Chapter # 2

Chapter # 2

My longing for your voice,

can never be quenched.

In a longing to hear you,

Every day and night, I spend.

©ELIF HOORAIN.

Jane Arnold's P. O. V.

Purple, blue or white?

It's been 20 minutes since I am standing in front of the dressing mirror in my room, with the only best three dresses I have, in my hands. I can not decide what should I wear. Mom always says that blue suits me because I have ocean coloured eyes. But I love white and purple too. Oh, God! Why can't I make such a trivial decision?

After wasting 15 minutes more, I eventually pick the white flowing dress with pearls on the modest neckline and sleeves of net fabric. I brush my hair and put on a little makeup, enough to bring back some colour in my fair, but pale skin. I am looking for a pair of shoes in the wardrobe when all of a sudden my mom enters the room.

"Where are you going?" I turn around at her question and grin.

"Hi, mom." I look down and smooth the crease on my dress which I only notice now. I can feel her eyes drilling holes in my lowered head.

"You didn't answer my question, Jane." She steps forward. I look up at her.

"I am going to Jessie's house." I grin again. She arches an eyebrow and points to the opened window.

"Is there any night event at her home?" I see the sky turning dark from crimson.

"Yeah. There...there is. There is a party." I try to control my stutter.

"Hmm. What kind of party is it? I hope that I can ask." She walks around me, examining my look. I can feel my forehead sweat. I am bad at telling a lie and she is good at catching one.

"It is a birthday party." I blurt at once. She nods and sits down on my bed in her grey gown and a messy blonde bun.

"Ok. I will not ask whose birthday party." I am relieved to hear that because I have not still thought about the name of the birthday person.

"Well, Go and have fun. Also, pat off the sweat on your forehead, or you will ruin your makeup." My mouth drops but I instantly close it and pat my forehead with the back of my hand.

"Oh! It is getting hot tonight. Weather is unpredictable nowadays."

"Probably. Have fun." She kisses my cheek and exits the room.

I release the breath I was holding and turn to the wardrobe. I grab a pair of white heels and slip my feet in them. Grab a white sparkling purse, my phone and a brown coat. I call Jessie to pick me up. Within the next ten minutes, she is at my door. I go downstairs, say mom a bye and head out of the house.

Tonight, one of my wishes will come true.

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"What lie did you tell your mother?" She asks while we are in the car.

"A birthday party." I check my makeup in the back-view mirror of the car.

She laughs. I turn my head towards her with a glare and point to the road in front of us.

"Stop laughing like a hyena and focus on the drive. I do not plan to die, tonight."

She presses her lips together to cease her laugh and nods.

The car hits a bump on the road and trembles. She grins at me and I scowl at her.

"What? You know, I just got my license and still, you asked me to pick you."

"Well, my apologies for thinking that you deserved the license." My face crumples with fake anger.

"Haha, alright, do not ruin your features. Smile and think about your fifteen minutes away date." She teases and pokes me with her finger. I shove her hand away with irritation.

"It's not a date." My voice is flat.

"Oh yeah? But your readiness says the otherwise." She wriggles her eyebrows and receives a smack on her head from me. She mouths an ouch!

"I just want to appear presentable. Now focus on your drive. I do not want to be late."

"As you wish Madam." I can't help rolling my eyes. She is always dramatic and that is why she is Jessie.

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"Call me, when you are done. Ok?" I nod. She hugs me and whispers a best of luck in my ear before releasing me.

I beam at her words and tell her to go. After she is gone, I turn to the bistro. Two days ago, Nathan had told Jessie that he wanted to meet me at Grille and Steam. Entering the bistro, my eyes scan over the place and rest on him, sitting on a table in the middle. He sees me and waves his hand. I wave back and walk towards him. He gets up from his chair and stretches his hand towards me.

"Nice to see you, finally." He says as I shake his hand.

"Thank you, I am also very glad to see you." I gulp down the nervousness, building up in my throat.

We both take our seats. For the first time, he is so near to me. If I stretch my hand over the table, I could touch those fingers that can cast a spell when they are on the strings of the guitar.

His brown hair, touch the nape of his neck. Eyes are sparkly. The nose is long with a slight bump on its bridge. Lips thin but puckered. My eyes quickly shoot up to his eyes from his lips. He is eyeing me. Those eyes hold curiosity in them. In his red check shirt, faded jeans, and white sneakers, he seems so young. His stubble is growing and I can tell that he has not shaved for days. He gives a vibe of imprudence, the kind that makes me feel comfortable.

"Why did you want to meet me?" I decide to start the conversation.

"Thank you for asking, or I was thinking that you were here just to scrutinize me." Those words that are spoken softly hit me like a cannonball. I feel embarrassed.

"Joking. Please do not mind." He stifles his laugh.

"No, no. It is ok. I am just such a big fan of your music. So, I was just looking at you." I chuckle, mentally smacking myself for ogling at him for such a long period.

"I am not a big musician. But, I love what I do and thank you." He smiles, slight wrinkles appear around his eyes.

"So, you wanted to meet me because?" I ask him again.

"Umm, because I do not want you to stand outside my studio every evening. I want you to be inside of it." I am shaking with joy, over the last words.

"Really? You will let me in and teach me the tune you play every evening?" I blurt out of excitement.

"Haha! Yeah, I will let you in and also teach you for free." I giggle hearing him.

"But this will cause you a loss."

"Not, if you learn to play well." His voice is gentle.

"Thanks again. I will join from tomorrow then?" I can not wait to learn the tune that has wrapped my heart around its cords.

"This Sunday and onwards. Tomorrow, I have to go out of the town."

"Oh, okay. No problem." Suddenly I just wish that it could be Sunday tomorrow not Saturday.

"Excellent. Let's eat something now." He calls the waiter and we order our meal.

He orders steamed beef and I order spicy chicken. I, later on, come to know that he does not like spice because he has to take care of his throat. I also decide to order steamed beef or chicken, when we meet next time. I am already looking forward to a lunch or dinner with him. Probably, I have a crush on him. He talks about different songs, singers and musical instruments. I show him my interest in all of them while we eat. I can listen to him for the whole night. I sound clingy.

I am just glad that he can not hear my thoughts. My dignity is still safe.

"May I drop you home?" He asks. Such a gentleman.

"No, I have called my friend. She must be here any time soon." He nods with a smile. I assume he likes to smile a lot and the smile suits him.

Within a few minutes, Jessie arrives in her dad's car. As we exit the bistro, I stop in my steps and say goodbye.

"See you again. Mr Nathan." It feels weird to call him Mr He chuckles at my words.

"Jane. We do have a huge age difference. But we can be friends. So call me Nathan." His face still holds a soft smile.

"Ok. Bye, Nathan."

He chuckles again and makes me laugh too.

"Bye. Jane."

He gets in his car and I also slide into Jessie's. My eyes are still fixed on him. We both wave at each other one last time, before our cars speed away, in opposite directions.

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Party ended so soon?" A voice crashes with my ears as slip into the house through the main door.

"Mom! you scared me." I release the breath, hitched in my throat. She is standing right there, in her usual grey gown. All the lights of the house are off. I recognize her when the moonlight falls over her through the window.

"Were you planning to pull a horror prank on me?" I switch on the light. Our little house illuminates in a second.

"I was just waiting for you." She follows me as I make my way towards the couch.

"With the lights off?" She dismisses my question.

"I asked you something." She sits beside me.

"No. It is still going on. I just got tired soon. So asked Jessie to drop me home." I look at the clock it's 1: am. I usually never return from a birthday party before 2: am. No doubt, she is in a doubt.

I take my feet out of the heels and move my toes.

"Hmm. Did you give the birthday person any gift?" Wow, my mom asks questions like some FBI agent. What is she doing as a florist?

"Of course, I gave her a gift. If you are going to say that you did not see me taking it with me as I left the house, then let me tell you that I had bought a jewellery watch for her and gave it to Jessie, in case, I forget it at home." I see her facial lines relaxing. I am relieved. I do not want to lie to her but I also have no other choice.

"Ok. I am...I am sorry, Jane. I know that I should not put so much pressure on you. You are going to be 19 next month. You are not a 10 year old anymore. I just want to keep sure that you are on the right path and will never neglect your studies. Remember you are all I have." She takes my hand. I feel bad for making her feel bad. I pull her into a hug.

"Mom. Do not say sorry. You are also the only one I have and do not worry mom, no matter what, I will fulfil your dreams." And mine too. I kiss her forehead and tell her that I am tired and I need to sleep. I say her a good night and go upstairs to change and rest.

The whole night, I know that I am going to dream of myself in that Studio with a guitar and Nathan, with his pure smile.

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