I liked the freedom after exams. When you know you're emancipated, that the hardest things are behind you and that within a few days, you're going to breath some fresh air. Exams were over and though we were still stressed about our grades, there blew a wind of newfound nonchalance. Pinkie Pie and I were finally able to do other things than locking ourselves up, working as if the future of humanity depended on us. We made the most of it because we knew it wouldn't last. Within two weeks, classes would start over again.
We were barely out of Starbucks, our coffee in our hands when my phone rang in my bag. I had to search through it a long time before I got it out. It was a brand new one, that I have bought thanks to my work for the magazine... Which I never really explained before. I was writing short stories for a teen fashion magazine, thanks to Rarity who knew the redactor-in-chief, although my short stories are never related with fashion and even rarely with romance - just because I lived one didn't mean I wanted to write one.
Taken by surprise, my eyes widened. This person never called me before. My throat clenched just reading the name on the screen. Quickly, I slipped my forefinger on the flat screen before I answred, under the ever so curious eyes of Pinkie Pie. On the other side of the line, resounded the voice of my school's Vice-Principal, the one and only Vice-Principal Luna.
"Hello, Rainbow Dash. Sorry to bother you during holidays but I need you to do me a favor."
One by one, all my clenched something relaxed. Obviously, she wasn't calling me for bad news.
"Of course, Vice-Principal Luna. What can I do for you?"
Frowning, Pinkie Pie slightly nudged my shoulder, as a sign that she wanted to know what was happening. I put a finger in front of my lips to make her understand it was important.
"We have a student, transfered from a university in Cloudsdale. She will be in the same classes than you in two weeks. All her family lives in Cloudsdale and she doesn't know anyone here. Maybe you could help her, since you're both from the same city. Is this bothering you?"
"Not at all. We'll take care of this. Is there anything else I can do?"
"Actually... Yes. If I called you, Rainbow Dash, it wasn't only because she comes from the same city, but also because she's going to live in the same youth hostel. Would you agree to meet her right now? She's probably nearly arrived now. Her name's Fluttershy."
A few seconds later, after many polite formulations, she hung up and I explained it all to Pinkie Pie. By chance, we weren't far from the hostel. Within barely a few stations, I would be at Castle Hill. Although the young girl could be there any moment now, we weren't particularly in a hurry. The weather was sunny, the sky was blue... That was only once in the train that we realized what her coming implied. She was going to introduce herself to me, we would probably talk a little in my room because she wouldn't have settled in hers yet.
It would have been no problem if I expected her visit. But I haven't expected it and what I used as a room was in no way a home sweet home, but rather a bachelor pad for the single guy I wasn't. I didn't put much efforts into cleaning my room since Soarin had his own place to live. This wasn't alright, if the new girl got the wrong first impression.
We started to run as if we had robbed a bank. Passersby, usually so stoic, were staring at us as we were bolting and tried to see what we wanted to flee.
Fortunately, the girl hadn't arrived yet when we pushed the glass door of my floor. Pinkie quickly went to check out if she wasn't in the kitchen or at the terrace, since there was no one in the manager's lodge. Then we started to do something out of the place I lived in. Socks in balls, laundry, books and DVD, everything got back to its place or ended up hidden inside the closet of the chest of drawers. We emptied the trashcan, made my bed, dusted the table, the chairs, the computer and the television. Once everything was settled, Pinkie Pie went to grab something to drink in the kitchen where I always left a bottle with my name on.
She barely had filled the paper cups with an orange liquid that someone knocked on my door. That was close. Pinkie and I exchanged a conniving smile, stunned by our luck and perfect timing. While I went to open the door, my best friend sat on my bed and smoothed an invisible pleat on her denim skirt.
In front of me appeared a thin and tall girl with very long baby pink hair in a ponytail. Her eyes are turquoise and huge. She smiled timidly and asked whether I was Rainbow Dash. She was the classical beauty who needed no make up to be pretty and displayed no apparent eccentricities. Her young and innocent style completesd the large fan of the diverse personalities of our bunch.
"I'm Fluttershy. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," I said stepping on the right to let her in. "This is my best friend Pinkamena Diane Pie, but everybody calls her Pinkie Pie, or just Pinkie. She's at the CAM too."
Fluttershy timidly came inside. Pinkie offered her generous big smile. She slid to my pillow while the new girl sat after she looked for my approbation. I took the additional chair I bought for when I played cello and sat in front of them. Silence reigned. None of us started the conversation. Our glass of juice in our hands, we stared at each other with a smile lacking natural, before her eyes slipped on the setting that was my room. Most of the things were hidden in the closet and I crossed my fingers for nothing to fall down.
The space there was already little when alone so it was almost impossible to have enough space to breath and move when we were three. Pinkie Pie lifted towards me a feet wearing too large plastic slippers she probably took in the locket for visitors and slightly kicked my ankle. I threw a glance at her and read on her lips she was advising me to do something quick.
On my small and broken nighttable I put my phone and a picture along with an alarm clock I bought online some time ago. It was a smart alarm clock which could also be used as a speaker and on which I could listen to MP3 music. Fluttershy put her eyes on it... And an enthralled smile appeared on her pale skin face.
"Is that a Talk the Tocky Touch alarm clock?" she asked with enthusiasm.
Now she finally talked, I could feel everybody loosening up. Pinkie threw one last glance at me and her eyes seemed to be telling me it was about time. I shared her opinion.
"Yeah, obviously. I never thought an alarm clock could be that expensive but hey, that works."
"I wanted one so bad but my mother never bought one to me. She said I'm already lucky she gave in to my whim of learning music."
"If you can save money, maybe you'll be able to buy one. Teachers sometimes have job opportunities for students."
"Oh, I don't know if I want a job. That would mean... speaking to a lot of people, right? Em... Do you also live here, Pinkie Pie?"
My best friend chuckled, shrugging. She seemed to be monopolized by my alarm clock, I don't know why. Probably because she wondered why a mother would refuse to buy this to her daughter and most importantly, the price of the thing. She made her empty paper cup creak between her hands and threw it in the air, her slippers swinging at the edge of her toes.
"No, I could never live in such a shoebox. I live in a wide bedroom right above a pastry and it's much, much huge compared to this."
This time, I was the one slightly nudging her ankle before she did it too. In the end, she threw her empty paper cup on my head and burst out laughing. Meanwhile, Fluttershy was taking a closer look at my bedside table. My picture in a frame seemed to be her main focus. Oh boy! I forgot to take it off... I was with Soarin on this.
With a bit of luck, she wouldn't notice. While her behavior never was inappropriated, she tilted her head and frowned, taking an even closer look to the picture.
"Is that your boyfriend?"
"Yeah."
"He's handsome," she said blushing.
I smiled kindly, hoping she would quickly find another topic to discuss. If she asked me his name and knew a bit about the "Greatest Show Off" franchise, she could guess I was dating an actor who supposedly was free. Nothing told me I could entrust her with such a secret.
"Doesn't he remind you of someone?" Pinkie added, her eyes quivering with excitation.
What the f*ck was she doing? She knew it was a dangerous topic and the least mistake could damage our story. I couldn't allow myself to let anyone know I was dating Soarin for now, especially as we did well hiding our couple.
"I'm not too sure... Is he famous or something?"
"Maybe... Weren't there theaters in Cloudsdale?"
"Of course, there are theaters..."
I was boiling from inside but Pinkie seemed to be very proud of herself. She stuck her tongue out of me when I gave her a look so dark my magenta eyes probably turned into royal purple. Fluttershy started to examine the picture again and I knew it wouldn't take much longer for her to understand the plot. I had to focus the conversation back to what she came here at first.
"It's pretty lame actually. Tell us already... Why did you decide to come to the CAM. Vice-Principal told me you were at a University in Cloudsdale."
Fluttershy took one last look at the picture, as if to make sure my boyfriend's face wasn't familiar to her and her attention returned back to us. Her eyes were still a little riveted above my shoulders as if there was something fascinating there, that deserved more attention than my awesome person.
"In fact, I was in a nearby university, in Rainbow Falls, where they had a class for music. But they wouldn't let me study tambourine at all and there were very little time bestowed upon music practice so I begged my mother to let me go in Canterlot though I'm very scared of all these people I'll have to talk to. What about you, Rainbow Dash? Why not staying in Cloudsdale?"
I opened my mouth... But had no time to answer since my phone started to vibrate on my bedside table. I apologized to the girls, stretched my hand to the smartphone. It was a call from Soarin, his daily call to have some news, like each time we couldn't see each other within many days.
I couldn't not take the call. My conversations with him were short but enough to fill me with joy. It was our private little moment that I always expected with great anticipation. It allowed me a break from everything else...
In a whisper, I told them I'd be right back and left the room. When I closed the door behind me, I heard Pinkie telling Fluttershy it probably was a call from my boyfriend. All I could do now was crossing my fingers in the hope that my snoopy best friend wouldn't decide to tell our newbie the truth about us. As usually, I answered by going back and forth in the corridor. Sometimes, I turned one way or another way and arrived in the computer room or on the terrace.
Our conversations on the phone always started the same way. Soarin asked me how I was and what I was doing.
"I'm great! No more exams... Our teacher asked me and Pinkie to welcome a girl from Cloudsdale who'll be studying with us. She plays tambourine. We were explaining stuff to her."
Obviously, I didn't tell him my best friend was trying, for whatever reasons, to let this girl guess I was dating him, the famous actor from "The Greatest Show Off" franchise. I wasn't sure Soarin would like that, despite how much he liked Pinkie.
"It's a good thing. Meeting new people is always a pleasure. Is she nice?"
"Nice, yeah, that's what defines her the most. She speaks very low, very low... Like that," I said, trying to duplicate the soft low voice of our new mate.
He was laughing on the other side of the line and I could picture him perfectly, with those bright green eyes rolling. I terribly missed him when he wasn't with me... Just the sound of his voice was enough to make my stomach buzz like a million bees. I wanted to hold him close... but I never told him, because I still was being me most of the time, and do you know my buddy, pride?
It wasn't that easy to love a famous someone. When, by accident, I heard other girls talking while looking at his pictures or videos, showering him with compliments though they know he would never hear them, I wanted to dash there and tell them he was with me. That was worse when I heard people say bad things about him and thought it was a shame I couldn't rush in and kick their teeth in! No one knew Soarin the way I knew him.
"You know... I really miss you right now, Dashie. It's tough."
"Well, I don't miss you at all..."
"Come on, Dashie!"
I heard a hubbub behind him. A male voice. Music. Girls screaming and laughing in the back. I wondered what he was doing.
"I can't wait to see you, you pain in the neck!"
Once again, he laughed.
"Can't wait as well. Soon, I'll be in the Trenderhoof's Late Night Show, would you like to go there with me? Backstage, I mean."
"Hm, I'll see..." (meaning, "of course"). "Where are you now?"
"In a mall. Improvised autograph session. Can you hear how the fans are screaming? That's... huge!"
One of the thing I liked the most about Soarin was that, even though acting has always been his dream, he wasn't dazed by celebrity. Conversely, he still was that guy discovering everything with marveled big eyes each time something he wouldn't suspect to happen, well, happened. He was always surprised, for example, to meet fans in front of his building. As if he didn't know what big machine he now was a part of.
Our conversation ended when his agent called him back to the session. He promised he'd call me back quickly and hung up. Once again, I had landed on the terrace where I sat, my bottom against the concrete floor. Back against the low wall and head leaning against the guardrail, I looked at the blue sky where a few clouds were rolling. Sun had started to set. I sighed deeply, feeling my lungs with air.
I couldn't gather enough courage to tell Soarin I was in love. I had this feeling for a while now but my pride always got in the way. Alright, I put up with the fact I sometimes was a little sappy inside when we were together but saying the words always made me feel like it wasn't myself at all. And yet, I wanted the words to come out. So he would know my feelings were true and that, whatever could happen, I would be here for him, ready to catch him with open arms.
I stayed here a little while, thinking about it all. I was feeling like a fool. Supposedly that's a sign you're in love. Indeed.
When I came back to my room, Pinkie and Fluttershy were still here, in the middle of a restless conversation. They had newly filled glasses of juice and mine was quietly waiting for me on my chair. My best friend's triumphant smile didn't look good to me, like, at all...
"Your boyfriend," Fluttershy started. "He's playing Diamond Lost in the new "Greatest Show Off", isn't he?"
This is going to be paid back very soon, Pinkamena Diane Pie!
============================================***===========================================
During TV shows recording, if I wanted to be in the audience, I could but in this case I was forbidden to go backstage. If I decided to go backstage, I was forbidden to attend the show from the audience. Both situation had advantages and inconviniences.
So, I was backstage. Although I got bored when Soarin was recording, I chose that solution. At least, thanks to my small badge accounting me as a staff member, I was free to circulate. No one was watching me.
What a funny world, show business! When you take a closer look at how things were going on, you always wonder whether this is organized in the slightest inches or the most horrible mess of the world. Rooms are filled with electricity. There are outfits, wigs, makeup everywhere. Stylists, PR attachés, producers, managers, assistants and set assistants, studio staff members, agent representatives, makeup and hair artists... Everybody runs, speaks loud, everybody's restless. Looks like a beehive.
And I was in the middle of all this, sucking in sounds and movements. They all seemed to find this atmosphere completely normal when they all looked like they were lunatics in a mental institution, in the middle of recess. Pinkie would be like a worm in an apple in such a place!
When it finally annoyed me, I went out to walk around the corridors. There were still people running around as if the world were spinning without them but the feeling was slightly different. I left the green-room, hands in my pockets, walking nonchalantly, not paying attention where my feet were leading me. From corridor to corridor, door to door, even if I got lost, I always found my way back. TV studios are nothing but a huge maze where all paths lead to the set. Once you found it back, all you have to do is to get on with the flow in order to get back to your green-room.
I wandered along the halls and around me, some mystical tension had taken over everything and everyone. The recording was falling late and technical problems were piling up. It looked like our House of Parliament in the middle of a war council, as if the fate of the world depended on the overcharging of schedule. And, a bit in a haze, I bumped head on into someone emerging in front of me at top speed, so fast even I hadn't seen her coming.
In the impact, the items she was preciously holding against her chest splashed around us. Then, flew an amazing number of beautiful glazed paper pictures and a whole pile of CDs fell at our feet.
Immediately, the person I bumped into muttered apologies and scrouched to pick up the treasure. It was a girl, with curly grey violet hair moving along her head. She was standing on sparkly high-heel shoes, dressed with a tight dress revealing a skin even paler than mine. I was feeling stupid to watch her in action, standing like a puppet. I got together and leaned over to help.
She already had gathered all the CDs under her arms. I stretched out my hand towads the pictures behind me and picked them up silently. She was on them. Pictures in a very elegant black and white. She was pausing like some superstar, with a long white and pink wig falling in cascade upon her shoulders, dressed in black with high-heel shoes like the ones she was wearing right now, legs half-flexed on a black leather couch. She was so beautiful I felt like a ugly little rainbow octopus in comparison.
The young woman smiled at me, a very bright smile and although she didn't look familiar, I told myself that, maybe, she was famous. Once she had gathered a satisfying stack, she pat the pictures against her laps and put them on the pile of CDs.
"Yeah, that's me on the pictures... Pretty awesome, right?"
I simply said yes and picked the last remaining cliches, a bit further. She sat up, dusted her dress. It was very short and the jacket she put on her shoulders was barely hiding a huge low-cut. When I gave her back what belonged to her, she smiled again, with a smile as bright as the sun.
I didn't know her. I didn't even know her name but she already appeared to me as rather cool.
"Thanks for helping me... I was out of the ladies' room and in a hurry and I haven't seen you coming."
"No harm. I wasn't looking neither."
"Well, I guess we're even then. Name's Coloratura but my pseudonym is Countess Coloratura."
"I'm Rainbow Dash."
She told me she had a pseudonym but I swore I never saw her face before. Very famous girls are impossible to miss. Their faces are everywhere, in the newspaper stands, on television, on the huge posters of the subway's walls, as muse of a luxury brand, sometimes even on your food packages. Even though you don't know the names, you can't escape the faces.
But Coloratura, or Countess Coloratura, she wasn't familiar at all to me. Yet I knew I wouldn't have forgotten such a face.
Her green-blue eyes lowered on the plastic square hanging on my chest at the end of a purple cotton thread.
"Are you a set assistant?" she asked me with a more high-pitched voice.
"Not exactly... Let's say I'm someone's support."
Despite my good impression, I couldn't allow myself to tell her the truth about why I was here. Though she said she was a star, leaks could come from anywhere, and trust had to be given with cautiousness. I didn't want to make any stupid blunder.
My poor explanation seemed to be enough for Coloratura who, just like that, I had started to walk with towards the snake pit. I didn't know why I was following her. I didn't know her after all and just because we said each other name didn't mean I thought she needed an escort or whatever... However, conversely to myself, she had no badge on. Accessing this kind of popular TV shows was very complicated. How did she manage to come in?
Quickly, she brought a clarification to this.
"I'm here to visit my former manager. He now takes care of this girlsband with I don't know how many girls, you know."
"Why do you need to see him?"
"Oh, but I don't need it," she said, her chin up with pride. "I want to piss him off! He told me no record company would ever hire a girl with my voice. He didn't want me in his sh*tty girlsband... Well, I'm going to show him. I've been hired by a music company and within a few weeks, I'll make my debut. She who laughs last laughs the longest. You don't know which green-room he's in, by any chance?"
"No, I'm sorry. I only know one..."
Upon these words, Soarin dashed towards me. He was dressed in white and still had his strapped to the buttonhole of his blazer and didn't bother with caution. Right under Coloratura's eyes, though she could as well repeat everything to the press, he fell on my neck and held me close. I was so surprised I couldn't even react at all.
"Where were you? When I saw you weren't in the green-room anymore, I was so worried..."
"I just went out for a walk, nothing special. You do know I'm not made of glass, but of steel, right? Yeah, I'm Superman!"
Beside me, Coloratura did her best to stay in the background, touching her hair and looking away but this clumsy attempt made her even more noticeable. She could have gone away when she saw Soarin arrive, leaving us alone not to bother or I don't know what, but she stayed in the middle of the corridor with us, as if she were expecting something. My boyfriend noticed her suddenly and parted from me, blushing. I heard him clearing his throat and asking her how she was doing. I was dumbfounded. Did they know each other...? And Soarin explained me they auditioned for "The Greatest Show Off" at the same time. It made me feel curious. I thought she was a singer, not an actress.
They both talked for a short while. Coloratura congratulated Soarin for his perseverance and for his role in the movie. She thought he deserved what was happening to him and I rather agree. All along, Soarin kept his arm linked to mine and I often saw Coloratura's eyes drifting down to it. Each time, it outlined a smile on her round pale face.
When my boyfriend asked her what she was here for, she didn't lie. Apparently not ashamed at all, she explained she came to shake her future success under her former manager's nose, with the excuse that she was part of his band's staff, with things to give to him. This was how she had a badge that she kept in the pocket of her jacket.
This girl had grit. It confirmed my thought about her. She was really cool, tough and fun, with a firm temper.
Coloratura took one of the CD's blocked under her arms and gave it to us.
"Here. These are my first single first press edition. It's going to be out for sale within a few weeks so I stole some copies that I gave away to the fans waiting outside. Same thing with the pictures. These are copies for you two..."
Soarin got back his CD with an amused smile and thanked her. She had a little something which reminded me of Pinkie Pie and I liked that.