I was working with the choreographer to brush up on some of the performance moves. The microphone stand was lying on the ground as I quickly stepped on the base of the stand to flip it upwards then proceeded to toss it off to my right.
"Good. This time let's try it with the entire song and the rest of the band playing," Thomas, the choreographer, told me. With a nod the team was at each of their instruments and the microphone stand was reset in the middle of the stage with the microphone perfectly poised on it.
Connor gave us a quick count from his position behind the drums. When the music that I knew all too well started to play I fell into a slight comfort.
"You've been wearin' the crown and tearin' me down, it's been a while since you treated me right. You strung me for far too long 'cause I never gave up a fight, until now."
I could feel Jack's stare as I sang.
"It's gonna hit you hard 'til you see stars, it's gonna put you through a world of hurt. Oh, I don't believe I gettin' even, but gettin' what you deserve. Oh my, oh my. Huh."
Pulling the microphone off with one hand and letting the other drop the stand to the ground while mentally telling M'gann of Jack's over intense stare as precaution.
"Mama always told that I should play nice, she didn't know you when she gave that advice. I'm through with you. You're one bridge I'd like to burn, bottle up the ashes, smash the urn. I'm through with you, la dee da."
Discreetly I continued to keep tabs on Jack as I jumped and walked around the stage as if I really was performing.
He's glaring at me, Wally said through the mental link.
Well, you are looking at him and keeping tabs. I think he's just telling you to lay off, Robin replied. I ignored the two as I sang over them.
"I don't want to be your 'just for fun', don't want to be under your thumb. All I want to be is done. Done."
I turned around and faced the band and walked towards Wally and Robin playfully. I was trying to lighten their mood and get them to loosen up a little to look slightly more natural. I laid my arm on Wally's shoulder and immediately felt some of his tension melt away then unwrapped myself from him to sing the next verse.
"You've crossed the line too many times, I'm gonna put you in your place." I poked Wally in the chest as I sang that line. I walked over to Robin still singing.
"You play with dynamite, don't be surprised when I blow up in your face. Oh my, oh my. Huh." I made a little explosion gesture with my free hand making him give a small smile. Then I made my way to sweet M'gann on her own microphone.
"Mama always told me that I should play nice, she didn't know you when she gave me that advice. I'm through with you. You're one bridge I'd like to burn, bottle up the ashes and smash the urn. I'm through with you."
Jack's moving to my two o'clock and he's still watching intently, Connor's voice popped into my head.
You have eyes on him? I asked quickly.
Yep, Connor and M'gann answered just as quickly.
"I don't want to be part of your fun, don't want to be under your thumb. All I want to be is done. (Done.) with your selfish ways. (Done.) with all the games you played. I'm through with you and every game you played."
Jumping away from M'gann to the beat towards Wally, I locked eyes with Jack. He gave me a slimy, knowing smile. I almost froze in place from the familiarity of that smile. I almost missed my cue when the guitar solo ended.
"Mama always told me that I should play nice, she didn't know you when she gave me that advice... Mama always told me that I should play nice, she didn't know you when she gave me that advice. I'm through with you. You're one bridge I'd like to burn, scatter the ashes, smash the urn. I'm through with you."
Somehow I made back to the center of the stage where my stand was on the floor.
"I don't want to be your 'just for fun', don't want to be under your thumb. All I want to be is done." I stepped on the base of the stand making it snap upwards and then proceeded to merely toss it to the right of me in fake frustration.
"All I want to be is done. Ugh. Hey, ooh. I want to be done. So, done."
Clapping, Thomas said, "Good, good. Now take five."
I grabbed my water bottle once I was off stage and took a long swig of it. I was in the middle of fixing my pony tail when the rest of the team joined me. We were all in sweat pants and t-shirts being too lazy this morning to put on anything else. We all plopped down in a clump on some theater chairs that were near the stage.
I have seen Jack before this mission. I swear to it, I told them.
And you waited until now to tell us this, Wally replied deadpanned.
I just realized it, Baywatch. When he gave me that slimy smile during the practice performance, I retorted.
Where do you recognize him from? Robin asked.
A friend of mine. He was with a friend of mine, I answer.
What a great friend you have, Wally snorted.
She's dead. She was a rape then kill victim, I dwell. I can see Wally's face turn into sorrow.
How long ago? Robin pressed.
Three and a half years ago, I reply.
I'm so sorry, M'gann said sympathetically.
Me too, I agreed.
What's her name? Robin gently pried.
May. May Adams, I tell him.
"Alrighty, I'm letting you guys go until the show tonight," Jack said while approaching us.
Putting on a fake smile for all of us, I replied, "Okay, until then."
We all left as quickly as we could.
