Twenty Seven: Love Another

She closed her book right after they left. Poured some more wine in her glass. The silence was loud. It used to be comforting, that night, she felt alone. She stepped out of the balcony with her book still clutched between her arm and her waist, white wine in her left hand. Once in awhile, in these kinds of nights, she felt there's something missing in her life.

She didn't feel it very often, that empty space inside. Sometimes she filled it with books, sometimes with music. More often than not, Kelsey made her forget there was even a space to fill. Preston never failed to turned up whenever she needed him, and lately there was Nathan who started to feel more and more like someone that fits the mold.

Spending so much time with Nathan for the past month made her forget that he was Kelsey's boyfriend. The dozens of times their eyes met, she wished she didn't feel that tingle in her stomach, but she did. She looked away every time, but Nathan seemed to be able to draw her back in. She liked that. The worst would be that night, when her fantasy was abruptly stopped as reality crashed in and took Nathan away for a night out on that fabulous island.

She let out a long surrendering breath, laid back on the lounger, and dialed her phone for a video call. Those dark blue eyes, under long lashes brought back a smile on her face. Preston was laying face down on his bed, a good close up on his beautiful face brighten up her gloomy mood.

"Staying in on a Friday night? I never thought I'd see this day," they didn't need a 'hello'.

"I've been busy working on my music, I'm at home, actually ... the dorm was too much of a distraction," he pointed the camera around his room and went back to his face.

"That's wonderful, how is it coming?"

"Great, actually, being so miserable without you had turned on my creative juice," he said.

She smiled lazily, "That's good, I miss you too."

"So when are you coming back?"

She chuckled, "End of February, I told you ten times already, it's a three month internship."

"I know, I was hoping something had changed ... I'm so lonely without you to tease around here," he exhaled and laid on his back with the camera still on his face. "So I guess Kelsey is in there banging Nathan in his room, huh?" he continued.

"Eeew ... don't put that in my head ... no, they're out clubbing, I guess she's done with Zach, finally?" Julie covered her face with one hand.

Preston had a smirk on his face, "Why don't you ask her yourself?"

"What? You don't think she's done with him? I haven't had a real conversation with her ... I guess I can ask her tomorrow."

"If anything, I think she thinks Nathan is cheating on her, that's why she flew over there," Preston's eyes pierced through the camera.

"Nathan? With who? I've never seen him with another girl around here before," she was puzzled.

Preston raised his brows, "Jules ... the only person who doesn't think that Nathan might have some feelings for you is probably ... you."

It struck her like a bolt of thunder, she couldn't find the words to say.

"She didn't have to tell me, it's a guy thing, I guess, it was pretty obvious to me ... it's pretty harmless, unless ..." Preston stopped to see her response.

She looked at him through the lens, unable to confirm nor deny what he was saying. She pursed her lips, "I think I'm in trouble."

"Oh, Jules ... I was afraid something like this would happen."

She shook her head, "No ... nothing is happening, I would never ... it's crazy, I'm just a little lonely, that's all."

Preston was silent, his curiosity had turned to disappointment.

"I have a lot of work to do here, I haven't started my report yet, I can focus on that ... I've been spending too much time with him, that's why, right?"

Preston lifted her eyebrows, "Yeah ... that's probably it." He cleared his throat.

She finished the rest of her wine and went inside to pour some more. "So let me hear the new stuff you're making."

Preston took out his guitar and put his phone on a holder, he lost his smile completely. He was almost frowning. He adjusted his guitar, his hair fell over his face and he tucked them behind his ear. "No one's heard this one before, it's not done yet ... but I'm liking the progress, are you ready?" he wet his lips.

"Let's hear it," she was back in the balcony with a full glass. He strummed his guitar and started singing. She loved his voice, she loved his singing, and she loved it when he sang to her.

"She's in my bed ... and I'm thinking of you

My late night loves are getting old

But I really don't want nothing new

I'm no good at this

Never knew how to do this

One thing that sticks around is

The way you felt on my lips

You held my hand, said we're friends

Then tell me lightly that you love another

Hold my hand, don't be a friend

'cause I don't think I can handle it

If you love another"

He wrote many songs about her, but this one hits home because he just made out the lyrics as he went along.

"I love it ... how long did you wrote that?"

"I've been writing the melody for a few days now, but the lyrics ... I came up with it just now."

"I don't love him Preston, I just ..."

He didn't let her finish, "If it's not him, there would be someone else ... it's just the same to me."

He didn't even bother to hide his jealousy. What they had was great but complicated. Preston let out a long sigh, "No ... I'm sorry, that's not fair ... you've always been there for me through all my messed up relationships ... it's just that, you've never been with anyone since I've known you, I have to learn how to do this."

"I'm not even 'WITH' anyone," she rubbed her face in distress.

"But you will ... someday ... so what are you gonna do about it, Jules?"

She hugged her knees and sipped on her wine, "Nothing ... I just wanna talk to you right now, I really need your company tonight."

"I'm not going anywhere," he smiled.

If he was there, she would have her back leaning against him, she would be listening to his guitar playing, or he would take her out on a walk, made her laugh throughout the night. Even with all the girls that came and went, he always made her feel special. It was never easy for her to see him with another, but he always came back to her. That's how she knew their bond was more than just friends, even more than lovers. Now it was Preston's turn to keep his end of the bargain, even though there's nothing he wanted more than to fly over to her and changed her mind.