All The Things You Are
Clark met Linda at a coffee shop two blocks down the street from the club. There wasn’t much time before his shift started and he didn’t want to be late, but he’d agreed to the quick meeting to exchange any last minute information and make sure of their extraction plan, just in case things got sticky.
Linda, of course, wanted to flirt with him.
“Come on, Clark, can’t we play hooky just one day?”
“No!” He pulled her hands from around his neck. “I have to be at the club at one and then at two I have to get ready for rehearsal with the band and I don’t have time to fool around with you!”
She gave him the best puppy-pout face she had. “Then when will you have the time?”
He sighed deeply. “Let’s get this assignment over with first, then we can discuss our personal lives.”
She brightened and gave him a quick peck on the lips before he could dodge. “Okay! I don’t have to be there until four, so I’ll see you later.”
He turned to leave, then had a sudden thought. “Linda? If you do any nosing around on your own, you will be careful, won’t you?”
“Of course I’ll be careful! Don’t you worry about me.”
He sighed. “Linda – “
She let loose a grating laugh. “Clark! Come on! This is Lucky Linda we’re talking about here! And you know how I got that nickname, too. I always get the story.”
“Right. And any number of other things, too.”
Her face darkened slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Look, just don’t do anything too risky, okay?”
She nodded sharply and turned away. “Sure, Clark, sure, anything you say.”
He watched her stalk away and sighed. No matter what he said or did, Linda refused to understand that Clark wasn’t interested in her romantically. And he wasn’t sure how much longer he could maintain his presence of mind while she pawed at him or leaned against him in the newsroom or rubbed his shoulders even when he asked her not to.
Maybe he should talk to Perry about the paper’s sexual harassment policy. Even then he wasn’t sure he could get Linda to back off.
He sighed again. It was time for him to get moving. The bar manager wanted him to help take inventory before they opened, and then he had to run an extended sound check with the band to help him get a better feel for the sound system and for their sound. “Charlie” had already proven that he did what he was told with a cheerful attitude, that he didn’t sip from the stock or pocket the cash that customers laid on the bar for their drinks. He didn’t argue with the drunks, nor did he try to be a bouncer on the rare occasions when one was needed. He’d even run the soundboard for the Mountaintops, and after the second set they had all told him that he’d done a good job. “Charlie King” was turning into a real find for Toni Taylor and the Metro Club.
But it was an assignment, not a career. He needed to start turning over some solid information on the gang’s activities, preferably before Linda stuck her nose into something she couldn’t back out of quickly. She might be lucky, but she wasn’t always smart. And he still didn’t have any hard information on the whereabouts or the identity of one Wanda Detroit. That woman was proving to be as elusive as Linda was persistent.
He hoped he might have a chance to talk to the bass player after rehearsal. All of the women in the band were beautiful, but there was something very special about Lois, something that set her apart from the other talented and accomplished members of the Mountaintops. And it wasn’t her musical ability. She had that in spades, of course, but there was something more to her, something he couldn’t quite pin down in his mind.
But he did want to pin her – it – down. No! he insisted to himself. Pin it down, Clark, not her! Get your mind out of the gutter, you pervert!
He felt himself turn several shades of pink and red all at the same time. It was a good thing no one was watching him at the moment.
*****
Christie was late for rehearsal.
Again.
And they had to wait for her or risk Johnny’s mercurial wrath.
Lois glanced at her watch and sighed. That was fifteen minutes of her life she’d never get back.
Christie hadn’t made the meeting with Ramona and Lois which she’d promised to attend the previous night, either. She seemed determined to prove that Lucy was right about her, that she was far more trouble than she was worth.
The entire group seemed glum and lethargic. It didn’t help that Lucy was uncharacteristically silent and still. If she hadn’t insisted that she felt fine, Lois would have suspected that she was coming down with something. But apparently she wasn’t sick, just bummed out after the blowup the night before and her mysterious midnight errand.
Lois had asked her about it that morning, but Lucy had refused to provide any details, insisting that everything was taken care of. Lois didn’t like the way that sounded, but if Lucy didn’t want to talk about it, Lois wouldn’t try to force her to.
The other three weren’t much better. Shamika sat off by herself against the curtain, playing drum rudiments on a practice pad. It was her way of distancing herself from conflict and controversy. Despite being the biggest and physically the strongest member of the band, she was the one who was the least likely to fight over anything, whether it was a legitimate problem or not. Her behavior reminded Lois that she, not so very long ago, had dealt with stress in much the same way.
And she remembered what an epiphany it had been when she’d realized that she was causing a large portion of her trouble with her own behavior by not facing her problems. She hoped Shamika would come to a similar realization soon.
Ramona and Connie had begun the waiting time by trying to loosen up the rest of the group with some tasteless and borderline ribald humor, much of it involving Charlie, the new bartender and now the band’s preferred sound tech. But they’d given up after failing to engage any of the others in their game, especially after Lois had glared at Connie for making some of her more lurid suggestions. By this time they were whispering to each other and murmuring about future engagements and a possible recording contract. At least, thought Lois, they were trying to be productive, although even they had seemed uncharacteristically morose by this time.
Lois checked her watch once more. Four more minutes had gone by. She’d been sure it had been at least fifteen more minutes of her life lost forever.
Lucy hugged herself again and stared down at her guitar, which was nestled safely on its stand. Lois had often seen her sister behave like that, especially after a violent confrontation between their mother and stepfather during their high school days. Surely, mused Lois, calling Christie ‘Mom’ during last night’s argument was all that was bothering her little sister.
At least, she hoped that was all.
Another glance at her watch. Another two minutes had passed. And even looking at Charlie wasn’t going to pass the time any faster, although she thought he looked even nicer now that he’d shaved off that skimpy goatee. He looked a lot better clean-shaven, wearing a tight black short-sleeved shirt that displayed his shoulders to good advantage and his hard, flat abs that just begged for someone to –
No! Stop it! That was enough of that. Johnny Taylor notwithstanding, Christie or no Christie, handsome Charlie or ugly Charlie, they had two sets to play that night and they weren’t ready. Somebody needed to get this session moving.
Lois clapped her hands twice and stood. “Okay, ladies, it’s time to get up and rehearse. The club has a country and western theme tonight and we’re providing the atmosphere for all those fake buckaroos and their escorts. The first set tonight is all modern country and we have to make sure it flows smoothly.”
Lois made eye contact with all the women except for Lucy. She stood closer and put her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Luce? Come on. We need everyone in on this.”
Lucy’s head came up haltingly. Her eyes wandered aimlessly over the stage at first, then her gaze met Lois’. After a long moment, the younger woman nodded and she gradually rose to stand beside her sister.
“All right!” Lois called out. “Now we’re cooking with gas! Let’s get this rehearsal going! Ramona, what’s our opening song?”
Ramona put a finger on the list. “It’s that new Shania Twain song, ‘Feel Like A Woman.’ You got the lead vocal on that since Christie’s not here, right, Lois?”
Lois wiggled her hips in place and abruptly shifted to a dynamic Elvis-like pose with one arm above her head pointed at the ceiling. In a low, husky voice, she said, “I think I can handle it, girls. Thank you very much.”
Shamika laughed. “Hey, you got me on rhythm guitar tonight, right?”
“Yes,” Ramona answered. “Either electric or acoustic guitar, except for the closer in second set, the Jim Croce tune ‘I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song.’ You provide light percussion on that one.” She looked up. “Lois, if Christie doesn’t make it, are you taking that vocal?”
“No.” Lucy’s sudden interjection drew everyone’s attention. “I want it.”
Ramona’s questioning gaze met Lois’s for a long breath, then Lois said, “I think that’s a fine idea. Ramona on string synth, Connie on lead acoustic, Shamika on percussion, Lucy on lead vocal and rhythm guitar, and me on bass. Ramona, are you still doing backup vocals with me?”
“Sure. Hey, are we ready to go over the first set now? Preferably in order?”
Lois snorted lightly. “We’d better. What’s the second tune in the first set?”
Ramona grinned. “It’s a Hank Williams tune, just two chords and a one-octave vocal range. Even Shamika could do it.”
Connie laughed. “You mean I get to play ‘Jambalaya’ again? All right!” She reached for her guitar and said, “We’re still doing the Alabama tune to close the first set, aren’t we?”
Ramona nodded. “Of course. The Mountaintops have to play them some Mountain music. We’ll be fine as long as no one asks us to play like we’re in Texas.”
Lucy smiled slightly. “They’d better not. I don’t think I could learn to play a fiddle before tonight.”
Lois nodded to herself as she checked the tuning on her bass. They’d be fine with or without Christie. Lucy will be fine either way, too.
She just had to be.
*****
Toni walked into the band’s dressing room and shut the door behind her. “Christie’s not here,” she breathed. “And Johnny’s acting weird about it.”
Shamika snorted. “Since when don’t he not act weird about her?”
“Double negative, Sham,” said Lois. “That’s terrible grammar.”
Shamika’s eyebrows twisted and she leaned back against the wall. “Don’t much care. My grammar don’t help us get gigs.”
Toni lifted her hand. “Look, ladies, ordinarily I’d be thrilled to listen to you banter back and forth like this, but if Christie doesn’t show at the last minute, you’ll have to go on without her. Are you ready for that?”
Ramona stood. “We’re ready to play. We may need to you run interference between us and Johnny, though.”
“Normally I’d be more than ready to do just that. But he’s not as worried about Christie tonight as he has been. It’s like he doesn’t care if she shows up or not.”
Connie frowned. “Maybe he’s as tired of her antics as we are.”
Toni shook her head. “That’s not – “ She stopped abruptly and straightened. “You girls just knock them dead tonight. And break a leg.”
Lois’ eyes flickered at the ‘knock them dead’ phrase again. Before Toni could comment on it, Lucy called out, “Hey, Toni, is that guy with the money here again tonight?”
“You do have your priorities straight, don’t you?”
Lucy shrugged. “Christie wasn’t coming with us anyway. If she stays here, that’s fine with me, and if she moves on, that’s fine with me too, as long as it isn’t with us. But we’re trying to get a record deal and national exposure.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I understand. I think he’ll be here, but I can’t guarantee it, so don’t start hunting for him in the crowd. Even though I know Christie pointed him out to you last night.”
Lois stood. “We’re professionals, Toni. We won’t mess this up for you.”
Toni nodded wearily. “I know, I know. It’s just – I guess Johnny’s got me a little spooked. Let me get out of your hair so you can finish getting ready.”
Ramona said, “Thanks, but all we have to do now is spot tune the guitars. Everything else is hooked up and ready to go.”
“Great. Now all we need is the customers.“
“That’s your job. And you do it well, so stop being such a nervous Nellie.”
Toni sighed wearily. “Thanks. I’ll try.”
Connie asked, “How’s Malcolm feeling? We haven’t heard how he’s doing.”
“Oh! Forgot to tell you. He got out of the hospital late this afternoon, but the doctor told him to stay home for two days and drink lots of fluids. I think Malcolm said he had food poisoning, just like we thought, and his electrolytes had gotten out of whack from all the vomiting. But don’t worry, Charlie will be at the board tonight.”
Lois nodded to her. “Good. I think he’s a natural. He even helped Connie clean up her amp tone during sound check this afternoon.”
Toni’s eyebrows both lifted towards her lacquered hairdo. “Really? This is the same Connie Vandross who all but jumped on Malcolm’s head last week for suggesting that her amp had too much midrange in it?”
Lois smiled. “Yeah. Anyone who can out-charm our own Miss Congeniality is someone special.”
Connie growled low in her throat and glared at Lois. “Don’t mess with the vintage Twin or I will get very upset with you.”
Lois lifted one eyebrow at her. “You know that you’re not near as scary as Shamika, don’t you?”
“I may not sound scary, but I promise that I will be very put out with anyone who messes with my amp.”
Lois chuckled. “Don’t worry! Leo Fender’s legacy is safe from any meddling on my part.”
Toni nodded again. “Okay. You girls ready to go on without Christie?”
They all nodded with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Toni clapped her hands. “Great! Then go knock ‘em dead!”
This time the phrase didn’t make Lois flinch.
But Lucy paled slightly. And Ramona clamped her lips together and narrowed her eyes.
Gotta stop saying that, thought Toni. Might turn out to be bad luck.
And as she turned to resume her duties as hostess, she felt a twinge of jealousy at Lois’ description of Charlie as “someone special.” Even though she and Charlie hadn’t spoken of anything personal, she still felt something for him. Just what she felt she wasn’t sure, but she was certain that she didn’t want any other woman hanging around him.
Or doing anything else with him, for that matter.
*****
Both sets were incredible that night. Christie didn’t show up and the Mountaintops rocked the house. It was one of those rare nights when every note was golden, every phrase was perfect, and the mix clicked into place early in the first song and didn’t waver for the entire night. Even the breakdown after the last song felt perfect.
Clark declined the doorman’s offer of a ride and walked back to his dingy apartment in the crummy part of town. He knew he was smiling when the night clerk gave him a snarl and grunt for a greeting, but he didn’t care. He ran up the steps and burst into his room, barely able to keep his feet on the floor.
She was terrific. She was fantastic. And she was wonderful.
And she didn’t seem to hate him.
During the second set, he’d realized something. It was something he’d never been able to do before, especially not in a crowded night club with nineteen kinds of background noises masking his hearing. But he did it anyway.
He could hear Lois’ heartbeat.
Not while the band was playing loudly, of course, and not after they all skipped off the stage to change after the show. But between songs – and even during two of the softer tunes – he had picked out Lois’ heartbeat as if he were locked in to a radio station.
And that had never happened before. Oh, he could hear someone’s heartbeat in a quiet room if he were close enough, but he’d heard Lois’ heartbeat from over a hundred feet away, over the waitresses taking orders and delivering them, over the rowdy crowd cheering on the band, over Shamika’s drum solo on “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy,” and even over Lucy’s inspired improvisations during Connie’s vocal on Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.”
He didn’t know what that meant, either. He didn’t know if Kryptonians could hear only certain heartbeats or if hearing Lois’ meant something special, something unique.
And it was a wonderful, resonant, powerful and steady heartbeat. Lois was young and beautiful and talented and driven and –
And he had no real idea what her feelings for him might be. He didn’t know if she secretly worshipped him – unlikely as that was – or if she even took note of his existence, other than as the band’s new favorite sound tech. The truth was probably somewhere in between those two extremes, but until he had some idea of how she felt, he ought to keep his sudden euphoria in check. At least until she fell at his feet, begging him to take her as she was and run away to live a life of sybaritic pleasure with her.
He mentally doused himself with cold water. Yeah, that was gonna happen. Right after he flew out into space and destroyed an asteroid with his bare hands.
