I Will Always Love You Chapter: 93

Michael POV

I ran back through the curtains to make sure that Donna wouldn't see me. She didn't take it well at all when I said that I wouldn't go on that pitiful date. La Toya was livid, but I was livid with her for stabbing me in the back. We talked it all through, and I can now understand her better. However, we are still rebuilding our trust. Donna is an entirely different situation. She knows how to hold a grudge, even for small things so I cannot expect her to be kind if we encounter one another tonight.

I peeked through the curtains to see Donna and her friends walking into their box section. After I was sure that they wouldn't pop out again, I tiptoed down the hall, the scuffing of my shoes muffled by the velvet carpet, and made my way down the marble stairs. From a clear mind, my mission to find Bina in the sea of people was futile, but I was sure that Divine Providence would help me out if it cared for me at all. The lobby was empty and the lights began to dim, signaling that the MC was soon to take the stage. The buzz around the club was that the opening act was a kid from New York. Bina had said before that her parents were often giving opportunities to young upstarts who wouldn't otherwise get a shot, but I doubt that I would remember to ask her about this Eddie Murphy kid after the show - that is, if we got to talk later. As I strolled the lobby, I noticed ahead of me several waiters putting in orders at the bar and returning to bring the drinks to the tables. My best bet would probably be to linger near the bar. She would have to make her way here at some point.

People were furiously buzzing about and it didn't surprise me that I only received a glance from most. I was allowed almost complete anonymity in plain sight. I studied them, one after the other; some female, some male; short, tall; happy looking and frustrated. Then through the doors came a familiar figure.

Asha had her notepad in her pocket and her pencil in her hair giving the orders from memory. I never really studied her in detail before, and this time I really saw the extent of her beauty. She was stunning, and I'm sure that she had several boys chomping at the bit to date her. However, in that moment I had other things pressing my brain. Before she went back out, I whispered,

"Asha!" She turned rapidly, the loose hairs from her bun swirling into her face. She smoothed her hand over her hair and then her face turned almost comical.

"You showed up." She chuckled.

"Yeah, um...do you know where Bina is?" Still laughing, she replied,

"She should be back here any second, though I doubt you could get three words in."

"I'll wait for her back here then. I just have to let her know I made it."

"Suit yourself. Did you order yet? Or, have you been looking for her the entire time?"

"Not the entire time, but..." She rolled her eyes, huffed, and then said,

"Just give me your order so that you will actually have food when you're finished this witch hunt." Even though her delivery was gruff, I could see that she was trying to extend the olive branch and I was grateful. She told me what they had on the menu and it ranged from regular comedy club food like mozzarella sticks and chicken wings, to classier things like grilled salmon mango salad and chicken tikka masala. I had never tried some of the Indian dishes so I asked her to surprise me. She winked an "ok", went back to the bar, picked up her order and, in more of a rush, she sped back off into the main hall.

As the doors were swinging shut, I saw her face and everything else faded away. I walked up and opened the door for her as she turned to back the tray cart in. She said thank you, but she didn't look at my face, so I said,

"You're welcome, Beans." She whipped around with a puzzled look on her face, almost like she didn't recognize me. A second later she smiled a genuine smile that made butterflies go off in my stomach.

"I'm so glad you're here!" She hugged me warmly and I was not expecting it at all. Over her shoulder, I said,

"I'm glad I'm here, too." I wrapped my arms around her and it felt like a release pent up over the past 9 months. As I was about to pull away and say something, she pulled back and said,

"Why aren't you in your seat? Wait, how did you know my nickname? Stevie, right? Of course. I gotta get back to the customers. We'll talk later." She wiggled her fingers goodbye as she rolled the cart towards the bar.

"Alright, when is your break? I'd like to hang out with you then, if possible." She guffawed, and her contagious laugh made me laugh too although I was wondering if I said something wrong.

"Break? Yeah, you work in a different kind of family business. Here, we don't get those new fangled things called breaks!" She continued for the bar.

"So, when will I see you again?" I asked.

"If you don't see me serving people then probably after the show." My face dropped into a slight frown, and she noticed. She continued,

"Hey, I'm sorry but I really have to get back to work."

"But, I -"

"Here, you want to see me more before the show is over? Take this tray and follow me." She handed me a tray filled with Guinness Stout, Heineken, and Budweisers, filled up her cart with drinks paired with their entrées, and we headed through the doors. It was kind of exhilarating seeing what her life was like. We walked to the tables in the front and in the dim light, only the people directly next to the aisle saw me and ogled us. I just smiled through it because I was enjoying myself. I asked to take a few orders, and I was surprisingly really bad at it, but Bina said I just needed practice. I made up for it by just being me, and I gave out several autographs. While we were leaving a table, Bina grabbed my shoulder and whispered,

"We're going to get some serious tips tonight." I smirked and followed her lead again. She said,

"We have two more stops. You up for it?"

"Hmm, let's see. I've helped you through the entire set of the MC and half of the feature's set, delivered dozens of items to multiple patrons and botched up several of their orders, and given a bunch of autographs to add the personal touch. Yeah, I think I'm up for two more stops." She laughed and playfully punched my arm. We made our way back to the kitchen and I leaned in the door frame while I waited for her. I thought dancing made my feet hurt, but this repetitive monotonous back and forth was a killer. I thought to myself,

Maybe it's these darn spats. I guess I haven't broken them in all the way yet.

I shifted my weight to get more comfortable as waitstaff whizzed by me. I was just barely staying out of the way and then I really realized that I had missed half of the show. I pinched the bridge of my nose shaking my head and smiling in disbelief. Who would have thought that I would be serving food and drinks this evening? If I hadn't been so eager to spend time with her, I would have been sitting alone in a box seat probably having a decent time, but not as much fun as this.

"Now you see how the other half lives, huh?" Bina said, startling me. She continued,

"C'mon, we're headed upstairs." I jogged up to her and said,

"Believe me, I know very well how the other half lives. Remember, I'm from Gary, Indiana. Two bedroom house ring a bell? Bunk bed shared with my brothers for 9 years?" Something I said arrested her attention. She stopped the cart in front of the elevator, looked at me squarely and said,

"You never really told me about those times..." It felt as if she was looking into me - at this vulnerable undiscovered place. All at once, this urge to pour out every detail of my existence and ask about every detail of her's came upon me, though all I allowed myself to say was,

"I...I just didn't get the chance." I felt a heaviness descend upon the mood, but the ding of the elevator caused a much needed distraction. When we got to the top, I recognized that we were near my seat and then we entered "BOX 6". After dropping off the orders, Bina began towards "BOX 5" and my heart began thumping out of my chest as I remembered that Donna was in there.

"Well, c'mon. Got lead in your shoes?"

"Uh...someone is in there that -"

"I took their orders. I know Donna's snide behind is in there, and I also know that Bill Cosby is going to take the stage in about 5 minutes and we both want to be in a place where we can watch so, let's go."

I did want to see Bill Cosby's set, but my desire to avoid Donna was fighting me. I relented to Bina's logic, and prepared myself for the descent into hades on earth.