Disclamer: I don't own anything related to Pitch Black, COR the songs mentioned in this story. I'm not making any profit out of this. What a shame. Money would definitely keep my regular updating in check:D
Author's Note: This is the sequel to "Miscommunication". I really think you should read that one first.
And I kind of have to warn you that I will most likely update maybe only once a week, since I am doing my bachelor's research; and I also put myself in quite a difficult spot with where I left off "Miscommunication"…
But all that said – on with the fun!
And so the morning came. Jack had a terrible feeling that telling Riddick "no" had been her worst mistake ever. After all, he had wanted her to stay in his own crazy and controversial way. On the other hand – it had been him since the day one pushing Jack away. It was Riddick who didn't have a clue as of what the hell he wanted from Jack.
Jack figured a little time apart would benefit them both. Maybe she could come back after she has proven to both Riddick and herself, that her happiness doesn't lay in normal living?
That's what Jack was thinking about while once again packing up her stuff. There hadn't been a single word said during the whole hour and half she had been up. Somehow it made her feel really bad about herself. God, since when is Riddick the victim here? she asked herself bitterly.
All done, Jack sighed to herself. She turned to see where Riddick was. Surprisingly she found him right there – leaning to the wall, arms crossed and shiny eyes focused on Jack. Uncomfortable, Jack wondered for how long the silent statue had been staring at her…
Jack took a long breath and bravely tried to smile. "So…" she said.
Riddick didn't say anything. It wasn't that he wanted to make things harder for her departure. But he had spoken so much last night as it was. He had opened his soul, said too much, and now he was losing the girl. He had told Jack to go. This made him feel like the biggest fool in the whole fucking galaxy.
Jack looked at him again with restless fake enthusiasm. "Any last famous words?" she tried to joke. Riddick only smirked half heartedly.
She felt the sting in her heart. This all felt so wrong, yet Jack knew it was what she had to do. Life just doesn't always give you good choices.
Jack said: "Actually, Riddick," and licked her lips nervously. "I was thinking about one thing."
Riddick still didn't say a thing nor even blinked his eye. Jack was reminded by some Will Roger's old quote about never missing a good chance to shut up. Damn, he's like a wall with a heartbeat! Jack joked about Riddick.
"Yeah, I was thinking and… I mean – this could be a huge mistake! I mean – you or I can't, like, predict the future or anything. If we'll be happier, living apart… OK. So, I was thinking – maybe we could meet a year from now?" she said and added quickly. "To review the situation and shit," Jack stuttered.
Riddick took a deep breath of relief. Secretly he had hoped that Jack would say something like this. That this really wasn't the very last goodbye.
"Sure," Riddick shrugged. "A year it is."
"One year. Here. Look me up," Jack nodded.
"Will do," Riddick said in his still ever calm and cool way.
There was nothing left to say. Jack was so utterly confused. This was the moment she was supposed to walk off to the great unknown. Leave the only person she really knew. This was so hard!
With two steps Jack walked up to where Riddick was still carelessly leaning to the wall. Without the further prelude, Jack rose to her toes and placed an innocent soft kiss on his cheek. Her fingers tenderly slide over his shaved head. "Take care, Riddick," she said while taking in the last view of him to forever remember him by.
Riddick's steady gaze bore into her green eyes and made Jack feel so secure and worm inside. "Take care, Jack," he told her in replay.
Both of them smiled a little. Jack turned and took her bags. She stepped down the ramp and walked away from her great hero… and from her love.
Jack headed to the central city. First priority was to find a job ASAP. She reviewed her skills. One – lots of experience in all-round criminal activity. Second – singing. Although Jack couldn't prove her identity as a famous rock singer, she still had her voice and guitar to earn a respectable living as long as there is at least one good person out there ready to hire white trash. She chose to give it a chance first.
First up there was a big swell hotel called Paradise Centre. Surely all hotels need those lounge singers… But Jack decided not to have that as an option. The image of her in a fancy evening dress and high heels, with proper hairdo and all that, was just too much. Jack wanted to be her all the way, even if without Riddick.
So she kept on walking with her big bags and guitar case. Jack was still smiling softly, just the way she had been ever since leaving Mortimer Nova. Jack knew Riddick was halfway through the take off already, but didn't feel broken by that. No matter how things here will turn up, Jack knew she would be happy in the end. She was out of Riddick's shadow and was determined to find out, who she – Jack – really is.
It was growing dark by the time she gave up finding the job in just one day. She had been right – nobody wanted a singer without a famous name. They told Jack they didn't do cheap entertainment. Huh. Fuck you too, mister high and mighty. Well, she could always do some pick-pocketing, she reminded herself.
The Torch seemed like every other rock club. Jack chose to give it a chance. She went up to the bar and ordered a beer. After taking a sip, Jack asked the handsome bartender: "Is this place looking for a performer?"
The bartender gave her a once over. "Depends. You dance or what?" he asked with a seductive smile.
Jack smiled back. It wasn't the guy's fault he hadn't seen her putting her guitar down before ordering her drink. "Nah. I'm a singer. I imagine I'd fit in a place like this more than well."
"Oh. I'll tell the manager as soon as he walks by. You staying here for a while then?" the bartender asked casually.
"Sure," Jack agreed and took another big gulp. This place felt lucky.
The bartender had been very friendly and allowed her to put her bags in the back room while she still waited for the manager-man. This is why Jack was dancing all the while. Now that she could do whatever she wanted, Jack found her new life rather joyful. An older fat guy made his way through the mass of dancers and tapped on her shoulder.
Jack swirled around, a hand ready to crab the shiv from her belt. "Yeah?" she asked suspiciously. If this was yet another middle-aged man, half way through a nasty divorce, looking for some "company", she would say something very nasty.
But the guy didn't have that slick feel to him. "Hey. Jackie, right?" he said, shouting over the music. Jack nodded incredulously hearing the newer version of her name. She had given it only to the barman. The man continued happily: "I heard you wanted to talk to me. Something about performing here? I'm Davis, the manager here."
Jack smiled and nodded in agreement. The man guided her off the dance floor and invited her to his office. It wasn't that big or that tidy office, clearly the man didn't have high demands for this place.
"Take a seat, girl," the man said with his fatherly tone. It felt new, but not necessarily unpleasant.
Jack did so and started: "This is a great place you got here, Davis. I know I'd be a good addition to it," she said confidently. After all, why should she be modest and deny the truth?
Davis smiled and crossed his fat fingers over his bear-belly. "The bartender said you have no experience."
This was the hardest part. Jack wasn't about to lie. "Yea, I don't. But if you give me just one chance, I'd make you not regret it."
There was a rather long silence as Davis thought about it and appraised Jack to see if she had what it takes. He wasn't going to risk losing any money over giving a pretty girl whatever she asked. "Tell ya what, girl. I'll announce off-schedule karaoke contest. Those are always popular. You'll sing and we have a talk later."
Jack smiled like an ally and nodded. She so knew she'll nail the job.
The evening entertainer – a sensual woman in her thirties – called out the competition. "So, men, women and all others, come up here and give it all you've got!" she shouted to the microphone.
There weren't that many eager people. Maybe they were still too sober for that just yet. Jack raised her hand and finally climbed up the stage. She didn't want the other partiers to know it had been an arranged event, so she acted a little shy and embarrassed.
"Hey, sweaty," the red-dressed woman greeted Jack. "What's your name, little thing?"
Jack kept her act up, although the lights or all the people looking up at her didn't make her feel inconvenient least bit. "Jackie, madam."
"Like the rockstar?" the woman asked as a joke.
"…I wish…" Jack said and pretended to blush a little. It seemed the crowd liked her very much, that she was just as afraid of performing as any one of them would be in her position.
Jack had chosen a song and the music started. It was "Come as you are" by Nirvana. The people rocked along as she sang and Jack smiled. It felt really good to see them enjoying her singing, even though her voice wasn't quite raspy enough for the song. She acted more and more confident as the song progressed and danced wildly during the long guitar play.
After the final accord, people clapped hands and demanded for more. Jack was happy to please them. She asked them, what's their request, and was rather surprised to hear one younger man shout over all the others that he wanted to hear Whitney Houston's "Greatest love of all". Not exactly what you'd expect at a place like The Torch. Okay dokey. Guess the guy wants to test me…If he'd only know how different its messages is of my own life…
"Well," Davis said an hour later as he was once again sitting at his office with Jack. She had a smug smile all over her face. She had a good reason for it. The crowd had LOVED Jack! Davis was prepared to offer her what ever she wanted, just as long as Jack agrees to perform there again and again.
"Well, well," Jack said teasingly. "Do we have a deal?"
Davis leaned forward and matched her smile. Oh, it will be a pleasure doing business with Jackie Cheche. They shook hand and started the negotiation over the terms.
In the end Jack had obtained a rent-free comfortable apartment above the club, a nice weekly salary and a good friend on top of all that. Not bad for a day's work.
She got settled in and as Jack lay on her new big bed, she looked out the window. Somewhere, among all those stars, is Riddick. Wonder how is he… Happy smile on her lips, she fell into a dreamless sleep.
It seemed like just a blink of an eye when she woke one morning and a whole year had passed. Jack knew exactly what day it was going to be tomorrow. The warm sun shone on her bed, but didn't make her feel better at all. Riddick's coming back. What will I do?
Jack lay under the covers and thought about the way her life had turned out. She had a great life! You'd have to be crazy to give all that up! Job she loved more than anything else; friends, for the first time in her life; security and peace of mind… And Trevor…
Trevor. The sweetest man you could ever find. A real gentleman, a man who loved Jackie. Jack didn't quite know what she felt for Trevor. They had been together five months now and things seemed to go better and better with every passing day. Jack didn't want to start comparing Trevor to Riddick; they were two completely different men.
Trevor was a doctor, Riddick was a killer. That kind of covers it all. Trevor never had any trouble talking about whatever, doing whatever. Nor did he ever hide what his intentions were with Jack. He wanted a family and the whole package. This is what Riddick said Jack should be looking for in life, not that Riddick ever wanted all those things for himself though….
Jack was so confused. She desperately wanted to talk to Riddick, to find out what's his opinion about this all. Yet, she also feared meeting him. Jack knew she had changed a lot. She didn't want to loose Riddick either. Now she was just as much clueless as of what she wanted out of life as Riddick had been a year before. Table's turned, and Jack didn't like it one bit.
She sighed as she got out of her bed. Time for a workout, she reminded to herself.
"Blue Laser, you have permission for landing. Tower out," the unrecognizable voice said over the com.
Riddick docked and after a while he switched off the console and rose from his seat. Time to look her up, he thought. A man, who wasn't afraid of anything, didn't particularly know how to feel about seeing Jack again. What has she become?
But there was no point to waste time. Hiding had never been Riddick's tactics. He's a man's man and can take it head on.
By the afternoon Riddick had found out pretty much there was to find out about a local star Jackie Cheche. He smiled proudly – my girl will make it everywhere! There were even some posters on streets with Jack's pretty face all over them. Riddick had to admit – Jack had grown into an even more ravishing beauty with that single year. The look in her eyes spoke of her confidence. She knew exactly what she's worth. She had completely accepted her femininity and made it work in her favor in every way possible. Riddick was quite anxious to see her in real life.
He had to be careful while walking down the busy streets. The mercs were still on his neck and he could have been recognized by every other person. His life hadn't changed at all – still worked as a hired gun or smuggler. Riddick had tried many different aliases and disguises, but nothing could hide his eyes, broad shoulders or the air of danger surrounding him no matter how he tried.
The Torch was still closed when Riddick found it. Daylight doesn't match the rock club's image. So he got himself a room in a hotel across the street. He didn't feel like banging on the club doors to find out where Jack is staying at. They have plenty of time to catch up.
"Hey, Trevor!" Jack greeted her boyfriend by the bar. There were enough people filling the club. Soon it'd be her time to get on the stage.
Blond man in mid 20s turned around, smiling. "Hi, honey!" he said and they kissed deeply, hands wound around each other lovingly. He was about 6'0, middle weight and dressed in a suit.
A dark figure had just stepped into the smoky room and found them in an instant. Not a muscle moved in his face as the man walked to the bar's other end, never loosing the kissing couple from his sight. He ordered his drink and kept on watching Jack and Trevor from the distance as the kiss dragged on and on.
"Happy birthday, love," Trevor told Jack as they nuzzled noses like there wouldn't be anyone around. "You're 19 now," he continued.
Jack smiled and her fingers raked through the blond hair. For a second she was reminded by the last birthday she had, but Jack refused to think about it. Riddick will come tomorrow and until then I'm gonna enjoy being with Trevor as much as possible.
"I have something for you," Trevor told to his beautiful loved one. He took a small pink box out of his jacket's pocket and gave it to Jack. She was rather surprised. Jack still wasn't quite used to having such a normal life.
She beamed as she asked playfully: "For me?" Jack opened it hastily. There, on the burgundy velvet, on the silver chain, lay a small diamond pendant, shaped as the letter T.
"Just to remind you of me," Trevor said eagerly. Jack had weird feeling like he had given her a dog collar, but brushed it away. It was a lovely thought. The blond man took it out and Jack lifted her long hair to help him. The little pendant sparkled in the disco lights, the tiny "T" a bit sidelong.
"It's lovely, Trevor!" Jack said honestly. But before they could engage themselves in another hot kissing session, Davis called out to her. It was time to earn her living. The truth was that Jack loved her so called job more than most people could ever imagine.
Jack happily got up, even though it wasn't such an easy task to climb the stairs with her high heels. But they matched her lacey little dress and made her tanned legs seem so long, so… The crowd was cheering when she took the mike and sent them all her big sincere smile.
"Hey ya, folks!" she greeted and got another loud applause out of the people. "Today I'd like to dedicate the first song to a very special friend, Trevor. Hot Chocolate's oldie called "You sexy thing". Rock on!" Jack said as the music started.
Trevor stood in the front row and Jack kept her eyes on him as she sang and danced in front of him seductively. Trevor looked like a proud schoolboy – everybody cheering along when the right moment came. His mouth was hanging open in a smile and he was blushing as Jack gave it all she got to move sexy. And, boy, did she succeed!
Riddick sat by the bar and watched the show Jack put up. On one hand Riddick wasn't stunned. Yes, Jack was a completely different woman now from the girl he had left here a year ago. She indeed had chosen herself a geeky loser guy to get involved with. Jealousy bit Riddick's guts and some disbelief clouded his judgment a little. Still, there was a part in him that had accepted it all even before he had landed on this planet.
On the other hand… Hell, yea! – Riddick was angry to see his Jack dancing up there in a skimpy dress! He was angry to see her flirting with another man and sing about fucking him. It drove him mad to see her, hear her, and not proclaim this fabulous beauty his own.
He took another drink and listened to her singing. Jack had seven more songs to sing till taking a break before singing the other part of her set. Riddick was kind of surprised to see how good Jack was with people. One would think thirteen years as a runaway and five living with Riddick would rid her of any social skills. On the contrary – she got the people up and dancing, got the party started and didn't even break a sweat.
"Bartender," Riddick called out. As the man came, Riddick flipped him a note along with few credits. "Give it to Jackie Cheche. Say it's from a friend a year ago." The bartender nodded and went back to his work.