Midnight Music

Chapter 14

I took a deep breath, trying to settle my aching insides. I haven't cried in a long time, and I didn't even cry that much tonight. It was just a couple of tears, then I restrained them to not completely ruin my makeup under the mask. After Platinum and I talked for a minute, I was able to fix my eyeliner and shadow so that it looked alright before putting my silver-white mask back on.

It's going to be okay. Don't worry about it. I reminded myself over and over until my heart was calm. Finally, I emerged from the dressing room and went towards the stage wings. A stagehand gave me a mic when I approached them. I quietly thanked them, then turned to watch as the Beast and Ivory performed "Tale As Old As Time", with Ivory simultaneously playing the piano and singing.

"I've got a surprise for you," Platinum suddenly appeared at my side and whispered in my ear. I turned to face him, my heart doing a flip when I saw that sparkle in his eyes. What is he up to? "Dimitri and Anya couldn't make it tonight. They're out of town for the week."

"So?" What's that got to do with our performance? We're on next.

"So, I had a great idea."

"I'm not sure if that's a good thing." I said half-jokingly. The audience burst into cheers and claps.

"That was amazing! Let's give those two a round of applause!" DJ Moon's voice suddenly said enthusiastically. The curtains fell, and everything on the stage was moved swiftly out of the way. "And now, in the absence of Dimitri and Anya, we're going to mix things up a little tonight."

Oh no. . . My heart's racing again! I looked back at Platinum as he led me onto the stage, and a smug, wicked grin appeared on his face. You. . .

"Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for Iris and Platinum, singing for one night only, 'At the Beginning'!"

WHAT?!

"But we never practiced or-!" I whispered to my partner.

"Just follow my lead. Trust me, milady." He whispered back encouragingly, pecking my hand as he placed me on the right side of the stage, and he took the left.

The curtains began to rise once more as the music started. I panicked, but my feet wouldn't let me move. Just do it! You'll be fine! I somehow managed to start singing my part in time. My heart continued to pound frantically in my chest, and I felt certain that my voice was probably shaking.

Platinum started singing his part, and moved closer to me. He reached out to me, I took his hand, and somehow my fear disappeared. The song soothed me. It was one of my favorites when I was little. Throughout the performance, my partner led me smoothly across the stage, twirling me around in circles and holding me close as we did something like an up-tempo waltz. During the last repeat of the chorus, he scooped me up in his arms and spun me in a few circles. Finally, when the song slowed down for the last few measures, he set me down carefully, still staring into my eyes.

As though under the spell of his eyes, I couldn't tear mine away either. Faces just inches apart, we walked around each other, gradually slowing down even more. We probably looked like Anastasia's music box in that moment. My skin almost burned under his strong hand at my waist. When the song came to an end, we were still face to face, and I saw his gaze shift to my lips. Suddenly feeling shy, I quickly lowered my gaze to my hand, which rested on his chest, feeling the sure, steady beating of his heart. I didn't have to look at the audience to know that they also wanted us to kiss. Come on, he's my partner. We can't. . .

A relieved smile spread across my lips as the brief silence was broken by the audience's applause. We turned to them, hand in hand as we bowed and left the stage. After giving our mics back, I lightly elbowed my partner in the stomach.

"That was a risky stunt you pulled there. Why did you do that?" I asked him.

"Well, you were upset. And I thought that a good way to cheer you up would be to have you sing something that makes you happy." He smiled sheepishly. Not wanting to join the noisy club upstairs, we went back to one of the practice rooms as we talked.

"How did you know that it would make me feel better, let alone that I would know the song?"

"I told you, I know you. To add to the list I was making earlier; I know that Anastasia was your favorite movie as a kid, and that you've had the songs memorized for years. Your favorite drink is Sprite, but you can never turn down a root beer float," He smirked when I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms in front of my chest. He thinks he's so smart, doesn't he? Maybe he really does know me. "You have a habit of putting a wall around yourself. You let people think that you're brave and strong. So you don't want to see their disappointment when they see you at your most vulnerable. That's why tonight, you tried to hide-"

My hand flew to his face and covered his mouth. I've heard enough. "Please stop showing off. You've made your point, but I'm not sure how I feel about somebody knowing all that stuff about me."

He held my hand where it was on his face, then closed his eyes as he pressed a kiss to my palm. I felt the blood in my cheeks rise. Clearing my throat, I pulled my hand back. "Anyway, thank you. I'll admit that it did make me feel better."

"You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." Why do I even bother lying? He knows when I'm lying.

Platinum gently grabbed my shoulders and looked into my eyes. "Do you want to talk about it?"

I sighed and nodded. Leading me to a bench against the wall, we sat down and he waited patiently for me to find my words. "My family and I are going out of town for a short vacation tomorrow. I haven't seen or spoken to my dad since Winter Break. And as far as he knows, I'm just going to school, studying music, and having nothing to do with clubs of any sort. I don't want him to know anything about Iris, or the Masked Muse. So long as he's concerned, I'm just the disappointment for an offspring focused on a useless degree."

"Why are you supposedly a disappointment to him?" my partner asked curiously.

"I just am. Always have been. It's normal, really."

"I don't see what's 'normal' about not being proud of your own daughter."

"I'm not his daughter."