12). SONGS FOR YOU
"Your beard.... it has grown up." Kate said, brushing her hand on Braddin's cheek.
Tia was sitting just a little distance, circling the spoon in her tea cup throwing angry looks at both of them. Braddin tried to send Kate away but she sat still on the arm of the chair on which he was sitting. "You should shave now. " She continued brushing hard.
"Nah, It's fine. I will shave when we reach the farmhouse.
Kate looked at Tia getting hot, she sneered evilly then leaned more closely at Braddin. Her hair falling past Braddin's face. Tia turned to James who was playing Chess in his cellphone.
"Hey, do you mind getting me sugar cubes? Someone's too busy to even look at me." She taunted.
James looked up, trying to understand what Tia had just said. Then he grinned. "Sure, why not." He said humbly getting up.
Tia watched him bring her the ice cubes. Facing Braddin, she noticed he was gazing at her when she talked to James. That gave her an extra bit of idea.
"Here you go," James came and sat down back again
"Thank you so much. Oh! James, why are you sitting there ? Come here." Tia called patting at the vacant seat beside her. James grinned again. He knew instantly why Tia was doing this and he kind of enjoyed irritating Braddin. And as for Braddin he looked up at Kate then at Tia, scowling when Tia totally ignored him and started with James.
"Gosh, you are so handsome Braddy. And as time goes on you are growing much more handsome." Kate said, now sitting on his lap.
"Really ? Thanks." Braddin said, clapping his hand with her.
"James, I never noticed how smart you are. I guess you are smarter and hotter then, someone.." Tia said, rolling her eyes at Braddin's.
James clapped his hand with her. "Thanks. That goes for you too. You are a pretty girl." He said.
Tia blushed, getting close to him. James smirked at Braddin then placed his arms around Tia. Braddin scowled, pushing Kate gently aside to keep an eye on them.
"Braddy, what's wrong !" Kate said irritably, shoving his hands away and leaning against his chest. Tia copied the same. She placed her head on James' shoulder and clasped her hands around him.
"I regret I never noticed you before. You are so charming." Tia said, giving a short wink at him.
James chuckled, tightening his grips on her. Braddin's nostril flattened when he saw. He began breathing very fastly as though he had been running through out the beach.
Kate tried to slip into him but he kept breathing, getting red. She looked angrily at him then shot up to her feet.
"All right, who's the stupid around here, stand up !" Kate shouted.
No one did. Tia and Braddin were staring at each other. Braddin looked upset and angry but Tia was sneering at him. James was smiling to himself. Looking at Kate, Tia stood up silently
"Ah ! See, you are the stupid. That's why you stood !" She bellowed.
Tia looked innocently at her then took a deep breath. "No, I stood for you. Because I didn't like you standing alone."
James actually giggled like a girl. Braddin too smiled. Tia folded her arms across her chest and raised her eyebrows. Kate stumped her feet on her floor and walked out murmuring something angrily. James let go of Tia when Kate disappeared. They both shared a high five but when James turned around, he saw a surprised and shocked Rebecca standing at the door, looking at him.
ames laughed looking at the way she was staring at him. He whistled, stretching his hands out and again pulling Tia towards him, winking at her.
"That Rotten Tomato." Rebecca murmured, pounding her fist. Even Braddin was chilly, hot and red. There wasn't any difference between Braddin and Rebecca. Both were jealous to the extreme point. James jerked his head. Rebecca pulled back then raised her hand, stretching all her five fingers apart and showed her palm to him
Ian was roaming very quietly, kicking the pebbles that came into her way. She was very sad. So sad that she was fighting really hard to control her tears that were fighting its way into her eyes.
"Hey buddy." Someone touched her shoulder.
Ian spun around and saw Ash standing behind here, looking confused. As soon as Ash saw Ian's sad face and sorrowful eyes, she became more worried.
"Ian, baby are you ok ? Is something wrong?" She asked, placing both her arms on Ian's shoulders. Ian shook her head. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.
"Ian, you are so cold. Is everything ok ? Are you hurt ? Did someone hurt you ?" Ash asked, with concern.
"I'm fine. Just a little bit distracted." Ian managed to say.
"If you wanna talk about something, I am always here."
Ian gave a weak smile to her. Ash let go of her hands but then Ian came closer slowly and hugged her. Ash clasped her arms around her too. "It's ok, Ian. Everything's gonna be ok." She comforted me.
Meanwhile, Rebecca was waiting for Skyler hoping he would bring good , happy news but the longines for half an hour turned into a couple of hours until panic struck her. Rebecca was pacing up and down, monitoring her wrist watch, as the time went by. TICK TOCK....TICK TOCK and Skyler never came.
"Agh ! Where is that HellHound !" Rebecca shot up in frustration.
Waiting for another five minutes, Rebecca began a search for him. She went inside the hut, looked around but didn't find him except James. Smiling forcedly at him, she went into the shed but instead of Skyler , she found Ash and Ian. Ash was sitting against the pillar and Ian was lying on her laps with her eyes closed. Ash placed her fingers on her lips to quiet Rebecca down.
"Is everything ok ?" Rebecca asked, her heart dropped down.
She understood by the look from Ian's face that nothing went well.
"I don't know what's wrong with her. She's so sad." Ash said worriedly.
Rebecca bit her lips thinking fast. Her mind is racing like a jet airplane. She was thinking about her next move. Whatever happens, she will bring Ian and Skyler together, even if it means becoming the Priest for both of them.
"I will see her. Don't worry. I might understand her. You go. Roy's finding you." Rebecca made up.
"Roy ? I thought he was playing table tennis." Ash said.
"He was...but now he's searching for you. Go on. Don't make him wait."
Ash waited, stroking Ian's face then got up to go. Her movement woke Ian and she lifted herself to sit down. As soon as Ash closed the door, Rebecca turned to Ian.
"Please, I dont wanna talk about it." Ian said slowly.
Ian expected Rebecca to scold her but to her surprise Rebecca smiled at her very gently. She sat by her and placed her arms around her.
"Ian....you have gone through a lot of huddles. I guess, you think about everyone else before yourself.... you take a lot of care for me and others. A little bit of short tempered...but its ok."
Rebecca chuckled and Ian also smiled, looking down on the wooden floor. "But still, you are good. Sometimes I feel bad that the happiness you deserve, you never get a chance to get them. But your strength is really inspiring." She said,
Ian looked up to her. Her eyes looked very thoughtful and scared.
"Do you like Skyler ?" Rebecca asked, kindly.
Ian went quiet, looking scared. Her eyes spying around for any sign of living except her and her blondie.
"Don't worry. He's not here." Rebecca patted. "I want you to be very honest Ian. Do you like Skyler ? Do you have feelings for him ?"
Ian waited again, fighting hard with her words.
"What do you think ?" She asked looking up.
Rebecca chuckled. "I see a lot of things. I am wondering, Sky calls me the blind beggar but I think....."
"You think it's me." Ian said, slamming her forehead lightly.
Rebecca grinned then nodded. Ian sighed heavily, dropping her head down again.
"You don't know anything." Ian said.
"Then tell me...ok first tell me do you like Skyler ? Be honest. God's watching."
Ian hesitated. She wanted to say something to her. Looking deeper in Rebecca's eyes, Ian made her mind that it was ok to trust her. With weight pulling down her stomach, she managed to say..
"Yes."
Rebecca clapped in excitement and hugged Ian just like she did with Skyler.
"Sky came to me. He told me he had feelings for me.."
"What did you say ?" Rebecca asked.
"I said.....I said I need time. And both of us left."
Rebecca grinned. Her work was very easy now. Both love birds were equally matched.
"Why is that so ? What is forcing you to stop?" She asked.
That was the hardest part for Ian to confess. Her mouth went dry. "Tia.... It's Tia." Ian said
"What about her ?" Rebecca ceased her brows.
"I have seen Tia getting close with him. Staring at him and she likes to be with him. I couldn't disappoint her. If she likes Skyler then, he's all her's." Ian said, innocently.
Rebecca laughed. She laughed so loudly that Ian thought the roof of the hut would fall on them.
"Ian...you are so silly. I literally advise you to think of yourself and not of others. Don't worry about Tia. She's dangling in the mid air. I say this because I have been noticing her too but also I want you to go and run into Skyler. You both are damn lucky to love one another." Rebecca suggested.
"You mean that ?" Ian asked. "What if something goes wrong ? What if Tia got upset?"
Rebecca grinned proudly pointing at herself.
"You don't worry about that. The Founder of Human Rights is right here to help all the love birds around." She beamed.
"I don't want to cause any trouble. You know that, don't you?" Ian sighed
Rebecca nodded. " Of course I know that babes. Why wouldn't I? But that point is, you should look after your happiness as well. Don't take your own self for granted."
Ian bit her lips. "What about Tia then?"
Rebecca slightly frowned. "Look, if Tia had the guts she would have spilled that out already. And she didn't so that doesn't mean she gets to choose everything first for herself."
That seemed to have caught Ian on the spot that her head started to make a nodding action. Rebecca, sitting beside, clasped her hand and gently pressed it. "You don't have to think about it. Skyler came to you. That's the main point. Did you ask him to come by himself?"
Ian shook her head like a little kid. Rebecca smiled. "See, then? He came because she chose you. Not Tia. In fact he doesn't even have anything for her, except friendship. You don't have to push him away for someone who's not in one place."
Ian gave a small sigh again. "I want to avoid the drama. You know how she is. She'll definitely create a big fuss about this."
Rebecca pursed her lips, taking a small pause. Ian waited for her to say anything.
"Yeah, she will. That I do agree with. But I think I might have a cunning plan devising in my mind already."
"Shit! What are you upto?" Ian asked, startled by her.
Rebecca chuckled. "Don't worry. Just focus on Skyler while I'll think on how to handle her. Trust me."
The sun was setting, leaving a marvelous twilight upon the sky. The yellow orange lights mingled with one another making another color in contrast. Rebecca and Ian went out of the shed walking hand in hand but then Rebecca spotted Skyler at a distance. Thinking hard for a moment, she pushed Ian away with Ash and Tia then ran after him.
"Sky ?" She called.
He looked up at her. He was very sad, just like Ian. His face fell and his eyes were extremely painful.
"What do you want now Blind Beggar ? He snapped. "Ian said she needs time. Now you ruined my friendship with her also."
"Calm down, listen to me." She said, raising her hands.
"Not in a mood." Skyler said, pushing her away.
"I do have some good news for you." Rebecca smiled.
Skyler spun around angrily. "What ? Another of your tricks." He boomed.
Rebecca grinned. "No silly. Ian likes you. She said to me herself."
Skyler looked blankly at her trying to adjust what she said. Rebecca giggled then told him everything that Ian told her mentioning her confession and the fear of Tia that she had from the beginning.
"What should I do now ?" Sky asked, thumping his hand on his forehead.
"I have got a better idea. Come on, let's go."
The lingering light was obliterated by the rapidly falling night.The once salmon and purple sky transformed into a vast expanse of jet-black that engulfed the town. A canopy of luminous stars materialized amongst the ocean of blackness. Some were dull, merely flickering into existence every now and then, but there was an adequate amount of shimmering stars to illuminate the dark, moonless night as the group of students sat down on the chairs in the middle of the sea and had guitars and a few bottles. Ash, Tia, Ian, Rebecca and the boys joined in. Skyler spied towards Ian waiting for her to look at him. He smiled kindly at her, when both of their eyes met his heart dancing like a baby Penguin inside. They all decide to sing their favorite songs, whomever, volunteers to come. Kate ran first seizing the mike from Ben and standing confidently.
"This song is for my childhood bestie. My Braddy. Braddin Andrews." She said pointing at him.
Braddin shifted in his chair with a little discomfort forcing a smile. Kate adjusted herself then opened her mouth.
This was just meant to be
You are coming back to me
Cause, this is pure love
Cause, this is pure love
I know you are more afraid
Then I'll say I will wait
'Cause this is pure love
'Cause this is pure love
She continued to sing as long as her rhythm went on. Braddin was given the guitar to play as it was dedicated to him. Tia was boiling with jealousy so much that Ash sitting beside her began to feel hot.As soon as Kate finished, Tia stood up and ran up to her, snatching the mic away.
"My turn. I am gonna sing my favorite song. It's my anchor." She said,
Kate gave her thumbs down and got away. Braddin smiled a little, setting the tune. Tia took a deep breath.
I walk the streets alone
I hate being on my own
And everyone can see that I really fell
And I'm going through hell
Thinking about you with somebody else
Somebody wants you
Somebody needs you
Somebody dreams about you every single night
Somebody can't breathe, without you it's lonely
Somebody hopes that one day you will see
That somebody's me
While singing Tia kept looking at Braddin, her eyes constantly searching for someone's special. Braddin gave a wide grin he loved the way Tia sang. Everyone clapped, when Tia finished bowing to one another.
Rebecca turned to face Skyler, and he gave her a stiff nod. Waiting for Tia to get down, he went up happily and took the mike.
"Hi all." He said. "The song I am going to sing is for someone who's special to me. Which will I get in the future someday?"
Tia and Ash laughed out loud. Even Roy and Ethan grinned. Braddin smiled and Rebecca had her fingers crossed. Ian became shy but worried. Skyler was beaming at her .
"Ian....do you mind playing the guitar ?" He asked
Before Ian could protest or argue, Braddin leaped up and handed the guitar to her. With no choice left Ian walked shyly and sat down in place of Braddin. Skyler tapped at the guitar.
I don't know why you always get so insecure
I wish you could see what I see when you're looking in the mirror
And why won't you believe me when I say
That to me you get more beautiful, everyday
Cause you're my cover, cover girl
I think you're a superstar, yeah you are
Why don't you know
Yeah, you're so pretty that it hurts
It's what's underneath your skin
The beauty that shines within
You're the only one that rocks my world
My cover girl
Oh, my cover girl
And you wear baggy clothes that camouflage your shape
Whoa, but you know that I love you, just the way you're made
Wish you would stop being so hard on yourself for a while
And when I see that face
I'd try a thousand ways
I would do anything to make you smile
Cause you're my cover, cover girl
I think you're a superstar, yeah you are
Why don't you know
Yeah, you're so pretty that it hurts
It's what's underneath your skin
The beauty that shines within
You're the only one that rocks my world
My cover girl
The crowd was laughing and clapping the way he sang, Ian fell completely spellbound. She was so surprised that she struggled to keep the tune right. Skyler winked at her and grinned whenever he sang the line COVER GIRL. Tia and Ash were enjoying themselves but both of them looked a little confused. Even the boys were amazed. Rebecca was dancing all around, clapping hard, grinning broadly.
Everyone clapped and cheered when he finished. Skyler, beamed at Ian again setting down the mike. Rebecca pushed Ian for something. She was forcing Ian to tell Sky through the song whatever she felt about him. Ian became shy but when Rebecca showed her slippers at her, she stood up and took the mike from him.
Skyler grinned more broadly, grabbing the guitar.
"Evening guys. I hope you will like whatever I sing." Ian managed to say, too much afraid watching Tia sitting in front.
Ian glanced at Sky and he looked back at her. A small soft smile twisted upon her face to see him like that. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes then opening them again directly at Skyler.
The things we did, the things we said
Keep coming back to me and make me smile again
You showed me how to face the truth
Everything that's good in me I owe to you
Though the distance that's between us
Now may seem to be too far
It will never separate us
Deep inside I know you are
Never gone, never far
In my heart is where you are
Always close, everyday
Every step along the way
Even though for now we've gotta say goodbye
I know you will be forever in my life
Never gone
I walk alone these empty streets
There is not a second you're not here with me
The love you gave, the grace you've shown
Will always give me strength and be my cornerstone
(Somehow)
Somehow you found a way
To see the best I have in me
As long as time goes on
I swear to you that you will be
Never gone, never far
In my heart is where you are
Always close (always close)
Everyday (everyday)
Every step along the way
Even though for now we've gotta say goodbye
I know you will be forever in my life (in my life yeah)
Skyler and Rebecca were so happy that they wanted to rush forward and pull Ian into a hug. Rebecca was literally dancing around, clapping hard and cheering to encourage her. Skyler forgot to play guitar in the middle. He was so lost in the lyrics. When Ian finished all she was both Skyler and Rebecca's happy lit up faces and Tia and Ash's confused puzzled face.
They scratched their heads looking from Ian to Skyler to Rebecca. Rebecca was so happy that she forgot who was sitting beside her. She kissed Ash on the cheek in excitement and hugged Wade...who was sitting innocently. He too started thinking why she had gone crazy.
As for Ian and Skyler, they both stared into one another's eyes, smiling at each other. Both of them searched for happiness in one another and the smiles grew wider and wider. Skyler gave Ian a thankful nod and Ian returned the same to him