War woman

The brief time Jodie got to spend with Eric was pure heaven. She still felt guilty when he would drive all the way back home to spend time with her and all they got to do was snuggle before he fell asleep and would then have to return to work. This week at least they had nearly a full week together.

After her nightmare Eric had sweetly held her for the next ten minutes as her tears slowed to soft sobs. When they began to slow Eric finally asked, "Hey, I've got a question for you."

"Yeah?"

"How does the man on the moon cut his hair?" Jodie stared at him in confusion, "e' clips it." Eric smirked proudly.

"Wh-"

"Why shouldn't you iron your four leaf clover?"

"Huh?"

"Because you shouldn't press your luck." Eric wiggled his eyebrows.

"That's so not funny." She groaned a smile breaking across her face as she buried it into his chest.

"Yeah but I got you to smile." Eric said before kissing Jodie on the forehead. It was moments like this that reminded Jodie why she loved him. She kissed his lips, her nightmare forgotten for a little while, while she was in his arms. If it was one thing life had taught her repeatedly growing up it was to enjoy the moments of quiet happiness while they lasted for soon enough everything would come crashing down.

Later that same evening Jodie and Eric, Tiffany and Bob met Lauren at Howl at the moon. "You guys, like, really didn't have to come." Adam had let Jodie off of work early to have her hair and makeup done if she promised to be a "good girl" for him the next day.

"Are you kidding? Of course we, like totally, had to! You're gonna be a star, we fer sure have to be here!"

Bob smiled at his girlfriend's enthusiasm, "Tiffany's right though, if we can’t support a friend when she needs a cheering section what good are we?” Jodie stared at her cocktail thoughtfully. Before the only ones who were a constant supporter were Eric and his mom, if she found out what Jodie had become would she still support him? Eric’s mom was the kindest woman he’d ever met surely she would...but still people had a way of disappointing you given the opportunity.

“Yoohoo, earth to Jodie,” Lauren waved her hand in front of Jodie’s face. “You remember Marcus?” She asked once Jodie looked up.

“I-I remember. Thank you so much for this, uh like, chance."

Marcus smiled, “Hey, after hearing you play twice now I’m more surprised to find out you don’t already have a full time gig.”

Jodie blushed, tucking a red strand behind her ear, “I’m not that good.”

“No, you’re amazing. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do tonight.” Jodie blushed shyly and said nothing, to Marcus' surprise. He hadn't gotten to spend much time with her since her performance but he remembered she exuded much more confidence while playing all while looking like the type of girl who'd picked on him in highschool for being a mathlete.

"So," Eric broke in through the loud silence, "Lauren says you're some kind of accountant?"

"Eric." Lauren glowered.

"What?" Eric asked innocently.

"Uh, yeah. About three years now." Marcus looked curiously at Lauren and her hulkling of a brother.

“Jodie?" A man in a dark suit carrying a clipboard approached the table, "You’re on in ten."

"Thank you." The man nodded and left. "Well...I guess I should, like, get ready?" Jodie smiled nervously at Eric before kissing him. "Be nice." She whispered in his ear. "She likes him."

"I'm always nice." He whispered back before returning her kiss in kind.

"Uh huh." Jodie stood from the booth with Lauren and Tiffany kissing their respective boyfriends and followed Lauren to the bathroom. Lauren mouthed one final word of warning before she left however.

After the girls left Eric eyed Marcus. He wasn't very strong looking. His beard was trimmed and he obviously groomed it recently, no doubt for his sister's sake. He knew she didn't like it when guys had facial hair and did nothing to keep it neat. "How long have you two been dating?"

"About a month."

"You like her?"

"Well yeah." Marcus laughed nervously.

Eric chuckled mockingly, "Only a month huh? So it's not serious." Eric said gently, offering Marcus an opportunity.

"Well, I don't know. I think semi serious."

"Semi serious? What's that like you still see other people?"

"No way! I'm not that type of guy. I mean we're just not putting a lot of pressure on each other."

"So you're just having a bit of fun."

"Yeah."

"With my sister."

Bob winced in pain, remaining otherwise silent to the trap the poor accountant had stepped in.

"Not like that. We're both coming off of bad relationships and I don't want her to feel... pressured into anything too fast. If that makes any sense. She has an amazing smile and I'd like to see it more often."

"I've heard of worse reasons to drink. Right?" Bob smiled trying to break the tension and raised his glass as Eric's eyes remained fixed on Marcus.

"Cheers." Eric clinked his bottle to Bob's and Marcus joined in.

"Ugh I can't believe him!" Lauren growled as she charged into the ladies room carrying a dress bag retrieved from the car.

"What?" Tiffany didn't see anything wrong with asking a few questions.

"Pestering Marcus with asinine questions." Jodie bit her lip while Tiffany wore a confused look on her face. "Stupid questions, ya know?" She explained to both of them, Jodie hadn't really been confused but certainly distracted by recent and upcoming events but she had become used to people explaining things to her to the point she no longer took notice.

"Well he cares about you." Jodie added as freshened up her makeup for the stage while Tiffany brushed out her hair. Having straightened it earlier in the day her hair now hung down even longer than before in its naturally curly state.

"He's a jerk. Acting like he's our dad."

"There's worse people he could act like. Believe me. Like, my dad didn't care where I was or who I was with as long as Jordan was quiet and didn't interrupt his tv watching." Jodie swallowed hard. She hadn't meant to reveal so much about her old life but when it came to the subject of her dad she had a hard time not venting to anyone who would listen.

Instead of more questions Lauren and Tiffany simply hugged Jodie. Lauren thought it explained why Jodie was attracted to someone like Eric who was certainly more caring. "Well that's not fair I can't bitch about Eric now can I?"

"Guess not." Jodie laughed. Jodie bit her lip anxiously. She was finding it harder to concentrate after her dream. And now so much hinged on this performance. She needed this job in case she lost her day job or else she may have to resort to becoming a hooker just to be able to afford some back alley doctor to fix her. Briefly she looked at her chest at her friends' arms wrapped around her with a wistful smile. It was weird to her which moments she wished would last forever, lately.

"Come on, we gotta go." Jodie broke the three-way hug and took the outfit she was to wear tonight out of the bag. Normally she would balk and try to wear something less conspicuous, more subdued, but tonight she wanted to leave an impression. She wanted them to want her. Without thinking she removed her black tied off t-shirt with the melting ying yang symbol into a rainbow puddle revealing her ample chest and dark red pushup bra. She hated how the wire dug into her ribs but it would be worth it to be sexy.

By the time she was called to the stage she was assured she was drop dead gorgeous. Steeling herself she strode onto the stage like a woman ready for war. Her plaid Lace-up Layered Handkerchief Skirt swaying with each five inch black booted step. Her red leather bustier gave everyone an ample view of her chest. All eyes were on her and she could feel their desire. She played a slow gentle tune at the keys for a minute, enjoying the feeling of that gleaming ivory. What she was about to do wouldn't win her any favors with the other performers, it was something Jordan would do without a thought, but she had to do it so there'd be no question that she should get the job.

She stopped playing and grabbed the microphone from its stand, "I'm sorry can we give it up one more time for Benny Roussman?" She smiled and began the applause once more for the performer before her. "Where'd you go Benny?"

Eric sighed from their table recognizing immediately what she was doing.

Benny stood and raised his glass to Jodie. "There he is," Jodie cooed from the stage, "can you, like, come up here?" Benny hurried to the stage still holding onto his scotch. "Ooh eager to please, I like that." She smirked at the low chuckles from the crowd.

"Why walk to a beauty when you can run?" He tried his best to sound suave and smooth.

"I've always thought so. But, like, Benny, you're an amazing pianist and I didn't get to tip you. You'd be surprised at just how...hard...it is to squeeze into this outfit."

"I'd rather help you out of it."

Jodie continued smiling and managed a great feat in not rolling her eyes. Instead she took a five dollar bill out of her cleavage, "that depends."

"On what?"

"You." She held out the five, and Benny did his best to hide his sneer. "My girlfriends over there, like, made a little bet and we totally need your help." Benny looked to where Jodie pointed at Tiffany and Lauren, "See they think you can keep up with me. But I don't know."

"You airheaded bitch." He whispered through gritted teeth.

"So, like, do you think you can keep up?" Jodie waved the five around with a cocky smile she didn't fully feel. Jordan would have chosen the first pianist Sidney because he was clearly the weaker player. Benny was as good as, if not better, than Jodie. Insulting his talent and skill while offering a small tip was tantamount to a slap in the face and they both knew it.

Benny emptied his drink, took the offered five, and dropped it in the glass before placing it on the stage. "I think he wants to play with me." The crowd cheered excitedly. She had them eating out of her hand...now she just had to win.

She started off slowly with the first few bars of twinkle twinkle little star, Benny responded by finishing the next few bars. "Okay, Benny's been to preschool." She giggled. She switched it up to jingle bells, Benny of course easily answered the call and raised with 'hit the road jack'. "Cute. Skipping to junior high." Jodie rose to the challenge, hitting him with 'Roll over Beethoven' before he could counter again she switched to an uptempo Tchaikovsky which threw Benny for a loop as he didn't expect an airhead to know any complicated classics and managed to keep the same tempo. Benny just managed to answer with Chopin when Jodie switched yet again to 'a thousand miles' "Oops, like totally high school, huh?" Benny just barely had enough time to finish before Jodie switched to flight of the bumblebee when Benny missed a key Jodie took the opportunity to change again, "Maybe something more advanced." Again she switched to classical, playing 'Hungarian rhapsody' before Benny just simply couldn't keep up. "Shame Benny. I was almost there!"

Jodie found Eric in the front of the audience where he and the others had managed to find their way. Jodie played it cool but Eric could see if Benny hadn't messed up Jodie would've been the one slinking away from the stage. "And now back to your regularly scheduled program." The crowd laughed as she switched gears playing 'All of me'.

After her set was finished and she had changed into her more relaxed wear once more, her tips tucked away in her purse. Her tied off shirt ensured she showed plenty of her flat tummy. She found Eric once more and leapt onto him excitedly. "I don't know about you but, like, I could totally use a drink."

"Come on." Eric smiled, carrying Jodie on his back. "Ugh," he groaned trying to get to the bar without stepping on people, "I can't believe this crowd."

"That is why you fail." She said in her mock Yoda voice.

Eric looked over his shoulder at Jodie who simply smiled back at him. "You dork." He laughed before kissing her. Jodie smiled back and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm not a dork! I'm a backpack." Jodie giggled kissing Eric's neck.

When they finally made it to the bar Eric handed Jodie's drink voucher and ordered her drink. Jodie saw Benny drinking at the end of the bar and climbed off of Eric. "Hey, I'll be back right back okay?"

"I'll be here." He watched as Jodie worked her way through the crowd the men taking no time to be subtle as they studied her chest and the women congratulating her win.

Jodie stood beside Benny, "Hi. Do you mind if, like, I sit here?"

"Go ahead." Benny took another pull of his scotch.

"You were just amazing. I wanted to say, I'm, like, sorry if-"

"If what you hurt my feelings? Embarrassed me in front of a few dozen drunks by being underhanded and sneaky?"

"Uh, yeah I guess."

Benny shrugged, "It's how the game is played. You obviously know how." He rolled his eyes at Jodie's look of confusion, "don't give me that. You played me enough tonight. It's tough to make it in this business, anyone who knows anything about music won't be in a place like this. They want the party, the spectacle, the new hotness."

The look in Benny's eye had Jodie feeling suddenly underdressed. "O-okay. I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Benny held out a ten dollar bill for Jodie. Jodie gave Benny a half smile as she took the offered money, before returning to Eric.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah...I think he wants a rematch at some point." Jodie laughed nervously.

Tiffany suddenly bounded in and hugged Jodie, the smell of Pina coladas on her breath. "Jodie! You're so totally awesome!!" She shouted over the music, "You should, like, play at the office party!"

"Party?" Eric asked.

"Oh. Um. There's like. A party at megacorp this weekend."

"Yes! You should totally come to the party." Tiffany grabbed Eric's arm. "Please say you'll come!"

"This weekend? I wish I could I'm gonna be on site all weekend."

Tiffany pouted dramatically, "Nooo!" Jodie frowned, she wanted Eric to be with her all the time and she could show off her great boyfriend but...at the same time she was glad her nightmare wouldn't be coming true. "You'll miss all the fun games and cute girls. Or guys. I actually know a guy in IT who'd be perf-hey!" Tiffany shouted as Bob pulled her away into a drunkenly sensual kiss and whispering into her ear. Tiffany's eyes widened excitedly, "uh, sorry we're gonna like, go have sex." Tiffany gave Jodie a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "You were fer real awesome sweetie. Byeeee."

"Bye." Jodie laughed. Grateful for her doctor's convenient timing leaving Tiffany blissfully unaware of her relationship with Eric. Eric meanwhile was stunned by Tiffany's frankness.

"I figured you'd like be busy at work." Jodie said suddenly. "That's why I didn't say anything about the party. Plus you wouldn't have to be seen with me."

Eric kissed her forehead, "I have never not wanted to be seen with you, Jodie. I love you remember?"

Jodie bit her lip nervously, "I still don't know why." To Jodie there were too many reasons to not love her.

"Then I'll have to remind you more often." To Eric there were too many reasons not to love her.

"Yeah I don't think that's ever going to change. We could be married for twenty years and I'd still..." Jodie's heart stopped as she realized what she said. "Not that, I, like, think about-I'm gonna go, like, find Lauren!" Jodie rushed away leaving her half drunk drink on the bar.