*3*

A Day of Practice

Before I knew it, maid duty came and went and I found myself at the foot of my bed, scoping out a song to sing from my various collection. I examined one cd with mostly old school burned to it. I thought about singing some Aretha Franklin or maybe Brandy, but then again I wanted to sing something up to pace. Something new, something no one has heard before. I laid the CD back on the shelf and thought for a moment.

'Well, there is that one song.' I had burned a CD with random songs I hadn't even listened to yet. I was very bored that day and I was just doing something for the hell of it. There was one song on it however, that peeked my curiosity, but I soon forgot about it when Callie fetched me for dinner that day. I only knew the title cause that's what I wrote on the disc, along with several others, but those didn't matter right now. I hop off my bed and quickly find the cd on top of my neatly arranged dresser. I pop it into my stereo and skip to number seven.

The beat was slow and sensual, the bass deep and strong. After a while, a woman sang, her voice low and clear. The song was of seduction, the one thing I knew nothing about. I stared at my radio for a second, before shrugging. "Eh." I chirp and quickly shed out of my uniform, put on a pair of blue basketball shorts and a black tank top. Anais would be very surprised to hear what I picked out. I was kinda jittery myself. I pull my hair in a low pony tail as I made my way towards her room, thinking of what this crazy woman had in mind. I skip to her door, and burst in, like I'm accustomed to do and instantly, I'm hit with the smell of her body wash, juicy pear and apple blossom. I grimaced. It smelled lovely, but then again she was taking her job a little too far.

"All you had to do was empty the trash bins from the hotel rooms." I shout to her as I scoot the door close with my foot and head to her bed."Yeah, and?" she shouted back, " I still feel dirty."

I shake my head and wait for her to finish. About five minutes later, she emerges from her steam filled bathroom in boy shorts and a worn out T-shirt. Her short hair hid underneath her red bandana. She looked at me and cocked an eyebrow. "Whatcha got?"

I grin and swing my legs like a child. "I think you'll like it."

She chuckled, " as long as it's not something off the wall like those Korean-"

"Japanese." I corrected.

"Japanese," she rolled her eyes, "songs. There all the same to me."

" No I don't think they're ready for that yet." I replied, while walking to her radio and plopping in the disc and quickly skipped to number seven. I pouted, "And just because you don't listen to it doesn't mean someone else will." with that said, I pressed play. Just as the song started, Callie burst through the door, still in her uniform, which consisted of khakis and a light blue collard shirt with the hotel logo branded on the sleeve.

I smile at her. "Great timing."

She laughs, "I know right?" she stands quiet for a moment and listens. " Is this the song your singing?" she asked me.

I fidgeted for a moment and nod, listening as the woman's warm voice rings throughout Anais's small room. I close my eyes and concentrate, trying to memorize her every word. Like a stream the music flowed through me; my aura pulsed to it, called to it. Startled, my eyes snap open, and my heart pounds against my chest. Both Anais and Callie where still engrossed in the song, which seemed to be ending. When the music died, I stopped the CD, and looked to both my friends. " Well?" I ask.

"Your gonna sing this?" Callie asked.,

My hands swung loosely at my sides, I nodded.

"I like it." Anais commented, " It's sexy."

Callie cocked her hip, " and you know what the song is about?"

"Yup." I reply.

"We gonna have some fun with this one girl!" Anais said, a grin on her face.

Callie frowned, "this is way out of your zone."

I nodded again and smiled, " I want to sing something you wouldn't expect from me."

" You got that right." she replied.

"Your gonna make it rain on that stage when I'm through with you!" Anais continued on.

I frowned. " Your not going to turn me into a stripper. I just want to learn a couple of moves, that's all."

She pouted, " Alright," her hands on her hips, "first we'll start with the basics."

After what felt like hours of dancing, I make it to my room, tired, cranky, and sweaty. I twisted, stretched, Swayed, rocked for as long as I could stand it. She made me do push ups if I didn't move my hips correctly. It was horrible! I was a damn boot camp! Unused muscles in my legs strained, and throbbed. My face and arms where sticky from sweat. It felt like I ran a damn marathon. In the end, she told me that I did get better, even if it was a little bit. She told me I'd do better when I performed, which I snorted at. I took the band out my hair and stumbled to my bathroom, quickly turn on the shower. I shed my filthy clothing and grabbed my loffah. I give a heavenly sigh as the warm water splashes over my face. I scrub at my skin, and massage my aching legs. After a while I unwillingly step out the shower and wrap myself in a huge fluffy towel. I glance at myself in the mirror. 'Tomorrow, it would all go down tomorrow.' keeping that in mind, I go to my closet and look at the dress again, just to make sure it was still there. I run my hand down the length of the material. 'I'm really gonna do this.' I stood there a moment before yawning . I took a look at my clock. 10:26 p.m. it read.

"Ugh." I groaned. I roam through my draw and find a worn t-shirt and some undies. I put them on and turn off my light and then turn on my lamp. I hate the dark. I crawl under the covers and try to sleep, but it just wouldn't come to me. I was too anxious, my heart pumped faster at the thought of it. What if something happens? What if my voice goes out? What if I have stage fright, and stand there like a knot on a log with a dumfounded expression on my face? I grabbed my pillow and screamed into it, which seemed to help a little bit. 'I'll be alright.' I think to myself, 'I'm a optimist for crying out loud!'. I stare up at my star studded ceiling. They glowed dimly in the dark, giving little illumination. I stayed like that until my eyes fluttered shut, drifting off into a fitful slumber.