Chapter 5

Lisa stared into the mirror through the soapy message she had written as her mind took her back.

1995

After the winter formal dance Lisa and Jackson had officially become a couple. They had become inseparable; in classes where they couldn't sit together they were always glancing at one another. It made Lisa laugh at how silly she had become over a guy, she had swore that she would keep her head and not get lost in the romance of it all; she had become like her girlfriends, giddy at the thought of him.

Jackson also felt rather childish; he felt stupid at how just a simple glance from her or brush of her hand made him feel; and he certainly believed that he didn't deserve to have someone as wonderful as Lisa love him. His parents had abandoned him when he was very young and for years he had been shuffled around the foster system until finally one day the social worker had found his Uncle and family and placed him there; he was better off in foster care as far as he was concerned.

Once high school was over Lisa, Jackson and their friends had gone to a party to celebrate graduation and that's when his odd behaviour started. While they were at the party Lisa and her girlfriends were all talking in a corner of the room and a young man who had come to crash the party came over to where they were and started chatting them up. Jackson observed this from across the room and felt his body temperature rise, it only go worse when he noticed the man slip something into Lisa's drink, unbeknownst to her and her friends. Before Lisa could finish her drink Jackson came across the room and pushed the man aside rudely placing himself between him and Lisa; and took the drink away from her.

"Can I do something for you?" the young man asked

"Yeah, you could leave my girlfriend alone and take your laced drink with you asshole" Jackson scowled at him.

"I don't have any idea what you are talking about man; in my defence she never said she had a boyfriend."

"Well she does, now back off."

The other partygoers were beginning to take notice and were encouraging Jackson to do something about the guy. He desperately wanted to but Lisa put her hand onhis chest to get his attention.

"Jackson forget it, he's not worth it; let's just go alright?"

"Fine," he said throwing the drugged drink all over the guy.

As they left the kid who was having the party unceremoniously threw the party crasher out the door and told him not to come back. Jackson pulled Lisa out to his car which was parked a ways down the street; when they got there he pushed her into the side of the car forcefully.

"Ow! What was that for; you hurt me?"

"What were you doing in there; why were you flirting with him?" he said angrily to her

"I wasn't flirting Jackson, we were only talking with him. I didn't know he had slipped anything into my drink," she said with tears starting to fall.

He was beginning to scare her; his eyes which usually held so much soul and caring for her were now full of anger and mistrust.

"Well lucky for you I noticed; or he might have you upstairs in that house right now doing God knows what to you. Or is that what you wanted?"

"Take me home right now Jackson."

"Not before you answer me."

"I'm not going to dignify your question with an answer; if you think I'm just some cheap slut who will sleep with anyone then you don't know me at all Jackson," she yelled back at him.

"Get in the car Leese," he said.

Against her better judgement she did get into the car with him, but she did not acknowledge him at all the entire time they drove. It wasn't until she noticed that they were not headed in the direction of her house that she spoke up.

"Where are we going Jackson?"

"My place; we need to talk rationally and calmlyand in front of your parents is not the place to do that."

"I've never been to your place; why now all of a sudden? Why not some cheap motel if that's what you want?"

She began to get nervous as he pulled in front of the house which was completely dark except for one lamp in the living room. He turned off the engine and turned to face her. He reached out to touch her and she flinched; he had scared her earlier when he hurt her and she was afraid of what he might do to her now.

"You can tell by the look of things that there is no one here; that's why you are here. And I didn't take us to some cheap motel because you are not a cheap slut Leese; please come inside with me so we can talk."

"When we are done talking you'll take me home?"

"Yes; I promise."

"Okay," she said and unbuckled her seatbelt.

They walked up to the front door and Jackson let them in; when he turned on the lights she was quite amazed to see a beautiful living room and dining area. By all appearances it seemed to be a stable happy home; little did she know that was not the situation at all. Jackson took her coat and hung it in the closet for her and she removed her shoes so she wouldn't mark the carpet; he then led her into the living room and sat down beside her on the couch.

"What happened tonight Jackson; you really scared me?" she asked

"When I first saw you talking with that boy I guess I was jealous; something told me that he was up to no good. The longer you talked with him the more jealous I got; when I saw him spike your drink I went over the edge."

"First of all; I've talked and joked like that with people before and you've never lost it like that before. You became possessive; do you realize you were holding me so tightly it hurt? I probably have a bruise where you had your hand."

"I'm sorry Leese; I love you, I really do, but I guess I still have some trust issues."

"Tell me, I want you to trust me," she said taking his face in her hands to get him to look in her eyes.

"My parents left me when I was very young; I was shuffled around the system for years, made fun of because of my name and because I had no family; until my social worker found my long lost Uncle and his family. You think this house, this family is perfect…let me tell you Leese; this is far from perfect."

There it was; he had told her everything, almost everything. He left out the part about his Uncle working for an unknown criminal organization and stuff related to that; but he had told her his deepest secret.

"How could anyone make fun of Jackson Henderson?"

"Henderson is my mother's maiden name; my Uncle's last name. I hate my own last name so I go by Henderson instead."

"Okay…I don't know what your life is like here in this house and by the sounds of it I probably don't want to know; but I'm sorry you were abandoned by your parents. I don't know how anyone could abandon their child, but I'm not going anywhere. I love you with all my heart Jackson Henderson; I'm afraid that you are stuck with me," she said leaning into kiss him.

"I'm sorry I hurt you; will you let me check to see if there are any bruises?" he asked once the kiss ended

"I forgive you…just don't do it again or I'll kick your butt mister," she saidgently lifting her blouse so he could check her back, "so will I live doctor?" she joked

"I think so, I don't see any bruises forming," he said as he brushed his finger along her back.

Lisa felt a shiver run down her spine as he drew a heart on her back with his finger and then kissed the spot where he had drawn, just below her bra clasp. She lowered her blouse to stop him from undoing the clasp. She turned to face him and smiled.

"I think I should go home now Jackson."

"Is that really what you want Leese?" he asked kissing her neck

"Believe me when I say that my body is screaming at me to stay, but I'm not ready for this. I don't want our first time to be make up sex," she said looking into his eyes.

"Okay, you're right. Come on; I'll take you home," he said standing up and holding out his hand for her.

She took his offered hand and he led her to the entrance way and got her jacket out of the closet. He glanced at her in the mirror beside him and fought the urge to make her forget about going home and carrying her upstairs. He did understand that she wasn't ready and in all honesty he didn't want their first time together to be make up sex either; 'there would be plenty of time in the future for that' he thought to himself and smirked. When they arrived at her place he walked her up to the front door and kissed her goodnight promising to call her the next day when she finished work. She stood inside behind the closed door and heard him drive away; her mother coming down the stairs to greet her.

2005

Lisa shook her head to return to the present and looked at her watch, only a few minutes had passed since she stepped in here; it felt like an eternity. She knew she had better get back to her seat before he wondered what she was doing. Now that she knew who he was she was angry, scared and wondering if she should confront him; did he remember her? And if so, why was he doing this to her?

Author's Note: Ha ha, another cliff-hanger for you…I'm so evil. Don't worry; the bathroom scene is far from over kiddies…Jackson still has to see the message and there is no way I'm taking that whole scene out…it's my favourite scene from the entire movie. Hang on just a little longer and I promise you won't be disappointed.

Thanks to Breezi, Wenham-Wonderer, Kim, Hidden-Rose15 and BregoBeauty for the reviews, I love getting those e-mail alerts, you guys are awesome. As always reviews are appreciated…and they keep my muse whispering into my ear.