Love Bites

Hey, sweetie. Come see me after the show, why don't you?

Coloratura read the text again, followed by her reply.

How did you get this number?

There was no response.

She chugged her glass of water and capped it off with a sigh, reclining on the black leather couch backstage. The nervousness behind just who sent the text reflected in her performance just minutes ago, and she knew it. To think it could be some kind of a creepy stalker unnerved her, even though she was well aware that stalkers were one of the many pitfalls of being in the music industry. It certainly wouldn't be the first stalker she ever had. nor would it be the creepiest.

The muffled sounds of the next performer caught her attention. She put the phone down and looked towards the door with a smirk.

Sapphire Shores. One of the biggest pop sensations in the world. Abrasive, showy, and not afraid to speak her mind with an extra touch of flair. Coloratura was supposed to see her as a rival, but she didn't really have the heart to stake any rivalries with anyone. If music was supposed to bring people together, then why did it have to drive them apart too? It didn't make sense to her. Did Sapphire even see her as a rival? Or as someone who could be a friend?

The door opening cut into her thoughts, and she straightened with a yelp.

"Oh, Coloratura. Or is it Rara?"

"I- uh-" Coloratura cleared her throat. "Um, just Rara is fine, Ms. Melody."

"Now, now. What have we discussed about honorifics?"

"...Not to use them?"

"Precisely." Melody adjusted her red-rimmed glasses. "Anyway, I just stopped by to congratulate you on another successful show. Though I couldn't help but notice you were a little off your game by the end. Any particular reason why?"

After the walking disaster that was Svengallop, Coloratura was grateful to have Melody Song in her corner. She was far nicer, and more competent, than he would ever be. (Plus, there was no sneaking suspicion about whether she was gay or not. At least with Svengallop, she didn't have to guess.) But even in spite of that, Coloratura still found it hard to tell her about the text. Melody had a tendency to smother her if she so much as tripped over her own feet. If she found out about the text, there was no doubt she would use every avenue she had at her disposal to find whoever sent it and track them down like a homing missile.

Besides, it was one text. If more came in, that would be good cause for concern.

"I think my throat just began to get a little dry," she fibbed. "That's my fault for not hydrating properly before I went on stage."

Melody clutched her chest in relief. "Oh! Well, I see." She turned to wave to a guitar-wielding duo who passed by before she let her gaze rest on Coloratura again. "I'm glad everything turned out all right."

"Helloooooo-oooooo, Fillydelphia! Before I begin my next song: next week will be our monthly blood drive. Stop by the Civic Center and donate some blood! It's for a good cause."

"Ooh, a blood drive. You know, since it's been a couple months, maybe we should host another charity event, Rara. I'm thinking a 5k, to raise funds for something like helping the homeless or feeding the hungry. Let's meet up tomorrow and brainstorm some ideas, okay?"

The words barely fazed Coloratura. Her attention was solely focused on the back wall, her ears picking up on every word Sapphire said. Charity work certainly was no competition, and blood was always a dire medical need, but...a monthly drive? She'd never heard of any blood drives being monthly. Was it possible Sapphire was pocketing a check or two for herself? Would she really be that immoral?

"Rara?"

She blinked and turned. "Huh?"

"I was suggesting we meet tomorrow to come up with ideas for our next charity event. Do you...have any place in mind?"

"Cannon's fine."

"Cannon Bar and Grill it is!"

Coloratura picked up her phone. "Look, Melody. After the concert's over...I think I'm gonna hit up a restaurant or something before I go back to the hotel. I could use a drink. And a good meal."

Melody looked from her client, to the water sitting on the table in front of her, and back again. "Oh. All righty, then!" Coloratura could hear the upset in her voice, but opted to ignore it. "Just don't get too drunk, okay?"

"You know I don't want to get drunk period."

"Ah, yes, right. I forgot." Melody turned. "I have a few more clients down here I have to speak to. If you need me, just shoot me a text."

Coloratura gave a nod and watched as the woman slipped out of the doorway and went down the hall. She began to kill time by checking social media while she listened to Sapphire's concert.

"Just a root beer, a chicken sandwich, and some fries, please. But no mustard."

"You got it. We'll have that out for you soon."

Adjusting her veil, Coloratura couldn't help but think about what a pain it was to even be wearing one. She had kept it at the advice of Melody, in order to protect her identity when going out. But all it did was remind her of Svengallop, plus it made her look really silly. Why couldn't a pop singer mingle with the common people over something as trivial as eating alone at a restaurant? Was she really so famous that, if she took the veil off, people would swarm her? And really, the veil didn't do anything to disguise her voice or the rest of her body, so what was the point?

"Hellooooooo there."

Her attention was caught by the sound of a familiar svelte voice. And when she laid eyes on who it was, she yelped, banging her knee on the underside of the table in the process.

"Whoa, hey now, watch yourself!"

Coloratura straightened herself and rubbed her knee to make the pain go away. "S-Sapphire Shores?" she murmured. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, come now. Surely you know this place is my hangout!" Sapphire laughed and waved her hand. "I come here all the time. And it seems like you do too." She pursed her lips in disapproval and pointed at Coloratura's veil. "I'd lose the veil, though. If you don't mind me asking, why do you have it on, anyway?"

Still struggling to figure out why Sapphire was sitting at her table, Coloratura didn't have a quick answer to the question. Instead, she spent the better part of a minute stammering, before she gripped the table. "It's...my agent. She advised me to wear it. So I wouldn't have people gather around me when I go out."

At this, Sapphire let out a laugh that seemed more suited for the stage than a restaurant. She reached over and lifted the veil, looking into Coloratura's eyes with a warmth that made the girl just slightly uncomfortable. "One of the topmost rules of show business: let yourself be comfortable with people approaching you. If you can't abide by it...then I'm sorry to say, you might not be cut out for the industry."

With her eye twitching, Coloratura ripped off the veil in one fell swoop, slamming it down onto the table. "I am cut out for this industry," she snarled. "Don't assume otherwise."

"Oooh, did I press a flaming-hot button?" Sapphire teased, moving back and sitting down in the chair opposite Coloratura. "I'm sorry. But it's true."

Coloratura narrowed her eyes. "Why are you here? At my table?"

"Mmm..." A glint formed in Sapphire's own. "Let's just say that I was utterly fascinated by your performance tonight. Even in spite of your little faux pas."

The waitress came and laid Coloratura's drink onto the coaster. Once she thanked her, she turned back to Sapphire. "It wasn't a faux pas. It..." She bit her lip, unsure whether she should tell someone whom she should consider a rival about the text. She didn't really want to, but at the same time, she wanted to befriend Sapphire, not butt heads with her. And that was putting aside the attitude. "I got this text that's been bothering me all night. And it's not from anyone I know, and I don't know if it's some kind of stalker or-"

"May I see it?"

The voice was...sensual. Too sensual. "Uh..." Coloratura glanced around her, finding that most people, if they had been staring at the two of them, had gone back to whatever they were doing. "Why?"

Sapphire fiddled with a lock of her hair. "I've gotten the same text, I believe," she admitted. "I want to know if it's the same number. That's all."

Coloratura waited for Sapphire to elaborate. But all she did was stare at her with...was that knowing in her eyes, or was she seeing things? She rubbed her eyes, then took out her phone, opened the Messages app, navigated to the text, and spun the phone around to show Sapphire.

The other girl put on a pout. "Mm. Yes, that's right. You didn't fall for my elegantly-crafted trap." She covered her mouth. "Oopsies! I think that was supposed to be a secret."

Right then and there, Coloratura could feel her heart plummet.

She got played for an utter fool. By the girl who was supposed to be her rival, but was hitting on her.

Coloratura wasn't someone who was really looking for love. She was moreso focused on advancing her career first, with finding a suitable mate taking a lower rung on the ladder of priorities. But not once did she ever think someone else would be making the moves on her. It wasn't that she thought she was ugly or anything, but she didn't exactly see herself as a pillar of attractiveness.

"Aww, look at you! As red as...a juicy tomato." Sapphire stuck her tongue out. "Ugh, that imagery will not leave my head, will it?"

It was true. Heat was filling Coloratura's cheeks. She could feel it, and she hated it. She buried her head in her hands in a desperate attempt to hide it, but even with her vision obscured, she could sense Sapphire's smugness from across the table.

"Here's your food, ma'am. Oh, Sapphire Shores! What a delight to see you here again. How was your day?"

"Oh, just wonderful, thank you. Please, don't bother taking out your menu. I'll just have two simple Bloody Marys for tonight."

"You got it. Just take it easy with the drinks, okay? You had to be escorted out of the place by your designated driver last time."

"Yes, yes, I'm aware. I'll be careful."

A deep part of Coloratura was insulted that the waitress didn't address her by name but addressed Sapphire by hers. She pulled her hands away from her face and eyed her food, her frustrations ebbing away and the hunger bell going off in her mind. At least if Sapphire was going to get under her skin, she could get a good meal out of it.

As she took a bite of her burger, she flinched as teeth bit down on the tip of her tongue. She set the burger down and swallowed her bite.

"Goodness, did you bite your tongue?" Sapphire asked, standing up and leaning forward. "Here, let me help you."

The hunger in Sapphire's eyes was enough for Coloratura to lean back. "I- uh- n- no. No, I'm...fine. I'll be fine," she hastily assured. "It happens all the time. I was hasty."

With a pout of disappointment, Sapphire sat back down. "Oh, all right. Doing it in a crowd isn't ideal, anyway."

Coloratura almost wanted to ask what "it" was. She was pretty sure Sapphire wanted to kiss her, and...okay, maybe she was a little hot. She had to be; she was a renowned pop star. She probably got guys...girls...lusting after her all the time. But Coloratura wasn't a lesbian. At least, she didn't think she was. She didn't really have any kind of gay awakening or have a desire to commit to experimenting who she liked. Besides, she was a rookie sitting across from a veteran, and she had to make a good impression.

...Or maybe she was just overthinking all of this.

She grabbed her burger and took another bite, pausing when she saw Sapphire take a smaller fry from her plate. "Hmm? Oh, terribly sorry. Is it all right if I take one of these?"

"Yeah, whatever."

"Thank you." Sapphire popped the fry into her mouth. "My, I've forgotten how well they cook their potatoes here."

Just as Coloratura swallowed, the waitress returned with two drinks. "Here you are. Two Bloody Marys." She smiled. "Can I get you two anything else?"

"I'm good," came the unisonant answer, and the waitress nodded and slipped away towards a nearby table.

Sapphire took one of the drinks and gently pushed the other towards Coloratura. "For you, my dear."

Coloratura eyed the drink, unsure of where it came from. She knew she didn't order any drink aside from a root beer, so it had to come from Sapphire. And for some reason, Sapphire's drink looked different in coloration.

"That's a Bloody Mary," Sapphire explained. "It has vodka and tomato juice" -- she slightly lurched forward -- "in it, plus a few extra sauces like Tabasco sauce." She straightened and put on a smile. "Go on, try it!"

On one hand, Coloratura hadn't been planning on getting any alcohol tonight. On the other hand, from the one time she managed to get drunk, she knew she wasn't one to lose her liquor easily. One Bloody Mary really wouldn't do anything to her in terms of getting her wasted.

With Sapphire chugging hers, Coloratura took a sip. And then another. And then another.

And her eyes lit up like the bright moon in the sky.

"More Bloody Marys, please!"

The night kept moving on, as nights did. Eat the burger. Eat the fries. Get that out of the way. Then, drink more Bloody Marys. Laugh at whatever gibberish Sapphire was saying. Drink more. Lots more. Jeez, these things were fucking delicious. Who the fuck was Melody to deny her such a hidden pleasure?

Her memory became a blur somewhere along the fourth drink. She could feel her body make impact with something hard and see Sapphire rush to her aid, but she was laughing too hard to care. And when her energy ran out, so did her consciousness.