| Suspended Ages |
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| He verily floated on air all the way home. He'd never felt so giddy before. He was thinking that he'd probably looked a bit foolish the way he nearly drooled over the dish beside him- and he wasn't thinking about the icecream. But at this point, he really didn't care anymore. After all, he'd just spent the rest of the afternoon in conversation with the woman that had consumed him for so long now. He sauntered into his appartment, closing the door with his foot as he tossed his keys to the table. He let out a contented sigh as he kicked off his shoes on his way to the fridge. His grin was still plastered on his face as he reached for a beer. After popping the top and taking a big swig- he cruised the contents of the freezer humming a merry tune. Suddenly he let out a huge guffaw. He laughed so hard he had to lean against the crust of ice that blanketed a bag of steakfries. He'd just remembered that not only had he forgotten to get his prescripton filled, he'd also forgotten to finnish the rest of his shopping. Shakeing his head with a grin he closed the freezer and headed for the phone. Riffling through the huge stack of take out menus in his collection. he made up his mind to go shopping again to finnish what he'd forgotten that day. As he dialed the number to 'Chows House of Chow' he snickered. If he was really lucky, maybe he could 'run' into Melody again. ***** ***** Once more spring had sprung. Bridget headed out for a much deserved vacation during her spring break, and left in charge of her coveted job, one very lovely Melody. Zac was left searching his mind for any reason to come in contact with her before he himself had to head out of town on a promotional tour. But he never got the chance to come up with anything. Before he could. she called him. "Hello?" "Hello. Professor Hanson? This is Melody Thompson, Bridgets housemate?" He was stricken suddenly with a knot in his tongue. "Professor? Are you there?" He began to panic- his mind lurching to and fro as he searched for his sanity. It caught him off guard so abruptly that the woman of his dreams was calling him. A strangled sound escaped from his parched throat. It was the best he could manage at the moment. "Professor?" She sounded like she was about to hang up- he snapped to, clearing his throat a bit, then tried to keep his voice calm as he spoke. "I'm so sorry. I'm here. I just ... I just dropped the phone. Sorry." He lied, keeping is fingers crossed hoping he didn't sound as stupid as he felt. "Oh! Well! That's quite alright. Happens to every one." She smoothed. Inwardly he sighed. "So... what can I do for you?" He asked, his own inner thoughts tumbling around in his head, touching on the many fantasies he'd had. When she spoke, it brought him back quickly to the fact that she was still there. "Well... since Bridget has left already, I guess that leaves me as chief cook and bottle washer." She joked. He laughed with her until she continued. "And since a package was delivered here today, I thought I ought to let you know. Bridget told me before she left that she was expecting it. She said to let you know when it came, you'd know what to do with it." She explained. He wracked his brain for a moment then remembered what was in the package. "Oh! Yeah! Well, I guess I'll have to come by and pick it up tomarrow." He said. Hope in his heart that he'd get to see her again on the next day. "Well actually..." She began. His heart started to sink. "I've got an appointment later this afternoon. If you'd like, I'll drop it off for you this evening." She offered. He thought his heart had stopped. She was comming to him? Tonight! He nearly had a heart attack. He wanted to crawl through the phone to get to her. "Uhh..." He didn't want to sound too eager. "Sure. I suppose you could... but I don't want you to go out of your way. You don't really have to do that. I can come and get it tomarrow." He offered ingenuinely. "Oh it's no imposition. I don't mind at all. Really! Just give me directions to your place, and I'll have it there just after five or so." She offered again. He wanted to jump for joy. He couldn't believe his luck. He fidgeted the entire time he gave her directions and said his goodbyes. When he'd hung up- he actually did jump. He couldn't contain himself. Then he realized he was standing there in mismatched socks and pokemon boxers. With a hole in the ass. Right. He definately had to do something about that. Four o'clock and he was ready for his expected visitor. Matching socks. Presentable clothes. Even underware without any holes. As he checked his reflection for anything that he thought she would find offensive or he knew would make him look stupid, his stomach growled. 'Great.' He thought. Just what he needed. Not! He went with his usual stand by and threw a frozen pizza into the oven. Just as he was about to turn on the oven, the phone rang. Leaving the frosty food behind, he jumped for the phone,. After all, it could be Melody. Alas... it was only Taylor. He tried his best to get rid of him. But sometimes Taylor was just unshakeable. This appeared to be one of those times. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally got rid of his long winded brother Taylor. He turned on the oven and needlessly tidied the already tidy apartment. When the doobell rang, he nearly jumped out of his skin. She was early. He didn't know what to do with himself. A quick look around, and he headed for the door. When the door swung away, there stood a vision of lovliness before him. He was so stuck in his own little world that it took a moment or two for him to say anything. She looked up to him, hitching the box higher in her grasp as she waited for him to say something... anything. As if he was dropped there suddenly from another reality, he 'came to' and reached for the box. "I'm sorry! Here let me take that for you. Did you have any trouble finding the place?" He was so nervous he thought he sounded like an idiot. But it was already too late, what was done, was done. He tried to calm himself down. "Nope! No trouble at all. You gave me great directions." She chirped. If he was afraid of looking dumb in front of her, she was making him feel more relaxed. Perhaps he didn't sound stupid after all? It did wonders to ease the conversation from him. He always had a feeling she would bring out the best in him. Apparently his hunch was right. He ushered her into the apartment since she didn't seem to be in much of a hurry. He wanted to thank her. He wanted to talk with her He wanted to spend some time with her. He just wanted her. For now, he'd take what he would get. Even if that meant only a soda and a bit of conversation. It would be enough... for now anyway. One step at a time. One step at a time. "I'll just get what Bridget needs out of here..." He lamely said, trying for any excuse to spend even a moment longer with her. He took the box to the kitchen, rummageing for a knife. From the corner of his eye he saw her tenatively step into his appartment more, lean against the half wall where the phone sat, and watch him. As he opened the box and riffled within. He took a glance her way and saw she was looking around the appartment with mild curiosity. He smiled to himself... until he smelled something burning. Quickly he dropped what he was doing and grabbed for the towel hanging on the fridge door as he tossed open the oven. Smoke billowed from the heated box and he waved the towel infront of his face to clear it away. With a groan he reached in to pull out the scortched pizza. He tossed the chared offense into the sink and turned back to turn off the oven. In his haste after his conversation with his brother he'd apparently set the oven to broil instead of bake. He rolled his eyes at himself as he sighed, closing the oven. He reached over the sink, opening the window to let the remains of the smoke out. "I'm sorry, did I make you forget about your dinner in the oven?" She asked from behind him. He turned quickly, startled. She was now standing just inside the door of the kitchen, He felt weak in the knees. Leaning against the sink, in what he hoped was a casual mannor, he slapped on an unsure suave grin. "No. Not your faoult at all. It seems I'd not been paying attenton to what I was doing after my brother's call interrupted my making my masterpiece." He quiped, his hand gestureing to the ashes on the pizza tin behind him. She laughed, a soft little tinkling of a laugh. It made his insides turn to jello. "I suppose you never have that happen to you do you since you're such a good cook and all." He commented as he grabbed his stack of take out menus. She eyed him oddly. He gave her a genuine sheepish grin and shrugged as he pulled a Thai delivery menu from the multitude. "Bridget told me the night she had me over for dinner before she began working with me." He supplied. She noded, understanding crossing her face as her mouth shaped into a soft round "oh". He had all he could do to tear his eyes from her delectable mouth. He reached for the phone, hopeing he could work up the nerve to ask her to join him. "You know..." She said softly, eyes downcast as he was in the middle of dialing. Immediately he stopped and looked to her. She was a spark of beauty in a dull and lifeless world, and it made his heart skip a beat in it's procession. "I could make dinner for you." She offered. As he opened his mouth in ingenuine protest she cut him off, raising her tiny hand, her jaw set in determination. "It's the least I can do after everything you've done for me and Bridget. If it wasn't for you, well... I just don't know what would have happened to us." She said with a twist of a tear to her voice. He wanted so badly to hold her and take the ache from her. "Melody..." He didn't even realize he'd meant to speak. The tenderness in his voice smoothed over her name like velvet. "I didn't do much, but I couldn't *not* help. I'm happy to have Bridget work with me, she is a joy in y life." He confessed truthfully. She looked into his eyes, the ernest admiration and respect she held for him burning there between them. She smiled wistfully at him, her resolve hardening before his eyes. "It's settled then." She nodded mostly to herself. She turned aroudn and headed for the door. "You'd better get some shoes on." She called back over her shoudler. He shook his head to disengage from his daze. A grin set firmly upon his abundant lips as he tossed the phone back on it's cradle and ran to catch up with her, grabbing his keys and shoes on his way out the door. She was waiting for him at the top of the stairs, a grin to match his spreading over her face. He leaned on the doorframe and jammed his shoes on, then hurridly locked the door. He sprinted to the other end of the hall to her side. He gestured for her to proceed him and she nodded gratefully before descending the stair. He watched her auburn curls bounce upon her shoulders from behind her. He had to mentally restrain himself from reaching out to touch her, finger those soft waves that played amidst her tresses. The dull light of early evening was settling over his surroundings when they entered the parking lot together. He eyed her compact little car and groaned inwardly. "Do you mind if we take mine? I'll bring you back for your's later." He asked, warily eyeing her modest but small car. She looked up to him, towering over her as he stood next to her. She smiled and shrugged. "I suppose it is a bit on the cramped side for somebody as tall as you. No problem though, we're only going to the store. It woud take too long to go to the store then all the way over to our house. Much easier if I just make dinner for you here." She revealed. He coudln't hide the slaphappy grin that sprouted then, with a leaping inward joy, he took her elbow and guided her to his parking garage. His keys jangled and he found the little black button attached to his ring. He hated to let her go, to loose the close contact they were enjoying, but he had to use both hands for the tasks ahead. "So... what'll it be? Sedan? SUV? Pickup? I know the motorcycle is out of the question." He grinned. Melody looked at him for a moment and he couldn't read her expression. He tried to fill the conversation lull. "The sedan is Tay's, my brother, but I can use it whenever I want. The SUV, well, that's what I use when I'm on the road, more room you know. The motorcycle, well, that's just a toy really. Something I bought for myself years ago. Now the truck, I use that one everyday. Saves on gas you know." He was at a loss for why she didn't seem to be responding, at least she made her way to the truck. He went over to the passenger side and unlocked the door, opening it for her and giving her a hand up politely. She gave him a small wavering smile. He beamed back at her with false confidence, hopeing it would thaw the sudden cold front their conversation was suffering from. He jogged over to the drivers side and humidly jumped in. "So... where to?" He asked as they pulled out into the main though way of the parking lot. She seemed to pull herself out of her shell some and gave him a watered down smile. "Left on Crenshaw, two lights and another left on Davies street." She instructed. He nodded and pulled out into traffic, a soft hum under his voice out of habit. There wasn't any conversation for a few minutes, but his humming was subconcious now. He'd just passed the second light when her quiet voice broke the dam. "Is that how you come up with your melodies?" He stopped, only then realizing that he was in fact humming. He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, was I bothering you?I didn't really realize..." "No! No, I was just wondering is all. I mean... I've never really met... a professional musician before." She said, her cheeks flushing a bit as she pretended to look out the window. He could see she was neverous, then figured it was because she was just realizing that he was famous. Sometimes he thought his celebrity a curse. "Oh... Well... Sometimes I suppose. But mostly, It's just an annoying habit of mine. I suppose a lot of people hum while they drive... don't they?" He wondered a loud. She shrugged, her demeanor still a bit stiff. He could feel her moving away from the conversation and tried to cast about for a thread of conversation to keep her attention focused. "Oh, I have plenty of other annoying habits too." He grinned, tossing a look her way. She returned it genuinely this time. I mean, I can't count the number of times I've left the milk on the counter to spoil. Boy,that one used to really piss off Mom!" He quipped. This time he got a laugh. A beautiful laugh. |
| *5* |
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| thanks for read'n Z-ya! |