Do My Part
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!
Chapter Seven
Lisa Reisert slowly made her way to the check-in counter for Fresh Air Airlines. Jackson quietly stalked his prey — his heart racing in anticipation. Soon she would be his. They were finally in home stretch and he was closing in upon her fast.
It was all he could do to restrain himself in line. He stood right behind her, less than a foot separating them, with a newspaper on his arm. All he had to do was stretch his hand out and he could easily touch her. My Lisa…
Do you see me back here, sweetheart? Do you know what you are doing to me? What you've done to me?
Oh how he just wanted to grab her at that very moment and claim her as his. Not yet! I need to introduce myself first…
"Sir, please don't make her do that. She's doing the best she can." Lisa was trying to convince an irate passenger to ease up on a hard-working line attendant.
The irate passenger turned to face her, not letting up. "I don't think I was talking to you."
How dare he talk to her that way? No one speaks to my Lisa in that rude tone!
"No, I realize that…" Lisa valiantly attempted to help the line attendant once more.
"Listen, I'm just trying to get…" he was yelling at the line lady once more.
Jackson could no longer take it. "Please, sir," he started, trying to remain polite when he just wanted to snap this stranger's neck. "Um, she's the only one standing between us getting out of here at all and total anarchy.
"Yeah, but she's not the one in—"
Does this freak not know when to quit? I'll teach him how to behave.
Grabbing the man's wrist in an iron grip, he continued. "She's exhausted, she's just worked eighteen hours straight, and she suspects that we all hate her just as much as you do. So what do you say we give her a break? Let her get back to a job that I'm guessing is a lot more thankless than yours." I'm doing this for you, Lisa. Can you see how much I care about you?
The passenger eyed him oddly and Jackson turned up the 'creepy' meter on his crystal blue gaze. The irate man tore his eyes away from the piercing quality of his barely-controlled or concealed anger.
"This airline sucks," huffed the man, but he disappeared anyways.
See what I did for you?
Jackson made a 'yikes' face as Lisa looked at him and he thought he saw her crack a hint of a smile. See, I'm already brightening up your dull life.
The older lady who Lisa had been speaking to earlier was headed to the counter and forgot her umbrella. Lisa, ever the helpful one, rushed it up to her. The woman thanked her profusely and even turned to thank Jackson for helping with the irate man.
"You're welcome," he smiled, sneaking a glance at Lisa as he did.
"Yeah, thank you," Lisa echoed, smiling slightly back at him as she rejoined the slow-moving line.
Yes, keep on talking to me. You can't leave now, Lisa. You're mine.
The line inched forward and Jackson used it as an opportunity to continue talking. "Oh, not at all. That was just back-up. You got the ball rolling."
She almost seemed startled, but tried to down-play it. "Uh, yeah. Reflex, I guess."
Of course it. You love to please people, right, Lisa? Now please me by turning to look at me when I speak to you. Did daddy forget to teach you manners?
He feigned stupidity and got her to speak about her job. He listened, but in reality it went in his right ear and out his left. He already knew everything that she was telling him. It was time to change the subject.
"Right. I know it well. So you're on this, uh…" He faked trying to find the right words.
"Very delayed flight to Miami," she offered. "Yeah. You?"
"Yep, sadly yeah." They both nodded and he could barely resist smiling at her. "But you know what? That's why God created the Tex-Mex. The best nachos in the airport and right across from our gate."
"Good tip. Thanks," she was once more startled and turned away from him. Damn, was I too forward?
"Save you a seat?" he asked curiously, hoping that she would agree. He needed her with him – she was driving him crazy.
"Oh, um, ah…" She was acting nervously and seemed to be searching for an escape route. Fuck, I was too damn forward! I just screwed it!
He tried to make it light, chuckling slightly as he spoke. "Yeah, you know that was… I just thought since we're on the same flight… I didn't mean to invade your personal space or…" Of course I meant to invade your space, Lisa. I want you. Now, play along before I have to play all my cards.
"No, no…" she was trying to remain polite, but she was rescued by the counter attendant calling for the next person in line.
Smile, just smile and nod.
"I just… I have a few calls to make," Lisa told him. Uh-huh, nice try, Leese. There's only one call you need to make and I haven't asked for it yet.
Smile and nod, Rippner! "Sure. I understand. You go ahead. Have a good flight."
He fought to tear his eyes from her. All he wanted was her at his side – was that too much to ask for? Why couldn't she just give in already?
"Okay, you too," Lisa said and left him standing alone in line. You'll pay for that move…
Come on, damn it. Show your beautiful face already!
Jackson was silently fuming as he sat in the Tex-Mex bar. He had fucked up the job and it had yet to begin. I'm a dead man and I didn't even get to touch her yet!
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye he saw her come into view. Finally! Now, act natural…
"Oh, hi," he greeted her pleasantly.
"Hi," she smiled; then looked to the empty seat beside him. "Uh, is this taken?"
"No, it's all yours." I've been saving it for you, you ungrateful bitch.
"Thanks," she replied, sitting down.
Anger, yet remaining calm on the outside, Jackson threw her lie back in her face. You deserve it. As a matter of fact, you deserve to die for brushing me off after all I'm done for you!
She did not notice the rage boiling beneath the surface. She instead proceeded to lie to his face yet again after he 'guessed' her favorite drink. You're abusing my kindness, Leese.
"Oh, the name's Jackson by the way," he offered. I'll show you 'honesty'.
She shook his proffered hand. "Lisa," she volunteered.
"Pleased to meet you." Now, if you would just play along and drop the lying, we could really have something…
"Is it Jack for short?" Lisa asked him.
"No," he began, and then launched into his well-rehearsed 'sob' story. "I haven't gone by Jack since I was ten years old. Last name's Rippner.
Lisa played the part of a parrot, taking her sweet and sadly limited time to sound it out. "Jack Rippner. Jack… the… oh…"
"There you go," he responed. A little slow, are we, Leese? How many drinks did we have at the cheesy funeral again?
"That wasn't very nice of your parents."
Again, he launched into his story. "No. That's what I told 'em, before I killed 'em."
Lisa did not know how to respond. Good girl…got your attention now?
She added some boring comment that he already knew and then he offered a toast. She was warming up to him and he was not about to loose her now. She was his.
After chatting for a while longer, the loudspeaker announced the boarding of Flight 1019. Time to play…
Jackson paid for the drinks, despite her protests. Just as he went to speak to her more, his blasted cell phone rang. It was his boss, most likely checking up on him again. Damn… I can't seem to catch a break yet.
"Hello?" he answered it, rolling his blue eyes. "Yeah. Can you just hold on?" He turned to Lisa. "Um, I gotta take this. I'm sorry."
She seemed disappointed. "That's okay."
"It was so nice to meet you," he told her, smiling at her. It really was, but we'll have a grander time on the plane. I promise.
This time, he left the conversation.
Hopefully this will go off without a hitch. You're not getting away, Lisa, so don't try. You're in trouble for being naughty as it is…
Author's Notes:
Boy was that a long chapter! Most of the lines were straight from the movie, but it will start to deviate from the movie in the next chapter.
The whole 'smile and nod' bit is something that my brother taught me. Jackson's feelings towards Lisa are on a rollar-coaster this chapter!
There are no more flashback chapters as we hit the plane flight and home stretch. If everything goes to plan, then the story will be finished on Saturday, with a total of ten chapters. Anyways, thanks for the reviews, they really make my day!