AN: I know the title is part of the lyrics to Rawhide, but theres a good reason why this is the Chapter title. So read on...
That night, Jake went off with the rest of the band to gamble yet again, so Maria was in Elwood's room listening to some records with him. Sam And Dave, one of Elwood's favorite groups, was playing on the record player. Maria quietly played her unplugged guitar as a bouquet of flowers that Elwood gave her, layed next to her. Elwood was drawing his cars in his sketchbook on his bed.
"What type of car are you drawing now?" she asked him curiously.
"A 1959 Volkswagen Beetle" he replied, not looking up from his sketch. "I think its going very well."
He lfted up the book and showed her the equisite drawing of the car.
"Wow, that's incredible" she complimented with a smile "You should study art."
"Nah" he replied "I think I can only do this as a hobby. Music is my main thing."
"Yeah, I know" she said as she scooted next to him "Mine too."
The Best of Sam and Dave record finsihed playing so Maria got up to change it.
"Do you mind if I put a record in?"
"No not at all."
Maria put in "The Best of The Beatles: The Later Years" and the record began playing "Eleanor Rigby" She sat back down next to Elwood and began playing the melody of the song on her guitar as Elwood finished with his drawing.
What to draw now...he wondered to himself.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Maria still playing along with the song quietly.
Her...maybe...
"Maria?"
"Yes?" she answered looking up at him.
"Do you mind if...I can have your permission to uh...maybe draw you playing your guitar?"
"Really?" she asked happily
"Yeah."
"Of course" she replied with a grin. Maria Sat in front of Elwood with her guitar in her hand and looked down as she played.
"Hold on..." Elwood told her.
He leaned towards her and lifted her chin gently, making her look straight ahead at him.
"I wanna get your eyes right" he said quietly as he gazed into her eyes.
She gazed back at him, with a certain glow of happiness in her eyes.
She truly is happy right now being with me. Her eyes say so...
At that moment, it seemed like he was seeing a different side of her. He was a bit taken back by it, so he sat back into his pillow.
"That pose is perfect" He told her.
She stood still as Elwood continued to draw her, glancing at her once in awhile to get the details right. The song went from "Obladi Oblada" to "Something"
Something in the way she moves, attracts me like no other lover. Something in the way she moves me. Dont wanna leave her now, you know I beleive in how...
The song & the feelings he was having were distracting him from drawing. The lyrics reminded him so much of his lovely guitarist and how he felt about her. He then knew he had to make his drawing even more perfect like how she was.
I wish this drawing can bring out her inner beauty along with her outer
Even if it can, he wouldnt even know how to capture her tough yet kind personality. The song played on and his mind was still on Maria as he coninued drawing.
Somehwere in her smile, she knows that I dont need no other lover. Somehwere in her style that shows me. Dont wanna leave her now, you know I beleive in how...Youre asking me will my love grow..i dont know I dont know...
I dont even know what Im feeling right now Elwood thought to himself. It feels like a crush...but even more than that
He continued drawing until the whole album was over, but he still had "Something" stuck in his head and his emotions still stuck. He tried blocking them out, but he couldn't deny what he felt since it was strong,
"Almost done" he told her as he finished the final touches. "There you go"
Maria cawled on the bed, sat next to Elwood, and admired the astonsihing realistic drawing.
"Wow" she wispered "You've made it so incredible. I love it so much."
"I tried hard to make it perfect" he told her
"and it is" she told him as she ran her hand through his hair, lovingly.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek softly multiple times. He closed his eyes and smiled at her touch and kisses, his pulse rising. She noticed the time on the clock and stopped kissing him.
"It's late" she said "I gotta go back"
Elwood sighed. He didnt want her to leave, but he knew she had to. Jake would be here any minute now. He walked her out of the room and kissed her before watching her, with a dream like smile, depart down the hall.
"What are you looking at?"
Elwood turned his head and saw Matt Murphy approach him. He turned red and stammered "Uh um...I was looking at the...hallway"
"Dude, that is the lamest lie I have ever heard." Matt told him "You were making out with and oogling at Six Strings."
Elwood sighed defeated "Ok yes. I was. Just don't tell the other guys this please? I wanna keep this on the down low."
Matt chuckled and shook his head "I knew there was something going on between you two. Why do you wanna keep it a secret?"
"Strictly for buisness. Jake's the only one besides you who already knows" Elwood said.
"Who knows what?" jake asked from behind him, returning from his roundevous.
"About Six Strings" Matt told him. "I saw them make out before she left."
Jake replied unimpressed "So?"
"Afterwards, Elwood had a certain smile on his face as he saw her leave" Matt snickered
Elwood turned pink, obviously embarassed about Matt talking about him.
"Don't worry Elwood" Matt comforted "I had the same look on my face and had the same feeling after the Mrs. kissed me on our first date."
Jake raised his eyebrows and smiled slyly,"Ohhhhhhh I see what's going on."
"What?" Elwood snipped, growing suspicious of Jake's smile.
"Matt, let me and Elwood have a brother to brother talk" jake told him
"Alright" Matt replied, turning to leave "See ya guys"
"Bye"
As that was happening, Maria entered her suite feeling like a giddy schoolgirl.
I can't beleive someone would put me in thier artwork, escpecially a gifted artist like Elwood
Maria turned on the radio to a Soul station
'Up next is an Aretha classic...'
She sighed happily as she looked down at Elwood's flowery gift, fiddling around with the rose pedals deep in thought about him.
As the song played, she sang along dreamily...
Looking out on the morning rain,I used to feel so uninspired And when I knew I had to face another day Lord, it made me feel so tired Before the day I met you, life was so unkind but you're the key to my peace of mind
Cause you make me feel, you make me feel, you make me feel like A natural woman
When my soul was in the lost-and-found You came along to claim it I didn't know just what was wrong with me, till your kiss helped me name it Now I'm no longer doubtful of what I'm living for and if I make you happy I don't need to do more
Cause you make me feel, you make me feel, you make me feel like A natural woman
Oh, baby, what you've done to me,You make me feel so good inside And I just want to be close to you,You make me feel so alive You make me feel, you make me feel, you make me feel like A natural woman
Maria laid down to try to sleep, but her feelings were preventing her.
What am I feeling? I never felt this strong for a guy before...
Elwood and Jake went inside the room and sat down on the edge of Elwoods bed
"Ok first of all, why was she in our room?" Jake asked
"We were just listening to records" Elwood replied "and I wanted to draw her in my sketchbook so I did"
Elwood showed him the picture and Jake looked impressed with the details.
"Nice"
"thanks" Elwood countinued "As I was drawing it, some love song from The Beatles was playing and it reminded me so much of her, it was weird and the more I drew her, the more I ...I don't know...liked her. But it was a strong like..."
Jake snickered "I knew it! Wow, I never knew this would happen."
"You knew what? What would happen?" Elwood asked
"Isn't it obvious?" Jake replied "You're in love"
AN: CAAAAAN YOU FEEEEEEL THE LOOOVE TONIIIIIGHT? Ah Elton, you never let us down. Same with Aretha; Damn she can wail...
On an Unrelated note, I listened to Slim Harpos version of 'Im a king Bee'and all I can say is that I wanted Belushi to be in that bee costume as I listened to it.