Disclaimer: Do I look like I own BiLB, if I did I would have more than thirteen cents in my pockets!
Author's Note: Surprise.. Here's my treat. A new chapter, weeks ahead of schedule! Enjoy.
Summary: Sometimes, off the field life isn't as easy as it should be, and during those trying times of the "heart" and "spirit", you wake up and realize something. You've just got to get over it and just bend it!
Just Bend It
Chapter Seven: Damaged
Jess, Jules, Joe, and Cassandra stood outside of a rather gaudy looking club, with Indian music pumping on the inside, neon lights flashing on the inside, and them standing outside, waiting for two certain Indians to show up.
Jess stood closer to Jules than Joe, hoping somehow to avoid an argument with him. She did not want to leave mad at him and him mad at her, they did that before and it took a good month before either of them were fully cooled off and when she came back to England they both buried the subject.
Cassandra's blue eyes looked at Joe full of concern. "Sure it's hard but Joe, you know you should talk to her later, when you're dropping her off."
Joe snorted. "Yea, six blocks from her house."
"See, and that is why she gets so upset at you. You're such a prick at times, calm down and be rational."
"I know, I know... I'll talk to her when I drop her off." Joe's silver gaze shifted from Cassandra's face to where Jess stood next Jules, smiling... something that she had not done around him for a good week or so.
"This Ameet guy and Tony had better show up soon Jess," Jules said, crossing her arms over her chest. "As much as I want to meet this guy, doesn't exactly mean I want to spend one of my nights standing outside of a club! If they don't show up in five minutes I am going to call a taxi and go home!"
Jess rolled her eyes in disbelief. "You? Go home? Really, this will be the first time I will see Juliette Evelyn Paxton, go home when she could go to a club. Alert the media!"
Jules lifted her nose into the air indignantly. "Hmph, I have done that before!"
"Yea, when the club was shut down by the police."
"There have been other times!"
"Riiight–" Jess opened her mouth to say something, but stopped when she felt an arm slip around her waist. Jess followed the black shirt clad arm to a shoulder, the shoulder to a neck, and the neck to the face of none other than a devilishly smiling Ameet. "Hello, glad to see you could finally show up."
Ameet's smile only got wider. "Hullo to you too, you ray of sunshiny-ness. And blame Tony, he had to make sure his tank was full. I was quite alright and ready." He gave Jess' waist a small squeeze before he released it, he turned to look at Tony, who let out a soft sigh. "You owe me lunch, I told you that our dear nightmare would wear a shirt, and a short one at that!"
"Jules stuffed me into this."
Ameet shrugged his shoulder. "It doesn't matter to me how you ended up in this lovely, short leather skirt, that may I say, you look like a dominatrix, I still won. Therefore I get a free lunch at Riena's."
Tony eyes became large as he looked at Ameet. "Riena's! Do you know how much it just cost for a piece of bread there?"
"What, the winner gets to pick the place and I pick Riena's. What are you a cheapskate or something? Because this won't work out if you don't start buying things for me, like diamonds, gold earrings, rings..."
"Don't push your luck."
Ameet, being the mature person he was, stuck his tongue out at Tony. "So Jess, are you going to introduce me to everyone or do I somehow have to grow psychic powers?"
Jess laughed, it seems that Ameet only got more outrageous with time. She pointed Jules. "This is Juliette, call her Jules."
Ameet walked over to Jules, who stuck out her hand to shake his, but instead of shaking it, Ameet kissed the back of her hand. "Enchanté. I've read so much about you."
Jules made eye contact with Jess, with the question 'Is this guy for real?' dancing in her blue eyes and Jess just simply nodded 'yes'. "Ditto."
Jess pulled Ameet away from Jules by his collar and pushed him in front of Cassandra and Joe." This is Joe and Cassandra, Joe's friend."
Ameet waved to them both, not going to kiss Cassandra's hand because Jess held onto his ponytail and there was no way he was going to sacrifice his hair for a little fun... now if it were some big fun, he would have to reconsider or at least think about it. "Hello to you both. Although I've never read about you Cassandra, it's nice to meet you." Ameet's eyes flashed to look at Joe. "Now you, I've read a lot about." Ameet did not elaborate, he began to walk to the bouncer of the club, a friend of his, to get them in for free.
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The music was so loud it was deafening, Jess thought as she sat down at the table swirling her drink, she forgot what the quiet actually sounded like. Jules had been dragged to the dance floor by Ameet and Tony was at the bar getting some drinks. The only people at the table were Cassandra and Joe, and they were too busy trying to talk over the loud music, to actually talk to her.
Jess studied Joe's and Cassandra's body language, they did not seem awkward with each other, they looked as if they were perfectly at home with each other.
'I bet her parents wouldn't go crazy if they found out they were dating... but I'm sure her parents are not Indian...'
Jess frowned. Joe and Cassandra moved in synchronized movements, laughed at the same time, even smiled at the same time.
'I'm sure they most have been the golden couple in highschool... hmph...'
Jess stopped swirling her drink, very shocked at herself... was she jealous of Cassandra? Or was she jealous of Joe's and Cassandra's freedom in their lives? She sneaked a glance at the two, laughing at who knows what, probably one of Joe's weird jokes, and Jess decided it was definitely both.
Cassandra was pretty, tall, pretty, intelligent, had breast, and did she forget pretty. She was a good match for Joe. Then there was the fact that they could probably go off to Tibet with each other, knowing their parents would not brand them the black sheep of their families.
'This absolutely sucks... I need to get back to California, where I can breathe and think.'
"Hey!" Jules shouted as she sat next to Jess. "You should be out on the dance floor, having a good time, and enjoying your last days of freedom from Santa Clara!"
Ameet leaned over Jules shoulder nodding his head in agreement. "Yea, she's right my dear Lady Nightmare." He looked around the table for a moment. "Where's Tony?" He shook his head then chuckled. "Never mind, he's probably getting the drinks... I knew that this would be more entertaining than going to Riena's, he has to buy drinks all night and be my designated driver." He smiled down at Jess. "Remind me in a half an hour to drink myself to absolute drunkenness oblivion?"
"Sure, no problem." Now Jess knew that Ameet was more than off the chart, he was a lunatic, a funny lunatic, but a lunatic nonetheless.
"Good, now dance with me." Without waiting for any type of reply, Ameet pulled Jess from her seat and dragged her to the dance floor with Jules waving good-bye, Cassandra laughing, and Joe glowering.
Ameet wrapped his arms around her waist, with her back facing him. He bent his head down and whispered in her ear, "Don't be so glum Lady Nightmare, relax. Your Irishman won't find out about our four day affair, I promise... as long as he doesn't find those photos... or the video... or the DVD... And I'll have to burn those bed sheets..."
Jess laughed and relax as Ameet pulled her closer, with Joe watching from the table the whole time, a darkened frown marring his face.
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"Bye Jules!" Jess said waving to her friend as she entered her house, Jules waved back then disappeared behind her door.
Joe took off without a word, just as silent as he had been since they left the club. Jess openly stared at his profile. His mouth was hard set and thin, his eyes were small slits of silver, his shoulders were tense, and his hands griped the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles were white; these were all signs that Joe was extremely annoyed.
Jess sighed, she could only wonder why is was upset now. "What's wrong Joe?"
Joe grinded his teeth against each other but stayed silent.
Jess tried once more. "What's wrong Joe?"
Joe was still silent, and Jess figured it was best she gave up while she was ahead.
The car was silent.
Then Joe opened his mouth. "You looked a bit too comfortable with Ameet out there on the dance floor."
Jess groaned. "What are you jealous of Ameet, he's only a friend." Okay, Jess knew she was being a hypocrite, but that did not mean Joe needed to know she was being a hypocrite.
"No!"
"Then what is wrong?"
"I just didn't like how you two were dancing out there."
"Joe, it was really nothing."
"Well it did not seem like it to me." There was a stress on the word 'me' and Jess knew Joe was annoyed.
"Well it was."
"I'm sure you would rather have him as a boyfriend, because I'm sure wouldn't mind go telling your parents about him.
Now Jess was starting to get annoyed. "No, plus, he would never be interested in me like that."
"Uh-huh and I'm supposed to believe this because?"
"Because."
"That did not answer my question."
"I can't tell you."
"So there really isn't a reason is there?"
"Yes, there is."
"Then tell me."
"I can't."
"Yes you can."
"No I can't."
"Yes you can!"
"No I can't!"
"YES, you can !"
"FINE! AMEET IS GAY AND HE IS GOING OUT WITH TONY, WHO'S GAY! ARE YOU HAPPY?"
"Oh." Joe was quiet for a moment. "I'm sorry, I don't know what got into me."
Jess shrugged off the apology.
"Aren't you going to say something?" Joe asked Jess.
"No."
Joe sighed. "Why is that we get into so many arguments now?"
Jess shrugged, then leaned back into the plump car chair. "Don't know."
"Are you going to give me one are two worded answers from now on?"
"Maybe."
Joe did not say anything afterwards. It wasn't until Jess saw that Joe missed the turn for her house (at least the spot where he dropped her off so she could go to her house), that she actually spoke up. "You missed my turn!"
"I know, we're going to my house."
Jess looked at Joe with wide eyes, leaning forward slightly. "But–"
"We really need to talk and you know this."
All Jess could do was lean back into the chair, crossing her arms like a disobedient small child about to get reprimanded. "Fine."
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Jess stormed into Joe's apartment. "What is it? My parents are expecting me home soon." She plopped herself on one of his couches.
Joe entered the apartment and closed the door behind him. "That's exactly what I'm talking about, the sneaking around."
The Indian woman rested her head in hands, covering her face. "Not now please, another day."
"What, you know I'm right."
Jess glared at Joe. "What do you think it's going to be that easy to tell my parents about us, or are you delusional?"
"It's better to try and not succeed than not to try at all."
"Joe, I can't argue with you tonight, just please take me home. I really want to end my vacation on a good note."
"Oh, so you rather ignore the problem than address, really mature."
Jess never felt like slapping Joe before, but right now the temptation was great. "Look be snide as you want, but you're going to have to do that by yourself. I'm going home." Jess got up from the couch and headed for the door, but she was stopped by a certain person's hand on her wrist. "Let go."
Joe looked Jess right in the eye, gray eyes calm as ever... it was too bad Jess was not calm. "Not until we solve this problem."
"Look I need to go home, I'm annoyed and very angry, so how about you let go before I get even madder?"
"No."
Jess gently tried to pull her hand away but Joe pulled her closer to him. "Joe, off."
"No Jess." Jess ripped her hand out of his grip and opened his door. "Are you saying that you're to tired to deal with our relationship... you're just giving up?"
Jess paused in mid-stride."Don't go putting words in my mouth!"
"I don't need to, that's what you're acting like!"
"You know what, I can't deal with this right now. Good bye!" Jess exited the door, slamming the door hard behind her, making sure that some of the books on his bookcase would fall.
Joe kicked his couch before he threw himself into the chair. "Shit."
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Jess payed the cab driver then snuck into her house and into her room . Luckily parent's already went to bed, not needing to worry about Jess, after all she was with Tony and Jules. It was a good thing too, her clothing would not exactly please them.. Jess could just hear her mother saying the You-Are-Turning-Into-Imani-You-Should-Stop-Talking-To-Her Speech, it was just as tiring as the Jess-You-Had-Better-Hurry-Up-And-Get-Married-Soon Speech-Rant and the When-Are-You-Going-To-Find-A-Nice-Indian-Boy-And-Settle-Down (although the speeches were basically the exact same thing).
Jess sprawled herself across the bed, still wearing the clothes she wore to the club... most of which were Jules.
'I really need to speak with Imani.' Jess glanced at her alarm clock. It was three o'clock in England, meaning it was around eleven o'clock in California... meaning Imani was at work.
Jess rolled over in her bed to grab her phone and dial the digits for Imani's work number.
"Imani Harper, how may I help you."
"Hey Imani, it's me."
"Hi Jess, is there something wrong?" Imani's voice lost it tight professionalism.
Jess laid her head in her pillow. "Yea there is..."
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The skies were gray. Lightening and thunder flashed and roared in the distance. Rain poured from the sky like an never ending river... and Jess sat inside her house wearing her coat, holding an umbrella in her hand, looking out to the dark skies.
'This can't be a good sign... but Imani said I should follow my heart... and my heart says that I have to do this...'
"Jessminder?"
"Yes mom, are you going out to meet up with a friend again. I thought you said that you–"
"No worries mom, I just have to drop something off to someone, then I'm all yours."
Shaheen rolled her dark eyes. "Riiight, just be sure to get home before midnight." Shaheen walked away to watch her day time soaps, leaving Jess to stare out the window.
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Her umbrella did not work. Jess was soaked through to her bones and to make matters worse was that her hair was going to need to be washed and dried again... meaning she would have to deal with horrible and evil knots.
Sighing heavily, Jess knocked on the apartment door.
No one answered.
Jess knocked again.
No one answered.
'I guess I'll just have to talk to him over the phone.' Before Jess could walk away, Joe opened his door, clad only in black boxers.
Joe looked a bit surprised at Jess standing at his door, but made way for her enter nonetheless. "Hey, Jess, come in." Jess walked solemnly into the apartment. "You're drenched, would you like something to warm you up."
Jess shook her head 'no'. "No, I'm not staying long."
Now Joe was confused. "What's going on?"
"Joe..." Jess paused, taking a deep breath to calm herself down, and calm her frazzled nerves... it did not work, but she continued. "You know I care for you, and I know you care for me. We've been through a whole lot during these three years and you've been nothing but wonderful to me..."
"But?" Jess looked at Joe shocked. "That's the way this speech is going isn't it?"
Jess took another deep breath. "But I think we need a break, maybe to see other people or something. Joe you deserve some one who you can take anywhere without worrying you and her will be spotted and you'll get into trouble." Jess hugged Joe around his waist, wet clothes and all, but Joe stood stiffly not bothering to return the hug.
"So you're breaking up with me?"
Jess looked up at Joe. "I guess."
Joe unwrapped Jess' arms from his waist. "Good-bye." Jess nodded and turned around to leave. "Wait." Jess was turned around by Joe and, just like many times before, Joe planted a kiss on her mouth. Short and sweet, nothing attached to it. "Now, good-bye."
Jess turned and left the apartment, closing the door softly behind, unlike how she slammed just a few hours before.
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Jess ran in the rain crying, not caring that she had no umbrella shielding her head.
She pounded on the door of a small house, it was two blocks from her house, but it was not her house. Pinky opened the door very agitated by the pounding. "WHAT–" Pinky caught a look at the puffy red eyed Jess, wet clothes sticking to her body, and pink nose. "What's wrong Jess?"
"Jess threw herself into Pinky's arms sobbing. "I– I br-broke up wit–with J-Joe."
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Hehehe... Okay go ahead and flame me, I have my flame thrower suit just waiting. I dare you go ahead!
Christfaithalin: Here's the rest of what that chapter was supposed to be!
Ears91: Opps...too late.
Laura: Me give up...never!