Chapter Two
Jack's climb to the top of the stairs seemed to take an age, yet when he reached the top he waited a little bit longer, nervous about what her reaction might be to his visit. Finally he plucked up the courage and knocked softly on her door. "Ronnie, can I come in? Are you decent?" He didn't want to walk in on her getting changed, that definitely wouldn't be a good start. His ears were listening for her voice, there it was, "of course I am, come in." He slowly pushes the door open and slowly enters. Starting to relax he attempts to crack a joke, "shame," that confused look came on her face, he's forgotten how many different facial expressions she actually had. "What?" she asked quizzically, not quite knowing what he was getting at. "Shame your decent," he replied. That was a risk he thought, how would she take it? A laugh somehow managed to escape her lips, she blushed and turned slightly pink, and she had been trying so hard not to let him realise that she still liked him. Oh well, she would have to play it that way now, "oh yeh?" Now she was scared, she was flirting with him, she didn't even know why he had visited her and here she was flirting.
Where was he supposed to stand? He couldn't stay here just hovering anxiously around the doorway. She just sat there staring into the mirror applying her mascara. He chose to sit on the edge of her bed, that way she would be able to see him in the mirror. Now tell her how you feel he though to himself, "yeh" he replied, "I really miss your body." No now that sounded like it was a purely sexual thing, "but most of all I miss you." There he'd told her, well he'd told her some of it, how would she react? They had to have that conversation some time, he could feel it coming, she was about to say something of great importance, that would have a great effect upon the way in which this conversation would go. "Yeh well, you shouldn't have slept with you ex-wife then." He had known that this would come up and wasn't sure if he was pleased that it had or not, he knew that it had to in order for them to move forward. "I've apologised for that." He knew flowers weren't the best way, but he thought she would be more likely to accept his apology if she didn't have to see him in order to do it.
Ronnie couldn't believe that he was trying to wriggle out of it, she was so angry, he wasn't even going to apologise. "Didn't you get the flowers?" he asked, confusing her for the second time today, and he had only been in her room for about 2minutes. "What flowers?" He seemed shocked, why was that, she should be the one who is confused. "The flowers I sent, I gave them to Roxy because she refused to let me see you." She was sure that Roxy never gave her any flowers, but even if she had, they wouldn't be a sufficient apology. "I never got the flowers. Why? Were they an apology?" She said this almost sarcastically, making him realise that flowers wouldn't have been enough to earn her forgiveness. He recognised this, and felt that he needed to explain, "There was a note with them." "It would have had to be a pretty good note," she knew she was being mean, but he still hadn't apologised.
Jack was lost for words; if only Ronnie had got that note then they might not be here now, she was refusing to make eye contact, and he said meekly "It was a very good note." Then Ronnie asked the question that he had been dreading. "Why, what did it say?" Ronnie was nervous now, she knew that the fate of their relationship hung on what was what he had written in that note. Jack however wasn't too sure how to answer this question, he had written the note because he couldn't say what was in it to her face. "I can't say." The look of anger that flashed across Ronnie's face at this point shocked Jack to his very core. She couldn't believe that he honestly thought she would just believe he had sent a note, when he wouldn't even tell her what was in it. "Why not?" she asked, "I bet there wasn't even a note." Jack's face was a picture of disbelief, he looked hurt, this was yet another side to his character that Ronnie had never seen. At the beginning that had been one of the things that had attracted her to him, it had added an excitement and buzz to their relationship. But this was a weaker side to him, when he replied is voice was quiet and tearful, "really there was. Ask Roxy." Now he was trying to pin the blame onto Roxy again, "why would she know what the note said?"
Jack was beginning to become frustrated, their conversation was moving so slowly and didn't seem to be going anywhere, why couldn't they just move on. Despite his annoyance he continued to explain, "she took the flowers to give you, and as I left The Vic she was reading the note." Now he had her attention, Roxy had read her note and then not even passed it on. Now she was really curious about what the note had said, and furious at Roxy. "How could she do that? The next time I see her..." Jack interrupted her, this wasn't the way he wanted their conversation to be going, he didn't want it to turn into Ronnie complaining to him about Roxy. "She was probably just looking out for you."
Ronnie had always prided herself in her independence, she didn't need her little sister looking out for her and interrupting her private life. "I can look after myself. Anyway tell me now, what did the note say?" He really didn't want to
tell her, because he didn't think she would want to know. "It's too embarrassing." Ronnie could tell that he was beginning to weaken, and knew exactly how to get it out of him. "Well, if you're not man enough."
Jack realised immediately that she was playing him, but her cheap jibe still annoyed him, after much debating he finally gave in, after all she only had herself to blame. "Ok it said. Ronnie, there are no words that can justify what I did, it was inexcusable, and I will never forgive myself. It was a stupid moment of weakness, and the worst mistake of my life (I've made alot.) Please meet me in the gardens when you get this note, as we need to talk. Jack. P.S..." He faltered it was the next bit he had a problem with. Ronnie picked up on this "Go on," she prompted him. What could he have written that was so bad he couldn't say it to her face.
Taking a deep breath he plucked up the courage and said.
" P.S. I... I love you."