They Taped Over Your Mouth

Cassandra could feel his gaze on the back of her head. Adam had been acting strange for weeks, randomly surprising her at her apartment, showing up without notice after her shift at Urban Fare. Sure, it was cute at first, but it’s been going on for two weeks non-stop, which is totally peculiar. She used her precious moments of spare time to meet with Daniel Bergeron, Adam’s idol.

Daniel was one of the top art gallery hosts in New York. If you wanted in to the New York art scene, your goal was to get in with this guy in the best way possible. Adam was an aspiring painter and his work was very good. He’d won numerous awards in his hometown where he’d been the big fish in his little pond. Now, he was a small fish in a huge pond and he needed an in like a supermodel needs a calorie-away-machine. Cassie had met Daniel at a local grocer, technically she’d run into him – literally – and she’d helped him get back to his gallery with his five pound bag of coffee and a king-size box of Marlboro cigarettes. He’d invited her back the next day for coffee which she refused, plainly stating she had a boyfriend. Daniel said he could tell she did before adding on that Cassie was too young for him anyway. He just wanted someone to talk to who wasn’t in the business and Cassie seemed like the perfect girl.

It was two weeks before Cassie realized that her Daniel was the same Daniel who Adam had been dying to get an audience with for two years. Well, suddenly Cassie knew just the thing to do for Adam and pitched her idea to Daniel the next day they had coffee. Daniel was skeptical at first, but warmed to the idea once he saw some of Adam’s work.

“He’s got talent,” Daniel admitted after Cass had shown him a couple pieces.

“So you’ll do it?” Cassie’s eyes shone and Daniel couldn’t say no. Cass had quickly become Daniel’s best friend and Adam still didn’t know a thing about them.

So, when one of Adam’s longtime buddies, who had no idea what Daniel Bergeron looked like, told Adam that Cassie was cheating on him, Adam decided to investigate. He got all of his friends to spy on her whenever they saw her around and they did for a while, collecting bucket-loads of misunderstood information. They told him she met a guy everyday at 11:30 and that they disappeared into a gallery for an hour before she left and went back to work. They never could figure out who he was and never got a good photo of him that Adam could decode.

Adam grew resentful, staying so for three weeks. Two days until his birthday and he couldn’t help but fear Cassie was going to break up with him on that day. He loved her. He hadn’t told her that yet, of course, but now he was starting to wonder if he should break it off with her first. To avoid the humiliation that would no doubt follow her little debacle.

Cass knew something was wrong, but when she prodded him she got nothing but ice in return and so, she stopped trying. She wondered briefly if this was the detachment before the breakup, but quickly decided it couldn’t be that.

Adam wasn’t even interested in sex anymore, if that was even believable. Cassie thought she’d become undesirable even though she put on his favourite music and looked at him with the expression he could never turn down. Even though she used the phrase he never turned down, “Rock and roll, babe, I need something to scream about”.

Until that night, of course, when her whole world came crashing down and she started to wonder if coffee everyday with Daniel had started to make her gain weight somehow. When she consulted Daniel he denied it stating that she “looked just like [she] did on day one. Drop dead gorgeous and taken”. It got the intended response from Cass, a shaky laugh and a timid smile.

Cassie worked harder than ever on her present to Adam which meant she had to sneak away for longer periods of time more often.

Adam was left alone during these times, or he came home to an empty apartment. He wanted, more than anything, for just a quiet, romantic evening with Cassie, just like they used to, not knowing that that was exactly how Cassie felt as well.

One night, while Adam was locked in his small studio finishing up his latest masterpiece, Cassie wrote a song for Adam. The first one she’d written since her old band days, back when she lived with her parents. She spent two heartfelt hours on it and showed Daniel the fruits of her labour the next day. Daniel praised her on it and was about to move onto a different topic to talk about when it hit him.

“D’you think, maybe, that you should play it for him tomorrow night? I have a guitar, I’m certain I could work out a little piece for you to sing along to,” Daniel offered, his mind already picking apart different guitar chords and notes for her song, twisting it from it’s soulful ballad into a rock piece.

Cassie wholeheartedly thanked him and said that’d be wonderful. Cassie called in sick from her lunch break and stayed at the gallery to sit with Daniel and compose the song.

Adam was heartbroken that night when he found out from Patrick that Cassie had left the gallery at four in the afternoon instead of 12:30 per usual. He was even more distressed to learn that she looked both happy and disheveled. Adam was sure it could only be the aftermath of great sex with someone other than him. He locked himself in his studio as soon as Patrick told him and refused to come out when Cassie sent him a note under the door.

Cassie didn’t sleep at all that night, knowing that in just 18 hours, Adam would be wholly hers again. That he’d stop distancing himself from her after his birthday party tomorrow night. She knew he was probably only going to keep her around because of Daniel, but she’d spend her whole life pretending Adam still loved her anyway if she had to. She loved him.

Unfortunately, that’s also how she knew Adam didn’t go to bed that night. She waited and waited, but the studio light stayed on until one, when Adam decided to call it quits and sleep in his studio, all to avoid confrontation with Cassie.

Adam laid awake for a while after he turned the light off, thinking about tomorrow; thinking about Cassie. He didn’t know why she was playing games with him, whenever he subtly hinted at her mysterious partner she’d just smile and say you’ll see. But he knew he wouldn’t want to forget about all the time he’d spent with her.

Well, Adam’s birthday morning came and went. She made him chocolate chip pancakes and left them on the kitchen table after slipping a note under the studio door, hiding her sorrow. She delved entirely into the rehearsal of her song for Adam instead, letting it consume her.

Daniel was a little worried about Cassie, but he knew better than to push her by now. She’d talk when she was ready. And she wasn’t ready that morning. They finalized the fine details for his arrival and she promised that she’d have the amp set up and waiting for him, along with the microphone for her.

THE PARTY

Adam searched for Cassie, but she hadn’t come out of the bedroom yet. His friends were all there, trying to make it a fun night for him. Eventually, Cassie did emerge from the bedroom in a black strapless gown just for Adam.

“Ready to dance?” she asked Adam, who swallowed the lump in his throat and decided he’d take whatever he could before his relationship blew up in his face.

“How many weeks’ pay did that dress cost?” he inquired and she thought for a moment.

“You don’t want to know,” she replied, relieved that Adam finally seemed back to normal. Meanwhile, Adam was wondering if she’d bought that dress for her new man. Was he showing up here?

The doorbell rang exactly at 7:15 and Cassie felt her heart swell and her lips grin. She rushed to get the door and everyone turned to look at the newcomer. He was wearing a hat on his head that didn’t match the rest of his outfit at all. He had on some dark jeans, a black dress shirt, and a black blazer. You could see the white of his teeth when he smiled as Cassie enveloped him in a hug. The guy behind him carried a black bag and he followed the first man inside.

Adam was beet red by now, humiliation leaking through every pore. How dare she bring him here? He knew without a doubt who it was, it was Cass’s mystery man. Well, he was not going to let her be the one to end this relationship.

Daniel’s muscle man, Greg, took Daniel’s Fender Stratocaster and started to hook it up to the amp while Cassie watched. None of them saw Adam approach Cassie from behind.

Adam marched to Cassie determinedly, ignoring the stares of everyone surrounding him. He put a hand on Cassie’s shoulder and turned her to face him. She turned and grinned at him before the grin started to fade as she stared into his eyes.

“What’s wrong, Adam?” she whispered fearfully. This was not how this was supposed to work out. She was supposed to play the song, get Daniel to tell Adam of his present and Adam wouldn’t get a chance to break up with her.

“You know what’s wrong, Cassandra,” he spoke clearly despite the lump forming in his throat. Was he really going to go through with this? Cassie listened with dread, knowing that her full name was not a good sign. She braced herself for the words that came next.

“We’re through Cass. I will not allow you to humiliate me by going around my back and dating this guy and then bringing him here! To my birthday party of all things!” he spoke with determination and grit. Both Adam and Daniel watched as Cassie’s face fell and her eyes started to glaze. As Adam turned to walk away, Daniel grabbed his arm.

“What the hell are you doing?” Daniel growled at him, glancing at Cass to make sure she was okay. She stood there, shell-shocked, even though she’d been expecting it.

“Don’t touch me! You took her away from me!” Adam growled back, forcibly removing Daniel’s hand from his forearm. Greg moved to step in, but Daniel waved him off.

“You’re misunderstanding, Adam,” he began but was cut off as Adam retorted.

“I’m misunderstanding? I’m misunderstanding? She’s been fucking you while she’s been dating me, tell me what the hell have I misunderstood?” Adam let the fury rush through his veins now. Cassie heard this and started to cry.

Daniel knew now what the problem was. His eyes softened but never left Adam’s as he grabbed the microphone and handed it wordlessly to Cass. He struck a chord on his guitar before stepping away from Adam and launching into the intro.

Cassie felt the microphone in her hand and glanced around the room. The faces looked guilty and she knew what had transpired. She changed the lyrics to the song in her head, totally prepared to freestyle it.

“I’ve got a lot to say to you, yeah I’ve got a lot to say. I’ve noticed your eyes are always glued to me, keeping them here and it makes no sense at all,” Cassie glared at Adam as the entire room made a circle around the three people. Cassie turned to glare at each and every person in the room.

“They taped over your mouth, scribbled out the truth with their lies, your little spies,” she turned back to look at Adam who looked pale as he thought about what this meant. Had he been mistaken? Had everyone in this room been mistaken? Adam didn’t know, but he knew he was going to find out.

“Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone. Just the one-two of us, who’s counting on. That never happens, I guess I’m dreaming again. Let’s be more than, this,” she knew what she was implying halfway through this part, but she wanted to make sure Adam knew as well. She repeated it once more, laying more emphasis on the ‘one-two’.

Adam got the message. He looked at Daniel, who’s face was half-hidden in the darkness of the room and he remembered that unwavering stare.

“If you want to play this like a game, well come on, come on, let’s play. ‘Cause I’d rather waste my life pretending than have to forget you for one whole minute,” she divulged her true feelings and Adam felt his heart sink like a ton lead as he found out for certain that he was wrong.

“They taped over your mouth, scribbled out the truth with their lies, your little spies,” Cassie sang hoping it was reaching Adam on a deeper level. “They taped over your mouth, scribbled out the truth with their lies, your little spies,” she repeated as she cast a glance about the room. Finally, she glanced at Daniel, who nodded and finished the song with a minor guitar bit.

Daniel wanted to say something, but he knew the couple in front of him was going to have a minor chat first.

“I trusted you, Adam,” were the first words out of Cassie’s mouth after she put the microphone down. “I thought you trusted me too. But not enough it seems. So why, why for the love of God, would you think I would cheat on you?” she spit it out before Adam could get a word out of his mouth.

“I’m sorry, Cassie, I should have known, but the guys had evidence and-“

“Evidence? Evidence? There can’t be any evidence for something that’s not there, Adam,” Cassie said. Daniel decided this would be the best time for him to step in.

“Sorry to disrupt this, but Adam, you need to apologize to Cass, and Cass, you need to forgive him because you two are meant to last,” he interjected before stepping back again and removing the guitar from his body.

Adam took what the stranger said to heart, “I’m sorry Cassie, I really, truly am sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking,” he apologized sincerely and Cassie’s eyes softened at once.

“Alright,” she forgave him far too easily, but Daniel was almost always right. The party surrounding them cheered and clapped before Daniel stepped forward again. Adam squinted to see beneath the hat, but no prominent features appeared to his eyes.

“I believe there was one more thing you wanted to give Adam, Cassie?” Daniel asked and Adam knew he’d heard that voice somewhere before tonight.

“Right, this is a present from me and my friend here, to you,” Cassie informed Adam as Daniel started to remove his hat. “Adam, this is Daniel and he’s willing to give you your own gallery showing,” Cassie grinned at the look of utter shock on Adam’s face.

“You – You’re – Daniel Bergeron?” Adam almost shouted when he was finally able to form a sentence.

“I hope so,” Daniel joked before Cassie hit him lightly on the arm. “Hey, that hurt, Cass. It hurt right here,” he whined as he pointed to his heart and pouted.

“I’m sure, Daniel,” she rolled her eyes at her friend before turning to Adam. “I hope you’re okay with this, it took a while to talk Daniel into it –“ she was cut off by Adam’s lips, massaging hers in a kiss so unlike any one they’ve shared in a long time. The kiss grew more and more heated before Adam broke away, much to Cassie’s chagrin.

“Rock and roll,baby?” Adam grinned and Cassie grinned back.

“Oh no, guys, clear out!” Patrick yelled and he started to push everyone out the door. Adam and Cassie laughed as Patrick hurriedly got rid of everyone, including Daniel who said he’d see her for coffee at 11:30. Luckily, Patrick cleared that up by telling Daniel he probably wouldn’t see her at all tomorrow.

“Have fun you two lovebirds!” Patrick called as he exited the apartment, signaling that it was okay for Adam and Cassie to continue their actions.

Adam picked Cassie up bridal style into the bedroom and laid her on the bed before starting to kiss her once more. Lips, cheeks, down to nibble at her neck. Cassie sighed softly before bringing Adam’s head closer to her mouth.

“I need something to scream about,” she grinned.