Another story challenge, this one was from Dawn:
Your boyfriend Nick has repeatedly told you that he would write a song just for you, to show you how special you are to him. He's left it for so long you have forgotten about it. But now, this afternoon, he bursts into the house with the tape of the song...and it's horrible. What do you do?
"Kacie? Kace, I'm home!"
"Up here!" I called. His timing was great, as usual. Dressed in old cutoffs, one of *his* torn up t-shirts and my hair in a ponytail, I was currently half in and half out of the bathtub in the guest room, scrubbing for all I was worth. I was just straightening up and stretching the kinks out of my back when I heard a giggle from the doorway.
"Kace, what the hell are you doing?" Nick grinned, pushing his mop of hair back out of his eyes.
"Smartass, I think even you can figure this one out," I grinned, tossing the sponge at his head. "You're home early."
"I knew I could catch you looking sexy and all sweaty if surprised you," he grinned.
"You're a sick man, Nick Carter. Why are you really here?"
"I love you? That's not reason enough?" he pouted.
I melted. "Baby," I sighed, "Of course it is. I'm sorry." I tossed off my rubber gloves and went to him, resting my hands on his chest. I looked up into the deep pools of his blue eyes and immediately became lost. My own eyes fluttered closed as he bent his head to kiss me softly and I sighed again.
Nick's hands gently rubbed my back as he lifted his head away and smiled. "I have a surprise for you," he whispered with a grin.
"A surprise?" I parrotted. "Nick, you didn't-"
"Kace, why do you insist on doing the cleaning by yourself?"
"What?" My mind boggled at the sudden change of subject.
"I told you, you don't have to do the cleaning, I have someone that comes in. If you do all the work, then there's nothing for Consuela to do and she fusses at me."
"I like doing it, Nick." I laughed as he looked at me like I had six eyes. "I know, it's sick, but I *do*. What does this have to do with my surprise?"
"Oh," he chuckled, blushing, "nothing."
"Nick!" I love him to death, but he's so frustrating sometimes.
"I can't show you when you look like this." He wrinkled his nose and held me away at arms' length. "Go take a shower, put on something sexy and I'll fix dinner. Then I'll show you what I did."
I couldn't resist him when he was like this, so I obeyed without question. I took my time and filled the tub with scented bubbles, soaking all the tension of the day away. By the time I was ready to make my way downstairs, a wonderful aroma was wafting up from the kitchen.
"Kacie, you look beautiful," he whispered.
I turned to find him watching me, a soft look of love on his face and my heart did a flip and skipped a beat. We'd been dating almost a year now, and just seeing that look in his eyes made me want to melt into a puddle at his feet. I was head over heels in love, and was certain that he was 'the one', but I just needed to convince him of that. I shook myself from my daydream and noticed belatedly that the table hadn't even been set. I must have shown my confusion, because Nick smiled indulgently.
"It's a nice night, so I thought we'd eat out on the patio tonight."
He took my hand and I follwed him out to the spacious deck behind the house. "Nick, this is beautiful." I squeezed his hand as I took in all that he had done. The glass-topped table had been set perfectly, there were fresh flowers and candles and a bottle of champagne was chilling in the silver bucket by his chair. Champagne? And candles? Oh my, maybe this was the night. Maybe he was going to- My mind began to race with a thousand and one implications, but he was determined to draw it all out and make the suspense last.
"Come sit down, Kace," he said, and pulled out my chair to seat me like the gentleman I knew he could be.
The simple dinner he'd made was perfect, and just before dessert was ready, he popped the cork on the champagne and poured us each a tall glass. The silence was killing me when finally he spoke.
"Kacie, it's been almost a year that we've been together and ... I ... umm ..."
I was touched at his sudden attack of shyness. It was the little moments like this that endeared him to me even more.
"Nick, just say it," I encouraged him, threading my fingers through his and and letting my love show in my smile.
He cast his eyes down and took a deep breath. "I made you a promise, Kace, a long time ago, but I'm afraid I haven't kept it."
"A promise?" I was truly baffled.
"I remember the first time I told you I loved you, that night on the beach."
He smiled at the memory and so did I. That night was the first time we'd made love and I'd never forget how tender he was, how considerate, and how amazing he'd made me feel.
"I remember too," I whispered.
"I know you think I forgot, but that very same night I said I'd write you a song, to show what you meant to me, and I did it. Baby, I finally finished your song!"
"My song? Nick, you wrote me a song?!" I was overwhelmed and tears filled my eyes. No one had ever done something so special for me in my entire life.
"I did," he said happily, nodding his head. "And I waited till all the guys were gone from the studio and I recorded it for you. I've been working on getting it mixed just right for weeks. I wanta play it for you tonight, then tomorrow we're going over to Kev's. I kinda told him about it today, but I wouldn't let him hear it. I told him it was *your* song, so you had to be first. All the guys will be there, and Kev has promised to use it on the next cd."
He was like a little kid at Christmas and the excitement was contagious. "What are you waiting for? Let's go inside and listen!"
"Nope, stay right here. I can run it through the speakers out here. Hang on, I'll be right back."
My heart was thumping wildly with the anticipation and I jumped when Nick knelt before me. He took my hands in his as the music began to play, and looking deeply into my eyes, he began to sing.
It wasn't his usual style. It was ... different. His eyes fastened to mine for the entire three and a half minutes and he smiled, pouring out his heart in poetry ... and notes. Lots of notes. I smiled, too. I had to. This song was his baby, his first real solo effort. It was unique. It was his. He was going to perform this tomorrow night in front of all his friends. And it was so ... it was so .....
God, it was so awful.
The music swelled to its final chords and Nick looked expectantly into my eyes. I smiled with every ounce of affection I had and took a deep breath.
"Oh ... oh, Nick," I sighed with what I hoped was loving admiration. "That ... that was ..."
"I KNEW you'd love it!" Nick leaped up and pulled me to my feet. His arms wrapped around me and he spun me around, dropping kisses into my hair and onto my face.
"Nick, I just don't know what to say." Well, that was the truth, wasn't it? "It was just so ... different. It's not your usual style."
"No, and that's the best part! I wanted to try out something new and this just came to me. BAM! I was driving along and it was like a revelation or something. I raced to the studio as fast as I could so I could write it all down. I was afraid I might forget it and then it would be lost."
"What a shame that would have been," I mumbled.
"Baby, I'm so happy you like it!" he gushed. "I mean, I started thinkin' about all you mean to me and the words just came to me and wouldn't stop. I love you so much, Kacie!"
"I love you, too, Nick," I smiled and I meant every word. Damn, he was so happy, how was I supposed to tell him how horrific his love song really was? And he was going to premiere it in front of the rest of the guys tomorrow night at Kevin's?! Oh dear lord, they'd crucify him.
"I'm tempted to just go right over to Kev's tonight ayway, yanno? I really want him to hear this."
I started to interrupt. "Nick, I don't think-"
"But it can wait," he said with a grin. "I have better things to do for the rest of the night." He held my face tenderly in his hands and his voice dropped to a husky whisper. "Consuela can do the dishes tomorrow, Kace. I just want to spend the rest of the night making love with you."
I moaned as my knees went weak. "I want that too, Nicky." He swept me up into his arms and as he carried me toward the master bedroom, I tried frantically to come up with a solution for the fiasco that was ahead of us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No such luck. Five-thirty the next afternoon found us pulling into Kevin's driveway, Nick's cd in the stereo at full volume.
******** Nick *********
I watched Kacie the entire way to Kevin's. She fidgeted in her seat, and I could tell she was just as anxious as I was for the guys to listen to what I'd done. The night before had been incredible. I knew without a doubt that she was the one for me, and she'd proved it a hundred times over in the last twenty four hours. I mean, just the way she reacted to my song was proof enough. I'd poured my heart and soul into writing it and I could tell she loved it.
"Kace, we're here," I said as I leaned on the horn and laughed. Kev hated it when I did that.
"Yes," she said softly, "so we are."
The next couple of hours were spent in distracting small talk and finger foods. AJ flirted shamelessly with Kacie, but today she didn't give back like she usually did. She looked like she had something on her mind. I helped her clear away the dishes and decided to ask her what was wrong.
"Kacie, you okay?" I tucked a stand of hair back behind her ear and was rewarded with a sweet smile.
"Sure," she said. "I think you just wore me out last night."
"Not a chance, baby," I laughed. "But I might finish the job tonight if you're lucky." I ducked the dish towel she snapped at me as Kevin called for us. "Come on girl, let's go share my newest creation, huh?"
I grabbed her by the hand and led her out to the seat of honor beneath the trees in Kevin's huge back yard.
"So, Kace, what's this surprise Nicky has for us?" Brian's curiosity had finally gotten the better of him.
"He wrote me a song," she said softly.
"A song? NICK?! No way!" AJ hooted.
"Yes, a song. I wrote it for Kacie, you dumbass." I shot a death look at AJ as I saw Kacie wince. I was flattered, really, I could tell that she was nervous for me. I mean, this was new territory for me. It was sweet for her to be so concerned.
"So let's hear it, Kaos," Kevin grinned.
I started to introduce the song. "I promised Kacie when we first started to get serious, that I would write her a song. I've been workin' on this after studio hours, and it's still a rough cut, but-"
"Just play it, Nick," Howie said. "I'm sure it will be great, right Kacie?"
"Yes," she smiled, "of course. Great."
"Well, okay," I said, taking a deep breath. I clicked the remote control and the music began. I watched Kacie's face and she was concentrating so hard on my words that it filled me with such love. None of the guys would look at me, and I just knew they were blown away by what they heard.
The music ended and there was silence.
Kevin was the first to speak.
"Wow," he said. That was all.
"You wrote that?" AJ asked.
"Yep," I grinned. "All by myself. The words AND the music."
"It's ... unusual," Brian said.
"Thanks guys!" They liked it, I could tell. I watched them all look at Kacie, and I knew they were trying to see how she felt about it. She smiled her pretty smile and told them.
"He worked so hard on it, didn't he?" she said. "And he wrote it just for me," she added, tears of joy filling her eyes as she smiled in turn at each of my best friends in the world.
"Well," Kevin said with a smile, "it just proves how much he loves you, I guess."
"Thank you," she said. "Thank you all."
"Okay, we're outta here. We got a long drive back to Tampa."
We said our goodbyes, and just as I closed Kacie's door, I snapped my fingers. "I forgot the cd, I'll be right back."
I walked through the entryway and Kevin and the others were waiting for me. "Forget this?" he asked with a smirk, holding up a cd.
"Yeah, you knew I did," I grinned reaching for the clear plastic case.
"Nick, you know-"
"It sucked, didn't it?" I asked and the others began to laugh uncontrollably.
"Man, I've never heard so many bad rhymes in my entire life," AJ said.
"If you ever write anything that bad again I will personally break your fingers," Howie said.
"Thank you," I said, bowing.
"She really loves you, Kaos," Brian said, resting his hand on my shoulder. "She was terrified that we'd rip you to pieces when we heard that abomination you made."
"But she didn't. She never said anything last night, either." I was getting lost in the memories until Kevin spoke.
"Get out of here, Nick. Take this and go do the right thing." He handed me the cd and hugged me before pushing me toward the door.
"You're sure-"
"I'm sure. That's the right one."
~~~~~~~~~~~
We drove for a while and passed the exit to my house.
"Nick?"
"I thought we'd drive over to that park by the beach that you like so much," I looked over and Kacie was smiling.
"I'd like that very much." She sighed and leaned her head on my shoulder as we made our way through the late night traffic.
I parked the truck and left the motor running. "We came here on our first date." I put my arm around her and she snuggled against my side.
"I'll always love this place."
"Will you always love me?"
"Nick, that's a strange question. Of course I will."
"Listen to my song one more time, Kace, and then tell me that." I could feel her tense, but I just smiled and pushed the cd into the deck.
The soft, sweet music began and as we listened, I could feel her confusion. I knew she wondered at the change in the melody, but I knew that the words themselves would explain it all.
The real words I'd written came from my heart and the as the final chorus swelled to its finish, I heard her quiet sob and felt the tears drop on my wrist.
I'm not a poet,
Just a dreamer who dreams of a life with you.
I'm not a wise or a wealthy man,
And your love is all I need.
So wrap me up in your loving embrace
And say that you feel the same,
Come live with me forever and be my love,
Share my life and share my name ...
Share my life and share my name.
The music ended and the only sound we could hear was the sound of the waves on the darkened beach.
"Will you?" I finally asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.
"The other song?" she asked.
"Sucked," I laughed. "Big time."
"And this one?" She twisted around to look up into my eyes, equally as wet as her own.
"The real one, Kace." I reached for her cheek with my free hand and cupped its softness with my fingers. My thumb brushed away the single tear that escaped.
"So," she asked, "I passed the test?"
"There never was a test as far as I was concerned, Kace. I've known from the beginning what I wanted."
"And that was ..."
"You and me. Forever."
"Promise me one thing?"
My lips hovered over hers. "Anything."
"Burn the other song?"
"Kevin already did." We smiled as our lips met to seal the promise of our future.
6-10-02
"Share My Life"
(c)2002, B. Olsen
It's not that great, so don't swipe it.
LOL!