Chp 10

Jack walked through the maze of houses that filled the little avenues. He would have been lost, the homes all identical except for hers. Jack knew Juliet's was the one with the whimsical gnomes peppering her lawn. He laughed silently at the absurdity of them. They were so ugly but looking at the immaculate front gardens of everyone else's homes, he was grateful. At least they screamed out her individuality. At least he knew which front door to walk through.

"You can't stay here," a young girl's voice came from behind a tree.
Jack looked to his right to see a teenager step from behind an oak. It was the same girl who had interrupted him and Juliet from their first kiss that night in the Hydra.
"Sorry?" Jack asked tired and confused with all the mysteries.
"You won't like it here," she said, "There's nothing to do but what He wants you to do. And the judgments are severe."
"Who are you?" he asked taking a step closer to her but she bolted the minute he drew near. She turned back at the corner.
"Take her Jack. Take Juliet and run. Run as far as you can," she cried out to him before disappearing around the bend.

……

Jack entered Juliet's home. She was standing, a few paces from him, in the hallway. Jack wondered if she had been waiting there the whole night. A slew of emotions swept across her face. First relief that he was safe, then hope, hope that if he had come back, maybe it was because he wanted to come back to her. The understanding, the knowing, the sadness at the resolution. Jack had only come back because he had nowhere else to go.

The tears stung at the corner of her eyes, but Juliet fought them trying to gain control. Jack stood in silence, searching her blue eyes for something, although he wasn't sure what. He could sense she wanted to say something so he waited for her to find her voice.

Juliet had a desert in her mouth. She knew this was the pivotal moment between them. Knew as he was standing before her that she must say something but her courage was selling her out. Jack let out a frustrated breath but just before he was going to give up on her, a squeak came through her lips.

"What?" he asked.
"I," she started softly before clearing her throat. Her eyes fell to the ground, "I…"
"Look at me if you want to talk to me," Jack said and her eyes slowly drifted up his body to his face.
"I was waiting for a miracle. For a miracle to come. I think Jack you're," but she was cut off by him.
"Then you waited your life away," Jack said cruelly, denying her the chance to finish.
She stood stung by his words, her eyes pleading for just a moment. In that moment he though her heart looked as if it was shaped like a begging bowl. And he wanted to fill it; he just couldn't get past the space between them. Couldn't walk through the void of despair. Juliet lowered her eyes in defeat and Jack turned in disgust at his own love and hatred.

"You're room is ready. I put fresh sheets on the bed," Juliet said, her icy demeanor back, her posture proud once again.
Jack walked up the stairs to bed.

……

Juliet knocked softly on Jack's bedroom door. He was sitting in the dark, his mind racing with guilt at how he treated her.

"Come in," he said turning the bedside lamp on.

Jack sat against his pillow, his chest bare, the blankets pulled up to his waist. Juliet stood in the entranceway taking him in, his body magnificent against the white of the sheets.
"Sometimes I can't sleep, it gets so quiet here," she began.
Jack stared at her. She was wearing a thin chemise, the outline of her body visible as the hall light shone behind her. She walked in and shut the door but for a sliver. He thought she moved light as the breeze.

"Anyway, I though you might like this. To read, in case you find yourself up," she said holding her arm outstretched. He took the book from her hand and looked at its cover.
A Time To Kill, it read in bold white letters.
"It's John Grisham," she said.
"I know," he said and smiled at her, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Juliet said and made to turn away.
"Juliet," Jack said stopping her. She sat beside him on the edge of the double bed.
"Yes Jack?"
"What do you want?" he asked her, "Tell me and I'll give it to you, if you're honest."
"I want," she said searching the depths of her soul and looking straight into his hazel eyes.
"I want your hands on me. I want you Jack. I want you to take this longing from my tongue."

Jack starred at her. She shone in her truth and he took her in his arms, pulling her down onto the bed and into his mouth.
……

Jack woke in the early morning, the light stealing its way into the room from the sides of the curtains. He looked over at Juliet, asleep and naked beside him. Her hair was wild on the pillow like a sleepy golden storm. For a moment Jack was completely happy, his heart at ease. Then he thought about the girl, Alex, Juliet had said her name was. Alex had told him to take Juliet and run. He leaned over and kissed Juliet's bare shoulder. She stirred and woke.

"Jack," she said sleepily crawling into his arms.
"Juliet," he said lifting her chin towards him, "Is there a way off this island, is there a way for us to run?"

Juliet frowned. She knew reality would come, she just didn't expect it to come crashing in on her bliss so quickly. She looked and saw the determination on Jack's face. She held a finger to his lips to hush him and nodded yes. Juliet pulled Jack's face down close to her mouth and whispered the answer in his ear.