The Story of Steps

Conversation

Faye:

The recent concerts went just great. The audience seemed to love it, they all seemed to be so happy about our performance and honestly, we're happy too. Especially when seeing how happy we make them.

At the moment, we're back in the tour bus and are on our way to the new location. We'll perform in the Manchester Arena - that certain arena where the band splitted back then. I think it's fair to say that we're all a bit nervous because of that. Especially Claire looks really nervous, she's looking around as if she wants to talk to us - but then again, she just keeps quiet. 

However, after a while, Lisa starts a conversation. "You're excited?" she asks, sounding rather angry than excited. 

"Guess so." Claire replies quietly. She's playing with the small mirror in her hands, probably in an attempt not to show what she thinks. She seems to be more taken back whenever we're not wirh the camera; probably fearing that we would take the opportunity to argue with her full-on.

"Planning a resignation letter?" Lisa snaps. Oh well, I didn't expected her to say that. Okay, there was this small argument back at the latest dance rehearsal where Lisa asked Claire if she can't at least act more motivated. Gladly, we managed to resolve their argument quickly but I guess the fact that we're performing in that arena where the band splitted just makes her angry.

"What?" H asks. "Did you really just asked her if she wants to resign?"

"She didn't seems like being motivated." Lisa says with a shrug. "So?"

"We're just stressed-" Lee tries but now the argument seems to be completely going off. 

"Listen to me, I'm no dancer like you." Claire explains, pointing at Lisa. "Or as talented as the rest of you. Great for you that you all own some dance talent, I know what they all think of me. That I want money and publicity, isn't that exactly what they write?"

"She didn't meant it like that." I try, earning an angry glance from Lisa.

"I did mean it like that!" she shouts at me. "You were angry about the resignation too, weren't you?"

"Of course! But- but we talked about that and we should focus on the concerts now and-"

"Stop being so nice to her! The band splitted because they wanted to form a duett, because they thought they're more talented than we are!" Lisa replies, pointing at H and Claire, while we all wonder why she's suddenly so angry, almost aggressive, towards us. While shouting, the tears are rolling down her cheeks and she angrily turns away from us. "Are you going to resign again, because you think you're so much more talented when you actually-"

"Woah, calm down!" I say loudly, making Lisa look at us again. "Stop talking to us like that."

She glances at me with a mixture of being angry and sad and I frown, before deciding to keep quiet. Yes, Lisa still is angry with Claire; also saying that, back then, she seemed to be favoured. I mean yes, our management kinda showed his favouritism towards H and Claire. But didn't we talked about our arguments? Didn't we already discussed about that stupid tension? Why discussing that again?

"You know what? I don't want to discuss with you now! Whatever you think of me, tell that to Johnny or someone else - just don't talk to me!" Claire shouts back, now taking her stuff to sit down somewhere else. We can perfectly see the tears in her eyes. 

And Lisa seems like she's crying too. While H heads off to talk to Claire, with Lee walking close behind him, I keep sitting next to Lisa. "I'm sorry!" she suddenly bursts out. "I didn't intend to shout at her or anyone else of you, really not! It's just that- that when the band splitted, I was so angry. Well, you obviously all were. Remember how I tried to publish my own songs? And how media talked about me and that tv show I created? I thought that I'm so stupid, talentless and was just part of the band for entertainment purposes. You know what they said about me?"