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Chapter 20

Damien and a few guys met us at a bar appropriately named 'The Dive'.

He brought, Mike "Tuck" Gerber. We call him Tuck because he's from Kentucky. Tuck is a rather big guy, not fat, but pure muscle. His sandy blonde hair went well with his baby blue eyes and long lashes. He comes off as a big teddy bear, but in reality he could probably kill you with his bare hands.

Next was Craig Murphy. He didn't have a nickname. He was also tall and muscular, not a big body builder type like Tuck. He had a big smile with gleaming white teeth and he wore his black hair in a buzz cut. His most prominent feature was his eyes. They were big round circles of grey. I was thankful he was on my side. He could stare someone down better than anyone I've ever met.

We wasted no time in getting a few pitchers of beer. Without the girls here I had no reason to get girly drinks.

There was a good sized crowd tonight and a waitress was walking around replenishing everyone's pitchers regularly.

Tuck strutted over to me and slung his arm over my shoulder. "So Plum, what are you going to sing tonight?"

I was still searching through the book of songs. "I'm still looking for something I can sing with Damien. I promised I'd sing with him first."

On cue Damien sat down next to me. "I heard a song on the radio earlier today that would be perfect for us."

He just sat there staring at me. What the fuck? "Are you going to tell me?" I said getting aggravated.

He made a pout face. "But I wanted it to be a surprise!"

"Just spill it Reynolds!" I said punching his shoulder.

"Alright alright, you don't have to hurt me." He said rubbing the spot I had hit. "I was thinking "Tilt Ya Head Back" by Nelly and Christina Aguilera. It will be hot!"

I agreed and we made our way to the DJ and told him our song choice. No one else was scheduled to sing so we headed to the stage.

The music started and Damien and I began to sing.

Tilt ya head back
Yeah, that's tight (uh)
Check it, drop the drum right (hmmm..yeah)
Put some horns in it..woo! (That's right)
Do it again (yeah yeah, ha oooh oooh alright, ha)
Give her what she want, give her what she want uh

I see you lookin', uh
like what you see?
Boy, now don't be shy
and look at her face in opportunity

She's right ya know (uh uh), she's right (ah)
Man, she's right ya know (uh uh), she's right (ow!)
You stand there looking at me (at me)
I stand herre looking at you girl (at you boy)
You know exactly what's on my mind (yeah yeah)

It's just so easy to see (to see)
You came here looking for me (but uh uh)
But I don't do that type of thing all the time, yeah
(You want me to)
Come here boy
I got a little something for ya
(You got a little bit, can I get a little bit? yeah yeah)
And I don't know (I don't know what it is but
I just want to get to know ya, alright alright..yeah

I danced around him seductively as I sang. He pulled my body to him and grinded against me.

I need to daaaaaance
(Tilt ya head back, tilt ya head back)
All night
(Bring it back up slowly, that's right)
I need ya to daaaaaance
(Tilt ya head back, tilt ya head back)
All night
(Bring it back up slowly, that's right)

(Everybody says)
Hustle for me, hustle (hustle)
Hustle for me, hustle (hustle)
Hustle for me, hustle (hustle)
Hustle for me, yeah

So, you got some nerve thinking you're so
I got a little bit of that
A little bit of this
A little bit of back
With a little bit of [beep]

You stand there looking at me (at me)
I stand here looking at you girl (at you boy)
You know exactly what's on my mind (yeah yeah)

It took Adam, Tank and Lester a minute to pick their jaws off the floor. The other guys are used to me singing like this, but my Merry Men weren't used to seeing me like this. Once I got a hang of the song I jumped off stage and danced with Lester while I sang.

So, you got some nerve thinking you're so
I got a little bit of that
A little bit of this
A little bit of back
With a little bit of [beep]

[
You stand there looking at me (at me)
I stand here looking at you girl (at you boy)
You know exactly what's on my mind (yeah yeah)

[Christina (Nelly):]
It's just so easy to see (to see)
You came here looking for me (but uh uh)
But I don't do that type of thing all the tiiiiiiiiiiiime
(You want me to)
Come here boy
I got a little something for ya
(You got a little bit, can I get a little bit? yeah yeah)
And I don't know (I don't know what
it is but I just want to get to know ya, alright alright..yeah

yeah)

I need to daaaaaance
(Tilt ya head back, tilt ya head back)
All night
(Bring it back up slowly, that's right)
I need ya to daaaaaance
(Tilt ya head back, tilt ya head back)
All night
(Bring it back up slowly, that's right)

Hey! (Give her what she want,
give her what she want uh)
oooohooooh, oooh yea, ha!
Oh Nelly!
Nelly, Nelly, you make me so sweaty baby
yeayeayeayeayeayea OH!

When the song ended we got a standing ovation. Damien and I bowed and went to join our group.

Adam pulled me onto his lap. "I didn't know you could sing like that, Gorgeous!" I smiled. "I didn't know either, until a few weeks ago."

Lester spoke up before I could say anything else. "I know I'm saying this a lot tonight but, damn Beautiful! You've got a set of pipes on you! You are an amazing singer!"

Blush spread across my cheeks. "Thanks Lester."

Craig spoke up "You should have heard her a few weeks back, she sang "Cryin" by Aerosmith and damn near brought down the house! I thought I was going to go deaf because the clapping and whistling was so loud!"

I didn't think it was that good, but I appreciate all the great compliments.

"Shut up Murphy! It wasn't that great." I yelled at him playfully.

"Why don't you sing it tonight bombshell" Tank said as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

"I don't think so. I'll sing it another time. I have another song in mind for tonight."

After six pitchers of beer Tank and Lester decided to do a duet. It was interesting to say the least. They weren't the singing type, or at least I didn't think they were.

The music to "Gin and Juice" by Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre began to play.

With so much drama in the L-B-C
It's kinda hard bein Snoop D-O-double-G
But I, somehow, some way
Keep comin up with funky ass shit like every single day
May I, kick a little something for the G's (yeah)
and, make a few ends as (yeah!) I breeze, through
Two in the mornin and the party's still jumpin
cause my momma ain't home
I got bitches in the living room gettin it on
and, they ain't leavin til six in the mornin (six in the mornin)
So what you wanna do, sheeeit
I got a pocket full of rubbers and my homeboys do too
So turn off the lights and close the doors
But (but what) we don't love them hoes, yeah!
So we gonna smoke a ounce to this
G's up, hoes down, while you motherfuckers bounce to this

Tank seemed to know the words pretty well, but Lester was mainly making up the words as he sang along.

Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice
Laid back (with my mind on my money and my money on my mind)

Now, that, I got me some Seagram's gin
Everybody got they cups, but they ain't chipped in
Now this types of shit, happens all the time
You got to get yours but fool I gotta get mine
Everything is fine when you listenin to the D-O-G
I got the cultivating music that be captivating he
who listens, to the words that I speak
As I take me a drink to the middle of the street
and get to mackin to this bitch named Sadie (Sadie?)
She used to be the homeboy's lady (Oh, that bitch)
Eighty degrees, when I tell that bitch please
Raise up off these N-U-T's, cause you gets none of these
At ease, as I mob with the Dogg Pound, feel the breeze
beeeitch, I'm just

Adam and I started dancing and Damien joined us grinding against a random woman. Adam left to use the rest room and Damien took his place on my dance card. "I'm glad you decided to come out tonight Plum. I'm going to miss you this week."

Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice (beeotch!!)
Laid back (with my mind on my money and my money on my mind)
Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice (beeotch!!)
Laid back (with my mind on my money and my money on my mind)

I gave him a weird look. Why would he miss me? "It's only for a week; we'll see each other in training for a few months."

He gave me a lopsided smile. "It's not the same. We can't just hang out, we'll be training. I guess I've gotten attached to you. You've become one of my best friends."

How sweet. For awhile there Damien had a crush on me, I guess it's slowly turning into brotherly love. "Why don't you come back to Trenton with me? You don't have any family to go home to, you can share mine. I'm sure my mom wouldn't mind another guest."

Damien's mom was a drug addict and he was taken away from her when he was eleven. He bounced from foster home to foster home until he was eighteen and then he was on his own. He worked odd jobs until he was twenty six and decided to join the Army.

"You wouldn't mind? I really have no other place to go. I was going to just get a hotel room on base at Fort Bragg until the end of the week." He said looking sad.

I gave him my biggest smile. "I don't mind at all. Just meet me and the guys at our hotel in the morning and you can ride back with us."

By now we were standing by the table and the song had ended a few minutes before. I gave him a kiss on the cheek.

We were interrupted by Tuck. "Where's my kiss plum? Why does Reynolds get all the love?"

I gave him an eye roll. "Sorry Tuck. I'm just not that into you."

Tuck and I had a love hate relationship. He gave me a lot of shit when we first started basic training. Until he realized I was just like one of the guys.

He laughed. "Awe, I'm so heartbroken!"

Tank interrupted our fake argument. "You need me to take care of him bombshell? I don't have a problem with roughing him up a little bit" He said with a giant smile on his face.

Tuck's a big guy, but Tank is bigger and stronger. He looked a little pale.

Tank's laughter boomed in my ears. He slapped Tuck on the back. "I'm just messing with you man. But seriously if you ever hurt the Bombshell in any way, I'll hunt you down and kill you with my bare hands." He didn't skip a beat and said "Hey, how about another song bombshell?"

I think he had a good buzz going because he had a goofy grin on his face.

"Sure big guy, one more just for you!"

I told the DJ my song choice and headed to the stage with the microphone.

I fell as though this song was written for me. It's one of my favorites. Here goes nothing. The music started and "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson came over the speakers.

Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I'd just stare out my window
Dreamin' of what could be
And if I'd end up happy
I would pray

Tryin' hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I prayed I could break away

I'll spread my wings
And I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes
Till I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And break away

Out of the darkness
And into the sun
I won't forget all the ones that I love
I'll take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And break away

A few people I didn't know were up dancing, probably drunk. I realized that the song lyrics were coming true. I was on my way to flying.

My friends sat and watched me intently, smiles never leaving their faces. I was slowly but surely making my dreams come true.

Want to feel the warm breeze
Sleep under a palm tree
Feel the rush of the ocean
Get on board a fast train
Travel on a jet plane
[ Kelly Clarkson Lyrics are found on .com ]
Far away and break away

I'll spread my wings
And I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes
Till I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish
Take a chance
Make a change
And break away

Buildings with a hundred floors
Swinging 'round revolving doors
Maybe I don't know where they'll take me
But gotta keep movin' on movin' on
Fly away break away

I'll spread my wings
And I'll learn how to fly
Though it's not easy
To tell you goodbye
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And break away

Out of the darkness
And into the sun
I won't forget the place I come from
I gotta take a risk
Take a chance
Make a change
And break away

**Let me know what you think! More to come soon!