| Prologue 'The Sun Just Won't Shine' -/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
“Honey, I'm home!”
Storm Phoenix looked up from her book, her confusion apparent. “Cale?” she closed the book, and stood, hastily shutting off the TV and and adjusting herself. She sprinted around to the other side of the couch just in time to find another woman, Cale, shrugging off a worn leather jacket and draping a brightly colored scarf over the coat rack.
Cale Black raised an eyebrow at Storm,as she flicked an auburn strand of hair behind an ear irritatedly. “ No, its your other British-flatmate.” she snapped dryly, brushing past her best friend.
Storm blinked, surprised to detect annoyance in her tone. “Whats wrong?” she asked, moving in front of Cale to prevent her going any further.
“I was sacked. ” she replied shortly. “Move.”
“What? Seriously?!”
Cale scowled. “ No, I want you to just stand there.” she put her hands on her hips, still glowering.
Storm rolled her eyes, but moved out of the way to let Cale brush past in an angry huff. “I meant, What happened?”
Cale didn't say anything until she was situated on the couch. Once she had curled up, and Storm was sitting in the chair opposite, did she begin. “ It was Bret, you know, “I'm-all-holier-than-thou, I-deserve-everything-guy?” Storm nodded, and Cale continued, “ Well, I was in the mail room, searching for my paycheck, ironically..” she stopped, and snorted, her emerald eyes glowing with fury. “ Bret strode in, all cock of the walk- What!?” she stopped; Storm was staring at her incredulously. Cale blinked, and then scoffed in disbelief. “ Oh God..You Americans are unbelievable! Like the rooster in the barnyard!” She added, seeing Storms confusion. “Honestly, If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were born in a gutter.”
Storm leaned back in her chair, opened her mouth to say something, then closed it. She scowled. “I'm not even going to answer that. Continue.”
Cale frowned. “Take my fun out of it, will you?” Storm gave her a dirty look. “ Fine, Fine. Anyway,” Cale sat forward, a gossipy look in her eyes. “ He starts talking to me, Its about his new story,” Cale scoffed. “ 'Bout how some nut ran 'round Caesars Palace in nothing but a cape and a tie.”
“Wouldn't you find that interesting?”
“If it was a 'guy' nut.”
“Ah. Mmkay.”
“Yes.” Cale stood up and looked around. “ Wheres the scotch?”
Storm blinked. “ Huh?”
“I feel like getting blasted. Wheres the scotch?” Cale asked, walking across the wooden floors to the bar. She hopped up onto it and disappeared over the other side. Storm frowned. “ Why would I know where the scotch is?”
Cale's head popped up from behind the bar. “ You seem like your in a 'smashed' kinda mood.” she said simply, then ducked under. “Hey!” In an instant, Storm was at the bar, leaning over the side and glaring at Cale impudently. “Whats that supposed to mean?”
“ Exactly what I said.” she stated, her reply muffled due to the fact that she was basically in the liquor cabinet. “ Are you going out for American Idol?”
Storms anger was replaced with confusion. “ No-Wait- What? Where'd the hell did that come from?”
Cale stood up, a large bottle of scotch in one hand and a glass in the other. “ They're auditioning at Caesars Palace. Thats why Bret's story was 'so' big.” She added disdainfully, moving over to the mini-fridge, glass in hand. “ You auditioning?”
Storm shook her head, a slightly incredulous, slightly resigned look in her eyes. “ Cale, we've gone over this.” she muttered, dropping her head into her hands.
“And yet I'm still asking.” Cale yanked the mini-fridge open. “ We've watched American Idol religiously ever since it came out, and I know that you've wanted to audition ever since then. Why haven't you?”
“Why haven't you?” Storm retorted, and then instantly regretted her mistake.
A dark shadow passed Cale's face.” You know I can't do that.” her lips twisted into a scowl, but said nothing more. She glanced down at her glass of scotch, still frowning.
“Cale..” Storm began, but Cale cut her off.
“No, Storm, don't even start.” Cale didn't look up. “ Your right; I can't criticize.” She picked up her glass. “ I'm going to bed.” and she was gone, the only sign of her leaving being the door to her bedroom swinging shut.
Storm sputtered, but did not move, just looked at the closed door hopelessly. | 
