Disclaimer: I don't own them.
I'm happy to be abck with this story, and i'll update asap, but I'm really having an hard time in the last few weeks... On my profile page, there's still a poll; please, answer it, because sooner or later, one or two or more of my current stories will end (like tales of the endacrion or the life one...) and i'll have to write more, and so I need your help...
February. A week to Valentine's day
"Are you and Jamie already planning something for Valentine's day?" Jude is entering in the hall of WLR with Chris and Sadie, followed by the sound of the music that is in the air, as the 3 women went in direction of their places of work: a studio, an office, a reception; Sadie is the first one to leave, while her younger sister and her friend go upstairs.
"I don't know. I've never been a Valentine kind of girl. I know it's not a nice thing to say, overall since this is our first Valentine's day , but – Chris admits, a little embarrassed – I think I'll do something on the last minute."
Jude stops in front of her, shocked. "I can't believe you! Chris, you are such a romantic dreamer, you must have something on your mind!" Chris smiles at her, letting Jude know she is joking.
"Jamie asked me to make no plans, he is arranging a surprise for me, but I think I'll do, anyway, something for him. I think I'll buy him something special. Actually, to be honest, I already bought it."
"Something sexy that you will wear for him?"
"Jude!"
"Ok, ok, I'll stop, but don't tell me that you didn't think about it, because I don't believe you."
Chris doesn't know if smile at her friend or what. Well, not that it doesn't pass in her mind, she just doesn't like the words "Chris" and "sexy" in the same sentence, not, at least, at this point, and not with Jamie: what's happening between them isn't something just physical, it's something more, something emotional, spiritual.
"I bought him a vinyl" she candidly admits, as both girls continue their road for their workplaces.
"Well, I think it could me a nice idea. I mean, Jamie is crazy about music, almost like me."
"Yeah, and we're not speaking about any disk, we're speaking about Paegan Smith's first album, Eclipse, the first version."
"You mean the one that was retired from the shops immediately after its release?"
"Exactly that one. Just few copies were sold before it was retired for some problems with a song, "Daydream", a cover of a song from a group called the Manhunters. In the next release, the song was cancelled."
"Jamie is looking for it from… from ever!"
"I know. See, it happens that a friend of a friend of a friend owned a copy and, since he isn't a collector and he even doesn't like Paegan's music, I asked him to sale it to me, and he accepted. And, since tomorrow I have to meet him to discuss about the eventuality of a new contract, I thought that, maybe, I could ask him to autograph it… - they both stops for a while, then Chris looks in the eyes of her friends, giving her the same expression Jude was giving her a while back – what about you and your sweet love? Have you already planned your Valentine day?"
"Oh, yes, I was thinking about…- she starts with alight in her eyes, than her expression becomes almost of rage – Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Yes, nothing, absolutely nothing. I mean, look at the position he is putting me in. Sadie is getting married, you and Jamie are looking for a house and you'll be married probably before this summer, and the two of us? We are together from almost 4 years, and you know what we are doing? Nothing! We are not engaged, we are not planning a wedding, and we do not live together. Do you realize that I am 22, with him from 4 years, but I still live with my father and his second wife, while you and Jamie are together from less than 2 months and are going to live together? – Jude pauses, seeing that Chris doesn't know what to say, how to answer her – well, you know what? I don't care. It isn't important. What is important and I care about is the fact that I know that you know who will be very happy seeing …"
"Who will be very happy seeing what?"
When they turn their head in direction of the male voice they just heard, they see Jamie standing, a bit confused, in front of them; for a moment, both girls remain silent, not knowing how to answer his question.
"But you! – Jude answers him, pointing in his direction, in a strange tone – I mean, my new album will be out in less than a week, and it will surely be a hit! And so, you'll be very happy!"
The young man looks at Jude, confused, knowing that she isn't probably telling him all the truth, and that she I acting a little strange, but he lets it go. "Speaking of which, can you find a spare moment for me this morning? I have to tell you something about the album."
"No problem, boss. I've just a couple of things to do, and then I am all yours." Jude smiles, leaving, going in direction of one of the studios, while Jamie goes nearer to Chris, tempted to kiss her.
"May I ask my partner to follow mw in my office? I think there's something she should see…" not waiting for her answer, he turns, and goes in what once was Darius' office, followed by the brown-head, who, once inside, closes the doors, and stands, laying against it.
"So?" she bits her lisps, crossing her arms, a bit curious. For answer, he takes few sheets from his fax, and, leaning against his desk, from his position, he shows them to her, without letting her see what's on them. "So?" She repeats again, smiling at him.
"Sorry, but I don't have the intention to bring these ones to you; if you want to see them, you'll have to come here. - Knowing how is going in a "fight" with him (and that she doesn't have a chance to win, either), she reaches him, in front of his desk, with the same expression printed on her face, but remaining silent - Ok, and maybe you could, I don't know, give me a kiss, too?"
"Or, you could show me what do you have and than, maybe, I could decide to give you a kiss."
"you'll definitely kiss me, then. – he gives her the sheets, revealing some photos and file-cards from various real-estate offices – I'm giving a look at some proprieties. I've asked the offices to send me some information, so we can decided what we want to see and when… - he looks at her, who seems a bit confused – you don't seem happy, why aren't you happy? Did you change your mind? I mean, you have all the right to change your mind, although I hope you changed your mind only about the living together and not the staying together and…" She puts her right index finger on his mouth, to shut him up, while with her left hand is still full of papers.
"I'm not saying that I changed my mind, Jamie, neither about the staying together nor the living together, but, although I was hoping to do this searching together, I've to admit that what you've done is very sweet. Actually, I think this is one of the sweetest things you've ever done to me…" Seeing her smile and listening to her words, he places a gentle and fast kiss on her red lips, and than embraces her, looking tenderly at Chris.
"It's just that now is a while from when we started dating, and we're already engaged, and we'll eventually have to move in together, and we'll eventually have to get married, too, and we want to have a family, and al least 3 children, and you an JJ still leave together, and my place is definitely too small and …"
"Your place is simply perfect" she shuts him up, again, but this time he removes the index from his own lips, stopping her before she could add further things.
"It's simply perfect for the two of us, but if you really want a family, and we already decided that we want at least 3 children, then, it's not so perfect. It has a studio, a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen and a small living room. We need something with bedrooms… many bedrooms! I've asked only for houses with at least 4 bedrooms, they are sim…" Chris again shuts him up, but this time kissing him on the lips, not so gently, and not so rapidly; she can't help it, he was so happy a while back, while speaking about their future, he was shining. Letting the papers fall on the floor, she places her arms around his neck, going on tiptoe, kissing him passionately at closed eyes; after few seconds, taken by surprise by her impetus, closes his eyes, too, and, putting his arms around her hips, he lifts her up, to make the kiss easier, and, grinning, he replies and enjoys her answer.
"Ok, maybe we should stop… - he tells her putting her on the soil- listen, there's till a thing I need to tell you…"
she doesn't know why, but he looks a bit guilty, telling her that. Or maybe he is only worried, but se keeps seeing him guilty.
"Jamie, you didn't start to arrange our wedding on your own, right? Please, tell me it's not about this the other surprise, because, although I know you can be a little convulsive, and that you want always be the one in control, but this definitely…"
"It's about St. Valentine, and it's not about a wedding, relax."
"Ok, in this case… wait, are you telling me you want to give me my Valentine's Day gift TODAY?"
"Since next week Jude's new album will be out in the US too, I thought to arrange a date somewhere… not something big, something small, exclusive, and classy. I thought that, maybe, the 2356 could fit. We arrive at the 10th, the concert is 2 days later, and we don't leave until the 16th… it means a week, and Valentine's Day, in Manhattan. – he pauses, looking in her eyes, his arms around her, as her ones as well – it's just that… I know it's a while since you last saw your friends, I know you miss them. I thought I could, I don't know, I could meet them, and, come to know them, tell them about us… and you could show me around, how the city is. I've never been to Manhattan…"
"Forget about the kiss. A kiss is not worth it." She says as she is leaving, already going in direction of the door.
"I still need something. Have you ever heard abut the so-called "equivalent exchange"?"
"I was thinking about coming by you this evening, cooking something, having dinner with my sweet and handsome fiancé, adding at least a bottle of red wine, and then we will see…" she is laying again against the door.
"I could like this idea a lot, you know? Maybe I did something good, ending with a girl older than me."
"Jamie, now stops. I need you to concentrate on what's really important right now. And don't tempt me to make out with you here ever again, ok?"
"There's no way you're speaking about this night, right?" he smiles at her. He was kidding, but he couldn't help it, he likes upset her a bit, seeing how she react when he tries to be malicious.
"I was speaking about Jude's new album, sweetheart – she is already out from the office, when she turns and comes back inside for just a sec – by the way, call the office that has the liberty stile house in Jude's neighbour, and take an appointment."
"I knew you were going to love it. Just to let you know that, when we were dating, I was really paying attention to what you were telling me, and not only trying to bring you home."
"You'll definitely have a nice, romantic and interesting night" Once outside the office, while she is going in direction of the reception where Sadie is working, her cell rang with the melody of the Simple Plan's song called "Me against the world". A quick look at the display reveals her the identity of the caller: her dad. Chris immediately answers to the 55 years old man, confused and worried. After she and Jamie started to date, she hasn't been exactly in touch with him.
"Ehy, dad, how are you?" she tells him the less possible, trying to be the more cold possible.
"I was told you are coming to NY" he doesn't answer her, nor he reply, asking her how she is, nor he thank her for her question.
"yes, Andrews - she carefully uses his surname, since her dad doesn't know about them, and she wants to tell him face to face, to see his face when the news will hit him - Andrews arranged a date for Jude Harrison at the 2356."
"Yes, well, - he pauses, revealing in his tone how not interesting in the conversation he is – as soon as you arrive, I need to see you and your brother to speak with you; bring Andrews and Quincy with you as well."
"What…?" she sounds confused, surprised and shocked at same time.
"Call my secretary when you know when you'll arrive, she'll arrange a meeting; she is just waiting to know your exact schedule." Without adding further more, or waiting for her to reply, he hangs up, leaving his younger daughter perplexed and scared about the future…