Hi again! Darn, I was hoping for some more feed back but that's okay. I'll
live. Anywho, alpineracer88 thanks for reviewing my chapter and everybody
else who's been sticking with it, it is greatly appreciated. I hope that
you guys will enjoy this installment. The plot thickens.
The Other Side of the Story
Part VI
" Here's your order, one ice-cold cappucino with plenty of ice," the waiter announced, setting the cup before Sydney. " Will that be all for you?"
" Yeah, thanks," Sydney replied, a bit distractedly.
" I know snack time is over but you sure look like you could use a pick-me-up. May I interest you in a House of Java special, double chocolate upside down cake?"
" No, that's okay," Sydney protested, taking all her effort from keeping the contents of her stomach down. The sound of that cake was tempting, but recent events had programmed her body to reject food and hearing about it made her stomach turn.
" You sure? I haven't heard anybody reject chocolate, it's a peace maker. Haven't you see the Hershey commercial?" the waiter taunted, obviously thinking this advertisement tactic would get her to change her mind.
" How recent would that commercial be?"
" Uh, I think it's been on for an year now," he frowned, scratching his head.
" Oh, well, I haven't seen it and really, I'm good, actually better than usual. I actually am on my way home from a dinner at a friend's place," Sydney fibbed, sweetly. " I wouldn't want to be the reason for you getting fired," she added, and nodded her head toward the managed. She was a plump woman who looked ridiculous in her uniform that seemed one size too small. Her mean, all business, " we're here to work, not have fun," expression didn't help matters any.
" If you're absolutely sure," the teenage boy hesitated, fear growing in his eyes.
" I am, and thanks for the cappucino."
The boy nodded and then smiled when Sydney pushed a five-dollar bill into his hand.
" Go take your girlfriend on a date or something. You never know when they're going to be gone," she murmured, smiling all the same.
The teenage boy gave her a look like she was paranoid or crazy but kept his comments to himself.
" Thanks, I'll do that," he told her, put the money into the pocket of his slacks and walked off.
Sydney sighed and took a nice gulp of coffee. The coldness of the drink seemed to relax and refresh her throat at the same time.
She then pulled out her briefcase and opened it up. Inside were a bunch of CD's and empty manila folders that should have housed the scattered papers there were scattered everywhere, in dire need of organization. But she brushed those items aside and instead pulled out a book she'd gotten out of the library on her way to Will's apartment.
It was, " All About England."
Hey, she might as well read it. She wanted England to be an adventure and expected to have many surprises, but she did want to fit in. That's why she had also picked up. " British for Dummies."
She opened up the heavy volume and flipped to the beginning. There were many colored photographs displaying the Palace of Wales, one of the many castles in the United Kingdom.
She pictured herself standing before it, just awed at the history and the significance of the building. Maybe she'd be back on her way from shopping, a handsome intellect from Oxford on her arm.
Yeah, right.
Maybe she'd be able to picture life in England if she was looking forward to going. And of course she was, but the underlying factor was, she was going because she needed to move on and get away from Vaughn.
She'd tried to put a face on this Oxford gent , and the gent had brown hair, piercing green eyes and a heavy French accent, in other words, her ex-boyfriend.
Yes, she had to get out of this rut. She would lose Michael, her friends and her dysfunctional parents, but in England she had everything to gain, including life.
Still, she couldn't believe she'd told Will about her plans. She'd only thought of it while she'd flipped through David Lansing's file while she was stuck in traffic. The hospital was call the London Cancer Treatment Center. She'd never heard of it before but she knew file folders didn't lie. And somehow, the idea had shined to her. Her being gone, being found, Michael moving on and her decision to go to England, it was all fate.
So why did she feel like she was making a big mistake?
" 'Don't worry about it, you still have time to think about it," Sydney told herself. She had until the day she put her paperwork in. But she had made one decision. She wasn't ready to give up her life just yet.
She sat there in the booth for a few moments, throwing herself over the texts before her, trying to make sense of it all, or at least until she finished her delicious frothy drink.
She got up and bumped into the waiter who had charmed her.
" Hey, that was delicious, thanks."
" You sure do look better. I think my secret ingredient did it," he beamed, wearing a superior grin.
" Secret ingredient?"
" Yeah, chocolate. Couldn't you guess?" he teased, good naturedly. " Have a nice evening!"
" Th~~~thanks," she replied, flashing him a dimple melting smile. She was just leaving when she passed by two people she was sure she knew. She flipped around after the bit of déjà vu wore off.
The long brown hair in graceful curls, and that vibe she exuded, knowing every man stared at her wherever she went.
" Jessica?" Sydney asked herself. But then she dismissed it. " No, Jessica is married to Michael." And that man was not her handsome ex. But she was still sure she'd just seen Michael's wife walk in with another man.
" Now, what kind of agent would she be if she didn't get to the bottom of this? Maybe she would even get something on Jessica and Michael would realize he'd made a big mistake."
Then maybe she could become Michael's wife, after plenty of screaming, ranting and making sure Vaughn never forgot what he'd done to her, then make him promise never to do it again.
" Hey, maybe she'd let him chase her a little, re-earn his place as the love of my life," she thought as she moved around the restaurant, trying to decide the best position she could be in to have an idea who the party really was and what naughty behavior could be possibly going on.
She decided to set her self in a booth diagonal from them. She saw the manager signal a waiter to her table. She panicked when she saw the teenage boy from earlier trot over to her table. She tried to hide herself behind a wall of menus.
Good evening mam, may I." the boy began in his customer service tone but he dropped the act when he saw Sydney sitting there. " Um mam, weren't you just here and didn't you just leave?"
Busted!
" Uh, yeah. I am. Does it bother you?"
" No, but excuse my asking, what are you doing back here, hiding behind the restaurant's menus?" he inquired, looking suspiciously at the customer.
" I came to get another cappucino, since you made one so well and." she ranted.
The waiter smiled to show he wasn't buying. " Now what are you really doing here?"
" I shouldn't have to tell you anything. After all, I am just business to you and your store," she rebuked in a superior tone.
The waiter seemed to be dissection Sydney's brain, deciding whether he should worry about her state of mind, or to leave her alone.
" You're right. It's not my business if you want to sit here like you have no life. Maybe the smell of coffee and the sound of murmured conversation soothes you. Excuse my rudeness, you won't be disturbed again," he harrumphed, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he sauntered away.
" Hey, wait a second, I didn't mean to anger you. Can I make it up to you by having that special you were talking about?" she offered. The waiter wanted to laugh and stalk off but his heart melted at the sight of Sydney's beautiful smile.
" I wouldn't want you to feel obligated to buy something from me," he put in quickly. " I mean, I don't know you. Maybe you're conducting an experiment on how waiters see a customer when they arrive after leaving minutes ago, or, maybe you're a secret agent going undercover."
" So, you don't mind then?"
The waiter shook his head and touched her arm. " Enjoy your stay, hope you find what you're looking for."
" Thank you, I will," Sydney told him, and the moment he left was the moment "Operation: Spy on Jess," began.
Sydney lowered the menus and shot her gaze at the mysterious party. She tried to decipher the features of the lady sitting there.
Yup, it was Ms. Vaughn. She was pouring sugar into her coffee and daintily stirring it with a spoon. There was a shy smile on her expression, her large brown eyes gazed up at her companion in a playful manner, her eyes slowly blinked, accenting her "look-at-me," lashes.
Sydney was about to hurl. And if she could throw a punch at her perfect façade, that would be even better. But she kept herself in control. Jessica hadn't done anything to perceive she was cheating and she had to admit it to herself as much as she wanted to end Jessica's life. Sydney kept her rage in check and gazed over at the male. This seemed to make things worse for her. She gasped.
No! It couldn't be!
But it was. The more she studied him, the more she could tell it was unmistakably her roommate, Sean Gaskin.
" This can't be happening," Sydney gagged but covered it up as a cough when she realized people were paying unnecessary attention to her.
Including that of Jessica's.
**************************************************************************** ****
Sean stared at Jessica for a few moments. Here he was, sitting with his childhood friend and suddenly, the flirtatious gazes had gone out the window, and a very careful, scheming Jessica had taken her place. He decided to let it go as a phase but it bothered him. After all, he did care about her, and he was the one who was there when Michael couldn't keep his feelings in check.
If only Jessica would see that.
If only Michael would catch them together.
" Sweetie?" Sean asked sweetly to the oblivious Jessica.
No response.
He took hold her hand and repeated her name. " Jess?"
Jessica looked at Sean.
" Yes?
" Wanna tell Sean what's bothering you?"
Jessica stared at the innocent Sean and felt a bit bad for him. After all he was still the naïve ex-boyfriend of hers she'd gotten to do terrible things so he could "earn her respect." Jessica was snickering in the inside, chiding Sean for being so stupid, but her outside presented a completely different emotion.
" It's nothing, Sean. But~~~ like I've been telling you for days, and maybe you would get it if you weren't so distracted by my beauty but, ever since I saw Michael with his former girlfriend, I'm wondering if I did the right thing."
" What do you mean?"
" The dinner. I did it to spite Sydney, to get her to realize me and Michael are now taken. But for some reason I have the feeling it had the opposite intention. I think I might have pushed them more closer together. Sean, do you think I acted too hastily?" she sighed, her eyes filled with sorrow and worry.
Sean reached up to her face and rubbed away the tears that were brimming on her lower lashes.
" Jess, you were the sexiest cheerleader at Victorice high," Sean reminded her. " All the jocks followed your curvaceous body then, and you know they do now. Michael is no exception if he has the male genes."
" I don't know, Sean. Michael has barely interacted with me since his supposedly dead girlfriend decided to prove she 's immortal," Jessica spit angrily. " But this all does land on you."
" Me/"
" Yes, you!" she cried angrily. " You were supposed to get her to change your mind, leaving me and Michael to enjoy our night together. We were just getting in the mood when the Bristows decided to interrupt out first real kiss in days!"
Sean leaned against his plastic chair and exhaled. " I tried, Jess."
" Obviously not hard enough," Jessica replied disapprovingly, still looking over at the table in question when she wasn't biting Sean's head off.
" I did what I could. I told her she shouldn't go. First playfully, and then I repeated myself in a real, I care about you, genuine tone."
" Congratulations."
" Jess, what was I supposed to do? Chain her to the chair? Knock her out? Jump on her? You told me to be discreet."
" Of course you had to be! We couldn't have her knowing our plan," Jessica gasped, looking incredulous.
" Well, I tired and if that wasn't good enough for you, I'm sorry. But I don't' need to take this," Sean told her evenly and made a move like he was going to get out of the seat. Good riddens, Jess.
" No, Sean. Wait a minute. If I remember right, we're not just doing this for my benefit," Jessica teased, in a way that compelled Sean to listen to her, just like he had the day she'd asked him to fake the rap for t'ping her boyfriend's residence. " Good boy, so, tell me what's going on with Ms. Bristow?"
Sean's heart jumped at the thought of the attractive brunette, with her shiny amber eyes and her day-lighting smile. " Well I~~~" he began, but for some unknown reason, his words caught in his throat. The reason was Jessica. Jessica was very beautiful and her intelligence wasn't a joke either. But right now she was in calculation mode. Her eyes looked at him hungrily, as though she could taste what he was going to say. And he couldn't say he'd ever been particularly fond of that side.
" Speechless?" she taunted. " Well, well, that's a new one. Aren't you married?"
" Leave my wife out of this!" he warned her defensively. Yea, Sean's wife was cheating on him with someone who made twice the money he made, and he knew that, but that didn't change the fact that she was his wife, and when they were together they did enjoy their company. And for the love of God, he was still going to protect her with every muscle in his body.
" Oh touchy aren't we? We are in the same boat here, sweetie. You know you can tell me anything," Jessica cooed, suddenly becoming compassionate.
" Ten years ago, I would have believed you. But I'm not that same idiot, Jess. I'm not afraid you'll ruin my reputation or have your ten boyfriends kick my butt because you suddenly grew a conscience and decided the impromptu kiss was wrong," Sean informed her, as though his saying so now would help Jessica get it. As though he truly believed something in Jessica might have changed because she was now married and in love with one man.
" Okay, so maybe back then I did play around. Breaking hearts was practically a hobby, if I do say so myself."
Sean shook his head. Only the old Jessica would parade it around that she had that "luxury," of luring just about anyone and then letting them go when the excitement wore out.
Unfortunately for her, he had wised up.
" So you would understand why I doubted your intentions and I still doubt your intentions. Why I find it impossible to believe that Michael is any different."
Jessica rolled her eyes and nodded.
" Good," Sean finally spouted, relieved. He was sure Jessica would start crying, making a scene or crying, "rape," for all he knew. This woman was capable of everything when a man rubbed her the wrong way.
" But I'll tell you this," she whispered into his ear. " We are not going to get what we want unless we work together."
The sound of her voice was cold and sent chills down his spine. She didn't even need a degree in psychology and she could say or do the right thing to make anybody do anything she wanted.
" You may be right about that, Jess. But this isn't just some Highschool sweethearts we're breaking up here. You're dealing with a woman who has a secret agenda. A woman who is so strong that even if she was missing for two years she can live her life as though it was relatively normal. And you're dealing with a man who's love for her went beyond her grave, who's in love with her now just as much as he was before she went missing for two years. Now that's love, Jess. Though I'm not exactly sure if you can ever really grasp that concept."
" Get it right, Sean! Michael loves me! He is my husband!"
" You keep telling yourself that, and tell me you can sleep at night."
" You talk about this eternal love but he obviously didn't love her enough to not lose hope," Jesica boasted, bitterly, her fingernails dug into the skin of his arm as if she was trying to get this nonsense out of his body by easing it out through this wound. Sean watched as the blood welt up and grinned.
Not the reaction she was hoping for.
" Is that all you amount to these days? Is your talons the only thing sharp about you these days? It used to be your wit. You used to hand me death threats on a daily basis."
" If you're smart, Mr. Gaskin, you'll not cross me, because next time, I may do more then threaten you," she threatened, through gritted teeth.
" You know, Jess. I think you actually are scared you're not going to get what you want this ttime."
" Don't talk stupid, Sean. I was just coming to terms with the fact that maybe you grew a brain," she scoffed, but somewhat nervously.
" No, I think you're desperate this time. I think you know you're going to need me to keep Sydney away from your precious Michael, and you're afraid I'm out."
" Well, are you?" she demanded, not knowing what she would do if he said no.
" Tell you what. I'll get back to you on that. I'm loving this scenario, where I'm actually, indispensable," Sean laughed. He then pulled Jessica's head to him and gave her a hard kiss, full of loathing and every other emotion but that shared by two people who shared a rare and special emotion called lover. " See you, baby, looking good as always, Jess."
" You will regret that, just wait till I tell Michael!" she shrieked, reeling from that kiss that she had semi-enjoyed.
" Tell him that and you'll have to tell him everything," Sean reminded her happily. He didn't care. No, to put it more accurately, he was looking forward to it. " And judging by the bout of anxiety that would suredly give you wrinkles, you haven't converted Michael into a dog, panting and begging for you to realize him, give him the time of day."
Jessica got up from seat swiftly. She had nothing more to say to him. Sean watched her go and hollered, " don't worry honey, I'll leave a tip."
She pretended not to hear him and tried to cover up the humiliation he'd put her through without making a scene. She passed by the waiter who'd screwed them, flashed him a gorgeous smile and then exited the restaurant. She didn't get very far though, before she felt a hand grab hers.
" Excuse me, what are you~~~" she began, ready to give the man who was getting fresh with her a piece of her mind. But her words disappeared when she realized who she was facing. " Ms. Bristow~~~" she stammered.
" Show's over, Mrs. Vaughn," she spit and then pushed her over to where her car was parked. Sydney pressed a button to unlock the door and then stood behind Jessica and ordered, " there's somewhere I want you to come, get in."
" Excuse me but do you~~~" she began shrieking.
" Now, I tried to be nice, obviously you don't know who I am," Sydney snickered. She followed this comment by giving Jessica's backside the closest think to a swift kick in the butt and shoved her into the back of the car. She herself then got into the driver's seat, checked for any official personnel that patrolled at this time. The coast was clear. Sydney peeled her vehicle off the curb and drove off toward the pier.
TBC.
There you go peoples!!! Hope that was enough for ya. I'm working on the next part so I won't make you wait too long. Okay, Alpineracer88, sorry, we'll get to the big showdown between them in the next part, promise!!! ( I mean, what else can I do with that cliffie, lol) but Jess did get pretty dissed, didn't she? Hee hee Thanks to those who've read and for those who reviewed, if you haven't reviewed, please do so. I need to know who's really reading this to know if I should continue writing. Remember, feedback is what keeps me going. Thanks, hope you enjoyed and stay tuned for Part VII. Lataz
The Other Side of the Story
Part VI
" Here's your order, one ice-cold cappucino with plenty of ice," the waiter announced, setting the cup before Sydney. " Will that be all for you?"
" Yeah, thanks," Sydney replied, a bit distractedly.
" I know snack time is over but you sure look like you could use a pick-me-up. May I interest you in a House of Java special, double chocolate upside down cake?"
" No, that's okay," Sydney protested, taking all her effort from keeping the contents of her stomach down. The sound of that cake was tempting, but recent events had programmed her body to reject food and hearing about it made her stomach turn.
" You sure? I haven't heard anybody reject chocolate, it's a peace maker. Haven't you see the Hershey commercial?" the waiter taunted, obviously thinking this advertisement tactic would get her to change her mind.
" How recent would that commercial be?"
" Uh, I think it's been on for an year now," he frowned, scratching his head.
" Oh, well, I haven't seen it and really, I'm good, actually better than usual. I actually am on my way home from a dinner at a friend's place," Sydney fibbed, sweetly. " I wouldn't want to be the reason for you getting fired," she added, and nodded her head toward the managed. She was a plump woman who looked ridiculous in her uniform that seemed one size too small. Her mean, all business, " we're here to work, not have fun," expression didn't help matters any.
" If you're absolutely sure," the teenage boy hesitated, fear growing in his eyes.
" I am, and thanks for the cappucino."
The boy nodded and then smiled when Sydney pushed a five-dollar bill into his hand.
" Go take your girlfriend on a date or something. You never know when they're going to be gone," she murmured, smiling all the same.
The teenage boy gave her a look like she was paranoid or crazy but kept his comments to himself.
" Thanks, I'll do that," he told her, put the money into the pocket of his slacks and walked off.
Sydney sighed and took a nice gulp of coffee. The coldness of the drink seemed to relax and refresh her throat at the same time.
She then pulled out her briefcase and opened it up. Inside were a bunch of CD's and empty manila folders that should have housed the scattered papers there were scattered everywhere, in dire need of organization. But she brushed those items aside and instead pulled out a book she'd gotten out of the library on her way to Will's apartment.
It was, " All About England."
Hey, she might as well read it. She wanted England to be an adventure and expected to have many surprises, but she did want to fit in. That's why she had also picked up. " British for Dummies."
She opened up the heavy volume and flipped to the beginning. There were many colored photographs displaying the Palace of Wales, one of the many castles in the United Kingdom.
She pictured herself standing before it, just awed at the history and the significance of the building. Maybe she'd be back on her way from shopping, a handsome intellect from Oxford on her arm.
Yeah, right.
Maybe she'd be able to picture life in England if she was looking forward to going. And of course she was, but the underlying factor was, she was going because she needed to move on and get away from Vaughn.
She'd tried to put a face on this Oxford gent , and the gent had brown hair, piercing green eyes and a heavy French accent, in other words, her ex-boyfriend.
Yes, she had to get out of this rut. She would lose Michael, her friends and her dysfunctional parents, but in England she had everything to gain, including life.
Still, she couldn't believe she'd told Will about her plans. She'd only thought of it while she'd flipped through David Lansing's file while she was stuck in traffic. The hospital was call the London Cancer Treatment Center. She'd never heard of it before but she knew file folders didn't lie. And somehow, the idea had shined to her. Her being gone, being found, Michael moving on and her decision to go to England, it was all fate.
So why did she feel like she was making a big mistake?
" 'Don't worry about it, you still have time to think about it," Sydney told herself. She had until the day she put her paperwork in. But she had made one decision. She wasn't ready to give up her life just yet.
She sat there in the booth for a few moments, throwing herself over the texts before her, trying to make sense of it all, or at least until she finished her delicious frothy drink.
She got up and bumped into the waiter who had charmed her.
" Hey, that was delicious, thanks."
" You sure do look better. I think my secret ingredient did it," he beamed, wearing a superior grin.
" Secret ingredient?"
" Yeah, chocolate. Couldn't you guess?" he teased, good naturedly. " Have a nice evening!"
" Th~~~thanks," she replied, flashing him a dimple melting smile. She was just leaving when she passed by two people she was sure she knew. She flipped around after the bit of déjà vu wore off.
The long brown hair in graceful curls, and that vibe she exuded, knowing every man stared at her wherever she went.
" Jessica?" Sydney asked herself. But then she dismissed it. " No, Jessica is married to Michael." And that man was not her handsome ex. But she was still sure she'd just seen Michael's wife walk in with another man.
" Now, what kind of agent would she be if she didn't get to the bottom of this? Maybe she would even get something on Jessica and Michael would realize he'd made a big mistake."
Then maybe she could become Michael's wife, after plenty of screaming, ranting and making sure Vaughn never forgot what he'd done to her, then make him promise never to do it again.
" Hey, maybe she'd let him chase her a little, re-earn his place as the love of my life," she thought as she moved around the restaurant, trying to decide the best position she could be in to have an idea who the party really was and what naughty behavior could be possibly going on.
She decided to set her self in a booth diagonal from them. She saw the manager signal a waiter to her table. She panicked when she saw the teenage boy from earlier trot over to her table. She tried to hide herself behind a wall of menus.
Good evening mam, may I." the boy began in his customer service tone but he dropped the act when he saw Sydney sitting there. " Um mam, weren't you just here and didn't you just leave?"
Busted!
" Uh, yeah. I am. Does it bother you?"
" No, but excuse my asking, what are you doing back here, hiding behind the restaurant's menus?" he inquired, looking suspiciously at the customer.
" I came to get another cappucino, since you made one so well and." she ranted.
The waiter smiled to show he wasn't buying. " Now what are you really doing here?"
" I shouldn't have to tell you anything. After all, I am just business to you and your store," she rebuked in a superior tone.
The waiter seemed to be dissection Sydney's brain, deciding whether he should worry about her state of mind, or to leave her alone.
" You're right. It's not my business if you want to sit here like you have no life. Maybe the smell of coffee and the sound of murmured conversation soothes you. Excuse my rudeness, you won't be disturbed again," he harrumphed, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he sauntered away.
" Hey, wait a second, I didn't mean to anger you. Can I make it up to you by having that special you were talking about?" she offered. The waiter wanted to laugh and stalk off but his heart melted at the sight of Sydney's beautiful smile.
" I wouldn't want you to feel obligated to buy something from me," he put in quickly. " I mean, I don't know you. Maybe you're conducting an experiment on how waiters see a customer when they arrive after leaving minutes ago, or, maybe you're a secret agent going undercover."
" So, you don't mind then?"
The waiter shook his head and touched her arm. " Enjoy your stay, hope you find what you're looking for."
" Thank you, I will," Sydney told him, and the moment he left was the moment "Operation: Spy on Jess," began.
Sydney lowered the menus and shot her gaze at the mysterious party. She tried to decipher the features of the lady sitting there.
Yup, it was Ms. Vaughn. She was pouring sugar into her coffee and daintily stirring it with a spoon. There was a shy smile on her expression, her large brown eyes gazed up at her companion in a playful manner, her eyes slowly blinked, accenting her "look-at-me," lashes.
Sydney was about to hurl. And if she could throw a punch at her perfect façade, that would be even better. But she kept herself in control. Jessica hadn't done anything to perceive she was cheating and she had to admit it to herself as much as she wanted to end Jessica's life. Sydney kept her rage in check and gazed over at the male. This seemed to make things worse for her. She gasped.
No! It couldn't be!
But it was. The more she studied him, the more she could tell it was unmistakably her roommate, Sean Gaskin.
" This can't be happening," Sydney gagged but covered it up as a cough when she realized people were paying unnecessary attention to her.
Including that of Jessica's.
**************************************************************************** ****
Sean stared at Jessica for a few moments. Here he was, sitting with his childhood friend and suddenly, the flirtatious gazes had gone out the window, and a very careful, scheming Jessica had taken her place. He decided to let it go as a phase but it bothered him. After all, he did care about her, and he was the one who was there when Michael couldn't keep his feelings in check.
If only Jessica would see that.
If only Michael would catch them together.
" Sweetie?" Sean asked sweetly to the oblivious Jessica.
No response.
He took hold her hand and repeated her name. " Jess?"
Jessica looked at Sean.
" Yes?
" Wanna tell Sean what's bothering you?"
Jessica stared at the innocent Sean and felt a bit bad for him. After all he was still the naïve ex-boyfriend of hers she'd gotten to do terrible things so he could "earn her respect." Jessica was snickering in the inside, chiding Sean for being so stupid, but her outside presented a completely different emotion.
" It's nothing, Sean. But~~~ like I've been telling you for days, and maybe you would get it if you weren't so distracted by my beauty but, ever since I saw Michael with his former girlfriend, I'm wondering if I did the right thing."
" What do you mean?"
" The dinner. I did it to spite Sydney, to get her to realize me and Michael are now taken. But for some reason I have the feeling it had the opposite intention. I think I might have pushed them more closer together. Sean, do you think I acted too hastily?" she sighed, her eyes filled with sorrow and worry.
Sean reached up to her face and rubbed away the tears that were brimming on her lower lashes.
" Jess, you were the sexiest cheerleader at Victorice high," Sean reminded her. " All the jocks followed your curvaceous body then, and you know they do now. Michael is no exception if he has the male genes."
" I don't know, Sean. Michael has barely interacted with me since his supposedly dead girlfriend decided to prove she 's immortal," Jessica spit angrily. " But this all does land on you."
" Me/"
" Yes, you!" she cried angrily. " You were supposed to get her to change your mind, leaving me and Michael to enjoy our night together. We were just getting in the mood when the Bristows decided to interrupt out first real kiss in days!"
Sean leaned against his plastic chair and exhaled. " I tried, Jess."
" Obviously not hard enough," Jessica replied disapprovingly, still looking over at the table in question when she wasn't biting Sean's head off.
" I did what I could. I told her she shouldn't go. First playfully, and then I repeated myself in a real, I care about you, genuine tone."
" Congratulations."
" Jess, what was I supposed to do? Chain her to the chair? Knock her out? Jump on her? You told me to be discreet."
" Of course you had to be! We couldn't have her knowing our plan," Jessica gasped, looking incredulous.
" Well, I tired and if that wasn't good enough for you, I'm sorry. But I don't' need to take this," Sean told her evenly and made a move like he was going to get out of the seat. Good riddens, Jess.
" No, Sean. Wait a minute. If I remember right, we're not just doing this for my benefit," Jessica teased, in a way that compelled Sean to listen to her, just like he had the day she'd asked him to fake the rap for t'ping her boyfriend's residence. " Good boy, so, tell me what's going on with Ms. Bristow?"
Sean's heart jumped at the thought of the attractive brunette, with her shiny amber eyes and her day-lighting smile. " Well I~~~" he began, but for some unknown reason, his words caught in his throat. The reason was Jessica. Jessica was very beautiful and her intelligence wasn't a joke either. But right now she was in calculation mode. Her eyes looked at him hungrily, as though she could taste what he was going to say. And he couldn't say he'd ever been particularly fond of that side.
" Speechless?" she taunted. " Well, well, that's a new one. Aren't you married?"
" Leave my wife out of this!" he warned her defensively. Yea, Sean's wife was cheating on him with someone who made twice the money he made, and he knew that, but that didn't change the fact that she was his wife, and when they were together they did enjoy their company. And for the love of God, he was still going to protect her with every muscle in his body.
" Oh touchy aren't we? We are in the same boat here, sweetie. You know you can tell me anything," Jessica cooed, suddenly becoming compassionate.
" Ten years ago, I would have believed you. But I'm not that same idiot, Jess. I'm not afraid you'll ruin my reputation or have your ten boyfriends kick my butt because you suddenly grew a conscience and decided the impromptu kiss was wrong," Sean informed her, as though his saying so now would help Jessica get it. As though he truly believed something in Jessica might have changed because she was now married and in love with one man.
" Okay, so maybe back then I did play around. Breaking hearts was practically a hobby, if I do say so myself."
Sean shook his head. Only the old Jessica would parade it around that she had that "luxury," of luring just about anyone and then letting them go when the excitement wore out.
Unfortunately for her, he had wised up.
" So you would understand why I doubted your intentions and I still doubt your intentions. Why I find it impossible to believe that Michael is any different."
Jessica rolled her eyes and nodded.
" Good," Sean finally spouted, relieved. He was sure Jessica would start crying, making a scene or crying, "rape," for all he knew. This woman was capable of everything when a man rubbed her the wrong way.
" But I'll tell you this," she whispered into his ear. " We are not going to get what we want unless we work together."
The sound of her voice was cold and sent chills down his spine. She didn't even need a degree in psychology and she could say or do the right thing to make anybody do anything she wanted.
" You may be right about that, Jess. But this isn't just some Highschool sweethearts we're breaking up here. You're dealing with a woman who has a secret agenda. A woman who is so strong that even if she was missing for two years she can live her life as though it was relatively normal. And you're dealing with a man who's love for her went beyond her grave, who's in love with her now just as much as he was before she went missing for two years. Now that's love, Jess. Though I'm not exactly sure if you can ever really grasp that concept."
" Get it right, Sean! Michael loves me! He is my husband!"
" You keep telling yourself that, and tell me you can sleep at night."
" You talk about this eternal love but he obviously didn't love her enough to not lose hope," Jesica boasted, bitterly, her fingernails dug into the skin of his arm as if she was trying to get this nonsense out of his body by easing it out through this wound. Sean watched as the blood welt up and grinned.
Not the reaction she was hoping for.
" Is that all you amount to these days? Is your talons the only thing sharp about you these days? It used to be your wit. You used to hand me death threats on a daily basis."
" If you're smart, Mr. Gaskin, you'll not cross me, because next time, I may do more then threaten you," she threatened, through gritted teeth.
" You know, Jess. I think you actually are scared you're not going to get what you want this ttime."
" Don't talk stupid, Sean. I was just coming to terms with the fact that maybe you grew a brain," she scoffed, but somewhat nervously.
" No, I think you're desperate this time. I think you know you're going to need me to keep Sydney away from your precious Michael, and you're afraid I'm out."
" Well, are you?" she demanded, not knowing what she would do if he said no.
" Tell you what. I'll get back to you on that. I'm loving this scenario, where I'm actually, indispensable," Sean laughed. He then pulled Jessica's head to him and gave her a hard kiss, full of loathing and every other emotion but that shared by two people who shared a rare and special emotion called lover. " See you, baby, looking good as always, Jess."
" You will regret that, just wait till I tell Michael!" she shrieked, reeling from that kiss that she had semi-enjoyed.
" Tell him that and you'll have to tell him everything," Sean reminded her happily. He didn't care. No, to put it more accurately, he was looking forward to it. " And judging by the bout of anxiety that would suredly give you wrinkles, you haven't converted Michael into a dog, panting and begging for you to realize him, give him the time of day."
Jessica got up from seat swiftly. She had nothing more to say to him. Sean watched her go and hollered, " don't worry honey, I'll leave a tip."
She pretended not to hear him and tried to cover up the humiliation he'd put her through without making a scene. She passed by the waiter who'd screwed them, flashed him a gorgeous smile and then exited the restaurant. She didn't get very far though, before she felt a hand grab hers.
" Excuse me, what are you~~~" she began, ready to give the man who was getting fresh with her a piece of her mind. But her words disappeared when she realized who she was facing. " Ms. Bristow~~~" she stammered.
" Show's over, Mrs. Vaughn," she spit and then pushed her over to where her car was parked. Sydney pressed a button to unlock the door and then stood behind Jessica and ordered, " there's somewhere I want you to come, get in."
" Excuse me but do you~~~" she began shrieking.
" Now, I tried to be nice, obviously you don't know who I am," Sydney snickered. She followed this comment by giving Jessica's backside the closest think to a swift kick in the butt and shoved her into the back of the car. She herself then got into the driver's seat, checked for any official personnel that patrolled at this time. The coast was clear. Sydney peeled her vehicle off the curb and drove off toward the pier.
TBC.
There you go peoples!!! Hope that was enough for ya. I'm working on the next part so I won't make you wait too long. Okay, Alpineracer88, sorry, we'll get to the big showdown between them in the next part, promise!!! ( I mean, what else can I do with that cliffie, lol) but Jess did get pretty dissed, didn't she? Hee hee Thanks to those who've read and for those who reviewed, if you haven't reviewed, please do so. I need to know who's really reading this to know if I should continue writing. Remember, feedback is what keeps me going. Thanks, hope you enjoyed and stay tuned for Part VII. Lataz
