Page 49 of Push & Pull
Was this what it was like to get swept up in the moment? In the music?I know what one of those things is like.Simone had often escaped into seemingly hospitable moments only to be swept away in a crazy sea of blissful sensations and bad ideas. Sometimes, she didn’t completely regret them. Other times, she woke up not knowing where she was or why a woman she would otherwise never look twice at was in her bed.
That wasn’t exactly like karaoke in front of a supportive audience, but Petra could very well be one of those women Simone came to regret. If she weren’t careful, anyway.
Most of the audience was rocking back and forth, shouting along with the lyrics or banging their hands against their tables. Petra wrapped an arm around Simone’s waist in a vain attempt to get her toward the front of the stage. Yet Simone was cautious. After all, this was Petra’s stage first and foremost. Seeing her perform from behind was almost as entertaining as being in the audience and watching this petite woman jump around and shout into her mic.
During one of the only lulls left in the song, Petra took Simone’s hand and said, “I’ll give you whatever you want later if you belt out this last chorus with me.”
“What’s that me…”
Simone was cut off by the thunderous adulation of the crowd as they gave it their all for the final chorus. So did Simone. She might as well.
Eat my ass, Zeta Nu.
“Thank you!” Petra blew kisses to the crowd at the end of the song. She then blew one to Simone, who was already hiding toward the back of the stage. “You are anawesomecity, Washington! Go Nationals!” That must have been for their new friend in front of the audience. The one losing his shit as he pointed to his sweatshirt and proclaimed,“I know them!”
Another song was already queued up for the MC to announce. Petra grabbed Simone’s hand to giddily lead her off the stage, past a duo of sisters who had prepared their own choreography for “The Time of My Life.” As they retreated to the quiet in the small backstage area, Petra wiped the sweat from her brow and offered a wet high-five to the woman who had barely begun to sweat.
“See? That’s fun!” Fingers jammed into Simone’s chest as Petra jumped up and down like an excited puppy. “Putting yourself out there and basking in the love of a crowd is something I could do full-time in another life. You know, if I could carry a tune.”
“Itisremarkable that your stage presence overrides your inability to hit the notes.”
“Because nobody cares how you sound in karaoke. It’s all about the energy.”
“Which you have plenty of.”
“I do tend to have lots of energy to burn, this is true.” Petra motioned for them to get out of the way of the MC. “Come on. I’ll buy you another drink. I could use a second beer after that, anyway. I’m parched!”
“The cider here is pretty trash. Make it a diet whatever and you’ll have a deal, though.” Besides, having her coke use thrown in her face only reminded Simone that she needed to moderate her alcohol intake, too. “I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll meet you back at our table, assuming it hasn’t been taken over by someone else.”
“You got it. Bathroom’s back that way, I think.” Petra waved before bounding toward the bar. “Diet whatever, coming right up!”
While Simonedidhave to use the bathroom, she was mostly going as an excuse to get some quiet and time to herself. This was made more pertinent as other bar patrons flagged her down to tell her “Good job!” and “I love that song!”
One man in particular popped out of the shadows to tell her what he thought.
“You’ve got a nice voice on you,” said the guy in a black hoodie and a surgical mask covering most of his face. “I really like those bird sounds you were making.”
“Uh, thanks.” Simone had to push past him to get to the hallway leading to the bathrooms. “I think.”Talk about creepy.
“Don’t suppose I could buy you a drink, beautiful. Wet that throat of yours.”
Oh, great! That was his angle, huh? “I’m here with someone else,” she said. “Thanks, though.” She only said that in a vain attempt to keep his anger in check. Simone had turned down plenty of men before – she knew how this usually went.
“That cute number in the tank top? I’ll buy her a drink, too.” Man, he wouldn’t quit, would he? “I’dreallylike to buyyoua drink.”
“Um…” Simone spotted the women’s room only a few more feet away. “Thank you, but no. Excuse me.”
Luckily for her, the single-stall restroom was unlocked and empty. Simone was quick to slip inside and turn the lock on the guy who was probably loudly breathing on the other side of the door.Doesn’t matter the caliber of bar.She thought that while fixing her hair in the mirror and turning toward the toilet.There’s always that one guy.
She took her time, giving that man plenty of time to lose interest. Maybe a line would form outside the door, scaring him away too.I can only hope.Besides, Simone appreciated the quiet of the restroom. She could barely hear the music in there, and that was a bonus right now.
Here’s also hoping that Petra’s having a good time without me.Simone wasthisclose to bumming a cigarette off someone. Blowing off steam was imminent, and if they weren’t heading back to their room at the Capitol Hill Quarters yet, then the least Petra could procure was a stiff drink or a smoke.
Since Simone had asked for a Diet Whatever…
“What the?” Simone jiggled the handle when she was ready to leave the restroom. “I know I unlocked it.” Yet the door refused to budge. Somewhere between catching her breath and wanting to leave, the door had jammed.
That wasn’t ominous atall.
