Syncopated Rhythm

by Erik Schubach

  She nodded. “Deal.” Then we were off in search of this mysterious Monica person. Kylee looked back at me sheepishly. “Sorry, I didn't know that was you up there. I was too intent on taking notes.”

  Ohhhh... now I think I know why she looked so frightened earlier. I shrugged. “I figured the best way to punish you was to ask for you to be my keeper. And this is where I insert my evil laugh. I'm working with a vocal coach, strengthening the ahhhha.”

  She snorted. “OMG, quoting Dr. Horrible?”

  Ok, I'm positive that I could get along with this woman now. Recognition of obscure geek references. Check. Sense of humor. Check. Killer smile. Check. I shrugged with a sly grin. Then we reached a smartly dressed middle aged woman by the door who looked a bit frazzled.

  Skylar, Kimi, and their keeper had just received their paperwork from the woman and Skylar had a giant beaming smile for me. Kim's face was expressionless as usual like it was carved from stone. I remembered thinking how weird that was when I met them back in the first Karaoke Queen competition ten years ago. But now I see it as just part of what makes Kim such an awesome person.

  Skylar pulled me into a hug and said in her awesome British accent, “You're still a right fit bird Amber! Sammie missed you at Christmas last year.”

  I grinned at her. “I had promised the Raleigh Children's Hospital I would do a benefit for them. You know me and kids.” No child should ever feel forgotten.

  Skylar squeezed my shoulder gently. Then I looked at Kim. Any second now... wait for it... wait for it... then her calm mask broke into a huge smile only this gorgeous Native American could give. “Hi Pinky! Glad you're doing this too. Nice to see some artists more our age here.” She towered over all of us and grabbed me in a hug that left my feet dangling off the ground.

  I squeaked then laughed as she set me back down. “You make us sound like old ladies!”

  “You can't tell me that Conrad Chase over there doesn't look like he's twelve.” She winked then her expression turned to stone again.

  I looked over at Conrad and I grinned, she did have a point.

  I turned to the hyperventilating redhead beside me. “And this, ladies, is my lovely babysitter while I'm here. Kylee...” I left it as a prompt.

  She straightened up realizing I was talking about her. “Umm... Nelson, Kylee Nelson.” They each shook her hand.

  Skylar whispered loudly at the back off her hand pretending to be stealthy. “Well, maybe you can ditch her during your stay and visit with us at Bobbie's lodge. Were thinking about finally getting a bloody place of our own now that we live in Seattle permanently.” Then she added, “Or bring her along. The more the merrier.”

  I nodded at them and we exchanged smiles as they were ushered away by their keeper, he seemed to be constantly looking at his watch. Passive aggressive much? Tool alert! We got a packet from Monica and Kylee asked her, “So Mon, like, what am I supposed to do? Evan told me you could fill me in.”

  The woman smiled at the redhead. “Just make sure she keeps the schedule. Besides that, make sure that her every need is tended to.”

  Kylee snorted again and smiled. She seemed to be a happy sort. “Gee thanks Mon, I kinda had that much figured out.”

  The older woman waggled her eyebrows. “That's what I'm here for hon.”

  We wandered out to the corridor and Kylee looked into the packet. “Hmmm... OK, you're staying at the Seattle Royal. Oh... umm apparently I am too, adjoining room. I guess so I'm in proper 'babysitting' position.” She grinned like a pixie again so I stuck my tongue out at her. We shared a laugh. Then she squinted. “Umm... so, did they like, give you a car to use while you were here or are we using mine?”

  I replied, “Nope, no car so yours it is.” She paused and looked nervous as she started leading the way down to the parking level as she fished her keys out of her purse. She squinted one eye cutely again. “Ummm... maybe we should take a cab and I'll get the studio to rent a car for you in the morning. Mine probably isn't what you are used to.”

  I shook my head with a reproving look like a mother chastising a child. “I'm sure whatever you drive will be just fine.”

  Then she led me up to an old beat up, rusty green car with a white racing stripe down the hood and I started giggling as I blurted out, “Gremlin! It's perfect!”

  This caused a grin to replace the nervous look on her face. She opened the passenger seat and grabbed a bunch of fast food wrappers and papers from the front seat and floor and threw them in the back seat. “Sorry, I do a lot of road trips to see my mother every weekend in Idaho. I eat in my car more than my apartment.”

  This woman was almost too cute. I admit I was watching her nice full butt as she was leaned over cleaning out the front seat, you just want to reach out and... AMBER LEE!

  Who gives a crap what her car was like as long as it gets us from point A to point B. I hate the expectations of riding around in a town car or limo. I'm just a girl from Iowa, people! I put a hand on her shoulder as she was dusting the seat with her jacket. “It's fine Ky. Let's get to the hotel and then I'll try to ditch you when you aren't looking.”

  She chuckled at me. “Sounds like a plan Amber. But I play twitch games online so I'll notice any ditching movements you attempt, then I'll just wave goodbye at you as you sneak away.”

  I got into the car and she ran around to the driver's side and jumped in then pumped the gas pedal like ten times before she tried to turn the car over. The engine cranked and groaned. She patted the dash. “Come on Baltar.” Then the engine roared to life. OK fine, roared is too strong a word as it sputtered and choked its way to life. It backfired and I saw a plume of blue smoke out of the back window.

  I snorted at the pleased chipmunk look she got on her face as she put, umm, Baltar into gear. I just had to ask. “New BSG or old?”

  She shot me smile that would have knocked me on my butt if I hadn't already been sitting. “I'm a classic series girl.” I nodded in approval then reached for the radio. She shook her head. “That's broke. Here...” She handed me an iPod that was sitting on the dashboard.

  I grinned and thumbed through her music. My god, is there any music this girl doesn't like? I grinned as I passed by a few of my titles. I settled on a fun one, Unleashed, by Miranda Keys. I was surprised when the music blasted from the back seat. I looked back to see a huge wireless speaker. I smiled at her embarrassed look as she squished her head down to her shoulders as she drove. “A girl needs her music.” She shrugged.

  She was fun! I started bouncing and singing with the music. She got a silly smile on her face as her eyes went wide watching me. I kept nudging her at the chorus. Finally I got her to timidly join in. She was so delightfully off key. That coupled with that awesome smile had me encouraging her to go on. She was simply having a blast! That's what music is all about! I let her mangle the last power note that got both of us laughing so hard my gut hurt.

  I wanted more! So I cued up another song. 4Ever by the Veronicas. She sang the whole thing with me, us bouncing and rocking to the music and just belting out the words. If there was a moment she wasn't smiling when we were singing, I didn't see it. People like her are who I write my music for. People who just let the music wash over them and they can have a good time, free of inhibitions. We were giggling as I looked over at the end of the song. She turned away quickly to watch the road. Was she staring at my lips?

  Then we pulled into the parking structure next to the hotel. She turned the car off. But amusingly it was still coughing and sputtering like it was hanging onto the last thread of life. She got out and I followed. I shot her a questioning look and then the car finally died. She shrugged and I laughed.

  Then she said, “Let's get you checked in then I'll have to run home to get a few changes of clothes if I'm staying here too. FYI... That's your chance to ditch me if ever there was one.”

  I chuckled out my reply, “Nah I'll wait for you to return, I want to give you a fair chance to contain me.”

  She got a
regal look on her face and said in a British accent, “Very sporting of you.”

  I rolled my eyes and playfully bumped our hips. I let her lead the way so I could watch her sway up to the desk. I'm such a pervert! She spoke with the man at the counter. “You have two rooms for us. One for...” She checked the papers. “Oh come on...” She looked back up at him sheepishly. “Judy Jetson and the other for...” She rolled her eyes. “Cosmo Spacely.” She looked over at me. “The Jetson's really? You'd think the studio could have been more generic.”

  The man, to his credit, didn't comment, he just slid the card keys to us and he looked at me and said, “Enjoy your stay 'Miss Jetson', and your level is tagged as double privacy for the duration of your stay, only other room occupants of that level are allowed in the corridor.”

  I nodded my thanks. And the redheaded lady at my side said, “Let's get you to your room 'Judy'.”

  I winked at her. “Sure thing Cosmo!” I bumped her hip again and we made our way up to the rooms. My luggage was waiting by my huge king size bed, it had been sent here straight from the airport as I was shuffled directly to the studio.

  Kylee popped through the adjoining door with a silly taa-daa kind of grin. I rolled my eyes again at her and then she said, “OK, I'll be back in like forty five minutes. Think about where you want to go when you ditch me until then.”

  I crinkled my nose. “Bring clubbing clothes, if I fail in my duty to lose you, we'll be doing some karaoke and dancing.”

  She paled at that. “Umm... clubbing clothes?” She started toward the door. “Sure.” Her voice trailed off, then she was gone and the silence of the room was deafening.

  I hated being alone. But that was just me. Even in a stadium full of fans, I was alone. But I smiled to myself because the cute, geeky one would be back soon. I sat in silence for a moment then walked over to the room's sound system and turned on the radio so the music could keep me company like it always did, then I decided to work on lyrics to a new song in my journal. Hmmm... Deep Red. I looked back at the door with a grin then started writing.

  I kept glancing at the time on my cellphone. About forty minutes later there was a light knock at the connecting door to the other room. I shut off the radio and called out, “Come on in Ky.”

  She shyly stuck her head in the door then smiled and came in as I sat up on the bed and closed my journal. “Ok, I'm all set for the next couple weeks.” Then she timidly put an envelope on the entry table. “Is there anything you need before I go?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Aren't you coming with me when I try to ditch you? It will be fun I promise.”

  She shook her head sheepishly. “No, I wouldn't want to drag you down. But have fun tonight.” She gave me a smile.

  I stood and walked toward her before she could duck back into her room. “Wait! Ummm... there is something you can do for me, seeing as how you are all assistant-y and stuff. You can accompany me out clubbing tonight. It is late so we'd only have a couple hours, but I promise it will be fun, and... I need someone to... umm... oh! To moderate my drinking.”

  She was staring at the ground now. “Ok...”

  Sweet! “Ok, Ky, go get yer clubbing gear on. I'll throw something on myself.”

  She blushed cutely and said, “Alright. I'll be right back.” Then she slipped into her room.

  I was pleased with myself and turned toward my luggage, but the envelope caught my eye. It just said, “Amber” on it. I picked it up and opened it. It was a birthday card! I quickly looked at my cellphone for the date. Holy crap, it was November eighth, it was my birthday! It sort of snuck up on me. I never do anything for it since I basically don't have anyone to share it with.

  I smiled at the connecting room door then at the card that had a familiar blue police box on it. I grinned, she was such a geek, but then, so was I. I thought the Tardis card was like a little piece of her. I opened it but shut it quickly when music started blurting out of the card. I giggled then opened it again and the Doctor Who theme song played as I read. “You seem to be traveling through time as you find yourself another year older. Happy birthday!”

  Then scrawled below it in smooth loopy script was a message from Kylee. “Amber, I hope your birthday is full of excitement and wonder and is everything you could ever hope it to be. – Kylee”

  I closed my eyes as I closed the card and held it to my forehead. A sweet message from a sweet person. It was so quiet in the room. It felt so empty. I didn't like the quiet so I turned on the radio again. I brought everything I would need for the night into the bathroom with me.

  I locked the bathroom door and then stood in front of the mirror on the back of the door. I took a deep breath then took off my signature pink wig. I unpinned and shook out my real hair then cringed at it. The parts that were a rich silky brown weren't bad. It was the jagged splotchy stripes of white that I hated. But that was part of my vitiligo.

  I took off my long sleeved shirt and tried not to look at myself. The almost bleach white splotchy stripes across my left side and arm made me look like a leper. I dropped my pants and stepped out of them. There was a matching blotchy white stripe on my leg. I shrugged and removed the makeup from my face, reveling the signs of vitiligo present there on my left cheek too.

  I took my thyroid medicine that I'd forgotten this morning then reached in to start the shower. I took one last look at myself, running my hand along my discolorations then dropped my undergarments and stepped into the shower. I hated how I looked. That's why I always hid it from the world. They see this picture perfect pop princess that I project, when the truth is far from that. I'm just a girl from Iowa who pretty much looks like a freak under all the makeup and concealer.

  I let the water run over me washing away my insecurities. I needed to have fun tonight. Music always makes me forget everything. Music is life, love, fun, excitement, and energy. I channel it and let myself become that fun, that's how I lose myself and not think about things.

  I sang while I showered, tinkering with the melody of the new song I had started tonight. Then I stepped out, dried off, and donned my clubbing gear. Tight black jeans and a long sleeved black blouse with shimmering black sequins down the right side in a wave. The sleeves hid my condition. I never wore dresses or skirts unless I had opaque leotards on my legs.

  Then I put on some black ankle socks and low black kitten heels. Finally I put on my thick concealer on my face and powdered it to get my porcelain looking complexion. I went extremely heavy on my eye makeup, using lots of dark colors and heavy eyeliner.

  I complemented the outfit with heavy silver chain necklaces and dangling silver earrings. The final part of my transformation was pinning up my hair then securing the long black wig in place. I looked at the rocker girl in the mirror that could never be mistaken for Amber LaLanie. I could move about in the city without anyone knowing it was me.

  I heard Kylee calling out, “Knock knock.” I grinned at her perfect timing.

  I grabbed the door knob and said loudly, “You ready for the unveiling?”

  I could hear her giggle then she replied, “Oh, by all means.”

  I opened the door and strutted out. “Taa daa! Urban camouflage version 1.0.”

  She was just staring at me blankly, then she licked her lips quickly and looked away. “You don't even look like you! You look so...” She trailed off, biting her lower lip, which did naughty things to my body. “Rock and roll.”

  I squinted at her, taking her in as I shut of the radio. She was wearing some jeans and some flats and more of a business like blouse than you'd go clubbing in. Her face was spectacular though, I don't know what it is about it but I find it extremely enticing. She had on some heavier makeup than earlier and it just drew your eyes to her lips and her iceberg blues.

  I tilted my head and asked, “Is that what you go clubbing in?”

  She blushed a little and shrugged. “I'm more of a 'stay at home and play Robo Terror' kind of gal than a 'go shake your booty' kind of girl. If I ever go
out I wind up being that wallflower hiding in the corner.”

  I grinned at her. “Well not tonight. You are spectacular and we're going to show everyone.” I pointed at my bathroom. “In you go.” Then I remembered something and stopped her before she obediently went in. “You want to know a secret?”

  She nodded eagerly, I grinned at how cute it looked on her face. “Mkay, just a sec.” I ducked into the bathroom and then came back out with a hand behind my back. The I said, “Taa Daa” as I pulled my pink wig out for her to see.

  She was staring at me then the wig. Then finally spoke with a smile. “So this is your real hair?” She pointed at my black wig.

  I giggled. “Nope. That is just my 'blending in' disguise. No, years of dying my hair pink was damaging it so it is just easier to use a wig.

  She snorted. “Blending in? You stand out no matter what your hair color is Amber. I wish I was as glamorous as you.”

  I quickly snapped back, maybe too sharply, “No you don't!” I paused. “Sorry. It is just that this is all fake, it isn't me. It is just exactly what it is, a disguise. I'd love to go out in the world and show people the real me like you can. Now get your cute butt in the bathroom so I can 'glam' you up.” I grinned and she blushed.

  I looked her rockin' body up and down. Gawd she was cute, not like the Popsicle stick girls that are always vying for my attention. She was a real woman with curves, with a slight layer of baby-fat. I wouldn't call her overweight, though the Barbies might. I'd say she was five foot four and about one hundred and forty pounds at the most. Healthy. I toyed with her silky red hair as I thought of a look for her. I could run my fingers through this hair all day. Then I said, “Hmm... You got any t-shirts or tank tees?”

  She nodded and I grinned and prompted her to go with a wave of my hand. “Go grab a few and let's take a look.” She darted off to her room leaving me in the silence. I could hear all the silence crashing all around me. I flinched with a start when the door opened again and she came walking through with some shirts.

  I looked at them and almost snorted. They were so... her. I loved them. She had a bunch of geek t-shirts, a couple band shirts, and a couple solid color tanks. I grabbed the black Leather and Heels shirt and her two tank tees, one black and the other white.