A Perfect Player -C5

CHAPTER 5

My dad realised that the diskette Liz gave him contained nothing in it. He was frenzied all over and demanded Jasper to do something about it. The FBI had verily received the file I sent to them. They were devising a plan to bust out the entire drug ring of my dad. Meanwhile I was in school teaching the students the magic of art and music.

“Art is just like music. Everything comes from your heart and mind. Just focus and you can draw out things as like in real life. You can draw your life out if you are really focusing. Now I want you to draw anything that your heart or mind is thinking.” I elaborated.
They started drawing on the paper. I just walked around to see what they are drawing. Their drawings could pretty reflect their personality.

“You seemed to have a lot of secrets. You have to learn to open your heart and befriend with more people. Everyone needs a friend and this year is your graduation year. Life would be much cheerful for you if you have friends. Trust me, Marie.” I advised her.

“How do you figure out everything about me? I’ll try to heed your advice. It has been long since someone had really understood me. Thank you.” Marie thanked me.

“Remember whatever you do just follow your heart. Do not lock yourself in a small little world of yours.” I reminded Marie.

“Hi, Marie.” Claire introduced.

“Hi, Claire.” Marie introduced back.

Claire is the most magnificent and venerable blond girl in the school. All the guys just can’t take their eyes away from her. Claire reminded me a lot of Liz. Claire, Marie and her bunch of friends were having eloquence in the canteen.

“Claire, there a guy at the corner looking at you. You always turn the guys on. How are you and Scott?” Marie asked.

“Sometimes the guys really remind me of the song,’ oops I did it again’ by Britney Spears. There’s nothing going on between Scott and me. He’s not my type. How about you and Marcus?” Claire exclaimed.

“Well fine.” Marie answered.

“Who is that guy sitting beside a window?” Claire asked Marie.

“Oh, it’s Mr. Max McGuire. He’s my art and music teacher. Look like a guy has turned Claire on.” Marie teased Claire.

“He’s a teacher yet he looked so young. I’m not turned on. It’s just that I never see him before. He’s a lively, articulate and matured guy with inquisitive, deep and unfathomable blue eyes. All right he’s cute and good-looking. He has a pretty sensuous burro.” Claire professed.
Claire decided to take music lesson.

“Well class today we have a new student, Claire. Claire you shall sit beside Marie.” I introduced.
I could see all the guys are viewing Claire totally. I got to admit that Claire’s beauty is indescribable. Claire had totally no idea about musical instruments. Marie tried to help her but her help went in vain. After all the students left, leaving Claire and me. I walk up to her and taught her the basic patiently and she learnt.

“Why do you choose to learn music so instantaneously when you don’t even know about the basic?” I questioned Claire.

“I want to get to know this cute guy in this class. Moreover I love music but I just not talented in it.” Claire proclaimed.

“Well, interesting. Music is not about talent, it’s more about whether you listen and play them by your heart. You keeps on turning the guys up, which moron guy was not turned on by you.” I asked curiously.

“Well that’s a secret I supposed.” Claire answered with a wink.
I just gave her an amiable smile. I was about to walk out of the music room when Claire held on my hand.

“What if I say the guy is you? You just had two of the saddest eyes in the world and looked like you were suffering from a persecution. You are the moron.” Claire lamented.

“You gave me a great stupefaction. You are right about one thing that I’m sad. I love this girl and a concise but momentous relationship with her. She was taken away by the selfish angels yesterday. You reminded me of her all the times. I’m sorry if I had given you the wrong impression. You got to know one thing; I’m two years older than you are. Love is the touchstone of virtue. Love makes a wit of the fool. True love is not found, as you had hardly even known this guy. Whoever loves a guy like me is a truly fool. ” I declared.

“Age in love, loves not to have years told. Love is just a feeling you have in your heart. True love is found through your heart. I’m sorry that your love one was dead. You had made the first step to move on. Passion in your heart for someone is true love. Liz is the one you loved. I knew no one could take the place of her in your heart. Passion just started to grow in my heart as I saw you for the first time.” Claire concluded.

“How to you know her name is Liz when I didn’t even mention it?” I grizzled.

“I just know. My heart just tells me.” Claire bristled.

I was totally speechless. She had too many alike characters like Liz. Claire left the room after she had finished with hers words. Summer sun still hours from setting at fifty- five degrees latitude. School bell just rung to signal it was time to go home. I had a sudden awful wave of miss for Liz. I did not believe in destiny but I believe in making my own destiny. I scurried home and had a swift bath. Claire drove home. She walked to her balcony looking at the breeze-rippled sea. She was playing the songs of Britney Spears and Richard Marx. The sun shone more kindly now and the trees which framed the scene were golden and lovely.

A gentle breeze came up to spin white drifts of seawater over the beach. I went out to the beach so as to see the sunset. I just strolled along the soft, fine sand. Claire saw me strolling on the beach then while for me I had no idea. I lay down on the velvet and damp sand. The splendid sunset had me spellbound as i watched the sinking of the huge ball of fire amidst the splashes of warm hues of red, orange and yellow in different location. Such was the splendour and grandeur of the sunset. Now the moon had rose on the sky with myriad of glistening stars. The moon was abnormally large and it bathed the earth with its luminous glow.

Claire wished she could be Patricia and I could be Rory, the characters of the eminent love story.

How I wish Liz is here accompanying me now to share the beautiful moments now? I just got this strange feeling that history of my love one would be dead will be repeated. I started to have this intuition that Claire was Liz. I knew I should not like another girl just because she shared the same character as Liz. I loved Liz but I had feelings for Claire. Jasper was looking high and low for me. FBI had sent an undercover to my dad’s office. I walked home so slowly, when a rat dog paddled past me. I started to think of Claire and Liz at the same time. I was in a very implausible dilemma, I supposed. I reached home to have a liberal meal. I lied on the bed thinking of Claire now instead of Liz. I knew this was the wrong move again. I tried to put her out of my mind but in vain it can’t be done. At a leisurely pace, I jaunted to my dream world as usual. I was lying on the beach when Liz held me up. I was astonished to see Liz but at the other side I was elated to see her.

“Liz I’m so glad that you are here with me. I miss you a lot.” I held her tender hands as I greeted Liz.

“I miss you too, Max. I’m not around anymore and that’s the truth that you have to take. You got to let go of your sad memories and move on. Follow your heart, Max. I love you and I know how much you do too. I got to go.” Liz whispered into my ears as she faded away gradually.

This was when my alarm clock began to shrill. Claire was thinking of me then. Claire snagged her robe off the hook on back of the door and was heading for bathroom. Claire looked into the mirror deciding on how to tie her hair. I proceeded to the bathroom and take my new shaver to shave my facial hair. I had a cosy bath and changed onto my loose brown jacket over a voluminous white shirt. Claire wore a light blue spaghetti strip shirt that fit her black micro-mini skirt with her white cotton jacket tied around her waist. I walked to school and so was Claire. Coincidentally we met each other in school. We greeted each other and smiled at each other. I was pretty sure that there were lots of guys eyeing Claire’s sexy figure. She really looked great with her dressing this way; I got to admit it. I was planning to bring the students out to listen to a musical concert. I went to look for Mr. Thomson. I voiced out my plan and he permitted it. Mr. Thomson hired a bus for us. We went into the theatre to listen to the music. Claire sat beside me.

“Aren’t them great, Max? I loved it. It would be even nicer if someone play Richard Marx’s song ‘Right here waiting’.” Claire whispered into my ears.

I was totally amazed by her words, as those words were the words Liz once said before. At the point of the moment, something struck my mind. Since their graduation was in three days time. I decide to ask them to play the song ‘Graduation, friends forever’ sung by Vitamin C. Claire turned to me so close that there was a total temptation that I wanted to kiss her but l hold back.

“You are right Claire.” I finally spoke.
After the concert, I parted with my students to go separate way. Claire went out with Marie.

“Is there something going out between Max and you? You two are so complete.” Marie teased Claire.

“No, nothing is going on. I looked at Max as a boy. I wondered if he really noticed me. He took my breath away. I can’t get him of my mind and it scared me caused I never felt this way before. No one in this world knows me better than my diary do. I’m confided in my diary. Well, today as Max walked by, he smiled at me and I wondered if he knew what’s in my heart. I tried to smile but I could hardly breathe. If I tell him further how I feel, will it scared him away. One touch of his hand, now I can’t wait to see him again. He smiled and I thought my heart could fly. I got a feeling we are more than just friends. Marie tells me what I shall do. Do you think that Max and I will be more than just friends?” Claire confessed.

“Claire, if you love Max you got to make your first move. I can see that he’s so into you. His body language shows so much.” Marie encouraged Claire. I went home writing score of the song to give it to them and preparing myself to teach them. Claire scurried home to have a good bath to calm her body from the scorching summer sun. During the bath, Claire had a lot of thought going on.

She was thinking how fast she had actually grown and how many changes were going on. It was more on a physical changes and more on emotional. She knew how long she longed for Max. She had all the fantasy that she was with Max. Claire went to the beach. I decided to go to the beach to find inspiration for music. I was walking to the same spot where I actually lied down yesterday. I saw an enchanting and familiar blond girl lying on the very same spot I did yesterday. I walked up to her and was amazed to find her there.

“Hi, Max.” Claire greeted with her full, rich and extravagant voice.

“Hi, I didn’t know you will be here. This dress fits you. You looked dazzling.” I spoke with a mysterious voice as I sat on the mild and refined sand beside her.

“We are still friends, are we?” Claire asked.

“We are, or are we more than just friends.” I answered as I turned to her.

We were so close that I could even kissed her right from there. But I stopped; she just smiled back at me and turned her head back to sea. Well, she turned back again to kiss me. She was so irresistible. I kissed her so tenderly and the sensation was there for sure. I started to caress her long, glossy hair. Time flew past so quickly that night beckoned on us. We stopped kissing and I walked her home. She lived in a spacious and magnificent house. She brought me to her room. It was as well decorated as Liz’s.

“Max, I’m ready for everything. You figured out how I feel, don’t you. I have all the fantasy about you.” Claire confessed as she shed my brown jacket and unbuttoning my white shirt. I was naked from waist up, heart began to pound. Claire was hypnotised by my sleek tapes of muscles in my back and my arms, smooth skin on nape of his neck.

“We were not doing right, Claire.” I admonished as Claire caressed my body.
There was just this strong attractive force and tendency that I had to kiss her.

“Maybe you are right, Max.” Claire agreed but the strange thing was that we were still kissing in the end. Claire lied on the bed and I was on top of her kissing. I leaned over Claire’s shoulder and nuzzled her neck affectionately. Claire caught scent of my body, light sweat, smell of soap or incense. Moonlight streaming through window blinds casting shadows across my face almost like bars. Profile was sharply chiselled, with her graze. We were still focusing on our kiss. We were only seconds from sex totally as the intimacy was great. I undressed Claire slowly and we were definitely going to sex. Meanwhile Jasper had found out my whereabouts and was taking a flight to look for me.

“You are not from LA, are you?” Claire asked.

“No, I’m from New York.” I answered as I slowly dozed off caused I was real tired and not due to the physical things I did with Claire.
Jasper only knew I was in LA but had no idea where I was. Jasper was desperate to find me but not kill me. He knew I was as good as he. It’s just a matter of who was more experienced. Definitely I was not the one. The glaring sunrays woke me up promptly. Claire was in bed sleeping so wonderfully in her world of fantasy. I made a slight move to get out of the bed so as not to wake her up. I went to the bathroom to have a brisk shower. I wore back my old clothes as I was at her place whole night. I left her a note telling her I had to rush back home for some important things. I ran home as light as a feather. My notebook was beeping as I got a new mail. I opened the mail.

“Well I managed to trace out you are the one who send me the mail. I know who you are. I won’t waste my time asking you questions. Be careful, Jasper is coming to LA today. He is looking high and low for you. Look I’m sorry that Liz was dead but I need your co-operation here to nab them. You are to promise not to do anything about this without informing me. Do me this big favour. Thank you. Erase after you read it.” Ethan Hunt sent the letter to me.

I was not surprised at all that Jasper could find me. I was prepared and I was going to give him the best shot I ever done in my whole life. I got something to worry again. It is all about the school and Claire. I got to figure something out in less than five hours before Jasper came. I had a plan in my mind but it was going to be a caustic one. I put my resignation letter and the music score on Mr. Thomson table. I scurried to Claire’s mailbox and sent her a letter. It was going to break her heart. I knew she would open her mailbox every morning. I walked off to a gun shop. Claire really opened her mailbox and saw my letter.

“Claire, I’m sorry. I still find myself in love with Liz. I know I’m a jerk here. I really try everything out to be with you but I can’t. I enjoyed the moment I spent with you yesterday night. I’m real sorry but I do not have much time. Take care of yourself girl. Move on and forget about me. There are much more guys out there better than me.” I wrote.
Claire was trying to hold back her torrents of tears.

“Hi, Claire. Are you crying?” Scott greeted her at the door.

“No, there’s dirt in my eyes.” Claire lied.

“I’m looking for the 2metres shot pistols. Do you have that?” I asked the dealer.

“Well, of course I have. Are you a specialist in guns? Here’s the two and last pistols. 300 bucks for them.” Dealer asked as he handed me the pistols.

“You are only a dealer and I’m your customer. I knew much more business than you do. These two pistols only cost 240 bucks. Never mind. Here’s your money.” I reminded and left the shop.

I was pretty sure that the dealer was scared stiff. The principal received my letter and was pretty sad about it and passed to Marie. Marie was pretty surprised to hear that I had quit. She went straight to Claire.

“Claire, Max quit.” Marie told her.

“Well great. First is the letter and now he quit.” Claire bawled.

“Oh my god, don’t tell me you was in bed with him yesterday.” Marie freaked out.

“Yes,” Claire admitted as she lent Marie’s shoulder to cry on.
Scott walked past and heard everything they said. He was outraged that he didn’t get a chance to have sex with Claire and yet Max did. I was sure that my diskette was pretty safe. I decide to meet Ethan at the beach at 2pm. I was packing my bag pack again. I sent a mail out to Ethan to meet him out. I walked to the beach and sat there waiting for him. He came in 15minutes time.

“Hi, you must be Max. Nice to meet you.” Ethan introduced.

“Ethan, I asked you here to make a deal because you still own me a big favour. My favour is easy. I’m asking you to put your men to protect Greenville High School and Claire.Can you promise that?” I commanded.

“It can be done. I promise you that.” Ethan agreed.

“How are you going to assure me?” I rebuked.

“Well, we shall see and I was like you before. I can understand how you feel. You must be a pretty good killer. But you break the rules by getting too emotional.” Ethan assured me.

“I shall see,” I hollered as I turned and walked away.
Ethan drove his car away. It was my ‘luck’ to see Scott. He obviously confronted me without warning.

“You damn jerk. You spoil my plan.” Scott yelled at me and pushed me at the same time.

“Don’t come pushing me here just because you can’t even have a chance to touch her. So what if I had a thing with her. It’s over ok. You have no idea what is love and don’t come yelling at me like a gentleman. I love her yet I have to let go. I have no choice but you do have. Who is a jerk now? All you have been thinking is having sex with her, isn’t it? I know what the hell I’m doing.

You are lost in your way, Scott.” I explained with a pacific mind.

I gated away before Scott had a chance to apologise to me. The world was small, I supposed as I met Claire in the library where I wanted the golden silence to think things out. I tried to turn away but she was already towards my direction. I stopped right there to wait to hear words from her.

“Hi,” I greeted Claire.

“Hi, I thought you are leaving this town. I really can’t understand you. You are so temperamental.” Claire whispered as she was again trying to hold her tears back.

“Well, not at this moment. I still have one more thing to do. I’m sorry. The problems don’t lie on you, it’s me. Scott is a nice guy. You know what I mean.” I answered.

“Oh not again, you keep pushing me to other guys. It’s Liz, isn’t it? You are lying. Your eyes already talk to me.” Claire volleyed as she turned away.

I was totally astounded by the words she had said. It’s the hardest thing I ever did in my life. To look into her eyes and tell her I don’t love her. To show no emotion when she started to cry. To turn away and pretend I don’t love her. How I wished she could read my mind. I got to be as cruel as Doctor Zhivago as I knew there would be no happy ending. I had to put this kind of thinking aside now because I had not much time left. I left two hours and a half to see Jasper. Ethan sent a group of FBI team to the school.

“Mr Thomson, I’m agent Ethan. I believed there would be a terriost heading to this school. I’m looking for a girl Claire.” Ethan explained.
Thomson led Ethan to Claire.

“I believe you are in great danger. I’m putting myself and a team to protect you.” Ethan added.

“Protect me from who?” Claire interrupted.
Ethan just kept quiet. I was heading to the airport when my mobile phone rang. I switched on and found Jasper on the other line.

“Max, how have you been? Just past me the diskette. I’m coming.” Jasper spoke and hung up later.
This was definitely not a good sign to me. I rang up Ethan.

“I’m your saviour. This is not good. Have you sent a team? He is going to be here in hour time. You must give it your best shot like I do. I’m on my way to the airport. I love fountain and the walls there are antique and unit. Remember what I say, Ethan you are like me so you should know what I meant. Gonna go.” I hung up the phone after I finished my words.

“Wait Max, you promised not to do it alone. Damn, Max you are going to be a dead moron this time.” Ethan tried to persuade.

“What about max?” Claire interrupted.

“He was working for us by helping us but he was not an agent but a professional killer. He loves you.” Ethan explained.

“Oh my godness, you gonna put him in this risk. Bring me to him for god sake.” Claire insisted.

“Not now, I gonna do something he asked me to do.” Ethan explained.

Ethan drove Claire and her to the fountain Max was talking about and removed the tiles and took the diskette with him. He passed Claire a false diskette. Ethan sent the diskette to FBI to safe keep. Ethan then drove at great speed to the airport. I had reached the airport. I sent an email to the airport in charge to tell them to ask all the passengers to leave, as this is an emergency under the FBI name. Announcer immediately acted quickly by asking all passengers to leave. Jasper was the first passenger to alight from the plane. Th other passenger was locked in the plane. Jasper walked up feeling pretty surprised there was no one in the airport except me. He threw me a rueful smile.

“Hi Max, seem like you are pretty good and very well alive. You know what I want, and I want it now.” Jasper demanded.

“Well I’ve bad memory then. I lost things easily. You are still at ache of emptiness, aren’t you?” I snorted with a sly appraising look.
I read the scowl of impatience on Jasper’s face. Blood suddenly pumped cold in my veins. There was a pincer movement. He made a dramatic approach towards me. Ethan beat the red light a lot of time.

“Can you hurry? It was a dick of life and death.” Claire pursued Ethan.
I eased the intratec machine pistol at Jasper.

“You are still the same. Haven’t you learnt a mistake before?” Jasper gave a shriek of laughter.

“No I don’t. Dad has problem walking isn’t it? You are going down. There’s no way out.” I responded.

Jasper too was aiming his gun at me. Jasper was agitated and he was confused to the changes I had. I was ready and my mind was tranquil. He can’t run away from my shooting and I was assured of that. Sweat was rolling slowly from my hair. Jasper saw my face of maltreatment and ruthless aggression. I was apprehensive. Jasper made a big mistake by shooting first. I just pull on the trigger and the shot was fast and accurate and went through Jasper’s heart. He was determined to survive and kept shooting blindly and aimlessly. I shot him for the second time and sent him instantly to have an instant conversation with God. Jasper fell back on the solid ground with a thud with blood of his flowing profusely from his heart. It was only minutes before he hailed the last breath of air. My arms had a slight injured. I can’t feel any intense pain at all. Ethan reached the airport to see that Jasper was dead. Claire was desperate to find me. I was sitting on the chair resting. I was devastated to kill Jasper my good friend.