To Love Again

Chapter one

CHAPTER ONE 

The knock at the door was persistent and Selena was having great difficulty getting out of bed as she had a very bad headache coupled with a runny nose. 

'Anyone home,  John called out, he urgently needed shelter from the harsh weather.

Selena finally got out of bed, fuming with rage at the disturbance caused by the stranger at the door

'What the hell do you think you are doing knocking on the door like that'. ..she raved on and on, and when there was no response she raised her head up to behold the most masculine handsome creature with luminous eyes standing in front of her with a wide grin. 

She momentarily forgot her fury as she gazed on...

'Hello, I was wondering if you would give me shelter from this harsh weather,. I doubt the snow would let up anytime soon..hello',. John said

I... I'm sorry, what did you say please..'. She flushed with obvious embarrassment as her cheeks turned red. She knew he felt her stare with obvious admiration. 

'I need shelter from the snow, would you mind if I stay here till the snow let's out, I would freeze to death if I stay out here any longer' John rubbed his hands together as he spoke. He gazed into Selena's eyes sternly wondering if he had seen someone so perfect and well rounded with the most beautiful luminous eyes, and legs that made her look so perfect and vulnerable. John felt himself harden with want for her. 

'Come right in'  Selena said, allowing John to enter the cottage.  'Would you like a cup of hot coffee?. She asked. 

'Yes, thank you; ' John answered, he thought she had the most melodious voice ever. 

Selena handed John a hot mug of steaming coffee and also tried to explain why she took long in answering the door when he knocked 'I was having a really bad headache, I didn't hear you knock at first. John told her not to feel bad. He was just happy to be in a warm place finally and the coffee was already getting rid of the stiff joints as a result of staying in the snow for too long. 

John watched his host sip her coffee, he enjoyed watching her. There was this peace surrounding her that made her homely. He wanted so bad to touch her hair and untangled the golden lock, he wondered what it would feel like to have her softness against his hardness. 

"We have been chatting for over an hour and I don't even know the name, mine is Selena and you are?? 

"John Legend " he replied. Selena smiled"There are fresh eggs and bacon in the fridge, I need to shower the kitchen is over there," she said

Selena had completely forgotten about her headache and uneasiness and it was when she lowered her body into the bathtub that she realized that she just left her worldly possessions and her safety in the hands of a stranger, but within her, she felt she needn't worry John seemed like someone that wouldn't hurt a fly. She prayed her instincts wouldn't fail her this time though. As she relaxed in the bath she felt her whole tension leave her body as she drifted to the world of fantasy. 

"I made you breakfast; if you don't mind". "After all you've done for me and also the meal being yours, to begin with". Selena thanked him for his thoughtfulness as her stomach growled with hunger. She ate the meal which surprisingly was delicious when she heard the sound of something being knocked with force, she froze for an instant and ran towards the sound in her backyard.

The stranger was repairing the wood door that led to her small garden. He looked so handsome with sweat trickling down his bronzed skin..his eyes were a deep blue and his blonde hair shone in the sun, he was so masculine and Selena wished he was hers.

She was brought back to reality by another strike of the hammer, "What her you doing" she yelled. Surprising herself at the harshness of her voice. 

His face reddened with anger, and before she could utter another word he took giant strides towards her and his large frame hovered over her "And I thought I was doing you a favor", he said his voice shook with anger, as he left her standing without glancing back he strode off and left. 

****

Two weeks had passed and Selena gave up hope of ever seeing him again. Until she bumped or rather knocked him off his feet.

Selena wheeled her purchases towards the exit as she pulled back the door to move out, it hit hard on the face of the guy walking in as he tumbled and fell.

"Oh my God, are you alright". She asked as she knelt beside him. "Yeah" he answered with a grunt. You could hear the pain in his voice. 

Selena felt butterflies in her tummy, she knew that voice. The voice had somehow stuck to her memory. She didn't know whether to be happy or sad, she stood up and helped him rise to his feet.

"You," they both said simultaneously. "Look what the cat dragged," Selena said this time she sounded angry 

"You left the other day without a thank you," she said. John was not in the mood for an argument, he was in serious pain though he hid it perfectly from her.

"Can we talk somewhere else, I think you broke my nose". Hesitantly she walked towards their car with her purchases as John followed behind, he held a handkerchief over his nose and he was beginning to feel dizzy.

"You left without a goodbye and a thank you, the other day".she said as she drove towards her apartment. " That wasn't gentlemanly of you". When there was no response she turned towards him and froze for an instant. 

John was unconscious beside her, his shirt covered in his own blood as he nosebleed.

****

John woke with a start and a bad headache, as his eyes scanned the room which had a softness around it, probably because it had a feminine touch to it. 

The curtains were a silky baby pink embroidered with a torch of gold. Everything in the room seemed to be in the right place, no misfit.

"You are awake, finally, " Selena said as she walked towards the bed and handed him a cup of coffee. 

"What Happened"? He touched his face and removed the bag of ice on his nose. Selena hesitated for a while then told him the story behind his being in her house.

"You mean..."John said, trying to make use of the right words in order not to annoy her. "You mean, you're the cause of my predicament".

Selena jumped to her feet. John knew he had angered her. Her face turned all red, he gazed at her because even in anger she was so beautiful that he yearned to kiss her. She dragged him off her couch towards the door " get out of my house and I hope I never see you again", she yelled and jammed the door to his face. 

She ran to her bedroom, slumped on the floor, and wept. She knew then that she had fallen in love all over again.

 ****

"Johnny..." His roommate and best friend yelled. Mark and John had been friends since after their graduation. They job hunted together and went hiking once every month. John was the only one to have secured a job and he didn't mind sharing his apartment with his friend. Mark disagreed at first when John suggested he stayed with him till he had a job because he didn't want to be a burden to his friend.

"Mark, stay with me till you get a job", "I really don't mind". John persisted after he rejected the offer last week.

"Ok, but we get to share the bills", Mark said, he really needed a roof over his head and staying with his parents was becoming difficult.

 They were getting anxious over him getting a job. He walked over to his friend and placed his hands on his shoulder "Thank you, I owe you big time for this". 

John walked over to where  Mark was limping, he hadn't recovered from his injury and he still did not want to tell him the cause of his plight.

"I have two tickets to the dance, would you like to come with me". He really hoped he would agree, he spends too much of his time alone nowadays. 

John wasn't eager to go but he felt his friend's enthusiasm and didn't want to ruin it. "Okay, why not". His life seemed to be on a low ever since meeting the golden-haired goddess. She was a sight to behold he thought to himself.

The dance hall was almost filled up when they arrived, the energy was high. Couples were all smitten with each other. 

John found it hard to concentrate and have fun, the ladies all seemed to have golden hair and looked like the Lady he was finding difficult to get rid of from his thoughts. 

He woke up with a start, he wasn't alone in bed. He tried to remember what happened the night before but everything was blurry. He knew he had drunk heavily with the intent to forget, but all he achieved was a hangover and a stranger in his bed.

"Good morning, darling", he turned to see the Lady smiling at him, well he thought "she was really beautiful". Her long slim legs stretched on my bed.

"Hello" he replied and got out of the bed, he took his pants which were lying on the ground, if only he remembered when he pulled it off. 

He went to the kitchen and poured for himself a steaming cup of coffee, he never felt more grateful that Mark stayed with him. The coffee was what he needed, his mind was clogged from last night's rendezvous,  the caffeine kicked in after he drank his third cup.

Betty wore the robe she saw in his closet and went down to the kitchen, she went straight to the coffee pot and poured herself a mug. 

John stared hard at her, he didn't want to be nice, she had to leave immediately. He spoke with  a harshness tone 

"Miss, I don't remember bringing you here". He waited to be sure she was listening, and she was cos her smile had turned to an angry frown. "I would appreciate it if you left immediately" he continued "As in right now" not waiting for a response he left her standing in the kitchen.