I Met Her On the Balcony

by Sandra Corton

  “We need to get this done,” she told him. “Now, put on you disguise, so we can get on with this.”

  “You’re so demanding.” He chided with a broad grin.

  “Yes, but you love me anyway.” She answered him confidently.

  “Yes, I certainly do.” He leaned back in to steal another quick kiss, which swept Lucy away briefly.

  “Stop distracting me.” She mumbled against his lips, making him smile.

  “Is that what I’m doing?” He teased.

  “You know that’s what you’re… oh well.” She sighed, and his mouth captured it, as he kissed her again.

  For long breathless minutes, they kissed. Any thoughts of what they should be doing completely left her mind as a sensual haze washed her away. Her hands slipped up to thread into his hair, as their kiss deepened. It was only when she felt his smile against her skin that she recalled they had plans.

  “Ash,” she drew out his name on a long breath.

  “I know I’m going, just one more,” he murmured, before capturing her lips again.

  When he finally stepped away, she felt breathless and lightheaded. She stood there with shaking hands, while still lost in the world of Ash. A sigh escaped her again, and she realised that she would never have enough of his sweet kisses.

  She turned to him, and he sent her a smirk, as he pulled on the wig, and transferred into Martin James. He shoved on a beanie, and put his contacts in, before sending her his best dazzling smile. My boyfriend is Martin James, she thought in amazement. She shook her head at her own stupid thoughts, and turned her focus to him.

  “Are you all organised, Belle?” He asked, and she nodded.

  He slouched onto a stool, and Lucy had to suck in a breath. He looked handsome in his worn jeans and plain green t-shirt, which reflected the colour of his eyes with the contacts in. Sometimes when she had the chance to stand back and look at him, all she could do was stare. He was a masterpiece of genetics, who could lure any girl to her knees.

  “Ah, Belle.” She heard the wry words, and snapped her gaze from him.

  She carefully placed the camera down, strode over to him, and kissed him with everything she had in her. It took him a shocked moment to respond, but when he did, a fire erupted between them. He brought her closer, and loved that they were eye to eye.

  She broke the kiss, and recognised that she may have finally accepted Martin James. He rocked her from side to side, and sent that stunning smile her way. She no longer felt like flinching away from that bright green gaze of his. Even though the hair wasn’t real, she could now consider that it was all a part of who Ash was.

  Martin James is my boyfriend. He wrote me a song, and he loves me, she told herself repeatedly for a minute. She rested her head against his chest, and nuzzled into his citrus smelling neck. She could only wonder that it had taken her so long to connect it. She had to admit to herself that it was easier to ignore Martin when Ash was just being himself. Now, she was able to accept both halves of who he was.

  “Talk about easily distracted,” Ash teased, as he curled his fingers into her hair.

  “Hmmm, I know,” she replied, still not moving away.

  “I think that’s the first time you’ve ever kissed me while I’m in disguise.” He mused.

  “Yeah, I know that too. I guess I’ve gotten used to it.” She murmured.

  He pulled her up onto his lap to cradle her closer, and Lucy burrowed in, wrapping her arms around his neck. A comfortable silence cocooned them, where only their breaths and heartbeats sounded.

  “So, I guess Martin’s not so bad now?” He asked in a whisper.

  “He did write me a song,” she said with a grin.

  “Actually, that was mostly me. Martin only released it in his name,” Ash claimed with a laugh. “Why are we talking like I’m two separate entities?”

  “Because you are, silly.” She told him with a shake of her head, which earned an eye roll.

  “Right, behind the camera, my girl, and then we can get onto more pleasant things,” he ordered, as she slipped off his lap a little slower than necessary.

  “Like what? Homework? We have to do that too.” She warned, and he let out a groan. He rechecked his disguise, before slouching back on the stool again.

  “Alright, I’ll count to three and press record.” She told him. and he nodded. She counted him in, and he turned to the camera with that devastating smile of his.

  “Hi, to all my fans. I know I haven’t sent all of you great fans a message for a while, but I have some truth that I want you to know. Now, I know you all like my new song because it’s already in the top ten. I also know that you think it’s about Mindy Taylor, due to her saying so. The truth is it's not,” he shifted on the stool, and sent an intent smouldering gaze into the camera. “It’s actually about my girlfriend. Now, I know that you want to know about her, but the only thing I’m going to tell you is, she's the one filming this.

  “I need all of you to know that Mindy Taylor and I have never even been on a date, no matter what she says. I took her to a charity event as friends, because my girlfriend couldn’t attend. I just wanted to say thanks for always being there for me, and I hope this clears things up for you.” He finished talking, and Lucy pressed stop.

  “That was to the point.” Lucy said to him.

  “Yeah, no use badgering on is there. Not when I have better things to do.” Ash sent her a smirk, which received a raised brow.

  She put the camera down, and before she knew it, Ash had swept her into his arms. He carried her through to the lounge room, and tossed her gently on the sofa, before dropping down next to her. She laughed at his crazy behaviour, until his lips met hers, and silenced her completely.

  “Don’t hold anything back you two, will you?” A wry voice interrupted, and Ash glanced up to see his brother grinning at them. With a sigh, he shifted so that Nick could only see him, and Lucy lay safely tucked next to him.

  “I thought you were gone,” Ash muttered.

  “I guessed as much, but I won’t be here for long anyway,” Nick said, before walking upstairs and leaving them. When rock music began blaring, and interrupting the silence, Ash let out a groan, but got to his feet, pulling Lucy along with him.

  “I guess we upload the video, and do some homework.” Lucy said, while Ash grumbled from next to her.

  She was letting out a yawn when she heard the song that Ash had written for her. She frowned, and then glanced at a sheepish looking Ash, who was in the middle of removing his contacts. He pointed to her handbag, which she immediately snatched up from where she had thrown it earlier. She pulled out her phone to find that it was making all the noise.

  She quickly answered it, while sending a curious look to Ash, who began removing his wig and sending her a wink. She grouched to herself that she had to go home. They had only started having some fun, and that kept being disturbed. She turned to Ash, as she hung up with a questioning look.

  “I wanted you to have the song,” he said with a shy little shrug that she found utterly adorable.

  “I just don’t understand when you had the opportunity to put it on there,”

  “Uh, lunch, you went and had a game with the guys.” He said looking down at the ground.

  “You know you’re too cute sometimes, right?” She told him, as she gave him a hug.

  “Really?” His voice sounded surprised, “I'll just have to keep doing things like that, wont I?" He teased, making her smile.

  “Yes, you should. I have to go; Dad needs a hand moving some of the cattle around. You’re on your own for the rest of the day,” she reached up to give him a quick kiss, and he sent her a pout. “Do your homework,” she ordered, and the pout increased. She nipped at the pouty bottom lip, but he kept it in place. “And upload the video.” she ordered him, before nipping that bottom lip of his again.

  “Stay.” He pleaded, and she wanted badly to give in to him.

  “I can’t. I’ll see you in the morning.” She hugge
d him tight.

  “I’ll pick you up for school.” He murmured, as she pulled away.

  “Okay.” She kept a tight grip on his hand, and tugged him out of the house to her car. Only when forced to let him go, did she get in the car.

  She drove home feeling a bit disgruntled. She was getting to the point where she hated being without Ash. Once home, she worked until dark helping her Dad organise the cattle that were going to the stockyards for the sale tomorrow.

  She felt exhausted, as she ate her dinner, and was well ready for sleep. She snuggled down into the covers, as Penny ran into the room with news about Martin James, and Lucy tried to hold back a sigh. She hugged her bedding tighter, until Penny ripped back the sheets, and scurrying in to join her.

  “You know I never seem to see you nowadays,” Penny scowled, as she gave her sister a hug.

  “I know, I’m sorry,” Lucy whispered.

  “That’s okay. It seems like I will never be Martin’s one and only.” Penny grouched, and another sigh escaped Lucy.

  “And why is that?” Lucy had been dreading having this talk.

  “He has a girlfriend.” She said abruptly.

  “You know, Penny, maybe it’s time you look for someone a bit more attainable,” Lucy advised her younger sister. “I’m not saying that you can’t enjoy his music, but there are heaps of guys at school that you could actually go out on a date with.”

  “I know I’m being stupid aren’t I?” Penny let out a sigh. “But he is just so…. perfect.”

  “Yeah, right.” Lucy mumbled, thinking of some unimpressive things that Ash had done. She loved him, and found that she could easily forgive him.

  “Today he made a video for his fans. He told us all that he had a girlfriend, and you could pretty easily tell that he must have just stopped kissing her.” Penny ranted, not hearing a word that Lucy had said.

  “What do you mean?” Lucy butted in, halting Penny’s words.

  “Ugh. I’ll show you the video and then you’ll understand,” Penny was across the room, picking up Lucy’s laptop off the desk, and returning to where she was snuggled under the covers.

  “Don’t make me get up, Penny, that would just be cruel.” Lucy grumbled.

  “Alright, you big sook,” Penny muttered, while fiddling with the keyboard. “Here it is.”

  Penny played her the video, which already had a huge number of hits. Lucy sucked back a sigh; he really looked so gorgeous. To think that Lucy really had been kissing him just before they taped this made her lips tingle at the memory. She looked at him, and noticed his puffy lips that definitely said he had been kissing someone, and that made a lovesick smile flood her face.

  “See! That's the girl he wrote the song about. She’s so lucky,” Penny moaned a bit, and Lucy felt bad for not telling her the truth.

  “If I tell you something, you would have to swear to me not to tell anyone,” Lucy said quietly. “Actually, wait a second,” she reached over to her nightstand for her phone to call Ash.

  “Hey, Belle, what’s happening?” He sounded happy making Lucy felt a tingle go through her that it was because of her.

  “I’m going to tell Penny.” She told him, and heard his sharp intake of breath.

  “Please don’t, Belle,” he pleaded softly.

  “She’s the only one in this house that doesn’t know, and I’m rather tired of keeping it from her.” Lucy answered, while Penny looked at her sister, puzzled by the conversation.

  “Fine.” He said on a sigh.

  “She probably won’t believe me anyway.” She tried to reassure him.

  “Just tell her, Belle.” He finally said.

  “Wait, why don’t you want her to know? I’m putting you on loudspeaker, so she can hear you.” She warned him.

  “I don’t want Penny to treat me differently. We are friends right now, but that could quickly change with this information. If she knows, I won’t just be Ash anymore. I’m going to be the guy that she’s had a crush on for ages, and it will be awkward. Plus, she might start hating you, and I don’t want that.” Ash said concisely, and Lucy could hear the worry in his voice.

  “I don’t get it, what are you two talking about?” Penny looked at her sister with a frown, and Ash answered her.

  “Penny, my name is Ashton Martin James. You know me best for the last half of my name.” Ash’s words were serious, as Penny looked between her sister and the phone before bursting with laughter.

  “Alright, I’m hanging up now, Ash, and I’ll see you in the morning. Come over for breakfast, so you can try and convince her if I can’t okay.” She told him, and he agreed before hanging up.

  Lucy turned to her sister, who was still laughing with disbelief. Penny pointed to the screen of the laptop that still had Ash’s picture showing clearly.

  “Are you trying to tell me that Martin James is Ash?” Penny exclaimed with another chortle.

  “Yes.”

  “Nope, there is no way that you will convince me of that.” She let out a giggle, with a shake of her head.

  “He wrote that song for me. I broke into his room that first night I met him. When I freaked about the song the other day, it was because it was for me, and I had to go and see him, because he hadn’t told me about it. The tickets to the premiere, Ash was given them because he wrote the songs for the soundtrack.” Lucy tried explaining some things that Penny at least knew about.

  “Alright hypothetical: How did you find out who he was?” Penny asked, still disbelieving, but giving her normal straight down the line sister the benefit of the doubt.

  “Get back in here, and I’ll tell you,” Lucy gestured to the bed. Penny put the computer away, before jumping back under the covers. “Remember our first date? Nick pushed it on me to find out. Don’t you recall that you thought he looked familiar when you first met him?”

  “Yeah, but not Martin James familiar.” Penny looked at her sister seriously, and knew she was telling the truth, but she just couldn’t take it all in.

  “Trust me, at first I didn’t believe either, but when he put those contacts in… wow, was I shocked. Then when we went to the première, he actually had a hairdresser and stylist who came in to organise everything.” Lucy told her with a smile at the memories.

  “Right?” Penny let out a rather delicate snort. “Tell me this then, why are Ash’s eyes yellow? How would his eyes be Martin’s lovely green.” Penny demanded.

  “Ash’s eyes are hazel and gold, not yellow. He has blue contact lenses,” Lucy told her simply. “Look, even if you don’t believe me, you still can’t tell anyone okay. He’s here just trying to have a normal life for a while."

  “I’m not going to be a laughing stock, thank you, so you can trust me that I will never mention it.” Penny enthused with a shake of her head.

  “Fine, let’s sleep on it, and we’ll see in the morning.” Lucy said pulling her sister into a hug.

  Morning light, and Penny’s disbelief was still intact. When Ash turned up to breakfast, he handed her a huge box of stuff that she just looked at. On the side were the words ‘Martin James stuff’, which made Penny roll her eyes. She was still sure they were playing some kind of joke on her.

  “Choose some stuff. Most of it you can have, but I just can’t remember what else is in there,” Ash told Penny, while giving Lucy a hug, and a chaste kiss in the forehead. Penny just stared at the box suspiciously, while Lucy let out a sigh, and opened it for her.

  “And what is going on in here?” Belinda asked cheerfully, as she walked into the room, all dressed for work.

  “These two goofs are trying to fool with me,” Penny said with a grumble. “They think Ash is Martin James,”

  “You told her?” Belinda asked in amazement, turning to Lucy who just nodded

  “I felt bad that she was the only one out of the loop,” Lucy answered.

  “I see. I’ll be making pancakes when the yelling starts okay,” Belinda said with a chuckle, as she walked from the room.

  �
�How have you got Mum fooled too?” Penny puzzled to herself.

  Lucy just sighed and started pulling the contents out of the box. From t-shirts to concert posters and signed CD’s, the box seemed to have everything. When Lucy pulled out what looked like an awards statue, she stopped, and sent a questioning glance to Ash.

  “Yeah, that one stays mine,” He reached out a hand for it, but Penny grabbed it first.

  “No way!” Penny whispered, as she read the plaque. She looked from Ash to the statue and back again. “It can’t just be contacts.” Ash sent her a soft smile, as he pulled out his contacts box.

  “Afraid so, Penny. Like I said to Lucy, Martin is just different colours.” Ash explained.

  He took his glasses off, and Penny stumbled back a step, her eyes never leaving him. When his contacts went in, Penny gulped at their blueness, until they changed to a bright, vibrant green once in.

  “Oh, God, you really are Martin James. Oh, God, you’re dating my sister. Oh, God, you’ve seen my room!” The last one sent Penny into a complete panic, and she raced up the stairs with an embarrassed wail.

  Lucy let out a held in breath. Perhaps, it hadn’t been such a good idea to tell her sister. She could only wonder if she should have kept it a secret. She hated hiding things from her family members, unless it caused them undue stress. She looked over at Ash, and wondered what to do next.

  Chapter 19 – The return of the mother

  “That sure went well,” Lucy muttered dryly “Best song, huh?” She asked, as she handed Ash back the award statue that Penny had dropped.

  “Yep,” he answered with a shrug.

  “I had better check on her.” Lucy said, and Ash nodded as he followed her up the stairs.

  Lucy knocked on her sister’s door, and at first got no response. She let out a sigh, and looked over to Ash, who reached out to clasp her hand in his. She leaned into him relishing the support he gave her, and he wrapped an arm around her waist.

  “This is why I didn’t want to tell her,” Ash muttered, as he swished a hand through his hair.

  “It will be fine. She just has to get over the shock of it,” Lucy assured him.