French Kiss (Novella) (4 page)

“I might start with a nightclub and from there, who
knows. The plan isn’t concrete as such, but I’m definitely going ahead with it,
no matter what. I can’t keep living like I have, it’s ... killing me.

Maria flinched at the mention of ‘killing.’

“Well, I have plenty of spare time on my hands.
Maybe I could help you?” she said, wanting so much for him to do well and
knowing that it was something that would possibly save his life, a purpose, a
meaning ... if she could also be part of the reason for his newfound confidence
and desire for life, well then, that was the icing on the cake for her.

Cameron stood up suddenly, his face beaming, and
looked down on her nodding his head animatedly. “You know, that’s the best
thing I have heard all day! Someone actually interested in something ‘I’ want
to do!”

He leant forward and held out his hands, and for
just a moment, Maria did nothing but stare at him.  She was simply not used to
such invitations, but then she snapped them up eagerly and Cameron pulled her
to her feet.

“I’ll hold you to that, you know, but we’ll talk
more about it tomorrow. For now, I feel like dancing! Ever been clubbing?” He
asked before pirouetting , and performing a Michael Jackson signature move.

Together they enjoyed a giggle, the two of them
forgetting all the talk of God and death in a heartbeat.

“How do you do that?” Maria said performing an
awkward version of his turn and thrust, almost bumping into a passerby in the
process.

“Sorry!”

“Don’t worry about a thing, I’ll teach you just as
soon as we find a club. Let’s ‘beat it!’” Cameron said before sliding backwards
on his heels, almost flawlessly doing the moonwalk.

Maria stood and gaped in awe. “You really got some
moves, Cameron!”

He shrugged and stopped mid-moonwalk taking her hand
as he did so, “Yeah, but it’s not real, is it?” His voice lowered again,
betraying a sadness that made Maria want to hug him close, but like he said, it
wasn’t quite the same thing ... and wouldn’t really have the desired effect
anyway. Then she remembered something.

In a mock stern voice, she turned to him as they
stood at the elevator doors and waved a finger, school teacher-like, “Hey, what
did we say before we met today?”

Cameron thought for a minute, before nodding,
realizing something. “Yes, you’re right. The ‘promise’, it’s just a little hard
to escape reality sometimes, you know.”

“I know, Cameron. We’re in the same boat, remember?
We can ride the river together, no matter how turbulent the waters get, we’ll
be there for each other.” Maria put a hand on his chest.

Smiling, Cameron put his own hand over hers and
nodded. “That was pretty poetic, right there!  I didn’t know you were into
poetry.”

He winked.

“Oh, there’s so much you still don’t know about this
girl ... but I’m hoping in time, you learn it all, everything...”

Cameron gave a little laugh. “You’re awesome,
Maria.”

When they arrived at the club, Maria gasped and
stood staring at the huge dance floor before them. It was filled with revelers,
many dressed outrageously and some barely even dressed at all, at least not how
she had expected. The dress code appeared to be ‘anything you like’ and Maria
almost felt out of place amongst all the flamboyance on display.

Taking her hand, Cameron led her straight to the
dance floor and weaved his way through the throng of swaying, gyrating bodies
until they found a relatively clear space in the center.

Above them, a glittering silver ball hung from the
ceiling, each little facet of it catching the rays and beams of the disco
lights as they flashed on and off, sending the beams spiraling throughout the
club in all directions. The happy faces around her were bathed in the various
colors as they bounced and nodded to a funky disco beat that reminded Maria of
the Bee Gees, only a little more upbeat.

Maria turned to see Cameron standing and watching
her, a little smile playing over his face reaching his blue eyes as they
regarded the whole wild scene.

With a spin and a sudden drop to one knee, he looked
up at her and held out a hand, inviting her to take it, like a prince before
his princess. Maria took it eagerly and happily allowed Cameron to lead the
dance, as she had never before even set foot in a club.

“Follow my lead, okay Maria, and just remember, here
nobody cares what you look like, it’s all about release!” He called out over a
sudden bass-line drop that had kicked up suddenly as the DJ skillfully mixed in
the next song, drawing shouts of delight from the undulating crowd on the dance
floor.

Maria tried her best to keep up with Cameron as he
turned this way and that and performed all manner of shimmies and disco moves,
moves Maria had only ever seen on MTV and her favorite romance flicks like
‘Grease’ where the lovers were always in sync. 

It was magical. Echoing all the fantasies Maria had
played out in her mind over the years as she sat watching ‘Saturday Night Fever’
and ‘Dirty Dancing’ on the T.V. alone in her room. She was Stephanie, the
elegant, pretty and much sought after dancing queen and he was the handsome,
confident Tony, leading her in a passion fueled dance across the dance floor,
no holds-barred.

“This is ... wonderful, Cameron.”

He spun her around and let her go, she twirled and came
to a stop a few meters away from him.

Cameron didn’t answer, at least not straight away.
He was just standing there amongst the moving bodies, staring at her, breathing
hard.

“Cameron, you okay?” She asked, a little concerned
at his sudden change in behavior.

He made straight for her and Maria expected him to
begin dancing again or take her hand, but instead he walked right past her.

“Cameron? What’s wrong?”

Something was off.

“Hey buddy? What the hell do you think ya’ll doing?”
Cameron’s voice boomed in her ear as he accosted a man who had apparently been
dancing behind her.

Maria stepped back, watching the exchange, shocked
at the sudden metamorphosis Cameron had gone through in just a few seconds. His
Texan accent was as strong as ever and there was a distinctly menacing tone to
it, a side of Cameron she hadn’t seen until that point.

The man, a very tall, black male with a huge afro
that bounced when he moved, continued to dance right in front of Cameron, even
getting in his face every so often as he reacted to Cameron’s presence.

“What’s up wid’ you? I’m just dancing.”  She heard
him say.

“Just dancing? You were gyrating your ... your
crotch right behind my girl there.  And I saw what else you were doing, too. 
That’s disrespectful to me and her!”

Cameron growled, clearly incensed at the man’s
posturing behavior.

The man laughed, a mocking tone, and stepped right
up into Cameron’s face, “This is a club! People dance in clubs, get over
yourself man!”

“Get over myself!” Cameron was becoming even angrier
and Maria wanted to stop things before they got out of hand but Cameron wasn’t
listening.

“Cameron?” She shouted over the noise, “Cameron,
please, just forget it.” She begged but it was as if he couldn’t hear her.

“Be a man, and apologize to my girl for that
despicable behavior ... go on, do it!” Cameron said, threateningly, the tone of
his voice beginning to scare Maria. She didn’t know how much more she could
take.

“Get the fuck outta my face, you white trash. You-ise
just jealous, I feel sorry for your girl there!”

The heavily accented man countered, becoming angry
himself in the process.

Maria turned and walked out of the club away from
Cameron and the suddenly horrible thumping bass-lines and blinding lights.
Struggling to hold back tears, she sat down on a nearby bench and took a deep
breath, calming herself.

She had only known Cameron for a few weeks, and in
that time the two of them had only met like this twice. Cameron had completely
surprised her with his behavior, but as she sat there mulling it over, watching
the door for his appearance, she realized he was only protecting her. Guarding
her dignity and not allowing that man to disrespect her. She smiled, it was
actually quite noble of him to stand up for her like that, she thought. Hadn’t
she always wanted a man like that, to sweep her off her feet and be there for
her, to protect her, and comfort her in times of need like that in the club?

Yes ... maybe?

After a few minutes of waiting, watching the party
goers come and go, listening to the myriad of accents as they chatted
animatedly in their groups, she spotted Cameron leaving the club, flanked by
two men in tuxedos, two big men. He must have been asked to leave, she realized
... good, she thought. The club had been fun, but she preferred the more
personal moments like when they were walking together, hand-in-hand sharing
stories and feelings with one another.

As Cameron approached her, he slapped his forehead
and shook his head. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me - I guess ... I
got jealous ... that man, he ...” Cameron struggled to find the words,
embarrassment stunting his progress.

Maria giggled playfully and jumped up from the
bench, before going to him. “I’m proud of you, Cameron, my knight in shining
armor!”

She leant up and kissed him on the cheek lightly,
and when she pulled away, she was pleased to see a burgundy colored stain there
from the lipstick she had applied that evening.

Cameron was dumbstruck. “You are?”

“Yes! Yes, Yes! You were great in there, sticking up
for your lady like that ... thank you.” Her voice softened as she thanked him,
as she realized in that moment that she was falling for him just a little more.
Falling for this honorable, humble man that cared enough to stand up for her.

Cameron was silent for a moment, not sure how to
answer, but he willingly took her hand as she slid hers inside his and this
time led ‘him’ out into the streets of Paris, towards a bustling marketplace in
the distance.

“Wow! I don’t know what to say.” He finally said as
they walked along the pavement, together hand-in-hand.

Maria laughed. Cameron really was turning out to be
everything she wanted - and more.

As they made their way to nowhere in particular,
Maria and Cameron wandered through a lively marketplace, enjoying each other’s
company and the low buzz of conversation from the crowd that surrounded them on
all sides like a warm blanket. Their destination was more intangible; they
sought a deeper understanding of each other, filled with a desire to explore
further.

“So, Cameron, I wanted to ask ... before the ...
accident, did you travel a lot?”

Cameron nodded. “Yeah, I loved traveling. In fact,
it was all I ever did back in my college days... seems like a lifetime ago, or
to be more exact, like someone else’s life.”

Maria slid her arm around his and snuggled up close
to him as they made their way out of the market and into a street where there
were less people. Maria preferred it like that.

“What cities did you visit back then?”

Maria, herself, had never had the opportunity to
visit another city. She supposed her life had been pretty sheltered compared to
your average girl, but if circumstances had been any different, she was sure
she would have at least left Seattle at some point.

“Well I’ve been all over, Canada is cold and gray!
Hawaii is incredibly beautiful, Australia - hot!” he said, waving a hand in
front of his face to stress his point. “My favorite place though, was in the
U.S.”

“Really? How come?”

Cameron shrugged, “When I was younger, just a
teenager, I moved to New York so I could go to college. My mom would’ve much
rather I went to a university in Houston, where I’m from, but I wanted outta there.
Life was too slow for me, I needed the fast pace that only New York could
offer, you know?”

Maria nodded, smiling, “Yeah, I get that, I suppose.
You ever watch ‘Midnight Cowboy?’”

She said looking up at him as they stepped off the
curb onto a quiet road, not a car in sight.

He laughed out loud, and slapped his knee. “Midnight
Cowboy? Wow, I know it alright!” He said looking up into the night sky again,
nodding his head gently, remembering.

“My mom used to call me ‘Joe Buck’, you know, he
wanted to escape the Texas Green Horn life, and in a way, I was just like him -
minus the cowboy outfit of course!”

He laughed.

“That was never my style!”

“But you did do the hustling?” Maria said, raising
her eyebrows at him, a cheeky smile playing on her lips.

“What me?” he said, letting go of her and putting
his hands up in a mock gesture of innocence.

“You must have done a little, to get by, right?”  
Maria was groping for stories of youthful adventure and misbehavior.