Title: One Year Anniversary
Author: Stress
First written: April 18, 2002-May 12, 2002
Edited and replaced: August 9, 2005
Summary: Part III of the Soul Mates Series; When Jack and Stress reach their first year anniversary, Stress tells a friend the story about how they almost didn't get together at all.
Bottle Alley Lodging House
All was still and quiet in the bunkroom of the Bottle Alley Lodging House as the room's only occupants, Bookie and Mushie, sat there, on the same bunk, whispering to each other.
All of a sudden they were interrupted when two boys came running up the stairs and came barging into the bunkroom. The shorter one caught his breath first and started talking at top speed. "Oh my God, Bookie, you're never gonna guess what just happened!"
Bookie stood up, wide-eyed and alert. "Race, what happened?"
"This is what happened. Me and Mush, we went down to Tibby's to see if Jack and Stress were there, just like ya told us to. We got there just in time to see Sarah walk right up the the booth that Jack, Stress, Dave and Stress' friend, what's her name, Grace, were sitting at. Then, right in front of everyone, Sarah plants one right on Jack." Race stopped to catch his breath again.
Bookie nodded slowly as she took in all the new information. "O.K., now Stress knows. What did she do?"
"That's the eerie part, Bookie. I swear, I woulda bet five-to-one that she was gonna punch Jack right in the face but instead she gets up all calm and shakes Sarah's hand. After that she gets up and tells Grace that she's leaving. Then she puts on her charm and gets Dave to go with them. That poor boy was under her spell instantly. Ya know what Stress is like when she puts on her charm."
"Yeah," responded Mush.
"What!" screeched Mushie, "I'm sorry I don't know what she's like when she puts on her charm."
"Oh, ya know. She starts smiling at ya real pretty-like and flipping her long curls. Ya just get lost in her eyes and ya wanna do anything to make her happy," Mush explained, oblivious to the look Mushie was giving him.
Bookie, sensing trouble amongst her co-conspirators, quickly intercepted. "I'm sure that Mush just heard about all that from one of the other fellas whose heart Stress has broken cause of her crush on Jack. Remember, he's your guy now, Mushie, not hers. Ain't that right Mush?"
"Yeah... sure." Mush answered, still lost in a dreamy gaze. That was enough for Mushie, though. She snuggled close to Mush and waited to hear what her friend had to say about their plan.
Aware that everyone's eyes were on her, Bookie addressed the group. "Well, first of all, I'd like to say I told ya so to Race. I told him that Stress would go out and get herself another guy. An' the fact that she chose Dave as the sap is even better. Now that both Jack and Stress have someone, a pair of brother and sister no less, they ain't never gonna get together now. The only thing left to do to insure that our plan is done is to let Jack and Stress know how happy they both are without the other. Race, you and Mush go talk to Jack, but make sure that no one else is around. Why don't you two take him to Tibby's tomorrow after ya finish selling your papes. Me and Mushie are gonna handle Stress when she comes back to the Lodging House." Bookie stopped speaking when she heard footsteps on the stairs. "O.K., guys. That's it for now. I'll see you guys later. Just make sure to talk to Jack tomorrow." She leaned over to give Race a quick kiss as Stress entered the door of the bunkroom. She smiled knowingly as Race had to drag Mush out of the bunkroom.
Bookie looked at Mushie over Stress's head and winked. It was time to put this part of the plan into action. "Hiya Stress. You're looking mighty happy over there. How was your first day back in Manhattan?"
"Oh, it was good. Great, actually," she responded casually.
"Really? What was so great about it?" asked Mushie, playing along.
"I know you two are gonna make a big deal outta it but I'm gonna tell you anyways. I got myself a guy today and he's a keeper."
"Really? That's great news! Who's the lucky fella that managed to win ya over? Do I know him?" Mushie continued with the questions, hiding a smile because she already knew the answers.
"Yeah, ya know him. It's David, David Jacobs. Jack's dating his sister," Stress said. It was extremely hard to get that last sentence out. It hurt to say it because if she said it out loud it forced her to face the fact that it was true. "You have David now. He's ten times better than Jack," she reminded herself for the tenth time since she left the Jacobs's.
Though Stress did a great job masking her emotions, Bookie knew her well enough to know that she still wanted to be with Jack more than anything and was only using David as a distraction. She felt a momentary pang of guilt but pushed it to the side. She was doing this for Stress. Jack -- the lowdown, dishonest jerk that he was -- did not deserve her at all. "So ya found out about Sarah, huh?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Yeah. I'm surprised though. She ain't the type of girl I pictured Jack with at all, but hey, as long as he's happy," Stress said, not meeting anyone's gaze.
"Oh, and he's really happy with Sarah. They're in love ya know," Bookie added for good measure. Mushie shot her a look that told Bookie that she thought that she had gone too far.
Stress sat there for a moment, stunned. One of her friends had just confirmed her worst fear: Jack really had fallen in love with another girl. She quickly put her smile back into place. She didn't need Jack any more. She now had her own guy. "Now, if you two excuse me. I'm gonna go take a quick walk before all of the other girls come back here for the night."
As soon as Stress left the bunkroom, Mushie turned to face Bookie. "Bookie, I think that ya went too far with that last remark. Ya said that we're ain't supposed to be hurting Stress and that hurt her. I know that ya saw her expression when ya said that," she said, wagging her finger at Bookie.
"Don't worry Mushie", she said as she stretched out on her top bunk, "She'll thank us for saving her the heartbreak of dating Jack one of these days. Trust me. I know what I'm doing." She smiled as she looked up at the dirty ceiling. Her plan was coming along nicely now. "Yes, I think that things will work out just fine."