I DO NOT OWN FALLEN!
Five: Forgotten
He had risen from his seat at one of the tables in the far left corner of the Juice Bar. He wore slim denim jeans and a dark shirt underneath a thin black leather jacket. I could see that he was tall even from how far away me and Jack were sitting from him.
He had dark blonde hair that had looked almost golden when he passed a ray of sunlight that crept into view through one of the tall windows. And those eyes of his. I couldn't tell if they were either dark blue or even the slightest shade of violet.
His facial features looked so strong and delicate at the same time. The line of his jaw had a blunt set and the muscles in his neck seemed so tense that he could turn and notice the slightest bit of danger in his presence. His face had looked very smooth and lightly tanned, almost the way Jack's was. The look in his eyes had revealed that they held a grand amount of wisdom, and the slightest hint of sorrow and loss.
Daniel had looked so achingly familiar to me, as if I had probably seen or met him before but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Where had I heard his name before?
He inched closer to the stage that Jack had just performed his own heart out to me with his song. With the alluring presence Daniel had given off, I couldn't even tell what he might even be playing for karaoke.
When he sat on the stool in the front-center of the stage, he had put on the most casual face that was completely different than the one he had just worn seconds ago. With just that cool-dangerous look in his mysteriously colored eyes, some of girls in the back of the Juice Bar began to whisper among themselves.
Lifting the store guitar that Jack had just played on, he brought his face closer to the mic and spoke.
"Uh, hey guys," he began. I was pretty shocked by how soft and settled his deep voice was. At the same time, I began to become very curious as to how he sounded when he would sing. "Well as you all know, I am new here in town and just settled in a place right down the street from here." Down the street? He probably lived not that far from me. "Once I heard about this place from this cute girl I met, who told me about the free karaoke performances, I thought I should give it a try. Though I won't promise I'll sound as good as that other guy did." He showed the slightest bit of a grin as the audience gave him a quiet laugh. So he had a little bit of a sense of humor huh? I guess he doesn't seem as distant to the world as he lets on. "This song's... been one of my personal favorites for a while now, and I really hope you guys like it." With that, he motioned his right hand to the strings of the guitar and his left to the frets, and began to delicately strum the strings. I recognized the song before the eighth note roll of his strumming. It was Your Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.
His strumming began a bit slower than the actual tempo of the song. I could tell by the graceful movements of his hands against the guitar and the look in his dark violet eyes that this would be coming from his heart. He slowly brought his face closer to the mic.
When I see your smile
Tears run down my face
I can't replace
I was completely surprised at how beautifully mid-toned his singing was considering how much of a deep voice he had when he spoke.
And now that I'm stronger I've figured out
How this world turns cold
And breaks through my soul
And I know, I'll find deep inside me
I can be the one
He added just the right amount of tone and length to each note that he sang, it was almost like listening to it on the radio. As perfect as it could ever be.
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to Heaven
His strumming and shifts between chords against the strings and frets of the guitar remained so delicate, creating the most peaceful melody. The longing tone in his voice had brought forth so much emotion to his performance, I glanced around and saw that all eyes of the audience were carefully fixed on him as he continued the song.
It's okay, it's okay, it's okay
After the eigth note roll of the last note he sang, his eyes had wandered about the Juice Bar. As if he were looking for the person he was truly performing this song for. From what I could make out based upon the aura his presence brought, I knew that behind the mask that he wore there was someone behind it who was good. What could be the cause as to how sad he had looked? Who would ever break the heart of someone so beautiful?
Seasons are changing and waves are crashing
And stars are falling all for us
Days grow longer and nights grow shorter
I can show you, I'll be the one
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to Heaven
The entire time as he sang, his eyes had been focused in one direction, as if imagining the person he was singing this to was right in front of him.
'Cause you're my, you're my
You're my-y-y-y
My true love, my whole heart
Please don't throw that away
His strumming began to rise and become louder as he had approached the bridge of the song.
'Cause I'm here for you
Please don't walk away
And please tell me, you'll stay
Stay
He had done the most powerful but soft rise and fall between notes as he sang.
Use me as you will
Pull my strings just for a thrill
And I know, I'll be okay
Though my skies are turning gray
He sang the last chorus in the same longing tone as he had done in the beginning, but the almost hurting look in his face becoming more apparent.
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to Heaven
I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to Heaven
The last line he sang held the softest note to the final verse in the song. All the emotions that he desperately held onto while he began singing the song just seemed to have disappeared, as if the pain they had brought was never even there.
The entire audience had risen from their seats, an had clapped and cheered loudly for Daniel's performance. He was slightly amazed as to how everyone applauded to him. I was the only one in the Juice bar that had remained seated.
The emotions that I was feeling from Daniel's performance were completely unexplainable. My heart had felt like someone had their fist locked in a tight grip on it, preventing it from beating as it desperately struggled and held on for life. My entire being felt like it had just taken all the emotions that Daniel had released when performing his song, burring the one's that I held on for Jack.
One tear had slowly escaped from the corner of my right eye. It clawed at my cheek with its limbless body as it fell, in attempt to prevent itself from falling to the floor, forever being lost.
I caught it with the back of my index finger and wiped it away before Jack would notice. Or even Daniel.
I carefully looked at the remains of my fallen tear. Why does this action seem so familiar? Shouldn't someone else have wiped away this tear? I stared in wonder at the teardrop as if it could possible hold the answer. But then I quickly wiped it on the shoulder of my shirt before Jack had looked back down to me. It was hard to also wipe away the almost hurt expression on my face that I knew Jack could see, and then he began to look a bit worried.
"Hey, what's the matter babe?" He tried putting on a smile to hide his worried expression, and then sat down in his seat beside me, putting a strong arm around me.
"Nothing, really. Just haven't heard that song in a while." I leaned into his warm touch, trying to escape the cold where I found myself in the almost memoir that Daniel just sang.
"Yeah," Jack looked taken aback, "Didn't I play that song with you before summer break?" He looked slightly shocked and sad at his discovery.
"The day after finals were over," I said, remembering the day as if it were just yesterday, but now feeling as if it were an eternity ago.
"Gosh, feels like such a long time ago." His arm around me had tightened a bit, securing me to him in the familiar action that I missed so dearly over the summer.
I turned my head away from the stage where Daniel was already off, and had gone to the back of the Juice Bar to get a drink at the counter. Locking my eyes with Jack's bright green ones, I guided my lips to his in a soft tendered kiss. Feeling the softness and warmth from them I began to massage my lips with his in a nice steady rhythm. Any fears I had about showing public displays of affection with Jack were gone as I drifted away into the kiss. When we broke apart Jack had given me his usual bright grin and kissed my on the forehead.
He then directed his attention to where Daniel was sitting at one of the stools by the front counter in the Juice Bar, and was conversing with Kacey sharing a few laughs and smiles together.
"Hey, maybe we should go over and meet him," Jack looked back me with a look of approval in his eyes.
"Uh, sure, why not," I tried not to sound nervous. I couldn't let go of the feeling that I had seen Daniel from somewhere. Maybe at the library? The Bookstore just down the street, right across from it? Maybe even a dream?
We both had risen from our tables, leaving behind our finished drinks to be picked up later, and walked in the direction where Daniel and Kacey were talking amongst one another. Kacey had seen we were just behind where Daniel was sitting and her face had lit up a bit, her light brown eyes and chestnut-brown hair complimenting her positive aura.
"Oh, these were the guys I was talking about. The Juice Bar's finest musicians in the flesh." Her smile had always seemed to have lightened up any moment.
Daniel had turned around to face us and his violet eyes looked at us suspiciously, as if he was putting up his guard. But then he had given a sly grin to his guarded presence.
"This is Jackson Welch, trust me he looks intimidating up close, but deep down under all that hard muscle is a delicate little bear cub." She gave Jack a silly smile winking at him in a friendly manner.
Jack held out his hand to Daniel and glanced over at Kacey, returning her humorous face.
"Just call me Jack, everyone else does." He looked back at Daniel casually as if they were already good friends, and then held out his hand and shook Jack's in a strong hold.
"Nice to meet you Jack," He didn't let down his guard despite how welcoming we were to him. Could anything help bring his guard down and assure him there's nothing to be defensive about?
"This is Luke," Jack had gestured to me with his arm, "my uh, boyfriend." Kacey looked surprised, and also couldn't help but let a wide smile of joy escape her face. Daniel didn't seem to care about our relationship what so ever, but still help out his hand to greet me.
"Nice to meet you Luke," I took his strong-warm hand in mine. The second our hands had made contact, a spark had ignited inside me, lighting a fire somewhere long forgotten. A voice had echoed in my mind, one that was alien to me but also familiar.
Daniel... I found you.
Pieces of images and faces were coming back to me at once.A girl waiting on a bridge from what looked like was inside London, and then tightly embraced by a tall boy with broad shoulders. A girl in a gazebo, beautifully lit with lanterns and candles while she was slow dancing, with the same boy.
It all happened in but a mere second, and I was brought back to having my hand inside Daniel's strong warm one. I didn't know exactly how long I was holding it, but then quickly I had let go.
Daniel had then taken a long look at me in the eyes, as if he were looking into my soul. And just for a second I thought he had let the slightest amount of his guard down, to finally see that I was not a threat to him. But my attention was immediately drawn to his dark violet eyes. I couldn't exactly explain the look that they held. They looked as if they had held almost horror in them. Had he seen what I had just witness from our physical contact? Why was I seeing all of those images from his touch, and why now?
I tried to seem casual as I greeted him in return, trying not to seem bewildered by his touch.
"It's nice to meet you too, Daniel."
"Are you guys sure you want to leave so soon?" Kacey looked both sad and a little disappointed with her small pout.
"Kace we've been here for almost three hours." Jack tried to reason here with a smirk.
Right after meeting with the mysterious and alluring Daniel Grigori, Jack and I had gone back to our table and talk with Kacey for a while to catch up on how things were going, and about mine and Jack's new relationship. Even with the time we spent here we couldn't even get through half of what we both did over the summer.
In the middle of Kacey and Jack conversing with one another I turned to the spot at the front counter of the Juice Bar where Daniel had sat. Only to see that the spot was empty and Daniel Grigori was no where to be seen.
"Aw, I know," she said still giving her sad face, "It's just been so long since I've seen you guys here."
"Don't worry Kace," I said to her reassuringly, "we'll come back soon enough." I gave her a small smile.
"Good," she said in her cheery voice, that sad pout of hers gone in a flash, "and next time maybe our other favorite musician could play something for us too."
"Who knows, maybe I will," I sounded a bit nervous. I had never actually played a performance before without Jack.
"Okay. You two love birds have fun." She gave us both a hug goodbye before me and Jack left out the doors and headed to the park just down the street.
As we walked along the familiar path inside the park, Jack stepped closer to me and slipped his hand into mine. Just the one touch alone had enveloped me in so much of his warmth. I clasped my hand in his, tightening my hold as I interlocked my fingers in the small crevices of his knuckles.
With autumn here in the season, the humidity in Georgia had greatly decreased. Now with cool dry air swaying in the breezes that would pass us by as we walked under the Spanish moss and weeping willow trees. Their long hanging branches gently waving in the breeze like soft delicate hair.
Jack had began walking in a different direction in the park, guiding me along as he did. I could see now that we were now headed to the gazebo in the middle of the park, just across from the large fountain with beautifully carved angel statues sitting by the water spouts and crying into their hands. The gazebo wasn't too big, it was about the size of a room lined with a bench right bellow the hand carved ivory wooden railing.
There were quite a few times Jack and I would spend an hour or two here about a coupe times a week. We both liked listening to the sounds. Birds softly singing their high noted chirps, and the leaves on the trees gently rattling against one another in the on coming breeze.
"Wow, I really missed this place," I said, as I took a seat on the wooden bench inside the gazebo. There were a few dried up leaves on the bench that I gently wiped off with my hand. Jack took a seat right beside me, and wrapped a large arm protectively around my shoulder, securing me to him.
"Did you ever come here during the summer?" He asked quietly.
"Yeah, but only a few times, once was with Lucie." I leaned into him as his arm around me tightened more. It seemed no matter how close we always were, we'd still be able to find ways of leaning in to one anther even further.
"I really missed you Luke," His whispered softly in his deep voice.
"I really missed you too Jack," I wrapped my arms around his waist pulling myself closer to him, and rested my head against his warm and toned chest.
For once since this entire day, we shared a gesture with one another that was so familiar to the both of us, that I had thought for certain it would probably be lost. It seemed in some way, that despite how we felt about each other now, nothing ever really changed between us. I guess I've discovered an entirely new way that love works. Nothing is every truly forgotten.
"So what did you even do over the summer, when we always hung out over break?" Jack asked questionably.
We had gotten back from the park in his car a few hours ago and had already changed into our night clothes. Me with a faded long-sleeve shirt with sweat pants, and Jack with a tight black t-shirt that revealed his well defined muscles in his chest and arms, along with a pair of shorts that had me bewildered by how cold it was getting.
We were now sitting close to each other outside my living room balcony on the small bench in front of the metal railing. We gazed out upon the wide view of Savannah's green trees that stretch as far out to the next town, miles away from this very spot. The sun was almost setting and twilight was approaching.
"I mostly read a lot of new books," I began while resting my head on his shoulder, savoring the gorgeous view of the suns light rays against the tree leaves and dark grey rain clouds, creating that beautifully dark green sea that only appeared every morning and before night. "Pretty much just tried to take my mind off some things."
"Like me?" He grunted, sounding a bit hurt.
"Not like that." I tried reasoning with him.
"Okay, okay, I understand," He said jokingly.
"I don't really remember that much though, this summer seemed like it just flew by."
"Yeah," he said, sounding taken aback, "but it felt long for me, without you there." He wrapped his arm over me and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.
Over the summer, Jack and his mother had visited some relatives and old friends all the way across the country in California. Which prevented him from even hunting me down in the small town of Savannah for the little communication I had given him over break.
They returned the day before school started, but he hadn't come over to my house and confronted me there. He probably thought it'd be better to do it at somewhere public like school where he wouldn't get too mad about it.
And was I ever glad he did, because things might not have turned out the way they had done now.
"Well I'm here now," I said, positioning my head so that I was now looking at him in his forest green eyes, and gave him a small smile.
With his arm over my shoulder, he had brought me closer to him and gave me a short but sweet kiss, right on my lips.
"Good," he said with a smirk, "and I'm not letting you go anytime soon."
With that said, I had let my tips of my fingers wander slightly against his dark t-shirt that covered his nicely toned chest.
"So, would you like to stay over for another night?" I asked, trying to sound a bit seductive.
Jack let out a long sigh, and brought his lips to mine in a longing kiss that I so dearly wanted to become more passionate.
"As much as I want to," he began after breaking away, sounding a bit disappointed, "I really wouldn't want to make a bad impression on your mom."
"What are you talking about? She won't mind." I really wanted him to stay with me.
"I know Luke. I just think maybe we should, you know, take things a little more slow." The look in his eyes seemed pleading to his request.
"Alright," I said, accepting his request, but then had given him the slight mischievous smile. Throwing him off guard, I pounced over on his lap, locking my arms behind his broad shoulders and crashed my lips against his in a passionate kiss.
I had expected him to pull away slightly, but then his strong arms almost immediately wrapped around my back and he returned my kiss. Even with me sitting on top of his lap, I still had to straighten my back so that my lips could meet his. I slowly eased my tongue into his mouth and massaged it against his own, relishing in his sweet and spicy taste.
He had let out a rough moan inside my mouth as our kiss had started to become more intimate. Running my hands through his soft brown hair I had gripped it slightly as a way of holding on to him and keeping our kiss intact. We had ceased small amounts of breaths in between breaks of the kiss, and dove right back into each other.
After a short time into our passionate kiss, he had placed his hands on my shoulders and gently pulled me away from him. My lips had almost released a charged electric current being disappointed as they were forcefully separated from his.
When I had opened my eyes and saw his face, he had almost a pained look on his face and he was panting through his nostrils, as if trying to draw out his uncomfortableness with every new breath. I was worried that maybe he didn't like this surprise attack and began to feel guilty for rushing in too soon.
"Jack... what's wrong?"
"Ughh... nothing really... uhh." He tightened his hand on my shoulder but still didn't pull farther away from me.
"Jack, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to rush into this, I-"
"No, no. It's not that." He began to sink back into the bench, trying to put any sort of distance between us without too much movement.
That was when I began to feel pressure beneath where I was sitting... right on top... of Jack's lap...
"Ooh!" I exclaimed. I could feel that my face was turning red and Jack was trying to look in a different direction other than looking me in the eyes at our current, situation.
"Oh god, this is embarrassing." Jack tried to cover his embarrassment with a laugh.
"What is?" I asked. "Getting an erection from your boyfriend? I'm pretty sure that's a normal thing to experience." I said jokingly.
"Yeah." He replied in the same tone. "Getting an erection from my boyfriend, who was my best friend for almost four years, and who I loved practically like a brother for all that time. Yeah, that's what's a little embarrassing."
All the while I could still feel the pressure against me as we spoke.
"Woah," I said, trying to sound amazed, and slightly moved my hips against his lap, " Is it still getting... bigger?"
"Oh god Luke, please stop." He sounded a bit desperate for this moment to pass, tightening his grip on my shoulders.
As his embarrassment grew so did my joking.
"Or else what? We'll end up having sex on my living room balcony? My mom wont be home for another two hours, why not?"
"Please, Luke." he shut his eyes tight still trying to shy away from our situation.
"I'm just kidding Jack," I said with a involuntary laugh. And then I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, pulling my body closer to his warmer one and rested my head against his shoulder.
He had let out a small sigh and returned my embrace, securing his strong arms around me, and the pressure beneath me slowly beginning to subside.
While we had continued to just hold one another, I could feel the cool autumn breeze passing through the nearby trees, and slowly crept on to the balcony and ran its cool fingers through my clothes and hair. I hadn't realized I began to shake and shiver before Jack had secured his strong arms around me even more.
"We should get back inside, I don't want you catching a cold out here." He said in a soft settled voice.
"I'll never be cold, as long as I'm with you." I gripped the back of his shirt with my hands.
"Hmph," I heard him grunt, "So are we gonna stay like this for a while then?" he asked, while I was still on top of his lap.
"Carry me inside?" I pleaded with him.
"Alright," he complied.
And then I had wrapped my legs around his waist and secured my arms over his broad shoulders as he had sat up and lifted me from the bench. It felt a little weird cause it was almost like he was carrying a little kid.
"Where too?" I heard him whisper behind me, his warm breath tickling the back of my neck.
"My room?" I hesitantly asked back.
"Luke-..."
"I know," I began, "you said you wanted to take things slow. But, if you won't stay with me, as my boyfriend, then... could you stay as my best friend then?"
I heard Jack sigh under his breath, and then he gently rubbed his head against mine, entangling our hair as I felt his softly brushing against my scalp.
"Of course I will Luke." He said in a longing tone, and I could even sense his smile with those words.
Walking with grace, he had carefully carried me down the long hall of our apartment, and entered the door frame of my room. He had turned on the small lamp that I had right on top of my nightstand by my black sheeted bed.
Resting his knee on the side of the bed he had gently set me on the cool comforter and resting my head against one of the two pillows, the warmth from my him began escaping with both of their contact. I could see that he was beginning to position himself to sit on the side of the bed, away from me. I had reached out and held his wrist with my hand to prevent him from distancing himself from me, feeling his warmth from the touch.
"Lay with me..." I asked.
He had given me his warm smile and crawled on top of the bed, positioning himself right beside me. His forest green eyes resting on my hazel ones, and with his strong hand had slowly pushed some black wavy hair away from my eyes. He then had leaned in closer to me. I expected him to kiss me on my forehead but was happy that his soft warm lips had found my own instead.
After slightly pulling away from me, he rested his forehead against mine, pouring his warmth into me, one touch at a time.
"I love you so much, Lucian Price." He spoke softly, those luminous green eyes of his gazing at me.
"I love you so much too, Jackson Welch." I said back to him.
I pulled myself closer to him, burring face in to his warm heat radiating chest. I slowly drifted off into a sleep, that felt like a peaceful death.
Helston England, November 1854
It was a very cold cloudy late afternoon in our small town. I walked along the short road that his home was not too far from in a thick silken robe over my dress as a way to keep warm, although I'd never need to stay warm while I was in his arms.
I could see off in to the distances beyond the leafless winter trees that the clouds formed a mist like haze, signaling that rain was slowly approaching us very soon.
A soft breeze had passed by me as it lifted the clothing material on me, along with my long black wavy hair dancing in the wind almost like a dark cape. Although it was a nice breeze it still sent a shiver through my body. I was nearing closer to his house and so dearly wanted to see him.
He and his family had been away for the past few weeks, and he had just returned alone. He had told me that his parents would be returning the following week, so we had the next few days all to ourselves. To just be together with one another in private was the most happiest feeling I had ever felt in my life. It was the one and only time when we didn't have to worry about how our families would react to and hate the love we had shared.
We had a well thought out plan to escape with each other once we are older. He will work in a farm in a couple towns away from here that payed handsomely, and I would work in a bakery where he would eat every morning, and say his farewells and kiss me goodbye as he left for work.
Together we would live a happy simple life away from the wealth and hatred from our families. Although some people would thrive in a life filled with wealth, a life filled with joy and endless love from him held more than all the wealth that both of our families had shared combined.
As I had rounded the large and tall metal gates that protected his house I could see that something was wrong. In the front courtyard of his home, there were carriages being filled with chests and large bags.
I would have expected things to be unpacked and brought back into his house and for things to be settled down.
Stepping through the grand open gates I began making my way closer to all of the carriages that were being directed by the townsmen, and was just about to ask what all of this suddenness was about.
"Lucinda?" I heard his voice in almost shock. I turned around and saw that he was in casual pants along with a white buttoned shirt that had greatly expressed his broad shoulders. His tanned skin and golden hair were vibrant even in the dimness from the grey clouds above us. I looked into his dark but clear violet eyes in worry.
"Daniel... what is the meaning of this? Why are all of those men putting all of your families belongings inside of those carriages." I attempted to push back the fear in my voice, but had failed in the process.
He had looked away from me, and I could see there was a grand amount sorrow behind those wondrous eyes of his.
"Daniel?" I choked out a plea.
"My family," he had began, "we are... we are leaving." He still did not look me in the eyes when he had spoken.
"Leaving?" I had astonished, trying to make him look me in my eyes, "but, but why?"
"It is...difficult to explain Lucinda." He said.
"Difficult how?" I had questioned him, feeling that my eyes were now glossy with what I could feel were my tears threatening him to fall by his words.
Now he had looked me in my eyes and began to walk forth to me. Once he was standing right in front of me, towering over me by his height, he lifted a strong warm hand and had rested it against my cold cheek.
"Because it is for the best." He said softly
"How could this possibly be for the best?" I almost screamed, raising my voice. In the wake of my last words, one tear had managed to escape from my right eye. It felt as if it had regretted its fall and clawed at my cheek as a way of preventing itself from falling to the ground. With his thumb, Daniel had caught and wiped away my fallen tear with his warm touch.
"It is for the best, because..." he had paused, as if the next words he would speak would be the most painful I would have to hear, "because I am never coming back."
One more tear had escaped my from the corner of my eye. This time Daniel had let it fall to the ground, forever being forgotten.