Despite her young age, Aspen Greene sang at a very small club called Sway which had a decidedly <i>retro</i> look going. Especially on the stage, where Aspen was now singing the club's signature song, Sway. In her hands she held one of those very old looking bulky microphones and the first notes of Sway were tapped out and Aspen shimmied a little before the first words finally left her lips:
When marimba rhythms start to play Dance with me, make me sway Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore Hold me close, sway me more
She swayed along with the music and looked decidedly classic and cute in a lightweight knitted dress in the color of her namesake with chocolate brown flats, Aspen kept singing and eventually she and the band behind her seemlessly moved on to other such songs as "Sophisticated Lady," "Mambo Italiano," and ended the set with "Sing You Sinners."
Gah. A tiny club for stuck-up beatnik wannabes and self-important poets. This is what Gwen found herself reduced to, in an effort to go somewhere where nobody would be judging her, pitying her, or bitching at her. And the music they played at these places? Could put her to fucking SLEEP. Still, as she sat at a table enjoying a hot coffee, dressed in a blue miniskirt with a knee-length hem and a matching ribbed tank, her hair playfully tied into pigtails, she had to admit: the chick onstage? Was HOT. When she finished, Gwen applauded, whistling at her with a laugh.
While she was singing, sleek playful pigtails caught Aspen's eye. Definitely not part of the usual crowd that came in here and when the girl in pigtails, ribbed tank, and miniskirt enthusiastically applauded her, the singer felt a tinge of heat grow on her cheeks. Aspen shyly looked away, curtsying to the crowd, blew kisses and when she came out from backstage, headed to the bar where she cutely went up to bartender, circling her arms around the guy's neck and grinned, "May I have a soda, please, Brant?" Sweetly, she thanked the bartender and then moved out into the crowd, some of whom came up to her, congratulating her on her performance and generally fielding all the well wishing all the while, looking out for those cute pigtails.
Did singer-girl actually blush when she saw Gwen staring at her? Oh hell yes. The slayer smirked, deciding to play the game after all. She moved closer to the bar, still keeping that nearly predatory gaze locked on the other girl. Gwen may not have ever hunted animals, but after what Skylar had done? Pussy season was IN. Whether a good thing or not... the old Gwen Morrison was back.
Whoever was talking to her finally moved on and Aspen turned to come face-to-face with the girl in pigtails. The singer jumped a little, her hand flying up to her chest, "Oh!" She looked down shyly and then back up at Gwen, "I'm sorry, I didn't think anyone would be standing there."
"Sorry... Hope I didn't.... scare you." She grinned wickedly, those eyes looking more full of deviance since before she met Skylar. "I'm Gwen. Nice singin', even if its not my usual style."
Her gaze kept being drawn back to Gwen's rather...predatory stare. It was uncomfortable, nerve wracking, yet...intriguing to Aspen. The girl's hand lifted to nervous touch the headband in her hair, which was partially sweptback, leaving a few reddish brown locks and tendrils to frame her pale face. Answering, Aspen held out her hand, "I'm Aspen and thank you!" She said brightly, "I've been doing it since I was 12." The singer than took up the straw stuck in her soda glass and took a sip.
"Nice. When I try to sing, small children weep. S'not pretty." She thought for a minute before continuing. "My guess? You hang here a lot. Cuz I've never seen you at my normal hangouts." Damn... Even the girl's name was sexy. Gwen held back a grin as she realized: she had to do this. Step one in reclaiming the OLD Gwen.
Aspen giggled, "Aw, it can't be <i>that</i> bad when you sing!" She took another sip of her soda and nodded, "Yeah, I'm the regular singer here. My family is friends with the owner and I'm here a lot practicing when I'm not at school or doing homework." Aspen tilted her head a little, "So, um, where do you usually hang out?"
"Used to hang at Avarice, but... not so much anymore but... Now its mostly The Sugar Shack, and Eden when I can tolerate the emo-ness." Gwen snorted, feeling almost like she lost Avarice in a divorce settlement or something.
"Avarice...Avarice, oh!" She smiled, "Okay, I know that place." Aspen looked a little sheepish, "Yeah, that's not really my kind of place." An apologetic look crossed her face at that but brightened, "The Sugar Shack? Isn't that a somewhat new coffee place? I've been hearing good things about it." The singer stirred the straw around in her glass, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, "I've just...been busy and haven't had time to check it out."
"Yeah. A mutual friend of me and my...my ex owns it." Gah. It still killed her to say it. "You should go sometime. Maybe... I'd buy you a drink."
"Aw, that would be very sweet of you!" Aspen giggled, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Yeah. Well, lotta words get used to describe me, and sweet aint usually one of 'em." Gwen felt that old rush again, the she used to get when trying to pick up her newest conquest. Hell... with Meredith finally off the market maybe Gwen was about to be the new Queen of Players.
"Really?" Aspen tilted her head again, stirring her straw and sipped from her soda again, "But, it is sweet of you to offer to buy me a drink." She smiled, obviously, Aspen hadn't been in the game long enough to know the underlying meaning of what "buy you a drink" meant. The singer stared thoughtfully at Gwen and then suddenly asked, "Can I take your picture?"
"Wh-what? Really?" Now, THAT kinda caught her offguard. "Um... Sure?"
Aspen laughingly explained, "I like to take a pictures of people I meet and find interesting. I know, it's a silly idea, but..." The singer shrugged, "It's fun. I don't have to if you don't want me to. I completely understand if you're, like, camera shy." Aspen started toward the back of the club by the stage.
"Dude, its cool!" Gwen said with a friendly laugh, trying to calm the other girl. "I totally don't mind." Then? Typical Gwen. "So is this like a normal pic, or a titty-flashin', Girls Gone Wild kinda thang?"
She was sipping from her soda when Gwen her scandalous comment and Aspen stumbled. The singer choked a little on her drink, coughing just as they reached her dressing room door. "Nor-Normal. Definitely...normal." She said between coughs.
"Hey, can't blame a gal for tryin'" again, Gwen was never the most... subtle chick in town. "So, you dig girls? Or am I hitting on you for nothin'?"
Getting herself under control while standing in front of the door, Aspen finally glanced around to make sure no one was about to hear her answer. Frankly, no one in Aspen's family knew that she was on the other side of the fence when it came to the dating pool. Aspen opened the door a tad, answering, "Yes..." Opening the door, pushing it aside for Gwen, the singer closed it behind them, locking it. "But, um...no one knows?"
"Sooo..." Gwen rolled her eyes, never able to understand people staying in the closet. "If we ever 'hung out', we'd have to pretend we're... 'just buddies'."
Aspen's bright demeanor dulled at the implications Gwen presented. Her back pressed against the door, the singer looked away and gulped, "...Sorry. Maybe...this was a bad idea."
"I... never said I can't keep a secret, you know." Gwen walked toward her grinning cutely. "Just wanted to know how to act, since I *was* planning on askin' you to come out with me some night."
Aspen gulped again when Gwen walked toward her, her gaze dropping. "W-Well...my friends know, just...just not my parents."
"Don't worry. I aint the kinda girl you usually introduce to your parents anyway." The dirty-blonde laughed with an eyeroll.
The singer giggled, shifting so that her hands rested at the small of her back, pressed against the door. Glancing at Gwen, Aspen shook her head, "No...I...I think I get that now."
"So... Is that a yes?" Gwen asked, winking at the other girl. "Because trust me, I know how to have fun."
Her lower lip was caught between her teeth and Aspen shyly nodded. The singer kept looking away and then back at Gwen, not really sure what to do as she had only had one real girlfriend before, but they parted ways at the beginning of the summer when the girl went off to college. They hadn't done more than make out and from the look Gwen was giving her, Aspen had the feeling the other girl wanted much more from her. It was...intimidating to, well...the shy, submissive Aspen.
True enough, Gwen wasn't exactly looking for a girlfriend here. "So when would be good night for you?"
"Oh, um..." Aspen closed her eyes while she thought about it, "Any night is fine. Except Fridays. Those are kind of our busy nights." The singer giggled, opening her eyes.
"So... How about tonight? I'm kinda antsy right now, dyin' to do someone. Er... I meant someTHING." Yeeeaaah, Gwen was being all kinds of stealthy there.
Aspen giggled at Gwen's slip up and teased, "Well, I guess we know whats on your mind tonight!" The singer's smile faded just a tad, but was still there as she studied Gwen's face, "Yeah..." Aspen nodded, "I'm free tonight."
"Nice... Wanna stop by the Sugar Shack? Have that drink we talked about?" Aaaaand giveanyone who knew Skylar notice that Gwen was moving on.