AN: Sorry, it's been rough. Writing has eluded me once again. I own nothing you recognize.
Aldric's POV
Aldric took his time packing the instruments. He wanted to memorize what happened. She looked so beautiful, so real. Aldric had to keep reminding himself that it wasn't a dream.
Phil rushed up on stage to him. "Hey, what was that?"
Aldric blinked. "Huh?"
"Who was that, man? Was that the same girl?"
"I dunno. Your guess is as good as mine."
"Have you ever seen her before?"
Aldric shook his head.
"Man, she was fine; and I asked around, it seems that no one knows who she is."
Aldric shrugged. "Maybe, we'll never see her again."
Phil shook his head. "With a voice like that, that girl is gonna have a hard time hiding."
Aldric could only nod.
Phil continued. "My only question is how she knew your song. I thought you wrote that song."
"I did."
"And those moves, how did you pull it off?"
Aldric fell silent. How could he explain without giving it away? That performance was bound to start rumors.
"I don't know, Phil. But I'm gonna find out."
Phil looked confused as Aldric walked away. Aldric was sad he couldn't tell Phil, but telling anybody his secret would bring it back to life and ruin him completely. If the community found out he was a fraud…
Aldric pushed the thought away. He wasn't going to let that happen. The mysterious woman was the only problem. How could she have known?
He should go tomorrow to the manager to find out her identity.
It didn't take him long to find it. Aldric approached the manager's office, hoping to learn the woman's name. Before he could knock on the door, he could hear a man's voice.
"Celeste, don't worry. You're not going to be replaced."
"That is not what I'm asking. Do you know who that woman is?"
"I already told you. No one knows who she is, let alone ever seen her before. Now, go and rest. Practice begins soon."
Aldric heard the sound of moving feet.
"Oh, and Celeste…perhaps you would accompany me tomorrow-"
"No, sir. Tomorrow is my day off and I intend to-"
"No, you will come. We shall dine finely and perhaps enjoy a moonlit ride through the wonderful city we call home."
"Beckley, for the last time…I cannot and will not join you. Never, in fact."
"Mark my words. You will be mine."
There was momentary silence. He moved closer to hear better. Then Aldric flinched at the sound of a crash.
Then there was another uncanny silence. Aldric quickly rapped on the door, refusing to let this go on any further. He had to stop whatever what going on in there. He heard someone move clumsily around.
Quickly, the door opened and Beckley flew past Aldric with hardly a hello. Aldric could have sworn Beckley was holding the side of his face, like he had been hit.
Aldric felt confused, but looked into the office.
The girl straightened her skirt and ran her fingers through her hair. She shouldered her knapsack.
Aldric stared at her. "Did he hurt you?"
The girl stopped and looked at Aldric. "Who are you?"
"Are you hurt?"
"Excuse you? I can take care of myself. Besides, if I needed help, I certainly wouldn't go to you."
Aldric couldn't believe she was acting like this.
Then she left.
What to do next?
Minutes later, Aldric was out on the street. At first, the girl was easy to follow; but then she rounded a corner, and Aldric got lost.
He returned back inside the opera house to await rehersal to be finished. Aldric watched the cast practice, looking for the girl. He did it in hopes of apologizing to her; for what he said was inappropriate and out of place.
It didn't take him long to pick her out of the dancers. She was the one who moved most gracefully and exotically.
However long it took, he would wait. He could not lose this chance to find out, to know the truth. He sat in the audience and waited.
Celeste's POV
"Celeste, that guy is watching you."
Celeste looked over in the patron's direction. "Let him watch. That's all he's gonna get."
Eloise playfully hit Celeste.
"I'm serious. The guy overheard me reject Beckley again; so now, he thinks he can talk to me."
"Oh, are you alright? You didn't say anything about the jerk. Why didn't you?"
"It wasn't important. The only thing that happened was that pretty number on Beckley face. "
Eloise looked at her with horror.
"Don't look at me like that. Beckley knows not to mess with me. Cuz I am not the one that he is gonna piss off."
Eloise shook her head. "One of these days, girl. Either that angel of yours is gonna get you into trouble, or he's gonna be found out."
Celeste waved it off. "Anyway, this guy has no business assuming I'm some damsel in distress."
Eloise laughed. "Oh yes, you are the perfect representation of a damsel in distress."
Celeste smirked. "I'm offended by the very thought." Celeste did a solo that ended in a twirl synced with the finale of the orchestra.
Everyone began clapping, and the instructor smiled. "That was great. With any luck, opening night will be that good. Let's call it a night. But Eloise and Celeste stay behind."
Eloise rolled her eyes. "Wonder what it could be."
Celeste ignored Eloise's sarcasm as she glanced at the patron. He didn't move at all, not even blink. What was the guy's problem?
She sat down on the stage and started stretching. The instructor approached Celeste. "Are you girls okay? You seemed distracted."
Celeste opened her mouth, of course to smart mouth; but Eloise beat her to it. "Um, well…Celeste got nervous is all, considering that the patron was watching. She doesn't like messing up in front of people."
The instructor nodded. "Well, fix the problem and make sure it doesn't happen again."
Celeste nodded eagerly. "Will do. Thanks for the concern."
When they were alone on stage, Celeste looked out into the audience. The patron hadn't move.
A smile grew on Eloise's face. "Speaking of nervous…he looks like he's about to lose it. Better go talk to him and let him off the hook."
Celeste cringed. "Think he deserves it?"
"Nah, but you'll never get rid of him if you don't."
Celeste nodded and gave her friend a hug.
Eloise smiled as she walked off. "Catch ya later."
Celeste stared at the only seat filled in the house. It was strange. He was rich, but he was a musician. This man was a mystery to her.
He's just a musician. She had to keep telling herself that. There's no reason to be scared of him. He's just a musician.
She trembled as she moved down the stairs.
AN: Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!
