Even as she stood there gazing into space, she could feel Jimmy's lips on hers.
"Annie, what in the hell was that?"
She turned to find herself face to face with Helen (also known as Jemima) who in addition to her costume was wearing an appalled expression.
In situations such as these, Annie knew it was best to play it cool; act completely innocent. Hey, if it worked with men, it would surely work on a grown woman in a cat costume!
"I-I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Right, Annie. Right." Helen said sarcastically.
"Really... I don't have a clue-."
"I'm talking about him!" Helen shouted.
Annie's eyes followed Helen's pointing finger until her gaze landed on the object of her cast mate's annoyance.
And what an object it was.
Still wearing his cat costume and makeup, Jimmy stood backstage chatting happily with a small girl and her mother. The girl looked ecstatic and Annie was amazed that she recognized the child's face so easily.
It was the same little girl who sat in the audience, singing along to the familiar songs. And now that Annie thought about it, that happy face was one of the few in the absurdly sparse crowd.
When she looked back at Jimmy, Annie couldn't help but smile. He really did have a fan. She watched them for a long moment, ignoring everyone else around her.
"Annie, are you alive?"
Startled by the gentle force of Helen shaking her, Annie blinked in surprise.
"Huh? What?"
"I said Are you alive? Because you sure don't look it!"
"Wh-what are you talking about? O-Of course I'm alive! I'm breathing ain't I?"
"You tell me, Annie. Because the way you're staring at that guy over there suggests otherwise. You look like you're in a coma!"
Annie's face flushed and she was suddenly glad that she'd kept her makeup on.
"I-I have no idea what you're talking about." She stammered.
"Right, Annie. Right. Well, since you're so clueless, let me fill you in. I'm talking about him."
Once again, Annie found herself looking at Jimmy. And when his gaze met hers, he smiled and blew her a kiss. Instantly she looked away, ignoring the way it made her feel. The nerve of him!
"Wh-what about him?"
"What's he doing here?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"God, Annie, do you realize how many times you've said that in the last five minutes? What's going on?"
Annie sighed deeply. "All right, if you must know, Jimmy is my IRS Agent. He's completely deranged!"
That part was true enough.
"Um, yeah. I can see that, but what's he doing here? I know that it's pretty much impossible to know everyone in the cast but I think I would know Skimbleshanks! He is a major character! So why have I never seen him before? And oddly enough no one else seems to recognize him but you! I don't even know this Jimmy person's last name!"
"Callahan" Annie finished without thinking.
"I see..."
Immediately Annie began to panic. "Y-you do?"
"Annie, I've seen you do some sneaky things before but this is by far the lowest! Giving one of your one night stands a part in a musical that he has no business being a part of?"
Annie's eyes widened in mock horror. "You think I did this?"
"Well, you're the only one who seems to know who this Jimmy Callahan is!"
Annie threw up her hands in defeat. "Okay, fine! You got me! It was my fault!"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm the one who put him in the show."