Jeff finished the song with a flourish and after the last note, the applause began. Kristy's friends gave her a standing ovation.
Mike leaned over to Jessica, "Did you know she could sing like that?"
"I knew she had a great voice, but I've never seen her sing like that before. She was incredible!"
"Wow!" Jeff turned to Kristy and smiled sincerely. "That was even better than last time. Have you been practicing for this moment?"
"I don't know what happened. That was so fun!" Kristy looked a little dazed. "Maybe it was my audience, ya think?"
"I think you must do this for a living," Kevin guessed. "Or at least as one serious hobby."
Kristy smiled, shrugged one shoulder and shook her head. Kevin thought the entire effect was adorable and incredibly feminine. "Actually, I'm a clinical pharmacist," Kristy said as she tucked an errant strand of golden blond hair behind her ear in a nervous gesture. "And I haven't had any music or drama lessons since high school."
"Looks like you missed your calling," Kevin smiled. He watched her as she twirled a section of hair with her fingers. "I wonder if her hair is as soft as it looks," Kevin thought to himself. "Where did that come from?"
"Nah, I think I'll keep my day job and save my singing performances for smaller venues... like the shower, my car, and church, but then only as part of the congregation," Kristy laughed.
Tired of waiting for her to return to their table, Jessica, Heather, Mike and Chris had made their way over to the piano to congratulate Kristy themselves. Kristy introduced her friends to Jeff and Kevin.
Mike handed her a napkin and a pen, "Can I have your autograph? I'm your biggest fan Ms. Butler."
"That's 'Dr. Butler'," Kristy giggled, "And don't you forget it!"
"So, what are ya gonna sing for us next, Dr. Butler?" Jeff asked.
Kristy looked at her smiling and nodding friends, but crinkled her nose and shook her head. "Thanks, but I don't think so." She glanced back at Kevin and smiled shyly, "I'd rather hear Kevin sing something." "That's the understatement of the decade," she thought.
"Well, Kev?"
Kevin held Kristy's gaze with his own. Although it was Jeff who'd spoken, Kevin directed his response to Kristy. "On one condition."
A voice inside Kristy sighed, "Anything!" "And what's that?" she asked.
Kevin continued to watch Kristy's expression, "You sing with me."
Kristy's eyes widened, "A duet?"
Chris leaned in a bit and said in a loud whisper that everyone could hear, "I think that's usually what they call it when two people sing together."
Kristy rolled her eyes at Chris, "I know what a duet is!" She paused as she turned back to Kevin, her eyes searching his, "I'm just not sure why you'd want to sing with me..."
Kevin smiled. So far, in the short time since they'd met, he'd seen a dozen emotions and expressions cross her beautiful face, all reflected in those incredible hazel eyes... from shy to flirty, nervous to confident. From innocent to seductive, sweet to spunky. "I'd definitely like to get to know her better." He answered her question, "Three reasons, actually. First, it's obvious your friends and a lot of the other people here would like to hear you sing again." He could see that she was still resistant to the idea. Although he wasn't usually forward when it came to women, he knew he'd have to use his charm to get her to agree. "Second, I'm a musician, and I never pass up the opportunity to sing with someone who has as beautiful of a voice as you do."
Kristy smiled and lowered her eyes a little, as a faint blush colored her cheeks.
"And third?" Chris prompted.
"Third, I'm a male, and I never pass up the opportunity to sing with someone who is as beautiful as you are." Kevin smiled as Kristy's blush grew darker.
Although she was still nervous to sing with him, Kristy realized what an incredible experience this was. Something that would only happened when she and Jess were together. She looked Kevin in the eye and smiled, "What did you have in mind?"
He stepped around the piano to sit at the keyboard. "I don't know, what are you in the mood for?"
Kristy sat beside him on the bench. "Well, I know you know at least some of the words to 'From This Moment On'... do you know all the guys' parts?" she asked, referring to a duet the Backstreet Boys had done with Shania Twain.
"Not only do I know all the guy's parts, I know all the girl's parts too!" Kevin boasted as he warmed up his fingers with some snazzed up scales.
Kevin played the opening chords and the two started singing, alternating lines and harmonizing as if they'd been singing together for years. Both knew the music and their parts, so they could sing without having to focus on the notes. Instead they could concentrate on each other and the meaning of the words they were singing.
"From this moment, life has begun.
"From this moment, you are the one."
"Right beside you, is where I belong,
From this moment on."
"From this moment, I have been blessed."
"I live only for your happiness,"
"And for your love, I'd give my last breath,
From this moment on,"
"I give my hand to you with all my heart."
"Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start."
"You and I will never be apart,
My dreams came true, because of you."
"From this moment, as long as I live,
I will love you, I promise you this.
There is nothing, I wouldn't give,
From this moment on. Oohhh"
"You're the reason I believe in love."
"And you're the answer to my prayers from up above."
"All we need is just the two of us,
My dreams came true, because of you."
"From this moment, as long as I live,
I will love you, I promise you this.
There is nothing, I wouldn't give,
From this moment...
I will love you, as long as I live,
From this moment on. Mmmmm"
