As Jessica drove she realised for once she had no destination. She couldn't go to the next venue because the flights were booked and it was too far to drive. She couldn't go back to her house and there was no hotel for miles. She was all alone.
"Chris? I left him." And as she said that it finally hit her, her voice was nothing but a whisper as she tried desperately not to cry
"Where are you?"
"In my car."
"How far away are you from Tampa? Driving distance?"
"I'm in Tampa."
"My hotel is The Grand and my room number is 183- I will be there."
"Thank you." She whispered as she hung up the phone and started the car back up.
--
"Guys you gotta go – up and out!"
"Whoa Chris easy there buddy what's going on."
"You leaving now move."
"Chris what happened to the golden rule of never leaving a man behind?"
"Ok dude – you are leaving and leaving this man in peace in his hotel room alone. So leave!"
"But… But... The Movie?"
"The dude dies in the end it's sad... Move on with your life and start by Moving Out of my Hotel Room."
"But Chris I'm comfortable."
"Stacy I can see that – and quite frankly I don't give a damn. Now all of you get out of my damn hotel room before I call security!"
"Geez Chris we'll leave."
"So Soon?"
"Sarcasm kills dude"
"Noted. Now don't let the door hit you on the way out!"
And with that one by one they got up and left – mumbling to each other about how he could be a jackass sometimes.
--
How long have I been in this
storm?
So overwhelmed by the oceans shapeless form
She felt as though she was in a trance, she wasn't thinking about anything – she couldn't focus, as though she was on auto-pilot. As she climbed the stairs she felt numb, as though every step she took was the first one and she would never be able to get to the top of the staircase. She had spent around an hour getting herself together in the car – determined to prove to at least somebody that she was fine.
Waters getting harder to tread
With these waves crashing over my head
"Drink"
Chris placed a bottle of Jack Daniels and two tumblers in front of Jessica.
"Thanks, for everything."
"I will always be here Blondie, but I will cut you off when Jack comes on too heavy to you, he's like that."
She laughed something she hadn't done in what seemed like forever. It was short and bittersweet, and it came as a relief to both that the old her was in there somewhere, just waiting to come out.
"So you want to talk about it? Or just chill on the sofa – either way as long as you are comfortable."
"Can we get out somewhere? Just for a walk, it seems less real when I'm not confined to four walls." She gave an awkward smile, Chris could tell she was trying to hold it together and she knew that he knew, but she was thankful that he had the patience to humour her and was there.
"Sure let me just grab my coat and we'll get out of here."
He was worried. Everything that evening had caught him off guard. The phone call, the way he had found her on the stairs to her mood now.
--
"You know that writer guy-"
"I'm familiar with him, great books, I mean wow," she playfully hit him in the ribs.
"You are not allowed to make fun of me, I'm hurting."
"True, but you make it so easy,"
"Jackass," she looked at him and smiled.
"That I am, about the writer guy?"
"Right… he once said that when he was anxious or sad he would take to the sea – that's kind of like me, except I take to the streets."
"Right…"
"Don't look at me like that," her expression changed that instant and he saw what was coming.
"Like
what?"
"Like I told you so, but I am too polite to say it but
I told you so. You saw it coming and you tried to stop it but I
didn't listen and now I am here walking along the streets rambling
about how it is like the sea because of some writer guy," he could
see the tears forming behind her eyes "and how yet again –
Jessica Michaels is alone and will always be alone because nobody
apart from the people who have to want to put up with her crap, they
just trade her in for younger smarter models."
"Before we get the hell out of her let me set something straight Jess and you wont like it but you need to here it, that jackass didn't deserve you and he proved how much of an assclown he really was. And as for younger – that bimbo in the video was plastic through and through – I wouldn't be surprised if she was at least 10 years older than me let alone you, and as far as smarter goes, you are the smartest person that I know, and I know a lot of people."
"That's just opinion." Chris could now tell that she was about to break.
Chris put his arm around her and steered her back to the hotel.
"Let's get out of here."
