A Beautiful Instrument

50: Under Pressure

On Thursday, Alexis comes over with Manny to help us get into our costumes. We sort of went with our featured music. Jeremy and Manny are doing a duet wherein Jeremy is a magician who makes his pumpkin-headed creation, Manny, come to life. Thankfully, Manny got off Ivy's shitlist and decided to wear a mask when he isn't playing. Jeremy's outfit also includes a top hat, which he looks particularly hot in.

My solo has a circus theme. Alexis wanted me to be a scary clown fashioned after Harley Quinn from the Batman series but I chose to channel Brittany Spears' Circus album as a sassy ringleader instead. I add some sheer black stockings, heels, and some dramatic eye makeup.

I hear a low whistle once I step out of the bathroom. "Leigh, we're going to need a minute alone."

I'm distracted, putting on my jewelry at my vanity table. "Sure thing. Everything okay?"

He appears in my mirror standing behind me and I can tell everything is just fine as he dips his head and tickles the back of my neck with kisses. He speaks against my skin. "Every damn time."

"What?" I ask innocently, although I have a pretty good idea of what he's about to say.

"Just when I think it isn't possible for you to be any more sexy than you are you manage to prove me wrong."

I toss my gently curled hair over my shoulder. "Gotta keep my lover on his toes with my dynamic beauty."

He tips my head back and meets my lips. I really wish we didn't have to go, but it's getting late. He asks. "You ready for tonight?"

I put my own top hat on with a bit of a tilt. "Absolutely. Let's do this."

Alexis gushes as we walk out. "Look at you two. You look so amazing without trying."

Alexis looks amazing herself. She is wearing a form-fitting dress with skeleton bones and has done her face in the traditional la Catrina sugar skull makeup. She's not even going to be on stage, but wanted to join in the fun too! She's seriously talented with the makeup. Like ridiculous good.

"Alexis, your makeup is unbelievable! Like seriously, if choreography ever gets to be too much you could be a professional makeup artist." I tell her.

Manny pipes up from under his giant pumpkin mask, but all we hear is muffled talking. Alexis thumps the mask twice. He removes it. "If I knew you were that talented I would have had you do my face instead of wearing this thing!"

"You'd trust me to do your make-up?" Alexis melts at Manny's words. She has continued to be in a heightened emotional state - both highs and lows.

Manny plays it up. "I trust you with my heart. Why not my face?"

The two go to kiss. "Wait! Make-up!" I yell. Alexis shoves Manny away from her.

Manny grumps. "Shit, Leigh. When did you start cock-blocking?"

We all laugh and head out. Manny drives us. Backstage is a Halloween wonderland. Most everyone is in costume and those who aren't wear either masks or hats.

"Oh my! Is that who I think it is?! Leigh!" Jeremy gets my attention.
"Bart and Ivy are in a couples costume!"

My head snaps around and sure enough there is Bart and Ivy dressed as Beetlejuice and Lydia from the marriage scene. I gasp. "They have to be doing the deed!"

Manny ushers me ahead. "Go compliment their choice of costumes!"

"You go!" I insist. With Bart and I being like daughter and father, it feels awkward to me.

Alexis nudges me. "Manny has a point, Leigh. You can do no wrong by Bart's standards."

"Huh, you missed a lot of my college rehearsals with him then. I did plenty wrong and he let me know about it." I comment.