Behind the Shadows of Deception-Chapter 12
Chris needed somewhere to brush his teeth. He knew JC would have his ass if he barged in on the girls. The thought was so tempting though, and JC said that Heather’s friends weren’t ugly. Chris decided against it. He would have the rest of the day to meet Heather’s friends. He would go to JC’s room to brush his teeth instead.
Chris slowly entered the room so that he wouldn’t wake JC. Otherwise, he would be grumpy for the entire day if he didn’t get all of his sleep.
He suddenly halted on his way to the bathroom. JC wasn’t alone. “JC’s not alone.” He whispered. “That dirty dog…” He couldn’t see the woman’s face, but if the outline of her body underneath the covers was any indication, this lady was a knockout.
“You are a pervert Chris.” JC groaned, sitting up against the headboard with a stretch.
“What?” Chris hadn’t noticed he’d awaken.
JC wiped the sleep from his eyes. “I said you’re a damn pervert. And shut up before you wake her up.”
“You’re the man. I don’t know why I ever doubted you.”
JC shook his head with a laugh as he got up to cover Mya with the covers. Had Chris seen her face? He hoped not. He had successfully managed to keeps his hands off her last night and he didn’t want Chris to ruin it by insinuating something between them that did not occur.
“What did you want anyway?”
“I need to brush my teeth.”
“You’re probably right. Go to the bathroom.”
“Hey, which one of these toothbrushes can I use?”
JC rushed in the bathroom. He closed the door behind him before reaching inside the closet to grab a fresh tooth brush. “Here use one of these new ones.”
“Thanks. So who’s the broad in your bed?”
JC smacked him upside the head as a reflexive action. “She’s not a broad you jackbutt. She’s a friend of mine.”
Chris removed the toothbrush from his mouth to spit into the bowl. “I thought you said that only Heather’s friends were staying.”
“She’s cool with Heather too. Hey man watch where you’re spitting.”
“So…” Chris paused to wipe his mouth on the hand towel. “You let all your female friends sleep in your bed?”
“Shut up Chris.” JC didn’t want Mya to hear them.
“I hear y’all in there talking about me.” Damn too late.
JC dashed out the bathroom before Chris, slamming the door closed. “Aaahh!” The door had shut on Chris’ hand.
“What the hell is wrong with you two?” Mya inquired with a laugh.
JC had his hands against her back pushing her towards the door. “No time for questions. Save yourself before he starts harassing you.”
“But JC you just shut his hand in the door. You have to see if he’s okay.” Mya turned around as Chris exited the bathroom. “Let me see your hand Chris.”
JC sucked his teeth. Why did she have to be so considerate? She could’ve just forgotten about Chris, he already had.
Once Chris had gotten over his initial shock, he began talking, babbling rather. “Mya you’re not a broad, you’re a nice girl…I mean, um, I didn’t mean to imply that something’s going on between you and JC, even though it’s kind of odd you being in his bed and all. But hey, to each it’s own.”
Mya immediately dropped his hand causing Chris to scream in pain. Her eyes darted to JC. “What have you been telling him that’s obviously not true?”
It didn’t matter that he had tried to prevent this conversation from arising; she was still getting the wrong idea about him all because Chris couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Now, he didn’t have a problem with Chris holding a friendly conversation with Mya, unless he started flirting with her. The real problem was what actually came out once Chris opened his mouth.
“I didn’t tell him anything. He concocted that up himself. Tell her Chris.”
“Hey, I was just going by what I saw.”
“Oh.” JC heard her say as her hand instinctively went to her hip. “Well, could you please enlighten me since I had the unfortunate advantage of being sleep?”
“Sure-” Chris began but never finished. JC had grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the room. He shut the door on him while he was rambling off to Mya what a beautiful person she was.
JC turned towards Mya feeling he had to plead his case. “Don’t listen to anything he says.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’ll try to tarnish the fact that you think highly of me.”
Her smile seemed to say, “Oh please” as she walked into the bathroom.
~*~*~*~*~
JC took his plate into the living room deciding that he wanted to eat alone. He didn’t want to hear what Chris was saying about what he’d imagined he seen upstairs.
“Hey JC where’s Mya?” He looked up from his plate. It was only Heather.
“She’s in the shower. Last time I checked I wasn’t her guardian.” With that said he continued eating.
Heather decided it was time she checked him on his attitude. She didn’t care anymore that he was letting her stay in house even after she had lied. He needed to know that from this day forward she wasn’t going to let him treat her like a little kid anymore. She had been officially grown when she turned 21 a year ago and he was supposed to respect that.
“You may not be her guardian but you did kidnap her from my room last night.”
JC dropped his fork. “You knew about that?”
“What? You think I didn’t feel you step on me?”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Heather exploded with laughter, which to JC seemed uncalled for. “JC, I may despise you at times. But as your loving sister, I wasn’t going to stop you from getting yours?”
Why did everyone think something happened between them? Didn’t they know that he was capable of being alone with a woman and sex not be the main focus? Honestly, they were probably right, considering his last relationship. The only thing that was good between him and his last girlfriend Heather was the sex. Their conversations always lacked certain elements, therefore, never kept him interested for long. In fact, the most exciting conversation they had, occurred when he busted her for cheating on him and she tried to lie her way out of it. He had tumbled over with laughter at how pitiful she looked. That is until he went home feeling all depressed.
He had begun to convince himself that the problem wasn’t the women. The problem was him. He never took the chance to get to know a woman first before deciding to jump in a relationship. He should’ve been their friend first, lover second.
JC was trying his hand at this with Mya. He had already begun to secure a position in her life as a friend. Now, he was working on becoming more than that, with the help of her journal of course.
“Humph, where was that so-called love when you were blocking me from talking to your friends?”
“We were young then. You were in high school and they weren’t. I knew they didn’t mean anything to you and I didn’t want them to get hurt.”
JC allowed the food to slide down his throat prior to responding. He didn’t want Mya to see him talking with his mouth full just in case she came in unexpectedly. “How were you so sure that they didn’t mean anything to me?”
She smiled. “Because you didn’t walk around acting all stupid over them like you do with somebody who shall remain nameless.”
JC smirked. He hated the fact that she could read him so well.
“When Mya comes down tell her I washed her clothes.”
“When did you become so domestic?”
“Whatever.” She left him alone to return to the kitchen.
JC sighed. He was definitely full now. Chris may have issues but he could definitely hook up an omelet.
“Where’s my breakfast?” Mya’s voice invaded his thoughts.
“In the kitchen.” He replied. She left and returned five minutes later with a pile of food on her plate.
“Look at all this food Chris put on my plate. I’m hungry but I’m not starving.” She took up the seat across from him that Heather had been previously sitting in.
“I see.” JC smirked. What he saw he did not like. He knew Chris had a crush on her, but he hoped he wasn’t thinking of making something of it. He didn’t need somebody else ruining his plans. Heather had already ruined his first date with Mya.
JC silently watched as she ate. Her eating habits weren’t exactly delicate, but she didn’t eat like a scavenger neither. She made sure no food missed her mouth. He couldn’t say the same for himself though, he thought as he rubbed his stomach.
“Why is it that every time I come over here I end up having to leave with what I had on the previous day?”
JC shrugged. “Maybe because initially, you never planned to stay. And I never said that you couldn’t give my clothes back to me later.” He didn’t care if she gave them back at all since she looked better in his t-shirts than he did. “Oh Heather washed your clothes.”
“Oh okay.”
Suddenly, he heard Chris’ voice traveling into the living room. Once again, Chris had invaded his privacy.
“Hey you two.” He sat down beside Mya. “You like the omelet Mya?” She nodded in response. Chris looked towards JC, who was eyeing him jealously. He smiled back.
JC watched intensely, while Mya was oblivious to what was going on around her. His tolerance for Chris’ antics hit the limit, when he saw his arm reach around her, pause, then reach again.
He’s trying to make me stomp his face in, JC tightened his fist.
“Oh my God!” The sudden scream attacked his thoughts. JC had been so enthralled with the idea of rearranging Chris’ face that he hadn’t seen what was going on right in front of him.
Once he was focused, he recapped what had occurred. In an attempt to push JC’s buttons, Chris put his arms around Mya. Yet, in the midst of reaching for her, he accidentally elbowed her in the nose causing her to scream out in pain.
Now, JC was ready to predict what would happen next. He was going to kick Chris’ ass for being so stupid and he would have fun while doing it.
“Chris, why didn’t you watch where you were putting those damn arms of yours?”
“Ow! It was an accident man, I’m sorry.” Chris’ response was muffled under a layer of clothes considering JC currently had him in a headlock.
“Don’t tell me. Tell her.”
“I’m sorry Mya.” Chris replied weakly.
“JC, it was accident. I’m okay.” Mya spoke up holding her nose. Yet, JC stared at her as if she had just grown two heads.
Why was she being so calm about this? “Mya what the fuck are you talking about? You’re nose is bleeding.” It usually took a lot to piss him off to the point of cursing. Yet, today, his tolerance for foolishness was limited.
“You see Chris, you made her nose bleed.” His grip tightened. “You better hope it’s not broken…Heather bring some ice!”
Heather entered the room with Vanessa. “Y’all have the nerve to be wrestling in front of company.” She paused briefly, “What in the world? JC what did you do?” She accused.
“Me!” JC objected releasing his hold on Chris. “This ass was the one who tried to knock her out.”
“The ice?” Mya jumped in seeing as they had forgot about her. Vanessa came to sit next to her.
“Oh.” Heather left, quickly returning with a sandwich bag filled with ice. “Let me see that.” JC requested and she handed it to him.
“I’ll do it.” Mya reached for it.
“No. I need to do something to keep me from tearing Chris apart. Hold your head back.”
~*~*~*~*~
JC glanced at Mya as often as he could during the drive to her house. Right now it looked as if she had fallen asleep. Her eyes were closed and she was curled up against the passenger seat. She looks cute, JC smiled to himself.
Mya suddenly jolted forward giving JC the impression that he had slammed on the breaks. “Where did I put that tissue?”
Oh damn her nose was bleeding again. It had been bleeding on and off for the entire day. JC began fumbling with the steering wheel. He was attempting to drive and help her look for some tissue. The task proven to be too difficult and he had to pull over on the side of the road just to retrieve some napkins from his pocket.
“I should have taken you home earlier. Then you could’ve gotten some rest.”
Mya started tearing the napkins into sections. “You were busy doing whatever you were doing. And besides I got some rest in your bed, well as much as I could get between Chris coming in every five minutes to apologize.” She held the napkins up to her nose.
“Damn that Chris. Someone always get hurt around him. One time I almost broke my neck because the genius dropped oil on the floor.” JC shook his head remembering, yet he was really smiling inside.
He could bet that his bed smelled like her. JC inhaled the imaginary scent. He was looking forward to finally getting a good night sleep tonight without her beside him. Last night was too stressful on certain parts of his body. He was forced to lie awake for majority of the night, which would explain why he was so worn out now.
JC returned to reality when he noticed Mya waving her hands in front of him. “Oh my bad.” He shifted gears and continued driving.
“Maybe I should have drove? What were you thinking about anyway?”
“You.” He replied honestly.
Mya took it as if he was flirting. “Me? Wow I caused you to zone out like that? The extent of my skills always amazes me.” She joked packing away her tissues. The nose bleeding had stopped for now.
“Your skills?” He was in the dark as to what she meant by that.
“Yeah I have the men wrapped around my little manicured finger.” She replied saucily. JC hadn’t even noticed that they’d reached her house until he saw her exiting the car. Slow to react, he followed behind her.
“Hmm, seems like someone took an ‘I love me pill’ this morning?”
“It was an ‘I love me because I’m sexy pill’ get it right.” Mya entered the house laughing.
That you are. JC didn’t get the chance to publicly voice his thoughts as Mya took the stairs two at a time. Was she in a hurry to get away from him? He began wondering.
He later found out that her nose was bleeding was once again when he spotted her plugging her nostrils with tissue in the bathroom mirror.
JC leaned against the doorframe watching her. “You really do look sexy like that.”
Mya glared at him. “You better be kidding. No you shouldn’t even be joking about this.”
He wasn’t kidding. He was speaking the truth. Sure she had pieces of tissue hanging from both of her nostrils and she had a distraught look about her, but his eyes seemed to be blind to those facts. In his eyes, she was beautiful, sexy even. The calm approach she took with Chris though he nearly broke her nose was sexy to him. She didn’t make a huge deal over her appearance either. That was a major turn on in his opinion.
“You should probably put some more ice on that.” JC advised now sitting on the edge of the tub.
“I think it should be okay if I leave it plugged up for a while.”
“Let me see it.” She obliged, pulling her hair back into a messy ponytail
while she moved to stand in front of him. “What you think I got x-ray vision?
You have to move a bit closer Ms.
“I can arrange for you to look like my twin you know.” Mya threatened.
JC ignored her, pulling her down so that she resided on his lap. “Now that’s better…Hmm it’s a little tender.” He gently squeezed the bridge of her nose.
“Does that hurt?”
“A little.”
“Well, it doesn’t look broken so you’ll be fine.” JC tapped the tip of her nose.
He let his hand descend to linger on her cheek. It lowered unconsciously to the back of her neck pulling her closer to him. She wasn’t responding physically, only staring at him, yet she did respond verbally. “You can’t be serious.” She said.
The mood was ruined. “What? What happened?”
“You. First you think I look sexy with balls of tissue in my nose. And now you’re trying to kiss me.” JC shrugged in response to her reasoning.
“With my nose occupied by these spit balls.” Mya gestured towards the tissue. “…My mouth is my only source of oxygen. How else am I supposed to breathe?”
JC reluctantly released her. Now that he thought about, it did seem rather selfish. He didn’t want to cut off her air supply just to satisfy the urge to kiss her. He would satisfy himself knowing; well at least hoping that he would get another shot.
He followed her out of the bathroom into her bedroom. She plopped down on the bed.
“Well, I’m going to go pick up your car now.” He had driven her home in his car because he didn’t think she would be able to drive safely.
“Aww, you don’t have to do that, bring it tomorrow.”
“Nonsense. I’ll be back. Give me your keys.” She walked over to him. “And a hug.” She laughed, lazily throwing her arms around. JC embraced her tightly nearly lifting her from the floor.
He watched her stride back to the bed. “Don’t go to sleep. I’m going to call you on my way back over here to keep you up.”
“JC I can go to sleep, I don’t have a concussion just a nose bleed.” She proceeded to lie down despite his protest.
“I know that, just answer the phone when I call, okay?”
Mya waved him away. “Turn off the light on your way out.”
“Mya?”
“I’ll be up.” Satisfied with her answer, JC left.