Big Girls Rock 1 by Danielle Houston Page B

some commotion. The band from earlier had been doing pretty well. So when the music stopped I was surprised. Tattooed guy hopped on the stage, and he was talking to skinny kid.  What in the hell was he doing? The music started, and he grabbed the mic. Holy crap, was he going to sing? This crowd will tear him a new one. The melody drifted out into the bar, it was “Dream On”. Aerosmith, hmm a good choice, I thought. It was one of my favorite songs.  Then he opened his mouth and magic happened. This bar was a rock 'n roll type place, lots of shouting and screaming. So a ballad wasn't normally what the crowd went for. But this guy’s voice was like honey, every note absolutely perfect. As he sang, my thighs tensed and I bit my lip. There was no denying it, he was turning me on. He’d glance my way and my knees buckled. I wanted to look elsewhere, but his voice mesmerized me. When Nick finished the crowd went nuts. Every woman in the place was eyeballing him, and there was lots of whispering. Something was up, but I wasn't quite sure what. Jen tiptoed behind the bar, and then grabbed my arm. She spoke in a hoarse whisper, "Ohmigod! Do you know who that is?
    I had no idea what she was talking about. “No, who?"
    "That's Nick Ortiz!"
    *

2.
    "Nick Ortiz?" I didn’t know what the big deal was.
    "He's the star of that TV show, Harmony."
    "What?" The name sounded very familiar but between working days in the dress shop and nights at the bar I didn't have much time for T.V.
    "It's only like the biggest hit television show ever!" Jen was absolutely giddy. "I can't believe he's in our bar!"
    “You mean the one about the glee club?” I vaguely recalled something about a show that centered on a gang of talented misfits. It was the kind of thing I slept through after crashing in front of the T.V.
    "So did you like the song?" Nick had returned to the bar.
    "It wasn't half bad. You're pretty good."
    Jen's eyes widened, "Pretty good? He’s Nick freaking Ortiz! He was amazing" Behind her tough exterior beat the heart of an excitable thirteen-year-old girl. Before I knew it, Jen and a crowd of women had him surrounded. This was great time to take a break. I grabbed my purse and headed outside. I pulled a cigarette out, lit up, and leaned against the brick wall. The alley behind the bar was the perfect place for a little peace and quiet. So, a Hollywood Star had visited our hole in the wall! No one ever said my job was boring. He'll probably take some groupie home tonight and bang her silly. That would be good, and then he’d be out of my hair. I didn't notice there was someone behind me until he spoke.
    "Fancy meeting you out here," The annoying smelly guy from earlier had found me. His overuse of scented body spray betrayed his presence.
    "Yeah I needed a break," I took another drag off my cig and then dropped it to the ground.
    "So what do you say we find someplace more interesting to go?" his words slurred. This is just what I needed; a drunk and belligerent would-be Romeo.
    I stamped the cigarette out. "I told you before, no."
    "Oh come on; don't be like that,” he put a creepy hand on my shoulder.
    I brushed it away, "I’m sure there's some girl here, drunk enough to go home with you. But it isn't me."
    He grabbed my wrist. "I don't know what you’re playing at. It's not like you have a lot of options."
    My face grew warm and my hands balled into fists. This wouldn't be the first time I bloodied a guy’s nose. There were advantages to being a big, beautiful glamazon. Just as I was about to introduce this creep to my right hook, a strong masculine voice spoke up.
    "The lady's not interested."
    We both spun around. Mister tall, dark, and famous stood behind us.
    "Fine then," the creep let go of my arm. "There are prettier girls." He stormed off leaving me alone with Nick.
    "I can handle myself." I rubbed my sore wrist.
    "Sure you can, but I didn’t like the way he talked to you.”
    "Well thanks." This was an awkward moment.