Chapter Five: Backwards Into Flight
'I know all of you by heart now,
Each breath, even in the dark.
Can I keep what we made here
Secrets, still a mistake.
It would be an honor to have my heart
Broken by you.'
Lyrics by 'Night Terrors of 1927'
"Oh my God!" Carly exclaimed after Julie showed them around their house. "This is amazing!"
Now, they stood by the infinity pool, sipping fruity drinks and enjoying the fresh late summer breeze.
"Well, I don't know about amazing," Julie put her hand up to her cheek to hide her blush. "I think Miles' house is amazing. When you get the chance, go over and check their view. You might think you can see everything from here, but no. They have a view that stretches for miles."
Carly and Jason looked at each other knowingly and giggled.
"We know about their view,"
Brad sauntered over and draped his arm around his wife. "What's this about a view? Cause I like the view I'm seeing right now,"
Carly and Julie looked nervously at one another as Jason furrowed his brow, speechless.
"Oh that was corny," Brad bent over with laughter as everyone else burst out in nervous laughter.
"You guys are having way too much fun!" Phoenix said as he wandered up to them.
"Phoenix," Julie squealed as she hugged the attorney.
Carly bit her lip as Jason took a drink to hide his red face.
"Jason, Carly this is Phoenix Wright, Phoenix this is Jason and Carly Angel, your next door neighbors, which I heard you met already?"
"Julie," Brad nudged his wife knowingly.
Jason and Phoenix froze mid-handshake as they watched the other get redder by the minute.
"I...sorry," was all that Phoenix could say.
"Er...anything I say here could be bad," Carly stuttered. "So I'll just say that it's alright and we enjoyed ourselves immensely."
Miles had walked up at that moment and had started to say something, but turned as Phoenix grabbed his arm.
"We want to say that we enjoyed ourselves as well," Phoenix cleared his throat and smiled shakily.
"Okay, let's go get us some drinks," Julie said as she clapped her hands together. They followed her through a small crowd; Carly and Jason recognized the faces, but couldn't put names to any of them until Julie introduced them as they made their way to the small area that Julie prepared for the bar.
"So, Carly what is it that you do for a living?" Miles asked taking a large drink, trying to cut through his nervousness.
"I handle different marketing accounts for a couple different Museums; although I'm really liking the one I'm at now. I'll probably ask to be put on the payroll as a permanent employee. Adrien Andrews is the sweetest person and the best manager I've worked with so far."
Phoenix and Miles looked at each other knowingly.
"Blond hair, glasses, kinda mousy?"
Miles budged Phoenix with his elbow. "Don't be rude."
"Oh, it's okay, she is a bit mousy, but she recently had laser eye surgery and doesn't wear her glasses anymore. It totally gave her a boost of confidence and she gave her self a make-over, cut her hair and everything!" She paused and took a drink. "Wait, how do you know her?"
"I took on a couple cases that she was involved with," Phoenix looked up and saw Klavier and Ema approaching them. "Speaking of small worlds,"
"Well, looks like the whole gang is here!" Klavier exclaimed as he introduced Carly and Jason to Ema.
"Oh, so you're Jason," Ema said, giving him a critical eye.
"Er, yeah," Jason hesitated.
"Klavier came home in less than spectacular shape the other morning," Ema crossed her arms. "Although, I hear that if he had come home earlier, I probably would have left him sleeping out on the deck. So thank you for letting him stay with you."
Jason glanced at Klavier and let out a nervous laugh as he clapped the man on the shoulder.
"Ha! Yes, you are welcome!"
Jason smiled as he thought about the note that Klavier had left. It had mentioned a thank you and a favor owed and how good him and Will looked together. His smile widened thinking about the last comment.
They found some tables and chairs to sit at and chatted until Klavier excused himself. He brought out his guitar and stepped up to the microphone that was set up for him and started playing some of his more mellow songs.
"May I have this dance, milady?" Jason said as he stood and with a flourish held out his hand.
"Why, yes, of course," Carly beamed as she placed her hand in his. He twirled her onto the small area made for a dance floor as other couples joined. Miles was about to ask Ema to dance, when he saw Will approaching her.
"Ema Skye?" he asked as he winked at Miles who smiled and sat back down.
She started as she turned and was greeted with one of the most intense pair of hazel eyes she had ever seen.
"Do I know you?" Ema asked as she tugged at her hair.
"No miss," Will said as he gestured to Klavier. "But I do know your fiancée, Klavier, and you are the only green-eyed beauty here that he could possibly be singing about. My name is Will and I would love to have this dance with you."
Ema gaped at the handsome man that Klavier had gone on about the other evening. She shook her head mentally; she should be used to all of Klavier's friends being gentlemen. Even Daryan wasn't without his charms. But in this day and age, she knew chivalrous men were few and far between.
"Ah, yes, of course," she placed her hand in his and he guided her onto the dance floor. Klavier winked at them as they danced by him.
Klavier sang a couple more songs before taking a break and he was approached by a couple guests wanting autographs.
"Thank you, Ema," Will said as he accompanied her back to her seat. She nodded at him and as he sat, Jason and Carly were headed back to their seats when Jason spotted Will.
"Hey Jason," Will said as he stood.
"Oh, Will," Jason approached and hugged him as eyebrows went up. They parted but Jason kept his hand on the back of Will's neck as Will rested one hand on the others hip. "I'm so glad you made it." Jason's smile was so infectious, Will found himself grinning like an idiot.
Jason clapped a hand on Will's shoulder and let it linger there as he introduced Will to everyone.
"Will, it's nice to see you again," Carly said as she threw him her dazzling smile. She wasn't sure if it was the lighting the other morning, but she didn't remember him being this handsome. His hair was pulled back and he was wearing glasses. His lithe athletic body was accentuated by a patterned dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a dark blue vest that was buttoned, accentuated by a bow tie and dark blue slacks and brown brogues.
"As well as you, Carly," he said then leaned into her and whispered. "I am sorry about the other morning. I hope Jason talked to you."
He leaned back and her breath hitched. He smelled of lemon-grass and something musky and it left her heart racing. She could barely get her words out.
"Ah, yes, we did. All three of us need to sit and talk sometime,"
Will leaned into her again and she had to place a hand on his arm to brace herself. She understood Jason's attraction to this man, and with the way he seemed to be flirting with her, she questioned his gay status.
"I agree. Thank you, Carly, for being understanding," he kissed her on the cheek and she grabbed Jason to keep her upright. She managed a smile and a nod as she clung to her husband for support as he placed a hand over hers.
"Are you the same Will Greer that is catering the services for Will Powers tomorrow?" Miles asked as he shook his hand.
"Yes that's me," Will nodded. "That was tragic. Did you hear what happened to him?
"He died from complications with this new aggressive cancer treatment he was trying," Miles explained after sipping his wine. "I guess it's a new experimental drug that supposed to keep the cancer and all symptoms at bay. It's not supposed to be as aggressive as chemo, but I guess he's had success with it for a while."
"As have I," Will pulled out what looked like an epi-pen for allergy sufferers. Everybody's eyebrows rose. "I was diagnosed with liver cancer four years ago and the company wanted people to use their drug, sort of a Guinea pig type thing and I thought, what the heck, I've got nothing to loose," he shrugged. "I've been in remission ever since. Will must have had a heart condition. I've heard that people with any sort of heart condition are strongly encouraged not to use this."
"I think I read something about that," Phoenix piped in. "I read that the company is trying to find a formula that won't harm people with heart problems."
"I wonder if Will was one of their testers, then?" Jason asked as he squeezed Carly's hand.
"Well, if he was, that company is going to have an enormous lawsuit on their hands!" Miles didn't have time to finish his sentence when Klavier started singing a more upbeat song. Phoenix grabbed Miles's hand and Miles protested. The brunette pouted and Miles rolled his eyes and followed his partner to the dance floor. Carly and Jason and Brad and Julie followed suit.
"So, Will, how long have you lived in L.A.?" Ema asked as she scooted over to Will.
"I've lived in L.A. The past three years, before that, Africa. I went to college in Sacramento but I grew up here in L.A."
"Africa, that sounds interesting," Ema tugged at her hair as she watched him talk. He was animated and articulate with graceful hands and envious hair. She hated that she knew two men now that had better hair than hers.
"It was, but it was hard coming from somewhere that has everything, to a place that has little to no resources. I learned a lot it was a very rewarding experience, and it helped me get over -..." Will paused and Ema looked over at him. He was looking at someone in the crowd of dancers, and she had a good idea whom it was. "It helped me through a rough time."
Will gave her a small smile.
"I'm sorry,"
He waved her off. "No, it's not your fault of course," he looked down at his hands. "I have a tendency to wear my heart on my sleeve."
Ema glanced over at Klavier. She knew about that, except Klavier usually wore his heart on a song.
"So, you're the green-eyed girl he sings about," Will smirked as Ema turned red. "Cute."
She chuckled despite herself. "Oh, god, yes,that's me."
"Well, it must be nice to have songs sung to and about you?"
"Well, only if the fan-girls aren't staring daggers into my heart, then yeah, it is nice."
Will laughed heartily. "Ema, it was nice meeting you," he took her hand and kissed it. She bit her lip to keep from laughing at the irony. "I hope to see more of you."
"Likewise, are you leaving us so early?"
"I have to finish setting up for tomorrows services," he said as they both stood. "If you could tell everyone a goodbye for me, I'd appreciate it."
"Of course," Ema played with her hair as she smiled at Will as he glanced at the dance floor before turning and leaving.
"We accept your offer," Carly said later that evening as she held the gold key in her hand. Everyone had said their goodbyes and as the sun set, the evening grew chilly. Brad started a fire in the fire pit that was next to the pool and hot tub and faced out toward the ocean, offering a grand view of the stars and the rising moon. They were sitting on a bench that was built into the rock wall, Carly next to Julie and Julies eyes lit up when she saw the key.
"And we are excited to accept you as an intimate part of our lives," Julie said as she took the key. They discussed everyone's health, which was perfect, and their limits.
"Well," Julie started. "Normally we just swap straight across, but we want to do something different, if you guys are willing?"
"Jason and I are open to almost anything, except what we mentioned earlier," Carly gestured to Jason.
"It's exciting to find a couple who has the same limits and turn-ons as we do," Brad said as he wrapped an arm around Julie. "We haven't had much luck lately. I'm glad we took a chance on you guys."
"We haven't been with another couple in a few years," Jason said after taking a drink. "We were too busy in Chicago, plus it was nice to take a break and just concentrate on ourselves."
"We haven't been with another couple in a couple months," Brad explained. "The last couple was...not compatible and very manipulative. But we've separated ourselves from them and have moved on."
"There was one good thing that came from that relationship," Julie looked over at Brad and he nodded. "We've been experimenting with pegging and Brad's to the point where he's comfortable with the whole thing. We were wondering, if we all decide to continue after our first time, if you, Jason were open to...well, being with Brad while Carly and I played and we could all watch each other?"
Jason and Brad exchanged nervous glances. Carly was so turned on by the idea that she squeezed Jason's leg a little too hard and he bit his lip to keep from crying out.
"I-I can't speak for Jason, of course," Carly stuttered in her excitement. "But I-I really like that idea."
"I am open to the idea, but I think Brad and I need to be totally comfortable around each other," Jason said. He thought of Will and their experiences together. He also kept thinking about how Will never told him about his cancer and leaving without saying goodbye personally. "Not that I am uncomfortable around you, quite the opposite in fact, but I've only been with a couple of other men, I'm not completely experienced in that area, yet."
"And I'm totally diggin' your vibes, dude," Brad started, then paused and chuckled at himself as everyone else started a nervous laugh. "Sorry, the surfer in me comes out when I'm really nervous."
"We also like to watch each other," Julie played with the hem of her dress. "But if that's not something-"
"Oh, we love to watch each other," Carly blurted out and she covered her mouth with her hand.
Julie giggled at her. "Oh, okay, good. We have a room set up if you feel comfortable we can start tonight. It'll be a way for us to get to know each other and relax around each other?"