Behind the Shadows of Deception-Chapter 15
“Ah…” Mya sighed temporarily embracing the cold air as they walked to their cars. “I don’t think I had that much fun since my birthday party.”
“Speaking of that, why wasn’t I invited?” JC frowned.
“Oh because we just started hanging out. I didn’t even think of inviting you.”
“Mya?” He gasped dramatically. “I think I should be offended.”
“Maybe.” She agreed. “But I made up for it, haven’t I? I spend more time with you than necessary. Prime example, staying the night at your house.”
JC remained silent. He didn’t know exactly how to respond to that. Was she suddenly getting sick of him? She was going on dates still, he answered his thoughts. He realized he would have to find out how serious she was about these other dates.
“How did your date go?” As soon as the words left his mouth Mya fixed him with a surprise stare. She probably thought he was crazy for asking.
How many men asked women about their dates with other men? Not many. Still, he was trying to be a friend first, even though he was currently working on moving their relationship to the next stage.
“Hmm…it was okay. I actually went out with this guy that my cousin knows
name
JC had masked his disappointment when she had first begun but now he felt a smile coming to his face.
“Maybe it’s me you know? Maybe I expect too much. I used to be a sucker for the guys with street smarts and Timb boots. But now not so much. I guess I want something different for myself.”
“So, do you plan to go out with him again?” He felt he needed to know that in order to continue.
“Hell no.” She laughed. “I think I’m just going to chill for a while.”
JC nodded. “I respect that.” But he didn’t accept it. Yes, respect and accept were one and the same. Still, if he accepted her decision then he would be accepting defeat when he hadn’t even made any progress with her.
“Well, since you want to chill, what do you say to going back to my house?”
“Sure. Wait-” She paused. “I only have two conditions. No videos games and I’m not staying tonight.”
“Aww damn.” JC sighed swinging his fist into the air. “I guess I’ll have to settle for that.” He smiled briefly grasping her hand.
“Yes you will.” She sauntered away. “Oh. I’ll meet you at your house.” Mya tossed over her shoulder as she unlocked and entered her car.
JC made it to his house first, once again he found himself waiting for her in the cold. He didn’t know why he didn’t go inside and wait for her there. Maybe it was because he wanted the pleasure of watching her slowly exit the car with the breeze teasing her hair.
Unfortunately, he had missed it during his momentarily departure from reality when she pulled up. He had always zoned out when he thought about her. He needed to work on that.
“Are you mad? It’s cold out here. You could have waited for me inside.” Mya retrieved the key from his hold. She unlocked the door letting herself in.
“You treat your house like this?” JC asked after she tossed her coat on the couch.
“Hang it up for me.” Mya replied dismissing his question. “Oh and turn on the fireplace.”
“Whatever you say dear.” JC went to follow her orders. “Are you warm enough?”
Mya nodded. “Getting there.”
“Should I dim the lights too?” He hoped like hell that she would she say yes. He wanted the mood to be right before he admitted anything.
Mya shrugged. “Whatever. Do what you want.” JC went to sit beside her.
“Are you alright?” He sensed irritation in her voice.
“Hmm…just tired and somewhat frustrated. Yet, my album is really coming along because of these different emotions. Crazy right?” Her soft laugh transitioned into a sigh as she rested her head against JC’s shoulder.
“Not really. The best way to make an album is with emotions.” JC wrapped his arm around her.
She looked up at him with a smile. “I agree.”
JC stood abruptly. “Come with me. I want you to hear something.”
“What is it?”
“Just come on.” He pulled her up as he led the way to the basement.
“You didn’t do anything creepy for Halloween did you. Because one time I went down my brother’s basement and a fake spider fell from the ceiling. I’m terrified of spiders. Don’t you ever bring a spider near me, you hear me!” She shoved him from behind.
JC laughed. “Mya you have nothing to worry about. Now stop before you make me fall down these steps.”
“What are we doing…ooh I didn’t know you had a piano down here!” She smiled.
“Yeah go sit at it.”
Mya did as requested. “What you want me to play you something? You need me to sing you to sleep?” She teased.
JC told her that he wanted her to sit on the piano instead. “I’m the one singing to you or for you, whatever.” He groaned. She probably realized now that he was nervous.
Damn, would anything ever go right for him? He was already in a hole because he kept her journal. So this had to go right. Please God, he begged as he lifted Mya from the bench placing her atop the piano.
“Ooh working out I see. You’ve been holding out on me.” She enticingly grasped his bicep.
“Yeah that’s what happens when you don’t call me for two weeks.” He said causing Mya to frown. “Just be quiet and listen.” JC parked his behind on the bench as he stroked the piano keys introducing the song.
He didn’t like the way everything was going. His anxiety had gotten the best of him and the song that he was currently playing reflected that. It was supposed to be soft; his voice silky, yet neither was right. Instead they both sounded harsh and distant while he pounded the keys.
“I’m going to sing something else, okay?” She simply nodded.
Mya attempted to get comfortable as she watched the emotions play across his face. She decided to finally lie on her stomach and prop her elbows up.
I just wish that I could hold you
While you're slipping through my fingers, as I'm playing the piano,
What is that sound, it sounds so beautiful
A million thoughts were running through her head but she wasn’t going to disrupt his flow with questions. She was too wrapped up in the moment anyhow.
And I just wanna be close to you
Close enough that I can feel you
I'm already wondering where you are
And it sounds like it's coming from my guitar.
He began the chorus. Mya was looking right at him, possibly through him as she embraced his words. He had never seen her gaze so intense.
Melody, said that I love you
Melody, said that I adore you
Melody, said that I need you
You can call me foolish and I might be but I'm in love with a melody.
‘I love you, I adore you, I need you’ These were the words that she picked up on, that had her wondering, yet knowing that JC was singing this song from the heart.
His fingers glided against the piano until he hit the last note. “It’s not quite finish. I still want to add another verse and add a guitar to it but what do you think?”
Mya sat up swinging her legs forward so that she was sitting at the edge in front of him. “Who’s Melody?” Okay that was not the response he was looking for.
The song was meant to bring them closer. Of course she was now sitting closer to him but they were not as close as he’d like. Physically or emotionally.
JC moved back a bit from the piano. “That doesn’t matter.” It was meant to be a metaphor not someone’s name. “Did you like it though?”
“It was beautiful.” Mya wiped at her eye. “See I think I just caught a tear.” She joked.
JC sighed. He wanted her to be serious. Still, her habit of turning almost everything into a joke was alluring.
“You know I started writing this song a while ago. It had been meant for someone, but now that I think about, I don’t think it was ever meant for her. Maybe I was thinking about the future when I wrote it?” Mya shrugged in response as he stood.
He nudged her legs apart just enough so that he could fit between them. He rested his elbows atop her knees. He hadn’t been this close to her since he got her drunk a month ago in this very same basement.
Suddenly he remembered what occurred that day. And like the need for a fresh breath of air in a room filled with smoke, he had the urge to do it all over again. This time without any interference from alcohol, she would be aware and hopefully as into it as he was.
Mya knew she should have moved away. She had enough time. Yet, for some reason unknown to her she was curious, interested, attracted, and immersed all at once.
Curious as to what thoughts were running through his head as he gazed at her. Interested in crossing that imaginary line she put between them for a brief moment just to see how it would feel. Attracted to his scent; her favorite male cologne. And immersed in his eyes, striking blue orbs that held so much intensity.
So she did it. Well he did it, but she permitted it. She allowed him to kiss her. At the first taste of his lips she was surprised that she actually felt something. Wait, maybe it was his hands traveling from her thighs, across her neck, in her hair. Oh he was very much fascinated by her hair, she realized. She never had a man massage her scalp while he was kissing her. The sensation was…stimulating.
JC was excited as well. She was responding to him. He felt like a kid in a candy store with a variety of candy selections to choose from. There were the lollipops, which reminded him of her lips. The marshmallow candies soft like her curvy physique. Oh and Reese Cups, addictive like her hair. He didn’t know why he couldn’t keep his hands out of it, like he couldn’t keep them out of the cookie jar.
The bliss all ended when space invaded, space between them that is. Mya had moved away and jumped down from the piano. She straightened her clothes.
JC knew she was preparing to leave, but before she did he needed to know one thing, “Are you even going to say anything?”
She wiped her mouth. “We let the mood get the best of us.” JC fixed her with a blank stare as if he didn’t agree. “Okay, well I let it get the best of me.”
“I wanted that to happen.” He confessed. Wow where had that bout of honesty come from? He needed to try it more often.
“And I was just curious.”
“Mya-”
She held up her hand. “Nope. You know how I feel about relationships right now.”
“It was just a kiss.” JC pretended to slap himself afterwards. Why he said that he didn’t know. It was definitely more than a kiss to him but he didn’t want to pressure her when she was still hesitant.
“And it should stay that way.”
“Damn.” JC murmured she was being so hard pressed about this. It would take a lot more effort on his part to coax her into a relationship. Back to the journal, he guessed.
“Would you walk me out?” She smiled at him. He couldn’t resist.
“Sure.” JC followed her upstairs, “Thanks.” She replied as he helped her into her coat.
JC waved off her gratitude while he led the way to the door. He held it open. “Good night Mya.” He reached out to her.
Mya remained in her spot. “JC.” She warned.
“What? I just want to hug you.”
“Fine, make it quick. It’s cold standing in this doorway.”
JC snickered hauling her towards him. He embraced her in the tightest hug ever known to mankind. He kissed her cheek.
“Okay, okay.” Mya wriggled away. “Good night.” As always JC watched her before shutting the door.
Note: Lyrics used Melody by Ray J from the Album Raydiation