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Love is Real (-ly Complicated) Chapter 4: John

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JOHN



I walked down the street in a sort of daze. I was heading to Paul's house, our bassist, for rehearsal with not a chord, lyric, or tune in my head. My mind was filled with thoughts of Annabel... her face, her hair, her voice....

I reached Paul's house and found Paul and George, our lead guitarist, already there talking about various things. Our drummer, Pete, wasn't there yet; I had a feeling he wouldn't show up... he rarely does.

"Hey-" I greeted them, grabbing my guitar that I had left here before class and sat down on the couch.

George nodded to me and Paul asked, "How was class?"

My mind instantly went to Annabel, but if I told them about her it would lead to questions and comments that I don't know if I could respond to.

"Fine," I answered calmly, which he accepted and we started rehearsal, yet my thoughts remained on the passionate beauty I had met earlier today. I've never had this strong of a feeling, this pull, towards anyone before. I couldn't wrap my mind around it.

As could be predicted, my thoughts and effort wasn't in my playing. I was making the simplest, stupid mistakes and not coming in when I was supposed to sing. I was oblivious to my mate's frustration, laced with amusement. They knew that my mind was clearly on something else.

Sometime in the middle of rehearsal, Paul and George dropped out to restart a section, but I, lost in contemplation, kept on strumming in a languid, rhythmic haze.

"What's her name, John?" Paul prodded, jokingly, not realizing how on point he was.

Still wandering around in my head and without a thought of the question or who was asking I replied, "Annabel..."

George chuckled, "Who's this Annabel?"

I snapped back into reality, "I-- uh, she..." 

What's wrong with me! I'm a stuttering mess. I'm not usually one to be at a loss for words.

"Ooooh, Johnny's got it bad," Paul taunted with that smug look of his that tended to get me angry at him for no reason.

I felt my temper rising and bit back harshly, "Hardly! She's just some-" I couldn't continue.  Annabel wasn't just some girl, not to me. Every other woman in the world now was just another because of her. My irritation immediately dissipated with those tender thoughts of her. 

"C'mon Lennon, spill," George goaded, "She must be pretty extraordinary to affect you this much."

"Well, I, um," I reached up to scratch my sideburn and cleared my throat, "I met her today. She's in me art class."

Paul looked at me with an incredulous expression, "Just today! And she's got you wilting into a gooey mess! Did you even talk to her?"

"Of course!" I retorted, glaring back at him. Then I recalled the conversation that we did have and almost wished I hadn't talked to her yet...

George stepped in to ease what might've developed into a bit of a spat, "Did you get her number or somethin? You gonna see her again?"

"Well, there's tomorrow in-"

Paul rolled his eyes, "besides class, John." I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth at his damn superior attitude.

George quickly turned around the topic, "What does this 'Annabel' look like?"

I felt my muscles relax as I pictured Annabel's face. She had this calming effect on me which I knew I needed desperately in my life.

"She's an angel...." I paused, searching for adequate words to describe her, "She's got the silkiest long, flowing hair the color of the darkest night... And it smells like vanilla-"

Paul sniggered at me, "You smelled her hair-"

"Shut it, Macca!"

"continue..." George calmly spoke, again acting as our mediator.

"She's got violet eyes unlike I've ever seen before that flash when she speaks-- Her voice! She sounds like caramel tastes, sweet and smooth that lingers on your ears." I replayed our last interactions together in my head, her venomous words and her face inches from mine. 

I spoke barely above a breath that I doubt they heard, "..her lips...."

"She sounds beautiful, John." George stated, bringing me out of my memory. He picked up his guitar again, signaling that he wanted to get back to practicing.

We picked up with rehearsal again. I made sure to focus a bit more to get some benefit from this session. We finished and George left. I was walking out the door and still was quite irritated at Paul when called out to me.

"Hey, John," I turned around, holding the door open and he continued with a cheeky grin and a wink, "Catch that bird."

Instantly, we were back to the closest of friends who could communicate with just a look. The tension and frustration forgiven and forgotten.

I returned his wink with a smirk and raised eyebrow, "Ya doubt I would?"

He laughed, "Just encouragement, John... just encouragement..."

I gave him a wave and started off towards home.

------------------------------------------------------------------

In bed that night, I stared at my ceiling, replaying the conversation between Annabel and me.

I really messed up...

I was gonna have to work hard to make her realize that I wasn't a completely heartless fool. She had me, whether she realized it or not. She made me feel like I was drowning and flying at the same time. I didn't want her, but, oh, did I need her.

I needed her desperately.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________


I got to the college the next morning quite early hoping to talk to Annabel before class. Time passed as I watched the students enter the building; I searched for one face in particular. It got later and later. I lit up a cigarette and leaned against the building. I was a nervous wreck. Did I miss her? Was she even going to bother coming to class today?

Finally, I saw her gliding down the street towards the school. I shouted at her as she got closer and put out my cigarette.

"Annabel!"

She was as beautiful as I remembered, with the cool, fall air giving her cheeks a rosy hue.

But she ignored me and kept walking, heading up the stairs to enter the building. I ran up to her telling her to slow down and placed my hand on her shoulder. She shrugged it off without a word. It was obvious that she was still upset.

I got in front of her, blocking her path, "I was hoping that we could move on from yesterday and start over..."

Her eyes flashed with anger briefly before settling into an icy glare.

"Fuck off, Lennon." She shoved past me.

I was stunned momentarily, then I turned around and caught up to her in the hallway, "Look I know what I said was undeserved, and... I just want to apologize." 

I followed her into the room and sat next to her, continuing my pleading, "C'mon, you can't be that upset--"

She didn't even bother to look at me as she bitterly spoke once more, "Don't speak to me during class."

My heart plummeted into my stomach. She didn't want anything to do with me.

Look what you did Lennon, I berated myself, you let your words get ahead of you and now you have to deal with the consequences.

I watched her off and on throughout the lecture. I felt lost. I realized that my words had really affected her and I just wanted to take it all back.

Class ended and she got up without a glance in my direction and started to leave. I needed to say something to get me on the right track. I reached out and gently touched the soft skin of her wrist and she looked back at me.

"I have a feeling that I've hurt you..." I spoke, my heart aching with the thought of her suffering at my words. Her face revealed no reaction as she turned around from me again and walked away. A sight now all too familiar to me.

I looked down at my feet and saw a crumpled up piece of paper. It must've fallen out of her bag when she yanked it on her shoulder.

I got up to bring it to her, but my curiosity got the best of me. I opened it up to see a sketch of a face. It was remarkable, the finesse and emotion in just a simple sketch! My guilt grabbed at me as I recalled my hurtful and insulting words from the previous day. 

I looked down at the sketch again and gasped as I realized I was looking down at my own face.

She drew me... She was thinking of me.

Hope fluttered within me; perhaps, I still had a chance. I folded the sketch carefully and put it into my pocket and left the building.

"I won't give up on you, Annabel," I whispered into the wind.

"I will never give up..."

Chapter 4! Finally!!

I really got to get into a strict schedule and keep with it.... I just get really overwhelmed sometimes with all the things I have to do and shut down in a sense... I would like to submit a chapter regularly every Friday, so let's hope I get to that! :)

Love to know what you think!
What was your favorite part/interaction? Your favorite line?

Can you pick out the song reference in there...

Comment on a certain scene you'd like to see drawn out, and I might just do it. ;)

Enjoy!

© 2013 - 2024 OneClassyLady
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Evergreen-Rose's avatar
I've been reading it all this evening Meow :3 
I LOVE IT! 
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