IN
IN
IN
The next day, Kalos had a cast meeting in one of the bigger practice rooms.
"Next week will be the last showings of Dracula."
There was a murmur in the crowd. Sora discretely looked over at Leon standing by the wall. He didn't seem surprised by the news; however, there was a strange, nostalgic look on his face that Sora couldn't quite figure out.
His eyes slanted towards her. She looked back at Kalos, not wanting Leon to know that she had seen the expression on his face, especially since he had the impassive mask back on.
Could it be, she suddenly recalled the time when Kalos had been talking to Leon backstage, that the ending of Dracula is related to whatever Kalos told Leon weeks before?
She wasn't sure if Leon would be upset if she asked him about it.
"…in the meeting. For now, keep practicing and going to your lessons. You're dismissed."
Sora turned to go, knowing that Kalos usually had some extra things to say to the leads.
"Sora," Kalos neutrally called out, "stay behind."
IN
They had reconvened to Kalos' office, further surprising Sora.
Leon was leaning against a wall while Sora and May stood in front of Kalos' desk.
"I can't give out the details yet until I know for sure," Kalos enigmatically said, "but I thought it would be wise for me to inform you two to make sure you're in shape." Kalos leaned back into his chair. "For the next event to come will only involve one of you."
"Boss?" Sora said, his ambiguous words sending warning bells in her head rather than excitement. "What sort of event?"
"It's a competition of course!" May interrupted. She confidently placed her hands on her hips and declared, "And I'm still going to win."
"For the most part it is," Kalos agreed. The man's eyes briefly settled on Leon's form and then returned to the two teens in front of him. "But it's a competition unlike any either of you have encountered thus far."
Both Sora and May did not miss Kalos' look towards Leon.
IN
Kalos had dismissed them both. Leon stayed behind.
Unfortunately for Sora, May and her were going back to the dorms, so they were stuck walking down the same hallway to get out of the office section of the Kaleido Stage.
"It's probably a duo competition," May said.
"Yeah," Sora said, having come to the same conclusions as May.
When they got to the elevators, Sora pushed the down button. The two waited in silence.
Soon, the elevator dinged and the metal doors opened up.
"You don't stand a chance," May snidely said. Sora frowned as the Chinese acrobat got into the elevator. She stubbornly didn't get on, instead looking at the smug face of May.
"Don't be so sure of that," Sora bit out before the doors closed and the elevator took May down.
IN
Leon came down the hall to the elevators.
He was surprised to see Sora still there, waiting in the empty space before the metal doors.
"I didn't want to go down with May," she sheepishly explained when a silver brow rose up. He slightly shook his head at her, which brought a pout on her face. "Don't give me that, I highly doubt you've never had a rival before."
The amusement on his face faded. "You are correct."
She blinked at the change of mood. The elevator doors opened and they walked into it. He pushed the ground floor button. She fiddled with the hem of her shirt, wondering what to say.
"I'll have to give my weeks' notice for the pizzeria."
He looked over at her. "I believe it's supposed to be two weeks' notice."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Oh shoot."
Some humor came into his eyes then. She turned to him a little frantically.
"They'll be ok with at least a weeks' notice, right? Technically speaking, it'll be a little over one weeks' notice if I tell them tonight. I think they like me, so maybe it won't go over so badly?"
The back of his hand came up to caress her cheek. "It will be fine."
Her lips parted a little at the comforting gesture.
The elevator dinged, signaling their arrival to the ground level.
She walked out first, but lingered for him to come out. "Thank you," she said. His hand tilted her face up, kissing her deeply. He pulled away, but she made it last longer by going on her tiptoes. Her arms hung over his shoulders and his hands held her by the waist.
"Stay with me tonight?" he asked with his eyes closed and their foreheads touching.
She was a little startled by the question. He actually asked me without some sort of seduction and/or flirtation going on. And definitely no hidden innuendoes.
There was something weighing heavily on him.
"Ok," she murmured, placing a light kiss on his lips.
IN
IN
IN
AN: You thought I forgot about the festival huh?