Chapter Seven
1283 Words
I got changed into a silky and glittery lavender jumpsuit that hugs my waist and fits perfectly around my breasts. I slid on a pair of silver high heel booties. I took my hair out and let it loose. It flowed in curls around my shoulders. I left all my makeup on, minus the sexy red matte lip gloss. I put glittery matte lip gloss on instead. Then I grabbed my purse, Jeep keys and left the Performance Stadium. When I got to Millie's everyone was waiting for me, before they grabbed a table.
"How many ma'am?"
"16. There's 16 of us together tonight."
"Okay. Follow me."
We followed the waiter over to a section in a corner with two tables connected and bench seats all around them.
"Here's a menu for each of you. What can I get you to drink?"
We all got chocolate-strawberry floats and a Reese's peanut butter cup shake. The waiter came back a couple minutes later with our floats and a waitress came over with our shakes. The waitress walked away as the waiter took our orders.
"So, four meals of spaghetti with Italian sausage meatballs, two meals of Italian sausage sandwiches, seven meals of shrimp scampi and three meals of chocolate chip pancakes with maple syrup?"
"Yes. That's correct. Oh, and can we get some of your homemade bread and strawberry jam, too?"
"Yeah. I'll be back with the bread and jam first. Then I'll bring your meals."
"Okay. Thank you, Bobby."
"You're welcome."
Bobby, our waiter, came back with the bread and jam and gave us some butter, too. Then, five minutes later, Bobby came back with the spaghetti meals. A waitress came with the shrimp scampi meals. When Bobby came back again, he had the Italian sausage sandwich meals and the chocolate chip pancake meals.
"How are things?"
"Great. Thank you, Bobby. This food and these drinks are beyond words to describe them."
"Well, we appreciate that. Enjoy the rest of your meals. I'll be back around to see if you'll want dessert or if you want anything else. Or to give you your check. Enjoy."
"We will. Thanks, Bobby."
"You're welcome."
After Bobby walked away, Andrew turned to me.
"So, Grace?"
"Yes, Andrew?"
"We were wondering, me and the others, if you would go ask Millie to do karaoke. Don't pick a song. Tell her to come over here as you go up front, where everyone can see you, and wait for her to start the song."
"Sure. I'm surprised you'd want me to do karaoke tonight. But, alright. I'm down with this." I found Millie by the desserts, dishing them out, and smiled as she looked at me with a sparkle in her eyes. "Millie? Would it be alright if I could do karaoke tonight?"
"Sure, dear. What song would you like to do?"
"Actually, my friends have a song. They'd like for you to go over to our table," I pointed to our table. "And they'll tell you the song."
"Okay. Just a moment and I'll begin the song."
I went to the front, where everyone could see me, and music for the Disney Frozen movie song, 'Let It Go', came on. It was a strange surprise, because I only sing this song when I'm alone. This is one of my favorite Disney songs. No one knew I loved Disney songs, especially this one. I closed my eyes as I felt the music in my bones and began singing 'Let It Go'.
"The snow glows white on the mountain tonight. Not a footprint to be seen. A kingdom of isolation. And it looks like I'm the queen.
"The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside. Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I tried. Don't let them in, don't let them see. Be the good girl you always have to be. Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know. Well, now they know.
"Let it go, let it go. Can't hold it back anymore. Let it go, let it go. Turn away and slam the door. I don't care what they're going to say. Let the storm rage on. The cold never bothered me anyway.
"It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small. And the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all. It's time to see what I can do to test the limits and break through. No right, no wrong, no rules for me. I'm free.
"Let it go, let it go. I am one with the wind and sky. Let it go, let it go. You'll never see me cry. Here I stand and here I stay. Let the storm rage on.
"My power flurries through the air into the ground. My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around. And one thought crystalizes like an icy blast. I'm never going back, the past is in the past.
"Let it go, let it go. And I'll rise like the break of dawn. Let it go, let it go. That perfect girl is gone. Here I stand in the light of day. Let the storm rage on. The cold never bothered me anyway."
I opened my eyes as everyone began clapping and cheering. Then Millie came over to me.
"That was amazing, dear. Say. What's your name?"
"Grace. Grace Starlin."
"You're Grace Starlin?"
"Yes . That's me."
"Wow. Okay. Well, everyone, give it up for Grace Starlin!"
Everyone cheered again. I sat back down and finished my chocolate chip pancakes, sausages, fruit salad and bacon.
"So. Who knew that I loved to sing 'Let It Go' when I was alone? Or at least thought I was alone?"
Davis, Daphenie, Andrew, Savannah and Rick looked at each other, then pointed at Nate. He smiled embarrassed.
"I told you guys she was incredible at singing that song. Didn't I? And wasn't I right?"
"You did tell us that. And, yes, you were right. Grace, I didn't know you had a thing for Disney songs."
"Hey. I guess I've always sang Disney songs, mainly 'Let It Go', when I was by myself and didn't think anyone was listening to me. So, no one really knew I had a thing for Disney songs."
"Hey? Not even your family knew?"
"No. Sorry guys."
"Well, at least we know now. So, now you don't have to hide it from any of us anymore."
"Alright. I won't. But, Nate, when the music for 'Let It Go' began, I thought that that was one strange surprise. I didn't think anyone knew how much I love and sing that song."
Bobby came back over to our table and smiled at me.
"Well, what can I get you guys now?"
"Five slices of apple pie. Five slices of lemon meringue pie. Six slices of peaches and cream cake. Then, sixteen pumpkin pie shakes. All to go. Oh, and our check."
"Alright. Be back with everything."
Bobby came back with our desserts and shakes. We paid for everything and I gave Bobby a one hundred dollar tip. My crew gave Bobby a fifty dollar tip. Then, my family gave Bobby another fifty dollar tip. As we left I watched Bobby pick up his tip and a huge smile spread across his face. He caught my eye, before I got into my Jeep, and mouthed, 'Thank you'. I mouthed 'You're welcome' back and waved goodbye. Bobby waved back and I went home.
After putting on soft and comfy pajama pants and threw on a T-shirt, I took my bra off and curled up in my bed. I turned on the TV and put 'The Gifted' on. 'The Gifted' is a series on Hulu. Soon after, I fell asleep.
- Writer
