The Stalker (Elvis Presley Story)

Chapter 16

Snapping her fingers, Melissa spun towards Michael, leaping up and landing in a split at his feet. Her smile felt pasted on. Her arms and legs were like lead. Melissa felt exhausted.

The curtain swung closed.

"No boos, at least," Michael muttered as he and Melissa ran offstage. "I'm surprised they're even clapping."

"They're probably clapping out of sympathy," Melissa said. "Or relief."

The performance had been flat as a rug and full of mistakes from beginning to end.  Missed cues. Late entrances. A piece of scenery that wobbled so badly it upstaged everybody. Everything seemed to go wrong.

The director wasn't even in town yet, so vic was in charge. He'd given everybody a pep talk during intermission, trying to get some spark into them. He'd been cheerful then.

Now, as Melissa dashed past him, he just looked mad.

"Watch out for Gray," Toni murmured, standing next to Melissa and smoothing down the skirt of her costume. "He's on the warpath. We were so bad!"

At least he's not mad at just me, Melissa thought grimly, taking her place for the curtain calls.  She wasn't the only one who messed up tonight.

But the thought didn't really help.

The curtain opened. Michael grabbed her hand and they ran onstage. The band played a reprise from We go Together. Not Elvis and I, Melissa thought. We definitely don't go together.

Why had she let herself fall for him like that? After jimmy, she should of been completely on guard. Instead, she actually thought there was something special happening between her and Elvis.

Steph had warned her, of course. Now she knew the reason - steph was jealous, just as she was jealous of Melissa's dancing. Steph wanted Elvis back. Well, she could have him.

The curtain closed and Michael squeezed her hand. "What do you want to bet they'll open the curtain again and the place'll be empty?"

Melissa sighed. "Either that or they'll stay and throw tomatoes."

When the curtain opened, the audience was still there. Still clapping. No tomatoes.

But only two curtain calls.

The cast scattered as quickly as possible. Everybody knew they'd done badly. Tomorrow, they'd get up there and do it again, better.

Will I be any better? Melissa wondered, pulling the ribbon from her ponytail and shaking her hair loose. Grateful that there wasn't going to be a cast call so vic could chew them out, Melissa hurried through the wings towards the stairs.

Elvis, rushing past her with a hammer, stopped when he saw her. "Gotta fix that flat," he said. Flashing her a smile. "Why don't you stick around and we can grab a bite after I'm through?"

Why don't you just stick it? Melissa thought.

"Sorry. No," She said.

"No? That's it?"

"That's it," She told him. She started to leave, but Elvis took her arm.

"What's going on?" He asked.

Melissa sighed. "Look, Elvis, I've got a lot on my mind, okay? Gray's on my case, and I want to get a good night's sleep so I can do a decent job tomorrow."

He shook his head. "That doesn't explain why you've all of a sudden turned into an iceberg."

He hadn't seen her outside the dressing room, Melissa reminded herself. Obviously. He hasn't seen her because he'd been to busy with Steph.

"Elvis, I saw you in dressing room," She told him. "You and Steph."

Elvis's eyes widened and a slow blush crept up his neck. He started to reply, but a crew member rushed up and grabbed his arm.

"Vic's out for blood, Presley," jake  muttered. "Get a move on."

As jake pulled him away, Elvis glanced back. His firey blue eyes were hot with anger. "This isn't the end of it, Melissa!" He called over his shoulder.

Melissa didn't answer. It was the end. It had to be.

On top of everything else she didn't need Mr Heartbreaker in her life.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! And thanks for reading! xoxo