“What are you guys doing here?” I asked.
“I was just trying to ascertain that myself.”
“We’re here to take you to the formal,” Lake said.
I shook my head as I started backing away from the rail. “I said I wasn’t going.”
“Gin!” Aunt Bow called, then she appeared up the stairs, followed by the slightly less elegant Rica. “Baby, if this is about that boy–”
“It’s about that boy,” Rica interrupted.
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not about a boy. It’s about me not wanting to go.”
“Bullshit,” Rica said.
“You put in so much work, Gingernut.”
I shrugged. “So? I’ll get to go next year.”
“Or you could go this year,” Rica said, pulling a garment bag from behind her skirts.
I frowned at her. “If that’s for me…”
Rica shrugged unapologetically. “Then you’d have to go or look like a totally ungrateful bitch.”
I sighed and stormed into my room. Norbert looked up from his place on my bed.
“Some guard dog, you are,” I grumbled.
“Hiya, Norb,” Aunt Bow cooed at him as Rica hung the bag up and unzipped it.
“Everyone wants you there–”
“Except me and like all but about four people,” I said.
“Come on. Whip those clothes off. On with the dress.”
Rica pulled it out of the bag and it came in two pieces. As in, intended to come in two pieces.
“Is this the year of the bare midriffs?” I asked Rica sceptically.
She grinned and patted hers. “I can’t be all exposed on my own.”
“I guess I’m meant to consider myself lucky mine doesn’t have the plunging neckline?”
Rica nodded. “Yes. At least you can wear a bra with yours.” She winked and I doubted she much cared if she was wearing a bra or not. Not that she needed it with her stupid naturally perky boobs.
“A strapless. The most uncomfortable of all bras.”
Rica’s finger went to her chin. “Oh yeah. The worst of the worst…”
“Thank you. I guess.” It was all sarcasm and she knew it.
Rica shrugged, swishing her skirt around her legs. “In an effort to make sure you looked smokin’ hot, I may not have considered lingerie. I’m sorry.”
“Underwear, at best,” I said, trying to stifle my smirk.
“Just get dressed,” Aunt Bow said. “The boys are on at eight.”
“What do you know about it?” I asked.
“Oh, baby. I know everything,” she said.
“Everything,” Rica agreed with a wink.
I sighed. “I’m not getting out of this, am I?”
“Terribly inconvenient time for her to go and get some lady balls and stop doing what she’s told,” Rica muttered in what was definitely supposed to be overheard.
Aunt Bow snorted. “Terribly inconvenient. Go and find her nice shoes and I’ll fix her hair.”
“My hair is fine, thank you,” I told her.
Aunt Bow shook her head and pointed to my desk chair. “Sit.”
I rolled my eyes as I dropped into it. “Fine. But no makeup.” I saw her look before she spun me around and amended, “Minimal makeup.”
“No promises.”
Aunt Bow had never been gentle with a brush and that night was no exception. But I just winced and grimaced through it while Rica found some music to put on and danced around the room.
I went from hair to makeup to putting on my dress in twenty minutes, which goes to show how simple Aunt Bow thankfully kept the whole thing. Rica finally flourished my ‘nice’ shoes – being one of my only pairs of heels – and then they both pulled me in front of the mirror.
“Well?” Rica asked, bouncing on her toes.
I nodded. “It could be worse.”
And it could. It was a dark blue, off the shoulder cropped top made of glittery material and the skirt was multilayered tulle that nowhere near as wild as Rica’s skirt. It went well with my silver heels and didn’t clash horribly with my strawberry hair. It even made my blue eyes pop. Or that could have been the eyeliner Aunt Bow had slathered on.
“You look…” Aunt Bow kissed her fingers. “Gorgeous.”
I fluffed the skirt and nodded. “Okay. Fine. I feel it.”
Aunt Bow and Rica squealed as they hugged me. Then I was dragged downstairs again where the boys were standing around awkwardly as Super-G, Mum and Dad sat awkwardly in the front room.
“Ta-da!” Aunt Bow said and everyone looked at me.
I looked at them hesitantly. “This really wasn’t necessary.”
“Pfft!” Govi waved away my words. “After all the work you did? It’s the least we could do.”
“No,” Lake said. “The least we could have done was leave her home alone with her book while all her friends were out having fun.”
“Books are fun!” I objected. “And it’s not too late.”
My eyes caught Mum and Dad and I looked down as I cleared my throat.
“Shall we go, then?” I asked, and started ushering everyone out who wasn’t related to me.
The filed out with a smile and a wink.
I looked at Super-G, who was giving me a warm smile, then to my parents who were…looking at me in a way they never had before. I coughed and pointed to the door.
“I should… I’ll see you tomorrow.” I nodded and headed out as well.
“Uh, Chloe…” my dad said and I turned to see he, Mum, Aunt Bow and Super-G had followed us to the front door.
“I know. I’ll be home by one.”
Dad looked taken aback for a moment. “Actually, I was just going to say you look beautiful.”
Mum nodded, hanging onto Dad’s arm like it was the only thing keeping her up. “You do, Chloe. Amazing.”
I felt Rica pause beside me and I had no idea what to say. I couldn’t remember the last time either of my parents had given me a compliment. Looking back on it, I wasn’t confident enough to say it had never happened. I just couldn’t have said when it had.
“Have a good night.”
Just as I closed the door, I heard Super-G’s chastising, “You say that like it’s never happened before.”
I’m not gonna write you a love song
I stumbled to a stop at the curb and laughed. “Of course you got a limo.”
Lake smiled as he put his arm around me and bundled me forwards. “Of course we got a limo.”
“Gotta begin as we intend to go on, Gin!” Govi said.
“Is Eli meeting you there?” I asked as we all slid into our seats and the others froze. I huffed in annoyance. “What? I don’t even get to mention him now? You all expect me to be friends with you and think he’s not going to come up?”
The boys all looked at each other and nodded.
“Fair,” Ramsey admitted.
“Yes. He’s meeting us there,” Lake answered.
“He…uh…was going to back out… With Ella,” Govi said.
“Doesn’t like going back on his word,” Lake finished.
“He’s a good dude when it comes down to it,” Ramsey said, clearing his throat.
I looked at them. “Is this some misguided attempt to get the two of us together?”
“No.”
“Definitely not.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Really not.”
“We know better than that.”
“Out of curiosity, would it have worked?”
I smiled. “I appreciate the loyalty. But Eli didn’t say the wrong thing, I didn’t mistake him hooking up with someone else, he didn’t break my heart or anything…” I shrugged.
“So what’s the problem?” Govi asked.
Not wanting to go into all the details, I remembered something Eli had said to me. “Maybe I’m just not the right girl for the right guy?”
“Leave her be, mate,” he said softly, giving me a sad smile.
“Yeah,” Ramsey added. “It’s not like we have to choose between them.”
“If we ever do, can I get Gin in the divorce?” Lake asked.
Ramsey nodded. “Yes.”
But Govi looked less sure. “If you get her, do we all get her?”
“Then who gets Eli?” Rica asked.
“You?” Govi offered.
They squabbled about who they’d get in the divorce if any number of people broke up – some they knew, most of them they didn’t and that was because apparently Ramsey’s life partner had yet to be built – the rest of the way to school.
Govi helped Rica out of the limo like a true gentleman, then Lake and Ramsey fake fought over who was going to help me out. While they were busy, I helped myself.
“This damsel doesn’t need rescuing,” I told them and they both whistled in appreciation.
“I can get behind that,” Lake said.
“Little class, please mate,” Ramsey chastised with a chuckle as we followed Govi and Rica inside.
“After you,” I told them, taking a little bow and pointing inside.
“Why thank you.” Lake curtseyed and Ramsey nodded.
I let them lead, giving myself a moment to just enjoy the whole thing in its proper glory, and it was just as I’d pictured it.
The trees lining the walkway were shrouded in partial shadows and dappled light, making Rica’s knots look like little faces peering out at you. The glitter sparkled as though the whole forest was full of magic. The fairy lights and tulle above our heads spread that magic out further.
Once we got through the forest – pausing for our entrance photo, of course – the room opened up with the rectangle tables down each side, full of drinks and snacks that were presided over by the teachers. The round tables were set up towards the back with the chairs around them for if people wanted to sit and chat. The stage was set up with instruments for the band and a DJ booth was sitting in front of it. And of course there was a big space under the disco ball for the dance floor where people were already dancing.
“Oh my God,” I laughed as I looked around.
“It looks pretty freaking awesome, huh?” Ramsey said.
“It wouldn’t look half as good without you,” Lake said.
“Hey, I did a lot of helping with that forest,” Govi said, appearing beside us.
Lake swatted Govi’s top hat off, but he caught it and glared at Lake.
“I was trying to give her a compliment,” Lake said by way of explanation.
“I don’t think she’s interested in you…” Govi hissed in a terribly unsubtle stage-whisper as he walked by.
And he wasn’t wrong.
Because I’d just spotted Eli and he looked amazing.
He didn’t cut nearly as suave a figure as Lake did. He wasn’t ahead of his time like Govi. And he wasn’t half-heartedly sticking it to the man like Ramsey. He wore a simple black suit, a white shirt, black dress shoes, and one of those really thin ties that never seemed to be able to be tied properly.
But it didn’t matter what clothes he was wearing. All that mattered was that smile he was wearing as Govi strutted over to him. Eli stole Govi’s hat out of his arms and tried it on, and I saw he was still wearing his silver rings though.
“Boys, you about ready to go on?” Paul, one of the music teachers, asked as he appeared next to us.
Lake nodded as Ramsey started stretching his neck and bouncing on his toes.
“You want us up there now?” Lake asked.
Paul nodded towards Eli and Govi. “Get those two and make your way over.”
Lake nodded again. Ramsey was quite clearly in some sort of zone.
“We’ll see you lovely ladies later,” Lake said.
Rica punched him on the arm enthusiastically. “Break a leg!”
“Any limb will do.” Lake grinned, then smacked Ramsey on the chest. “Come on, Lord of the Dance. Let’s nab us a monkey and a wanker.”
“Show time,” Ramsey grunted and I wasn’t going to judge whatever pre-show rituals the dude had.
As they left, Rica and I sidled closer to one of the snack tables so we could pick at the offerings while Rica watched Govi do his thing.
We lost sight of the four of them as they made their way to the stage, then they were there in the spotlights, instruments in hand, and personas in place.
Govi was much the same as he always was; exuberant, warm, in his favourite place on earth. Ramsey was cocky and brooding, with a determined glint in his eyes that was only offset by the half-smirk. Lake was cool, calm, collected, the picture of emotionless sophistication. And Eli. Their frontman was all sexy charm, with a smile made for trouble and the easy body language of someone who belonged up there.
“Good evening, Winters Class of 2019!” Eli cried and there was whooping and cheering and screaming. “We’ve got some of your favourites for you tonight, as well as something just a little bit different. So hold on to your corsages, button those lapels, and find yourself someone to share it with. We’re Quicksilver and we’re going to–”
“Rock your world!” chorused through the auditorium just before the boys started their first song.
It was a good set. As promised, there were covers and there were the band’s original songs that almost everyone in the crowd knew word for word. Rica and I swapped between eating and dancing, but we had to just watch and laugh as Ramsey and Lake had a battle of the Aussie pub songs, complete with crowd voting. In the end, it was very difficult to work out who had won and no one seemed to mind.
“It’s time for a new one now, guys,” Ramsey announced, and it looked like he was having trouble keeping the smile off his face. “If it sounds like we only learnt it in the last few days, that’s because we did.” He grinned and there was a smattering of laughter through the auditorium as they started playing. “This one’s for all you lovebirds out there. We don’t want to see any room for the Holy Ghost!”
It sounded similar to the one Eli had played me the day we first kissed. Similar if it had had four brains pouring over it to polish it. It was like any other Quicksilver song, but also not quite. I had to admit I tuned out a little, even if I was subconsciously bopping along with it.
“Yeah, I’m not sure that worked,” Govi said into his microphone as the boys repeated the last few bars of the previous song.
Lake shrugged as he looked at Eli and moved closer to his mic. “We might have to get super corny, dude.”
Eli shrugged dramatically. “Aw, shucks. And I left my piano at home.”
Ramsey disappeared off stage as they kept repeating those last few bars and I wondered what in the hell they were doing. It had to be said, those boys had brilliant stage presence, even if they were being a little weird.
“That’s okay,” Govi said. “Here’s one we prepared earlier.” He played a ‘ba dum tush’ on his drums in the middle of the repeating bars and there was some laughter here and there.
Ramsey came back on stage, ‘helping’ a few guys push a piano onto the stage.
“What are they doing?” I asked Rica.
She shrugged and made a very noncommittal, “I dunno,” sort of noise.
“I dunno, guys,” Eli said. “Do they even want a slow song?”
The gathered students cheered in answer to his question.
“Yeah, but – like – we wrote this one,” Eli said, acting surprised.
There was another cheer and a few people yelled unintelligible things.
“I think they want it, dude,” Ramsey said.
“Make a choice either way,” Lake added. “This base line is getting mighty tedious, man.”
More scattered laughter from the students.
Eli shrugged again. “All right. All right. I’l
l do it.”
Govi drummed out a flourish as Lake used his smooth, deep voice to announce, “All right, everyone. Grab that special someone and hold them tight. We’re about to get a little mushy on you.”
They moved almost seamlessly into position – Eli at the piano and the others disappearing off stage – as though they’d practised it a tonne of times.
“Be gentle with me, we’re trying something new,” Eli laughed into the microphone, then started playing.
I recognised it instantly as the piece he’d played me the other day, but a little different. Like the other piece, it was more polished. As far as melodies went, it was similar to ‘Piano Man’ or Stephen Speaks’ ‘Out of My League’. It was a sweet piano piece with a tune you wanted to remember and whose chorus you could sing along to by the end of it. And the way the couples in the room swayed to it, smiling wistfully at their partner, it looked like it was going to be a hit when Quicksilver finally landed that record deal.
But it wasn’t until the second verse that I started to sense there was something else going on with the lyrics. Super-G was the one to blame for any connections I came up with, but the mention of ‘Alabama’ so close to ‘Four Pillars’ had my mind whirring.
“What was that?” I asked, grabbing hold of Rica’s arm.
“What was what?” she replied unhelpfully.
“Slam…Alabama…” I muttered. “Four pillars…” My eyes went wide and shot to Eli, heading into the third verse. “Alabama slammer?”
“I need you more than Danny needs Sandy…” Eli sang.
“A pink lady?” I wondered, then looked at Rica. “It can’t be…”
“Can’t be what?” she asked coyly, but the smile she was trying and failing to suppress told me I wasn’t wrong.
I listened to the rest of the song and even if I was making it up, it made sense. Especially when the last lines were, “Just let me see those sapphire eyes. Don’t let the last word be ‘it’s over…’”
Damn Super-G and her obsession with all things gin.
“Sapphire… Bombay…” I breathed. “Oh my God.”
“We have a winner, ladies and gentleman,” Rica whispered.
As the last chords of the piano faded out, Ramsey and Lake started up with their guitars.
“That was Eli and our entry into the illustrious halls of corny with ‘Gin Fizz’,” Ramsey announced with a wink and my breathing went from heavy to hyperventilating.
The Stand-In: my life as an understudy Page 23