Page 71 of Pale Girl
“I love you, too.”
The lights flickered off. “It’s time,” Jesse took the flowers as she hurried to grab her cello and bow. “I’ll be waiting for you backstage and I’m sitting with everyone right in the front row!” he reminded her as they left the room. He turned right, toward the exit and she walked left toward the stage.
“I know you will. I’ll be playing for you.”
In a dream-like state, she walked, as a queen through her palace, nodding at the other members of her orchestra. She could hear the murmurs.
She’s so beautiful.
I love that dress.
Lucky.
She’s like something out of a fairytale.
Why is she so pale?
Sophie turned as she took center stage behind the drawn curtain, her eyes finding the source of the last whisper. She snapped her fingers, a tiny jet of heat, a tiny flicker of flame shining in the darkness. Gasps.
Must be a trick of the light, right?
Smiles. “Let’s do this,” Sophie whispered.
The curtain rose. Sophie’s fingers felt slippery against her bow for just a moment. Her eyes scanned the audience.
All the eyes she used to hide from were staring back, focused on the pale girl in her siren red dress.
Sophie smiled. She couldn’t wait to show them what she could do.
