Forte of the Opera chapter 67

The talent show was the very night Forte convinced Cherry to give up smoking. She was of course reluctant, she wasn't looking forward to living immortality so she kept smoking to end her life as soon as possible. Forte might've been as dark and tormented as she was, but even he had standards. The talent show was going as Cherry, Forte and Felicity sat together, waiting for Thomas and Alexander to perform. Felicity was at the end of her parents and turned to see all the different varieties of visitors and people.

"Hi!" a voice called to her.

Felicity turned to see the source of the voice. She had the pink skin with long dark blonde hair, ocean blue eyes with big black glasses. On top of her hair was a big red ribbon bow that matched her dress with a white fringe and black shiny buttons. She wore lighter red tights with darker red dress shoes.

"My name's Darla, what's your name?"

"....Felicity..." Felicity replied in a hushed tone.

"My big sister's gonna be on stage!" Darla's eyes lit up. "If she becomes a celebrity, I'll be the little sister of a famous person! Her name's Melody! Why are you here, huh?"

"M-My brother is performing with his friend..." Felicity rubbed her arm vigorously.

"Really? That sounds so cool! Maybe we can hang out sometime?" Darla grinned. "I go to the elementary school!"

"I... I don't go to school..." Felicity avoided eye contact.

"Oh, that's too bad, we should still hang out sometime, Felicity!"

Felicity smirked and turned to Cherry. "Maman? Maman!"

"Felicity," Cherry looked away from Forte and down to her. "Can't you see Maman's talking?"

"Sorry Maman...." Felicity sighed and kicked her legs back and forth in her seat.

"What is it?" Cherry was now paying attention to her and noticed Darla.

"Maman, can Darla come over sometime?"

Cherry looked past Darla and saw her parents.

There was a woman with short curly melon hair, with a gap in her teeth. Her eyes were brown and she wore very formal wear. She had a white pearl necklace, a black dress with a white fur coat and black heeled shoes.

The man had shorter blonde hair with ocean blue eyes. He wore a deep blue suit with a red tie. He had a pipe in his hands and wore black loafer shoes. They both looked like real snobs.

"I don't know, Flick," Cherry replied. "Let me discuss it with your father." Cherry turned to Forte.

"You want her to?" Forte asked.

"No. Do you?"

"Only if you don't," Forte smirked.

"CHARLES!" Cherry hissed.

"Oh come on, let her have a friend, what's the worst that could happen?" Forte shrugged.

"With her bad luck, a new apocalypse." Cherry replied.

"Come on, Cerise..."

"FINE!" Cherry crossed her arms and turned to Felicity. "I'll talk with Darla's parents after the show."

The lights got dim and the talent show began. Several people went before Thomas and Alexander. Alexander came from backstage wearing a golden tail coat with a top hat and sparkling outfit with tap shoes. After a moment of silence, Thomas strolled in on a scooter with a familiar song to Cherry. Thomas wore a torn sleeved black leather jacket with a white messy shirt with red and black stains. He also had on blue jeans, black boots and a helmet with sunglasses. He threw off the helmet and sunglasses as he started to sing.

Thomas: Whatever happened to Saturday night?
When you dressed up sharp and you felt alright
Don't seem the same since cosmic light
Came into my life and thought I was divine

Thomas looked up and down at Alexander coyly which made Cherry's eyes widen.

Thomas: I used to go for a chick and go
And listen to the music on the radio
The saxophone playing at a rock and roll show
You climbed in the backseat

Really had a good time
Hot patootie bless my soul
I really love that rock and roll

Some college students in the audience sung along with Thomas as he danced with Alexander. He was dancing a lot like Meat Loaf did with Little Nell Campbell back in 1975. Cherry grew suspicious once she saw Alexander's outfit and the way her son and his friend were acting with each other. Thomas blared the saxophone and rode around on his scooter like in the movie they all know too well.

Cherry snarled and went backstage with her eyes daggering. After the song finished, Thomas and Alexander were talking backstage.

"I knew Mom would've had a cow if we did I Can Make You a Man with me as Frank and you as Rocky." Thomas laughed. "You think she enjoyed the show?"

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Alexander bit his lip as he pointed behind Thomas' shoulder.

Thomas' eyes widened and he turned to see his mother looking very ticked off with the two of them.

"H-Hey Mom.... Like the show?" Thomas asked with a friendly smile.

"Just who do you think you are, Alexander?" Cherry stormed over to the red-headed boy. "My son is not interested, he's gonna date a girl and not someone like you!"

"Uhhmm... Mom?" Thomas interrupted. "Permission to speak freely?"

"Permission granted." Cherry turned to him as he put Alexander in a headlock.

Thomas looked at her and sighed. "Mom, two things. Are you homophobic in anyway?" Thomas bit his lip.

"No, I just don't want my son being stalked by gay men." Cherry gritted her teeth.

"Mom...." Thomas sighed again. "I'm.... I'm.... I'm..."

"You're gay?" Cherry was touched.

Thomas nodded. "Alexander is my boyfriend... We've been dating since the third day of college."

"Your son is very charming, ma'am." Alexander added.

Cherry let go of Alexander and let him go to Thomas' side. Thomas smiled down at him and wrapped his arm around Alexander. "We're even thinking of getting married..." Thomas smiled sheepishly.

"I see..." Cherry put her hands on her hips.

"I can't believe you didn't realize it after all we've been through together." Thomas chuckled.

"What ever do you mean?"

"I also want to be a drag queen...." Thomas put his hands together and tilted his head. "Ever since you dragged me to a Rocky Horror midnight showing when I was ten, I've wanted to be a sweet transvestite like that delectable Tim Curry fellow."

"He's a dream." Alexander blushed.

"And he's single too." Cherry added with a smirk.

Alexander's eyes widened. "I can't believe it, your mother smiled! We must've messed with a natural order!"

Thomas laughed and looked at his mother. "I thought the signs of my homosexuality were obvious though," Thomas shrugged. "I wanted my room to be colored rainbow, I preferred Barbie's over action figures... I even asked my school board to give me a pink uniform. I once told you I didn't like girls and I liked dressing up like a princess."

"I'm sorry Thomas, I thought that was just a phase." Cherry replied. "A lot of people did question you and I felt like they were insulting our family."

"So, you're not mad?" Thomas smiled.

"Nope," Cherry smirked and looked at Alexander deathly. "Hey, you had better take good care of my boy if you two get married."

"Yes ma'am." Alexander replied shakily.

"Tomorrow's a break." Thomas looked at his mother with a smile. "Is it okay if I come visit you, Dad and Flick?"

"Sure, even Peach's family will be coming." Cherry ruffled up his hair. "Come see them." Cherry walked away as Thomas and Alexander followed.

"Isn't Flick that ant from A Bug's Life?" Alexander asked.

"Flick is Felicity's nickname," Thomas clarified. "My friend RJ came up with it and I liked it. Sometimes we call her Fliss. But don't call her Felicia."

"People ever call her that?"

"Yeah, a lot of people get her name wrong since she doesn't enunciate it properly. She's a lot like my mother when she was younger."

"How do you know that?"

Thomas laughed. "My father told me. He always tells me crazy stories about when my mother was a kid."

"Heh, your dad's strange enough already, but I like him."

"Yeah...."

Thomas and Alexander caught up with everyone and were holding hands from behind.