Sword Lady: Hello again! This time Cat's not here to kill me! Well, I know that you're not really interested in reading what I have to say, so here's the next chapter! Hope you like the fic so far!
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Lost
Chapter 4: Performance
Andrea sat staring down at her hands. In a few moments, she would be walking out and performing. She had to act normal. Quatre couldn't suspect any prior knowledge of him. She leaned back. Later Melody was suppose to perform so Duo would see her. It was all a mess.
"Don't worry so much." Startled, Andrea looked up into a huge par of bright blue eyes before the woman lowered her visor with a smile. Two women were passing by. One had stopped to talk to her, the other doubled back. "Everything will be ok." She put a hand on Andrea's shoulder and gently said, "You won't be rejected. Just be brave and be yourself." The other woman had a visor on too. She stared off into the distance as she spoke.
"Don't think you'll be thrown to the wolves. You won't. Besides, you'll never know if you never try." She walked off. "Come on."
The other, more animated woman, looked at her then at Andrea smiling again. "Well, gotta go. Remember, it'll be fine." She turned and ran to catch up. "Hey! Wait up!" She caught up with her friend and turned back to wave at Andrea with a carefree smile.
Andrea watched the two strangers go. They had been talking about her performing but it applied to more than that. She stood up. She had to go out there. Besides, there was no guarantee that Quatra would remember her. With one deep breath, she set off for the stage.
Unknown to her, a pair of black eyes in an emotionless face watched her. The girl stood in the shadows where everyone looked over her. Two people passed in front of her and she was gone.
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Trowa stood on a stage alone. There were no lights on so no one could see him. He nodded as Andrea sat down at the piano. He picked up a flute. Tundra and Melody were behind the curtains watching and waiting.
The circus master took the stand. "Ladies and gentlemen. It is my pleasure to present to you a guest for tonights show. Our opening act will be a scene acted out by Catherine Bloom, Melody Maxwell and Tundra. The music will be preformed by Trowa Barton and our esteemed guest, Miss. Andrea Winner!" Cathy, Melody and Tundra walked down around the stage. Andrea and Trowa played and it began.
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The crowd watched as Melody snuck up on Cathy. Tundra brushed against Cathy distracting her. Melody stole a small book from Cathy's sash and ran with Tundra. Cathy turned holding eight knives. She threw tam at Melody and grabbed more from a near by table. The knives flew like lightning but Melody dodged them all.
Melody did an impressive array of acrobatics and then made her way up to the trapeze. There she turned waving the book. Cathy threw one more knife. Melody couldn't avoid it so she pulled the book in front of her heart. The knife landed in the book and Melody collapsed falling. As she fell. Melody stopped playing dead, and landed on Tundra making her get away.
Cathy threw a fit and stormed out only to return looking put out. Melody had somehow gotten back onto the trapeze. She stood and turned to Cathy. They bowed to one another, then to the audience, then to one another again. As they came up, Cathy saw Melody wave a silver and sapphire throwing knife behind her back. Cathy froze. Her prized knife.
Melody gave a cheeky grin as the audience applauded. Her face dropped when she saw a knife heading her way. She dodged it but staggered and fell. The music stopped and the audience knew this wasn't part of the act. As she fell, her shoulder hit the pole. She screamed. Andrea ran to her but Trowa caught her.
The audience catches it's breath. She was safe. Trowa set Melody on her feet. He gently felt her shoulder. She winced. Andrea shook her head. Cathy ran over to the three of them.
"Oh my God! Melody are you alright? You never fall! I'm so sorry!" Melody looked up in surprise.
"No, it was my fault. I just, well I saw somebody on the other platform and didn't pay attention." They all looked up. The trapeze was empty. "Well, there was! I swear-ah!" She winced holding her arm. The older teenagers turned back to Melody. Once again, black eyes watched them as they left the stage.
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Quatre and Duo sat in the middle of the crown. The blonde watched as Andrea gracefully took a seat and began to play the part of Catherine (musical part). Towa played Melody's part on the flute. The music made the scene real although not a word was spoken. It played in sync with their actions. Once again, Quatra remembered the songs that played through his childhood only to end when he sought them out.
Was this girl the one who'd played that beautiful music? If so, he had a thousand questions to ask her. Why did she stop when he sought her out? What was she doing there? Why did she never talk to him? He leaned back and caught sight of Duo.
Duo was leaning forward, his wide eyes followed every flip and dodge Melody did. Excitement ran like electricity through his veins. He was on the edge of his seat, almost ready to jump up and join her.
Memories of the two of them stealing from street vendors began to flood his mind. She performed some of the moves they'd done back when it was all fun and games. A smile touched his lips. She hadn't changed, grinning with every move she made. He gasped.
Quatre looked back at the performance. Melody was falling and it wasn't part of the act. They both stood as the performers ran to the falling Melody. Trowa came out of no where and caught her. They both released the breath they hadn't known they'd been holding.
"She's ok, but it looks like her shoulder-Duo!" He ran down the stands after them. Quatre quickly followed. They met Trowa outside a trailer. He stopped them from entering.
"She's fine. Just took a bad hit to her shoulder as she fell. Andrea is setting it." Duo leaned against the trailer relieved.
"She always had a knack for slipping up at the most inopportune moments." He gave a lopsided grin. Trowa watched him for a moment before speaking.
"Duo, don't talk to Melody as if you know her. I'm not entirely sure what happened to her, but she doesn't seem to have any type of personal memories."
"What! You mean… she won't recognize me? Impossible!"
"She can remember places, events and things she's learned, just nothing involving herself. Until we find out why it's better if we don't suggest anything."
"But-"
Quatre cut in. "You never said Andrea was here."
"That's why I told you to come today. I know she's your sister and I know she's been-" They all jumped and turned as the door slammed open.
"You're not serious!" Catherine stormed out followed by the girls. She turned on Melody. "Tell me it's a joke." Melody shook her head slowly.
"No I'm serious. I talked to him this morning." Catherine softened. "I just, well…. I love this but it's not what I want." She looked down. Cathy hugged her and looked at Andrea.
"You look after Mel good, Andrea. God knows she needs it." She backed up. "I gotta perform, but you'd better not go till I say good bye!" She ran off to the tent.
"So that's it?" Andrea walked in front of Melody and took her hands. "You're just going to leave. Well, you're coming with me."
"No. I-"
"No but's about it. I don't want to see you back on the streets again. You can stay at Bell with me." Trowa stepped forward.
"So you've quit the circus have you?"
"I'll be sure to drop by to watch you guys lose money without me." Duo flinched as she hugged Trowa. It was then that she noticed the other two. "Who are they?" Melody was suddenly as curious as a kitten. If her arm hadn't been in a splint, she'd have been hopping on her toes.
"These are my friends, Duo and Quatre." Melody began to bombard them with questions. They answered them as best they could. Duo looked up and met Andrea's eyes. She gave a small smile that did not reach her eyes. And this was where everything she'd worked for would go down the drain.
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Black eyes turned from the scene. This was not a good time. Once they leave, they'd have to be paid a visit. But not now.