To Love Somebody (part 1 of 3)

There's a light, certain kinda light,

Never ever, never shone on me, no, no.
Honey, I want, I want my whole life
To be lived with you, babe,
That's what I want oh, was to be
Living and loving you.

There's a way, oh everybody say
You can do anything, everything yeah.
But what good, what good,
Honey, what good could it ever bring
'Cause I ain't got you with my love
And I can't find you babe, no I can't.

You don't know, you don't know what it's like,
No you don't, honey no you don't know,
You don't know what it's like
To love anybody.
Oh honey, I wanna talk about love
And trying to hold somebody
The way I love you babe,
And I've been loving you babe.

In my brain, oh I can see your face again,
I know my frame of mind, yeah.
But nobody, nobody has to ever be so blind,
Honey, like I did, I know I was blind,
Honey, I tell you that I was, I was very, very blind.
Oh but I'm just a girl,
Can't you just take a look at me and tell,
Tell that I live, honey I live and I breathe for you,
Don't you know I do!

But what good, what good,
Honey, what good could ever do
'Cause I ain't got you, that's all I've ever wanted,
And I ain't got you, babe, oh but I've been looking 'round.- Janis Joplin

“No, really. He is very nice. He’s good looking, he’s smart, funny, established,” Danielle told her for the third time. This was not her first attempt to bring them together. This would work. A dinner party and have them seated next to each other.

With a deep sigh, “how old is he?” Bellatrix asked. Trix remember once before Danielle saying he was older, but she now couldn’t remember just how much older. Trix liked her men a little younger, and Danielle who preferred and married an older man, and now knew all his friends, thought Trix should do the same.

There are advantages of marrying an older man. First, he acts more mature in public, he is usually set financially after several years of working and saving, third and best of all, he is more attentive in bed to her needs than his own, making him a much better lover.

And Danielle knows as well as Trix does that she deserves better than what she’s had. If only Trix would give Danielle a chance to prove this. Just to be able to tell Trix for once, that she, the younger sister is right and knows what she is talking about. Trix has always teased her about not being right because she is not as old, “therefore, how would you know?” she would always say to Danielle.

“He’s older, but age shouldn’t matter. What matters is I know he is perfect for you,” Danielle continued. Selling her sister on the idea of an older man was hard enough; she didn’t need to add that he was 25 years older. He didn’t act it and sure as hell didn’t look it. Yes, he had grey hair, but hell, he had hair. A full head of hair, a bit long in the back, wavy, almost curly at times, making him even more sexy.

Danielle hadn’t told her that he was once very sexy as she had seen pictures of him back in the day. After all, he was a very successful, still famous and in demand rock star. And she knew how much Trix actually loved the band he was in, and the music he played. Danielle was never into music as much as Trix, but she knew who they were, and knew who he was. She had never looked at older pictures of the band, but since meeting him, she could see why Trix mentioned a few times how sexy he still was.

She wanted her sister not only to be surprised, but come because she was willing. Danielle feared that if Trix knew he would be there, for sure she would come, but then it wouldn’t be as romantic. He was single, attractive, funny and very polite.

It was almost Hallowe’en and Danielle thought that a masquerade dinner party with dancing before and after would be a lot of fun, not just because they would get to dress up, but that Trix would not recognize him and “therefore, how would you know?” that Trix would actually allow this man a chance to impress and sweep her off her feet, because that’s exactly what he would do.

“Is he bald, ‘cause you know I am not attracted to bald or balding men. Even if they shave it every day, like dad does, to keep it bald and smooth. Not all women like that, despite what dad says or thinks,” Trix replied. Even their brother says that now that he started to shave his head bald and smooth. His wife liked it, or at least she said she did.

“Actually, he has hair. Really nice hair. I would love to run my hands through it, but how would that look to both my husband and to him. His hair is like Paul’s,” Danielle said of their cousin’s son. Trix had once said that if he became a rock star, he would look the part with just his hair alone. Curly, wild, and sometimes out of control but still looking so cool and perfect.

“Cane? Walker? Live-in care provider? Lives with his children now? What is it? Because,” Trix sighed, “I ain’t taking that. This is why I like younger guys. I want someone to keep up with me, someone to dance with me, travel, adventures, and most of, is still sexually active.”

Danielle knew she almost had her. “Trust me, all that and more. Please, just come. It will be fun. Either way, you will just meet. I am not forcing you out on a date, yet, I just want you to meet him. I know he will entice you enough that you will decide for yourself to go out with him. Without me begging you to do it.”

Trix thought about it, “as long as you promise not to get your hopes up in anticipation that I will go on a date with this man”

“I promise,” Danielle said with a smile. “It’s a masquerade. we have a nice sit-down dinner, and there will be dancing and some other stuff, Merrick thinks everyone will want to bob for apples. I think he is so silly sometimes.

You come as someone, dead, alive or even a well known fictional character, or someone from the past or future. So you will be in costume and character because you will have to act the part. See, because no one will know it’s you, and they might not know who you are dressed as, we will all have to guess. It’s part of the fun.”

As the weeks past, Trix still hadn’t decided what or who she would be for Danielle’s party. She would go tonight after work. There were two costume shops not far and conveniently on the way home. Hopefully, something would jump at her, or at least, pique her interest.

A princess? A character from a great book? A movie star? A queen? A Goddess? Whatever she decided, it would be here. This place claimed to have the largest selection in the country for “every part, every size” as their slogan states. A queen would be fun and the gowns were plenty and beautiful so it would then be a matter of whom and when.

The deep purples and burgundies of the velvets and silks were making it more difficult to choose. But after almost 2 hours and more than 10 dresses, she found the one she would be. It was deep, rich purple velvet with lots of layers creating the most beautiful bustle on the most beautiful Victorian dress she had ever seen.

Now, accessories like gloves, hats, shoes, and much more would have to wait until another day. For now, she would order this dress with a few alterations to fit her better and when she came back in a week, she would then find the additional items she would want or need.

“When do you pick it up?” Danielle asked when she spoke to Trix a few days later. Danielle couldn’t help but ask some questions trying to find out what kind of costume she would be wearing. The plans kept changing as the days were passing and now, everyone would be arriving 3 hours earlier for fun and games, as someone had suggested some more ‘adult’ games, like pole in the hole.

Trix knew her sister wouldn’t be able to contain herself, so she asked, “why? Who are you going as? Or better yet, this guy, this older gentleman, who is he to be?” If she could find out who he was to come as, then she would be sure to contrast with him so Danielle would not dare say how cute they look together.

“I was just asking. I picked up my dress yesterday. I am going as Maid Marian from Robin Hood and naturally Merrick will be Robin,” Danielle happily said, “and I don’t know if I should tell you who he will come as. It’s supposed to be a secret, remember?”

Deep down, Trix knew her sister wanted to tell her, but she was right, it was supposed to be a secret, except for Robin and Marian, since they would be hosting and greeting the guests, everyone would know who they were.

They were to meet early Saturday morning to do some last minute shopping together after having breakfast together as they did every week. They walked by a small boutique with some beautiful lingerie in the shop window and they just had to go in.

At the back of the shop, where recreations of period pieces, Trix found the most exquisite corset with lots of fine details, and she knew she would have to ask her sister to give her a hand to lace her up. This would be perfect Trix thought, since it would only help her to really become her character.

She now had everything she needed for tonight’s masquerade including the under garments. Danielle had hired a make-up artist and hair dresser to be there to help anyone who also might need or want a bit of help.

Trix had gone home to gather her things, including overnight items, as she always spent the night at her sister’s home when she would be drinking. Before leaving her place, she packed a little something to enjoy at her sister’s place to help her relax. She really hated blind dates, and although this was not actually a date, she knew what her sister’s intensions where.

She also had a feeling this man would be very persistent and would pursue her all night. It wouldn’t matter how good looking he might be, she just wasn’t into older guys. But it was Hallowe’en, her second favourite celebration of the year and she was determined to have a good time. This is what pagans consider New Year’s Eve. Her New Year was about to begin.

“Let me see your dress,” Danielle begged Trix when they were upstairs having their hair done. She knew Trix was stubborn but this, this was really hard. Yes, she would have told Merrick so he could tell his friend, and Trix knew that, but how else would Danielle be sure they would spend some time together, to be able to really talk and have a chance. But Trix was stubborn and kept saying, “NO!”

After their hair and make was done, Danielle helped Trix into her corset and Trix then left to go to her usual room to finish getting ready. “You will have to guess who I am, just like all the others. Remember, it’s supposed to be a secret!” she said to her sister with a condescending smile as she closed the door behind her. she had a natural cackle that Danielle could hear as Trix walked the length of the hall to her room.

There was an hour before most of the guests would be here. So as not to have anyone know what she was up to, she went into the bathroom and locked the door. Every now and then, she like to drink a few shots of Jack Daniels, no chasers, to help relax her when she felt stressed, but she really didn’t want anyone to know she was a bad girl, sometimes.

She had finished three shots and came out of the bathroom, with her headphones on, dancing with her eyes closed and her hand firmly holding her iPod. She had no idea there was anyone in the room. He must have gotten the rooms mixed up as this one was occupied. But he was enjoying the entertainment, so he stood far back in the dark corner of the room where he hoped she couldn’t see him.

She continued dancing while she got dressed. She removed the headphones and placed her iPod on the dock of the stereo and turned up the music. He had to hold back the laughter, as this was one of his songs, For Your Life. He never knew just how sensual it sounded until he saw her move to it, like an exotic, erotic, sexually enticing dancer.

She sat on the bed to put on her shoes, but slowly lifted her dress to reveal her stockings in a sexy manner and he couldn’t help but to be aroused now. Who was she? He would have to meet her, although he knew his good friend Merrick and his young wife wanted to introduce him to her slightly older sister.

They had told him repeatedly, “she is really perfect for you. And you’re perfect for her; she just doesn’t know it yet.” As the weeks passed by, he would receive voicemail and text messages from Danielle reminding him that it will be a perfect union.

As the song was ending, she stopped her sexy dancing, and said aloud, ‘fuck it.” She took out a joint from her purse, propped up the pillows to sit on the bed, resting against the headboard and lit up, while still listening to music, his band, his music.

After she finished smoking, she waited until the song ended, then got up, dabbed her breasts and other body parts with her favourite perfume, Coco by Chanel and taking a deep breath before reaching the door, she was ready for whatever lie ahead. She had a beautiful mask with a big satin ribbon that tied in the back. It covered her the top part of her face, leaving her mouth exposed so she could speak. She tied the ribbon into a bow. With one hand on the door knob, she took another deep breath, made sure the mask was secure and left the room.

He waited a few more minutes just to be sure she was gone. He would have to dance with her at least once tonight. But right now, he needed to find the right room to be in and quickly change and join the festivities.

“Jimmy, I am so glad you came, mate. Listen, I will tell you which one she is, but don’t let anyone know I told you,” Merrick said to his long time friend. They of course knew who they were coming as, and now, Danielle would know who he was too. She had yet to see her own sister, but she would see to that later. Right now, she had guests to greet.

Merrick led the way into a large room with hard wood floors and a fire place. There were a few sofas and chairs, music was playing and there were more guests for Merrick to greet. As they walked around and met the other guests, he kept looking for her.

“I must have made a mistake and went into the wrong room. But, I was glad I did.” He continued telling Merrick what he saw.

“It was the third door on the left,” Merrick said, “that you were supposed to go in. Did you go to the fourth door on the left?” Oh, this could be disastrous if he was in the room with Trix, watching her. They would keep this to themselves.

Then he saw her, talking with a few other people, still shielding her face with her mask. “Do you know who that is?” he asked, gesturing with his head to indicate it was she he was talking about. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Remembering vividly what he had just witnessed upstairs in the dark shadows of the room.

She was smiling, and laughing with her comrades. Her laughter was intoxicating, her smile was captivating. And he knew he had to meet her.

“That, my good man, is Bellatrix. Or as we call her Trix. Most people call her Trixie,” he said as he put his hand on his shoulder, and then stepped away from him saying, “I will leave you to it.” Now, standing alone, Jimmy was just watching her while trying to think of some reason to walk up and start a conversation. He never had any trouble with women before, but, then again, he was also hiding behind a mask and costume.

His face hidden behind his mask, he would walk around the room and watch her for a while. How lucky it was that the one that aroused him a short while ago by dancing to his music was also the intended “fix up” from his friends.

Although it was a masquerade Hallowe’en party, the music the DJ was playing was primarily from the 60’s through to the 80’s, as it suited most of the guests, since this is what they were familiar with and enjoyed the most, but of course, the standard “festive” music, like The Monster Mash, The Time Warp, Thriller, Boris the Spider, Bark at the Moon, Ghostbusters, Welcome to my Nightmare, Werewolves of London, and several more were all part of the set list too and of course, help set the mood.

He spotted the DJ and approached him. His plan would be to ask her to dance. Finally finding the perfect songs to play, he gave instructions to the DJ about when to play them and in what order. He figured four songs should do it. Now all he had to do was get close to her, so that when it was time to ask her to dance, it would seem only natural to do so.

He noticed she sat down on the divan and headed for that direction. If he just casually sat down, it would be easy to strike up a conversation. “Who do you suppose that guy is trying to be?” he said as he sat beside her, indicating the man with a tray.

She looked and laughed, for the man he was talking about was one of the catering staff, serving people but doing a very poor job. They continued to make small talk, and then, the first song he requested was playing. He stood up, held out his hand and asked her to dance. Killing the Blues,  Alison Krauss and Robert Plant were singing as she stood up.

She couldn’t resist his smile, and of course, with an offer like that, how could she? So she took his hand and he led her to an area where they could dance and still talk. He once again smelled her perfume but this time he felt a slight movement within his pants, for being this close to her was exciting him. By the third song, Leather and Lace by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley, she was feeling better not just from the joint and the three shots she had upstairs, but also the mood just perfect. It also helped that she had had another two drinks since she came downstairs. By now she had both hands around his neck to help with her balance, and she hope he didn’t notice that, and his were strategically placed on her waist, fingers laced around the small of her back.

One more song and he would attempt to kiss her perhaps, but it was not to be, for dinner was now being served and everyone was called to the dining room. It was to be a late supper, because everyone was having a great time, but there was still more fun to come.

Danielle had thought that by placing name tags in front of the plates would give it all away. She wanted Trix and Jimmy to sit next to each other. But as Merrick had suggested, everyone here was part of a couple, except the two intended for a fix up.

As diner was being served the conversation was filled with memories and laughter. Trix didn’t eat much, but stayed right up until dessert. Then she excused herself saying she would be back shortly. Danielle and Merrick had satellite and the game was about to begin. This was also her way of getting away before Danielle would make the official introduction. She could also have another drink.

She found the remote and found the game. It hadn’t started but was about to. They were singing the national anthem. Jimmy asked Danielle a few questions about Trix now that she was gone. “I knew you would like her. She is perfect for you, trust me on that,” Danielle told him. a few minutes later he also excused himself from the table after Danielle told him in a whisper, “she’s in the media room. There’s a hockey game on and she wants to watch it.”

He stood in the doorway watching her. She had removed her mask. Her team was closing in on the net but didn’t score and she make a disappointed noise. Then, the other team went in for the goal and scored, but it should have been stopped by the goalie, so she got mad at the TV, “are ya kiddin’ me? How could you let that get by? Damn it Price, get some contacts already, maybe then you’d see the bleedin’ puck!”

“You like hockey,” he said, startling her as he came closer to the sofa to sit. “Then I know you are Canadian.” She looked at him and said, “I could be American.” But as they both knew everyone else here tonight were British, Scottish or Irish. The only two with a distinct accent was Danielle and Trix. He knew Danielle was Canadian and he knew this was her sister.

She asked if he liked hockey. He had never actually watched a game before. He wasn’t really into sports. She said she wasn’t either, but she liked hockey as much as every Canadian, (male or female) did. Her cell phone made a noise and she checked it. She then started texting and watching the game at the same time.

Her team scored and she was excited. She then sent another text message and laughed. The first period was over and she explained there was an intermission and the game would start with the players on opposite sides of the rink.

“I figure you are cheering for the team in red. What does the CH on their jersey mean?” he asked. She liked the sound of his voice, it was soothing. She also liked his smile but could not really see much else. She knew from dancing close that his eyes were green; she was a sucker for green eyes. He was wearing a hat so she didn’t get to see much of his hair, but she knew it was grey, as were most of the men at tonight’s party.

But it was the scent of him she enjoyed having close. She explained, “Although they are called the Montreal Canadiens in English and in French they are known as Les Canadiens de Montréal, but true hockey fans call them the Habs, which is short for Les Habitants which was given to them way back when. It was an American, the owner of the Madison Square Garden, in 1924. He apparently told a reporter that the "H" on the Canadien’ sweaters was for "Habitants." The CH is part of their official NHL name which is le Club de hockey Canadien.”

He was impressed not only did she know about the team, but she knew some of the history, and that was always a good thing. He thought to himself if she is this passionate about a hockey team, how much more passionate would she be in the bedroom.

Danielle came in and asked the score and if either of them wanted anything more to eat or drink. She promised to return soon to watch a bit of the game. She would also bring the phone so they could call their brother and make fun of his team, the white and blue of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Trix said “one day, maybe” she would explain to him the rich history between these two teams, and explain the passion of a love-hate relationship for the teams and the fans. She did tell him about one of her favourite short films, since it was all about the two teams playing tonight, called The Sweater, based on the popular book, Le chandail de hockey. She explained that the passion ran deep for these two teams, right across the country and strange as it may sound, fans looked forward to seeing a few players get into fights. Nothing violent, like some soccer games get, especially in Europe, and now the game was about to start again.

Danielle came to watch the second period with them, calling their brother during the second intermission. He sat with her for the entire game, learning more about it, enjoying watching her, and when they won, she gave him a hug. He could smell her perfume better than when they were dancing earlier. She shut the TV off and they went out so see what was going on and to get herself another drink. Thinking that at any moment Danielle would make the proper introduction to the “the mystery-man-of-the-hour” and she would have to leave the company of this pleasant man.

“Merrick is crazy. He wants us to all bob for apples. And he and some other guys went to get a big bucket. I told him that women won’t want to mess their hair and make-up trying to bite an apple in a big container of cold water,” Danielle said.

Trix laughed and said she was going to go get a drink and then dance. Before she left, she whispered to her sister, “this guy that has been following me, what’s his name? Is he married?”

Danielle told her him name was Jim, no he wasn’t married. Before leaving the kitchen, she said, “you know where I will be when you want to make the dreaded introduction.” thinking she still hadn’t met the man Danielle was trying to fix her up with yet, although she had, Danielle thought that if Trix thought there was still some old man out there waiting to meet her, she might spend more time with Jim and fall in love.

Danielle, like her sister, could be very sneaky when she wanted. Soon enough Trix would know not only who he is, but why Danielle wanted her to meet him. For now, they would just enjoy the party, even if Merrick was trying to get everyone to bob for apples, the silly man.

Trix was a bit drunk, but still had her wits about her. She asked the DJ to play some blues. He said he would play whatever she wanted, and for her to have a look.

She found a few good songs; Janis Joplin A Woman Left Lonely, Jonny Lang Breaking Me, Mark Knopfler Storybook Love, Etta James I’d Rather Go Blind, and yes, even her favourite band, Led Zeppelin. She told him what songs she would like to hear from each artist and he wrote it down. What she noticed was that the Led Zeppelin stuff he had was all from her iPod. Her sister asked to borrow it a few weeks ago, this is probably why.

Jim was sitting in a chair on the other side of the room. The lights had been dimmed. She slowly danced her way over to him. She bent over, placing her hands on the arms of the chair and said, “Jim, I was told that was your name, right?” he nodded, “do you like the blues?”

He said yes. Still leaning over him, she asked, “do you like Led Zeppelin?” he of course thought this funny but he said yes again. “Jim would dance with me?” she asked then stood straight, and took a step back.

He smiled and stood up, and took her hand. They danced slowly to Colin James’s version of Three Hours Past Midnight. Jim whispered to her, “who is this?” and she told him. The next song, also slow was Every Morning by Keb’ Mo’.

“Did you pick out these songs?” he whispered, “because this is a real nice song and I like Keb’ Mo’.”

She told him that yes, she asked the DJ to play these next few songs, but they were actually on her iPod and explained that Danielle had borrowed the iPod a few weeks ago. Probably to steal all my good music, since I do have better taste in music than she did, at least this is what Trix thought.

They continued to dance for the rest of the evening, stopping only to use the bathroom or get something to drink. A few guests were to spend the night, to prevent people from drinking and driving, something Danielle and Trix were adamant about, so some where shown to the rooms they would be sleeping in and others had left with a designated driver or taxi.

Soon there was no one left dancing, except the two of them. And the music was still playing but the DJ had left. Danielle said that she and Merrick were going to bed and left the pair dancing by candle light.  

As they danced to Gary Moore’s Still Got the Blues she whispered, “Maybe you would be able to help me with my dress. And if you still want to dance, we can in my room. My iPod is up there, and a stereo. But of course, if you want to go to bed, I understand.”

He stopped, took a step back, smiled and said, “I’ll turn this music off, if you blow out the candles, and yes, I’ll help you with your dress and yes, I would love to continue dancing with you.”

Before they headed upstairs she got them something to drink, and slowly and quietly they whispered as they took each step up the staircase. He would like to change into something more comfortable, and then he would meet her in her room. 

Watch for part 2 of 3 in a day or two.