Janie steps pounded down the hallway of the school, the other students were parting around her and she was keeping her eyes peeled. So far nothing had happened to her but she was determined to confront Jared before class. Even more pertinent she needed to find his friend.
"Aha," Down the hallway, laughing and walking leisurely in street clothes were Ian and Benicio. Charging through the crowd she stopped in front of them to their startled looks.
"Woah," Ian looked her up and down as Benny smirked behind him. "We meet at last. Janie right? How's your day going? You don't look well." Her hand shot up in front of him in a stop motion.
"Save it, I'm not here for you." Moving a step closer to a confused Benny she pointed her finger accusingly at him. "I don't care how you got my address but you need to stop handing it out now."
He gawked at her half laughing as Ian shrugged in confusion. "Senorita, what makes you think that I have your address."
"Don't play dumb, I hear enough gossip to know that you're the one in the group who supplies the information. Now, I don't care how you got it but you better keep it to your damn self." Benny's smirk was fading.
"Your fights not with me, and you didn't say why you think I have your address?"
"Because the three morons who jumped me last night could not have been clever enough to figure it out themselves." Ian and Benny shared a confused look but didn't say anything. Janie didn't wait for them to respond.
"Now, where the hell is he?"
Jared was still lounging in a chair by the fireplace when Janie kicked down the door and barged in. He started climbing out of his seat and tried to speak as she marched towards him.
"What are you-"
"Enough!" Janie shoved him back down into his chair and leaned over him, arms braced against the armrests looking at him at eye level. "When I asked if you wanted a fight I meant one on one, you and me, not your little lackeys while you sat at home doing God knows what."
Jared was still staring at her as she waited for a response. He glanced at Ian and Benny who had followed in behind her but they looked just as confused as he felt.
"First, one question," She nodded as he held up one finger, then pointed at her bruised cheek and split lip. "What happened to your face?"
Janie dropped her head forward in shock before standing up and planting her hands on her hips. "Seriously? Are you that tactless? Your goons bounced it off the pavement."
"What?" He started forward and stood up towering over her. "Listen, I don't have any goons and I don't know what the hell you're talking about."
"Like hell you don't, they jumped me last night no doubt at your command after your boyfriend gave them my home address." Jared's jaw dropped along with Benny's, only Ian seemed to still be finding the humor in the situation.
"Next time, do the deed yourself or don't bother doing it all. Seriously, why don't you grow a pair?" With that said Janie spun and marched out the door leaving the three men in a state of disbelief that they did not often experience.
"What the hell just happened!?" Jared slumped back into the chair in shock as Ian and Benny took the seats across him.
"I don't know man, but that girl is hilarious!" Ian was still laughing even after Benny punched him in the arm.
"It's not funny, I don't like being accused of things I didn't do." Benny crossed his arms and looked to Jared for a response.
"Me neither, did you give her address out to anyone?"
"No, I thought you left it on the desk," Benny pointed to the desk across the room. "but I didn't hand it out." Jared stood up and crossed to the desk. The folder of material about Janie and her family that Jared had brought to school was still their but as he sifted through them he saw that the photo of the Laundromat and the sheet with her address were missing.
"Someone must have taken them." He turned back to Benny and Ian. "Figure it out."
The marks on Janie's desk stared up at her as she tried to concentrate on her class. Not only that, but on her way to first period the other students had slapped post-its on her back as she traveled down the hallway. She was reluctant to see what they said. The laughter and sneers it was bringing was not a good sign.
At lunch Janie finally got a glimpse of Minnie, she must have returned that morning. Sitting up in her seat she raised her hand in greeting as Minni looked her way. When Minnie saw her, she stopped, clutching her tray of food and looking down she veered off to the other corner of the cafeteria. Letting her hand drop down, Janie returned to her lunch, glancing across at Minnie who looked not only lonely but very disappointed by her food.
By the end of the day, Janie was exhausted but detoured up to the roof to remove the post-its. She hadn't wanted the other students to get any joy out of watching her remove and read them so she simply let them be all day. Now, in the chilly air she removed her jacket letting her thin dress shirt brace her against the wind.
"God damn bastards." The post-its reflected her desk. Racial slurs and general insults. She started yanking them off her jacket mumbling angrily under her breath.
"It used to be so quiet up here." She froze, looking up, she watched Jackson once again emerge from the other side of the roof entrance holding a new book and a bored expression. The sight of him made her heart skip for unknown reasons as she tried to compose herself and push her hair out of her face.
"I didn't know you were up here." He nodded and casually strolled up next to her looking down at the notes. Pointing a finger at one of the post-its he asked.
"What does that mean?" His finger was resting on zipperhead, she yanked it off and crumpled it throwing it into her pile.
"I honestly don't know."
"Hmm." He didn't say anything else as she quietly ripped the remaining notes off and replaced the jacket. Reaching a hand up he ran it through his hair watching her straighten the newly patched elbows, courtesy of the fight from the night before. After she finished straightening she looked up and caught him watching her.
"He didn't do it." Janie sighed and walked towards the edge of the roof.
"Why do you say that?" Jackson followed her and leaned against the wall.
"Not his style, what he does may be wrong but he doesn't go past a certain point."
"How do you know that?" Janie faced him as he continued to stare into the distance. "The kind of person he is, he just doesn't seem good at all." Jackson looked at her, frowning.
"We've been friends for a long time, he's never been perfect but I think if you knew more you'd understand why. My point is," he turned completely towards her placing a hand on her shoulder, "last night was not something he would do." Janie's heart was pounding as she stared at Jackson. His eyes were such a striking blue that she felt naked under their gaze. Still, he seemed oblivious to her reaction so she just shrugged him off and looked away.
"Whatever. I'll see you around." Walking towards the exit she heard him grunt in acknowledgement as she pulled open the door and headed down the stairs. She didn't know why he was affecting her so strongly but she didn't have time for it. That's what she told herself as she headed home trying to shake his calm face and bright eyes out of her mind.
At the bakery that night, Janie finished recounting everything to a very shocked Gail who looked on the verge of tears the whole time. When she finished, Gail sprung on her in a gripping hug.
"Woah, calm down!" Janie tried to pry her off but Gail was holding her firmly.
"I'm so sorry Janie!"
"Gail, I'm fine now. Please calm down." Gail finally relinquished her grip on Janie but continued to look concerned.
"I just feel so bad, how can they be so cruel?"
"They're not all bad. Jackson, the one I keep running into on the roof, he actually seems pretty nice." Janie paused remembering the way he looked earlier in the day. "And anyway, he says Pullman wouldn't have done it. He doesn't seem like someone who would lie but I'm still not sure what to think."
Gail was paused in deep thought twisting the end of her braided red hair when the sound of a phone ringing in the baking portion of the shop drew their attention. After a short pause shouting began followed by a long string of curses as destruction seemed to erupt from the back room. Janie and Gail shared a quizzical look and then Gail headed hesitantly towards the entrance. Pushing the swinging door open Gail called into the back.
"Eve? Is everything okay?" Gail drifted through the doorway as Janie listened to the string of shouting that sent a frazzled Gail hustling back to the front.
"What's up?" Gail shook her head and clutched her hands nervously in front of her.
"That wedding coming up cancelled their order." Another crash echoed from the back. Gail dropped her voice to a whisper. "It was a really high end client, said they were worried about how capable she was."
"Damnit, she was gonna pay me to go with her." Gail sighed sadly and started wiping down the counter but after a few moments paused.
"So," she turned to face Janie, "what are you going to do now?"
"I've really only got one thing planned for sure."
Janie was having a stare down with her mother while the twins and May watched anxiously from the door and Jimmy watched happily from the floor.
"Umma, I really have to go somewhere today."
"Then take him with you."
"Please Umma, can't you take him?"
"Ani, he'll be too busy. I have to go to the student teacher conferences and you won't even tell me what you're doing."
Janie hesitated and Su-wan smiled in triumph. "Good, we'll see you later." Su-wan led the other kids out of the apartment as Jimmy waved goodbye from the floor. Turning on the smiling child Janie plastered a big grin on her face.
"Let's do this kid."
Janie stopped at the corner market to pick up a few supplies she needed for her task. It wasn't Raj working but his father Amir, who smiled happily and babbled at Jimmy in his heavy, Indian accent. Saying good bye she slung her full, stained backpack over her shoulder as she gazed down at Jimmy who was slung in his carrier over her front. He was getting a little big for the carrier but she still enjoyed carrying him whenever she had to take him somewhere.
After jumping on her usual subway route she arrived at school around noon and thankfully the gates and main building were still open despite the lack of classes. It was an in service day throughout the city but unlike her siblings Janie didn't have to use the day for parent teacher conferences. The school was eerily quiet as she walked through the halls but she continued until she found her class. Once there she deposited Jimmy at the front of the room with a Tupperware of cheerios and a few toy cars. He happily toddled around taking in the new environment before refocusing on his toys.
Once she was convinced he was content, Janie walked between the rows with her bag and set her eyes on her desk.
"Alright desk, you've met your match." After one diaper change, two paint jobs, and a quick stroll around the roof Janie was done and Jimmy was exhausted. She saved the dozing child for last as she gathered her things and slung them on her back.
Shushing him quietly she picked up Jimmy who was still fighting sleep and laid him against her chest as she buckled the carrier around him. His fingers gripped her dark hair as his drooping mouth rested against her shoulder. She honestly didn't mind. She loved her brother like she loved all her siblings. The quiet moments when they cuddled up safe in her arms were well worth the early mornings and dirty diapers.
Leaving the school she let her mind wander, thinking about visiting Gail who would also be off from school. Reaching the bottom of the stairs she heard a slight movement emerging from outside her field of vision.
"What are you doing here?" Janie turned as Jared Pullman continued walking towards her from the office area. He was dressed in black pants with a matching black dress shirt left unbuttoned at the top. His hands were shoved in his pockets as he approached her, dark eyes taking her in.
"I don't answer to you Pullman." He froze, anger rippling through his body that he was trying to control.
"Hey, I was just asking. What's that?" Janie laughed as Jared started towards her again pointing at a very sleepy Jimmy.
"Seriously? You've never seen a toddler before?" Jared tried to laugh but it was unconvincing.
"Ha, of course I have." He peered at Jimmy who was staring at him through half lids. "Like on TV and stuff."
Janie couldn't help but smile more. "Wow, you really are useless." She started walking again and Jared followed her out the main doors.
"You didn't answer me, why are you here?"
"Not that it's any of your business but I had something to take care of. Don't bother asking what, I won't tell you."
"Fine."
"Actually," Janie turned on him as he took a startled step back. "Why are you here? Checking on your stomping grounds?" Jared smirked as she looked past her.
"Just taking care of some matters."
"Yeah, okay, whatever." Janie headed towards the gates as Jared watched her go trying to remain aloof but his mind was slow catching up to his actions and he was moving after her.
"Hey, wait up." Janie had made it to the sidewalk outside the gates and despite her best instincts saying to keep going she paused. Jimmy had just started breathing softly indicating that he had drifted to sleep and Janie waited for Jared to catch up.
"What?"
"Do you still think it was me?"
"Think what was you?"
"The thing with your face."
Janie stifled a laugh as she grinned sarcastically at him. "Much more tactful this time, well done."
"I'm serious." And he was, Janie saw something akin to seriousness in his eyes as he waited for a response.
"Then maybe."
"I didn't." he didn't flinch, just stared down at her waiting for a response. Janie tried to look disinterested but she found herself believing his words.
"Okay." He nodded in satisfaction , looking smug and making her regret her answer.
"Need a ride?" Janie had already looked past him in annoyance but her eyes snapped back to meet his.
"What?"
"A ride? I could take you home, as a sign of good faith."
"Yeah, no thanks." He looked offended. "Why not?"
"Because I find it very hard to believe that a man who has never met a toddler would be capable of transporting one." Jared stared at her in genuine confusion. Frustrated she pointed at the sleeping Jimmy.
"Hello! Child, car seat? Ring any bells?" His face finally lit up in understanding as he started nodding furiously and she joined in.
"Ah, I see." Looking down, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and punched a speed dial button. Janie watched curiously as he waited for an answer.
"Anderson? Yeah, I'm at JAA. I need you to bring me a car seat, now. For a toddler." Janie gaped at him as he eyed Jimmy. "I dunno, normal size?"
"Woah, woah, woah, slow down." Janie grabbed the phone out of Jared's hand and spoke quickly into the receiver. "Yo, cancel that order stat Anderson." Janie slid the phone off and shoved it into Jared's chest.
"I don't know what you're playing at, but I'm not gonna let you drop over a hundred bucks just so you can give me a ride."
"What? That's not bad." Janie continued to gape as Jared looked unphased.
"Look Pullman, I don't take charity-"
"And I don't see what the-"
"Nope!" Janie placed one hand over Jared's mouth and pointed a finger at his face with the other as Jared's heart began to pound. "I'm officially done with you for today. I have reached my limit of whatever brand of stupidity and odd behavior you function on." Jared remained motionless as Janie gave him one last exasperated look and walked past him. His heat was still pounding and the warmth of her hand lingered on his mouth. The ring of his phone brought him back to reality. Answering, he heard
Anderson's fervent voice.
"Sir, are you alright? What's going on?" Jared's other hand moved to rest over his heart that was still racing uncontrollably.
"I'm not sure."
Janie sat on the subway watching Jimmy as he slept peacefully to the gentle rocking of the train. She still didn't understand what Jared had been playing at with the abrupt offer but she was glad to be going home. Resting a hand on Jimmy's head she kissed him softly and leaned back. What have I gotten myself into with these people?
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the man on the subway who had been following her since the main gates of JAA. Janie didn't notice his glances or the camera that had snapped photos of her. All she knew was that something was changing and she wasn't sure if she was ready for what was coming.
Jared was standing in the school cafeteria, he didn't know why. There were no tables and no chairs, a deafening silence filling the room. Then, he heard a sound behind him, spinning around he watched as a figure emerged from the shadows. Stepping into the soft light in bare feet and a flowing black dress that clung delicately to her slim frame was Janie Doe.
"What are you doing here?" She shrugged and continued to walk towards him, running her hand over her black hair draped on her shoulder.
"Don't ask me, I go where I please." Janie began to circle around him like a predator as he followed her steps. Her narrow eyes were rimmed in dark shadow that made them look a little larger, her lips were painted a stark, cold, red. It occurred to him that he had never seen her with any make up. The thought awoke words in him.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"Doing what?"
"You know what, don't play stupid." He wanted to move but his feet were glued to the floor. She was laughing and looking around the room, but not at him. Jared's pulse was racing. He felt like he would burst if he had to keep watching her taunt him.
"Would you just stop?"
"Why should I?"
"Because I said so!" She didn't flinch at his outburst that echoed through the still room, just glanced at him for a moment before continuing in her circle and flitting looks.
"Damn you, I don't think I've ever hated someone so much."
"Is it hate?" She finally paused and turned looking him straight in the eye. He couldn't look away as she why walked towards him slowly. Stopping in front of him she reached a hand up and rested it on his chest, right above his pounding heart. She looked down at it for a second, than up threw her lashes into his startled eyes. "Is hate the reason you can't stop thinking about me?"
Jared awoke with a startled cry, hand gripping his night shirt as he gasped for air. "What the hell?" he exclaimed looking at the clock on his night stand that read 3:42. Lying back down he tried to slow his breathing but he was wide awake and the image of Janie Doe circling him was still playing over and over again in his mind.
Author's note: I'M SORRY! I just finished finals and got this out as soon as I could, I hope it was worth your wait. I realize this chapter really diverged from the original storylines but I always thought the two of them needed a little more interaction before any love declarations got made. Should return to the more familiar in chapters ahead. Hope you enjoy! I'll try to update faster for the next chapter.
Please review! I always appreciate it. ;)
