Behind the Shadows of Deception-Chapter 1
The thunder roared violently in the sky as countless people rushed through the dark wet streets. JC glanced out the window of his loft and watched a happy couple scurry across the street sharing one umbrella. The man kindly curled his arm around the woman’s shoulder, holding her tightly in his warm embrace.
JC frowned, he couldn’t help but notice how much the storm closely resembled what he was experiencing inside. Conflicting feelings of loneliness, disappointment, and anger at this past month's occurrences, were beginning to take over his mind.
JC rose from his bed, tired of soaking in his miseries. He grabbed his coat and umbrella, deciding to soak in the rain instead. A draft of cold air, hit as soon as he exited. He pulled his hood over his head and walked swiftly through the streets. There was and old man shivering on the corner. Observing his weak state, JC fished around in his pocket for a few seconds before placing a hundred dollar bill in his hand. The man’s eyes grew wide, "Thanks young man."
"Don’t mention it." JC smiled, continuing his walk down the street. It was just a hundred dollars, which he could get back with just a snap of his fingers. After trotting for a half-hour, JC stopped in a nearby Barnes & Noble. He purchased a cup of warm French vanilla cappuccino. While removing his coat, he found an empty table, placing his coat across the back of a chair. He quickly covered his head with a navy baseball cap, pulling it low over the top-half of his face. Afterwards, he decided to peruse the shelves for an interesting read.
He stopped short, catching an familiar title. "Lonely Heart…" JC read aloud.
"Humph. Go-figure." He tossed the book on the small table and took a sip of cappuccino until his eyes landed upon the woman who just entered. Something about her was almost too familiar to him. She had the kind of striking features that could had probably grace several magazine pages. A satin-like caramel colored face was blushed and clammy from the rain causing her dark sleek hair to attach to it. Brown eyes peaked out from underneath long lashes as she scanned the room for an empty table. Why do I feel like I know her?!
"Go talk to her." JC swiftly turned to the owner of the voice; an old woman urging him towards the young woman. Obviously, she sensed his curious attraction to the woman.
"You won’t get anywhere unless you make conversation."
JC sighed, knowing that because of his status he could have any woman he'd want, he was still far from good at that sort of thing, "Uh…I don’t think so."
"Why not, you’re not bad-looking." She nudged him in the side. "Shoot if I were three decades younger..."
JC chuckled lightly, "Thanks."
"So…"
JC was still a little hesitant. He couldn’t just walk up to her with nothing to say or do.
"Offer your coat or something, she’s soaked and cold." The woman suggested.
"Okay" JC agreed. Otherwise, he didn't see this woman getting off his back anytime soon.
He walked over to the young woman, who had already made herself comfortable at his table. She was too compelled in drying herself off to notice him. I can't believe, I'm about to pick up a chick in a Barnes & Noble.
"Hey." She looked up as he offered a few napkins.
"Thanks." She took the napkins gratefully wiping her face with them. JC reached around the chair across from her to grab his coat. She immediately stood, retrieving her belongings.
"Oh I'm sorry. This is your table, isn't it? And I just stole it. I didn't even see your things here. Sorry about-"
"It's okay. We can share." JC extended his chair and took a seat. Despite his offer, she continued to stand.
"Uh, no that's alright. I need to be heading out anyway." JC raised his brow at her. She seemed awfully apprehensive about sitting with him. Was he giving off some kind of strange vibe?
He decided to at least introduce himself. Perhaps that would change things. "JC."
"What?" She stood up from the task of retrieving her umbrella from her large purse.
"My name. It's JC."
"Oh JC. JC?" She paused as if something else had suddenly crossed her mind. "Wait, take off your hat."
"What, why?" Maybe it was she who was strange.
"Because I want you to." She replied as if her answer would be enough for him. When she put down her things and took up her previous seat, JC had no choice but to abide by her orders.
"Okay, I'll do it, but only for a few seconds." How did he let attraction lead him to exposing himself in the public eye?
She nodded. "Hurry up." Geeze, she's bossy, JC frowned.
"Hurry up and look." He retorted, removing his hat.
"JC!" She whispered, leaning towards him as he quickly repositioned his hat. "What in the hell are you doing here?!" Obviously, this person seemed to know him and not in an obsessive fan type of way.
"I don't know." He replied honestly. "Who are you?" She lifted her hat slightly as an answer.
"Mya!" He said almost too loudly when recognition hit him. People glanced at them before turning away. "Why are you in a Barnes & Noble's?"
"I have a friend that works here and I usually come here just to relax and read. Sometimes I sign autographs though, people know I come here a lot, but right now I just want to chill by myself without all the commotion. And you?"
"I was just taking a walk and then I stopped in here for a cappuccino."
"On a Friday night?" Mya wondered.
"Yeah unfortunately." I'm a lonely bastard. "Can I get you anything? A cappuccino perhaps?"
"Sure. Thanks."
"Your welcome." JC started to walk away.
"Oh and make that French vanilla please."
"Sure will." JC smiled.
JC couldn't believe his luck. He hadn't expected her to frequent a local bookshop on her day off. Unlike him, he figured she had a life besides her everyday career. However, he wasn’t complaining. He was glad that he met her by chance; otherwise he wouldn’t be talking to her at the moment. In fact, if he thought about it hard enough, he had always had some sort of attraction towards her, whether it was her stage performances or her personality. She would probably never find out though, if it were up to him.
"Thanks. Have a nice night sir."
"You too." JC paid the sales person for the cappuccino and walked back over to where Mya was sitting.
"Your cappuccino." JC placed the cup on a napkin in front of her.
Mya placed her pen inside the last page, which she was writing on and closed the book, "Mmm…smells good." She inhaled the sweet aroma of it and took a sip.
"Tastes good too. Thanks."
"No problem. What are you writing?" JC asked curiously taking a sip of his own cappuccino.
"One of my daily journal entries. It’s a way for me to express my inner thoughts and feelings. I would just die if I lost it." She held it to close to her heart.
JC figured it contained an exceptional amount of personal information. It had to be her most prized possession.
"Oh that’s nice. I don’t have one of those." JC replied.
Mya chuckled lightly, "Then exactly what do you have? Let's see...a nice house, stable career and a lovely lady in your life perhaps?"
"Well two out of three ain’t bad."
Mya frowned, deciding to change the subject, "Well how’s everything going with the guys? Considering a new album in the making?"
"Uh…no not really. Justin has his solo career and now I have one. What about you?"
"Well let’s see. I accepted a role in a movie due out later this year. And I’m working on a new album." Mya leant towards the middle of the table, whispering in his ear. JC closed his eyes overwhelmed by the warmth from her lips against his ear.
"This is just between me and you. I’m thinking about calling it ‘Control Freak ’." She then pulled away from him.
"What do think about that title?"
"Oh. I like it, it’s unique." JC smiled.
Mya smiled also. "Hmm unique? I am ain’t I?" She laughed then the sudden beeping of her phone startled her.
"Oh I have a voicemail." She placed the phone against her. Soon after, she flipped the top down, placing the phone back in her purse.
"Well…I guess my relaxation time is up." She stood up and JC stood up after her.
"Oh you have to leave?"
"Yeah studio work." Mya sighed.
"Oh okay. I’ll see you around soon."
"Sure maybe on another rainy Friday night." Mya joked.
"Right."
"Okay well I’ll be seeing you." She hugged him and then exited.
JC smiled to himself. His eyes landed on her journal, which she left on the table. He looked to see if she was still nearby, but she was long gone. ‘I would just die if I lost it’ those words replayed in his head. He grabbed the book sliding it inside his coat. He would make sure to get it back in her hands where it belonged.