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- 11/12/2019
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- 35 Comments
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Singer - 21. Semifinals
Following their torrid night in New York City, Chipper and Bliss hooked up several more times. To him, it was fun. It now appeared it might have meant more to the woman. Her “I don’t think we have a future together” left Chipper in a quandary. He had never considered them more than fuck buddies. However, if he agreed too quickly it could make him sound heartless.
“Well… I… I’m not sure what to say, Bliss.”
“Just say we’re cool. I want us to remain friends. But I’m not ready for anything serious right now. Win or lose this competition, I want to concentrate on music.”
That was the opening Chipper needed. “Me too. You’re right. With both of us starting our careers that should be our priority. I mean, who knows where we’ll be six months from now?”
“Damn! I’m sooo glad you agree with me. You’re sexy and you’re fun, Chipper. I wouldn’t mind spending more time with you if we’re in the same town. But it has to be no-strings-attached.”
Chipper smiled and offered his fist to bump. “You got a deal, girl.” The smile became a grin, and he wiggled his eyebrows. “You got plans tonight?”
Rehearsals for the next performance were brutal. Although Chipper was fluent in Spanish, most of his repertoire in the language were older ballads, music his mother would listen to while he grew up. Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” was an upbeat, modern number with urban influences.
He would once again be dancing, and the choreography was complicated. The mix of cha-cha-chá, salsa, and cumbia was challenging, and he knew the vocal portion of the performance could not suffer. After all, the show was called The Voice.
“We need to change that move.” Chipper found it difficult to breathe properly to support the music. He was unable to hit the right note. While the dancers and musicians took a break, he reviewed what the choreographer had recorded on his phone. “How about we throw a little merengue in there? It would be mostly hip movements.” He demonstrated what he was suggesting, and the steps were incorporated into the routine.
Once again, the wardrobe coordinator agreed to include something from Chipper’s closet into his outfit. In keeping with the Latin vibe, they had him wearing black dress slacks, a white guayabera, and a panama hat. The shoes he wanted to wear were an over-the-top pair of sneakers he had only donned once since buying them over a year before.
In the spring of 2019, Dwyane Wade played his final NBA game after a sixteen-year career with the Miami Heat. During the last game at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, he wore sparkling, red sneakers during the fourth quarter. One-of-a-kind specials made exclusively for the Hall of Fame-bound player; Chipper was able to score a knockoff pair.
Watching replays of his performance the next day, he laughed when the camera focused on his foot play and footwear more than once.
The acoustic guitar opening was misleading; the drawn out notes gave no hint of what was to come. When the rest of the band joined in, the five couples on stage seemed to move in slow motion. The men tipped their hats and the women held their ruffled skirts up with a hand. Chipper sang the first verse while twirling his partner.
For once, Chipper ignored the audience and concentrated on singing the flirty, sexy song to his dance partner. He knew viewers not fluent in Spanish missed the meaning of the suggestive lyrics. His performance was meant to convey the sexual tension, while remaining suitable for all ages. It was difficult not to be raunchy when singing about how the woman in the song wanted his bam-bam and how much love he could fit inside her.
When he tackled the rap section originally sung by Daddy Yankee, Chipper shifted his focus to the audience. Leaving the dancers behind, he strolled toward the cheering, dancing mob flanking the judges. He smiled when Kelly Clarkson stood and moved to the beat.
During the second half of the song, while four couples remained in the background dancing, Chipper’s partner moved around him suggestively. Mostly, he ignored her; the dynamics had switched and it now seemed she was the one doing the chasing.
Near the end of the song, when the chorus did most of the singing, Chipper held his hand out to her. They came together once again and matched the moves of the others. She bowed to him when the music ended and scampered offstage.
“Wow! I’m exhausted and I was just watching.” Carson Daly bumped fists with the artist. “Let’s see what the judges thought. Blake?”
“Son, how the heck can you move like that?”
“It’s gotta be da shoes! It’s gotta be da shoes.” Adam’s use of the catch line from an old Michael Jordan and Spike Lee commercial made Chipper crack up.
“I’ll leave the shoe comments to Kelly, our resident footwear expert. I’m impressed with how well you sang while moving around. If I tried to do the same thing I’d dislocate a hip.” Blake appeared unable to stop shaking his head. “Good job.”
Carson smiled at Chipper and nodded his approval. “Kelly? What did you think?”
“The performance was flawless, Chipper. But then again, that’s what we’ve come to expect from you. The shoes are insane! I may want some for myself. How many pairs of sneakers do you own, and what’s the story behind these?”
“I don’t know. A couple dozen? This is only the second time I’ve worn these.” Chipper went on to explain the story behind them; there was a smattering of applause when he mentioned D Wade’s name.
“Let’s see what your coach has to say.” Carson and Chipper focused their attention on Adam.
“Man, you killed it again. No doubt in my mind. You’re headed to the finals. Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow we rehearse hard. We’re so gonna win this thing.”
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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