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Cabaret ( kab ' e-ray ) n. a restaurant or
nightclub providing live entertainment.

The five Backstreet Boys smiled for the cameras before slowly making their way into the grand opening of the newest restaurant in Orlando, The Cabaret. With authentic costumes and live performing as the guests eat, the attraction was a true cabaret. They were led to a table near the front of the large hall, the chair positioned so all five could view the stage. The building was like a flashback of the old popular cabarets: a piano to the side of the large wooden stage, thick velvet curtains hanging down near the back of the stage. The tables themselves were old fashioned. Of the five guys, the only one not enjoying the experience whole-heartedly was Nick as he thought it would be a boring evening...that thought only lasted until the up-beat piano music filtered into the room.

The clicking of female heels sounded against the stage as the first performer came out. Her petite body was curved in a compact shell with a pretty face and thick dark hair. Her lips were painted red, her hair pinned up in a mass of curls. The gown she wore clung to her body and fell to the floor in a waterfall of silk. It was simple, elegant and seemed so innocent until she twirled around and revealed a large slit up the back. Her stacking clad legs winked at Nick for a moment before she was facing from again and the cheers died down. The piano player then started her number, the soft chords filtering through the room as she stood at the old metal microphone, it's silver body twinkling slightly in the lights. Nick didn't know what song she sang, but he knew he had heard it before. Crazy...for thinking that my love could hold you. I'm crazy for trying and crazy for crying...And crazy for loving you. Whatever the song was didn't matter...his blue eyes were fixated on her, attached to the soft body and angelic face. In the white spot light she almost glowed, her pale skin a contrast to her dark green dress.

"Nick...hey, Nick..." The hoarse whisper penetrated Nick's brain, causing him to turn to the
voice's owner.

"Yeah, Bri?"

"You like?"

Nick cleared his throat and blinked a few times. "Um...she's a wonderful singer..."

"Yeah....my sentiments exactly..." Brian replied sarcastically. "You should talk to her..." He motioned as she stepped off the stage and made her way to the bar. Nick's eyes followed her, the sway of her hips hypnotizing as the silk followed them side to side. She then perched on a high bar stool as the bar tender brought her a glass of ice and then poured a can of soda into the glass.

Nick licks his lips, amazed how the dryness in his mouth provided enough saliva to moisten the soft outer skin. He felt Brian's elbow in his side, nudging him to stand up...to walk over to her.

He stood up, his palms sweaty, his mouth dry. His knees were weak from nervousness, but he somehow made his way to the bar. As he got closer, she somehow grew even more beautiful. Her lips were coated with a glossy red layer of lipstick, the curving crescents turned up in a smile as she chatted with the bar tender, oblivious to the men seated at the bar staring at her. She laughed, her pearly white teeth breaking through the smile, her gales of laughter warming the area around her. As he stepped next to her, she glanced up, her green eyes bright and heated like fire, warming his body just by looking at him. He swallowed hard, his mind racing at what he could possible say to this beauty. He wanted to just pull her into his arms, tangle his fingers in her dark brown curls, crush her frail body to his...

"Hello..." her soft voice filled his ears, flowing over him like thick warm honey.

"Um...hi," he replied, his voice cracking slightly. "You're the singer..."

"Yes..." she said, holding back a laugh.

"That sounded dumb, didn't it?"

"It's quite alright..." she replied softly, her hand coming to his forearm, the touch gentle yet provocative in some way.

"Ok...um...would you like me to buy you a drink?"

"I have one right now..but maybe after the show?" She flashed him a smile, the same smile he saw on stage: bright, touching and warm.

"Sounds great!" he said as he forced a smile through the nervousness. His lips trembled slightly before he locked them together in a half-assed grin.

"As much as I would love to chat with such a handsome man...I have to sing again soon. So, um...I didn't catch your name..."

"Nick."

"Ok...so, Nick...I must bid you adieu. Meet me at the stage entrance after the show..." She smiled again, this time softer, more sincere, before she raised to her toes and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek.

Amazed, he just stood there, watching her walk away, catching the quick glance she tossed over her shoulder.

The end was nearing...Nick could feel it. There was a feeling in the air: relief of the performers, anticipation of the audience. Nick knew the feeling from the concerts he performed in, it was thick in the air almost like the stench of sweat and liquor that filled a bar late at night. Nick looked at his watch again. He straightened his shirt. He shifted in his chair again. Where is she now?

The announcer came on once again. "And for the last performance of the night..." the voice trailed off as the piano played loud, accompanied by the small band. The spotlight focused on one side of the stage and a sticking clad leg peeked out. The black netting was gartered around the well defined thigh and clung to the curves of her knee and calf before dipping into her ankle and disappearing into the black high heeled shoe that buckled around her foot. Her hip bobbed up and down to the music before she stepped out and started to sing. It was her.

"Come on, babe...we're gonna paint the town...and all that jazz!" she started to sing, her lips still the same red and her dress now the same hue. The corseted top dipped low to reveal pale white flesh from her face to the upper swells of her breasts. The short skirt flared out, covering the curves of her hips and rear end in a veil of red material that looked soft and welcoming. She suddenly turned quickly, the skirt flaring up to reveal the toned muscles below it, covered with black panties and garters. She danced and sang, every male in the building hooting and hollering for her as if it were a strip club. Well, almost every male.

Nick sat stunned in his chair. She was gorgeous, sensual, wild...yet when they talked she was sweet and witty. He was confused, and his body was reacting to the mere site of her. He shifted in his chair again, glad that baggy jeans covered his evident happiness. His eyes stayed locked on her as she danced, shimmied and sang on stage. She was playful this number, holding the audience in the palm of her hand as she showed off her talent.

The number ended too soon for many in the crowd, her small curtsey followed by blown kisses as she made her way backstage. Nick slowly stood from his seat, his stomach now twisting and turning inside of him. Butterflies would have felt nice compared to the rumbling inside him. He said goodbye to his bandmates, receiving encouragement from them before he walked to the meeting spot. A few of the other performers had already changed and were leaving as he stood there. He leaned back against the wall and took a deep breath, wondering if she would show up. He closed his eyes for a moment, his chest tightening around his rib cage as he breathed. He then lifted his head, the lids slowly sliding open.

She was walking toward him. Now dressed in jeans and a tailored button down shirt with chunky soled shoes she looked even better than on stage. Her hair now in a half ponytail, the waves tumbling down her back and bouncing with her steps she smiled and stopped in front of him.

"Hello, Nick..." she said softly, looking up at him with a smile.

"Hi...Um...."

"Call me Mel."

"Ok. Mel," he laughed nervously.

"Well, can I take you up on that drink or have you changed your mind?"

Nick released a breath, the weight lifting from his chest as he smiled. "I was hoping you hadn't changed your mind. Where do you want to go?"

"I know this little place down the street...we can go there..."

The bar wasn't as dark as most, but it carried the familiar odor of alcohol and lust that most bars do. Nick looked around nervously as Mel led him to a corner table. The pool tables were occupied by large men clad in leather and Harley Davidson T-Shirts as their dates sat on stools in mini-skirts and tight shirts. Most of the tables were seated with normal looking people: businessmen, a few of the performers from the cabaret, couples on casual dates, and a few singles looking for someone to spend time with. The large TV blared a sports recap show but Nick was too nervous to be interested in the score of the Tampa Bay game. He looked at the drink menu before him, realizing he never really got specialty drinks before. Being 21 for a few months only really signified a six-pack here and there...maybe a drink at a party. He looked at the names and the description and wondered what the hell he should get.

"What are you getting big boy?" the waitress asked with a smile. Her hair was teased and curled and pinned at the top of her head, providing a place for her to stick an extra pencil. She smacked on a large wad of gum and wore a simple outfit of black jeans and a white shirt.

"Um...not sure yet..." he said, his voice wavering slightly as he looked across the table. His eyes were greeted by a smile on her lips, the red lipstick gone but the lushness still there in the center of her face.

"Can you give us a few more minutes?" Mel asked politely.

"Of course..."

Nick chewed the inside of his bottom lip as he glanced over the selection of drinks again. I've never heard of half of these...

"Don't know what you want?"

"Don't know how most of these taste..." Nick replied quietly, still reading over the list.

"Ever have Sex on the Beach?"

Nick's eyes flew up, wide and amazed. "I don't really think we should talk about that!"

"It's a drink silly..." she replied, her light laugh showing her amusement without hurting his feelings.

"Oh...where is it?"

"Bottom of the page. It's just peach schnapps, vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice...It's pretty good. Fruity..."

"What the Hell...I'll try it!" Nick grinned, hoping that vodka would settle his nerves.

It was a haze of the throbbing ache in his head and the rumbling of nausea in his stomach that woke Nick from his black slumber. The curtains were drawn over the windows, but the room was still too bright for his now sensitive eyes. The room he was in was vaguely familiar, though he had no idea where he was. Propping himself up on his elbows, he sat somewhat upright and looked around him. The pale walls were a pale gray in the limited light coming through the curtains. Framed and hanging around the room were various playbills and programs from a variety of shows. Some he had heard of, some he hadn't, but it hurt too much to think. He dropped off his elbows and collapsed back onto the soft cushions of the sofa and closed his eyes. He then heard the soft footsteps pad into the room, the socks barely making a sound on the thick carpet but his ears making everything louder in his hung over state. He squinted open his eyes to find her standing over him, only a large white dress shirt and socks on her body. Her long hair was sleep tousled, and a smile was on her face.

"You had me worried last night. How are you feeling?"

"What happened?"

"Well, every drink I said tastes good, you had. I mean, there's nothing wrong with them...just not all in the same night."

"Ha. Ha. You're so funny..." he said with a half groan as the pain in his head started to throb worse.

"You just rest...I'll get you some aspirin..."

"Thanks..." His response was thick and muddled as he laid back and closed his eyes. All he remembered was the first few drinks...well, maybe more than a few. And then he somehow got to the couch he laid on...I hope I didn't do anything stupid last night...

"Here you go..." her soft voice filled his ears again. He looked up at her and let her help him sit up. Taking the glass of water and the pills in her hands, he swallows the medicine and gulped down all the water. "You ok?" she asked, brushing some of the golden locks from his forehead.

"I'll be fine. What happened last night?"

"Well...you drank a lot. And then we came back here and you passed out on my couch."

"Is that all?"

"Unless something happened that I don't know of..." she said with a smile. Then the grin faded as she finished, "Yes...that's all."

Nick's eyes widened as he looked at the front page of the morning paper. He had spent another night at the Cabaret, Mel now more than a mere friend. Months of dating made him realize she was perfect for him, a soulmate and a friend...a lover and a caretaker. And now this...