Witch Girl chapters 1-5

  

                                                            Chapter One

                                                            Present day

               Selina was drawing her dream house.  It had turrets, crenalation and walls with small windows big enough for an archer, but not for anything else.  A castle.  Just another thing she wished she could have, but she knew it wasn't going to happen on her salary.  Sure, she'd seen some gorgeous homes built around town, but they were way over her budget.  Her comfortable condo for one was all she really could afford and she was fine with it, for now.  She no longer lived in Mid-Town.  Her cute little rental house was put on the market and sold, so she had been forced to find another place to live.  She had moved a couple of times in the last ten years, but the condo was closer to her work.  She missed Mid-Town sometimes, but her life didn't revolve around late night bars listening to music and watching her friends play pool anymore.  She was responsible for lesson plans and grading art work.  She was lucky if she didn't fall asleep on the couch watching prime time televison.  Basically, her party girl days were gone.

               Yesterday, as she was looking through some old boxes, she'd come across that spell she'd performed almost ten years before.  She was trying to finally get rid of some of the accumulation she had created over the time she'd lived in her condo.  Things were becoming a bit cramped.  She knew she had a little of her mother's hoarding issue, but she was determined to get rid of things which no longer mattered.  It wasn't easy.  Everytime she thought she could release something, her conscience said, "But you might need that one day."  Hard going, but she was determined to cull some things.  She made a large effort to ignore that niggling sound in the back of her head.  No, she really didn't need that ab-doer her father had given her a few years ago.  It hurt, afterall, and if that machine was going to help her lose that little pouch she'd developed, it would take more than a couple of uses.  It hurt her back, not to mention her stomach.  So that was one less thing hanging around creating clutter in her life.  Now, if she could just get rid of Chad, then she'd be doing something good for herself. 

               He was a guy she'd met after her big break up with "what's his name," the one she thought may finally be "him."  He had the look, but he wasn't the one she'd been dreaming about all her life.  No, he was just a good looking bum, who played on her heart strings.  He didn't seem very motivated.  He had a job, or should she say he had a string of worthless jobs, so she was always the one footing the bill.  He'd taken over her condo as if it was his.  It was the day he left his cell phone in the kitchen that she knew for sure he was a two-timing jerk, not just a bum with no direction.  He was sleeping, of course, when she heard his phone vibrate.  She picked it up to take it to him in case it was important.  And there it was, right in front of her (okay maybe she did click on the private message) but anyways who's counting.  She saw the sexy message about the night before.  How "Suzy" was so glad to have met him at the concert.  How hot she thought he was, and that she wanted to, well, let's just say she wanted to do something with her mouth....."Uugh!  that jerk!" Selina thought to herself. 

               Then there was Chad.  Her neighbor who only wanted to tell her she had a young drug dealer next door, but soon became her newest sex interest.  He wasn't who or what she'd always wanted, and she hated his nose, but man he had pretty eyes.  Everytime she was on her way to break up with him, the next thing she knew she was in his bed.  "Pathetic! What was I thinking?  Somehow I've got to get out of this mess.  Well, since I'm cleaning house....sorry, Chad."

               The phone rang.  It was her sister, Valery. "Hey, Sel.  What are you doing next weekend?” she asked.

               “Me?  Nothing, I guess.  It's spring break and I don't even have plans.  Unless you include Chad which I'm hoping I don't have to."

               "Why don't you come to down to Atlanta to see Keiran Ferguson?  He's palying alone at a little bar downtown."

               "Hmmm, I never thought I'd get to see him live.  He hasn't been in this country in several years."

               "Yeah, I know.  I think it will be alot of fun.  It's next Sunday night.  Since you'll be on spring break, you won't have to take off on Monday."

               "Well, I was hoping to get out of town for a few days.  Chad is heading to LA at the end of the week.  I can't say I'll miss him.  Sure, I'll come."

               "Great, I'll see you in a few days." and Valery hung up the phone.

               Kieran had been a traveling musician for a while now.  He didn't remember those first few days when he woke up in some place he'd never been, holding onto his lute.  He was dressed in his best kilt, since he had just played for the McAlister, laird of Clan McAlister.  He remembered holding the hand of a lovely girl and he was about to take her to his room, when something strange happened.  He remembered seeing his body begin to fade and the girl began to scream.  Then he woke up here, in a place he later heard was called "America."  He didn't believe what he was seeing those first few days.  Things called "cars" which went very fast and big boxes with wings called "planes."  He had found himself in 2001.  Far away from the year of our lord 1435. 

               The first few hours after he woke, he didn't know what to do.  He wondered around the streets of a place called, Memphis, Tn.  The city was large to his eyes at the time, but he'd since seen a lot of large cities.  Cars and planes no longer caused fear in his chest.  He even owned a nice SUV  that he drove to gigs.

               The first people he met thought he was a vagrant.  He had appeared in a Mid-Town neighborhood, where many men wore longer hair and beards as well as "hippy skirts."  He became friends with a couple who lived near the place he appeared, although no one actually saw him appear that night.  The couple, Stan and Jill, took him back to their apartment near Cooper and Young, a "hip little neighborhood" as they called it.  He played his lute for them.  They loved it, and Stan invited him to play at his local bar that night.  This began his career.  He soon learned to play the guitar, but he wowed his audience when he brought out his ancient lute.

                He quickly picked up the sound of the music he heard around, and incorporated the songs and melodies he sang in his previous life.  Time had passed and he became relatively famous.  He didn't consider himself from Memphis.  Instead he called himself a Modern Scottish Troubador, which the record companies and radio stations seemed to love.  And the women, well there were perks to being a musician.  Some things hadn't changed since the 15th century,  that was for sure.  Kieran even picked up the local form of the language.  He had a strong Scottish brogue when he first found himself in the future.  People had a difficult time understanding him, so he worked hard and began speaking the local dialect, even though he retained his Scottish accent.  The women seemed to like that about him even more than his slightly long dark brown hair.  Yes, he liked this new life.  He missed a few things about the middle ages, but not too many.  He had become a modern man over the last ten years.  He'd even made enough money to visit Scotland.  That was a little hard for him to handle, so he stayed in other European countries when he toured. He had become very popular in Europe, so he tended to tour there more than the States. Sometimes he even forgot that he wasn't from this time period.

               Today he was headed to Atlanta, Georgia.  He'd been on a tour of the US for a few weeks.  His agent had him booked along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts instead of travelling into the middle of the country.  Although he missed seeing his friends in Memphis, there wasn't anything there for him, so they would be at the concert in Atlanta to see him.  He was looking forward to seeing them again.  In a couple more hours, he'd be in his hotel. Then tonight he had a show.  He planned to take a nap at the hotel, then go to the bar around 5.  The show would begin around 7.  He had a local band playing before him, so he thought he might have some time to visit with Stan and Jill. 

               Later that afternoon, Kieran was unpacking his things at the hotel.  His cell phone rang. It was Stan.

               "Hey man, have you made into town yet?" he asked.

               "Yeah.  I've been here a a while.  I'm at the hotel."

               "Great! Jill and I are downstairs in the lobby bar.  Come on down in a minute."

               "Sure, I'll be right there." and he hung up his phone.

               A few minutes later he walked into the bar.  Stan and Jill sat at the bar. "Guiness, Kieran?" Stan asked.

               "You know I'll never turn down a Guiness. How've you been?  Jill taking care of you still?

               "Of course I am,” Jill said.  "Do you think he can take care of himself without me?  He wouldn't know what to do with himself.  He'd probably starve to death too."  she said smiling at Stan with a mischevious grin. 

               "Oh, come on, Jill.  Who cooks dinner every night?  I don't think you even know a pot from a pan."  Stan said as he reached for Jill and gave her a big hug.  They laughed and stared into each others eyes for a minute before turning back to Kieran.

               "Man, you two have a nice relationship.  I sometimes wish I had something like that too, but then I'd have to give up all those beautiful women for just one.  I'm not so sure I'm meant to do that.  Afterall, I'm not getting any younger, and there's so many women...."

               "Oh, Kieran.  If I didn't have Stan, I probably wouldn't have been able to resist you either." Jill said with a wink.

               "Yeah, luckly for you, Kieran, Jill has me.  You might have had a stalker on your hands."  Stan said and messed up Jills hair. 

               "Well, women come and go.  I'm just glad I have the two of you.  Sometimes people want too much from me.  They think they know me because they read about me on the internet.  They ask me personal questions as if we've been friends for years.  When, actually, we've only just met. It's disconcerting how much people think they know about me.  One time a girl made me a pot of chicken soup.  She said she knew it was my favorite, since my mother used to make it for me when I was young.  Imagine that. Chicken soup, and I've been a vegetarian for 6 years now. She was good for other things, though.  I didn't stick around to see if she could cook anything else."

               "So, tell me, Kieran," Stan said, changing the subject, "are you playing your new cd tonight?  Jill and I bought it a few months ago when it came out.  It's been in the cd player of our car since then.  We really love it.  It's great driving music."

               "Yeah, I am going to play the new album with some old favorites thrown in.  Got any suggestions?”

               "Oh, I love the new album, but I'd love to hear anything from Mystic.  It's always been my favorite.  How about "You lost me at hello?"

               "That's one I usually play.  But for some reason, tonight I feel like playing "Witch Girl."  It's weird. I haven't played that in a long time.  Not since the album.  There's just something about that song.  When I wrote it, I had a vision of this girl.  Long brown hair, brown eyes, petite.  And you know I usually go for tall blondes.  She seemed to be calling to me.  Wierdiest thing is, I knew her face.  I'd dreamt of her for years.  Of course I've never met her.  So I guess I needed to make her into a song.  It's been bugging me lately, though.  I'd almost forgotten the words and the chords.  I started playing it in my hotel room last night after Brandi left.  Talk about long legged blondes.  Man she had a way with those long legs....sorry about that Jill,"  he said as if he was afraid he'd embarrased her.

               "No problem, Kieran.  Stan knows all about leggy blondes, and I don't think any of them could teach me a thing I don't already know."  She swished her long blonde hair around for effect.

               They continued talking for about an hour, then Kieran looked at his watch.  "Time to head to the venue.  Wanna ride with me?"

               "Sure," they said together, and paid their tab.  The ride to the venue was short from their hotel.  They chit chatted along the way.  It was great seeing old friends, and Kieran needed some real friends in his life.

                                                                           Chapter Two

               The venue was an old smokey bar, but the laws had changed and people had to smoke outside.  Kieran read in a magazine once that this bar had a resident ghost.  Something about the Cival War, and lost loves or such.  He hadn't paid a lot of attention to the story.  It had just caught his eye, since he was going to play there during this tour.  Anyway, he didn't believe in ghosts, especially ones with lost love issues.  Yeah, right.

               People were already waiting in a long line outside the door.  Unfortunately he had to pass by the line on his way into the venue.  He told Stan and Jill to stick with him.  They could come into the bar with him and find their seats.  Once again, it was good to be a musician.  Especially the headliner.  People threw themselves out of whack to be the one to help the famous guy. Kieran used that to his advantage whenever he needed to.  No problem with him.  Call him shallow, he just didn't care about using people when it was to his advantage. 

               Stan and Jill began to cross the street towards the bar.  Something made Kieran stop in his tracks.  A little glint from something shining across the street.  He blinked.  Something or someone was watching him from an upstairs window.  “Whoa.  What was that?” he thought.  He blinked again and continued across the street.  The people in the line saw him coming.  Several made a few comments like, “Hey, Kieran.  Can't wait to hear ya tonight!”  “Don't forget to play some of your songs from Mystic.” “Yeah, like Witch Girl!”

               At that comment, Kieran, who was busily looking at his shoes to avoid the fans, looked up, or rather down, into the eyes of a girl he'd never seen at any of his shows. But, he knew those eyes.  He'd seen them for years in his dreams. 

               His eyes raised in surprise, more like astonishment.  Then he quickly ran into the bar.  No time to answer the fans.  His heart was racing.  What just happened?  Who is that girl.  Why did he think she looked like his dream girl.  She couldn't exist.  Could she?  Of course not. 

               Kieran walked up to the manager of the bar and asked for a shot of whiskey.  He usually didn't drink before a show, but this was an exception.  Sometimes you just need a little liquid strength.

               Selena heard the cat calls of the crowd around her but they didn't register.  Although she had heard Kieran's music on the radio, she had never bought one of his albums.  She'd heard a DJ say he didn't travel to America often.  That was the only reason she even knew who he was.  She was so busy with work, and trying to get rid of Chad, that she hadn't paid a lot of attention to what musicians looked like.  She either liked their voices or she didn't.  And if the words of the song were trite or ridiculous, she just changed the station.  She'd seen a picture of him on the front of some magazine about guitars once, but she didn't spend a lot of time looking at the picture.  She was looking for a new knitting magazine.  She didn't have time to read guitar magazines.  After all, her only musical ability was humming, and that was usually off key according to anyone around her.  She mainly sang while she was driving alone.  That way she didn't have to hear the groans from the other passengers.

               Although the other fans behind her were yelling to Kieran, she had been busy thinking of what she could tell Chad when she got back to Memphis.  Her mind was so involved she barely heard someone say “Witch Girl,” which made her look up at that moment.  There, standing in front of her was a man with shoulder length brown hair and liquid brown eyes.  Her mouth dropped open.  He was staring right at her.  Staring.  She couldn't look away.  It was as if time stopped for a minute and they were the only two in front of the bar.  He blinked, and hurried away.  Selena almost fell back into her sister.

               “Whoa, there, Selena.  Cute, huh?  I told you he was a looker, didn't I?  Something tells me he was looking right at you too.   Well, well, well.  This could be an interesting night.”  Valery said.

               About 30 minutes later, the bar opened it's door to the crowd waiting outside.  The late sun had still been shining, and it took a minute for Selena's eyes to adjust to the dim interior.  Valery and her husband, Rick, found a table near the front.  Selena wasn't too sure she felt comfortable sitting so close to the stage.  There was just something about that encounter that had her reeling still, and a little nervous.  Her heart was racing uncomfortably at the moment.  She asked Valery if they could move further back from the front, but Valery liked being near the stage. Selena decided to make the best of it.

               The first musicians were a local Atlanta band.  They were pretty good, if you like folk music, which Selena didn't.  Still, they were listenable.  After they performed there was a 30 minute intermission.  Kieran had stayed in the bar, and was talking with fans.  Valery tried to get Selena to go say hi, but she refused.  That was not going to happen! Unfortunately, every time she looked his way, she found his eyes on hers.  Little sparks flew through her body.  Strangely electrifying.  She thought she would just burn in her seat if  his looks smoldered any hotter. Spontaneous combustion.  Maybe it really did exist.  Not just in silly movies.  Maybe this wasn't such a great idea afterall, coming to this show...

               Kieran couldn't quit looking at the girl across the bar.  She was petite with brown hair and brown eyes, but her eyes looked more like caramel than his own dark brown eyes.  Gorgeous.  He knew people were beginning to wonder what he was looking at. 

               Jill said, “Who's that girl, Kieran?  One of your many love 'em and leave 'em one night stands?”

               “No, I've never seen this girl before, but there's something about her.  It's like I've known her my entire life.  And I just can't stop looking at her.”

               “Yeah, we can tell.  I'm pretty sure everyone else can too.” said Stan.

               “Oh. Well, I guess I'd better get backstage.  It's time.” Kieran replied.

               The show went by without an incident.  Kieran found himself playing to the girl.  She avoided his eyes.  That was unusual.  Most girls stared at him until he had no doubts that they wanted to meet him after the show.  He always singled one out. Just like Brandi from the last show.  Beautiful girl.  Long blond waves traveling down her long sleek back.  Yeah, that's what he'd come to expect from girls.  This was something else.  Even so, he couldn't take his eyes off her. 

               Her face was flushed.  She just couldn't look at him for long. He was too beautiful and too openly staring at her.  Selena.  Yeah, she was cute, but that was really about it.  Not some bombshell worthy of these looks she was receiving.  If only her brother-in-law would quit elbowing her saying, “He's singing to you.” and “Oh, look, he's almost undressing you with his eyes.”  And then getting a great laugh out of it. 

               Rick was right.  Selena had to look down a couple of times just to make sure her dress was covering her body.  Was she creating a peak show with the v neckline of her dress?  Nope, covered.  Thank God. 

               After about an hour and a half, the show was finished.  Valery had bought a cd during the intermission, and wanted to have it signed.  Selena needed to go. Now! But Valery wouldn't listen.  Fifteen minutes later, they were standing in a line waiting to talk to Kieran.  Valery made Selena come with her. 

               She laughed when Selena said, “Absolutely not.  You know I freeze when I meet someone famous.”

               “Oh, come on.  I'll do all the talking.  Just stand there and look pretty.  It looks like he's willing to wait all night until you say something to him.”

               “Okay, but don't be surprised if I sound ridiculous.”

               Kieran had been chatting with a few of his fans he'd met the night before in Charlotte, South Carolina.  They had followed his career for a while, and said they'd love the shows.  He was only half listening and grunting responses.  He kept looking up to see where the girl was in the line.  She was almost there when one of the guys talking to him said how much he enjoyed hearing “Witch Girl.”  Kieran, who was drinking a beer, began to choke.  That was it.  That was what he was trying to figure out.  He didn't know why he didn't realize the truth while he sang that song to the girl.  Probably because she wasn't looking at him, which was frustrating.  Now he knew.  It was her.  She was the witch girl of his dreams.

                                                                           Chapter Three

               Selena stood back from the table and stared at all the tshirts and cds hanging on the wall behind Kieran.  Valery, as usual, was talking about whatever came to her mind.  She had never been shy.  Selena was petrified.  She heard her name and looked up.  Valery had just told Kieran to sign Selena's ticket. 

               Kieran, who had the most melodic voice, repeated her name aloud. “Selena, what a beautiful name for a very striking girl.”  Selena's eyes snapped to his.  Her face, which was already flushed, seemed to become even hotter.

               “Thank you.  I really enjoyed your show, it was fabulous.”  “

               “Uugh, what a stupid thing to say. It was fabulous. Can't you think of anything else?”  Selena thought to herself.

               “I'm glad you liked it.  Will you be around in a few minutes?”  He was looking at Valery, but he really meant Selena.

               “Sure, we can wait over there by the stage for a bit, if you want.” Valery replied as she pointed across the room. She took Selena's hand and dragged her to a table.  “Sit, Selena.  It's okay.  I don't think he bites, although if I wasn't married, I wouldn't mind checking that out for myself!” and she laughed at her own joke. Thankfully, Rick was at the bar buying a round of beers and missed that comment.

               “Why do you think he wants us to stay around, Valery?” Selena asked. 

               “I don't think that's too hard to figure out, Selena. The man's been staring at you for hours now.  I think he's into you.  Why don't you just play along and find out what he wants. Okay?”

               “Sure, but I can't figure out why he can't keep his eyes off me.  I must remind him of some girl who stole his clothes or something.” Selena said sarcastically.  Valery laughed.

               “I imagine a lot of girls would like to steal his clothes, Selena. And other things....” she left the last comment hanging in the air as Rick came up to the table with the drinks.

               “Here you go girls.  Drink up.  Looks like we might be staying a while.” Rick laughed as he winked at Selena.

               About ten minutes passed when Selena saw Kieran walking across the room towards their table. 

               “Hey, do you have somewhere to go now?  I was wondering if you would like to join me and my friends for drinks at our hotel bar.”

               Selena's eyes darted to Valery's.  NOOOO she was trying to convey, but Valery wasn't paying any attention.  She turned to Rick and asked if that was cool.  He said sure and then they both looked at Selena. 

               She knew she was not winning this one.  “Sure.  I guess that will be alright.” Kieran smiled.  It was so brilliant she almost felt blinded.  “Man,” she thought, “I'm in for it.”

               Something moved in the shadows of the bar.  Selena could have sworn she heard someone crying. She turned to look.  Kieran was staring in the same direction.  Something twinkled and disappeared.

                                                                           Chapter 4

               Kieran introduced his friends, and Valery introduced herself, Rick and Selena.  Stan told them the hotel was about three miles from the bar.  He told the name to Rick, who said, “No problem.  I know where that is.  We'll meet ya there.”  With that, they rose to leave.  Kieran needed to grab his equipment, but that wouldn't take long.  He had finished putting away his guitars a little while earlier. 

               As they walked to Stan's car, Jill asked Kieran about Selena. 

               “So you've never met her, but she looks like someone you know?”

               “Remember I told you that I wrote “Witch Girl” about a girl from my dreams?  Selena is her.”  Kieran said, and he ran his hands through his hair.  A habit he'd had since he was a child when things made him feel unsettled.

               “She is very pretty.” Stan chimed in.  I really like her name.  “Selena.  Sounds like a witch girl to me.” Jill laughed.  Kieran just shook his head. 

               “I think she's put a spell on me.” Kiearan said out of the side of his mouth.

               “What was that?” Stan asked.  Kieran didn't answer.

               Selena sat in the back seat of Rick's car and stared into the night.  She'd always loved the  buildings of Atlanta at night.  She loved to stare at the gold lights on the tops of the buildings.  But she didn't notice them tonight.  She was thinking about Kieran Ferguson.  How had she not noticed that he looked just like the guy in her dreams when she'd seen him on that magazine cover?  How had she not seen that he looked like the man she envisioned during her spell so long ago.  It was interesting that she had just come across that old spell the other day while she was cleaning.  It was also interesting that her sister had called her to ask her to come see his show while she was going through those boxes.  She hadn't thought about that spell in ages.  After all, it hadn't worked.  Had it? Now all she could do was wonder.  Shouldn't she be excited that after all this time, he'd been real.  That her spell worked.  Well, she'd just have to wait and see.  Just because he seemed to be attracted to her didn't matter.  And was he only attracted to her because of some silly spell?  She may have dabbled in wicca, but she was no true witch.  Hadn't she figured that out a long time ago.  Until now, nothing had ever materilized from those dabbles. She wasn't exactly rich or happily married, was she.  Nope, she had a job that paid ok, and a boyfriend she couldn't quit.  Now, she had something else.  Well, she didn't really have something else.  She didn't even know what she had right now, except a sour stomach and a beautiful man waiting at his hotel. For her.....

               They arrived around the same time and met each other in the lobby.  Stan lead the way, with Jill talking to Valery about the show.  Everyone else just followed along.  Kieran hung back and waited for Selena, who was walking slowly.  He put out his arm to her.  She looked up at him, shrugged, then put her arm through his.

               Zing.  That was what it felt like when she touched him.  He had to stare at her head, because she wouldn't look at him.  He began to wonder if she didn't find him as attractive as he found her.  Well, he'd know as the night went on.

               They shared a table and everyone had a lovely time talking.  Valery and Jill found that they had a few friends in common, once they realized they were both from Memphis.  Rick and Stan discussed their careers.  Selena stared at the floor, while Kieran stared at Selena.

               Finally, he couldn't stand it any longer.  “Why won't you look at me, Selena?  Am I that hard on the eyes?”

               Selena looked at him.  Now that they were sitting down, he didn't seem as intimidating.   “Of course you aren't hard on the eyes.  Mine or any other girls, I imagine.  Actually your the most beautiful man I've ever seen.”

               “Damn, I did it again.” She thought. “I have a real knack for saying things I shouldn't.”

               Kieran smiled.  “I'm so glad to hear that.  I was beginning to wonder if I was an ogre or something.”

               “I'm sorry.  I have a tendency to freeze around people who make me nervous.  And, well, you make me very nervous.”  Selena whispered and looked down at her feet.

               Kieran put his hand under her chin and lifted her face to his.  “Come with me.  I think I need some fresh air.”  He stood and told the others they would be back shortly. Then taking her hand, he lead her out of the hotel for a walk.

               Although she desperately wanted to hold his hand, she tried to take it out of his.  He held it tighter.  “Not so fast.  I really want to hold your hand.  It seems to fit very nicely in mine.” He didn't turn to look at her face, but kept his eyes on the sidewalk in front of him.  He could feel her incredulous look.  He didn't have to see it.  He smiled rufully. 

               “Yes, her hand feels just right in mine.   She's not getting away that easily.” he thought.

               They walked for a few minutes without speaking.  Just holding hands.  Selena finally had the nerve to look at Kieran's face. 

               “So where are you from, Kieran? she asked.

               “Scotland, but it's been years since I left.  I wanted to exlore the world, I suppose. “

               “Or maybe the world wanted me to explore it, since I really don't know how I ended up in this time period.” he thought.

               “Oh, that explains your accent, which I really like a lot.  I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, which probably explains my accent.  I still live there.  I'm a high school art teacher.  It doesn't pay a lot, but I love my job.  I heard your friends say that they are from Memphis too.”

               “Yes, I met them about ten years ago when I first came to this country.  I was in Memphis for a few months.  I met Stan and Jill there.  Stan owns a bar in the Cooper Young district.  He let me play for his customers. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't met them.  They helped me establish my music career.  Stan knows a lot of people in the music business and helped me record my first cd.  I'm glad they came to see me tonight.  It's been some time since I was in Memphis.”

               “I guess I didn't realize you played in Memphis. I'm not sure how I missed that, but maybe because I quit listening to the radio for almost a decade.  I listened to Celtic music.  I didn't care much for most of the bands on the radio back then.  They all sounded the same to me. I noticed you seem to have a Celtic sound to your music.”

               “I grew up listening to traditional Scottish music.” he said.  Of course he didn't mention that he grew up in the 1400's where the traditional music wasn't actually Celtic.  He'd learned Celtic music in the last ten years and added the sound to his own.  As well as a madrigal or two.

               “This might sound strange, but sometimes tonight while I listened to you, I thought some of your songs sounded like that “Romeo and Juliet” movie from the sixties.  You know the one with that song, “A Time for Us.”

               “Hmmmm.” was all he said.

               They walked a few more blocks and talked about their lives then decided they had been gone long enough and everyone would begin to worry about them.  By the time they returned, the others noticed that they seemed much less nervous with each other. 

               Stan stood and said, “Jill it's getting late.  Why don't you take this old man up to bed.”

               “Okay, babe.” She turned to the others at the table and said goodnight.

               Valery began to yawn too and looked at Rick.  He asked Selena if she was ready to go back to their house.  He told Kieran it would take about 30 minutes to get home. 

               Kieran looked at Selena.  Should he ask her stay?  He was planning to leave in the morning anyway.  He'd never been shy to ask a girl to stay with him, but there was just something so pure about her.  “Oh, hell. Go for it.” he thought. And he did.

               Selena was reeling from his question.  Did she want to stay the night?  She'd had one night stands before and hated them completely, but she knew this might be her only chance to be with Kieran.  She turned to her sister and Rick.

               “I think I will stay, if that's okay with you.  I'm sure I'll be fine.  I'll call you in the morning, okay?” 

               Valery opened her mouth to argue, but Rick shook his head.  “Good night, then.  We'll talk to you in the morning.  Maybe meet for breakfast before you leave.  How would that be?”

               “Sure. Sounds great! See you in the morning.”  Kieran couldn't believe she'd agreed to stay with him.  He felt like an un-tried young boy, not a grown man who had slept with women all over the world.  But he was thankful she was willing to stay with him.  Just one night.  He had a feeling this night would be unlike any of the others. For some reason, tonight wasn't about “getting laid.” Tonight was about Selena.

                                                                          

                                                                                          Chapter 5

               They talked and talked.  It seemed to Kieran he'd known this girl forever.  Although sex was his usual mode of operation, especialy after one of his gigs, tonight it was the last thing from his mind.  Well, maybe not completely.  For some reason he just wanted to hold her, protect her. He couldn't understand his feelings.  He had never wanted to just hold a girl before.  There was definitely something wrong with him.  He was sure he would be back to normal once he was back on the road.  He might not even have the time to think of Selena again.  He knew himself well.  Love 'em and Leave 'em.  Maybe have some hot thoughts as he was driving away about the way the girl turned him on the night before, but that was the extent of his feelings.  Yes, tomorrow he would be back on the road.  Then he could get back to the Kieran he knew.  Not this Kieran who, for unknown reasons, wanted a platonic reationship with a girl.  Even the thought of getting to know her was bizzarre.  Usually, he just listened to the girl as she stroked his ego, and other things.  All about him.  But not tonight.  Selena made him want to get to know her.  She did it in little ways.  Her shyness when they met.  Her stories of her job and her students.  Things that made him wistful for things he couldn't have.  Strange thoughts for a man of the moment, who never stayed anywhere more than a day or two. 

               Selena opened up to Kieran.  She didn't know what it was about him. Maybe it was the way he seemed to drink her in with his eyes, or his wonderful smile that put her at ease.  Maybe it was that voice.  So soothing. Whatever it was, she didn't find herself full of nervous energy.  Instead she felt calm.  She knew this was not her normal behavior.  It usually took some time for her to open up about herself.  Even with Chad.....”Oops, Chad. Why did I have to think of him? Well, maybe this is a good reason to finally say goodbye to him.” she thought.

               At about the same moment that his name went through her mind, Chad called on her cell.  She looked at the number to see if it was Valery calling to say they were home safe.  Blood drained from her face.  There was no way she would answer the call.  Especially in front of Kieran.  That was something she didn't want to explain to him.  She turned her phone off.

               Kieran saw that she seemed upset by the caller, but didn't ask her any questions about it.  Something told him to just let that go. 

               Soon, Selena's eyes began to droop.  She was falling asleep in her chair.  Kieran was in the middle of telling her a story about one of his shows.  He looked at Selena and saw that she wasn't listening anymore.Her eyes were closed and her mouth was slightly open.  He stared at her for a few minutes wondering why his heart had sweeled in his chest just seeing her this way.  Yes, he wanted her.  In his bed, maybe in his life. “Where'd that come from?” he thought as he gently picked her up and laid her in his bed.  He pulled the blankets up over her and near her face.  He then kissed her softly on her forehead.  He then laid down beside her on top of the blankets fully dressed. This was an interesting night.  He hoped to fall asleep himself, but the little sleep he did get was fitful.  He kept dreaming about a beautiful maiden in a hallway, and her silent scream as he disappeared followed by a witch who was casting a spell on him.  “The witch has put  a spell on me.” he mubbled in his sleep then turned over.

                The morning came too soon for Kieran.  He had forgotten to close the thick curtains of his hotel room windows.  He jerked awake after his dream of falling through the air and into someone's back yard in Memphis.  The dream stuck with him, and he thought back to that night.  He had been holding the hand of the girl he had planned to bed that night in 1432 in a castle in Scotland.  Then he remembered seeing her scream as he was fading away from her.  What he felt then was very difficult to describe.  He had played it over and over in his mind after he woke on the ground surrounded by some type of wooden fence.  Not knowing what was happening, he stood on shakey legs, pulled his harp close to his body and found his way out of the place he had landed.  He had wandered around, seeing sights that scared him to death.  Was he in hell for all the women he had bedded? 

               After a few hours he found a place to rest.  It was a building with the words Ye ol' English Tavern above the door.  England.  Figures.  He had died and landed in hell.  No Scotsman ever wanted to go to England.  He sat outside the tavern as people passed him. The cars and trucks scared him.  One man asked if he needed food, and gave him some type of food he had never seen before.  It was on some type of white trencher that wasn't made of bread.  He thanked the man, but his accent was so strong, the man thought he was just some vagrant wandering around the streets of Memphis.  A few hours later, a man came to open the tavern.  It was Stan.  He wasn't too kind when he saw Kieran sitting in front of his tavern.  He said he would call the cops, what ever that meant, but he saw the harp and asked if Kieran could play the strange instrument.  Kieran had nodded yes, and strummed a few chords.  Stan helped him up and brought him into his place.  Kieran coouldn't explain what happened to him or why he was there, but he and Stan had become very close.  Soon, Kieran had trusted with his unbelievable story.  Stan just listened, shook his head “yes” and never brought it up again.  He was definitely Kieran's best friend and someone he could never repay for his kindness.

               A few minutes later, Selena woke.  She jerked awake, not remembering where she was.  She had been dreaming of that man of her dreams again.  She laid there remembering his face, and thought it would be wonderful if he were real.  Then as if she had a glass of water thrown in her face, she opened her eyes and squeeked from fright.

               “Selena, it's just me, Kieran.  Remeber?”  he said in a soothing tone.

               It took Selena a couple of minutes to get her bearings.  She was in a hotel room, fully dressed, she checked, and a georgous man was lying right beside her.  Yes, Kieran.  The night was coming back to her.  It had just taken her a minute to get back to reality ater the dream. 

               “Good morning, love.  Are you feeling okay this morning?  I'm hungry, if you'd like to know.  Would you be interedted in eating breakfast?  I do have to get back on the road today.  I have to drive to New orleans for a show tomorrow night.  I'm playing at the House of Blues.  Wanna come?”

               “Well I am on spring break, but I dodn't have a car here.   I flew.  I need to beback in memphis soon,” she hedged.  She couldn't believe he was asking her to join him.  She should say hell yes, but something was just preventing her from being that easy.  “No, I don't think I can. “

               “that's okay, it's always crazy on the road.  I usually have to talk to a ton of people, and I probably would have to leave you alone for long periods of time.” he replied, but he was disappointed.  He didn't actually believe she would say yes.  Something told him that just wasn't her personality.  Hmmm, memphis.  Guess I'll be heading there in a month when this tour is over, he thought to himself.

               He smiled at her, and stood up.  Then he walked around the bed and reached out his hand for her.  She took and and rose too.  Then they headed out to breakfast.  The morning passed quickly, and Selena called Valery and Rick to pick her up.  Kieran had his bags packed and they went out to wait for her ride.  Valery and Rick arrived, and they peered at them with thoughtful expressions.  Selena could tell they thought the worst of her.  She'd have to tell them all about it on the way back to their house.

               Kieran asked Selena to follow him to a corner of the building away from Valery and Rick.  He wanted to say goodbye to her without them watching.  He was afraid Rick was ready to beat him up or something.  She followed. He took her hand and stopped as they rounded the corner of the building.

               “I really am glad I met you last night.  I want to see you again.  I know you can't come to new orleans.  I'll call you later.  Thanks for staying the night with me. And then he bent down and kissed her very softly on her lips.

               Selena had to grab onto his arms, because she was close to fainting.  She kissed him back.  The broke apart, and she tried to move out of his embrace, but he pulled her close agin.  He held her for a few minutes, and then heard a distinct “Hph” coming from around the corner.  He released her, but kept her hand in his as he guided them back to Valery and Rick.  With one last hug and a kiss on her cheek, he helped her into the back seat of Rick's car, turned and walked to his own.  He waited until they had driven away before starting his car and heading to the interstate and New Orleans.  This was going to be a long tour, he thoguht.

               Selena was quiet in the car on the way back to Valery's house.  Valery was talking about the night before, and was hoping Selena would fill them in about what had happened after they had left her with kieran.  Finally, she opened up and told them how the night had progressed.  They were both shocked.  Rick seemed as if he didn't beleve a word she said.  Valery was waiting to get the “real scoop” later, but Selena stuck to her story.

               The week passed and Selena went back to Memphis.  She put herself into her work, so she wouldn't dwell too much on Kieran.  He was true to her word and called her.  It wasn't every night, but she knew he really wanted to talk when he had the chance.  Some nights he'd call after his show and talk.  Selena had to get to work early, so those calls were usually breif.  On weekend nights, they'd talk for hours.  Selena knew she had it bad for him.

               The biggest problem had been Chad.  He had come to her house when he returned from LA only to find she was out of town.  She hadn't answered his calls, so he was worried, he'd said.  Actually, Selena could tell he was angry.  She finally had to deal the day after she returned from Atlanta.  It was pretty.

               When she had expalined she didn't think they should see each other again, he had walked away looking very dejected.  She didn't hear from him for a few days, but one afternoon he showed up at her house with a piece of paper which had a list of all things he needed to say to her.  First, she felt badly for him, and then she just felt he was pathetic.  She stuck to her guns, though, and told him she felt it was over between them.  And that was that.  Not easy, but it had to be done, she thoguht after he had left. 

               The month went by rather slowly for Selena.  And then one day she received a call from Kieran.  She had been at work, so it went to voicemail. He would be in memphis in a week, he'd said.  He couldn't wait to get the tour over so he could see her.  He had made plans to stay with his friends, Stan and Jill.  He wanted to see her.  He'd call when he got into town.

               All lof a sudden, Selena had an urge to go shopping.  Something told her she needed some great looking new clothes.  A few dresses, some new pants, a few new tops.  She hadn't bought anything new, since she main;y wore work clothes anyway.  She didn't go out very often, especially now that she no longer dated Chad, but even then she hadn't dressed nicely for him.  As soon as she got off work that day, she ran to the mall.  She was full of nervous energy, and shopping helped calm her.  Usually it just bored her to tears.  But today she had a goal.  She had a feeling her regualr iundegarments needed a little updating too. 

               Selena decided that she needed to take Friday off from work.  She slept later than she usually did.  She needed her beauty sleep, of course that only included a couple of extra hours because she really didn't sleep well ingeneral.  She went to get her her cut an a walk in place and had her fingernails and toes painted.  She wanted to look her best for kieran.  She was so excited she was almost breathless.  The n she went home to wait for his call. 

               Kieran drove into Memphis down 1-40 and crossed the Hernado DeSoto bridge. It was shaped like an “M” and lit with yellow lights at night.  He had often come gto the Mississioppi River to gaze at the bridge and let his thought wander where they would while he had liced in memphis.  Now he looked at the lights of downtown memphis and felt a longing he couldn't explain.

               He had decided to wait to call Selena with their plans until after he arrived at Stan and Jill's.  He was positive where they would decide to go, but he didn't really care. He just wantd to get there.  Thank goodness, midtown was not much further.

               He arrived at Stan and Jill's around fifteen minutes later.  They were very excited to see him. Jill was watching from the window of their bar, and ran out to greet him as he parked his car behind the building.  She hugged him, and said,”Hey, Kieran!  Welcome back!  How was the rest of your tour?”

               “It was great, but I'm glad it's over now.  Is Stan inside?”

               “Yes, come on.  He's tending the bar and couldn't come out.  He knows you're here.  We are just so glad you decided to come to memphis!”

               They had a wonderful afternoon just talking.  Stan had a Guiness ready for him when he had walked into the bar. Jill had taken him to his room after an hour.  He thanked her and sat on the edge of his bed and called Selena.

               The phone rang a few times.  Selena picked up her phone and her heart started to race.  It was him!

               'hello.” she said breathelessly.

               “Hey, Selena.  I'm in town at Stan and Jilll's.  Do you think you can head this way soon? 

               “Yes, o you want me to meet you at the bar?”

               “Yes, I'll be waiting. I can't wait to see you, so hurry, okay.”

               “It'll take me about thirty minutes, but I'll leave now.  See you in a few minutes!” she said then they said goodbye.

               Once he was back in the bar, kieran couldn't sit still.  He finally decided to just get up and pace.  He didn't know what type of car she drove.  Every time a car passed the bar, he would lok to see if it was her.

               “Sit down, Kieran. You're making me nervous!” Stan laughed.

               “Yeah, man.  Just watching ya is making me dizzy.  It's too early for me to feel that way tonight.” a guy at the bar chimed in.

               Finally Kieran gave up and sat bck down.  He and Stan starting talking of what they would do that night, so he wasn't looking when Selena walked into the bar.  Stan saw her first and starred at her.  Kierna turned around and his mouth dropped open.  She was standing in the middle of the bar, her wearing a gorgeous dress, her hair was up and she was wearing make up.  He didn't remember her wearing much the night they'd met.  It was a good thing, because he probably would have keeled over instead of staring at her like he'd lost his mind.

               Kieran jumped out of his chair and it scraped across the brick floor.  The guy beside him said,”Oh, now I know why he's been so wound up.  If I was waiting for her, I'd have been pacing the place too.”

               It took Kiear only a few steps to make it from the bar to her.  He grabbed her and pulled her to him never taking his eyes from hers.  He then put his mouth near her ear and said, “I've missed you.” His warm breath made her shiver.

               “I've missed you too.” and smiled.  He bent his head and kissed her. And then something happened.  She seemed to be fading.  He couldn't feel her hand.  He couldn't hear her anymore, but he could tell she was beginning to scream.  And then  he didn't feel anything.

(thoughts....have kieran go back to his time,  into the very moment he began to fade. Not want the girl afterall because he realizes his heart has been given to a girl in 21^st centurey. Or was she a dream.  He leaves her that day to continue tour. They call and rtalk often. He quits having one night stands.  Finally he and selena have sex. That's when he leaves.  He finds a witch in scotland to perform a spell for him. First hes heartbroken without her then comes up with plan to seek out a witch.  She performs spell.  Selena wakes up from her bed without kieran.  Falls on floor wailing at the goddess for taking him away, she sees him fade away just as he's about to say he loves her.  She wakes up in her nitegown in 1432 Scotland and is captured by a band of reapers who think she lives at castle mcalister.  She is taken to another castle of warring clans against mcaslister.  Treated poorly but allowed to serve the clan as a servant.  Lasts for several months.  Not sure how she got there.  Then one night a traveling bard comes to play............kieran sees her. Escapes with her. They find witch to sends them back. Takes affirmation of love for them to return to her time. Kieran wants to be in her time with her. 

Don't forget about Wiccan read...what goes out comes back 3 fold...add that as her karma for why she will have to go back in time to Kieran.