Birds In Your Garden - Chap. 13

"Wow," Em cooed playfully as she walked into the kitchen, "you really are a professional." Kevin was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in front of him, reading the paper, dressed in a snug tee shirt and sweat pants. "I expected you to be sleeping until noon at least."

"Well," he smirked, "I think part of me is still drunk, so I should be okay for a few more hours, I think."

"And then what?" Em asked, pouring some juice and sitting at the table.

"By then, I should be mid-Atlantic," he said with a slight smile.

Em sat back and blinked at him. "Huh?"

"I'm goin' back to get her, Em," he said, his smile widening and shrugging. "At least…I'm gonna try." She smiled broadly at him, shaking her head. "What?" he asked.

"My little Backstreet Boy's all grown up," she teased, lifting her shoulders. "You're going to break Lexa and Ami's hearts, you know."

"Well, I don't think I'll scar them too much," he said with a nod. "They're still young."

"Mmm, but you're such a heartbreaker, Kevy," she teased. "I don't know." He tilted his head and smiled shyly. "So, you're really going back for your lovely dancer?" She reached her hand out for his and squeezed it.

He nodded slowly and sipped his coffee. "Well, I did come over here to sweep you off your feet, Em, but if I did that, your husband would put a bounty on my head, first of all."

She laughed and nudged him, pulling her hand back. "And secondly?"

"Secondly?" he repeated, looking around the kitchen briefly. "I wouldn't take you away from all this. I couldn't give you anything close to what you have here. I envy you this." He said, his tone turning serious as he looked at her sincerely.

"You'll have everything you want, Kevin," she told him, taking his hand again and smiling tenderly. "You'll just have it with Jana. Even if I would agree to run off with you to…Kentucky," she frowned and shook her head slightly, "you'd still be in love with her. You are in love with her."

"Let's just hope she still loves me," he said.

Leslie walked over to Jana talking to a group of friends at the far end of the bar and tapped her on the shoulder. "Um, I think you have company," she said over the music and pointed to the other end of the bar.

Jana turned, looking where she pointed and saw Kevin. His hair was short, he had shaved off his beard and he was wearing his long black leather coat, a black turtleneck and jeans. She couldn't believe it was actually him and was torn between making her way through the crowd or just staying where she was to watch him move.

The music and noise of the bar made her wonder if she wasn't watching another video in slow motion like she had that night with Rachel and Leslie. Part of her wanted to press her finger on a button and pause it, waiting for her heart to catch up with her breathing and her thoughts. Why was he here? He was supposed to be with Em in England, wasn't he? Why was he here? But there was no remote and he caught her eye and started making his way through the crowd. A few people noticed him because of who he was, or because he was new, or because he just looked so good.

"You were the last person I expected to see," she said as casually as possible.

"What?" he asked, leaning over for her to repeat herself and she could smell his cologne with him so close.

"I said, you were the last person I expected to see. Don't you have some industry thing to be at with all the beautiful people with important names?" she asked.

He turned his head to reply and she could feel his breath hold in her hair as he spoke. "I had more important people to be with," he said, reaching out to her waist, but pulling his hand back. "Can we go some place where I can hear you?"

"We're heading back to the apartment in about an hour," she said with her heart pounding. Why are you here? "Go grab yourself a drink."

"Do you want?" he asked, pointing to her half empty drink and lifting an eyebrow in question.

"Vodka and cranberry," she answered, finishing the rest of her drink and following a few steps behind him to the bar. She watched him make his way through the people and marveled at how easily he managed to blend in and seem non-plussed by whatever surrounding he was in. He blended in here as easily as he did on stage; calm, collected and an attitude that just vibrated with confidence. What about the baby? Rachel just said he went to London…what happened in London?

He leaned over and ordered his drink and turned, surprised to see her standing beside him. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything or spoiling your night."

She shook her head and forced herself to look around the bar, finding Leslie a few feet away. Leslie crossed her eyes at Jana and stuck her tongue out before breaking into a laugh. Jana had to turn away and lowered her head as she giggled, pretending to dig through her pocketbook for a cigarette.

"You look great," he said, leaning over again to talk to her. And she did. She wore a pair of tight leather pants and a short, thick purple sweater that exposed her navel and showed off the tightness of her belly. He almost wished some of the guys were here to see her so he could boast about how good she looked in leather pants. He'd bet AJ would have a similar comment to the ones he made to Nick about Rachel in leather pants.

Jana had also changed her hair. It was just shorter than her chin and fell in a tousled, wispy mane around her face, highlighted in various shades of blonde. He noticed her eyes more too as she looked between the strands of her hair, realizing she was wearing more make-up than the slight touch of mascara she had normally worn. Had she come with a date? Was she looking to pick-up someone?

"Thanks," she said, nodding broadly to make up for the lack of hearing. Kevin handed her a drink and she put it on the bar to light the cigarette before picking it back up. She waved for him to follow and headed over towards Leslie.

"Darling!" Leslie called, opening her arms wide to Kevin and air-kissed either cheek playfully. "I'm so glad you came!" She hugged him warmly. "Doesn't she look stunning?" Leslie asked in his ear. He pulled back and nodded, closing his eyes briefly to express what he couldn't say and looked back to Jana. She had her head turned away and her chin lifted to exhale a stream of smoke. He wondered if she lit up just to bother him, but tried not to think too hard about it. She had definitely been drinking for a while and remembered her telling him about 'the balance;' a drink in one hand, cigarette in the other. "You've not experienced New Year's until you've experienced one of our parties!" Leslie boasted, tugging his hand gently in reassurance.

"Is that a fact?" he asked, cracking a smile to her.

"It's a fact. Right, Danny?" she asked the guy standing beside her. "Danny, this is Kevin. Kevin, Danny." Kevin extended his hand to Danny, shaking briefly with a quick 'hello.'

"Kevin and Jana went to high school together," Leslie explained to Danny.

"You look familiar," Danny said, studying Kevin's face.

"Oh, he's been around," Jana interjected, looking to Kevin sternly. Danny nodded and looked around the bar casually as Kevin looked over to Jana. He wanted to reach over and wrap his arm around her, but she was too standoffish.

"Come dance, baby," Jana said, handing his and her drink to Leslie and taking his hand, leading him over to the small crowded dance floor at the back of the bar. Dancing would save them from the awkwardness of having to make small talk. Whatever needed to be said couldn't be screamed over the music in a crowded bar and she couldn't stand by and not ask questions. If she couldn't ask questions, she was buzzed enough to start kissing him and she wouldn't let herself do that until she knew what the hell was going on.

Leslie knew something. She was completely unsurprised by his appearance and even in the slight dizziness of her buzz, she could see Leslie was ready to burst with excitement. It only made her want to ask Kevin more hopeful questions, but she didn't want to give in that easily. They had to dance. It was the only thing that could trigger Jana's mind into thoughtlessness, but she didn't want to let Kevin out of her sight either, so she would take him with her.

As she made her way to find a space, Paul came over the speakers. "Hey, hey, hey, Miss Jana's in the house! Give the girl some room!"

She loved Paul. The dance mix changed to Madonna's 'Express Yourself' and she looked up to the DJ booth with a shake of her head and a wide smile. The floor did make room for them and she lost herself in the visions of the steps she wanted to do. Looking over to Kevin, he was keeping up, watching her with a slight embarrassed, knowing look. When they did more elaborate steps, the crowd cheered or applauded until the song was over and Paul mixed it into Christina Aguliera's 'What a Girl Wants' Jana grabbed Kevin's hand and led him from the floor, turning to Paul and wagged her finger at him in mock scolding.

"He's such a show off," she giggled, winking at Kevin and wiped some sweat from her forehead with the back of her wrist. She found Leslie at the side of the bar and downed her drink, hearing the buzz of people obviously recognizing Kevin now.

"We should go," she said to Leslie. "I'll meet you at the house." She turned to Kevin and took his hand. "Consider me Carlos," she said to him, making a path through the crowd and out the back door.

Once they were on the sidewalk out front, she released his hand and made her way to wish the bouncer a Happy New Year with a kiss on the cheek and started down the street, cutting across a parking lot with Kevin at her side. She hugged herself, finally cooling down and feeling the cold and Kevin slid his coat off, draping it over her shoulders.

"Carlos would be proud," he said, trying to find conversation.

"Thanks," she said, pulling the coat tighter around her, inhaling the scent of his cologne and leather. "So, I thought you were in England or something?"

"I came back," he said with a shrug. It was definitely cold. He could feel the wind whip through the fibers of his turtleneck, but wasn't sure if it was the wind or her attitude.

"You chopped your hair off, you freak," she said, turning to glance at him with a partial smile. "And you really messed up shaving."

"Time for a change," he told her with another shrug, rubbing his palm over the top of his head before sticking his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. Fuck, it was cold. "And you cut off all your hair too, by the way."

She seemed to lift a shoulder slightly and stepped quicker along the uneven pavement. "So, didn't you have some industry party?"

"I wanted to spend New Year's with you."

"You really like fucking with my head, don't you?" she said looking at him. She wanted to stomp her foot and scream 'it wasn't fair!' at him. He looked completely calm, watching her casually, slightly curious. She shook her head and turned to head up a sidewalk.

"It's not something I do on purpose," he replied, watching her dig into her purse for her keys as they came up onto the stoop. She stuck the key in the lock and pushed the door open, but instead of going in, she turned and reached her hand behind his neck, bringing him down for a kiss. "Now you're fucking with my head," he said with a nervous grin when she released him and headed inside.

The living room floor was coloured with red, white and blue balloons with streamers hanging across the ceiling. The furniture was moved to one side of the room and the kitchen table was already laid out with bottles of alcohol and food. She walked through the room, kicking up a wake of balloons and headed down the hall to her room, scolding herself for the tears in her eyes. She tossed his jacket on her bed and took a deep breath, counting to eight before she released it slowly. She had to kiss him. She did. He was too close and she needed to know, somehow, if he really was as calm as he seemed. Instead, all she did was want to kiss him more, and had no idea if he was nervous or not.

"Why is your luggage in Leslie's room?" she asked once she composed herself and made her way back down the hall.

"She invited me," he said, lifting his eyes to her.

Jana rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Bitch."

"I was kind of hoping you'd be happy to see me." He stepped over to sit on the arm of the couch, keeping his eyes on her.

"Why are you here, Kevin?" she finally asked directly. "What about the baby? Kristin?"

"The baby's not mine," he said releasing a deep breath and lifting a shoulder, putting his hands on his knees. "I tried calling to tell you that, but you wouldn't take my calls."

"Not yours?" she asked, feeling her stomach flip excitedly. "She's not kidding is she?"

"She's not kidding," he said with a shake of his head. "She left me the day after Christmas." Jana didn't move, and he felt himself draw in a slow breath nervously. He couldn't figure out the expression on her face…happiness? Doubt? Disbelief? "I brought copies of the separation papers," he said, looking to her with wide eyes. "They're in my bags if you want to see them."

She shook her head slowly and bit her lower lip. "Should I say I'm sorry?" He shook his head and released the breath he was holding. "Is it out of your system yet, Kevin?" she asked pointedly, remaining in the middle of the room, and reaching across her stomach to grab an elbow.

"I'm here."

"You've been here before too," she answered with a lift of her shoulder. "So?" she asked, trying to keep an edge in her voice instead of leaking out the hope into her tone. "You've made up your mind?"

"I'm here, aren't I?" he asked again, looking up to her.

"Sorry, Kevin, that doesn't mean much to me," she told him plainly. "You seem quite content to be where ever with whomever it is that's around at the time."

"That's not fair," he said evenly, dropping his head slightly to the side and looking at her. "It's not going to happen again with anyone," he replied quietly. "Because anyone wouldn't be you. And that's who I want. Whatever I have to do to have you, I'll do it."

"What'd your family have to say to that?"

"I'll deal with it," he said. "I needed to resolve matters with you first because you're what's most important right now." She blinked at him, biting her lips together. "Can I get at least one more chance to get this right, Jana?"

She inhaled and released the breath slowly, turning her head to the side. "Be nice to my friends."

"I can do that," he said with a smile crossing his face.

She took a step closer to him, trying to keep from smiling, but it was difficult. He was here. "Do you know the rule about the midnight kiss?"

"There's a rule?" he asked, moving closer to the edge of the couch's arm, reaching out to put his hands on her waist, and pulling her to stand between his knees.

"Two very significant rules to live by," she said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "One winter, and one summer. Whoever you take to the Memorial Day beach party you have to spend the whole summer with, and whoever you kiss at midnight on New Years you have to date at least until your birthday."

"What if your birthday is after Memorial Day?" he asked with a smile.

"Hope you like the guy a lot," she said watching as he came closer to kiss her gently.

He pulled back and smiled to her. "Is practicing for the New Year's kiss allowed?"

"Yeah." She grinned, stepping closer. "How else are you supposed to know if they're the person you want to spend the year with?"

"Just out of curiosity," he asked, "how many people have you kissed at midnight?"

"I've been Leslie's room mate for eight years," she giggled, resting down on his lap. "It doesn't have to be romantic."

"Ah." He nodded. "And what happens if you break the rules?"

"The guy is banished from further parties, and open to ridicule when he comes back."

"Seems fair," he chuckled. "And if the girl dumps the guy?"

She chuckled and tossed her head to the side. "Well, then, he was obviously an asshole."

He widened his eyes and puckered his lips, rubbing his palms together momentarily. "So, this year, can I kiss you at midnight?"

"You have to be nice to my friends first," she said, running her hand along the back of his head. "It's a test."

"I'll try to pass," he promised. "I've always been nice to Leslie. Does that add to my favor?"

"No," she shook her head, "you're plotting with her. She doesn't factor in."

"Dang," he lamented. "And I thought I had an ace in the hole there for a second."

There were over fifteen people in the small apartment, most of them drunk and laughing. Some were dancing in the middle of the living room. Some were gathered on the couch talking. The stereo was blasting to an 80's cd and the TV was turned on with the volume off. Dick Clark's face was on the screen and the counter in the corner read 11:45.

Kevin was standing in the kitchen talking to Danny and his friend Chris after finishing another shot of Tequila with them. He was beyond being happily buzzed now for several hours and felt his entire body relaxing in this group. None of them treated him any differently, which made it easy to like them. They all joked and got along and as he listened to their private jokes and stories, he figured out this was a close knit group that have been around for many years together. This wasn't just a New Year's party, it was an occasion and it had been awhile since he felt the difference.

Jana was definitely drunk, standing in the corner of the living room talking to her friend Jenny. Her body moved to the beat of the music and they burst out into a laugh, falling against one another in the giggle when Leslie came down the hallway with a bag of party favors and proceeded to hand out noise makers and party hats. Somehow he found a large pink party hat on his head with 'Happy New Year' written in glitter on his head and Jana made her way over to him with a matching tiara. She took his hand and led him into the living room where everyone was gathering around the television. Soon, they were all chanting: 10, 9, 8…

"So I get to kiss you?" he asked.

"Happy New Year, Kevy," she said to him at the stroke of midnight, leaning up to kiss him deeply.

Kevin woke up to find Jana curled next to him wearing a faded and stained Kentucky sweatshirt and a pair of, what he could tell, leggings. Her hair was stiff and tangled against his arm and when he looked to her, she had eye make-up smudged beneath her eyes. He slipped out of bed and came back a few minutes later with a container of juice to find the cat curled up in his spot. Jana had rolled back over and Nigel was curled in the crook of her arm, flapping his tail.

"You lose," Jana said, opening her eyes and petting the cat. "He's claimed his territory. He's warm and purring. What can you offer?"

"Ah," Kevin thought for a moment, "I don't shed?"

She lifted her head slightly to look at him and dropped her head back against the pillow. "Is that all?"

"Tough crowd," Kevin commented, sitting on the side of the bed. Nigel didn't move, but his tail slapped harder against the mattress and he seemed to dig his claws into the mattress.

"Pop stars, cats," Jana mumbled tiredly, "same difference."

"Same difference?" he questioned.

She opened her eyes and smiled wickedly. "I never told you my theory of cats being reincarnated pop stars?" Kevin shook his head and lifted an eyebrow. "Both were put on this planet to be worshiped, adored and admired and the only qualification they have to obtain such goals is that they're cute."

"That's pretty harsh," he laughed lightly.

"Aw," she teased, scratching Nigel behind his neck. The cat lifted his chin and stretched a paw out contentedly. "He's okay with it."

"He's a cat," Kevin pointed out.

"Oh," she lifted her head slightly, "I forgot to add that neither are that bright, either."

"I brought refreshments?" Kevin offered weakly, lifting the juice container.

"Bye, Nige'," Jana said, sitting up and nudging the cat. "There's something to be said for bringing refreshments as opposed to fake dead mice."

"That was one hell of a party there last night, Madam Dancer," he said, climbing under the blankets. He pulled a pillow up against the wall and leaned back, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as she settled against him.

"We do okay usually," she said, nodding against his chest. "How many casualties are in the living room?"

"There's about five bodies," he said. "Snoring, so I think they're all alive."

"Good. Nothing ruins the start of a new year more than having to find hiding places for the dead bodies. Ground is still frozen. Can't bury 'em." She pulled back from him and took another swallow of juice, putting her head back against his chest and yawning. He kissed the top of her head and tightened his arms around her, slouching a bit more down and closing his eyes in her comfort. "What time is it?" she asked.

"Too early to mention," he said. "Go back to sleep."

"I can do that," she said, nodding again.

~

"It's six o'clock, the birds are singing. I'm wide awake, whilst you're still fast asleep. I went outside, into your garden. The sun was bright & the air was cool & as I stood there listening - well the birds in your garden they all started singing this song: "Take her now. Don't be scared, it's alright. Oh, come on, touch her inside. It's a crime against nature - she's been waiting all night. Come on, hold her, & kiss her & tell her you care; If you wait 'til tomorrow she'll no longer be there. Come on & give it to her. You know it's now or never." Yeah the birds in your garden have all started singing this song.

My father never told me about the birds & the bees. & I guess I never realized that I would ever meet birds as beautiful as these. I came inside, climbed to your bedroom. I kissed your eyes awake and then I did what I knew was only natural. And then the birds in your garden, they all started singing this song: "Take her now. Don't be scared, it's alright. Oh, come on, touch her inside. It's a crime against nature - she's been waiting all night. Come on, hold & kiss her & tell her you care; If you wait 'til tomorrow she'll no longer be there. Come on & give it to her. You know it's now or never." Yeah the birds in your garden have all started singing this song.

Yeah, the birds in your garden, they taught me the words to this song."

'The Birds in Your Garden', Pulp - We Love Life

End of Part One - Email Coriander with your feedback...

Birds In Your Garden Disclaimer | Email Coriander

Read the companion story:
Oreos for Breakfast (Nick Fanfic)
by The Pumpkin Coach & Paperbag Princess

c. 2001, 2002 by Coriander
Some content not suitable for children. You have been warned.

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