Greetings, dear readers, and welcome back to 'Bayley's Universe' with a new chapter for your reading pleasure! Now, my biggest apologies for taking so long with this update. I was dealing with two losses in my family that took me out of things for a bit, but *takes a breath in before letting it out, I have since bounced back and recovered from that. *clears my throat* Now, let's move on from that, shall we? So, last time, we saw Shayna get a spooky season lesson from Paige, Seth indulge in a bit of singing while doing chores, and then...*insert drumroll here*...it's time for Drama class, as we see Sasha be the first to demonstrate a bit of singing that can happen with a musical. And just how will that go for our magenta-haired cinnamon roll? Read on to find out, my dolls, and I hope you all enjoy. =)

(So, yes, I'm aware that we're past Halloween and what's largely considered spooky season. But, I'm going to continue with the arc as is, as I feel that my overall idea just felt like a great fit for the Halloween season.)

Looking around the room and seeing that most of her fellow classmates seemed a bit nervous, Sasha took a breath and, with a slightly nervous swallow, raised her hand and said "Mr. Hardy? I …I'd like to give performing a number a try first."

"Wonderful, Ms. Ambrose. Excellent," Mr. Hardy said as the magenta-haired student reached the front of the room. Grabbing one of the pieces from the top of a pile on his desk, the Drama teacher gave it to the teenager. "Now, the paper I just gave you has a scene from a musical called The Hunchback of Notre Dame, where in this particular scene, you'll be playing the part of one of the main characters, the gypsy Esmerelda, who will be singing her song, 'God Help the Outcasts'."

"OK," Sasha nodded. The magenta-haired Gem knew of this musical, so the fact that she had such a big part with a big number was making her actually feel a bit nervous. 'But, it'll be okay. I've seen performers play this character in the past, so I'm sure I'll be able to embody the role of the gypsy girl well enough in my own right.'

"Excellent," the brunette teacher said with a reassuring smile. Taking his chair and moving it to the end of the front row of seats, Mr. Hardy took his seat before saying "And, action!"

Taking a breath as she looked out over her class and then letting it out, the magenta-haired teen launched into her song.

I don't know if you can hear me

Or if you're even there

I don't know if you would listen to a gypsy's prayer

Feeling the emotions felt by the character of the poor unfortunate gypsy girl, Sasha had began to make her way across the front of the room, her movements helping add on to her performance with the most emphatic moment being when she threw up her hands as she sang the line I ask for God and his angels to bless me. Making her way back to her starting point, Sasha began to calm down as she sang the last lines of the song God help the outcasts, Children of God, making sure to hold the notes as needed at points. Having finished her performance as she worked to catch her breath, she then looked out at her classmates and teacher and saw that they all seemed to have looks of shock on their faces. Sasha wasn't sure what to make of this, so she decided to head back to her seat. It wasn't until she heard first one set of hands clapping followed by another and more after that until the whole class gave her a round of applause, with some students even throwing in a cheer.

Rising from his chair as he walked back to the front of the class, Mr. Hardy said "Bravo, Ms. Ambrose, bravo! That was an excellent performance. You really embodied the role of Esmeralda quite well."

"Thank you, Mr. Hardy, sir," Sasha nodded with a smile and a bow.

"You're most welcome," the teacher smiled down to his student. Turning his attention back to the class, Mr. Hardy said "Now, class, as we all just saw and heard, emotion will be key in many areas of one's performance in a musical" as he began to write notes down on the board.

Having made her way back to her seat, Sasha began to take notes on what Mr. Hardy was discussing. 'That actually went better than I thought it would have . Looks like Seth's fairly unorthodox teaching methods paid off. I can't wait to tell him how things went.'

…

"Shayna? Hey, Shayna? Come on, Shayna, wake up! Your class is over now, it's time to go," the brunette could hear a voice faintly calling out to her. It didn't even seem to wake her when she felt someone shaking her. …But then came when the first voice said "Tamina said she's going to make some pai fala for dessert tonight." And yet, weirdly, somehow, this seemed to be the thing to wake the sleeping brunette as she somewhat alertly raised a hand and said "I'll take four."

A laugh escaping her, Lana said "Wow, Shayna, this is a new one. I never would've guessed talking about food would be something that would wake you up" as Nia could be heard snickering a bit.

Finally managing to push herself up and stretch her arms out, Shayna said "Don't make anything of it. I was having a damn nice nap here."

"What made you want to take a nap in class today? Your Art class wasn't that boring, was it?"

"No, it just …It's weird. I was listening to Hardy talk about what our next project was gonna be, and next thing I know, I'm starting to feel sleepy," the brunette said, thinking back through what happened during class.

"Strange," Lana said as Shayna stood. "I wonder what could've made that happen."

"Who knows?" the brunette shrugged. "But, at least my nap wasn't a total waste. It at least helped me think about some stuff."

"Oh? Like what?"

"Well, I was thinking …maybe …we could try to decorate Tamina's house a bit for Halloween this year," Shayna said.

Well, this sounded weird. Shayna actually wanting to decorate? The other two Gems weren't expecting to hear this, as well, …typically in the past, when it came to celebrating holidays, Shayna would just dismiss it all as "dumb human stuff" to quote her. So, to hear this now was certainly a surprise.

"Aww, I think that's nice of you to want to help out with," Lana said a bit excitedly with a bit of applause. "I'm sure the trick or treaters that come to Tamina's house this year will like seeing the place get a bit spooky."

"Yeah, that's me. Thinking about the kids," Shayna shrugged with a grin.

"That, and it's sounding like Paige's spooky season lessons are starting to get to you," Nia piped up and added.

Feeling her cheeks heat a bit, Shayna gave the taller of the trio a quick punch on the arm as they left out of the Art classroom, the cause of her nap still lingering in her thoughts a bit. 'Could it have been something I heard? …This is weird. Maybe it's something I can talk to Sasha and the others at her place. Couldn't hurt to get outside thoughts on this.'

…

After School, At Bayley's House

"Ooh, that's awesome that your performance in class went so well, Sash!" Bayley smiled as she gave the magenta-haired Gem a bit of applause.

"Yeah, Sash, that's great. Guess it helps that there's an actor living here with us," Dean said, sending a grin to Seth as the two-toned Gem cut up some potatoes he had peeled earlier.

"Why thank you, Dean, I do appreciate fans of my work," the two-toned responded with a grin of his own as he kept cutting potatoes. "And I agree with Dean and Bayley. Awesome job, Sash. It's great that your class liked your performance."

"Myaa!" Rosey Paws meowed as a way of giving a cheer.

"Thanks, you all," Sasha smiled at everyone before her smile fell a bit. "I'm just a bit nervous about another thing we'll be talking about, which will be musical duets. Even in the few roles I've had in the past, I've mostly had solo parts. I just don't know how I'll do with a partner."

"Ooh, I could be your practice partner!" Bayley chirped as she raised and waved a hand.

Blinking at this sudden enthusiastic offer, Sasha laughed a bit before saying "Oh OK. Sure, Bayley. We can give it a try."

"Awesome!" the ponytailed brunette hopped up from where she was sitting. "...I'm probably not gonna be as good as Seth, but I'll do my best here."

"It's gonna be okay, Bayley," Seth said from where he stood stirring a pot that looked to start boiling at any moment.

Looking from Seth to Dean, who gave her a thumbs-up in support, to Rosey Paws, Bayley started to feel a bit more confident in herself about this. Turning to the magenta-haired Gem, Bayley said "OK, Sash, I'm ready. What are we gonna sing?"

Smiling a bit at her enthusiasm, Sasha said "Well, since it's the spooky season as Paige calls it, maybe we could sing …something that fits with that" as she thought through the songs she could remember hearing during the Halloween season in the past …which was proving to be a bit difficult, as all she could seem to remember at the moment were more orchestral pieces.

Taking a look at Sasha, Bayley could see that she was thinking about …something, what it was she had no idea of knowing. So, not wanting to stay standing in total silence, an idea came to her. Clearing her throat a bit, Bayley began to 'sing', said singing being what she remembered were some of the warm-up "exercises" Seth did with Sasha.

As she still thought about songs fitting for Halloween, the magenta-haired Gem was surprised to hear what Bayley was doing. Watching the ponytailed human as she 'sang' her way through the scales Seth taught her, Sasha felt amazed by what she saw. 'Wow. Bayley sounds pretty nice. It's almost …it's almost like how Natalya sounded when she would sing,' she thought, her eyes closing as she swayed in place a bit to the brunette.

Bayley had been so lost in her 'singing' that she didn't even notice the glow that came from upstairs. It wasn't until she heard a new voice that she stopped. Her gaze starting to dart around a bit frantically and seeing that it seemed like the others had more or less drifted off into a similar state as Sasha had, she didn't know what to make of this. Dashing away from where she was, she then saw someone coming downstairs from her "bedroom", someone …new. "Ohmygosh. Wh-Who are you?"

This new person, a girl who looked to be about her age and was her height, had been 'singing' in a way very much like the way Bayley just was. It wasn't until she reached the bottom of the staircase that she finally took notice of where she was. A sudden look of fear crossing her face, the girl said "Wh-Where am I?" as slight trembles could be seen starting to course through her.

Wanting to go with her base instinct and give this poor frightened girl a hug, Bayley instead calmly said "Hey hey hey now. Don't be afraid. We're not going to hurt y-" It was then that Bayley really took notice of this new girl. She had long blonde hair and was dressed in an all black outfit that consisted of a short-sleeved top, black pants, and black boots. She also wore what looked to be fingerless gloves that went midway up her upper arm.

But that wasn't her most noticeable feature. No, that feature was the round black Gem that sat in the middle of her forehead. 'Just like the rock that was in the box Dad sent me,' Bayley thought, a lightning bolt of realization striking her. Feeling a few shakes start to hit her, the ponytailed brunette swallowed a bit before asking "A-Are you a-a Crystal Gem?"

*holds up a STOP sign* OK, WHOA NOW! ...*takes a moment to compose self* ...OK, so it's looking like a lot happened here. But, hey, it's not all bad. Sasha's performance in Drama went pretty well, given the applause and even cheers she got from her classmates and teacher, and also everyone after school at home. And it looks like Shayna's starting to come around to spooky season, given that she said she'd maybe want to help decorate Tamina's house (aww, how surprisingly nice). And, aww how cute, looks like Bayley wanted to give singing a try herself ...which somehow led to what prompted my earlier reaction. So, it looks like there are a few questions here! Just who is this new girl? Given what Bayley's seen of her, is she friend or foe? Could the Gem Bayley saw be the same rock that was in the box her dad sent her? Holy stromboli, this is starting to get intense. Looks we'll find out just who this new girl is...next time! Until then, don't forget to RR please. =)

(Stay safe, warm, and healthy out there, lovelies. *sends much love and many positive vibes out to you all*)