Perfect Melody Page 4

  Since I can’t sleep, I decided on sneaking into the kitchen to find the cookies I initially had bought for my dad, but I’m craving chocolate something fierce. Slowly, I creep down the stairs, avoiding the one’s I know for sure creak, just to not wake my father. As I make it down the stairs, I slowly turn the corner already planning on finding the light switch, but it was too late.

  There he was. Sitting at the marble kitchen bar quiet as a mouse, “You scared me half to death,” my dad startles.

  “Sorry, what are you doing up so late?”

  “I could ask you the same,” he pushes the box of cookies towards me.

  “That’s exactly what I came down for. Couldn’t sleep,” I admit.

  “Is it because of that guy?” he raises his eyebrows as to think he knows me.

  “No!”

  “Don’t believe you,” he drinks a glass of milk.

  “How are you feeling?” My attempt of changing the subject.

  “Alive,” he states the obvious, “I’m going back to work this week.”

  “Are you sure? I can stay longer to help you out more dad, I don’t have to leave yet,” I start to panic he’s trying to get rid of me.

  “Honey, you can stay as long as you want, but don’t forget about school and the city,” he reminds me I still have a life outside of this house.

  “I know, but I worry about you. Here I’m close,” tears start to form.

  “Princess, I’m not going anywhere just yet, I have to get back to work, back to doing what I always do that makes me happy, you understand that, don’t you?”

  “Yeah,” I sigh not fully convinced he’s ready to get back to work, at a job that’s anything but nine to five, instead long hours until whatever project he’s working on is fully finished.

  The next morning, I’m woken up by voices coming from downstairs. I can’t make out who they are, besides my dad’s, but I’m going to assume I might not want to walk down in just my romper. I toss my bath rope over my shoulder, put my uncombed hair up in a bun, and attempt to creep down to hear who my dad is having a conversation this early in the morning with.

  “Good Morning, sunshine,” my father’s back is towards this mystery person.

  “Morning dad. I need coffee. Like ASAP,” I groan as I walk past him shocked to my core when I see a certain someone sitting at our kitchen table.

  “What the fuck?” I squeal.

  “Well hello to you too.”

  She’s the cutest. Hair’s a mess. She’s wrapped in a bath rope she just clinched to when she noticed who was sitting at her kitchen table. She’s shocked; you can see it written all across her face. I was the last person she was expecting at eight in the morning. Especially talking to her father while she still lies in bed dreaming of whatever girls dream of these days.

  “Well hello to you too,” I laugh as I watch her freak out.

  “Uh, um, hi,” she stutters attempting to leave.

  “Elliot here brought some donuts for breakfast,” her father interrupts our stares.

  “You two know each other?”

  “Nope, he just introduced himself. Apparently, you two have a date?”

  She’s extremely confused, “we do?” she asks surprised.

  “We do. So, eat a donut, get dressed, and meet me in an hour.”

  “Uh, meet you here? Are you going to wait while I change?” she’s perplexed.

  “Nope, you’re going to come to my house, with your violin,” I demand.

  “Do I have a say in any of this? Dad! You going to let him talk to me like that?” she pours herself a cup of coffee to get the day going.

  “I am, when it comes to music honey, you know you can’t not go,” he reminds her of her passion for music.

  As I’m discussing her father’s current composition for the project he’s working on, I catch myself taking a glimpse at her. I have a hard time looking away from her beautiful face, even if she’s just wrapped in a rope, with no makeup, and a messy bun. Honestly, this look is one I never in a two-year relationship with Samantha was able to see. Melody doesn’t even mind, considering she’s in one hell of a natural look, she’s completely ignoring the fact I’m only a few feet from her.

  “It was nice meeting you, Mr. Clark,” I reach to shake his hand getting ready to leave.

  “Just call me Grant,” he smiles as he returns the handshake.

  “Very well, I’ll see you in a little while, Melody,” I look into her direction and see her put on this fake grin, the one you practice when things are awkward, I’m sure once I walk through those doors, she’ll take the biggest breath of her lifetime.

  I let out the biggest sigh there is to let out as I hear the front door thud from Elliot leaving. I’ve never shown this side of me to anyone. Especially someone I’ve only known for a few days and not even that well. I could smack my dad for allowing him into the house and then not even warning me about it. He let me walk into a room, looking the way, I always do when I wake up in my dad’s house. He knew I’d be a mess. Yet, he did nothing.

  The donuts were good though.

  “Dad, I’m so mad at you,” I walk into the study to yell at him.

  “About?”

  “You know what I’m talking about,” I prompt, “I’m going to get changed since apparently I had a date no one told me about until this morning.”

  Tossing shirts, dresses, pants, everything I can pull out of my suitcase and left over’s in my closet – the clothes that never made it to NYC with me – I’m having one hell of a girly dilemma. I can’t choose. It’s not really like it matters; we’ll be talking instruments, letting the music speak. It’s not going to make a difference whether I wear a dress, jeans, or even sweats. Before I completely kill myself, I choose a black pair of ripped at only the knees jeans, with my white converse, and a vertical striped blouse. I put my hair into a pretty bun and apply little to none makeup. I’ve never really been one for a lot of color, a little mascara and some lip-gloss is just enough for me.

  “You look pretty,” my dad notices me as I leave.

  “I look like I always do,” I remind him so he doesn’t think I’m doing something on purpose. Honestly though, I am trying to remain calm because on the inside, I’m freaking out. I do want to impress Elliot. I want his head to turn, but not too much.

  Ringing the doorbell at Elliot’s house nerves have kicked into overdrive. I’m not even sure why I’m so nervous, I shouldn’t be. A faint sound of the piano comes through the crack of the door as an older blonde female opens the door. She’s skinny and a very stunning woman, “Hi,” she smiles and I can see the exact smile cross her face that fills Elliot’s face when he smiles.

  “Hi, I’m here to see Elliot?” I question unsure how else to ask, I feel like a teenager meeting my boyfriend’s parents for the first time. Heartbeat races a mile a minute.

  “Melody, right?” she smiles opening the door further, “come on in, Elliot mentioned having company,” she shakes my hand.

  “Yes, hi, you must be his mom,” I smile starting to feel a little more comfortable.

  “You can call me, Janine,” she shows me the way to Elliot, although I could just follow the enchanting sound and would find my way there with no problems.

  From a distance, I watch him. Janine respects him enough to wait to interrupt him until he finishes. He’s focused. In sorts drifted away. He’s in his own world and looks the way as I do when I center my attention to the music. His fingers move with the perfect motion, he flows into the notes and the sound can take you back to a time you didn’t exist in.

  “Hey,” he notices me from the corner of his eyes but continues to play, “join me,” he says as I place the violin case on the floor and sit next to him mesmerized by the sound. He doesn’t stop playing. He’s continuing the song with me right next to him.

  “Play with me,” he begs as I sit still watching him fidget with my fingers.

  “I’ve never played the piano,” I admit not knowing anything.


  “Find a beat and just push the keys,” he instructs.

  I find the tune, the right moment to intersect and press the creamy white key.

  “Perfect,” he states not once breaking the song.

  Finding my groove, I get creative and play with the keys trying to find my place in the song. Together we’re playing a song I had never heard; yet I have no idea how to play the piano.

  “I don’t know this song,” I admit.

  “It’s because it’s not one yet, we’re just playing around,” he smiles at me never once looking at the keys as he plays.

  “Oh,” I’m shocked and stop playing.

  “Don’t stop,” he demands, but I’m more distracted by watching him play.

  Breaking the song, he takes my hand and places each finger exactly where he wants it on the creamy white and deep dark black keys. This is the closet I’ve ever gotten to a piano. His smooth hand is placed on top of mine as he makes a sound with each finger. It’s an intimate moment and all I can think about is the shortage of breath he’s caused me. I can’t focus on the keys; I focus on not passing out. – Breathe in – Breathe out.

  Staring into his eyes, I watch his lips describe what I should be doing, but I block his voice out. I’m not listening to his voice; I’m admiring the way his lips part and all I wish is to kiss him. Faintly I hear him say my name, but I don’t respond. He’s inching closer to me, his hands still on mine, his body formed into an awkward position just to inch closer to me. His eyes burn into mine and mine never flinch while I look into his beautiful brown eyes. There’s complete silence but there is one touch that speaks volumes. His lips against mine. His smooth, gentle, warm, and sensitive lips brush against mine. It’s a sweet kiss. No tongue, no groping, no nibbling, just a sweet kiss. But a long kiss. “Wow,” he whispers with his lips still against mine. “Wow,” I retort not pulling away.

  His finger brushes against mine as he slowly pulls away and I feel myself take a deep breath trying to regain composure. The moment is innocent and sweet. We shared a kiss and until today, I didn’t realize how badly I wanted that kiss. I craved for it. I craved for his touch more than I’d like to admit.

  “Let’s play music,” I distract from the moment or having to discuss what just happened.

  “Let’s” he smiles.

  With my violin placed in the perfect position, Elliot at the piano, and the urge to start making a musical creation, we’re both eager to start playing together this time. The keys are being pressed, the violin scratches against the strings, and we’re both fading away in the tunes. I’m playing with my eyes closed, but what I’m thinking of while playing is Elliot. The kiss. I’m dreaming of more kisses, feeling the smooth and gentle touch of his lips against mine. I’m craving it with the curiosity of more than just a gentle peck.

  The windows are open and we’re in the middle of an open living room surrounded by white walls with limited wall décor echoing our sound tremendously. It’s an inviting sound though and we’re connecting again, the same connection I felt before I knew Elliot or of his abilities.

  We’re enjoying this moment to the core. Reveling in our sound and unable to stop, even after Janine asked us to eat some lunch. We’ve been playing for hours. We’ve created our own sounds along with playing covers of the most popular songs. Here and there, the eye contact between us makes us both smile with glee.

  Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand. This language is coming across perfectly between Melody and I creating our own melody. We’re so into the music, we never realized how many hours we’ve actually spent playing.

  “Here, try the violin,” she says tempting me.

  “I’ll break it, I don’t think so.”

  “You won’t break it, just try it,” she places the violin in my hand, if I were to let go and resist, it would fall to the floor and I’d feel bad.

  “Place your hand here,” she takes my hand and places the fingers on the string.

  Her touch fills me with desire. Our eyes meet and both stand frozen.

  “I always wonder what crosses your mind when your eyes meet mine,” I whisper never taking my eyes off hers.

  “How to ask for another kiss,” she opens up.

  “You just ask, you don’t have to wait or wonder,” I slowly lean in to taste her malleable lips.

  Engrossed into our own passion, we’re interrupted by the sound of my mother reminding us of the sandwiches we should be consuming instead of mauling each other in the middle of the room.

  “Sorry,” Melody says embarrassed.

  “I can’t play the violin,” I remind her as I hand it back to her forgetting I’ve been holding on to it the entire time we were making out.

  “You never tried,” she sticks her tongue out as she puts away the violin in its case.

  “Don’t do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “Don’t play with your tongue like that in my presence.”

  “Like what? Like this?” she glides her tongue across the lips, “or like this,” and teases me.

  “If we were alone,” she interrupts me.

  “You would what? Kiss me? Grope me?” she knows my mother is in the room where I couldn’t do any of those things she deep down wishes I would.

  “Later,” I mock, “Later.”

  My mother’s timing is impeccable; she struts in right as I’m debating on making out with Melody. Considering I should respect women, I hold back, but deep down, I’d be all over her if I didn’t respect them as much as I do.

  “Phone for you,” my mother hands me the receiver, “you might want to take it privately,” she whispers into my ear.

  As Elliot takes a phone call I venture into the kitchen with Janine, as she tells me all about Elliot’s childhood. There are pictures on the wall of children drawings, one story after the other reminiscing about his childhood.

  “Does Elliot have siblings?” I’m curious.

  “He has a younger sister, she’s doing an exchange year in France currently, Aliza,” she smiles beaming with pride for her children.

  “What a beautiful name,” we sit at the table waiting for Elliot.

  I’m not going to lie, I’m wondering what the secrecy with the phone call was, it looked like something serious, but I can’t really pry on someone that I had just met. Not like Elliot and I are exclusive, I never even questioned if perhaps he had a girlfriend back home.

  “I should probably go,” I tire of waiting on Elliot who seems to be on the phone forever.

  “You sure? I’m sure Elliot is almost finished,” she’s a genuine and sweet lady.

  “I’m sure I’ll see you again,” I nod as I say goodbye and start heading for the front door.

  “Wait, where you going?” Elliot grabs me by the arm.

  Staring at his hand on my arm, “I have to check on my dad.”

  “Will I see you later?” there’s a pleading look on his face, as if he’s demanding some distraction.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Let me rephrase that, I want to see you later,” he gets in front of me and slightly presses me against the door.

  “Okay,” I whisper as I find his lips on mine taking all thoughts from my brain.

  “Good,” he smiles biting on his bottom lip.

  I didn’t have the nerve to tell Elliot I was leaving to go back to the city tomorrow. My father is doing much better and there’s no reason to waste any more vacation days from work. I have only a few more weeks left of Julliard before I graduate and then life begins, I’m just not sure where or what. I’ve considered teaching, I thought of starting a solo career, or maybe I’ll start up my own studio, the possibilities are endless.

  “How are you, dad?” I ask entering the living room where I find him lying on the couch with his favorite Stephen King novel.

  “Getting much better,” he smiles, “How was your date?”

  “It wasn’t really a date,” I sit at the edge of the couch.

  “Yes
, it was. I heard you two playing,” he’s beaming.

  “It was magical, wasn’t it?”

  “You two make quite the impeccable sound.”

  “We kissed,” I’ve always confided in my father.

  “I knew you did, you had it written all over your face,” he smiles putting his book down.

  “His mom is really nice, you’d like her,” to this day, it’s been over twenty years, he can finally move forward, so I still try to get him to go out.

  “We’ve talked about this,” his voice is stern.

  “I told you she was nice,” Rosa interrupts us.

  “I know you don’t listen to me, but you know you can listen to Rosa,” I remind him.

  “You two are always trying to get me to go out with women.”

  “Only if they are good women,” Rosa grins.

  “And Janine is a good woman, how about we have them over for dinner?”

  “Her name is Janine?” my father shows a bit of curiosity.

  “You didn’t know your neighbors name?”

  “Not until now, no,” he admits.

  “Janine Harper. Elliot’s father left her for a younger woman a few years back, knocked her up and it was a big mess I guess. Elliot doesn’t have anything to do with his father. It’s kind of sad if you think about it. He’s got a brother or sister out there he knows nothing of because he hates his father,” I start to ramble.

  “You like this boy,” Rosa points out the obvious.

  “Doesn’t matter, I’m going back to school tomorrow and won’t have time to really pursue a relationship, not a long distance one either.”

  “How about you invite them over for dinner tonight, I’ll prepare something delicious for you four to enjoy?”

  “I don’t know about that,” my father answers before I get a chance, “You’ve done enough for today you don’t need to stay after,” he’s adamant.

  “Actually, it would be good, dad. You could get to know Janine so you won’t be so lonely while I’m gone and I could spend the last night with Elliot. Please?” I beg.