The performance continued as expected, with a change of outfits and some conversation with the audience, who applauded and enthusiastically participated, demonstrating their appreciation for the new sound.
With the final song, the atmosphere changed. As the notes of "Heartbreaker" rose from Tom's guitar, the lights took on a golden hue, creating the illusion of being catapulted into a distant future. Flashes of red and black flashed across the giant screen, which revealed the image of a futuristic, chaotic, and hyper-technological city, ruled by machines and robots. It was a distant, cold landscape, where there was no longer any trace of human beings.
Bill's voice rose slowly into the air, and after a few moments, to everyone's amazement, a small silver automaton appeared on stage, approaching the center of the stage with a stiff step.
The boy noticed the unscheduled incident, but continued singing without being distracted, following the intruder's movements with his eyes.
From backstage, André gave him a reassuring thumbs-up, implying it was his idea.
The singer adapted to the situation and continued his vocal evolutions, while the strange figure approached him and stopped abruptly.
The audience held their breath as the control room flashed the image to the giant screens.
He resembled a character from a science fiction comic book, a kind of android with high metal boots, a stiff, circular skirt, a corset, and several metal parts covering his entire body. On his head, he wore a silver helmet, almost full-face, with space open only for his deep-set, heavily made-up eyes, part of his nose, and his mouth, painted a fiery red, drawn into a thin line.
Bill circled around her, singing the lyrics of the song, in which he accused her of having no heart, of being just an automaton, of having no feelings and of rejecting his deep love. The little robot didn't make a single movement, it remained in place, motionless and inflexible.
While singing the chorus, Bill, feigning desperation, placed a hand on her shoulder. With a sudden jerk, the robot raised its head in his direction and remained staring at him for a long time.
Bill gave a surprised smile and lowered his head to look closely into those eyes, which were not entirely unfamiliar to him.
Belinda, who was playing the robot, held her breath and remained mesmerized, her gaze lost in the boy's.
The singer's face was getting closer and closer, and she began to panic.
Not like this! Not like this! she gasped silently, trying to remember what she was supposed to do.
The closeness of his lips and Bill's scent stunned her, and, without meaning to, she felt her head tilt to the side. She realized with shock that he was about to kiss her in front of everyone; this was certainly not what André had told her.
Blushing under her bob, she suddenly lowered her head, took a step back, turned, and walked away, with a mechanical gait, toward the point where she had entered.
Bill shook himself after a few seconds and, with a melodramatic expression, acknowledged the rejection and fell to his knees for a few moments, before getting up again, singing the last few verses, amid the applause and cheers of the audience.
The fans' clapping and cheering continued for several minutes, a sign that they loved the performance. The big screen continued to show the image of the little robot with its face tilted, and the audience clamored for an encore. Happy, excited, and satisfied, Bill thanked them and gave them a preview of a song.
Naomi and Annalisa applauded enthusiastically until, chatting among themselves about the performance, they noticed Belinda's absence. They walked away down the corridor to see where she had gone and saw the shiny robot coming toward them.
Naomi looked at it enthusiastically, approached to compliment her, but stopped suddenly and looked at her carefully.
That way of walking, almost as if trying to hide, despite being so conspicuous, amazed her, then in a flash she realized: "I can't believe it! Linda, is that really you?"
Her red lips curled into a smile, and alien eyes darted from the slit in her helmet.
Naomi threw herself at her to hug her.
She was surprised as she stepped back to look at her sister.
"Star Wars!" she exclaimed excitedly, clapping her hands. "But... how did you even think of something like that?"
Before her sister could respond, André intervened, proud of his success.
"It was my idea. The dancer who was supposed to perform had a minor accident and didn't show up. They told me shortly after you arrived. I had resigned myself to having to postpone, but remembering Belinda's performance last night, when I saw her, I immediately knew she could replace her."
"But why didn't you tell us?" Annalisa scolded her.
"There wasn't time!" she replied, embarrassed.
"What happened on stage? Why didn't you perform the scheduled dance move?" asked André.
"When the time came, Bill put his hand on my shoulder, and I didn't know how to get away without ruining everything. Maybe if you'd let him know I was coming…" she suggested.
"You mean he didn't know anything?" Naomi and Annalisa asked in unison, their jaws dropping in surprise.
"No," laughed André. "But I had no doubt he'd adapt to the new situation right away. He's a chameleon, that guy!"
Belinda felt uncomfortable under the gaze of everyone present and began to fear they'd also ask her about that embarrassing moment when it seemed like…
She heard the band's footsteps coming down the stairs, so, not wanting to face another awkward moment, she muttered,
"I'm going to take off my costume; my skirt is biting my back."
She put a hand on the handle of the dressing room they'd lent her, but before she could close the door behind her, a voice stopped her.
"Wait a minute!"
Bill arrived breathless, his teammates hot on his heels. He held the door with one hand, studying it intently.
Resigned, Belinda stepped back, clearing the doorway for them to enter. After a few moments, curious eyes settled on her, studying her costume and its many details, all the way up to her face. Her lips, pressed into a thin line like during the performance, perplexed the newcomers.
Tom, curious and surprised, approached her and looked more closely at her eyes. She was lucky because, with those high-heeled boots, she could look at him without having to raise her head.
Seeing him still perplexed, she burst out laughing.
"It's me, Tom!" she exclaimed, taking his hand, which was encased in a metal glove.
"Wow, that's impressive!" he burst out laughing. "I thought Bill's attitude was strange when you showed up, especially since we knew nothing about it, but I couldn't figure out who the hell you were. Damn, Bel, you're a knockout!"
He stepped back to get a better look, making her do a slight pirouette.
Bill left his position, approached, pushing his brother aside, and forced her to look at him.
Slowly, Belinda's smile faded, and her breathing caught for a moment.
She tried to hide her embarrassment, taking a step back and, holding the hem of her skirt with her hands, she gave a small bow.
"You didn't tell me if you liked the surprise." André's voice behind them made them reluctantly turn around.
"Your idea?" Bill asked laconically.
"Yes!" the manager gloated. "Although there was supposed to be a dancer for the performance. Unfortunately, an accident forced her to cancel, and if Bel hadn't been there, I don't know what I would have done."
"Why do you call me Bel?" the girl asked, frowning.
"Because it's convenient, short, and, considering you don't like the way we pronounce your full name, it's easier." Tom smiled with satisfaction. "Don't you like that I gave you a diminutive, too?"
"Where I come from, it's the sound of a sheep!" she muttered resentfully.
Naomi burst out laughing.
"It's cute, come on!"
"Yes... It's very similar to mine," Bill murmured in an almost intimate tone.
"There... always better," the girl grumbled, crossing her arms.
"Anyway, the performance was a great idea." Kristian changed the subject. "Did you see how crazy the audience went?"
"Yes!" echoed Klaus. "It was a fantastic surprise that added a touch of mystery to the tour… And for not having had time to prepare, you did brilliantly, Bel."
"Thank goodness!" the girl sighed, unhooking the band holding her helmet and freeing her long hair. "I was terrified! I was afraid Bill would kick me off stage, thinking I was a maniac."
"He wouldn't have," Tom reassured her. "He's too used to being chased by women. If we add an alien to the list, then the collection is complete."
Belinda shot him a murderous look and received a wink in return.
"Now, though, I'd like to go back to normal clothes." She waved them away. "Everyone out!"
"I don't even think about it!" Tom exclaimed, trying to sit on a box. "I'm not missing the show under any circumstances."
"Get out, you little rascal! You still have to make up for mangling my name."
She pushed him toward the exit, tugging on his arm.
Naomi rushed to her sister's aid and slipped her arm through Tom's, saying flatteringly,
"You were so good tonight!"
Raising an eyebrow in surprise, he immediately straightened to his full height and focused his attention on the girl, following her out of the dressing room and answering all her questions.
The others also left, except Bill, who remained staring at Belinda.
"That goes for you too, Bill!" she scolded him seriously, pointing a finger at him.
The boy ignored her and slowly approached her until he was just inches from her face. He placed a hand on her shoulder and murmured, "I think you owe me something."
Belinda jumped in surprise, unable to understand what he was referring to.
"I don't think so," she swallowed nervously. "In fact, I think you should give me back the necklace." She held out her hand for it.
With an even more intense smile, Bill leaned down until she could feel his breath on her face and stared intently at her red lips.
"I'm talking about the kiss on stage..."
Belinda gasped more and more, feeling trapped by that dark, deep gaze. All she had to do was tilt her head a little, as she had on stage, and... No!
Something inside her rebelled against that crazy thought.
You're just one of them! a voice whispered in her head. Are you really so desperate for a man that you'd throw yourself at a guy like that?
It was just a moment, but she regained control of her mind and her emotions. His breathing returned to normal, his eyes brightened, and his lips, almost touching the boy's, parted to utter a few words. "It wasn't in the agreement, Bill. I'm sorry for you."
He took the blow and, slowly straightening up, contrary to what Belinda expected, threw his head back and burst out laughing.
Then he took a step back, returned a brief bow, and in an amused tone, said, "Okay, Bel, we'll play by your rules."
He looked at her with a new gleam in his eyes, giving her the impression that he wasn't the same boy she had known. "But know that before we say goodbye, I'll kiss you!" he said with unexpected confidence.
Dismayed but inwardly excited by the prospect, Belinda reflexively shook her head.
I think so too, unfortunately, she realized, surprised.
Satisfied with her reaction, the boy stepped back. "I've had a strange feeling since the first moment I saw you, but you keep running away from me. I think Tom realized it before we did... There's no escape from these things, everything happens for a reason. You can deny it if you want, but I won't let you leave before your lips touch mine," he declared, opening the door.
"How arrogant!" the girl muttered, pursing her lips.
"I won't force you, and you know that too. You wanted it to happen, and it will happen again. I won't be the one to say no, Bel. That kiss is mine, I won't give in!"
Belinda couldn't argue, recognizing the truth of those words. She simply crossed her arms, staring at him darkly.
The door closed, allowing her to hide from that fiery gaze, filled with a thousand promises, each more dangerous than the last.
Who was that boy who had just left? Where was the Bill who apologized for his brother's behavior, who looked at her to make sure she was okay, who had worried about her at the chocolate shop? She had noticed in him that subtle line that connected him to Tom, and that strange mix of sweetness and presumption had bewitched her.
And now who would hear Naomi?
With a disconsolate gesture, she tossed her bob onto the mirror shelf and sat down, resting her head in her hands.