Chapter Four- 'In Your Eyes,
I See My Future In An Instant'
Fifteen souls later...
"I can't believe you've never heard of them!" Melissa cried out.
After much thinking, Isaac realised he wasn't that much attracted to Melissa. He wanted a good friend, not a meal and she seemed the type. Well, maybe they could go out. But Isaac didn't want to get so hungry he'd bite her. He'd hate that to no ends. He was probably a little non-sober on Halloween or had gotten obsessed over her so much for the past months he'd expected a wonder-woman when he saw her again. She was still stunningly beautiful, she just wasn't the beautiful he'd remembered. Or maybe he was just a little upset after Gemma. Like anybody would want him, and not for a real reason. The fact that she liked him while he was still human was something to like in a girl.
But anyway they had been hanging out for a few weeks and seemed to like eachother immensely. They were both just too afraid to act on it. They thought they would hurt eachother and that scared them. So they were to stay as friends.
"I've heard of them. But I hardly know their songs." Ike said as they crossed the street to the next row of stores.
"Well you better, and fast 'cause Metallica are the best. You mean you've never heard any of their songs? What about Fuel?"
"Uh... Maybe. I dunno. You're gonna have to show me all these bands. Just to expand my musical knowledge or something."
"If you'll do me one thing?"
"What?"
"Do a round of twenty questions with me. I wanna know the dirt on you." She laughed.
Ike sighed, smiling. "I don't think twenty will be enough."
"Whatever." She smiled. "Hey, d'you wanna come round mine," she saw his look, "to talk! Shish, you really need to take things more slowly."
"What are you talking about? I wasn't thinking anything."
"Does that make a change?" Ike playfully hit her on the shoulder. "Calm down!"
"Don't mock me, Okay?"
"Fine, fine. Ruin all the fun, don't you?"
They crossed a few more streets to a smaller one. Melissa led him up a complex to nearly the top floor. They walked down a brightly lit corridor to one of the (what looked like) hundreds of identical doors.
"It's a tip and if my roommate is home don't take a thing to heart about what she says. It's three in the afternoon so she'll be either hung-over or stoned." Ike nodded.
"Stop acting like I'm gonna be totally shocked by your place."
"Just making sure your squeaky-clean mind wont be soiled."
"Whatever." He sighed. He felt a wave of panic come over him until he saw the doormat reading 'Welcome'. He sighed with relief.
She had trouble opening the door as something was on the other side blocking the way. She shoved it aside with her foot and opened the door fully. She stepped in like Indiana Jones stepping into the unknown tomb. Dodging a bowl of half-eaten cereal and watching out for anything moving, Ike followed.
"It's not always this messy, Okay?" Melissa said grumpily, picking up one or two unknown objects in a living room. "I spend one night out on the town and Angie has to turn it into the coast of Normandy in 1944." Ike laughed. "You wanna find somewhere to sit? I think that's a sofa." She pointed to a mountain of things covering a what-used-to-be white sofa.
"So, I take it you blame all the mess on your roommate."
"I'm a tidy person! You look at my bedroom."
Ike raised an eyebrow. "Inviting, aren't we?"
"Shutup! That's not what I meant."
"F'sure." Ike sat down on the sofa. "You lived on your own long?"
"Ever since I moved out of the foster home." Melissa replied while trying to collect up a few things.
"You're adopted?"
"Nope. I'm still an orphan. I don't really do well with families. Kinda too independent."
"What happened to your parents? Not to be nosey."
"I don't care. They died when I was little. Boating accident. I don't remember them much. Not that it matters." Melissa threw a few things in the bin and sat next to him.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Anyway, I stayed with my boyfriend. But, he died also in a gang-fight. But that was a long time ago, it doesn't matter."
"Was he nice?"
She smiled sadly. "He was my fianc�. But, he wasn't liked much. I don't like to think about him much, it hurts to think about him."
"I don't know what to say." Isaac said.
"Well don't say 'poor baby', I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself." Ike noticed how quiet she had gotten.
He decided to get her mind off of it. "So, you wanted twenty questions?"
Melissa grinned. "Yep. Okay... Lemmie think of a few, Okay?"
"Okay. That's one."
"No way!"
"Yes way!"
"Fine! Um... Favourite movie?"
"Easy. Star Wars."
"Ne-rd!" She laughed. "Okay, vanilla or chocolate?"
"What?"
"Just answer the question! Vanilla or chocolate?"
"Vanilla."
"You ever French-kissed?"
Ike was shocked she believed what most people thought of him. "Of course."
"In public? Like where some of your devoted stalker fans can see?"
"Uh... Yeah. Probably."
"Ever cried in a movie?"
"No." Ike paused for a second. "Hey... How come you didn't ask the most logical question after the last one?"
"Ike, Sweetie, I don't think you're a virgin. I know. And I haven't even known you for a month."
Ike looked glum for a second. He didn't like the impression he always gave off. Actually sometimes it was Okay, but, still, he was no way near innocent. But he decided not to go into it. "Fine."
"Ever taken up the offers some fans ask?"
"Uh... No. Well there was one I would have but, no." Ike smiled. "Doesn't that make me sad?"
"Not really..."
They both turned to the door as they could hear a key turning in the lock and mumbling from the person on the other side.
"Oh God." Melissa mumbled. "It's Angie! I think she had drama rehearsal. Ignore any offers she asks from you, she's just a little..."
"Enitia, darling!" Angie cried as she flung open the door.
Ike couldn't help but laugh as she stepped into the room in a very twenties get up. Her hair was tied under a lady's bandana, her coat was fake fur and she had a body-suit underneath and she wore knee-high boots. In her hand was a cigarette on the end of a long holder. Obviously she was resembling some sort of evil Crueller Devil-like mistress.
"Had fun at rehearsals?"
Angie pranced towards the kitchen. "It was simply marvellous darling, marvellous! Oh Enitia you really must try to wear more fashionable clothes, I can't have my employees making me look bad!" She grabbed a bottle of beer from the fridge.
"She kinda gets into her roles too much, Okay?" Melissa whispered to Ike. He nodded.
"Have you ever met the likes of Samuel? Oh, he is divine, I must say." She sighed, still putting on the voice.
"Nope. Hey, some guy named Rob called about twenty times this morning."
Angie giggled. "I'm putting him on edge. He upstaged me at the party with that Marilyn Monroe wannabe, so I'm going to keep him waiting. If he thinks he can just crawl back without an apology then I might as well throw all my self respect away."
"Like you have much." Melissa laughed. "Oh, Angie, I'd like you to meet..."
Angie sighed, breaking back into her normal Australian accent. "Oh God, is this another one of your weirdo freaks you met at the bar? Melissa, how many times have I told you to find a good partner. But no, you..." Angie turned to see Ike. To imagine her face just picture a cartoon character when falling in love. With added hearts and tongue dangling. No real difference. "Oh my..."
"Hi, I like the accent." Ike said, still trying not to laugh.
"Thank-you." She mumbled. "I'm, uh, you know, uh, you're, oh God, I, uh..." She spluttered out before she ran off into her bedroom and slammed the door shut.
"Tried to tell you. She has a thing for you, as with most guitar players." Melissa whispered.
They both heard a scream from Angie's bedroom.
"A very big thing." Melissa added. "You want a drink?"
"Yeah, Okay. Sure." Ike said.
"Budweiser Okay?"
"Yeah." She tossed him it. "You do acting as well?"
"Sometimes. When I'm in trouble or something. I can improvise at anything. You?"
Ike shook his head. "I can't act. I think my acting is as good as Marilyn Monroe."
"Ouch." She replied. "No, I'm not an acting person as well, but I can if the moment comes."
"Is that your guitar?" Ike asked, pointing to a bass standing up against the wall.
"Yep. I can't stand playing it, it's too good for someone like me to play."
"Hey, you're good. Don't beat yourself up."
"Sweet, really. Shall I teach you a few I learnt? On lead, of course."
"Like what?"
"I know most of Offspring, most the Black Album, some Faith No More and all the Green Day ones. Just name them."
"Okay, teach me End Of The Line. Zac loves that one."
"Okay, think you can handle it?"
Ike shrugged. "I'll get it."
"Good. Let's make some noise!"
Half an hour later they were fighting over just one of the chords.
"I've heard it a hundred times! It's too low-sounding for it to jump to the chorus on that key."
"Okay, I will ask Noodles himself just to prove that you know nothing!" Ike laughed.
"Yeah, whatever. I don't know how your brothers put up with you! You're so stubborn!"
Ike gasped. "I'm subborn! Me? Your band must run and hide when they see you coming! I feel sorry for the amps you play on! You know bull!"
"Don't gimmie that teenybopper!" Melissa laughed. Ike poured his drink over her.
"Whatever Manson wannabe." Ike grinned.
"You little... I'm gonna kill you!" Melissa got up and Ike ran across the room to escape her. "Come here Mmmbop! You're gonna die right now!"
Melissa jumped over the sofa and grabbed him. The sofa tipped over as he fell onto it and they ended up on the floor. Melissa opened her eyes to see Ike laying under her. She grinned and he smiled back. Both of them were screaming awkwardness but they didn't budge.
"Is it just me or are we stuck in a very weird montage?" Ike laughed.
"You calling this weird?" She asked.
Ike shook his head. "More like... Lucky."
Melissa smiled so sweetly, Isaac knew he had to take action, and fast. He leaned forwards to kiss her.
"Ah, our first kiss, what will people think?" She asked, putting her hand between their lips.
"Uh, ' You scored Ike!' Come on, please?" He looked like a little puppy asking a slothful teen to play catch. She grabbed hold of him by the collar of his shirt. "Ow, kinky!"
"Mmm-hmm, you aint seen nothing yet." She kissed his deeply. Isaac was wide awake now! He didn't know what to do for a second, like he'd forgotten, then it snapped back to him. He kissed back, incredibly pleased. She was funny, original, sane (sort of), smart, and now this! Man, it was like those dreams when you wake at the best bit, probably kissing your pillow.
They had been kissing for about two minutes. Is that a record in the Isaac Hanson Guinness? Yep, totally. And she weren't pulling back, she wasn't gagging. Always a good sign...
"You're still a teenybopper." Melissa commented as they unlocked.
"And you're still a Goth."
They kissed again.
Melissa and Isaac sat down at the table at Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me, just listening to the rock ballad coming out of the speakers. It was just Okay to Isaac, but Melissa seemed to be madly going for it. So he went along with it.
"I love Metallica! God, James' voice is just..." she smiled, "well, not as sexy as yours." Isaac gave a her a grateful look.
"Almost fell right into that one, didn't you?"
"Not quite. But if I had a choice of James to you, guess who I'd choose?"
"Hmmm..." Ike pondered that one for a second. In that time she was kissing him deeply. Ike came back and kissed her back. He was now starting to truly love the forces of nature and that crazy lil thing called...
"Ow!" Oh shit. Bubble burst, Jell-O everywhere... His fangs! Oh, that's just great.
"Sorry, I think I chipped my tooth sometime." He mumbled. Great, just great, ruined that, didn't ya big guy?
"It's Okay. I was passing out anyway. I thought you said you only had a few girlfriends?" Isaac was wide-eyed. She's complimenting my kissing? Woah, you sure she's not drugged up? Who cares!
"What about you? I mean, that, that was, just, great." He was overcome with a sense of happiness, teenage-love and passion all rolled into one. I.e.- he was horny.
"Thanks. I haven't been told that by a guy for a long time." She said softly.
"With a kiss like that, I'm surprised they're not cueing up!"
"Yeah, well, I've been mostly with girls, so..." She saw the look on Ike's face. "I'm kidding." He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Okay, don't scare me!" They were now listening to a faster, more heavy song. "Cool, Korn." Zac had got 'Follow The Leader' for his birthday, and he loved it. It was a toss-up which one got more annoying quicker- Zac and Tay's rock music or rap music.
"Yeah. Listen, it's getting late. And I have a lesson in the morning." They got up.
"Oh, don't go! It's only eleven, and that's early for me."
"That's cuz you're a rock 'n' roll star; no curfew whatsoever." Isaac sat her back down and his lap.
"The same applies to whoever the star's with as well." He raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, well, I have to go anyway. You can walk me home if you like."
"Sure." They got up and walked out the place, hand in hand.
< ^ >