- What did he want ? Says Richard as he watches him walking away.
She didn't answered and hugged him instead. Richard was pressed against her with a force he thought unknown until then and, when they pulled away from their embrace, he timidly kissed the corner of her lips, which surprised the young woman. She knew that he was shy and that he wanted to stay discreet about their relationship, but he had never been so distant. However, she shrugged and tried to convince herself that all was well enough.
Clémence had invited him to dinner, and she was therefore radiant as she went into the house.
After a long discussion with Ethan, she managed to convince him to spend the evening at Tom, sharing a manly beer while playing cards. Her friend had been obliged to accept as he had noticed the temperament of Clémence : he didn't want to get her angry because she had been on the nerves until a few days ago. Ethan smiled, after all he got along well with Tom, indeed, everyone got on well with Tom, except perhaps that Richard was often annoyed by his sens of humor.
As the evening drew to an end, the young woman felt that her guest was not at ease, avoiding her gaze and responding only briefly when she committed to the conversation. He ran a nervous hand on his neck and stood up. Clem joined him and took his hand. He remained motionless for a few seconds, staring at the thin and fragile fingers of the woman he loved. Deeply lost in his thought, the idea of being that attached to a woman tied his stomach. He had never thought to feel this again. When he had loosened his grip, she gave him a suspicious look he tried to dodge.
- I have something to tell you, he began muttering
She seemed surprised
- I have to talk to you too ..
He felt his stomach knot a little more, he had not thought of such a response, and his face twitched
- I want you to take me to Jacob, I wish to talk to him ..
He began to chuckle and looked away, he felt trapped between what she had just said and what he was about to tell her. Always tense upon the reaction she had had, he sought his words:
- I can not, you cant see Jacob, nobody can ..
- But I'm not anyone .. Clémence took his face in her hands. Please, I have questions .. What Ben had told her a few hours earlier had made her suspicious. She knew that Richard did not talk much and the thought that he was still hiding something from her has made her furious. She was taking very seriously their relationship and when she have agreed to make some sacrifices for him, she would not be fooled anyway. Clémence would never make the same mistakes as she does in the past. However, she insisted a little, trying to be gentle and persuasive, but he still refused.
Irritated and upset, she felt kind of betrayed, why did he trust me not? She thought, giving him an icy stare.
- I have to go .. he finally let go, Jacob would like me to do some research on the continent and according to Ben, I would have to be away for four or five months ..
The young woman opened her big round eyes, letting out the violent disappointment that lit in her eyes.
- What ? So long? But what will you do there?
- I can not tell you, I have to look for people, that's all you need to know ..
- All I need to know? But I know nothing Richard, and the only man who can answer my questions, I can not even approach him for questioning! You go away from me for five months and I will stay on this island waiting for you without any news from you! Tell me where is Jacob!
Guessing that the situation would get out of hand and that he was no longer in controls, Richard grabbed his jacket and decided to leave the home. He had wanted to make her happy and spend the night with her but he did not want to make the situation worst, so he preferred to flee.
When he had announced that he wanted to stay for the night, she had not believed it and she was aware with the idea that they will never live a normal love story. He wanted her to be happy and he knew that their life on the island was not the most perfect life. He was lucky because he was one of the few, with Ethan, to be able to leave the island from time to time to return to civilian life. However, going back to the mainland was apparently not as easy as it seems.
- You're not staying here to sleep? She asked him, furious.
- I did not want to argue with you, I will pass by tomorrow morning, before leaving for the submarine, to say you goodbye ..
When Ethan arrived, he found the young woman sitting on the couch, squinting on an old romantic TV movie. Surprised and worried to see her so off, he went to her and saw that her eyes were still red and moistened with tears. She got up and rushed into his arms, weeping bitterly once again. Clémence felt lost, she seemed to have failed again in her love life.
Ethan pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her, then he invited her to come to sit at the table in order to discuss. It was 11pm and for an hour, she told him what had happened with her lover.
His roommate knew about the departure of Richard but he had not wanted to talk to her, stating that it was not his role. He tried his best in order to reassure her when she began to cry again. Tears rolled down her cheek while Ethan was left helpless about this situation. If he could, he would have ran to the jungle to find Richard and persuade him to come to talk to her. Five months without any news, and he does not want me to know a little bit more about him .. she thought, blowing her nose. Fortunately, Clem was not alone and Ethan had decided to change her mind by grabbing a bottle of whiskey.
- We're going to play a game, you'll see, it'll do you good to laugh a little .. he told her proudly as he served her a drink.
- What is it ?
Her small, shy voice, full of grief, made him smile, he thought that she was touching and he had no desire to see her in such a state once again.
- I'll poor a glass to myself too, this game is called "truth or dare". It's simple, you're going to do an action or tell me the truth, and if you refuse, you drink! And I will do as well !
- I know this game .. she threw a nervous little laugh.
Ethan was happy, the young woman began to relax and to forget her disastrous dinner.
- I start ! He took a chair in front of her and planted his eyes in hers, do you love this island
- Yes .. how long have you been living here?
- Always .. Can you make me a smile?
- Yes, and she did so, to the delight of her friend. Are you sometimes tired of being on this island?
- Yes .. do you miss your old life sometimes?
She did not answer and drank the whiskey he had served her. Her throat burned intensely while the alcohol was slowly making its way in her belly. Ethan laughed as he watched at he grimace she made.
- It's a bit strong ! Have you ever been in love?
He drank.
- Are you in love with someone? She went on, serving him another glass.
He drank it.
- Are you in love with Richard?
- Yes..
- Do you appreciate Ben? He continued.
- Yes..
- My turn ! Could you cross the pylons without being sure of having them disabled?
- No .. Ethan swallowed the liquid that contained his glass.
The glasses went on and on and the young woman began to feel her head turning, as she was facing a drunk Ethan, which still does not deal well with alcohol.
- Do you love me ? She asked, trying to stay focused.
He did not answer and began to laugh out loud and then mechanically, he grabbed his glass as he emptied it faster than the reaction he had had.
- You and your weird questions .. he replied while its speed was becoming increasingly slow, he tried to make a few unintelligible sentences,without success. My turn again ! He stood up proudly, Are you in love with Ben?
- Ethan!
- Could you pay him a visit tonight ?
Clémence blushed while clapping her hands, laughing out loud. She stood up and awkwardly tried to sit next to her friend.
They stared for a few minutes, she remained silent as he burst out laughing. Clem tried to focus again, grabbed his shoulder and told him frankly :
- I need to go talk to Jacob, you know where I can find him, right?
- Nope ..
- Does Ben know where he is?
- Perhaps..
- Ethan! It's not funny, I'm serious, answer me, honestly...
- I know that Ben would like to meet him too, but Jacob has never wanted to give him a hearing, and Richard never wanted to tell him where he is hiding ..
A ray of hope began to flicker in the eyes of the young woman, despite the whiskey she had absorbed. If she was going to see Ben and if she dug well enough into his house, she might find a document that would tell him more about Jacob. An idea crossed her mind... She knew that Ben had always been attracted to her : if she behave well enough, she could successfully break into his office in the middle of the night unsuspectingly.
- So... Ethan said once more, Would you dare go and see him?
- Yes .. she answered, drinking another glass of alcohol.
He stared at her,without really understanding what she had answered. His eyes squinted into the void next to her, and when she resumed, he jumped of surprise.
- I will spend the night with him to try to find some information about the location of Jacob. Ben is the kind of person to plan many kind of theories, and scribble them on papers. If he wants to know something, he will do everything to get the answer .. All you have to do is to watch out for Tom for the night. He always walk around Ben's house at night, to keep him safe. You know it right?
He made a wide nod and a smile appeared on his long face.
- You understand what you have to do Ethan?
- Watch out for Tom!
They took some time to finish the bottle, and she went staggering to the house of Benjamin Linus.
