Chapter twenty-seven

Kris took a deep breath when she heard their music teacher announce them and stepped at the stage together with Steve. Eric, Daniel and Teddy were taking their places from the other side.

To Jon’s surprise Kris wasn’t standing in the middle but on the left, directly in front of them and was holding an electric guitar in her hands. And what in hell was she wearing?

“Are you responsible for that outfit?” Jon whispered at Dot. She smiled at him and nodded.

“She needed something to feel comfortable in; something that pushed her self-confidence.” Jon frowned. “Oh, come on Jon. It doesn’t reveal too much.”

Jon looked back at the stage, well at least that was right. Kris was wearing tight black leather pants with four inch heels and a black top shining with silver and purple patterns. Her hair looked wild and was falling freely over her shoulders and it seemed she’d put much effort in creating smoky eyes. Jon couldn’t help it. She looked freaking hot!

“Holy shit! She’s hot!” he heard Richie mumble next to him.

“Hey! You are talking about my daughter.” Jon hissed.

“I know that’s why I keep the rest of my thoughts to myself.” Richie shot back. Jon swallowed hard and focused on the stage.

Steve stepped to his mic in the middle. “Good evening. I hope you enjoyed the show so far.” The people applauded shortly. “Well, some of you…” he looked in Jon’s direction. “…may wonder why I stand here in the middle and our lovely new singer Kris is armed with a guitar.” Kris smiled when she could see Jon nodding furiously. “It’s quite simply; this song we choose to play first makes more sense when I’m singing it. Don’t worry; she’ll kick your ass later.” The audience laughed and Jon sighed relieved.

Kris’ laughing could be heard over the microphone. “And I thought I’m only standing here, because you can’t play the lead guitar in the song.” Laughter could be heard from the other band members and Steve gave her the finger, what earned him a stern look from the principal, who was sitting in the first row.

“Ok, let’s get this thing started.” Steve said. “Teddy!” David smiled. They really learned.

They started to play and the familiar sounds of a song waved through the auditorium. Jon’s head snapped to Richie who was staring at Kris playing an intro he wrote. “River of love.” He whispered without even looking at Jon.

In your river of love, deep in your river of love

Steve whispered in a low voice into the mic.

Hot

Was Kris equally low whispered answer.

In your river of love, deep in your river of love

Let me tell you a story
About body and blood, yeah

Richie’s jaw dropped. That kid was extremely close to his on voice.

There’s a fire below
Deep in the river of love
Hey pretty mama I’m just trying to be polite

Steve glanced shortly at Kris and she fired her guitar up. From that second on Richie was captured by her play, her movements with the guitar, simply by this beautiful view.

I wanna make you feel the rhythm of the river tonight
And when the story is over
You’ll be satisfied

Honey, honey, honey don’t you understand
To make you feel like a woman
Makes me feel like a man

Let me take you down to the river of love
Baby pull me under Make me drown in your flood
Baptize my body in your river of love
Won’t cha take me down
I wanna drown
In your river of love

If you’re little lovesick
Woman I got the cure
Let me be your preacher

Steve turned and looked at Kris

And you can be my whore

Smiling she shook her head no.

I feel your heart pumping, honey don’t say not
I wanna dive in your river
Take you down real slow
And then your body will quiver
And the river will flow

Honey, honey, honey don’t you understand
To make you feel like a woman
Makes me feel like a man

Kris stepped up to her mic and the next lines of the chorus her and Steve’s voice blend together perfectly. Jon couldn’t believe it. They sounded great together.

Let me take you down to the river of love
Baby pull me under
Make me drown in your flood
Baptize my body in your river of love
Won’t cha take me down
I wanna drown
In your river of love

Steve played a short solo on his guitar supported by the full sounded of Kris’.

Move that thing

Steve whispered and Kris hips rolled and set the guitar to a lovely dance. Eric turned his bass up and for some seconds the bass line was clearly hearable for everyone, then Teddy showed all his passion on his ‘Lady’ and gave the signal for Kris’ guitar solo. Her hands flew over the strings, her eyes were unfocused, she only listened to the music, her body moved even though she didn’t know it, she was completely captured by the music. The rest of the band and the audience were forgotten.

Down, down, down let me take ya
Down, down, down I wanna take ya
Down, down, down let me take ya
Down, down, down I wanna take ya
Down, down, down

Steve pushed them once again up to the chorus and Kris joined him at the mic again.

Let me take you down to the river of love
Baby pull me under
Make me drown in your flood
Baptize my body in your river of love
Take me down
I wanna drown
In your river of love

Take you down to the river of love
Baby pull me under
Make me drown in your flood
Baptize my body in your river of love
Take me down
I wanna drown, yeah

In your river of love

Teddy spoke with his deep low voice and sent shivers down the women’s back in the audience. Kris was still captured in her play and drew soft sounds from the guitar with closed eyes.

Move that thing

In your river of love

Deep in your river of love

In your river of love

Steve whispered again while he watched Kris playing the last chords of the song. He had to admit it was more than a turn on to watch her play and he was rather glad he had a guitar itself to cover significant parts of his body.

When the music died the audience was silent for some seconds, but then erupted in applause. Kris blinked shocked. The noise brought her back to reality. She smiled and searched Richie’s eyes. He was staring at her. He never saw a woman playing guitar sexier. God, he needed to control himself. When he felt her graze, he smiled and gave her both thumbs up.

Before Jon and Richie could exchange some words Kris and Steve had changed places on stage and they started with the next song. Kris voice filled the air and Jon simply stared at her. Her voice was amazing.

The lights are on
But you’re not home
Your mind
Is not your own
Your body sweats
Your body shakes
Another kiss
Is what it takes
You can’t eat
You can’t sleep
There’s no doubt
You’re in deep
Your throat is tight
You can’t breathe
Another kiss
Is all you need

She opened her eyes and faced the boys sitting in the front row. Is that the idiot who was in my house a couple weeks ago, Jon thought and tried to get a better look of him.

Oh, you like to think that you’re immune to the stuff, oh yeah
Closer to the truth is
You know you’re gonna have to face it
You might as well face you’re addicted to love

Her hands ran seductively over her body and she shook her rear end to the beat. Jon gasped. Maybe he should consider changing his stage performance when she would add those moves to her own show.

You see the signs
But you can’t read
You’re running at
A different speed
Your heart beats
At double time
Another kiss

She put all her heart and soul in the lyrics and sang the next lines with a deep voice.

And you’ll be mind, one track mind
You can’t be saved
Another young love is all you crave

She looked Richie directly in the eyes. He swallowed hard. Now he was sure, he wasn’t imagining those little signs in the last weeks.

And if the sun
Left you
You don’t mind
It feels blue

Oh, you like to think that you’re immune to the stuff, oh yeah
Oh, oh, oh, oh closer to the truth is
You know you’re gonna have to face it
Gonna have to face it
You’re addicted to love

Might as well face it
You’re addicted to love

She clapped her hands and encouraged the crowd to get up and join her in the chorus. Jon jumped up immediately and she smiled.

Might as well face it
You’re addicted to love
Might as well face it
You’re addicted to love
Might as well face it
You’re addicted to love

A guy with a saxophone entered the stage and Kris motioned him to come closer to her, to stand in the spotlight with her while he was playing a fantastic solo.

Might as well face it
Might as well face it
Might as well face it
Yeah, Might as well face it, you’re addicted to love, whoa

She leaned back and it looked like she was falling over, but Jon only laughed about the worried look on Eric’s face. He’d done this move more then once; it’s much easier than it looked like. Kris was completely into the song by now and paced the stage like it was her second home.

The lights are on
But you’re not home
Your mind
Is not your own
Your body sweats
Your body shakes
Another kiss
Is what it takes
You can’t eat
You can’t sleep
There’s no doubt
You’re in deep
Your throat is tight
You can’t breathe
Another kiss
Is all you need

She’s nearly speaking those words, only the drums can be heard clearly; she walked to the beat working the crowd and flirting with Steve who smiled encouraging.

Oh, you like to think that you’re immune to the stuff, oh yeah

She turned away from the crowd and eyed Steve. Like a panther claiming his prey she walked towards him swinging her hips seductively to the beat. Jon could see Steve blink rapidly. Seemed this wasn’t planned. The poor guy nearly lost the beat.

Closer to the truth is
You know you’re gonna have to face it

When she’s standing directly in front of him, she put her right hand firmly around his neck and smiled with gleaming eyes.

You might as well face you’re addicted to love

Singing the line she slide down his body and used him as a pole. The guys in the front row yelled with pure lust. Kris smiled and turned again to the crowd, giving Steve some time to catch his breath.

You might as well face you’re addicted to love
You might as well face you’re addicted to love

She’s dancing with the saxophone player and the whole audience was clapping their hands and joining the chorus.

Might as well face it
Might as well face it
Might as well face it
Might as well face it

When the music stopped the crowd applauded loudly.

“Whew. Thank you.” Kris smiled happily. She looked over her shoulder and could see Daniel sitting ready at the piano. “Ok, the next song is for a great person. He showed me that I’m not alone, that there are people I can trust on, that there are people who love me. The song is for my father.” She found Jon’s eyes in the audience and could see them shining lightly.

Daniel started playing. You could only hear the piano when Kris started to sing in a low voice.

When I was young
I never needed anyone
Making love was just for fun
Those days are gone

She looked at Jon and he smiled.

Living alone
I think of all the friends I’ve known
When I dial the telephone
Nobody’s home

The band started to play. Somehow it fits, David thought. She was always alone and now she has those guys from the band.

All by myself
Don’t wanna be
All by myself
Any more

Jon watched her in awe when her voice echoed through the room. He never expected her to hit such high notes. David smiled approvingly. She took his critic by heart and practised the breathing.

Hard to be sure
Sometimes I feel so insecure
And loves so distant and obscure
Remains the cure

All by myself
Don’t wanna be
All by myself
Anymore
All by myself
Don’t wanna live
All by myself
Anymore

Kris stepped away from the mic and gave Daniel the opportunity to play a little solo.

When I was young
I never needed anyone
Making love was just for fun
Those days are gone

You could hear the band stop playing. Kris looked at Daniel unsure, who was still holding the last note and nodded at her encouragingly. David held his breathe. You can do it, babe. She closed her eyes and sang the lines without any music.

All by myself
Don’t wanna be
All by myself
Anymore, oh, oh

Wow! Jon jumped up before he even knew it. The guys and Dot followed him suite. She really went beyond herself tonight. Absolutely amazing. When the band set in again, Kris took a moment and watched her father. She smiled when he clapped frenetically and realized that he was proud of you. She didn’t embarrass him.

All by myself
Don’t wanna live
Oh
Don’t wanna live
By myself, by myself
Anymore
Oh
All by myself
No! Don’t wanna live
By myself anymore, by myself anymore

Kris is standing in the middle of the stage when the music faded. “Thank you.” She bit her bottom lip and took a breath before she turned to the mic again.

“I love you, dad.”

Jon’s face lit up and she could see tears spring into his eyes. I love you too, he mouthed back.