Chapter Twenty-one: Hello Jealousy
Kevin smiled at Kate as she sat on the bar stool next to him.
'Hey,' she greeted him politely as she settled besides him, Kevin gazed at her, 'Hey...Thanks for coming.'
Kate smiled softly, 'its the least I can do...'
Kevin studied her, 'how're you doing?'
Kate nodded, i'm doing fine, how're you?'
Kevin gave her a look, 'how do you think I'm doing Monica-'
'Kate.' She corrected him, he winced.
'Right, Kate...how do you think I'm doing, I found out that the woman who blew me away do many years ago, and left...has suddenly made a return...'
'I'm not that woman.'
'Do you still...' he looked at the glass infront of him, his fingers traced the outline, 'do you still feel anything for me?'
Kate immediately shook her head, 'Kevin.' She wasn't about to answer that question.
'Be honest-Please?'
Kevin frowned as he noticed that Kate looked momentarily stunned as she stared right past his shoulder. He followed her gaze, his eyes landed on a dark haired man and a blonde woman sitting at a table in the corner.
'Do you know them?'
Kate snapped out of shock, she turned to Kevin, her flustered expression gave her away, 'Sorry, where were we?'
Kevin's answer was lost on her as she squinted, what was Jack drinking? Jack took a gracious swig from the tan bottle, Kate straightened as she noticed his eyes linger on hers. He was doing this on purpose...? The small smirk on Jack's lips as he turned back to Sarah and spoke let Kate know he was fully aware that Kate was watching his every move.
'Kate...?'
Kevin's irritated tone grabbed her attention, 'sorry, I'm sorry, I thought I saw someone I knew.'
Kevin studied her, he took a sip of his drink, 'can I get you a drink?' he asked chivalrously.
It was no use, Kate's attention was turned back to the blonde and brunette in the corner, Kevin frowned at Kate. Kate's mouth suddenly fell open as Jack seemed to lean in and whisper something in Sarah's ear. She felt like going over there and dragging Jack back to her house and beating him senseless. BUT that wouldn't go down to well, not to mention, Jack WAS stronger than her. She shook her head, refusing to let the crazy woman within take control of her actions. Fine. If Jack wanted to play with her, fine, he asked for it.
She turned to Kevin, a sultry smile on her lips, 'how about that drink?'
Kevin smiled, 'what'll you have?'
Sarah gave Jack a smile, Jack noticed the look in her eyes.
'What?'
Sarah shrugged, 'its just...weird isn't it? Love?'
Jack took a swig of his bottled water, 'what about it,' he asked.
'When you wanted me, I didn't want you, but now I want you...you're taken.'
Jack placed his bottle on the table, he stared at Sarah, 'Sarah...' he shook his head, Sarah smiled sadly, 'I know why you bought me here Jack. To make Kate jealous-'
'No-'
'Oh, so you keep staring past my shoulder right at her and the dark haired guy for no reason? They just HAPPENED to turn up?'
Jack wisely chose to stay silent on the topic.
Sarah let out a sigh, 'what are you doing Jack? You're happy with Kate. She loves you and you love her...you need to trust her. I know, I know, after what I did to you, you should probably never trust a woman again...but I've seen the way you look at her...'
Jack straightened as he looked past Sarah, his alarmed expression made Sarah follow his gaze, 'what?'
Then she saw it. Kate was leaning closer to the man she was with and the man looked more than interested to hear what she was about to say.
Jack climbed to his feet, before Sarah could stop him, Jack had arrived by Kevin's side. Kate gave Jack a triumphant but guilty look. Words couldn't describe the look on Jack's face.
Kevin turned to Jack, 'can I help you?'
'I'm Jack.' Jack said as he stood opposite Kate, Kevin frowned, 'should that mean something to me?'
'He's my boyfriend Kevin'
Kevin looked from Kate back to Jack. After a moment, he put out his hand, 'its nice to meet the man she was just talking about.'
Jack looked surprised to learn Kate was talking about him and not flirting with Kevin.
Kate gave Jack a small smile, Jack broke into a smile and looked down, Kate had won this one. He suddenly frowned, feeling slightly out of place, he glanced back to where Sarah was sat to find an empty seat. She was gone.
Jack thought about what Sarah had said, that he should trust Kate more...
'Kevin, If you don't mind...I need to talk to Kate about something...'
Kate turned to Kevin, Kevin smiled sadly, 'be my guest.'
Jack led Kate out of the bar, Kate folded her arms as they stood in the parking lot.
'What's wrong? Did you scare Sarah off?' she quipped.
Jack smiled at Kate, 'She still loves me.'
Any hint of playfulness left Kate as his soft words reached her ears and went straight to her heart.
'What?'
Jack nodded, he looked at her, 'do you wanna go for a walk?'
Kate nodded, she walked besides him, 'why're you telling me this...?' she asked softly.
'She cheated on me Kate.' Kate felt her heart ache for him, 'I loved her-atleast I thought I did...but, she fell for someone else, and left me.'
'I'm sorry.'
Jack glanced at her, 'why?'
'I know how much you hate opening up.'
Jack smiled, 'Its not so bad with you...' Their eyes locked, Jack turned his eyes back to the ground as they walked, 'after Sarah left me...I was gutted, I...I ran away Kate, I left this all behind, my job, my work...my dad...I just wanted to lose myself...I met Achara in Thailand...'
Kate raised an eyebrow, 'Thailand huh?'
Jack nodded, 'we uh...we were lovers ...it only lasted the two weeks I was there...she was everything that I didn't have in my life, she was dangerous, impulsive, she was a risk and when you hit rock bottom, risks are the only things that remind you how to feel...am I making sense to you?'
Kate studied him, 'yeah, you are...' she paused before asking, 'did you Love her?'
Jack laughed alittle, 'no, no Kate I didn't.' Kate felt a wave of relief wash over herself, 'she was just...it was just lust, every night for two weeks.'
Kate scowled, every night? 'I didn't need to know that part.'
Jack grinned as he swung his arm around her shoulders, 'she was crazy in bed-just wild-'
Kate threw him a glare, knowing how much he was enjoying teasing her.
'Oh, did I mention my new rule?'
Jack looked at her, 'what rule?'
'No sex when Aaron's in the house.'
Jack paused, 'but Aaron's always at home.'
Kate smirked as she walked on, leaving a dismayed looking Jack standing still in her wake.
'That's not fair...!' he called after her. 'Kate...?'
Kate grinned to herself.
End chapter twenty- one
Chapter twenty two: The hand that rocks the cradle
Kate answered the front door, her heart fluttered in her chest as she laid eyes on the visitor.
'Hey,' Jack smiled at her, she grinned as she stepped closer.
'Hey yourself,' she said softly, before placing a soft kiss on his lips. 'What're you doing here?'
Jack tried to smile, but it didn't work.
'What's wrong?'
Jack shook his head, 'nothing-I-'
Kate touched his chin, 'hey.'
He looked at her, he knew what that tone meant. He wasn't taking another step until he told her.
'Its just...Sarah's moving out...you know. It feels weird, to see her leave again.'
Kate frowned, 'what're you saying?'
'Nothing-its just...it felt weird, to come home and see that she had packed her life into boxes and was leaving again...it was...just strange...'
Kate studied him, 'you want a drink?'
Jack gave her a look, Kate frowned at him.
'Don't look at me like that. You're an adult, you can handle yourself...you know your limits.'
Jack studied her as he gave her a smile. How did she manage to respect him after seeing what a mess he could be?
'Alright, yeah...'
Kate smiled as he walked in, she found her eyes drifting over him as he entered the kitchen. She was in love with this man, and the thought of him still managed to blow her away, what worried her was, somewhere deep down, she was still afraid of losing him.
Her concerned expression wasn't lost on Jack as he noticed her gazing at him. He gave her a small smile as he opened the fridge, he was trying to understand his feelings, he was trying to listen to what his heart was telling him. Lyla, Sarah, it had all happened so fast...he hadn't actually dealt with either of them. But he needed to, and he needed to do it soon before his feelings confused him even further.
As he watched Kate pour them both a drink, he knew she wouldn't be able to handle him breaking down or freaking out on her again. He had hurt her enough and couldn't bare to put her through disappointment or heartache again.
'Jack?'
Jack blinked, Kate looked intrigued, 'you're staring at me.' She frowned, looking bemused as she joined him on the couch and handed him a drink.
'Can you blame me?'
Kate laughed, 'does that line ever work?'
Jack grinned at her, he reached out, gently brushing a soft curl from her face, she blushed at his touch.
'Thanks,' she said, she glanced at the glass before taking a sip. 'you know, when I went to see Kevin at Lenny's,' she smiled sadly, 'I felt so...out of place...I felt so strange to be sitting with him, I couldn't figure out what it was...' Jack studied her as she spoke softly, 'but when I saw you sitting afew tables away. It hit me.'
Jack put down the glass as he turned to face her, she did the same, shuffling closer, so their shoulders were touching, she tilted her head at him.
'It felt so bizarre to be with Kevin, to be with another man-because, I guess for me...' his eyes met hers, 'The only person it makes sense to be with...is you.'
Jack gazed at her, he was out of words. He touched her cheek, Kate took his hand in hers as she spoke.
'I loved Kevin, or atleast I thought I did, and I loved Tom,' she shook her head, frowning, 'but what makes THIS different Jack...its not that I love you, it's that...' she thought of the words for a moment, 'I'm IN love with you.' She smiled sweetly, 'nothing else can compare...no one else can compare.'
Jack raised an eyebrow, 'wow, I should get you drunk more often-'
Kate gave him a look. His lips formed a gentle smile as he leaned over to her. Kate wrapped her arms around his neck as he kissed her softly. She pulled him closer so he was laying on top of her as they leaned back into the comfy couch, kissing eachother softly and tenderly, as if to savour each moment together.
Kate lay, entwined in Jack, her head resting on his shoulder, she was fast asleep, Jack smiled as he looked down at her. Maybe what had scared him about seeing Sarah walk out with such ease, was that one day he might drive Kate to do the same. He shook his head, what was he doing? Everything he wanted was in his arms, it was lying besides him. Very few people ever achieved that in life, and he was endlessly grateful for all the things they had been through to reach this point. He ignored the darkness and the sadness in him, he kissed Kate's forehead, she stirred slightly, leaning up, she kissed him softly.
'What time is it?' she asked, Jack smiled.
'I couldn't care less.'
Kate grinned, this made her open her eyes as she leaned up again, her nose brushed against his.
'Don't you have to go to work?' She asked as she sat up, pushing against his abdomen as she supported herself to sit up. Jack gazed at her as she stretched, after making out they had fallen asleep on the couch. He had never been this close to happiness in a long time, Kate giggled as he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back down towards him.
'Jack...! I have to go check on Aaron...'
Jack groaned, 'I better take a shower and go to work...'
Kate smiled, 'you do that.'
After giving him one last lingering kiss, she jumped to her feet and headed up the stairs.
Jack climbed to his feet, he stifled a yawn as he stretched.
Life was good. He was happy, Kate was happy. It was perfect.
'JACK?!'
Jack turned and sprinted up the stairs, Kate's voice was wracked with anxiety and teror.
His heart pounded in his chest, Kate ran out of Aaron's room, 'he's not there!'
Jack frowned, 'what-what're you talking about?'
Kate sobbed, 'Aaron-he isn't in his room!'
Jack grabbed her by the shoulders, his firm grip calmed her, 'Kate-its okay...alright? Let's just check upstairs-'
'He isn't in any of the rooms Jack-where could he BE?!'
Jack had never seen her look so terrified, she was looking to him to do something.
'Have you checked everywhere?'
'YES-'
'AARON?'
There was no response.
Kate felt sick as she leaned her back against the wall. She buckled as she clutched her stomach.
'Oh god...Jack...what if something's happened to him-'
They heard a creaking in Aaron's room, Jack ran in, followed by Kate-
He stood still as he stared at the sight before him.
Aaron was fast asleep on his bed.
Jack turned to Kate, she looked so lost and confused. Disbelief was etched on her face.
Kate shook her head, 'no-its not possible-' Jack let out a relieved breath as he turned to Kate, 'Kate, come here,' he tried to pull her into his arms, but she pulled away as she shook her head.
Jack sighed, 'Kate?'
Kate headed out of Aaron's room and headed straight into the bathroom, she was completely freaked out. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she locked the bathroom door. She reached her knees as she sobbed. What the HELL was happening? Was she losing her mind?
Jack knocked on the bathroom door, 'Kate...let me in. Look, maybe you're just tired-'
He heard her pained sobs, she was doing her best to cover them up by running the tap, but Jack knew she was scared.
He did his best to rationalise it, 'look,' he said as he spoke at the door, 'you said you'd seen Claire...maybe your mind is just playing games on you Kate-we've all been through so much-'
The door unlocked, Jack stepped back patiently, Kate pulled the door open, his eyes landed on her tearstained cheeks.
'I am NOT crazy Jack.' Her words were firm, final.
'Kate-its possible that you just didn't see him-'
Kate seethed, how could Jack not believe her?
She prodded his chest as she gritted her teeth, 'No-i went in there-and HE WASN'T THERE. I'm telling you Jack-he wasn't...and I-'
'Mommy, where's the man gone?'
Kate looked past Jack at the small blonde boy standing in the hallway with a white bunny rabbit.
Jack stared at the rabbit, 'who gave you that?'
Jack walked over to Aaron and took the bunny rabbit from him.
Aaron looked at the concerned adults shyly, 'the man...'
Kate stared at Jack, Jack stared down at the childhood toy that was his.
Kate pulled Aaron into her arms, Jack turned to Aaron, his patience waning, 'where did you see the man?'
Aaron shook his head as Kate hugged Aaron, Jack yelled at him, 'Tell me-NOW.'
Kate scowled at Jack, Aaron looked afraid, 'Over there,' he pointed at his bedroom-Kate glared at Jack for raising his voice at Aaron.
'Jack-'
Jack ignored her, he couldn't think straight, the bunny rabbit was his childhood toy, the same childhood toy his father had both given him and taken from him several years ago. He reached for the bedroom door, he swung it open to find an empty room.
End Chapter twenty two: