A So-Called Private Practice (open)

[Felicity Halliwell]

Felicity stood at the top of the basement stairs, looking down into the super dark, and almost scary basement. She sighed, flicking on the switch to turn on the light, and instantly fear was erased. She grabbed her boom-box stereo, next to her feet, and headed downstairs. She was dressed in her usual dance clothes ~ tights colored a shiny tan, very short, black, skin-tight shorts and a black, also skin tight, camisole shirt, with her hot pink sports bra showing under the thin straps.

Felicity stopped and looked around the space that she had. It was perfect. The only thing she had to do was move boxes of old potion vials, and she was in buisness. She set down the stereo and plugged it in. Stretching, Felicity could feel her muscles pull slightly, but nothing too uncomfortable, she hadn't stretched in a while. She stood up and readied herself as she pushed on the music. It was the song, "Here I Come" by Fergie, and along with her partner, Benji, Felicity had to perform a very complicated hip-hop number for next week's recital, then competion after that. She danced, not full out, but just to go over the steps. The second time was for real. She counted out the steps and performed them as hard and as best she could.

She sat down for a few minutes taking a break. Sweat was rolling down her face, thanks to her 'work-out' performance. But she needed to get it right. Felicity's main styles of dance were Contemporary, International Latin Ballroom, and West Coast Swing... not hip-hop. She sighed, and was ready to go again, but heard footsteps from the top of the stairs.

[Melody Halliwell]

Melody had been standing at the top of the stairs watching her cousin perform. After the song ended she walked down the stairs smiling "that was great, you will probably be the best at that recital." Melody said as she got to the bottom of the stairs. Melody and Felicity were pretty close friends because they were the youngest in the family and they also shared a bedroom.

[Felicity Halliwell]

Felicity turned around with a smile, hearing Melody's voice. "Benji makes me look better than I actually do... so I guess it will," she said. "You're coming right?" she asked hopefully. "Please say yes... No one hasn't since Lilly and Linda..." she trailed off the subject and wiped something away from her eye. Felicity then put on her puppy face. "Pwease?" she said in a baby tone this time. Melody may have been young than her, but they were almost like sisters, and it was in dire times of need that Felicity always resorted to begging.

[Melody Halliwell]

Melody laughed at the look on her cousins face "of course I'll come, you are my best friend." Melody said with a smile. Although Jen and Katie was her friends Felicity would always be her best friend. Melody and Felicity practically did everything together although they hadn't really hung out much since Lilly and Linda's death but they wouldn't change her friendship with her cousin.

[Felicity Halliwell]

The smile on Felicity's face grew wider. She gave Melody a hug, despite she was sweating from practicing. Letting go, Felicity was still smiling. "Well, if no one else goes, then I'll have to drive you..." she said thinking about it, and playing with a piece of her dark hair. "I don't know if anyone else is going though... I'd ask Mom, but she usually forgets," she said sounding disappointed, heading back over to the stereo. She rewound the tape, ready to do it again, but she decided to talk a bit more.

[Melody Halliwell]

Melody hugged her cousin back "yea, you'll have to take me because everyone else is always busy then again I may be able to get aunt Piper to bring me." Melody said with a smile. Melody and Felicity had always been friends and Melody usually went to every recital Felicity was in up until Linda and Lilly died.

[Felicity Halliwell]

"Are you gonna come to competion too?" Felicity asked, glacing back around at her cousin. "It's a week after the recital..." She figured that she wouldn't, comps were always so crowded and noisy, and that was just backstage. She coughed a bit, then turned fully around. In all honesty, Felicity really didn't care if any of her other family went. She wanted her mother to desperately come. She rarely came to anything Felicicty did since Lilly died, and before that, she didn't come to anything either. She was always busy with work.

[Melody Halliwell]

Melody looked at her cousin "of course I'm coming, I wouldn't miss it for the world." Melody said smiling. Melody had always went to every competition her cousin was in. "Felicity you know you can count on me to be there even if no one else is." Melody said in a soft voice as she sat down across from her cousin.

[Felicity Halliwell]

"Thanks Mel..." Felicity replied a small smile on her face. "I'll try and see if Mom can come too though..." she added. She stretched her arms up and bent down to the floor. Felicity hoped disappointment wouldn't come this time though, like it had so many others. She lifted her head up to look at her cousin. "Y'know, you should try dance Mel, you look like you could be good at it..." she said standing up straight. The studio was always in need of students, and the owner knew that Felicity and Benji were the greatest advertisement. She smiled cheekily, knowing the probable answer of 'no'.

[Melody Halliwell]

Melody looked at her cousin and smiled "I don't know you are a better dancer than I will ever be." Melody said watching her cousin. "I'm going to see if my friends Katie and Jennifer want to come to the recital too. I know Jen would love it." Melody said with a soft smile on her face.

[Felicity Halliwell]

Felicity nodded. "All right, I was kinda looking forward to teaching you, but I guess I'll settle for your friend..." she said with a sigh. Suddenly her back cracked as she leaned backwards this time. It was painful too. She flinched and straightened up fast. "Plus dance is a dangerous sport... one little mistake and you're career's history," she added.

[Melody Halliwell]

"I guess if you are willing to teach me then I'm willing to learn. Melody said with a smile. "Are you ok?" Melody asked as she noticed her cousin flinch after she had leaned back.

[Felicity Halliwell]

Felicity nodded. "It happens... luckily not a lot..." she replied with a heavy sigh. She rubbed her back and blinked as she rubbed over the painful spot. Felicity flinched once more, and sat down. "Oh I need a shower, a hot and cold one... so make that two showers..." she said.

[Melody Halliwell]

Melody smiled at her cousin "so when should I expect my first lesson? she asked as she looked around the basement. "Hey, maybe you can teach me and Jen at the same time." Melody said in an excited voice as she thought about how Jen would respond to it.

[Felicity Halliwell]

"Well, not right now," Felicity grinned. "Have your mom, or someone drop you off at the studio sometime while I'm there. My schedule's on the refridgerator..." she said, getting up slowly, as so not to injure herself anymore than she had. She knew that when she back had popped, a disc or something must have done something. She scrunched her face up with the slight pain. "Yeah, you and Jen can have lessons at the same time. I'll find you two partners, we have a few boys that need 'em," she said, a smal grin on her face.