A Star - Chenford

Sentimental Mood

Tim was getting into his limo after he finished his first show on tour. He couldn't believe the turn-out in Los Angeles, especially for a country singer, but he was grateful nonetheless.

"Tim! How did it go? If the screams outside of this car are any sign then I'd say it went well." Angela joked as she lay across the couch. Angela Lopez was his best friend and his manager.

"I don't know, Ange. The first show is fun but it's always exhausting. I don't wanna go back to the after party." He grabbed the pre-opened beer next to him and took a quick swig.

"Why don't we just go to the hotel bar, then? I'm sure it won't be as busy - and we can get some food. I'm starving." She rubbed her stomach. She took another sip of her champagne and then spoke, "What do you say, Bradford?"

"Fine. But you're paying."

"Hey! You're the multi-millionaire! I only have 2."

***

He and Angela sat at the small bar facing away from the stage. It was a popular joint by the looks of it, but they just wanted to stay away from the room that was going to be infiltrated by his band if he was in it. Nolan and Thorsen were two fun guys, but man could they be annoying if they were partying. Sometimes a cold beer and live performances were the best way to wind down.

"This next performer is special, our very own local. This is... Lucy Chen, singing In a Sentimental Mood!"

The lights turned on, illuminating the girl on stage. She was wearing a long black satin dress, with pearls. Her hair was down and in loose curls, and her makeup was natural. She was beautiful. In her hands, she held a guitar, and she sat on a small stool.

"In a sentimental mood, I can see the stars come through my room. While your loving attitude is like a flame that lights the gloom." She sounded like an angel. Her voice was low and heavy, but the clearness in her words was like crystal. She glimmered under the light of the stage, the mood lighting in the rest of the bar had led her to be the only thing illuminated.

"On the wing of every kiss drifts a melody so strange and sweet. In this sentimental bliss, you make my paradise complete." The jazz chords strummed from her guitar flooded the room. He watched in awe at the woman before him.

"Rose petals seem to fall, It's all I could dream to call you mine. My hearts a lighter thing since you made this night a thing, divine." Angela slowly drank from her martini glass, staring at Tim and his practical heart eyes.

"In a sentimental mood, I'm within a world so heavenly. For I never dreamt that you'd be loving sentimental me." There was a small instrumental break. Her eyes were closed, and a small smile crept onto her lips as she played.

"In a sentimental mood, I'm within a world so heavenly. For I never dreamt that you'd be loving sentimental me..."

The playing stopped, and people in the room went crazy. Whistling, clapping, cheering, all of it.

"Hey, how can I talk to the girl?" Tim asked the bartender. He put the glass he was wiping down on the bar and leaned in closer to the two.

"Lucy has many admirers. If you wanna go talk to her, I advise you get over there quickly before the old guys try and get into her room." He gave a small, annoyed smile and then went back to his work.

Tim grabbed Angela's hand and ran to the area behind the stage, finding the room labeled as Lucy's dressing room. He knocked on the door and the girl opened it a tiny bit, looking out with one eye.

"Tim Bradford? What- W- Why are you here?" She opened the door to show her face fully. She was dumbstruck as she stared at him and his manager.

"I uh... saw your performance earlier. It was great. I- Your name is Lucy, right?" Tim asked, the nervousness in his voice swelling.

"Lucy Chen. It's nice to meet you two, please, come inside." She opened the door as the two shuffled in, then closed and locked it quickly behind them.

"How long have you been performing here?"

"A few weeks. My friend's a bartender, so he referred me," She sat at her makeup station and motioned for the couch, "please, sit."

"Thanks," Tim spoke as he sat on the end closest to her, Angela sat down and closed her eyes as she leans her head back.

"Why did you come to see me?" Lucy looks at him through the mirror. Her now visible eyes were big and brown, staring into his blues.

"I was intrigued. I haven't seen a live performance that good in a long time. You've impressed me." He crossed his arms.

"Thank you. Y'know you're quite good yourself," she turned around in her chair and looked into his eyes, now they were only a foot apart as she leaned in and whispered, "but I'm not really a country fan."

"I'm not really into jazz, but here we are," Tim smirked but inside was feeling the intensity in her stare. Her looks threatened him, almost beckoning him to lean in and-

"But you still liked my performance, so maybe I can change your mind." Lucy swiveled again in her chair and moved to take her makeup off, the tension in-between them dissipating when her gaze moved.

"Maybe I can change yours. I have a show tomorrow. Why don't you come? It's in Anaheim, so it wouldn't be too far. Plus, my driver would be taking you so it's not like it'll be an expense." Tim insisted.

"Oh, no. I've got work! I can't just miss work for you. I-I mean I can't miss work to just come to your show." She corrected herself as she wiped away the foundation laying on her skin. She was right, she had work the next day. But THE Tim Bradford is in my dressing room offering me free tickets and a driver to go see his show.

"Oh c'mon. You could've come up with a better excuse than that, Lucy." She looked up at his reflection at the use of her name and turned once again to meet him.

"Fine. But on one condition. I get to bring Jackson."

"Deal. Wait who's Jackson?"