First thing...Please accept my apologies. I had no idea my settings were on
"only allow signed reviews". I feel like such an idiot and a snob. I
welcome everyone to review and would greatly appreciate it. I can't believe
all this time I had no clue. *Blushes* Again, I am so sorry! Well anyway,
here's some more! Enjoy!
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A short little redhead with curls quickly shot herself to the front of the pack. "Hello Catrina." she uttered menacingly. The girls had formed a full circle around her.
"Hi." She said taking a second to look over each girl before setting her attention back on the little redhead. "Oh I know you, you're Julia DeFranco, from my school. We're not in the same class but-"
She was cut off. "Yes, we know each other." Julia went on. "We've heard a few things about you, Catrina." Catrina was silent. "Like you don't let people push you around." "And you're not scared of anything or anyone." Cut in Grace. " "And you manage to posses a rather chic style all your own, despite your age and the fact that you're as poor as dirt." Added Sally. Catrina raised an eyebrow at the last comment.
"But what I want to know, Catrina.." Julia went on even more threatening than before. "Is why you bother with that pathetic 7th grade dimwit Reeny?!" "Well, uhh..I just met her-" Catrina was interrupted again.
"Listen Catrina, we know you don't have any friends..." Julia teased. Catrina was ready to sock her. "But you could. We can make you the sharpest thing to ever hit Bridgedale Elementary. You just have to know the right type of people."
"And that would be you?" Catrina asked, a sharp glint of sarcasm in her eyes. Julia was quiet for a minute, her eyes seeming to become red flames as they melted into Catrina's. "Don't ever look a gift horse in the mouth, honey." Snapped Julia.
Just then Reeny came running back. "Hey Cat." Reeny tapped Catrina on the shoulder. Catrina and the surrounding girls all turned to face the petite blonde at once. "Well Catrina," said Grace pushing her in front of Reeny.
Catrina was not one to follow in the footsteps of others, especially others that she could see through better than freshly cleaned glass. But now, the peer pressure was unbearable. The heat of the situation was bound to make any one crack.
"Yeah, you guys are right. " Said Catrina. "I don't know why I even said anything to her in the first place. The little twit's probably a two- bit act anyway." Catrina laughed villainously, but on the inside she felt like her heart was being hacked apart with a machete. Catrina's new "friends" looked at each other victoriously and walked off, Catrina trailing behind them. She looked back for a moment only to see poor Reeny standing there motionless, still puzzled by the staggering circumstance that had just taken place.
'What happened!?' thought Reeny. 'Why does every aspect of my life have to turn out to be so rotten? I really thought there was something special about her. I felt as if I had known her all my life, like a long lost friend. What a crazy thought.' Little did she know that Catrina felt exactly the same way.
Alone in a dark corner and almost in tears, to Reeny it felt like she had been sitting there for days. She could almost wipe the cobwebs off of herself before she heard the announcer call her number and the approaching steps of Mrs. Johnson. But just at that moment she was struck with an undeniable will to perform. She thought of her courageous mother and the strong relationship they shared that no mortal could touch, and she was instantly inspired to make her proud. Now she was going to show all those huffy high-hats, especially this new Catrina, whoever the hell she thought she was, once and for all just how much better she was than all of them.
Once on stage waiting for the music to start up, Reeny felt the adrenaline pumping through her body and the showgirl nature that was passed on to her by her mother, took over. Soon, her mind had vacated reality and all she could see was herself on stage in the old Vaudeville days, everyone yelling and screaming her name. Lights exploded behind her eyes in perfect sync with the dazzling fireworks and flying colors that were all for her.
Nobody. Not the girls, not Catrina, not her mother. NOBODY...would see her beaten now.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Originating from the small phonograph backstage, the notes of the big band classic "In the Mood" suddenly exploded through the surrounding speakers and engulfed the whole theatre in symphonious concert. Never slacking in her performance Reeny would give no less than 200% tonight. It was the most important moment in her life so far, and now she was going to take the bull by the horns.
Each note of the jazz took hold of Reeny's body and graciously shaped her every move. Each percussionous hit by the drums, each flare of the trumpet..she moved to in perfect rhythm. It was as if she no longer had to try or to think about what she was doing.
It now emerged into Reeny's mind what she had been put on this earth to do, and just like that, she was one with her music.
High-kicks, mid-air splits, and flips, spectators gazed in amazement, as the young diva seemed to defy the laws of gravity. Every girl backstage attempted to get a better look as they poked and prodded their heads from behind the curtains in sheer shock. Even Catrina, who was divine in her talents compared to most, was surprised at the tiny showgirl's astounding abilities.
"OK well, maybe she's not a two-bit act." Catrina remarked as she looked back at her newfound company.
As she watched Reeny prance jubilantly on stage, Julia DeFranco appeared horrified. Catrina then turned around again to notice Julia take off hurriedly in the direction of Mrs. Johnson.
Catrina watched the two talk for a minute, a speck of worry on Mrs. Johnson's face. But when Julia returned to where everyone was watching Reeny from behind the stage, her semblance was calm.
"Nervous?" asked Julia slyly. She put an arm around Catrina. "Not really. I thought you were." "Not anymore." Replied Julia. "I have an act that'll knock their socks off." She smirked. "Oh by the way, thanks Catrina." "Uhh..You're welcome." She replied skeptically, not sure why this incredulous little creature had just thanked her. Julia strolled off to get ready for her upcoming act, swaying her hips arrogantly as she walked. 'Man, does she think she's the cat's pajamas.' Thought Catrina.
But Catrina wasn't worried at all. Even though originally she didn't want to be in the show, now she felt exhilarated. What better way to show the world what she was made of, than going up against an act like that little Reeny girl's. The blonde was good, but Catrina knew what she herself was capable of, and she could top just about anyone, except her mother of course.
While still watching the little flaxen-haired contender, guilt began to take its toll on her. If only she hadn't gone along with Julia and "the phony sisters", she could have been friends with this girl who, from the short time she had known her, reminded Catrina so much of herself, and had seemed so genuine. 'Now that I'm gonna beat her, she'll never even look at me again.' Thought Catrina sadly.
By now the audience was in an uproar. Every seat visible to the eye was abandoned for a standing ovation. Parents, grandparents, and city onlookers were jumping and gyrating to the music as they cheered for the young swinger.
Velma, who was rarely impressed by anyone other than herself or her daughter, stared on in wonder from the audience. 'This is ridiculous. She's phenomenal. She's almost as good as my Cathy-Fly.' She thought. "It's so strange, she seems so familiar to me, but I can't put my finger on it." She said out loud to herself, though no one noticed due to the blaring music and boisterous roars of the crowd. "She kind of reminds me of Cat, in a way." Velma laughed.
When the number ended, she fluffed off the thought of the little blonde girl and began to focus on her daughter's impending number. 'Oh come on Catrina you can do it.' She closed her eyes, crossed her fingers, and did something else she hadn't done in at least 25 years...She prayed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A short little redhead with curls quickly shot herself to the front of the pack. "Hello Catrina." she uttered menacingly. The girls had formed a full circle around her.
"Hi." She said taking a second to look over each girl before setting her attention back on the little redhead. "Oh I know you, you're Julia DeFranco, from my school. We're not in the same class but-"
She was cut off. "Yes, we know each other." Julia went on. "We've heard a few things about you, Catrina." Catrina was silent. "Like you don't let people push you around." "And you're not scared of anything or anyone." Cut in Grace. " "And you manage to posses a rather chic style all your own, despite your age and the fact that you're as poor as dirt." Added Sally. Catrina raised an eyebrow at the last comment.
"But what I want to know, Catrina.." Julia went on even more threatening than before. "Is why you bother with that pathetic 7th grade dimwit Reeny?!" "Well, uhh..I just met her-" Catrina was interrupted again.
"Listen Catrina, we know you don't have any friends..." Julia teased. Catrina was ready to sock her. "But you could. We can make you the sharpest thing to ever hit Bridgedale Elementary. You just have to know the right type of people."
"And that would be you?" Catrina asked, a sharp glint of sarcasm in her eyes. Julia was quiet for a minute, her eyes seeming to become red flames as they melted into Catrina's. "Don't ever look a gift horse in the mouth, honey." Snapped Julia.
Just then Reeny came running back. "Hey Cat." Reeny tapped Catrina on the shoulder. Catrina and the surrounding girls all turned to face the petite blonde at once. "Well Catrina," said Grace pushing her in front of Reeny.
Catrina was not one to follow in the footsteps of others, especially others that she could see through better than freshly cleaned glass. But now, the peer pressure was unbearable. The heat of the situation was bound to make any one crack.
"Yeah, you guys are right. " Said Catrina. "I don't know why I even said anything to her in the first place. The little twit's probably a two- bit act anyway." Catrina laughed villainously, but on the inside she felt like her heart was being hacked apart with a machete. Catrina's new "friends" looked at each other victoriously and walked off, Catrina trailing behind them. She looked back for a moment only to see poor Reeny standing there motionless, still puzzled by the staggering circumstance that had just taken place.
'What happened!?' thought Reeny. 'Why does every aspect of my life have to turn out to be so rotten? I really thought there was something special about her. I felt as if I had known her all my life, like a long lost friend. What a crazy thought.' Little did she know that Catrina felt exactly the same way.
Alone in a dark corner and almost in tears, to Reeny it felt like she had been sitting there for days. She could almost wipe the cobwebs off of herself before she heard the announcer call her number and the approaching steps of Mrs. Johnson. But just at that moment she was struck with an undeniable will to perform. She thought of her courageous mother and the strong relationship they shared that no mortal could touch, and she was instantly inspired to make her proud. Now she was going to show all those huffy high-hats, especially this new Catrina, whoever the hell she thought she was, once and for all just how much better she was than all of them.
Once on stage waiting for the music to start up, Reeny felt the adrenaline pumping through her body and the showgirl nature that was passed on to her by her mother, took over. Soon, her mind had vacated reality and all she could see was herself on stage in the old Vaudeville days, everyone yelling and screaming her name. Lights exploded behind her eyes in perfect sync with the dazzling fireworks and flying colors that were all for her.
Nobody. Not the girls, not Catrina, not her mother. NOBODY...would see her beaten now.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Originating from the small phonograph backstage, the notes of the big band classic "In the Mood" suddenly exploded through the surrounding speakers and engulfed the whole theatre in symphonious concert. Never slacking in her performance Reeny would give no less than 200% tonight. It was the most important moment in her life so far, and now she was going to take the bull by the horns.
Each note of the jazz took hold of Reeny's body and graciously shaped her every move. Each percussionous hit by the drums, each flare of the trumpet..she moved to in perfect rhythm. It was as if she no longer had to try or to think about what she was doing.
It now emerged into Reeny's mind what she had been put on this earth to do, and just like that, she was one with her music.
High-kicks, mid-air splits, and flips, spectators gazed in amazement, as the young diva seemed to defy the laws of gravity. Every girl backstage attempted to get a better look as they poked and prodded their heads from behind the curtains in sheer shock. Even Catrina, who was divine in her talents compared to most, was surprised at the tiny showgirl's astounding abilities.
"OK well, maybe she's not a two-bit act." Catrina remarked as she looked back at her newfound company.
As she watched Reeny prance jubilantly on stage, Julia DeFranco appeared horrified. Catrina then turned around again to notice Julia take off hurriedly in the direction of Mrs. Johnson.
Catrina watched the two talk for a minute, a speck of worry on Mrs. Johnson's face. But when Julia returned to where everyone was watching Reeny from behind the stage, her semblance was calm.
"Nervous?" asked Julia slyly. She put an arm around Catrina. "Not really. I thought you were." "Not anymore." Replied Julia. "I have an act that'll knock their socks off." She smirked. "Oh by the way, thanks Catrina." "Uhh..You're welcome." She replied skeptically, not sure why this incredulous little creature had just thanked her. Julia strolled off to get ready for her upcoming act, swaying her hips arrogantly as she walked. 'Man, does she think she's the cat's pajamas.' Thought Catrina.
But Catrina wasn't worried at all. Even though originally she didn't want to be in the show, now she felt exhilarated. What better way to show the world what she was made of, than going up against an act like that little Reeny girl's. The blonde was good, but Catrina knew what she herself was capable of, and she could top just about anyone, except her mother of course.
While still watching the little flaxen-haired contender, guilt began to take its toll on her. If only she hadn't gone along with Julia and "the phony sisters", she could have been friends with this girl who, from the short time she had known her, reminded Catrina so much of herself, and had seemed so genuine. 'Now that I'm gonna beat her, she'll never even look at me again.' Thought Catrina sadly.
By now the audience was in an uproar. Every seat visible to the eye was abandoned for a standing ovation. Parents, grandparents, and city onlookers were jumping and gyrating to the music as they cheered for the young swinger.
Velma, who was rarely impressed by anyone other than herself or her daughter, stared on in wonder from the audience. 'This is ridiculous. She's phenomenal. She's almost as good as my Cathy-Fly.' She thought. "It's so strange, she seems so familiar to me, but I can't put my finger on it." She said out loud to herself, though no one noticed due to the blaring music and boisterous roars of the crowd. "She kind of reminds me of Cat, in a way." Velma laughed.
When the number ended, she fluffed off the thought of the little blonde girl and began to focus on her daughter's impending number. 'Oh come on Catrina you can do it.' She closed her eyes, crossed her fingers, and did something else she hadn't done in at least 25 years...She prayed.