Jellicle Trust
Chapter 3
Taking a big leap to stardom
Victoria sat up slowly on the creased, leather sofa, at the same time, listening to the sound of muffled voices coming from the kitchen as she mulled over reasons for and against showing up to rehearsals for 'Phantom'. She combed her fingers through her hair and looked at her watch; if she stayed any longer she could simply call Gillian up later and say she'd got held up in a traffic jam and it was far too late to come, but then she remembered how thrilled Andrew had been when she had stepped forward to play the role of 'Madame Giry' a couple of weeks ago. She'd only done it out of the urge to find out what it was like to perform with a cast full of successful people, and to find out what the Royal Albert Hall actually looked like from the inside.
Bare feet made contact to the soft, brown carpet and fingers played with strands of hair. Victoria knew that sooner or later she'd get her act together and walk into the kitchen and once she's told Plato the awkward news that she's not coming to rehearsals, the morning will carry on pleasantly. It was just literally getting herself to the hallway. She felt culpable that her friend had gotten through all that trouble to get her back to his house safely after that dreadful night when they had both discovered the horrific state of Victoria's flat.
The kitchen door opened and her blue eyes darted up to see who it was, she didn't want look like a nutcase crouched over her phone and staring out of the recently washed windows, fussing over her decision. Standing at the doorway to the kitchen with a glass of orange juice and three pieces of toast on a wooden breakfast tray, stood Plato. Victoria gave an artificial smile as the smell of bacon and scrambled eggs pervaded the room from the kitchen. Plato noted down her eccentric behaviour as he went to place the tray onto the coffee table.
"Hello sleeping beauty," Plato smirked triumphantly at Victoria as she looked at him indignantly. "How may I help you?"
Victoria huffed in annoyance, exasperated, but still answered.
"Food, hot water bottle and a warm bed," she replied, raising an exquisitely, manicured eyebrow.
"Hmm, I don't know about all that," Plato plonked himself down onto the white, leather sofa and looked into Victoria's crystal, blue eyes. "But I do have a Land rover which will take us to rehearsals in no time at all and some breakfast to fuel you up."
As he was now closer to her, Victoria took the chance and scanned her friend's face, feeling butterflies in her tummy while she was doing so. She felt composure as she recognised the familiar features from his face, absolutely unharmed. Even though it had been a couple of years ago when her mother had died from a tragic death, she still could remember the sight of her after Macavity had beaten the young, innocent mother up and stabbed her. Tears brimmed at the corner of her eyes. It all came back to her again. The bruises, the deep, red blood trailing down the snow-white legs and onto the floor, a sharp knife with the scent of dark souls, the deep humiliation that came from the nearby teenagers who had witnessed the whole scene, and the one beautiful queen in her life tortured to death and destroyed. Victoria pinched herself on the arm to prevent the tears from falling down her cheeks. She shoved the memory away and focused onto the present instead.
"Well, it makes a change from being kicked out, at least." Victoria stood up and sat down next to Plato on the sofa, wrapping her arms around him. She sighed in contented way.
"Plato?"
"Hmm?"
"Were you talking to yourself in the kitchen just now?"
Her friend turned pale.
"Wait you heard me?" The blonde nodded her head slowly.
"You have quite a loud voice."
"Keep it a secret, will ya?" Plato stared at Victoria with a hopeful look on his face.
Victoria shrugged. "Ok." The two snuggled up together on the sofa as the winter wind rattled against the window.
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She blinked slowly at the bright light. Everything looked fuzzy. Her head was spinning and blood was trickling down her face. She placed one hand onto her right cheekbone and let the dark red liquid flow onto her fingers. The wetness of it made the brunette want to shiver.
I was so stupid. How could I let him torture me? She thought to herself sadly.
The only thing she could remember from the night before was that strange figure standing on the opposite side of the road and the taxi coming her way.
"Jemima?"
She looked up abruptly at the sound of her name. A man with soft, brown hair was standing by her with a worried expression written across his face.
"Huh?" Jemima looked up at him with confusion in her soft, brown eyes. Doctors and nurses rushed to gather around her as soon as she moved her lips to talk. Pouncival was shoved out of the way in their progress. Her eyes started to water and her hands were hot and shaky. She took one last look at Pouncival before fainting.
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It was early sunrise now; outside the ground was covered in a fresh, new blanket of snow. Students were making their way to college with scarves wrapped warmly around their necks and hair tucked inside their woolly winter hats.
Victoria stared out of the half misted window as she took a sip of her hot chocolate from her favourite mug.
"We're going in 5 minutes, ok?" Plato popped his head round the door from his bedroom. He had a pair of odd socks on both of his feet and his hair was still tousled from when he had woke up early as he couldn't stop thinking about the night before.
"You'd better hurry up then," Victoria noted her friend's untidiness.
Plato forced a smile at her before disappearing into his room. He scratched his head as he looked around; his duvet was literally a messed up pile on his bed, the bedside lamp was still on, piles of clothes were dumped on the floor, and sweet wrappers were scattered all over his desk. He groaned at the sight. He didn't want to leave his room in the current state. He sighed heavily, wondering if he should tidy up the mess now and risk being late for rehearsals, or leave it until he came back.
His thoughts were soon interrupted by a timid knock on the bedroom door. "Umm, it's been 5 minutes now. What the heck are you doing in there?" Victoria sounded annoyed and frustrated that she was late for the first time to rehearsals. She enjoyed getting to the theatre with her roommate and being welcomed by hot drinks and the comforting emptiness of the rooms as Jemima and Victoria explored the grand building day-by-day.
Plato took action and quickly shoved his clothes into his wardrobe and kicked the rest of the mess underneath his bed.
"Alright we're leaving now." Victoria opened the door just in time to see Plato hurriedly wrapping a coat around his clothes and then combing his hair.
"Let's go!" Plato ushered the blonde out of the room, remembering to close the door behind him.
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"No! I don't want it done tomorrow; I want it done by the time I have finished the meeting with the others!" By the look in his eyes, he knew that he was serious and he meant it. He felt a shiver through his spine as his boss' body guard placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head to look at it.
"Remember, I need the blonde, not the brunette." The owner of the gruff voice spat onto the floor. "Don't fail me."
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Hope you enjoyed this! I'm sorry it took a long time due to homework and, well, everyday life. Please review! I will love you for the rest of my life! Love you guys! xxx
