Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling , except for Jackie and her friends etc.

Chapter Three

There was a man standing over her, his wand pointed at her face. His black bottomless eyes betrayed nothing as one word escaped his lips: "Obliviate."

Jackie opened her eyes to the sound of her alarm clock. She groaned, rolling over and smacking the beeping machine with her hand and buried her head in her pillow. With a sigh she let herself relax in her soft bed before slowly sitting up with a yawn.

She stretched her arms over her head and stood up. She frowned at she noticed her answering machine on the way to the kitchen.

Ten messages? Had someone called in the middle of the night? With a shrug she pressed the 'replay' button and went to the kitchen.

"Jackie? Is everything okay? You're not sick are you? Call me."

Beep.

"Hey, I don't know if you realize this but it's nearly ten and Richards is looking for you. Seriously, call me."

Jackie frowned as she open the cupboard and pulled out a bowl and box of cereal. For some odd reason the word 'seriously' tugged at her mind uncomfortably. Why was Lucy calling her like this? She had seen her just yesterday.

"Jackie, where the hell are you? This isn't like you. Call me."

"Alright, I'm coming over. This isn't cool, girl."

"I'm standing outside your door, Jackie. Open up . . . . Jackie? Are you even home?"

"Jackie, this is your boss calling. You didn't call in today, I just wanted to make sure everything is okay? Give me a ring when you can."

"Hey, Jacks. This is Tom, Luce just called and said you weren't picking up. We're getting worried."

"JACKIE PICK UP YOUR PHONE NOW! CALL ME!"

"Jackie," a sigh, "please. I'm worried sick. This isn't like you. Call me."

"Alright. I'll call again in the morning. You better pick up."

Jackie stared wide eyed at the answering machine, having forgotten her bowl of cereal. What was going on? She was here, she had left work yesterday, rode the train home with Lucy and gone home. They were acting like she had gone missing. Her hands were shaking as she picked up the phone.

It rang in her hands, causing her to yelp and struggle to keep her grip on the receiver.

"Hello?"

"JACKIE!" Jackie pulled the receiver away from her face with a wince. "I've been calling you!"

"I saw, what's wrong? You act like I've been gone for a day."

There was silence on the other end of the line.

"Luce?"

"You don't- remember anything?"

"Remember what? I just woke up. Today's the eighth," Jackie replied. Her heart was pounding when Lucy didn't respond right away. "Luce?"

"Love, today's the ninth. I haven't seen you since Tuesday. It's Thursday."

"What?" she breathed, feeling lightheaded.

"You okay? You don't sound good."

"No. I'm fine. I'll meet you on the train," Jackie replied quickly.

" . . . alright. You better be there. Love ya." The other line went dead and Jackie set the receiver down in a daze. She had missed a whole day. What happened?

She stumbled to her planner, flipping the pages until she was on the day that she had missed. Nothing was crossed off, the little appointments she had made were still there. A whole day. What had she been doing? There really wasn't anything she could think of for such a strange occurrence. She didn't drink (having a very good reason not to), and she wasn't on any meds. Jackie glanced up at the clock, seeing that she was running late. With a sigh, she rushed to the loo.

"Maybe you haven't been getting enough shut eye," Luce said as they sat next to each other on the train. Meeting at the station with Lucy had involved a very tight embrace and sound scolding for Jackie. But she didn't care, she was still in a daze. All she could think about was that a whole entire day of her life was missing.

Lucy grabbed her ponytail and yanked it, waving a hand in front of her face. "Hello? Earth to Jackie, are you even listening?"

Jackie straightened. "Oh, um." She sighed, wringing her hands. "What if it was a blackout? My mum used to have them every now and then."

Lucy raised her eyebrows. "Sweetie, no offense, but your mum drank."

Jackie scowled at her, rubbing her arm self consciously where an old scar lay. "I know that," she hissed and then frowned. "But it seems the only logical explanation I can come up with for missing an entire day. Richards must be ready to blow a gasket." Jackie ended in a groan thinking of her boss.

"Actually," said Luce, "he seemed to be pretty okay with it. He's been lenient with you,"

"Oh?"

Lucy smirked, raising an eyebrow and giving her the you-know-what-that-means look. Jackie flushed red and grumbled under her breath.

"Oh, piss off."

"I think it's cute," Luce cooed. "Just think, one day you'll be Mrs. Matthew Richards."

Jackie made a face. "I think I'd rather clean vomit for the rest of my life before becoming his anything."

The train slowed to an uneven stop and both ladies exited the train, slagging each other as they left the station. A man with cropped hair and a black leather jacket was leaning against a light pole with his arms crossed. When he spotted them a grin spread across his thin lips.

"Babes!"

Lucy squealed and ran into his arms as they approached. Their lips locked together in a passionate exchange and Jackie stood rolling her eyes as he reached down and pinched Lucy's bum.

"Hey Luce, I hate to break up your snogfest, but we are going to be late if we don't hurry," Jackie coughed after another awkward moment for her. Lucy broke away from her boyfriend and he blew her a sassy kiss.

"Don't worry, Jackie," he laughed. "You'll get some, some day."

"Piss off, Tom," she said with a smile. The words didn't carry the insult when she smiled. But they were friends, so it didn't really matter what they said to one another.

"Jackie's right," Luce sighed. "As much as I'd love to stay, we have work." As she said this, with the utmost seriousness, her arms snaked around Tom. He jerked suddenly, grabbing Lucy by her shoulders with a wild grin.

"Why you little minx!" Lucy laughed pecking his lips. "You are right, love, as usual." Lucy pulled away but he caught her hand. "Dinner tonight?" There was a shadowy look in his blue eyes, a smolder that made Lucy's knees buckle, even after two steady years of dating.

"Yeah," she breathed. Tom smiled, a dazzling smile and then turned to Jackie.

"You have any plans, Jacks?"

"Just me and the telly tonight," Jackie replied, pleased at his thoughtfulness. Tom nodded and then bowed to Lucy.

"Until tonight, my fair lady," he said. He turned away and began down the bustling street.

"Suck up!" Lucy yelled at his retreating back, she grabbed Jackie's arm. "We are gonna be so late."

"It's not my fault the two of you feel the need to suck each others faces every morning," said Jackie boredly. Lucy sighed and they hurried to work.

The hospital that Jackie worked at was really a small one, compared to the one downtown. Not that she minded. Things were a little slower here, and it was nice. She mainly worked in the wards that the recovering patients were in. But she was really assigned to work in the ward for the over sixty five. It was sort of a pit stop between home and the rest home.

Lucy thought it was boring. Turning her nose up whenever Jackie brought it up. Lucy quite frankly hated old people. Jackie didn't mind. She liked speaking with the patients, sometimes even joining them in their activities, like chess with Mr. Hill or scramble with Mr. Boyde.

Her job was perfect.

Except for her boss. Matthew Richards. A preening self-centered doctor who had taken a fancy to Jackie when she had started at the hospital a year ago. At first he had just been nice to her, talking with her as she settled in. But now it seemed he wanted to know her every move. Insistent that she call him Matthew or Matt. She was usually able to brush his actions off.

Not today though. He hovered annoyingly, inviting himself to lunch with her and Lucy, and asking over and over again where she had been yesterday.

"Mr. Richards-"

"Matt," he cut in.

"-I don't know. I'm working on it."

"I won't say anything to your friend, you can tell me Jackie," Richards insisted. Jackie wanted to roll her eyes. You don't even know who Lucy is, she thought snidely. But she remained calmly polite until Lucy came and saved her.

Her patients were very sweet to her. Telling her how worried they were, that maybe she had been offed my a murderer or kidnapped. She just smiled and promised not to let it happen again.

"Really, Jacqueline," said shaking Mrs. Pollesky, "you should be careful. The world is such a dangerous place!"

By the end of the day, Jackie was exhausted. She waited in the locker room as Lucy got ready for her date, picking at her purple scrubs. Lucy was humming as she curled her blond hair.

"I scheduled an appointment with a psychiatrist," she said suddenly, making Lucy put down the curler. "Maybe she can help me figure out why I missed an entire day and had no memory of it."

Lucy swore under her breath. "You haven't gone barmy if that's what's worrying you," she said. "Those psychies are a load of crap."

"Don't really have much options do I? I can't get my mind off it and no ones letting me forget it," Jackie muttered miserably. "I need to know!" Lucy gave her a sympathetic look, returning to her hair and looking at her from the mirror.

"When is it?"

"Two days," Jackie glanced at the clock on the wall. "You best hurry, Tom's probably waiting by now." Lucy unplugged the curler and shoved it into her bag. She slung it over her shoulder and grabbed Jackie.

"Done!"

Outside Tom was leaning against his motorcycle, smirking as Lucy bounced to his waiting embrace. Their lips met and Tom pulled away.

"Ready?"

"Let's get sloshed!" she yelled into the night. Tom laughed and turned to Jackie.

"You'll be alright?"

"I'm a big girl," Jackie said crossing her arms. "Go. Luce call me when you get in." Jackie knew Lucy wouldn't do that, but it felt good to say it. Lucy nodded, getting on Tom's motorcycle behind him and the two took off down the road to some pub Jackie had never even heard of.

The ride home was quiet and long. It was the fastest way to the city. When she finally made it to her flat, Jackie barely had energy to pick up the place and throw her clothes in the wash. She picked up her running shirt, running her fingers over the front before she realized what she was doing.

Strange.

It felt like there should be something there. But it was clean. Shaking her head, Jackie went to bed.

R&R!

~filimeala