Catching up

"That's all for today. We'll be practicing everyday for our recital's coming close. I'll see you all tomorrow" Sir Ice announces as he arranges his pieces.

I was arranging my pieces as well when Aaron went to me, fiddling.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Uh.." unsure of what he wants to say, "I can't..

go home with you today"

I raised a brow, "..Why..? Did something happened?"

He shook his head, "No no no..Umm..Blythe..asked me if I could go somewhere with her. So of course I said yes.." he laughed nervously. "You're okay with going home alone..right?"

"Oh.." i replied. "That's fine. Where will you two go?" asking like he's mine or something.

"I don't know yet.."

"Aaron! Let's go" Blythe shouted, standing in front of the door.

"Ah..I have to go. Tell me when you get home. Bye" as he ran towards Blythe. He waves and he was gone.

Guess I'll be going home alone. I'm curious as to where they will go but I can't say I'm jealous, can I.. I don't have the right to be jealous. We're friends. It's totally normal when one of us can't go home together when we have an appointment.

I grab my things and said my goodbye to Sir Ice as I went my way home.

I walked through streets as I noticed how the sky was slowly turning dark. I quickened my pace as the clouds began to gather in the sky. Up to now, the sky had been postcard-perfect, but it was changing. The beautiful cocktail-blue shade was beginning to darken into gravel-grey. Large pillows of cloud were forming, blotting out the old-gold colour of the sun.

I got the first splatter of rain when I was halfway across the meadow. I took shelter under an old oak, hoping that I could see out the shower. Droplets of moisture began to drip from the leaves. They were sprinkling onto the grass like a gardener's hose. Then the rainfall became more intense. A wall of rain moved over the oak and the drops were drumming against the canopy. So much rain was falling that the sound blurred into one long, whirring noise. It reminded me of the rotor blades on a helicopter. Eventually, the noise lessened and the drops faded into a musical chime.

"Louella!" I hear a voice called out to me. My eyes couldn't see clearly from the rain that dropped on my face to my eyes.

He called out once more, this time closer.

"Louella!"

I turned to my right to see him holding an umbrella with his right hand and his bag at his front. He waved at he noticed I saw him and went closer.

"You're wet, Louella!" Jax yelled but the rain was much louder. He gave the umbrella to me as he gets something from his bag.

"..And you're not..Lucky" I laughed lightly.

He handed his handkerchief and said, "Here. You'll get a cold if you stay here any longer. Where's your house?"

"..Oh..wait..It's fine, really. I don't feel sick—" as I coughed.

He sighed, "Are you a kid?" as he snatched the handkerchief from my hand and wiped my wet face gently.

I can feel my face turn red as he continue to wipe my face. I don't know whether it's the sickness coming to me..or something else.

"We have a recital coming up..Can't have you getting sick" as he pat my head. "Now let's go. Where's your house?"

"..Its still..the same" I mumbled.

He smiled, "Then let's go"

As we make our way through this muddy and rainy weather.

"Thank you..Jax" I smiled as he shakes the umbrella and wipes his clothes.

"You're lucky I saw you" he chuckled.

Suddenly, heavy rain came pouring down once more just as it was about to stop.

"Wow..I shall be on my way, then" but as he was about to go I grabbed him by his wrist.

"Uhh.." unsure of what I'm about to say, "...Would you...like to stay until the rain stops..?" he smiled at me, "That would be wonderful" as I nodded in response.

We both went inside, dripping wet so I went to grab us some towels. I look around to see my mom is not here.

"Thank you" as I hand him the towel.

"Would you like to change clothes? Although I only have women clothes" I laughed lightly.

"That's okay. May I remove my shirt instead?" he asked to which I nodded. There's nothing wrong with that, right..?

The world was like in a slow motion as he removes his jacket and shirt, exposing his toned body with six pack abs.

He turned around. I sucked in a sharp breath as his shirtless torso was exposed to me. Gawking wouldn't quite describe my state. I was shocked, stunned, flabbergasted, amazed, wonderstruck, mesmerized by his physique. It was like nothing I've ever seen before. His body was drool-worthy. He had a chiseled chest and the skin on it was glowing healthily. His abdominals were sculptured to perfection as his six-packs pop, instantly giving off the impression that he came out of a Calvin Klein shoot. I won't even forget about his arms for years. His biceps were the size of my head yet lean and his triceps looked like diamonds - really rare ones, indeed - and completing his masterpiece of a bodice, his shoulders, round and protruding, give his whole look a new flavor. I want to extend my hands and touch, but I also don't want to creep him out.

I noticed how I've been staring at him so I looked away as I scratch my back,

"..So uh.. You're totally different from before!" I laughed awkwardly.

"Well..I'm not 8 years old, you know"

"Yes..Uh..would you like some warm water? To freshen you up" as I walk towards the kitchen, not making eye contact with him.

He chuckled, "Yes, please"

We catched up about everything, with towels covering his upper half. I cannot believe the Jax I knew before is so much different from how he is now. He was more fragile before than I am. And now he stands taller, more handsome, and amazing than before. He achieved many things now. He won gold medals from competitions. He and the orchestra he plays already traveled Europe and soon to be traveling all around Asia.

He's great more than ever.