𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙶𝙴𝚃 𝙷𝙴𝚁࿐ ྂ ᴊᴇꜰꜰ ʙᴜᴄᴋʟᴇʏ

ꜰɪᴠᴇ

THE LAST NOTE OF THE PIANO FADED,
and the small group of people in Sin-è went on with their nights. Waiters went on to the kitchen, and the elderly couple walked hand in hand to their car, but Jeff stayed, waiting patiently for Polly.

Two days had passed since the late night they'd shared, simply writing music, nothing more. He hoped that'd change soon, and so did she. 

He held the door ajar for both of them, "you played the song." He pointed out, remembering what they'd written together a few nights before. 

"Yeah." Polly smiled, knowing he recognized it. 

They walked down the quiet St. Marks Place, the only sound was their conversation and the passing cars. The wind had begun to blow faster, and the two shivered with hands In their pockets as they walked to Jeff's apartment- in which he promised to play some songs for Polly. 

The apartment was empty, and Jeff flicked on the lights as he walked to his room, surprised to see Polly following him and not in the living room. His room was bare, save for his bed and boxes, he hadn't had the chance to get any real furniture yet. Outside the single large window, was the night, illuminated by the full moon. Moonlight mixed with the soft orange light from the lamp in the corner of the room and filled the space. 

Jeff picked up the acoustic that lay on his bed and sat, Polly did the same. 

"What should I play?" He asked. 

Polly thought for a moment, "Dylan." She suggested thoughtfully, knowing he knew many songs by him. 

"Alright," he wracked his brain for a song she'd like, choosing one from Nashville Skyline, To Be Alone with You. 

As he began the song, Polly couldn't help but stare at him. The way his hands knew the fretboard so well, and the way he played the song like one of his own, not mirroring the way it sounded on the record. Although when he had started singing, it was especially hard to draw her eyes back, let alone the pink spreading over her face. 

"To be alone with you, just you and me, now won't you tell me true, ain't that the way it oughta be."  Jeff sang with heart, and Polly thought she hadn't ever heard a voice like his. Each lyric flowed like honey into the next. "To hold each other tight, the whole night through. Everything is always right when I'm alone with you."

He finished the song and looked up to meet her eyes, on her face was an expression he hadn't seen, and he wasn't quite sure what it meant. It was lustful yet pure. Wordlessly, he glanced back to the guitar, to his calloused hands grazing the strings, and began to play another song.

 This, Polly didn't recognize, and she assumed it was something he'd written. The song was primarily wordless, save for his hum of a melody on top of the chords and riffs he strummed. Nevertheless, it was beautiful. 

He ran his thumb over the rough tips of his fingers on his left hand, feeling the years of playing. 

"Do they hurt?" Polly asked absentmindedly gazing at his hands. 

"Not anymore." He said simply, resting the hand on his leg.  Polly hesitated and put her hand over his, feeling it in hers. It was rough and calloused, and his long fingers fit perfectly in hers. He stared at her hand, it was dainty compared to his, with a deep red polish on her nails.  

Jeff put the guitar onto the bed, and looked at her, she was looking down at their hands together. She looked back up and let her hand disconnect from his, instead putting it up to his jaw as she leaned closer and kissed him. The kiss was soft and he put his hand to her waist just to know that it was real. Soon, Pollys fingers were tangled in his hair as the kiss became stronger and they both became breathless. Minutes passed quickly- then the front door squeaked open and Polly quickly sat back on the bed from nearly being in Jeffs lap. His chest rose and fell quickly and he ran a hand through his messy hair, in attempt to look somewhat normal. 

"Polly?" Brooke stood in the doorway, confused. 

"Jeff was showing me some songs on guitar." Polly said, explaining her presance in the apartment. 

"Great..." Brooke laughed and turned, they heard her bedroom door shut. 

Polly stood and began to speak, but Jeff spoke first, "you don't have to leave." 

"Shes gonna think-" 

"We don't have to do anything," he told her, adamant on having her stay, even if it was just a bit longer. "Please stay." 

She sat back down, "okay," Polly agreed, as if she needed convincing. 

They talked until the early morning when Polly fell asleep and Jeff soon after. She awoke with the sun on her face and confusion as to where she was, then she remembered. She wore a pair of old sweats she borrowed from Jeff and the tank top she had worn in Sin-e the night before. Her bare arms shivered and she pulled the white comforter to her chin, realizing Jeff was behind her still, arm sprawled out above her head. She turned on her side to face him, he still slept peacefully, and as Polly closed her eyes once more, she thought about what might've happened if Brooke hadn't come home at that moment. 

As she drifted to sleep once more, Polly remembered that she didn't have work, and thought that she wouldn't mind to just lay there all day with Jeff. 

She had awoken to the sound of guitar, but she pretended to be asleep still, just so Jeff wouldn't stop playing. His playing was like his kisses, it was sweet and smooth. Once she had heard it, all she wanted was more. 

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