Class of a star

The woman kept on clapping for a while, before finally setting her hands down. A smirk formed on her lips.

She wasn't looking too bad, actually. Her face had perfect proportions, with no wrinkles or beauty spots, and her figure was absolutely flawless. She couldn't be more than thirty-thirty two years old. Everything about her was classy and expensive-from her 'Christian Dior' dress to her shoes. Small, but elaborate jewels shun on her neck and ears, and her hairdo probably cost three times the salary of a stage worker.

She approached Sora, stepping down slowly as if her heels were made of glass, and tucked a few locks of hazel hair behind her ear.

"It was a good performance, Ms Naegino." She stated, looking at the new star as if she was choosing a vegetable for her table. "Indeed…it was good, worthy of the hair of Layla Hamilton…"

"You…do you know Ms Layla?"

The stranger chose not to answer, she just smiled behind her glasses and made her way to Kalos' office.


Layla missed her by a thread. But she found the crew whispering about some woman, and Sora, May and Rosetta-extremely vexed. From the entire group, Leon seed to be the least impressed, so she went to him and asked him why was all this fuss about.

"Oh, some unhappy fan." He shrugged, but his eyes betrayed a concern for Sora-the girl looked like a fresh flower, frost-bitten by the first snow. The French artist quickly told Layla the short exchange of lines between Sora and the woman, and described her. With every word, the Hamilton heiress' face seemed to darken more and more.

"Ms Layla…" Sora turned to her, her honest, clear face showing great concern "Ms Layla, do you know this lady?"

"Yeah…" she said, putting her hands on her hips "I thought that old witch had gone back into the hole she crawled out from. Don't worry, Sora, she's just growls, but never bites."

"But who's…" Rosetta began

"Don't bother yourself. She'll be out of here before she can cause more damage. Where has she gone to?"

"To the directors' office. She seemed to know her way there." Marion said, and without a moment to spare, Layla headed there too, Sora, May and Rosetta in toe.

The golden-haired woman was taking really big steps, trying not to look bothered or hasty. But right before she went in Kalos' office, she paused and chose to listen, rested near the crack between the door and the frame. The three girls that came after her looked surprised, but followed her example.

The stranger was there, standing next to the window, while Kalos was sitting on a chair. She seemed to be telling some joke, because she was laughing all the time. However, Kalos seemed the least bit amused. When they listened carefully, Sora's name was easily distinguished amongst the flow of words coming from the mouth of the woman.

"It was just as I thought, wasn't it? That girl, Sora Naegino, kicked Layla out before she had turned 23. History, indeed, likes to repeat itself, Kalos."

"I don't think Sora is capable of kicking anyone out, Annett." The former stated coldly

"Ah yes, little miss Manners. She can't swear like she can't keep a good image on the stage."

Silence met her words, but Kalos' look demanded some explanation. The woman, Annett, laughed and threw her head back, while pouring herself a glass of whiskey.

"Don't tell me you don't read the newspapers! Sora and that Frenchman, Leon Oswald…they're quite famous. They display such affections on the stage that people already speculate that they are lovers."

"How silly! Hasn't it crossed your mind that they might be good actors?"

"No actor is good today, Kalos, and you know it! The art is failing. The stages all over the country are no longer what they used to be. And Kaleido was the one that started it. First with Layla, and now with that Sora Naegino!" she was fuming "First at 19, then at 16…your next star will be in nappies!"

Kalos watched her, a strange smirk on his face.

"Don't laugh at me, you…"

"I'm not laughing AT you Annett. But you do know that a newborn can't technically be our star."

"Perhaps." She mocked "But that will happen, because that's the way your stage is taking now, Kalos. Employing third and second class actresses, minors and juveniles, enjoying small sparks that flame out before the night is out, it all adds up to a show that might impress the average imbecile, but won't move somebody who is well aware of how things work. And Layla, your precious Layla, quit the stage, kicked out by some brat just because she managed to beat her at her own game."

Kalos listened for a while, then rose his hand to ask for silence.

"Annett, I can see where this is going, but let me tell you some things. First, Layla wasn't kicked out, and she didn't quit. She is producing very successful shows at Broadway, which you have obviously missed. Second, all the members of our crew are qualified professionals that make sure everything goes smoothly. And third of, none of our actresses has been chosen wrong-they are all very capable girls."

"Like that May Wong? Che, I wonder how she didn't fall off the trapeze today-her ego is so big it makes her look 60 pounds heavier. And her stage partner…Rosetta? What's a diabolo expert doing hanging on the swings like a monkey? Did you ran out of parts for her already? Your script writer must be either your relative or your lover, otherwise I can't see how could such an idiot be employed. And…performances on Broadway is nothing these days, nothing but trying to regain your lost glory."

"This is ridiculous." Rosetta whispered out

"It's total bullshit! How dare she call me a second class actress!" May looked ready to burst a hole in the door with her fist.

"No, that's just Annett spitting her poison." Layla said with disgust. Sora looked up at her idol in confusion-she had no idea that miss Hamilton was acquainted with such an impolite person. Inside, Kalos tried again to defend his employees.

"I don't know what you've been told, Annett, but our stage hasn't been better. The box is always filled, people don't stop coming, May and Rosetta make a great team, and the audience loves Sora." If Sarah was there, she would have probably burst inside and demanded her beau why was he explaining himself to that woman. But since she wasn't Kalos was left on his own.

"Told? I saw it with my own eyes. This Sora girl is so bad in concealing her self-satisfaction that she misses the timing, floating. You're trying to hide her faults in performance with skimpy threads. I can't understand how that Leon boy manages to keep it in his pants!" Annett sighed and started pacing about the room "I agree, she has something. Some…bit of talent. But she's lacking competitiveness. And determination. And class!"

"So far Sora's done just fine being herself, something I can't say about you."

"Every actor puts a permanent mask, sooner or later. You said it yourself-so far. Soon, the audience will grow tired of the girl overcoming gravity and then what would she do? She'll burn out!"

Kalos sighed.

"Whatever it may be, I still don't understand the reason for your visit."

"You've got a short, memory, Kalos. I'm here to act."

There was silence, and then the director burst out laughing. Sora, May and Rosetta gaped. Layla just gritted her teeth. And Annett just stared at him.

"You can't be serious. You haven't been on the stage for five years, Annett."

"Five years is a lot of time for someone who waits, yes, but it's not like I haven't seen a trapeze for all this time."

"But you can't just barge in and go on the stage like that…"

"That's how Layla did it, that's how everyone does it now. And in case you have forgotten, Kalos, I gave a lot of money so that this theatre can be. I am more of an owner even than you."

"Still accustomed to having things done your own way, are you." He sighed "What is it that you really want?"

"I'm very glad you asked. I want the stage, Kalos. I want to be the star of Kaleido….permanently."

Silence. Then Kalos rose.

"No."

"What?!"

"The decision is not mine to make, Annett. Neither is it yours. You can put a star on your door, but you need the approval of the audience, and the crew to be a real star. And right now, everyone sympathizes for Sora."

"That's why I said I wanted to perform, not take over as a director." Annett smiled like a shark that spotted her pray "I will face Sora on the stage, and I will completely demolish her."

Layla sighed again and tapped Rosetta's shoulder. The young girl nodded, and pulled May's arm. The two helped Sora up and led her to the dorms-they had heard enough. But Sora had stopped listening a long time ago.


"Who the fuck does that woman think she is?!" May was raging about the small kitchen, preparing dinner for Layla, Sora, Rosetta, Sarah, Ken and Leon. The small group had come to discuss the issue with that Annett woman over dinner…well, most of them were. Layla was glancing angrily at the floor and Sora seemd to have spaced out.

"But she can't really do what she says, right?" Ken turned to Sarah "I mean…she can't just boot Sora. And she sure as hell can't barge in here and make us turn over Kaleido Stage to her."

"I don't know." The martial artist sighed "When we first started this, Kalos was the one responsible for the funding. We were so absorbed in making Kaleido stage be that we never asked him about the money. As long as it wasn't illegal, it didn't matter. Business went off well, I thought we returned all our debts."

"But who is this Annet?"

"Perhaps our oldest star." Sarah smiled "She was the first grand actress of Kaleido stage. Back then, she was the best of the best. We were so lucky to have her we totally ignored her character and lack of manners."

"Why isn't she still here then?" Ken asked "Retired stars usually take up other jobs, like teaching or choreography."

"Because she left too early. She didn't retire." Sarah sighed "When Layla first came to the stage Annett was still on top. But when she started making her way up, Annet couldn't take it. They fought over and over, trying to prove who's best. Annett's star was setting, and Layla was young, filled with ambition, ideas and energy. She was new, to be exact. The audience loved her. What was to be done? There was no place for two stars on Kaleido, at least on Annett's opinion. So she was forced to leave."

"But why has she come back? I mean…"

"Clearly because of Sora." Layla hissed out "But don't worry. She'll be out of here in no time!"

"One thing I can't understand." Rosetta said "What did she mean by saying that Leon couldn't keep it in his pants?"