Dreams

5

Carolina lies on the floor in the middle of the stage, hands resting on her stomach as Stevie stands at the microphone, speaking to the lighting tech through the sound system. Carolina has just run through her songs three times each as they adjust lights and set colors.  For some god forsaken reason the air conditioning is not working and she's sweating bullets. Even Stevie has her hair up in a high ponytail, her black cardigan discarded on the edge of Carolina's grand piano. Carolina isn't certain she's ever even seen a photo of Stevie's bare arms - but she's standing there in a pair of leggings and a black tank tunic and Carolina hopes she looks that good when she turns sixty.

She closes her eyes for a moment, enjoying the feel of the cool stage against her back as Stevie stands in front of her, waiting for the lighting team to do their thing. She smirks as she feels Stevie's feet suddenly on either side of her hips. Carolina opens her eyes and stares up at the older woman, who's staring directly back down at her.

"Enjoying yourself down there?" Stevie smiles at her as she reaches her hands out for Carolina to take. They've been in rehearsals together now for over a month and they've gotten closer than Carolina or Stevie could have imagined.

"It's hot," Carolina laughs as she grabs on to Stevie's ankles, holding her in place above her. They keep having moments like this, too. Ones where they stare a little too long and stand a little too close to one another. Carolina has been chocking it up to the intimacy of such a rigorous rehearsal schedule.

"Mhm," Stevie smiles, refraining from making the comment she really wants to make. It's been decades since she felt this kind of chemistry with another woman, but there's no denying that's what it is. "Come on, pretty girl. Let's take ten while they fix these lights, then we can run through the three duets."

Stevie makes a grabbing motion with both her hands and Carolina takes them, allowing the older woman to pull her up. Carolina wraps an arm around her shoulder as they walk off the stage, headed toward the green room. "I think if we modulate the key right before the bridge in the last one that'll fix that lag we're feeling."

"We can try it," Stevie nods as she pats Carolina's hip and rests her head on her shoulder for a moment. They both go silent, comfortable in each other's arms, until Karen walks in the room. As soon as Stevie spots Karen she jumps away like they were doing something wrong. Carolina notices it every time, but she won't dare say a word about it.

"Steve, we have that interview over the phone in twenty minutes," Karen reminds her boss and Stevie rolls her eyes.

"Yea - but tell them I only have fifteen minutes," Stevie nods as she checks her watch. "I want to wrap this rehearsal up as early as we can so we can all get some rest before the show tomorrow."

Karen nods and excuses herself, sitting on the couch across from them. Carolina stands awkwardly near Stevie, feeling a little self conscious. She always feels self conscious around Karen now, and anyone else who is a part of Stevie's intimate world. She can't really put her finger on why. "I'm gonna step outside and make a few calls while you're in press," she smiles down at Stevie, who nods her head. She doesn't really have any phone calls to make - she just feels like she's in the way.

Once Carolina is gone Stevie sits on the couch next to Karen and grabs for Sulamith, holding him to her chest. "Did you have any luck getting an appointment for that apartment?"

Stevie put Karen to work three days ago now looking for a new apartment for Carolina - one where her ex husband doesn't know she's living. She knows it's not really her business, but Carolina has opened up so much about this Jackson idiot, and he truly is an idiot. She hates the idea that anyone would go through the same things she did with Lindsey; much less someone she's grown so fond of and in whom she sees so much of herself.