Passion
By: Lara
“Hey, girls!” Lisa cheerfully breezed into the
dressing room. She plopped her makeup case onto the vanity and began to change
into her first costume.
“You’re late,” Nikole snapped, reaching around Lisa
for her own costume.
“No…she just doesn’t need as much time to look good
as YOU do, Nikole,” Kelley said sweetly.
Nikole glared at her and sat down at a mirror far across the room. “God,
what a fruit loop.” Kelley carefully applied eyeliner.
“I was shopping for curtains. Our apartment is gonna be so cute!” Lisa put in sparkling rhinestone earrings.
“You’re so lucky. That Alex McLean is such a
sweetie,” Lara said with a sigh. “You and AJ were MADE for each other.” She
deftly pulled on pink tights.
“Moving in together was SUCH a good idea,” Lisa
said, strategically placing feathers in her hair. “I mean, our schedules are so similar to begin with.”
“Lucky,” Kelley said wryly, standing up and
adjusting the neckline of her outfit.
“I’ve tried to convince Howie that the combined salaries of a showgirl
and a janitor would make rent a lot easier, but he won’t bite. He says we
wouldn’t see each other any more than we do now, with our conflicting
hours.” Kelley frowned at herself in
the mirror. Her boyfriend Howie was one of the janitorial staff at the club,
and he worked afternoons while she didn’t get to work until around
seven-thirty.
“I think he’s just afraid of commitment. You need
to give him an ultimatum.” Lara quickly
piled her hair up and pinned it.
Lisa snorted and Kelley said, “You’re one to
talk.” She straightened Lisa’s
feathers.
Lara blushed.
“Lance will be here tonight. He
promised!”
“Lara, has he EVER asked you out on one of your
nights off?” Lisa asked gently.
“No…but he’s very busy. He comes in when he can…and
he buys me gifts!”
“Lara, he runs his own management company. If he
cares so much, why hasn’t he offered you a record deal?” Kelley countered. Lara sighed.
“Kelley, I’m a chorus girl. I’m background. I’m not
a solo performer…I’m not as good as Lisa. I’m happy where I am.”
“Whatever,” Kelley sighed.
“At least he’s not a janitor,” Lara said
snidely. She was tired of defending her
relationship with Lance, even though she knew Kelley’s intentions were good.
“Bitch,” Kelley snapped.
“Enough,” Lisa said, standing between them. “Saucer of milk for two?”
Lara and Kelley glared at each other but said
nothing more. There was a knock on the
door. “Everyone decent in here?” A male voice said.
The twenty or so women in the room burst into
giggles. “Come on in, AJ!” One girl shouted.
“We’re as decent as you want us to be!” Another
added. Lisa pushed her way through to
the door and opened it a crack.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey yourself.”
AJ gave her a gentle kiss. “I
missed you.”
“We just saw each other all day!” Lisa said, laughing.
“Not the same.
Watching you from behind the bar…seeing you shaking it for these
guys…not the same.” AJ shook his
head. Lisa slipped out the door and
straightened his tie. “I never thought
this cabaret vaudeville fad would really stick…but you’re a star.”
“Hardly,” she said, kissing his cheek. “I’m just a chorus girl.”
“The best one in this hole. And we’ll get you out
of here soon enough.”
“I love you, AJ.”
“I love you too, baby.” He gave her a more passionate kiss. “I gotta get out there. Shift starts soon. Oh…and tell Lara her Sugar Daddy called and made a reservation.
Why is she wasting her time on him?”
“Because you’re taken,” she said loyally. “I’ll
give her the message.”
“I’ll see you soon.” AJ gave Lisa one more kiss and went back out to his job behind
the bar.
“There he is!” Lara exclaimed, peeking out around
the curtain. “Isn’t he handsome?” She
watched Lance walk to a special table in the front of the room.
“Yeah…for a snake,” Kelley replied. Lara turned to glare at her.
“Full house tonight,” Lisa remarked, trying to keep
the peace. “Hey, Kel…there’s Howie!”
“Where?”
Kelley shoved Lara out of the way and looked over Lisa’s head. “Aww!
He told me he had things to do tonight and wouldn’t be here!”
“Probably had to wash out his mop bucket,” Lara
said snidely.
Kelley had her high-heeled shoe pulled back and
ready to kick when a stage manager walked up.
“Okay, girls, five minutes.
Lisa, we need you up on the staircase.”
“Break a leg, girls,” Lisa said, sighing as she
went up the stairs to the platform where she started her number.
“Hey, Joe, can you finish things up here?” AJ asked
the other bartender as he placed a few more bottles of wine in the cooler. “I need to go do something quick.”
“Sure, McLean.
Just don’t be watching your girl and forget to come back,” Joey Fatone
said with a grin.
“I’ll be back before the first number starts,” AJ
promised, flipping up the counter and walking out.
“You’d better,” Joey said. He turned to an early patron. “How you doin’? What can I getcha?”
AJ wandered to the cheaper seats in the back of the
room. “Hey, D. Didn’t expect to see you
here tonight.”
“Yeah, well, Kelley has that solo and I wanted to
see it. I thought I’d surprise her.”
Howie Dorough smiled up at his best friend. “How’s it going?”
“Great.
Lisa’s all excited about this new place. When are you guys gonna do that?”
“It’s not right for us, Aje,” Howie said, shaking
his head. “We never see each other.”
“But when you CAN see each other, you’re in the
same place,” AJ pointed out. “She’s not
gonna hang around forever.”
“Maybe not…she can do better than a janitor,” Howie
muttered.
“D, shut the hell up, okay? You’re better then that
and you know it. I can pull some strings…get you behind the bar…then you’d at
least be working the same hours.”
“Nah. Not
my thing. But thanks.”
“Wanna beer?”
Howie nodded. “Cool. I’ll send
one over to you.”
AJ started back to the bar. The manager stopped him. “McLean…Mr. Bass is in tonight.”
“Yes, I saw,” AJ said, trying his best not to roll
his eyes. He thought Lance Bass was a
total loser for the way he treated Lisa’s good friend, but of course he
couldn’t say anything.
“Make sure the usual is ready…champagne…wine…oh…and
it will be quite a large party tonight…guess he’s wining and dining someone
new.”
“Yes, sir.” AJ turned to leave.
The manager snapped his fingers. “Oh, I
forgot. McLean, talk to Eddie backstage
and make sure the girls pay special attention to that table during the
breaks. Lara, as usual…Mr. Bass likes
her…and, um…Kelley…Erika…Deanna…oh…and send Lisa. They love talking to the stars.”
AJ frowned.
He assumed the manager knew he and Lisa were an item, but he couldn’t be
sure. He didn’t like the idea of Lisa
fawning all over customers, but if it had to be done… “Yes, sir,” he said
finally.
“Good man.”
The manager clapped him on the back.
“Why the hell couldn’t discos have come back in
style?” AJ griped as he went back behind the bar. “This is like a freaking whorehouse sometimes…damn cabaret
shit. Might as well rename this place
the Moulin Rouge.”
“What’s up?” Joey wandered over.
“My blood pressure in a little while,” AJ
muttered. “The Snake is here…with a
large group to follow.” Joey
smiled. He knew all about AJ’s opinion
of Lance Bass. “Make sure the usual is
ready and…can you do me a favor?” Joey
nodded. “Go back and tell Eddie that some of the girls need to go kiss ass at
that table on break. We know Lara will…but he wants Kelley, Erika, Deanna and
Lisa to go, too.”
“Lisa?”
Joey’s brown eyes widened.
“Don’t get me started,” AJ said.
“Gotcha.”
All anger flew from AJ’s mind when he saw Lisa
appear at the top of the staircase. Lara and Kelley and the other chorus girls
did their thing at the bottom, and he gave them an appreciative grin, but his
eyes were on his girl. She was so good. She could dance, and she sang like a
dream. Her hair was accented by the
feathers, and her black and pink dress did wonders for her already gorgeous
body. He ignored a few customers, but
he couldn’t help it. Joey would cover for him, and this was his baby. His
Lisa.
She was in the first, third and last numbers of the
first set, and by that last number AJ was so busy at the bar he could hardly
watch her. He knew she’d do well though; Lisa was a professional. The waiter working Lance Bass’ table came
back constantly, and AJ wouldn’t have traded places with him for the world.
Lance often brought in prospective clients, and he wanted them treated well…and
treated well immediately.
“Okay…girls…change into costume for the second set,
please!” Eddie the stage manager yelled.
“Deanna…Erika…Kelley…Lisa…Lara…over here please.” The other girls hurried back to their
dressing rooms as the five who had been singled out crowded around him. “You gotta work a table.”
“Dammit,” Kelley snapped. “I hate this shit.”
The other girls grumbled agreement. “It’s Lance Bass’ table.”
Lara let out a shriek of delight, and Erika and
Deanna smiled. Lance Bass might be
pompous, but he tipped well. Kelley and
Lisa sighed. Lisa knew AJ wouldn’t be
happy, and Kelley thought the same about Howie. She wasn’t often asked to
“entertain,” so it figured that the one night she was asked, Howie was there.
“Are you sure that…” Kelley began.
“Yes, I’m sure. Get out there.” Eddie lightly shoved them towards the stage
door.
“You owe us so big!” Kelley hissed at Lara.
“WHAT? It’s
not my fault!” Lara protested, but a
smile lit up her face as she led the others to Lance’s table.
“Lara…Sweetheart, you are a vision.” Lance Bass stood up. His dark green suit intensified the light
green of his eyes, and his short blond hair was moussed to perfection. “Ladies…a pleasure as usual. I wanted my friends to see up close the
beauty we could only see from afar on stage.”
“You’re sitting in the front row,” Kelley murmured,
but he didn’t hear her. She and the
other girls smiled gracefully as they took seats around the table. Lance pulled Lara to sit on his lap.
“I missed you,” she told him, and he kissed her
cheek.
“I’m all yours tonight, my love.” He gave her a passionate kiss as his hand
slid up her thigh. She giggled. “I have
a present for you, too…but I don’t have it here.” She pouted. “Don’t give
me that sad face, Sweetheart. A friend of mine is picking it up and bringing it
with him. There’s a new client…a writer…I just brought him on board and this
dinner is to celebrate.” Lance snapped
his finger at the waiter. “We’ll need
more glasses.”
“No thank you, Mr. Bass,” Lisa said politely. “I
don’t drink while I’m working.”
“Very wise,” Lance said approvingly. “Don’t want to mess up those perfect vocal
chords.”
They all chatted for a moment, then the girls
stood. “I’m sorry, Lance, but we have to go,” Lara said sadly.
“That’s all right. I’m glad you could spare time
for us.” He whispered something in her
ear that made her blush. “We’ll see you
later then?”
Kelley and Lisa looked at each other. “Well, Mr. Bass, we really…”
“Please.
I’d like my new client to meet you.”
He slipped one hundred dollar bills in their hands before they could
protest.
“See you later,” Kelley said weakly, turning and
walking to the stage door before she could search out Howie in the crowd.
Lisa did her solo, then allowed the chorus girls to
dance in front of her as she patiently waited through her sixteen bar break in
the music. Her eyes wandered through
the room, and she barely winked at AJ, who blew her a kiss. She looked towards Lance’s table, frowning.
Everyone at the table had been very kind, and hadn’t tried anything, but she
still didn’t like that part of her job.
She noticed Lance standing and walking to the door. His smile was broad as he shook the hand of
a handsome man with dark hair. A
diamond ring flashed on the man’s pinky finger, and he smiled as he laughed at
something Lance said. He followed Lance
back to the table as he looked up at the stage. His emerald gaze met Lisa’s; even from the bright lights of the
stage she could see he was entirely focused on her…and he seemed to like what
he saw. He looked her over from head to
toe, and his smile widened.
Lisa wasn’t surprised when she and the other girls
were asked to return to Lance’s table during the longer break between their
second and third sets. Lara almost ran
to the table.
“Here she is. My baby.” Lance gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek as he slipped an arm
around her waist. “Lara, this is Kevin Richardson. He’s a writer who just
signed with us.”
“Hello, Mr. Richardson.” Lara shook hands with the
handsome man. He smiled at her, and his
eyes flickered over to Lisa. “Oh, this
is Kelley, and Deanna, and Erika…and this is Lisa.”
“Lisa.” The
name flowed off of Kevin Richardson’s tongue as he held out his hand. “My very great pleasure.”
“Hello.”
Lisa calmly shook his hand, though his touch sent shivers down her
spine. His green eyes devoured her, and
she wasn’t sure she minded. He held out
a chair for her, and she sat. He immediately took the seat next to her.
“You were wonderful,” Lance told Lara, nibbling on
her neck to make her giggle.
“Thank you…but Lisa was best,” Lara said
loyally. “You were so good in that
number, Lees.”
“It’s a hard one,” Lisa admitted. “But I like a
challenge.”
“Me too,” Kevin commented. “Champagne?”
Lisa started to protest, but something in his eyes
quelled any refusal she might have attempted.
“All right. Thank you.”
Kelley excused herself from the table and headed to
the side door. The manager grabbed her
arm. “And where do you think you’re
going?”
“Um…restroom?”
Kelley said, pulling her arm out of his hold. “Is that okay?”
“Make it quick,” the man barked. “Mr. Bass won’t like it.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck WHAT Mr. Bass likes and
doesn’t like,” Kelley grumbled as she slipped out the door.
“Hey there, pretty lady.” Another hand grabbed her arm.
“I said I…Howie!”
Kelley threw herself into Howie’s arms.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw you out there.”
“You were wonderful,” Howie told her, kissing
her. “But what were you doing at that
table?”
Kelley groaned and rolled her eyes. “That’s Lara’s loser Sugar Daddy. He wanted
us to come over and “entertain,” so there I am. I hate it. I’d rather be entertaining you.”
“You know I love you, Kel, right?” Howie said
softly.
“Yes, I know. And I love you too.” Kelley gave him another kiss. “But I have to
get back.”
“Okay…I’m probably gonna head on home. I’ll call
you tomorrow okay?”
“Okay.” They
shared one last kiss and Kelley slipped back into the room.
“Lisa, you have an amazing voice. What are you
doing wasting your talent here?” Kevin asked her, filling her glass for a
second time.
“I don’t mind it here. I know everyone, the
arranger works wonders on the music for me…and I have good friends here.” Lisa
smiled at Lara, who was playfully trying to keep Lance’s hands out of her
skirt.
“Speaking of which…I believe I was asked to pick up
a gift for the young lady?” Kevin
raised his voice so Lance would hear him.
“Oh, yes. A
present for you, my sweet.” Lance took
the box that Kevin pulled from his jacket pocket. Lara squealed and opened it.
“Oh…Lance…” she gasped as she pulled out the
diamond and sapphire necklace. “This is
beautiful!”
“Not half as beautiful as you,” Lance murmured,
smiling as he fastened it around her neck. “You like it?”
“I LOVE it! Thank you!” She hugged him and they
shared a passionate kiss.
Lisa sighed.
Another gift to buy her time.
Kevin watched her carefully.
“You don’t approve?” He asked
quietly.
“I don’t approve of buying people’s affections,”
she replied just as quietly. He smiled approvingly.
“Very wise.”
He toasted her with his glass.
“You okay, Aje?”
Joey asked AJ as he shook a martini.
“Yeah…” AJ said with a sigh, slamming down a bottle
of beer. The customer jumped. “Sorry.”
“Looks like your girl is getting some extra special
attention over there.” Joey nodded his head in the direction of Lance’s table.
“Really? I hadn’t noticed,” AJ lied. His eyes had
been glued on that table all night. The tall dark guy was sitting closer to
Lisa then AJ would prefer.
“So…can I come back after the show? Take you out
for dinner…or should I say breakfast?”
Kevin asked Lisa.
“Thank you, Mr. Richardson, but…”
“Kevin. You can call me Kevin.”
“Kevin…thank you…but I have plans already.” Lisa stood to go backstage. The other girls
had already left the table.
“Tomorrow night? Or your next night off…I could
take you out to dinner, we could see a movie…”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Richardson, but I’m busy.”
Kevin placed a hand on Lisa’s arm. “Lisa, I write well. VERY well. I’ve won
Grammies and Academy Awards for my songs.
I could write for you. I could convince Lance to sign you…and we could
make beautiful music together.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Richardson, but I really don’t
think we would harmonize well together.”
Lisa smiled up at him and tried to move. He held her once more.
“Lisa, you are a beautiful woman, full of
energy…exactly the kind of woman I want to sing my songs.” His hand traced the curve of her jaw, then
slid down her neck. His green eyes
studied her face as he let his hand trail over her breast. “We would be so good together…”
“Get your hands off her, asshole!” A voice behind him said quietly. Kevin
turned around and smiled.
“I believe this was a private conversation.”
“I believe I asked you to take your hands off my
girlfriend,” AJ snapped, shoving Lisa out of the way and facing Kevin head-on.
“Gimme another one, Joe.”
“Ma’am, my name’s not Joe.”
“I know that!
Joe’s long gone…just gimme another one.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The bartender poured another drink and placed it in
front of the woman at the bar. A
feather graced her graying hair, and her dress barely fit over her ample
curves. She looked around the room,
frowning at the laser lights and writhing bodies on the dance floor. “Simply disgusting. This place used to have class. It was the revival of cabaret…did I ever
tell you that?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the bartender sighed.
“And I was the star. Men would flock to see me.”
“Lisa? Is that you?” A woman put her hand on Lisa’s shoulder and she turned around.
“Maybe.
Who’s asking?” Her eyes grew
huge. “KELLEY? Oh my God!” She stumbled off her chair and
gave the woman behind her a hug. “How
long has it been?”
“Almost thirty years,” Kelley said sadly. “You
remember Howie, my husband.”
The long curls were long gone but Lisa recognized
his kind brown eyes. “Hello, Howie.”
“Hiya, Lisa.” He gave her a hug.
“How in the world did you find me here?” Lisa asked.
Kelley and Howie exchanged glances.
“Your landlady told me that you’d be here,” Kelley
replied softly. “I can’t believe you
live in the same place.”
“Well, after AJ…you know…I couldn’t leave,” Lisa
said. “I come down here every day.”
“Every day,” the bartender agreed. Lisa sent him a dirty look.
“Can you believe the way this place has fallen
apart?” She asked Howie and Kelley.
“Nothing like when we used to come here.”
“Nothing at all,” Howie agreed, looking around the
room.
“So, why are you guys even in town? I heard you
moved out west.”
“We did.
Arizona. But our daughter moved
back here…went to school here…and now she’s married and just had a baby and
we’re in to visit.”
“A baby…so you’re a grandma!” Lisa laughed. “A grandma…wow…that’s great, Kelley.”
“Thanks, Lisa.” Kelley fumbled for something else to say. “I heard from Lara last week.”
“You did?
Wow…I haven’t heard from her in…well…forever.” Lisa motioned to the bartender. “Another one.” He frowned but did as she asked. “How is she?”
“Well, after Lance knocked her up, she moved back
home, as you know. She had a son, and raised him on her own, and now he’s a
doctor,” Kelley replied.
“A doctor. Well…how amazing is that?” Lisa sighed as she swirled the liquid in her
glass. “Amazing.”
“Well…Lisa…we’re due back at our daughter’s…” Howie
hedged.
“Of course.”
Lisa hugged them each again.
“Can I have your number?” Kelley asked. Lisa smiled at her sadly.
“We both know you won’t call. Go. Go on home to your daughter. I’m fine here.”
Lisa turned back around. Kelley sighed,
then headed for the door with Howie by her side. “Another one, Joe.”
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut
down to there
She would merengue and do the cha-cha
But while she tried to be a star Tony always tended
bar
Across the crowded floor he worked from 8 til 4
They were young and they had each other
Who could ask for more?
At the Copa, Copacabana
The hottest spot north of Havana
At the Copa, Copacabana
Music and passion were always in fashion at the
Copa
They fell in love
His name was Rico, he wore a diamond
He was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancing
there
And when she finished, he called her over
But Rico went a bit too far
Tony sailed across the bar
And then the punches flew, and chairs were smashed
in two
There was blood and a single gunshot
But just who shot who?
At the Copa,
Copacabana
The hottest spot north of Havana
At the Copa, Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion at the
Copa
She lost her love
Her name was Lola, she was showgirl
But that was thirty years ago when they used to
have a show
Now it’s a disco, but not for Lola
Still in the dress she used to wear
Faded feathers in her hair
She sits there so refined, and drinks herself
half-blind
She lost her youth and she lost her Tony
Now she’s lost her mind
At the Copa, Copacabana
The hottest spot north of Havana
At the Copa, Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion at the
Copa
“Copacabana” – Barry
Manilow
The End
Please tell Lara
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