ROMANCE: BIKER ROMANCE: Werewolf Rider (MC Shifter Pregnancy Romance) (New Adult Paranormal Romance Short Stories) (71 page)

Chapter Three- Here We Go

Despite the rougher neighborhood the kids were engaged enough to pay attention and Jacqueline was having a great time teaching at her first position. Mostly Hispanic and black kids were in her class. There were a few white, but mostly people of color. She tried to take time with all of them and after she put their fears to rest about classical music on the first day, they relaxed into it some. It also helped that they were picked by the school as students who actually had an interest in music.

"Look, I know you think classical music is the stuff that old people listen to, but many people spend time listening to classical for inspiration too," she told them on the first day.

"Like who?" Asked Jason, a skinny kid with braces.

"Well, like Snoop Dog for one. Classical music has all sorts of melody's that attract people who write music. The great Jimmy Hendrix based one of his hit songs, Purple Haze, on a classical Beethoven piece. Everyone, from heavy metal musicians to hip hop, or even soul music, takes inspiration from classical music. It is the rhythm of any music that first attracts your attention. What do you like Jason?" She asked the kid.

They spent the next few minutes comparing everyone's favorite music to classical and they were suitably impressed. By the end of the first week she could tell who was serious about it and who were just in the class for some fun and time away from math. By the end of the second week she had a request from her most talented student asking if she could help him with his piano playing on the side. She could see he was gifted, and that he was far ahead of the other students so boredom was beginning to set in. She agreed to help him out a few times a week if it was ok with his mother.

She talked to Charles's mom the next day after school and she was delighted that someone would take the time. She believed her youngest had real talent and wanted to see it nurtured. Jacqueline was pleased to be able to do so. After talking to Cindy about it and re-arranging her course load a little it was a go.

Charles lived deep in the Roxbury neighborhood and the houses were run down and there were a lot of broken down cars along the street in various stages of repair. She remembered her father's car being down for the summer because he could not afford to get it fixed. Or the gas for that matter, so she understood. His Mother let her in and she followed her into a small living room and there was a small piano, just as Charles had said.

"I hope this will work Miss Parker. We have a man down the street who used to tune instruments for a living, but he got the arthritis something bad and cannot work much anymore. He comes by a couple times a year to do a job on the old girl," she tome Jacqueline, gesturing to the piano. “I am sure it will be fine Ma'am," she responded and sat on the bench. She ran a scale up and down and was amazed and pleased.

"This will do just fine Mrs. Jones, better than fine actually. It sounds perfect, your friend knows his stuff, that’s for sure," she assured Charles's mom.

"Well I wanted to thank you for doing this for us. We can't pay much, but most people have always said how good Charles is so when the chance for that class you teach came up I signed off on it first chance I got," she said. Jacqueline smile warmly.

"I am glad to do it. Most of my life has gone towards music in one way or another so doing this sort of work is a good time for me. I agree too, Charles is an excellent player and if he pays attention he should do well," she added with a teasing glance at the kid. He shrugged and pretended not to notice the teasing.

"Well then I will leave you two to get to it. If you need anything please let me know," she said and disappeared into the kitchen.

The lessons went great Jacqueline thought, when the hour and a half was up. She had got him working on a higher level of music than he was used to and he seemed both challenged and impressed with it.

"I didn't know there was music like this Miss Jacky. It's hard though. I hope I can keep up," he said honestly. She patted his shoulder.

"I think you will be fine. I won't overload you. Just practice the last one we did for next time, for homework. We can expand on it once you get comfortable playing it," She told him. She said goodbye to Miss Jones and Charles and as she opened the front door to leave she was almost knocked over by a man coming in.

"Christ I didn't see you. Are you ok," the man asked her. He was a big man, strong and quite handsome she observed. He was wearing a hoodie and baggy pants with high end kicks on his feet. The way he looked at her and looked around the house told her he was some kind of tough guy.

"Yes, I'm fine. You just startled me," she said.

"Sorry about that. I always thought we needed a window in this door. I am Jomial Jones. I just stopped by to visit my mom and brother," he told her with a raised brow. Silently asking who the hell she was.

"Hello Jomial, my name is Jacqueline, I am teaching Charles piano. I am from his school," she told him.

"Oh he told me he had someone coming by. He didn't say you were such a good looking woman though. Is he as good as we think he is?" He asked curiously.

"Probably better. A little discipline and he will get more comfortable with what he can do. Well I have to go Jomial, nice meeting you," she said politely and slid past him down the walk.

"Nice meeting you," he called out. She turned and waved politely and saw his eyes checking her out. She was sure he was looking at her ass as she went to her car too. She knew what guys like him were about.

Chapter Four- Music and Desire

A month into her new duties and everything was going great. Jacqueline had fun teaching at the school and Charles was really coming along as a player. His confidence had grown and his ability to read music was getting better. He was one of those people that could learn a piece quickly, but had never put the effort into the musical notations. So that had been her focus on his playing. She wanted him to do it while reading the music. She had also became friends with his mother who was a very sweet person and so obviously cared about her children. Even Jomial, who frustrated her. Jacqueline had figured out fairly quickly the guy dealt drugs. What kind and how much she did not want to know. But going by the house and the fact that Mrs. Jones could only get work part time, there was an awful lot of things around the house that was more expensive than she would have thought they could afford. Jacqueline knew Jomial was chipping in from his "sales" job. She did not have patience for thugs, not matter the good they may be trying to do on the side.

She knew he was interested in her, but he also thought she was uppity. He probably believed she thought she was too good for him. In a way she did, but not because of his family's situation. It was his situation that she did not like. So they would avoid each other when they were at the house at the same time. He was always gracious when he did speak and she always tried to be polite. Little was said between them though.

That ended of course when she heard him sing.

Charles had worked hard and after a month she had brought some sheet music for some old Ray Charles soul stuff she had always loved. She remembered her dad playing the album when she was a little girl. He was excited they were able to play with music other than the classical.

"I thought you deserved a break from our usual lessons. Now remember, even playing by memory it is tough to get the nuances right so pay attention to the sheet, ok kid," she told him with a smile. He grinned and nodded. He was so good at just picking the sounds up, he did sometimes stray from the sheet music. It was a slower piece of music but like most Ray Charles stuff it was deceptively difficult. She sat next to him and they went through it together. It was fun to play a duet of sorts and they both were grinning and having a good time. When they went through it the third time she was startled when someone started singing to it. The voice was soulful and frankly, in her mind, beautiful. She looked up and saw his brother Jomial standing in the hallway signing along. Jacqueline almost blew her pat and had to focus down on the sheet music. She heard Charles laugh softly and she elbowed him and they kept playing, allowing Jomial the time to go through the whole song. She gestured Charles to slow the time down at the end and as they slowed it down to a halt Jomial modulated his time to match until the piano ended with his voice. It was a heart lifting performance and she was flushed with pleasure and a new view on Jomial. For Jacqueline music was everything, and anyone who could sing like he just did could not be all bad. Despite any evidence to the contrary.

"That was amazing Jomial. Jeez, I did not know you could sing. Have you taken lessons or just self-taught?" She asked in her appreciation.

"Self-taught. I just like to sing from time to time. Our Mom can belt out a good tune when she has a mind," She looked at Charles who had a big grin on his face for her surprise. She couldn't help laughing and suggesting they try something else.

"So watch me play this one Charles and when I am done you can try O.K.? I don't have any sheet for it yet, but I will bring it next time so you can have it," she told him.

Jacqueline broke into an old rockabilly tune she had learned when she was a teen. It was bouncing and fast, a Little Richard thing and Jomial, as she had hoped, went along with it and sounded fantastic. When they finished that one they were all smiling and Charles in particularly was enchanted.

"Wow! I can't wait to see the music for that. It goes a little fast for me to catch it all in one hearing. I will practice though," he said nodding.

"I haven't heard a little jam like that in years," Mrs. Jones said from the door. "You got the whole family going now Jacky," she finished with a laugh. She was in her apron and had just got off work. Glancing at the clock it was about time for Jacqueline to go. She was a little sorry about it too. It was fun just playing for the hell of it.

"I am glad you enjoyed it. I haven't played like that in a long time. It is good to stretch myself sometimes. I will make sure to bring the sheet music for it next trip," she assured them.

"I was wanted to ask you Jacky. You have been so good with teaching Charles here, I wanted to invite you to dinner next week. Would you be interested? A little food, maybe some music, it would be fun and we all would like to show our appreciation," she said humbly.

"I think it is a great idea Mom," Jomial chimed in. "I hate to not but his chops but Charles has really got into what you are teaching him. It is good for him and us too. It would be great if you would accept," she was surprised at his admission after a month of giving each other the cold shoulder. Then again, music hath charms and all that.

"I would love to come thank you. Is there anything I should bring?" she asked.

They worked out the dinner plans and she had to rush to get to her evening class, but didn't mind. Jomial's voice had entranced her and she stayed entranced by it for the rest of the night. She had a dream of him singing next to her, playing on a stage. During the performance they would look at each other with smiles and attraction. When she awoke from the dream she was flushed and a little turned on. She is not sure what happened but she was thinking of giving the man a chance, if he was still interested.

She felt a little nervous getting ready for dinner. She had cleared her homework so she would not be stressing that, but now she was worried about looking good. Normally she would wear a t-shirt or tank top with jeans, but she felt like since they had invited her for dinner as a friend she should show a little more respect. Yet she did not want to go overboard so she and Marcy at her apartment helping her choose. Marcy of course was over the moon that she had an attraction for a guy. Even if it did not come to anything.

"I don't care if he is a thug or not Jacky. It is about time you had this sort of distraction. Besides I know you are writing your own music and how can you do that if you do not experience life," she said as they went through Jacqueline's closet.

Unfortunately, Jacqueline thought, Marcy had a point. An artist who did not live, did not have anything to be inspired by. She was not going to tell her she was begging to agree with her. The gloating would be too much right then. Marcy did have a good eye for clothes though.

"Try this girlfriend and see what you think. It is nice, but casual without being too casual, you know what I mean?" She said. Jacqueline put on the clothes Marcy had chosen for her and she decided she liked it and it would work. She was not much of a makeup person and she just tied her curly hair back in a loose ponytail. She looked herself over and thought she did look good.

She wore a green skirt to her knees with a green blouse tucked in and un-button to between her large breasts showing a high necked black undershirt. The skirt hung nicely off of her plump rear end, yet clung nicely to her trim waist. Her skin was looking good and she smiled slightly.

"Thanks Marcy. I don't know why I am so nervous but this is perfect," she told her friend, giving her a hug.

"Anytime sweetheart. You are nervous because everyone gets nervous for a dinner invitation. Well most women do anyway. I bet he is cleaned up and looking good himself. It sounds like Mama Jones is not going to have it any other way," she commented. She had a point. Mrs. Jones would certainly want her boys to be presentable. Then again, she told herself, Jomial might not even be there. She imagined his "business" was more active after dark.