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May was stepping out of the dorm elevator when she heard some commotion from the dorm meeting room. Looking through the large window, her eyes widened upon seeing a familiar redhead laughing amongst her friends with a slice of cake on her plate. She narrowed her eyes on the big "Welcome Back, Sora!" banner.
They hadn't thrown me a welcome back party after the festival.
She was an international champion and the leading lady of the Kaleido Stage. If anyone should have gotten a party, it should have been her.
With a huff, she strode over to the door of the room.
IN
Sora smiled at Rosetta as the girl handed her an origami tulip.
"It's the only one I know how to do," she sheepishly said.
The redhead's smile grew. "I love it, Rosetta. Thank you!"
Ken, having been standing nearby, smiled at the exchange. He was immensely glad she had returned from Japan. For a while, I thought she was going to quit. He had seen the devastation on her face during the festival. In all honesty, he thought she'd shrug it off quickly, but he really should have known better.
Having been involved in the circus atmosphere for a longer time than Sora, he built an immunity to the pettiness of some performers. The circus world wasn't always a happy place to be, but it wasn't something that could be changed.
It was too much to hope for.
But it didn't mean someone had to be sucked up into that mentality.
During his time here, he found that it was easier to place his hopes in specific things and ideas, such as the Kaleido Stage as a whole or keeping a fun environment around the stage. As of late, he was placing a lot of hope in a certain person.
The switch had been gradual, ever since the first moment he met her.
There really isn't anyone else like Sora.
Rosetta walked away in order to refill her drink. Ken noticed his chance, swallowing his fear for this moment of inspiration. He said her name and her brown eyes looked at him, waiting for him to continue. He swallowed again, his mouth having gone dry.
"You really have a hard time letting go," came the snide voice of May from the doorway.
All occupants of the room turned to look at her.
IN
Sora silently was glad for May's interruption.
Ken had been looking at her with that expression again and she wasn't in favor of letting go of the easy atmosphere of the little party.
"You weren't invited May, so just leave!"
Sora and company blinked at Mia. Did she really just say that to May?
May was taken back as well. A stirring of hurt came with those words, but May was quick to smother it over with indignation.
"Like I'd want you lame-o's throwing me some dinky little party! I'm surprised there isn't a clown here," May crossed her arms confidently, "Then again, you guys do a pretty good job of being the fools. I can see why you wouldn't hire someone."
"If you're here for a fight, go somewhere else," Anna curtly said.
"Who said I was? Maybe I want to welcome Sora back too."
The Chinese acrobat came inside. Anna made to stop her, but seeing the shake of Sora's head, Anna stayed where she was. May didn't see the exchange and stood before Sora.
"Welcome," May said with a false smile, "you missed the tryouts for the new show and we've been practicing already, so the roles are pretty much set." She tapped her forefinger against her mouth as she pretended to think. "But I'm sure I can get Kalos to make you my errand girl, if you want to be a part of the production."
Sora gripped her plate tightly.
The two stared at each other, the air tense as neither was willing to look away first. After a while, Sora let out a long breath. I'm better than this, she told herself. This isn't the kind of stage I want. With that, Sora backed down and broke the staring contest.
"That won't be necessary," Sora murmured in a fairly even voice, "I'll get my own role."
Disappointed at the anticlimactic response, May flicked a ponytail over her shoulder. She snagged a soda can from the snack table and walked over to leave. Sora was relaxing her hold on the plate when May suddenly turned her head to her.
"By the way, the dorms are full," May breezily stated, "so you'll need to find somewhere else to live."
The door slammed and her friends were hovering her.
"My room's big enough for the both of us!" Rosetta cried out, "You don't have to worry about it Sora!"
"May's just trying to get to you!" Anna shouted.
"We have some girls leaving in a few days," Sarah added, "so you'll have your own place soon enough!"
Sora thanked her friends for the reassurance, though that wasn't the part of May's speech that had her worried.
The roles are all taken and I've missed being the leading lady again.
Was there anything left for her to do?
IN
After the party, Sora went over to the Boss' office.
She patiently waited for the elevator to stop on his floor, all the while thinking about what to say or suggesting roles she could do. I should probably start by asking what the production is. That would certainly give her an idea of what she could be.
The elevator halted. She got off.
She was about to open the door to the office when she heard the murmuring of voices coming from inside. She knocked.
"Wait outside," Kalos called out.
Some voices piped up and she could hear the springs of the couch, signifying that someone was getting up. Sora quickly backtracked away from the door as it swung open, revealing an extremely familiar face.
"Cathy?"
The woman grinned. "Sora! Long time no see! I'm glad you're back from your vacation."
As the cherry haired woman shook hands with Sora, Layla stepped out from behind. The blonde gave a quick, "Sora," and then left the hallway. Sora rapidly blinked at her retreating form and turned to look at Cathy to ask her what they were doing here.
Sora swallowed when Leon stepped out of the office.
She saw his eye twitch. She was surprised that they hadn't widened if he was shocked by her being there. What does an eye twitch mean?
Was it bad? Was it annoyance?
Or was it evidence of straining anger?
She didn't know, nor was she eager to find out what it was. She swallowed then, as Cathy let go of her hand and left with a quick "See ya later, kiddo!"
Leon scrutinized her; she stayed still, not wanting to run from him like she had at the hotel. No, that would tell him that she was afraid of him when she really wasn't. She was nervous of his reaction to her reappearance after disappearing for so long, but otherwise, she didn't fear him as a threat to her well-being.
Finally, he spoke. "Welcome back."
"It," she swallowed again, "It's good to be back."
His face was unreadable. "Is it?"
She tilted her head at the curious statement. Of course it is. She couldn't see what would make it bad when she recalled the twitch of his eye. Does this mean, she thought with a squeeze of her heart, that he doesn't think it's good I'm back?
Did he realize what she had after Yuri's story? Was Leon now upset at her for doing the maneuver with Yuri?
Was he disgusted with her as she had been with herself?
The back of her throat stung. She hoped her eyes weren't watering.
Kalos called out for the next person to come in. Sora looked away and headed for the door. Leon lingered for a moment and then let her go inside, walking down the hall to the elevator.
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