Yay, Chapter 7! Shoutout to DustatchingAtTheImpala. Enjoy!
Chapter 7
The day consisted of me watching Meg and Christine dance their hearts out in rehearsal, lunch, more dance rehearsal, then finally a little bit of rest in my room. Once I got there, I flopped on my bed, only to be jabbed in the stomach my multiple solid things.
"What the…" I trailed off as I took in the sight before me: it was all of the things I used to use back in my time! My tablet, my phone, a few books, and pants and T-shirts. I thanked the good Lord above – especially for the jeans. I could wear them underneath my dress and not feel as awkward.
"What is that?" I heard from the mirror, startling me so much that I dropped my jeans and jumped. I knew it was Erik, but the unexpectedness of him being there was what made me start.
"Geez, Erik, what do you want to do? Give me a heart attack?" I kidded with him, holding a hand over my heart, willing it to slow down.
"My sincerest apologies. But really, what is that that you have on your bed?" he asked, coming out from behind the mirror.
"My phone, tablet, some books, and some clothes from my time. But I don't get it: what are they doing here? How did they get here?"
"Those are two questions in my mind as well, but I do have a few more. First of all, what is a phone?"
I laughed. I totally forgot that Erik didn't know what a phone was. "A phone is something that you can talk to different people on, whether it be actually talking to them, or sending them messages, like you would in a letter. It also plays music, takes pictures, and you can play games on it. And before you ask, a tablet is the same thing, only you can't talk to people on it unless you are connected to…" Oh boy, how do I explain Wi-Fi?
He holds his hands up. "Alright, I think that is enough explanation of these strange contraptions. Another question: why on Earth would you wear men's clothing?" he asked, holding up a pair of jeans.
I grabbed them out of his hands. "In my time, both males and females wear pants like this. To be honest, I would much rather wear pants than these dresses. More free-range in pants. Plus, I've always been sort of a tomboy."
He shook his head. "Okay, if you say so."
I nodded affirmatively with a smile. "I do. Any other questions?"
"No. Thankfully, I know what books are." He said with a chuckle.
We stood in silence for a moment before I grabbed a red T-shirt and ran to the bathroom to put the new clothes on. After stripping out of everything 19th century and dressed in my beloved 21st century garb. I sighed in relief as I got everything situated, neatly folding my dress and underthings. I walked out of the bathroom, only to find that Erik was nowhere to be found. I shrugged and set the clothes in my arms on the bed.
"What in the world..?" I heard being whispered. It was Erik, no doubt.
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Erik, these are the clothes I wear every day in my time. If you don't like it, then tough."
The mirror slid open again, this time to reveal a shocked-looking Erik. "How can women not wear dresses in your time and not be ridiculed?"
"This is the new fashion. I know men in this time think that it is absolutely appalling for women to wear pants, but I don't get those weirdoes. I mean, sure, pants show off the shape of a girl's legs, but have you worn a dress lately? Too many layers, the corset crushes your guts, and you have to carry around so much more weight than you need. It really takes it out of ya, I tell you. What?" I asked, noticing Erik's confused face.
"Are all females from your time this spirited?" he asked.
"Yeah, pretty much."
About an hour later, Meg came and collected me, taking me to the stage. Thankfully, I had just finished putting my dress on over my jeans as soon as she barged in. So there we were, on the stage, the other ballet girls messing around, trying to sound like Carlotta. They were horrible at it, but I think they did a better job at being Carlotta than Carlotta herself.
"Hey Mandy, why don't you sing us a song?" Meg asked with a smug look. I could've slapped her right then and there. Of course, then I would have apologized.
"I don't know…"
"Ah, come on, Mandy. I know you can do it. Sing a song. Sing a song…" Meg got the other ballet girls to chant along with her. Even Christine was chanting, seeming to be out of her little funk.
I sighed. "Alright, alright. I'll sing. What do you want me to sing? I don't know any opera."
"It doesn't have to be from an opera. Sing a folk song or a lullaby or something." One of the ballet girls said.
I thought for a minute, then it came to me. "Okay, here goes…"
"Look at me,
You may think you see,
Who I really am,
But you'll never know me,
Every day,
It's as if I play a part,
Now I see,
If I wear a mask,
I can fool the world,
But I cannot fool my heart,
Who is that girl I see,
Staring straight back at me,
When will my reflection show,
Who I am inside,
I am now,
In a world where I,
Have to hide my heart,
And what I believe in,
But somehow,
I will show the world,
What's inside my heart,
And be loved for who I am,
Who is that girl I see,
Staring straight back at me,
Why is my reflection,
Someone I don't know,
Must I pretend that I'm,
Someone else for all time,
When will my reflection show,
Who I am inside,
There's a heart that must be,
Free to fly,
That burns with a need to know,
The reason why,
Why must we all conceal,
What we think, how we feel,
Must there be a secret me,
I'm forced to hide,
I won't pretend that I'm,
Someone else for all time,
When will my reflection show,
Who I am inside,
When will my reflection show,
Who I am inside?"
I looked around at the faces of the other girls, only to be greeted by shocked faces.
"What? Was I that bad?"
The song used in this chapter is Reflection by Christina Aguilera.