Angel Eyes

<style type="text/css">
p {
text-indent: 1cm;
}

.indent {margin-left:1cm;}
</style><p>
Félix was nervous as well, but the man had enough experience to know how to temper his nerves. Being nervous, for him, was a casual affair. The whole day, Félix had practiced maintaining his anxiety. He didn't sleep as well as he hoped, but it was his first gig in a long while. What's more, he had never performed with someone else like Nerina. Her voice was amazing, distracting even. Félix thought it his most difficult performance ever, just keeping up with her.
<p>
<div class="indent">
"A band name? I hadn't thought of one. Did you want to think one up?" Félix asked.

"You know how they call Ella Fitzgerald 'The First Lady of Song'? Or even I suppose Rose Murphy as the 'Chee-Chee Girl'."

"So you want a nickname for yourself?"

"I suppose that's not something I make up myself. It sounds like it's a title." She imagined the Queen of England knighting her and giving her an awesome jazz name.

"Maybe you'll see one in the newspaper, if some reporter finds us," Félix wondered. Club Gambit possibly had some publicity like that, seeing as Eric caught wind of it.

"Oh, no no no!" Nerina hid her face shyly behind red hair.

"Why not?" Félix teased. "It's probably a little pretentious if we picked our own titles."

"That's true. Can we do some warm ups again?"

</div>
<p>
Félix nodded. They were running out of time though, and he didn't want to overwork Nerina's voice. "Let's go through the whole set one more time. Then we should get dinner." Félix gathered his music sheets and set it back to the first song.

<style type="text/css">
p {
text-indent: 1cm;
}

.indent {margin-left:1cm;}
</style><p>
It was easier to play with Nerina now. When they first practised, Félix had forgotten to play some notes. He even missed out on entire bars when he was so immersed in her voice. The only time he ever experienced something similar was when he sang, or perhaps with the Sakebi Twins.
<p>
Now, there was no struggle in a single note. He could play automatically, while his ears drowned in Nerina's voice. Once they ran through their itinerary, Félix couldn't help but feel sad it was all over. She helped him pack up his music sheets and cover the piano to protect it from dust, before she slipped behind the drumset to get changed into the dress Eric bought her.
<p>
<div class="indent">
"You should project your voice more, once we're on stage. The acoustics won't be as accomodating as in here." Félix gave one last piece of advice.

"I'll try my best. I'm still a little scared." Nerina's voice quavered.

"You'll feel better with some food in you." Félix smiled. Food in her stomach would do better than butterflies.

"Am I really not allowed to eat your special, french-canadian style potato gratin tonight?" she frowned. She did up the zipper on her dress.

"I'm afraid not," Félix chuckled. "Dairy makes mucus, and mucus makes your throat stuffed up."

</div>
<p>
He collected his music sheets into a folder, and the folder itself in a small bag. It was time to go. He left Nerina to change in that room, but... Félix felt more comfortable finding a different room to change. Nerina was, after all, still Eric's girlfriend.

<style type="text/css"> p { text-indent: 1cm; } .indent {margin-left:1cm;} </style>
<p>
At Club Gambit, they sat down in a comfortable booth. The lighting was pleasantly dark, obfuscating their flaws and accentuating their features. Eric and Nerina, of course, had nothing but features to accentuate. Félix looked more like he finally got himself a tan.
<div class="indent">
"What will it be for drinks?" Eric asked first.

"Water," Félix answered.

"Water for me too."

Ugh, how boring. Eric smiled at the waitress. "Water for them, and... er... water for me too. Thanks."</div>
<p>
At least there was something exciting going on at the moment. Today was Seifuku day, sailor uniforms found typically in Japan. The men wore Gakuran, owing a youthfulness to their appearance. Their waitress wore a drastically short skirt, and Eric did not miss the opportunity to stare whenever he was sure no one was looking. Or at least the waitress herself.
<p>
"I'll be right back then," She gave him a knowing smile and a flick of her hips when she walked away. Eric didn't take his eyes off her until she turned the corner.
<p>
She came back with water and three glasses, pouring them for each customer. First Nerina, then Félix, and finally Eric. She topped his off generously.
<p>
Now came the question of food. Eric was rather uncertain. Any time he came to Club Gambit, he had a different sort of appetite. "What to eat? Something more exciting than water, I hope," he smiled at Nerina.
<div class="indent">
"Water is exciting,"

"Maybe in the sea, or in a shower," Eric corrected.

"No dairy." Félix reminded, with the grace of a drill sergeant.

"I know, I know." </div>
<p>
Eric, however, was free of such restrictions. And being a good time for a cheat day, he was more than happy to spite Félix. "I will get a Philly cheese steak sandwich."
"Does the asian-style soba salad with seared tuna have dairy in it?" asked Nerina.
"It shouldn't," Félix smiled at her. "I think I might get the french onion soup... Actually, no, a cassoulet, please."

<style type="text/css"> p { text-indent: 1cm; } .indent {margin-left:1cm;} </style>
<p>
Once they finished eating, Nerina and Félix hurried to the back of the stage. They still needed to prepare and calm themselves down. However, dinner was still on Félix's mind, especially his brother's behaviour.
<p>
"Oh, this is crooked." Nerina's fingers reached for that square in Félix's breastpocket. She adjusted it tenderly, straightening its fine shape: like a triangle.
<p>
"Oh, thank you..." Félix paused. After a moment, his thoughts bubbled up to the surface and right out of his mouth, "Why do you like Eric?"
<p>
"I don't know." Nerina looked at herself in the small mirror attached to the wall by gaffer tape. She bought a small comb. She was also wearing the watch Eric had given her. She brushed the ends of her hair first. She had a serene look on her face when she talked about him.
"He's nice. He taught me a lot of things."
<p>
It was the exact same description of Eric she gave when Félix and her first met.
<p>
"You two are dating, right? Is it an open relationship?" Félix wasn't sure if Nerina even knew what that meant. He continued, "Eric looks at other women."
<p>
Nerina stopped brushing her hair. She looked at her own face and its expression. She quickly looked away and turned to Félix. She could feel her heart rising, its hard beat rhythmically pounding against her chest. "I... I don't know what you mean."
<p>
Félix frowned. This was an awful time to bring it up. Maybe he should have waited, "It's just... Eric has that look in his face when he's looking at the waitresses. Like he's seeing if he wants to date them," though date was probably a bit of a euphemism.
<p>
Nerina combed through her hair in long strokes now. She bit her lip, but her eyes did not become wet. "I give Eric all of myself. He will give me all of himself too. I trust him."
Her words were green and naïve.
<p>
"I am probably mistaken," Félix said after a long pause. He did not believe he was, but at least she heard his opinion. He did not trust Eric, but he trusted Nerina to come to the right conclusion. Whichever it may be.
<p>
After a moment, Félix decided to encourage her rather than worry her. He approached Nerina, waiting for her to turn around before wrapping his arms around her. "Give it your all out there," Félix smiled.
<p>
She snuggled in his cuddle snakes. "Of course. Eric's listening."
<p>
Nerina and Félix appeared on stage together. There was scattered applause when they arrived. The rest of the band came too: drums and bass. Yura went all out and even brought in a trumpeter. They all warmed up together. They practiced a couple of times together, but not as frequently as she practiced with Félix.
<p>
"Hello everyone," her voice sounded a little different on the microphone, but it was high quality, with no screeching or picking up unwanted tones. "I'm Nerina Ondo, and I'll be singing tonight." She introduced the rest of the band members, starting with Félix first. Her eyes rested on Félix the longest, who sat poised, fingers at the keys. She looked out into the audience. She could make out their faces in the ambient lighting. She could see Eric. The booth he picked was just a little left to her. She thought she could make out his expression.
<p>
"We hope you sincerely enjoy, 'But Not For Me'."
<p>
With the trumpet leading the familiar opening, she felt a little more at ease on stage. Félix was as relaxed as ever, playing on the piano. Eric was equally relaxed, smiling at Nerina in his booth. Though his eyes didn't quite remain on her.

<style type="text/css"> p { text-indent: 1cm; } .indent {margin-left:1cm;} </style><p>"Are you sure this uniform doesn't make me look too...old, or something?"
<p>
Bunny had been fretting about the school uniform theme all night. She was 25! She felt weird in a school uniform!
<p>
"You look fine, Bun." Yura replied, not even looking up from her paperwork. This was the third time that night that Bunny went into Yura's office, fretting about her appearance.
<p>
"Maybe I'd feel better if I put a different one on...?" Bunny sighed as she glanced down at the uniform. It was a black uniform with pink plaid--hardly traditional, but certainly cute. Well, she did like the pink...
<p>
"I doubt it." Yura let out a sigh, finally looking up from her paperwork. "You look lovely and perfect and beautiful--so please go back out and do your job."
<p>
"Really~?" Bunny was easily flattered. "Wait, one more thing before I go: I've been thinking of making my boobs bigger. Do you think I should?"
<p>
"Bunny, don't. People are going to notice if you randomly shapeshift your tits bigger one day."
<p>
Bunny pouted. "Fiiiiine..." she whined. Then she perked up as she heard the instrumentals begin to play onstage.
<p>
"Ohhh~ Nerina is performing now!!" Coming around the desk, Bunny grabbed Yura by the arm and pulled her from her chair. "Let's go watch!"
<p>
"Erk--Bunny!" Yura groaned, but allowed herself to be pulled out of the office and away from her paperwork--at least for a short while. Together they walked out as the performance began. Yura was ultimately satisfied that she hired Nerina, as well as the other band members--more music performances potentially meant more customers. A worthy investment.
<p>
Bunny was excited to watch Nerina perform--practically ready to bounce up and down where she stood.
<p>
Both Nerina and Félix had an engaging stage presence. Even on the simplest notes, Félix had a commanding strike against each of his keys. The way he played seemed more like the process of an artist's masterpiece than the background of a single song. They played and sang with all their soul. Nerina's voice lead the melody, but it did not overpower Félix's artful playing.
<div class="indent">I've been a fool to fall, and get this way,

Hi ho alas and oh so lack a day!

Although I can't dismiss,

The mem'ry of his kiss

I guess he's not,

He's not for me.</div>
<p>
Then a certain someone caught her eye, and she became excited for another reason entirely.
<p>
"Ohh one of my fun regulars are here! I'm gonna go chat with him, okay?"
<p>
"I'll be at the bar if you need me, then," Yura replied, waving her off casually before heading over and sitting at one of the stools. She liked to sit at the bar--despite the fact she didn't drink.