14: THE CARETAKER

AUTHOR'S POV

Elsewhere Hotel,
07:34 pm.

Xaden was sitting in front of his laptop in his hotel room working on his given project.

The busy man stretched his body and arched his back hearing a satisfying bone-cracking sound. He palmed his neck and moved his head back to get some relief but his eyes caught Alice behind who had her earphones on. The side of her head was resting against a wall. Her eyes were closed. Her right foot was slightly moving up and down syncing with the music.

She seemed super bored being left with Xaden as he didn't share a word with her. He didn't know where to start only if he knew how warm-hearted Alice is to start a conversation with.

He closed his laptop and walked towards her." Hey." He called but she didn't react as she didn't hear him.

Xaden bent a little and removed her earphones.

Alice flinched and immediately opened her eyes. " Jane?" She curled back.

He panicked and tried to speak with her in sign language only to realise she was not deaf or mute but blind.

" Calm down. It's me. Xaden." He said tapping his chest.

" Xaden sir."  Alice heaved and relaxed her shoulders.

" Wanna go downstairs? It's so suffocating here." Xaden asked standing straight.

Alice hesitantly nodded rolling the headphones' wire over her mobile.

" Would you mind holding hands? It'll be easy for both of us." Xaden nervously asked. A sweet smile rose to his lips as she moved her hand and caught Xaden's wrist. Her palm was too small to even make a full circle around his wide wrist.

Xaden carefully took her downstairs using an elevator. As soon as they decent and the door opened he saw the hall full of guests.

Alice's grip on his wrist tightened as it was noisy.

Xaden glanced at her gulping self. " There's nothing to be afraid of." Xaden said calming her a bit.

She nodded losing her grip a bit.

Xaden walked her from the corners of the hallway to avoid bumping into guests.

She was like a new toy for a curious child for him. He was studying her every act with hearty eyes.

" You stay home all day?" Xaden asked curiously as she needed to be ushered for almost every step.

" No...I go to a park by myself as it's near my house. Reed also comes for jogging there. I'm taking classes to learn piano also." She explained.

" You like music?" Xaden asked taking baby steps to match her speed.

" A lot. My dream is to learn the piano and play it in front of hundreds of people. Like some fairytale, wearing a white gown." She said dreamily as she could see it happening in front of her eyes.

Xaden stared.

She's so full of life. All because of Jane. As she never made her feel she was any less.

"Wait." Xaden suddenly stopped. " How could you know the color's name? I mean you-" He paused as his mind stopped functioning thinking how could she distinguish between the colors if she was sightless.

She flashed a smile. " I'm not born like this. I lost my eyesight a few years ago." She explained shortly. " I've seen everything. Now I'm feeling it. I have an image of everything in my mind. But I desire to see this city. Jane used to live here in a hostel for her studies. She used to say this city is amazing. She promised me that she'll show me every corner of it when I'll get my eyesight back." Being innocent she over-shared.

" You surely will." Xaden encouraged. " Is your treatment ongoing?" He asked.

" Yes, we are trying to get an appointment with a specialist." She said looking excited as well as nervous.

" Let's hope for the best." Xaden said hopefully but his smile died thinking about how will Jane manage to pay.

The eye plantation isn't an easy job. It'll require an eye doner which is rare to find. It's a long and risky process too.

Suddenly a gasp escaped her lips as she felt Xaden's hand gripping her arm and pulling her backward. " Be careful." He said securing her by standing in front of her as a man was about to bump into Alice. Xaden gave that man a death glare.

It was the hotel manager with a walkie-talkie in his left hand. His sweating temple apologized before his tongue did.

" What's wrong?" Xaden asked as he sensed that something was up.

The manager spoke after a brief silence. " Tonight's this hotel owner's anniversary. He's throwing a surprise party for his wife but the music team got into some trouble. They won't be able to reach here. The show was supposed to start within a few minutes" He explained bowing his head.

"If you want... I can help you with it." Alice said what exactly Xaden was about to say. The manager and Xaden both gazed at Alice who nervously smiled. " I mean I can- I can play piano." She added.

" Great." Xaden clapped getting confused manager's head towards himself. " Do you have any guitar?" Xaden asked.

" We got everything." The manager replied nodding his head.

" Leave it to us. We both will manage. Just tell me the selected song name?" He said excitedly.

" Are you both sure about it?" The manager asked.

" Absof*ckinglitely." Xaden exclaimed. His confidence lightened the manager's face.

The not-so-sure manager took them towards a side stage which was arranged for the music team. Xaden had Alice's wrist in his grip all the time. He didn't forget his responsibility for a moment. " There's all you need." He said showing them the set.

Xaden helped Alice sit on a chair in front of the piano and took a seat near her. He grabbed the guitar and swept his eyes all over it.

" Are you both ready?" The manager asked. They gave him the nod of assurance.

Alice wiped her sweaty palms with her dress and took a deep breath. She straighten her poster a bit and soon her fingers found their way to the keys of the piano.

The lights turned off and the spotlight highlighted the old couple on the dance floor.

Alice magically started playing piano and Xaden joined her with the guitar.

Soon Alice started to sing her notes.

~I wanna come home to roses.
And dirty little notes on post-its.
When my hair starts turning gray,
He'll say I'm like fine wine better with age...(Alice)

I guess I learned it from my parents,
That true love starts with friendship.
A kiss on the forehead, a date night.
Fake an apology after a fight...(Xaden)

I need a man who's patient and kind Gets out of the car and holds the door...( Alice)

I wanna slow dance in living room like.
We're eighteen at senior prom and grow...( Xaden)

Old with someone who makes me feel young.
I need a man who loves me like...(Alice)

My father loves my mom... (Both)

The performance ended with their high notes and Alice hitting the key but there was dead silence for a long moment as everyone was amazed by their voices.

The manager himself was too stunt to speak. His jaw was touching the floor and he started to shake his head in amazement. He unknowingly clapped which made everyone do the same. The ball echoed with a clapping sound.

Alice's shoulder relaxed as she finally breathed. The silence made her heartbeat stop but the cheers vanished all her nervousness.

She grinned but suddenly felt someone pulling her towards him and wrapping two muscular arms around her tightly.

" We did it." Xaden hugged her tightly out of excitement.

Alice froze for a moment then slowly hugged him back.

" Thank you." She nodded her head with teary eyes.

They pulled back. " You know what? You are literally wearing a white dress right now."  Xaden said making her grin even wider.

Without releasing her hands he took her with him outside. As they reached their garden area Xaden helped her sit on a chair a little away from the swimming pool and sat in front of her.

He hand her a water bottle and started to drink from his bottle. Taking a deep breath under the open cloudy sky he swept his eyes all around her body as she was sitting in a great manner. Her knees were joined and her hands were resting on them, she was wearing an ankle-length white dress and flat light blue footwear. Her lips had a small smile, her chocolate brown hair was slightly moving from the cold breeze.

She seemed happier than ever.

" Alice?". Xaden called lowly.

" Yes, sir". She replied.

" I want to apologize for- for calling you bli- I-I mean... I didn't know you can't see". He stuttered muttering f word under his breath. " I'm sorry". He panicky apologized.

" It's okay. You aren't the first to say that." Alice smiled.

Xaden's shoulders relaxed a bit. He stared with a tilted head feeling bad for her. " You are so cool". He complimented. " I got such a bad temper. I wish I was like you". He mumbled but loud enough for Alice to hear.

" Like me? Now this is something no one told me before". She flashed a pleasent smile. " People usually pity me." She added.

" Sucks to be them. I mean- just look at you...If I had two hearts I would have given the second one to you for sure. I loved your vibes, voice, everything. You are an amazing person, Alice ". He cheered.

" And you are funny, sir." She giggled not knowing the triplets rarely friend zones anyone but now she's on quite good terms of friendship with the three of them.

Both got quite comfortable with each other in a very short period.

The night got darker and colder. Xaden asked her to get inside but she declined saying she was enjoying herself and to wait a bit more.

" Excuse me?" Xaden turned to see a waitress standing behind him and only wiggled his eyebrows in response.

" The owner wants to meet you. Please spare a few minutes" She politely requested to go with her. Xaden glanced at Alice who was facing the sky happily so without disturbing her, he followed the waitress inside.

As they approach the reception area manager bowed and introduced him to the owner saying he saved the night.

The owner appreciated Xaden and offered an envelope saying the amount under it was for the music band but as Alice and Xaden performed instead of them so now they are the deserving ones.

Knowing the amount wasn't much compared to what he earns but he didn't decline cause that little amount made him happier than him buying big shares in companies ever did.

Not only his lips but his whole face was grinning. The owner gave him a card which was printed with a contact number plus some opportunities for new artists.

He thanked them and without dividing the money in half made his way back to his responsibility with that though that he'll give that all to her.

The more he walked near, the more he was able to hear some weird noises. At a point, he ran only to find Alice drowning in the swimming pool.

" ALICE."

A loud voice echoed but it wasn't Xaden's but Reed's.

Chapter Published On: 19 Feb 2023.

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