Chapter Two
It was 10.30pm when Jackie's plane finally touched down at the small private airfield just outside Bloomington. It was late and the small lights on the runway looked like fireflies in the darkness but Jackie had a new burst of energy, probably due to the swarm of butterflies that had set up house in her stomach. As Jackie got off the plane she was greeted by a small middle-aged woman "Hi my name's Amanda, Wade asked me to meet you at the airport and take you back to your hotel" she said gleefully shaking Jackie's hand. "That's my car over there" pointing to a small red car parked by the hanger, instructing the flight attendant to load Jackie's luggage into the boot. "So I've got you a hire car, not to flashy just like you asked, it will be dropped off at the hotel in the morning" Amanda said only to get a uh-huh response from Jackie. Damn it Jackie thought to herself, she had been trying desperately not to think about driving over to Catherine's right now but now the choice had been taken away from her. As both women climbed into the car Jackie decided to turn her attention to trying to get up to date information on her estranged lover, "So Amanda, how long have you lived in Bloomington" Jackie asked "All my life, I even went college here, back in the day" She replied , pulling out of the airport "In fact" Amanda added "My brother works at the university, you studied there didn't you" this time glancing at Jackie as she spoke "I did for a little while, English and psychology but ending up heading back to LA after finishing my first year" Jackie was thinking of a way to direct the conversation into finding out about Catherine, but as it happened she didn't need to. "So where you here when the big scandal at the university came out or had you left by then" Amanda asked, keen to gossip and Jackie sensed she was that kind of person "No, I must have already left, what happened" Jackie lied, she knew, it was her fault "Well" Amanda started "You know Prof Stark right" "Yes although she never taught me" Jackie replied "Apparently, according to my brother, Prof Stark was sleeping with one of her students and got caught. Somebody took photo's of the two of them and showed them to the dean, who obviously had no choice but to fire her" Amanda said barely stopping for breath "Rumour has it they were even seen fucking in the library and god else knows what else and where, I think teachers like that shouldn't be allowed to teach young impressionable people" Amanda's voice becoming serious, Jackie was trying not to let the colour rise from her neck into her cheeks "gosh" Jackie spoke weakly "So do you know what happened to them after they got caught" Jackie asked just as Amanda pulled off the main road. "Well the student left for Nebraska or something and as for Prof Stark I heard she fell off the wagon so to speak and ended up going crazy" Amanda stated whilst smirking "What do you mean crazy" Jackie asked, a sudden wave of panic ran through her "Well she's kind of turned into a recluse, no-one's seen much of her at all, she just stays in her house but her neighbours hear her. My friend Lucy lives next door and she says there's always loud music playing and random people coming and going at all hours of the day and night. Lucy went round and asked her nicely to stop playing music late at night because of the baby and she pretty much attacked Lucy both verbally and physically, she's defiantly got a few screws lose if you ask me" Amanda finished triumphantly "Why do you ask ?" Amanda questioned Jackie "No reason, just curious I love a bit of gossip now and then" Jackie replied thanking god she was a good actress "Me too" Amanda said as they pulled up outside a luxury hotel just on the outskirts of town. "Well thanks for everything Amanda, you've been really helpful" Jackie said sincerely as Amanda directed the Doorman to get Jackie's luggage out of the boot of the car, "Well here we are, Oh and here's my card, I've put my home number on the back ring me, if you need anything" "Thank you Amanda, I really appreciate it" Jackie said respectfully "Your welcome, you can call me anytime" Amanda said offering her hand for Jackie to shake which she obliged, then Amanda turned and left. Jackie walked into the lobby and checked in her mind racing over everything that had happened and her conversation with Amanda about Catherine. As she finally got into her room and closed the door behind her, she leant against it and began to cry 'Why did I think I could do this' she thought as she slumped down to the floor and started sobbing into her hands. What had happened to the woman she loved, had Catherine really gone crazy like Amanda said or was it just another rumour? Jackie stood up and locked the door, her emotional rollercoaster has made her start to feel tired and decided that the best thing to do now was try and sleep and decide what she should do about Catherine tomorrow after all she hadn't slept properly in over 48 hours. As Jackie lay in bed the last thought through her head as she drifted off to sleep was 'Why didn't she call, NO WHY DIDN'T I CALL'?