AllFreeNovel
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She can’t be held
Wildfire burning through my world
The girl with the fire in her soul
When I’m with her she takes the air I breathe
Scorched my world always knew she would leave
The girl with the fire in her soul
I reached for the love hidden in the fire
Seared my heart consumed by desire
The girl with the fire in her soul
I just wanna catch you
Be the man to match you
The only one who makes me whole
My girl with the fire in her soul
Tears choke as the song progresses and when he pauses between verses to focus on his playing, I swallow down a growing lump in my throat. This isn't a tooth-achingly sweet ballad about a girl, but a song to suit me. There's a passion and strength to the music, a portrait of me through his eyes. This song goes far beyond the cliché love for a girl.
Because Jax understands me.
He understands us.
The cadence steals into my heart as his words meld perfectly with the music, a melody that doesn't fit the norm. And why should we? Together we could forge our own way and ride the waves of the future side by side.
Tears escape, and for once, I don't hide the rawness of the love for Jax I hide and don’t want to lose. Only Jem sees and he nods with a smile before leaning over to me. “Jax found his anchor long before any of us did. I don’t think he should let you go.”
Jem’s words surprise me, and the reality hits home. Jax wants to share this with me, rather than walk the path of fame alone. In his song words, I heard his belief in us and a future.
* * *
The gig ends in a frenzy of fans screaming for more encores and Jax escorts a tired Ruby from stage. The four wrap their arms around each other, a rare sight as Ruby keeps herself physically apart from others. Jem disappears through the door toward the backstage the moment they exit and I remain, heart thumping with excitement and apprehension. I pull myself together and follow.
I'm barely around the corner when Jax reappears, striding back toward the stage. He halts when he sees me and when our gazes meet, the days and weeks apart fall away.
“Hey, Tegan,” he says softly, gripping his open water bottle.
“You wrote me a song?” I whisper. Please let him think my damp face is perspiration and not tears.
“I always fucked things up when we talked. I thought a song would be safer than trying to explain myself.”
We share an understanding smile. “Thank you. The song is beautiful.”
“Like the girl I wrote about.” He pauses. “Can you see yourself the way I see you now?”
“Yes.”
The small space between us is a chasm I’m frightened to cross because I’m unsure what’s waiting on the other side, or if I’ll manage without falling. Last time I allowed myself across, I fell, landed hard and the hurt hasn’t left. Neither of us reach out, but we’re locked in this time and place and unable to move until we do.
“Can we talk?” Jax asks.
