Title: Two Sides of the Same Coin -- Chapter 3
Author: StuckHereWithNoTV
Author's Email: stuckherewithnotvyahoo.com
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: Jake 2.0 and all related elements, characters and indicia copyright Roundtable Entertainment and Viacom Productions, Inc., 2003. All Rights Reserved. All characters and situations-save those created by the authors for use solely on this website-are copyright Roundtable Entertainment and Viacom Productions, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diane stuffed under her arm Jake's jacket that he had forgotten in the car while searching for her apartment keys. Preoccupied, she didn't hear footsteps coming up behind her.
"Hey Diane," a voice intoned nonchalantly.
She jumped and turned to see a female a couple years younger watching her humorlessly. "What are you doing here?" Diane gasped taken aback.
"Is that anyway to greet me?"
She pushed up her glasses rubbing her eyes in case she was imagining things.
The other woman motioned to the door with her bag, "Can we at least go inside?"
Nodding, Diane unlocked her apartment and stood aside as the woman moved past her, dropped her bags in the middle of the room, and lounged at ease in a chair.
"How have you been?" Diane asked slowly pushing the door closed with her back leaning against it.
"As well as you can be bartending in New York City," she bitterly answered.
"You've been in New York all this time and you never called?"
"Didn't think anyone would care."
Diane sputtered appalled, "We-We were all worried about you! I mean three years..." she started towards the phone, "I should call Mom and Dad."
Her sister grabbed the phone before she could reach it, "No! Don't!"
"What? Why not?"
"Listen," she pleaded. "I just need a place to stay for a while, okay? I'm really low on money and I can barely afford a motel room for a few weeks."
Diane looked at her with an agonized expression. "You can't keep running. I mean, I helped you out that once but I-I can't keep doing that. Mom and Dad need to know you're okay."
"Oh, so they can lecture me on how they were right about not running off with that guy?" She folded her arms disgusted. "I'd bet you'd love to hear that discussion."
"What?" Diane started growing angry. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you were always their favorite. 'Oh why can't you be more like your sister' or 'Diane would have done this instead'--"
"That's ridiculous! You were the one they always went easy on. Y-You were the popular one in high school, you were able to get away with anything--"
She got up from the couch and picked up her bags. "You know, this is ridiculous! I come here just to ask if I can stay a couple of nights and I get a talking to by Miss I've-Got-Everything-I-Want-In-Life."
"I'm not trying to give you a talking to and I sure don't have everything I want."
"Yeah," she sneered. "Sure."
Diane's voice quivered, "Jessica, you're being--" her sister gave her a warning look. "We just want you to come back. Everyone at home misses you."
"Well I'm not missing them yet," she answered coldly. "Anyways, forget I came here."
"Listen, if you still want to stay--"
"No forget it," she motioned for Diane to move. "I don't think either of us could stand it."
Opening the door reluctantly, she watched her younger sister storm out. Diane then took off her glasses and pressed her fingertips on the moisture that started to fill her vision.
--------------------------
A loud knock made Jake bolt up from his relaxing position on the couch. Grumbling, he glanced at the time and said answering the door, "It's one in the morn-- Jess?"
She looked up, distraught, "I'm sorry but I didn't know who else to go to."
"W-What's wrong?"
Jake watched her eyes start to tear up. Opening the door wider, he gestured her to come in.
"My whole life is just--" Jess sniffled as she allowed him to usher her to the couch. "I came to D.C. because I'm getting over a rough part of my life and I thought I could count on my sister for help and support..." she took the tissue Jake handed her, "but I guess I was wrong. I-I don't know what to do now. I have no one to turn to, no place to stay... "
"Y-You could stay here," Jake offered unsure.
She wiped the tears from her cheeks, shocked. "Really?"
"Yeah... Yeah, why not," declared Jake finally accepting the idea. Going back into the hallway, he brought her bags into his bedroom. "I usually sleep on the couch anyways so I don't see any problem."
Jess went to take a peek at the bed and then gave him a hug, "I don't know how to repay you."
"Oh," waving his hand dismissively, "there's no need to repay me."
"Hmm, I'll think of something," she said leaning back and staring at him contemplatively. Letting him go, she grinned mischievously, "Well thanks again. Good night."
Jake felt his throat go dry as she turned her attention to unpacking her bags, "Good night."
--------------------------
The unfamiliar sound of rushing water at 6 AM interrupted Jake's drowsy state of unconsciousness. Instead of the smell of liverwurst wafting from the deli below that he was used to every morning, the steamy scent of jasmine assailed his nostrils. It reminded him of something... someone... Trying to sort out the previous night's events, the bathroom door opened with Jess coming out clad only in a towel.
"Good morning!" she piped cheerfully. Jess went to sit on the arm of the couch, her bare leg inches away from his face. "Sleep well?"
"Uh," startled, he moved to a sitting position and shifted an inch away. "Yeah, yeah I did."
"Are we still on for dinner tonight?"
"Sure."
"Great! You need a ride to work today?"
He tried to comb down his hair that was sticking up, "Would you mind?"
"'Course not," Jess smiled. "You look adorable like that."
"Like what?"
"All bed-heady and crumpled. I'd love it if I could wake up next to a guy that looked like that." Grinning at his embarrassed expression, she walked to the kitchen, "I'm gonna make some coffee, you want some?"
"Yeah coffee. Coffee's good," Jake cleared his throat, rising to get the newspaper. Opening the door, he looked up to find Diane standing in front of him with her hand poised in the air about to knock.
"Hi," he greeted.
"Hey."
"What are you doing here?"
"You, uh, forgot this last night." Diane replied handing over his jacket.
Jake took it surprised, "Thanks."
"So," she began with a sheepish smile, "I know it's kinda earlier than when you usually head out for work, but I figured you might need a ride again because of your car and all..." Diane nervously tucked a stray curl behind her ear, "a-and there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about--"
"Hey Jake, do you have an extra towel?" Jess called out coming up behind him.
The two women locked eyes and stared at each other over Jake's shoulder, their mouths slightly agape. Both paralyzed with surprise, Jess was the first to recover. Folding her arms, a warm smile curled up on Jess's face that didn't quite echo in her eyes as she continued to stare at Diane. "Hey, big sis. How are you doin'?" she drawled.