All I Ask of You
Chapter Four
"You look gorgeous in that dress, Ian," Lisa mocked as she dipped her brush in the can of paint next to her. She was standing on a wooden platform that was dangling in the air as she worked on the sets. Cynthia was standing on the loft above working the ropes that held all of the platforms in use.
"Yeah, well, I'm sure you would look even better my dear," he said, twirling around. Lisa laughed.
"Good luck getting me into that thing," Ian gave a toothy grin before turning and diving for the platform. Lisa let out a small screech for one of two reasons: one, Ian had dived for the platform and two, someone had decided to raise the platform even higher without giving Lisa any warning.
"Now do you see what I mean about you and Ian?" Cynthia said when they were finally face-to-face.
"What are you talking about?" she snapped. Cynthia merely looked at her. "Well if you want to make your point you're going to have to say something because I still don't believe you, Cynthia."
"Ever since you came back from getting your breath of fresh air, you and Ian have been flirting non-stop!"
"We've been having a very healthy conversation here or there." Lisa set her paint brush down next to the can and folded her arms across her chest. "Why are you so interested any way?"
"You're my friend, my friend who thinks she can't get a date to save her life, and now I see this guy who seems to be very interested and I can tell that you seem interested, but for some reason you just won't go for it!"
"Cynthia, it's me, girl. What makes you think I'm interested in any guy right now?"
"How about I make you a deal?" Cynthia leaned slightly forward, causing Lisa to take a step backwards.
"What kind of deal?" Lisa asked, quirking an eyebrow at her friend.
XXX
Jackson watched the exchange from his dark corner of the loft. As far as he was concerned, the little meeting with Lisa had gone fairly well. So instead of watching Lisa as he normally did during the day, he made plans for the rapidly approaching day that would ensure that Lisa was his for eternity. Most of the plans had already been made, but he still needed his prize. He had gone in search of Lisa and found her and her friend 'Cynthia.'
"I bet I can prove that you and Ian belong together, and I bet I can do it in less then twenty-four hours," Cynthia smirked.
A surge of anger ran through him and he was tempted to run out and claim Lisa as his before Cynthia could fill her head with any more nonsense. What does she think she's doing?
"Cynthia, that is so high school," Lisa said, rolling her eyes. "Now lower me back down before I have to hurt you." She reached towards Cynthia's hand, which held a large brown rope connected to her platform.
"C'mon, Leese, just hear me out," she urged, dodging Lisa's hand. "If I don't prove my point by this time tomorrow, then I will back off this subject and never bother you with it again."
Lisa paused, and Jackson tried to read her face, but it impossible. The theater was entirely too dark and like him, she was good at concealing her emotions.
"And what happens if you do?"
"When I do, I get at least one week of gloating and then you have to try going out with him," Cynthia stated.
That was the last straw for Jackson . He could not listen to anymore of the woman's petty little ideas about Lisa and Ian. Letting out a small puff of air, he took a step forward, no longer caring if Lisa saw him. By this time, everything was already in motion and there was nothing she could do to stop him. But before he could get very far, Lisa said something that would cause him to scratch his head for days.
"I agree."
XXX
"This is just great! Ian is going to pick me up in less than fifteen minutes and I still can't anything to wear!" Lisa exclaimed as she plopped down on her bed. Ian had invited her to go to the bar with a few of his friends that night and she had accepted with little hesitation.
Right now, Jackson was watching through a hole in the ceiling that was wide enough for him to see everything that happened around the small room.
"C'mon, Lisa, why are you freaking out so much?" Cynthia asked as she rummaged through the clothes in the closet in an attempt to help her friend find something.
"I'm going to a bar with five other people that I don't know, and one that everyone else thinks is in love with me,"
"Relax, Leese, you look good in everything you wear," Jackson mumbled to himself.
"Put this on," Cynthia said, throwing Lisa a sleek black dress that stopped just below the thigh.
"I can't wear this." Lisa held it up to her body. "It's way too short."
Cynthia rolled her eyes before responding, "You wanted something to wear, so I got you something to wear." Her voice was almost smug-sounding.
"Fine, I'll wear it, but you don't say anything at all, got it?"
They both laughed as Lisa walked to the small bathroom that was attached to their room. Jackson looked away and thought for a moment before he looked back through the hole and watched Cynthia answer the door for Ian Rickler. He felt some sort emotion that he could not explain well inside his chest and he was forced to walk away from Lisa's room.
Tonight he would definitely meet up with Lisa at the bar, but first, he had some planning to do for Lisa's little redheaded friend. Cynthia had messed around with his plans long enough and it was time for him to teach her a lesson in backing-off..