Disclaimer: Still the same
Summary: Hasn't changed
Timeline: Eight years later; Lisa's twenty-three and Jackson's twenty-four.
Author's Note: Maybe I better make this a little clearer, since I've already had two people so far comment on this. The storyline in the movie Red Eye and my story are COMPLETELY SEPARATE. That's why I said it was AU. I'm sorry if this has confused anyone. If you have questions, please let me know and I'll try my best to answer them.
Shout Out to My Reviewers: Thank you so much for your support. You've all given me the encouragement to carry on with this story. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have writing it.
Ghostwriter: Thanks for your review. I appreciated it.
BregoBeauty: Oh. I'm glad you got things straightened out. The hatred between Jackson and Lisa is based on the unhidden anger I felt for one of my older brother's friends, who is now a close friend of mine. In fact what Lisa felt towards Jackson is exactly what I felt several years ago.
Breezi: Ha, ha, ha. Yep, that about sums it up, doesn't it? I'm glad you like the story so far, but keep in mind the next few chapters are just highlights in Jackson and Lisa's relationship.
SleepingNadine: Glad you liked it and yes Jackson was a jerk. I'll leave what happened between him and Alan to your imagination.
Lizzie Black: Hope you enjoy this new chapter.
Chapter Two: Unexpected Comfort
Unbidden tears spilled over, streaming down my cheeks while I stood, unaware of the pouring rain, staring at my brother's grave. Stringy threads of dripping auburn hair clung to my face, water droplets freely trickling over my body, seeping into my already soaked clothes. Blinking, I stumbled forward, collapsing to my knees, an anguished scream of torment erupting from my throat.
Why did you have to die? I silently screamed, absently beating my fists upon the ground. Why Alan? Why did you have to join the military?
Opaque, foreboding clouds boiled across the sky, darkening the already gloomy and deserted cemetery. Howling winds raged, tearing through the treetops, their limbs fluttering helplessly. Shivering, I wrapped my arms around my waist, rocking back and forth. Numerous tombstones, bearing names of fallen loved ones, surrounded me.
Swallowing hard, I recalled how I had begged Alan not to go, not to leave me and join the Air Force. However, in the end, along with my parents, I had had to watch him walk away, with the uncanny feeling that this would be the last time I ever saw him alive. For years fear's haunting torment of one day opening the front door and finding a representative from the military, bearing the news of my brother's death, on our doorstep, daily plagued my mind. A lump rose in my throat as I flashed back to the night my nightmares came true.
I never even got to say good-bye.
Swirling mist rose from the ground, snaking around the tombstones. Ghostly images of Alan formed, gliding across the ground towards me. My hand swiftly pressed against my mouth, squelching my gasp, as I stared wide-eyed, my face ashen.
"Alan," I whispered, my lips moving soundlessly.
Hesitantly I climbed to my feet, shaking slightly as I stumbled forward, my hand outstretched towards his face. Alan vanished. Losing my balance, I fell forward, collapsing to my knees on the ground, my body trembling.
"No," I whispered, sobbing helplessly as I clawed at the ground. "No! NO! Alan, come back!"
Shoving myself to my feet, I spun around and rushed out into the raging storm, trying to out run the pain slowly gnawing away at my heart. Thick branches slapped across my face as I stumbled blindly through the darkness. Screeching, pain flared through my right ankle as I tripped over a hidden tree root. Biting my lip, I forced myself up and continued running, gritting my teeth at the stabbing pain every time my foot hit the ground. The wind picked up pace as I fought my way through the underbrush.
Lightning flared above the trees while thunder boomed in the distance. My hair clung to my face in stringy strands, while grimy lines of dirt trailed down my cheeks. Above, the trees swayed, weaving back and forth, back and forth.
Brushing my wet bangs out of my eyes, I slumped against a nearby tree trunk. Choking back a sob, I slid down onto the ground, wrapping my arms around and burying my face in my knees.
Why did you leave me, Alan?
Although I never had the best of relationships with him, I still loved him. I had wanted us to grow closer and experience the same unbreakable bond, like my mother had shared with her older brother. Until Jackson had arrived, shattering my hopes. Alan had always hung out with Jackson, but he never spent any time with me. Alan had always been there whenever Jackson was in trouble, but he never bothered to help me when I needed it. Alan had always given Jackson helpful advice, but he never spoke to me. I was his sister and yet he ignored me.
Maybe he never really cared.
"Lisa?"
At the sound of my name being called, slowly I lifted my head, staring up at the watery, distorted form of someone crouching before me. I shook my head, blinking rapidly; as my vision cleared, the image slowly regained its original appearance. Familiar thick, unruly, dark hair, parted down the middle, lay plastered on either side of his recently shaven face. A pair of silvery, crystalline blue eyes glowed in the darkness. My eyes narrowed slightly as I tilted my head to the side, feeling as if I knew him.
"Hello Lisa." His throaty voice, thick with tears, cracked slightly; quickly he cleared his throat. I still gazed at him, my expression blank. "Don't you recognize me?" he asked uneasily, self-consciously rubbing the back of his neck. "Jackson. Jackson Rippner."
Suddenly my eyes widened in disbelief. "J-Jackson?"
He nodded. "I'm sorry about Alan."
Stiffening, my eyes flashed dangerously. "Jackson Rippner offering me sympathy?" I snorted, rolling my eyes. "There's something I never thought I'd see happen."
Shifting away from him, I quickly jumped to my feet, swiping my drenched sleeve across my face. Slowly Jackson stood up, his eyes never once leaving mine. Of all times he had to pick now to invade my life. After graduation, we were never supposed to see each other again. Hadn't he done enough damage?
"Leese—"
"Don't," I growled, holding up my hand and stilling his words. "I don't want to hear it. Just stay away from me!" I cried out as I spun around, running away.
"Why do you hate me so much?"
I froze in mid-step at his words. A chill rippled down my spine as I swallowed hard, unbidden images of the cold-hearted, unadulterated hatred in his eyes as his palm connected with my cheek, the sickening sound of his flesh against mine, followed by his unforgiving voice flashing before my eyes. Did he really have no idea the depth of the damage, the scarring effects he'd inflected on me?
"You know why, Jackson."
"No, I don't," he replied evenly as he began making his way towards me. Desperately I tried to run, but my feet remained rooted to the ground, my eyes transfixed upon him, watching him. He kept coming closer and closer, his footsteps slow and deliberate. "What did I ever do to you to deserve your hatred? What did I do? Tell me, Leese."
Soundlessly my mouth opened and closed, like a fish out of water, while I struggled to get my brain to function. Stopping in front of me, he gripped my forearms, pulling me towards him. Breathing heavily, I shook my head, unable to form a coherent thought.
"Answer me," he demanded.
"Y-y-you…"
"Answer me."
"You destroyed my life!" I cried out suddenly. Silence fell over us as I wrenched myself from his grasp. "Everything was going fine and then you came. You don't really believe all those years of torment in high school didn't leave a scar? I'm sorry if I unconvinced you because I studied and excelled where you failed. I just have-had a love for learned and…and you punished me for it!
"You want to know why I hate you so much, Jackson?"
Seething with anger, I moved closer, bringing my face inches from his. Before he could react, I shoved him backwards. Caught off guard, he stumbled backwards, landing on his backside, staring up at me from the ground. Stalking closer, I planted my hands on my hips and leaned over him.
"Because you're a cold, cruel, self-centered, arrogant, conceited, egotistical jerk! Nothing will ever change that."
The color drained from his face as my hand reared back before connecting with the flesh of his cheek. Something akin to regret, reflected back in his eyes as he absently massaged his jaw. I blinked and it was gone.
"Lisa—"
"What did I ever do to you to make you want to hurt me?" I nearly screamed at him, ignoring his almost pleading tone. "Why couldn't you just leave me alone?"
He stared at me, his eyes disconsolate. "Lisa…I-I'm sorry. I never meant—"
"But you did," I interrupted. Sighing, I shifted my gaze to the ground, shaking my head. "You want to know what bothered me the most all those years ago?" Pausing, I lift my eyes and met his expectant gaze. "I-It was that whenever Alan hung out with his friends, I knew you where right there with him. You were around him and got to know him so much better than I did."
Silence enveloped us, my words hovering in the air. What in the world possessed me to tell him that? I didn't owe him anything, so why was I suddenly sharing my deepest regret with him? Squeezing my eyes shut, I inwardly groaned; the icy walls I had erected around my fragile heart were crumbling. If he didn't leave me alone, I wouldn't have enough energy to pick up the shattered pieces of my life again.
"Just because we always hung out together doesn't mean he didn't ever think about you." His quiet words broke the spell of silence and he slowly climbed to his feet, as if afraid I'd strike him again if he moved.
"If only that were true," I whispered wistfully.
"It is true." Startled by the seriousness in his voice, I glanced back up at him. "He always regretted that you two never had a better relationship."
Desperately I searched his eyes, looking for some kind of sign that what he said was true. "H-how do you know that?"
"Because he told me so, before he joined the Air Force. I can't tell you how much you meant to him. He loved you so much."
Love.
Swallowing hard, I clenched my fists, my knuckles turned white. He loved me. A lump rose in my throat, cutting off my voice. Slowly I sank to my knees, curling into a fetal position. Alan had loved me. Why didn't he ever tell me that? All I ever wanted was for him to tell me he loved me. Tell me he was proud of me.
A pair of arms wrapped around me, their warmth reaching into the darkest depths of my heart. Startled, I glanced up to find Jackson kneeling beside me, holding me, comforting me. Momentarily, I sat there, rendered speechless by the expression of compassion and sympathy blazing in his eyes. Gently, he reached out, curling his fingers around the back of my head, tugging it towards his shoulder. Tiredly I leaned against him, physically too drained to fight anymore. I buried my face against his chest, clutching the folds of his shirt. Reassuringly, he rubbed my arms, lightly resting his cheek on top of my head.
"I wish I could have heard him say that."
Catching my almost inaudible words, he pulled back slightly, hooked a finger underneath my chin, and lifted it so our gazes met. Gently he wiped away the remaining dampness lingering on my cheeks.
"He was so proud of you, Lisa, but he'll always be here with you," he paused briefly as he reached out and lightly placed his hand over my chest before his eyes flickered back up to mine, "in your heart."
Fresh tears glittered in my eyes. "Thank you."