Hey guys ! well I decided to add another part to it. Thanks dose of dream , for encouraging me to continue . A little warning , if you're a Simon fan I'm sorry , you'll be disappointed . I personally don't like Simon and I've made him a real asshole here , so I apologize for doing that. Now this is a pretty long chapter , I could've published it in two but it won't be that good ... so without further ado go ahead and read it :
Erza came out of bathroom , toweling her hair dry. Her once, stunning scarlet now vaguely resembles bird's nest . It has reasserted it's precocious waves , just sufficient to make kink out in different direction. She hated it and she wanted it perfect and smooth again . With a disconsolate sigh , she floated around the living room in her white lacy night gown while frantically rubbing her head against against the towel .
Out of the corner of his eye , he saw her meander . Thin gown ruffling behind in her wake 'GODS ! She Smells Like Heaven'.Slouching against the couch with his laptop , he let his eyes roam over her unruly wet wisps of hair from which the droplets of water were dripping to her bony collarbone. She has almost translucent skin, thin and without any discernible pigment and Now, it's wet and flush pink from hot bath . It was driving him crazy and what's with all the lace ? Jellal didn't know if he wanted to thank or curse gods .
After their first kiss , things were moving slowly and gradually. Both of them agreed to let things run their course and see where they lead to. Jellal already knew , he has fallen in love with her. She came to him like a storm and everything that was once held in place ripped away. To be around her was like finally not being alone - as if all his life he has been isolated, in a windowless room, in a doorless room... and then suddenly she walked in as if strolling over a summer meadow. But, He didn't want to scare her with his proclamation ,she was still fragile as a glass. She didn't tell him what happened with her ex-boyfriend and he never asked , from looks of it was pretty bad . She lost her ability to trust people and letting them in ,that Jellal was sure was has to do with him. For, all he could do now was to wait , wait for her open her heart for him and allow herself to let him love her like she deserved. He knew someday he's going to say those words to her and she would say the same right back to him , when that happens he would make sure to take care of her heart.
Though , right now his patience was running thin. Erza with her wet red hair , floundering around with that thin lacy excuse of a night dress was too much for him handle. Her hair becomes one with her face, wetly draped over the bone structure that made his neurons stop working . Her expression is a frowning one and He wonders if she knows how crazy that drives him, how it makes him want to feel every inch of her . It was as if he was receiving a divine punishment ,for being such a creep or a pervert , maybe both .
With an exasperated sigh , she plopped besides him. "I Hate My Hair" she pouted, He couldn't help but find it rather cute . The way her nose crinkled , the way her lips formed words and her sigh ... god her sigh 'What her sigh would be like , when they're ... STOP! YOU PERVERT'.Freeing his head from all the thoughts he had of her in bed , he focuses on her problem .
He chuckled at her lopsided pout "Hey, don't say that". Setting his laptop aside ,he took towel from her hand and usher her to sit sides way "Here, Let me help you". Taking , few strands of her hair at once he slowly massaged her scalp , drying it instantly. His fingers then move to tangled mess of her hair , slowly and steadily , dividing her hair into two sections, bringing her creamy white nape in view . Erza felt his looming breath ever so lightly on it , sending shivers down her spine and suddenly she find herself feeling warm.
He got this urge to kiss it but chose otherwise , he took one section, untangling the red web and parting it with utter wariness , careful not to hurt her . He did the same with the other . when finally done , they floated down her shoulder like red glossy curtain . He slid his fingers in it , running them to the end of it , Inhaling her smell , She consisted of a scent that represented freshly cut timber, like the damp forest after a rainy day; she smelt heavenly, like fresh roses in the garden . Her aroma was like a drug to him, he couldn't get enough of it.
"There , You're done".
"Thanks , I should make you do this every time" Looking over her shoulder , she smiled at him.
"I'd do that ... I really love your hair" He blurted out , without thinking.'Great ! She'll think you're some kind of creep with hair fetish'
On contrary to that Erza felt her ears getting hot and she couldn't hide the redness of her face "You know, you're the first to ever tell me that?"
"Really ?" He was genuinely horrified , how can one not like her hair. They were gorgeous !. Hell !They were the very definition of beauty itself . For him , the world has gotten blind.
"Yeah ... it was too red and audacious , Simon even suggested me to dye my hair to blond or black"
Jellal right away hated this Simon guy , how dare he even thought about that ? he tried to control his hostility but the flicker of his eyebrow gave his emotion away.
"Simon ? You're ..."
"My Ex-boyfriend" glancing down , she breathed deeply to steady her voice "I met him during my high-school year ,he was popular and I was... I was just me .He asked me out and I said yes .We started dating , all was good in the world and I thought I was in love "She sat utterly still , smiling like child who is determined not to weep. She sighed " I was happy". Her voice sounded more pained than anything else , Jellal felt as if someone has placed red-hot coal placed in his chest . It glowed and burnt , seeing her the way she was now it throbbed and tormented him .
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, gently rubbing her arm. Despite the heaviness in her stomach, it fluttered at the feeling of her body pressed against his. She sunk into the warmth of his side, appreciative of the simple gesture. His touch made the room warmer somehow, her future within its walls seeming a little less bleak.
"You don't have to..."He whispered.
"I want to ... " Her hand rested on his's , as a sign of reverence he nodded . "We dated for 4 years.. Jellal , 4 years and then one day he got over his feelings for me , just like that he said he doesn't love me anymore , after 4 freaking years ! can you believe it ? Erza stayed rooted to the spot,in his arms . The breeze moving her hair softly away from the cheekbones that had become so much more prominent. Her features buckled just slightly before she spoke, the only betrayal of her grief. "he said that like it meant nothing. There was a time I gladly took torture for him, to protect him .Yet he gave me up as soon as he thought he was bored. That isn't love, or at least not a version of it I can respect "
Anger boiled deep in his system,her emotional pain seeps out in her words and it hurts to hear them, hurts to read them. he sense what is inside that troubles her, yet also there is so much goodness there too, bravery, tenacity and for his very reason he has to keep himself in check .For now ,all he can offer is a brighter horizon, a hope that one day she'll be free of all this .
"I never consider myself some emotional damsel or lovesick fool , but it still hurts and sometime it just flows , just like the other night when you kept that strawberry cake" She squeezed his hand , her eyes smiled at him. he was suddenly aware of his racing heartbeat. she glanced back her shoulder to look at him with Suffering, loneliness, longing, desire; her brown eyes held all those deep seated emotions and many more. The fire dwindled down to smoldering ember and even he, who had gotten to know the young woman living with him, could not tell what emotions were soaring just beyond those walls and he found himself once again being held captive by them. As if , on the cue she quickly turned her head ahead. "Jellal... I don't want to feel like that ever again , so please if you doubt about us then we.. we should stop right now"
He secured her more tightly in his embrace and rested his chin on her shoulder, breathing her aroma "Erza... Thank you for telling me about this , I can't promise you what future hold for both of us but as long as you want me to be part of your life I promise I wont let you down ". Her fingers found their way to his messy hair , still looking ahead with a soft smile that fitted over her grave face , she said "That's all I wanted to hear ..."
Jellal leaned and nuzzled her nape "I'm glad you found me"
"It is you who found me" He brought her face to him and kissed her forehead . All there was left was a comfortable silence between them that night.
The tiny cafe huddled despondent among the huge city buildings. Washed out under the overcast sky, it hunched in itself, fighting against the drizzle. Hundreds of people rushed by it, outside on the crowded street. The half a dozen customers glanced up as the door swung open, heralded by a blast of cold wind. Unlike the outside, the interior of the cafe was warm and cheery, with bright lights and colorful walls.
Their knees almost touch under the narrow table, Erza wanted to touch him and run her fingers through his hair. Rubbing hands together, she force them into submission. Observing his movements, a sigh escapes her lips. she adored the subtle tilt of his head,every movement seems as though he's planned it out ahead of time. Feeling a chill, she rub her arms.
"Erza ?"
"uhhh" His deep, crisp baritone voice brought her out of dreamlike musings and she felt her cheeks getting red.'How Long ,I've been staring ?'
"Are you okay ? Is something bothering you ?" He seemed unduly concerned about her."Did you not like the place ? I'm sorry about the weather , I should have checked the forecast " He stared at his feel almost like a dejected little boy who doesn't have enough money to buy his favorite toy . She chuckled softly to herself as she looked at him "No , don't be ! It's perfect ".
He slowly gazed at her face .She was smiling , a smile that made his lips curve into one as well. She rested her hand on his "So, this is the place , you brought that cheesecake for me ? I think I crave one now." Her eyes gleamed mischievously , his stomach turns unhelpfully and he feel his skin turn clammy.
He catch a young woman staring at them, her lank mousey hair falling in ribbons about her color-drained t-shirt. In her hand is a small writing pad and a biro, she's the waitress. Jellal orders for them ,a strawberry cheesecake for her and a dark chocolate funnel cake for him . Once done with the orders , they proceeded with their date . They don't feel the cold wind, or notice the fine mist, or the life that continues beyond or inside the wall of the cafe. That they both are equally smitten and clumsy when it comes to each of them . That is the thing they never speak. It is there in their laughter, in the soft way they touch, in the gaze that lingers when they part
"Erza... Is it you ?" A gruff hoarse voice struck their ears and she quickly identified him.
"Simon ?" She breathed out reproaches "You're back in town ?" Jellal's head instantly perked up at the mention of the name. Man's cow boyish gait was at odds with the Savile Row suit. There was a casualness to it that wasn't quite right in cloth so crisp. All that was missing was the gun and ten gallon hat. When he opened his mouth it was with a New York accent .His face was one of up most confidence, whatever game this man played he wasn't accustomed to loosing. He smiled like a long lost brother . He shook Jellal's hand warmly with the perfect squeeze and eye contact. He reciprocated, but never would he trust a man so perfect, as far as he was concerned the more perfect the image the greater the danger underneath.
He glanced at Erza and sensed a smoldering hostility , without any apology of interrupting their date he made himself comfortable in the chair beside them,to their utter annoyance . "So, you've finally found someone to move on with ?"
Erza's mouth twisted into a contemptuous sneer "Yes, if you can see you're disturbing us".He ignored her abrasive tone ,as if she didn't speak at all. He looked at Jellal with a wolfish grin "You see , I was about to call her you know... we could hookup and could remember the old times..."
Every word stung only fueling the fire that burned inside of him. Every violated phrase was like gasoline to it, fists began to clench and his jaw rooted. "As she said you're disturbing us, , so you better get going"
The retort from him , only made his grin wider. "Easy there , boy ! I've known her for quite a bit and you don't know her like I do. She can't ever get over me" Taking a small note out of his chest pocket , he scribbled something on it and passed it to her "This contain my hotel name and room number , call me . I'll be here for a while and you could remind me , how good we were together"
"You are married , Simon !" She pointed at his right hand sporting a flashy diamond ring.
He shrugged and gave his 'aw-shucks' smile "So what ? we can forget about it , for one day".
That was the breaking point of his patience. At that moment, he was blinded by a five-course serving of rage that tasted bitter, yet surprisingly satisfying. He reached out and grab his collar , His customary warmth gone faster than summer rain on the tarmac. He didn't care if others are looking at them or as a matter of fact Erza , this man crossed the line , he disrespected her and that didn't sit well with him.
Erza had never seen Jellal look that way, his eyes had a deadness, a stillness. The man who laughed often, the one whose gentleness touched her heart had developed a hardness. She needed to do something , anything before things took the wrong turn. she intervened between them and glared at Jellal , her words crashed out unchecked "Leave him , Jellal".
Simon grinned derisively while both of them were seething in anger "Told you, she still love me". Jellal's grip on his collar loosened and he finally let him go . Simon turned up his shirt's collar , fixing it. Erza maintained her calm disposition and in cold tone she said" The man I loved , would kicked your ass allover in this god-damn room , for talking to me like that. Yes, you were someone to me but now nothing" She held Jellal's hands in her's "We're leaving".
When they finally reached , Erza quickly got off from the car and made her way to their apartment .Once inside , she waited for him to come. As he took a step inside he looked for her , standing in middle of the living room wearing a grim expression "I can't believe , you would do that". Her temper was a simmering pot, slow burning, ready to bubble up at any moment.
Jellal reached for her and held her by shoulders "Erza , I'm not going to apologize for taking a stand .But , I'm sorry I could have handle it better"
"I don't need you to fight for me , Jellal ! I can handle it my own" Her words were cutting and trenchant. Jellal knew her temper was a wild storm to be endured. At anytime he has to run and take cover.
There was no logic in arguing , He tried to compose his features in both nonchalance and justification "Of course , you don't Erza ! but the things he said about you was horrible and I couldn't control myself"
"Those things doesn't matter"
"How can it not matter ? He hurt you , Erza ! in the worst possible way" He felt a brief flash of jealousy , Simon's words rang in his mind"she still loves me " "does she still?"
"Because , He doesn't matter"She said with an absolute conviction "what matter's is what the man I love thinks about me" She bit her lip, eyes everywhere but on him. Then he moves closer with those eyes that look so deeply into her own, "You ... You love me? " Her breathing becomes softer, and his pensive look melting into a smile as soft as the evening. Her body squirms just a little as her muscles rest. her hand rest on his shirt and met his gaze "Is it too early to say that I love you?" Her brown eyes are so different in this moments , more soft than he knew eyes could be ,seeking answer to her question.
He draw closer to her,cupping her cheek with his hand "No, it's not" Then he says the words she needed to hear, "We're ok, you and me. Okay?" she just nod .There is something about that gaze of his she'll never find in another man, as if in that moment their souls have made a bridge.
"I Love you ,Erza" Erza gently leans in and kisses his's warms lips. They pull apart and take shaky, shallow breaths. Unable to contain themselves anymore, Jellal holds Erza's head in his hands and pulls her into a fiery and passionate kiss . They were everything and nothing at the same time. Together, they were both a beautiful dream and a catastrophic nightmare.
They were in love.
As their bare bodies hit the mattress Jellal turns to her, eyes of flame, a wry grin on his face. "God ...I love you" she feels the explosion within her, a outburst of love . They lock their eyes, her smile a mirror of his. Then she rolls a little closer "We're both fools.." they laugh as in the twilight room their fingers caressed each other's skin as if afraid a heavier touch would break the heady magic. They have became one, one mind with one goal and purpose, each utterly drunk with love for the other.
Simon wake up suddenly, every thought in high definition. His eyes take in every ray of light and without a doubt he knows he slept too long. The noises are of a day in full swing, traffic heavy. He glanced at the naked woman sleeping beside him 'she's not her' .He let his eyes slide over her body, adding up her pluses and minuses like a mathematical equation. If she ranked high enough he'd put her on his radar, line her up with the other girls he wanted to add to his list of conquests. She was an eight, not good enough. He was a nine at least, the chick simply didn't meet his standards. It was her breasts that let her down, not large enough.
So what ? if he's married , it doesn't count as cheating if his wife does not know about. He already regretted to let go Erza , damn she was one fine woman . He'll have her soon again, he knows her all too well .'she'll be mine or at least for one night'.
A knock at his door , brought him out his 'wool-gathering' dreams . (His schemes were merely a castle in air) The knock again came quietly first and then there was silence. He wrapped a robe around himself before he would answer the door. Room service breakfast was late today , He would make sure that it would be their last day.
With a calm superiority yet intolerable one , he opened the door "You guys are ..." Before he could even finish his sentence or identify the person before him , his face came in contact with a fist and he fell wailing pain . He heard his attacker saying "Now, I feel better".