BLIND HEARTS: PART 2
At the concert that night, J.C. constantly caught himself staring at the lovely brunette off to the right of the stage. Even though she couldn't see them, she was smiling, clapping, and dancing along. It made him smile just to see how much she was enjoying herself. Somehow, he got the feeling that she didn't have much fun in her life recently. He decided right then and there to change that. After the concert was over, Tess and Corey came backstage to talk to the guys.
"Great show, you guys!!!" Tess exclaimed breathlessly. She was sweating and her hair clung to the sides of her face.
"Thanks," J.C. said as he pulled her hair back, off of her cheeks. "Looks like you got a bit of a workout out there."
Tess blushed. "I always have fun at your concerts."
"You've seen us before?" Joey questioned.
"Yeah, and that was back when I could actually see you. I just kept picturing that night over and over as you guys sang. It's easier when you have memories to go by."
"It must be," J.C. chuckled. He looked over at Justin who gave him a "get somewhere to talk to her alone" look.
"Um, Tess? Would you mind going for a walk with me?" J.C. asked quietly.
"I'd love too," she replied as he gently took her arm and led her out of the room. They walked around for hours, just talking about things they liked and disliked. They talked about their hobbies and different things they enjoyed. They discussed being perfectionists and laughed at each others corny jokes. When they made it back to the arena, the rest of their friends were waiting impatiently on the bus.
"Where have you two been?" Corey yelled out the bus window. "You've been gone for two and a half hours," he reprimanded as he slammed the window shut.
"I don't think he's very happy," Tess chuckled.
"I think you're right," J.C. agreed.
"Oh well, he'll get over it. He always does."
"Yeah," J.C. whispered. "Tess?"
"Yes?"
"Um, well, uh, I'm gonna be in town for a while and I was wondering if you, well, maybe, would like to go out for dinner sometime?"
Tess smiled broadly. "I'd love too."
"Really?" J.C. asked, then cleared his throat. "I mean, that's great. Would you like to go tomorrow night? We have some interviews during the day, but no concerts tomorrow."
"That sounds fantastic."
"Pick you up at seven?"
"Great."
"Great," J.C. repeated. He took her hand and slowly brought it to his lips. Gently, he kissed the back of her hand, then smiled. "Thank you for a wonderful evening," he said as Corey walked up behind them.
Tess blushed bright red. "Thank you," she whispered. J.C. strode over to the bus and boarded it while Tess was led away by a not-so-thrilled Corey.
.....................
J.C. sat outside Tess's apartment in his rented car. He wasn't sure if he was ready for what he knew he was about to get himself into. He hadn't let himself fall for a girl in over a year. The last time it had happened, she broke his heart. But somehow he got the feeling that his luck was about to change. Stepping out of the car, he fixed the suit and tie that he had purchased earlier that day. He had called Tess to find out where she lived and to tell her that they were going someplace fancy. Approaching her door, he rang the bell and glanced at his watch.
Damn, he thought. Ten minutes late. Now there's a good first impression.
As Tess opened the door, J.C.'s mouth hit the ground. Her dark hair was pulled up and pieces of it fell around her face in curls. She wore an amazing navy blue dress that offset her coffee brown eyes wonderfully.
"You're late," she scolded him with a smile.
"You're stunning," he whispered back, still staring.
Her smile got larger. "You're forgiven."
He escorted her to the car and opened her door. Quickly, he ran around to the other side and hopped in the driver's seat. When they reached the restuarant, he pulled out a chair for Tess to sit, then sat down himself. Unfolding the menu, he hurridly glanced it over.
"What would you like?" he asked politely as he saw their waiter approach.
Tess sat with her hands folded neatly on the table. "I don't think these menues are in braille," she said quietly.
"Oh, God. I'm sorry," he apologized. Turning to the waiter, he said, "Could you give us a few more minutes?"
The waiter left and J.C. turned back to Tess.
"I'm really sorry about that. I guess I just forgot that you....."
Tess held up her hand. "It's o.k." she smiled. "I'm used to it. Would you just read to me what the menu says? I think that would be easiest."
J.C. stared at her for a moment, then began reading off the items on the menu. Once they had chosen and ordered their meals, there was a thoughtful silence. J.C. was still obsessing over forgetting about Tess's blindness.
"You know, I really am sorry for not remembering. I feel like a moron."
"It's o.k. J.C. Really. It's nice when people don't remember actually. Because for a few moments, I don't remember either."
"How do you handle it? I don't think I've got the courage to live the life that you're living right now."
Tess shrugged. "It's the same life I've always lived. Except now, I can't see it. I still breath the same air and hear the same things and feel the same way about life. I'm a little more careful now than I was before but losing one of your senses also has it's advantages."
"And those would be?"
"Well, for starters, it increases your other senses. I can hear, smell, taste, and feel things that before I may not have ever noticed. Being blind is sort of like entering another demension. There's so many new things to discover and explore, now that the world is closed off in one way. I mean, sure, I miss little things, like, what a sunset looks like, or how the ocean sparkles in the moonlight. But I'll be able to see them again so I'm looking forward to that day."
"You're so optimistic. Thinking like that must help you get through most of this. I think I would be just the opposite if I were in your situation."
"Oh, I don't know about that. You and I are very similar creatures, J.C. I think you'd be suprised by how you would react if this happened to you."
When their meal arrived, the conversation turned to topics of the day. They talked of family, friends, and J.C.'s life on the road. He told her stories of crazy fans, just so he could see her laugh. After they had finished eating, they didn't go to the car, but J.C. led Tess around for a while.
"Is there someplace in particular you're taking me?" she asked after they had been walking for quite some time.
"Oh, just somewhere I like to go for some peace of mind," he replied nonchalantly. Tess began to speak, but J.C. placed a finger to her lips and shushed her. "Listen," he said.
Tess turned her head and listened carefully. She heard the soft lapping of waves on the shore and the glittering crash of water against a break wall. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly.
"I haven't been here in a long time," she whispered, absorbing her surroundings through her avaliable senses.
"It's a beautiful night tonight," J.C. said.
"I'll take your word for it," Tess replied quietly. I only wish I could enjoy it with you, she thought to herself.
"Tess, remember how you said that you missed the moon and stars most of all?" J.C. asked her.
"Yes."
"Well, here," he said, as he stooped to pick something up. Opening the palm of her hand, he slowly poured grains of sand into it.
"This is what the stars are made of," he said again, letting the sand trickle over her fingers.
Tess smiled. "Oh really. And how would you know this?"
"Because I made them," he stated matter-of -factly. "And I threw them into the sky, just for you."
"Well thank you very much. I always knew that stars felt like this. Tell me, all knowing one, what is the moon made of?"
"Well," he replied, slowly leaning closer to her. "The moon is made of this." He gently pressed his lips into hers. She returned the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her closer as they continued to kiss underneath the stars.
....................
Tess closed the door to her apartment and leaned against it. Almost immediately, she sensed another presence in the room and stood upright.
"Did you have a nice time tonight?" a voice questioned from her left.
Tess sighed. "Corey, what are you doing here? Didn't you go home yet?"
"I was waiting for you to get back. I figured since you needed help getting that dress on, you'd probably need help taking it off," he paused. "I'm a little suprised J.C. isn't going to be the one to help you with that."
"Corey, you can be such a bastard sometimes, you know that? Just because I happen to like the guy doesn't mean I'm going to invite him to bed the first time we go out."
"Why not? You could use a little fun."
"For your information, I did have fun tonight. I didn't need to get laid to enjoy myself. Unlike some people I know. Now, would you stop grilling me and help me out. Since that is the reason you're still sitting at my apartment."
Corey walked behind her as she made her way to her bedroom. He was always amazed with the ease in which she moved around her place. She knew it like the back of her hand and could walk around in total darkness. She tried to clean and cook and get dressed by herself too, in the beginning anyway. When she came out of the house wearing mix-matched clothes, he helped her back in and changed her. When he saw that her countertops were partially wiped down, but breadcrumbs still lay on the spots where she missed, he cleaned them up. I wonder if J.C. would do things like that for her, he thought bitterly. I've been in love with her since the first grade. He shows up and the next day they're off having a blast while I wait for her to come home. He helped her take the dress off as she searched for her pajamas. She climbed into bed as he pulled the covers around her.
"Goodnight Tess," he whispered.
"Night Corey," she replied as he left the room and locked the front door on his way out.
....................
"Have fun tonight?" Joey asked as J.C. entered the hotel room. The others were still up playing video games when he got back.
"Yes," he said with a grin, not divulging any details.
"So, what happened?" Justin pressed.
"And why should I tell you?" J.C. countered.
"Because I'm the one who told you to go after her and I want to know how it went," he retorted.
"Um, I think I was the one who told him to go after her," Lance said as he paused his video game.
J.C. threw his hands in the air. "You guys are hopeless. Nothing happened really. We went out to dinner, had a nice talk, and went for a walk on the beach. No big deal."
"The beach, eh?" Chris grinned wickedly. "And nothing interesting happened on the beach?"
"Nothing that would interest you guys," J.C. replied with a smirk as he left the room. "I'm turning in."
The other guys looked at each other. Justin and Chris snickered, then gave each other a high-five.
"He fell for her," Justin said as the others laughed.
"I think you're right, my man," Chris replied as they continued to play their video games.