Trance

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Book: Read Trance for Free Online
Authors: Tabitha Levin
No-Wit for another hour.
    The waitress arrived at our table. She smelled like coffee, as if she’d spilled a mug of it on herself. Her dark uniform was clean though, and no red marks touched her skin, so perhaps it was a marketing ploy. Something like what perfumers did by having a bowl of coffee beans on the counter so it could clear your nose and help you concentrate. “What’ll it be?” she asked, pulling out an electronic device from her apron, in which she used the pen behind her ear (which I realized wasn’t a regular pen at all), to input our orders.
    I was the only one who ordered the burger. Andy ordered steak (safe), Lacey - rack of lamb (not bad). Pete ordered fish. I shook my head. He’d be sorry when he saw my burger.
    “So, do you know, like, magic?” asked Pete.
    I winked at him and picked up a napkin and his fork. I folded the napkin carefully over the fork and then with one shake, the fork seemingly disappeared. I grinned at him.
    Lacey gave me a tiny clap.
    “Cool. But, can I have my fork back. I’m hungry,” said Pete.
    I looked at the clock and sighed.
    The rest of dinner went slowly. So slowly. I couldn’t even recall the small talk if I’m to be honest. I did enjoy my burger though.
    It was getting closer to when the entertainment would start and tiny excited butterflies were dancing in my stomach. I was itching to get up, sing, dance, whatever I could.
    A man walked onto stage and stood in front of the microphone. “We have a treat for you tonight, ladies and gentlemen. But before our special guest gets underway, I’d like three volunteers to help with the show. What about it folks?”
    Lacey stood up, “Two here!”
    I stood up too, but she was pointing to Andy and Pete. I wanted to be the third but the announcer chose someone else. Andy reluctantly got up at Lacey’s urging and Pete followed behind since I was now sure he couldn’t do anything without his brother.
    “Not fair. I would have loved to get up there,” I said.
    Lacey winked at me. “Come on, you’ll enjoy the show much better as audience.”
    “Since when would I rather be audience?”
    “This time you will.”
    I frowned. “Who is going to be on stage, Lacey?” I looked back at the stage, then back at her. It was set up as if a band would be performing, but perhaps that was just its usual set up. What if someone else was on tonight?
    “Come on, if you looked at the internet once in a while, you’d know who was performing tonight.”
    I groaned. “No. I don’t want to see him.”
    “Of course you do. You want to check out his show. Or his abs. Both of which I wholeheartedly approve.”
    “You got Andy to book us here, didn’t you?”
    She looked at me like I was crazy. “Well, duh! You think I’d let anyone take me on a date somewhere without my choosing?”
    The announcer placed three chairs on stage that faced the audience.
    “He’s going to think I’m following him.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. Sit back and enjoy the show. It might be enlightening.”
    I slunk down in my chair, moving it further away from the stage. The butterflies were gone filled with a pit of dread.
     
    The lights in the restaurant faded just as those on stage began to blink at a rapid pace. The slow music that accompanied dinner transformed into a high tech beat that vibrated through the air. Everyone was on the edge of the seats, their faces turned toward the stage in expectation.
    Pete came out first. He looked relaxed if a little goofy. He sat down in the first chair. A woman followed next - short, plump. Finally, Andy walked on stage and took the last chair. He waved to the audience with a huge grin on his face. The audience laughed at his dopey expression.
    I wondered how much Jason had paid them to act this way. I didn’t think Pete and Andy were the type to go along with something like this without an incentive.
    The music slowed and a strong drum beat pulsed making my skin tingle. He certainly knew how to make an

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