Can't Be Late For the Practice Run

We both got into the elevator in complete silence, getting out as it reached the main floor and marching almost robotically towards the dressing rooms backstage. I expected us to stop once we got there, but we kept going straight out onto the stage, curtains still drawn closed and all the other girls already lined up, alternating between magician costumes like mine and sequined leotards like Rubys.

''Girls! You're late! But at least you're already in costume. Get ready, we're on soon'' Annabelle, our show manager, strutted across the stage, right up to where we were standing.

''Sorry, won't happen again'' I said, in perfect unison with Ruby.

From the expression on Annabelles face, we clearly caught her off guard with that, but any surprise was quickly brushed aside as she strutted off to the side of the stage. ''All right, Ruby, Lola, You missed our little briefing on the new routine, so just follow along with the other girls and make sure you do exactly as they do. We need this to be ready in four hours. Now let's go!''

The girls all took up their positions and we followed along with them. My body was still moving of it's own accord, and I had to assume Ruby was in the same predicament.

It was my turn to move before Ruby, all the girls in magicians outfits strutting down the stairs from the back of the stage to the front, doing a few basic moves and then lining up to either side of the stairs, making way for the girls in leotards who slowly danced their way down the stairs after us, before each pairing off with a girl in a magicians outfit.

Ruby had paired up with me and we began to do a routine with each other that had clearly taken some influences from oriental bellydancing, without sacrificing some of the more demure aspects typical of one of our shows. At the end of the routine, I tapped Ruby on the head with my wand and she pretended to faint back against me, before bouncing forwards and strutting off stage. I took a bow to the imaginary audience and followed suit, walking off the stage and into the dressing rooms