Dances of Angels
By: Dana Lynn
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~
Chapter 20
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~


Dakota pulled her car into the driveway. What a day. She thought to herself. Ten-hour days weren’t all she remembered them to be. Re-locking her car door, she made her way to the front door. Before she could get to the porch, “Welcome home” a voice almost hissed from behind her. Dakota jumped nearly two feet out of her skin. Turning around she sighed with relief.

“Thank God it’s only you” she said, removing her hand from over her heart after seeing Josh’s familiar face. “Yep. Only me.” He said, feeling almost hurt. He shoved his hands into his pockets. “That’s not what I meant, Josh, you should know that. You scared me.” They stood still where they were. A distance of only a few feet felt like miles.

“Do you wanna come in?” Dakota asked, finally breaking the silence. Josh looked confused. “I kinda wanted to talk to you about something.” He finally got out. “Well…” she started, “we can talk inside, can’t we?”

He followed her. In the door, into the living room, out of the living room, through the kitchen, waiting there while she changed, and then finally out into the sunroom. Which at the moment could have been mistaken for a planetarium with the scape formed by the moon and stars. “What a beautiful night!” she said, sipping her wine, and settling in a chair across from where he was standing.

He didn’t sit. He wouldn’t. “Yes, it is.” He paused after agreeing. “Perfect for a walk on the beach.” She paused briefly, looking into her wineglass. He was acting strangely since the moment he greeted her. Now she knew why, or at least had a hunch. She raised her eyes to meet his. As she did, he continued.

“Funny story actually.” He forced a fake laugh. “The greater portion of my evening I looked for you. Figured we haven’t seen each other in weeks, so maybe we could spend some time together. After awhile though, I got bored of looking and decided to go to my spot where I usually write, think… whatever. As I’m leaving, I see a sight that otherwise may have inspired me to write another cheesy love song, but upon closer inspection of the situation…” he sighed, “it was you and another guy.” He finished strong, stronger than his beginning. The phase of being hurt had passed, now he was just pissed.

“And you think you deserve an apology for that?” she reacted to his attitude. “Don’t I?” he asked. Dakota let out a small laugh, only the situation was anything but humorous. “Josh, I don’t know what you think this is between us here, but I don’t remember any conversation saying we couldn’t date anyone else. Sure, we’ve had some good times, and please don’t miss understand me, I love spending time with you, but there’s nothing more than friendship.” She said.

Her words hit him like a ton of bricks. And although at that moment he couldn’t see through his own hurt, she was right. By this point she was standing right in front of him, waiting for him to say something, anything. He didn’t know what to say, but emotions overtook him as he brought his face closer to hers. Ultimately, his lips found hers, caressing them slowly and finding hers accepting to his. No sooner than it began, it ended.

Dakota back away. Confused, she walked toward the doors leading out to the back lawn. It was two months she she’d last felt his lips on hers, and even then their kiss was nothing like the one they’d just shared.

“Dakota?” he questioned walking toward her, but remaining a distance away. “Josh,” she interrupted him, “can’t we just let things the way they are.” She suggested. He shook his head. “Does this have anything to do with that guy?” he asked half ignoring her request. A small smile played on her lips. Sometimes jealousy was so appealing. “Jared? No. He’s just a dancer in the video we’re shooting tomorrow.” She explained. He sighed with a small amount of relief. “You mean there’s nothing going on between you two?” Dakota shook her head. “No. Nothing.”

“Then why…” Josh smiled. “Ya know what, forget it. You’re right. It’s none of my business.” His smile remained. “But… good.”
Dakota laughed. “And what makes you so happy? You think this means anything for you?” she smiled. “Maybe not” he said. “But it makes things a hell of a lot easier.”

continue >>


"Dances of Angels" main page       Stories page