His brown hair shinned under the street light, his face glowed as he walked forward, leaning against his bicycle. He brushed his hair apart, he gazed at Solana.
Solana was struck in her spot, she blindly stared at him when she heard his voice, not just anyone's voice but Cameron's. The person she dreaded to see, meet or touch in this lifetime.
Solana gritted her teeth and pondered. 'Damn it, why did it have to be him? He just had to pop out of nowhere! I should have just stayed home... Now, how should deal with this freak?'
Solana hands silently roamed, she touched her chest. Felt a tinge of shiver within.
'Why is my dumb body attracted to him?'
Cameron blinked, he waved his hand across her face. He said "Amelia??"
Solana glared, she said "What do you want?" she crossed her arms.
Cameron took a step back, he streched his hands up "Nothing, I just saw you... wanted to say 'Hi' that's all!"
Solana said "You said your 'Hi' so bye!" she walked away.
Just as she was about to leave, a hand held her shoulder.
Solana growled "Let go!"
"No, wait hear me out" Cameron pleaded.
Solana said "Let Me Go!" she shook and struggled from his grip.
Solana sighed, she rubbed her temple and turned to him. She said "What is it?"
Cameron loosened his grip, he said "I was thinking that... we should be together again"
Solana stared and sized him up.
"I miss what we had..." Cameron explained.
Solana rolled her eyes. 'Seriously? Does he expect me to be engaged to him again? Never not in my life with that freakishly huge arms, those pecks and those ocean eyes...Ahh He did it again!!!! How does he keep doing that to me? Whatever, I have to avoid this freak at all cost! Should I run?'
While Solana was debating, Cameron took a glance at her and smirked.
Solana said "No"
Cameron pumped his fist in the air, he said "Yes. Wait what??" He paused his fist.
Solana firmly said "NO! I said 'NO'"
Cameron blanched, he said "But why?"
Solana said "We aren't meant to be together!"
Cameron said "Yes, we are! Give me a chance it will be different!"
Solana turned cold, she shrugged off his hands. Before she opened her mouth, her eyes shifted to the blinding lights, a yellow Chevrolet, slowly pulled next to them, with loud stereo and honked. "Yo! Baby"
They both turned, saw Jacob leaning out of hs car.
Jacob waved to them, said "Wassup? Solana"
Solana awkwardly waved back, Cameron frowned and looked at Jacob with a forced smile. Tensed, his eyes dodged between them.
Jacob totally unaware, he shouted "Yo, Solana! Check out my new ride! Sweet, right?"
Solana said "Yeah" she raised two thumbs up at him.
Jacob said "Solana you want a ride?"
Solana nodded, she walked towards his car, she said "Sure, but my cycle?"
Jacob got off his car, he said "We can put that in the back, let me help you" he carried Solana's cycle and fitted it inside the car.
While he was busy, Cameron pleaded and showed his sad eyes. Solana said "No, Cameron it's time to move on and I already did!"
Cameron froze, with his hand out. Solana stepped in and slammed the door shut.
The car steered away, beats faded in the distance. Cameron with his head low, walked the lonely street.
'I have to be firm and I guess, I did a good job!'
Solana thought. The breeze brushed Solana's hair back.
Jacob said "So, who was that guy?"
Solana said "Just some random guy from school"
Jacob said "Oh, I see. Anyway..." he stuttered a bit and said, "You, don't mind if I change the track?"
Solana shook her head, said "No"
He changed the tune, he bobbed his head to the beat. "Hmm, yeah" "What do you think?" he said.
Solana said "Different, I guess"
"Oh no no. Not different but the best" he flicked the channel again."Try this!" He played a song by J. Cole.
Solana said "I am not used to it but It's not bad!"
"Oh and are you going to the club with me?" Jacob asked
Solana said "No, I m not in the mood. Maybe, some other time!"
'Okay, so your place?" Jacob said.
Solana said "Yeah, sorry about it"
"Nevermind, it's fine" Jacob said.
Soon, the car slowed and stopped in front of Solana's house. Solana turned and smiled,she said "Thanks" Jacob crossed her and opened the door for her, "It's fine! Don't forget to take your bike"
Solana said "Oh, yeah. No worries, I will get it!"
He said "Wait! Here take this" he passed a CD cassette to Solana.
Solana said "what is this for?"
Jacob said "It's an original and I wanted you to have it" he pushed the CD into her hand.
Solana said "No, I can't"
Jacob said "Please, I have plenty of them"
Solana wrly smiled and accepted it.
"Bye,Good night" Jacob said.
"Goodnight! Thanks again and have a safe journey!" Solana said, waved her hand as he drove away.
Once he was gone, she studied the CD. It had no label. She put it her purse and strolled inside her house.
When Solana entered, her nose was greeted with a fragrant smell. Her tummy grumbled.
She removed her shoes, she heard the clatter of plates. Solana took a peek.
Henry was settling the food on the table. He saw her and said "Solana food is ready"
Solana showed herself and sheepishly smiled.
=====
Before she went to bed, Henry called her to the living room.
The moment she entered, her eyes were drawn to the table.
Henry cheekily smiled, held the guitar, resting it on the table.
Dad said "So, what do you think?"
Solana sucked in a quick breath, a smile crept up her face. Solana suddenly rushed closer.
Excited, she ran her hands on the bourbon red body, fingers tracing the black roses vinyls and plucked the strings. "Wow, it's looks so sparkly... So smooth"
Solana looked up, saw his grin. She tugged his sleeves and softly said with expectation in her eyes "Is it for me?"
He chuckled, he said "Of course it is for you, my dear" he slowly put the guitar down and gave a hearty laugh.
Solana said "Really" she jumped and hugged him, her arms wrapped around his neck. "Oh thank you thank you Daddy"
Henry lightly tapped her hands, he said "Okay... easy there. My back!!"
Solana let go, Henry checked his back and puffed a breath. He said "You are lucky your old man is still young and healthy haha"
Solana laughed along, they both calmed.
She slouched on the couch, said "Dad, why did you do this?"
Henry sat next to her, said "Oh you know why?"
Solana turned, searched him for answers and said "Tell me!"
Henry avoided her gaze, he said "Nope"
Solana pouted, crossed her arms. "Please" said in a tiny voice.
Henry cupped her face, he said "Haha. Alright I will tell you but first"
With a wide grin, he showed his moving fingers.
Solana jutted back, she said "No"
His hands moved and tickled her body. Solana trembled, she turned and rolled. She laughed and shouted "Stop!! Stop Dad Stop"
He stopped his attack, she panted and gave him a stink eye.
Henry said "Come on! I don't always get a chance" Solana faked a cough.
He cleared his throat, said "I wanted to support you and give you a little something for you to remember me by in college..."
Tears welled in her eyes. Unaware, he continued talking "And your Dad is a man of action. not just of words..." he puffed his chest out and hit it. He proudly stuck his nose in the air.
She burst into tears, she cried out "But of action" and hugged him.
She sobbed, said "Thanks you Daddy, you are really really the best father a daughter could ask for!"
Henry patted her, he said "Woah, calm down..."
freed himself from her clutches.
He said "Man my shirt!" he pinched her cheek.
"Now we need to talk about college, I know you said you want to be a musician it isn't practical but have you checked the college requirements" Henry said.
Solana clueless, just shook her head no.
"You need to be serious about this Solana" he sighed.
Henry said "I heard that you need to submit a sample of your composition or singing and SAT test results. After they accept your sample, then there would be a live audition. And accordingly to your performance you will be enrolled into the college"
"Oh"
"It would be hard but no worries your Dad got it covered and hired a music teacher for you. It wouldn't be hard and if you fail, uh... you are young and always try next year's admission" he stroked her head and comforted her.
Unable to catch up, Solana said "What?" "You hired a teacher for me"
"Yeah and since he is free, he is coming tomorrow morning!" Henry said.
"He is coming here?" Solana said.
Henry said "Yeah"
Solana suddenly, jumped to her feet, said "Then I have to get up early in the morning!"
Henry's chuckles faded in the background.
Solana said "Goodnight Dad. I'm going to sleep" she climbed a flight of stairs.
Henry carefully put the guitar in the case. Solana crept next to him, kissed his cheek before running back. "Love you Dad"
Henry rubbed his cheek, he whispered "You too, honey"
In her room, she changed into her nighties. She plowed herself on the bed, gazed at the ceiling. And exhaled a breath. "What a day!"
Pulled the duvet over her. "Mom, for the first time, I played video games and ate cookies... I never had that in my old world! And conquered that wheely do-kicy thing called bicycle"
"And Dad bought for me a new guitar, it was a wonderful surprise!!!"
"I'm not sure... if it was the old one... Anyway I was ecstactic... And soon I would be able to play that better than Aaron. I don't think it's hard, it almost looks like the guitarra back home."
"I never had a music teacher before... I hope he isn't strict. And is a nice person. Hmm, I can't wait for tomorrow..."
"It was a great day until that dude popped out of nowhere!"
His lustrous brown hair waved with wind, those blue eyes and his soft lips, screened through her mind. Solana squirmed, she nibbled on her bottom lip and knocked herself. "Sheesh, control yourself girl"
"Anyway Mom, it is a good thing that Jacob rescued me from ... that ugh yuck" She shook her head.
She looked at her window, she said "Thanks you God for my new father and my new life. Goodnight"
Solana whispered "I can't wait for tomorrow, I wonder what life would bring me tomorrow"
She slowly, fell asleep.