Coming Home
©2016
Sydney Moya
Synopsis
A man left his home town years ago as a teenager. Now he returns but is very different from the person who left years ago.
Part 8
Belinda
I learnt that my dance partner's name was Javier. He was tall, definitely over six foot two or thereabouts. He had an average build neither small or big with an ordinary face with jewels for eyes.
"It's a pleasure. My name is Belinda," I replied.
He smiled. His smile was easy, warm and extended to his eyes. I liked it.
"Ditto.”
I shook my head slightly, “You’re Belinda too?” I teased.
He chuckled, “You’re funny and you have great moves too,''
"I try,'' I remarked.
His mouth fell open, he shook his head now.
"Yeah right, are you a professional?" Javier asked.
I laughed, "Heavens no, its just fun," I remarked.
He chuckled, "Then you have an interesting life," he observed.
"I doubt it. I haven't danced in ages," I replied.
"Now that I find hard to believe," Javier said.
I giggled a bit like a school girl much to my embarrassment.
"It's true. I just came here to de-stress is all," I explained.
He nodded.
"So where did you pick up those moves?" I asked.
“I got into hip hop dancing as a teen,” he explained, “my mother forced me to take dance lesson’s when I was 7, saying it would come in handy one day.”
"Like today. I met you," he announced, " thanks Momma!"
I shook my head and rolled my eyes and he just laughed. His laughter was a joyful sound and it was contagious. I found myself chuckling with him.
We talked for ages about dancing and all sorts of things.
I found out a ton about him. Javier also had a passion for dancing in his spare time but he was a free lance programmer.
"You don't look it," I immediately said without thinking.
The words just popped out of my mouth. I blushed.
He laughed, "I get that a lot," he remarked.
Yeah he probably did seeing as he was a bona fide hunk. I half expected him to be a personal trainer or something.
I smiled.
"What do you do when you're not dancing up a storm?"
"I work for a hedge fund,"I said.
"You don't look it,"Javier remarked smirking.
"Touché,"
I laughed.
He explained what he did for a living. He consulted a lot but he mentioned some ideas he had for apps which I found interesting.
I was so engrossed I had forgotten about Mags who had to come over and remind me of her existence.
"Hey," she said to us.
"Hi,"Javier nodded.
"Javier this is Megan, my sister," I began.
He smiled. Mags gave a little wave.
"Hi," my sister said.
"Pleased to meet you," Javier remarked, “I see that beauty runs in the family,” he said.
Mags turned red and I shook my head, something that had becoming common around this guy. At this rate swiveling will be my neck’s default setting.
Mags looked at me apologetically.
"I have work tomorrow," she whispered.
I turned red again.
"Sorry," I said in a whimper.
I looked at Javier.
"I have to go," I said definitely disappointed. I hadn't clicked with a guy like this in ages.
Javier seemed disappointed too.
"That's ok. Maybe we can have lunch tomorrow," he offered.
"I'd love to," I said.
I really wanted to talk to him again. I got up and with a sigh followed my sister outside.
"Okay spill," Mags said as soon as we were outside, "you dance like..," she said her mouth open wide.
I shrugged.
"I was having fun which is what you wanted right," I remarked, taking a quick glance at her.
"Not fun like that. I thought you were going to get arrested for lewd behaviour," my sister said.
I grinned happily, "You’re just jealous," I teased.
Mags laughed as we got in the car, "Maybe just a bit. Okay I lie I'm very jealous. I can't believe you girl. You have some great moves," she replied.
"Thanks," I said.
She shook her head, "You never cease to amaze me Bel."
"I aim to please," I chuckled.
"So Javier?" Mags prompted.
"He is cute but his moves are hot," I confessed.
"Who are you and what have you done to my sister?" Mags teased.
“I am the genie who appears when you call Belinda an old maid,” I whispered.
Mags laughed.
What a night! I have never enjoyed a night out so much in my life. I hardly drank but Bel surprised the hell out of me. I had been teasing her about being an old bore but I had to eat my words last night.
Have I mentioned what a fantastic dancer she was?
Bel is saucy, flirty and definitely not as shy as she seems. I watched her bring a bouncing club to a stop and then slink off with a hot guy like it was something she did every day. Sharon who kept following my glances hated her immediately. She had been one of the mousy girls in school and hated the cheerleader types that Bel could easily have been. If only she knew.
“Your friend is such a show-off,” she muttered.
In Sharon’s world that could mean anything from a hussy to a show-boater. I was going with the latter.
“Don’t hate the player hate the game,” I automatically said.
“Puleez!” Sharon announced.
“Who is she anyway?”
“A very good friend, maybe I’ll tell you about her someday. Do you want another drink?” I responded knowing it wasn’t my secret to tell and that plying her with alcohol would probably get her to shut up about my sister.
It worked up to a point.
I turned my full attention to catching up with Sharon while my sister probably flirted with her hot guy. I hoped she was having fun. Before long a couple of hours had passed and every time I looked at my sister she was deep in conversation with her catch.
It sounds like I am jealous doesn’t it? I’m not. I was curious to know who he was, especially after what had happened to my sister with her last man. He definitely looked interesting and he exuded confidence even from afar.
I was loathe to disturb them but I had to go to work tomorrow and my sister was my ride home.
So I stood up and went over after Sharon had made her goodbyes.
Belinda was sitting there enraptured by Javier. She seemed to be listening closely to him. Just looking at them seemed to be interrupting an intimate moment.
I could see why, Javier was easy on the eyes even in the subdued lighting that permeated the club.
I had no choice but to disturb them certain my sister would hate me for interrupting. Bel was actually very apologetic and we left without a fuss though both of them looked dismayed their time together was up.
"You really like this guy don't you?" I asked her as we drove home and I was done teasing her about her dancing.
"I don't know what to think, I did enjoy meeting him," Bel answered me.
They had arranged a lunch date though which got me thinking.
"Are you going to tell him?" I asked.
Bel looked at me, "I don't know. I was having so much fun it didn't even cross my mind,'' she said, a small smile on her face.
"Good," I answered.
I didn't want Bel dwelling on her past or letting it weigh her down like I suspected it had for the past week. I wanted my confident sister back.
"Yeah. It's nice when I can just forget myself for a while," she murmured, "It would be nice if I had just been born a girl.”
I didn’t know what to make of this but I didn’t agree with her.
“You wouldn’t be Bel then, maybe you’d have been Megan,” I told her.
“No, that wouldn’t do then because I can’t be you. You can’t dance,” she teased.
I gave her the middle finger which only made her giggle.
“I love you sis,” Bel said, smiling at me, “you brought me out of my funk,” she murmured.
I would have hugged her if she wasn’t driving.
“I know Bel. I love you too,” I said, my eyes teary.
It wasn’t the wine talking.
She squeezed my hand.
Belinda
Javier was waiting at the restaurant when I got there. He stood up when I reached the table. I was a bit taken aback at his manners. I wasn't used to this back home.
"Hello," he said before offering his hand.
I smiled, pleased to see him.
I gave my hand and he kissed it. 'Wow,' I thought.
"Hi," was all I could say in response.
He pulled a seat for me and I sat down.
"So how has been your day?" I asked.
"Brilliant now that you're here," he told me without batting an eyelid.
He seemed so sincere. I smiled.
"That can't be true," I replied.
"I have just been counting the hours," he returned with an easy smile.
Join the club I thought. I had been a bundle of nerves the whole morning much to my mother’s amusement.
Javier wasn't all charm and no substance though. He was great to talk to. As we had the meal he regaled me with anecdotes from his past. It was a gas. He had my sides splitting with laughter.
We talked about everything including my addiction to TV shows.
"They say it’s the golden age of TV," I remarked, "It's a wonder I ever get anything done."
"Yeah I know the feeling there are lot if great shows and you can tivo anything you can’t watch live now,"
"It has its down side too. It’s killed off promising shows too like Terra Nova for instance," I replied.
"It had promise being a Spielberg film and all," he agreed.
"I hate how it didn't end," I remarked.
"True what else do you watch? Game of thrones?"
I shook my head,
"I don't see what the obsession with Game of Thrones is about. Its just porn and murder."
"It's an interesting story," he remarked.
"Not my cup of tea."
"Okay you still didn't tell me what you like?”
“Have you ever watched Person of Interest?”
“Have I ever? BEST SHOW EVER!”
“Really I think so too!”
You have no idea how nice it was to finally meet a fellow POI addict. No one else I know in the real world seems to find it as interesting as I do. I was trying to get Mag's interested but as you know she didn't respect the art of watching TV.
Javier was a big fan of Person of interest which stoked my interest as it was my absolute favourite tv show.
"Really, I love that show, I hate how CBS treated it,"
"I know. It should at least have a had a full last season,"
We talked about Carter, Shaw, Root, Elias and Finch.
“Did you watch the episode after Carter got killed?”
“Yes, Reese deserved an Emmy for that performance,”
"Yep did you see how clinical he was with those Marshals? Even Finch couldn’t talk him down. "
"Definitely in my top three episodes,"
We talked and talked about the show. Reliving our favourite moments and quoting the lines.
"Eternal Vigilance is the price of liberty always got me," Javier remarked.
I nodded, "But Control, Elias, Greer and Dominic had the best lines. 'National security is not a game!"
"What about, 'Everybody dies. No man is a river?"
I one upped him, "What about the special beat when Greer appear starts talking about Samaritan. And that accent. Loved it!"
Javier quoted the guy in a polished British accent making me laugh.
"The relevant side and Vigilance had the best music though. Very sinister," he remarked
Our meal finished as did the lunch hour while we just chatted away. I had never enjoyed talking to a guy so much. I had found a kindred spirit it seemed. After what seemed like minutes he checked his phone.
“Will you look at the time?”
It was 4:30. OMG, had we just spent three hours discussing a tv show?
“I have to go,” Javier announced.
“Me too” I agreed, thinking of the meeting with a client I had skipped.
I didn’t regret it though. I had enjoyed myself immensely.
“Thank you, I really enjoyed the time I spent with you Belinda,” he said in that sexy gravelly voice of his.
“Same here,” I responded, smiling brightly.
He refused to let me pay and walked me to my car where I didn’t hesitate before kissing him on the cheek. He made me feel so gooey inside. Gosh, I am not a teenage girl but he made me feel like one
I went home on a cloud.
Mom smiled when she saw me.
“How was you date?”
I smiled, “It was just lunch,”
“Well where I’m from when a woman walks in from lunch with a man smiling like a cat that got the canary, she had a great date,” Mom told me.
“It was fun,” I said, trying and failing not to smile.
Mom smiled at me.
“That’s great honey,” she said.
"Mum I like him a lot," I confided,"is it wrong that I want to see him again?"
Mom walked over to me and gave me a hug.
"No it's quite normal," she said softly.
She let go of me then stroked my hair.
"You're beautiful baby. I wish I had seen this part of you years ago," Mom said, sighing before kissing my forehead.
That night I dreamt about Ross. We were in in our apartment, kissing. As he unbuttoned my nightie he stopped kissing me for a moment.
He turned into Javier whose cute smile suddenly vanished. He was looking at me with horror. I was Des again.
My body just felt wrong all over again only this time it was worse than ever.
Tim was there spitting at me while people who appeared from nowhere mocked me and sniggered while Dad looked on, a grim expression on his face as Mom cried, "Son how could you?"
I looked around for Bonnie but I couldn't find her. I screamed for her. Root appeared and pulled out a gun and smiled that evil smile of hers.
"You are just bad code," she said before pulling the trigger.
My eyes opened and I nearly screamed again. This wasn't my house.
Where was my baby? My glance flew to the cot in the corner. Bonnie lay there sleeping peacefully. I sighed relieved and noted I was still a woman.
The next few days confirmed something I had suspected since our club night, Bel was falling in love with Javier. She told me she couldn't stop thinking about him as we sat in the lounge in our shorts having ice-cream on a Sunday morning, while some movie provided the side dish to our conversation. It felt nice to have this moment with her. Mom, Dad and Bonnie had gone for a picnic. Bel felt it was good for her daughter to spend time with her grandparents even though she felt they spoilt her rotten.
So it was just the pair of us. She had been on a third date with Javier the previous night, a Saturday.
I had watched my cool, composed sister panic about her hair, makeup and dress.
“Just chill Bel,” I had told her before helping her make choices with her outfit.
Apparently the date had gone well, too well in fact.
“I told him I’m a single mother and he said that was okay. He even asked to meet Bonnie,” Bel told me.
“And you wanted to jump his bones there and then?” I said with raised eyebrows.
Bel swatted my legs, “No you twerp. You have such a dirty mind but I don’t put out that fast. It was maybe 5 minutes after that,” she said.
I giggled.
“The thing is I like everything he does. He is romantic, has great taste, has empathy, is smart and he is open to dating a single mother.”
She sighed longingly.
“I’m going to have to tell him soon,” she murmured.
“He will be okay with it. He seems like a nice guy,” I reassured her.
“Ross was a nice guy and he was sickened by me,” Bel said, her voice tinged with pain.
I put down my ice cream and placed an arm around her.
“I don’t want that magic to go away, you know,” Bel said quietly.
“I know,” I agreed having been in a couple of relationships before going out with Jack.
That feeling when you can’t wait to see the guy diminishes and you can’t help but see his faults, small at first but ultimately you can't live with them. you discover parts of his personality that you find annoying. It isn’t too long before it sours. With Jack I knew his faults and he knew mine and I still longed to be with him which is how I knew he is the one.
“Bel you’re a girl. No a woman and a wonderful human being. If Javier can’t look past your past he doesn’t deserve to be with you and you’re better off without him,” I told her.
“Why do you love me so much?” Bel asked, “After everything. You don’t think I’m weird or what?”
I looked at her, “Of course you’re weird Bel and not because of the sex-change but you’re my sister and I have always loved you. You have no idea how much I missed you when you left. There were many times I wanted to get on a bus and follow you. And stop questioning it we’re family so I’m not going to bail on you. I love you for you not because of whatever’s going on in your crotch,” I told her.
Bel laughed and flicked her ice cream on my cheek.
“Dirty, dirty mind,”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her. I then picked up a scoop of ice cream
“No, no, no!” Bel yelped
I chucked it onto her hair.
“Megan!”
I hugged her to prevent a food fight the way a boxer does to his opponent when he can’t roll with the punches. Bel giggled and I joined in.
“You’re a witch!”
“I know but you started it,” I told her.
I let go and took out my phone for a selfie.
Bel made a silly face as did I and we took a picture of us. I printed it the same day. It has pride of place on the wall in the lounge now.
“Let’s go to London,” Bel said out of the blue, “take some time off. Maybe a week. Just the two of us?”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah,” Bel remarked.
“I’d love to but I can’t afford that,” I replied.
She waved me off, “Don’t even worry about that. My treat,” she said.
“Okay, I’ll find out at work,” I returned.
Belinda
I was happy again. Mags and I were going to England together and I couldn’t wait to show her around. She was rapidly becoming my best friend which was how it should be. We were sisters after all. Then there was Javier. I didn’t want to jinx it but I was falling for the guy. Mom and I were closer than ever which warmed my soul. I don’t know how it had happened but Dad’s party had changed everything between us. She wasn’t scared of mothering me anymore and it was thanks to these three that I put Tim out of my mind.
There was Dad too. We had a complicated relationship at the best of times but I felt he was holding back. I needn’t have waited too long to find out.
Dad wasn't too enthused about me seeing a guy. He looked like it disturbed him a bit. The excitement of Mom cooing at my appearance and my sister telling me I needed to look less or more hot in colourful terms wasn't something he shared or seemed comfortable with. Whenever I caught his eye he didn’t seem what can I say, accepting isn’t the right word. He had opened his doors to me but he had a way of making me feel like I was doing something wrong without saying a word just by his gaze, short as it was. It was a feeling I knew all to well from my childhood and it still had the power to make me question what I was doing.
I said nothing but it was only a matter of time until it came to a head. It wasn't like I was 12 anymore and would automatically back down in fear of his disapproval.
I saw Javier again on Monday evening. Neither of us could stay away from each other but I still hadn’t told him my story. When I came home I found Dad waiting up for me.
I smiled at him.
"Hey Dad," I said
"Hello, did you have fun?"
I nodded, "Yes we went to Mario's. It was quite nice,"
Dad nodded. He looked me in the eye, "You like this guy don't you?"
No beating about the bush then.
I nodded sheepishly, a bit embarrassed.
Dad stared at me before sighing. "Do you have to like men? Don't you think that's wrong given you used to be one?"
My heart fell. I wanted to run to my room. The way he said it.I was so hurt and a bit ashamed. I couldn't stomach his disappointment.
I felt a tear roll down my cheek.
"Dad I can't help how I feel," I said softly, "I'm sorry I couldn't be the son you deserved."
"I didn't mean it like that,"
"Then how do you mean it?" I asked.
To be continued
Comments
Wonderful Story
I had missed the last couple of episodes and had to go back and catch up. Glad I did.
Portia
Thanks
I'm happy to see it continued. People like it for some reason!
Sydney
Kudos
Great story. Love the characters and the pacing. I re-read the previous episodes and have to say this is shaping up to be one of the best on the site---which is saying quite a lot.
Wow
Thanks for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I like hows its coming on as well so when people tell me the same its gratifying.
Sydney M
Ouch!
Hard to believe the Dad is still like that. He needs treatment and counseling for his issues. Perhaps he has underlying issues the author hasn't yet brought forth?
If Belinda's father cannot accept Belinda, I think, for her well being, she will cut off relations and never return to the family. In a very real sense, with a family like that, maybe one can never truly come home.
A new home elsewhere might have to be the answer.
Sephrena
I love Person of Interest and
I love Person of Interest and Blacklist just great shows. This is a very good story my dear love it
Me too!
I stand by my words. Every episode was worth it. I am happy you like the story.
Sydney Moya
Two steps forward, one step
Two steps forward, one step back. Dad is a hypocrite there and doesn't realize it. I hope he comes to his senses and sees that he just made himself into a total fool and sees just how damaging his words are. I doubt it, but it could happen.
And thank you for continuing this story. I hoped you would continue it after the last story blast, but I can understand this one being secondary to the more unique stories with more interesting storylines.
I'm told STFU more times in a day than most people get told in a lifetime
I love this
I love this story. I have been working on it on and off but it isn't secondary. I was trying to figure out a direction for it to go which took a bit I have the next chapter halfway done. Tom is part of the characters I had to decide how to portray.
Can he look past his discomfort? We'll see, perhaps the very idea of his kid leaving again will be more unpalatable.
So lots more to come!
Thanks for your comments and support.
Sydney M
Very cold, insensitive
Very cold, insensitive comments by Belinda's father towards her. She most likely needs to cut him out of her life right now and just go with what she has with her sister and maybe her mother. That is to be seen as well.
I hope that when she opens up to Javier, he does not run from her, because I believe it would essentially destroy her self worth, at least for some time.
Don't write off
The man yet. Consider his background. He can't not ask. How he reacts to Bel's answer will show whether he can put aside his objections. With Javier anything could go.
Sydney Moya
Once burnt twice shy
Everyone has a past. Some regret the things they did, some took courage and did things which improved their present.
And then some did things which others would find questionable if not wrong. But we're the right thing to do for that individual.
No written law was broken. No other person was physically harmed. But yet there are those who become very indignant once they learn of the persons' past. Indignant enough to cause the person to retreat back into a protective shell, a protective shell which keeps the person from living a full and happy life.
And then it happens. The person meets someone who has a way of cracking that shell. Of making the person feel alive again. Of making the person feel wanted again. Of making the person feel the need to be honest with this person. Of making the person fearful of losing this person if the truth is revealed.
Belinda is at this point. Fearful that she will lose Javier if she tells about her past. Fearful she will be burnt once again. Fearful her previous experience will occur again.
Relationships can be difficult in the best of times. But add something totally different and they can become down right impossible.
It takes a very special person who can look through the outside and see the true person within. A person who accepts that everyone has a past which is different but isn't important. A person who wonders if they should be truthful about their past. A person who doesn't want to be burnt once again, despite the face they project.
Both Javier and Belinda are these two people. Both want to see each other but there is the uncertainty factor to deal with. Question is will they let their pasts keep them together or break them up? Can Javier look past Belinda's history and accept the woman he sees now? And can Belinda do the same?
Others have feelings too.
Succinct
Thank you! You have such a unique way of explaining things. I am at a loss for words. Thanks again.
Sydney M