21. Monsoon Season

Jack and I lay in bed, mesmerized at what occurred the previous night. My head in resting casually in the crook of Jack's arm and I smile, feeling glad I had initiated last night and Jack hadn't. Maybe he'd get the hint I was in love with him.

Jack's eyes open and he turns on his side to face me. "G'mornin', pet." Jack smiles at me.

"Morning, Jack." I grin in return.

"Some night, eh wot, luv?" He winks. I laugh, knowing that I had truly enjoyed myself…more so than I had the first time we had sex.

"Yeah, I thought so." I reply, my smile wider than it's ever been. I hope Jack will take the hint.

"Aye. I never really knew ye had that side t' ye! I mean…we've done it before…but last night was…" He trails off not knowing how to explain how he feels.

"Was…?" I ask, hoping so badly that he will tell me how he feels about me.

"Well, I've been with more women than I can count, pet, and t' tell ye the truth, ye were me most enjoyable time!" He exclaims.

"Thank you?" I ask, not feeling sure if I should feel complemented or insulted.

"Seriously luv! We should do that a lot more often, eh?" He winks at me, in hopes that I will agree to his plan.

"Sure why not?" I agree, then I suddenly cup I hand over my mouth, in awe at what I said.

"But luv! It was…wait…what did ye say?!" Jack exclaims, not aware at first at my response. "Ye want t' have sex with me…again????????"

I try to avoid his eyes in silence, contemplating this important decision. Do I want to have sex with Jack more? It was the most amazing time of my life last night, yet I don't want to do it unless he loves me too. Maybe I could get him to love me through making love to him. Ugh…what a question to ask me in the morning.

"Luv??????" Jack's eyes are wide with awe and suspicion.

"Yeah, Jack. I had a great time last night…and I'd like to make love to you more often." I feel myself turn bright red, then immediately regret what I have just done. I turn away from him and slap I hand over my face.

'You do realize what you've done, don't you?' I think to myself . 'You're Jack's fuck buddy! You stupid stupid stupid stupid shithead!' I scream at myself. 'I'll just tell him I was kidding. He doesn't think I'm serious…does he? But I am serious! I wanna have sex with Jack as much as I can…but because we love each other…not just because of pleasure. Ugh…I'm such a fuckin' idiot.'.

"Uh Jack?" I ask, turning over and pulling the sheets over myself.

"What is it, luv?" Jack asks, putting his arm around me.

I pause for a moment. 'Nah…I'm sure he'll forget about the whole thing.' I think.

"Nothing. I forgot what I was gonna say." I reply. "Let's go out somewhere."

"Where?" Jack asks, pulling me down.

"Anywhere but here." I reply, suddenly feeling awkward. "Besides, we need to find a way to get to the Caribbean and get those lyrics. I don't wanna stay in my century too much longer." I say, knowing that Jack was beginning to become corrupted by the culture.

"But luv, yer century is fun!" Jack exclaims, now getting out of bed.

"I understand you feel that way…but believe me when I say this…it sucks. Okay? Now let's get out." I get out of bed and run into to bathroom.

I'm driving down route 1 to the travel agency and Jack is yet again, blaring 'I'll Be There for You'. He then changes the song finally to 'Sexual Healing'.

"There's a song fer ye, luv. I think I may need some sexual healin'." He says to me with a grin and a wink.

I just keep driving, ignoring Jack's comment.

"Oh! Here we are!" I exclaim as we pull into the parking lot. I drag Jack into the office and we both take a seat.

"Hi, how are you?!" A blonde woman greets us with a really cheery smile.

"Hi." I reply, with a smile just as fake as hers.

"What is it I can do for you both? Oh, you're a handsome one, aren't you?" I eyesJack and holds out her hand to him.

"O' course, luv." He replies with a smile. Jack and I take a seat and I elbow him in the side.

"Don't hit on the travel agent, Jack." I whisper to him through clenched teeth.

"Okay okay, fine, luv." He whispers back.

"Actually, we're looking for a vacation…well, actually one way plane flight to Kingston, Jamaica." I say to the woman, who is still eyeing Jack.

"Oh, what was that?" She asks, making eyes at Jack still.

"We would like a one way plane ticket to Kingston, Jamaica…as soon as you have one." I reply, irritated.

"I see." She replies, then just sits there, staring at both of us.

"Well are you gonna look that up for us, or not?" I ask, angrily.

"Yes, of course." She replies suddenly then turns quickly to look up that information on the computer. About 10 minutes later, she turns around with some papers and displays them neatly on her desk.

"Okay, there is a flight to Kingston, Jamaica for Friday, August 28th at 8:43 in the morning…"

"I don't think you understand. I won't be around August 28th. When I said we want a flight as soon as we can…I'm talking…something like next week." I interrupt.

"Oh. Oops." She replies with a giggle, looking at Jack again. "Let me check again."

I roll my eyes and glance over at Jack who is clearly checking her out still. I am insanely jealous because of his apparent interest in the travel lady, but I try to keep it to myself.

"Okay…um, there is one flight to Kingston with four seats left leaving on Sunday at 4:30 in the afternoon." She replies, looking at Jack, and not you.

"Hey, I'm over here." I reply, waving a hand in front of her face.

"Oh, right." She says, blushing and looking down.

"Okay, that flight sounds good. How much is it gonna cost?" I ask, growing impatient.

"Well, it's a one-way ticket for you, so it'll be—"

"Wait…I want two tickets. One for him and one for me." I reply, agitated.

"Oh right. Okay so I'm guessing it'll be about $150.00." She says.

"That's a lotta money, luv…maybe we should stay here for a few more weeks." Jack says to me, but is really talking to the travel agent.

"Yes, I'd have to agree." She replies, her eyes locked with Jack. "It's monsoon season."

"Okay, we'll take them. And no it's not monsoon season. There aren't monsoons in the Caribbean!" I exclaim, feeling myself loose control of my emotions.

"Oh. Oops." The woman giggles again as she eyes Jack. Jack has a stupid grin on his face.

"We're gonna take the tickets, okay?" I say, trying to calm myself down.

"Oh okay. I'm sorry." She replies.

"Why are you sorry?" I ask, suddenly interested in what she had to say.

"Oh, I was saying that I was sorry for him." She replies, pointing to Jack.

"And why the hell are you sorry for him?!" I exclaim, loosing all control again…and not intending to get it back.

"Well, he has to be forced down to the Caribbean…and during monsoon season! He clearly doesn't wanna go."

"Excuse me!?" I shriek, standing up from my chair.

"Luv, ye might wanna sit back dow—"

"Jack! You can get your own ticket down to the Caribbean! I'm outta here." I screech as I walk away. "And for all I care, you can find your way back home yourself."

"Luv, ye don't mean that!" He exclaims from the chair, still sitting.

"Yes, I do." I reply, taking my keys. "Bye Jack."

"She'll be back." He winks to the woman. "She wouldn't leave without me."

"Oh really? Does she drive a green car?" The woman asks.

"Uh…I think so." Jack replies.

"Oh. Cus I think she just drove away." The woman giggles.

"Bloody 'ell." Jack says.

When I arrive home, I crash on the couch and cry. Stupid Jack! Why did I even waste my time? Why did I even bother with him. Why did I bring him back to my century. He was an asshole in he 17th century…but he's even worse here. I finally sit up and get the phone book out. I look through for ticket agents and finally I dial up.

"Thank you for calling Fun 'N the Sun ticket agency, this is Ashley speaking."

"Hi, Ashley." I sniff. "I'd like a one way ticket to Kingston, Jamaica from Boston. I heard there is a flight at 4:30 this Sunday…if possible, could I get on that flight?" I ask.

"Sure, let me check." Ashley replies. There is silence. "Okay, there are four seats available on that flight. You'd like just one?"

"Yes. Just one ticket, please. One-way." I reply.

"Okay. That'll be a total balance of $150.00. And your name?"

"Lindsey…" I pause. What is my last name? I hate using my father's name…but that's what it says on your birth certificate. "Lindsey Ferrara." I reply finally.

"Okay…and you'll need either a passport or your original copy of your birth certificate, and a license."

"Okay, great. Is that all?"

"Will this be paid for in cash or charge?"

"Charge." I reply.

"I'll need your number,"

"Hang on, let me get my charge." I run and get my purse. "It's 2634 4857 6901 0004" I reply. "Oh yeah…it's Visa."

"Okay. Lindsey Ferrara, a one way ticket from Logan Air Port in Boston, Massachusetts to Kingston, Jamaica on Sunday, July 18th at 4:30 in the afternoon. Is that correct?"

"Yes. That is correct." I reply.

"Okay, I'll get your ticket to you by mail. What is your address?"

"31 Haverill Rd. Midfield, Ma, 01928." I reply.

"Okay, great. It should arrive by Friday at the latest. You can check your bags in when you arrive to Logan."

"Thank you, Ashley." I say.

"You're welcome. Enjoy your stay in the Caribbean."

I hang up the phone and flop back down on the couch. I shut my eyes and fall into a deep sleep with dreams filled with Jack and the Caribbean.

Why did I let myself fall in love with an asshole? Maybe because he wasn't always an asshole to me. I dream of the day when Jack loves me in return…no…I would never accept his love if he did love me back. That fucker was such an asshole! He didn't even care that I left him at the travel agency. All he cared about was women and getting into their pants...or skirts or whatever they were wearing! He got into my bed. What a mistake that was. I gave it all so easily to him. It was a dream that will never come true. But I'm strong enough to see it through. When Sunday comes, I'll be off to the Caribbean to find the lyrics, and then hopefully I'll get back to the 17th century…alone…without Jack.