Freedom Series: Chasing Butterflies

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

(Done)

It had been three days since Nova's interview and she had not heard from Le Papillon. She was sitting on the floor, wrapped in a blanket reading a children's book to Neil, who was napping on her lap, when a knock sounded on the door causing her to look up.

"Come in." She said, closing Elmo and Friends.

"You have a call," Nigel said softly, so as not to wake up Neil. He handed Nova his outdated flip phone, picked up Neil, and walked towards the door.

"Wait! From who?" Nova asked, covering the microphone. Nigel turned to her and just stood there. Nova rolled her eyes, already knowing what that patronizing look meant; pick up the phone and you'll find out.

She put the phone to her ear and spoke cautiously. "Hello?"

"Is this, Nova Akecheta?" An indifferent female voice asked straight and to the point.

"Yes, who is this-." Nova began but was cut off rudely.

"You have an audition at Le Papillon, please arrive tomorrow at five; no later and no earlier. Come through the service entrance on the side of the building and go straight to the employee room, wait for me there. Dress accordingly and cover any tattoos or piercings you may have." She finished hanging up the phone abruptly. Nova stared at the phone in shock for a moment, trying to process what just happened, when Nigel interrupted her, peaking back into the room.

"So what happened?" He asked her, rocking back and forth on his feet while he ate an apple.

"I have an audition tomorrow, at five," Nova said, a smile breaking out across her face. Nigel nodded, already suspecting that, and gave her a thumbs up.

"So what are you going to wear?"

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Nova looked at herself in the mirror of Le Papillon's dressing room as Grace explained to her for the third time what she was supposed to do.

"You simply walk out to the middle platform, stand with your instrument, and play songs until closing! What's so hard about that?" She asked, exasperated.

Grace did not know what Mr. Torrez was thinking when he said that he'd give her a chance. The girl was beautiful, she had to admit, with her almost exotic look, but you could tell, by her posture and lack of confidence, that the closest place to "upscale" she had ever worked at, was most likely a Panera Bread. Also, her experience in performing was nil to none.

"But I've never played in front of this many people before. What if I mess up?!" Nova asked, obviously panicking, confirming Graces suspicions.

"Then you get fired," Grace said simply, as she finished applying eyeliner to Nova's face.

Whether Nova got the job or not was of no concern to her, and her feelings towards the golden-eyed beauty had nothing to do with the way Maddox's eyes seemed to follow her around the room. Or that's what she told herself.

"Done!" She said, turning away from Nova and putting away her supplies, not being able to look at her anymore without feeling a certain way.

Nova looked in the mirror and her eyes widened in shock. Her hair fell in her natural kinky curls down her back, with a gold shimmery eyeshadow across her lids, a bold winged eyeliner, a thick coat of mascara, her eyebrows were filled in and shaped perfectly, with a dark burgundy lipstick and gold dangly earrings, to compliment. She had never looked like this before. Because of her fathers controlling nature she had never worn anything remotely colored sticking to natural and nude colors, her hair always in a constricting bun. This sudden burst of color in her makeup was refreshing.

"Here," Grace said, handing her a beautiful white violin and bow. She took it carefully in her hands and turned it over running her hands across it. This violin must have cost a fortune. Or at least what constituted as a fortune to her!

"What songs do I play?" Nova asked Grace, feeling anxious. She hadn't performed in front of strangers in almost 5 years.

"Whatever classical song you want," Grace said, stressing the classical part. "Now come on. You start in five." She said, rushing her out of the door and into the restaurant. She froze up and looked at the little circular stage, on a little-elevated platform, in the middle of the room. She glanced back at Grace who gave her an impatient nudge and strutted away in her expensive black Louis Vuitton's.

She walked timidly to the podium, and up the three short steps. The room was still alight with chatter, only a few patrons glancing her way in indifference. The lack of attention helped to calm her nerves. With, a deep breath she began to play Pachelbel Canon in D.

The music flowed out of her, naturally, and she almost wept with joy at the feel of the bow and violin in her hands. Once she finished that song, she switched over into an upbeat selection from Tchaikovsky, some patrons began to bob their heads along to the beat.

By the end of her 4th song Grace had brought up a music stand and Nova had begun taking selections from various patrons. It was a bit difficult to play a foreign song for the first time almost perfectly, but she managed, and by the end of the night, with her shoulders stiff, her feet aching, her back sweaty and her fingers raw, she felt strangely alive.

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Grace watched from the sidelines as Nova's infectious energy changed the dull atmosphere of the restaurant. She was a little envious of her rare beauty, and the way it captured peoples attention. She glanced to the side of her and saw Maddox beaming his pearly whites at Nova, as he tapped his foot to the music. A strong spike of jealousy shot through her and her inner beast growled. A tap on her shoulder had her jumping slightly. She looked back to see Mr. Torrez, with the closest thing she had seen to a smile on his face.

"I told you, Grace." He said, glancing down at her and throwing his arm around her shoulders. "This one's going to bring some much-needed change around here."

She didn't know what "here" he meant, because as far as she could tell, it sounded like he was expecting something big to happen.

Fourth Chapter, not much to say. Got some pretty cool clothes today.

How do you guys feel about Grace?

I'm Out!

Nigel on the side.

NEXT UPDATE: 8/16/16

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