CHAPTER 3
The bar was almost full when Beth arrived just before 9 that night. 'What am I doing here?' She asked herself for the tenth time since leaving the library this afternoon. She had gone back to her table and sat there stunned. How had he known about the gypsies? The only person who knew the real reason for her being here was Shannon and Beth was positive that she didn't know any tall, strange looking men who dressed up in loud clothing and told stories to a kids library group.
Beth noticed the green man at the bar. It wasn't hard to miss him. He had on a purple suit; similar to the yellow one he wore at the library. 'How strange, he kept his make-up on'. He noticed her and waved her over. Rubbing her hands down the front of her leather skirt, making sure that it was pulled down as far as her hips would allow, she walked towards him. 'Why had I let Shannon choose my clothes for the trip?'
*"If you're going to meet the man of your dreams *literally* then you need to knock his socks off! Now Tina and I have been experimenting with leather lately and I brought the best skirt that would suit your figure so much more than mine. Why were you blessed with such a trim figure? I suppose all those years of Kickboxing lessons kinda helped. Oh, here it is"*
Beth smirked remembering the horror she had felt when Shannon had showed it to her. Shannon was right though it did suit her. And the tight black top with the plunging collar matched it perfectly. It had taken a week of wearing this outfit in the privacy of her flat to get used to the feel of it on her skin. It was certainly knocking some people's socks off as she noticed the stares she was getting from around the room. 'Hang on. Everyone seems to be in costume. Maybe I should have worn something else? Or maybe I shouldn't have come at all. What am I doing here!'
"Well honey cakes, aren't you just a peach! Jimmy, two sea breezes please. Jimmy here makes the best sea breezes in all LA. I managed to steal him away from a fate worse than hell. The Bazoora club. You wouldn't believe the cliental in that joint. Anyway, enough about Jimmy my names Lorne. What's yours?" Lorne asked putting his hand out to shake hers. "Beth. I was under the impression that your name was Lorry" Beth asked as Jimmy handed her a tall glass with a bright blue drink in it. "Oh, that Melody. Now if I were to ever have kids, and believe me they are way down the shopping list, she would be my muse. She has a habit of finding people who need a little 'guidance' shall we say" Lorne took a sip of his drink.
" I was going to ask you. How did you know about my gypsy problem? I have been trying for ages to find...." Before Beth could finish Lorne held his hand up. "Stop right there sugar and I will tell you a tale so unbelievable it will knock your socks off. By the way I love your Manolo Blahniks," Lorne looked down at her ankles and admired the craftsmanship. "They were my one indulgence while I was in New York last year " she replied. "And good choice too. Anyway here goes. I have a gift; well sometimes I wouldn't call it a gift more of a present that you get from your great Aunt Hilda at Christmas if you know what I mean. When people sing I am able to read their souls. And baby did yours sing out to me today." Lorne studied her while he took a sip of his blue concoction. "You don't seem so surprised? Well why should you. After having your fortune told by a gypsy it could make you believe in anything." "What did my soul say?" Beth asked. "That's why I asked you down here. You see, there were about 20 small children in the room singing one classic Wiggles hit and all those little souls just come right out a lot easier than a grown ups. I need you to sing here so I can read you more clearly." Beth looked at Lorne shocked. "I can't sing here! My repertoire is saved for the shower buddy". "Nonsense, now I'll just go put your name down and you make yourself comfortable" and before she knew it he disappeared into the crowd.
Beth sighed and sat on a stool at the bar. 'There are some really strange people in this place'. She surveyed the area when her eyes collided with a face on her left. "Oh shit," she exclaimed spilling some on her drink on her hand. "Sorry about that Ms Davidson, I didn't mean to scare you" Conner replied as he grabbed some napkins to wipe her hands. "Miss Davidson, but you can call me Beth. All my friends do" she said, drinking the last dregs of her drink. "Here let me buy you another one" Conner put his hand up to Jimmy and motioned to her glass. "So, how did you find out about Lorne's little place?" He queered as Jimmy handed her another blue concoction. "Actually, I met the owner at that library you directed me to this morning. Strange guy though. Tells me he needs to read my soul or something to that effect. Hey come to think of it, if you know this guy, you didn't happen to mention what I was researching did you?" Beth asked. 'Well that would explain why he knew about the gypsies that's for sure. Doesn't explain the make-up but'. "Nope, sorry. I had completely forgot that Lorne is there on Tuesday's. If you're here alone, would you like to join our table?" Beth looked to where Conner was motioning. At a table by the left hand side of the room, just visible from the bar but she could tell they could clearly see her, were seated five people who were not so subtly studying them. "Sure, why not. Maybe I can hide when they call my name." Connor took Beth by the elbow and led her over to the table.
"Guys, I would like you to meet Beth. This is the young lady who I gave directions to this morning". Upon saying that, all the parties at the table nodded their heads as if they understood an unspoken thought. "Wesley Whyndom-Price this is my wife Cordelia" a middle-aged man with brown hair that was just starting to grey at the temples stood up and offered his hand. As Beth shook his hand she sucked her breathing quickly when she heard the names he presented to her. Beth mentally shook her self as she spoke her name. 'Deja vu or what! Maybe I am meant to be here after all'. "Just call me Cordy, everyone does" the stunning brunette on Wesley's right told her. "And these two are Fred and Gunn. Don't mind them. They just came back from their second honeymoon and are still all lovey-dovey" Cordy said as she introduced a tiny timid looking girl and her good-looking black husband. "Hi Beth pleased to meet you." Fred spoke to her in a voice that didn't suit her frame. 'Well she sounds a lot stronger than she looks. Strange, I don't seem to be getting any vibes from these two'. "Last but not least, this is Willow" Connor said smiling at her but Beth wasn't looking at him. She was too busy staring at the red head siting next to Gunn. "Seize the day" Beth whispers to herself an image of a younger red head flashes through her mind.
Connor took Beth by the shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. "Are you all right?" Concern was etched on his face. "Oh god, I'm sorry but Willow, have we met before?" Beth asked the woman, who by now was looking at her with a strange look on her face. "I don't think so. Where do you think we've met?" Willow asked, clearly interested. "I don't know. You just seem really familiar to me," Beth explained as Connor lead her too a chair and sat down beside her. "You did that to me this morning too. Have you been to LA before?" Connor asked but before she could reply Lorne stepped out onto the stage. "Folks, we now have a newbie to the Karaoke world so please be gentle. That includes you there Gary, those horns will poke someone's eye out soon" laughter sounded out through the club "please make her welcome, Beth" Applause sounded out through the room as Connor and the table joined in. Beth, going many shades of red, shook her head. "Go on up Beth. Once he calls your name no one else can sing until you do," Connor whispered in her ear. Shaking her head one more time, Beth made her way up to the stage to the DJ to tell him 'is it a him?' what her song would be as Lorne settled back to his regular chair at the bar.
The bar was almost full when Beth arrived just before 9 that night. 'What am I doing here?' She asked herself for the tenth time since leaving the library this afternoon. She had gone back to her table and sat there stunned. How had he known about the gypsies? The only person who knew the real reason for her being here was Shannon and Beth was positive that she didn't know any tall, strange looking men who dressed up in loud clothing and told stories to a kids library group.
Beth noticed the green man at the bar. It wasn't hard to miss him. He had on a purple suit; similar to the yellow one he wore at the library. 'How strange, he kept his make-up on'. He noticed her and waved her over. Rubbing her hands down the front of her leather skirt, making sure that it was pulled down as far as her hips would allow, she walked towards him. 'Why had I let Shannon choose my clothes for the trip?'
*"If you're going to meet the man of your dreams *literally* then you need to knock his socks off! Now Tina and I have been experimenting with leather lately and I brought the best skirt that would suit your figure so much more than mine. Why were you blessed with such a trim figure? I suppose all those years of Kickboxing lessons kinda helped. Oh, here it is"*
Beth smirked remembering the horror she had felt when Shannon had showed it to her. Shannon was right though it did suit her. And the tight black top with the plunging collar matched it perfectly. It had taken a week of wearing this outfit in the privacy of her flat to get used to the feel of it on her skin. It was certainly knocking some people's socks off as she noticed the stares she was getting from around the room. 'Hang on. Everyone seems to be in costume. Maybe I should have worn something else? Or maybe I shouldn't have come at all. What am I doing here!'
"Well honey cakes, aren't you just a peach! Jimmy, two sea breezes please. Jimmy here makes the best sea breezes in all LA. I managed to steal him away from a fate worse than hell. The Bazoora club. You wouldn't believe the cliental in that joint. Anyway, enough about Jimmy my names Lorne. What's yours?" Lorne asked putting his hand out to shake hers. "Beth. I was under the impression that your name was Lorry" Beth asked as Jimmy handed her a tall glass with a bright blue drink in it. "Oh, that Melody. Now if I were to ever have kids, and believe me they are way down the shopping list, she would be my muse. She has a habit of finding people who need a little 'guidance' shall we say" Lorne took a sip of his drink.
" I was going to ask you. How did you know about my gypsy problem? I have been trying for ages to find...." Before Beth could finish Lorne held his hand up. "Stop right there sugar and I will tell you a tale so unbelievable it will knock your socks off. By the way I love your Manolo Blahniks," Lorne looked down at her ankles and admired the craftsmanship. "They were my one indulgence while I was in New York last year " she replied. "And good choice too. Anyway here goes. I have a gift; well sometimes I wouldn't call it a gift more of a present that you get from your great Aunt Hilda at Christmas if you know what I mean. When people sing I am able to read their souls. And baby did yours sing out to me today." Lorne studied her while he took a sip of his blue concoction. "You don't seem so surprised? Well why should you. After having your fortune told by a gypsy it could make you believe in anything." "What did my soul say?" Beth asked. "That's why I asked you down here. You see, there were about 20 small children in the room singing one classic Wiggles hit and all those little souls just come right out a lot easier than a grown ups. I need you to sing here so I can read you more clearly." Beth looked at Lorne shocked. "I can't sing here! My repertoire is saved for the shower buddy". "Nonsense, now I'll just go put your name down and you make yourself comfortable" and before she knew it he disappeared into the crowd.
Beth sighed and sat on a stool at the bar. 'There are some really strange people in this place'. She surveyed the area when her eyes collided with a face on her left. "Oh shit," she exclaimed spilling some on her drink on her hand. "Sorry about that Ms Davidson, I didn't mean to scare you" Conner replied as he grabbed some napkins to wipe her hands. "Miss Davidson, but you can call me Beth. All my friends do" she said, drinking the last dregs of her drink. "Here let me buy you another one" Conner put his hand up to Jimmy and motioned to her glass. "So, how did you find out about Lorne's little place?" He queered as Jimmy handed her another blue concoction. "Actually, I met the owner at that library you directed me to this morning. Strange guy though. Tells me he needs to read my soul or something to that effect. Hey come to think of it, if you know this guy, you didn't happen to mention what I was researching did you?" Beth asked. 'Well that would explain why he knew about the gypsies that's for sure. Doesn't explain the make-up but'. "Nope, sorry. I had completely forgot that Lorne is there on Tuesday's. If you're here alone, would you like to join our table?" Beth looked to where Conner was motioning. At a table by the left hand side of the room, just visible from the bar but she could tell they could clearly see her, were seated five people who were not so subtly studying them. "Sure, why not. Maybe I can hide when they call my name." Connor took Beth by the elbow and led her over to the table.
"Guys, I would like you to meet Beth. This is the young lady who I gave directions to this morning". Upon saying that, all the parties at the table nodded their heads as if they understood an unspoken thought. "Wesley Whyndom-Price this is my wife Cordelia" a middle-aged man with brown hair that was just starting to grey at the temples stood up and offered his hand. As Beth shook his hand she sucked her breathing quickly when she heard the names he presented to her. Beth mentally shook her self as she spoke her name. 'Deja vu or what! Maybe I am meant to be here after all'. "Just call me Cordy, everyone does" the stunning brunette on Wesley's right told her. "And these two are Fred and Gunn. Don't mind them. They just came back from their second honeymoon and are still all lovey-dovey" Cordy said as she introduced a tiny timid looking girl and her good-looking black husband. "Hi Beth pleased to meet you." Fred spoke to her in a voice that didn't suit her frame. 'Well she sounds a lot stronger than she looks. Strange, I don't seem to be getting any vibes from these two'. "Last but not least, this is Willow" Connor said smiling at her but Beth wasn't looking at him. She was too busy staring at the red head siting next to Gunn. "Seize the day" Beth whispers to herself an image of a younger red head flashes through her mind.
Connor took Beth by the shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. "Are you all right?" Concern was etched on his face. "Oh god, I'm sorry but Willow, have we met before?" Beth asked the woman, who by now was looking at her with a strange look on her face. "I don't think so. Where do you think we've met?" Willow asked, clearly interested. "I don't know. You just seem really familiar to me," Beth explained as Connor lead her too a chair and sat down beside her. "You did that to me this morning too. Have you been to LA before?" Connor asked but before she could reply Lorne stepped out onto the stage. "Folks, we now have a newbie to the Karaoke world so please be gentle. That includes you there Gary, those horns will poke someone's eye out soon" laughter sounded out through the club "please make her welcome, Beth" Applause sounded out through the room as Connor and the table joined in. Beth, going many shades of red, shook her head. "Go on up Beth. Once he calls your name no one else can sing until you do," Connor whispered in her ear. Shaking her head one more time, Beth made her way up to the stage to the DJ to tell him 'is it a him?' what her song would be as Lorne settled back to his regular chair at the bar.