Our Heart (14 page)

I set her down and instantly had an acute sense of shyness overtake me. She could tell I was more than a little embarrassed by my exuberant outburst of feelings.

She reached out her hand, and I took it in mine, and standing on her toes, she whispered in my ear, “I’m glad to see you too!”

I was saved by the bell or, in this case, the band. Vince had stepped up to the microphone. Taking it in one hand, he proclaimed the evening’s festivities underway by exclaiming, “Is everyone out there ready to PARTY?” On cue, the band began to play Billy Idol’s, “Hot in the City,” to a thunderous round of applause and whistles. People scurried to gather around the stage. Chad Gaithers was singing lead vocals, and before he even got a third of the way into the song, the entire area in front of the stage was full of dancers. Dani grabbed Matt by the arm and together they headed to the dance floor. I lost them as the ever-growing throngs of eager dancers swallowed them up. I took Allison by the hand and we headed into the sea of gyrating bodies, making a space for ourselves right in front of the stage.

The band was off and running to the delight of the listeners. Next up, Vince took over lead vocals and sang Hank Williams Jr’s, “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight.” He sang his name instead of Hank’s and the crowd cheered. I was exhausted and ready to get something to drink by time they were done with their third song. Allison and I were moving away from the stage, as Tina stepped up to the mike. The band kicked it down a few notches as they played a slower song. It was Tina’s turn to run with the lead vocals as the band played Cyndi Lauper’s, “Time after Time.” Some of the people left the dance
floor, leaving plenty of room for the couples who chose to remain.

Allison and I came together without saying a word and she rested her head on my shoulder, as we moved rhythmically to the beat of the music. Tina was extraordinary and had such a powerful and emotional voice, she had the audience instantly captivated. The guys didn’t need to hear her sing to be reeled in. All it took was for Tina to come out on stage. They were quickly aware of how beautiful she was and started lining up like lost sheep. No doubt a topic of conversation between guys and couples long after the night was over.

She was really good, and I silently wondered which poem she had read earlier, before coming out on stage. I was totally into the dance with Allison, enjoying the feeling of holding her so close. I didn’t even realize I had started to quietly sing along with the chorus to the song. Allison raised her head and looked into my eyes, and in them, I saw passion and understanding. If someone asked me to name the exact time and place when I first knew I was falling in love, it would have been that very instant.

She held my gaze and softly whispered just loud enough for me and me alone to hear, “I hope you will always be there to catch me.”

My heart was now totally given over to Allison, and I kissed her passionately, allowing our feelings for each other to be joined in that one, singular embrace.

Matt and Dani were also out in the dance area. When my eyes opened, and clarity slowly returned to me, I saw the two of them. They had their arms wrapped tightly around each other, as they swayed back and forth in time to the music. When the song ended, I couldn’t make myself let go of Allison. I could tell she was feeling the same about me.

The band picked up the pace with a classic rock song. It started a wave of the older couples coming back out to dance. Allison and I headed off to the side, still holding hands, and making our way towards an open spot. The following song would be the last one in their first set, and I would have to leave to go meet Justin at the back of the stage.
After
the last dance we shared, it was difficult to even think about having to leave Allison. I held her close to me, as we waited for Matt and Dani to make their way over to us. They really looked happy together too. For a moment, the four of us stood there, reveling in the magic of the evening while the band played. The night had just begun, and I was already in heaven. I was even more eager for what would come next.

During the song, I told all of them that I needed to meet Justin to take care of a few things, before the next set. Allison wanted to know who Justin was, and I briefly filled her in. She thought it was neat I had a cousin in the band. I told her she would see me again as soon as the band started their second set. I asked her if she’d stick with Matt and Dani until I got back and she agreed.

Matt looked at me and said in all seriousness, “You expect me to keep two girls company all by myself?” and before I could answer, he realized what he was saying and added, “You bet…no problem…take all the time you need.” I shook my head at him and all of us laughed at his faux pas. The band was almost done, and I started fidgeting from one leg to the other. Allison asked if I had to go and I told her I really wanted to stay with her, but yes I was going to have to leave.

We leaned with our backs against the brick wall of the movie rental store and enjoyed the final chorus of the song. It was fun to watch all of the people who were dancing. Brett Howard’s little brother was hopping around, flapping his imaginary chicken wings, much to the delight of his grandparents, who were sitting in front of us. I laughed and then Allison pointed out Melissa standing on the other side of the dance area talking to Nick. She asked if we could go over and talk to them. I said, “Sure, I still have a couple of seconds before I need to be backstage.”

Melissa saw us heading her way and waved happily at Allison. Allison waved back and let go of my hand to give Melissa a hug, then Melissa and I exchanged hellos. All of a sudden, I felt like the proverbial third wheel, as the two of them were heavily engaged in conversation. I turned my attention to Nick. He didn’t look like the happiest person around.

I nudged him and asked, “Are you here with Melissa?”

“Kind of…
“ Nick responded. “We sort of ran into each other. We’re going to dance during the next set.”

I caught him glancing over at Allison and Melissa during our talk. I got the feeling he was more interested in Melissa than he let on. He kept averting his eyes, so he could look at the girls. We started talking about the baggy war from earlier in the afternoon, and he snapped back to his old self. The band finished and made their way off stage. He asked if Allison and I were together now and registered my answer by the huge smile on my face.

Rather than saying something like, “That’s great,” or “you lucky dog,” he said instead, “I see; well I always like a challenge!” I didn’t have the foggiest idea what he meant by it, and I started to ask when he added, “Now that the new girl is taken, I’ll have to work a little harder to find a girlfriend of my own.”

He broke into a smile of his own and looked over at the girls. They were still lost in their own world. Looking at them, he said, “Hang on to her Bro…I think she’s a keeper.”

I nodded, but I didn’t like the attitude he conveyed. I didn’t think his comments were friendly at all. I went over to break up the girls’ chitchat so I could tell Allison I was heading back stage. She gave me a super hug. I hated to leave, but duty called, so I gave her a quick kiss. Her eyes bore deep within me and her closeness was intoxicating. With immense effort, I let go of her and reminded her to wait for me in front of the stage. I made her promise me as I backed away.

“Don’t make me wait too long,” she said, as I turned to hustle away from her. “I just might have to find another dance partner!”

Justin was standing with the other members of the band when I finally made my way around back stage. I told them how great their first set was. I blushed, more than just a little, as I thanked Tina for the slow song.

She scrunched up her nose and winked at me. “I saw the girl you were dancing with…or was that
smooching
with.”

My face had to be beet red. I was glad it was fairly dark, so none of them could tell exactly how red. Justin and I headed a little ways away from the rest of the group, so we could talk through what I should do. I listened and told him that I got it. I thanked him again for letting me help out. He smiled and told me to save my thanks for later, because we still had a lot of work to do before the night was over.

We messed around with some of the equipment, and I made sure the water bottles were refilled and ready to go for the next set. The band made their way back on stage and the crowd start to clap and holler. I couldn’t see what happened on stage, but one of the band members must have done something or said something clever, because the crowd erupted with laughter and cheers. I was standing just off the stage, behind one of the extra large speakers, when I heard Vince’s voice booming out across the crowd.

“Is everybody out there having a good time?” There was lots of clapping and cheers from the crowd. He continued, “Who’s having a great time?” and the fans got louder in their appreciation for Vince and the band. Then he took them over the top with, “So what do you think about us giving you something to make tonight the best ever?” and the crowd really began to clap, along with whistles and yells, adding to the growing excitement. I peered around the speakers on stage and watched as Vince raised his hands to quiet the crowd. After they toned it down some, he announced, “I’m about to blow your socks off,” and the crowd got noisy again and laughter permeated all around. He waited for them to settle down and announced in a secretive voice, “Tonight, for the first time on stage and making his singing debut is one of your very own!”

He paused there to let it sink into the crowd. Looking out at the audience, from my limited vantage point, I could see the people looking around and trying to figure out who it might be. Vince gave sufficient time for dramatic effect. I don’t know who started it, but soon everyone started chanting, “Who…who…who!” The words got louder and louder until Vince raised his hands to quiet the crowd again.

I waited nervously behind the speakers. Vince, taking a page from a boxing ring announcer, yelled out the words that every person, who loves to sing, longs to hear, “Give it up for Jason Owens!!”

I walked towards the front of the stage, trying to pretend it was something that I had done many times over, while my heart beat furiously and tried to burst from my chest. For a brief instant, all I wanted to do was retreat and hide, but the crowd, to my extreme pleasure, began to chant, “Jason…Jason…Jason.” The clapping became more enthusiastic as I made my way to Vince, at the front of the stage. I was now all smiles from ear to ear. The butterflies were having a hey day in the pit of my stomach, but I knew I would never forget this night as long as I lived. I lost myself in the moment and the excitement. It was much more than I dreamed it would be. I waved to the crowd and they clapped even harder for me. I looked down to the front-left of the stage and there was Allison screaming at the top of her lungs, joining in with the rest of the people yelling my name.

Matt and Dani were beside Allison; they were just as excited as she was. Matt was shaking his head at me in amazement. I had kept this moment secret from everyone except Grandma and Grandpa. I couldn’t even begin to describe the rush and feelings of satisfaction I felt as my friends cheered me on. I took one last look at Allison and gave her my best smile and a wink for good measure. I walked over to Vince and he shook my hand. Over the roar of the crowd, he wished me good luck. I took my spot by one of the front two microphones. Tina came up behind me and as she passed by she ruffled my hair with her hand. The crowd broke into new bouts of laughter. I didn’t mind one bit and even felt myself relaxing a little bit more. Tina took her place at the other mike. She looked over at me and I nodded, okay.

The band began the intro into, “Up Where We Belong,” by Joe Crocker and Jennifer Warnes. I reached up with my right hand and pulled the microphone free from the cradle. As the music played, I quickly thought of my mother and said a silent, “for you.” Right on cue, just as I’d practiced for the last several weeks, I hit the opening note in full voice and on pitch. After a few lines, I let the music take me and fell rhythmically into the song.

My mother had told me several times that the success to singing is not just knowing the words and notes, but using your abilities, like a painter, to paint a story with your voice. If you were successful, others would not only hear the story being sung, but also be able to visualize it.

“If you can do that,” she said, “then you are a singer of songs.” I held nothing back, letting my love for my mother guide my voice.

I had no idea the music would take on added meaning for me. Allison was foremost in my thoughts, and I sang the song to her. I held her gaze with my eyes. She was thoroughly lost in the emotion of the moment. When I came to the chorus, Tina jumped in, and our voices blended perfectly together. We raised the emotional level of the song, pushing each other ever higher in intensity. The crowd inherently understood the importance of the moment. No one was dancing. They were standing with their arms around each other, watching and listening to us sing. Tina and I had captured their attention, and now that we had it, we painted the song for them to see.

During the second verse, when Tina sang, I had a moment to look out over the audience. I spotted Grandpa Jake, Grandma Sarah, along with Aunt Marcie along the left-side of the dance area. Grandma was
patting her heart with her hand, in rhythm to the music,
and Grandpa just beamed back at me. Aunt Marcie was swaying with the music and
singing along to the music
. Tina and I let it all out, as we brought home the final chorus with enough power and conviction to light the night. When the song ended, and the band played the last chord, the crowd erupted with cheers and applause. They kept it up until it became deafening. My accomplishment was not lost on me. I felt very proud and satisfied, in a way I never imagined I could ever feel. I knew, without a doubt, this was what I wanted to do with my life.