Friday Night. Dangerous Horizons. July 13th, 2012
It was starting off the same as any Friday night at around ten o’clock at night, at least for the city. It was hot, sticky almost, and the line was already starting to bound around the corner, of people just waiting to get into the upscale night club. They were always there, but unfortunately very few of them actually got in. Dangerous Horizons had always been a very upscale and expensive club that offered live nightly entertainment, quiet atmosphere, and very classy dancing and people it seemed. Still, other people tried to get in, and the bouncers always took care of them. Richard King, the owner of Dangerous Horizons, had always been particular about his staff and how things worked, but it seemed since the addition of their newest, at least until this night, club singer, things had been picking up.
Caged Bird, whom had been advertised around town apparently, had been drawing attention for a few weeks, and Richard knew that people were coming tonight. Very important people, not only for her even, for the whole entertainment crew. The talent scouts. Of course, the talent scouts had been there before once or twice, but he knew what had attracted them this time, and Richard knew what kind of trouble it could possible cause. Still, he knew what the risks were, and he also knew that the only way he’d lose Caged Bird was if she found a real job.
“Everyone gather around!” he called for his staff members, and soon a small group formed closer to him and then a circle around the outer rim. The closer group that stood closer was the entertainers. Singers, instrument players, comedy acts, and other things of the sort, and front and center was the youngest member currently on the staff. Nineteen year old Olivia Henderson, better known to the world outside by the only name they ever knew of her, Caged Bird. The air conditioned night club was wonderful, but she still wore a form-fitting black dress that fell just above her knees and a pair of black pumps. The top was strapless, and it allowed her long, curled, brunette hair to tumble down her back. Her make up for the night, as per usual, consisted of heavy eyeliner done in designs down the base of white with some rhinestone studs in designs around her face. She had to. It was the only way her brother would allow her to work there.
“Alright, tonight, we will have some people coming in from talent agencies for our entertainers. No one give out actual names, just give out our cards and towards the end of the night, the talent scouts may try to interview our entertainers. Please, be cooperative and respectful. Bouncers, they will have cards that I sent out to them that you must check. Now, let’s have a good night! Tara, get ready to get on stage! You’re opening. Now, go open the doors.” He said, and with a few affirmative nods and words following.
A tall sandy blond man soon approached Olivia, before he looked over to his partner who was heading to the door, his bright hazel eyes soon moving from him down to the thin young woman in front of him. His gaze met her grey eyes and he smiled to her, kissing the part of her head, being nearly a foot taller than her, standing at about 6’5” where she stood at 5’6.” She smiled up to him. “Better get to the door, Ayden. As much as Richard loves us, he won’t be happy if you’re not at your post.”
He chuckled and nodded. “I know, just had to wish my baby sister the best tonight, and remember, just be yourself on stage. No one else knows it’s you… At least aside from a few members of the staff here. Just do your best and I’ll deal with the talent scouts later.” He assured her and she nodded. She hugged him quickly before disappearing to the employees’ only section of the night club and Ayden took his place at the door. Nice jeans, a pair of nice boots, and a black button down shirt was his uniform, much like the other bouncers, and he looked over to see the bartenders, standing ready and soon they were letting people in. Checking ids and looking over the people was the easy part, checking the list was the easy part; it was when things got too rowdy that things got a little bit interesting. Ayden liked when things got interesting though. It was funny more than anything else and it gave his normally dull, pretty decent paying job a bit of spice.
The normal crowd was already filing in as the first act came on, one of the talent scouts on the list already set up in a small booth near the stage where most of them were likely to flock. Tara, better known as “The Cellist,” was already beginning her piece and a few of the normal crowd smiled to her performance. She wasn’t the most original with stage names, but she was still talented. Then again, not many people had a stage name as catchy as “Caged Bird.” He knew why Olivia had chosen that name, because she also felt caged, but no one aside from him would know that. At least not until they heard her sing without the make-up and fancy get-up.
Ayden watched for a moment before asking, “Name?” he received the name, checked the list, and let the man in without another glance before the interesting crowd came. “Name?”
“We’re… We’re not on the list.” The woman admitted. “But my sister, she’s playing. Charlie Reed.” She said, and Ayden looked between his partner and the woman.
“Id?” he asked and she took it out and when he noticed the credentials he and his partner bother decided to let her in, and soon two names came up that he recognized almost immediately.
“Julie Robertson and Daniel Jackson.” the voice said and Ayden looked up. He saw it was his partner who had said them, and he looked over the beautiful blonde woman and the man with her. Talent scouts were going to be his enemy for the night, but he wouldn’t let on like that. He saw that the talent scout had his pass out and his partner looked at him.
“Rick was wanting to see you, Miss Robertson.” He informed her. “C’mon, I’ll take you to meet him. Talent scouts are at the table nearest to the stage.” He told the man before his partner nodded and another one of the bouncer’s swooped into Ayden’s place, effortlessly. “I’ll tell you now, tonight Rick won’t let you up on stage. Wants you to get a feel for the club, it’s how he is with all his entertainers, so you can hang around getting used to the back area for performers, or just sit and enjoy it.” He told her, quietly before Rick came over.
“Ah, you must be Julie. Hard to tell with the dim lights in here, so glad you could make it!” Rick greeted and soon the cello music came to an end and a woman behind the bar brought up a microphone.
“Let’s hear it for our Cellist, ladies and gentlemen.” She announced and Rick nodded to Ayden who walked away and stood towards the back, watching the stage. “Now, I know it’s a little early in the night for her to be on, but let’s give a warm welcomed to our very own Caged Bird.”
Some applause came for both Tara and now Olivia who was walking out on stage with her acoustic guitar over her shoulder and she smiled to everyone before she sat on the stool placed before the microphone and she gently strummed a few chords before she went on into the rhythm of the song.
“Open the book to a clean page
Just sit down and write for days
The things you don’t want us to see
Stop the story, tell a lie
Why do you break our hearts
All the time
We just want to help you
Oh, we just want to help you
Open up your heart
I know that it’s hard
But you can’t keep holding it in
You try to be strong
You try to stand tall
But it’s breaking you apart
So, break down
Cry
Show the side I know that’s there
Because the hardest part of this
Is breaking down again.” she sang and Ayden smiled a bit as she went into a guitar instrumental. There was still more to the song, but the awe had already gone over the club.
“That’s my girl.” He whispered to himself.
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