YAY NEW SEASON = NEW STORIES
Author: Chhhachie
Title: Of Nerves and Eyeliner
Pairing: Mark/Sabrina
Rating: PG
Summary: Second week of competition for Mark and Kristi means nerves for everyone...Sabrina included.
Comments: After reading all the message boards and everything, I was struck with inspiration. I hope I didn't go overboard with the silliness...I tried to incorporate some serious feelings as well. Overall, it's a light and fluffy story...my favorite kind :)
Disclaimer: hahaaaa i wish i owned something in this story.
There was something different in the air this time around. The ballroom looked the same...the judges were the same...even the band was the same. Yet, she felt different. She knew she shouldn’t be surprised, considering it had been awhile since she had been on the show...who could blame her for feeling a little bit of bitterness towards this sound stage on this lot in LA?
The time was going too slowly. The people were filling the seats much too loudly.
It was then she realized she was unfamiliar with these sounds because she had spent all of her time backstage. Not in front of it. It made her shiver to imagine him standing back there, standing around all of their friends...without her.
She felt a nudge on her shoulder and she blinked. “Sorry. This is just weird.”
“I know. But Mark’s gonna do great!” Adrienne replied, her ever present gaiety shining through. Sabrina shot a quick smile towards her friend, but quickly turned back to studying the crowd. She jumped when she felt a hand on her back, and she gasped as she whirled around and saw it was her mom who had scared her.
She pressed her lips into a tight line when she saw her mom’s expression. “I’m fine Mom.”
“Are you sure you aren’t too tired...you girls did just come home...I think maybe this is all just a little much right now...”
Sabrina exhaled slowly. “I’m not tired at all.”
Her mom shot her a skeptical look and she rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine, I’m really tired. But I’m not going to miss this.”
Her mom studied her determined face for a few seconds before taking her hand off her back and leaning back in her chair. With a slight nod, she let Sabrina turn back around. Just as she faced the looming ballroom, the lights dimmed and she saw Tom and Samantha step in front of the camera. With a shaky breath, she gripped the sides of her chair and tried to focus on the show.
She wasn’t sure what she was going to feel when she saw him step out there.
~ ~ ~ ~
His leg wouldn’t stop moving. He knew he was freaking Kristi out, but he couldn’t seem to stop. Finally, she just shot him an exasperated look before standing up and leaving the room. He knew she needed her space to focus before going on stage. Last week it had worried him...this week it made sense. He was going to let her do whatever she needed to do as long as they kept getting those scores.
He pressed his palms into his thigh to force his leg to stop bouncing. He felt a pat on the shoulder and he answered, “Sorry. This is just weird.”
“I know. But she’s going to love you guys!” Derek responded cheerily. Mark nodded briefly at him, before focusing back on the carpet. He jumped when he felt a strong hand grip his other shoulder and he let out the breath he was holding when he realized it was his dad.
He shot him a look. “What are you doing here Dad?”
His dad gave him his winsome smile before answering, “I can’t come to talk to my son before he performs?”
Mark rolled his eyes. “I can’t believe you’re backstage right now...”
“Now listen son...” Corky started sternly, “Don’t let your nerves affect you out there.”
“I’m not- “
”Don’t you tell me you aren’t nervous. I saw you peek out into the audience. You know she’s here.”
“I already knew she was going to be here.”
His dad shook his head. “Whatever. I know you’re nervous. You scared away your partner...which might I add...is your PARTNER...your partner is not Sabrina anymore. And Sabrina understands that. And she will understand this dance.”
Mark took a deep breath before opening his vest and flashing the inside fabric at his father. His dad let out a hearty laugh.
“And she will definitely understand THAT.”
Mark nodded as he pushed his dad towards the door. “Thanks for the pep talk Cork.”
“Hey, it’s Dad to you.” Corky pointed sternly, before muttering as he walked out the door, “Pink cheetah print...what is this world coming to?”
With a deep breath, Mark stood up and set off to find his partner.
~ ~ ~ ~
The lights dimmed, then shone.
There he was.
She didn’t know what had made her gasp. She knew it was his turn. She knew he was going to dance. It wasn’t like she had just talked to him earlier in the day.
Still...the gasp had been there. And she was still holding her breath as the lights turned red and the music started. The dance began, and she felt like she was flying. They looked so...good! And she was happy about it...she was genuinely happy. Which kind of surprised her when she thought about it.
Was he wearing eyeliner?!
He was wearing a vest...no shirt...oh that stomach...
WAS HE REALLY WEARING EYELINER?
And oh, was that cheetah print on the inside of his vest?
He was really wearing eyeliner.
Was that look pointed towards her? She hoped she wasn’t imagining things.
Did she really find that eyeliner to be...sexy?!
All too soon it was over and she was on her feet clapping and screaming with all her might. She could barely hear Adrienne, her mom, and even Adrienne’s boyfriend...but for some reason the rest of the crowd was silent. All she could hear was herself. And all she could do was watch him...bouncing his leg like a little kid. She hid a smile behind her hand when she realized he was nervous. She would definitely be making fun of him for that later.
~ ~ ~ ~
The lights dimmed.
She was wearing a pink dress. Oh that pink dress...
The dance started.
And then he forgot she was there. He forgot until that last pose, and until he heard that banshee-like shriek coming from where he knew she was seated. Then his damn leg started moving again. And it wouldn’t stop, even through their scores, which were magnificent once again. He could only hope that this way of letting go of stress was unseen by the audience. He could just imagine the message boards...
~ ~ ~ ~
All she could do was reach up and touch the corner of his eyes as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’re wearing eyeliner.”
She heard Kristi giggle from behind her and then start a conversation with her mother. Sabrina was really too shocked to even add anything to the statement.
He grinned that shy grin of his. “Unfortunately.”
“You’re wearing eyeliner...” she repeated herself.
Back was old obnoxiously adorable Mark as he shot her a look and grumbled, “It’s not THAT bad...”
She giggled and kissed him on the cheek, lingering a little longer than she had to, wanting to make the most of having him right there with her. “I never said it was a bad thing...” she whispered coyly into his ear.
He raised that quirky eyebrow of his and pulled her closer. “Oh really...maybe I’ll keep it on tonight then...”
She let out a loud laugh and backed away from him as she saw Kristi in the corner of her eye. It was time for press. She winked saucily at him before turning to walk away and wait for him to be done. “I never said it was that good of a thing either.”
As he stuck his tongue out at her, and linked arms with Kristi, she surprised herself with the feeling of happiness that exploded inside of her.
He deserved nothing less than a great partner this season...and he had found that with Kristi. She was excited about the prospect of him winning this season...eyeliner and all.
Title: Of Nerves and Eyeliner
Pairing: Mark/Sabrina
Rating: PG
Summary: Second week of competition for Mark and Kristi means nerves for everyone...Sabrina included.
Comments: After reading all the message boards and everything, I was struck with inspiration. I hope I didn't go overboard with the silliness...I tried to incorporate some serious feelings as well. Overall, it's a light and fluffy story...my favorite kind :)
Disclaimer: hahaaaa i wish i owned something in this story.
There was something different in the air this time around. The ballroom looked the same...the judges were the same...even the band was the same. Yet, she felt different. She knew she shouldn’t be surprised, considering it had been awhile since she had been on the show...who could blame her for feeling a little bit of bitterness towards this sound stage on this lot in LA?
The time was going too slowly. The people were filling the seats much too loudly.
It was then she realized she was unfamiliar with these sounds because she had spent all of her time backstage. Not in front of it. It made her shiver to imagine him standing back there, standing around all of their friends...without her.
She felt a nudge on her shoulder and she blinked. “Sorry. This is just weird.”
“I know. But Mark’s gonna do great!” Adrienne replied, her ever present gaiety shining through. Sabrina shot a quick smile towards her friend, but quickly turned back to studying the crowd. She jumped when she felt a hand on her back, and she gasped as she whirled around and saw it was her mom who had scared her.
She pressed her lips into a tight line when she saw her mom’s expression. “I’m fine Mom.”
“Are you sure you aren’t too tired...you girls did just come home...I think maybe this is all just a little much right now...”
Sabrina exhaled slowly. “I’m not tired at all.”
Her mom shot her a skeptical look and she rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine, I’m really tired. But I’m not going to miss this.”
Her mom studied her determined face for a few seconds before taking her hand off her back and leaning back in her chair. With a slight nod, she let Sabrina turn back around. Just as she faced the looming ballroom, the lights dimmed and she saw Tom and Samantha step in front of the camera. With a shaky breath, she gripped the sides of her chair and tried to focus on the show.
She wasn’t sure what she was going to feel when she saw him step out there.
~ ~ ~ ~
His leg wouldn’t stop moving. He knew he was freaking Kristi out, but he couldn’t seem to stop. Finally, she just shot him an exasperated look before standing up and leaving the room. He knew she needed her space to focus before going on stage. Last week it had worried him...this week it made sense. He was going to let her do whatever she needed to do as long as they kept getting those scores.
He pressed his palms into his thigh to force his leg to stop bouncing. He felt a pat on the shoulder and he answered, “Sorry. This is just weird.”
“I know. But she’s going to love you guys!” Derek responded cheerily. Mark nodded briefly at him, before focusing back on the carpet. He jumped when he felt a strong hand grip his other shoulder and he let out the breath he was holding when he realized it was his dad.
He shot him a look. “What are you doing here Dad?”
His dad gave him his winsome smile before answering, “I can’t come to talk to my son before he performs?”
Mark rolled his eyes. “I can’t believe you’re backstage right now...”
“Now listen son...” Corky started sternly, “Don’t let your nerves affect you out there.”
“I’m not- “
”Don’t you tell me you aren’t nervous. I saw you peek out into the audience. You know she’s here.”
“I already knew she was going to be here.”
His dad shook his head. “Whatever. I know you’re nervous. You scared away your partner...which might I add...is your PARTNER...your partner is not Sabrina anymore. And Sabrina understands that. And she will understand this dance.”
Mark took a deep breath before opening his vest and flashing the inside fabric at his father. His dad let out a hearty laugh.
“And she will definitely understand THAT.”
Mark nodded as he pushed his dad towards the door. “Thanks for the pep talk Cork.”
“Hey, it’s Dad to you.” Corky pointed sternly, before muttering as he walked out the door, “Pink cheetah print...what is this world coming to?”
With a deep breath, Mark stood up and set off to find his partner.
~ ~ ~ ~
The lights dimmed, then shone.
There he was.
She didn’t know what had made her gasp. She knew it was his turn. She knew he was going to dance. It wasn’t like she had just talked to him earlier in the day.
Still...the gasp had been there. And she was still holding her breath as the lights turned red and the music started. The dance began, and she felt like she was flying. They looked so...good! And she was happy about it...she was genuinely happy. Which kind of surprised her when she thought about it.
Was he wearing eyeliner?!
He was wearing a vest...no shirt...oh that stomach...
WAS HE REALLY WEARING EYELINER?
And oh, was that cheetah print on the inside of his vest?
He was really wearing eyeliner.
Was that look pointed towards her? She hoped she wasn’t imagining things.
Did she really find that eyeliner to be...sexy?!
All too soon it was over and she was on her feet clapping and screaming with all her might. She could barely hear Adrienne, her mom, and even Adrienne’s boyfriend...but for some reason the rest of the crowd was silent. All she could hear was herself. And all she could do was watch him...bouncing his leg like a little kid. She hid a smile behind her hand when she realized he was nervous. She would definitely be making fun of him for that later.
~ ~ ~ ~
The lights dimmed.
She was wearing a pink dress. Oh that pink dress...
The dance started.
And then he forgot she was there. He forgot until that last pose, and until he heard that banshee-like shriek coming from where he knew she was seated. Then his damn leg started moving again. And it wouldn’t stop, even through their scores, which were magnificent once again. He could only hope that this way of letting go of stress was unseen by the audience. He could just imagine the message boards...
~ ~ ~ ~
All she could do was reach up and touch the corner of his eyes as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’re wearing eyeliner.”
She heard Kristi giggle from behind her and then start a conversation with her mother. Sabrina was really too shocked to even add anything to the statement.
He grinned that shy grin of his. “Unfortunately.”
“You’re wearing eyeliner...” she repeated herself.
Back was old obnoxiously adorable Mark as he shot her a look and grumbled, “It’s not THAT bad...”
She giggled and kissed him on the cheek, lingering a little longer than she had to, wanting to make the most of having him right there with her. “I never said it was a bad thing...” she whispered coyly into his ear.
He raised that quirky eyebrow of his and pulled her closer. “Oh really...maybe I’ll keep it on tonight then...”
She let out a loud laugh and backed away from him as she saw Kristi in the corner of her eye. It was time for press. She winked saucily at him before turning to walk away and wait for him to be done. “I never said it was that good of a thing either.”
As he stuck his tongue out at her, and linked arms with Kristi, she surprised herself with the feeling of happiness that exploded inside of her.
He deserved nothing less than a great partner this season...and he had found that with Kristi. She was excited about the prospect of him winning this season...eyeliner and all.