"Okay, guys, keep it down, I don't want to startle her," AJ warned.
"Is she a woman or a deer?" Brian asked.
"Geez, I feel like I'm walking around on eggshells here."
"Just don't argue, okay?" AJ replied. He opened the door softly and the five men walked in.
"Mmmmm, something smells good," Nick observed.
"Like cheese," Brian added.
"She must have made dinner," AJ said, fondly.
"Oh! But I didn't tell her you guys were coming over." Brian was about to reply, when a sound interrupted him.
"What's that?" Howie asked.
"Sounds like music." The five guys walked toward the living room, stopping when they caught sight of Marit sitting on the sofa softly singing. They listened for a few minutes, entranced by the emotional outpouring.
The water is wide; I can't cross o'er
And neither I have wings to fly
Give me a boat that carries two
We both shall row, my love and I
Love is gentle and love is kind
The sweetest flower, when first it's new
But loves grow old, and wax is cold
It fades away like morning dew
There is a ship that sails the sea
She's loaded deep, as deep can be
But not as deep as loving him
I don't know how, I'll sink or swim
The water is wide; I can't cross o'er
And neither I have wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row, my love and I
And both shall row, my love and I
Marit stopped, sensing another's presence in the room. She turned around to see five pairs of eyes staring at her in fascination. "Oh!" she said, as the guitar slipped from her fingers. She stood up, flushing.
"Wow," Brian breathed. "That was... touching. Did you write that?" She shook her head.
"My friend and I, at school, we used to perform covers at local coffee shops. That was one of them. I don't know who wrote it, but the first time I heard it was at Lilith Fair. Sarah, Jewel, Amy and Emily. It was amazing."
"That's pretty cool," Kevin said, as he walked into the living room. "So are you a singer?" She shook her head.
"No, I stopped doing that when Jor--uh, a few years ago," she finished.
"Well, you have a beautiful voice," AJ said, coming to stand in front of her, "but not as beautiful as you are." He looked at her, his eyes twinkling, teasingly. She froze, the words washing over her, recalling the memories. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, and instead she just looked at AJ with frightened eyes. AJ fidgeted slightly, unnerved by the change in her. None of the others noticed, though, as Brian, Nick and Howie walked into the living room as well, waiting for an introduction. AJ just stared at Marit, re-working his statement over again in his mind, unable to determine what he'd done wrong.
"Are you okay?" he whispered. She didn't say or do anything, just looked at him, wide-eyed. Turning, he looked at the other four who were watching the interaction curiously. "Oh, uh, guys, this is Marit." He turned to place his hand on her back, but thought better of it. "Marit, this is Kevin, Howie, Nick and Brian." Recovering slightly, she nodded her head.
"Um, nice to meet you," she said, her voice a little shaky.
"It's nice-what's that smell?" Brian suddenly asked. Everyone turned to the kitchen, from where the scent of something charring drifted.
"I think your dinner might be burning," Howie stated. Marit looked at the five of them in alarm, before bolting for the kitchen.
Marit rushed into the kitchen, and yanked open the oven door. Steam poured out, temporarily blinding her. Without thinking, she reached in to pull out the covered dish, hoping there might be some way to salvage some part of it. Just as her hand touched it, someone yanked it back. Thrown off balance, she fell backwards onto the floor. Looking up, she saw Kevin staring at her in shock.
"What are you doing?" he asked. "You can't just stick your hand in there like that!" She just shook her head, confused. AJ pulled out hot pads and, reaching in, carefully pulled the container out.
Cautiously ripping open the foil, he checked out the remains of dinner. Brian peered over his shoulder.
"Hmmm, if that's what you were planning on feeding us, I opt for pizza," he joked. Marit blinked, staring up at him, looking as though he had just pronounced her favorite pet dead. AJ caught the trembling of her bottom lip, and shooting a nasty glance at Brian, knelt down next to her.
"Hey, it's okay, it's my fault, I didn't tell you the oven timer was broken," he tried to reassure her. Nick and Howie exchanged glances, as Howie stepped over to her.
"Yeah, I'm sure it was going to be good, maybe you can try again?" Marit looked at all five them, now looking at her in concern, and felt her eyes water. She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.
"No, it's my fault, it's always my fault," she said sorrowfully.
Standing up suddenly, she strode towards the staircase and ran up to her room.
"Um, what just happened?" Brian asked. AJ stood up, then whirled on his band mate.
"Dammit, Brian, I told you she was fragile!" AJ yelled at him.
"Hey, AJ, chill, something tells me it's not the... is that lasagna? It's not the lasagna that's the problem here," Kevin reasoned.
"Yeah, AJ, you've got your hands full with her," Nick said.
"Are you sure you're up for this?" Howie asked. "This can only lead to trouble." AJ sighed.
"And what do you suggest I do? Throw her out of the house when she has no where to go?"
"Well, where did she come from?" Kevin asked.
"I don't know," AJ said.
"Where's she heading?"
"Miami."
"So send her to Miami," Brian suggested.
"Give her some money, and a name of someone or something to get a job."
"I can't just send her away!" AJ exclaimed.
"No, Bone, you don't want to send her away," Howie sighed. "We can't make your decisions for you, but I really think you need to think this through."
"Yeah, I know," AJ admitted. "I hate to do this, but-"
"Yeah, we know, party's over. We'll head on out, you deal with her. And don't hesitate to call if you need anything," Brian said.
"Thanks, guys," he said, as he walked them to the door, closing it behind them. Heading to the stairs, he stopped at the base and sighed, before climbing them.
~~~
Marit leaned against the nightstand, her head in her hands. She was absolutely mortified by her behavior.
"Great, Marit, now they think you're neurotic AND psychotic," she mumbled to herself.
"Plus, you talk to yourself. That can't be good." Marit's head snapped up to see AJ leaning against the door jamb. Her cheeks flamed as she looked at him looking at her.
"Oh, God, this is not happening," she said. She scrambled to her feet. "Listen, I'm really sorry about that. You're friends must think I'm a nut."
"Probably, but it's not really any of their business, is it?" She sighed.
"AJ," she said, meeting his gaze steadily, "I don't think this is going to work out. I can't interrupt your life like this." AJ nodded his head.
"I agree, I think we both rushed into this without thinking it through. It was wrong of me to pressure you into this."
"So, we're both on the same page? Good. I think maybe in the morning I should find a hotel," she said. He nodded again.
"And maybe we can meet a few friends of mine and see about getting you a job. I still plan on fulfilling that part of it," he answered. It was her turn to nod.
"Thank you. I really appreciate all you've done for me," she responded, her voice slightly thick. "But I can't just leave without doing something for you." He looked at her, eyebrows raised.
"It's really not necessary," he started, having a slight inkling of where this was heading. She shook her head emphatically, then taking a deep breath, she slowly walked toward to him.
AJ watched her in shock as she sauntered over, stopping directly in front of him. She leaned forward slightly, placing her hands on his chest. Then ever so slowly, she stepped up on her toes, and lightly kissed his jaw. He closed his eyes at the touch of her lips on his skin, and leaned back against the doorframe.
The voice in his mind was telling him this wasn't such a good idea, but his body had other plans. Of their own volition, his arms slipped around her, his hands grasping her hips and pulling her towards him. Her hands crept up his chest and snaked around his neck as she tilted her head back slightly. AJ bent down, pausing an inch from her lips. She sighed, and closed her eyes as he pressed his mouth against hers. He took a few steps forward until her back met the wall and lifted her slightly.
Marit shivered as she felt him nuzzle her cheek, then nip her earlobe before lowering his head to kiss her throat. She ran her fingers through his hair, reveling in its silky softness against the skin of her hands and face. His hands pulled her into him, while his body pressed her into the wall, and she lost herself in his closeness. When he stopped to nibble lightly at her pulse, she whimpered at the sensation.
AJ paused at the small sound she made and lifted his head. His face close to hers, he tried to make eye contact, but she kept shifting her gaze. He let her go suddenly and took a step back.
The sudden loss of contact with his warm body brought her back to reality and she looked up at him in confusion. The look in his eyes was indistinguishable, and she bit her lower lip, afraid that she had angered him.
"We can't do this," AJ said, breathing heavily. He longed to clasp her in his embrace again, crushing her to him, but this time his mind took control.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, looking up at him with large, wounded eyes. He drew a sharp breath when he noticed her trembling, her eyes filling with tears. Without thinking, he stepped toward her again, raising his hand to reassure her. She flinched visibly and leaned back, as if she tried hard enough, she could merge with the wall. He stopped, his hand in mid-air, realization suddenly dawning.
"God, Marit, what did he do to you?" he
asked, his eyes frantically
searching her face. Suddenly, the tears came
pouring out and she
stepped forward, collapsing against him as
she sobbed.
Links to other sites on the Web
***Author's Note: The song Marit sang in this chapter was entitled "The Water Is Wide". I don't know the original artist, but it was sung by Sarah McLachlan, the Indigo Girls, and Jewel at the Lilith Fair. All other songs, so far, are written by me.
~Jesse
© 1997 crunkgrl62382@yahoo.com
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