S'WONDERFUL
::Chapter Two::
Midnight's stomach fluttered as she gazed up, seeing the man at the piano, Mr. Jazzhands. It was the same man from backstage. She, a lowly newsgirl, had actually been called pretty by one of the most famous jazz players in America! Jazzhands smiled at his audience, greeting them with his practically pearly white teeth. He nodded his head and the band behind him began to play. Taking another look around the audience, he spotted Midnight and tipped his hat, giving her a big wink. Seconds later his hands began to dance across the keys of the old piano before him.
He winked at her. Midnight suddenly felt a tinge of disgust. He probably winked at all the girls. She had known guys like him before, and she knew what it was like. Another city, another show, another girl. He was so sickeningly captivating…and quite handsome. The kind of guy you would have in a one night stand, not a real romance. Midnight had no interest in such, and therefore decided she would have no interest in him.
It was no wonder they called him Jazzhands. Everyone in the club, even the scruffy men that stand in the back searching for a night lady were watching in amazement as his hands flew across the keys in a dazzling fashion. But their attentions were drawn in more so when the man began to sing…
Come by me,
Come talk to me baby!
Tell me how,
We can combine.
Will you be,
My sunshine forever?
Will you be,
A friend of mine?
Try me out,
And if you get excited…
Take me home,
I'd love to be invited!
Once we're there,
I'm sure you'll be delighted,
We could rock all night!
As he sang the chorus of the song, Midnight had a slight feeling that he kept glancing at her, as if trying to penetrate her with his deep pine eyes. As much as she tried to fight it, it was working. And he knew it too, she could tell. Desperate not to show any emotion, Midnight stared down into her mug, trying to look completely uninterested in the performance. But alas, she just could not keep from looking up at him. He was just so…fascinating. She almost hated it; in fact, she wished more than anything she could be back at the lodging house, getting a good night's rest and preparing herself for another day of selling papers.
Wait and see,
We might fit together.
That would be,
My lucky day!
Come by me,
Come love with me baby.
Maybe we,
Could run away.
The audience was completely enthralled. With the exception of Midnight, who had actually managed to preoccupy herself with her pocket knife, carving little people into the table, trying to pay as little attention as possible. This became extremely hard to do though, when Ace suddenly stopped playing the piano and continued to sing to the band. He strutted around the stage a bit, enjoying the admiration of several young chorus girls in a front table. After that though, he wandered down a small set of stairs off of the stage and into the audience. The crowd clapped and cheered and the table of girls went wild. Then, as if he hadn't enough attention already, a cool grin spread across his face as he came over to Midnight and laid right down on top of their table, and right in front of her!
Try me out,
And if you get excited…
Take me home,
I'd love to be invited!
Once we're there,
I'm sure you'll be delighted,
We could rock all night!
Wait and see,
We might fit together.
That would be,
My lucky day-yeah.
At this point he gracefully slid off the table and continued to sing, now even more directly to Midnight who turned beet red to the amusement of Kicks, then headed back up to the piano and began to play.
Come by me,
Oh come love with me baby.
Maybe we,
Could run away.
Maybe we,
Could run away.
Baby- maybe we,
Could rock all night!
The song ended, the people applauded, Ace Jazzhands bowed more times than necessary, the chorus girls swooned, Kicks giggled, Midnight sat…a stunned look on her face. She had yet to take in that she had been hit on majorly by the most talented man in the country.
"Wow, wasn't he just great, Roger? And did you see the way he looked at Midnight, he kept winking at her and smiling. I'd say he's quite fond of you," Kicks said, first addressing a very happy Roger and a very dazed Midnight.
The band had cleared the stage by then, and were quickly followed by a set of tap-dancing triplets. Once again, the audience watched and listened with the utmost delight. Kicks and Roger had become fully enthralled in the show, and Midnight found it quite easy to slip out of their sight, briefly mumbling "See you at the Lodging House."
Midnight headed out the door, pausing briefly to say a few words to her friend and the owner of Club Scurvy, Harvy Shrine. After this exchange she went out into the now darkened world of New York. Oh, how she loved the city at night. It's what got her namesake, Midnight, which was a whole lot better than her birth name Alice Hocker. The cool night breeze brushed against her cheeks, turning them a rosy pink color. She pulled her thinning brown coat tightly around her, wishing she had been able to patch it's holes, but she had been saving most of her pay to come see Jazz Shows such as this. As she started down the road, she felt a familiar, firm hand on her shoulder.
"Now, now, Midnight, why the hurry? Did you enjoy the show?" came a smooth voice, grinning at her slyly.
Midnight rolled her eyes, trying to look as annoyed and exasperated as possible. "Yeah, yeah, I enjoyed the show. What's it to you, Mr. Kingston…or Jazzhands or…whatever."
Once again a laugh trickled gently out of his mouth. Smiling, he said, "Call me Ace. And I just wanted to know if such a darling girl as you liked my act. Your opinion counts deeply, I assure you."
"Uhuh, yep. I'm sure it does. After all, I'm just another audience member, just another girl. I admire your talent, and nothing else. So, Ace, if you are looking for anything more than that I suggest you go back to your table of fan girls or wait till your next city, because you aren't going to get anything more out of me than a critique of your performance. Goodbye now, Ace, it was a pleasure." Midnight pulled her coat even tighter and quickened her pace, savoring the look on his face. It was as if no girl had ever resisted his charm before, and it felt good to be first at something.
"Please, Midnight…just a few more words? I'm sorry if it's seemed like I've been…uh…coming on to you, but I'd really like it if we were to try and be friends." Ace said this, trying to sound as sorry as possible. The friend thing always worked. He was sure she would buy it…and he was right. Midnight stopped in her tracks and turned around, staring at him quizzically.
"…Friends? You really mean that?"
"Course I do, I would never lie to you babe…er…Midnight."
She couldn't help but smile. "Alright, Ace. Friends it is then."
"As a friend, I think it would be just right for me to take you out for a friendly lunch tomorrow, okay?" Ace was a bit sad that he couldn't jump right into this one. Seems he had chosen a hard girl. He'd have to wait until at least he next night to get any from this girl.
"I think a friendly lunch would be just fine. I'll meet you at O'Malley's pub, three blocks down from here, around noon?"
Midnight could hardly believe this was happening. Why was someone who is good looking, talented, and more rich than she could ever be even want to TALK to her, let alone treat her to lunch. Boy, she would have a good story to tell the guys at the lodging house!