Disclaimer: I do not own The Rocky Horror Picture Show or Shock Treatment. I only wish I did! That lucky honour belongs to the charming Richard O'Brien
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"You're on in five minutes Miss Weiss!" The club manager announced, poking his head around the dressing room door.
"Thank you," A female voice replied.
Janet Weiss was sat at her dressing room table. The mirror in front of her was outlined with flashing light bulbs. She applied a fresh coat of scarlet lipstick to her lips and pouted. Her hair was teased and perfect. She wore a long white dress, sparkling with diamonds. She was stunning and talented, a local celebrity said to go far. Her stage name wasn't Janet Weiss of course, it was much too plain. Instead she went under the name of Jasmine Darling. Smooth and classy.
"We're ready for you Miss Weiss!" The club manager called from outside.
"Show time" Janet sighed to herself. She stood and left the room.
The hall outside was in pandemonium. All the acts performing at Denton's most glamorous bar, Farley's, were rushing around outside. Janet pushed herself through the throng to get to the stage. The red velvet curtains were down, waiting for her moment to perform. Finally they rose and Janet took to the stage. The room was in complete darkness, a single spotlight glowing on Janet.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Jasmine Darling…" A smooth voice said, and the piano started to play as Janet sang 'Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend'.
She had never known she could sing until that November night five years before. Even if she had known she never would have showed it off; she was much to shy and meek. But suddenly confidence exuded from her and her personality shone.
The crowd broke into raucous applause, screaming for an encore. Janet blew them kisses, bowing and accepting the roses that flew at her. She was just about to say thank you when she saw a person in the crowd that made her heart stop. A woman with short bright red hair, dressed in a jacket of golden sequins, was staring at her from the middle row. She noticed Janet looking and got up immediately, running away. She gave one last glance at Janet before disappearing.
"Th-thank you! Good night!" Janet said, facing the crowd again. She went behind the curtains back stage.
"Janet you were fabulous! How about a drink?" The club manager, Donald Dunk, asked.
Donald was extremely hand some. He had a smooth chiselled face, topped with thick blonde hair. He was muscular and wore desginer suits. He was a business man, a lady's man. Janet had been hankering for him since the day she had met him. Now it was her chance to make a good impression.
"Sure. I'll just get changed" Janet said, smiling and tossing her hair.
Janet went back to her dressing room and sat down heavily on the sofa. Thinking back to who she had saw in the crowd, she put her head in her hands. That couldn't of been … no, she was dead! A figment of the past. She couldn't bare to think what would happened if any of those … people returned. They'd ruin the new life style she had worked so hard to attain. Now that Brad was out of the picture there was nothing cramping her style.
Quickly changing into a small black wool dress, grabbing her clutch bag, re-doing her make up, spritzing fresh perfume over her body and pushing her problems to the back of her mind, Janet rushed back to meet Donald. He was sat at the bar, grinning at her with his shiny white teeth. He pulled out a stool for Janet.
"Oh … you meant here?" Janet asked.
"Sure. Unless you want to go some where else?" Donald asked.
"No, no, here's fine" Janet smiled.
"Can I get you a drink?" Donald offered.
"I'll have a martini, thanks" Janet replied.
"You're my kind of woman" Donald replied, winking.
The smartly dressed bar tender fixed Janet a martini, complete with an olive on a toothpick, and slid it across the bar to her. She gratefully took a sip.
"You look ravishing" Donald commented. Janet blushed.
"Oh this? This is just something I threw on," She shrugged.
"That little black dress…" Donald said wistfully, looking Janet up and down. Janet quickly crossed her legs and cleared her throat.
"So … is this a business drink?" She asked.
"Oh no, just a friendly affair" Donald said.
"Not a date then?" Janet said nervously with a tinkling laugh.
"If you want it to be…" Donald said seductively.
They chatted all night it seemed, more drinks being slid across the bar. Until finally Janet took a last sip and stood up, slightly tipsy. Donald jumped up and clutched her arm, keeping her steady in her heels.
"I must go, beauty sleep and all" She announced.
"Of course. I'll call you a cab" Donald said, flipping his cell phone out of his pocket.
"Aren't you kind. Thanks for tonight" Janet said when the cab turned up.
"Its been my pleasure, Miss Darling" Donald said, Janet giggled, "Are you sure you'll be okay going home on your own?"
"Of course, what could happen?" Janet laughed.
Donald gave Janet a quick peck on the cheek, they exchanged numbers and then Janet climbed into the cab. She was blissfully happy. Her career was doing fantastically well and now she had the admirer she had always wanted. As they pulled up outside her block of apartments, Janet thanked the driver, signed a quick autography 'for the missus', and got out. She dug her key out of her tiny clutch bag and unlocked the door. She could hear footsteps behind her, she turned quickly.
Just in time to see a golden blur turn down the street. Was she being followed? Janet quickly opened the door and locked it again, triple checking it. Then she skipped up the stairs to her second floor apartment.
The apartment was decorated in a black and white theme, highly stylish. Janet loved it like that. She made herself a quick drink of hot chocolate and got changed into a silky pink nightgown. She decided to see what was on TV; she wasn't even close to being tired yet. She was just settling down as her faverioute sitcom show started, reclining on a white leather sofa, when the phone rang.
Who could be phoning at this time of night? Janet guessed, but she hoped she was wrong. She nervously crossed the room, she cleared her throat and raised the phone to her ear.
"Hello?" She greeted.
"Hi, can I speak to Janet Majors?" A high-pitched familiar female voice asked.
"Speaking, and its Janet Weiss" Janet replied.
"Oh so you never got married? How unfortunate" The voice said.
"Erm, can I ask who's speaking please?" Janet asked, as if she didn't know.
"Its me, Columbia" The voice replied.
"I thought so … but I thought you were dead?" Janet cried.
"It's a long story. Can we meet up?" Columbia asked.
"If you want … but I am quite busy nowadays," Janet said, tossing back her curled hair and smoothing it down with a manicured hand.
"Yes I know, I've seen you performing" Columba said, with a hint of jealousy in her tone.
"But I should be free tomorrow lunch time. If that's any use to you?" Janet asked.
"Oh yes, I have all the time in the world" Columbia laughed.
"What do you mean by that?" Janet asked.
"I told you, it's a long story. I'll tell you every tomorrow. Shall we say one o'clock at The Ivy? That restaurant not far from where you live at Denton Elm Apartments…" Columbia said.
Was she giving her all this extra information just to freak her out? Janet didn't really want to meet up with this unwelcome person from the past, but she had arranged it all now.
"Okay, I'll see you there" Janet agreed.
"Good night, Janet. Sweet dreams" Columbia said, then the line went dead.
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