A.N: First of all, I would like to apologise for such a late update. The only excuse I can give is that these past few weeks have been so busy and stressful, that I haven't had time to just sit and think what I should write.
But no matter! Because I'm updating now!
Here is the long awaited chapter 5 of 'Everything Has Its Time'…
Chapter 5:
"Ka pai!" Marama exclaimed, clapping her hands.
Joseph had been under Marama's tutoring for two weeks now, and was doing much better than even he had anticipated. They had almost covered everything he needed to know for the exam coming up in three weeks. He suspected that they would cover everything by the end of the next week, and then do some evn more advanced work.
Well…that's what he hoped.
"Ok Joe, I think we can leave it there for today. You seem to be doing fine but remember that practice is the key! It's the only way to remember every phrase you learn" Marama emphasised enthusiastically.
"Ok thanks, Marama! I'll see you tomorrow night then?" Joseph asked, checking their nightly meeting was still on.
"Oh crap! That reminds me, I can't meet you tomorrow night because I have a ball to go to. My friend has just graduated as a teacher and she has a 'farewell' ball thingy that she's invited me to" Marama explained.
"That's fine, I shall see you the next night then?" Joseph asked politely.
"Well actually…now that I think about it…" Marama was lost in thought for a moment.
"Yes?" Joseph prompted, curious about his friends' strange behaviour.
"How would you like to go?" Marama suddenly asked, seeming to have come to a conclusion.
Joseph was momentarily confused, but being one who never showed their confusion, he just showed a blank face.
"Sorry! I should explain. You see my friend has just found out that the person she was planning on going with can longer go, so she doesn't have a partner. I was wondering if perhaps you could go along as her partner" Marama finished in a rush.
Joseph was silent for a moment. He didn't even know Marama's friend…had never even met her…
Marama seemed to sense Joseph's thought patterns as she tried to reassure him.
"I realise that you have never met her, but you would love her! She is so beautiful and is so much like you."
"What do you mean 'so much like me?'" Joseph asked, curious to hear what one of his friends had to say about him.
"Well for starters she's polite, has immaculate manners, and just seems to be your gentlemanly type. She studies just as hard, if not harder, than you do and is just a wonderful, positive person to be around" Marama could tell Joseph was interested, if not tempted.
"Well…"Joseph started, uncertain.
"Come on, Joe! She deserves this" Marama pleaded.
Joseph nodded as he gave in.
"All right, I'll be your friends partner for the ball tomorrow night" Joseph acquiesced.
Marama jumped for joy, dancing around Joseph telling him he would never regret it and that her friend would be so pleased.
Joseph's heart warmed at his friends' obvious display of joy. He actually loved dancing so this ball would be a great break from his studies.
"Thanks so much Joe! I'll get my friend to ring you later with all the details" Marama then pranced off, set on going home to tell her friend.
"Wait! Marama! What is her name?" Joseph called out, thinking the least he could do would be to learn her name.
"Solana!"
"How sweet…sunshine" Joseph murmured to himself, suddenly finding himself looking forward to meeting this so-called 'Joseph type person'.
Joseph started to go over what needed to be prepared for the next night as he walked off towards his apartment. Juanjo wouldn't believe this. The study-hard, have-no-fun Joseph was going to a ball with a woman he had never met.
Chuckling at the reaction he would probably get from Juanjo, Joseph moved off into the busy streets of Madrid.
OoOoOoOo
"So where did you live before coming to study in Madrid?" Joseph asked the young woman beside him.
"I have always lived in Madrid. I lived in the orphanage here from as early as I can remember. You see my parents were killed in the Civil War" Solana replied quietly, her features only showing acceptance of what had happened.
"I am so sorry" Joseph murmured before falling silent.
Marama was right about Solana. She was beautiful. She had long golden brown hair that was currently flowing down her back with only a silver, ruby encrusted dragon fly clasp holding it off her face. She had wonderfully bright hazel eyes, a smooth creamy complexion that glowed with health, and was an average height with a slim body. Her ruby dress that fell down to her ankles was stunning on her and gave her the look of royalty. She was truly gorgeous.
Not only was Marama correct in how beautiful Solana was, but also in all her other comments.
Joseph was immensely pleased that he had agreed to come, for he had the honour of meeting royalty in disguise.
"What about you?" Solana asked politely, resting her elbows on the table and folding her hands below her chin.
"I lived in many places with my mother until my teen years. We then settled down in Adra. It was a lovely town and we were both enjoying it. But my mother was killed a couple of years later so I went to live with my friend and his family. We stayed in Adra until I came here, to the university and my friend joined the army" Joseph explained, not wanting to go into too much detail.
"Oh, I guess it's my turn to give my condolences. I'm so sorry, Joseph" Solana said, and Joseph could tell it was heart felt.
"Away from those dreary topics, tell me, where do you plan to go now you have finished training as a teacher?" Joseph asked, wanting to get away from the topic of death.
"I have been offered a job at a small school in Cullera. I'll be working with 6 year olds" Solana smiled, clearly pleased with what the future held.
"That sounds wonderful! You'll be so close to the sea" Joseph exclaimed, giving her a look full of congratulations.
"Children are so rewarding, Joseph, do you think you'll ever have any of your own?" Joseph smiled at the forward question; he was used to this from Solana, but actually found it quite comfortable.
"Yes, I hope to someday, but I'll have to find myself a wife first" he answered.
"No wild flings then?" Solana asked in a teasing voice.
"No" Joseph answered seriously.
"That's good" Solana nodded with conviction.
"Yes" Joseph agreed.
"So what about you? Do you plan on starting your own family?" Joseph asked boldly, not usually one to ask such forward questions.
"Yes, but just like you, I am waiting for the right person" Solana answered comfortably, smiling across at Joseph.
"Good!" Joseph exclaimed before quickly standing.
"Care to dance, my lady?" Joseph asked, holding his hand out to Solana.
"Love to" Solana replied, placing her soft hand in his and allowing herself to be lead onto the cluttered dance floor.
They danced together for the rest of the evening, getting many admiring glances from other couples around them for their superb dancing. They danced until their feet ached and their heads spun.
It was a truly amazing and beautiful evening for both Joseph and Solana. Little did they know that this night was the beginning of another exciting journey.
OoOoOoOo
Joseph and Solana had spent almost every day together for the past two months. They did everything together. Sometimes with Marama and Juanjo, but other times just by themselves.
They had grown extremely close together as they found out more and more of the other person. What they liked or did not like; the places they loved to visit; and even their dreams of who or what they wanted to become.
Carlos came to visit for a week so was introduced to Solana also. They got along right from the start. Solana also found out a lot more about Joseph's past and the sort of trouble he got into as a young boy. She found it all very funny, especially when Joseph tried to deny it all.
When Carlos left to go back to his duties, he made it clear to Joseph that Solana was worth keeping.
"Don't you dare let her go Joe!" he said.
However Joseph just calmly explained that Solana wasn't officially his anyway, so what right did he have to rule over her life?
It was all good times for the pair, and even though they hadn't yet admitted it, they were both very much in love with the other.
However, it was on this day that they would finally adress it.
"Joseph?" Solana asked quietly.
They were both lying on the grass in Joseph's back yard, their chins resting on their folded hands.
"Mm?" he murmured back, dozing in the warm sun.
"You do realise that I'm leaving next week, don't you?" she asked her voice even quieter.
Joseph opened his eyes and turned towards Solana.
"Yes I do" he said very seriously.
Solana thought about that for a moment before speaking again.
"What will you do? Now that you've graduated, where will you go?" she asked timidly.
Joseph looked out across the lawn, avoiding her gaze.
"I'm joining the army. I'm going to train as a translator and also do some kind of security training like Carlos did" he explained quietly, knowing full well what this would mean for his and Solana's unspoken relationship.
Solana sat up, drawing her knees up under her chin and wrapping her arms around them.
"Oh" was all she said.
Joseph sat up and faced her. Taking one of her hands, he looked deep into her sad hazel eyes.
"I will be gone for four years, Solana, but I will never forget you. I will come back as often as I can and will write to you every opportunity I get. I couldn't just pack up, leave and forget you now; you mean too much to me" Joseph spoke sincerely, stroking the palm of her hand with his thumb.
"Oh Joseph" Solana whispered, tears pouring in earnest down her face.
"I'm going to miss you so much."
"Just as I will miss you, Solana" Joseph whispered back, pulling her into his arms and holding her close.
"But this is something I have to do" Joseph added, knowing Solana understood.
Solana nodded, wiping her eyes but staying in Joseph's embrace.
He ran a finger down her cheek and smiled.
"I love you, Solana" he confessed for the first time.
"Please don't ever forget that".
"I will never forget" Solana whispered back, covering his hand with her own.
"Because I love you too".
They smiled at each other before Solana turned in Joseph's embrace and leant back against him. She sat encircled in his arms for hours until well after the sun had set. They then reluctantly left the back yard to the world that must spin on.
They had declared their love for each other and now had the most difficult task of waiting the four years for Joseph to train in the army.
They both had a future worth looking forward to with all their hearts; a future together.
A.N: how was that? Did you enjoy that chapter? Was it what you were expecting? Please review and let me know what you think. Once I am satisfied I will then post the next already written chapter. You'll love it! I promise!