Chapter 7 – Rochelle's Dance

Been listening to Ace of Base's Happy Nation album for this one...yes it's an oldie but the songs are just right for Rochelle, lol.


In the hallway, the three toys crept along the wall and under a small table decorated with a long cloth and a vase of flowers on it, listening intently for any noise. At the sound of footsteps on the stairs behind them, they all froze, pressed against the wall. From nearby a door opened and then shut again, and they heard a bolt scrape across.

Rochelle dared to peek out, only to dive for cover again at a second pair of footsteps approaching up the stairs. They heard someone try the handle of the door that had previously been shut, then there was an irritated sigh and something dropped to the floor, making them all jump. Peeking out again, Rochelle noticed there was a lady in front of them, and her handbag sat on the floor next to her feet.

There was a flushing sound and the door opened. There was the brief exchange of two female voices, then a short laugh from one of them; then the first lady went down the stairs, and the lady that had been standing in the hallway went into the room, shutting the door behind her. They heard the bolt on the other side of the door click again.

The toys looked at each other. "Rochelle," Jessie hissed. "How on earth are we going to get downstairs? There's too many humans walking around up here."

Rochelle rubbed her chin in thought. "There must be a way," she mused to herself, then the thought occurred to her. She grabbed Jessie's hand, dragging her out into view and towards the handbag which still lay, unattended, on the floor. She pushed Jessie in front of her, giving the redhead a boost up, and then began to quickly climb up into the handbag after her. They both dropped down out of sight, only for Rochelle to reappear again, looking across to Buzz, who still stood in the shadows of the table.

"Buzz! Get your space rear in motion!" She hissed loudly, just at the moment that that door clicked open behind her. The blonde ducked back down again, falling against Jessie as the handbag was retrieved and carried off. Rochelle popped her head back up, gesturing to Buzz as Jessie's face and upper body appeared next to her. The space ranger ran out from under the unit, jumping up as both girls grabbed his hands with their own, hauling him up into the bag as well.

They all fell back again in the bag, panting from the exertion. "That was a close one," Jessie murmured, crawling across to hug Buzz. Rochelle stood up and dusted herself off, only for her to be rudely returned to sitting on her butt as the bag was placed down on the floor again. Her leg twinged for the first time in ages, probably due to the jolt. There was silence, and then the bag was pushed somewhere dark.

Looking up through the open top of the bag, all Rochelle could see was something dark and wooden. Daring to get to her feet, she hauled herself over the edge of the bag cautiously, as Buzz and Jessie watched her with bated breath.

"Coast is clear," the blonde said in a hushed tone, hoisting herself right up and over the side of the bag. She vanished from sight, and deciding they better follow suit, Buzz and Jessie climbed out of the bag too. Buzz blinked in the sudden brightness of the room as he assisted Jessie down. They were under a table, and the bright light was masked somewhat by the tablecloth hanging down either side of their hideaway.

Rochelle was over by the table leg, peering out at her surroundings and all the humans milling around. Buzz noticed.

"Rochelle," he hissed, "Get back here, you'll be spotted."

She ignored him, continuing to gaze up at all the humans walking around the large room they'd been brought into. Smells of food lingered in the air, the atmosphere rife with chatter and merriment. Women were drinking what looked like fizzy water from glasses, the men drinking from brown bottles.

"Look at this place," Rochelle whispered as the other two wandered over cautiously to peer out too. "Some of the dresses these ladies are wearing makes me look plain in comparison."

Just at that moment, a woman wearing a low cut black dress walked past, her cleavage practically falling out of the top. Buzz felt his mouth drop a little, and Jessie nudged him on seeing his expression. "Remember who you're standing next to, space boy." She warned him.

"Well this is great," Buzz piped up, trying to avert his blushes, "But now we're stuck here. What do we do?"

"We people watch, silly," Rochelle whispered, "We're in a beautiful house with the beautiful people. All we have to do is imagine. That man there could be a duke, and that lady could be a...well, a lady." She clasped her hands together under her chin and sighed. Yes, this was the kind of company she should be keeping.

They watched in silence for a little while more, until there was a clinking sound, and the chatter in the room ceased. After a few moments, they heard someone clear their throat, and then a young man at the front of the room spoke.

"Dear friends, Sharon and I would like to thank you so much for being able to attend our Thanksgiving celebration. We also offer our thanks on behalf of our little girl, Heather, God bless her. On this day we also offer up thanks for the food and drink we consume on this day, and the blessing to be alive." The man paused. "With that said...please, help yourself to the snacks and drinks, and we shall be seated for the main meal of the evening very shortly. Until then, please enjoy the music."

Rochelle stood back. "Oh boy, music!" She grinned at Jessie and Buzz, ignoring the twinge in her knee again. "Now this is more like it, don't you think?"

Jessie glanced at Buzz. "I guess we could use to dance for a bit." She gave a shy little smile, remembering all the times she'd danced before with him, and how nice it felt to be in his arms. She realised the music had started and looking across, saw that Rochelle had already thrown herself into the beat.

"Shall we, then?" Buzz nudged her shoulder and Jessie turned to him with a giggle, grabbing his hand as he started to dance with her. As he pulled her close and twirled her under his arm, Jesse snuck a glance at Rochelle, who was totally engrossed in the music. Even as the tracks changed, the blonde just kept right on dancing.

It took less than three songs before Jessie was finally exhausted and begged Buzz for a break. He grinned. "It's cool, Jessie. I'll see if Rochelle wants a companion."

With a small nod, Jessie settled herself on the floor, leaning against the table leg, She didn't mind Buzz dancing with Rochelle, as long as that wily blonde didn't try anything on with her boyfriend like before, when she'd first arrived in Bonnie's room. Jessie knew she should forgive and forget, but it wasn't that easy really. Sure, she liked Rochelle enough, she just didn't completely trust her yet.

Of course, she trusted Buzz plenty enough to reject and scorn any advances the doll might make. Still, she watched carefully as Buzz approached the still dancing blonde, ready to fight her corner – and his - if need be.


"Rochelle?" Buzz stepped closer to the doll dancing alone. The blonde didn't look up, she kept right on dancing. The tracks switched and there was a momentarily lull in her steps, but even as the next track came on, so the doll went on dancing, and dancing.

"Rochelle?" Buzz tried again, and once more received no response. He glanced over his shoulder at Jessie, then back to Rochelle. By the time he had completed these simple movements, Rochelle's head had snapped back and she was looking at him. But her gaze was strangely vacant, making Buzz shudder. He reached out for the blonde, taking her hand that was flailing about by her side, but she pulled it from him, turning slightly and continued with her maniacal dancing.

Buzz started to get worried. He'd been nervous about Jessie getting into a bind, but he hadn't counted on Rochelle acting up. He tried to grab her hand once more but she simply pulled it away again. He looked back over at Jessie, who had sat forward, noticing Rochelle's reactions.

"Buzz, what's the matter with her?" the cowgirl whispered loudly, and Buzz shrugged.

"If I knew, I'd be able to stop her." He replied in a low voice. He tried one more time to grab Rochelle's hand, without success. After a few minutes more, the tracks switched, and he noticed the vacant gaze in Rochelle's eyes vanish to be replaced with something more real. But as the new track came on the real look disappeared again, to be re-replaced with the vacant, stony look she'd had originally.

Buzz couldn't work it out. She seemed okay, apart from when the music was playing...he stopped in his thoughts. The music. That had to be the answer. He glanced around at Jessie again. "We have to get Rochelle out of here."

"What? Why?" Jessie asked, her eyes wide in surprise.

"I think the music is responsible." He said shortly

Jessie covered her mouth with her hand, only to drop it again to speak. "But Buzz, how are we going to get out of here? Rochelle planned the escape from Heather's room in the first place!"

She had just finished her sentence when the track on the stereo finished. Rochelle's eyes flickered back to normal, and Buzz seized his chance, grabbing the blonde into his arms before she sagged to the floor.

Rochelle blinked at the action. "Buzz?"

He was about to reply when they were interrupted by someone shouting across the room. "Everyone, would you mind taking your seats for dinner, please?" There was a slight murmur of assent as all the people began to move to the door at the far end of the room. The room became quiet, and with relief Buzz noted that the stereo had been switched off too.

Rochelle spoke at last, staring at Buzz for a long moment. "Was I dancing?"

"Yes..." Buzz muttered. Rochelle pulled away from him, and he allowed her to sink to her knees beside him. After a moment, he knelt down next to her and Jessie crawled across to flank the blonde on the other side, watching the scene play out curiously.

"Buzz?" Rochelle whispered, and rubbed her forehead. "Did I fall again?"

"No," he whispered back.

"Then did I hit my head? It hurts." She murmured, and he shook his head.

"No. You were just dancing."

"Really?"

"Really." He confirmed, and she groaned slightly, getting up from her position. She rubbed at her knee and Buzz looked concerned. "Rochelle, we should get you back upstairs. I think the music's making you go crazy."

"No, Buzz, I like the music," Rochelle protested, but the space toy wasn't listening. He picked up the blonde in a fireman's lift and looked around.

"C'mon Jessie," he murmured to the redhead, who grinned to herself over Buzz taking control of Rochelle. About time too, she thought.