A/N: Started a new chapter name thingy. Check out the new names for previous chapters if u like. And oh- naughty words will come hobbling. Here goes…
Rubato noun. Mus. temporary disregarding of strict tempo
~Kay~
The moon peeks out from behind the silver- lined clouds, slowly illuminating his previously night- hidden face. A soft breeze touches my cheek and as I look at his again, I see it touches his too…
"Crane Mansion is the best place to be, especially at this time. I wonder what it's like to be Fox Crane and sit out here every evening like some friggin' prince, feeling as though he owned the world. I don't know the guy- sure it's good of him to invite everyone to his place, but still! Does he really deserve all this, the spoiled bastard?"
Oh. I'm… drunk. When have I ever been such a big talker? Me, Kay Bennett? No sir! There's no other hypothesis. I'm just completely intoxicated- on an ounce of wine.
"Fuck it!" he exclaims suddenly. "I don't feel drunk anymore. That wine must be some cheap shit. I'm hearing things and I feel pissed already!"
A slight frown is marring his face and it dawns on me that there might be more to Nick Swann than meets the eye. In our two hours of acquaintance, I have managed to put together an idea of what this guy is like. He's probably slightly better off than me (just slightly), and is the type that everyone wants to know and hang with.
But just now he looks tired and annoyed, as if there's something he wishes to be over and done with.
"Do you want me to go?" I ask tentatively, hoping he'd say…
"No! Stay exactly where you are. I don't want you to leave; there's just a certain agenda I wish I hadn't gotten myself into." Thanks Nick, I…
"…I like you," he says softly, smiling. Wow. I haven't seen the kind of smile that makes you melt inside since… since Miguel used to shine like the sun for me. When he used to call me his best friend.
"… so long ago," I whisper aside. Nick stops smiling and raises an eyebrow. "I was just thinking of someone who has a smile as nice as yours," I explain hastily but sincerely, staring at the balcony railing.
He whistles quietly. "Wow. You really do love him, don't you? He must mean a lot to you."
There. There.
It sounds so beautiful. The sympathy in another's voice when I talk of Miguel. Mostly, it's just 'Kay, it's evil to think about him 'coz he's Charity's' or 'he doesn't love you, so why bother?' But the understanding in Nick's voice is pure balm.
"Now a wonderful guy like you must have a girlfriend!" I change the subject. If I tell him more, he might tell me I'm doing the wrong thing too. And I don't want him to.
The empathy stays in his eyes a moment longer. I think he knows what I'm thinking.
"Well… yeah, kind of… I dunno!" He shrugs.
"Aw you gotta tell me now! You don't have to mention any names!" Please say no, please say no… huh?
"Let's just say, there's a lady who I think is girlfriend potential. But she's scared of falling in love again 'coz my brother rejected her. I know she likes me. Leaves me wondering when she'll ever admit she likes me too…"
The weird 'please say no' feeling escalates, see- saws and finally dissipates like it was never there. So he does have someone waiting to return his feeling for her. So? So?
"Well whoever she is, boy am I jealous!" I say half- flirtatiously. I'm drunk- it's very useful not to forget that.
"You don't have to be," he replies flatly, gazing at the empty wine bottle. "It might just as easily been someone else… someone like… you."
Alright Kay, you desperate, lonely thing. He wasn't actually meaning that. If Miguel wouldn't love you, who else would? And you want him to love you. Seriously!
"I'm serious!" Um. I must've said that aloud or something. Only my soulmate can read my mind, and my soulmate is Miguel. Earth to Kay- This. Is. A. Coincidence. Only. Period.
"I'm sure you prefer things as they are, Nick. Who knows? Maybe she's your soulmate…"
He laughs cynically, and grabs my hand, letting go of it as quickly as he took it.
"I don't believe in that crap, babe. And even if there was such a thing, I'd rather
make things work with someone who wants me as is, faults and all. Coz what if
your 'soulmate' doesn't give a fuck about what you feel for them? Huh? What do
you do then, Kay?"
The quiver in his normally carefree voice is the ember of a spark that has been quenched. I recognize it like the ghostly whisper of a sealed future. My future. Even without his telling me, I know at once that he has been rejected before. And painfully too…
With a sob, I fling myself at Nick like he's the last human being I'll ever have physical contact with. Needless to say, I expect him to shrink away from me. Who would hug some random stranger they've barely met for a few hours?
"Hey," he breathes soothingly, returning my frantic embrace by wrapping his arms around me. "Don't cry. He's gonna love you back… he has to. I mean, you're just too freakin' beautiful…" He proceeds to stroke the back of my neck ever so lightly, so comfortingly… it's so good to be held like you mattered.
"Thanks," I sniff, breathing the scent of Hugo Boss on him. "You… you feel nice." Awww. Bring on the weepy violins. But what else can I say? Besides, he does feel nice. Incredibly… nice.
"Of course I do," he teases, gently letting go of me. "But I think it's time we go back in there and continue to reach for the seemingly unreachable. C'mon…" He helps me up, passes an arm around my shoulders, and reaches for the door.
It doesn't open.
"Er, right. We've been locked out. Never mind, I'll call someone…" He takes out his cell phone and squints at it. "Holy hell! It's dead! What the…?"
Suddenly the door slides open.
Theresa is standing there, looking unblinkingly at us.
"Uh… hi Theresa. Did you lock us out?" Nick says confusedly.
She simply looks from one of us to the other.
"Can anyone please tell me what's going on?" I ask in a small voice.
She crosses her arms and continues to stare…
*****
~Charity and Eden~
Memories. I have so many memories of her. Charity in hell, Charity asking me whether I enjoyed my playstation game, Charity frozen by the zombie. And now, Charity looking nothing less than an angel in a spotless white gown. She's only standing a couple of feet from me, but it feels like she's miles away. As long as she's in his arms…
I know why he's talking in an overly cheerful manner. His 'hey Mike, long time no see' looks and casual remarks only account for one thing: Miguel is scared of losing me. It seems to have become worse since Eden stepped into Harmony. At times, he grips my wrists, my waist so tightly, his fears seem to have manifested into reality. And I don't have to turn around in order to realise that someone else has been watching me all evening.
Hold onto Miguel, head down, head down- don't look to the right. I have had to control myself like a ventriloquist's dummy for hours and I'm really getting sick of it. Can't help but feel a little angry with Miguel. He's been acting like some kind of obsessive jailor- always keeping two eyes and two arms on me.
Don't look… saw him. Perhaps Eden's just wanting someone to dance with. It's more than likely the whole situation is in my head and none whatsoever in his. But every now and then, his gaze would become so intense, that it causes me, wills me to look into his eyes. And I would see something magical there that makes me shudder in a remote, faraway place inside…
I see Miguel whispering something to her. She nods and he leaves. Do I make my move? Should I ask her for this last dance? And what if he comes back in a couple of seconds? If Tabitha was here to give me some advise… but my dear princess isn't here, and I have to think on my own. Timmy's a man now, not a part- time dummy or even a little boy. I take a few steps towards her.
"Er Charity, would you…"
She turns to me with a smile that's equally shy and sweet. I wish I could confess I came down from heaven for her, but it's too early for that. I don't want her to mistakenly think I'm some kind of creepy stalking case…
"I'd love to dance with you, Eden. But tell me, there're so many girls in this room who've had their eyes on you- so why didn't you ask one of them?" She sounds very polite, but I'm kind of too Charity- struck to answer. This is the first time she'd spoken one on one with me.
"I hope… you don't think I'm being rude?" she says a little less confidently, touching me on the shoulder.
"N-no! Of course not!" Charity rude? Even if she swore at someone, it'd be done in such a gentle manner that they wouldn't take offence. "I er… didn't notice that. And I don't really want to dance with anyone else. Just wanna dance with you. I mean, since you're my neighbour." I add hurriedly.
She smiles again and places her hands on my shoulders as I slowly let my arms encircle her waist. Her gaze shifts to my chest, though she takes a quick but close squiz at my face occasionally, as we dance. I'm dancing with Charity. {Gulp} With Charity. I hope she doesn't see the dazed look on me. She might think I'm drunk…
"Eden?" Her bright eyes scan mine all of a sudden.
"Yeah? Yes Charity?"
"Why do I feel I know you?" she asks softly, unconsciously caressing my shoulder.
"Maybe you do."
My voice comes out low and alluring and I don't like it at all. If only I could tell her everything, but would she understand?
I'm about to start explaining, when I turn my head to see Miguel with a look on his face that's far from bemused.
"Charity, where are Jess and Kay? I can't find them anywhere!"
Charity does not release me, but begins talking to Miguel over my shoulder.
"I went ti the b-bathroom upstairs t- ten minutes ago, and on the way, I saw Jess with Reece… Kay was on the balcony talking to th- this guy."
She has her back to him now, and Miguel is regarding me grimly.
"I- I'll go and find them!" I leave for the staircase before either of them could call me back…
"What was that all about?" inquires Miguel, staring a little coldly at Eden's retreating back.
"Stop being so wound up, Miguel! I was just dancing with him. He's so shy he couldn't bring himself to ask anyone else!"
He sighs and smiles relievedly, but I can't return the gesture. Believe it or not, there can be only one ending to a story, Miguel. And this is its beginning. This is where we start to fall- in more ways than one…
*****
A/N: So what do u think? Would u like to see more of something and less of something else? Should our two angelic lovers (ie. Charity and Eden) turn out all… naughty? {imagines them dirty dancing and scratches head} 'Neway, tell me 'k?
BTW there're equal votes for Therox and Foxay now, so I'm kinda gonna do both- but of course only one is going to win out. Reviews are always cherished! Ciao 4 now!
foxayfan: Yes o fan of foxay, u can say it might be beginning, but lemme warn u {whispering} it might not happen overnight lol!
brendaboo02: {laughs like a grannie} I knew u'll like it dear! Thanx 4 ur nice comments!
Amberlee24: I haven't seen Heidi Mueller playing Kay yet, but looking at pics, I can tell u I personally think she looks nothing like a Kay! As far as I know, Deanna Wright is the Kay. I can't imagine anyone else in the role. And the Kay in this story 'is' Deanna. U're right- no Charguel or Foxney. Thanx lotz 4 ur comments.
MahoganyMiss: I'm glad u got the Nick Swann- Fox Crane thing at once! I thought it might've been a bit confusing. Thanx 4 ur comments buddy. And BTW I just love ur new story- plz. update it ASAP!
El Diablo Firestarter: {chews lip nervously}… was it… hot enough? No? I'm sorry if it isn't, but I don't like one night stand stuff that much. Hot Foxay's definitely on the menu though lol. Thanx 4 ur review!
Lady- Cherry: I'm glad u like the foxay in ch. 10! Thanx very much 4 ur review! :)
svata2004: Oops! Yeah 'Nick Swann' was Fox. He didn't want Kay to know who he really was. Thanx 4 letting me know about that!
THEROX4EVER03: Weird writer = weird story I guess! Oh well, can't help it. Thanx 4 dropping a review!
Coming soon: Who locked Fox and Kay outside? Theresa? Charity? Find out soon!
