Nellie was trying her best not to trip as she walked with two baskets full of delicious hot food that she hadn't gotten a chance yet to touch and a gigantic tall glass with no top. Their food had come, but moments after The Birds had walked up on stage and begun adjusting mikes.
Appropriately, the Hopper was hopping. Nearly every table was full and chatter echoed throughout the restaurant.
"Shit." Abraham cursed under his breath once he realized. "We're too far away to watch properly."
Ali eyed the stage from her spot in the booth and surveyed the tables in between them. There were only a few small two-person tables open. "I don't think we'd be appreciated if we went and filled five small tables that could be filled with new customers." She said thoughtfully.
"Nonsense, Al." Aylin said. "We are customers."
Michael, who had been listening to all of this carefully, jumped out of the end of the booth. "We'll work this out." He began to help Nellie out, too. "Here, I have an idea." Nellie slid out, and Michael went over and picked up Ali and set her in her chair. "Blake." He waved to his best friend, who was just stumbling out of the booth, and they quickly ran off.
"Here, I'll tell Eliza to wait." Shanna said and dashed off towards the stage.
Michael and Blake returned, this time with a pretty waitress with blonde highlighted hair chopped off at her chin. She had with her a tray. She and Michael continued towards them while Blake moved in the direction of Shanna, and the two of them talked then ran off in opposite directions.
Michael and the waitress reached them. Her nametag read "Christina". "Christina has agreed to move us to a joint table farther ahead that Blake and Shanna are putting together," Michael told the group, "but we can't be a disturbance, understood?" He looked at Charlie and Aylin, the first looked away sheepishly and the second pretending to be innocent. "Okay, move your food!"
With that the gang had picked up their assorted dishes and began to move in the general direction of Blake of Shanna. Christina helped by moving things on her tray.
Presently, Nellie managed to avoid bumping into a very focused waiter with a sudden veer to the right. Five more steps and she found herself at the new table. She set her food down next to Abraham, the only one there, and dropped into a chair.
"You okay, Cocoa Puffs?" He asked her, for she looked extremely worn out.
Nellie smiled a bit wearily in response. "Who knew it took so much work to eat out in Chicago? In Washington they have this crazy policy where the customers actually sit down and wait for the waiters to bring them their food." She told him with an eye roll. Abraham laughed at her and was glad to know that she was okay.
Shanna pulled up a chair across from Nellie. "Well, welcome Nellie! I hate to say it, but it's always this crazy." She then picked up her spoon and began devouring her soup. She actually slurped it. She had a side salad too, but she paid no attention to it.
"Wow." Nellie laughed and grinned before turning to her own food hungrily. In the end it was Blake's smart food sense and her own preferences that had led her to order the Casbah Club Sandwich with a side of waffle fries and a pickle. For her drink she had listened to Shanna and Abraham and had gotten ginger lemonade. Both her sandwich and drink were mammoth-sized.
"You know Shan, when people have a main course and a side salad they usually eat the salad first." Abraham told her teasingly (she didn't even look up) while Nellie was still studying her sandwich and trying to figure the best way to pick it up. It resembled a stack of vegetables and grilled meat in between three inch thick slices of bread. The thing was bigger than her Pre-Calc textbook.
Michael came up to the table followed by Christina and took the drinks off her tray and began passing them around. "Thanks, Christina." He told the waitress, who nodded and left them. He sat next to Nellie and smiled when he noticed Shanna gulping down her soup. "Shan loves the Grasshopper because it's one of the few places where she can get authentic gumbo." He said to Nellie.
Blake appeared, pushing Ali. He parked her next to Shanna where she began to unload the food she had been carrying on her lap. She could carry more with both her lap and arms. "Blake, this is yours. Michael, here you go." She said as she passed them their food. Blake sat down next to Michael.
Aylin scrambled into the seat on Shanna's other side. "Hey all. Enjoying yourself, Shan?" She joked, elbowing the other girl gently in the arm.
Shanna swallowed, delicately wiped her mouth, and beamed. "Of course! I always enjoy myself." She glanced around. "Where's Charlie?"
Aylin chucked. "He had to make two trips because of all the food he ordered."
Just then, the man himself arrived and lowered into the chair next to Abe after setting down his armfuls of food. "Greetings." He said and completely ignored the eyebrows that were being raised at his behavior as he began to sort his baskets of food.
"Charlie." Abraham said quietly.
"What?" He looked up.
"What the heck did you order?"
"The finest food the Grasshopper has to offer, of course." He replied as he moved a plate to the left. To Aylin he murmured, "You'll soon find out that I am a man of very good taste."
She laughed and ran her fingers through her hair. Shanna looked at her incredulously. "No comment."Aylin said quickly.
"So Abe, to answer your question, I ordered some fried sesame chicken sliders for a light appetizer, the Hopping Chef Sandwich, the fanciest burger you will ever see, wrapped in fresh lettuce for its thematic green color and health benefits," he gestured to the noticeable green around the restaurant, "and the magnificent Grilled Cheese Caprese with five exquisite artisanal cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes, and a layer of spinach, all toasted on Asiago." Charlie finished and sighed happily before taking a dramatic sip of his iced tea.
Abraham's eyes were as wide as donuts, and he shook his head vigorously. "I have no idea how I should respond to that. Let's go with: you're an idiot who tries to be both a wild kid and a wise man and ends up being neither." Charlie rolled his eyes.
"Careful there Abe, you're sounding a little too much like Eliza's evil twin." Blake said with a smile.
"What's Eliza doing?" Nellie asked to no one in particular. Eliza was off to one side of the stage and appeared to be messing with a power box.
"What? Oh, she's turning on the lights." Michael answered after swallowing a bite of his BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger.
"What lights?" Ali asked, looking over her shoulder.
"You'll see." Blake told the newbies. They all watched the stage.
With a blink, stings of lanterns over the stage turned on and shone. They cast a warm, rosy glow over the stage. Some of the strands had just a yellow-orange glow coming from them, while others were multiple colors.
"Oh, they're starting!" Shanna whispered and turned around in her chair.
Sure enough, Eliza walked over to the mike and began to talk.
"Hello, everybody. My name is Eliza, and our band, the Telephone Birds, will be your musical entertainment tonight." She grinned out at the crowd. "I hope you enjoy." She walked over to the guitar stands, picked up a dark green electric one, strapped it around herself, and came back towards the mike.
Behind her, George was making chords on his bass but not actually strumming, Luke was looking anxiously about like he just couldn't wait to play, and Adam was looking back and forth between the keys and the guitar stands. Eliza said something to him, and he ran towards the keyboards. Eliza turned and looked at all of them, then Luke counted off from the set. Then, they were off!
The song started with a cool drum beat, gradually building. Then piano chords and guitar strums were added. After a quick intro, Eliza opened her mouth and began to sing.
I knew you were empty,
I knew you will always stand still,
I'm alone,
But oh how I've grown
Thought that he'd left me,
Thought that he'd burned out bright,
And I'm alone,
But somehow I'm alright.
Nellie was highly impressed with Eliza's deep tone and her multi-tasking during the first verse of the song. She noticed Shanna was swaying slightly as the band headed to the pre-chorus.
It seemed so easy,
Just to walk, just to run,
But if you leave me,
I can reappoint myself, with my true love, the one
The band hit the chorus, joining together for three chords and rocking out.
Just leave town,
I can sleep when you're not around
Thought it was myself that I'd found
"They're really good." Nellie whispered to Michael, who nodded and smiled. It was good dining music.
I knew you were empty,
I knew you will always stand still ,I'm alone,
But oh how I've grown
Thought that he'd left me,
Thought that he'd burned out bright,
And I'm alone,
But somehow I'm alright
It seemed so easy,
Just to walk, just to run,
But if you leave me,
I can reappoint myself, with my true love, the one
As impressed with as she was with Eliza, Nellie was really amazed when Adam started playing piano chords with one hand and shaking the tambourine in the other and hitting his leg with it. Seriously, it was a feat.
Just leave town
I can sleep when you're not around
Thought it was myself that I'd found
Lots of power pushed through Eliza's before gentle voice, building up for the ending.
I said just leave town
I can sleep when you're not around
Thought it was myself that I'd found
I gotta take another call right now.
The song finished with Eliza singing a capella, her voice echoing a tad bit. The gang broke into applause and Nellie joined them, as did various other people around the restaurant.
"Thank you." Eliza said smiling, "That was a song called Empty by Lianne la Havas."
Suddenly a group of people armed with horns walked towards the stage from where they had been hiding in the back. They mumbled their apologies as they came closer.
"Aw look, it's the horn section." Eliza said with a mischievous grin, drawing even more attention to them. "We missed you guys."
They grumbled at her but were pretty smiley. One of them, a tall trombone with Buddy Holly glasses, came up to the mike next to Eliza. "We're sorry Eliza, we had to tune." He said with a smile and some sincerity. There were three trumpets, two trombones, and two saxophones. They were getting settled when Eliza walked over to the mike.
"Thanks for your patience, everyone. Blake Jenner, we're in need of your guitar skills." Eliza said and wiggled her eyebrows at him.
"Well, duty calls." Blake said, jumping up from the table and running towards the stage.
Once everyone was ready, the ensemble did a rendition of Spoon's "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb," and Blake returned to the table. The band continued to do fun rock stuff like "I'm a Believer" and Fitz & the Tantrum's "LOV." They did a Young the Giant song (I Got), and The Shins (Fighting in a Sack). They also did a cool acoustic version of Best Coast's "Our Deal" with Shanna on back-up vocals.
At one point the band realized that they didn't have enough people to cover instruments. Eliza had an idea, of course. "Charlie Lubeck! You always enjoy impromptu performances, come up here!" She shouted and waved him up.
Charlie leaped up out of his chair. "This'll be fun!" He said and trotted towards the band.
Once he was on stage, Eliza told him the conditions. "The song is Lalita by The Love Language, which I know you know." He nodded happily. "You have a choice, guitar or vocals."
"Vocals, I don't know the guitar part." He replied easily.
"Okay, I'll do guitar. I'll help you with lyrics. We can share lead, if you like." Liza told him and handed him the tambourine. "But, you have to tambour."
Charlie grinned and accepted it. "Deal. Oh, and Liza?" She looked at him inquiringly while strapping on the guitar, "Thanks for letting me do this." He looked in the direction of Aylin, and Liza followed his gaze.
She grinned back at him. "I think I'm going to regret saying this, but we need you, Charles. Just do us a favor and try to somewhat follow the melody?"
They did a great job, Charlie singing lead quite effortlessly and running around on stage. Eliza helped him by adding her voice as a backup while playing the fun, upbeat guitar riff.
"Everyone give a hand for our rousing fill-in, Mr. Charles Lubeck." There was some polite clapping as he bowed and hurried offstage, then returned to the table and Aylin.
"How was I?" He asked her cheekily. "Good enough for a kiss?" Performing made him courageous.
"We'll see about that." She replied with a wink before turning abruptly to Shanna and starting a conversation about hair-styling.
Charlie's fist pumped in the air before he brought it down to say a quick, reverent prayer.
"Abraham Lim to the stage, Abraham Lim." Luke muttered into one of the microphones. Liza was talking to the horns.
Abraham shot a grin at everyone as he got up to leave. "Enjoy this. Especially you two." He said, gesturing to Michael and Nellie.
"What was that about?" Nellie asked Michael, but he just shrugged and furrowed his brow.
The band prepared themselves; Luke was at the drum set, Adam on keys and backup vocals, George with his bass, the horns lined up and jumpy, Eliza at a mike on a stand with the tambourine. She handed Abraham a different mike before talking into her own. "Ladies and gentlemen: Abraham Lim."
"Oh," Michael said with a slight smile, "this is the Motown I was promised." Nellie raised her eyebrows at him, but turned back towards the stage.
The horns started playing a low, repetitive but danceable beat. Luke did a magnificent Hawaii 5 O-esque drumroll as Eliza and Abe danced.
I never met a girl who makes me feel the way that you do
Abe sang with passion,
(it's alright)
Eliza spun around before singing the back up with a huge grin.
Whenever I'm asked who makes my dreams real
I say that you do
(you're outta sight)
So fee fi fo fum
While watching Abraham perform, Nellie suddenly realized why Michael wanted his stage name to be Snap Crackle Pop. On the stage, he was fierce. "Get Ready" was the perfect song for him.
Look out baby 'cause here I come.
And I'm bringing you a love that's true so get ready
Michael reflected that Abraham was a good person to sing Motown, because he was plenty soulful. Next to him, Eliza was having too much fun dancing and doing motions.
So get ready
I'm gonna try to make love to you so get ready
So get ready here I come.
I'm on my way.
Nellie sighed. It just looked like so much fun.
If you wanna play hide and seek with love let me remind you
(it's alright)
The loving you're gonna miss and the time it takes to find you
(it's outta sight)
So fiddle-lee-dee fiddle-lee-dum
Look out baby 'cause here I come.
And I'm bringing you a love that's true so get ready
So get ready
I'm gonna try to make love to you so get ready
So get ready here I come.
I'm on my way.
Liza and Adam danced like spies while one of the saxophones soloed. They smiled at each other.
All my friends shouldn't want me to I understand it
(be alright)
I hope I'll get to you before they do the way I planned it
(be outta sight)
So twiddle-dee-dee twiddle dee dum
Look out baby 'cause here I come.
And I'm bringing you a love that's true so get ready
So get ready
I'm gonna try to make love to you so get ready
So get ready here I come.
I'm on my way.
Get ready 'cause here I come, boy.
Get ready 'cause here I come, boy.
Get ready 'cause here I come, boy.
When they finished the crowd enthusiastically clapped and Abe grabbed Liza's hand and they lifted them in success. "Thanks, Abe." Eliza told him as he left the stage. He turned around and blew her a kiss as he ran. She smiled and put her hands to her heart knowingly. Then she walked over to Adam. "You ready to sing?"
He smiled nervously at her and shrugged. "I honestly can't believe I'm doing this. I can't believe you're letting me do this."
"That should be comforting," She told him, "Would I let you sing if you didn't sound good?" He shrugged again. She turned serious and touched his arm. "You'll be great, I know it. Be confident."
He shook his head. "Why do you have so much faith? What if I totally screw up this good thing we've got going?" He looked at her with concerned and slightly shy puppy eyes. This seemed to be a hard thing for him to ask.
She tilted her head to the side, like she wasn't sure how to explain it to him. "Adam, do you know how many times you sing in front of people? You do it all the time, just unofficially." She shook her head and looked at him. "Your talent isn't going to suddenly vanish when you're on stage. If you forget the words, I'll back you up. You just need to relax and enjoy the attention."
"I might be able to do that." He looked out at the audience, then back at her with a tiny smile. "But still, what if I mess up horribly?"
Her hand moved from his arm to his hand, which she squeezed. "I'll cover you." She gave him a little smile before letting go and moving to the drum set.
Luke was standing at the ready with an electric guitar. Adam picked up his acoustic guitar and sat on a stool behind a mike stand. He glanced back at Eliza, who smiled, and then back at the crowd. He started strumming his guitar and eventually began to sing The Fratellis' "Whistle for the Choir", a slower song than one would've expected from him. After about a verse, Luke joined him on the electric and Eliza drummed gently with brushes and harmonized with Adam. He kept glancing back at her, as if to make sure she was still there. She smiled encouragingly at him, and eventually he began to smile too. At one point, Luke soloed on guitar while Adam showed off his impressive talent of whistling.
When they'd finished, Adam grabbed Eliza's shoulders as she got up from the set and shook her. "Elizabeth! I did it!" He face had a giant grin plastered across it.
"Did I ever doubt you?" Eliza said with a shake of her head and a knowing smile. "Now get your guitar again, we have two more songs to do."
The next song they did was "That Girl" by Noisettes, which was fun and energetic and sort of similar to the girl group music of the '60s, except Adam sang backup while Liza sang lead while playing the piano.
"Miss Shanna Henderson, please return to the stage. Michael, you're on deck." Eliza said into the mike as the band set up for their last official song, "Paris Nights/New York Mornings" by Corinne Bailey Rae. It was Shanna's favorite to sing backup on.
This meant that Shanna ended up dancing and facing backwards with the tambourine at the beginning of the song. Very old school of her. Eliza was playing keyboards again, though it was technically organ, Luke was rocking the drums, Adam was on the electric guitar, George was holding down the fort with the bass, and the horns were ready to play at any moment.
Nellie sighed. She'd been impressed with the band and their set the whole night, but now she was at the point where she wanted to be up there with all of her friends. She was immensely glad she'd come along as Michael had suggested. She sort of understood the appeal now; it was kind of magical, with the lanterns casting their glow and the aroma of delicious food wafting. The Hopper was cozy, no doubt. But she wanted to be up there performing, expressing herself! It looked fun, and God knows she has a lot to express.
After The Birds had finished, Michael got up from the table. "See you on the other side." He told Nellie with a smile and wiggled his eyebrows before turning around and striding towards the stage. Nellie turned back to her massive heap of waffle fries.
Shanna soon returned, but no other band members did. "Why are they still up there?" Nellie asked her once she had gotten comfortable in her chair again.
"Liza and Michael are going to sing a duet together, which is going to be totally adorable, just like you'd expect." Shanna replied with a slight grin and an eye roll.
Aylin smiled. "Where did they get this perfect sibling relationship? I don't get along with anyone in my family that well." She took a sip of her Cherry Lemonade through her straw. "The two of them are like best friends."
Blake looked slightly offended. "Eliza is not Michael's best friend." He said heatedly.
"Sure she isn't." Abraham said in an unconvincing tone and patted his shoulder.
"Guys, they appear to be starting." This was from Ali, down at the other end of the table.
Up on stage, Michael was standing at the ready with his guitar strapped on, Eliza was next to him with a tambourine, Adam was on the drums, George hanging out with the bass, and Luke and the horns were shuffling off the stage as quietly as possible. Which meant that they were just a normal level of noisy.
Once they had left the stage, Michael moved up to the microphone and shot the audience a smile. "Hey, everyone. I'm Michael, and I'm gonna be singing with Eliza. She and her band have done a fantastic job tonight." He looked over at her, and she walked up to the mike to add something.
"A heartfelt thanks to the Grasshopper for letting us play here, and thanks to you all for coming and dining here." She said sincerely.
"And thanks for listening." Michael added. "Liza, let's start with the Beatles."
He counted off, and then the two broke out into song.
It's been a long time
Now I'm coming back home
The two started, harmonizing, while Eliza tamboured.
I've been away now
Oh how, I've been alone
The rest of the band joined in.
Wait till I come back to your side
We'll forget the tears we've cried
But if your heart breaks
Don't wait, turn me away
And if your heart's strong
Hold on, I won't delay
Michael was singing the main part, and was singing it very well as Eliza sang the top harmony and danced with the tambourine.
Wait till I come back to your side
We'll forget the tears we've cried
I feel as though
You ought to know
That I've been good
As good as I can be
And if you do
Michael sang on his own in his passionate, smooth voice. Nellie sort of adored it.
I'll trust in you
And know that you
Will wait for me
Eliza finished the verse, singing at her brother. The two were constantly looking at each other, judging the performance and pulling back and adding their voices. They had good balance as a duo.
It's been a long time
Now I'm coming back home
I've been away now
Oh how, I've been alone
Wait till I come back to your side
We'll forget the tears we've cried
I feel as though
You ought to know
That I've been good
As good as I can be
And if you do
I'll trust in you
And know that you
Will wait for me
They looked like they were having so much fun, and like they did this all the time. They probably did, honestly.
But if your heart breaks
Don't wait, turn me away
And if your heart's strong
Hold on, I won't delay
Wait till I come back to your side
We'll forget the tears we've cried
It's been a long time
Now I'm coming back home
I've been away now
Oh how, I've been alone
They sang the last chord looking at each other, both with small smiles as Liza and the band tamboured out.
"Yes!" Michael shouted as he moved his guitar to give his sister a hug. She smiled sweetly at him.
"Thanks for that. Okay, we'll leave the stage now." She said as she let go and moved to hustle the boys off the stage.
A little while later, she landed in Michael's former chair next to Nellie. Michael was busy singing a version of Coldplay's "Trouble", but Nellie managed to tear her eyes away to give Eliza a hug.
"You were amazing!" Nellie told her as she hugged her.
Eliza smiled wearily and nodded. "Thanks. I'm glad you're enjoying tonight." She gave Nellie a smile before whispering happily with the others.
Michael did quite well with no other instruments besides his guitar. He covered Mumford & Sons, sang "Loving You" by Paolo Nutini, sang Ray LaMontagne, and "Give it Up" by Amos Lee.
"So this next song is for all the Motown lovers out there. And a person whom I try to be there for, but she is always there for me." Michael said as he adjusted his guitar and waved Adam up onto the stage. "I need a little help for this one." Adam was armed with the tambourine (of course) and the woodblock. Michael grinned, prepared himself, and started strumming.
Now if you feel that you can't go on (can't go on)
Because all of your hope is gone (all your hope is gone)
And your life is filled with much confusion (much confusion)
Until happiness is just an illusion (happiness is just an illusion)
And your world around is crumbling down, darlin'
Michael and Adam were jamming and smiling, but their smiles were nothing compared to Eliza's. She hadn't stopped smiling since Michael had started singing and had one hand clapped over her mouth.
(Reach out) Come on girl reach on out for me
(Reach out) Reach out for me
Hah, I'll be there with a love that will shelter you
I'll be there with a love that will see you through
When you feel lost and about to give up (to give up)
'Cause your best just ain't good enough (just ain't good enough)
And your feel the world has grown cold (has grown cold)
And your drifting out all on your own (drifting out on your own)
And you need a hand to hold, darlin'
"How are they managing to do an acoustic version of this song?" Eliza asked, a mystified look in her eyes. She loved the Four Tops.
(Reach out) Come on girl, reach out for me
(Reach out) Reach out for me
Hah, I'll be there to love and comfort you
And I'll be there to cherish and care for you
(I'll be there to always see you through)
(I'll be there to love and comfort you)
I can tell the way you hang your head (hang your head)
You're not in love now, now you're afraid (you're afraid)
And through your tears you look around (look around)
But there's no peace of mind to be found (no peace of mind to be found)
I know what your thinking
You're a loner, no love of your own, but darling
Nellie sighed happily. How sweet was it that Michael sang a song to Eliza for being a good sister? Ah, he really was as seemingly perfect as Abraham had originally described.
(Reach out) Come on girl reach out for me
Reach out, just look over your shoulder
I'll be there to give you all the love you need
And I'll be there you can always depend on me
I'll be there
Eliza whooped when the song was over. She made a heart with her hands and nodded at Michael when they caught each other's eyes.
Michael continued to perform, singing everything from Ben Folds to John Mayer to classic Sam Cooke. He did Blues, covering Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and Otis Redding. He also did a couple of originals, which were very impressive lyrically and musically. By this point, Nellie couldn't help but be smitten. Michael was a math nerd who was adorable, wrote songs, and dedicated them to his sister. And he sang so well, with so much heart! By the time Michael finished his set, Nellie was blown away.
She was clearing away her dishes (the food had been incredible), when Michael came over to the table, guitar on his back. Eliza immediately smothered him in a hug and everyone gathered around to talk and arrange rides.
"So Nellie, a.k.a. Coco Puffs, how was your first time at the Grasshopper?" Blake asked her while they were on the way out the door.
Nellie smiled softly. "I loved it, Captain Crunch."
I don't know why, but I felt like ending that way. Hello everyone! I'm sorry about the late update, as usual, but I guess that's just how these things work when you have a life. This was my favorite scene to write so far, so I hope everyone enjoyed it! If you don't know any of the songs, I highly suggest you look them up and listen to them. They are fantastic. This seemed to be a long chap to me, so apologies if it was overly long. Also, it was harder to write Michael's music than The Birds' because he isn't a figment of my imagination and I wasn't sure what he would do. I tried my best. On another note, I'm so excited about this new duo thing Nellie and Michael have going on in real life! Thanks for reading! Review! Suggest! Enjoy!