Beyond the Night
Music in the Night
Note, Rating, Timeline: See 1
"I'll try," she said as he walked away.
"Try not to lose you."
Two vibrant hearts could change.
Nothing tears the being more than deception,
unmasked fear.
"I'll be here waiting" tested but secure.
"I wish I could be the one,
the one who won't care at all
But being the one on the stand,
I know the way to go, no one's guiding me.
When time soaked with blood turns its back,
I know it's hard to fall.
Confined in me was your heart
I know it's hurting you, but it's killing me."
The 6 headed into Reefside, the night aglow with the same warmth it had in their teenage years. Everything felt the same as it did back then; the only subtle difference was that Kira and Tommy were flaunting their relationship in the public eye. Kira and Tommy were walking around with their arms around each other, not caring who saw or whispered as they passed. The group headed into the highest-ranking restaurant in town, Le Roses Noir it was also the most romantic. Tommy released his grip on her wrist and instead took her hand as they went to the front desk.
"Reservations at 8, under Oliver." Tommy said, the waiter scanned the list and looked back up at the group.
"Yes, the table is right this way." He stated and led the group through the restaurant and to the back of the busy restaurant where a long table waited for them. As they each took their seats Tommy sat at the head of the table with Kira on his right, next to her was Conner, beside him across the table from Tommy was Trent and beside him on the other side was Ethan and beside him was Hayley.
"Here are the menus and the specialty tonight is on the back, I will return shortly for your drink orders." He said and left, Kira looked to Conner, laughter in her eyes.
"Hey McKnight, its time to start making with your deal, I want a Cosmopolitan." She stated, Conner smiled and glanced at the drinks, finding nothing appealing to him, alcohol never interested him. The waiter returned and looked at the group and waited, for their drinks.
"We'll have a bottle of your best wine and one cosmopolitan." Tommy said, and the waiter nodded and left, returning moments later with the drinks, Kira clapped happily and took her pink drink. Slurping happily she turned to Conner, grinning like a fool.
"Thank you McKnight, you know I'm having another though." She said, Conner laughed and noticed.
"A promise is a promise and I promised to buy you drinks and drinks you will have." He stated with a small laugh, Kira grinned and then looked to Tommy, happiness aglow in her face. Conner's face fell when she looked away making Ethan, Trent and Hayley exchange looks. Soon they had decided on food and ate while discussing what they had been doing after the years had passed. Ethan had his own software company that was very successful, Hayley still owned the Cyber Café that was booming more than usual, Trent had taken over Mercer Industries and Conner had become soccer star he always wanted to be. Tommy was now the principal of Reefside High and doubled as a college professor, Kira had kept quiet and now everyone waited for her response.
"Come on Kira, spill it." Conner coaxed, pushing a piece of meat around on his plate that he felt he couldn't eat without bursting. Kira sighed and set down her fork, which she had been twirling in her left over mashed potatoes.
"Well I would still concentrate on my music and go somewhere but being a starving artist is something I don't like the sound of. I get a handful of gigs every month and I perform with my band. We've gotten several offers but we are still in deliberation, I don't know if I want to do any of that, some dreams just don't come true you know." Kira said, Conner shook his head unable to believe his ears.
"Don't say that, dreams can come true, look at me, look what I've done." Kira let out a hollow laugh and shook her head.
"The music business isn't so easy as it appears jock boy, as long as you're in tip top shape and hone your skills everyone wants you. If I don't have connects and exposure we're just another band in the market. Can we drop this though, I don't want to continue this, it's depressing, does anyone want dessert or am I the only one?" she asked, Hayley groaned.
"How can you still be hungry?" she asked the younger girl, Ethan laughed and spied what Kira was looking at. At a nearby table occupied by Cassidy Cornell and Devin Fong, a deliciously sinful chocolate cake.
"I'm with you Kira." Ethan said and Trent nodded, Tommy laughed and shook his head and hailed the waiter.
"We'll take a piece of that chocolate cake." He said, and laughed as Kira squeaked with joy and clapped her hands like an over excited child. When the cake arrived Tommy looked to the group. "I'll pass it around and we'll each take a bite until its gone, how's that sound?" he asked, Kira looked beside herself and blissfully agreed, licking her lips. Tommy took a bite and passed it to Kira who took a bite and passed it on. It made three trips around the table until it was gone. Conner looked to Kira who was staring into space with a happy and glazed look in her eye.
"Full now?" he asked, she nodded and looked to Tommy.
"Thanks babe." She yawned, feeling tired now that her stomach was full; he smiled, knowing the feeling.
"Welcome." He said, and began to take out his wallet and paid for the bill. The six left the restaurant and headed to the parking lot. "Conner you are welcome to stay in my place if you want. Ethan and Hayley have Kira's room but we have a pull out couch and if you can be an adult about Trent can share it too." The two seemed relieved, feeling exhausted.
"Thanks Dr. O" Conner said, sleepily as he climbed into his rental car with Trent, both were getting along as brothers since they weren't fighting over Kira. The group returned to Tommy's house and they watched as Tommy struggled to pull out the couch, Kira went and got spare blankets and pillows and Hayley and Ethan headed off to bed. After the bed was set up and pillows and blankets were set down, Kira hugged Trent and Conner 'good night' and loped down the hall, wandering through the darkness. Tommy nodded to them and followed after her, Conner watched as the lights in his room came on and then the door shut. He didn't set ready for bed until he watched the thin strip of light go out, bathing the house in darkness. Trent gave him a look of sympathy in the darkness that he hoped Conner would never see.
Kira climbed into bed with Tommy, curling beside him and shivering with cold, his body warming her instantly.
"What was with you and Conner tonight?" he asked, Kira frowned at him in the darkness and smiled as she leaned over and kissed him hard on the lips.
"Nothing, jealous?" she asked, Tommy kissed her back and then broke her kiss slowly.
"No, I trust you and I know that you wouldn't do anything out of guilt." Tommy stated, Kira nodded and sighed, resting her face in the crook on his shoulder.
"You're right, I was just trying to be nice to him, after all he is trying to amend for what he did." Kira said, Tommy gently ran his hands down her back and they settled around her hips.
"Its going to take much more than that." He said, Kira nodded as she began to drift off to sleep.
"Oh, much, much more than that." She whispered and slept peacefully in his arms.
Song used: Unholy Confession by Avenged Sevenfold
To Be Continued