Chapter 12:

An unexpected evening together:

(Jack's apartment)

Jack stood by one of the windows, camera in hand and eye in the viewfinder, taking photos of the storm outside. Every time a brilliant white flash of lightning was seen very close by, he quickly snapped a picture of it. Then he lowered the camera and checked to see the photos he'd so far taken of the storm; there were more than 30. Some were a little blurry, but the rest showed the lightning bolts in crisp clean images, perfect to send back home via email.

After a few moments, Jack stepped away from the window and went back into the kitchen area where he peeked into the oven. The shepherd's pie had been put in only a few minutes before and would be ready in about half an hour. After getting a haircut at the barber shop just across the street, Jack had returned to his apartment where he had a refreshing shower, put on some fresh comfortable clothes, and put the ones he'd had on earlier into the washing machine before he started on his homework.

By the time he finished, the clothes had finished in the washing machine and he loaded them into the tumble drier. With that task done, he set about preparing dinner. Now there was nothing much to do until it was finished cooking. Then he heard a sound and looked out the window over the kitchen sink; the rain was starting to come down. In less than a minute, it was coming down very heavily and the water droplets running down the glass soon distorted his view outside.

"I'm sure glad I'm not out there right now." Jack said quietly, as he looked outside. After a moment, there came three knocks at the door. He paused, unsure if he'd heard it or not. Then a short moment later, there came another three knocks at the door.

"I wonder who that could be at this time." Jack said in quiet curiosity, as he looked at his watch; it was 6:05pm. He wasn't expecting visitors at this hour, but he went over to the door and looked through the peephole. To his surprise, he saw Carrie standing outside, a suitcase by her side and backpack on her back. On her face, much to Jack's consternation, was an afraid and worried look. Quickly, Jack opened the door.

"Carrie? What's going on? What happened?" he said in worry, as he allowed Carrie to walk inside. Once Jack closed the door, she threw her arms round his waist and buried her face in his chest. "Are you feeling all right?!" he asked, as he looked over Carrie to see if there were any injuries on her. There was no obvious injury that Jack could see, but scenarios of things that could've happened flashed through Jack's worried mind.

But Carrie, still shaking all over from what had happened earlier on, said nothing, which gave Jack some concern. Carrie was still dry all over, so she must've gotten to the building just before the rain began to fall.

"It's all right, Carrie. You don't have to tell me know. Why don't you go and get freshened up and have a nice shower? Dinner will be ready in about half an hour. How does that sound?" asked Jack. Carrie just nodded automatically, as a small smile drew across her face. She gently let go of Jack, grabbed her suitcase, and went down to the second bathroom.

Not long after, Jack heard the shower starting up. He went back to the kitchen to lay the table for dinner, still wondering what had happened to Carrie. However, he decided he would let her tell him what happened in her own time.

(Half an hour later)

With the table fully set, Jack had two dinner plates out and the shepherd's pie out on a mat. He was placing the portions on the two plates when Carrie came into the kitchen. She'd finished her shower, had dried off and was in her warm and comfortable light blue pyjamas. She paused and took in a deep breath through her nose before she smiled a little.

"That does certainly smell good. What is it?" she said, as she sat down at the table.

"It's shepherd's pie. It's mince beef fried on a pan before being mixed in a cooking dish with herbs and vegetables, in this case carrots, celery, onions and peas and topped with mashed potato before being cooked in the oven. It's one of my favourite dishes." Jack said, as he placed one of the plates before Carrie.

"You hungry?" asked Jack as he sat down.

"Starving…I could eat a whole elephant." Carrie said, picking up her knife and fork. Then she looked at Jack for a moment.

"That's a nice haircut." she said, with a small smile.

"Thanks, I got it done at the barbershop just across the street a little while ago. Felt I needed it." Jack said, with a smile. And without a further word, they settled down to eat. For a few minutes, they sat and ate in silence, only being broken by the sound of thunder rumbling loudly outside. At one point, Jack glanced over at Carrie with a look that seemed to say, "How do you like it?" and the look Carrie gave back said "I love it. It's delicious."

When they finished eating a few minutes later, the shepherd's pie had been completely polished off, Jack had worked up the courage to ask his questions.

"Carrie…could you tell me what happened to you tonight? I'm really worried for you." Carrie looked at him with eyes that were filled with concern, betrayal, and some anger.

"It…it was my momma…" Carrie said, as Jack gently placed his hand on Carrie's right shoulder in support. But then Carrie winced and took in a sharp breath.

"What is it?! Are you hurt?!" asked Jack, in serious concern.

"It's…my shoulder…" Carrie said, her voice strained with pain. She unbuttoned her pyjama top and pulled down the right side to reveal the bandage wrapped round her shoulder. Jack scooted in closer, gently undid the bandage, lifted it up and saw the wound underneath, which was still bleeding a little.

"Oh…my goodness! Wait here a second!" Jack said, and he stood up and quickly went into the master bedroom. He stepped out a few seconds later with a first aid kit his mother had insisted he bring along with him.

After leaving the kit on the table, he went over to the kitchen and filled up a bowl with warm water from the kettle before grabbing some paper towels and coming back to the table.

He opened the first aid kit, put on a pair of latex gloves, and set to work. After first cleaning the wound with a clean paper towel in warm water, he grabbed a fresh one and a small spray bottle of wound disinfectant.

"Carrie…I need to disinfect the wound to be sure it doesn't get infected. It'll sting for a bit, but just for a few seconds. Okay?" he said, as Carrie nodded. Jack sprayed some disinfectant on the paper towel and brought it close to the wound.

"Okay, ready Carrie?" he asked, as Carrie nodded and braced herself.

"Okay…3…2…1." and he gently rubbed the paper towel with the disinfectant over the wound. Carrie bit her lower lip to prevent a gasp of pain escaping as she felt the sting of the disinfectant as Jack rubbed the towel on her shoulder. The lights on the ceiling briefly flickered and some of the objects in the kitchen rattled about for a few short seconds, but Jack ignored that and focused on helping Carrie.

After wiping the wound down with the disinfectant-soaked towel, Jack unwrapped a fresh dressing, placed it over the wound and then wrapped a fresh bandage tightly over the dressing to keep it in place to stop the bleeding.

"There we are. That should do for now, but I'd feel better if that wound was checked out by a real doctor though." Jack said, as he secured the bandage in place. But then a bright flash from outside, quickly followed by a loud rumble of thunder and the sound of very heavy rain lashing against the windows turned their heads. After a moment, they looked at each other.

"Let's wait until tomorrow morning first. I really don't wanna go out in that." Carrie said, as she pulled her pyjama top back on and redid the buttons. Jack nodded in agreement and closed his first aid kit before turning to face Carrie again.

"Carrie, can you tell me what happened, please? You don't have to if you don't want to." Jack said, reassuringly. Carrie was quiet for a few seconds, but then she turned to face him, and told him everything that she'd gone through earlier that evening. How she had returned home late and how her mother had forbidden her to go to the prom with him. She defiantly refused and was attacked by her mother with a kitchen knife a short while later, and was only able to barely fight her off before packing some of her things and escaping to his apartment, as it was the only safe place she could think of to go.

Taking a deep breath, she then told him how her mother restricted her life and would often hit her with a bible if she thought she had done something wrong or ever disobeyed her and would then lock her in the "prayer closet" under the stairs for long periods of time and make her pray for things she either hadn't done or normally wouldn't be worth fussing over. She said she'd sometimes be left in there for long periods of time on end.

Jack was utterly horrified to hear all this, yet at the same time deep inside he was seething with fury. How could a woman do things like that to her own child? He knew something was wrong when Carrie was reluctant to speak about the relationship she had with her mother, yet he never would've guessed that it was as bad as that. And he never would've guessed her private life was anywhere as bad as her school life had been.

"And, eh…what about your father? Was he ever like that to you?" Jack asked, almost reluctant to ask the question even though he knew he couldn't hold off asking it any longer.

"No…he actually died in a terrible construction accident not long before I was born, so I never knew him or what sort of a person he was like." Carrie said. Jack gently put his arms round her and gave a warm hug while taking great care not to aggravate her wound.

"I'm really sorry that you had to live through something like that for so long. I really can't imagine what it must've been like for you." he said. Carrie returned his hug, some tears running down her face, and placed her arms round Jack shoulders and pulled herself in closer, burying her face in Jack's left shoulder.

"It's okay. I'm just so glad you're safe now. As long as you stay with me, you'll be all right." Jack said reassuringly, as he gently ran his hands up and down Carrie's back and patted her on her upper back a few times.

After a few long moments of holding the hug, they pulled away from each other and Carrie looked at Jack deep in his eyes.

"It was because of you I was able to get away. I'd already been stabbed and could barely stand as a result. When momma attacked me, and I fell back…I was about to be stabbed in the face and I was using my powers to keep from getting stabbed." Carrie said, as Jack gently wrapped his arms round her again.

"I thought I was going to die, but then I remembered the words you said to me…that I was one of the most important people in your life and you weren't letting me go, no matter what…that memory gave me the strength I needed to fight my mother off and escape. Without those words, I would've died tonight. You saved me, Jack. Thank you." she said, and she put her arms round Jack's shoulders again.

Jack felt himself smile, as he gently pulled Carrie onto his lap and cuddled her. But after a few long moments, with the question burning brightly in his mind, he spoke to her again.

"Carrie…what did you mean by your powers? Could you tell me more about what you mean by that?" he asked. Carrie looked into his eyes and hesitated for a moment. But then she stood up and walked a few feet away before looking back into Jack's eyes while taking a deep breath.

"Watch this." she said. She turned, raised her right arm, and focused hard on the dishwasher door. It opened by itself and the lower basket slid out. Jack watched in silent and amazed astonishment as Carrie focused on the two dinner plates and they lifted the table and floated over to the dishwasher and were gently placed on the basket.

Then Carrie focused on the used knives and forks on the table, and they too floated across to the dishwasher and landed without a sound into the cutlery basket. Then, the lower basket slid back into the dishwasher by itself and the door closed.

Turning to look back at Jack, Carrie had a worried expression on her face, obviously not sure how he'd react to seeing what she had just demonstrated.

"So THAT was the reason you had those books on telekinesis a few weeks ago!" he said, as the facts hit him like a ton of bricks. "Carrie…that was incredible! Really! That was amazing! I think you're the most amazing person I've ever met!" he said in a calm, but undeniable, excitement, much to Carrie's relief.

"You're not freaked out or think I'm weird because of this?" she asked.

"Carrie…I'm being truthful with you. Seriously, that was amazing, Carrie. That makes you a much more special person…and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise." Jack said, as he gently placed his arms round Carrie's waist and pulled her into a hug.

"Thank you…thank you for accepting me for who I am." Carrie said, as she gratefully returned the hug.

"I always will, no matter what." Jack said, and they stayed in their warm embrace for a few moments.

As they pulled away from each other, Carrie suddenly remembered something.

"There's also another power I have that I can show you as well." she said.

"Which is?" Jack asked, as his eyes opened wide and he took a step back in anticipation. Taking a step back herself, Carrie closed her eyes and concentrated for a moment. Then, she opened her eyes and spread her arms out and, to Jack's complete astonishment, she slowly levitated herself off the floor and slowly rose into the air until she stopped herself halfway between the floor and the ceiling. While she levitated herself, she rolled around twice before she looked at Jack, waiting for his reaction to this new power.

He was watching in silent, and amazed, awe at Carrie's capabilities and, as Carrie slowly dropped back onto the floor, Jack smiled broadly and clapped his hands.

"WOW! Carrie…you really are an incredible person. I think that was amazing." Jack said, as he slowly pulled Carrie into another hug, one which Carrie gratefully returned and she threw her arms round Jack's shoulders again. After a moment, they pulled away from each other again and Carrie looked into Jack's eyes and sighed.

"Anything wrong?" asked Jack.

"Oh nothing, except I'd best go get my homework done. There's not much to do tonight, thankfully." she said, as Jack nodded and smiled.

"Okay…I'll get everything cleaned up and put away here. Let me know when you're nearly done and then I'll prepare us some hot chocolate." Jack said.

"All right, but it should take me no more than twenty minutes or so." Carrie said, as she left the kitchen and went into the spare bedroom where she left her backpack with her schoolbooks.

So, as Jack went about cleaning up in the kitchen and loading up the dishwasher with the last of the dirty dishes, Carrie set about getting her homework done. Once Jack had finished cleaning up, he got the necessary ingredients ready for the hot chocolate, and it was the same recipe he made for Carrie almost a month before.

Soon, when Carrie told him she was nearly finished her homework, Jack got to work preparing the hot chocolate. Mixing everything together in the saucepan and heating it up, Jack kept a close eye on the pot's contents as he gently whisked everything together. By the time Carrie stepped back out into the kitchen, the hot chocolate was thick and ready to serve. Using a ladle, he filled two mugs with the freshly prepared hot chocolate and after spraying on whipped cream and grating on some chocolate, he and Carrie went over to sit on the couch.

By now, the worst of the storm had passed; the thunder and lightning had finally stopped, but the rain was still falling as heavily as it had been for most of the evening.

"Do you fancy watching a movie?" Jack said, as he opened his laptop.

"Sure, what have you got in mind?" Carrie asked, as she sat down on the couch beside Jack.

"How about a James Bond film? There's plenty to choose from." Jack said. They eventually settled on watching The Living Daylights (1987). For Carrie, this was the first Bond film she'd ever seen, and she loved it, from the gun barrel sequence at the start right away through to the action on the transport plane near the end of the movie. For many of the action sequences, she was sitting right at the edge of the couch, wondering if Bond (Timothy Dalton) would prevail against the bad guys. When he did, she would always smile.

At one point, just as The Living Daylights ended, Jack turned to Carrie to ask her a question that had been on his mind for the previous few minutes.

"Carrie…have you shown anyone else your telekinetic powers besides me?" he asked.

"I only used them to escape from my momma earlier this evening, so she's the only person who knows I have them. I remember some other incidents in school where things would happen, like light bulbs bursting or things in rooms suddenly moving…but I don't think anyone else in school knows about my powers." Carrie said.

"Okay, I just wanted to know. And Carrie…I promise I won't tell anyone else about the powers you have. It's our little secret. But if you want to show anyone else your powers, then it's your business entirely." Jack said, and Carrie smiled in understanding.

"Thank you, Jack." she said, as he put on another movie, A Night to Remember (1958).

By the time the movie ended, Jack and Carrie had finished all the hot chocolate that was in the pot and had put the pot and their mugs into the dishwasher.

"So, what did you think of that, Carrie?" Jack said, as the credits began to play.

"That was brilliant…a really great film." Carrie said. And then Carrie yawned and stretched her arms out. Jack looked at his watch; it was 10:20pm.

"It's getting late…maybe it's time we should turn in for the night." Jack said, as he reached for his laptop and began shutting it down. At the same moment, Carrie had worked up the courage to ask a question that had been on her mind the last hour or so.

"Jack…would it be okay if I…slept with you tonight?" she asked nervously. He turned and looked at her with a slightly surprised look on his face.

"Are you sure about that, Carrie?" he asked.

"Yes, after what I went through earlier this evening…I'd feel a lot more comfortable if I had someone beside me while I slept." Carrie said, afraid Jack would say no. But to her own surprise, Jack gently placed his arm round Carrie's waist and pulled her a little closer.

"Carrie, if it makes you more comfortable sleeping with me, you can." he said, as Carrie gave a grateful smile. She stood and went to the other bedroom to get her suitcase and backpack before bringing them into the master bedroom. Jack followed a minute later with his laptop under his arm, having made sure the front door was locked, the curtains drawn, and all the lights were turned off. He also made sure his dry laundry was put into the ironing basket, so he could get to work ironing it as soon as he had the chance the next day.

While Carrie was in the bathroom, Jack changed into his pyjamas and put his laptop on to charge for a while. As he waited for Carrie to finish, and after turning on the bedside lights and turning off the main light, he sat on his side of the bed, close to the bathroom door, and read some of his book Ridgeway Duels for Korea. Then the bathroom door opened, and Carrie stepped out.

"Okay Jack, it's all yours." she said. Giving her a smile and thanks, Jack stood up and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Meanwhile Carrie lay back on the other side of the bed, the nearest to the window, and read one of the magazines she brought with her. It was a teen magazine, and one of the ones she managed to keep well-hidden from her mother's prying eyes. As she read, she could hear the rain outside slowly easing off.

Then the bathroom door opened, and Jack stepped out before turning off the light and closing the door. He went over to where his laptop was charging up and turned off the power at the wall socket before coming back to the bed.

"Are you feeling all right?" he said to Carrie, as he lay down on his side of the bed.

"I'm fine, but there's something on my mind…are you being collected by Ms Desjardin tomorrow morning?" Carrie said.

"I am, at 7:30am exactly."

"How will she react when she finds out I stayed with you tonight and slept in the same bed as you?" Carrie said, with a hint of concern in her voice.

"It's all right. Don't worry to what Rita will think when she finds out about it…let me worry about that. You just worry about getting yourself a good night's sleep. Rita's a decent person, she'll understand." Jack said, reassuringly. Carrie felt herself smile, and then turned back to her magazine as Jack picked up his book and continued from where he'd left off.

"Ah…you don't snore, do you Jack." Carrie asked.

"No, I don't think so." Jack said, as Carrie smiled and went back to reading.

As they read in a warm, comfortable silence as the rain outside finally eased off as the last of the storm system finally moved away. Then, Carrie put her magazine down on the bedside table, switched off her bedside light and eased down on her side of the bed before she rolled on her left side and put her arms round Jack's shoulder and over his chest.

"Hold me, Jack. Please hold me." she said, and Jack, after putting his book down, gently put his arm round her and pulled her a little closer.

"Feel better?" he asked with a smile. Carrie smiled and nodded. "Get yourself a really good solid night's sleep, Carrie. After the evening you've had, I think you've more than earned it." said Jack. And with that, he slowly leaned his head in and gave her a kiss on her forehead. For Carrie, that kiss made her feel better. It showed that Jack would be there for her when she needed it, and with that Carrie closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Jack reached and switched off his bedside light, settled down under the covers and pulled Carrie a little closer to him, allowing her to rest her head against his right shoulder.

"Good night, Carrie." he whispered.

"Good night, Jack." she whispered back quietly. And with that, they both fell into a deep, appreciative sleep at once, exhausted after their unexpected evening together.