Clay growled. "If you ever..."
"If I ever touch her, you are going to do what, swat me with your little stick? You can't even see."
Khaled got up and threw Clay's stick away, near to the front of the theatre. Clay heard it landing with a thud.
"Find it now, little blind fella. Find your stick." Khaled taunted.
Clay heard him retreating and sighed heavily. He wouldn't even attempt to go to look for the thing. He would have to feel his way out of the lecture theatre. He got up gingerly in preparation to do so. His heart was beating angrily. He needed to put a stop to this or Jessica could get hurt in the crossfire. After he found his way to the other lecture room and sat down beside a curious Ramon, he was almost convinced that he would have to leave Mount Faith to make this situation go away.
Chapter Ten
Jessica sat in the lotus position in the middle of her bed and was listening to some old music from Khaled's very first album when Clay knocked on her door. She glanced at her clock. It was after ten. He had retired way earlier than usual tonight and had looked unhappy. She jumped up and opened her door.
"Hey. Thought you were sleeping."
"I couldn't sleep," Clay leaned on the door. He was still in the same clothes, except that his shirt was unbuttoned at the top. He had on his dark glasses, so she couldn't see his eyes, but his clothes looked crumpled and he looked worried.
"What's wrong?"
She sat on the bed and watched him as his shoulders slumped.
He listened to the words of the song that was playing; it was a Khaled cover of Phil Colin's, 'Another Day in Paradise'. He smiled slightly. "You know, people don't realize that this is a pretty profound song."
"Yes, about poverty and how we turn a blind eye to it. I know, and Khaled did a great cover," Jessica said. "I love it."
Clay nodded. "I wish I could see. You know, being blind for two weeks is making me appreciate sight. I will never take seeing for granted again."
Jessica cleared her throat. "You have handled it so well though. I know if that happened to me I'd be a panicky mess."
Clay shrugged. "I guess. I am fortunate it wasn't worse and my right eye is slowly coming back."
"Do you want to sit down?" Jessica asked, "or are you okay there, holding up the door."
Clay laughed. "I want to play something. Would your father mind me playing the piano in the living room?
"No," Jessica said. "He complains that we don't play it enough, and he feels as if it is now just a status symbol."
"Cool. Let's go play music." Clay felt for the door handle and headed through the door. By the time Jessica reached the piano, he was already sitting before it.
He inhaled. "I never get tired of feeling piano keys under my fingers." He played a chord and Jessica sat beside him, inhaling his scent and looking at his pensive expression as he effortlessly caressed the piano keys.
"When did you learn to play?" she asked softly.
"When I was seven," Clay said, "my mother sent me to classes. You know, I feel like playing the classics. Fur Elise comes to mind."
He started playing and Jessica closed her eyes. "This is good."
Clay then transitioned effortlessly into Pachelbel's Canon in D. Jessica joined him in the piece and they played together.
When the piece ended, Clay said softly. "Don't date Khaled."
"Why?" Jessica whispered.
"There are so many reasons why you shouldn't," Clay said in the quietness of the living room, he could hear the old grandfather clock ticking. He was tempted to tell her what Khaled was really about, but he couldn't. He had to hope that she had the good sense to make the best choice for herself.
"Jessica," Clay gripped her hand. "Can you trust me on this?"
"I would if you told me why," Jessica said softly. "He seems to be a nice guy. He's genuine, sweet, and humble. I've been dreaming about this for years," she said to Clay, feeling that rush of surrealism that had overtaken her since she began tutoring Khaled.
"Tomorrow, I'll start giving him lessons."
"When?" Clay asked. His voice was husky.
"At seven, Mondays, and Wednesdays in Music Room 2. Why are you so against him?"
"I am not against him." Clay ran his fingers over the piano keys. "I just know him too well, that's all. Remember, I told you about Kara."
"Yes," Jessica said. "She called you at the airport and told you goodbye."
"Well, when we first met, I liked her. She was funny and warm, and I liked to hang out with her. I met her at a health food store. She was a health nut, and I was looking for a healthier way to live so we connected." He shrugged. "I liked her enough to introduce her to my uncle, and the guys at the studio. That was my first mistake. Khaled was there when the introductions were made.
She wanted to meet him so I casually introduced them. Next thing I knew she was sleeping with him. When I confronted her about it, she said she couldn't help it: he was her crush, her dream. Almost the same things you are saying to me now."
"But I won't..." Jessica started to protest.
"He is bad news," Clay said urgently. "Don't be blinded by his charm, okay. Keep your guard up." Clay moved close to Jessica on the chair. "Remember that you like me."
Jessica chuckled. "I do?"
"You know you do," Clay said softly. He was forehead to forehead with Jessica, their noses almost touching.
"I know it has been only three weeks, but we have something different. Something potent. Don't forget it, okay."
Jessica inhaled sharply. "I won't forget it, but Clay, it's Khaled. He's here... at Mount Faith. I don't know. I feel as if it's ordained, you know."
"But you like me, not him," Clay said softly. He kissed her and she opened her lips.
A clearing of the throat drew them apart. Jessica looked up and saw her father in his maroon red robe with the black sash, the one she and her siblings referred to as his world domination robe.
"Am I going to have to put you in a chastity belt?" he pointed to Jessica, "and you..." he glared at Clay, "tie a bell on you, so that I know what you are up to at night?"
He had a cup of tea in his hand and was watching the two of them quizzically.
"No, Sir," Clay said, happy that he couldn't see the scowl that he heard in Bancroft's voice.
"Well, good," Bancroft said. "I haven't heard good music in a while. I am going to sit over here. Play something Vivaldi."
Clay chuckled and Jessica rolled her eyes at her Dad who had made himself comfortable in one of the rocking chairs.
*****
Jessica entered Music Room 2 with a certain amount of trepidation, about three minutes before her class with Khaled was scheduled to start. Clay had warned her about him. Khaled was a player. She reiterated in her mind how much she liked Clay.
She really did. He was everything she liked in a guy. He played music, he wrote music, and he loved poetry. He was level-headed, serious, amazingly calm, rugged, and real. She was listing all his good qualities in her mind as she entered the music room, expecting to wait for Khaled, but she was surprised to see that he had showed up on time. He was sitting around the piano in his signature green and black color combo. She had expected that he would be fashionably late.
"Hi, Jessica," he looked sad. "I had a tough day."
"Really," Jessica asked, feeling a little thrill that Khaled was confiding in her. "How so?"
He flashed a smile at her. "There are so many fans up here. I can barely move around without a mob following in my wake."
Jessica smiled. "Yes, most of us have had Khaled fever at some points or the other."
Khaled sighed and sat down on the piano bench. "I just don't get it." His green eyes sparkled. "I thought it would have been refreshing to hear my real name, David Green, on the lips of people, but they all insist on calling me Khaled."
"I just wanted to be David for a while," he looked at Jessica. "The Khaled identity is like a mask. I want to remove it for a while and let people get to know
the real me." He gripped his chest.
Jessica nodded. "I totally understand."
"I don't think you do, Jess," he said softly. "May I call you ‘Jess’?"
"Yes," Jessica, said searching his eyes for any deception. All she saw was a tortured guy who was frustrated at losing his identity because he was a singer. He was not the monster that Clay was trying to portray to her, and so far he hadn't been self-centered either. He was an okay guy. She relaxed slightly.
"Well, Khaled, sorry, I mean David," she stuttered, trying hard to sound professional, "last class I realized that you have some rudimentary music skills. Teaching you shouldn't be too hard.
David nodded. "Yes. I am a quick learner." He turned to the piano and then turned back to look at her.
"Want to pick up dinner with me after this? I mean, I feel as if I can be ordinary around you. I am not asking you for a date. It's just that fame can make you so lonely and isolated, and you don't seem as star struck as everybody else around here."
"Well... er..." Jessica stuttered. "I am not..."
David smacked his head. "Oh, don't tell me you have a boyfriend."
"Well, I, er...not really," she said faintly. Technically, she and Clay were not officially together.
"You can ask him to come as well," David said, "that is, if he is as cool as you are. I wouldn't mind the extra company."
Jessica shook her head. If she told Clay, he would say ‘no’, and this was an opportunity to get to know Khaled/David better.
"Well, I'll be happy to come with you," she finally said after a small pause.
"Great." David nodded and flashed his dimpled smile at her again. "Let's get on with it, huh?"
David suggested that they go somewhere quiet after the piano lesson. "I hate to be interrupted when I am with someone as interesting as you." Jessica had literally blushed at that.
They ended up going to an off campus restaurant; it was a rustic place near the town square, that sold a decent curried goat.
"This is nice," David said, looking around at the sparse furnishings and the bare blue walls of the place. "It has the right amount of rugged."
Jessica smiled. "Yes, it does have that rustic feel to it, and the food is good too."
The owner came over to them, a white apron hanging askew around his neck. "What do you guys need?"
David said quickly, "I'll allow Jessica to order for me."
The owner grinned. "So then, that will be two curried goats and two small mannish water," he said, his hands akimbo. "Long time no see, Miss Jess."
Jessica grinned. "Yes, Mort, six long weeks."
He chuckled heartily and looked at David quizzically. "Is that all? We have desserts too, you know."
"No, that is all. Thanks," David said watching as the man walked off.
"I can't believe it," he said, looking at Jessica. "He didn't recognize me."
Jessica laughed. "Of course Mort recognizes you, but he is not star struck. Most of the people in these hills aren't. They couldn't care less about super stars."
A flash of anger crept over David's face, but he quickly hid it. "That's good. I mean this is the perfect place to have a vacation then."
Jessica nodded. "It could be."
"It's tranquil here. I would love to see more of the place though. I mean, I just go to school and that's it."
He waited for Jessica to offer to take him exploring, but he realized that she was not as effusive as she should be and he wondered why. Maybe Clay had said something to her to poison her mind against him. He needed to work extra hard to gain her confidence now. He sighed inwardly. He wasn't used to working hard for any woman. This was going to be annoying.
Jessica was looking at Khaled and willing herself to feel the emotions she usually does when she hears his songs. She was feeling nothing, though he was handsome, and he was sitting right in front of her. This was her dream come true, but her treacherous heart wasn't budging. This situation felt too similar to the time when she assessed Ramon. No spark. No chemistry.
She was shaken out of her contemplation when Mort brought the food to their table.
"Tell me about Clay," she said to David, who was in the middle of talking about an Australia tour.
"Clay?" David frowned. "Clay Reid?" he asked again, as if he didn't hear. "What about him?"
"He really doesn't seem to...how should I put this...like you much," Jessica said. "I just want to understand where the animosity is coming from. Where did you guys meet?"
David shrugged. "At the studio. He works with Neil Reid. They call him a genius there because he comes up with original beats at the snap of a finger, and he writes some good songs as well. Everyone wants to work with Clay."
"I had no idea he was that good," Jessica said. "He doesn't really tell me anything about his musical life and he knows I am studying music," Jessica said. "I wonder why."
"He wants a break from all that, I guess." David worked hard to hide the petulance in his voice. Didn't this girl see how much better looking than Clay he was? He was the great Khaled. What was the matter with her? He turned the conversation around to himself.
"You know when my mother died and I left home, I had so many songs in my heart and I went to the iJam studios sad and broken."
Jessica's eyes softened in sympathy. "That must have been awful. That's why your first songs were filled with so much raw emotion."
David nodded. "Yes, they were. It was a rough time in my life, and the year after I got my heart broken quite unexpectedly."
"Why?" Jessica asked. "Why did she break up with you?"
"Because I was too busy touring and stuff. Back then the business had to come first." He wiped his mouth with a napkin and said to Jessica earnestly. "That's why I needed the break now so that I can really concentrate on a special person. You know, Jessica, I feel this connection between us. I remember when it came time for me to choose schools; I had this deep urge to come to Mount Faith. Now I'm thinking that it's because you are here."
Jessica gasped. "I've felt that way for years. Remember that song that you did: I know you are out there, I am going to find where, and when I do, I'll know that you are the one. I kinda thought you were talking about me."
David smiled slowly. "I wrote that song thinking that you were out there somewhere. Jessica, the girl in my dreams."
Jessica's heart lurched. This was it: her dream come true, and he had felt it too. Maybe her system was malfunctioning and she couldn't feel the connection between them just yet.
She tried to stifle the disquiet she was feeling and softly cursed Clay for putting so many doubts in her mind about Khaled. He was here. He was talking to her. He felt their connection.
He held her hand across the table. "I appreciate you being in my life now, Jessica." His eyes were so green that she could almost drown in their pure sincerity.
She waited for her pulse to quicken under his soft manicured fingers, but it didn't. Maybe it would take time. It was like an anticlimax. She had worked up herself to this moment, and when it actually happened it fell flat.
Chapter Eleven
The mid-October nights were reminding Clay that he was in a part of Jamaica that excelled in cool temperatures. He rubbed his hands together, hoping that the building's heater for their section of the library would kick in. He was in the science library with Ramon and four other group members working on their literature based group project. They had split up into twos to find specific topic areas to research. He was, of course, paired with Ramon.
His right eye was now completely clear. It had gradually come back, but it was still sensitive to light, and he had problems focusing on fine print. His left eye was still giving him grainy feedback, which was progress compared to the total blackness he was seeing before.
Most of the topics in the book he was staring at began to run into each other.
"Hey," Ramon said, carrying a big tome over to the table. "Found the book."
Clay nodded. "Where's the magnifying glass?"
>
"Beside you," Ramon said, and then he paused. "Did you know that Jess is secretly seeing Khaled?"
Clay nodded slowly. "I know. It's no secret. She announces it as soon as she gets in from work, or wherever. She usually looks at me defiantly when she says it, so I am taking a back seat to this."
"They are hanging out at Morts' restaurant every week. Khaled supposedly likes the quiet and he's calling her on the phone every other hour. It's sickening."
Ramon looked disturbed. "What are you doing about it? She's your girl. You live at her house. Shouldn't you be up in arms? Don't you want to just punch that stuck up punk in the mouth and tell him to leave Jess alone?"
Clay chuckled softly. "Calm down, Ramon. After she is exposed to him long enough, she will see that his feet are made of clay, and that he is just a man."
"But suppose he does something to her," Ramon asked. "You know, have sex with her or something. Suppose she falls in love with him."
Clay clenched his fist. "Then she'd be stupid. I warned her about him already. Jessica is twenty-one; she is a woman. She has to make up her mind about Khaled without any interference from me, or I guess she'll always wonder what would've happened if she had given him a chance. She has to get him out of her system. I know him; his true colors will soon start showing."
Ramon gritted his teeth. "I can't stand him. There is something about him that makes me want to snarl."
Clay chuckled. "He is too smooth, too charming?"
"Yes, that's it." Ramon clicked his fingers. "And he sails around campus expecting everyone to worship him. It's disturbing. You know, I even see the older administrators giggling and talking to him like they have lost their senses."
Clay nodded. "He loves that kind of thing."
"So why did he retire then?" Ramon asked, puzzled. "If adoration is like air to him, why is he up here? Shouldn't he be singing at some sold out concert halfway across the globe?"
Just To See Her (The Bancrofts: Book 8) Page 9