Chapter 9
Friends- good or bad.
Nick came by around 11:30 with sandwiches for everyone and paper work for Eddie to help him with. He updated his friend on the goings on in the Ridge. He prattled on about Big Cat strutting now that they had had the engagement party and how Ikey was becoming more and more disillusioned with him. Owen and Alison were planning a date for Friday night and Phil was surviving but not well. He encouraged Eddie to keep the video link up as often as possible. Phys was not happy.
Janet took the opportunity to head to the bar to get her most recent paycheck and to talk to Sully. When she walked in the door she regretted it immediately. Rooster was behind the bar with a huge grin. Lunch rush hadn't started so it was pretty empty. Janet headed straight for the back without looking around or talking to anyone, Rooster followed.
"Hey Janet, how are you?" Rooster asked trying to give her a hug.
"Get away from me." She said in an angry tone. "Right now you are my coworker, not my friend and most certainly NOT my boyfriend. If you were smart you would stay far away from me until I was over being mad."
"But I thought…." He continued.
"That's just it you didn't think, you didn't think about me or what I wanted only what you wanted. YOU knew how drunk I was and you let me take advantage of you. YOU were sober, you could have, should have stopped it." She spat the words out with such anger it was almost therapeutic. "I will want to be your friend again, I'm sure of it but for right now I'm mad. I'm mad at you, at me, at the world. So again I say walk away and leave me be."
"Fine" He replied walking away more angry than hurt.
"Janet." Sully called from his office.
"Yea."
"Let's not do that too often ok?"
"Yea. I'm just here for my schedule and my check."
"OK. Here's what I decided." Sully started. "I'm not scheduling you. If you can work, come in, even if it's only for a few hours. Even if you don't know until you leave to come here. Just come in and work. OK?"
"Sully, that's not fair to everyone else. Really I can come in."
"No it was Karen's idea and everyone agreed. It really isn't that bad. Duff graduates this week and before you say anything the bar is covered. EVERYONE wanted to work that night."
"OK. I get it, you don't need me." Janet said pretending to pout.
"No I need you here when you're here not worrying about what's happening at home. How is our boy?" Sully asked knowing full well what had happened.
"He's better; swelling's down, not taking as much pain medication. Nick came by with paper work, I think he's gonna wanna "work from home" so to speak."
"Have you two talked it out?"
"A little. Don't know what we're doing or anything but we're talking and are comfortable around each other."
"Good. You're good for him, he may not know it but you are good for him."
"Thanks. I'm gonna get back it's time for a happy pill. Why don't you bring dinner by tonight? I know he'd love to see you.
"Maybe I will. I'll call before I leave to get your orders."
Glancing in the kitchen to see who was cooking she turned back and said, "How about Steve's chicken franchese?"
"You got it. I'll call when I'm leaving to give you the heads up. See yea tonight."
"See yea." Janet said waving to Steve and heading into the front of the bar.
Seeing Karen at the end of the bar she went over and thanked her for everything she was doing. The two friends hugged and over Karen's shoulder she saw Matt eating lunch. Unable to stop herself she walked over to his table. He and his friends were laughing as if they hadn't a care in the world. When Janet got to the table she just stood and glared at him. Matt looked up at her waiting for her verbal attack but she said nothing she just stared at him. The guys at the table started making comments about Janet and still she just stared at Matt. Feeling very uncomfortable he began squirming in his seat and yet she continued to stare. Finally the waitress came with their food and Janet walked away.
"Wack job." Said one of Matt's lunch companions.
"Shut up." Said Matt.
Janet climbed into her car and drove home. When she walked in the door she saw Nick and Eddie laughing at something on the television. Both could tell something was wrong as Janet just headed straight to her bedroom and closed the door. Finally safe in her room, in her new bed she allowed herself to cry, releasing all of the stress and tension of the previous hour.
"Nicky, can you get her to come out here and talk to us?" Eddie asked.
"I can try. Hang on." Getting up Nick knocked on Janet's door. "Janet? Can I come in?" He asked.
"Hang on. I'll be out in a minute." She answered. Blowing her nose and patting her eyes dry she headed to the living room. "What's up guys?" She said in her most happy voice.
"Um what was that?" Eddie asked.
Looking at both of them Janet said. "Emotional release." She then headed to the kitchen to get a drink.
"HEY!" Eddie shouted. "NO HIDING IN THE KITCHEN! Get back here and talk NOW!"
"Hush the windows are open." She answered bring a glass of iced tea.
"I should leave." Said Nick.
"NO." they both said at the same time.
"Ok. You want to know what's up? Here goes. I went to Sully's, Rooster was all in my face, happy and crap and I blew up at him. HUGE screaming match in the kitchen. Sully even told me to stop it." Janet explained with her hands flying everywhere. "Oh good news Sully said I can go in any time I want to work. I'm not scheduled for any hours but can just walk in and work. So if Nick comes by for a few hours and you two are working I can go in and do a couple of hours." Nick and Eddie just stared at each other wondering if she'd ever breath. "OK so as I was leaving I talked to Karen and saw Matt and his friends having lunch." Eddie's blood turned cold as they both stared at Janet. "So I walked over to them and stared them down."
"What did they say to you?" Eddie asked.
"Nothing." Janet replied. "I said nothing to Matt and he said nothing to me. Someone made a crack about me being a wack job as I walked away and Matt said shut up but I stared at him for a good 3 minutes. He was squirming! I loved it. He was so busted. You have got to press charges and get him thrown in jail."
"We'll see." Eddie answered.
"No man this is getting way to crazy." Nick interrupted. "You have to do it all legal. The police have a report and I'm sure they won't need your permission to press charges. You should cooperate."
"Are you sure they didn't say anything to you? Threaten you? Any thing?" Eddie said to her.
"No but like I said Rooster was working and that was more than enough drama for me for one day. OH but I forgot Sully's coming by with chicken franchese tonight."
"Steve working?" Eddie asked knowing Janet only liked his chicken.
"Yup. Are you joining us after work nick?" she asked.
"No. I'm having dinner with Aubrey tonight. She's heading home for a few days after graduation." Nick answered.
"Okay. Well like I said guys it was an emotional release. Nothing more and nothing to worry about." Janet said. "Did the game start?"
"Damn, I forgot." Eddie said grabbing the remote and changing the channel.
"Hey Eddie." Janet said. "Why don't you call Phil and watch it together via land line. I'm gonna take a nap."
"K" he said reaching for the phone.
"Stay as long as you want Nick. I'll be out in 5 seconds." Janet said heading to her room.
"She's not lying; I couldn't wake her up this morning. She got a new bed yesterday and was out." Eddie said with a smile.
"Did you need anything? Maybe one of us should stay too?" Nick asked concerned.
"No. it's all good. I'm sure she needed it." Eddie answered.
Janet woke up refreshed and excited. It was just after 3 and she could hear Sam and Eddie doing homework. She smiled at the patience he showed his young friend. She headed into the living room to see them drawing plans for a science project.
"Hey Sam" she said.
"Hey Janet."
"We missed you this morning. Running late?"
"Yea. Today was field day- Where we run around all afternoon doing all sorts of sports and things so I don't have a lot of homework."
"Cool, want a snack."
"Nah I got Eddie and I some chips when I got here."
"Where's Nick?" Janet asked Eddie.
"He left about an hour after you went to bed. Aubrey called and wanted to talk to him." Eddie answered. "Hey Janet. The Doctor called while you were sleeping. He wants to see me at 7am at outpatient services in the hospital. Something about my kidneys. He wants to run some tests. I told him that was fine. Is it?"
"Absolutely. We need you up and outta here. I want my living room back." She said with a smile. Eddie smiled back at her and returned to Sam and the science project.
-
Sam left around 4:30, just as Janet put dinner in the oven. Owen stopped by around 5:30 on his way home from work just as she was putting dinner on the table. He knew Alison would have dinner for him ready at 6:30 so he just sat and visited while they ate. About 6 minutes into the meal Janet got up and got Owen a dessert plate and flatware so he could have what they would call "appetizers". Before the friends knew it, it was 6:28, Owen would be late. Janet called Allison and explained why Owen was late. Not quite full Owen headed home for "family" dinner. He really liked Allison's meatloaf and was looking forward to leftover sandwiches. Knowing they had to get up early the next day both Janet and Eddie were in their respective beds and asleep by 9pm.