** I know it's been so long since I started this story... I just want to preface it quickly. This is not something you would normally read from me. There is no fan-fic aspect to this. In saying that I want everyone to be as open and brutally honest with me about this story. It's my baby, but if everyone is into it.... I MAY see about getting it published. There really is no time line to get it written, so please bare with me if it takes forever to get the next post up and running, I will try my best to NOT let it get too crazy. Also please remember, these are not the length of the chapters that would be in the book (if I choose to do that). I will be breaking chapters up into more managable pieces for here. Please enjoy... and PLEASE comment. **
Soundtrack - Ingrid Michaelson "Keep Breathing"
Snow fell peacefully, blanketing the ground in a soft coat of glittering diamonds. Ice clung to the branches of trees, covering the few remaining leaves, too stubborn to join their companions on the faceted ground. The wind blew cold and hard through the boughs, as a few leaves here and there were broken away from their safe haven and tumbles to the cold terrain.
Beyond the trees, the buildings stood as icy as the ground they emerged from. Side by side, corporate and commercial, residential and industrial; all crammed into a vast area, though too small for the amount of buildings and people withing, called down town.
Shoppers moved easily from shop to garish shop, lights dangling from the ceiling as bright and cheerful music penetrated their thoughts of busy roads and impatient children. Carmendy Borden moved briskly through the crowds, pausing briefly to state a quick apology here or there. She pulled her hat tightly over her ears, slipped on her mittens, and pulled her coat tightly around her as she pushed through the final door and out into the brisk air.
The crowd seemed even thicker outside of the building as she desperately and timidly fought her way to her large Lincoln Navigator. Emitting a small squeal as she caught herself from slipping on the icy cobblestones, after once again receiving a rude push from the woman brushing past her. Darn these heels! She screamed silently at herself, starting down at her glistening black patent Christian Louboutin pumps. Why of all days did I have to choose you? She sighed softly as she pushed her way through the next crowd of people.
"Shoot!" She exclaimed, loosing balance completely on a patch of cobblestone coloured ice. Tensing, she braced herself or the fall, extending her left arm for the impact that never came. Slowly she turned her head, and eyes, to meet a pair of sea-green ones, owned by an angel who's arm was securely wrapped around her back.
"You should be more careful with where you're walking, eh?" The angel spoke softly, his voice a velvety tenor. She blushed slightly as he gently moved her off the patch of ice and back onto her feet. "Are you going to be ok now? Or should I make sure you get where you're going?" He chuckled softly as she nodded, and then shook her head, before nodding again.
"Oh my gosh!" She exclaimed covering her reddening cheeks with her gloves to calm the heat emanating from them. "I... Well... I should be fine. Thank you very much." She offered her hand to the angel, who took it easily, rubbing the back of the mitt before reaching up and brushing snow off of her chestnut curls.
"It's no problem." He smiled. "I'd love to buy you coffee, help you warm up a little..." The heat pouring off her cheeks increased as she nodded slightly, the angel's own cheeks seemed to glow softly as he led her towards a small coffee shop on the corner; his hand securely on the small of her back.
The coffee shop was bustling with people as the two rushed to an open table, coffees in hand, laughing as another couple hurried off in the opposite direction.
"Wow..." She gushed, breathlessly, sliding up into the high chair feeling his intense gaze on her body. "I havent' had someone give me a table, or give up on a table with out a fight since I left Atlanta!"
"Is that where you developed that lovely accent of yours?" The angel grinned as her cheeks began to burn again.
"I suppose it is..." She laughed. "Born and raised a Georgia Peach. And what about you? Are you a local native?" His face dropped momentarily, causing Carmendy to wonder what would darken this man's eyes so much about where he was orginally from.
"Ummm... No, not exactly. I've kind of moved around a lot in recent years." He smiled tightly, an uncomfortable air falling around the couple, allowing them to sit back and draw a long sip of thir warm drinks and stare out at the fluffy white flakes of heavily falling snow.
"Oh MY GOD!!" A voice to the left of Carmendy screeched. "You're Jason Whitehall!" Carmenty turned her head slowly towards the voice, catching the horrified look on the angel's face, as a girl of no more than 15 ran up to the table grabbing on to his arm. "Oh my god, you were amazing on Tuesday! Can I have your autograph, Mr. Whitehall? It would mean so much to me and my dad!"
"Sure." He recovered, plastering a practiced smile on to his perfect lips. He gently took the piece of paper out of the girl's hand and the offered pen from Carmendy, nodding thanks towards her. "Who should I make this out to?" He asked her softly, watching at the girl swooned slightly at the sight of his pearly whites. Carmendy believed she'd have the same reaction if he threw that grin her way.
"Umm... Nicky." The girl beamed, braces visible in her full mouth grin. Jason scribbled a quick note, before handing it back to the young girl and watching her bound away."That was very sweet, Jason." Carmendy whispered softly into the silence that engulfed them. "I think you just made her year." He shrugged lightly as he twisted his cup in his hands.
"Anything for a fan..." He mumbled, obviously now very uncomfortable. Looking up into her clear green eyes a grin slowly spread across his lips. He reached towards her, taking her right hand gently in his own, studying the way it looked settled in his, before turning his gaze to her eyes. "Well you now know my name, am I ever going to get yours?"
"Carmendy..." She whispered so lowly he had to strain to hear the next words. "Carmendy Borden."
"Carmendy..." He breathed, moving her name around in his mind and in his mouth. He stopped suddenly; his head tilting to one side, studying her intently. "It suits you. It's like a beautiful song." His smile was infectious as she dipped her head in slight embarrassment.
"Thank you." She murmured, pulling her hand back from his slowly. "I really should get going..." She pushed her seat back and scooted out from behind the table. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Jason." She smiled softly at him before escaping out the side door.
Jason sat there for a few minutes, staring at the door that Carmendy just slipped through and into the blustery day. How could this have happened? He wondered softly to himself as his gaze moved towards the hand that mere moments ago had held hers. She didn't know me... His inner monologue continued allowing that veil of self-doubt to cloud him. But she took off too. Does this mean she's not interested? She didn't leave her number... How will I ever find her again?
"Believe in fate, young man." Jason threw his head up and was met eye to eye by an old woman.
"P-pardon me?" He stumbled over his words as the woman turned slightly to the side.
"Bryce, I told you time and time again. If you believe, it will come true; right?" She chuckled softly at a young toe-headed boy.
"Yes, Nana..." The boy sighed before sliding up to the table. "I don't mean to bug you, Mr. Whitehall, but can I have your autograph?"
"Sure, kid," he smiled widely, scribbling a quick note on the notebook the boy handed him, before passing it back.
"Wow! Thanks, Mr. Whitehall! You're the best!" The boy gushed, running into his grandmother as he swiftly turned back to her. "You were right, Nana!"
"I usually am, Bryce..." The old woman laughed softly before turning her eyes up towards Jason. "You just don't forget what I've said." Jason saw the meaning behind her gaze and nodded slightly, pulling on his coat and heading out into the blustery snow.
"YEE-HAW, BOYS!" An obnoxiously loud voice cried, causing Jason to cringe as he followed it down the long hallway. "That's four in the bag!" The voice paused in the middle of the large room, just to the left of the griat painting of a Sasquatch on the floor. "What?" He asked blankly, staring out at the group of guys around him. "You guys! We just freaking pulled a 4-3 win out of our freaking butts! GO BLIZZARDS!" The rest of the guys all turned to eachother, muttering their agreement, before facing the one person who's weight really carried in the room. "C'mon Cap... You gotta be excited!" The obnoxious one gulped and seemed almost pleading as Jason pulled the strong smelling sweater over his head.
"Well... We won... So be proud..." The room erupted in cheers; Jason ignored them as he began undoing a series of buckles. "However..." His quiet voice resonated through the room, the cheers stopped suddenly as every pair of eyes turned back to his figure, sitting back in the small cubby. "We really only played for twenty minutes. We came back from a 3-0 deficit." He pulled the equipment off of his shoulders and arms, then unlacing the skates on his feet, pushing off the left, then the right before moving his eyes to those staring at him. "That's not something to be proud of. Yes, we won. Yes, we succeeded. But how much of that was luck?" He stood, unlacing the bulky pants, allowing them to fall to his ankles and stepped out of them. "We won... Be proud... But be greatful too. Because in my opinion, we lost." He watched as the heads dropped around him. He sighed heavily, moving towards the back and the showers, wondering how much the state of his own mind had effected what had happened just moments earlier.
He barely heard the footsteps of the man who followed him into the back. He slipped under the steaming running water, sighing deeply, before the second figure turned on the water in the shower next to him. Silence enveloped them, both listening to the sound of the boys in the large front room start their night out celebrating with a certain restraint added to the conversation.
"Think you were a little hard out there, Jay?" The second man spoke softly, turning his shower off, and wrapping a towel around his defined waist. A groan rumbled from his chest, as he too turned the shower off, grabbing his own towel.
"Maybe..." He shrugged, heading back towards the door. "Doesn't sound like it made much of a difference, Dean." Dean sighed, running his hand through shaggy dirty-blond hair, following after his friend and teammate.
"Jay..." He sighed before picking up his step slightly. "Jason! Wait!" He grabbed hold of the taller man's arm, causing him to halt with a defeated sigh. "Look, what ever's going on in that goofy head of yours, shake it off." Jason turned slowly to his friend with a look of resignation. "We're first in the division and we're coming up on a four day weekend. A true four day weekend. Take some time. Come out for a drink tonight... One drink, Jay." Jason allowed a small smile to creep onto his lips at the sight of his friend's pleading face.
"One drink?" He questioned, Dean's head bobbing in a positive action. "Monica's in town tonight, isn't she?" Dean shrugged nonchalantly.
"She was house hunting... And honestly, she wanted to hang out with you more than she did me." Jason clapped the shorter man roughly on the back, laughing.
"One drink, Dean. That's all I promise."
"All I ask, man. Monica will convince you otherwise." Dean grinned lightly, both men moving into the room to change and leave to a more crowded environment.
Carmendy sat on her beige leather couch in complete shock. The machine beside her beeped once before announcing "end of messages" in a sharp clipped voice. He found her. Her biggest fear in moving cities had just come true. He wanted to see her again. After everything that had happened, why now? Focusing inwards, on the anxiety that clawed at her chest, she didn't hear the ringing for the machine kicked in.
"CAR!" The voice yelled through the little black box, causing Carmendy to jump back into reality. "Hunny, I know you're sitting there, all alone. I'm not letting you forget that we're going out. C'mon, Car... Level is waiting for us... All the hot men at Level are waiting for us. We're outside. I'm giving you 10 minutes before I come up to get you." Carmendy laughed softly at her co-worker, Brianne, as the machine clicked off. She physically shook the back thoughts out of her mind before pulling herself off the couch to get ready for the girl's night out on the town.
She slid into the open back seat a mere 5 minutes later; primped and primed, ready for whatever kind of trouble the girls were going to get her into tonight.
"Well, well, Miss Georgia!" The girl sitting in the driver's seat turned to grin at her. "You clean up nicely."
"Thanks, Cindy." Carmendy smiled shyly.
"Less chatty, more drive-y!" The brunette sitting next to Carmendy demanded as Cindy turned back around and put the car in drive. "These boys aren't going to wait around forever ladies!"
Oh lordy... Carmendy thought silently, sitting back in her seat. Please be a good night...
