The Bridges We Burn
Chapter Six: Asians?
Even after Jack had told Bobby how Jaime was used to being abandoned by Sabrina, Bobby was surprised at how easily Jaime took the information. Only for a brief second did Jaime's face display the emotions of hurt, betrayal, and fear before becoming resigned. Bobby even thought that maybe he had imagined those emotions, since Bobby knew he wasn't all that good at reading people.
"We don't have milk," Jack said randomly, breaking the silence around the table. Jaime looked at Jack with a mixture of pride and amusement, the same two feelings Bobby often felt towards Jack.
"Uh, Jack, no one's even drinking milk. I mean, how did you think of that?" Jaime asked, speaking Bobby's thoughts exactly. Sometimes his little brother had the strangest train of thought.
"Well, I was wondering why these pancakes tasted to bad- no offense Bobby- and then I realized that we ran out of milk. So you must have used water instead," Jack answered like it was only logical. Bobby sent Jack a glare.
"Hey, at least I made breakfast. Besides, you were the one that was supposed to get it yesterday on your little PMS walk, remember? And anyway, I'm pretty sure that having water-pancakes is the least of our concerns this morning," Bobby answered snidely. Bobby was kidding, of course, but he didn't miss the guilty look that past over Jaime's face. Bobby grimaced. Surely Jaime didn't think the whole Sabrina ordeal was his fault? Then again, if he was anything like Jack, which he did seem to be, then he would probably think most everything was his fault.
"Actually Bobby, I'm pretty sure that these pancakes are equally as bad as having your car stolen by the rabid-wild-woman. I mean…they're pretty bad," Jack stated seriously. Bobby scoffed at the insult, even though he was inwardly pleased that the comment had caused Jaime to laugh. Bobby didn't know much about thirteen-year old kids, but he still didn't think they were as emotionless as Jaime.
"If you think they're so bad, ya little fairy, then why don't you go to the store, get some milk, and make your own pancakes?" Bobby suggested jokingly. Surprisingly though, Jack shrugged and stood up.
"You're right. I'm gonna go get some milk," Jack stated. Bobby looked at him incredulously. Jack was seriously going to walk to the store to pick up some milk, just because of some damn pancakes?
"Oh c'mon! They can't be that bad!" Bobby exclaimed. Jack smirked.
"Oh, they are," Jack answered, but Bobby knew the real reason Jack was leaving. Jack shouted something like 'be back in a few' and slammed the door. Bobby dared a glance at Jaime, who had visibly stiffened with the absence of Jack.
Bobby noticed, with an unfamiliar ache, that Jaime had eaten all of his pancakes without muttering a single complaint.
--
Jack had barely been gone five minutes, when Bobby showed Jaime his room and told about the championship hockey teams he had played on. Jaime hung out by the doorway, looking like an uncomfortable husband-to-be meeting his in-laws for the first time.
"You can come in," Bobby said dryly, though he wasn't going to push the issue. He knew what it felt like to feel like an intruder, and he wasn't going to make Jaime feel any worse than he already did.
"So um…I was wondering…" Jaime started, then stopped, looking to Bobby for permission to finish. Bobby didn't know what to say, so he shrugged and hoped Jaime would take that as a hint to finish his question. Bobby couldn't held but notice, again, how much Jack and Jaime were alike.
"Um, well, I know this is kind of…well a lot, inconvenient for you, but I was wondering if I could…maybe…" Jaime took a deep breath, ran his hand through his hair, and sighed. "If maybe I could stay again. But just for tonight. Just until I can get into touch with someone. Mom- Sabrina- has a few friends here that might let me stay with them. But tonight, it's just, I don't have anywhere to stay. I mean, I don't know where my mom went…"
Bobby, once again, wasn't sure what to say. Sure, Bobby didn't know what to do with the kid. How to handle a thirteen-year old, but he wasn't going to put him on the streets either. Bobby hoped Jaime didn't really think Bobby would consider putting him out just because his mother left. Bobby's hopes didn't come true though, because Jaime took Bobby's silence for a no and squirmed under Bobby's gaze with embarrassment and shame.
"Right, never mind, I'll just pack my things and, um…I'll call Randy. If I could just say goodbye to Jack…?" Bobby shook his head, stood up, and made his way to Jaime.
"Look, kid, I uh…I know shit about taking care of teenagers. Or anyone for that matter. But I aint gonna kick you out. Especially not so you can go back to Parkview with your mom's pimps," Bobby said earnestly, not bothering to hide his distaste for the place and the people Jaime and Sabrina were with the night before. Jaime relaxed a little and held Bobby's gaze, something Jack had never been able to do at Jaime's age.
"You took care of Jack. Jack told me that you took care of him when he first came here," Jaime responded, though Bobby couldn't tell if it was to reassure him or to change the conversation. Either way Bobby found himself smiling.
"Yeah well that was a group effort. Ma, Jerry, Angel and me, we all pitched in. Jack needed a lot of helping," He answered nostalgically. He was glad that for once talking about Evelyn didn't make him depressed.
"I'm sorry about your mom," Jaime said offhandedly. Bobby nodded and made his way back to floor, where all his hockey memorabilia still littered the carpet.
"Yeah. I'm sorry about your mom too," He replied, happy when Jaime followed him to floor this time. Bobby studied Jaime's eyes as they scanned the photos with interest.
"I like to skate too," Jaime said, barely above a whisper. Bobby raised an eyebrow, even though he already knew.
"No shit?" He asked and Jaime smiled, relaxing a bit more.
"No shit," He confirmed. Bobby continued to stare at the kid, glad that the insecure side of the boy had finally been replaced with the outspoken and joking side. Jaime caught his stare.
"Would you quit looking at me like that? It's buggin me out!" Jaime exclaimed jokingly. Bobby made an 'excuse me' gesture and told the boy about a time when he had been kicked off a particular team for beating the shit out of the coach's son. Jaime leaned against Bobby's bed and made cheeky comments every now and again, but Bobby wasn't really focused on his reputation of being a hard-ass for once. Instead he was wondering if Sabrina had told Jaime what she had told him. That Bobby was his father. Or that she thought Bobby was his father. If so, the kid hadn't made any hint that she did.
"But he deserved it because…?" Jaime broke in when there was a particularly long pause. Bobby silently cursed himself for losing his place and letting his mind drift too far away from the story.
"Well, he deserved it because…hey, Jaime? How do you know my brother?" Bobby said, changing the subject. Jaime sighed, like he knew this was coming, and shook his head.
"Bobby…Jack…he just wants the past to stay past. He doesn't want to get into this with you," Jaime answered. Bobby sat up straighter, getting ready for an argument.
"Get into what? That's the thing Jaime. Your mother and I…we were…well-" Bobby started. Jaime gave a knowingly smile.
"Fucking each other?" Jaime provided, causing Bobby to cough.
"Yeah, that. What I mean is, we were together. Kind of. And then she left and I didn't hear from her for like- thirteen, fourteen years. And then she shows up with you. Says…" Bobby tried to explain.
"Says I'm your kid," Jaime continued causing Bobby to look at him with surprise. Jaime smiled. "Don't worry, you probably aren't. You wouldn't be the first guy she's tried to pin me on. You probably won't be the last." Bobby felt guilty, knowing that the fear of being a father was written so clearly on his father.
The fear of being his father. Bobby wanted to say it wasn't like that but he knew it was. It was exactly like that. So instead, Bobby just nodded. He knew he should feel relieved. And a part of him did. But another part of him felt something else.
"I need to get my car," Bobby said finally, not daring to look at the kid. Jaime laughed.
"What?" Bobby asked with amusement. He wasn't sure how the kid could go from serious to amused in a matter of seconds.
"Really," Jaime answered, "How long does it take to walk two blocks and buy a damn galloon of milk?" Bobby laughed too.
"Knowing Jack- he met some hot blonde dude and started a band with him," Bobby answered in his typical annoying-big-brother mode. Jaime shook his head.
"Nah, he's more fond of Asians," Jaime countered. Bobby raised both eyebrows.
"Really? Asians?" He asked evilly. Oh how he couldn't wait until Jack got home.
--
Note: No, Jack is not really gay. At least not that I know of. They were never completely clear in the movie. I was just letting the two of them have 'make fun of Jack time'.