Chapter Thirteen
"Okay you guys. Where are you taking me?" Lissa asked.Kat and Michelle shared a grin before Kat turned to their passenger in the backseat. "We've decided you've been home alone for too long."
"Yes," Michelle agreed, deftly maneuvering through the heavy traffic. "You do remember the world, don't you, Lissa?"
"Yup, sure do. Smog, muggings, murder, mayhem...oh, yeah, I've just missed so much."
"We haven't missed your sarcasm," Kat snorted.
Lissa managed a grin. "I've missed yours, though."
"We really have missed you, Liss," Michelle said, taking one of the exits, and speeding down the exit ramp. "And we're not the only ones."
A chill drove down Lissa's spine. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Kat glared at Michelle, then grinned over the seat at Lissa. "Nothing, hon. Just relax."
"Where are you taking me?" Lissa asked again.
Kat grinned her feline smile. "You'll see."
"Is everything ready?" Kevin asked.
Alex nodded. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this." He ran a hand through his newly dyed hair. "What if she doesn't like it?"
Kevin grinned at Alex, ruffling his blond hair. "She'll love it."
Alex snorted his disbelief.
"They're coming," Howie called from his lookout post at the window.
Nick straightened Alex's shirt, pulled his sunglasses off, and tucked them in Alex's pocket. When Alex tried to protest, Nick reminded him, "She likes you without the glasses, remember?"
Alex nodded, then grimaced as Howie called out, "Places!"
"You're not a director yet, D," Alex bit out, taking his seat.
"This is Kevin's house," Lissa said, as they pulled into the drive. "What are we doing at Kevin's house?"
"He still feels really bad about what happened," Michelle said, "and he just wanted to make sure you're okay."
"And he couldn't do this at my house?" Lissa asked.
"We promised to take you out into the world, remember?" Kat asked with a grin, climbing out of the car.
"Yes," Michelle reminded them with a smile, "and this just happens to be part of our little corner of it."
Shaking her head, Lissa followed the two down the path to the front door. When Kat opened the door, Lissa protested, "Kat! You can't just walk in."
"They're expecting us."
"They?" Lissa asked, wary now. "They, who?"
Kat and Michelle shared a conspiratorial glance. "Kevin, Nick, and Howie," Kat said, lips curled again in her feline smile.
"Then where are they?" Lissa asked.
"Why don't you go check in the studio, and let them know we're here? Nicky mentioned something about working on music for the new album," Michelle said, heading down the hallway. "We'll grab something to drink from the kitchen and bring it down."
"Well, okay," Lissa called, watching their retreating backs. Something was not right here, she decided. But, for lack of any other plans, headed for the studio.
The door opened easily, and Lissa could hear a piano playing softly. Candles were scattered around the room, casting the room in a sweet golden glow. Lissa's heart caught in her throat when she saw who was sitting at the piano.
"Alex," she whispered.
As if that was his cue, he started to sing...
"Lying here, alone in the dark
I can remember only you
The light in your eyes
The warmth of your smile
and the sound of your laughter too...
"I was a fool to walk away
I didn't know just what I had
and what I had
was a love so rare and true
"But, lady, I remember
the softness of your skin
I remember
I thought our love would never end
I remember
the sweetness of your kiss
Lady, I remember..."
Lissa sat on one of the chairs facing the piano, mesmerized as Alex's fingers danced across the keys. Music swirled around her.
"Alone in the dark
There is only you
Every breeze carries your name
The stars, reflections of your tears
and every heart beat
You are my every heart beat.
"'Cause, lady, I remember
the softness of your skin
I remember
the sweetness of your kiss
I remember
the light of love in your eyes
"Lady, please remember
don't let our love end like this
Lady, please....remember..."
The last notes trailed away, and Alex looked over at her for the first time in two months. She was thinner, he noticed, and her lashes sparkled with unshed tears. There were a thousand things he probably should say to her, but all he could say was, "I love you, Lissa."
He watched her blink, watched the tears fall, then she was standing in front of him. "Alex," she whispered, sitting beside him on the bench. "I love you, too."