Centrefold / Hot in Here
Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending
Mercy was moving to New York, she'd had enough of life and love in Los Angeles, that place hadn't been kind to her on various levels, and she needed a change, so she packed everything she had into a removal van and hiked the distance, hopefully to get stuck into a new, exciting life. She'd landed herself a two year gig as a talent show host there, so she figured that was a good a place to make a new start as any.
The street looked busier than she'd remembered it a month ago when the van stopped outside the brownstone, it was only seven in the morning and already people were on the move. She looked up at the second story apartment and smiled, even the look of the place made her feel like big things were about to happen. She'd left friends, family, and colleagues in the pursuit of her own happiness, after realising that it was true what her mother used to always say, money didn't make for happiness, and she'd put up with a lot of crap because she wasn't happy, this was a new start, and she was grabbing hold of it with both hands.
By the end of the morning, she was moved in, every piece of furniture was in its place, all she needed to do was unpack a few boxes for the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, minimalist was the key, she needed space: emotionally, mentally, and physically. She'd got the weekend to herself, and she was going to use it to get to know herself, and her new environment. She sat at her piano the instrument that had seen her through so many rough and happy times and started tapping the keys, humming her new song
"Okay" she stood up "End of that party" she looked around the living room, it was sparce, she wondered if she really meant for only a couch, television, side table and a lonely picture of her accepting her first grammy in the room, it felt cold. The view out the window was very different to the one she was used to seeing, the few familiar faces, tree lined streets and the sight of birds pecking away at seeds and the like, in the front lawns, had been replaced by dark shaded alleys, car lined streets, and brownstones for as far as the eye could see.
It was her first day in a new city and as much as she'd looked forward to the solace, she couldn't help but miss her family, friends, and a routine it had taken her eight years to perfect. Determined she wasn't going to be one of those sad people that clung desperately to what was, should have been or wasn't, this was a well-deserved move, she was going to get her break here and now nothing was in the way of her doing that. "Unique" she smiled rolling her eyes at her phone ringing "Hey" she smiled throwing herself on the couch "Sorry I've been busy, I got here fine, everything is as I expected and yes, I'm happy"
"Never mind all that, he just turned up"
"Did he?" she sat up to listening "What did he say?"
"The usual or else bull, and then he actually sounded like he was hurt"
"Hurt?" Mercy gasped "We'd been dating for three months he hadn't so much as instigated a phone call, he's been splashing himself all over the tabloids with a different girl every night, telling me I should understand, he wasn't even home for the holidays, who the hell does he think he is, hurt my ass"
"Don't shoot the messenger" Unique stopped her "He wants your address"
"He'll find out what city I'm in when the show goes on air, if he's serious about us, he'll work it out" Mercy told her "Tell him nothing" she smiled "How's the show going?"
"Lucky for us they let me take your spot, it's going fine" Unique laughed
"I know, silly question" Mercy giggled "I miss everything and everyone, I didn't think I would but…"
"Sis" Unique waved her hand in the air "You don't just brush off twenty six years as if it's nothing"
"I don't want to forget everything, just the bad stuff"
"And learn a certain person a lesson?"
"Maybe" she sat daydreaming
Flashback
They'd met at a networking event, at which before any conversation could take place drinks needed to be exchanged, she'd had a skin full, like most of the people in the room. Her sibling Unique had talked her into attending in a rather revealing dress, it was actually delivering what she was saying on the inside, available, as the night grew more blurred it revealed a bit more every time she tipsily stumbled around.
To take a break from the alcohol Unique and her decided that dancing in the middle of the room was appropriate and started to enjoy the music "Wow" someone shouted clapping as the two rolled their hips and bent their knees in time to the music "It's getting hot in here" he called to them grabbing her attention, then she realised she was exposing a lot more than she'd intended.
Realising she was making a show of themselves, they straightened their dresses and wobbled over to the bar for support "Mercy" Unique hissed "Nine o'clock"
"What?" she quickly looked around to see this guy walking towards her, she smiled he was too close for her not to
"Drink?" he smiled holding it up in front of her
"I'm afraid I've had enough"
"This one will be alright" he carried on holding the glass up for her to take "My names.."
"I know who you are, you're naked in the centrefold of almost every magazine I read" she laughed taking the drink
"That's my job, not who I am" he smiled
"Mm" she looked at him curiously "So, who are you?" she tapped the empty stool next to her, laughing as she took a sip of the drink and found it was soda
They sat having the most energising conversation she'd ever had, they were bouncing off each other, screaming at the connections as they talked. He was at the top of his game, and she was almost there in hers, they were both ambitious, confident, competitive, talented, and sensitive. By the end of the night, they'd exchanged numbers and decided that the conversation was definitely the first of many to come, the night they made love was so explosive she sang.
That first month they'd both made the effort but then things got busy for both of them, and it was an ask to get him to answer a call let alone make a call, she took the hint and dropped him like hot coal, problem was, she didn't tell him she was leaving him. To be honest she was impressed it had only taken him four days to realise something was wrong and maybe a day to actually drop everything he was doing and head over to her job.
End of Flashback
"You're not listening are you?" Unique asked
"Sorry sis" Mercy shook the thought out her head
"Still in your head, right?"
"I guess" Mercy giggled
"Well girl you wanted to embrace your once in a lifetime experiences, I hope you find every single one of them in that place, I'll see you in three months"
"I hope I do too" she smiled "Listen, I'm going to find something to eat, get to know the neighbourhood before it gets dark, we'll catch up tomorrow"
"Tomorrow" Unique smiled
"Break a leg"
"Stay safe" she smiled "I love you sis"
"I love you too" Mercy smiled at her sister's beaming face before closing the call "Okay" she looked around the living room "Food"
She found herself sitting in the window of a restaurant not far from home, people watching, as she ate one of the best Pizza's she'd ever tasted, if the people were like the food she was going to do well in this place. The rest of the weekend was taken up with sightseeing, getting to know her local area, finding things like hairdressers, grocery stores, boutiques, and more restaurants, eventually it was Monday, and she was up bright and early for her first day of work.
"Marley" Mercy smiled at a friend she hadn't seen in a while from the business "Long time" she walked across the dressing room towards her with open arms
"It has been" Marley laughed taking her hug and squeezing her back "I was so excited when Ryder told me he'd managed to grab you for this"
"Are you two still…"
"No" Marley laughed "That was more like a fling, I went back to Jake"
"Okay" she widened her eyes at the woman "It really has been a while"
"Mercy" Marley turned to look at the guy behind her "This is Joe Hart, the fourth judge"
"Joe" Mercy shook his hand "Nice to meet you"
"You too" Joe smiled "Your reputation precedes you"
"All good I hope" she laughed
"All good" Joe laughed "It's an honour"
"You're too kind"
"Jake will be here in a while" Marley told them "And then we can get started"
The process was the usual, over the two weeks, there was form filling, auditions, shortlisting, more auditions, till they'd dwindled it down to ten contestants each by the time the live shows started. Those weeks had gone as planned the panel as well as the contestants were gelling, in fact Mercy was enjoying the experience more than she thought she was going to, happy she'd signed up for it.
"Make sure you zone in on the judges reactions when they're picked to mentor" Roderick; the director, told a man with a camera
"I will" he smiled, the voice that came back sent a chill through her, Mercy couldn't help looking at him, his eyes were piercing into her
"Make sure you get my good side" Mercy smiled at him
"Three sixty" he smiled back at her
All through the first live show she could feel his camera on her, regardless of whether she was in the spotlight or not, she figured what the hell, she had no friends in the city, so having one could mean no harm
That night they sat in her dressing room having the most energising conversation she'd had in a while, they were bouncing off each other, screaming at the connections as they talked. He was just starting out with the company, and she was the star in front of his camera, but they found out they were both ambitious, confident, competitive, talented, and sensitive. It felt very much like a conversation she'd had a few months ago, but he was in town, on the show and maybe she could at least have some fun. By the end of the night, as he walked her home, they'd exchanged numbers and decided that the conversation was definitely the first of many to come.
After a week of sly looks, midnight drinks, and flirtatious conversations, he turned up at her house, he was sat on the doorstep waiting for her, she didn't know why but she was pleased to see him "Been waiting long?"
"Not really, I timed you" he laughed
"So, I'm on a clock?"
"Only for getting home"
"You brought the wine I see"
"And myself"
"Come on in, I'll get some glasses" she walked up the stairs smiling at him following her, and what her rude mind was imagining, the silence obviously filled with expectation
"Minimal" he looked around the almost empty room "I like it"
"I don't like too much around me when I'm thinking"
"I know what you mean" he smiled "Can I?" he pointed at the couch
"Please" she walked into the kitchen to get the glasses, unaware he was following her "Mm" she lifted her head to offer her neck as his lips touched her skin there "Do you know what you're doing?" she ask him, the glasses in her hands, making her feel exposed
"I know exactly what I'm doing" he replies as his hands cup her breasts while his kisses peppered her neck moving down her back
She turns to look at him "Are you sure?" she asks leaving the glasses on the counter to grab hold of him as he hungrily undressed her, kissing her as his hands unzipped and move her dress down her body, before he unclipped her bra
"You're beautiful" he moved away from her, pulling her bra with him, smiling at her blush, before he took his jumper off to reveal his naked chest, she was so impressed she knew he heard her take a gasp of air.
He pulled her to him as his hands remove her panties while his face slips down her body, she didn't know him, not really, he definitely didn't know her, but she was more than excited to see where his mouth was going to take her. She grabbed onto the counter to steady herself as he's mouth sent her to someplace else, when they came to themselves again they were in her bedroom, laying on her bed wondering what needed to happen next.
Shiver, shakes, cold sweat, aches, oh, oh, every little thing in my body says it,
Smiley face, out of space, oh, oh, there's no way I could try to hide it
What's that feeling I don't know, I'm so numb from top to toe, you got me good 'Top To Toe' by Emma Doo
She lay humming, smiling, and wondering "What is this?" she finally asked
"Two consenting adults, trying to see if there's anything there I hope"
"Was there?"
"For me, yes I think there is" he looked at her "How about you?"
"I feel like I'm jumping into something eyes wide shut"
"Is that a bad thing?"
"It has been" she ran her fingers through his hair
"So, I guess the question is, are you going to let me prove that your eyes can be wide open when it comes to me?"
"Well, I guess we can start with the sex is good" she smiled
"Thank you" he laughed "Ditto"
"We have to get up in four hours" she looked at her phone "I suggest we get some sleep"
"Good sex and you want sleep?" he looked at her surprised
"Romantic too" she leaned over him for a kiss
"Mercy" he nudged her just two hours later, quickly sitting up in bed "Mercy" he nudged her again "We're late"
"What?" she jumped out her sleep "Shit" she jumped up "We can't both be late" she ran naked across the bedroom to the bathroom, with him in hot pursuit, arriving to work with minutes to spare "Will I see you tonight?"
"Yep" he snapped smiling, kissing her lips and letting go of her hand before they left the car to act like strangers for the day
Pretty soon they were two months into this relationship with no labels, she was happy, he was attentive, and the promotion of the first season of the show was about to hit the screens, everyone was going to know what she'd been up to and where she was. Unique knew everything, and she was comfortable with that, but the fact that her little sister had recently become friends with the one Miss Rachel Berry; one of the main cast of the show she'd left, was worrying, that girl could talk for the world, and then some.
"That song you sang tonight, what was that about?" her new man asked as they soaked in the bath sipping fine wine
"Something I was working on when I moved here" she smiled
"Sounds like he was good to you?"
"I think I'm mostly talking to my piano, my music, but yes, there was someone who I thought was good for me, he let me down"
"You've never mentioned anyone before"
"Because he's in the past, well" she turned to look at him "He didn't know he was in my past until he found out I'd left town"
"That's so cold"
"Are you sticking up for him?"
"Not sticking up for him, but you didn't even give him a chance"
"If he'd gotten that chance, you wouldn't be here right now"
"True" he looked into her eyes "But when it's my turn please, tell me to my face"
"You're waiting for your turn?"
"I'm waiting for my song, and hoping it has a happier vibe" he laughed
"That will be entirely up to you" she pinched his cheek lightly before getting out the bath "My skin's started wrinkling" she held her hand up to show him her fingers
There weren't very many nights he stayed over that her bedroom wasn't on fire, she was starting to get that in too deep feeling, with him, every time they lay in bed talking, making love, or just listening to the silence was intense. The fact that they were on a break from the show now for four months, just meant they had all the time in the world to get to know each other properly, and they were prepared to use every minute they could.
They were trying something new tonight, they had the time, they'd been shopping, and they were cooking steak with some seasonal vegetables "Expecting anyone?" he looked up at the doorbell ringing
"No" she looked puzzled at the door
"I'll get it" he stepped off wiping his hands with the towel "Hi" he smiled at the guy standing there "Can I help you?"
"Sorry" the guy looked behind him "I was told Mercy lived here"
"She does" he looked back at her before looking back at the guy "Come on in" he opened the door wider "Mercy" he called "It's someone for you" he walked further into the house
"Oh" Mercy came through wiping her hands on the towel "Oh" she gasped at seeing him stood there "James, Sam" she pointed at the men as she said their names "Sam this is James" she knew that wasn't enough, but caught off guard like this, that was all she had
"You left without a word" the man stood at the door looked at her
"Oh" the other man took the apron off and placed it on the couch, grabbing his jacket "I'll give you some space" the situation was awkward as it was, he left the house closing the door behind him
"Surely I deserve at least an explanation?"
"There was nothing to say, you weren't there, we saw each other twice in two months"
"I was busy"
"Yeah I saw, your priority was being a centrefold, mine was having a relationship"
"You know how the business works, it gets busy sometimes, it's always been swings and roundabouts" he looked around the apartment "Who was that guy?"
"None of your business"
"Are you seeing him?"
"Did you come here to ask questions or beg forgiveness?"
"You sent me a song telling me I was your safe space and then left me"
"How could you be my safe space when I hadn't seen you for nearly two whole months?" she held her hands out asking him "I was singing about my piano"
"No way" he laughed "No freaking way"
"Yes way" she smiled nervously "I was asking for your input, and you didn't even give that"
"Sorry"
"I've had time to make my mind up and this is over, it's been over for a while" she looked into his eyes "I'm sorry about the way I did this, but you ignoring me, gave me no choice"
"I'm sorry you felt like I was ignoring you, I got it wrong I put work ahead of our relationship" he huffed grabbing her hand "I was at the top of my game, I guess my vision was clouded by all the fame"
"You're still at the top of your game"
"But I've still come all the way here to fight to get you back" he squeezed her hands "Please tell me we still have a chance?"
"A chance to be what?"
"When you get back home we can agree…"
"I'm tied in here for two years" she butted in
"You know I have a five year contract; I've got three more years left and I can't move, not right now"
"So, I guess that's where we are, wrong time, wrong place"
"We could…"
"Please don't say call, face time any of that stuff because we tried that, and it didn't work" she pulled her hands away from his and held them up at him stopping the conversation
Both their heads turned at the front door opening "Sorry" a head popped through the door "I forgot my phone" they watched him walk across the room and into the bedroom coming out with his phone in hand
"He lives here?" he looked at the guy "Sorry, what's your name again?"
"Sam"
"Are you sleeping with my lady?"
"No" Sam smiled at him "I don't mean to be rude, but I don't see what business that is of yours"
"Because she's…"
"My lady" Sam walked up to Mercy telling him
"Okay" Mercy clapped her hands demanding attention "That's enough of this mess" she looked from one to the other "James do you want some food before you leave?"
"So, I'm leaving?" James' expression telling her he wasn't happy
"Sam can we finish cooking for our guest?" she ignored his question as she walked off towards the kitchen
"Sure" he angrily threw his coat off and grabbed his apron to followed her
"I'm sorry about this" she told him as they entered the kitchen "I've told him we're done, but he came all this way, and I couldn't just throw him out"
Dinner was awkward and silent as Mercy tried to make conversation while James sat trying to figure out why Sam was better than him, and Sam sat wishing the minutes away.
"Have you done anymore music since you left?" James finally found a question to ask, clearly an attempt to pretend Sam wasn't in the room
"Yeah" she finally smiled at him, music always brought a smile for her "I'm in a vibe" she looked at Sam "He doesn't know about it, I don't have it finished yet"
"But I can hear what you have?" James asked
"Yeah" Sam smiled touching her arm "A song inspired by me, I'm up for that"
"I have a chorus for sure, but the verse I'm working on"
"I'd love to give notes" Sam laughed
"Okay" she smiled getting up to sit at her piano "It's rough"
"It's your work" Sam smiled
"Okay" she played a melody on the piano "Here goes nothing"
Oh, yeah, yeah, I promised I wouldn't do it again, I promised I would hang out with friends, instead of staying in
I promised I wouldn't straddle the fence, make decisions and I'll stick with it yeah
I promised I'd be open to trust, I promise I wouldn't play into lust, to save myself I must
My mom, my friends and God I trust, cause when it comes to love I've had enough
Chorus
But when it comes to you, I forget everything I said, the promises I soon forget, emotions get the best of them
Cause when it comes to you, you, mistakes become a normal trend, we never want the story to end
Although we know we're better off as friends, we just start again oh, oh… 'When It Comes To You' by Asiahn
"I love it" Sam walked over to her
"Thanks" Mercy smiled, making sure they didn't kiss in front of James "I guess it's about moving on" she looked at James "I'm sorry James"
"Yeah" James threw his napkin on the table and got up "Is there a hotel around here?"
"Yeah" Sam finally spoke to him "I'll take you if you want"
"I can get a cab"
"Not that easy around here, it's no trouble" Sam told him
"Take the lift James" Mercy rolled her eyes at his childishness; no way was he trying to pretend he hadn't gotten himself some after five months
"Thanks" he looked at Sam and forced a smile "So" he looked at Mercy "I guess this is goodbye"
"I guess it is" she smiled "I appreciated getting this closure"
"I've never lost a fight, especially one I didn't even get to raise my fists to" he looked at Sam
"The night is young" Sam frowned
"Sam" Mercy warned
"I'm joking" he held his hands up defending himself "Let's get you a hotel" he watched the man hug his girl before leaving the house
"Are you alright?" she asked when he returned
"I'm glad you got closure" he hugged her
"Now can we put some feeling into our thing?" she pushed him onto the couch and climbed on top to straggle him
But when it comes to you, I forget everything I said, the promises I soon forget, emotions get the best of them
Cause when it comes to you, you, mistakes become a normal trend, we never want the story to end
Although we know we're better off as friends, we just start again oh 'When It Comes To You' by Asiahn
"Are you for real in this?"
"Damn straight I am" he laughed "It's about to get real hot in here" he pulled her to him, she smiled, their night was about to end just how she liked it
Happy Valentine' Day