Chapter Two: Reality

Jarod awoke soon after the door closed. He turned onto his back and smiled at the ceiling. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Last night had been like a dream. His goal since escaping the Centre had been to bring it down and show Miss Parker he loved her. One down, one to go.

Sure there had been other women, two other women to be exact, each special in their own way but neither compared to his feelings for Miss Parker. She had been the first girl he had seen and kissed. She had chased him and it thrilled him that she had kept at it instead of giving up. It made his freedom more enjoyable. Even more now that the Centre would be on it's way to their end. Not wanting to think about that instead he wanted to think of last night, Jarod turns and reaches out. He meets nothing but air. Jarod pushes himself up on his elbow, "Miss Parker," he calls out. No answer comes.

Sitting up he calls again, "Parker," and still no answer.

Unashamed of his naked body Jarod stands up and walks to the closed bathroom door. He puts his ear to the door and listens. No water running and no other sounds. Opening the door he sees the room is empty but he notices changes that suggest it has been used. Scratching his head he turns and notices the bedroom. His clothes were everywhere but he notices none of Miss Parker's.

Swearing under his breath he says, "She left." Walking over to the open fridge he thought, she must have freaked at waking up with me. In bed with the enemy. Jarod notices a few of the vodka bottles are missing. She might not remember last night and an unexpected bedmate could make anyone freak. She had been drinking a lot when I approached her. And she took solace in the closest liquor source.

Jarod was over come by the need to run after her even if it was in the nude. "She can't go any where yet. She wouldn't leave without saying good bye to Sydney." With a new hope and a smile Jarod walks back to the bathroom and shuts the door.

Leaning over the sink and looking at his reflection Jarod smirked. There at the base of his throat was a bruise. Parker and her habit of sucking my skin. Images of last night entered his mind clearer than Miss Parker's would have been. Looking at his throat again he thinks. I had no idea this would appear. I'll have to show Sydney and ask him what exactly happened. Jarod decides that he wouldn't shave this morning. And turning from the sink he touches the spot once more and gets into the shower. He looks down when he notices the floor is still wet. Oh Parker we could have had more fun in the shower together. Still smiling he starts the water and not caring what the temperature is he steps under the shower. "Oh God that's cold," he yells as the cold hits him. But to him it's welcome after the heat of last night.

After a few minutes of just standing there Jarod reaches for his wash clothe and soap. Soon his body was lathered and clean. Rubbing the stubble on his chin Jarod turns of the now hot water. Stepping out of the shower he reaches for the only towel. Still wet from Miss Parker Jarod holds it to his nose and breathes in. It smells like her. Drying himself off he smiles that even clean Parker and himself will smell like each other.

Jarod dresses himself in a pair of black dress pants and a loose blue dress shirt. Sitting on the bed he reaches for his shoes and that's when he sees the black nylon. Pulling it out from under the bed he smiles. She left me a nice momento. He places it on the bed and finishes tying his shoes.

Looking at the clock and reading 10:30am he decides that now would be as good a time as any to confront Parker. Walking to the door he opens and closes it behind him. Reaching into his pocket he pulls out a key card not for his own room but for room 245. Walking down the hall to the elevator took some time since Jarod had requested a room near the emergency stairs. And thus made it farther from the elevators. On his way he passed other people from the party and nodded and said "good morning." Some looked like they could tear his head off for yelling it was "good" instead of whispering. And others faces just said "don't say a thing to me I've got a hang over." Still others called back the same greeting.

When Jarod stood in front of the elevator he pushed the down button. While he waited he sang "Cree crawl toad's foot geese walk barefoot." While he was singing it the third time a small girl walked up to him.

She asked, "What are you singing?" Jarod looked down at her and smiled.

Squatting in front of her he said, "I'm singing a song my mom taught me when I was about your age."

"Do you sing it to remember her because she died? That's what I do. Only my song is different." Jarod stood back up as the bell for the elevator rang. The doors opened and both he and the girl got on. The little kid was still talking and Jarod was only half listening.

When he felt a tug on his pant leg did he look back down at her with his usually puzzled look. "What is it?"

"Did you like my song?"

Not wanting to offend the sweet girl Jarod lied, "Yes I did."

Luckily for him the bell sounded and the doors opened. And right before the doors closed the girl said "Bye Jarod." Turning back around he hoped to catch the door to ask her how she knew him but the doors had already closed again. I'll have to ask Sydney if he knows her.

The second floor was smoky most of the time due to it being the smoking floor for the hotel. He had to laugh because he had made it so Miss Parker could only get a room on this floor. Better to be where the temptation is and not want it than to be so far and need it.

The room he was looking for was not hard to locate. Like his it was farther from the elevator but not to far that it took five minutes to get there. Not even knocking on the door Jarod slips the card into the lock and when the little green light flashed he opened the door.

"Parker." He yelled out. Closing the door he stepped farther into the room. The room was the same size as his but for one big difference, the beds. His was a king and hers were two queens, usually for quarrelling couples. Jarod knew there was bound to be a lot of quarrelling in their future but it would be worth it.

"Parker." He called out again. Looking around he noticed the room was clean, but peering into the closet he noticed clothes hanging on hangers and spilling out of suitcases. His face lost its smile and a frown was soon in its place. The maids have been here already but her things are still here. This thought gave Jarod hope and he ran out the door and down to the door that led to the steps. With how slow the elevators may been running today it would be faster for me to just use the stairs. Taking each step two at a time he was down to the lobby in no time. Pushing open the door he scanned the lobby and saw no trace of Parker. But he did see someone he could get answers from.

Walking across the floor he came to stop in front of Sydney and blurted out, "Where is she?"

Sydney turned to Jarod and asked "Who?" A puzzled expression was on Sydney's face and his eyes had quickly scanned over Jarod's appearance and stopped at his throat.

"Miss Parker, Syd, where is she?" Jarod looked as though the floor was going to swallow him and sweepers were going to catch him at the same time.

"She came to see me…." Syd looked at his watch, "about thirty minutes ago to say good bye. She hugged me and then she left." When Syd said left Jarod's whole body crumpled with devastation.

Syd, guessing what might have happened, asked, "Is that a hickey on your neck?"

Jarod looked at Sydney, touching where he knew the spot was and said with a small smile, "So that's what these are called." Then while still holding his neck Jarod turned around and slowly made his way back to the elevator.

Behind him Sydney said softly, "What have you gotten yourself into this time Parker?"