I probably should have mentioned this before, but the two section of the story (when Amy and Ian first started dating, and Ian's birthday) were two separate family visits. They try to all meet up once a month, and it was easier to hold their reunions at the Cahill mansion. So this is another trip – the third one.
Ian's P.O.V
Amy was turning 18 in a month, and I had no idea what to get her.
She wasn't like Natalie; I couldn't buy her expensive clothes or shoes. Jewellery was an option, but that was way over done. I wanted to buy her something special, something unique.
When we found out we were going to Australia, Amy said she'd wait until then to give me her present. I knew Amy would have bought me something I would like, so I wanted to do the same for her. But I was terrible at choosing gifts, and usually just asked Natalie to go shopping for me, instead. But I had to be the one to buy the present for Amy's 18th birthday.
Sipping a cup of tea, I flipped through the junk mail left on the Cahill's coffee table, looking for a suitable present. But nothing caught my eye. I didn't even consider the stunning Tiffany necklaces that were currently on sale.
"Settle down with me. Cover me up. Cuddle me in." Jonah's voice drifted down the hall from the music room, the gentle PING of the piano keys accompanying him. For a rapper, Jonah was surprisingly good at singing properly.
The music stopped for a brief second, then started again, from the beginning. But this time, another voice sang, more feminine.
"Settle down with me. Cover me up. Cuddle me in."
Stunned, I followed the sound and froze in the doorway when I saw familiar red hair. I had no idea Amy could sing, or play the piano. I didn't know a lot of things about Amy, I realised.
That'll have to change, I thought, as Jonah took Amy's place and sang the next line of the song.
I leant against the doorway and listened.
For half an hour, I watched intently as Jonah taught Amy how to play the song. 'Kiss Me', I heard him call it. He said it was by a Janus relative, a well-known singer called Ed Sheeran. Finally, the pop star stepped back and nodded for Amy to continue.
She took a deep breath and started to play, her fingers gliding gracefully over the black and white keys. She began to sing, and I wouldn't be over-exaggerating when I say my heart stopped beating as the first words flowed out of her mouth.
"Settle down with me
Cover me up
Cuddle me in
Lie down with me
Hold me in your arms
Your heart's against my chest
Lips pressed to my neck
I've fallen for your eyes
But they don't know me yet
And the feeling I forget
I'm in love now
Kiss me like you wanna be loved
Wanna be loved
Wanna be loved
This feels like I've fallen in love
Fallen in love
Fallen in love
Settle down with me
And I'll be your safety
You'll be my lady
I was made to keep your body warm
But I'm cold as, the wind blows
So hold me in your arms
My heart's against your chest
Your lips pressed to my neck
I've fallen for your eyes
But they don't know me yet
And the feeling I forget
I'm in love now
Kiss me like you wanna be loved
Wanna be loved
Wanna be loved
This feels like I've fallen in love
Fallen in love
Fallen in love
Yeah I've been feeling everything
From hate to love
From love to lust
From lust to truth
I guess that's how I know you
So hold you close
To help you give it up
So kiss me like you wanna be loved
Wanna be loved
Wanna be loved
This feels like I've fallen in love
Fallen in love
Fallen in love
So kiss me like you wanna be loved
Wanna be loved
Wanna be loved
This feels like I've fallen in love
Fallen in love
Fallen in love"
For a moment, I held my breath, not wanting to break the spell I was under. Then Jonah grinned.
"Great job, Ames!" He praised. "You're a natural!"
I clapped my hands, taking slow steps forward. "I didn't know you could sing, Love."
Amy shrugged, her cheeks turning red. "Well…"
"She's great, isn't she?" Jonah exclaimed. "I can see it now. Amy Cahill preforming live, featuring Jonah Wizard!" He used his hands to emphasize his point. "Or the other way around. You should do a song with me, Ames. Great publicity."
Amy shook her head vigorously. "Thanks, but no thanks. I don't think I'd do well in front of an audience."
I chuckled. "I don't know, Love. You used to have trouble talking to me, but look at you now."
She shook her head again. "I don't think so. There's no way I'm singing for a crowd."
Jonah shrugged. "Shame. If you ever change your mind, though, you know where I am." He walked out the door. "See you later!"
"Thanks Jonah!" Amy called.
I sat beside Amy at the piano. "So, do you want me to kiss you?"
She threw her head back and laughed. "It's a song, Ian!"
I raised an eyebrow. "I'd say you do, though."
Amy smiled and pecked me on the lips. "Maybe later."
"Suit yourself."
She started to get up when I started playing, and she quickly sat back down. For a minute, she watched me in awe, and I let the music take over my senses, flowing with the song.
"What's it called?" she whispered.
Still playing, I answered, "A River Flows in You by Yiruma."
"It's beautiful," she sighed, as I played the last notes.
I turned to her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Not as beautiful as you."
Amy smiled, biting her lip. She looked adorable, with the light shade of pink on her cheeks complimenting her pale face, framed by her bright red hair. Butterflies flew in circles in my stomach, and my heart beat faster and faster.
"Don't be ridiculous, Ian," she said quietly.
I cupped her cheek. "You're beautiful, Amy. No one could ever compare to you."
She rolled her eyes like she didn't believe me, so I made it my mission to convince her otherwise.
"You are, Amy. On the inside and out, you're the most breathtakingly gorgeous person I've ever seen. And you don't even try to be. You just are." I kissed her forehead. "You're beautiful, Amy. So beautiful."
My lips lightly touched hers as I held her face in my hands. I kissed her softly, sweetly, and even though it was slow and gentle, it felt like so much more then any passionate kiss we'd ever shared. It felt content, like everything was perfect in the world, and we didn't need to be anything more then just… us. And it was then that I realised the full extent of my love for Amy. It wasn't just teenaged hormones – heck, I wasn't even a teenager anymore. It was a strong, pure love that couldn't ever be stopped. No Janus masterpiece could ever express the emotions I felt whenever she was on my mind. No Ekat invention could ever compare to the brilliance of my feelings. No Tomas would ever be as strong as the fire in my heart that burned only for one person. No cunning Lucian could ever break us apart. And most of all, no Madrigal could ever create as much peace as I felt in that moment, as I sat beside the girl I loved. And nothing would ever change that.
When we finally did pull back, I smiled softly and rested my forehead on hers.
"I love you," I said.
She smiled. "Forever?"
"Always."
Someone coughed behind us. "That was cute," Jonah stated blandly. "But since when were you two together?"
I sighed. "Should we bother?" I asked Amy.
She laughed and rolled her eyes, turning to Jonah.
"Can you keep it a secret?" She asked. "Please?"
He shrugged. "Sure. But I don't see a point of you're gonna make-out in the open."
Amy glanced at me. "He has a point."
I smirked. "Backing down from our bet, are we?" I asked, tapping her on the nose.
"In your dreams, Kabra." She flicked a lock of my hair out of my face.
Jonah shuddered. "Eww. This is too cute. I'm leaving now. Nice piano playing, Ian."
The moment Jonah was out of sight, Amy and I simultaneously started laughing.
"That was a… strange interaction," I commented. "He didn't even seem a little surprised."
"That's Jonah for you. Gangster, pop star, Janus, Cahill, confusionist," Amy said, shaking with giggles.
I snorted. "'Confusionist' isn't a word, Love."
She scoffed playfully. "Of course it's a word! I made it up!"
"Well, it does have a ring to it."
She crossed her arms. "Admit it, Ian. I'm a genius."
I shook my head and whispered, "Never," jumping to my feet. Just as I expected, Amy stood, too, and started chasing after me, circling around the piano. For a while, I kept a few paces ahead of her. But then I slowed down, just to see the triumphant smile on her face when she caught me. Which, of course, she did, pushing me to the ground and kneeling on my stomach.
"Admit it," she ordered.
I grinned and shook my head.
"Well, I guess I'll have to make you…"
"Some other time," Jonah hissed through the doorway. "Dan's coming."
She quickly climbed off me and thanked Jonah, that adorable blush creeping up her neck. Dan walked in just as we sat down at the piano, and I pretended to teach Amy how to play.
"Were you singing before, Amy?" he asked.
Amy nodded, the redness climbing higher.
Dan shrugged nonchalantly. "Cool. Well, I'm off. Natalie's dragging me to the mall. Since she doesn't have her license yet, I have to drive her." He rolled his eyes. "Put 'ninja' on my tombstone, will you?" He waved goodbye, and a few seconds later, I heard the sound of the front door slamming.
"We can't catch a break, can we?" Amy asked, annoyed.
I chuckled, gently shoving her shoulder. "Maybe the weight of Natalie's shopping bags will squash your brother. There's one interruption gone."
She frowned down at the piano, her eyebrows furrowed.
"What's wrong, Love?" I asked, worried.
She grinned up at me. "Nice to know I can trick you."
I looked at her oddly. What was she going on about?
"I wanted to make sure I could still do that. Pretend to be upset or something. If I can fool you, then I can fool Dan. That's how we can solve the problem."
I flashed her my infamous Kabra smirk. "Why, Amy. That sounds rather Lucian of you."
"I guess you're contagious," she muttered against my lips. "And I like it."
And then I had it. I knew what Amy's birthday present would be.
.
. .
. . .
To Be Continued…
. . .
. .
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Again, a short chapter. But this is a lead up to the next one – the big one. And if you don't get what I mean, then I'll give you a clue:
It's set a month after this one, in another country.
Disclaimer: I do not own the songs 'Kiss Me' by Ed Sheeran or 'A River Flows in You' by Yiruma.
What did you think of this chapter? Let me know!
BTW if you haven't heard the song Ian was playing, then I suggest you check out this link:
watch?v=1p_ebSseEq8
Believe me, it's a hard song to play. It took me three years to "perfect", and I still mess up. Ian's one talented man ;)