"Jesse….." Jane faced her once lover and always friend in her old bedroom. There was no way that she would leave their friendship flailing in the wind, only to blow away with distance and time. Their friendship was more than worth fighting for, on both their parts. "I need to know how I can make this right."
That's easy dump Demartino and realize that you love me instead.
"There's nothing to make right. You didn't do anything wrong." He was sitting on her bed at a slight recline so that he could look up at her face.
"So this is going to change things…..with us." She leaned against her closed door trying to gage his expressions.
"Everything changes Jane. Sometimes for the better," the words were like acid on his tongue.
"So…..just like that and we're- our friendship- gone?"
He went to take her hands in his and regretted the fear in her eyes that reminded him of the sad little girl that he would hold sometimes when she would be scared.
"Never that…..I won't lie to you, this whole thing stings like a bitch, but you're happy so….."
She raised a brow and ran the pad of her thumb over his knuckles.
"No one's that well-adjusted."
"Nah, but it sure does sound all noble and shit, right?"
They smiled at each other, both smiles were tinged with regrets.
"Tell you what," he touched his forehead to hers, "I will make a point to contact you once a week while we're on the road. I won't let our friendship go, okay?"
"…..and you'll continue to date- not just like the double mint twins from the other night, but if someone interests you- you won't close yourself off?"
He studied the seriousness of her face for a moment.
She has no idea what she's askin'. Who in the hell else could possibly interest me after her?
"…..I promise…..to try."
He took in these moments, trying to memorize how she looked, her smell, and the feel of her hands that were so warm in his.
Time is not my friend now,
I've known it for a while.
Watching you slip away,
I tried to do it with a smile.
Frozen in the past,
My memories of a time not to be retold.
Knowing without a doubt,
In these hands are the greatest treasure, I'll ever hold.
He brought her hands to his lips and kissed each in turn while holding her gaze.
Move forward with time my gypsy Queen…..
Own whatever you do with that lovely smile.
Keep lighting up the room when you enter
And I'll resign myself to the thought that once upon a time,
You were mine…..
He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. And there in her old room by the door, they clung to one another both holding on to the vestiges of their past in a joint effort to repair and restore something that they both held precious.
"I love you Jane." Jesse said around the lump in his throat and trying to see through the burning of tear stung eyes.
"I love you too Jesse." Her voice sounded suddenly foreign to her own ears. This hurt, but they were both willing to fight for their friendship and that spoke volumes to them both. She pulled away after a few moments, kissed his cheek, and looked at him. "Enjoy yourself on the road."
"Stay happy….."
"Right back at cha." She gave him a wink and they rejoined their friends outside for final goodbyes.