Syncopated Rhythm Read Online Free PDF Page B

up, and gawd, was she channeling the emotion of the song.  I was mesmerized watching her bouncing and skipping on the stage, hopping up and down.  The crowd was singing along and dancing around.  They applauded every time she mangled a power note.  She was the embodiment of the music, a pixie incarnate.  Only the single word I channeled into writing the song could be applied  here... fun.
    I swear to you, the applause she got was double what I got.  She was blushing profusely as she put the mic back in the stand.  She was giggling nervously as I met her with a huge smile on my face at the stairs as the DJ announced, “Kylee everyone!”  More applause erupted in response.
    I dragged her giggling self back to our table.  Her iPad was instantly up.  I grinned.  I knew now that it really was instinctual, she really didn't know she was doing it.  She grinned at me.  “Oh my god, Amber!  That was so much fun!  I was scared to death at first, but then I saw you having fun down there and everybody seemed to not care that I can't sing.”
    I winked at her. “I told you, it is all about the fun.  And Ky... you were so much goddamn fun up there!  That had to have been the best cover of any of my songs... ever!”  Then I bit my lower lip. “And girl, you got moves!”
    She blushed and looked down.  Then the next person got on stage and started a Max McDonald number.  I grabbed Kylee's iPad and put it on the table and grabbed her hand.  “I love this song!  Dance with me!”
    She let me drag her to the small dance floor and she nervously danced with me until she caught the beat.  Then there was no turning this imp off.  We had a blast dancing and belting out the words to the song along with the girl on stage.
    Then she giggled again and grabbed my hand.  The warmth was spreading up my arm as she dragged me back to the table.  We sat and started talking about things.  The topics were fluid.  I was finding everything about her so fascinating.  She had loved film making since she was a young girl.  She pried out of me that music was an escape for me.  I don't like talking about it but she was so easy to confide in.
    I got her to go up and sing a Thompson Twins title with me.  That was the highlight of the night for me.  We played off of each other so well on stage.  Her moves were just as good as mine, and I found myself craving her cracking voice on those power notes.  The imperfection was so welcome to me that it was perfection in itself.  We were there simply to have a good time.
    Before I knew it they were calling last call and everyone started streaming out the doors like rats abandoning a sinking ship.  I was kind of proud of myself that except for that first beer I hadn't drank.  I'd usually be staggering for a cab at the end of a night.  Ky inspired me though.  I had fun without the extra “help” of alcohol.
    I grabbed her arm and tucked it under mine as we walked back to the hotel.  “Thanks Kylee, I really needed to decompress a bit, I'm glad I tried to ditch you like this tonight.”
    She blushed a little.  “No, thank you.  I know I'm a drag to have around.  Like a glorified babysitter, but you made me not feel like a third wheel tonight.”
    I grinned at her and said, “Nonsense, I brought you along because I wanted to get to know you a little better.  You aren’t like other people, trying to hang out with me just for my fame.”
    She shrugged. “I like this version of you better than the famous Amber LaLanie.  You're more like a real person than a rock icon.”
    I snorted. “Well that's just it, Amber LaLanie is just a made up person I use to share my music with the world.  Sometimes I forget I am just Amber Lee.  I miss her sometimes you know.  Most alter egos are constructs of the record labels.  But Harmony Trax is not like that.  I created mine myself, because 'she' can share the fun, without people knowing who is behind the curtain.”
    She shook her head