melody_out-of-the-blue-3

OUT OF THE BLUE by Melody <<< part 2

PART 3

ONE YEAR LATER

Sally was listening to the radio on her way to work, when the dj played a new track by Manic Street Preachers, it was beautiful, and left her with a lump in her throat.
“That's a song from the new Manics album and its called 'Times change' , with me is James Dean Bradfield. James, that's a very poignant and emotional track, not the sort of thing we've been used to from you, and certainly very different to the rest of the album. It's also one that you've written so can you enlighten us about the story behind it?”
“Erm yeah, its kinda like, just a song about lost love really and you know, like how you can kinda like, not appreciate what you had till its gone, and then its too late, and it takes the end of the relationship to kinda like, make you see that you need to change, 'cos its like your fault, kinda thing, that it didn't work out.”
“It sounds very personal. Is it something that has happened to you?”
“I think that you know, its something that like, everyone can kinda like identify with. Sometimes we're emotional retards.”

“Are you jealous when you're in a relationship?”
“Erm, jealous is kinda like the wrong word. I think I get more kinda obsessed, in that, if I'm with a girl I really love, and that's only kinda like happened once, I wanna be with them all the time, which obviously ya know, isn't kinda like healthy for a relationship, it gets claustrophobic and then the girl wants out.”
“So she walked out on you?”
“The only girl I have ever really kinda like, erm, been in love with, I dated twice, and it was ya know, kinda like my fault it didn't work, but for different reasons ya know? It was only after we split up the last time, that I really kinda like took on board what she'd been saying and really understood it. Before that I was kidding myself basically, you know, like convincing myself I could do it her way to win her over and keep her, but it was kinda tough to leave the old mentality behind.”
“So you still love her?”
James gave a nervous titter. “Isn't it time for another track?”

Sally was stunned; was the song about her? Had she been the girl that James had alluded to in his brief and uncomfortable chat with the dj? His words tugged at her heart. There hadn't been a day when she hadn't thought of James, wishing that they had been able to work out their problems and stay together. They had both been at fault; it wasn't all down to James at all.

After having her evening meal and bath, Sally pondered about giving James a call and letting him know that she loved the tracks that she had heard that morning, in particular the first one. The one thing holding her back was how James would react to her contacting him, out of the blue, after a year. There was so much love between them, yet they had a habit of messing it all up, leaving them both bereft, morose and alone. Would it be third time lucky, or was she best off leaving well alone?

Her confidence buoyed by a bottle of wine, Sally shakily dialled the digits of James' phone number, part of her hoping to only get his answering machine.
“Hello?”
“Oh erm, hi,” she stammered.
“Who is it?” asked the gruff voice.
“Sally.”
“Sally? Oh, hi ya.”
“I erm, I heard some of the new songs on the radio this morning,” she said nervously, her voice cracking occasionally. “They are good, especially that first one, 'Times change', I think it was called.”
“Oh right, thanks.”
“Anyway, that's all really. Take care James.”
“Sally...”
She didn't hear what else James was about to say, quivering, she put the phone down, then burst into tears. She loved him and missed him, but even talking with him made her nervous; surely there was no way back from this?

Ten minutes later her phone rang. “Hello.”
“It's James. Don't hang up again.”
“Sorry,” she said, her breath still getting hitched in her throat, her emotions raw and her tears still falling, though not as furiously.
“I miss you, can we talk?”
“What about?” she sniffed.
“Are you crying?”
“No,” she lied, “I have a cold.”
“No you don't,” he said back quickly. “It took a lot of guts for you to call me like that.”
“I don't know why I did it.”
“Because you miss me too.”
“Yes,” she admitted. “Everyday I think about you.”
“I want you back Sal, since I fucked it all up I've been a miserable git.”
“You always were,” she said with a forced laugh.
“I've been a lovesick miserable git. Can we meet and talk?”
“Tomorrow night?” Sally was stunned at how quickly the words were out of her mouth.
“I can't; loads of promo stuff tomorrow, and Thursday.”
“Friday?”
“Yeah, Friday's good. Would eight thirty be all right?”
“Yeah, I'll see you then. Bye James.”
“Bye Sally, oh, I love you. Sweet dreams honey.”

Friday came and Sally was a nervous wreck. At work she kept dropping things, and managed to spill two cups of coffee down her taupe linen suit during the morning. She went to the shops and bought a black skirt and deep blue blouse during her lunchtime, and then stuck with drinking water. By the time she reached her home, she was frazzled.

Not even her usual bath relaxed her, all she could think about was James and what would happen. She was petrified of saying the wrong thing, and of being too terrified to be honest about how she was feeling and the way she still loved him. She really wouldn't blame him if he told her to get lost, and that, despite his love for her, he couldn't go back and try again because of all of the possible pain that may result from a relationship. Sometimes two people that love each other, just can't be together; was that the case for them?

At eight thirty prompt, there was a knock on the door. Shaking from her head to her toes with nerves, Sally gingerly opened the door and was greeted by a huge bouquet of flowers that completely obstructed James' face.
“I though these may help break the ice a little,” he said, nerves evident as he spoke.
“Come in, I'll put them in water.”
James watched her in silence whilst she arranged the flowers in three large vases, not wanting to say something stupid and spoil things so soon.
“Would you like a glass of wine?”
“I'd love one, thank you.”
“If you could take two of these through and I'll bring the other, a bottle of wine and some glasses.”
“Are you sure you can manage? I'll tell you what, I'll take a couple through and then come back for the other one, while you sort the wine and glasses out.”

When he went back into the kitchen, Sally was stood staring out of the window, a bottle of wine twitching in her evidently shaking hand.
“Let me before you spill it or drop it,” said James after creeping up behind her, and putting an arm around her, grasping the bottle by the neck.
“Sorry,” said Sally, turning to face him. “I was miles away.”
James nodded and smiled. “I noticed.” He stared at her for a few moments, enthralled by the look of confusion in her eyes, moved closer, and kissed her sweetly on her lips.
“James I've missed you,” Sally sighed, putting her arms around him and returning the kiss.
“Oh Sal,” he whined, his tongue then probing her mouth and caressing hers.

Eventually they made it into the lounge, sitting together on the sofa, holding hands and grinning inanely. They both began talking at the same time.
“Ladies first,” grinned James.
Sally blushed and took a deep breath. “It was my fault, last time, when we broke up.”
“No it wasn't Sal,” said James with a sigh, running his hands through his curly hair. “You told me that you wanted to take it slowly, so what did I do? I went and rushed things, as per usual.”
“Staying with you at your place that night though, I could have.”
“And if you had I would have wanted more and more of your time, and we'd be back to the pattern of our old relationship, with you getting sick of me calling and texting you every five minutes, constantly wanting to know what you're doing. That wasn't healthy, I knew that then, but once I'd got into the habit I couldn't break it. I really believed I was over all of that possessive crap only I ain't am I?”
“If you aren't, we are not going to make much progress. We may as well call it quits right now.”
“Please give us a chance, I know where I went wrong and I want to put it right. I know that things have been fraught between us, but what we have is too special and important to waste.”

Sally took a sip of her wine, thinking over what James had said. What they had was special, very special, and she loved James so much that it hurt.
“I can't take anymore pain James,” she said softly. “However, I love you, I have had to accept that, though there are times when I wish that I didn't.”
“I've changed; give me the opportunity to prove it. We got over the groupie incident; we can get over this.”
“I must be crazy, then again, didn't I say that the last time?” she grinned broadly, her slender fingers stroking James' face tenderly. “I love you too much for my own good Bradfield.”
He chuckled at her comment. “You won't regret it Sally, honestly, I won't let you down.”
“I seem to recall you saying that the last time as well.”

Three hours later they were still deep in conversation, and cuddling up on the sofa, like in the old days. They both felt comfortable and relaxed, at ease with one another; being together was so natural for them.

“Are you going to stay over?” she asked him with some trepidation.
“Only if you're certain that its what you want,” he said, kissing the tip of her nose. “That spare bed was nice and comfortable, I soon fell off to sleep last time.”
“I erm, I meant with me,” she murmured. “Not to have sex, just to cuddle up.”
James was taken by surprise, uncertain of how to react. For what seemed like an eternity he was silent, then he gave her a brief kiss on the lips. “I can't tell you how much that means to me Sal, I'll behave, only cuddles, nothing more.”
“In that case,” she said getting to her feet, “I think that it's time for bed.”
“Did I ever tell you how much I love you?”
“Tell me in bed,” she winked.

Four months later and the band were starting their tour, and Sally was going to as many of the gigs as was feasible with her work schedule. Monty was thrilled that James and Sally had rekindled their romance, embarrassing them both by openly telling them that he was waiting to be a grandfather and for them to get married. Martin wasn't subtle about things either, encouraging them to buy a house together, and advising them not to leave the wedding too long. Sally and James were both surprised at the way their friends and family were happy for them, all of them thrilled that they had got together again.

The tour came and went, and after it James felt bereft, as he often had when they finished touring, so they decided to go away for a holiday together to the Bahamas, wanting to have time alone somewhere romantic, and warm.

“I don't wanna go home,” moaned Sally, cuddling up to James on the sandy white beach.
“We're not,” he grinned. “I've booked us in for a month love.”
“But my job?”
“All sorted,” he smiled. “You see, there's a reason for me wanting you here for longer.”
“Oh is there really?” she smirked, “and what may that be?”
“Don't go crazy at me now will you?,” he said nervously. “I've invited our close family and friends to come and join us...for our wedding.”
“What?”
“Sally, will you marry me?”
“I don't have a dress or anything...”
“Your mum is bringing one over for you, one that you admired in a magazine apparently. Forget that, what's your answer?”
“Oh yes James!” With tears of happiness rolling down her now bright red cheeks, Sally kissed him passionately.
“There is just one minor detail I couldn't sort out without arousing suspicion...”he smiled softly. “We need to buy a house, so when we get back do we live in yours or mine until we find somewhere?”
“As long as I'm with you, we could live in a tent for all I care James. I love you!”

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