Free A Kiss and a Cuddle by Sophie Sloane

I could see an eager crowd gathering in front of the stage,
waiting for Derek.  We headed towards the crowd, and Rex lightly placed his
hand on the small of my back to guide me, and a slight chill ran down my spine. 
We found a spot to stand near the back.  The bodyguards sat near the back of
the bar at a high table with a perfect view of the heir.  I thought I could see
Babs at the front of the crowd.  I wondered if her blatant, keen approach with
guys ever worked for her.  Unfortunately for her, Derek was one of the guys who
always wanted what he couldn’t have.
    “Perfect. 
I’ll grab us two pints,” he yelled into my ear, and he headed towards the bar.
“Stay here, kitty.”
    “Okay,”
I yelled back.  I figured I had to force down a beer for the night.  Not that I
would want Rex to have to order one of my girly drinks in a bar like this.  Why
did all of the best tasting drinks have to have names like ‘Slippery Nipple’ or
‘Porn Star’?  So a pint it was, then.
    Just
as Derek came on stage, Rex returned with our drinks.  The crowd went wild.  I
cheered along and clapped my hands high in the air.
    “Here
you go,” Rex said leaning into me, and I felt his warm breath on my neck and
hair.  I felt another light tingling sensation course through my body. 
    I
smiled, grabbing the bottle of beer.  Rex stood close beside me.  The place was
packed full of people, and I was sure he didn’t mind the lack of personal space
between us.
    Derek
spoke clearly into the microphone, “Thank you for coming to my show.  I wrote
this first song for someone special.  I hope you like it.”
    Derek
sat on the stool behind him, as he began to intricately fingerpick his acoustic
guitar.  The individual notes blended into a sound that was both beautiful and
melancholy.  He took a deep breath and softly sang, “ When will she see… we
can be together happily…”
    Oh
no, was it the special song he wanted to show me yesterday?  Did he write it
about me?  No, how could I flatter myself with a claim like that.  There was no
way to tell that it was about a specific person.  I convinced myself to relax
and enjoy the song.
    Derek
continued to the chorus, raising his voice, “ Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down
your sweet hair… I am your prince and I’ve always been there…”
    Sweet
potato pie!  The song was definitely about me.  A feeling of alarm shot through
my body.  Rex was going to know it was about me and think there was something
going on between me and Derek.   I scanned the crowd to try to get a view
of Rex with my peripheral vision.  He looked completely oblivious.  Maybe even
a bit bored.  It would all be fine, just as long as Derek didn’t start yelling
out my name in the next verse.
    For
the most part, Derek had his eyes closed, but he would occasionally search the
audience.  When he saw me, our eyes locked in.  His eyes were wide, and they
were asking if I would be his, simply and earnestly.  I couldn’t answer.  I had
to look away.
    Derek
continued and finished the song.  He really was an engaging performer.  And
very handsome.  I was sure that every girl in the crowd was imagining
themselves as Rapunzel right then.  Any girl would be lucky to have him.  He
was strong, stable, and steady. 
    I
wondered if it was only in Hollywood movies where the girl always ended up with
her best friend.  Did that really happen in real life?  After years of friendship,
could you actually remove that barrier and see your best friend in a new
light?  My life was not a Hollywood movie by any means.
    When
the song was over, everybody cheered and clapped.  Derek smiled and squinted
out at the audience, slightly blinded by the light.  He looked over at me, and
we both smiled.  He would always have a special place in my heart.
    “Well,
that was sappy and romantic,” Rex yelled at me through the cheers.  “I thought
you said he was a rocker.”
    “Haha,
I don’t know what has gotten into