Part 8
10:00 p.m.
"So then he asks me…are you sure you're name is Jacqueline Pratt because you don't look like a Jacqueline to me," Jake laughed as she recalled one of her successful attempts at going incognito. "I dressed up like 'Jake' and the guy totally bought it. But when I forgot that I couldn't very well use my credit card as Jake when it belonged to Jacqueline, my cover was sort of blown."
Will, Hamilton, and Scout all laughed at her story. It had been some time since the four of them had been together and it was nice to have an evening of peace, lounging around, just talking and laughing, recalling the great times they had together.
This night was much colder than usual and after awhile, the jackets that they were wearing weren't enough to keep them warm. Hamilton had never really forgotten how cold it got in the East during the winter, but since he spent most of his time traveling to locales with nice, sunny weather, he had grown accustomed to spending the season with regular sweaters as his shield. Now, even with the sweater on and being inside, he still shivered.
"It's freezing. What's wrong with the heater?" he asked.
Will shook his head. "It busted last week and we haven't gotten around to calling the repair guy."
"Great. Well, I'll get some blankets. Are they still where we used to keep them?"
Jake nodded. On that note, Hamilton went up to Jake's room and straight for her closet. He remembered that all the blankets were kept in a box in there. So, he flipped the lights on and opened the closet, taking out a cardboard box—the same one Jake had pulled out a couple of nights before. Kneeling on the floor, Hamilton unclosed the case. Its contents, however, were not blankets.
Inside the box was not only the pouch that contained the ring, but magazines and cut outs—all of work that Hamilton had done. He reached in and took out 8 copies of National Geographic, featuring the spreads he had rendered since leaving New York City. He rummaged through the box to find not only his photographs, but anything and everything that Hamilton had ever given Jake including the engagement ring, a CD of love songs, pictures of the two of them, and a Rawley Girls t-shirt.
Hamilton continued to shuffle through the box, but was interrupted when he heard the voice of Jake coming up the stairs.
"Hamilton, are you okay up here? Did you find the blankets? What's taking…" she stopped. She reached the door and saw what he was doing. She had kept that box very secret and stashed away for no one to see but her. And while Jake was angered at first sight of him going through it, she wasn't really angry. In some weird way, she wanted him to see it, as if she had saved it just for him, almost like a present.
"Oh Jake, I…I thought that the blankets were in here. I'm sorry. I couldn't help but look. I had no idea that you had all of this."
Jake didn't know how to respond. What was she going to say? That she hadn't been following his work? That she didn't think about him? That she didn't care about him? So instead of trying to make up some excuse she stood there, sort of pouting, but not really. "Its okay Ham. You know me, I have to keep everything."
He got up and moved to the doorway where she was. "Yes, I do know you. Jake…"
She cut him off. "I think you better go back to your hotel. It's getting late. You must be really tired from your flight. I'm surprised you lasted this long."
He raised an eyebrow. "It's only 10."
"I know."
"It's not that late. Look if this about the box, I didn't mean it. Honest."
"I know."
"This is so bizarre. All of this. I come back and you act as if…"
"As if you hurt me? As if things are awkward? As if you've been gone for two years?" she asked him in a harsh tone.
"Yes," he responded. "And you have every right to. I didn't come all this way so that things could stay that way. I want to make it up to you."
"I know."
"Okay. Well, why don't we get out of here. I think we need to talk—alone. Walk me back to my hotel?"
Half of her wanted to say yes and the other half wanted to say no. The half of her that grew weak in the knees every time she looked at him answered. "Sure."
When they reached the bottom floor, Scout and Will were talking, their words were inaudible, however. Upon seeing Hamilton and Jake, their conversation stopped, making Jake curious as to what they were discussing.
"Will…Scout…you guys okay?" she asked hoping to get the truth.
"Yup. Just talking about…uhh…well.." Scout stuttered. He couldn't think of anything. So Will cut in to save themselves.
"About this idea I have for a script."
She observed them closely. While she didn't believe them, there was no time to stop and get into it with them now. As much as she wanted to make sure Will was okay, considering his odd conduct the past couple of days, she wanted to talk to Hamilton much more. Unlike earlier, she felt much more at ease with him and it even felt as if he never left.
"I'll take that. Uhh…Hamilton's going to go to his hotel now and I'm going to play escort. So…"
Will spoke up at these words. He couldn't bare the thought of leaving them alone together. "Are you sure you'll be all right coming home? I mean, it's kinda late to be strolling the city by yourself. Want us to come with you?"
"Will, I'm a big girl…26 remember? I can take care of myself. It's only a few blocks. Besides, I can hail a taxi if I want."
He wasn't satisfied. Another outburst from him, however, would cause more unwanted questions to arise. So, he gave up.
"True. You'll be fine."
Hamilton went over to Scout and Will and gave them hugs. "Thanks for the evening guys. We definitely have to get together tomorrow."
"Sounds good. Hey how long are you going to be in New York?" inquired Scout.
"It depends," Hamilton returned, fighting the urge to look back at Jake. "It depends on when I have to get back to work," he lied. It didn't depend on work at all—only on Jake.
Sensing the weirdness in the air, Jake interrupted, "We better get going. Will, I'll see you when I get home. Later Scout."
After Hamilton and Jake exited the apartment, Scout said, "You better do it soon. Looks like time is running out."