Chapter Eleven – Revelations
I'm taking some artistic license with the part where Jessie changes clothes. I just figured it could be done, so I'd write it in!
"Have you recovered yet?" Jessie asked Rochelle, as they sat together on the windowsill looking out the following morning.
"Not quite," Rochelle admitted.
"Well, if you want to be famous, you'll have to get used to the crowds," Jessie pointed out, and Rochelle laughed softly, briefly.
"I was thinking about it last night. I'm having a fantastic time here. The little people are so friendly, and I have friends who are really good to me." She shot a fond glance at Jessie. "It would be a shame to leave such a welcoming crowd."
"Has it only just occurred to you how nice it is here?" Jessie queried.
"No." Rochelle said, after a pause. "I just always wanted fans."
"Well, you got 'em," Jessie said. "And they love your dancing as much as your singing, if last night is anything to go by."
"I know!" Rochelle sat up a bit straighter, "I can't believe I don't remember that track from my auditions."
Jessie laughed. "I do have a small confession to make. The day you learned how to western dance, I switched the CDs."
Rochelle jaw dropped. "You what?" She spluttered, as Jessie guffawed. "I danced to something I had no training for?"
"But I taught you," Jessie said, and Rochelle blinked.
"But my agent..." Rochelle started weakly.
Jessie rolled her eyes. "Rochelle, you don't have an agent."
"I do so!" Rochelle argued, and Jessie shook her head.
"Rochelle, you don't. You're a toy. Toy dolls don't have agents."
"I do."
"No, you don't."
"Yes, I do."
"You're a toy with an agent?"
"Yes."
"So where are you off to next?"
"I told you, I'm staying here."
"So you've told him." Jessie said bluntly.
"Told what to who?" Rochelle pretended not to understand.
"You've told your agent you're not ready for the big time?" Jessie said.
"Oh." Rochelle fidgeted. "Not yet."
"But you're going to."
"Well. Perhaps. He usually contacts me," Rochelle said somewhat brightly, but Jessie laughed.
"Rochelle, you don't have an agent. You're a child's toy. You even run your microphone from your battery pack."
"My what?"
"The battery located in your left leg. I saw it bulging out slightly when you were lying down pretending to stretch yesterday."
Rochelle blushed and exhaled. "Okay Jessie. I admit it. I may not have an agent, but I am a good singer, right?"
"Sure." Jessie conceded. "And you dance a pretty mean western," she added.
"Did it give you the music back?" Rochelle asked cautiously. Jessie shook her head.
"No. I think that'll take a while to come back yet." She said somewhat sadly. "Buzz doesn't notice me the way he used to."
"Well, as a thank you for helping me, and also to take your mind off the bad business of this relationship melodrama," Rochelle said cheerfully, "how about I give you a little makeover of your own?"
Jessie was perturbed. "But you don't know anything about makeovers. You're just a dancing doll."
"I'm sorry, I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that," Rochelle said blankly, starting to get to her feet. "If a rockstar with super style says she's going to give you a makeover, no catches involved, you merely say, 'when?'
She glared at Jessie, who gave in and mumbled, "When?"
"Right now!" Rochelle grabbed Jessie's hand and pulled her up. "Now, I took the liberty of sorting out a few things prior to today, hope you don't mind!" she laughed and dragged the cowgirl doll behind a screen made of building blocks. Sitting behind the screen was Bonnie's hand mirror, a stool from the doll's house, some tweezers, a candle, and Bonnie's make up kit. There was a dress hanging off the screen that Jessie recognised from one of Bonnie's many Barbie sets, along with some shoes, also from the Barbie set. She stood there wondering what she had let herself in for with all this crazy business.
Rochelle read Jessie's mind. "I know it all looks a bit weird, but trust me, you'll thank me when I'm done." She pushed Jessie in front of the stool and made her sit. Jessie obliged while Rochelle arranged the things she had prepared around them. She stood the hand mirror up in the corner behind them.
"First things first," she lit the candle and placed the tweezers in the flame. "To heat them," she explained, seeing Jessie's look. "Right, and next..." she took the dress off the hanger and handed it to Jessie. "Get changed."
"I can't."
"Nonsense. " Rochelle flicked at the buttons on Jessie's shirt. "They're press studs. They pop right open. And don't worry, you aint got nothing I haven't seen already!"
Jessie blushed for a moment then whispered something to Rochelle, who giggled. "Oh! Right, makes sense. Hang on."
She shoved the dress at Jessie more firmly, and scarpered, returning a few moments later with a bra, also from a Barbie set. "Try this," she grinned at Jessie, who snatched the bra and went to put it on in privacy.
About an hour later Jessie was ready. She got up after Rochelle had completed the makeup, and Rochelle gasped. "Jessie, you look fabulous."
The cowgirl doll turned to look at herself in the mirror, struck by what she saw. "I don't know what to say," she whispered, blinking back her tears.
"I know one thing," Rochelle murmured to herself. "You'll get that spacetoy's laser firing on all cyclinders."
Later that evening Rochelle called all the toys around next to the bed. "Barbies and gentletoys." She began, "I would usually do a small performance for you this evening, but in place of it, I would like to invite you all to a little party I've decided to throw, since I've been here about a week and I don't think I've thanked any of you properly for your hospitality as yet. I would like to invite everyone to join me in the TV room downstairs in thirty minutes."
She smiled and continued, seeing all the toys brighten at the news of a party so soon. "Also, I hope you don't mind, but I had to invite someone else I would love you all to meet. I would like to introduce to you one of my recent newfound friends. She comes from a little town out west, and I know she'll be very glad to join in our party tonight. May I present her to you now?" She held up the flap of blanket next to her.
Everyone saw her at once, the striking redhead who walked out shyly to stand next to Rochelle. There was an electric atmosphere in the room as they all looked at one another. She was stunning. Ten times - no a hundred times - prettier than Rochelle. Her red hair fell in ringlets all down her back, matching the red dress that fitted her slender figure, ending in black flat shoes on her feet. The makeup was subtle but suited her face, especially the green eyeshadow over her green eyes.
Only Buzz saw through the layers. He looked the doll over, up and down, then looked back at a triumphant Rochelle. When the other toys disbanded to head for the party downstairs, did he approach the beautiful doll.
"Jessie?"
"Yes?" The voice confirmed it. Buzz stepped back as he took her in. Rochelle gracefully removed herself in the background, and he swallowed.
"You look..."
"Weird, I know," Jessie finished for him, and Buzz shook his head. "No, not weird. Gorgeous," he said shyly, and Jessie flushed as red as her dress and hair.
"Thanks." She dipped her head to avoid his gaze, as she'd been doing a lot lately, and he took a step forward, closing the gap between them.
"Jess...I'm sorry I've been so stupid and thoughtless. I didn't mean anything by it, I just..." he trailed off as Jessie looked up and placed two fingers on his lips gently.
"Do you really think I care about you rambling on when I'm dressed like this, Buzz?" She asked, placing her other hand on his shoulder. Buzz gulped. He had never been sure around Jessie, he realised that now. But she was looking like a vixen tonight and that made him even less sure. He did notice she was about his height for a change though. Must be the change in shoes, he thought, noticing with a quick glance that her usual boots were not to be seen peeking out from under the dress. His reverie was broken by her pressing against him.
"Dance with me Buzz," she whispered in his ear.
"But there's no music," he whispered back.
"Then kiss me," Jessie breathed, her lips inches from his, and Buzz obliged.
From her vantage point on the stereo, Rochelle smiled. It was about time those two made up, she thought.