~*Chapter Nineteen*~
Long may the sun shine on you
Long may the rain fall on me.
I’m having trouble in my head,
It comes from the things you said,
Now I’m counting down the days…
I never told you half the truth
I’d always tiptoed through your room.
I can’t be sorry for what I’ve done,
I couldn’t spoil the fun
Now I’m counting down the days
And the ocean holds no clues
And that plane overhead could be taking you away
I haven’t always been this cold
Before the news grows old
I’ll be counting down the days.
Leesa sat by AJ’s bed, playing this song over and over in her head phones. This CD, by Taxiride, called Imaginate, was sent to her by Fiona, and Leesa was drawn to this song. It was called Counting Down The Days, and Leesa loved it so much that she had put a request to the managers of the world tour. Leesa had become such a large international act, she was no longer the Backstreet Boys opening act. She was a performer in her own right, and more and more interaction between the Boys and Leesa had developed and had been incorporated into the concert. Leesa’s request had been that Taxiride support their tour in Australia, and her wish had been granted. The guys were great friends, and had a wonderful sense of compassion to boot. Leesa played this song over and over, counting down the days until AJ would be free of the confines of his hospital bed, and they could start over again.
He had been flown back to the US after an emergency operation to repair his punctured lung, given to him by Jason, the young man who had stalked Leesa through out the entire tour. He’d flown all around the world, following her, in hopes of getting close to her. He was finally where he deserved to be, behind bars. However, they hadn’t been able to find his accomplice, the person who had given him access to Leesa’s room, and set up the plan. He or she was still out there, and Leesa, although she wouldn’t admit it out loud, was still scared that this person might come after her too.
Leesa hoped that Jason would stay there for a long time, so that she would never have to worry about him again. What angered her was, he was jailed for seven years, but would be eligible for parole in a year and a half. But Leesa put her anger behind her as she focused her energy on AJ, and his getting well enough to leave the hospital.
As she put the song on again, AJ’s eyes opened slowly to the sound of her soft, gentle voice, which had coaxed him out of a deep sleep. He reached over for her hand, and she jumped, startled.
"Xander! Hey baby, how are you feeling?" she asked, puling the ear phones out of her ears.
"Much better. Sing to me again," he asked softly.
Leesa laughed quietly, she hadn’t realised she’d been singing out loud. She began to sing another song, called Flying Without Wings, by an English band called Westlife.
Everybody’s lookin’ for that something
One thing that makes it all complete
You find it in the strangest places
Places you never knew it could be.
Some find it in the face of their children,
Some find it in their lover’s eyes.
Who can deny the joy it brings
When you’ve found that special thing
You’re flying without wings.
Some find it sharing every morning
Some in the solitary lives.
You find it in the words of others,
A simple line can make you laugh or cry.
You find it in the deepest friendship
The kind you cherish all your life.
And you know how much that means,
You’ve found that special thing,
You’re flying without wings.
So impossible as they may seem
You’ve got to fight for every dream
Cos who’s to know which one you let go
Would have made you complete.
Well, for me it’s waking up beside you
To watch the sun rise on your face
To know that I can say I love you
In any given time or place .
It’s little things that only I know
Those are the things that make you mine.
And it’s like flying without wings.
Cos you’re my special thing,
I’m flying without wings.
And you’re the place my life begins
And you’ll be where it ends
I’m flying without wings.
And that’s the joy you bring
I’m flying without wings.
AJ squeezed her hand, and she stopped singing, looking down at him.
"What, sweetie?" she asked, concerned.
"Nothing … it’s just that you have the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard. I think I just fell in love with you again," he whispered.
"I love you," Leesa said softly as she leant down to kiss him.
"Alright you two, enough," laughed the doctor as she came in the room.
Leesa and AJ pulled away from each other, slightly embarrassed.
"Well, Mr. McLean, some good news. Your vitals are steady, everything is healing even better than we hoped. You’re free to go home."
Leesa and AJ looked at each other and smiled. Finally, Leesa thought. She grabbed tightly onto AJ’s hand as the doctor gave AJ the necessary instructions as he prepared to leave.
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24 hours later
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"Well, it’s about time everyone went home," Leesa said smugly as they waved Brian’s car away. The two held hands as they walked up the driveway of AJ’s house, their hands swinging slightly.
" I know. God, I seriously need some time with you by myself," AJ whispered as he nuzzled at her neck. She laughed quietly.
"Down boy. Bad dog."
They made their way up to AJ’s bed room. Leesa pulled down the covers for him and stoked the fire that had begun to die down in his room. She whispered, "Good night," and prepared to leave. AJ simply smiled, and pulled her over to the bed.
"Where are you going little miss?" he whispered. "Don’t be bad, come make me feel better. You know how much I need you now."
Leesa began to feel anxious, she knew what he meant. And although she couldn’t think of anything more right, she still felt apprehensive.
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Twenty
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