Drella Next

I looked up at the building. It really had no name. The building was made of dark bricks and was set on a street with buildings either side of it. I saw a doorway that was open so I went over. I walked inside and pushed through another door. I found myself in a long hallway. I followed it around and saw there was only a large room in front of me. There were stages with tables already laid out with chairs. I saw a bar along one of the walls. On the stage were a few women practising.
I walked to the bar and a man watched me. He was standing behind the bar sorting some glasses. "Hey." I smiled.
"Hi." he looked at me strangely. "Would you like a drink?" he offered.
"No thanks. I'm here because I'm looking for someone. She used to work here a while ago." I explained.
"You'll want to talk to Melissa." he said. "One minute, why don't you sit down." he urged.
"Sure." I nodded. I took a seat at one of the tables and watched the girls practice. They looked so flawless.
"Can I help you?" someone asked. I looked up and saw an older woman. I assumed she was Melissa. She had blonde hair that was perfectly curled. There was an air of 50s about her.
"Hi, I'm Drella. I was wondering if you could help me." I said.
"That all depends on what you need." she said. Now she spoke more I could tell she had a Southern twang to her voice.
"I'm looking for someone. She worked here years ago. Her stage name was Cherry, but her actual name was Taylor Foxx." I explained.
"Taylor?" Melissa muttered. "Why do you want to know about her?"
"It's hard to explain." I sighed. "I think that we may have some kind of relation." I said. It may have been a huge understatement, but I didn't want to go into it with a complete stranger.
"Why don't you come to my office and we can chat?" she offered.
"Sure." I agreed. I stood up and Melissa led me along a corridor. We stopped outside a door and she opened it. I followed her inside an office. She gestured for me to take a seat and I did, sitting opposite her. "So, you knew Taylor?" I urged.
"I did." Melissa smiled. "Taylor was my mentor."
"Like here?" I asked and she nodded.
"I started here when I was seventeen. That wasn't allowed. Taylor was the only person who knew my age, she never did tell though. Taylor took me under her wing, if that's the right way to put it." she laughed.
"Do you know what happened to her?" I asked excitedly.
"Sorry." Melissa sighed. "She met someone."
"A guy?" I asked.
"Yes. But not in a romantic sense. He was a customer here. Kind of obsessed with Taylor, not in a healthy way either. He offered her a trip to Paris in France to preform. She took it."
"What happened afterwards?" I asked.
"She went missing. About a year later she came into the club. She did one last performance as Cherry. She told me she'd be changing her name to get away from her family. She was due to travel. She was doing a tour across the world. I don't know where she ended up, only that there was a slight accident."
"What do you mean accident?" I asked.
"One of her routines involved smoke. She used to say it was her take on smoky New York night. It made her feel sexy." Melissa smiled fondly. "There was a weak spot on the stage. Because of the smoke she stepped onto it. She fell right through and broke her leg. After that her career was over. She was left with some sort of limp so couldn't preform."
"Did she give any clue of where she was headed?" I asked desperately.
"She said Florida I think. But I doubt she's there now."
"What makes you say that?"
"Taylor was always moving. She loathed New York. After only a few years here she got a taste for travel. She once told me she could never stay in one place for longer than a year. She had a travel complex." Melissa laughed.
"You have no way of contacting her?"
"Sorry." she sighed. "I don't believe Taylor wanted anyone to contact her. After the accident she suffered a serious knock. She was too ashamed, I think."
"Was she any good?"
"Was she any good?" Melissa laughed. "Taylor was the best of the best. I looked up to her immensely. In this line of work to travel you have to be fantastic, you have to be the best. She was. She's worked with some of the best names. Her performances were artistic, technical, precise. They were so tough. I know a lot of girls couldn't have done them. The skill she had she could have gone to the top dance schools. She could be travelling with the Royal Ballet. But she didn't. She stayed in this line of work - in the sex industry. I've never met anyone who loves burlesque as much as Taylor. She was committed completely." she explained with enthusiasm.
"Has anyone ever tried to redo her routines?" I asked casually.
"No." she laughed. "I don't think anyone has the guts to."
"Did Taylor ever mention her family?"
"A few times. She didn't see them. She couldn't stand her sister."
"Did you know she had a baby?" I asked.
"Yeah." Melissa nodded. "She only ever spoke about her once. We were drunk and going over some floor work. Bouncing ideas off of one another. She just came out with it. Told me all about what happened."
"What did happen?"
"She was young and stupid." Melissa shrugged. "She got with the wrong guy. He left as soon as she found out she was pregnant. She didn't want the baby, she wanted to dance. That's all she needed to do with her life. So she gave the baby up for adoption when she was born. Her sister took her. Her sister said it was a favour, but it wasn't. Her sister was desperate for a baby. Taylor was under a lot of pressure. Her parents wanted her to give the baby up. Once she did she tried working in some clubs in New York. She couldn't face seeing her sister like that so she moved up here. I think that's why she never saw her sister, she couldn't face seeing her baby in the arms of someone else." she said. "I don't know why I'm telling you all this." Melissa laughed.
"Long time coming?" I offered.
"Definitely." she nodded. "What relation are you to Taylor?" Melissa asked.
"I'm her daughter." I said heavily. I saw the shock on Melissa's face. "Can I watch the shows? I'd like to see what happens here."
"Of course." she replied eventually. "Anything you need."

Notes

Hey! Sorry it's been a few days. I don't know, I've been tired? Does that count as an excuse? I wanted to write this earlier but I had an appointment to try and get me some support which took FOREVER. What did you think of this though? Information overload! What do you think about what Drella has discovered? What will she do? I am absolutely obsessed with 50s fashion and makeup and hair and all that pin up stuff. I couldn't resist throwing some of it in there. If any of you are into the vintage stuff and make up and hair then message me or comment first and we can swap tips! Or if you're just interest in it and want to know more or some tips then I might be able to help you too. I pretty handy with stuff like that. Plus I love you hear from you all! :)