Somewhere Only We Know

Paul threw my new uniform at me which was just a pair of black shorts and my waitressing top.

"You're kidding me, right?" I asked not sure if he was serious or just playing a sick joke. Why do I have to show this much leg to a bunch of drunk people.

"No, now go change, you go on in ten minutes." Paul said as he walked away without allowing me to have a word in.

I breathed a heavy sigh. I can't believe I'm doing this. I got dressed and took a moment to look in the mirror in the wormen's bathroom. I secured my hair up in a ponytail and had my waitress shirt tucked into the shorts he gave me. These shorts no doubt flattered me but still, I would think this would be a bit inappropriate for this audience. The length reached all the way below the cheeks of my behind. I am definetly not bending over anytime soon in these, I thought. Paul did tell me previously that he wanted us to try something new, something that could bring a larger audience into the restaurant. I just didn't know that somehting meant sexy. I'm just praying to God no crazy guy is going to get his eye full and thinks he can touch.

I headed towards the side stairs that lead towards the stage.

The anouncer presents my first name to our half-a-house full of customers in the lounge. I ran up the stage steps as the music started playing "I'm Your Baby Tonight", sung by Whitney Houston. I grabbed the microphone off the stand and hearing the beat of the music, I instantly felt my body being taken over. I started to sing and sway my hips to the flow of sound. The audience was hypnotized by the melodic tone of my voice. It always happens when I'm working up here on stage. I felt powerful and sensual, I felt alive and I felt as if I was reconnecting myself with my mother again.

I remember the old white house with green shutters always filled with music. The halls echoing with my mother's angelic voice; ringing like the sound of a bell. The nights she sang me to sleep with the lullaby she made just for me. The memories I buried deep in the back of head flooded and I pushed them away.

I continued to dance and sing and I had the audience eating out of the palm of my hand. I felt as if I was a different person, my body felt as if I was being possessed by an unknown spirit by the hypnotic sounds. My hips swayed and moved gracefully across the stage until I found myself down from the stage at eye level with the people, walking between tables still singing, and walking toward the men who decided to stand instead of being seated. I found one stranger who I decided to make my victim.

While singing, I teased him by lightly rubbing my body against him. I turned my back up against him and sang, "I feel like an angel, who just started to fly," and glided my backside up and down his front teasingly. I haeard a low growl off to my side, I didn't know where it came from but my instinct took away my wild side and I walked away from the stanger before he was able to make any contact with me. I seductivly walked away and went back on the stage.

As I walked to the kitchen after in the back I had to work my around the audience. The ones who were standing; men and women, all came and complimented me.

"You did a wonderful job."

"You have a great voice."

"You have a beautiful voice."

"I love that song!"

"I love your outfit."

"Your mother would be proud."

What? I heard the last one as a whisper in my ear, and turned around and made eye contact with the same blue eyes that have haunted my dreams.

"Ian?" he smiled at me and walked closer, until we were face to face. "What are you doing here?" I could feel my heart beating irratically; still unsure if it's because of his closeness or the fact he has found me at the one place no one knows about.

"Well, I got bored and I was just driving around until--do I really have to explain myself?" He asked me in a serious tone but in his eyes I can see a humerous gleam. I folded my arms to my chest and stared him down to answer my question. He gave me his crooked smile. "Okay, I wanted to see you."

"How did you find me?" I asked.

"I have my ways," he smiled.

"You mean you followed me."

"I mean, I have my ways," he repeated, not changing his expression.

"Okay, well, you see me, what do you want?" I said a bit too harshly then I meant, but, still, I'm not buying his act.

"Do I need a reason to see you?" I didn't know what to say so I stayed quiet. "I wanted to see you, I've missed you," he continued. I was stunned. I didn't know how to react. Either, I wanted to hug him or give him a piece of my mind on leaving me, but I promised Buck I wouldn't until I heard his reason to. "You really sang beautifully. Your mother would have been proud."

"Thanks" I smirked, he smiled back. The butterfly sesation fluttered into my stomach and it felt very new and strange and I didn't like it. I didn't want to give in to him and his charms. Does he know what kind of hold he's got on me? In what felt like forever we stood their staring deeply into each others eyes.

Until, Uncle Buck interupted, "Sweetheart, you got some customers at your table." he stuck his head out of the food delivery window.

"Coming!" I yelled back. I turned back to Ian. The whole being missed thing was starting to rub off on me and I really wanted to talk to him about the past and get it off my chest. "Could you, possibly, wait a moment?" He just nods his head without breaking eye contact with me. I started to walk toward Buck.

"Who's that?" He asked eyeing Ian judgingly.

"It's no one, Uncle Buck." He looked back at me with a knowing gaze that it wasn't no one. "He's just an old friend. It's no big deal." I waved it off with the flick of my hand.

"Is he the one you were telling me about?"

"Yes." I sighed heavily.

"Well, did you hear his side of the story? Are you forgiving him?"

Why was he so concern for me to make-up with Ian? "Uncle Buck, why are you so concern about me with Ian?"

"Because you need someone in your life that is not work related, except for me, of course." He smiled at the end.

"No, I haven't asked him, yet," I said.

"Well, when are you?"

"Didn't you say I had customers?" I shot back. He was asking too many questions; questions I wasn't even sure what the answer was myself. I walked away leaving the conversation open and knowing Buck, he'll continue this the next chance he gets.

As the time progressed, every once in a while I would look over at the corner table where Ian was residing in to see if he was still there and everytime I always surprised myself to see he still sitting and still watching me closely.

Finally, my shift was over and the place was closing, when I came out from the backroom I saw Buck walking towards Ian. Instintly, my heart beat picked up and I was worried that Buck was going to scare him off like any father-figure would. As I got closer I could hear what they were saying:

"Hello there, my name's Buck; I'm the owner of this restaurant." he reached out to shake Ian's hand and he complied. "I hope you had a splendid evening."

"Yes I did, sir. Thank you for asking." Ian replied politely back.

"My pleasure. Did you want to order anything else?"

"No, I'm all set here."

"Did you enjoy our entertainment.?" Buck asked. Oh, no, I thought. Here he goes.

"I did, your singer was amazing." I blushed deeply when hearing that.

"Yes, she is." His gaze narrowed and looked at Ian sharply now. His body bent to an extent to make sure his words were just between them. "And I don't want you to cause her any trouble, she is a polite girl who doesn't bother know one, you understand?"

Ian looked up at Buck and with an amused look but kept it professional. He must have sensed Buck was very protective of me. "Sir, I would never have any intention on hurting her. I care more for her well-being then you might think."

Buck looked at him closely, then straightened his body out and stood tall with a slilght smirk. "Good, that was just a test. You passed." he smiled brightly. I took that as an "all clear" sign to come out. I made my way toward them and Ian's cool blue eyes made contact with mine.

"Buck, I see you already met Ian." I approached the table. "He's an old childhood friend."

"Oh, yes. He's the young fellow you kept mentioning." I felt my cheeks turn crimson red. Buck turns back to Ian. "You just moved here, correct?"

"Yes, Sir."

"How does it feel to be back?" Buck asks innocently whoile taking a seat across from Ian; getting himself comfortable. All I could think about was how this could be a long night.

"It's better now." Ian turns to make eye contact with me and gives me a quick wink. By such a gesture; my temperature risen, causing my face to glow redder, if that was even possible.

Buck, no doubt had caught every detail and continued this banter, "Really? How so?"

Before Ian could intercept, I quickly cut in. "Okay. I think that's enough of getting aquainted with eachother." I give a fake smile to them both, then turned my attention to Ian, "I'm ready if you are."

"Now, Caddi, there is no rush." Buck smiles at me knowing how uncomfortable I was beginning to feel. Besides, he wanted more details that hangs off the end of that sentence, in which I did not want to know.

"No, that's alright, Uncle Buck. You must be exhausted and want to get home, besides, Ian and I have school in the morning. Right, Ian?" I looked at him and raised my eyebrows at him, silently telling him to agree with me.

He must have gotten the message to say, "Yes, we do. If your all set we can get going." He smiled at me.

Buck looked between Ian and I, "Okay, I think I can take a hint." I lead them both out of the restaurant and anxiously pushed Buck away to his rusty old navy blue '65 Mustang. I watched him get in and drive on out of the parking lot.

I turned back to Ian. He smiled and led the way to his black Moto Guzzi Jackal motorcycle. It was so sleek and shiny. I stopped when I saw it, completely frozed to the pavement. I was more expecting somethnig, oh, I don't know...safe?

Ian turned to me with a smile, "what's the matter?"

I must have had that shocked look on my face of how I felt. I shook my head to clear it. "Nothing, I--I just--wasn't expecting--is it yours?" I stuttered, I mentally slapped myself, of course it's his.

He laughed, "Yeah, it is." He swung his leg around to be seated on top. He reached behind the bike and grabbed a black helmet that rest on the back seat. He handed it to me. "Here put this on." I was hesitant, but, took it anyway. I quickly took my hair out of the tie, freeing my waves to comfortably fasten the helmet on my head. After buckling it, I look over to Ian who was watching me in a mesmerizing gaze. He gently reached over to me without a word and moved my hair out of my eyesight to let it loosely frame my face.

I gave a slight grin, "Thanks." I hoped on the back of his bike, maneuvering myself comfortably, lightly resting my hands on his broad shoulders.

He peeked behind his shoulder, "Are you ready?" I nod in reply. He revved the engine and took off. Instantly, I plastered myself to his strong back, frightened of falling off. As quickly I grabbed onto him is as quickly I realized my hands were found grasping his mid-section; feeling the not-surprise washboard of abs. I removed them to holding onto the sides of my seat. I could hear the light chuckling coming from him and an accidental slip of the gears shifting which supplies a hard jerk from the bike. Frightened, hid between his shoulder blades, again grasping his stomach, not caring anymore; too scared. "Sorry," he yells over the loud wind, "It's okay, you're safe. Take a look." I shook my head. He chuckled and said. "Go on, have a look."

I slowly lifted my head and peeked over his shoulder. The wind burst in front of me, I blinked a few times to adjust my sight and saw a new perspective that I never saw. I looked up and saw a kaleidoscope of colors between the night sky and the flashing of street lights as we drive by. It was mesmerizing to me and I couldn't help but gasp at the sight. I hear Ian laughing at my sudden take of breath. I couldn't help but think of my own reaction and agreed with a grin.

I kept on looking at the new sight. I relaxed my around his waist and comfortably rested myself against his back as my only balance. I gave him directions to my new home, except it wasn't exactly the house I'm borrowing, so, I told him to pull into the home that is behind the house I'm residing.

He pulls up in front of he house. "This is fine right here." I unbuckle and pull off the helmet as I swing my leg around and hopped off. He looked at me and smiled, "Not bad," he nodded to the wrong house.

"Thanks."

"You mind if I come in to say 'Hi' to Grams?"

He was about to get off the bike before I stopped him, "No, she isn't home, actually."

"Then whose car is that in the driveway." he says with a questioning look, as he leans up against the bike.

I stumbled for a moment, "Um, that is one of her friends who watches the house every once in a while."

"So, you mind if I wait." He starts to walk toward the house.

"No, I mean...yes, I do. I mean, she's not gonna be home for a long time. She's become a night owl, ya know." I gave a fake laugh to play it out. "Sorry, mabe next time." I stood in front of him blocking the view of the house. I backed up slowly as he watched me with every step I took. "Thanks for the ride, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure." He gave light smile, then started walking back to his motorcycle. I started walking toward my fake house. I peeked over my shoulder to check on if the coast is clear and saw Ian sitting on his bike watching me, making sure that I safly get into the house. Damn. Walked towards their side, opened the screen door and gave a wave as a sign off. He waved back and started up the engine and slowly took off. I closed the door quietly to not alert anyone that is in the house. I quickly ran through their back yard into thick line of trees that seperates the two properties. I ran into the Jamesons back yard and quietly ran to my window and climbed up the tree and crawled through the cracked open window.

After settling in for a while I took my cell phone and lay down on the bed. Only recieveing one text from X. I don't usually use this phone just for emergency and wiht X, I told him to contact me if their are any problems or emergency.

The text read: "Girl," the nickname he decided to use for my safety through these kinds of messages. "You need to get here ASAP. I found somthing you wanna see."

I replied with: "I'll swing by tomorrow after school."

His response was quick with a "OK".

I closed the phone and rest it on the nightstand beside the bed. I wondered what he found that I need to see. I slowly closed my eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.