Deep Down
Jack had been furious when he entered Carly's room. He slammed the door hard, and blatantly ignored her attempts at making him feel better. He just wanted to be alone, but when she left it didn't satisfy him. Now Jack wanted to get out of the environment he was in. He just wanted to leave and go somewhere else. His pumping adrenaline forced him to jump out of Carly's window. Somehow, he made it safely to the ground and started making his way to find transportation.
Never having actually walked around Domino City before, Jack didn't know where he could find transportation that would take him out of the city.
"Hey!" he barked at two young women carrying shopping bags. "Where can i find the nearest form of transportation?" Instead of answering him, the women started whispering in low voices. Jack could make out something about him being from the Satellite before the ladies ran away. Jack groaned at how rude people were.
It was sheer luck that he found a monorail, so relieved, he ran forward but was stopped by a little man in uniform. "Your ticket?" he asked, his hand outstretched.
"Ticket?" Jack laughed. He pointed to himself. "Do you know who I am?" The little man looked up at Jack and shook his head. Jack sputtered.
"No ticket, no monorail." Jack shook his head.
"No, I don't think you understand. I'm Jack Atlas!" Jack said aloud. Everyone turned to stare at him. He could feel their eyes boring into him from every angle.
"Oooh!" the little man slapped his forehead. "The Former king, that's who you are. Why didn't you say so? We've got a train already heading to the Satellite waiting for you." All the people behind Jack laughed. Jack backed away from the little man.
"The Former King," he repeated. He turned to run away, but bumped hard into something. Looking down, he saw Carly wearing his jacket. "Carly?"
Carly linked her arm with his and led him away forcefully before he could say a word. They found themselves in the middle of a bridge above the ocean. In the far off distance, they could see the Satellite. It made Jack feel sick to look at it. Carly looked up at him, the early morning wind blowing her tied hair into her face.
"Come to mock me?" Jack asked, diverting his gaze from hers.
"No," Carly shook her head. She fiddled with the collar straps on his jacket. "Oh, here." She removed it and held it up to him.
"Keep it. I don't want the thing," Jack said blankly.
"Jack, listen," Carly started, slipping back into his warm jacket. "I don't care that you're from the Satellite." Jack straightened, surprised. "But I do care about you just walking out like that. Calling me baka was not cool, either." Jack nodded.
They were quiet for some time before Carly spoke again. "Are you going to tell me your tragic back-story or what?"
"Four years ago, I stole my best friend's most powerful card and dominated the Fortune Cup. I got fame, money, power, but...but..." Carly cocked her head to the side and looked into Jack's eyes. He looked back. "I mean, you never know who you really are until you lose everything."
"Well, who are, then?" Carly asked. Jack shook his head.
"No one."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't have a place here in Domino City, I'm not wanted back in the Satellite or your house-"
"Who ever said that?" Carly asked, a smile creeping onto her face. "Anyway, everyone deserves a second chance in life, right? Look, I think that after you lost to Yusei, the new Jack was born. You were given a second chance to make things right. You should take advantage of this opportunity."
"How?" Jack asked.
"By going back to the Satellite," Carly explained. "Apologize to everyone the old Jack hurt, and introduce them to the new you. It can't go wrong."
Jack nodded, agreeing. Just thinking of coming home to the Satellite and to Yusei, Rally, and Martha's open arms. A smile spread across his face. Carly smiled, too, realizing that this was the first time he hadn't smirked. Jack's real smile was beautiful - he showed his nice, white teeth, and his whole face lit up.
"What will you do?" Jack asked, curious. Carly sighed as she remembered her lost job. She had no idea how she was going to keep her apartment, or find a new job.
"I dunno," she sighed. Jack reached into his pocket, pulling out a thick wallet, and handed it all to Carly. "What! I can't take this."
"You have to," Jack said, pushing the wallet into her hands softly.
They locked eye contact and Jack saw Carly's eyes begin to tears. "You know," she said. "Deep down, way down inside, you have a really big heart." She wrapped her arms around Jack. "Thank you."
"Your only now noticing?" Jack joked, patting Carly's back. "Your welcome."
Jack would never forget the monorail ride back home. As he looked down at his shirt, the only thing he had left to remember Carly by were her tears that had soaked into his shirt. About three weeks after Jack had returned to the Satellite, all his old friends accepted him, and everything went back - more or less - to how it used to be. He always thought about Carly Carmine, even though he sometimes didn't want to. He had only spent a short while with Carly, but he knew that something was budding there.
Hopefully, they would meet again.
After Jack had left, Carly had been super emotional. She went from crying hysterically to laughing crazily at how much money Jack had left her. A measly five bucks! The rest of the wallet was packed full with pictures of either his duel runner, or Jack himself - which she wasn't too upset about.
Not long after, Carly was offered a job from another newspaper company when word started spreading that she had lived with Jack Atlas. Carly was very thankful for the time she had spent with Jack. She wore his jacket every time it was cold and was getting used to having her glasses off more. Today she decided to pick a Fortune Card, just for fun. Carly had given up the hobby long ago, but the upcoming days felt special and she wanted to know what was in store. A happy smile stretched across her face when she saw what her fortune read.
You will meet be reunited with the very person you miss.
