*This should go without saying, but obviously none of the songs below are my writing, (just in case someone complains, it's now covered).
*Also, i apologize, i had some trouble writing this chapter (and revising it a hundred times) because for some reason i had an image in my head as to how this scene would play out and don't know if i entirely put into words properly. i hope you can follow along and see into the cloudy mess of my head. Maybe I should lay off the eggnog... (unlikely)
Chapter Six
"So what are the rules, here?" Sid leans over and asks. I can't believe he is doing this! We used to come up here as a group all the time and Liz dominated. I don't think anyone has told Sid he stands no freakin' chance. The only person to beat her was Charlie – and only because I am pretty sure she had a cold at the time.
"The computer picks the songs, you get five veto's – use them wisely," I warn him.
"How do I win?" he asks and I don't have the heart to tell him that he doesn't stand a chance at winning, that he should probably just concentrate on not embarrassing himself.
"Well the good news is that you don't necessarily have to sing in key, just hit the ups and downs of the song at the right time. You get a percentage score after every song and them at the end of the five songs..."
"K."
"You're sure you want to do this?" I ask again.
"No." He shakes his head with a look of terror on his face.
"Ready for an ass kicking Crosby?" Lizzie asks, picking up the mic on the pseudo stage, in front of the group that all came out to see her kick Sid's ass.
He looks at me with a nervous glance, then climbs to his feet, shakes it off and heads up to the front of the room. The guy has balls.
-.-
"Flip a coin to start? Winner's choice?" She asks me, waving the mic around in circles. She is soooo sure of herself, it's frustrating as hell.
"Sure," I agree and dig into my pocket to produce a shiny quarter. She calls out 'heads' as I flip the coin in the air and as it lands I silently beg it to be 'tails', so I don't have to run a risk of going first. If it's 'tails' I can make her go first and maybe heckle her a bit, throw her off her game and such. I lift my hand and sure enough, it's 'heads'. That's not fair. My hands are too sweaty from nervousness to flip a fucking coin.
"You're first…" She smiles smugly, handing me the mic. Damn, I knew she would do that.
"So what do I do?" I ask, looking down at the intimidating machine, with lots of buttons and nobs.
"Press this button for shuffle, then a song will come up and you can pick accept or next… you only get –"
"Five veto's, I know…"
"Okay... Ready?" She asks and I nod. I press the button as per her instructions. " 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You'…Frankie Vallie and the 4 seasons… an oldie but a goodie…" She reads off to the crowd. Thank god it's a song I know! Actually, I even kinda like this song.
"Take your seats class, I am gonna school you all…" I offer confidently, shoeing Liz away from the stage.
"Yeah, we'll see…" She rolls her eyes and I watch her take her seat. I make a decision as the music starts, that I am going to embarrass myself one way or the other, so I might as well have fun with it. And maybe knock her off her game a little bit…
"You're just too good to be true… can't take my eyes off of you… you'd be like heaven to touch, I wanna hold you soooo much…" As I sing, I walk in close to her, not breaking eye contact and see her shift awkwardly in her seat. Her eyes shift from me to the screen behind me, measuring my progress, then back and I do my best to hold them right on mine. It's clearly making her uncomfortable – and it's great!
"You're not hitting your queues… pay attention! If you're not going to take this seriously…" She hisses at me, pointing at the screen, as I get up right in front of her, pulling the words from memory.
"Actually, I think he's doing okay…" I hear James correct her and she shoots him a look that could wilt a flower. I just continue my so-called 'singing'.
"But if you feel like I feel, please let me know that it's real… you're just too good to be true, can't take my eyes off you…"
"I love you, baby," If you're going to go down, go do big right? I drop to my knees in front of her and belt it out, no hold back, all in. The guys let out a huge cheer as I lay it all out here.
"And if it's quite alright,
I need you, baby,
To warm a lonely night.
I love you, baby.
Trust in me when I say…"
She pushes me away, as I reach for her hand and flips me the bird. More cheering from the crowd, as Liz crossed her arms fiercely over her chest. I don't care I just continue singing happily.
"Oh, pretty baby,
Don't bring me down, I pray.
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, baby.
Let me love you."
As the song wraps up, I take a little bow and smile a cocky smile as Liz stands up and yanks the mic out of my hands. The guys make 'ohhhs' and laugh, as the level of competition has definitely passed the 'friendly' point
"Oh yeah, you think you're so good? Let's see what the computer says…" She threatens
"Yes, lets…" I agree, turning to the screen and hitting the 'score' button. I'm not nervous cause I know I killed that song
"98%! Boom!" Okay, I admit, not the best sportsmanlike conduct I've ever let shine through but… too bad. I kicked ass.
"What the fuck? This thing is a piece of shit…" Liz shakes her head in disbelief.
"Oh? Because I rock?" I laugh at her.
"Yeah, we'll see… beginners luck," Liz hisses then hits the 'next' button. "Ohhhh yeah, we'll see…" She rubs her hands together excitedly and grabs the mic. I can't imagine that's a good sign.
"What's that?" I look down at the screen and try to figure out what got her so excited. " 'Black Velvet'… Alannah Myles…"
"Oh shit…" I hear James swear and look up to see him shaking his head. Richards starts laughing hysterically, almost falling out of his chair, with some of the other guys. Clearly there is a joke here that I am not up to date on.
"What?" I ask, looking around the group.
"I think she seduced half the men in Kenora with this song once…" Richards laughs.
"Oh?" I look at James for confirmation
"You should sit down…" He offers slowly, pulling out a chair for me. "You may regret your 'showmanship'…"
"Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell,
Jimmy Rogers on the Victrola up high.
Mama's dancin' with baby on her shoulder
The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
The boy could sing, knew how to move, everything
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for…"
"Oh shit…" I breath, watching her sway through the first verse. She lets down her ponytail, and her long brown hair falls down over her shoulders. I didn't realize her hair was that long. The light catches the highlights and they seem to glow. She runs her hands through her hair and looks up at me with a coy little smile.
"Yup…" James nods and I finally understand the hold this woman seems to have on all these men. I don't know why I haven't seen it, or noticed it but … damn.
"Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style,
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please…"
She walks slowly over to the tables we are sitting at and systematically seduces every man there, running her fingers through their hair, dragging them across their chests, rubbing their biceps. I watch as each guy turns to freakin mush, some of them visibly adjusting themselves in their seats, some less discreetly then others. When she gets around the table to me, she lowers herself to the ground, using my chair as a wall, sliding down me as she sings the chorus. I can barely breathe, as she comes back up and leans into me, running her fingers through my hair, digging her fingers into my scalp. Out of the corner of my eye I can see James trying not to laugh and out the other side I see Richards looking like he is going to jump across the room and kill me. It's not like I am asking her to do whatever it is that she is doing… I mean, I am certainly not complaining…
"Up in Memphis the music's like a heat wave
White lightening, bound to drive you wild
Mama's baby's in the heart of every school girl
Love me tender" leaves 'em cryin' in the aisle.
The way he moved, it was a sin, so sweet and true
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for."
And did I mention, she can sing? Really well. She breaks into another round of the chorus and I visibly gulp.
"Every word of every song that he sang was for you
In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon, what could you do?"
She makes a little twirl and comes around to stand in front of me, pushing herself between my thighs and looks down at me. For the first time I realize she has the prettiest blue eyes. I reach out and put my hand on the side of her thigh as she leans into me, more out of instinct to help prevent her falling on me but then I realize, it's the same gesture I would use on a stripper giving me a lap dance – which is how this is starting to feel. Again, not complaining…
"If you please, if you please, if you please…"
I cannot take my eyes off her as she sings the last line of the song. She licks her lips at the end of the song and I find myself wondering what it would take to get her to lick something else. I should not be thinking this. I should shake my head or slap myself in the face or… put an ice cube down my shirt. But I can't move, cause Liz is lingering inches from my face, starring down at me and is it just me or…
"Umm… guys?" James interrupts, as Liz jumps back from me. "The waiter at the bar said you two needed to tone it down a bit… that it's a family establishment…"
"Sure… no problem," She smiles innocently, then turns to me. "Sid?"
"Nope… no problem…" I nod.
"It's your turn…" She hands me the mic.
"Yeah… I just need a minute…" I admit with a gulp, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment as I adjust the way I am sitting.
"Take your time…" She purrs and gives me a wink. Like that's going to help my boner go away. Watching her drop herself into Richards lap, on the other side of the table should help…