Simon grinding on the dance floor out of her mind, Chloe grabbed Heather’s arm and pulled her to the side. “I don’t think I can go through with this. It’s too erotic.”

  “Oh come on Chloe. It’s just dancing. Don’t be such a prude.”

  Chloe stepped back in line and as she did so accidentally bumped into Simon. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” He said and touched her arm.

  Chloe blushed and moved closer to Heather. This had been a horrible horrible idea. The door was just a few yards away. If she started to run, maybe she’d be able to squeeze past all the dancers before her friends realized she was missing.

  Too late now, they were at the bar. It was a nice mahogany but its beauty was blemished by the unsightly spills of beverages, peanut shells, and the half empty glasses haphazardly neglected.

  The bartender looked a bit out of his element as he leaned across the filthy bar. “So what’d you guys want?”

  “White Russian all the way.” Heather said and smiled coyly at Jett.

  “My kind of girl.” The bartender drawled.

  “The same for me.” Jett said.

  “Long Island Iced Tea.” Simon said and moved aside for Chloe.

  With a start, Chloe realized there was no menu above the bar. Her eyes darted back and forth along the bar hoping there was a list of drink choices somewhere. She wasn’t a big fan of alcohol and wasn’t sure what to order. She was only sure about one thing. She’d need alcohol, and lots of it, to work up the courage to go writhe out on the dance floor.

  The bartender fixed her friend’s drinks then shot her a glance. “What about you baby doll?”

  Chloe licked her lips. “I don’t know. Just give me something fruity.”

  The bartender chuckled and mixed her a very pink concoction in an overlarge martini glass. “Here’s your something fruity, sweetheart.” He handed her the drink and winked.

  While they all dug into their pockets for wallets, Simon was quickest. “I got this.” He laid down some bills and motioned toward the back where a few seats had just opened up. With his hand at on her back, Simon steered Chloe toward the table as Jett and Heather brought up the rear.

  Too loud for much conversation, they drank in silence. Chloe took a big sip of hers and was surprised by the taste. It tasted more like pomegranate than alcohol. In fact if she hadn’t seen the bartender add the liquor, she would insist there was none there. She happily took another sip to calm her nerves and closed her eyes as a liquid fire ran down her throat. The second swallow mixed with the first inside her stomach, warming her from the inside out.

  Chloe drank again and was curious to know if this one drink would be enough to melt away her inhibitions.

  Heather let out a long breath and sat her glass down. She’d managed to drink more than half of her drink when Chloe wasn’t even a third of the way done. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m ready to dance.”

  “What about it? You want to dance Chloe?” Simon put his hand on Chloe’s shoulder.

  Chloe took a big swallow of her drink and nodded hesitantly. “Okay.”

  Heather grabbed Jett’s arm. “Come on. You can be my partner.”

  Jett pursed his lips and let Heather drag him out to the floor where she instantly let her body be taken over by the erotic beat. Chloe blushed when Simon took her hand and moved her out to the floor.

  Simon tentatively put an arm around Chloe’s waist and looked at her for confirmation. He must’ve known she was nervous and she was grateful for his consideration.

  Chloe gazed around at the other women studying their movements. It was total sex dancing. And she was going to do it too. Her eyes locked on one particularly skilled dancer and she quickly memorized the motions in her mind.

  Feeling as prepared as she was going to be, Chloe stared up into Simon’s dark eyes, nodded once, and began to move to the electronic pulse.

  At first she felt awkward, but as Simon swayed against her, she quickly caught his rhythm and fell easily into the movements. As she wiggled her hips against him she tried to focus on the cute guy holding her. But each time she glanced into his eyes, they weren’t brown but grey.

  When she got gutsy and threw her arms around his neck, her fingers brushing against his hair, it wasn’t Simon’s black hair anymore, but Rhys’s auburn.

  Simon’s arms were encircling her waist now as more people bumped against them. His head was bent toward hers and she was dangerously aware of his breath against her neck. Maybe she was tipsy or just getting into the heat of the moment but she found herself clinging to him. Her chest pressed against his.

  “Hey!” Heather cried in her ear.

  Chloe jumped and covered her ear with a grimace. Heather nudged Simon out of the way. “Sorry, Simon, but you shouldn’t get Chloe all to yourself. I want her and I go solo for a bit.”

  Simon looked slightly put off, but he nodded and headed back to the table where Jett was nursing his second drink.

  When he was out of hearing range Heather apologized for sending him off. “It’s just that I want to dance and Jett says he’s too tired. I want him to see my moves but can’t be out here dancing by myself.”

  “Fine.” Chloe said welcoming some time away from Simon and the closeness of his body. Dancing without a partner was less awkward and less erotic. To her anyway.

  Heather smiled appreciatively and started to wiggle her hips. She danced like a woman being watched. A woman who enjoyed being the center of attention. Her movements were fluid and sexy. It was like watching a striper in action. Except for the whole taking off your clothes thing.

  Chloe made sure she stayed a foot or two away, but was close enough so that people would know she and Heather were friends instead of two random girls dancing by themselves.

  Chloe’s movements were just as fluid but hopefully less erotic and more that of a girl just enjoying the epileptic beat of the music.

  Heather leaned toward Chloe. “Is he watching?”

  Chloe craned her neck back toward their table. Jett and Simon appeared to be caught up in conversation. But their eyes were zeroed in on her and Heather. Judging by the way Heather was bending down to touch her toes told Chloe they were most definitely watching Heather.

  “They’re both watching.” Chloe answered and seeing Heather’s satisfied smile, went back to dancing.

  She didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the funky music, but Chloe was having fun. It wasn’t ballet or musical dance numbers, but it still felt great to dance again. Even if the dancing was rated R and in others’ cases X. Not having someone constantly critiquing her techniques and being able to move anyway she liked was freeing.

  Chloe woul
d never have been able to do this under the watchful eye of Sophie. Oh no. With Sophie every movement and plié was to be executed just right. One tiny slip up and Chloe would have to start all over again. It had gotten to the point where her movements had become robotic. She’d still managed to be graceful, but the movements were devoid of passion. Sophie hadn’t seemed to care about that, just so long as the dance was executed perfectly.

  There was a lot Sophie didn’t care about. Chloe’s happiness was only one of them. What Sophie did care about however could be counted on one hand. Sophie cared about Sophie, success, beauty, her daughter’s success, and Earon.

  Her mother had practically been the man’s slave. She’d been utterly smitten with him. The fact that they’d once been lovers only made it worse. He’d meant more to her than her own daughter. Sophie had made that very clear when she’d refused to believe what went on at the theatre after hours.

  Chloe could still feel the sting of her mother’s slap. Sophie had detested liars. Especially when those lies involved her precious Earon. Her precious Earon! God, her mother was in denial. Sophie may have been madly in love with Earon. But Earon hadn’t felt the same about her mother. Earon’s sights had been on someone else. Someone much younger than his thirty-eight. Someone who’d been innocent and unsuspecting of his growing obsession until it’d been too late.

  Chloe stopped dancing. The memories of two years ago danced around her like a room full of head bangers at a rave. All those nights she’d been held captive forced to fulfill Earon’s every whim. His every desire. His touch on her neck and face had been a preview of what had come later. Each night he’d gotten more physical.

  His lips on hers, his tongue battling against her pursed lips had disturbed her. He’d known how to tantalize, but under the circumstances, she’d refused to succumb. Underneath all her fear, had been another feeling. One that she couldn’t describe. Whatever it was, it had been unsettling. And she feared that one day she may have succumbed to him. That was before he’d hurt her, damaged her.