Captains Come First

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Bye-Bye, Mein Lieber Herr.
Farewell, mein Lieber Herr.
It was a fine affair, But now it's over.
And though I used to care, I need the open air.
You're better off without me, Mein Herr

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Heather was getting ready for her show. She had arrived at the venue earlier than planned so that she could run through her numbers. She had put on her costume that consisted of black short shorts, a black vest with double sided tape to keep everything in place, stockings attached by garters and black lace up boots. A bowler hat would top it all off. Heather applied her dramatic stage makeup and put on her 20's style black bobbed wig. Her phone started to vibrate. "Spezz" she said picking up the phone smiling as she said his name.

"Hey I know you're performing tonight. I just wanted to call to say good luck." He said to her sounding very sincere.

"Thanks Spezz. That's sweet." Heather said while applying her false eyelashes.

"I also have to ask, have you thought about Christmas?" He asked her. Heather sighed deeply. She had been thinking about it. She was deeply conflicted having no idea what to say.

"It's not that I haven't been thinking of it..." She started thoughts going a mile a minute. "But I mean I have, but...I just...I don't..." She started.

"Jenn left me today" Jason said through her jumbled thoughts. Things going a mile a minute Heather wasn't sure if she had dreamed what he said or it actually happened.

"Oh." Heather said stopping. "I'm...I'm sorry" she said to him.

"She and the kids agreed to spend Christmas here and I'd go home." He said to her.

"Oh." She said pausing. "Yes."

"Yes?" He asked her. She could hear the excitement in his voice.

"Yes" she said with a smile. "I have to go but I'll call after?" She asked.

"I'll be waiting. Bye Angel" he said hanging up. Heather suddenly felt like a traitor. About to put on a show for her boys and she was agreeing to see another player. She was snapped out of her reverie when there was a knock on the door. She was five minutes from going on stage when she opened the door. It was a bouquet of African roses. Sidney had sent them with a card saying good luck. She smiled at the thought. It was so sweet of him. She quickly put them on her dressing room table and headed out to the stage wings to stretch.

After being introduced she launched into her performance of Chicago's All that Jazz and Me and my Baby. Between her high energy dance numbers, she grabbed a stool from offstage to slow things down a bit. The opening strains of Maybe This Time from Cabaret started.

"Maybe this time, I'll be lucky
Maybe this time he'll stay
Maybe this time, for the first time
Love won't hurry away
He will hold me fast I'll be home at last
Not a loser anymore
Like the last time, and the time before
Everybody loves a winner
So nobody loved me
Lady peaceful, Lady happy
That's what I long to be
All the odds are, they're in my favor
Something's bound to begin It's gotta happen, ha ha, happen sometime
Maybe this time I'll win '
Cause everybody, they love a winner
So nobody love me Lady peaceful,
Lady happy That's what I long to be
All the odds are, they're in my favor
Something's bound to begin It's gonna happen, happen sometime
Maybe this time, maybe this time I'll win"

The whole time she was able to feed off of her emotions riding high from what Jason told her. Was this her second chance? Could they finally be happy together? It was like her body was on autopilot for the whole number her thoughts went a mile a minute thinking of how things could be with Jason. She paused for a moment after the song almost forgetting she still had another song. Sidney had told her what happened with James. His insults that were hurled about her. She decided that this would be her 'fuck you' song to him. The song Mein Herr from Cabaret was all about a woman saying good bye and good riddance to a former lover. She looked for James from the stage. She made her way towards him during the song. These specific lyrics were sung to him:

"You have to understand the way I am, Mein Herr.
A tiger is a tiger, not a lamb. Mein Herr.
You'll never turn the vinegar to jam, Mein Herr.
So I do... What I do...
When I'm through... Then I'm through...
And I'm through... Toodle-oo!
Bye-Bye, Mein Lieber Herr.
Farewell, mein Lieber Herr.
It was a fine affair, But now it's over.
And though I used to care, I need the open air.
You're better off without me, Mein Herr."

The look on Candy's face during the song was priceless. Worth it I. Heather's opinion. She could see the surprise and almost shame on James' face. She finished off her performance onstage and James immediately excused himself from Candy's presence to go backstage and find Heather. In her dressing room, Heather was removing her makeup, wig and costume already off. She threw on a silk robe that was her usual attire post performance and went to the closet to find her dress for the evening, a 1920's flapper costume. It was a replica of one that was worn by Catherine Zeta Jones in Chicao go. She opted for a blonde chin length finger wave wig. Just as she was about to leave there was a knock on the door. It was James. She thought of slamming the door in his face. She thought of grabbing him and kissing him. Instead she did something I don't even think he expected. Her right hand came into direct contact with his left cheek in a hard, swift slap.

"Fuck you James." She said to him. She moved back into the dressing room as he pushed his way in.

"So you heard what I said then." He said rubbing. "I deserved that."

"And then some." She said sitting at her makeup table. Before turning to look at him. "Why are you here James?" She asked crossing her arms.

"I wanted to apologize. You didn't deserve what I called you." He said to her moving towards her.

"I guess I was hiding how I felt, trying to convince myself I was fine without you."

"So you played with your Candy instead" Heather chuckled. "She move in with you yet?" Heather asked him condescendingly.

"No, I don't think she will be either." He said to her trying to look her in the eyes. "She's not really happy with me right now."

"Is that right?" Heather asked standing up moving towards him with arms crossed. "What did you do to upset her? Call out my name in bed?" Heather asked jokingly.

"Well actually..." James said looking back at the floor.

"Seriously?" Heather said covering her mouth to stifle a laugh. "Oh James you're in trouble."

"Candy forgave once. It was the other three times that had her wondering." He said covering his face shaking his head.

"Oh James, you're too much." Heather said laughing again. "And she hasn't broken up with you yet?"

"She promised to wait until after Christmas." James said to her. "She's coming home with me for Christmas."

"Oh." Said Heather suddenly remembering where she'd be for Christmas. "So you told your mom finally."

"I told my parents we were taking a break. That we were getting too serious too fast." James said "My brother called me an idiot. I think my mom cried." Heather had a small smile on her face from the thought that somebody actually liked her with their son. That really didn't happen to her. "She told me that she was hoping you'd be coming." James said to her.

"I've made plans thanks." Heather said not wanting to go any further. "Candy's waiting for you." She said nodding towards the closed door. "You should go."

James took two steps to the door then turned around back towards her with a fire in his eyes. He grabbed her by the shoulders slamming her up against the wall. In an instant his lips crashed into hers. His tongue tangled with hers dancing together seductively. She managed to pull away from him breathing heavily. She couldn't say a word

. "By the way." James started towards the door putting a fedora on his head as he went. "Your performance was great tonight, but I liked it better when you used to sing only for me." He said as he turned and walked out.

Notes