Just Friends

Angie stood from the side of the stage watching Rachel finish up 10 minutes of standup to a rather raucous crowd. It was the end of the school year and it was tradition for everyone to attend the last variety show that the theater department puts on. Angie was wearing her standard garb of a black University hoodie with black pants and a black hat.

Angie felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to see Kris. Kris was Rachel's partner both in performance and in life. They had been dating for only a year at that point but had been performing together since freshmen year. They were sort of the perfect odd couple comedy duo. Kris was a curvy and buxom woman with curly red hair and piercing green eyes. Rachel had somewhat of a punk aesthetic with an athletic frame and both arms covered in tattoos. Her hair seemed to change on a weekly basis but right now it was a dark hipster mullet with blonde highlights.

"Wow she's killing it up there." Kris whispered to Angie.

Angie nodded in agreement. She had always really admired Rachel, and Kris for that matter. Angie initially started as an actor in the theater department but found herself drawn to lighting and set work. It didn't help that she didn't have the best confidence in auditions either but she found herself really enjoying being behind the scenes.

"Alright babe they're all warmed up for you." Rachel gave Kris a peck on the cheek as she rushed backstage. "I'll get the makeup table ready for you."

"You are so lucky that I love you enough to do this goofy skit." Kris replied rolling her eyes at Rachel.

"What are you doing next? On the lineup it just says 'K&R's Makeup Tutorial'?" Angie asked both of them.

"Oh you'll see. It's gonna be right after Kris's burlesque set so can you help me bring the table on? Which by the way why are you not on stage yet?" Rachel gave Kris a light push and Kris entered to her music.

"How this girl pulls of a burlesque routine to Taylor Swift I'll never know..." Rachel muttered to herself as she began laying out various skin care and hair care products and utensils on a small table.

Kris was equal parts arousing and hilarious as she performed. Both Rachel and Angie watched in awe from the sidelines.

"She is just the most incredible woman I've ever met." Rachel said and Angie nodded in agreement. "Uh excuse me? That's my girl." Rachel gave Angie a poke in the ribs. Angie blushed realizing she had done it unconsciously. It was true though that she thought both Kris and Rachel were incredible women. Angie was gay too, but she hadn't come out publicly like they both had.

Kris took her bow and headed to the back but with a slight limp. When she got all the way behind the curtain she immediately grabbed hold of a chair and stretched her leg out in front of her and began to remove her dance shoe.

"Oh no Kris what happened?" Rachel leaped to Kris's side to survey the damage. Another stagehand named Carlos grabbed a small stool to prop Kris's leg up as Angie supplied her with an icepack.

"I totally think I twisted my ankle on a move early in the dance, but I dunno I guess adrenaline got the best of me and I managed to get through the entire routine." Kris said in defeat. "I don't think I can go on for the skit Rachel"

"Oh Kris it's alright we don't have to do that we can just let the audience know. We'll do our final bows and we'll send everyone home." Rachel began to walk to the stage but Kris grabbed hold of her arm.

"No no. The show must go on. Angie you were a pretty good actor from what I remember."

Everyone's attention turned to Angie as she felt her heart begin to pound faster and faster. "Oh uh... uh... I guess I could. But I don't even know my lines I mean..."

"No need for that. I'll be leading the skit so just listen to the prerecorded narration in the beginning and follow my lead ok!" Rachel grabbed Angie by both of her arms and looked right into her eyes. "You got this. I know you do. When we get out there stand behind the table and look dejected."

They both grabbed the table and brought it onstage. "Look dejected?" Angie thought. "Well that's easy enough."

The crowd applauded for their entrance and to Angie's surprise a few of her friends in the audience called out her name. Angie stepped behind the table like Rachel told her and Rachel made her way behind Angie. From the sound system pumped a goofy commercial jingle for something called "Helpful Hands"

"We know you've been here before. Waking up tired with no motivation to get ready let alone put on your makeup. That's why here at IMPROV industries we've created an invention to get you through the hard part of your day. They're called "Helpful Hands!"

Rachel pressed herself up against Angie and Angie felt Rachel grab her arms and wrap them all the way behind Rachel's back. Rachel's arms shot out from Angie's "armholes" and began to flex. A wave of laughter came over the crowd as Angie's "helpful hands" gave a big thumbs up. Rachel was lankier than Angie but her arms seemed to look almost real on Angie's body.