****
Alyssa couldn't help but laugh as she watched Tina dig through her suitcase for something to wear. It truly was an interesting experience to watch the almost always calm, Tina, go into panic mode as soon as her boyfriend entered the picture. 'And I thought I was bad.'
"You know you could help me find something to wear." Tina said, not bothering to look up as she continued ruffling through her suitcase; trying to find the 'perfect' shirt to go with her blue Jean skirt.
"I could.." Alyssa began, waiting for Tina to turn around and look at her before continuing, "but I'm not. Remember, you canceled our hotel reservations."
"For the millionth time, Justin and I were just trying to get you and JC back for ditching us at the airport," Tina said, with an impatient sigh; tired of apologizing to her friend.
"Yes, that is true; but also for the millionth time, just because you're boinking your boyfriend doesn't mean I have to suffer through the consequences and stay in a house full of men half our age, now does it?"
Slightly growling at Alyssa's poor choice of words, Tina turned back towards the pile of clothes, in front of her, and continued with what she doing before Alyssa had spoken up, "No, it does not, and I agree that I shouldn't have done what I did, but it's already done, and I can't change time. So, you might as well just get used to it, and make the best out of the situation for the both of us."
Alyssa stood, speechless, staring at her friend's bent over figure.
She had to admit Tina was right; they couldn't turn back the hands of time, and the best thing for her to do WAS to just enjoy her stay at the guy's place.
But there was a stubborn part of her; the part of her that wanted to scream and yell at Tina until her friend decided to pack up both their things, and go find a hotel. That part was not allowing her to think with an open mind; causing her to feel slightly unhappy.
"Fine....I'll make the most of it," Alyssa said, after a few minutes; causing Tina to look up at her, surprised, "but when we get back home, Sunday, you're not only doing all the dishes for a month, but also my laundry AND your laundry, as well. Got it?"
Instead of answering her, Tina stood up from her position on the floor, and practically threw herself on Alyssa; hugging the shorter girl until Alyssa felt like she had lost all oxygen in her lungs. "Too..tight..lungs..not working."
"Sorry," Tina said, slightly giggling, as she let her friend go, "but you're not going to regret this. I promise you, we're going to have one of the best vacations ever."
Rolling her eyes, Alyssa couldn't help but smile as she watched her friend turn back to the pile of clothes on the floor, and pick up one of the shirts that she had discarded a few minutes ago; claiming it as the 'one'.
Closing the door to her and Tina's room, Alyssa sighed as she realized she was the only one who was dressed and ready to go.
"S'cuse me, pardon me, s'cuse me, pardon me." She heard a familiar voice, behind her, say, before she was almost run over by a half-naked Chris.
Shaking her head, she mumbled an 'I don't want to know' before deciding to do what any normal house guest would do; give herself a private tour of the place.
Making her way down the hallway, she stopped at each closed door, and peeked inside.
At first most of the rooms were just closets, and storage areas, but as she got to the last room, and was about to open the door; she was surprised to hear music, specifically piano music, coming from inside.
Hesitantly, she turned the doorknob, and slowly made her way inside; hoping to be silent enough not to disturb whoever was playing the music.
Unfortunately for her, and the squeaky floorboard that she had stepped on, she was caught red-handed.
JC looked up from the piano, to the intruder, who had interrupted one of his few peaceful moments.
"I-I'm sorry, C, I didn't mean to disturb you." Alyssa said, quickly backing out of the room; slightly blushing over the fact he had caught her snooping.
Smiling warmly, JC shook his head, "No, it's okay. Come here, sit down."
A look of uncertainty flashed across Alyssa's face, but nevertheless, she reluctantly made her way across the room towards the piano.
"I didn't know you could play." She said, as soon as she took a seat next to him on the bench.
"What, you thought all us boy band members could do was lip-sync?"
"Pretty much...I mean NO, I mean yes, I mean-....shit," Alyssa said, cursing at her stumbling words.
JC chuckled at the blushing woman beside him, before winking to show that he had just been kidding. "I actually play a lot of instruments besides the piano, but I've been playing this bad boy for about seventeen years."
Alyssa's eyes widened before she quietly mouthed 17 years? to herself.
"How long have you been playing?"
The question startled Alyssa. How had he known?
"You have piano fingers. Like mine." JC answered, before she got the chance to ask him. "And..Tina also showed me a copy of your diploma while Justin and I were at your house last month."
"For the love of God." Alyssa said, practically screaming in disbelief. "I swear that girl has no shame."
JC chuckled, once again, before nodding; agreeingly.
He had known all along that Tina had been trying to set Alyssa and him up ever since they met Valentine's Day weekend. But he really couldn't blame the girl, he knew him and Alyssa could be perfect for one another, they clicked; personality and looks wise, but for now he liked them to just stay friends.
It was better that way.
"So, how about you stop me from committing homicide on my best friend, and play something for me."
JC smiled at the comment, before putting his hands, that had been resting in his lap, back on the piano keys, "All right, what does the lady want to hear?"
"Something...jazzy."
JC chuckled at the comment, and gave Alyssa another wink before he began to sing and play a tune that was right up both their alleys.
Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds,
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Alyssa smiled as JC sang along to the well known female song he was playing.
It was amazing to hear his vocals take over it; but not being one to miss out on singing an 'oldie but goodie' she couldn't help but sing along with him. Unknowingly mixing well with him.
JC smiled down at the piano as he watched Alyssa's hands slowly, but quickly, make their way towards the piano keys. Helping him hit the right notes in the song.
As the two continued singing, while playing along with one another, they both absentmindedly tuned out the fact that their bond was beginning to grow stronger; and that the four people standing by the door, spying on them, were all making plans in their heads to get them together.
