Metamorphosis

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A/N:

Chapter 23 (Country Serenade)

"This is the group activity?" Trina watched her group file into the rec room and shot Jason a skeptical look. She half expected him surprise everyone with some sudden strenuous activity that would cause everyone to plead for a merciful god above to end their imagined pain and suffering. "Really?"

"Oh it gets better," Travis laughed. The man slumped his elbow over Jason's right shoulder. Trina felt a rush of air as the others in the group circled around the four. Jason's arms folded neatly over his chest and his head bowed. The eyebrow above his right eye quivered and the corners of his mouth twisted into a grimace. "A few of the girls in the group begged their leader for a 'relaxing' activity day. Somebody suggested we gather 'round this here rec hall and sing some country songs while maybe doing a little square dancin'."

"Must you be such a Texan?" Jason asked gruffly. He pulled away from Travis and approached Trina. She didn't know whether to laugh or stare wildly into the imaginary chaos that was beginning to surround her. "It was Travis's idea."

"Karaoke? Seriously? Karaoke?" Her eyes darted to the stereo system and microphone. As Trina studied it, her fingers trembled loosely on her pants, and her heartbeat drowned out the incessant chatter of the group. "You're kidding right?"

"You don't like singing, either?"

"It's not that I don't like it, I love karaoke, I just…" For a split second she thought she saw Tori on the stage with Cat and Jade. "No competing?" Her eyes grew and pushed the beads of sweat above her brow into her hairline.

"Not as far as I know. The group wants to have a relaxing inactive activity, so I say 'fine'." He flashed a smirk and wagged his eyebrows. "Just means I'm working them that much harder next time." She rolled her eyes and flashed a smile. She wasn't surprised that he would make such a plan. "You don't have to do any singing if you don't want to. Lord knows I'm not."

"No?"

"I don't sing." He swept his hand through the air and turned in time to see Travis approaching. "Hello Texas."

Travis raised an eyebrow and slapped his hand onto Jason's back. "You realize you're Texan too, right?" Trina curled a finger over her chin as she watched Jason's protest.

"I'm Californian, if anything!" A red glow appeared on his cheeks when he glanced at Trina. Her lips slid into a smooth smirk. "My father's Texan, not me."

"You were born in the heart of Texas, Jason. Whether you admit to it or not makes no difference, you've got Texas blood pumping through those veins." Jason opened his mouth, but before he could get a word out edgewise, Travis was pulling him towards the stage. "And this karaoke is as much for you and the girls as it is anyone."

"The hell?"

Trina's eyes lit up and she stopped herself from laughing as Travis pulled his friend up to the stage.

Lindsay called out to her and was waving at the empty cushion beside her. Smiling, Trina hurried beside her best friend and continued to watch Travis and Jason argue about whether or not Jason was a true Texan or a true California.

"Now you don't get that kind of muscle on you by being Cali-bred." Jason let out a frustrated growl and tapped his foot frantically on the stage. All eyes were on him. His muscles were tense and his eyes narrow. "Now, I'm going to get you started, because we're going to sing a little somethin' for the girls."

"I do not sing, Travis." He turned to step off the stage, but froze when Travis grabbed his shirt collar. The man flashed a cocky grin and poked a finger out to Trina.

"Don't you want to learn to serenade your sweetie?" Trina's eyebrows rose and her hot blood rushed to her cheeks while her heart burst with excitement. No one else saw the point, since no one looked at her and somebody asked about when Jason started dating-this question was ignored.

She locked her hands together and leaned forward, studying Jason intently. There was a faint red tint running across his cheeks. He'd relaxed his muscles and furrowed his brow.

"I'm not doing that with a country song. There's no country song that can do that! They're all depressing tales of lovesick heartache and woe."

Travis pushed Jason up to the stage with a near maniacal laugh. "Don't underestimate your best friend, Jason. I know as well as you there's plenty of good ones, and I chose the perfect song for you. I'll even help lead you in it."

"I'm not-"

"Give it up, Jason. You're not winning this one." His shoulders dropped and his arms dangled at his hips. Trina crossed her legs and planted her hands on her higher knee. "I know Jason, you're more into classics; Sinatra, old Dino and Sammy Davis." Her heart skipped a beat. Those were some of Trina's favorite old time crooners.

She bit her lip and raised an eyebrow as Travis marched behind Jason. "Trust your pal Travis. Who knows you better than anyone?"

"I'm starting to wonder that myself." Travis picked up a CD case and when Jason glanced to it, his stern expression was replaced by a look of shock. "That one?"

"A little Cali and Texan mixed in my friend. You might not care for country, but I'll be damned if you don't start singing this in the car. A little devotion, and I bet your sweetie will be grateful to ya for serenading her with this."

"I'd rather serenade in the privacy of-"

"Humor me."

"I'm not a good singer, but…" Jason's eyes moved over to Trina and the features around his face softened. Trina felt a tugging sensation in her chest and smiled as the air in her lungs rushed away. "I'll try."

"That's the joy of karaoke, Jay."

Jason's eyes widened, then narrowed. Trina could almost see the fire pouring from his eyes onto the cowboy beside him. "Don't call me Jay, and I won't call you 'Cowpoke'." Travis put the CD into a the stereo system and started to push the monitor up front.

"Funny. Real funny."

Inspired by the sense of brotherly warfare, Trina brought her hands to her mouth to try and help fan the flames. "Be glad it's not pop music, Jay!" Lindsay put her hand over her mouth while Jason coughed.

The man turned to her, staring with wide eyes and a fake smile. She laughed for a minute, then sank back with a smile. Jason's lips parted and a sigh drifted from him.

"Lead in Travis, I don't think I have the voice for this song. I need a slower beat and deeper vocals, but alright."

"Trust yourself and you're good," Travis advised. She held her smile and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. "If you have to slow it up, slow it up."

"I don't like talking in songs, but I won't complain." He brought his mic towards his lips and looked over to Travis as he did the same. Music began to play and Trina pulled her hand up to her mouth with a gasp; the song was one she heard frequently on the radio when a country song played.

It was Take Your Time by Sam Hunt.

It wouldn't have been her first choice, but it was a sweet song and she enjoyed it. Now with Jason singing it to her, she might enjoy it a little more than before.

True to his word, Travis started up the song. He put his arm around Jason's shoulders and looked at Lindsay, who immediately brought her hands to her heart and started to blush. "I don't know if you were looking at me or not, you probably smile like that all the time, and I don't mean to bother you but…" He pulled away from the silent man beside him and paced to the left. "I couldn't just walk by, and not say hi."

Jason's gaze fixated on Trina and softened, he started out with a soft and quiet voice. It was as though he were shy. "And I know you're name, cause everybody in her knows your name." His hand ran across the back of his neck and his nervous eyes darted at the members of the group who were murmuring amongst each other. "And you're not looking for anything right now so I don't wanna come on strong-"

Travis leaned in, joining his voice with Jason's to harmonize. "But don't get me wrong!" Jason's gaze fell back into Trina's and she melted into the couch with a sigh. "Your eyes are so intimidating, my heart is pounding but it's just a conversation, no girl I'm not wasted. You don't know me, I don't know you…but I want to."

Travis raised a hand and leaned back as he belted out the chorus. "I don't wanna steal your freedom, I don't wanna change your mind! I don't have to make you love me, I just want to take your time." Jason lowered the mic for a second and Travis motioned for him to join in.

He pressed his lips together and brought the mic to his lips. "And I don't wanna wreck your Friday-I ain't going to waste my lines." He reached his hand out, with his palm facing up. Trina leaned towards him as though she were being pulled by some invisible forth. "I don't have to take your heart, I just want to take your time."

The two men exchanged a look, then Travis pointed at Jason to speak the next line. Jason rolled his head to the right and spoke the next verse. "I know it starts with hello, and the next thing you know you're trying to be nice and some guy's getting too close…"

"Trying to pick you up," Travis harmonized, "Trying to get you drunk."

Lindsay moved her arm around Trina's and grinned as Jason motioned to the girl. "I'm sure one of your friends is about to come over here, 'cause she's supposed to save you from random guys that talk too much and wanna stay too long."

Travis whistled and shook his head. "It's the same old song and dance, but I think you know it well."

"Yeah, you could've rolled your eyes-"

"Told me to go hell, could've walked away…"

"But you're still here." Trina felt her fingers wrap around Lindsay's as an urge not to go up and hug Jason in front of everyone. Her heart was racing and every bone in her body was struggling to resist that urge. "And I'm still here, so let's see where it goes."

The boys started the chorus, standing back to back. They stared off at the walls, singing loudly and with words full of emotion. It was impressive enough they didn't need to use the monitor, but then, singing from the heart didn't always mean someone needed a monitor.

As they started to wrap up the song, they moved down from the stage and approached the couch. Trina's blush grew in intensity the minute Jason grew closer. Once they made it to the couch, they sat on the arm rests and leaned in sideways.

"I just want to take your time."

It wasn't the best attempt at singing, but it earned an applause from those around them. Jason looked sideways at her and flashed a toothy grin. His chest expanded and fell slowly, and his hair was now clinging to the sweat on his forehead.

A wave of euphoria rushed through her and she almost moved up to kiss him, but resisted when she remembered those around her.

"My time is yours," she whispered. His eyebrows rose and the red tint on his cheeks darkened. As his left leg was near the couch and out of view of the group, she gently placed her hand on his knees.

Jason cleared his throat and tore his gaze from her, looking to Travis intently. "Next time, Travis, I'm making you sing one of my songs." Trina looked over and watched Travis lean over to give Lindsay a quick kiss on the lips. Lindsay's hand moved up and slung over his neck, pulling him down for a longer hold.

The group did their standard gasps of awe and whistling, but it didn't faze the couple. She looked slowly at Jason, and his warm eyes swept into hers. There was a look of yearning, and a look of something more-something deeper that confused her.

"What are you thinking about, Jason?" She tilted her head to the side and furrowed her brow. Jason's chest expanded slowly and his left hand slid down his leg, then overtook her hand.

"I'm thinking how incredibly beautiful you are," he whispered back.

"Me?" She chuckled nervously and closed her eyes. "You could have any girl you want; a man like you. Yet here you are."

"And here you are." He squeezed her hand and smiled tenderly. "I don't want anyone else."

She started to swoon, then moved her hand over her abdomen where she could feel a fluttering sensation beneath. Her body was lighter now. She found herself wanting to fall into his arms, to be carried off. "You sing better than I do, just so you know. I enjoyed the song. I would hug you, maybe even kiss you, but-" Her eyes darted over to the rest of the group, and her heartbeat flickered. "Do you think they know?"

His hand tucked beneath her chin and her eyes flew back to him. A subtle gasp her lips apart as Jason leaned slowly into her. When their lips connected, she let out a soft moan and squeezed his hand tight.

Jason breathed in as he pulled away, stealing her breath in the process. "Oh…" Her hand moved up, caressing her chest and pounding heart. She swooned and found herself leaning in, yearning for a continued kiss. Jason smirked at her and several members of the group cried out in triumph as though they'd known for a long period of time where this relationship was headed. "I'd say they know."

The group vanished away as she eyed his lips. A feeling of hunger came over her and she started to pant, trying to bring back the air that was stolen from her lungs. "Jason. No PDA, I thought?"

"Right, but there's nothing that says we can't show something once in a while."

"Good." She didn't mind people being aware they were dating, she just didn't want anyone spreading rumors. "I'm a little afraid of them knowing, I don't want people telling us how we're supposed to do things."

"Hold that thought, then." She pursed her lips as Jason straightened his back and looked to the others in the group. "Alright. Trina and I are dating now." Her eyes widened and blood rushed up to her cheeks. Her hands grew stiff around his and she turned a careful gaze onto the group. "Our business is our business, alright? So, don't go spreading around gossip, no trying to give your opinion on how people are supposed to act…Is that understood?"

The room fell silent, and the only response was a culmination of nodding heads and wide smiles.

Now it was cemented that they were truly dating; it was all the more real to her. She took a deep and slow breath, trembling with a new anxious feeling. "Wow." A short and swift breath fell from her, and her body sank. "Now they know. I can't believe you actually did that." Her lips curled into a smile and Jason peered down at her.

Most people would be against wanting anyone to know they were dating her, or at least, that's how it seemed with a lot of the guys she dated.

"Of course I wouldn't have a problem with anyone knowing we're together." He pushed the hair from her face and leaned down, gently kissing her forehead. "I want to be with you, and I don't care who knows it. Let them talk, it doesn't matter. I'll shout it from the rooftops, let the world know you're with me."

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