A/N: Oh my goodness, it has been such a long time since I
last updated this story. I apologize to people who are still readying
very few of you left, I'm sure but this past year has been absolutely
insanely busy for me but I'm glad I'm finally able to get back to at
least updating it. Anyhoos, I just want to thank everybody who's
continued to read this and hopefully you'll be patient with me as I
finally get around to working on this story again.
On another note, one of things I was really concerned with is being
able to make a character that was relateable and since this is an
original character, not make her too perfect/ideal or whatever. The
other challenge is to remember to include every character from the show
into the story but since it is such an ensemble cast, I hope you guys
understand why not every character gets equal attention since this
story is primarily about Jack. I hope you guys have enjoyed what I've
had to offer so far and to stay tuned, there are alot of directions
this story can go and hopefully you guys will continue to be interested!
Chapter 15 – Fairy Godmother
The sound of the billiards breaking was almost therapeutic to Jack's ears. Sure, he had kept up with the sport while he was in Boston with his friends there, but there was something different about the way this particular set sounded. Perhaps it was the familiar air in the pub, or the fact that these sets have seen better days that gave it its unique snap. Unfortunately, even if Jack hadn't fallen behind in his practice, it seemed like neither had Bobby and Sue. The gang was playing in teams and Bobby had just sunk his fourth in a row. Myles and Dimitrius looked on with pity for Jack.
"Were you always this awful, or am I just getting you confused with someone else?" Myles asked without mercy.
"You been giving him some lessons while I've been gone?" Jack asked Sue.
Sue merely shrugged but smiled. "Nah, I think some of my talent just rubbed off on him."
"Think it'll work on me?" Jack asked with a smile.
"I guess you'll have to stick around and find out," Sue grinned. "But personally, I think you might be a lost cause."
Finally it was Jack's turn again and he went to line up his shot. Sylvia entered the pub and Sue waved her over as the boys looked on.
"Looks like Cinderella left the ball early," D remarked.
"I asked her to join us, if that's okay," Sue explained.
Jack finished up his shot and turned around just in time to come face-to-face with Sylvia in a simple black dress. Her hair was pulled back in a half ponytail, her bangs framing her face gently. "Whoa," he said under his breath.
Sylvia smiled and looked down at the pool table. "So, who's winning then?"
"We're cleaning the floor with him," Bobby piped in after Sue completed her turn before Jack had a chance to respond.
"I'm catching up!" Jack protested. He offered his pool cue to Sylvia who took it without question. "How was dinner?"
Sylvia walked over to line up her shot. "It was…fancy. The champagne even looked expensive," she explained as she sank a shot and went to make another one. "They served caviar and I've vowed never to eat it again." She sank another shot. "And they had a mini ice-sculpture Venus de Milo." The balls clicked as she sank another one. Myles, D and Bobby looked on in surprise while Jack merely smirked.
"What was the fundraiser for anyways?" Sue asked.
"Joseph Browning Hospital," she explained without stopping the game. "They're hoping to make improvements to the pediatric wing," another ball rolled into the pocket. "He found out I was a doctor and—8-ball, corner pocket… figured it would be something I would take an interest in," as soon as she finished the sentence the 8-ball rolled smoothly into the left hand corner pocket. Bobby looked on agog while D and Myles had that same look of surprise. Sylvia smirked and handed the cue back to Jack. She noticed their stares and looked at them with an arched brow. "Uh…does anybody want a drink?"
"Yeah, great"
"Absolutely"
"Drink would be fabulous" the chorus of voices rang out, overlapping one another.
Sylvia gave the trio an odd look before heading to the bar. Sue walked over next to Jack and nodded. "Well it's nice to see there's no shortage of skills in Hartbridge. Really makes me wonder though,"
"What's my secret for attracting such talented people?" Jack offered.
Sue crossed her hands over her chest. "What in the world is she doing with you," she teased but with a bright smile on her face.
Jack tried hard to suppress the chuckle but a smile managed to escape onto his lips. "I'm going to go see if she needs any help," and with a parting smile walked up next to Sylvia at the bar. "Might I say…wow," he said to her.
"Come on Jack," Sylvia replied. "You know me well enough not to doubt my pool skills," she teased.
"Huh? Oh yeah, right, of course," Jack recovered. "The dress doesn't suck either."
Sylvia smiled despite herself. "Okay, in my head that was 'you look real nice, Sylvia,'"
"It was implied," he responded.
"Oh, right," she smiled sarcastically in response.
From the pool table, Myles, D, Bobby and Sue looked on at Jack and Sylvia sitting at the bar, talking and laughing as if it was second nature to them.
"Well," Myles broke the silence. "It looks like the Fairy God-Mother certainly did a very good job." He walked to the pool table and began to set up a new game followed by D.
"Yeah," Bobby answered after they were out of ear-shot. "Maybe a little too well," him and Sue exchanged a knowing glance before Sue took in a deep breath and forced a smile on her face, walking back towards the pool table, leaving Bobby to glare at the couple at the bar, lost in thought.
Sylvia and Jack returned to the crowd and set the drinks down at the table, continuing their conversation.
"Hey," D called over to them. "You guys getting in on this game?"
"Nah, I think we'll sit this one out, D," Jack explained.
"You sure? I think I might want a crack at winning back my money," Bobby pressed.
"And our honour," Sue added with a smile.
Jack gave them a smile. "I'll give you a chance to practice first."
Sue tried best to hide her disappointment and jealousy as she stared on at the two, completely lost within their conversation. Bobby noticed this and nudged her slightly. "You all right?"
"Sure," Sue said firmly and picked up a cue to prepare her turn. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, we were thinking maybe the Fairy Godmother might be regretting she did such a job well done," Myles observed in his usual deadpan.
"Don't be silly," Sue responded quickly and turned her attention back to the pool game while keeping a lingering glance at the two laughing comfortably with one another.
Sylvia was dancing along lightly to the radio in her hotel room as she changed into her pyjamas and removed her earrings from her fancy evening out. A knock came from the door and she walked over. Peering through the peephole, she stepped back a little confused but opened the door nonetheless.
"Bobby. What're you doing here?" Sylvia asked.
Bobby took in a deep breath. "Can we talk?" he asked as he pushed his way into the room.
"We are talking," Sylvia said dryly. She visibly stiffened as she closed the door behind him.
Bobby sat down on the couch and Sylvia sat down on the chair next to it, looking at him expectantly. Bobby spoke up after a moment of awkward silence. "You probably know what this is about."
"You want my opinion on the current state of French politics?" Sylvia suggested which prompted an arched brow from Bobby. Sylvia looked into her lap a little embarrassed. "Yeah, I know."
"I don't suppose you guys have talked about it yet…have you? What you guys planned on doing after this is all done?" Bobby inquired.
Sylvia shrugged. "No, not really. We figured we'd stay here for awhile just to relax and…we'd see what happens."
"So he hasn't told you whether or not he planned on staying here?"
Sylvia shook her head. "It hasn't come up."
"And you haven't told him you think you guys should go back to Hartbridge?"
"Even if that's what I thought," Sylvia tried to keep her tone as neutral as possible, "it's his decision to make."
"Yeah, but it's got to be confusing for him. I'm guessing he's just putting off deciding for as long as he can." Bobby stated.
"Well…if that's what he wants." Sylvia replied.
"And what about you? What do you want?" Bobby inquired.
Sylvia looked at him and swallowed, she was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with this line of questioning but managed to maintain her composure coolly.
"Your relationship with him…I'm guessing that's the confusing part for him. Otherwise I think you and I both know the decision would be pretty easy." Bobby spoke up after a moment of silence with no intention of malice.
"You can't just leave the people you care about…" Sylvia said.
"But he had to do that once already…it'd be unfair to ask him to do it again." Bobby countered.
Sylvia looked at him straight in his eyes. "You want me to leave." She stated simply.
"I want you to make this easier on him," Bobby pleaded. "And I know you know what that means. If you make this about you and Sue, you'll probably lose. Your life isn't here…it's in Hartbridge. This is where Jack's life is, where he belongs." Bobby stood up and headed towards the door. "I think it'd be the easiest thing for all of us."
Sylvia sat still where she was in her chair and crossed her arms across her chest as Bobby made his exit. "You never did like me."
Bobby stopped and turned to her. "You make him happy. I can't not like you," he replied as he departed.
