Carrie sat at the dressing table after the show, absentmindedly picking at fuzz on her sweater. She had already neatly folded her dance tights, lined up her shoes and hung up her costumes. The other girls were long gone, having thrown their belongings into their bags or onto the table and darted out of the room as quickly as possible to go greet friends and family who were in the audience. Carrie was not as eager to meet up with the people who she knew were waiting for her.
As she looked around her area trying to find something else that needed straightening, something else that could be done to prolong the inevitable, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and noticed she was still wearing her makeup. Taking it off could buy her at least ten minutes, if she did it really slowly. She dug through her bag to find her makeup case that held the remover and cotton balls she would need.
As she rummaged around, her thoughts turned to the man she was avoiding. Sure, he had assured her that he didn't want to hurt or scare her but it didn't make her feel any better. She still had no idea who he was, how he knew who she was or, most importantly, what he wanted from her. If that weren't bad enough, she couldn't get his stupid blond friend out of her head and she was afraid her usually good judgment would be compromised if he were around.
It was completely unbelievable, the way he had affected her during the show. Having been made aware at intermission that others noticed the focus of her attention during the first act, she consciously tried to avert her gaze in the second but it was a losing battle. He inexplicably drew her in. And although she wasn't the only one -- she had seen her female cast mates staring at him as well -- it bothered her. The other girls were always crushing on someone or other -- an audience member, the new lead, some guy they saw outside -- but Carrie had always believed herself to be different from them. Hadn't she prided herself on keeping aloof from all this nonsense? Apparently that was no longer the case.
And to top everything off, she couldn't shake the familiar feeling she had the last time she was speaking to her so-called uncle. There was something about him that put her at ease. He reminded her of someone; she just couldn't quite put her finger on whom.
A knock on the doorframe startled Carrie out of her thoughts. Her stomach jumped and she dropped the makeup case she had been about to open back into her bag, knocking the bag onto the floor. Expecting the worst, she spun to face the sound and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Scott standing there.
"Jeez!" she exclaimed, "You scared the crap out of me!"
Scott grinned at her. "I have that effect on women."
Carrie laughed as she bent over and picked up her bag. "Well, sure, when you sneak up on them."
Scott shrugged. "I told you I'd keep an eye on you." His face turned serious. "I got worried when I didn't see you out in the lobby."
Now it was Carrie's turn to shrug. "I guess I just took a little longer tonight to change and get out there."
Scott smiled and shook his head at her. He raised his eyebrows. "I wonder why."
"No idea," Carrie answered blandly. She stood up and walked towards Scott. "I guess I have no choice but to go now, huh?"
Scott stepped out of her way and motioned for her to go ahead of him. "No worries. I didn't see them out there."
Carrie stopped, halfway through the doorway.
"Any of them?"
Scott sighed, sounding exasperated. "No. Not any of them." The corner of his mouth turned up into a wry smile. "Sorry to disappoint you," he said sarcastically.
Carrie scoffed. "I'm not disappointed. I'm just…" she stopped, not sure exactly what she was. Relieved, maybe? No, that wasn't it; it wasn't quite relief, this feeling. Surprised? No, that wasn't it either.
Scott interrupted her thoughts a second time. "Whatever. I'll still keep my eye out, but just be careful." He started walking down the hall towards the door to the lobby and Carrie fell into step next to him.
"I'm not disappointed." She felt like she had to say it again, for her own benefit as well as Scott's.
"Good," Scott answered as he banged the door open. "Now go mingle before CJ notices how late you were. You know how he gets."
Carrie watched his back retreat into the crowd. She stood in the doorway and quickly scanned the lobby for any sign of the three men, despite Scott's assurance that they were not there. Satisfied that he was right, she began to work her way through the crowd. She spotted Melissa on the other side of the room and started to make her way over.
She had not heard anyone approach behind her so she almost jumped out of her skin when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She spun and found herself facing a man's chest. Her eyes traveled up and she stifled a gasp at the perfection in front of her.
This must be what angels look like. She felt the blush start to creep up her cheeks at the absurdity of her thought. Relax, Carrie, Relax. He's just a man. She took a deep breath. And another. And another…
"Good evening," She noticed the quality of his voice: a rich musical baritone. When he spoke, chills went up her spine and her face grew even hotter. All he had said were two simple words. Heaven help her if he decided to string together an entire sentence.
He raised an eyebrow at her and she realized she hadn't responded.
"Uhhh…hi."
Aaugh, her mind screamed. You sound so stupid! Get yourself under control!
He didn't notice her lack of poise or if he did, he made no indication. "Would you please join us outside? My companions and I would like to speak with you."
His voice was so beautiful. She had been right. Her judgment had gone right out the window as soon as he started speaking. So had her ability to speak coherently or think rationally, for when he turned and walked away she found herself following him.
The view is just as good from back here. The thought popped into Carrie's mind. Stop it! She scolded herself. Stop it, stop it, STOP it!
Silently berating herself for allowing the man candy in front of her to keep her from considering the dangerous situation she could be getting into, she followed him to the doors at the front of the theater. He held one open and gestured her though it. With only the slightest pause, Carrie walked out onto the steps in front of the theater. Once they were both outside, he turned and faced her.
"Please wait here." As he walked away Carrie had half a mind to run back into the safety of the theater, but now she was intrigued. Besides, there were plenty of people around. Safety should not be an issue, for the time being at least. She decided to stay and sate her curiosity.
"Well, curiosity killed the cat."
Some people turned their heads to look at her, confused by her statement. Embarrassed that she had spoken aloud, she put her head down and walked around the side of the building and ran right into the three men.
"Good evening!" Her 'uncle' exclaimed, sounding startled. He smiled warmly at her and Carrie instinctively took a step back. "Should we return to the front of the building where there are more people? Perhaps you will feel more comfortable then?"
Carrie smiled, relieved at his suggestion, but before she could nod her head the blond man spoke.
"I asked that she remain there when I came for you."
Although Carrie's breath caught a little in her throat when he spoke, she bristled at his words. Before she could respond, however, the third man spoke.
"Aye, you may have. But why ought she listen to you?" He walked over to Carrie and patted her arm. Carrie smiled at the surprisingly affectionate gesture. For some reason it put her more at ease and struck her as funny, since the top of his head came only to her nose.
"We frighten you, don't we?" he continued, grinning impishly at her. The thought seemed to amuse him.
Carrie nodded. "A little," she managed to say. He put his arm around her back and began to lead her towards the front of the building.
"You have nothing to fear from two of us." They rounded the corner and stopped. "I can't make any promises about him." With his head, he gestured towards the blond man.
Carrie needed no more of an excuse to look at him. She thought she saw his eyes narrow briefly but, quickly enough that she questioned what she saw, his face was once again expressionless.
"Enough." The tall, brown haired man joined them, placing a hand on the short one's shoulder. Although his tone was firm, Carrie heard a hint of aggravation, as if this discord was not uncommon between the other two. The short man did not argue and the tall one spoke to Carrie.
"You need not fear any of us." He gave the short man one more hard stare.
Carrie thought for a moment. The crowd around her had started to thin as people began to leave the theater. Did she really have nothing to fear? How could she be sure?
"I think it would help," she began slowly, "if I knew who you were."
The three men exchanged glances. Apprehension returned to Carrie.
"At least tell me your names." Her voice was quiet, despite her best efforts to seem bold and unafraid. The tall man, her 'uncle', appeared to be about to speak but did not get the chance.
"I do not think that wise."
Carrie marveled again at how beautiful his voice was. Stop it, Carrie, Stop it! Her mind screamed at her.
The short man put his hands on his hips and glared at his companion. "What harm could come from telling the child our names?"
'Child?' Carrie hadn't been called 'child' in years. Admittedly, she looked young for her age -- she usually got carded when she bought her cigarettes -- but child? Carrie frowned at him and belatedly wondered if he had disagreed merely to goad the other man. Calling her 'child' might then be intended to provoke him as well, since he and Carrie were likely close in age.
The brown haired man stepped forward, ignoring the other two. "You may call me… 'Strider', for now."
Realization hit Carrie as it became apparent why they seemed so familiar, who she was reminded of when she looked at them. How silly of her to worry about being in danger! She should have known what was going on. She had it coming ever since 'Darth Vader' showed up at Veronica's house a few weeks ago, imploring the other girl to join the Dark Side. Carrie giggled at the memory. It had cost her a little bit more money than she had wanted to spend, but the look on Veronica's face had been priceless.
"Strider?" Carrie laughed again. "For real?" Carrie turned to the blond man, ignoring the fact that her stomach flipped when she looked at him.
"So, then, you're an elf?" He met her gaze, but did not respond to her question. Carrie saw shock on the other two men's faces and was somewhat surprised. Did they think she wouldn't figure it out? Carrie looked to the sky in mock exasperation and then laughed.
"Oh come on, guys! Did you think I wouldn't know?"
She smiled at each of them, ending with the blond man – the 'elf'. No longer afraid but still nervous -- he was, after all, still gorgeous -- she bit her lip and took a few slow steps to close the distance between them. He did not move except to raise an eyebrow. She ignored how that made her feel and reached up to brush his hair behind his ear. Before she could react, he grabbed her wrist. Carrie gasped as his grip pushed her tendon into the bone. Man, he was strong! She snatched her wrist away as he uncomfortably pulled his hair back down over his ear.
"Sorry." She shook her head and shrugged. "Just had to check and see if she had you guys go the whole nine yards." Veronica was nothing if not thorough. "Alright, you tell Veronica 'good one' and that we're totally even now."
"Even?" 'Strider' frowned at her. "I'm not sure I understand."
"Please," Carrie drawled. "The joke's getting old." She quickly glanced at the blond man out of the corner of her eye. "You've, uh, more than earned whatever it is she's paying you." Laughing at their stunned expressions, Carrie jogged back into the theater, leaving the men staring after her.