Glass Skin

40

"I have a proposition for you," Fleurette looked most confused from hearing Fleck's voice from behind her. Truthfully she was standing in the wings of the stage, watching Meg practice with the others which usually performed alongside her. Fleurette hadn't joined in, she would've been there alongside her friend, but she just wasn't. There wasn't even a reason why, she just wasn't.

"Okay? Should I be worried?" Fleurette turned, pushing her long skirt out of the way as she did so. The burgundy colour looked starkly richer in the low light of the wings. She sat down at a chair which was usually present for the stagehands to use, there were a few dotted around. Seeing this one free, she sat down slowly and looked at her fellow redhead.

"What? No! When have I ever come to you with worrying words?" Fleck seemed perturbed that Fleurette would even dare suggest such a thing. The pout on her face went though and she quickly smiled at the seated female. "I don't see you rushing to join in with Meg, or at least, not as much as you first did. It got me thinking, was all."

"Right," Fleurette prompted, she could see Fleck dragging this out, probably more for dramatic reasons than to try and keep Fleurette dangling on her every word.

"Join us!" Fleck proclaimed, arms shooting to the side as she jumped on the spot. Fleurette's eyes widened, she blinked several times just processing what had just been exclaimed her way. Join Fleck, Gangle and Squelch? They had always been a trio though, did they honestly want to now be a quartet?

But in saying that, Fleurette had watched their performances, they were entertaining but also musical, the gymnastic parts also could play in her favour. Not a contortionist but Fleurette was able to bend and flip, she'd fit in with their routines, she could admit that to a point. But she also felt bad, almost, for intruding on the trio. They just worked so well together, wouldn't she just throw everything off?

"I don't know, Fleck..."

"Look, we're practising next. Get changed, join us, we'll figure it out as we go along. You've seen what we do, how you could fit in. I'm sure the lads will enjoy working alongside you, it'd also be nice for once not to be the only one getting thrown around." Fleck explained and joked by the end, her smaller stature made her the prime target for daring tricks and flips, and yes though it was part of her act, and theirs, it also would've been nice to see someone else get pulled into such a thing. Fleck could practically hear the gears turning in Fleurette's head, her friend might've been on the fence, but evidently something was sticking with her. Fleck shifted her weight, "Bring your dancing shoes, Fleur."

"Two clowns, a bird-woman and a ballerina." Fleurette said slowly, earning a dry laugh from Fleck, it sounded like the start of a bad joke, it really did.

"I think it sounds like a match made in heaven. Go! Go, you can't join in like that." Fleck waved at Fleurette, shirt and long skirt wasn't exactly practising friendly. Fleurette smiled and stood and Fleck watched her turn and walk off quickly, it was the most enthusiastic she had seen her friend for a while, actually. Just, Fleurette had lost enthusiasm, somewhere. Fleck wasn't solely sure it was just her being taken from singing, or struggling to fit in with Meg's routines, Fleurette had fallen out of love with performing in some way.

Fleurette had hurried off to gather her dancing things, the sounds of the piano playing as she entered the darkness below ceased for a moment, she was well aware to Erik gauging her, watching what she was doing before he couldn't resist and asked. "Fleck's invited me to join her band." Fleurette had explained when Erik asked why she was changing, she didn't seem to want to change to join in with Meg, but for Fleck? Fleurette was very much interested.

Erik found himself frowning though, "Are Gangle and Squelch fine with this?" Erik honestly thought Fleck just shot the idea out, without asking the two males she worked alongside. Not only that, something shifted inside Erik; truth be told, from the moment they had all crossed paths, Gangle had more often than not cast glances Fleurette's way. Whether the woman realised or not, Erik didn't know. But he knew, he also knew it was being a hypocrite. Why wouldn't someone find Fleurette attractive? She had a kind personality, even if she could be a little quick to become annoyed, her eyes were a beautiful colour and her hair, though disliking towards it dwindled for her, it was such a brilliant colour, bright and vibrant, it matched her disposition quite well.