Chapter 10 everyone! *In which Roxie is a big fangirl* hehehe just kidding XD

Guess what? I've just watched Chicago AGAIN. It's surprising how I still manage to notice new details every time I see this movie… This time I focused on Velma's blue garter and how enormous her fingernails look like when she's in prison O.o but I guess this doesn't really matter, I just wanted to share, because I'm pretty much obsessed with this story since 2013…

ANYWAY, I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Semptember 17th – 1925

In which some artistic views are shared.

"Maybe I should add one more slit to it…"

Roxie mumbled with herself, tapping her pencil against her chin while leaning over the table of the common room in the prison. She had her diary opened on a drawing of a dress she had made a few months ago, and now she was adding a few more details to it. Normally, on a day like this, she would be working in the cleaning with other inmates, but she still had a little influence over Mama due to her absurd fame; a little talk, a little smile, a look with her best puppy dog eyes and she had managed to get the day off. She smiled with herself at the thought of Velma sweeping floors along with the other girls while she casually chilled by the common room.

The hours passed by, and Roxie was still absorbed on her drawings; it was her favorite hobby, as a matter of fact. She drew everything; from faces to buildings, including a precise project of how she wanted a stage to be propped for her imaginary gigs. She created her perfect private world inside that diary, and she escaped to that place more often than not. She had, just on that day, drawn a few more dresses – casual ones, gala, and those especially made for the stage – still, she was back on that old drawing, still thinking about what could be added to make it absolutely perfect.

She was so distracted she didn't notice Velma, who entered casually on the common room, looking for something to do to pass the time. She had no idea why Mama was forcing her to do those awful jobs, but she still could sneak out before the scheduled time, and that was something, at least. She frowned and huffed in anger as she thought how unfair it was that Roxie could skip the job entirely, but she had to stay there, sweeping floors like a goddamn maid.

She walked towards the blonde carefully; she wanted to startle her, maybe give her a fright or pull her hair… That'd be fun. But as she was behind her, she noticed Roxie's drawing, and both her eyebrows raised in surprise; the girl was pretty talented. She watched in awe as the blonde traced precise lines and added details to the drawing of a magnificent long dress she could see herself wearing.

"You know, that's really pretty good" She couldn't restrain herself of saying it, which made the blonde jump from her chair, close the diary as fast as she could and turn around to face Velma with glowing red cheeks.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Roxie asked, alarmed. For how long had she been there, behind her? She earned a smug laugh from Velma, which made her even madder.

"I'm no Cinderella to have to sweep the floors in this hole" The brunet smiled, bending down and picking Roxie's diary. "C'mon, let me see it!"

"No!" Roxie quickly got up from the chair, snatching the diary from Velma's hands with unbelievable swiftness.

Now, usually Velma would sneer at the blonde and have her way around it anyway, usually holding Roxie down of pushing her away when she wanted to have something that wasn't hers; but this time it seemed serious, the blonde clutched the precious book against her chest fiercely, her knuckles turning white with the effort, her blue eyes sparkled dangerously and she held a defensive posture, ready to fight if Velma suddenly tried to take the diary away from her.

"Okay…" The brunet said, for the first time in her life fearful of Roxie's behavior. She held both her hands in the air, surrendering. In the hopes of making the little startlet calm down. "I just… Wanted to see your drawing, that's all. I'm not interested about the nasty things you must write when you're lonely" She joked, but Roxie didn't ease the look on her face.

"If you read my diary, Velma, I promise it'll be the last thing you'll see before I kill you" The blonde threatened, and if Velma didn't know she was all talk, she could even fear her cell partner.

"Okay, I'm sorry!" The brunet sneered, turning her back at the blonde, ready to be out of Roxie's way.

Roxie sighed, defeated; it wouldn't harm to show the dress to Velma. After all she never showed her work to anyone, not even her husband. And it would be nice to know Velma's opinion on it, especially because she had made that specific drawing of that dress thinking about her, and how awfully wonderful she would look on it, to say the least.

"Okay, I'll show you!" She said loudly, making Velma turn around again and look at her with a look of utter disinterest on her face.

"Who says I wanna see this shit anymore?" She teased, making Roxie roll her eyes. The brunet smiled fiendishly, waiting a few moments before she could walk towards the table, pull a chair and sit. "Alright, let me see it"

Roxie remained on her feet a little more, reluctant to show Velma something so private, but she gave up, sitting on her chair, opening the diary secretively, careful enough to avoid any other page to show.

"What d'ya think?"

Velma smiled and quickly made herself comfortable, holding one half of the diary as Roxie held the other – still quite viciously as a matter of fact. She kept the silence for long moments, looking over the blonde's shoulders, analyzing all the details the drawing had to offer. The dress cascaded down until it hit the floor, with two deep slits in the front adorned with rhinestones that came all the way up to the thighs. The cleavage was pretty simple and straight, but it was held by three delicate straps studded with shiny little stones that met in the back, creating an intricate and beautiful design. Velma was in love with it; but the best part of it, undoubtedly had to be the fact that the model on the drawing had her haircut; it could be a coincidence as well as it couldn't, but the brunet decided not to ask, as Roxie would flip her shit at the question.

"It's… The bee's knees kid" She finally said, not finding any other adjective to describe it. She earned a timid and stifled smiled from Roxie, also noticing the blonde blushed a little. "Have you thought about a color yet?"

"Oh, I was thinking about black…" Roxie said, almost in a whisper. Her heart skipped a beat when Velma suddenly reached for her face and lifted it up and looked her straight in the eyes.

"I'm not sure… For your skin tone, and the color of your hair… And your blue eyes… You would look nice in peach, or in baby-pink. Besides, black is my color"

"Oh, I got some bad news for your, Velma, I intend to wear black in all my future gigs" Roxie laughed, teasingly, but she was lying.

She would rather die than admit she had a habit of picturing Velma as the main model to all her clothes and costumes. Countless times she had imagined the brunet vaudevillian wearing her designs, how they would fit in her voluptuous body, how the fabric would hug her skin or slide like silk, and even how difficult or easy it'd be to take it off each piece. Even after all she had been through with that arrogant, self-assured woman, she couldn't put her admiration and fantasies for her aside. But the reality was just in front of her, and apparently it wasn't buying her words.

"D'ya even have a gig yet, kid? I betcha you never even set foot on a proper stage" Velma retorted, seeing she had hit Roxie harder than she intended, for the girl seemed deeply offended.

"Of course I have! I have performed a million times on stage!" The blonde said, self-assured, but her blushed cheeks were betraying her.

"The only way you could wear black would be in a double act, with me" Velma said, casually raising one eyebrow suggestively, but Roxie quickly brushed her off.

"I'd rather face the noose than to be in a double act with you, Velma" The blonde said, but she didn't believe her own words. After all, she had been feeding the dream of being Velma Kelly's partner since she had first set eyes on those marvelous dancing legs. The brunet's words almost had caught her off guard; she suppressed a gasp of surprise, quickly hiding behind her mask of hatred and indifference. She was supposed to hate Velma, but sometimes it was extremely difficult.

Velma, on her side, wasn't entirely surprised by the blonde's response, but rather disappointed; she was expecting she'd have to insist on the idea, rather than just throw it in the air and expect Roxie to grab it with teeth and nails. She pouted, like she always did when she was mildly angry at something, but her attention was quickly drawn to another drawing Roxie was now showing her.

"This one will also be black… Well, black and red as a matter of fact" She pointed at the drawing of a dancing suit, tight to the body with the help of corset strings on the back; a cleavage in the form of a deep V embroidered with red lace, long fringes that reached the knees, painted in a beautiful degrade of black and bright red. That drawing also had a model with the same bob haircut, and Velma started to question whether it was just a coincidence, or if Roxie really enjoyed drawing her models with that hair.

"Looks nifty… Have you thought about a choreography to go with that?" The brunet asked, sarcastically, but Roxie quickly got up from her chair, as excited as a child on Christmas.

"Yes! It starts like this…"

Velma watched intently as the blonde walked in front of her and executed her dance; with each move the brunet seemed to be increasingly more surprised at Roxie's talent. It was incredible, she designed her clothes, created choreographies, what more the girl could do? Compose songs? The brunet starlet smiled inwardly; the girl was all about precision, but she lacked the presence and the posture of a main star. All in all she was still just a chorus girl who danced perfectly; still, Velma had to confess she was enjoying the show. Roxie was a pain in the ass, but she had her perks, and what perks!

Roxie smiled widely as she noticed Velma's surprise; although her cheeks burned red with the exercise and the inhibition to have those intense eyes on her, she still did the twirls, tossed her arms gracefully and stepped in the right places, exactly like she imagined in her head a thousand times. No, it was better. Not even in her wildest dreams she would think she'd be watched by 'The' Velma Kelly. If her pride allowed, she'd even say it was a dream coming true, despite all the circumstances.

The blonde twirled again, dramatically throwing one arm into the air; it was much to her surprise to feel her hand got caught and now was being pulled in the direction of Velma herself, who had got up from her chair and joined in the dance. The brunet laughed at Roxie's wide, surprised eyes, as she turned her partner around and enveloped her waist with her arms.

"I think you know this move" Velma said in her ear, smiling satisfied as Roxie expertly kicked her leg up along with her in unison. "Now, listen to this; how about both of us, dressed in red, shimmy fringes up around our thighs"

Roxie gasped in disbelief while Velma twirled her, bringing her close to her again, this time capturing one of her legs and hooking it around her waist.

"No, not red!"

If Roxie wasn't so hyped about the whole experience, she would be able to feel something else apart from sheer adrenaline. She was close; so close she was sure Velma could feel her heat.

"I was thinking about something that'd stand out more…"

She obeyed Velma's command and slowly arched her back, fully aware of the brunet's strong arm supporting her waist. She returned to face Velma, who had a challenging look on her face.

"Orange?"

The brunet suggested, quickly changing the dynamic of the dance, executing a complicated series of tap dance moves which Roxie quickly followed suit.

"No!"

The blonde answered excitedly; a childish laugh escaping from her throat. She positioned herself in front of Velma again, who, this time captured her arms as both swayed their hips together.

"White" Roxie finally said bending slightly to the side so they could be face-to-face.

Now, Velma wasn't sure about white, nor any other color; she didn't give a shit about that. But she had a deep interest in Roxie's smile, and how admiringly and excited it seemed; she knew she had the little blonde around her finger, and, consequently her ticket to a way out of prison. Not that it wouldn't be good to dance with her again; she hasn't had a dance partner so connected and in sync with her like that in a long time, except, maybe, Veronica.

"I like white" Velma said, almost seductively, tugging Roxie closer until she was inches from her face and flashing a smile she knew dazzled both girls and boys. She got the effect she was aiming at, for the girl seemed to melt in her arms. "So, we got ourselves a deal?"

Roxie blinked bemused, snapping out of her living fantasy; suddenly everything came back to her. She was in the arms of Velma Kelly, the famous vaudeville star, killer, and the woman she was supposed to despise with all her might. She was already feeling the word "yes" excitedly forming on her lips when she frowned, untangled her own arms from Velma's, returning the cold expression on her face before she could give her an answer. She felt the words bitter in her mouth before they could turn into a blatant lie.

"Forget it, Velma. It'd never work"

The brunet raised a skeptical eyebrow as she watched Roxie turning around and picking her belongings before exiting the room. She knew she was close to get what she wanted, all she needed was some more pushes in the right direction, some more compliments and dazzling smiles. Soon Roxie would be on her feet.

She made sure the little starlet was out of sight before she could smile openly; although she intended to use Roxie to get her fame back, it was undeniable that the process would be really enjoyable, if not even pleasurable. She pondered for a few more seconds about the next excuses she'd make up to have the girl in her arms again, as well as the excuses she'd make up to convince herself she was only being a manipulative bitch and nothing else.

"If that wasn't sexual tension, I don't know what it was" Mona said, worriedly; lazily leaned over her broom. She watched as June frowned and her grip on her own broom got tighter.

They were watching Velma and Roxie dance for quite a while now; the cleaning was over, and the four girls had agreed to meet in the common room for some poker before dinner. June and Mona had left earlier since Annie had asked them to leave her alone with Liz; the dark skinned woman knew very well the reason behind such request, but she never asked questions. Thank god the two weren't there to watch that scene; sure she and Mona would be bombarded with sarcastic remarks of how they would lose the bet.

June bit her bottom lip nervously as she gazed at Velma and how perky she seemed; she just wanted to get over there and hit the girl with her broom in order to ease some of her frustration and annoyance. She was so damn sure about her win, but now her confidence was starting to tremble.

This chapter was just an excuse to flood you with references from the movie. Including Roxie's "Funny Honey" dress, Velma's "I Can't Do It Alone" one, and the white one both of them use in "Nowadays".

I just love the way everything only happens inside of Roxie's head during the movie ^^ so I thought it was only fair that she's the creator of all those wonderful costumes, and she sure has it all drawn and noted on her diary, of course :3

By the way, Roxie's a f*** genius. There, I said it.

Anyway, like this chapter? Have any ideas, suggestions, critics? Review or PM me, pretty please? I'd be delighted by it!

Thanks a lot for reading!