Chapter 25

"You've really just come to see my show?" I said suspiciously, looking at Adrian and Abigail.I'd never noticed how their names began with the same letter. Weird.

"Yes!" Abigail exclaimed. "I've heard it's so good! And... the Doctor told us you've got a fella!"

I felt myself go red.

"We've just gone out a couple of times, that's all."

Abigail looked delighted, "Oh my word, look at you blushing, so cute!"

Adrian looked at me in surprise.

I rolled my eyes, "Anyway!' I sat down on the end of my bed. "How did you guys get here?"

"The Doctor picked us up. Of course, they just talked about machines and time and other boring stuff in that blue box thing." Abigail said, pulling a face and glancing at Adrian and the Doctor.

"Sounds familiar. You two are probably buddies already." I said, grinning and looking at them.

Adrian rolled his eyes.

I kicked off my shoes and got into bed.

"If you guys don't mind, I'm going to sleep." I said, pulling my pyjamas underneath the covers and getting changed. I emerged a couple of seconds later and laid my clothes neatly at the end of my bed. Adrian looked astonished. I'd missed him, really. And Abigail too.

I smiled up at them, "Night guys."

"Frankie! There's a thing for you here, it's from that man you like!" Abigail said loudly.

"Wha? What time is it?" I mumbled, sitting up.

"Eleven." I heard Adrian say. He was sitting reading a newspaper, looking as though he didn't want to be disturbed.

"The day?" I asked.

"Sunday."

"Dammit." I muttered, getting out of bed. "What's the thing?" I called to Abigail, walking over to the sound of her voice.

"Well, things." She said from the hallway outside. I stuck my head around the door and felt my jaw drop.

It was the biggest bunch of flowers I'd ever seen.

"Dark purple roses, my favourite. How did he know?" I whispered, fascinated.

"I have my ways." A voice said. I turned and saw Bobby.

I ran and hugged him. I wanted to kiss him so badly but knew it was only another week until I could.

"Get dressed, Miss Young. I'm taking you out and although I would prefer it if you stayed looking how you are now, you might get arrested. Not that you would, with me, but still, people would talk." Bobby grinned.

"Okay!" I smiled and skipped back into my room, feeling like I was soaring high up in the sky on a cloud.
Abigail followed me.

"He's so fit!" She squealed. "All handsome and muscly and-"

"Hey!" I said, pulling a dress on. "Zip me up, would you?"

Abigail did up the zip at the back of my purple dress. I slipped on some black heels and a purple flower clip in my hair which was looking especially turquoise in the sunlight.

"Gorgeous!" Abigail announced, patting some powder onto my face, making me cough.

"Thanks." I cleared my throat and walked back out of the door, "See you tonight. Probably."
"Have fun!" Abigail giggled.

"Don't wait up!" I called as I shut the door behind me. I turned to Bobby, "So, what's the plan for today?"
"I was thinking lunch at this great little place on sixth. Then we can hit the movies since the weather's so awful. Then tonight there's a concert on I thought you might like."

"Sounds good to me."

Everything was great. I showed remarkable restraint in not kissing Bobby during the many romantic scenes during the movie and he too, sat trying not to look at me, his hands grasping the arms of the seat in frustration.

The concert was incredible. A beautiful woman with ebony skin sang slow sexy jazz and blues songs while a guy in sunglasses played a saxophone. Yet again, my restraint was commendable. It's amazing how much more you want to do something when you're not allowed to do it.

Then finally, opening night came.

A knock sounded loudly at my dressing room door. "Five minutes 'til curtain up!"
"Okay!" I called back.

I exhaled nervously and went back to my make-up. I'd had most of my make-up done by the artists but I insisted on putting on the powder myself so I didn't feel completely useless. I'd warmed up my voice. I gone over my lines. I was ready.
A softer knock came at my door. I sighed and set the brush down. "Come in!"

Bobby opened the door and leaned against it, wearing his first costume; a "blood" stained gangster suit and a fedora.
"Hi." I said, smiling.

"Tonight's the night. You look gorgeous."

"Thanks." I said, standing up in my own costume; a tailored checked dress with a jacket tied around my shoulders and my hair tied back in a plait.
"Two minutes til curtain!" yelled a guy with a clipboard, walking past.

"We better go." Bobby said.

I nodded and we walked over towards the backstage door.

I stood in the wings, breathing deeply. Bobby caught my eye and winked. I grinned then got into character; my curious, lost expression in place. Darcey Jones, shy, nervous, the best singer in New York.

I wandered out onto the stage, extras milling around me. I looked around until I spotted the bar. I walked over to it and slid into the high stool.
"What'll it be, lady?" The bartender said, grinning at me.

"Just a dry sherry." I said nervously, looking around some more.

Then Bobby, or should I say Joey came crashing onto the stage. He ran over to the seat beside me and sat down, panting.
"Hey," He drawled at me.

"Oh my! Are you bleeding?!" I cried, looking at the fake blood on his shirt.

"It's not my blood but you're welcome to take a closer look." He winked.

The audience went "ooooh!".

I fanned myself with my hand and went all shy.

And so this continued, Joey flirting and betraying poor faithful Darcey who grew to love him with all her heart, even threw herself in front of a gun for him. The song had people in floods and cheering like crazy. Until the final scene where the audience were utterly drenched in tears.
"I've decided I'm coming home, for good this time!"

"Oh Joey, baby!" I exclaimed and then we kissed.

It's like whenever you're so hungry and haven't eaten in ages and then you do, and it seems like the best thing you've ever eaten. It was like that. Except, with a kiss. Sort of. What sort of metaphor is this?! I'm terrible, I really am.

I barely heard the crowd's wild applause, barely saw the standing ovation. I accepted my praise and flowers with a bow and walked off stage, my knees feeling weak.

I walked straight to my dressing room and sat down heavily on the soft white chaise lounge. A soft knock sounded at my door. It opened and Bobby stood there, his bow-tie untied around his neck.

"Congratu-" He began but I grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him inside.

A couple of minutes later, another knock sounded at the door, this one sounding excited.

"Go away, I'm busy!" I called, pulling away from Bobby for a second.

"Oh, come on Frankie! We bought you chocolates! The show was so great!" It was Abigail.

"Leave them there! I'll see you back at the hotel later!" I ran my fingers through Bobby's hair.

"Have you locked the door?"

"Yes..." I said guiltily.

"You've got that man in there, haven't you?"

"Yes..."

I heard a lot giggles and a couple of sighs from Adrian and the Doctor, Adrian amused, the Doctor embarrassed.

"Now, get out of here!" I yelled.

"We'll you two to your, um, byeeee!" I heard Abigail laugh as they walked away.