~*~ Chapter 20 ~*~
REDDING, CA - The Addams' House - Dec. 27TH, 2001 - Thursday
Kirstin looked at her reflection on the mirror in the bathroom once again. She was wearing a low-rise blue jeans pants and a tight long sleeve lavender baby look tee. It showed a little of her fit belly, but not too much. And the cleavage was just enough not to be the slutty type. She was wearing black boots with a small heel, her hair was flat down and the only make up she was wearing was some lip-gloss. She was satisfied with her looks as she got out of the bathroom and entered the master room. Tom was brushing his hair staring at the mirror at the wall. When he saw the reflection of Kirstin on the mirror, he put the brush down and looked at her.
"Wow, you look great!" he grinned at her.
"Thanks, baby." she said going to his direction "You don't look bad yourself. Love the pullover." she smirked and kissed him softly on the lips. Tom was wearing the green pullover Kirstin's mother had given him for Christmas, which made his bright-green eyes stand out even more. He also had black pants and his dark brown hair was perfect "And you smell great."
"Well, the cologne was your gift."
"Really? It didn't smell that nice when I bought it. It smells better on you." she pulled his neck to her and inhaled the cologne. It was pretty good. She then kissed it, sending shivers all over Tom's body. Leaving the neck, she went straight to his mouth, kissing him hungrily. When they pulled back, Tom just smiled.
"Wow!" he said "What was that for?"
"Nothing much. Just wanted to taste my fiancée." she said biting Tom's bottom lip.
"Ok."
That wasn't exactly a Kirstin behavior, but he didn't complain.
"So, we better get going. Let me just get a coat, because it's chilly outside."
"Get that black leather one that I like."
"Ok." she yelled from inside the closet "Done. Let's go." they held hands and left the house.
REDDING, CA - The Angel's House
"Hurry up, Hailey!" Ashley yelled to Hailey in the bathroom. It was 7 p.m. already and they had agreed on the telephone that they'd meet at 7:30 p.m.
"Just a sec." Hailey yelled back from inside the bathroom.
Ashley was pacing around his room, but stopped to look at the mirror. He checked the light blue jeans pants he was wearing. Perfect. He checked the red t-shirt he was wearing. It was a bit tight, but it was good because it showed his great pecs. He checked the hair. Perfect as always. He then looked back when he heard the bathroom's door open.
"Finally! What took you so long?"
"Oh, look who's talking! It's your fault I took so long because it was you that took so long taking a bath before me."
"Ok, so it's my fault. Let's just go. We're gonna be late." he grabbed her wrist and was practically dragging her out the room.
"Wait! Let me get my purse first."
"Ok, hurry up." Hailey got the purse from Ashley's bed while he waited for her by the door.
"Ok, now we can go."
"Good. Let's go then."
REDDING, CA - The Peach
Ashley opened the door for Hailey, gave the keys to the valey guy and headed to the bar.
"You didn't say anything about my clothes." Hailey sounded hurt.
"Oh, sorry, baby. It's just that I was in such a hurry trying to get here in time, but you look gorgeous as always." he smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips.
Hailey was wearing brown leather pants and a tight black blouse that had only one long sleeve, leaving her right shoulder naked. The blouse was tiny, showing almost all her belly. You could see her great abs and her bellybutton piercing. She had black boots on and the make up was a bit heavy, with a lot of eye liner and mascara to make her light hazel eyes stand out.
Ashley and Hailey got a table and waited for the other couple to get there.
"See? You were so desperate to get here and they are not even here yet."
"Yeah, well… they'll be here soon."
"I like this place." Hailey took a good look at the restaurant. It had a nice vibe. It was like a T.G.I. Friday's or an Outback "Oh, look! They have a Karaoke machine! We have to sing!"
"I don't know. Kirstin is not really into singing and…"
"I don't care about Kirstin! I'm gonna sing and you are gonna sing too. I'll go get the list so we can choose a song."
"No, Hailey…" and before Ashley could say anything else, Hailey was off, heading to where the Karaoke machine was. Ashley just shook his head. He knew Kirstin wouldn't like the idea of singing. She never sung when they used to go there. He looked down and smiled. He lifted his head up when he sensed someone standing beside him on the table.
"Hey." Kirstin greeted him with her gorgeous smile. It should have hypnotized him, because he didn't even realized Tom was right beside her. He got up and just smiled big into her eyes.
"Hi." he kissed her on the cheeks and just stared at her. She felt weird.
"So, where's Hailey? I thought it was gonna be a double date." Tom spoke up and just then, Ashley realized his presence.
"Oh. Hi." Ashley left his gaze of Kirstin and looked at Tom, shaking his hand "Well, she went to get the list of songs for the Karaoke machine."
"Oh, no!" Kirstin exclaimed, sitting down. She sat in front of Ashley. Tom sat beside her, in front of Hailey's seat.
"What?" Tom asked.
"She doesn't like to sing." Ashley answered for her.
"What? Really?" Tom looked at her.
"Yeah. I just can't sing."
"That's nonsense. I bet you can sing great."
"No, I can't." Kirstin just shook her head.
"Trust her, man, she can't." Ashley said.
"Ashley!" Kirstin exclaimed.
"But that's the truth!" Ashley defended himself, grinning. Hailey got to the table.
"Hello everyone!" she greeted from her seat.
"Hey." Kirstin and Tom spoke together.
"So, I got the list." she waved the list at Ashley "Do you wanna pick your song now?"
"Hailey, I think we should eat first, then sing. If singing is really what you wanna do." Ashley was looking through the menu.
"Yes, I do wanna sing. But why can't we sing now?"
"It's just that I'm starving." he answered "We can sing later."
"You're no fun." she pouted.
"Well, you know that's a lie." he grinned at her and kissed her on the lips. Kirstin was staring at them. When they pulled back, Ashley looked at Kirstin and saw her staring. She tried to cover it looking somewhere else, but Ashley sensed that and smiled down.
"Are you ready to order?" a waitress got to their table with a pad of paper and a pencil in hand.
"Sorry, I still have to decide it." Tom answered looking over the menu.
"Me too." Hailey looked at the menu Ashley had in his hands.
"Ok. When you're ready, just let me know." the nice waitress said leaving the table.
"So, Keekee, what are you gonna order?" Tom showed her the menu.
"Oh, it's ok. I already know what I want."
"The usual?" Ashley asked. Kirstin just shook her head, smiling.
"What? What usual? What do you mean?" Hailey asked, looking at Ashley. Tom looked at Kirstin.
"Well, it's just that…" Kirstin started.
"We always order the same burger when we come here. Well, when we used to come here, in 11th grade."
"Which one is that?" Tom didn't have a happy face on when he faced Kirstin to ask her that.
"The bronco burger." Ashley answered. Tom just shot him a look. It was the second time Ashley was answering for Kirstin and Tom wasn't liking it.
"This one, sweetie." Kirstin pointed out the item on the menu so Tom would know which one they were talking about.
"Oh, well, I don't think I'll like it." Tom said.
"Yeah. There's tomato on it. But you can ask them to get it off, if you want to." Ashley was paying attention to their talk. She knew he didn't like tomatos. They knew some stuff about each other, then. Their likes and dislikes.
"Well, let me see what else they have here." Tom stated and Kirstin got closer to him, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and they both looked at the menu, trying to find Tom something to eat.
"Ash?" Hailey spoke up.
"Yes!" Ashley exclaimed as Hailey had just woke him up.
"I'll have a regular cheeseburger."
"Ok. And to drink?"
"A diet coke."
"Ok. Are you guys ready to order?" Ashley asked Tom and Kirstin.
"Yes." Kirstin answered and Ashley waved at the waitress. They ordered and while waiting for their meal, they chatted.
"What are you gonna sing, Ashley?" Hailey asked. She was again looking at the song list.
"I don't know if I'm gonna sing or…"
"You have to! I don't wanna be the only one to sing here."
"I'll sing." Tom said.
"You will?" Kirstin questioned looking at him "I didn't know you could sing."
"Oh, I can't. But I'm going to. So you are gonna have to also."
"No, no, no!" Kirstin shook her head.
"I tried so many times to convince her to sing, Tom, you have no idea. It's a lost cause." Ashley told him.
"Ashley is right, you know?" Kirstin smiled at her fiancée.
"Well, it's different now, K." Tom got closer to her ear and whispered "I'm the one asking this time." Kirstin was smiling while Tom whispered the words in her ear. Ashley and Hailey weren't hearing a thing "And if you do sing, tonight I can give you something you will never forget." he said, licking her ear. It sent shivers all over her body. He pulled back and looked at her eyes smiling. She did the same. When she turned her gaze, she looked at Hailey.
"Can I take a look at that list?" Kirstin asked, taking the song list from Hailey and looking at it with a big grin on. Ashley just stared at her. 'What did he tell her to make her change her mind?' he wondered. Tom was also looking at the song list, choosing a song for him to sing.
"I picked my song already." Hailey informed.
"Me too." Ashley said and Kirstin looked over the song list at him.
"You didn't even look here to see what song they have."
"I know they have the one I wanna sing. I heard a man singing it here once."
"Oh, ok." Kirstin return her gaze to the song list.
"I just picked mine." Tom told them.
"Which one?" Kirstin asked.
"I'm gonna sing it to you." he got up and looked over Kirstin's shoulder to get the number of the song "Wait here." he head to the Karaoke Machine.
"What is he gonna sing?" Hailey asked.
"I have no idea." Kirstin shook her head and stared at Tom going to the little stage they had for people to sing on. Ashley and Hailey also turned to look at him.
The minute the melody started, Kirstin's eyes were already watery. When she heard his first note, a tear felt from her eyes.
You're
just too good to be true
Can't
take my eyes off of you
You'd
be like heaven to touch
I
wanna hold you so much
At
long last love has arrived
And
I thank God I'm alive
You're
just too good to be true
Can't
take my eyes off of you
During the song, Tom was staring directly at Kirstin and Kirstin at him. She was crying and you could feel the emotion on his voice. Both of them had a small grin on their face.
Pardon
the way that I stare
There's
nothing else to compare
The
sight of you leaves me weak
There
are no words left to speak
But
if you feel like I feel
Please
let me know that it's real
You're
just too good to be true
Can't
take my eyes off of you
Now Tom was getting excited. The best part was coming up. He smiled big and, pointing at Kirstin, continued.
I
love you baby
And
if it's quite already I need you baby
To
warm the lonely nights
I
love you baby
Trust
in me when I say
Oh,
pretty baby
Don't
let me down I pray
Oh,
pretty baby
Now
that I found you, stay
And
let me love you baby
Let
me love you
(Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You - The Pretenders)
When the song was over, everybody was applauding. He got off the stage and headed to the table, still, his stare glued at Kirstin's. When he sat, Kirstin just kissed him passionately, not minding the other couple on the table. Ashley wasn't enjoying it, but Hailey had a smile on.
"Oh, how sweet!" Hailey exclaimed.
They continued to kiss. After a while, Kirstin pulled back.
"Thank you so much, Tommy." Tom wiped the tears on Kirstin's face off with his thumb.
"You're welcome, baby."
"That was really nice, Tom." Hailey spoke up "Wasn't it, Ashley?"
"Yes, it was." Ashley had no expression on when he answered that.
"Thanks. That's our song." Tom wrapped his arm around Kirstin's shoulder.
"You have a song?" Hailey asked all enthusiastic. Kirstin and Tom nodded That's so nice! We gotta have a song, Ash!" she looked at Ash and he looked at her just smiling weakly "But why this song?"
"That was the song that was playing when I first saw her on the club." Tom answered.
"And he also played that song when he proposed to me." Kirstin smiled at Tom tenderly.
"Oh, that's so sweet!" Hailey exclaimed.
"Thanks." Kirstin said "I didn't know you could sing!"
"Well, I try. I like to sing."
"You do it pretty good." Hailey was being nice.
Kirstin looked at Ashley and he didn't exactly have a happy face on. He was playing with the salt and pepper shaker. She didn't like to see him like that. She felt bad.
"Ok. I'm next." Kirstin informed, getting the song list from the table.
"No way you're singing for real." Ashley doubted her.
"Of course I am." Kirstin looked at Tom and grinned "I said I would."
"But what are you singing?" Tom asked.
"I have absolutely no idea. I'm just gonna pick anything here." Kirstin answered going through the numerously list "Ok. Got one. You sang a song for me and I'll sing one for you." Kirstin pecked Tom on the lips before getting up and going to the little stage. She typed the code, pushed play and started singing.
I,
I'm so in love with you
Whatever
you want to do
Is
all right with me
'Cause
you make me feel so brand new
And
I want to spend my life with you
Since,
since we've been together
Loving
you forever
Is
what I need
Let
me be the one you come running to
I'll
never be untrue
Kirstin was dancing a little and pointing at Tom and Tom just sat there, with a huge smile upon his face. Ashley was looking at Kirstin singing on that little stage and turning to look at Tom's face.
Let's,
let's stay together
Loving
you whether, whether
Times
are good or bad, happy or sad
Whether
times are good or bad, happy or sad
Kirstin was still looking only and directly at Tom. Ashley was
feeling a little sad. They really seemed to be in love. He didn't know why
he was feeling that way. He had Hailey and was happy with their relationship.
Why,
why people break up
Then
turn around and make up
I
just can't see
You'd
never do that to me
Would
you, baby?
Staying
around you is all I see
Here's
what I want us to do
Let's,
we oughta stay together
Loving
you whether, whether
Times
are good or bad, happy or sad
(Let's Stay Together - Al Green)
When the song came to an end, people clapped their hands and Kirstin went to the table.
"So… That was nice." Hailey said the moment Kirstin sat down.
"I know I sing poorly, but did you like it, baby?" Kirstin didn't even mind Hailey's remark.
"You don't sing bad. And, oh, yeah, I liked it. You're getting so much more than I had planned for tonight." he grinned big and kissed her hard on the lips. Kirstin smiled through the kiss.
"Ok. Now, me." Ashley got up while Kirstin and Tom were still kissing.
"Honey, have you checked the code already?" Hailey waved the song list to him.
"Let me check." Ashley went through the list and then closed it, leaving the table without another word.
In the little stage, he grabbed the microphone, pushed some buttons and the song started.
My
shattered dreams and broken heart
Are
mending on the shelf
I
saw you holding hand
Standing
close to someone else
Now
I sit all alone
Wishing
all my feeling was gone
I
gave my best to you
Nothing
for me to do
But
have one last cry
One
last cry
Before
I leave it all behind
I
gotta put you out of my mind this time
Stop
living a lie
I
guess I'm down to my last cry
Ashley was staring at Kirstin and Kirstin at him. She started to feel a bit uncomfortable. She knew pretty well he was singing the song to her. And Tom seemed to know it pretty well too. His face wasn't the best. Just Hailey seemed to be totally clueless, watching her boyfriend, smiling at him.
I
was here
You
were there
Guess
we never could agree
While
the sun shines on you
I
need some love to rain on me
Still
I sit all alone
Wishing
all my feeling was gone
Gotta
get over you
Nothing
for me to do
But
have one last cry
Kirstin wasn't staring at Ashley anymore. She would look at his direction from time to time. She'd see his gaze was frozen on her and she'd turn her look away. Tom had his arms rested on Kirstin's shoulder and was starting to get more jealous by the second. Kirstin was trying to talk to him, make him forget what was happening. It wasn't working, though.
One
last cry
Before
I leave it all behind
I
gotta put you out of my mind
For
the very last time
Been
living a lie
I
guess I'm down, I guess I'm down
I
guess I'm down
I
guess I'm down
To
my last cry
(One Last Cry - Brian McKnight)
The song stopped and the applauses were really loud. People really enjoyed it, after all, a professional was singing. When Ashley was getting to the table, Kirstin was already trying to calm Tom down so he wouldn't do anything stupid to Ashley.
"Baby, listen, don't do anything, ok?" Kirstin whispered to Tom "It doesn't mean anything."
"Oh, it doesn't? Come on! Am I blind and deaf? I saw him staring at you!" Tom didn't keep it too low.
"Tom, just… don't do anything. Not now, when everything is great. Please."
Tom didn't have the time to answer it, because Ashley got to the table.
"Honey, that was so incredible. You sang great. And the song was so beautiful." Hailey kissed him softly on the lips.
"Thanks." Ashley thanked her girlfriend. He looked at Kirstin. She wasn't facing him. He didn't say anything.
"I'm starving." Kirstin remarked.
"Me too!" Hailey agreed.
"Oh, I think that's ours." Kirstin pointed to the waitress going to their table's direction.
The waitress placed their food on the table and left. Kirstin looked at Tom. He was staring at Ashley and Ashley at him.
"Let's eat." Kirstin said and everyone obeyed.
* Thanx Taryn and Stacie for reviewing and correcting the grammar errors *
~*~ Chapter 19 ~*~
~*~ Chapter 21 ~*~
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