Long Weekend In Miami (It Can Turn Your World Around)

Salvation

Within fifteen minutes the whole of Love/Hate were on their feet dancing and singing. If there was one thing to be said about Shayne Miller, she knew how to work a crowd and whip it up into a frenzy. People were jumping up and down and punching their fists in the air. The atmosphere in the bar was electric.

There were at least five hundred bodies crammed into the space and all eyes were glued to the girl on stage. Fifteen minutes into the set and Shayne's face was already flushed. She gave every performance her all and had sang and bounced her way through the first three songs, covering every inch of the relatively small stage. As most of the crowd were fans who'd followed the band cross-country, they'd sang every word with her. Now as she launched into the fourth song of the night - an energetic, head-trip of a number - anyone who didn't know her back story would think she was wasted.

'She sure knows how to command a stage. Girl's a natural,' remarked Chris.

'Yeah.' Ami smiled. 'She was born for this.'

Chris picked up his beer. 'So what's her story?' he asked before taking a drink.

'Typical good girl gone bad gone good again.'

Shayne had pulled a young guy from the crowd up on to the stage and pushed him down onto a nearby chair. The kid must've thought all his birthdays had come at once when she started giving him what could only be described as the classiest lap-dance Chris had ever seen.

'You sure about that?' he said grinning at Ami.

'Ah, she's always like that when she performs. She likes to get the crowd involved.' Even from where he was Ami could see the blush creep across the young guy's face. 'Then again, the way she is on stage is pretty much the way she is off,' he added with a chuckle.

'Kid's enjoying himself,' Chris said. The young guy looked like he'd died and gone to Heaven.

'Who wouldn't?' mused Ami as he took a long pull of beer.

'Got that right,' agreed Chris. 'Man, those boots are hot.' The overhead lights kept catching and reflecting off the chrome heels every time she moved.

Ami pulled his gaze away from the stage and gave Chris a flat look. 'Would you shut up about the boots? What's the matter with you?'

Chris snickered. 'Don't sit there pretending you're not having some kind of fantasy about those boots just like every other guy in the room.'

'I've seen those boots a million times.'

'That's not answering my question.'

'You didn't ask one.'

'Gotta give you kudos, man. How you've managed to keep your hands off her all these years is commendable.'

Ami shrugged. 'We're just friends. That's all she wants.'

'And you?'

'Want whatever she wants.'

'Oh, man,' Chris laughed out. 'You got it bad, my friend. This chick could throw anything at you and you'd roll over and take it.'

'Get out. Look, she's just a big part of my life, ok?' Ami said simply. 'Her friendship's important to me.'

'Clearly. I've never witnessed a girl cut you down the way she did and get away with it.' Chris snickered. 'Roll over, Ami Bear, there's a good - '

'Fuck you,' Ami cut in, but then he smiled. 'Besides, if I tried to fight back she might attack me with those weapons on her feet.'

They both began to laugh and Chris waved over Skip for another round of drinks.