Apartment For Three

Chapter 4

That night, I sat at my desk as the glow of the oil lamp gave light to my type writer. Looking over my story, I made revisions and changed storylines. Desperately trying to make my story less offensive.

However, it was extremely hard to concentrate when Marlon had a guest over. From his bedroom the harshest pounding and moaning noises filled the apartment. It sounded like a Third World War was beginning right in his bedroom.

Paul sat on the couch looking over his lines for the Actor's Workshop. Sitting back on the couch, he wore a white t-shirt, black slacks, high socks and slippers. His pouted lips mouthed the words on the page, but it was no use. With every moan of Marlon's friend, you could tell by the tense expression on Paul's face he was struggling.

Paul quickly stood up from the couch, then walked over the radio on our fireplace mantle. He angrily switched on the dial, music poured through the lit up speakers. Paul leaned his elbow on the mantle, even Smoke Gets In Your Eyes wasn't calming. It seemed so unlike him to get so frustrated.

"Can't concentrate?" I asked as I turned to him in my seat. He grinned, walking over to where I sat. With one hand on the back of my chair, he leaned over toward my typewriter.

"What type of book are you writing up, anyway?" He asked as his eyes skimmed over the page in the typewriter.

"Just a book about a colored girl in a big city." I simply told him. "I don't know if it'll be good..."

"It seems great from what I'm reading." Paul complimented. For a moment, I felt a bit bashful about it. "Looks like you have a future ahead of you. Maybe you'll be the next Charlotte Brontë."

"That is a total exaggeration." I laughed at Paul. "Besides, she concentrated on love stories between two people. This is a love story that the main character has with herself."

"That's almost poetic." Paul admired. He leaned over me once again, his body brushing against my shoulder. I could smell his scent, and he surely smelled good. "I believe you're going to be a big author one day, Adele. I barely know you but you have a spirit about you."

"And you're going to be a big actor..." I told him.

"Oh no..." Paul blew a raspberry.

"Oh come on, you actually study and take the time to know everything... you're gonna be great!" I insisted. Paul still leaned over my shoulder.

"You haven't seen me on stage yet." He rose a brow. "I'm afraid Marlon might be better in that department."

"I can see Marlon being great at that. He's cold, and that can easily make someone a good actor." I told him. Paul's eyes looked to me. "But you're warm, Paul. You have a softness about you that I can't explain."

We paused, then I laughed out a bit. "I can't believe I'm saying all of this."

"No, no, I believe sometimes you just feel like you know someone. As if they've been in your life this whole time." Paul shook his head. His face got much closer to mine as he leaned over the chair. Now both of his hands gripped the back of it a little tighter. Our noses began to brush, my eyes looked down at his lips. "You're so beautiful, Adele."

Paul leaned in to kiss me, but we were interrupted by Marlon's return. Paul quickly stood up straight, rubbing the back of his neck. I straightened my back in the chair, looking down at my clothing and unnecessarily adjusting myself.

Marlon emerged from the room with his mystery girl. He paused, then furrowed his eyebrows. "Paul, don't tell me you were making love to our roommate, here."

"I don't make love as quickly as you, Marlon." Paul shook his head.

"I beg to differ... you see, my love lasts longer than a lot of men." Marlon joked. The girl accompanying him stood there awkwardly. Marlon wrapped an arm around her then walked her to the door. "Call me, won't ya?"

"Of course." She said in a low voice. They kissed deeply, then she was out the door.

Marlon shut it behind her and exhaled. "They make them different in Staten Island."

Paul huffed at Marlon's remark, then walked to the couch where he reclaimed his seat in front of his script.

"What? I leave you for two moments out here with Ms. Sunshine and now you're stiff?" Marlon asked as he sat next to Paul. "What's the deal, Blue?"

"The deal is you know I have to study for this play and you were in there making all the ruckus in the world..." Paul extended his hand toward the bedroom.

"And I'm sorry about that." Marlon placed a hand on Paul's shoulder. Then, his hand began to massage it. "Besides, if you wanted to join you're more than welcome."

Paul's jaw tensed. He stood up, removing himself from Marlon's grip. Snatching up his script, he went into his bedroom to finish his studying.

"Aye." Marlon lifted his chin to me.

"Oh no, Marlon." I turned my back to him as I faced my type writer once again. "I'm far too busy to be serenaded by you at the moment."

"Well you seemed to be serenaded by Paul a moment ago." Marlon stood up and began walking over to me. As he stood beside my seat, I looked up to him.

His presence was intense just like Paul's, but in a totally different way. It was pure sexual energy, a fiery presence. This was the way he usually acted, especially around women & men who he wanted to score.

"I know you and Paul had a little moment together." Marlon mumbled, then brushed his hand to my cheek. Slowly, he began bringing it down to my jaw. "But if you ever want to see what it's like with a real man, just let me know."

I shut my eyes, what he was doing was working. Marlon had a way of turning people on without any effort.

"I won't have you making passes at me all the while." I removed his hand from my face. Standing up, I looked directly into his eyes. I stood there for a moment, gazing up at him. Then, I finally spoke. "I'm heading to bed."

I began walking toward my bedroom. Smooth jazz music continued to play throughout the room. Marlon squinted at me. "Heading to bed... alone?"

With a grin I rolled my eyes, then went into my bedroom for sleep.