Chapter Seven: All I Know
Trista buried her head into her hands, biting back the threatening tears once more. She felt herself grow hate towards Jak, though part of her still loved him, despite his doing. "I hate my life," she muttered, "Though I hate Erol more." A bitter sweet smile curved onto her soft lips, a tainted image coming into mind as to stab Erol, continuously. She shook her head, riding the thought as she wrapped her arms around herself, dying for someone's comfort, his comfort.
Jak stood, wobbling slightly, and followed the path Trista had taken. He hoped she wouldn't be too mad at him.
Trista sighed; a soft sob flowed passed her lips. Her arms remained crossed as her head remained low; obviously showing she wasn't in much a bubbly mood.
Jak found her house and knocked on the door. He felt worse than ever. He was cold and hungry.
Jak knocked again. He was really getting desperate. He didn't feel well and he was starving.
Trista squinted as she stood from afar, seeing a familiar figure. She slowed her pace once coming a foot away, "What... are you doing here?" she asked softly.
Jak smiled at Trista.
"I came... to try for a second chance." Jak said. He suddenly closed his eyes and collapsed.
Trista immediately caught him before he could fall onto the concrete. A sympathetic gaze washed over him from her eyes as she looked away, 'a second chance.' She placed his arm around her shoulder, opening the door quickly and placing Jak onto the couch. Her hand brushed against his forehead, feeling the abnormal burn. She gathered a blanket over him before setting off to help him. Trista already began to cook up a stew, as well as preparing necessary medicines.
Despite part of her hating him, she knew she couldn't leave him. Trista filled up a glass of water, a tablet in hand. She seated herself besides him, placing the water and tablet on the coffee table. Trista's eyes remained slightly clouded as she inspected his face. 'I'll have to wait until he wakes up,' she thought.
Jak stirred and suddenly sat straight up. He was sweating and panting. Anyone could see he had just had a very kinky dream... involving Erol, handcuffs, and a pink Ottsel name Mar.
A nonchalant expression remained on her face, "Good, you're awake," Trista muttered. She placed the tablet in his hand, "Swallow it," she informed also offering the glass of water in her hand.
Jak eyed the tablet warily and then swallowed it, quickly going for the water. A moment later, he fell back on the couch.
"That tasted like when I fell off my zoomer: Dust, dirt, oil and blood. Ick." He said, making a face.
Trista refused to smirk at his remark, her hand twitched slightly as she stood. "You can't always get what you want," she sighed. She tied back her hair into a low ponytail as she finished cooking. "I know you didn't come here for a second chance, just spit it out," Trista paused, "What do you want?"
"Trista... I do love you, you know that, right?" Jak said, rolling over to face her.
Trista sighed once more, keeping her back towards him. "Hmph, how odd," she tilted her head to view him, a barren expression in her eyes. "I'm sure that's what you said to Erol, honestly I don't know how is it that I trusted you so, it seems he's the one you care about most." she replied, though her tone deathly calm.
"Haven't you ever heard actions speak louder then words?" she added, inwardly flinching at the thought of Erol so close to Jak.
"I never said that to him." Jak said. "You don't understand. I wanted to hurt Erol, make him scream, cry ...at first. But then he gave me something I really wasn't getting from you: love. I love you, comfort you, and so on; but only when I get hurt and can't take care of it myself do you really love me back. Then I only went to him again because you hated me and I had nowhere else to turn. And you MUST realize that we were both more drunk than ever. You can't expect me to do ANYTHING like that SOBER." Jak concluded, sitting up and looking at Trista, a strange seriousness etched into his face.
Her hand curled into a fists, "Then why... why do you continue to follow him? If I confess my love towards you... will things change?" Trista said a sob passing her lips. "Because if it does, then I have always loved you... I just couldn't find the right words to tell you, I wanted you to know but it seems I'm too late," she informed, glancing towards him with her watered eyes.
"I don't know what will change. Erol may follow me like he used to, I mean we race together; we can avoid each other. But you must know I will always love you. No matter what happens." Jak stood and wrapped his arms around Trista's waist.
Complete comfort consumed her as she rested her head against his shoulder as she turned to face him. Trista embraced him, having a firm yet gentle touch, "Does revenge mean more then my love to you?" she asked. She pulled herself away slightly, to view his facial expression and fully hear his response.
"I never thought it would happen like that. Actually, I never thought about it at all...Whoops..." Jak sweat-dropped before continuing.
"If I ever new that would have occurred, I'd have never left to find Erol in the first place."
Trista sighed, "It's going to be unlikely he'd forget about something like that." She softly kissed his lips before tending to stew she was cooking. She felt a heavy burden be lifted off her shoulders being that she already told him how she felt.
Jak sighed.
"You're right. He wouldn't forget." Jak then mumbled something about shooting him.
"But if he dies, and they blame me, I can't race anymore..." Jak mumbled, scratching at the minimal amount of black fuzz on his chin. He hadn't shaved in days.
Trista sipped the spoon she used to stir the pot. "Unless he finds an interest in someone else," she stated, serving a bowl before offering him it.
"HA!" Jak laughed, still absentmindedly scratching at his chin fuzz.
"Erol can have interest in someone else, but he still may be after me!" Jak tried to look at his chin fuzz and sighed.
"I really need to shave..."
Trista laughed softly, "I suppose so, though you should eat first," she informed, "You seem hungry." She seated herself, resting an elbow against the table. Trista took a sip of her soup, enjoying the relishing flavor, 'How could I make it that Erol dislikes Jak...' she pondered
Jak sipped at his soup. He had finally decided not to shave, just hoping Erol didn't like men with chin fuzz.
"Ya know, Erol COULD forget. He IS a busy man, and with so much to do, it could just slip his mind." Jak mused aloud.
Trista sighed, absent mindedly playing with a loose strand of hair. At first a unsure expression remained on her face before it shifted into a smile, "We'll just have to eventually see," she informed. Once finishing her soup she placed in the sink before stretching, feeling slightly tired.
Jak put his bowl in the sink and then sat on the bed. He patted the fabric next to him with a smile." Looks like someone needs some rest." Jak said.
She smiled as well, "Yeah, as you could see." Trista seated herself besides him, wrapping her arm half way around his waist before her hand rested against his back.
Jak winced at her touch. He was still tender back there. He wrapped his arm around her waist and suddenly pulled her into a rough kiss.
She was surprised at the sudden kiss, though didn't hesitate to return it. Trista's hands skimmed towards his shoulders, keeping themselves there. She closed her eyes, relishing the feeling.
Jak finally broke the kiss, brushing his lips down her neck gently.
She shivered slightly, suppressing a sigh of pleasure. Trista rested her head against his right shoulder, laying her head on the left side. She glanced at him, another smile forming onto her lips as she closed her eyes.
"Common Trista lets get some sleep." Jak said, laying down on the bed with a yawn.
She fell asleep at immediate touch of the bed. Trista kissed his cheek before falling into full sleep.
Jak wrapped his arms around her waist like the night he was shot and nibbled at her ear. He was more content now than he ever was with Erol.
She subconsciously giggled inwardly, a blush creeping over her cheek. Trista moved towards the loving heat from him, her hand overlapping his.
Trista stirred sun rays already seeped through the windows as she opened her eyes. She blinked several times, readjusting to the new light.
Jak rolled over, still fast asleep. He grimaced slightly at the touch of bed to his back before smiling again in a blissful slumber.
Trista smiled slightly before standing up, stretching her slightly cramped muscles before glancing down at her disheveled clothes. She glanced once more at Jak before heading towards her wardrobe area, beginning to change into fresh clothes.
Jak opened one eye as Trista began to leave.
"Why do you change cloths so often?" He asked, his voice still reflecting his blissful, ottsel-free sleep. He was wearing the same cloths he had since childhood, just stretching them out whenever they got too small.
"Well it would be quite sanitary," she stated, glancing towards him. "Besides, being sent many types of clothing from distant relatives, it would be nice to at least wear them once," Trista smiled, "Even for special occasion I have things to wear." She shut the closet door, casting aside the curtains blocking the sun rays.
Jak sighed, suddenly remembered something that made his stomach lurch. He had a race-meet-thing that night that he HAD to go to. Otherwise he may be hunted down and never be able to race again! Jak let out a half groan/ half moan at also realizing that Erol had to come as well. Even if he had to meet with Pain-in-the-Butt Praxis. He just had to be late. He also noted that the phones were usually non functional because of a sneaky newbie who wanted to see what it was like staying at the Hip Hog overnight. Sad for him, whoever it was, he never got his chance yet. Jak cursed, waiting for Trista to tell her. He just hoped Tess wouldn't go on a drink spree with them; otherwise he could be spending the night with Erol!
Trista brushed back her hair to retain its natural form before coming back into the room. She averted her gaze from Jak for a moment though noticed Jak's expression, "Something wrong?" she asked.
"Well..." Jak said, pacing in circles. "I have this...race-meet-thing tonight that I have to go to… Ya know, we get drunk, hang out, race around Haven, off a couple KGs, that kinda thing. I can't miss it, since you are only allowed to miss a couple times a year. I can't keep in touch, since the phones usually go down, and I don't know when its gonna end, since it only ends when we all are too sauced to stand. So, I may end up spending the night at the Hip Hog, like normal. And... worse thing is Erol has to come too and he is most likely spending the night at the Hip Hog too and... yea... You really don't know how badly I wanna skiff off. But they'll shoot me if I don't. Better racers bring more people, and more people means more money for the Hip Hog. I'd ask Tess to drive us home, but you get points for how bad you can sauce up Tess, so her driving is unlikely. So when I go tonight, you may not see me until tomorrow. Now is the ONLY time I hate Krew for putting that rule about only qualified racers racing..." Jak finished, giving Trista a pleading look as if to say 'Help me get outta this without getting shot'.
Trista nodded slightly, "Oh," she muttered glancing towards him before averting her gaze away for a moment. She reviewed the things of what he was going to do though inwardly flinched at the thought of Erol being there. Trista shifted her gaze towards him, "Well, you want to go don't you?"
"Yea... but I don't wanna see Erol again...that's for sure. And besides, if I DON'T go, my head is gonna be hanging on the wall." Jak tentatively headed to the door.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow..."
Trista watched as he left, heaving once more a sigh. She sat back down, elbows propped against her knees as she folded her hands, allowing her chin to rest against it. A sullen expression entered her eyes as she glanced at him before her left.