The applause died down as Laura once again began to sing another song. She didn't write any of her own songs, she performed mainly adult contemporary and pop songs. It didn't matter, though. The audience loved her interpretation of many songs they hear every day, and some songs they may not have heard in a while.
"Wow, she really knows how to work a crowd, Mis," Dave, the head bartender and owner of the establishment, said. Misty was a bartender there, and had convinced Dave to let Laura sing there to get public exposure. "I'll never doubt your word again. Laura's really got a voice on her!"
"Well, I should know. I live with her, and hear her singing in the shower all the time," Misty replied, laughing. "I just hope that performing here will open some doors for her. I keep telling her that her time will come. Twenty or thirty years from now some young woman will be singing her songs in a piano bar!" Dave smiled and nodded in agreement as he and Misty served up more drink orders, listening to Laura's songs as they worked.
"C'mon, let's go, already! I want to hit that new place that went in where Chico's used to be, and it's usually packed by now!" AJ said, trying to hurry up his fellow bandmates. "Y'all have gotten SLOW since we got home from touring. Let's get the lead out!"
"Bone, chill out, bro," Brian said, appearing from around the corner. "I'm leaving now to go pick up Leighanne. We'll meet you guys there, OK?" AJ nodded as Brian made his way out the door. "Hey, am I going alone?" he yelled again, trying to get Howie, Nick, and Kevin going. Nick, his girlfriend Patti, and Howie soon came down the steps.
"Uhhh, Bone, we got a problem--Kevin says he's not going," Howie said restlessly, as Nick and Patti took a seat on the couch. "Yeah, we tried everything, but nothing we say is working," Patti said, looking worried. "He just doesn't feel much like doing anything since he and Linda broke up."
"Oh, man, this happened last weekend too. Poor guy. I'll go talk to him," AJ said, calming down and walking upstairs to his guest room. Just as he was about to knock on the door, it swung open. Kevin stood, ready to go, but not necessarily enthused about doing so. "I just want you to know that I really don't feel like going, but I know you guys are right. It's been almost 3 months. I've got to get back into the swing of things again, no matter how hard it seems," he said, sighing heavily.
"Look, Kev, no one's forcing you to go. If you really don't want to--" Kevin interrupted AJ. "No, Bone, I'm sure. I'll go. If I don't, I know I'll be kicking myself for not going like I did last weekend. But, I am taking my own car, so if I don't feel much like staying, I can jet without having to bother any of you guys."
AJ smiled sympathetically at Kevin. He knew, as did the rest of the guys, what Kevin was going through. All of them have lost love at one time or another. "Alright, let's go then," AJ said, as they went downstairs and left to head to the new hot spot in Orlando.
Applause poured out into the night as the doors opened to Harmonies, the new piano bar in downtown Orlando. One by one, AJ, his girlfriend Whitney, Nick, Patti, Howie, and Kevin walked into the busy place. Not a bad atmosphere, Kevin thought, and it sounds like they've got a great singer performing too. Maybe tonight won't be so bad, after all.
Nick scanned the crowd. "Hey, there he is! At the bar," Nick said, noticing Brian and Leighanne already sitting at the bar, waiting for a table to clear so they could all sit. A new song started as everyone gathered around the bar.
"Wow, this really is the place to be! I can't believe all the people here," AJ said, taking Whitney's coat from her. "Yeah, I know," she said smiling. "My friend Misty bartends here. She's working tonight as a matter of fact. I told her we'd be coming in." Just then Misty returned to their side of the bar, smiling at Whitney.
"Hey girl! What can I get ya?" Misty said, leaning in to hear. "Ahh, Leighanne's drink looks good. I'll have whatever she's having." Misty smiled and nodded, acknowledging her. "And for you, sir?" she asked, looking at AJ. After looking at him for a few seconds, it dawned on her who he was. She then looked over to Brian, then to Nick, Kevin, and Howie, suddenly realizing why they looked so familiar. She was a big Backstreet Boys fan, after all. Whitney saw the look of surprise in her eyes, and chuckled. "See why I didn't tell you who I was seeing?" she said, winking at her. "Either you would have passed out, or you wouldn't have believed me," Whitney added, laughing.
"Well, I hope you won't be insulted that I have to go in the back room and freak out right now," Misty said laughing, a bit embarrassed. "I'll send Dave down to take the rest of your drink orders, OK?" Whitney smiled knowingly and watched her friend leave to take her break. AJ looked at his girlfriend strangely. "She's a big fan," Whitney said quickly, trying to explain her friend's actions. "She'll probably go in the back room, smoke like, one or 5 cigarettes, and she'll be just as calm and cool as before. Misty's really very nice."
"And pretty too." AJ and Whitney both looked over to Howie. Howie just sat there, looking to where Misty was rounding the corner to go take her break. He barely even blinked. "Uh-oh... D? Ohhh D-eee-eee???" AJ said, smiling. Howie snapped out of his trance and looked at them. "What? I just said she was pretty."
AJ and Whitney looked at each other and smiled knowingly, then went back to their conversation. "Hey you guys, not only does Misty work here, but her roommate works here too."
"Oh, really? Where is she? Is she working tonight?" Brian asked, as everyone looked around curiously. "Yeah, she's working tonight. She's the one up on stage, singing," Whitney said, as the song concluded.
All of their eyes looked up on stage to see Laura as she just finished up her set. "Thanks, y'all are great," she said. "I'm gonna take a little break, and I'll sing one more set in about 15 or 20 minutes, so stick around, OK?" Laura said, smiling. Everyone clapped again, but soon the crowd was drowned out by the sound of a jukebox.
"Laura, you're doing great, as always," Misty said, approaching the small stage. "Need any help?"
"Nah, I think we've got it," Laura said, as she stood up at the piano. A large dog appeared beside her at her feet. Laura reached down for his harness. "C'mon, Buck... to the bar," she commanded. Laura let the dog lead her way.
It was then that Kevin took notice of Laura, the young woman who's voice he noticed when he walked in. Not only did she have a pretty voice, but was a beautiful young woman to match. Kevin smiled as he watched Misty and Laura walk up to the bar. Nick noticed the dog walking with Laura. "Hey, Whit, what's with the dog?" he asked, motioning to where Misty and Laura were.
"Oh, didn't I tell you guys? Misty's roommate... Laura's her name... she's blind."
