Got To Be Good-looking ('cause he's so hard to see)

~48~

Still John

"What the actual fuck"

Paul covered Stella's ears as I walked out of the house. The bonfire was a roaring glowing inferno of flames leaping, our faces painted with the shadows dancing.

"Keep it down John, the kids" Paul moaned as I stepped into the circle of children, Paul the centre, delving out marshmallows, poking soft sweets on sticks.

Linda walked from the rug she had laid out on the ground. "What's all the ruckus" She looked at Stella in Pauls arms, covered in marshmallow "Where's Clare?"

"Where's Clare" I laughed and turned around waving an arm about "Well when she spotted me I think two and two happened and she took off"

"What are you talking about John, Clare's in town visiting that's all" Paul took a swig of his beer, where's mine? Oh yea, I finished it.

"Don't act all innocent Paul, Clare's the girl, guitar girl from the cottage. I've been hiding myself from her all week!"

"Oh ok, well she knows now, no harm"

"Linda did you know?" I bellowed as she cleaned the marshmallow heather had dropped in the grass.

"I organised the cottages, yes" She sat by the fire "Go find her Paul"

Paul put Stella down and walked toward the front gate, calling Clare's name.

"Linda, we have been giving each other grief since LA for Christ sake!"

"I know" Linda had the audacity to smile a big beautiful grin "Great isn't it"

"No, she hates me" I shook my head and headed toward the gate "No... She detests me, thanks Lin"

"Your welcome!" She hummed breezily. I really had been lead down the garden path, round the studio and across the street, oh, and all the way to Campbelltown.

I walked away listening to Paul calling out for Clare to come back. I knew where she was but stuff him, he can walk to China for all I care.

I walked over towards the standing stone in the centre of the paddock, it was an ancient monolith from times pass, probably over 10000 years and it still stood weathering storms, snow, and now shielding us.

"Come on Clare, stop hiding in the dark" I muttered looking about. It was no good, the darkness sucked the light right out of the stars tonight and the moon was still missing.

"I'm shielding from the fire" She spoke, close, on the other side of the stone, I think.

She giggled and I made a grab, a sleeve slipping through my fingers. She lit a match and lit the cigarette which was pursed loosely in her lips, sitting angled down between them.

"There you are" I touched her fingers and she didn't take off.

"Such a phoney you are. Damn beard, ugh"

"I know but ..... Just what would have happened if I'd done the big reveal too soon, hey? ..... You might have split before I had the chance to kiss you" Fingers found her hair and tugged it softly as she stood in my arms. "How did you hobble this far anyway?"

We were a fair way out in the field and her foot wasn't the best.

"I don't know John, perhaps I flew or crawled, it seems a little mystery is nice, doesn't it" She slipped away and hid the cigarette behind her back. I couldn't see her, I couldn't see anything.

"Was this all just a thing to get in my pants, Mister Lennon" She suddenly spoke in my ear, then sank back into the black ink of the night

"How do you see me so well?"

"Carrots, I love em"

"Right, of course, you know me, pantie dropping Lennon" I made a grab and she screamed and escaped again, lost to the night.

"Kiss me" She whispered, the words low and filled with question. I thought she was being a tease or saying a song name "Kiss me to see if it feels the same"

I can't see you Clare"

"Carrots dimwit" Then she was there and we kissed blindly, our modus operandi, it seems. I let my fingers roam.

"Lay off the damn boobs Cap"

"I thought-"

"I said kiss, you horses tail" She walked off, the cigarette low in her hand, she waved it beckoning me to follow her "Come on, I'm freezing"

"Did it feel the same?!"

Why am I running to catch her up?

Because I was stunned by the kiss and stood like a moron in the middle of a paddock. Didn't it do anything for her, she slipped away like it was nothing.

I moved toward the light, a tiny red glow bobbing along towards the flames, Paul yelled and she giggled as I caught up, slipping in front of her to see that pretty face now alive with orange and red firey streaks licking colours across her skin, clear eyes delving into mine as she waited.

"Can you see me?" My turn.

"Yea"

"And I Iook like.. ?" That's a loaded question.

Her grin was devilish but she bit her bottom lip to stop the sarky comment. The flames set a glow around her, a halo of brilliance, burning like the sun-rising behind her back. A phoenix rising from the fire.

"You look like...." She paused and I've never wanted anyone more than I do now "You look...." She stepped one two three steps into my space, fingers splayed along my jaw "....Your face.... So worried you are"

The kiss was light, fleeting. She stepped back as I recovered, then she kissed me again. It was like the night had swallowed and digested the moon and become our safe place, the darkness sitting on the edge of the flames, became alive with us.

Paul screeched then moaned in pain. I hope he is crying after falling over something. I should get Linda back too but Paul's such an easy target and Linda would be a worry when she retaliated.... Clare took more from me then whispered my name, not Cap, my name. "John"

"Clare, darl-"

"There you two are. Alright then?" Paul stood to the left, I ignored him and kissed her making sure we were sure of the kisses still being good. They were, in my opinion, bloody hot.

"Well if you weren't here it would be alright........ but you are......... so let's go eat marshmallows" Clare smiled onto my lips.... Clare loves marshmallows.