Chapter 9
Gig at the Cellar
Jason walked in to the Cellar to find Elizabeth sitting alone on stage at the piano.
Blue Jean Baby
LA Lady
Seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed
Pirate smile
You'll marry a music man
Ballerina
You must have seen her
Dancing in the Sand
Now she's in me
Always with me
Tiny Dancer in my hand
He watched her in awe. He couldn't move. She was more beautiful than he remembered, if that were possible. She was wearing a midnight blue dress that looked painted on. It came low on the back to where he thought he could almost see the dimples of her lower back. It had a thick strap that cut straight through the middle and he could see a dark blue bra strap peeking out from under it. The same straps covered her shoulders allowing most of the creamy white skin to show. The way she was sitting, he could not get a good look at the front of her. He could only see her silhouette. She played the piano and sang as the crowd danced or swayed or sang along.
When she finished that song she went straight in to another ballad.
She's got a way about her
Mmm I don't know what it is
But I know that I can't live without her
She's got a way of pleasing
Mmmm I don't know why it is
But there doesn't have to be a reason anyway
She's got a smile that heals me
Mm I don't know why it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me
She shifted on the piano seat and he could see that she had her eyes closed while singing. She was in her own little world not realizing that anyone was even in the room with her.
She's got a way of talking
Mmmm I don't know why it is
But it lifts me up when we are walking anywhere
She comes to me when I'm feeling down
Inspires me without a sound
She touches me
And I get turned around
She's got a way of showing
Mmmm how I make her feel
And I find the strength to keep on going
She's got a light around her
Oh oh oh And everywhere she goes
A million dreams of love surround her anywhere
She comes to me when I'm feeling down
Inspires me without a sound
She touches me
I get turned around
She leaned her head back away from the microphone as she belted out the last line. Her hair cascaded down her back in soft curls covering the opening her dress had. Then she opened her eyes and leaned in to the microphone and turned to face the crowd.
OHHHH oohhh ohhh
She's got a smile that heals me
Mmmm I don't know why it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me
She's got a way about her
Mmm I don't know what it is
But I know that I can't live without her
Anyway.
She shot up from the stool and the band started to play. She affixed her headset on and headed straight for the crowd swaying her hips to the beat. She started singing while working her way through the crowd.
I see
nothing in your eyes
And the more I see the less I like
Is it
over yet?
In my head
I know nothing of your kind
And I won't
reveal your evil mind
Is it over yet?
I can't win
Jason
watched as she took a light twirl around the pole. So
sacrifice yourself You take the breath right out of me
And let me have what's left
I know that I
can find
The fire in your eyes
I'm going all the way
Get
away please
You left a
hole where my heart should be
You got to fight just to make it
through
Cause I will be the death of you
The words penetrated his psyche. He needed a seat. Heading over to the side of the bar where Sonny, Francis, Max and Johnny were already perched, Max and Johnny moved over to let Jason sit next to Sonny in the middle. The guards were always respectful of the pecking order and Jason was Sonny's right hand man. He took center stage to the right of Sonny whether they were at a meeting with the Five families, at Michael's baseball or soccer games or sitting in the bar.
She saw him walk across the room while singing. A crazy idea popped in to her head. She headed back to the stage and during the musical interlude she whispered into her guitarist's ear. The guitarist nodded and she went back toward the crown with a determined smile on her face. Jason Morgan was going to notice her and want her if she had to die trying.
When the song was over, she headed back to the stage and dropped off the headset. Jason noticed she didn't grab a microphone and hoped it would be her break and maybe she could come over to talk to him. Then he noticed her head straight for the pole. The crowd on the dance floor seemed to know what was coming because everyone left the stage and Elizabeth was there alone, on display. With a big beautiful red pout on her face.
Break me down,
you
got a lovely face,
we're going to your place
now you got to
freak me out
Scream so loud,
getting fucking laid,
you want
me to stay
but I got to make my way
Jason noticed the drummer was now singing.
Hey! You're a
crazy bitch,
but you fuck so good I'm on top of it.
When I
dream I'm doing you all night,
Scratches all down my back to keep
me right on.
It was an exhibition. Elizabeth danced with more precision and accuracy than the best girls in Ft Lauderdale. Every man's jaw hit the floor and every woman watched with jealousy. Half way through, she left the pole and grabbed a few girls. Getting their attention, she taught them a few moves them pushed them back to their men. Then she went and grabbed a few more and did the same. Finally, at the end of the song, Jason couldn't even see her short frame in the crowd of bravely gyrating women and lucky men.
Then the band started playing something else and she wasn't onstage. Standing up to see if she was on the dance floor and had maybe fallen he felt a petal soft hand touch his arm. She was standing right next to him.
"Looking for someone Mr. Morgan?" the blue eyed beauty blew out with heated breath. Looking toward the bar she said to the bartender, "Can I get a bottled water and a shot of tequila."
He looked down at her and smiled. He noticed she had the head set on but the red light wasn't on so he knew she could talk.
"Why didn't you say you were playing here tonight?" he asked, excited to finally be near her again.
"I figured you would be here anyway. Don't you usually hang out here since it's so close to your office?" she said as she pointed to the alcove.
"Actually, no. This isn't Jason's kind of place. Too loud." Sonny interjected with a smile as he pulled her attention toward him.
"Oh, well I am glad you came to see the band. We work real hard to earn the money we get." She directed back to Jason.
"Yeah, I hear you are making a mint tonight" Sonny said to no one since now Elizabeth and Jason were in a vapor lock with their eyes. They let the world melt around them and focused on each other.
"You want to take that ride I promised you after the show?" Jason asked, praying she would say yes.
"Sure, sounds like fun." She smiled then broke their gaze and leaned in to the bar again. This time brushing her breast against his arm and hand.
Taking the shot of caramel colored liquid in one gulp and grabbing the bottle of water, she reached up to her head set and before pushing the button she looked at him once again, batting her lashes up and down and said, "It's a date. Don't answer your phone this time." And off she went back toward the crowd.
Following her back to the stage with his eyes, he sunk into the seat and laughed. He knew she had said it loud enough so that Sonny could hear it.
Sonny looked over his enforcers gaze and smiled that sexy dimpled smile that had sent many a women over the edge. "Jason, did I interrupt a date that I was unaware you were on?"
"Well, sort of but….." thinking better, he trailed off. He wasn't ready to share right now. This was new and it was just his. Sonny didn't need to know right now and the less he knew, the less he would tell the boys and the less ribbing from Max, Francis and Johnny he would get.
"But what?" Sonny insisted.
"Nothing Sonny, just drop it." Jason barked and swung around in his stool to face the bar. Looking at the beer and then looking at the clock he figured he could have one, maybe two more beers and then it was water or O'Doul's. He had to have his wits about him on the bike.
A couple of times she came over to the guys to dance and sing. She really threw everyone for a loop when she grabbed Spinelli out of the crowd and started grinding up against him. Jason nearly lost it and actually got off of the stool but both Johnny and Sonny grabbed him before he went over and tore the poor kids head off.
Then the unthinkable happened.
Another slow melody played and she headed straight over to Jason. 'Oh shit, she wants to dance' he thought dropping his head but still keeping his eyes focused in on her.
As soon as she reached the line of brawn she reached her hand out to Sonny, gave a slight courtesy and asked, "May I have this dance?"
He took her in his arms and they swayed to the music. Neither of them leaned in too close because she was singing. When the song was over, she pulled from his embrace and guided him back to his stool with a quick wink and a smile. With a turn of her heels she headed over to Max.
Pleased to meet you
Nice to know me
What's the message?
Will ya show me?
Singing the song she played a seductive little game of cat and mouse with him, pulling him close and then running away, sidling back up to him and trailing her one finger across his shoulder, back, side then stomach and back up to his shoulder.
I've been waiting Ya, I've been waiting for my Sunday girl
A
long time, now
Now here's the answer
You're all mine now
Ya, I've been
waiting for my Sunday girl, now
By the end of the night, Elizabeth had put her hands on every single man in the place, except Jason. She purposefully skipped over him. At times he looked a bit dejected and at one point when he went to the restroom, she thought he simply left. When he came back from the restroom, she decided enough was enough. She had worked him into a lather, now it was time for the rinse. She had already discussed the change in the line up of the songs that allowed her to sing her last four songs while seductively dancing with the pole as her support and only Jason's face catching her full attention when she focused on the crowd.
Finishing the night with the bands signature John Lennon song Imagine, Elizabeth finally sidled up to Jason and pulled him onto his feet and twirled under his arm and around his back while singing the pleas for peace in the world. She felt it was a perfect song to dance with him because he wouldn't have to do much; it spoke volumes to what she understood from him about his head injury and not being able to make things up and being so angry after the accident.
Jason on the other hand, took it to mean that she already knew about their other business and didn't approve. He could not have been more wrong.
Songs: Tiny Dancer by Elton John
She's Got a Way by Billy Joel
Breath by Breaking Benjamin
Crazy Bitch by Buckcherry
Down by Stone Temple Pilots
