14. Rush

Jemma was one of Jack's more recent and prettier castoffs.

Frankly, Yusei was surprised to see her approaching. After all, she knew that he was one of Jack's two best friends. It was as though she had waited especially to catch him without Jack. Or …

"Hi, Yusei," she said shyly.

"Uh, hi Jemma," he said. She had never really paid him any attention before. He wondered what was going on. "Looking for Jack? He's playing second to Crow today. He should be at about 5th Street and Broadway."

"I don't care where he is as long as he's not here," Jemma said a little too casually. "You know, I've been way too into Jack. I don't know what I was thinking." She gave him a little smile. "I guess I'm growing up."

"What are you trying to say?" asked Yusei. "Are you saying that you want to …?" He was kind of surprised. The kind of girls who trailed after Jack didn't tend to be the kind of girls who were interested in him.

"Well … now that you mention it," she said, still maintaining a certain shyness, "yeah. Could we …?"

"I guess we could grab a bite and walk along the shore," Yusei said.

As they headed down to a street vendor on the not-so-pristine streets of Satellite, Yusei considered the situation. What would Jack think if he dated a recent ex? But … Yusei couldn't help wondering. What could he learn about Jack—his attitude towards these girls, how they feel about him, what happens between them—by talking to this girl?

Was it unhealthy? Probably. But he couldn't seem to help himself.

They picked up some satai and headed for the strand.

"Yusei …" Jemma said, grabbing Yusei's arm and leaning her head on his shoulder, "how long have you and Jack been friends?"

"Uh, as long as I can remember. Ever since I got to Martha's."

"So you're his best friend?"

"I hope so. I thought you weren't interested in him?"

"Right. It's just … you're so different from him."

Yusei wasn't sure to take that as a compliment or not. "In what way?"

"You seem interested in what I have to say, for one thing."

"Jack wasn't?"

"He'd … well, he'd go on and on about his plans and what he wanted to do. Then he'd ask me what I wanted to do, and I'd start telling him … and then …" she frowned.

"Then?"

"He was a total jerk, that's what. He'd walk out. He had no interest whatsoever in listening."

"So what were your plans?"

Jemma turned bright red. "They were stupid, immature," she whispered. "I've grown up now."

"C'mon, you can tell me."

"No, let's walk." She smiled at him brightly, but Yusei felt that the smile was fake.

As fake as he felt walking beside her.

They walked in silence for a little while. When they came to a certain spot Yusei knew, he stopped and said, "This is a place I like to watch the moon rise. Do you want to do that?"

"Sure!" She looked at him with a bit of relief.

They watched as the light of the moon rippled over the water, and Yusei shot Jemma a smile only to find her face hovering right in front of his own. Before he could react, her lips had contacted his.

He closed his eyes instinctively and felt her hands slip around his head. The combination of surprise and sensation was so intense that it set his thoughts swirling, but for some reason one burned brightly in the chaos: Perhaps Jack had kissed these lips.

Then: What would it feel like to kiss Jack?

Suddenly the last semblance of coherent thought vanished. He found himself kissing passionately, his eyes tightly shut, his arms wrapping tightly around the person he was kissing.

The hands on his head moved down his body to his waist and everything swirled away into a maelstrom of uncontrollable sensation.

Minutes later, Yusei found himself looking into a pair of satisfied brown eyes.

Waves of confusion washed over him. Brown eyes?

Oh God, Jemma! He hadn't meant for it to go this far.

Had he … had he called out …? He scrutinized her face. Thank God, no. It would have been so embarrassing had she heard him call out Jack's name and surely it would be written all over her face. At least his embarrassment was limited to that extent.

Jemma grinned. "Thanks, Yusei. I can't wait to tell Jack I did it with you."

"What?"

"Oh, boys are so stupid. You think I did this because I'm interested? No, you're his best friend. I want to get back at that jerk!"

Yusei was on his feet running so fast that he couldn't remember pulling his pants up.

Who was using whom here? Serves me right …

"C'mon, at least wait until I get there before you tell him!" Jemma was following, but she was already far behind. Yusei had to at least be the one to tell Jack first.

"What the hell—" It was Jack, who caught sight of Yusei running up Broadway. Crow was still throwing down in the alley entrance. "You look like the devil's on your heels."

"Sorry, Jack. I—" Yusei was gasping for breath and had to put out a hand to lean on Jack's arm.

"Just take your time. But what's the hurry? Is someone chasing you?" Jack squinted over Jack's shoulder into the darkness.

Yusei shook his head, waving his free hand. "I-I'm OK, it-it's just … I-I ran into Jemma tonight—"

"Jemma?" Jack looked clueless for a moment, then, "Oh, right. Jemma. We broke up. But … why—"

"Right. We, uh, she sort of …" he felt the heat rushing to his cheeks.

Jack's face brightened in realization. "Oh." Then he frowned ever so slightly. "So why did you rush over here to tell me about it? It's not my business."

Yusei looked into Jack's face. It was completely open and curious. There wasn't a hint of jealousy or anger in it. "Uh, Jemma kind of … threw herself at me. Turns out she had the idea she was getting revenge on you for dumping her."

Jack laughed. "Is that so? I'm sorry, Yusei."

Stunned by Jack's reaction, Yusei echoed, "Sorry?" It didn't make sense.

Jack looked at him carefully. "I always took you as the sort who wanted a 'relationship,' not just fun. I'm sorry she was being dishonest. You don't deserve that." He looked out into the darkness again. "Do you want me to have a talk with her?"

"N-no. It was—I was partially at fault for what happened. I was … curious, you know?"

He felt the heat touch his cheeks again as he remembered how his thoughts were consumed with Jack as … And he was right here, standing in front of him now.

Jack chuckled. "Just let me know if you want any of my other castoffs. I'll send them your way."

"Uh, Jack …"

"Yeah?"

"Did you ever …?"

"No. All she ever did was go on and on about how I was going to marry her and settle down in a nice house somewhere. As if that's even possible in Satellite. She didn't want me." He shrugged.

Yusei laughed.

"What?"

"Funny how things happen," Yusei said.

Jack looked confused, but how could Yusei explain the irony? Both he and Jemma wanted Jack and ended up in each other's arms, while Jack had no one. He had to laugh or else he would have had to cry.

Author's Notes:

Thanks once again for your gratifying reviews. It makes me happy to know that you are enjoying this story.

And now, a preview of Chapter 15:

Yusei shook his head. Jack was trying to steer the conversation away from the issue of his feelings. "Jack, I'm not going to let you get away with it this time. Say what you're thinking."

"You have a right to make your own decisions!" His voice lowered suddenly from a shout to a mutter. Yusei could barely make out when he said, "No matter how stupid they are."

Angsters' away!