Edge of Our Dreams

Tom sighed as he slipped his way through the backs of the building. The wall to wall buildings down the street made up different parts of the arts department of the different parts of universities including one devoted to RADA students. He’d been there first running into a few old friends and holding a meeting with an old teacher; he’d discussed a job he was on. Now he was wondering through the music practice rooms, all sound insulated so he couldn’t hear much. However, Tom knew that behind each of those doors was an extremely talented musician.

Lilly was here somewhere, he’d already text to check what she was up to. 304 was the room he was looking for. He jogged up the stairs and was finally met by noise. One door was open the sound of piano and saxophone playing out.

He smiled walking quietly towards the door and gazing in. She had her back towards him, the soloists a male saxophone player was in the moment and had his eyes closed. No one noticed as Tom leant on the door frame and just watched with interest.

The saxophonist was very talented; a jazz piece that was sultry and smooth, the playing was perfect and took all his tensions away. While Lilly’s piano playing was beautiful, he remembered her mentioning it wasn’t her favourite instrument but part of her job required her accompanist skills. She moved as she played, flicking pages of music off the piano and onto the floor. Her long hair was pulled up in a messy bun, her hourglass figured accented by a strappy top, he could already imagine running his hands over her body. One night was enough to leave him wanting more.
Friday had felt as if it was never going to arrive.

As the piece came to an end the saxophonists eyes went up to Tom and he wavered slightly on the last note. Lilly gazed up to the saxophonist waiting for her cue before lifting her hands off the keys and clapping.

“Kurt that was wonderful! Such an improvement, that last note was a bit-“ She moved her body from side to side suggesting the iffy-ness of the note. Kurt wasn’t listening though; he was looking at something behind her. “Kurt?” She gazed at him.

“Can I help you?” Kurt questioned looking straight at Tom.

“Sorry,” Lilly turned hearing his voice. “I just came to borrow your teacher,” He smiled at Lilly who couldn’t help but smile back.

“Hey, I have umm 5 minutes left then I’m all yours,” She added. “You can umm-“ She paused looking towards her student who was still starring at Tom.

“He’s fine,” Kurt replied walking away towards his music stand. Lilly raised her eyebrows at Tom with a shrug.

“Thank you,” Tom replied with a smile hoping to soften the student up slightly. Lilly went back to the piano and the pair went through the end of the piece a few times before packing up. Tom had to give it to her, she was a patient teacher which he felt was particularly necessary with musicians. Instead of five minutes Kurt was there for another 15 before finally packing up; he wanted it perfect.

“See ya later Lilly,” Kurt smiled broadly at her as he left, nodding curtly to Tom who smiled back.

“Goodbye,” He looked towards Lilly. “And hello you,” He walked towards her she was still sat on the piano. She went to get up and he caught her hand pulling her closer.

“Hello,” She leaned into his grasp, her face looking up, her eyes fixing on his lips. He couldn’t help but smile as she raised herself up on tip toes and pressed her lips against his. The kiss was soft but not nervous, gentle but still got him excited. His hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to deepen his hold. Their lips moved gently together, still getting use to each other’s rhythm. She giggled into the kiss as one hand skirted around her top, he tested the reaction again; she was ticklish. “Tom,” She whined pulling away as he continued, her giggle was adorable. “What are you doing here?” She faked anger, pulling out of his grip and putting her hands in front of her so he couldn’t come any closer.

“I came to see you my dear,” He laughed at her reaction, as he stepped forward she took a step back. If this continued he’d have her against the wall. He noticed the smile break on her lips as his own smile grew. “Truce?” Lilly nodded dropping her hands and walking slowly back to him.

“It’s nice to see you,”

“You are an excellent teacher,” He said simply, taking her hand. “So excellent I think your student may have a crush on you,” He added with a wicked grin. “Not that I blame him,”

“Tom!” She gasped slapping his chest playfully. “Don’t be silly,” Tom shrugged letting her hand go as she pulled away to pick up the sheet music dropped around the floor. She wasn’t quite aware of how beautiful she was.

“Oh I’m not,” He smirked grabbing both her hands so she couldn’t hit him nor pick up music. “Come to mine tonight,” It wasn’t really a question and he definitely did not phrase it like one. Lilly nodded. “I have to pick up a few things on the way back, I thought you might enjoy a walk in the sun shine with me?”

“Of course, what do you have to pick up?”

“Things to surprise my girl with, I’m making her a romantic dinner,”

“Wow,” Lilly raised her eyebrows. “She sure is lucky,”

“Lucky,” Tom repeated the word with a small nod. “She doesn’t know the half of it,” He added with a smirk.

“So what are you cooking her?”

“Surprise Lilly, you do know the meaning of surprise?” He chuckled pressing a soft kiss against her lips.

“Yes but I wanna know,” She pouted as his shook his head. “Ugh! Men!” She joked letting go and picking up the sheets of music. “Well, give me five seconds and, we can get going!”

“Excellent,” Tom smiled watching her bend over to pick the sheets up.

It took a mere five minutes to get the pair back out onto the streets of London. Tom taking her hand in his and guiding her through the back streets, ignoring tube stations and bus stops as they passed.
This was one of Lilly’s favourite things to do, just walk around and enjoy the sites. London was a wonderful city, busy and bustling, and easily ignored if you travelled everywhere underground. Walking was a must when in the city.

Tom explained that he wanted to hit one specialist shop to get this “To die for” garlic bread and a few spices, then it was straight onto Waitrose. Lilly laughed wondering out loud if this meal was going to be the best she’d had in a while.

“No but I hear fine ingredients help, I’m not quite the masterful chef I sound like right now,” He chuckled as the stopped at the crossroads and waited for the green man to appear. “Hopefully you’ll at least enjoy it,”

“I know I will,” She replied looking up into those eyes and fixing a winning smile. But his eyes focused somewhere else and Lilly had to look round to see what had caught his attention. A young girl, Lilly guessed no older than 15, in skinny jeans, converse and a white t-shirt with some kind of comic book on. The girl was watching Lilly and Tom, her eyebrows rising and mouth parting slightly. Tom just smiled politely and turned back to Lilly.

“What?”

“Who is she?”

“I have no idea,” He replied honestly earning a confused glance from Lilly, she turned back to the girl who was nudging the person next to her.

“You don’t know her?”

“No,”

“But she’s looking at you like-“

“She’s seen me somewhere before,” He replied; Lilly was still lost. “She’s wearing an Iron Man t-shirt, I imagine she is into Marvel,”

“Marvel,” Lilly repeated they’d had this conversation before. “Ah! Your film,” She exclaimed a satisfied smile on her face. Tom smiled but ushered her across the road quickly. “Fans that is so cool,”

“Mhmm,” He chuckled as the two girls kept looking back at him and Lilly just laughed. “You are so bigger than you let on,” She muttered squeezing his hand gently and earning an eye roll. Taylor’s words crossed through her mind again google him. But she didn’t want to; she didn’t want to ruin the fairy tale. Not now.

She wasn’t strong enough to do that yet.

But if she didn’t do it soon she would only become more involved with him and when she finally realised the truth it would be too late; her heart would be broken.

“Whatever you say darling, now I have to pop into a shop down here, but there is an excellent coffee shop next door, so I’m sending you in there while I grab a few items,”

“Sounds good to me,” Lilly replied going to let go of his hand as the passed by a delicatessen.

“Be good,” He whispered pulling her close and pressing a chaste kiss against her lips before letting her go and walking towards the delicatessens. He made her feel as if they’d been together forever, whereas in reality they’d only known each other for 2 months. She needed to stay calm, enjoy the excitement and bubbling of a new relationship but don’t get in over her head. Don’t be clingy!

Lilly bit her lip pushing the negative thoughts to the back of her mind walking only a few shops on to reach the coffee shop.

She stepped inside the store and was welcomed by the bitter scent of coffee, chatter of a few customers and the warmth of heaters. She smiled at the spotty teenager serving behind the counter and fished out her purse as she perused the menu. She knew what she was having but had no idea what Tom drank. He’d ordered plain Americano once but that was her only hint at what he might like.

“Hi can I have a Chai Tea Latte, medium,” She paused as the door opened again and someone else joined the coffee shop. “And a medium Americano, both to take away?”

“Sure thing,” The teenager looked up and over to the man who had entered. Lilly could only presume he was a regular. The man walked to the end of the coffee bar and gazed over the pastries as Lilly moved to the end to wait for her drink orders to be made. “Who is it today Taite?” She heard the teenager ask the man. There was no answer. Lilly gazed up to watch the scene, but found it was involving her instead. Both men stared at her, the teenager looked confused but the middle aged man had a dark smirk on his lips as if he knew a secret that could dislodge her whole world. “Huh,” The teenager muttered turning back to the cash register and processing the order. “No one special then,” Again the man didn’t answer but thankfully he was no longer starring at Lilly.

“One Americano,” Lilly smiled at the lady who passed the first drink over. She kept her eyes low but stole glanaces at the man who had ordered after her, she didn’t trust him, he made her feel uneasy. They weren’t alone in the coffee shop and yet she felt as if he was the only person in the room; and not in a good way. IT felt awkward, it felt dark and there was something about him she did not trust.

“Chai tea just coming up,” The lady added earning a nod from Lilly as she passed another Americano out. The man walked towards the counter and took the drink stepping back to lean on the barrier between the seating area and the serving bar. Lilly felt him watching her; he wasn’t being subtle.

She ignored him waiting patiently for her Chai Tea, and knowing as soon as she got it she was going to stare him straight in the eyes; make eye contact with whoever it is you’ll remember them. She smiled to herself remembering the first night she met Tom; an internal debate to if he was an axe murderer or a genuinely nice guy.

This man gave off more of the axe murderer vibe than she liked.

“One Chai tea,”

“Thank you,” She smiled bright at the lady turning to see the man on his phone, she looked directly at him, and he looked up at the same time. She held the gaze for a few seconds longer than comfortable before walking straight past him towards to door.

She hadn’t realised she was holding her breath until Tom appeared at the window of the coffee shop and caught her gaze. She exhaled quickly and smiled brightly at him. Tom watched her, holding the coffee shop door open as she held out a cup of coffee for him.

“You okay?” He questioned as the door closed behind her and she stepped closer to him. Tom tilted his head slightly his eyes scanning over her soft face. Her skin still held her makeup giving her a completely pale complexion with black lined eyes that made the blue tones pop, her lips were soft as beautiful as ever but not happy. “Lilly?”

“Yes I’m fine, I got you an Americano, hope that is okay?”

“Yes thank you,” He took the drink with a soft smile and gazed over the top of Lilly’s head into the coffee shop. They were being watched. “Come on then, let’s get you home,”

“Sounds good,” She smiled moving quickly towards the door and holding it open so he could squeeze through. He noticed her move her hand towards his and then thrown realising she couldn’t hold on as he had a plastic bag in one hand and coffee in the other.

“Come here,” He muttered putting his arm out so he could wrap it round her waist. She didn’t argue and moved closer to him. “Are you sure you’re ok?” Lilly nodded again. “Okay,” He carried on talking telling her his plan for the evening, because Tom knew she wasn’t. He would put money on the fact it was the man in the coffee shop that put her off, a freelance photographer who clearly was looking for a good snap.