All is Found - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

After spending all day with Lindsey and Jack going over my life for the last three years I didn't want to do anything other than crawl into bed when we got back to Thea's house. When we got back to her house it was late and we already ate dinner at the office with Lindsey and Jack. Lindsey said that they would have answers within a week about how they are doing with picking apart my contract so until then I'm still in hiding.
Thea and I slowly made our way through the snow to the house and when we were inside we kicked our boots off and made our way to the couch. I was going to go right into Thea's bedroom when the keyboard caught my eye and I had the urge to write. Something that I haven't had in a long time. So I sat down in front of the keyboard with the notepad I had from yesterday and looked over what I already came up with.
I could hear Thea walking around the house as I started to play around on the keyboard. The sound of the shower running caught my ear as I took my hands off the keys to reach for the pen. The running water drifted out of my head as I wrote. I can feel a Phoenix inside of me, as I march alone to a different beat, slowly swallowing down my fear, yeah, yeah,I am ready for the road less traveled, suiting up for my crowning battle, this test is my own cross to bear, but I will get there.
I don't remember at what point Thea came out of the shower and sat on the couch with me. I was so focused on writing I barely noticed as she placed her laptop down on the floor for me to use. Words just flowed out of me as played along on the keyboard trying to create the sounds I'm envisioning that will complete this track.
When I looked at the clock I saw it was pushing midnight, I saved all of the version I made on Thea's laptop and looked over to the couch. Thea is still sitting there watching a movie. She must have felt my eyes on her because she looked over to me and gave me a smile.
"You could have gone to bed. I needed to write, there would have been no way for me to have went to sleep until I got these words out." I said and stood from the floor.
"It's okay and I actually liked watching you, even though that just made me sound like a creep. You finally looked like you were at peace." Thea said as she turned off the TV.
A blush made its way up my cheeks as I ran a hand through my hair. Maybe Pat was right. Slow your roll there Ash. First thing is first, you need to get out of the contract.
"Do you want to hear what I have so far?" I asked.
"If you're willing to share." Thea said.
I just nodded and sat back down on the floor in front of the laptop. Thea took a seat on the couch close to me as I read over the lyrics one more time before I started playing. I have most of the song laid out right now and could probably finish it up tomorrow. It would just need some fine tuning before it would be ready to be released. When I was done playing I looked over to Thea and she had tears in her eyes.
Just as I was going to say something the first tear fell and I reached up to wipe it away. I can't believe my words moved her this much. My hand cupped her cheek as another tear fell and I wiped it away. There were no more tears after that but I didn't want to ruin this moment by removing my hand. Thea took my hand from her cheek and held it in hers.
"That just hit me in the gut. Who am I Living For should be the title. I'm hoping that this will help set you free to start living for yourself." Thea said and looked down at our hands still joined together in her lap.
"I still need to refine it a little and it will now be known at Who am I Living For. Thank you for listening." I said and flashed her a smile.
"I'll always listen to anything you want to play me. I do have a question though." Thea said and interlaced our fingers together.
"Whats that?" I asked locking my eyes with hers.
"Nothing you have release before has ever sounded like that. That song was so much better, felt so real and authentic to you as a person than anything else you've released before. Did you get to write any of the songs on you've released?" Thea asked.
"No. When I signed my first contract I was young and dumb and just wanted to sign with a label I never read the fine print. All of the songs came from other song writers. When it came time for the extension I took some more time to read the contract and saw that I could help pick the songs and tweak them but nothing completely my own would be added to the albums. I have leaked a bunch of my own music online and fans loved it and I pressed the label to let me officially release my originals but they shot it down. They didn't want me to make money for myself. They wanted to have me completely depended on them for my income in the music industry." I answered honestly.
Thea didn't say anything but used her free hand to cup my cheek when I looked down. Her eyes found mine again and she leaned in closer to me. My heart started to beat so hard it wouldn't have surprised me if Thea said she heard it. As Thea got closer and closer I was hit so hard with gay panic I almost had a panic attack. Was Thea going to kiss me? I wasn't prepared for this.
But before I could freak out much more Thea closed the gap and pressed and sweet kiss to my forehead. Slowly I took a breath as I felt her lips press into my skin and all I wanted was to know what her lips would feel like pressed to other parts of my body.
"Lindsey is a shark and she will be able to get you out of that contract and you will get to live for yourself Ashlyn. I can't wait to see the great things you will do when that happens." Thea whispered after she pulled her lips from my forehead.
I couldn't say anything. I still speechless from the kiss as Thea stood up from the couch. Our hands are still intertwined and she pulled me up with her. Thea lead us to her bedroom and we separated to get into our pajamas before we joined together again in bed. I couldn't look at her. If I looked at her any longer I wouldn't be able to control the urge to kiss her. So I turned my back to Thea and heard her take a deep breath.
"Good night Ash." I heard her whisper before the only thing left to be heard was the sound of her breathing.
Sleep was dreamless for me tonight. When I woke up I was alone in bed and I was disappointed. I pulled the comforter up over my head and tried to hide in it for as long as I could. I couldn't hear Thea so I'm hoping that maybe she will be out doing something. I stayed in bed for a little longer and then finally got up.
When I walked out of her room I found out that I was right. Thea wasn't home. I took a deep breath of relief and walked over to the kitchen table. Sitting on the table was a note with my name on it. I picked it up and opened it. Went food shopping because we didn't have anything in the house, should be back in a little while. ~T.
I wish Thea would have waited for me to get up so I could have given her some money for food. But I can't dwell on it so I made myself a cup of coffee and a piece of toast with butter and sat down at the table. I just finished up breakfast when Thea walked through the door. She looked surprised to see me sitting at the table because she jumped when she noticed me.
"Do you need help with the bags?" I asked wanting to show her I wasn't just leeching off of her.
"Sure, I got a lot of stuff." Thea said as she placed the first bags she had on the table.
Quickly I jumped into my boots and slipped on my coat before stepping outside. The snow from the last two days looks pretty and white covering the ground as I walked to the end of Thea's truck. She wasn't kidding when she said that she bought a lot and it made me feel bad she left before I could give her some money.
It took a few trips to get everything inside and we spent a while putting everything away. Well Thea put most of it away. I just put the cold items in the fridge and freezer and she took care of everything else. When everything was away I walked to the living room and saw all of my clothes are gone from the floor along with my duffle bag.
"Uhm Thea?" I said and turned around to find her reached to put something away on the top shelf of the cabinet. Her shirt grey t-shirt rose reviling her toned stomach muscles.
"Yea?" She responded and looked over to me.
"My clothes?" I asked and waved my hand over to the living room were my clothes were last night.
"Right give me one second." Thea said.
Thea walked into the living room and continued into her room. I just followed and watched as she stood in front of a door.
"Uhm I'm not sure how long you are going to be staying with me but I thought it would be better if you didn't have your clothes on my living room floor so I moved them into the spare closet." Thea said and opened the door.
I didn't say anything as I walked inside and the closet and looked around. Thea left all of my things in the piles I made from yesterday. Hangers are waiting for the clothes on the rod. At the far end of the closet there are some clothes and a few garment bags.
"This was your wife's wasn't it?" I asked and turned to her.
"Yea" Thea said and looked away from the old clothes.
"Thank you." I said.
"You're welcome." Thea said and flashed me a smile.
I turned to my clothes as saw the duffle bag. Quickly I grabbed it from the floor and opened it. I still have a few thousand dollars from the cash I took from my house so I pulled out some bills and zipped up the bag again before turning to Thea.
"I wanted to give you this. I want to give you some money for food but you left before I could." I said and held out the bills.
"You don't have too." Thea said and didn't want to take the money.
I wouldn't let her though. I folded the bills and stepped closer to her. Thea didn't make a move as I pushed the money into her pocket.
"I want you to know how grateful I am for letting me stay here and this is a part of that." I said and looked into her green eyes.
We didn't say anything for a moment and just stared at each other. There is a tension growing between us and as much as I want to give into it I can't, not yet. So I took a step back and the trance was broken. Thea walked back into the kitchen to finish putting away the grocery's and I took a seat on the couch.
Thea joined me when she was done and she put a movie on. That's how we spent the day, just sitting on the couch watching movies and eating junk food Thea bought. Thea ended up making dinner tonight and we ate sitting at the kitchen table. After dinner I cleaned up as Thea took a seat on the couch again. I joined her and stole a sip of her beer as the news played.
"Breaking news coming in right now in the disappearance of Salem native Ash Monroe. Police Chief Connley is holding a press conference and we are going to bring it to you live now." The news anchor said and the screen changed to the police chief.
"Shit" I said and rubbed my forehead afraid of whatever Connley is about to say.
"Good evening everybody. Thank you all for coming out. I just want to give everybody an update on the missing persons case of Ashlyn Monroe. At the given moment we have found new evidence in regards to her disappearance. Early this morning Bay Constables found the jacket that Ms. Monroe wore on the night of her disappearance. It was found near the Salem side of the Essex bridge. Tonight we are going to start preparing a search party that will be conducted tomorrow morning. We are looking for volunteers to come out and help us search." Chief Connley said.
"Shit" Thea said and grabbed her cell phone.
"Who are you calling?" I asked and Connley started to field questions from reporters.
"Lindsey. Your safety is our most important issue but we can't let this go on for long." Thea explained. Before she could even dial the number Lindsey name appeared on her phone screen. Looks like she saw the news conference as well.