London Harmony: Water Gypsy Read Online Free PDF

that old stuff from Leather and Heels. I compiled the instrumental in Garage Band on my tablet. He asked, “How do you want to be introduced? Stage name?”
    Bloody hell. Did I need a stage name? I've never needed one at any of the bars or raves I sang at. I almost panicked, that shows how unprofessional and unprepared I was. How did I ever think I'd ever make a name for myself when I didn't even 'have' a name. I started going through all the iterations of Tabitha in my head, and before I could stop my traitorous mouth, I gave him Paya's nickname for me from primary school. “Tabby Cat.” Oh shite! He was grinning. I did not just do that to myself. I sighed in resignation.
    As Lisa T was finishing her set and the crowd was applauding, I saw Scratch start moving through the crowd to a side door exit. Ronnie was on stage pulling me up; he was surprisingly strong; then handing me a mic as he attached my mobile to the console. I almost snorted when I saw Lisa T, rummaging through her bag behind the stage like a mad woman. Ronnie announced, “Now everyone, more fresh meat! I give you the vocal stylings of Tabby Cat!” I wanted to blush away into non-existence at the cute little rapid clapping and look of glee on Paya's face as she heard the name. I'll have to remember to kill the smug woman in her sleep later.
    There was some clapping as the instrumental and the heavy, syncopated bass beat blast out. I took a deep nervous breath and started with the first, subdued and restrained line as people started dancing to the slower beat. I noticed Scratch's hand pause on the door handle when I switched from pianissimo to stentato and I hit the first power note that was a huge counterpoint to the subdued intonations of the prior notes.
    The man looked up and pulled his hood back slightly as he tilted his head as if listening intently. The light caught the lower part of his face for a moment, it was so... feminine. Was Scratch a woman?
    I got lost in the undulating wave of the song as I couldn't stop my body from dancing with the melody. I'd drop into pianissimo and let portions of my soul swirl around it, caressing it, trying to mend the emotions bleeding through. Then the hope and beauty of family and friends exploding from me, chasing the darkness away and urging the maestoso of the power notes to soar up to the heavens to challenge the angels themselves.
    Then my final promise to the universe with the refrain building and building and my voice hitting impossible volume until the final note that was nothing more than a whisper, a longing in my soul not realized. An acceptance of what is and not of what could be.
    My head yanked up as the crowd exploded into cheers. I looked around and people were in a frenzy. The whistles and whoops were making my ears hurt. I looked down at a grinning Paya, who had made her way to the stage during my set. She had her hands pressed together and against her smiling lips, nodding. Her eyes were glittering, sharing her smile. I shrugged with wide eyes.
    Ronnie pressed my mobile into my hand and yelled into my ear above the cheers. “I'll call. I want you at the next rave. Send me your playlist.” I nodded and blinked. I felt so exposed and so embarrassed standing there.
    Harry offered me his hand and I took it as he helped me down. I retrieved my bag and when I turned back around I was engulfed in a silly side to side hug by my grinning best friend as she said, “You were brill! I don't think I've ever heard you sing like that, you're getting better and better...” Then she asked loudly with a barely contained laugh, “...Tabby Cat?!”
    I sighed and offered her a waggling fist that promised so much pain, then grinned as I said, “I panicked when he asked for a stage name. Just know, I will have my revenge on you some day.” She just stuck her tongue out at me then grabbed Harry and my arms and dragged us into the middle of the room as the next artist was introduced. My eyes went to the side door,