Chapter 5 Try-On
TRY-ON
LEAH
“Gotta pull my tits up,” I groaned. “Can you tighten it so that they don’t hit me in the face?”
It was time to try on our corsets. The base layers for our gowns might prove difficult to dance in.
Lourdes suggested I ask if we could have a rehearsal before tech to get Jeremy more realistic with the choreography.
Given that she was usually fine to put things on hard mode, I took the opportunity to lead and take her advice.
“You’re taped in, love,” our fitter said. “And tight as can be. I envy this waist of yours.”
“This is one of the few times I am grateful my tits aren’t that impressive,” Lourdes said. “Not as much to tie down.”
“Hard disagree, Lou. You have great tits.”
“Aww, Leah, you’re too sweet. You’re not my typical audience.”
“Why? I like tits just fine, darling,” I said, in character. “They are lovely.”
Lou cocked her head “Why do you do that? And how?”
“Try it,” I said. “Try to be me. I’ll try to be you.”
“God. I don’t know if I can.” She faked my accent.
I responded, “Not bad, darling.”
We were flirting?
Lourdes had a burst pipe in her dressing room, so I insisted she share mine. When I offered, I could tell Michael thought it was a bad idea, but he held his tongue. He assumed we’d squabble, but I had faith we were beyond that. This was bonding.
Our stage manager knocked. “They’re saying five minutes, Miss Roughy!”
“Cool! Thanks!” I called.
“You’re all set,” our costumer said. “Soon, you will get out there. Let us know what needs fixing.”
“Thanks.” I nodded.
“Yes, thanks,” Lourdes echoed.
As the door closed, we appraised one another, not sure what to say, both vulnerable wearing half a costume and wondering what was next.
Something within me propelled forward a step.
Pulled into her orbit, I couldn’t let go.
She searched me, as if trying to come up with some sort of way to keep me at a distance.
She backed up, bracing against a tiny dresser in the corner used mainly for storage.
I asked, confounded, “I make you nervous sometimes, don’t I?”
She shook her head too intensely. “Nervous? What? Why?”
“I dunno. I get this… vibe. It’s off.”
She fobbed it off. “Stage life is wild. You’re younger—”
“Nah, that’s not it. And… I don’t think of you like that. You’re my friend, right? At least I like you. You don’t hate me anymore. I’d dare say you liked me!”
I wished she more than liked me.
“You’re wonderful,” she said. “Talented. Funny. Gorgeous. All of the above, but we’re still—”
“You think I’m gorgeous?” I lit up too bright and stepped another length closer. “Really?”
She blushed. “I… uh… yeah. I mean, you’d be blind not to think that. And… yeah. I mean, in a classical sense. I don’t have some sort of schoolgirl crush or anything.”
“I wasn’t accusing you of that.” I closed the gap, hungry to kiss her suddenly.
She was protesting because it’s what she wanted.
“As I said… we’re… friends.” Lourdes reasserted.
“So, never more?”
She dropped her eyes to my chest, then panicked. “Leah, let’s not make a big—”
“I think you’re gorgeous. I hope my comment about your boobs wasn’t, like, off-putting. I have no filter.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“I like you,” I said. “And it seems like you like me?”
“I’m… uh… yes,” Lourdes winced. “But I do not think we’re on the same page with what that means.”
“So you don’t fancy me?” I asked, playing with the soft lacy ribbon at the top of her corset. “Not at all.”
She stared at my touch, then met my gaze, I brushed a stray hair behind her ear.
She shuddered, but her face pulled towards my hand.
I thumbed her lip, then assessed. Lourdes stared through me, nervous now.
Then, without warning, she pulled my head towards hers and locked in a hungry kiss—not the sweet one I most expected.
I cupped her face harder and sucked on her lower lip playfully before opening my mouth.
Our tongues tangled in some sort of desperation.
It was like I hadn’t been kissed in years and the floodgates opened.
The gloves were off, but this wasn’t a fight.
I was having one of the best kisses of my life in the arms of a rival soprano who I was sure wanted me dead weeks before.
Then, as perfect as it was, Lourdes pulled away. “I don’t fall for straight girls. That is—"
I burst into laughter. “Oh, God, Lou. I am anything but straight. That’s cute, but… untrue. And I’m assuming the same is true for you.”
Nostrils flaring, she sputtered, “I’m pan. Although, I’ve probably dated more women than men. I don’t… put it out there much because I worry, and my agent—”
“Tells you not to scare people off? I guess I get it. I have dated more men than women,” I admitted. “But I dated women first. I’m bi even if the world would like to strike that fact from the record. Much as they try, I’m still into boys and girls.”
“Oh.” Lourdes softened.
I sensed she wanted more. Brushing her chin, I gently leaned in for another kiss. This time, it was sweet, gentle, and felt like some sort of exchange of peace and forgiveness. We’d completely misunderstood each other. But now, we shared something unmistakable.
“Victoria?” Someone called.
Lourdes pulled back, nuzzling my nose gently. “That’s you, darling.”
“Shit.” I laughed, turning towards the door, “Yes?”
“We’re on in one, Victoria.”
Leah pulled back with a sly smile. “Guess we better go?”
And that was it. I’d finally gotten to the bottom of what was going on with Lourdes Lennon. She hated that she wanted me. It was sealed with a kiss.