Heartbeat

“Maria! Maria!” The photographers squirmed all around her likes lions pouncing hungrily at their prey. The flashes so bright, one could have sworn it was morning even though the clock read almost mid-night. Her bodyguards pushed through the throng ruthlessly shoving the paparazzi out of the path. Indifferently, she stepped from the restaurant her sequined silver dress glittering in the light of the cameras. Her Ray Ban sunglasses were poised perfectly on her nose as she gripped her phone tightly in her hand, making careful steps in her mile high Louboutin heels, following Geoffrey, her bodyguard. For a split second she almost forgot the man behind her. Enveloped by the crowd of greedy photo snappers, Taylor Hall was almost lost behind her. As they approached the car Geoffrey opened the side door for her and she turned to Taylor.

“Thanks for dinner,” She smiled giving his cheek a quick peck.

“Can we maybe do this again?” Taylor hopefully asked as Maria was pushed into the large black Escalade that whisked her away to another location where she was needed, and her presence desired. Taylor ran a calloused hand over his face, heaving a large sigh. The photographers were long gone, chasing another prodigy to capture with their gargantuan cameras. Maria Svetovna was a comical sight, yet someone Taylor obsessively dreamed of in the nights. Thrust into the public’s eye because of her debut in some Shai Lebeouf movie, the Russian actress captured Taylor’s heart the moment he met her at the movie’s premier.
She had a hint of an accent, yet spoke English beautifully and even charmed him every once in a while with a few Russian phrases. Taylor was a man possessed by his lust and adoration for the beautiful foreignor. Yet of course, he was not the only one. Men lined the streets for her public premeirs, and fell upon their knees professing their love daily. Something about the dark haired beauty seamed to captivate the hearts of the American men, across the nation.

Pulling out his phone, Taylor texted Maria.

Are you free Tuesday? Come to my game?

Waiting patiently he decided to hop in his car and head home. He pulled on a pair of old sweat pants and a white t-shirt and fell on his bed, dozing off into a light slumber. Around two A.M. his phone buzzed on his nightstand.

Only if you have lunch with me on Monday

Taylor smiled, his tired eyes dropping heavily at the sleep that was pulling his body back under.

Absolutely.

He managed to text back before collapsing back onto his warm pillow.

*

“Maria, could you please sit still?” Her makeup artist asked as Maria kept glancing down at her iPhone.

“Karova.” She insulted the woman who, oblivios to the insult, continued to apply makeup to the young woman’s face. As soon as she finished, Maria hopped off the chair and headed off to party, escorted as always by her bodyguard.

She arrived at the club, the music loud, pumping vibrations into her body. She spotted him from across the room, and made her way over immediately, Geoffrey right on her heels.

“Alex!” She squealed throwing her arms around the man standing there, waiting for her patiently.

“You look beautiful Maria.” He whispered huskily into her ear. She blushed looking up into his fiery hazel eyes, as his hand found her hip.

“Dance with me?” She asked with a twinkle in her eye. “Pazhalusta?” She pleaded.

“Ofcourse,” Her Russian friend replied as she tugged him down to the dance floor compact with bodies grinding against each other to the rythym of the song. From the corner of her eye, Maria could distinctly make out the flash of a camera. However, she was so focused of the friction of her body against Alex’s she really couldn’t care less.

*

“You look so cute in my jersey.” Taylor smiled as he led Maria up to the box at the hockey arena.

“Thanks, but it looks better on you.” She countered with a coy smile that simply melted Taylor’s heart. “Score a goal for me?”

“For you? I’ll score two.” Taylor winked as he bent down for his good luck kiss before heading down to the locker room.

Maria sighed and plopped on the couch as she watched the stadium fill with excited fans. Her phone buzzed nonstop for the next hour as various people vied for her attention. Keeping her eye on the number four skating around on the ice, she heaved a dreamy sigh. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Taylor, she just didn’t like hockey. And it wasn’t that she didn’t want to date Taylor, she just didn’t want to date. How could she just give herself over to just one man, when America was filled with so many throwing themselves at her feet.

Sure enough, Taylor scored two goals in the game against the Blackhawks, making Maria smile down as he celebrated with his teammates.

“Did you see those two goals?” Taylor asked in excitement when Maria met him outside the locker room.

“I did,” She nodded, “Thanks.” Taylor kissed her cheek politely as the his teammates filed out of the locker room.

“Want to go get some dinner?” Taylor asked hopefully.

“I can’t stay long. I have a photo shoot in the morning.” Maria said already turning towards the door. Quickly Taylor followed her, Geoffrey not far behind. The photographers were already there, waiting like thirsty vultures. Taylor stealthily slipped his hand into Maria’s and pulled her to the Escalade that took her everywhere as the violent shutter of cameras assailed them. Sitting in the booth at Rouge, a quiet French restaurant that gave the V.I.P. room just for Maria, they ate their dinner.

“So how was your weekend?” Taylor asked making conversation, his eyes wandering over Maria’s body now that she had changed into a sleek black dress.

“Crazy. Fun.” She shrugged picking at her salad as a large plasma tv buzzed with noise behind them.

Maria Svetovna, the Russian star that has swept across the nation stealing the hearts of millions of men, is quite the woman. She has been spotted recently with numerous men, varying from athlete Taylor Hall to Russian producer Alex Eframonov. Her latest endeavor was at a Lakers game last Wednesday with Disney star Nick Jonas, and its rumored tonight she was attending the Oilers game in support of a certain hockey man. Maria is taking the nation by storm, litterally stealing hearts of dozens of guys. Lock up your men ladies, no one is safe from the charm of Maria Svetovna. In other news, Eva Longoria and husband of seven years Tony Barker are calling it quits…
Taylor zoned out the rest of the report, his mouth suddenly going dry.

“That bitch.” Maria mumbled under her breath, rolling her eyes.

“What the hell Maria?” Taylor asked his heart going a million miles per minuet. “Are you seriously playing me?”

“What?” Maria asked in confusion. “I didn’t do anything.” She shrugged.

“There was a picture of you gyrating your friggen hips over some dude’s crotch! The hell was that all about? Why were you dancing with him?” Taylor erupted making Maria jump.

“Because..I like dancing?” Maria asked confused as to why Taylor was becoming so angry.

“Maria!” Taylor huffed, “I though you liked me.” He sighed as she leaned across the table taking his hand in hers.

“I do.” She insisted, “Why are you mad Taylor?”

“Because if you like someone, you don’t dance with other people, Maria.” Taylor explained taking a large sip of his beer.

“Oh.” Maria blinked, “I like having fun Taylor. You aren’t my husband.” Taylor looked up at her in confusion. “I like boys, and how do you say it…patrying up? I cant just be with one boy all the time.” She concluded.

“Why the hell not? Why cant you be with just me?” Taylor asked in frustration.

“Because Taylor, im like…a bird. You cannot cut off my wings. Sometimes its hard to be a woman, and give all your love to just one man. There are so many men Taylor. I cannot pick one.” She finished with an airy laugh.

“That’s not love Maria.” Taylor insisted, “You cannot love more than one person. You have a soul mate and you find them, and you love them and only them.”

“Well then I do not want a soul mate.” Maria said after a moment of thinking. She pushed her salad away and stood from the table. “It’s hard to love only one man.”

“Then why is it so easy for me to love only you?” Taylor asked standing also.

“Ya neznayu,” She shrugged. “I don’t know.” Taylor exhaled feeling defeated, and his words failing him. He lost the battle over Maria’s heart. Now he was just another casualty in this cold war. He realized she was not a woman easily won over with flattery and gifts. Maria liked attention, and Maria liked playing with the hearts of helpless men, desperate for her touch. She viewed commitment as having her wings broken, while Taylor viewed it as flying. The next words to exit her dainty lips would forever be etched into his memory.

“Your heart,” She said placing her small hand on his chest, “It beats differently from mine.” She said taking his hand and placing it above her heart. “Your’s beats for one woman, a woman that deserves every beat, who will love you and only you. My heart…it just beats.”

Maria left Taylor at the restaurant with a broken heart. Yet it was still beating.