They returned to the arena holding hands. AJ looked up from his magazine.

"Hey, lovebirds."

Nick rolled his eyes. "Please, AJ, give me a break. Isn't that a bit childish?"

AJ returned to his reading. "Well, at least I'm not afraid of the dark."

Nick turned bright red from embrassment. "That's completely---- totally-- uh--"

"Irrelevant," Karen said finishing his sentence.

He scratched his head. "What does that mean?"

Karen ran her hands through her hair. "You really are a natural blonde, aren't you?"

He wrapped his arms around her. "Yes, I am. And from that sassy tongue of yours I can tell you're a natural redhead."

"That's correct."

The rest of the performers entered. Kevin took off his jacket. "Time for soundcheck, guys. Ready to run through your number, Karen?"

"Sure."

Nick walked her to the stage. "Are you gonna' sing some of Leslie's old songs?"

"No, yesterday Kev came up with some songs for me. He's gonna' play piano for me tonight."

"What songs?"

"'My Heart Stays With You' and.... promise not to laugh?"

"Promise."

"Sandra Dee."

"From 'Grease?'"

"Yup."

"Sounds cool. Wait. Didn't Howie sing 'Heart'?"

"Yeah, but he sings so high I can sing it, too. And change the words a bit."

"I'm sure you'll be perfect."

"Thanks."

They stepped on stage where they were joined by Kevin. Who explained the situation to Karen. "Our keyboardist Dennis has the sheet music to your songs. Everything's ready for 'ya, darlin'."

"Thanks, Kevin,"

Dennis walked up to Karen. "Would you mind running your number?"

"No problem."

Nick hugged her. "I'm gonna' go take a seat, and watch you perform."

All the guys listened closely. She began. "Boy, I miss you, and it's only been one day since you've been away--"

AJ's jaw dropped. "She sounds way better than Howie."

"Much better to look at, too," Kevin added.

"And so very YOUNG," Nick interjected.

Kevin chuckled. "Relax, Nick, I'm not invading your space."

Karen belted out the chorus. Brian entered. "Dang, she's powerful."

AJ nodded. "She sure is."

Howie and Pollyanna came up beside them. Pollyanna turned to Howie. "She sure does sound good. She can really belt those notes."

"She sounds better on my song, than I do," Howie laughed.

The group shouted and cheered as she finished.

Brian tapped Nick on the shoulder. "May I tell you something? Well, it's not just me, but the others, too."

"Sure."

"Stick with Karen," Brian said. "She's a great girl."

AJ spoke up. "She's very pretty. And redheads are hard to find."

"And she's very sweet. She cares a lot about Leslie," Howie stated.

Kevin cleared his throat. "And last but not least, she's not a bimbo."

Nick stared at the redheaded singer. "For your information I plan on sticking with her. If she wants me. She's perfect. Beautiful, talented, caring-- she's everything I could ask for."

AJ glanced at her chest. "I hear 'ya, man."

Nick glared.

Howie faced Pollyanna. "Ignore AJ."

She nodded. "I plan on it."

"So, how was your date?" Brian asked Nick.

"Great," Nick beamed. "She is so sweet. And she has the softest lips ever."

"Really?"

Nick blushed. "Yeah."

Karen danced around as she performed "Sandra Dee"

"She's a true performer," Kevin commented. "She's gonna' go places."

"She's already found a place in Nick's heart," AJ snickered.

Brian smiled. "Maybe she should be 'Rizzo' on Broadway, she use to do a lot of acting."

"And it shows," Howie added.

Karen held her last note and then slid into the splits.

Everyone spoke in unison as they said, "Ouch."

>>>>>

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