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  “Nope. I mean, I signed us up.”

  Charlie laughed. “I told you, I don't sing. What are we supposed to be singing?”

  “You'll see,” said Holly with a grin. “We're next after that first table.”

  Charlie blushed. She wanted to back out. She wanted to refuse, but she didn't want to seem like a stick in the mud. It was only one night, she tried to rationalize with herself. She looked around and could tell that mostly everyone was drinking and having a good time. She prayed everyone was drunk and if they ever saw her again that they wouldn't remember her.

  The couple that went up on stage right before Charlie and Holly sang a song that Charlie had never heard of. It was some type of rock song. When Holly's and Charlie's names were called, Charlie could barely stand. Her legs were shaking so much she thought that she was going to topple over.

  “I've never done this before, so please bear with me,” muttered Charlie nervously into the microphone. The crowd cheered and applauded to show their support. Holly stood at the microphone beside Charlie and nodded to the woman in charge of the karaoke music to signal to her that they were ready.

  As soon as the music began to play, Charlie knew exactly what song it was. It was Sonny and Cher's, I Got You Babe.

  “Start us off, Cher,” remarked Holly with a grin. Charlie didn't miss a beat. She hit her cue right on target.

  “They say we're young and we don't know. We won't find out until we grow.”

  The crowd cheered at how incredible she sounded and Holly picked up her cue as well.

  “Well, I don't know if all that's true 'cause you got me, and baby I got you.”

  Both young women turned to one another and sang the chorus.

  “Babe. I got you babe. I got you babe.”

  Charlie couldn't tell if the crowd was cheering because they were drunk, or if they really liked her singing, but she continued anyway. She was determined to finish the song.

  “They say our love won't pay the rent. Before it's earned our money's all been spent.”

  Holly didn't try to sound like Sonny, but she had a nice singing voice and they harmonized beautifully. “I guess that's true, we don't have a lot, but at least I'm sure of all the things we got.”

  They both sang in unison. “Babe. I got you babe. I got you babe.”

  Holly sang, “I got flowers in the spring. I got you to wear my ring.”

  As the song continued, Charlie's confidence grew. She began to sing louder and she had a firm grasp on her microphone. She leaned it towards her as she sang to Holly. Holly took one look at Charlie singing to her and couldn't help but smile. “And when I'm sad, you're a clown. And if I get scared, you're always around.” Charlie held that last note out for the word around and the crowd loved it. The bartender had a bell hanging down near the bar and he grabbed the rope and rang it several times to show his excitement at how terrific the couple was doing.

  The two women sang the rest of the short song. Holly sang, “Don't let them say your hair's too long 'cause I don't care, with you I can't go wrong. Then put your little hand in mine, there ain't no hill or mountain we can't climb. Babe.”

  Charlie sang with Holly, “I got you babe. I got you babe.”

  By the end of the song, both women were singing with so much heartfelt emotion that they had tears in their eyes.

  Holly sang all of Sonny's lyrics, “I got you to hold my hand.”

  Meanwhile, Charlie alternated by singing all of Cher's. “I got you to understand.”

  Each time they leaned towards one another when they sang. “I got you to walk with me.”

  The crowd was nearly moved to tears. “I got you to talk with me.”

  Both women felt it. It was something in the air. “I got you to kiss goodnight!”

  It was like magic, only better. “I got you to hold me tight!”

  If there were an exact time frame that could be pinpointed when they began to fall in love, it was during the performance of that song. It was the exact moment when two wonderful worlds collided. “I got you, I won't let go!” sang Holly, her eyes glistening with tears.

  It was something that Charlie always dreamed of, but was always too afraid to do. Someone sang to her and she sang to them, and it didn't matter who was watching. “I got you to love me so.”

  Both women sang the final chorus. “I got you babe. I got you babe. I got you babe. I got youuuu...babe.”

  When the song was finally over, the audience yelled and shouted praise and clapped loudly. A few of the patrons clinked their glass beer steins on the tables and stomped their feet. “Encore! Encore!” shouted one woman. The bartender rang his bell again, this time several times. He held his hands up to the sides of his face and shouted, “Woop! Woop!”

  Holly beamed with pride and took a bow and Charlie followed her lead taking a bow as the audience cheered. Charlie's face was bright red from blushing, but she was so happy that she no longer felt nervous or anxious.

  The two women stepped down from the stage and walked back to their table. Holly grabbed a menu and began looking it over. “I'm starving. Aren't you hungry?” she asked.

  Charlie rubbed her mid-section. “I'm not so sure I could eat. My stomach's still in knots.”

  Upon seeing them sit down the waitress rushed over. “Would you like another beer?” she asked, taking out her notepad and pencil.

  “I'll have one more beer and a cheeseburger with everything,” replied Holly.

  “Do you want fries or onion rings?” asked the waitress.

  “I'll take fries.”

  “Excellent performance by the way. I think everyone could tell how much you two young ladies are in love. It was magnificent. It was radiating from the both of you. What are you going to have, dear?” she asked Charlie.

  Charlie smiled and looked over at Holly. Neither woman wanted to tell the waitress that it was only their second date. But both women definitely felt what the audience was picking up on. They were falling in love. “I'll also have a cheeseburger with everything, but I don't want fries. I'll have the broccoli cheddar soup and a bottled water.”

  “Sounds good, love. It's on me, okay? But you two will have to come back again and sing another song like that. The crowd loves you!” With that, the waitress hurried off with her notepad.

  “How about that,” remarked Holly. “Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch.”

  Charlie laughed. “It wasn't free. We sang for our supper.”

  “If we come back to sing again, do you suppose that we'll get another free burger out of it?” questioned Holly with a grin.

  Charlie smirked and took the last gulp of her beer. “I wouldn't push your luck.”

  The waitress returned with another frosted stein of beer for Holly and a cold bottled water for Charlie. “Here you go, ladies. Your order will be right out.”

  “Thanks,” remarked Holly.

  “Yes, thank you,” said Charlie.

  Holly took a drink of her beer, then placed it down on the table. “So what do you say? You up for another song?”

  Charlie opened the bottle of water and took a sip. “Why do you ask? Did you sign me up again without telling me?”

  “No. I thought if we did another one that you would pick the song.”

  “I'll think about it,” replied Charlie grinning. She looked down at Holly's beer and pointed at it. “Are you going to let me drive your truck?”

  “I don't know. Nobody drives Jolene but me.”

  Charlie laughed. “Jolene?”

  Holly blushed. “Yeah. I named her after the Dolly Parton song.”

  “Why not just call it Dolly?”

  “Because she's not Dolly. She's Jolene because no one can ever compete with her.”

  Charlie laughed. “Well, I'm glad your Jolene's a truck and not a woman because I wouldn't be as nice as Dolly and ask politely to stay away from you.”

  “Yeah?” asked Holly playfully. “You'd fight over me? I think I'd like to see that,” she teased
.

  Charlie laughed. “Uh huh. I bet you would. You'd probably be hoping we'd tear each others shirts and bras clear off and start mud wrestling.”

  Holly had just taken a drink of beer and nearly spit it out from laughing. “Oh my God, girl. You're something else.”

  The two women enjoyed their dinner as they listened to other people sing. Some were good and some weren't so good, but all were happy to be there. No one else that performed that evening received as much applause as they did, and the bartender never rang the bell for anyone else that performed that night.

  Chapter Five

  When the two young ladies finally left the Twin Steins, the night air was a crisp fifty degrees. Holly flung the keys at Charlie, “Here, catch!” Charlie's quick reflexes allowed her to catch the keys as they were flying towards her. She caught them right before they hit her.

  “I thought I wasn't allowed to drive your precious Jolene?” asked Charlie with a playful grin.

  “I can drive. I only had two beers. I just thought you really wanted to.”

  “I'd love to,” said Charlie. She opened the passenger door and held it open for Holly who jumped in and rubbed her hands together trying to keep them warm. Charlie shut the door gently then ran around to the other side and hopped in.

  “Where to?” asked Charlie as she put on her seat belt.

  “We're taking a quick drive west. There's a place just outside of town called Lookout Point. That's where we're headed. Get on 90 and head west.”

  “I've heard of Lookout Point. I've just never been there,” remarked Charlie. “I always thought it was a place where teenagers went to make out.”

  Holly laughed. “Don't be giving me any ideas,” offered Holly under her breath.

  “What was that?” asked Charlie.

  “Wha-? Oh, nothing.”

  Charlie laughed. “I heard you, you know.”

  “I don't know what you're talking about,” said Holly blushing.

  ****

  When they arrived at Lookout Point, it was just before midnight. Holly jumped out of the truck and pulled down the tailgate. She stepped in the bed of the truck and opened the shiny silver tool chest. “I brought blankets and pillows,” said Holly with a cute grin. “Because I'm thoughtful like that.”

  Charlie laughed. “Did you bring hot cocoa, too? Because that would be extra thoughtful, since I didn't bring any like I was supposed to.”

  “I did actually. What do you call this?” asked Holly as she pulled out a red plastic thermos. “It might not be too hot anymore, but it still feels warm.”

  “You really did think of everything, didn't you?”

  “I try,” answered Holly. She pulled out the blankets and arranged them in the back of the truck and tossed a few pillows on top. She settled in while Charlie sat down beside her.

  “It's so beautiful,” remarked Charlie as she looked up at the night sky. “I don't think I've ever seen so many stars before.”

  “That's because we're away from the city. It's harder to see the stars with the city lights and the pollution. Out here it looks like this every night.” Holly placed the thermos beside them and lay back on a pillow. She put her arms behind her head and gazed dreamily at the universe. “Do you know that everyone in the world has the same opportunities? We all have the same chances in life, but some of us have dreams and actually follow them. Someone once said, 'We're all in the gutter, but some of us are looking up at the stars.'”

  “That's deep. Who said that?” asked Charlie. She leaned back on another pillow and began counting all the stars. “One, two, three, four...”

  “I did. Just now,” joked Holly. “But it was actually Oscar Wilde who said it first.” Charlie had counted twenty-five stars when Holly interrupted. “We're not going to be out here all night,” she said playfully. “If I knew you were going to start counting, I would have taken you out to count sheep, so I could take a nap.”

  Charlie laughed. “You like giving me a hard time, huh?”

  Holly giggled. “No, I'm just messing with you.” Holly sat up and opened the thermos. Steam came out as soon as she took off the lid. She poured a small cup of hot cocoa and handed it to Charlie. Charlie sat up and took the cup, taking a sip.

  “It's still warm and it's so good!” squealed Charlie. “Aren't you going to have some?”

  “No, maybe later.” She grabbed another blanket and wrapped it around herself. She scooted close to Charlie and wrapped her arms around her from behind, taking the blanket and wrapping it around both of them. She inhaled deeply and could smell the sweet fragrance of Charlie's perfume and shampoo. “I like this,” whispered Holly. “I like this a lot. It's just you and me and the night sky full of stars.”

  Charlie leaned back and into Holly. She peered up again at the sky. “I like this, too. It's like every one of those stars is a dream, a hope, a possibility, or an opportunity. Somewhere out there someone is looking up at those same stars and making a wish, thinking of someone, or dreaming about what the future holds.”

  “Yes, and tonight it's us. We're the ones looking up at the stars dreaming and wishing. One of my dreams has already come true.” Holly squeezed her arms around Charlie tightly as she kissed her softly on the cheek.

  “How do you do it?” asked Charlie closing her eyes and holding onto Holly's hands.

  “How do I do what?” asked Holly curiously.

  “How do you do it to seem so larger than life? You're absolutely amazing.”

  Holly interlocked her hands in Charlie's. “I don't know if I would say that. It's only been a couple of dates. Why don't you wait until you know me better before you come to a conclusion.”

  Charlie knew she really liked Holly and didn't want to rush things, but she did have a tendency to wear her heart on her sleeve. With every minute they spent together, she felt herself falling more and more in love with her. “Am I going to see you again?” she asked, turning her head to look at Holly.

  “Yes, I'd love to see you again. I have some exams that I have to study for this week, but I'm free next weekend. What would you like to do?”

  “I don't know. Why don't you surprise me?”

  Holly buried her head in Charlie's hair and rested her chin on her shoulder. “I'll have to give it some thought. I'm sure I can come up with a good surprise. Am I going to meet this roommate of yours?”

  Charlie giggled. “You will eventually. She's dying to meet you, too.”

  “Why are you so afraid to have us meet? Should I be worried?” inquired Holly.

  “No, it's nothing like that. I promise. Kathy and I are just friends. I've literally known her since I was in middle school, and we've never had so much as an inkling of interest in each other. We've never held hands or kissed or anything. Scout's honor,” said Charlie holding up two fingers.

  Holly laughed. “You were a scout, huh?”

  “I was. I was a Girl Scout.”

  Holly laughed again. “So you sold a lot of cookies as a kid, I take it?”

  “Yes, that was one of the requirements. We sold cookies to raise money. I had a lot of help though. My mom and Aunt Peggy helped me a lot by taking boxes to work and selling them to coworkers. Who doesn't love Girl Scout cookies?” asked Charlie looking back at Holly again.

  “Oh, I love Girl Scout cookies. Do you have any you want to sell me?” Holly giggled.

  Charlie couldn't help but laugh. “You're silly. I don't have any on me at the moment, but I'm sure we can look online and find a place where they are being sold.”

  “This time of night?” asked Holly teasing.

  “I'm sure the girls aren't out there at midnight in the cold, silly goof,” laughed Charlie. “If you really want some. I can buy you some.”

  “Seriously? Okay, then I want some coconut ones and the plain butter cookies with the Girl Scout logo. Those are my favorites.”

  Charlie poured herself more hot cocoa. “All this talk about cookies and now I want some. I bet they'd go great with this hot cocoa o
f yours. Why is it so delicious? What kind is it?”

  “It's Mexican hot chocolate. It's my favorite. It's somehow more chocolaty than the powder packets. Isn't it good?” asked Holly.

  Charlie took a sip and licked her lips. “It is. It's got a rich taste.”

  “My neighbor's mom used to always make it for me when I would go over to her house, so my mom started to buy it for me. I grew up on it and now I can't live without having some every winter.”

  Charlie took another sip. “Where did you find it? I think I want to buy some.”

  Holly chuckled. “Oh no. I can't tell you that. It's my secret.”

  “What? Come on. You have to tell me. Please?”

  Holly laughed. “I think I like it when you beg.”

  “You're blushing. Why are you blushing?”

  “You're blushing, too,” said Holly giggling. “I'm still not going to tell you.” She started tickling Charlie's sides. Charlie squealed with laughter nearly spilling her cocoa.

  “Oh my God. Stop it. I almost spilled hot cocoa all over the place,” replied Charlie out of breath.

  Holly stopped tickling Charlie and resumed her previous wraparound hold. “It's really not a secret. I bought it at the grocery store in the hot chocolate section. It comes in a round box that has a picture of a grandma drawn on it. When you open it, it looks like wedges of pure chocolate, and you have to dissolve them in warm milk.”

  “Pure chocolate? No wonder it's so good!”

  “Yeah, my neighbor Myra had good taste. She had a crush on me,” offered Holly matter-of-factly.

  “Oh, then she did have good taste,” said Charlie grinning. “Was she your first kiss?” inquired Charlie nosily.

  “No. We were just in grade school. We played hop scotch together and made mud pies. I didn't have the slightest interest in doing anything with anyone until I was in high school. Even then, I was scared and inexperienced. You know how it is.”

  “No, I don't,” said Charlie playfully. “I was never scared or inexperienced.”

  Holly laughed. “Who was your first kiss?”