Just Eat The Ice Cream – Chapter Twenty: Chocolate Chip
Jack had that bruise a full five days later. Five days and it still wasn't gone! Sure, it wasn't as monstrously ugly, but it wasn't gone either! He just wanted his face to look normal again. Bubbles came back after the third day, thank all that is sacred, and Jack no longer had to worry about injury, but she didn't seem to care that his face was half purple. Looks like things were back to normal at the shop, then.
He had stayed up late the other night, watching Lion King by himself. He had made a bag of microwave popcorn and everything. It was really nice. He wasn't going to admit that he had been trying to stay up later than normal to make sure Robin wasn't going to try and attack him while he was sleeping. He wasn't going to admit that, but it basically was what he was doing.
Apparently Nick's second date hadn't worked out either, or his third, or his fourth. Jack was getting tired of seeing him at the club. He felt like one of the nights he was, something was going to happen that was going to scar him for life. At one point he mentioned it to him. "Maybe none of your dates are working out because you're meeting them at a dance club?" He had tried to be discreet about trying to get rid of him.
Jack didn't even think Nick needed to date anyone. He was fun to be around and a great person by himself. Why Tina felt like everyone had to be screwing every night to be happy, Jack would probably never know. Maybe she based it off herself? He shuddered in disgust at that thought.
Currently, Jack was out shopping. He was getting a new shirt for work. And oddly enough, it was pretty difficult. Everything he had found so far had a chest that was way too big and a waist that was almost perfect. Did manufacturers think he was working out on his pecks all the time?
"Geeze…" he grumbled unhappily. He set down the shirt he had. He'd probably have to go to the junior men's department again to find something. Why was it that only adolescents supposedly were lanky?
And of course, he found a shirt that fit him perfectly. So he got his pants from the section appropriate for his age and style, but shirts from the section not appropriate? Jack hated being so thin sometimes.
Jack checked out near Sandy, smiling when his friend waltzed his way over to him. They chatted for a while. Jack didn't understand how he knew sign language when Sandy was doing it, but couldn't actually learn it for himself. It was weird. He asked Sandy what he thought.
"It's because you're stupid," he replied. Jack scowled at him for that.
"So, have you hooked up with that girl?" he asked, smiling, trying to change the subject. Sandy nodded.
"We went on our fifth date the other night," he said, "She's really nice. I'm teaching her sign language as we spend time together."
Jack grinned. "Well, I'm happy for ya, pal," he said, "You definitely deserve a girlfriend." Sandy beamed at him.
After staying and talking for a while longer, Jack determined he should be going. Where he was going, even he wasn't sure yet. He had the night off from the club, maybe he'd go see a movie? No, there was nothing good out right now… He could go home and order pizza, but that seemed kind of early. It was only, what, three? He needed to do something else.
Walking through town, ignoring looks he got for the bruise on his face, Jack scanned random places and shops for something that might interest him. There was a really neat looking stool inside a store that caught his eye. He looked at the bright blue thing. It felt soft and fuzzy. Plus it opened up for a little bit of storage. He bought it.
Still, he had time to kill. Carrying the big plastic bag that for some reason the cashier insisted he get, Jack wandered a little more. He groaned with his boredom. This was one thing he hated about not having work- the nothing to do without it.
He seemed to always have a good time when he was hanging out with friends. Maybe he could go pay somebody a visit. Sandy was still at work, Nick was probably out on another date, and Tina… Well, Jack was choosing to avoid her for the time being. He could go see Eric, but his mom still wasn't keen on him, even if he was just visiting. He could go hang with Pitch- was he even home this early? Probably not. He was probably working.
Jack scowled. Why did everyone he knew have something to do except him? He kicked the sidewalk unhappily.
He ended up heading to Pitch's office anyway. Even if he was working, he could wait for him to get out and then spend the night with him and Sera. He had to set the plastic bag in the chair beside him as he sat in the waiting room. It took a long time before a tiny, gray haired woman waddled out of Pitch's office. She was actually really adorable.
Jack didn't see Pitch come out, so he hopped to his feet with his bag and went to the door. "Knock, knock!" he called, tapping on the door.
The tall man was sitting at his desk. He turned his head and smiled warmly in his direction.
"Hi!" Jack said, walking in and plopping down on the chair he loved so very much. He crossed his legs over each other and smiled brightly.
"Hi," Pitch replied, spinning his chair around to look at him, "Anything you need or did you just decide to drop by?"
"Just stopping in to see you," Jack replied, running his hand along the leather chair.
Pitch chuckled. "Me," he commented, "and the chair." Jack nodded and continued poking at it. Rolling his eyes, the tall man turned back around to his desk and began scribbling down on his papers. Patient forms, probably. Jack didn't mind. He sat back in the chair and watched the room. What had he ever done with that orange stress toy Pitch gave him? He probably lost it. Dang… He really liked that thing.
Jack pursed his lips as he noticed what looked like pencils stuck in the ceiling. "Did you have an argument with your pencil sharpener or something?" he asked.
Pitch looked back at him, looking perplexed. Jack pointed up at them. "Oh," Pitch said, "No, I had a patient today who was doing that to relieve stress." Jack pouted at that.
"So he throws pencils in your ceiling?" he asked, sitting up, "Those could fall and stab someone's eye out, you know."
Grinning, Pitch turned back and straightened a pile of papers. "Well, then it's a good thing you've already lost one."
Scowling at the back of his head, Jack snapped, "That was uncalled for." Pitch only chuckled and set his paperwork down.
Pitch looked back at him. "Oh, and like you wouldn't say something worse if I had a black eye?" he retorted, resting his ankle on the opposite knee.
Crossing his arms over his chest and huffing, Jack replied, "No. Maybe on the first day, but not after a whole week." Pitch rolled his eyes and shook his head.
As Jack thought about it, he and Pitch had known each other for a while now. It was almost fall again. Would he still be able to see him while Sera was in school?
Sighing, the man got to his feet. Jack joined him and they began walking to his car.