Jack went home, he took the long way. He needed time to think things through. He didn't know what his next move should be. Yesterday he was just a sad man, desperately in love with his best friend. And now today he was a still a sad man but he was desperately in love with a girl he might lose forever. Jack knew that if he lost Kate he would never, ever recover. He could never love again. He would be broken forever.
He parked his car in the parking arcade, in his usual spot. He sighed and slowly but surely pulled his phone out of pocket. He span it around a couple times in his hand and then glanced around at his arm. Jessica. A girl who might have all the answers. The girl who might tell him what he had done to Kate. The girl who might be able to help him fix this. Or, she could be the girl who started this.
What if this red headed Jessica, is some bimbo who made Jack call Kate and reject her flat out? And that she wanted to be with him? What if in his intoxicated state he had allowed Jessica to take control of his over powering emotions and wreak havoc on the love of his life, on his best friend, on his own life. And what would he do if she was? What if she had ruined everything for him? He would have to reject her, first of all, which was never fun. But then what? Try and apologize to Kate? Explain what had happened? Try and put the pieces together. Yeah, right. She would never ever believe him. He just may have lost her forever and it was already beginning to eat him alive. But what if Jessica is the answer? What if she can tell him what happened and how to fix it? Jack thought long and hard, the phone clenched tightly in his white knuckled hand. What it came down to is that Jack could not call Jessica, and figure this out on his own. How? Who knows? He would have to muddle through somehow. Or, he could call and figure out right now and maybe know how to solve it. And risking his heart being broken was worth the off chance that maybe he could put this right.
He dialled her number slowly but deliberately, not wanting to mess it up.
Ring...
Ring...
"Hello?" Came a voice. It was a woman, the voice did ring a bell.
"Hey, my name is Jack." Jack said awkwardly.
"Oh, hey!" She said happily.
So this was Jessica. "Is this Jessica?" Just doubling checking.
"Yes." She sounded slightly put out.
"I'm sorry." Jack amended quickly. "I just don't really remember last night." He explained.
"Oh..." She trialed off. "Well, that's okay. So, I take it you got my note?" She giggled.
Jack shifted uncomfortably in the leather seats. He wasn't interesting in flirting with her. He cut to the chase. "Who is Kate?" He demanded.
"What? You must remember her!" Jessica exclaimed, sounding alarmed. Jack could hear sloshing in the background. "You know, Kate, that girl you are in love with!" She said. "Oh...wait...hold on I'm doing this dishes." She put the phone down for a moment. This gave Jack time to digest what he had just learned. So, Jessica knew Jack was in love with Kate. Either Jessica had a good heart, or she was complete slut who would go with a man who's in love with another women. Ew. "Hey, sorry." Jessica came back. "Like I said, dishes. I had to lift the big pan." She explained away, as if Jack cared or had any idea what she was talking about. "So, you do remember Kate right?"
"Jessica," Jack said, very seriously. "tell me exactly what happened last night."
Jessica sighed. "Okay, hold on, let me get comfortable here." There was rustling. "Much better." She sighed.
"Um." Jack said.
"I love my couch." She said casually. "It's comfy."
"Um." Jack said again, really unsure about this woman.
"Sorry, okay here is the story." Jessica went on. "Okay, I saw you across the room and thought, wow, what a cute guy." Jack blushed when she said this. "So, I went over to talk to you. You were a bit buzzed. But I started talking to you and offered you my number. Before you could say anything I wrote it down on your arm you see. And then you said you wouldn't be calling me so I was a bit upset. I asked why and you said because you were in love with another girl and started talking about her and wouldn't stop. So, I just listened. You are really in love with Kate aren't you?" She asked.
Jack sat with his head against the wheel, listening. "Yes." He said and nothing ever felt more honest. "I am."
There was a pregnant pause. "Well," Jessica started after a while. "You eventually said you should call her and tell her that you loved her." Jacks heart fell and picked up speed at the same time. "You were really drunk and I was buzzed as well, so I let you..." She paused. "Do you want to hear the rest?" She asked and Jack could hear in the cringe her voice. He had better hear the rest.
"Yes."
"You basically proposed and told her how much you love her. You went out and bought a ring, too." She said. Jack sat up quickly, hands still on the wheel. "I think it's in your car still. That's the last place I saw it." Jack reached for the glove compartment and the little blue box tumbled out onto the floor. What the hell kind of jewellery store is open that late? Jack thought as reached down and scooped it up. He opened it and there sat a huge diamond ring glistening magically in the sunlight and suddenly, Jack remembered everything from that night. Calling Kate, saying he wanted to marry her, how much he loved her and...that he wanted to put his babies in her every night. Did I really say that? Wow. "Jack?" Jessica asked.
"Oh my god." He said. What was he going to do? But suddenly, he knew. Because you don't remember... and by the way, Jack. I would have said yes. "I have to go, thank you Jessica, you are amazing." Jack hung up and started the car. He was going to go propose to her, again.