Station, стр. 41

"Yeah, I guess he was sent to orientate me to thecity. Show me the ropes."

"I can't imagine a worse choice for that."

"Yeah, he was pretty shit."

"Well, he's not shit at this. Listen."

Hadder knew something special was coming when thecrowd, comprised of hundreds of intense conversations, joyousinvitations, and loud expressions of gaiety, immediately wentsilent as Miles took the mic. Miles quietly thanked everyone beforehe began. Before he sent Hadder back to his childhood.

Miles started with a heart-wrenching take on SamCooke's "A Change is Gonna Come," following that with OtisRedding's "Try a Little Tenderness," and concluding with "Georgiaon My Mind" by Ray Charles. Hadder stood transfixed, teleportedback to when he was a child, his mother cleaning the house as thissame music played in the background, filling the home with warmthand affection.

Lilly saw the music's effect on Hadder and put herarm around his shoulders. "There is one area where they don't skimpon the Elevations here," she whispered, respectful of theextraordinary performance taking place. "When it comes to music andperforming, we'll do whatever it takes to reach the next level.Miles was an exceptional musician in the Before. Now, he's agod."

Hadder couldn't disagree, losing himself in Miles'spowerful voice and exceptional showmanship. Gone was the distant,unsociable man that he met so many Solays ago, replaced by a personwho held the emotions of a thousand residents in the palm of hishands. Hadder sipped his beer, closed his eyes, and relinquishedhimself to the music, opening them only after "Georgia," adding hisapplause to the appreciative whistles and screams of the rest ofthe audience.

As he clapped, Hadder looked around but saw no signof Lilly. Just as he was about to return to Royal for anotherdrink, perhaps something with a bit more kick, Hadder spotted herwalking from behind the stage curtain to join Miles, a secondmicrophone in her hand. If the crowd had been loud before, itabsolutely exploded at the sight of Lilly Sistine taking the stage.With a small, familiar nod to Miles, the musicians began again, andshe and Miles broke into "Endless Love," another song that remindedHadder of a simpler time. For the next four minutes, "Endless Love"no longer belonged to Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie, but was in theownership of Lilly Sistine and Miles, who injected the song with asteroid cocktail before releasing it onto an enraptured group ofresidents.

Lilly sought Hadder out in the crowd and smiled asshe sang, and from that moment on, they were the only two people inthe Bar, her serenade making him smile dumbly like a dog who wasgetting his belly rubbed. Two days in and Hadder knew, was as sureas that morning in the hospital when he held that little bundle andstared into wide eyes trying to come to grips with the world.Hadder knew he was in love.

Lilly and Miles finished their duet to more raucousapplause, and Miles exited the stage, leaving Lilly alone. LillySistine didn’t just continue the show, she intensified it, showingincredible range as she bounced from Tina Turner's "What's Love Gotto Do with It" to Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" to Madonna's"Live to Tell." By the time Lilly concluded with Whitney Houston's"I Have Nothing," Hadder was drunk, partially from the Number 9 hehad ordered, but mainly from the whirlwind feelings of love,admiration, and respect for Lilly Sistine that he was tryingunsuccessfully to wrangle.

She found Hadder on the entrance level, away fromthe stage, sitting alone on a leather love seat. "Well," she asked,falling into place next to him, cigarette dangling between her thinfingers.

"It was the most incredible thing I've ever heard."He felt stupid as the words fell out, unable to fully express thecomplex emotions he was experiencing.

"Thanks," she said between puffs, putting thecigarette to Hadder's lips when she finished. "But it's allbullshit, you know. I've had three Elevations on my vocal cords.But it's not like I'm trying to take credit for something; I justlove singing and having fun. Miss Turner doesn't ever have to worryabout me."

"It's not bullshit, Lilly. You're amazing."

She waved him away, not understanding the depth ofhis meaning. "What's that, a Number 9? I could use one ofthose."

The following hours were among the most fun thatHadder could remember. Lilly and Hadder bounced between groups,engaging in conversations that traversed topics, many touching onthe Before, including friends and families from those previouslives. While Royal and a few volunteer residents handled the bars,manikins walked around offering food on trays, the perfectcomplement to good drink and better company.

Lilly and Hadder grew closer as the Haela deepened,her hand on his thigh here, his hand brushing hair behind her earthere. Group conversations slowly deteriorated into just the two ofthem, speaking almost nose to nose to hear each other over thebackground noise. Speaking naturally transitioned into dancing,Hadder twirling Lilly as a synthwave band played on stage, thesinger killing saxophone solos when not belting out lively lyrics.Hadder and Lilly spun together, the world outside of them becomingan insignificant blur.

When the music finally stopped, Hadder and Lillyheld each other, trying to catch their breaths through laughter.Miles retook the stage, and they held each other tighter, laughterfading away into deep penetrating stares that said more than anyessay ever could. Miles broke into "These Arms of Mine," andforeheads touched as hips began to sway to the timeless song.

Whether Hadder moved first or Lilly initiated wouldbe playfully debated in the weeks to come, but two lips found eachother nonetheless, passing grazes becoming shy introductions beforelong-awaited embraces. As Miles began "Nothing Compares 2 U," Lillyled Hadder through the dance floor, ignoring the shouts of friends,up to the entrance level, and through a small door to the right.Hadder looked back as the door closed and saw Royal nodding inacknowledgment, an ironic callback to Purple Rain.

Stairs rose to the upper balcony levels and fell tothe living quarters. Lilly guided Hadder down in a brisk, silentwalk. Down halls they walked, finally stopping a door with a redhand next to it. She placed her hand on the mark, and the door slidopen, revealing a room very different from most livingquarters.

While most rooms were comfortable but impersonal,the perfect spaces for those always on the move, wanting to