PERFORMANCE: PENNY ST CLAIRE (1 of 2)
She’d made it to the finals. Penny was still in complete and utter shock about the entire thing. A year ago, she’d been trapped in her hell of a world, fighting with an underground resistance for the right to even hold a job. Now she stood on a stage in an alien world, dressed in her clothes, wearing her makeup, performing her words to a crowd of people cheering her name.
It was beyond surreal. Penny touched the necklace that hung by the hollow of her throat. Neveah had given it to her as a good luck charm shortly before she’d headed backstage. She took a deep breath, focused on her girlfriend’s warmth and kindness, and felt her nerves begin to settle.
On the stage, a video package boomed to life. It chronicled Penny’s journal from her first audition to tonight. Interview snippets with her friends and family proclaimed how proud of her they all were. The video ended with a giggling Penny jumping out of her chair. “Are you ready for me, Universe?” Before she swooped in close and kissed the camera lense.
The lights went down and Penny slipped out to center stage in the darkness. Her backup dancers did the same, moving into position behind her. The video screen behind them lit up with a gorgeous scenic shot of Galador as Penny and her dancers struck a pose and the music began to play.
“If you want it,” Penny’s sweet voice rang through the auditorium at the same time as the lights came up. She’d been standing with her back to the audience and turned, smiling at them over her shoulder.
“Take it.” She turned around fully to face forward and stood with her hand on her hip.
“I should have said it before. Tried to hide it, fake it. I can't pretend anymore.”
She moved forward in choreographed steps, and the dancers behind her mirrored her in beautiful synchronicity to punctuate her words. As she launched into the next verse, she continued to dance and sing at the same time.
“I only want to die alive. Never by the hands of a broken heart. I don't wanna hear you lie tonight. Now that I've become who I really am.
This is the part when I say I don't want ya. I'm stronger than I've been before. This is the part when I break free. 'Cause I can't resist it no more.”
Synthesized music vibrated the walls of the auditorium and spotlights swirled around the stage, highlighting Penny and the dancers, as they continued to work the stage. Penny’s dark hair swirled and twirled around her as she spun, and her smile practically lit up the entire room. She loved performing any type of music, but it was clear that this was where she had the most fun. Idol had played host to musicians of every genre. Metal, rock, rap, scream, and Penny had held her own against them. But in her heart, she had the best time performing Pop. Her dance moves intensified as she continued to belt out the lyrics.
“This is the part when I say I don't want ya. I'm stronger than I've been before. This is the part when I break free. 'Cause I can't resist it no more.”
She pranced over to stage left, grinning at her fans in the audience. She struck another pose and the spotlights focused on while one of her male dancers pulled some impressive moves. The audience cheered loudly in response.