Falling Stars

by Grubor, Sadie

  Her smile and laugh were like nothing I'd seen or heard in so long. It was such a different night between us. I don't remember falling asleep, but apparently, I passed out at some point.

  "Christopher, Christopher, honey?" Opening my eyes, there she was, my mother. Her dark hair framing her lovely round face and blue eyes mirroring my own, her face so filled with kindness and love. Love for me.

  "Mom?" She smiled and pulled me to her. Resting my head against her chest, her hands were running soothingly through my hair. She smelled like fresh bread and ginger.

  "It's okay, baby, I love you." Her warm lips pressed to the top of my head.

  "Please don't leave.”

  "Mom?" "Mom!"

  She was gone.

  Waking with a shudder, this was not the nightmares. This was different.

  "Uh…Christopher?" Mia's quiet voice coaxed my damp eyes to look to her.

  Our faces were closer than I expected. Blinking a couple of times, I focused on her biting her lip. She was so close, right there. Shit. I had her pinned against me.

  "I'm sorry." Gasping the words out quickly, I let go of her.

  She half smiled.

  "It's okay," she was still chewing her lip and looking at me confused.

  "What? I said I was sorry." The words held more venom than I intended. I guess old habits die-hard.

  "Yeah, I know. Uh…did you have a nightmare?" Her nerves painted every crease lining her brow.

  "No."

  Waiting for the questions to begin, they never did. Surrendering, I looked over. She had rolled to her other side and pulled the covers over her head. She never does what I expect.

  Looking over to the clock beside the bed, it was only five in the morning and I was wide-awake. It's probably pointless to try to get back to sleep, it will never happen now. The bad will just follow.

  Thinking over the new dream I couldn't understand, I tried to make sense of how I was feeling. This wasn't followed with the usually feelings of terror and guilt. Neither of those emotions surfaced, nor did the rage that usually accompanied. My thinking and dream analysis distracted me enough I fell back to sleep.

  Waking up this time, a familiar soft warm scent surrounded me. It was intoxicating. Stretching my arms up, I put my hands behind my head. Looking at the ceiling for a few minutes, I took in how great I felt. Glancing at the clock once again, it read after eleven in the morning. I hadn't slept in like this in forever. Hell I can't tell you the last time I slept this long.

  A stirring motion brought me out of my reverie. Looking down, I saw Mia curled up next to me almost buried into my side. The position made her face was available for me to gaze at her. Pale skin on her round face, full flesh tone lips, and even with her eyes closed, you could tell they were large and framed by thick dark lashes. Again, she entranced me.

  Lying there, I watched her sleep until she whimpered and groaned. Biting back laughter at her lack of desire to wake up, she stretched out as a cat does and halted my humor when her hand landed right into my face.

  "Oww!" Pulling my face back, I checked my nose.

  "Oh shit!" she rolled over quickly and sat up looking at me in horror. The laughter resurfaced from the look on her face. She looked petrified and it was hilarious. I couldn't contain it.

  "Are you okay?" she huffed, "It's not funny."

  I laughed harder and she started laughing too.

  "I'm" laugh "so" laugh "sorry" laugh, "I swear!" She covered her mouth.

  "It's fine," Gasping I tried to catch my breath.

  "No, I shouldn't be laughing. I'm sorry. I didn't expect to be so close to you." She bit her bottom lip.

  It was time to admit it. The lip biting was starting to become one of my favorite things to watch her do. She definitely had a habit with that lip.

  "I'm fine," I said again. Shaking off my current train of thought, I sat up. "What a way to wake up huh?" Looking at her, I ran my hand through my disheveled hair and rubbed the back of my neck.

  "I really am sorry, I didn't mean to do that or to wake you up like that," she was looking at me apologetically.

  "You didn't wake me." After the words came out, I wanted to take them back. I watched her expression go to confusion. "I mean, I'd just woken up before you, but hadn't gotten up yet."

  She nodded.

  We both got out of the bed. My eyes followed her toward her bathroom.

  * * * * *

  I was a complete ass! I hit him in the face. While I had desired to hit him a multitude of times over the past weeks, I was still horrified. In my bathroom, I waited to hear my room door shut before jumping into the shower. Prayed the hot water would wash away my humiliation, it didn't work.

  Drying off and getting dressed I stepped out to where Kat and Serena were sitting. Kat had her guitar and Serena had her sticks in her hands.

  "The dead have risen!" Serena used her best southern preacher voice.

  "Hardy – Har – Har!" Grabbing a bagel and some orange juice, I looked around the room. "Where is Laney?"

  "Getting dressed." Kat strummed her guitar.

  "What time do we have to take off?" With the fullness of my mouth, I would be surprised if anyone understood me.

  "That's disgusting." Laney emerged from her room looking at me with her face crinkled up. I opened my mouth to show her all of my food. "Jesus Mia, can you try to be a lady for a second."

  I snorted, "Um…no."

  Before Laney could say anything else, Una walked into our room with Xander and Tonya flanking her. Kat huffed when her eyes landed on Tonya. I fought back my laugh. Tonya glared at her and Kat quickly gave her the finger. A snort escaped this time.

  "Good morning," Una sang stepping into the middle of the room. "Everyone sleep well?"

  We nodded.

  "Good," she paused "Well let's get going. You have to rehearse and Mia you need to do one more rehearsal with Christopher, then we plan to go live with the performance in Chicago. My father's here to observe the rehearsal and give his approval."

  Nerves began to flame up all over my body, knowing Richard would be sitting in the rehearsals. There was an instant lump gurgling in the pit of my stomach. We followed Una to our car.

  Richard greeted as soon as we go to our dressing room. My stomach knotted. It wasn't the first time he'd heard us play and it wasn't the first time I'd met him. Still I couldn't shake my nerves.

  "Good afternoon ladies, you all look well." He smiled brightly, his eyes lingering on Kat.

  Once in position on stage, I looked back to the girls, they winked and smiled encouragement. Serena tapped it out and then we started our rehearsal. Letting the music take over, I became the other Mia; stage Mia. We couldn't have been happier with our rehearsal and Richard seemed please. He gave us a standing ovation.

  Walking offstage the choreographer grabbed me.

  "Mia did you forget you have to rehearse with Christopher?"

  "No," I shook my head. "I was going to grab some water and wash the sweat off my face. Can I get ten minutes?" I pleaded.

  "Ok, but hurry. Stage changeover will be done soon." She shouted at my quickly retreating figure.

  Back on stage, Christopher was taking his position. I took my place off to the side. The music started, the lights dropped, and Christopher began to sing. He must have been really stepping up his game with Richard watching because he seemed completely absorbed in the performance.

  When I reached his side this time he turned to me. That was new. I began my part and headed toward the front of the stage, Christopher following. Turning to each other, there was the intensity again, only stronger.

  Two different people began to perform with each other. Drawn toward each other, we sang and got much closer than we had before. When the chorus picked up again his arm slid possessively around my waist. Looking directly into my eyes, he sang.

  The blue flames in his eyes became too much. I had to break away before I exploded just from his eyes. With the last chorus, I turned back to the e
mpty seats. His arm didn't release me as easily this time.

  "Amazing!" Richard stood. "Absolutely amazing!" He approached the stage. "Christopher, you wrote this?"

  "Um…yeah, but Mia worked on it with me for a couple of weeks."

  "Fabulous." Richard breathed out. "You have such chemistry together, it's perfect."

  "So, Da-Richard, what do you think about Chicago?" Una appeared on Richard's side.

  "I think you should get it all worked out and start it," he turned away from Una, back to Christopher. "Christopher, come, talk with me" he motioned for Christopher to come.

  Hesitantly, he released my waist. Confused, I walked backstage to get ready for the night.

  We were almost ready to go out on stage when Richard appeared in our dressing room. Standing upon his entrance, we greeted him. He walked to each of us taking our hands one by one, though he seemed to linger on Kat, again.

  "I just wanted to wish you a great performance tonight," he looked at all of us, stopping again on Kat. "I'll be watching tonight from the box and am extremely excited." He backed out of our dressing room.

  Giving Kat a questioning look, she simply shrugged. Shortly after his departure, the stage assistant came back to bring us out to the stage. The concert began.

  We were dragging our asses back to the hotel. The night had been intense and I decided soaking in the tub would calm me down.

  The audience had been so receptive and was now singing along with a couple of our songs. It was such an amazing feeling when you could see the words you wrote on a crowd's lips.

  A knock on the door interrupted my hot water relaxation.

  "I'm in the tub." I groaned.

  Serena appeared in the doorway looking down on me with skepticism.

  "What?" I spit out.

  "You have a visitor," she raised her eyebrow.

  "Oh," I bit my lip. "I didn't realize it was that late. Just send him in, but shut the bathroom door. I'll get out and dressed." She just stood looking at me. "Please?"

  She scoffed and then took a deep breath through her nose.

  "Fine," she growled.

  "Thank you," I said overly sweet. "You're the best sister ever."

  "Yeah, yeah, yeah," she grumbled, closing the door.

  Climbing out of the tub, I dried off. Looking around I realized I had only brought my underwear in here with me.

  "Shit!" I said aloud at my own stupidity.

  "Uh…"

  Damn it, he heard me. My face warmed with my embarrassment.

  "Are you okay?"

  "Yeah, I, um….yeah, I'm fine." Slipping into my underwear, I grabbed the robe off the back of the door.

  Opening the door, I went to my large duffle bag. Locating my last set of pajamas clean – short shorts and a cami. I groaned. Nice.

  Looking around, I found a t-shirt and sniffed it. Even though wrinkled, it didn’t smell. Shrugging, I figured I could throw it on instead of the cami. Christopher's eyes were on me as I went back to the bathroom to get dressed.

  Once dressed, I brushed my teeth and hair. Turning off the lights along the way, I made my way to bed. Climbing under my covers, his breathing gave away that he was still awake. I pulled the covers over my head.

  Falling asleep was difficult. Restlessness twitched in my limbs. No matter how exhausted I was. Christopher's breathing even out he had fallen asleep. Lucky bastard.

  Shifting to lie on my stomach, I hoped the new position would help me. It was working. The tension in my muscles slackened, my mind began to drift off, and as soon as dreamland approached, a hand landed on my ass.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Surprise stilled me for a moment. Listening closer to his breathing, he was asleep. Slowly reaching down, I picked his hand up and dropped it back to his side. As I was reaching behind me, he shifted and pressed against my side firmly. The hand I was trying to move slipped from my grip as he slid his arm around my waist. Wiggling around I tried to relieve some of his weight. Holy crap he was heavy.

  While wiggling, his hand met bare skin and I froze. My body pulsated from his touch. Biting my lip to silent the groan on my lips, I shifted again and finally could breathe again. Christopher's weight no longer felt crushing and, thankfully, he hadn't woken up.

  Still, I couldn't sleep, my mind and body were too aware of his touch and of his closeness. Irritation pricked at me. There was no way I was going to let him cause this reaction from me. Stealthily slipping out from under his arm, I decided I was thirsty and went to the refrigerator under the bar. Mid swallow, the suite door opening startled me. Kat came into the room.

  "Where were you young lady?" Choking on the water as I spoke, Kat still jumped.

  "Fuck, Mia, what are you doing up?"

  "I asked you a question first." I reminded in my best parental tone.

  "I couldn't sleep." she shrugged. "What about you?"

  "Yeah right," I rolled my eyes. "I was thirsty." Lie. There was no way I was going to fess up to the physical effect Chris was having on me.

  We studied each other's face, knowing we weren't being completely honest. After saying good night, I went back to bed.

  Christopher had rolled over to the other side. He was twitching and mumbling in his sleep. I didn't know if I should wake him or stay back. What if he was having a nightmare?

  Climbing onto the bed next to him, I was startled when his eyes snapped open and the loud gasp left his mouth. I stopped moving. His breathing was ragged as he wiped his face. Feeling watched, his head snapped to where I stood next to the bed.

  "You weren't here?" he questioned in a whisper.

  "I-uh- couldn't sleep," Lifting the bottle in my hands. "I got up to get a drink." I felt horrible, like it was my fault.

  Putting the water bottle on the nightstand next to the bed, I slid under the covers. His breathing was still erratic and his body was tense.

  "You okay?"

  "Yeah," he whispered.

  "Sorry," I whispered back.

  "For what?"

  "Leaving." I barely got the words out.

  "You're not a prisoner," he chuckled in a hushed tone.

  I rolled to my side and fell asleep.

  * * * * *

  Jesus, did she really think she had to apologize for my nightmares. I'm such a douche bag.

  Rolling over I could smell her scent. Inhaling deep but quietly, her breathing started to slow and regulate which indicating she was asleep.

  I don't know what compelled me, but I reached out and touched the hair splayed out over the pillow. It was so soft and warm. Leaning in closer to her, the scent intensified. The last thing I remember is closing my eyes and deeply breathing her in.

  A knock on the door woke me. With a heavy sigh, I opened my eyes to darkness. A flash of panic set in, until I realized it was Mia's hair. Immediately aware of our tangled bodies, I pulled back when the door started to open. Mia stirred. When she started to stretch, I moved my face away so I wasn’t hit again.

  "Wake up! We have to get going." Kat entered the room. "Oh by the way…I'm borrowing this shirt." She grabbed a shirt from the closet.

  Mia groaned, "Go away."

  I chuckled.

  "Get up. Breakfast is out here and we're leaving in a few hours. You have to get your bags tagged."

  "Tag this."

  Laughter erupted from my chest when Mia flipped Kat her middle finger.

  "Sorry sleeping beauty, you're not my type; however, your rock star right there is pretty hot." Kat winked with a devious smile.

  "There you go Christopher…" Mia yawned, "An open invitation. Don't you have a thing for blondes?"

  I didn't know what to say. Many people knew my reputation and knew my preference for blondes, but it hurt… yeah, it hurt when she said that.

  "I doubt my invitation means anything when he already has an open invitation to your bed."

  Mia grabbed her water bottle from the side table and tossed it at Kat. She ducked and ran out laughing.

  That w
as my cue to leave. Sliding on my shoes, I looked over to Mia, still buried underneath her blanket. Her comment was still nagging at me when I left her room.

  When I got to my room, Doctor J was sitting in the living room.

  "Oh shit," I looked toward the clock, "Is it that late?"

  "You're not that late, just a couple of minutes" he smiled. "Have a seat." He patted the couch. "I take it you were sleeping?" He gave a small grin.

  Nodding, I grabbed some coffee before I made my way to the chair.

  "So how are things going?"

  I shrugged.

  "Come on Christopher, you need to give me something or I might as well go." Putting my head back on the chair, I closed my eyes and wished I were still in bed – with Mia. "Any new developments or everything pretty much the same?"

  Taking a deep breath I told him about the dream I had of my mother; the non-nightmare of just her and me. He nodded as I spoke. Then I went on to tell him about last night when Mia had gotten out of bed. He kept nodding and saying nothing. We sat in silence for a moment while he processed everything.

  "What do you think the dream of your mother was about?" He sat back and put an arm on the back of the couch.

  I shrugged.

  "I don't know. I've never had that one before."

  "How did the dream make you feel?"

  I groaned.

  "I know you hate the feelings question, but humor me."

  "I don’t know," I sipped my coffee, "it felt comforting, I guess, at first anyways."

  "At first?" He probed further.

  "Yeah, in the end she was gone," I sighed, "and I felt alone."

  "Has anything changed lately, I mean on a day to day basis?"

  I shook my head.

  "Hmm…tell me about the past two days, give me as much detail as you can about each day from start to finish." I was annoyed, but and started to tell him my days in detail. He sat quietly listening and sipping his coffee.

  "So you've actually started to form an amicable relationship with the girls?"

  Shrugging, I gave a small nod.

  "Well I can't tell you what your dreams mean; however, I believe you're making some progress in your own head. If you could just let go and talk –"