janey_misunderstanding

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MISUNDERSTANDING by Janey

Carla checked her reflection in the full-length hotel mirror. She looked good and she knew it. Her close cropped red hair shone brightly in the early evening sun that was still streaming in from the windows, and her eyes were made up exactly as Richey did his including the false eyelashes. Her almond shaped hazel eyes sparkled with health and mischief as she reflected on the good fortune that had meant she was booked into the same hotel as her favourite band, The Manics.

Something as simple as a packet of crisps had brought her here. ‘Find a ticket inside and you could win one of many prizes’ the advertising junk had stated. Her prize had been a weeklong stay at a luxury hotel, and there had been two dozen for her to choose from. Carla had opted for one in Suffolk and had stared open mouthed when, on her first night she had left her room to go to the dining room and had bumped straight into Nicky Wire.

He had smiled enthusiastically and commented on how impressed Richey would be when he saw her, because she had managed to get the make-up exactly as Richey did. However her clothes were more like those that Nicky himself would wear and he had enjoyed that and even gone back into his room to get her a chiffon scarf that he thought would compliment her outfit.

After her meal, Nicky had sought her out and persuaded her to join them all for a drink. He told her that Richey was especially looking forward to meeting her, which had made Carla incredibly nervous as Richey was her favourite Manic, not in a sexual sense, but his writing moved and inspired her enormously. As a lyricist Richey was second to none. Carla also found him to be strangely magnetic when she watched him on stage, or in interviews. There was just something about the way he carried himself and got lost in his music, or seemed to transport himself to another place if he appeared to be finding an interview boring. Forget that he could hardly play a note, Richey Edwards WAS the face of the Manics for many people, unfortunately it tended not to be for the right reasons.

Apart from James, they had all made her feel incredibly welcome, and had enjoyed hearing about how she came to be there. James though had barely glanced at her and when he did, it was with a look of what could almost be described as condemnation and contempt. The only time he deigned to speak with her was to ask her if she wanted another drink when it was his time to get the round in.

Considering Sean was supposed to be the quiet one of the band, he had chatted enthusiastically and jovially with her, and enjoyed discussing their shared interests in various sports and TV programmes. Grand Prix races had brought about some particularly interesting debate and discussion because Sean was so pleased at finding someone who was so knowledgeable and passionate about the sport. Most people who watched formula one didn’t really understand the finer points, but Carla was au fait with the ins and outs and was even able to talk about wing choices and aerodynamics. For Sean, that was a huge turn on.

Here she was, three nights later, and their drinking together had become a regular event. Tonight they were meeting in Sean’s room, but James had threatened not to turn up. Carla gritted her teeth, and was determined not to let James spoil the night although she desperately wanted him to be there. For all he was a real grumpy git, she was attracted to him and that in itself had shocked her. She had always been a Nicky Wire girl, but now she had met him, she thought of him as a friend. There were no sparks between them, and certainly no sexual attraction.

With James it so very different. His eyes mesmerised her and Carla was drawn to him despite his best efforts to annoy and irritate her, and James could be extremely irksome. What Carla wasn’t sure of, was if it was intentional or not. For all his apparent distaste, she now constantly found him staring at her, and noticed his eyes roving up and down her body as she flirted with the others.

Sean welcomed her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Richey was already well on his way to being pissed, and Nicky was moaning to him that he was drinking too much and way too fast, but Richey just winked and then continued.
“He started as soon as we got back from the local radio station,” offered Sean by way of an embarrassed explanation. “He’ll be well gone soon, I would think. White wine as usual or something else?”
“Wine would be great,” Carla answered. “No James then, I see.”
“He’s not in a good mood,” said Nicky, ambling over to her after he had heard her comment to Sean. “The bloody DJ has really fucked him off.”
“James in a bad mood. Wow, there’s a novelty,” Carla quipped. “Was he asked to smile or something?”
“See,” said Richey with hardly a slur, “that’s why you’ve gotten under his skin; you won’t pander to him, but you give him ‘what for’, and won’t let him intimidate you. Hell, he so needs that in a woman.”
“That’s true,” agreed Nicky. “You’ve got under his skin.”
“Ha, ha, ha guys,” Carla mused. “He won’t speak to me unless he has to, and he looks down at me as though I’m something foul he’s stepped in.”
“Precisely!” exclaimed Richey, with a huge beaming smile. “He’s in love, or, at least in lust.”
“Well, he can go find some other sad bint to lust over ‘cos he ain’t gonna get me in the sack!” Carla laughed, but it was a nervous laugh, and secretly it had warmed her to here their remarks.
“Me thinks that the lady protests too much!” Sean smirked as he handed her a glass of cold white wine. “I don’t know why you are trying to deny it, Carla. It’s written all over your face.”

Carla had shrugged her shoulders and tried to nonchalantly brush it off, joining in the mischievous repartee from the others, but inside she had to admit that she did find him more than a touch alluring.

Several drinks later, and James finally joined them, albeit still with a face like thunder. Nicky and Richey nudged each other as they watched the furtive glances that passed between James and Carla, with Sean occasionally winking, conspiratorially at them.

James made a point of chatting with the guys but ignoring Carla’s input to the conversation, after an hour of being deliberately ignored, and feeling bolder thanks to the alcohol, Carla grabbed his arm and forcefully moved him aside so she could speak with him.
“Do you normally man-handle all the guys you meet?” said James angrily.
“Only when they continually ignore me, and treat me like I’m a leper,” she retorted briskly. “Perhaps you could tell me just exactly what I’ve done to fuck you off, seeing as you have hardly spoken with me. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, is it now?”

James glared at her for what seemed like an eternity; his eyes wandering all over her body; taking in the white jeans and see through net top that showed her bra and also ample bosom. He shuffled uncomfortably as Carla continued to stare at him, making him even more ill at ease.
“I don’t think much of the way that you’re trying to ingratiate yourself into Nicky’s affections.”
“Is there something wrong with your eyesight James?” she asked. “Oh, of course, sorry I almost forget your nickname for a second then. ‘Crossfire’ isn’t it? I figured that as you no longer wear glasses it had been corrected, but obviously not. You need to get that checked, James.”

James stood rooted to the spot as she stuck her tongue out at him and walked away from him without giving him the chance to respond.
What was it about her that had got to him so much? He couldn’t stop thinking about her from waking up to going to bed, and she even disturbed his sleep by invading his dreams.
She captivated him with her smile, her attitude, her knowledge and joie de vivre. Her attitude was refreshing and she viewed them as people rather than celebrities that she should be in awe of.

He watched her keenly as Carla joked and talked with his band mates. She was understated but sexy. Then Richey grabbed a hold of her as the CD player changed to a slower disc, and began a slow dance with her, holding Carla close to his body, and squeezing her bum with his hands.

She moved with a grace that was intoxicating, and James grew more and more jealous of the way she was moving so instinctively with Richey. Had he got it so wrong? He had assumed that Nicky was interested in her, and vice versa, but perhaps, just perhaps, it was merely a good, strong friendship in the making. Nicky certainly didn’t appear to be upset or perturbed by her closeness with Richey, in fact, he was grinning like a Cheshire cat as he watched them both dance together.

When the next song came on, James put his glass of whiskey and coke down, and sauntered over to Carla and Richey, tapping Richey on the shoulder and saying, “my turn I think.”
Richey smiled, and gave a knowing nod and wink as he walked away to join Sean and Nicky.
“I have two left feet, but I’m willing to try if that’s ok with you.” He waited anxiously for the longest few seconds of his life, until her arms folded around his neck, then relaxed and moulded his body into hers, quickly adapting to the gentle and seductive swaying motion that she initiated.

“For a man, who claims to have two left feet, you’re very smooth in your movements,” Carla whispered, her breath tickling his ear.
“I’m just following you,” he said thickly. “I’m trusting you to show me what to do and what moves to make.”
Carla whimpered as his lips pulled on her right ear lobe and his hands strayed down to her bottom, cupping and fondling it tenderly. It would be so easy to give in to him, but she worried that he was merely goading her, and getting ready to throw it back at her.
“It’s simple James,” she said, “you just let your body move in time to the music. But then you know that already don’t you?”

James was stunned when she abruptly pushed him away. What had he done? What had he said?
“Carla, I don’t understand. What the fuck is wrong?” James shouted after her.
Sean, Richey and Nicky all visibly flinched as Carla spun round, and took a deep breath.
“You bastard!” she yelled. “You ignore me and treat me with utter contempt for days, and then have the nerve to try to make me succumb to your charms, just so that you can throw it back at me if I respond positively. Well, I won’t play your games, so go and fuck off.”

The suspense hung in the air, as three pairs of eyes waited for James’ response.

“Oi! Fucking look at me when you’re shouting at me lady,” called James. “And I am not playing games here.”
“Oh no, of course you’re not. I mean, your affection for me is so bloody obvious isn’t it? That’s why you make me feel so insignificant and such a waste of space.”
James stomped over to her, grabbed her roughly, and pushed her into a corner, ignoring her protestations. Instead he spread his arms so that she was backed in tight, giving her no escape.
Carla spied the bowl of punch that was within arms reach and made a lunge for it. Before James knew what was happening, his clothes were soaked and stank of an obnoxious cocktail of alcohol and fruit juices, the shock of the wetness making him pull his arms away and giving Carla opportunity to move away from him.
“Sorry, but I think it’s time for me to go,” Carla blushed, running out of the room.

“Woo, way to go James!” Richey sniggered. “Go on. After her man!”
“Do I look like a pillock?”
“No,” said Nicky calmly ignoring the fact that actually, yes, James did look like a pillock at that time, mainly due to the fact that not only was he wet, but he was also dripping pieces of apples, oranges and lemons. “But you will if you don’t try to talk to her.”
“Fella’s, she’s not interested, so just let it be, ok?”
“Cousin, if you hadn’t been such an awkward sod, this wouldn’t have happened, but as usual, you chose to ignore your feeling’s because they’re ‘irrational’, and now look where it’s got you,” Sean observed.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“That you fancied her as soon as you set eyes on her, but your stubborn streak wouldn’t let you do anything about it, because you couldn’t rationalise it,” explained Sean, “only love isn’t always rational James.”
James stood fuming in front of his cousin, but a part of him had to accept that Sean was right. From the instant he saw her, he had wanted her, but he had mistaken Nicky’s attention to her as more than it was. Now there was a possibility he had lost her before he even had her.
“So, what are you waiting for?” Nicky asked. “Go and see her before it’s too late.”
“Shit Nick,” said James. “She won’t want to see me, let alone talk to me after the way I’ve behaved.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure JD,” Richey offered with a grin. “At least you’ll have tried.”
“Yeah, come on James,” Nicky urged. “You’ve got to give it a whirl.”
“If this goes pear shaped,” said James sternly, “I hold you lot personally responsible.”
“It won’t,” Sean said simply and firmly. “Now off you go!”
After a lengthy discussion, the three of them practically bundled him out of the door, without giving him the opportunity to retreat back into his own hotel room.

Carla had taken off her make-up and showered, and was about to settle down in the bed to watch something on television, when she heard a knock at her door.
‘Aww, bless Nicky,’ she thought, and then shouted, “it’s open. Come in.”
James stood outside, unsure of whether or not he should go in.
“I said come in,” she reiterated. She kept viewing the available choices on the television screen menu, and didn’t realise that it was James who had entered her room, and was now staring at her towel clad body as she sprawled across the bed.
“You didn’t need to dress up especially for me,” James said thickly, “but I must say, it’s a wonderful sight.”

“What the hell…” Carla gasped, grabbing hold of her towel tightly as James plonked himself down next to her on the bed.
“Don’t panic Carla,” James smirked. “I’ve come to say sorry for the way I behaved.”
“You could have phoned from your room or left it until the morning,” she blushed.
“No I couldn’t, because it wouldn’t have meant the same.” Very slowly, he ran his fingers across her temples, then leant into her, and lightly pressed his lips against her forehead. “I ballsed it up. I saw you and Nicky and rather than talk with him about what was happening with you two, I assumed that you were going to have a fling. Do you have any clue as to how jealous that made me?”
“If this is a joke, it’s in very bad taste James, so please, just leave now, and will you get off the bed? You’re dripping all over it.”
“That’s easily solved,” James smirked as he quickly removed his soaked t-shirt, discarding it on the floor. “Oh, but my jeans are wet too, aren’t they.”
He smoothly slid off the bed, watching Carla’s reaction to him. She said nothing, but blushed, as James’ jeans landed on the floor, leaving him stood in his white boxer shorts, which were also damp from the punch she had tipped over him.

“You should go and change James,” Carla said with an unsteady voice. “And shower. You’re dripping pieces of fruit.” Despite trying very hard not to let the amusement affect her, Carla began to giggle at the bizarre nature of the situation.
James dropped his boxers, and slinked back onto the bed beside her, smiling at the shocked expression on Carla’s face as he loosened the towel from around her torso. “Join me for another one, or at the very least, wash my back for me.”
“James I…” she muttered, lost for words. “I’m still wet from the one I had when I came back.”
“You sure it’s just the shower that’s made you wet Carla?”
“You should go to your own room, after all, that where your clothes are.”
“Why would I need my clothes when I’m here with you huh?” James began to push aside the edges of the towel tantalisingly slowly. “Clothes are such an encumbrance sometimes, don’t you think?”
“Depends,” said Carla, “I wouldn’t have thought they were for saying sorry though, and you did say that you came here to apologise. Well, you have, I’ve accepted and so we’re fine. Night James.”
“Oh but saying sorry usually involves a kiss to show that there are no hard feelings and I haven’t had one yet.”
Carla grew heady as she stared into his deep brown sexy eyes. They were beguiling and encouraging and before her actions had registered, she cupped his chin in her hand and moved her lips onto his, mumbling incoherently as they touched. His lips were soft, warm and inviting and sensual. She closed her eyes and melted into him, her body responding to his and her hands now snaking over his naked torso.
“James, I’m sorry too.”
“You don’t need to be, it was me who was out of order.”
“No I mean about the punch. That was a damned waste of good alcohol,” Carla smiled. “Perhaps I ought to help you clean up?”
James met her gaze and smiled in return as her tongue wandered over his chest, tasting the now dried liquid. “Oh no you don’t, come here.” James winked at her as he guided her mouth upwards until he kissed her passionately. “I have been waiting for that since that first time I met you.”
“Why don’t you show me just how much?”

And so he did. They spent that night, and many more together.

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