Melodies of a stranger

Chapter 9

Maxi wandered around Covent Garden in a complete daze. Her emotions swinging like a pendulum. One moment she felt resolution that she had done the right thing baring her soul to him, then the next she felt regret that she had separated herself from him so brutally. Two days had passed, and she had not heard a peep from him.

'I knew he had a girlfriend, I knew that he didn't have any feelings for me, I knew that he didn't see me so why did I open my big mouth? Would it have been better to remain silent and keep him in my life?'

Embarrassment for her actions clawed at her throat. Her emotions threatened to engulf her. She had come to his stomping grounds in a vain hope to feel at least a little connected to him. Why did she continue to torture herself so? Maxi sat on the benches and watched a street performer, desperate for a distraction.

He had the crowd in his hand. He juggled and cracked endless jokes. The audience was roaring with laughter, but Maxi did not take a second of the show in. Sighing in resignation she moved towards the café where she always sat to hear him sing.

'Maybe I can close my eyes and pretend?'

Maxi was disappointed to find a female musician in Riftan's usual spot. That would make it more difficult to pretend its him. She leaned against the barrier and waited for the music to wash through her and take her away.

Nothing happened.

Maxi grasped her hair in frustration. What's the point? Wasn't that the reason she was drawn to him in the first place? Only he had this effect on her. She felt lonely and isolated. He brought her so much comfort and now she had gone and ruined it all. Why hadn't she been contented with friendship? Why had she gotten greedy and wanted more?

The musician started singing her next song.

Dancing on my own

Maxi scoffed inwardly

'You can piss right off with that crap...'

Maxi caught herself and smiled. He was rubbing off on her.

⚝──⭒─⭑─⭒──⚝

Riftan was sitting in his living room staring out the window, deep in thought. Her words were swirling through his mind.

"I can't stop thinking about you. Please, if there is nothing here, I need to forget about you. I can't take the pain if you could never love me..."

The logical thing to do would be to walk away and never look back. He didn't really know her well. He hadn't known her all that long. She had been the odd girl who had always come to listen to him. He would argue that she liked Riftan the musician who, for some reason not known to anyone but herself, had placed him on a pedestal in her mind and not Riftan the person.

Walk away, that's what he should do...

But he found he didn't want to. He didn't know why, but he was drawn to her. Sure, she was pretty but there was more to her than that. She was kind and compassionate. She always saw the good in others. She brought out the best in him. There was a vulnerability in her that he desired to protect...

His housemate came stumbling in in a noisy blaze of glory. Hebaron had drunk several rounds of pre-drinks before heading out for the evening and was already worse for wear.

"Are you trying to piss off the neighbours?"

Hebaron threw back his head and released a booming laugh.

"Get your head out of your arse and join us. Not all of us have the time to stare out of the window brooding all day. Whatever it is that's eating you up, either talk about it or get drunk, problem solved! Besides, me and Gabel have plans to try and trick Uslin and Elliot into going to the strip club. It's going to be a sight to behold!"