A Singer & A Fan - audrey_xo_

Genres: Yuri, Romance, Drama, Historical

Chapter 3

"How...how do you know?" I asked as I wasn't smart enough to come up with a lie.

Plus, a part of me doesn't want to lie to her about this.

Annie pointed a finger gun at me and said. "To your average Hampsur woman the outfit you always wear to Nori's just looks eccentric but I know that that style of military jacket is popular in District 2."

I used to think her finger guns were cute but now I wasn't sure if there was a hidden meaning to it.

"Ok, so you know I'm from Fuli. Gonna rat me out and get me deported with that knowledge?" I asked, trying to keep the fear from my voice.

Deportation was the least of my worries as anyone looking to smuggle themselves into Klassikam has heard the horror stories. The stories of Fulians being tortured till they can't speak or can't see or worse till they stop breathing entirely to get access to knowledge that they usually don't even have.

I don't know anything when it comes to the Fulian government or their technology so I also wouldn't be able to say anything to save myself...

I glanced at the pretty singer in the passenger seat as she gasped. "I would never. After all, I'm a Fulian too!"

"Mm...That's not surprising since with different outfits Jubilee Raiments look like they'd fit right into District 3." I remarked as I turned into the lane to our left to go around a slow green car.

She exclaimed. "I know! I was surprised when I got here to see people who looked similar to friends back in District 3."

Maybe if I ask enough questions I could make her slip up and see if she's truly a spy.

I nodded as the radio host started talking about drama between popular jazz singers. "So, you're from District 3 then?"

"Yep! It's where I was born and where I spent most of my years. Once I turned 18 though I was touring around Districts 1 to 4 and wasn't home often."

I tried to sound like I didn't know that already. "I-I see...Touring must mean you were a popular singer back in Fuli. Why would you want to leave that?"

"It's simple, when it came to singing I desired something special. Something that was all me, not an agency's portrayal of me." Annie explained as she looked to the sea on our right.

"Creative freedom. That makes sense."

The idol nodded and there was a brief silence until she asked me something similar. "Why did you leave?"

Do I say? I mean the truth isn't incriminating or anything.

"Uh, I was very bored in Fuli. I didn't really get along with anyone in my district."

Not even my mothers...

Annie nodded at me to go on so I did in a murmur. "I was seen as weird there which after a while made me think everyone wouldn't mind if I left so I did."

She looked at me and put her hand on her chin in a quizzical pose. "That's strange that you were not welcome in your district since you seem like you'd fit right into 2."

"Actually I'm no-"

The pretty singer interrupted me as she seemed to realize something before she heard me. "Oh my stars! Do you know Sakura Leta? She's an actress from District 2 and you two are so similar to each other!" She said speedily.

Annie continued on with stars in her eyes while lightly blushing. "Women from District 2 are so cool and brooding. I regret not exploring when we toured there."

If she likes them...

I laughed awkwardly and lied. "Yeah, you missed so much...So many sights to see and so many other cool District 2 celebrities."

She leaned back and sighed as traffic caused us to stop. "At this point I suppose I can only live vicariously through Mietta's romance novels that they sometimes smuggle to the Hampsur bookshop."

If I was smoother and more confident I would say something like "No need! I'm right here." but that isn't me. I also didn't know that much about District 2 if she asked me any more questions.

I sighed while my idol took her silver cigarette holder out of its case and put a cigarette from her purse in it. I slowly drove forward in traffic as she inhaled through it, moved it away from her lips, and exhaled the smoke out. The radio host introduced Rina Emerson's Street of Dreams and played the song.

Annie doesn't seem like a spy. Maybe it's just blissful ignorance but I like to think she's just a Fulian woman chasing after a dream that once grasped, dissipates and becomes another. I'd love to be a part of that endless chase and support her even if it is just wishful thinking...

"Why do you think the Fulians in your district saw you as strange?" The idol asked, her tone now cautious rather than excited.

Going further with my lie I said. "Maybe they were just jealous of how cool I was...I was a lot cooler back then."

Geez, have confidence for at least a second.

"You are still quite cool."

"T-thanks."

She took her case and put her cigarette holder away.

"I'm just now realizing we are quite similar when it comes to our time spent in Fuli." Annie murmured while gripping her leopard case with both hands.

"What do you mean?" I asked as I glanced at her.

She looked my way as she said. "We both didn't fit into our districts."

"How did you not fit in?"

I would think an idol would be beloved in her hometown, especially an idol as benevolent and beautiful as Annie.

My idol frowned. "I wanted to be a singer while my whole neighborhood and almost all of the district was convinced they had to be mechanics or construction workers."

"The districts are pretty prickly about jobs." I remarked as the traffic slowly started to let up.

She exclaimed while pointing at me. "That's true! Even the member's in my group looked down on me since I was from District 3."

"That had to be hard. I'm sorry you had to go through that." I said, trying to add warmth to my usual middling, flat tone.

It seemed to work since a small smile appeared on Annie's face. "It's ok. They're events of the past now."

"That's a good mindset to have and you know if we didn't go through things in Fuli we would've never met here." I blurted, not intending to say the last bit.

Annie's small smile turned into a big one. "I see someone's confident."

I didn't get a chance to respond since Annie soon leaned over the armrest and kissed me on the cheek.

I was trying to comprehend what just happened as she sat back down and winked at me. "I happen to quite like confident woman~"

*

I thought I saw a familiar silhouette in the crowd of women standing in the swanky, dimly lit Jubilee apartment's entrance but was quickly distracted by the pretty singer leading me along.

"She definitely would've spit on the ground in front of me if this were Hampsur." Annie whispered as we slowly and gracefully entered the apartment with black and gold wallpaper and ritzy decor that matched.

"I think even Blazer's up here don't take too kindly to getting their drink spilled on them." I asserted quietly as the party band started playing a snappy jazz track drowning out the conversations that started as they tuned their instruments.

"Well...It wasn't all my fault. That Raiment's loud laugh took me by surprise. Ladies up here never laugh like that!"

I scolded her as we entered the crowded living room and stood by a pretty, gold sculpture to the right of the entrance. "I know it's not all your fault but you have to be more careful. What if--What if it was one of those bosses from Judith?"

Almost said Boucher there.

My idol looked down at my flats for a moment and murmured. "True..."

She looked up at me, her face in a half-pout and admitted. "I should've been more cautious."

I sighed. "We're lucky it was a nice Blazer."

Annie nodded and quietly turned towards the partygoers in the middle of the room.

Normally, I would never scold the woman I love but I had to help her stay safe. Here she doesn't stand out as much since Jubilee Raiments have brighter hair and wear colorful contacts but if she ran into a Boucher and she looked at Annie's face up close I'm sure we would be dead in an alley by tomorrow.

I still don't like doing this though.

I cleared my throat as the jazz band played a slower, more melancholic song accompanied by a singer. "So...you read Judith too?" I asked.

Urgh, I'm trying to cut through the awkward air, not add to it.

The pretty singer answered. "Yes...I actually quite liked it. I normally only enjoy stories that focus on a Raiment pairing but I was fond of this pairing."

"Good minds think alike. There's something romantic about the women sharing the only suit they own." I mused.

"Yeah..." She murmured as she stared wistfully at the crowd.

Even romance between Blazers is enough to make the lonely jealous.

Annie's expression changed as she raised her eyebrows. "Wait, I'm surprised you read Judith since you seem to despise Hampsur Blazers more than me."

I smirked. "I read it before I actually met one. Shoot, if Beau actually met the type of women she wrote about and based the book off that I would've dropped it faster than a Raima runs during a flash sale."

Annie laughed at my hyperbole while her hand hovered over her mouth in an elegant way.

She lowered her hand as I noticed the familiar silhouette from earlier slink into the kitchen alone.

...It can't be.

"Do you want to get a drink, Noble..." My idol was starting to ask.

I looked her way as she frowned while tilting her head slightly to the left. She pointed at me and said "I just realized I don't know your name."

That's right! She started calling me 'Noble One' after I opened the door for her when we got into my car earlier and I guess that made me forget the fact she didn't know my name.

"It's ok. I should've properly introduced myself when we first talked to each other." I apologized as Annie tilted her head so it was straight up again, put her arm down, and let her usual smile return to her face.

"My name's Seiko. I'm a tourism journalist." I said while going for an approachable smile.

I hope it looks good. I haven't had to apply for a job in months.

"Seiko! That's a pretty name and...fitting for your personality."

"Thanks."

I continued on as the jazz band switched back to another snappy track. "But, I would love for you to keep calling me Noble One. It's a cute nickname."

The pretty singer smiled at me. "Will do!"

I was curious where the band was in the living room and looked around for a moment only to notice a familiar pair of brown eyes staring daggers at me.

Shit...What is that Blazer doing in the Jubilee all dolled up in a Raiment's attire? Staring at me no less. Does she know I'm with Annie? She has too. We're pretty close right now and she was the silhouette I saw in the entrance who I assume saw us too.

I grinded my teeth and wanted to curse out loud but held myself back.

The Azzura's are everything to her. There's only one thing she can be here for and I need to prevent her from getting Annie involved in anything related to that family.

The familiar woman broke eye contact and walked into the part of the penthouse that was dark and empty. I turned my head to look at Annie with an unintentional quickness that made Annie's eyes go wide.

I apologized. "Sorry. I just...need to use the bathroom."

"That's ok. I'll be in the lounge area when you get back."

She pointed towards the kitchen. "It's just past the kitchen. You can't miss it."

"That's keen. I'll be quick." I said as I started walking further down the wall to go around the crowd.

"I'll be waiting!" My idol exclaimed from behind me.

As I walked into the darkness of the room opposite of the kitchen I couldn't help but think that this would be the last time I would see Annie.

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