Chapter eight – Gold (show me love like I've never know)
The school was open late due to a school concert which all teachers were expected to attend as moral support for the students performing and the teachers who had set the whole thing up. Clarissa was readying herself back stage for her performance. She had dressed herself in a pair of black tights with leather shorts over the top and a gold sequin vest top. Her brown hairs were down, front section pulled back off her face and back combed intro a small quiff. To complete the look she had added a pair of gold hoops that had belonged to her mum. She'd gone as far as applying gold eye make-up and nude lipstick.
The students on stage, a group of year ten girls were finished and bowing to the audience as the music teacher came back on stage. She took the main microphone "Thank you girls, now we have an original song written and performed by Clarissa Johnson."
Clarissa took this as her queue and walked onto stage. There was a small amount of applause, an acceptable amount for someone who had not yet performed but was about to perform. Clarissa exchanged smiles with her music teacher as she took the microphone from her and placed it on the microphone stand that had been placed on stage.
She gave a small nod of her head to signal she was ready and the music began. The music filled the room. Clarissa lent back from the mouth to gulp nervously so the microphone wouldn't pick up on it Moving her face back to the mic she starts singing the song she had written for her music project. "Everyone dies, and not everyone lives – everyone takes, but not everyone gives – I wanna see my name written across the sky- I'm not going up in flames, I choose to sur-vi-ve." Clarissa closed her eyes as she went into the pre-chorus "So tonight we dance this rhythm – Til the light of morning hits us – We may never see a moment as magical as this one."
Clarissa opened her eyes and rocked her body slightly "You're like Gold – You make me feel like goooold – you make me feel like goooold – you make me feel like goooold" she held the note longer than the previous 'golds'. Her eyes sought through the audience carelessly, it was crazy how at ease she felt performing in front of them all "show me love like I've never known – Baby you make me feel like gold."
Clarissa removed the microphone from its stand and took a step around it so she was closer to the audience with the microphone firmly in her right hand. "Some people wait for love to come – Til it's too late I won't be yours –cause there's an energy pulling me to you – We are two hearts beating together now, it's true – ohhh- ohhhh- oh - So tonight we dance this rhythm – Til the light of morning hits us – We may never see a moment as magical as this one."
Clarissa smirked as she went into the chorus, raising her left arm into the arm as she sung "You're like Gold – You make me feel like goooold" she withdrew her arm into her body, her left hand clenching into a fist as she concentrated on hitting all the notes " – you make me feel like goooold – you make me feel like goooold –" She looked directly as Sherlock who was in the second row of the audience with John. Her teacher widened his eyes in surprise "show me love like I've never known – Baby you make me feel like gold."
Clarissa took another step towards the end of the stage, eyes still on Sherlock as she straightened her posture and prepared for the bridge. "The way you make me feel, you know it really takes me up – In every single day I pray I always give enough – 'Cause baby how you save my life, it's loving it's fact – And I just wanna give it all ba-aaa-ac-ck" Clarissa reached up with her left arm again "You're like Gold – You make me feel like goooold" she brought her left arm down slowly, brushing it against her side before making a sweeping gesture at the audience. "– you make me feel like goooold – you make me feel like goooold –" she made no attempt to hide her eyes settling on Sherlock again with a small wink "show me love like I've never known – Baby you make me feel like gold."
The applause was instant as she stopped singing and the music trailed off like all music does. Clarissa scanned over the audience with a wide grin on her face and bowed before handing the mic back to her teacher. Instead of going behind stage again she just climbed down the stage steps into the audience. Her jacket was rested on the chair next to Daniel, he handed it to her wordlessly with a quick "you were amazing" before she took off down the aisle in the audience, pulling her jacket over to cover her body.
When she reached the silent hallway she let out the breath that she hadn't even known she was holding. A hand clasp tightly around her arm and spun her around, back hitting the lockers with more force than necessary. Clarissa's body jerked at the contact and she started "What the fu-" She cut herself off when she saw it was Sherlock. He looked the same as ever in black trousers and a grey shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked shaken, his black curls were unruly like usual but more so like he had been running his hands through them. Grey eyes were fixed on hers, pupils dilated. She breathed out "Sherlock?" It was a question. She wanted to know exactly what he was playing at.
"The song –" he began speaking in a hushed tone.
"Gold" she clarified for him. Clarissa couldn't help but notice how close they were. Their faces were so close that their breaths mingled. Every time he exhaled she could smell mint mixed with coffee and cigarette.
Sherlock gave a small nod of acknowledgement as he continued in the same hushed tone, his voice low and overly seductive. "Was it – did you write it – " he tried, for the first time in his life unable to get his words out clearly. "Was it for me?"
After a moment of silence with the only noise their breathing in the empty hallway. There was the thump of the music from the hall and faint traces of someone singing with instruments playing but it was dull and background to the sound of their breaths mixing in the air. She spoke finally after what seemed like hours "Yes".
That was apparently all Sherlock needed to hear. He swooped in, lips crashing almost violently against hers. This was far from the kiss that they had shared in his classroom which was sweet and chaste. It was hungry and desperate like the world depended on it. Sherlock's lip opened against hers, following his lead she opened her mouth to deepen the kiss. His hand found its way to the back of her head, pushing her further into the kiss as his tongue probed its way into her mouth. Clarissa found her hands resting on his hips, fingers digging into the soft material of his shirt. Sherlock's tongue brushed her lips gently before battling some more with her own tongue. The taste of coffee ad cigarettes was clearer now, the mint was just a faint taste from brushing ones teeth.
Sherlock pulled away when the need for oxygen overpowered him. Clarissa took in a large needy breath against his lips which were still so close to hers that they brushed together with every movement of his head. Sherlock's curl covered forehead lent against hers. Grey eyes closer than they had ever been to hers. Both of their pupils were wide with longing, it was so close to arousal that she didn't think she could handle it.
"I need –" Sherlock began. This wasn't going to be easy, they had just made out in school with a hall full of students, parents and other teachers not five meters away. They would have to tread carefully before anything could continue. "We can't do this, not here."
"I get it" she found her voice even if it was shakier than usual. "Let's talk outside of this."
Sherlock gave a curt nod, his forehead moving against hers slightly. He pulled back reluctantly, the arm at the back of her neck tracing her spine for a few seconds before dropping back to his side. "I'll text you a time and place, if you can't be there let me know." Sherlock said in the same hushed tone he had used before their kiss. He hesitated before adding "And if you need anything, anything" he repeated for emphasis "just call me, I'll know it's important because I prefer to text."
Clarissa gave a nod. Sherlock lent forward to place a chaste kiss on her lips before pulling away from her completely and heading back into the main hall where the concert was happening.
The text had come through as she arrived home.
Saturday morning. 6:30am, at Kingsley park. The bench overlooking the pond, how do you take your coffee? –SH
Clarissa had just sprawled out on her bed with a happy grin plastered to her face, tapping out a quick response.
I'll be there. Black, two sugars.
She didn't sign it like he had, there was no reason to. He knew exactly who he was texting. Clarissa placed the phone on her bedside table and closed her eyes, the kiss replaying in her mind as she drifted in a peaceful sleep.