My Dream With You

Chapter 3: Are We friends?

The gesture of Nick was a salutation Jade detested, and he knew it. The grin shot accross his face as she glared at him. He challenged her. Saying nothing, she placed her palm to his ready to fight back.

“Now, my gypsy, tell me to go to the devil with your body as well as your eyes. Again.”

They began, but this time Jade stopped thinking of her pleasure in dancing with him. She competed now, step for step, leap for leap. Her annoyance gave Nick precisely what he wanted. She dared him to best her. She spun into his arms, her eyes hot. Poised only a moment, she spun again and with a grand jeté, challenged him to follow her.

They ended as they had begun, palm to palm, with her head thrown back. Laughing ,Nick caught her close and kissed her enthusiastically on both cheeks.

“There now, your wonderful! You spit at me even while you offfer your hand.”

Jade’s breath was coming quickly after the effort of the dance. Her eyes, still lit with temper, remained on Nick’s. A swift of flutter raced up her spine, distracting her. This was different with the other dances that she had before. There was something that irked through her she might felt it because of the dance but she saw that Nick had felt it too. She saw it in his eyes, felt it in the fingers he pressed into the small of her back. Then it was gone, and Nick drew her away quickly as if afraid to be caught of something he was trying to hide from her.

“Lunch,” he stated and earned a chorus of approval.The rehearsal hall had began to clear emmediately. “ Jade”. Nick took her hand as she turned to join the others. “I want to talk to you.” She felt nervous but tried to masked her face with calmness. “Alright, after lunch.”

“Now here.” Her brows drew together. “ Nick , I missed break-fast”

“There’s yogurt in the refrigerator downstairs, and Perrier.” Releasing her hand reluctantly, Nick walked to the piano. He sat and began to improvise. “Bring some for me, too.”

Hands on her hips, Jade watched him play. Of course, she thought wrathfully, he never consinder for her to say no. He’d never think to ask me if I had other plans. He expects I’ll run off like a little girl and do what his demand without any complaint.

“Intolerable,” she said aloud.

Nick glanced up but continued to play. “Did you say something?” He asked mildly.

“Yes,” she answered. “ I said you’re intolerable.”

“Yes.” Nick smiledat her good-humoredly. “I am.”

And just like that her mood lightened up and she laughed. “What flavor do you like?” She demanded and was pleased when he gave her a blank look. “Yogurt,” she reminded him. “What flavor yogurt Davidzki.”

Jade went down to get the yogurt and perrier. As she ascended from the stairs, she heard Nick had started playing. The music played was a low, bluesy number. She recognized the music, it was not one of Nick's composition. She watched him intently while she paused at the door not yet ready to disturb him. This is music that comes from the heart, preserve.

He looked so perfect with the way he posed at the piano while he played. The sun's ray fall over his hair and his hand long, narrow hands with fluid fingers that could express more with a gesture than the average person could with a speech.

Jade thought "If only those hands could hold her passionately as a lover not just a dance partner. Would that be possible?" she cringed at the thought and sighed. " I should'nt be thinking like this," she murmured to herself and continued watching Nick. Suddenly he looked so alone as she contemplated both on the music and Nick's aura. The thought sped into her mind unexpectedly. It's the music she decided. Maybe because the music was sad.

" You look lonely Nick."

From the way his head jerked up, Jade knew she had broken into some deep, private thought. He looked at her oddly a moment, his fingers poised above the piano keys. "I was," he said. "But that's not what I want to talk to you about."

Jade went for the chair at the side but slipped at something on the floor, but before she would fall Nick had held both her shoulders. They locked eyes and both felt akward. Nick looked away quickly and scolded Jade for being careless.She felt a flutter at the pit of her stomach but just for a short luttle time.

"Sorry for that and thank you," she said gently. "Is this going to be a business lunch?" she asked him as she set cartons of yogurt on the piano.

"No." He took the bottle of Perrier, opening the cap. "Then we'd argue, and that's bad for digestion, yes? Come, sit beside me."

Jade reluctantly sat on the bench,automatically steeling herself for the jolt of electricity. To be where he was was to be in the vortex of power. Even now, relaxed, contemplating a simple dancer's lunch, he was like a curcuit left on hold. She started to enjoy this seldom encounter.

"Is there a problem?" she asked, reaching for a carton of yogurt and a spoon.

"That's what I want to know."

Puzzled, she turned her head to find him studying her face. He had bottomless blue eyes,clear as glass and the dancer's ability for complete stillness. She felt a little giddy and scolded herself to behave.

"What do you mean?"

"I had a call from Cherry." The blue eyes were fixed unwaveringly, scrutinizing on hers. His lashes were the color of the darkest shade of his hair.

More confused and feeling unsure of what to say, Jade wrinkled her brows. "Oh?"

"She thinks you're not happy." He was still watching her steadily: the pressure began to build at the base of her neck. Jade turned away, and it lessened immediately. No one have ever been able to unnerve her with a look.

"Cherry worries too much," she said lightly and continued eating yogurt.

"Are you Jade?" Nick laid his hand on her arm, and she was compelled to look back at him. "Are you unhappy?"

"No" she answered truthfully with a smile.

He continued to scan her face as his hand slid down to her wrist. "Are you happy?"

She opened her mouth, prepared to answer,then closed it again on a quick sound of frustration. Why must be those eyes be on hers, so direct, demanding perfect honesty? They wouldn't accept platitudes or pat answers. She felt irritated. "Shouldn't I be?" she countered.

His fingers tightened on her wrist as she started to rise.

"Jade." She had no choice but face him again. " Are we friends?"

She rattled and hardly answered the question. A simple yes hardly covered the complexeties of her feelings for him or the uneven range of their relationship. "Somtimes," she answered cautiously. "Sometimes we are."

"Well said," he murmured.Though amusement lit his eyes, he accepted that. Unexpectedly, he gathered both her hands in his and brought them to his lips. His mouth was soft as a whisper on her skin. Jade didn't pulk away but stiffened, surprised and wary of the physical contact she had with the man that she dreamed. Hus eyes met hers placidly over their joined hands, as if he were unaware of her would-be withdrawal. "Will you tell me why you're not happy?"