(Click) "It's 6 AM on this beautiful Friday morning…"
The two sleeping people in the bed woke with a start. Jess had forgotten she had set her alarm clock the previous morning, as was her routine, and was regretting it now. With a moan she pulled the covers over her face and let herself stay in dream world for a few moments. The man next to her didn't stir but he was awake. Jigen didn't know what to think of what happened last night. Both had been sober, both had been consenting, and both didn't want to get up.
"I guess this is right," he thought to himself and smiled.
The female presence next to him began shuffling around and finally sat up with her back to him. Jigen couldn't see her that well as all the blinds were down and the room was dark, but he could see her silhouette. The curvy figure finally stood and walked to the bathroom to get ready for school. Silent like a cat she moved as she knew the path well. When Jess came back, she found Jigen just as she left him and simply whispered a goodbye.
The gunslinger was deep in thought for much of any hour as he pondered his possibilities.
"I'm still very young; I shouldn't be so gaga over some girl. If I get all over Lupin's case about Fujiko, it would be just hypocritical of me to do the same over Jess. But, she's not like Fujiko at all. She's not a bitch," at that he laughed out loud although this had all gone on in his head. "Man, I'm only 23. I should be concerned with my career, not my love life. At least, I can't give her what she deserves until I make some more. Shit, there I go thinking about her again. This is friggin' insane…"
He was cut off in mid thought when he heard his cell phone ring in the other room. Only Lupin had that number, so there was no guess work in who it could be.
"What's up monkey boy?" said Jigen with a yawn.
"Hey, shut up, I don't look like a monkey. Where have you been, man? I was calling all last night trying to get a hold of you but I kept getting voicemail."
"I was busy."
"Busy? Like you have a social life," Lupin said with a laugh, "What could be so important to keep you away from my harmonious voice?"
"If I told you, you would never believe me. So what the hell do you want anyways?"
"Well, the point to me calling last night was so that you would be able to be ready for the flight this morning. But, since I caught you so early, you can still make it down here in time."
"Whoa, what? I thought we were on holiday or whatever and now you are calling after only a few days."
"Yea, well…" Lupin's voice got very low as he continued, "Fujiko is dating this rich, handsome, playboy guy…I don't know what she sees in him anyways." The last part was added with indignation and a sad sigh. "Anyways, your plane leaves in an hour. Enough time for you to get to Dulles (as I assume you are in the DC area, you dog) and make the flight."
"Uh, huh, how did you know I was in the DC area?"
"I have my sources; you know you can't pull a fast one around the great Lupin III! But seriously, get your ass on that plane, you're going to Brazil!" With that, Lupin hung up and left the gunslinger a little torn.
On one hand he had his career to worry about, but on the other was this new thing he started with Jess. He was quite sure he couldn't have his cake and eat it too. Finally, he came to a conclusion.
Jigen collected up all his belongings (which were few in number) and put them all in a small carry on bag. He then made Jess' bed and amused himself thinking what had happened the night before. Jigen had his belongings, left no evidence he had been there, and the plane ticket was waiting for him at the gate, what was he missing?
"A note!" On a scrap sheet of paper, the man in black scribbled a message that read as follows:
Jess,
I'm sorry, but I have to go. I don't know how long it'll be and I'm unsure if I'll be able to contact you while I'm there. It all came up very suddenly. I promise to come back. When I do, I'll have something important to tell you.
D.J.
With that, Jigen left. He never turned around in remorse or shed a tear. It was his duty to go and it was his pride that fulfilled it. Sadly though, the contents of that letter would never reach our heroine. As Jigen had left the note on the bed, Jess' dog, who had an affinity for paper and tissues, found it a nice snack during mid day when she leapt up on the bed to sleep. Down her throat went all the words the usually quiet man could muster to make sure the brunette would wait for him.
Jess returned home to find an empty and silent house. While she searched every room frantically hoping he was just playing a trick on her, she realized he was gone. The young woman sat down and cried as she berated herself for letting a man use her again.
"How could I be so stupid?" she sobbed, "Am I really doomed to be a page holder until a man is ready to move on? Why did I ever think this was going to be different? He never made any promises and he never told me anything that would warrant affection. Every man really is the same." And with that, her heart turned to stone. The only people she would truly trust now where her close friends who had stood by her through everything. Not even her parents were allowed a glimpse into her heart as they had smashed it years ago with their divorce. Her resolution was strong and set now. She vowed to never let her heart get hurt again.
At her side was her little "snow bird." Taylor nudged her friend as she always knew when something was wrong.
"You have never let me down, Tay; you're one of the few people I can trust anymore." Little did the brunette know that in her trusted friend laid the promise of a man that would return and would try to reclaim what seemed now surely lost.
THE END – squeal on the way.
