An adventure in the FBI
Chapter 2: A girl's night
Later the same day, Vanessa was in her hotel room preparing herself for the girl's night with Sue, Lucy and Tara. They had told her to bring her pajamas because it would be a sleepover, just like would have had when they were young. Vanessa still couldn't believe just how easily she was accepted, how friendly they were. The girls knew her only for one day and they had already invited her for a girl's night.
When she heard a knock on the door, she took her purse and her backpack, she opened the door and there was Tara.
'' Ready for tonight? '', said Tara.
'' Totally. Thanks for picking me up '', said Vanessa.
'' No problem, it's on my way. We should get going. ''
'' Yes, I'm ready to go. ''
They walked out of the room and the hotel.
One hour later, the girls were all laughing, having fun together. They were eating candies and ice cream. The TV was on, but they weren't watching it, they talked and talked about one thing and another.
'' I can't remember when the last time I had a girl's night has been '', said Vanessa.
'' The last one I had, was when I was sixteen and we were just talking about boys. '', said Lucy
''Now, there is a good subject", said Tara.
'' When you have a boyfriend, it's a good one, but not when you don't have one '', said Lucy
"Ah, but the benefit of not having a boyfriend is you can watch all the boys you want", said Sue, grinning
'' So Vanessa, have you noticed a cute boy in the FBI already? '', asked Tara.
'' I didn't see many boys, but I can say that Jack is a very good looking guy '', said Vanessa.
'' I know someone who kissed him '', said Lucy looking at Sue
'' Who? '', said Vanessa
'' Sue '', said Lucy
"What!", exclaimed Vanessa, sounding stunned.
''Lucy!", Sue chastised, looking flushed.
'' What, she had to know '', said Lucy
'' Wait, wait, you kissed Jack? Lucky you '', said Vanessa looking at Sue
'' Well, It wasn't a real kiss, it was an undercover kiss '', said Sue
'' Nevertheless, you kissed him, handsome dark-haired Jack Hudson! '', said Vanessa laughing.
'' Hey, I think you have competition, Sue '', said Tara.
'' Don't worry about that, I'm not here for a relationship, you can have him. J'ai seulement dis qu'il est vraiment beau '', said Vanessa
'' What did you say? '', asked Lucy
'' Oh sorry, I spoke French. I said he is very cute. '', said Vanessa
'' And how do you say: Sue and Jack make a perfect couple? '', asked Lucy
'' Lucy! '', said Sue
'' What, I just want to learn a new language, that's all '', said Lucy
'' It's: Sue et Jack font un couple parfait '', said Vanessa
'' Sue et Jack font un couple parfait. '', repeated Tara and Lucy with a strong accent.
'' Okay, enough about me and Jack, we aren't a couple. '', said Sue
'' Not yet '', said Tara
''That's true. You've got to admit there is something going on between you and him '', said Lucy.
'' We are friends, very good friends '', said Sue
'' Yes, I know but it's something more than that. '', said Lucy
''For what it's worth: I've been here just one day, but I have to second Lucy on that: you do get along wonderfully", said Vanessa.
'' And I think it's gotten stronger since you didn't go to New York for the job '', said Tara
'' New York? Job? '', asked Vanessa.
'' Sue had a promotion a few weeks ago. This new job was in New York, a once in a lifetime offer, and she had accepted it, but she somehow changed her mind '', explained Lucy.
'' I changed my mind because I realized friends were more important than a good job '', said Sue
'' I agree, friends are really important. Especially when they are as cute and gentle as Jack '', Vanessa quipped, teasing Sue
'' It's not me this time! '', said Lucy, raising her hands in defense.
'' Why am I still talking to you? there is nothing between me and Jack! '', said Sue.
'' Okay, fair enough, we will stop if you could answer one question'', said Tara
'' Which is... ''
'' What did Jack say to you in the hallway, you know, just before the party on the day you declined the job offer? '', asked Tara
'' He said he hadn't slept all night because he wanted to tell me how he thought this job was a good thing for me and that he didn't want to ruin this chance for me, but he said would miss me and didn't want me to leave '', said Sue, without the need to try to remember what he had said because she would never forget the words he had said.
'' WOW'', exclaimed Lucy.
'' Now, enough about me and Jack '', said Sue, ending the subject.
'' Okay, promise is debt. '', said Tara
'' And what about you Vanessa? '', said Lucy
'' About what? '', asked Vanessa.
'' Do you have any guy waiting for you in Canada? '', said Lucy.
'' Not really '', said Vanessa
'' When was your last relationship? '', asked Sue
'' When I was living in Québec city, 3 years ago '', said Vanessa
'' What was his name? '', asked Tara
'' Colin...Colin Desmarais. ''
'' Were you with him for a long time? '', asked Lucy
'' Almost 7 years '', said Vanessa
'' That is long'', said Sue
'' Yes it is. So, that means you were with him since you were nineteen years old! '', said Lucy
'' No, we started dating when I was eighteen, but I knew him since I was seventeen and he was the first friend I had in this new town, I was living in his parents' house, but he had already left home. When I got there, his parents were so gentle with me, I rented their basement and they wanted me to know someone from my age in the city so they introduced me their son. He was 2 years older than me. First, we were just friends, but we became more and closer '', said Vanessa, remembering those good moments
'' Did you have any other boyfriends before or after him? '', asked Sue
'' Not before, he was my first boyfriend and after, I just had some dates, but not that many, and neither of them was as intense as the first one",
'' But what happened, I mean, 7 years, that is long. I think you really loved him. Just as much as he was in love with you '', said Tara
'' But if you don't want to talk about it, we understand '', said Lucy
'' It's O.K. You already told me so much about yourselves that I can tell you just as much about my first one. I have to warn you, it's a long story '', said Vanessa
'' We love long love stories '', said Sue
'' But there isn't any happy ending'', said Vanessa
'' Just like our love stories '', Tara sighed.
'' Okay. I already told you, he was my first friend I had in Quebec when I moved there. Because his parents hooked us up. During my first year of college, we were really good friends, he gave me the tour of the city, I helped him to paint his new apartment and helped him to move in. Nothing really important happened during this year, he was just a good pal, but I know I beginning to feel something more than that, but I never showed it. Even though I made other friend, and he was more and more occupied by his job, we always managed to find to time to be together."
'' What was his job? '', asked Sue
'' He was a mechanic and I think he still is. He was very on demand for car racing engineering and he wanted to improve himself to be better than the rest. So he was still studying mechanics and working at the same time when I met him. His parents were very proud of him. ''
'' I always liked young mechanics. Especially when they are in good shape, they are so hot in their overalls '', said Lucy
'' Believe me, I know. The first time I saw Colin in his overall, I wondered why he was just my friend and nothing more. He was in a very good shape! '', said Vanessa
'' How good? '', asked Tara
''...Imagine Jack in a mechanic suit '', said Vanessa with a big smile.
'' Oh, yeah'', Sue mused until she realized the three other girls where staring at her. ''Did I say it out loud? ''
'' Yes '', said Tara, Lucy and Vanessa simultaneously.
'' Sorry! '', said Sue.
''Well, you're privileged to do so, you're they only one has seen Jack wearing nothing but his pajamas."
''Okay, this is getting interesting... Why, when? '', asked Vanessa
'' When they were married for an undercover investigation '', said Tara
'' Oh, now that is interesting! '', said Vanessa, smiling broadly.
'' We will tell you this story after you've finished yours '', said Lucy
'' Okay, if you insist. When my first year of college was over, I had planned to go back to Valleyfield for the summer. The day before my departure, Colin took me on a date, but I didn't know it was a date, I thought, it was just a night between friends. '', said Vanessa
'' Where did he take you? '', asked Sue
'' He took me to a nice restaurant and afterwards, we went to the vieux-Quebec, we walked and talked a lot and he drove me back home -which was his parents' house-, he was about to kiss me, but his parents interrupted us '', said Vanessa.
'' Oh no! '', said the three others.
'' Yeah, tell me about it. Anyway the day after, before I took the bus, he came to see me and before I had the time to say something, he took me in his arms and he kissed me. It was my first kiss ever. ''
'' Oh Wow! '', said the other girls.
'' First kisses are always excellent '', said Lucy
'' That's for sure. '', said Sue.
'' But you didn't see him during the summer? '', asked Tara.
'' Not really, though he came to see me for 2 days in Valleyfield and when I came back for school, we were officially a couple'', said Vanessa
"You were still living in his parents' house?'', asked Lucy
''When I came back, work and education took so much time, we barely saw each other, but when we did, it was magical", said Vanessa.
'' Why did you split up? '', asked Sue
'' After university, I had to move, and I decided to move in with him because his parents were selling their house. It was weird when I moved in with him. In the beginning, I thought he was sad because his parents had moved far away, but it wasn't that. One day I had a job offer in Montreal, a very good job in terrorism investigation, but I declined it '', said Vanessa
'' Why? '', said Sue
'' I was hoping things would get better between me and Colin, but it never really did. Two months after, I was asked to move at Toronto to study for the RCMP. I accepted it because it was a little girl dream for me to be in the RCMP. Before I left, Colin and I agreed that we were too young and we needed more experience. ''
'' And that was three years ago? '', said Tara
'' Yes '', answered Vanessa.
'' Did you see him after you left him? '', asked Lucy
'' One time, when I had to be in Quebec City for a case, three months ago. After a long time, I decided to go to his house to see him, but when I was about to walk into his alley, I saw him with another girl and a little baby '', said Vanessa
'' Maybe it wasn't his. '', Sue offered sympathetically.
'' Yes it was, the way he kissed her '', said Vanessa
'' Did he see you? '', asked Tara
'' I think he did because he stared a long moment in my direction, but he did nothing'', said Vanessa
'' Are you still in love with him? '', asked Lucy
'' I think I will always be in love with him...Well, there's the moral to the story: if I had listened to my heart, I might have been with Colin. Instead I chose to advance in my career and moved to Toronto. I think this applies to anyone, and maybe you too, Sue. If you have to choose between the love of a lifetime, or a better job: I know I would go for the first."
The girls were silent for a while.
'' OK enough about me; you still haven't told me about this marriage of Sue and Jack ! '', said Vanessa, grinning mischievously.
'' It was a year ago, when..."