Chapter 10: All I've Ever Wanted

(Roderick)

I kept playing my newly written song over and over again. It was good, but I felt like it was missing something. Maybe I needed harmony or something. I need coffee, I thought. I grabbed my jacket and a piece of paper floated out of the pocket. Aisha's number, I thought.

A light bulb suddenly went off in my head. She wanted to her one of my songs. I could play it for her and get her opinion, I thought. Maybe I can ask her out to dinner, too.

I put my coat down and dialed Aisha's number. One ring………..Two rings………Three rings………..

"Hello?"

Finally, I thought.

"Hey, Aisha?" I said.

"Yeah?" Aisha replied.

"H-hi, it's Roderick," I stammered.

I knew this would happen. I told Aisha to hold on and then I put the phone face down on the table and walked into my bedroom.

"DAMNIT!" I yelled.

I walked back over to the phone and picked up and heard Aisha laughing on the other line.

"You heard that?" I asked.

"No," Aisha said. "I'm watching a tapedrerun of Saturday Night Live."

"I don't hear your TV," I countered.

"I have it on mute."

"You do not."

"All right," Aisha said. "I heard you, but it was funny."

"I can see why," I said. "So, I finally have a song."

"That's good."

"Yeah. I'd really like your input."

"You would?"

"Yeah, so I was wondering if I could take you out to dinner tonight and then come back to my place to listen to it."

There was silence on the other line so I thought she'd hung up.

"Aisha?" I prompted.

"I'm here," she replied.

"Just checking," I said.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Aisha asked.

"Kind of," I said. "I think so."

"Uh-huh."

"But, it doesn't have to be a date. It could just be two friends hanging out together, listening to some music, and then one friend gets a free dinner and the other pays for it."

You are seriously babbling, I thought, mentally kicking myself.

"How come we can't eat after I listen to the song?" Aisha asked.

"I don't know," I answered.

I really wasn't thinking clearly.

"All right," was the reply on the other line.

"All right, what?" I asked.

"I'd love to hear your song," Aisha replied.

"Oh, don't kid around here," I said.

"I'm not kidding," she said. "I'm curious to hear the song and I'm glad that a free meal is being thrown in."

"Okay," I said. "Um, does seven o'clock work for you?"

"Yeah," Aisha replied. "You know where I live, right?"

"Right," I answered. "So, I'll see you later."

"One more question."

"Shoot."

There was silence on the other line.

"Nah, forget it," Aisha said after a while.

"No, tell me," I said.

"You'll think it's weird," she warned me.

"That's okay," I said.

"Casual or formal?"

I chuckled. "Casual," I said.

"Good." I could visualize her smiling on the other end. "I'll see you later."

A few minutes later I was listening to the dial tone and I collapsed on the couch. All that nervousness for nothing, I thought. Now, I just felt tired. It was like all my energy was drained by my anxiety. It was only uphill from here and I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Except my song. What was missing from it?

Later that night, I knocked on Aisha's door. "Coming!" I heard from inside. After five minutes, the door swung open and Aisha stood in front of me.

"Hi," she said, greeting me with awarm smile.

"Hey," I answered. "Do you need a few more minutes? I can wait."

"No, I'm good," Aisha said, locking her door. "Let's go."

(Aisha)

The evening was really nice. There was no awkward conversation between Roderick and I. We talked about work and Murray and Amy and everything else going on in our lives. Finally, we left and took the subway down to the village where Roderick lived.

His apartment building was a nice eleven story building near Union Square. His apartment was turned completely into a recording studio, which was actually impressive.

"You're place is nice," I said.

"Thanks," Roderick replied.

For a second I thought that there was no song. I thought that he made it up just so he could see me again.

"So, do you want to hear it?" Roderick asked.

"Hear, what?" I asked.

"My song," he answered.

Well, that squashed any doubt that I had. I nodded and he walked over to the machinery and pushed some buttons. A beautiful piano intro filled the air followed by a male voice.

"Is this you singing?" I asked.

"No, it's Stephen Tyler," Roderick said, sarcastically.

I chuckled. "You're really good," I said.

"Thank you," he said.

As I listened to the song, I found it very familiar. I had definitely heard it before. But, I couldn't place where. I found myself humming along with it. Then it was as if a floodgate in my mind opened up and memories started pouring out like water.

He was down on one knee,singing me as if begging me to love him. He must have been embarrassed to actually say these words. I'd never seen him so vulnerable in my life. I pulled him up so he was standingandcrumbled in his arms. Our hands wandered all over each other's bodies. My head started reeling and I couldn't think..............

Roderick turned off the music, breaking my thoughts and the memory slipped away. He looked at me, probably wondering why I was humming.

"It's catchy," I lied so he wouldn't think I was weird.

"I think I just figured out what it needs," Roderick said. "Can you do me a favor?"

"Depends on what it is," I said.

"You think you can harmonize with some of it?" he asked.

"I……………"

He wanted me to harmonize with it? I wasn't a singer. I couldn't sing for my life.

"That's not true," he said when I told him this. "I heard you humming and you're really not that bad."

"I don't know," I said.

"Please," Roderick said. "If you really are as bad as you say you are and it ends up sounding horrible, I'll get someone else to do it."

"Gee, thanks."

"Aisha, please."

"Okay," I said, after a long pause.

Roderick pushed some buttons and then handed me apiece of paper withthe lyrics on it.

"Okay, you come in on the last chorus with my voice," he explained. "Then for the first two lines on the last voice, it's all you. On the last line you sing with my voice again and then you're done."

Sounds simple enough, I thought. It was actually pretty easy and harmonizing was no problem since I somewhat knew the song. When I was finished Roderick turned off the machine and smiled. God, he's got a nice smile, I thought.

"You're not bad at all," he said.

"Thanks," I said, feeling my face grow hot. I was sure I was blushing.

He stood up and walked towards me. I stared at the floor.

"Thanks for your help," he said.

"You're welcome," I said.

"So, what did you think of the song?" he asked.

"It was really good," I replied.

"Yeah?" Roderick said.

"Yeah," I answered.

I looked up at his face finding myself lost in his blue eyes. He grabbed my hands and laced his fingers through mine, sending electricity all over my body. My brain suddenly melted and I couldn't think straight.

"I liked it a lot," I said, my tongue feeling thick.

"Good," Roderick said.

Roderick's face was inches away from mine. My eyes darted from his lips to his mouth. I was suddenly getting a déjà vu. He seemed so vulnerable now. He looked at me with an unspoken question in his eyes. I looked back at him with what I hoped was the answer. He slowly leaned forward, cupped my face in his hands, and pressed his lips against mine.

I wrapped my arms around his neck to deepen the kiss. It was warm and familiar, like he kissed me before, but he never did. I broke away, but that was only for a breath and then I captured his lips once again……………..

To Be Continued…………….

A/N: Chapter 11 is coming soon.