Crimson High – The Jane Story

Chapter five

I was up early the next morning. I knew that Teresa worked at a diner across town on the weekends, and so I wanted to go and visit her. However, I had other things I wanted to do first. In order to win her trust – and hopefully, her heart – I needed to start showering her with affection. I had no idea what she liked, but I had to start somewhere. I drove to the nearest mall and wandered around, looking for anything that might help me win her over. I had money from our days in the carnival that would come in handy today. When my mother and I had left the carnival, she had taken the box which contained all of the ill-gotten money my father had. It had upwards of two hundred thousand dollars in it. We had never used much of it, but I knew that half of it was mine.

I wandered the crowded mall, searching for the perfect gift. I was passing by a jewellery store when I spotted something in the window. It was an oval pendant made out of gold, with three hearts punched through. I went into the store. The girl behind the counter wasn't much older than I was, and her eyes widened when she saw me. "Good morning," she greeted me brightly. "How may I help you?"

I glanced towards the window. "How much is the gold pendant in the window?"

Her face fell ever so slightly, but she walked around the counter and went over to the window. "Six hundred dollars. We can also have it engraved for you for an extra fifty dollars."

I nodded. "I'll take it, with the engraving."

She pulled it out of the case and took it back to the counter. "What name would you like engraved on it?"

"Teresa," I replied. She pulled out a pen and a piece of paper. "T-e-r-e-s-a."

She wrote the name down, and I pulled a wad of cash from my back pocket. I counted out the money and handed it to her. Her eyes were wide. "This should be ready in about an hour."

I nodded, flashing a grin. "I'll come back for it."

I left that store and glanced at my watch. I now had an hour to kill, and so I continued walking around, looking for anything that could help me. An idea came to mind, one that I knew Teresa would view as over the top and extravagant, and I headed in the direction of a printing shop I had seen on my way in. The man behind the counter nearly fell over at my request. "One thousand?" he repeated.

I nodded. "One thousand strips of paper. Simple black writing."

He blinked and turned to the computer. "What would you like them to say?"

I thought for a moment. "I'm proving myself to Teresa."

He nodded and typed that into the computer. I waited half an hour, and received a package containing my strips of paper. I paid the man five hundred dollars for the effort.

I continued to wander the mall, just browsing. Apparently, some of the girls were 'just browsing' too, because I could feel their eyes watching me whenever I walked past. A particular group of girls always went quiet whenever I walked past them. Eventually, one of them approached me. "Hey," she said, stopping next to me. "My name's Angela. What's yours?"

I was leaning against a wall near the jewellery store, waiting to go and fetch the pendant for Teresa. I examined the girl in front of me. She was a petite girl, with bleached hair and heavy makeup. I smiled politely at her. "Patrick," I replied.

She glanced around. "You seemed lost. Were you looking for someone?"

I smiled at her concern. She was a beautiful girl, someone I probably would have dated had I not fallen for Teresa. "I'm not looking for anyone," I paused. "Perhaps you can help me, actually."

Her sapphire eyes widened. "What do you need me to do?"

I glanced around, slightly embarrassed. "There's a girl I'm trying to impress, but I have very little idea of what I'm actually doing. Can you suggest anything?"

She thought for a moment. "You could just show her you care by getting her things she may need. Spoil her. Every girl likes being spoilt. Maybe a day out somewhere, or just go for coffee."

I nodded. "Can you suggest anything I should get her now?"

She glanced through the window next to me, and pointed at an item in the window. I pushed myself away from the wall. In the display case was a thick silver bracelet, like a twisted rope. Angela smiled. "Get her that. If you don't know what else to get her, give me a call."

She pulled out a piece of paper and wrote down her number. I took it from her. "Thank you, Angela. I will call if I need any more advice."

She smiled up at me. "Always glad to help."

I nodded, and glanced past her. "Maybe that guy against the railing would be better game than me. At least, he seems more willing."

She glanced behind her, and smiled. "I'll go try him instead."

I laughed as she walked away. I was glad to help her like she had helped me.

She rejoined her group of friends, and I entered the store. The same girl glanced back up at me, and pulled out a black box. Inside, on a bed of red velvet, sat the pendant on a thin gold chain. She handed it to me, and I turned to face the window. "Can you also give me that silver bracelet?"

She nodded and fetched it from the case. "That's another three hundred dollars."

I handed the money over and picked up the items. I headed back out to my car and drove home. Back inside my room, I placed the items on my desk, and headed downstairs for some food. I glanced at my watch. It was two o'clock. I headed back out to my car and drove across town to the diner where Teresa worked. As I entered the diner, a blonde waitress looked up at me and grinned. I took a seat in a booth in the back corner and watched as she hurried into the back room. She reappeared two minutes later and sauntered over to my table. I watched in mild amusement as she flipped her hair over her shoulder and smiled down at me. "My name is Samantha, and I will be serving you today. Can I get you anything?"

She bent down slightly, and I smiled pleasantly up at her. "A pot of Earl Grey tea please."

Her eyes widened, but she merely nodded and stood up. I watched her walk past Teresa, and vanish into the back room again. Teresa just shook her head and continued to bustle around the diner. Samantha returned carrying a tray and set it in front of me. She bent forwards and attempted to flirt again, but I just ignored her. "Would you like anything else?"

I shook my head, and she wandered off. I caught Teresa's eye and smiled at her. She smiled back, and continued to serve customers. I sat drinking my tea and watching Teresa as she worked. Samantha returned several more times in the next half hour and kept asking if I wanted anything. In a lull in service, Teresa came over to where I was sitting. "Can I get you anything else?" She asked, pulling out her notepad.

I smiled up at her. "I was wondering when you would come over to say hello."

She rolled her eyes. I looked up into her face and noted with some interest that she had managed to cover the scratches on her face very well. "You're covering those scratches very well."

She automatically reached up to touch her face. "We need to talk about that later."

I frowned momentarily, not wanting to discuss Lorelei. I smiled up at her again. "When do you knock off?"

Teresa glanced at her watch. "Another hour."

I shrugged, content to sit there and watch her work. "I'll wait for you to finish up, and then we can go back to your place."

She nodded slowly, considering the blatant offer. "Can I get you anything else?"

I shook my head. "I'm happy just sitting here."

I stood at the door, waiting for Teresa to finish saying goodbye to Samantha. I bounced impatiently on the spot. "Hurry up, Teresa." I said. "We need to go."

Teresa sighed, but followed me out the door and over to her car. I followed her back to apartment and parked behind her. I got out of the car and walked over to her car door. I pulled it open and she stepped onto the sidewalk. Inside, she disappeared through to her bedroom. I headed over to her kitchenette and began looking in the cupboards. She came back and sat at the desk. "What are you looking for?" she asked, watching me curiously.

I turned around to face her. "You have no actual food."

She nodded like the realisation was nothing unusual. "I know. Money's a little tight this month."

I tilted my head and examined the framed photo on the desk. "It's one of your brother's birthdays."

She stiffened, and I knew I was right. I resumed digging through the cupboards, and she continued to watch from the desk. "Found anything you like yet?"

I opened the tiny bar fridge in the corner and shook my head. The lack of food was disturbing. "Anything you have is either past it's prime or entirely unappealing to the senses. You need actual food, Teresa. Starving yourself isn't healthy."

She snorted delicately. "Well, excuse me for trying to survive on what I can earn."

I closed the fridge and stood up. "Have you ever considered asking one of your friends for help? I'm positive they wouldn't mind lending you money. You could have even asked me."

She frowned, obviously considering the idea absurd. "Why would I want to do that? I don't need anyone's help. I'm surviving okay on my own."

I felt sympathy for her. This was such a Teresa response. I pulled out my cell phone and stepped out the front door. I phoned a local pizza place and ordered a pizza for dinner. I waited outside for it to arrive. Half an hour later, I stepped back into the room with the pizza. I saw Teresa with her head down on the desk. She was obviously asleep. I put the pizza on the counter and walked over to the desk. I rested my hand on her back, and she jumped. "Teresa?" I said softly. She sat up and blinked. "Teresa, wake up. The food has arrived."

She turned around and looked up into my face. She stretched and stood up. She glanced over to the pizza, and smiled. "I haven't had pizza since…" her voice trailed off, and she was obviously fighting a painful memory of happier times.

I rubbed her back gently, and went to fetch the pizza box. I looked around for somewhere to sit, and Teresa smiled sheepishly, blushing slightly. "I can't exactly afford a couch. Or a table. Or a second chair."

I smiled back at her, understanding her lack of funding. "You take the chair. I'll sit against the wall."

I opened the box and offered her the first slice. She wolfed it down hungrily, and I guessed she was quite hungry. Soon the pizza was finished, and she glanced down to where I was sitting. I could see she had some questions to ask. "Why did Lorelei target me specifically? What did I do wrong?"

I glanced up at her. This was a question that I had expected. Teresa was always so quick to take the blame for the attack. "Always one to take responsibility onto yourself, Teresa." I shook my head. "It wasn't anything you did. She just didn't like you much."

She frowned in confusion. "What did I ever do to her?"

"Teresa," I said, smiling at her. "It's not about what you did or didn't do. She felt threatened by you. Even right in the beginning."

I remembered a conversation I had had with Lorelei when Teresa had first arrived. Lorelei had been jealous and hated Teresa for stealing my heart. Teresa's next question pulled me back to the present. "How did I threaten her?"

I stood up, and walked over to her chair. I pulled her to her feet and into an unexpected hug. I wrapped my arms tightly around her, and she stood still. She smelled like vanilla and cherries, and I breathed in her scent. She seemed unsure about what to do next. "Teresa," I whispered into her ear. "You stole what she never could. And that made her jealous of you."

I could almost hear the pieces falling into place, and she stiffened. The letters, the coffee, the visit, Lorelei's attack, even me being here now, all had clear meaning to her. "Patrick," she murmured, slipping her arms around my waist. "I don't know what to say."

I chuckled at her lack of words. "You don't need to say anything, Teresa."

She tried to pull away, but my grip tightened. I wasn't willing to let her go that easily. "Let me go," she insisted, struggling against my arms.

I reluctantly dropped my arms and stepped back. "Teresa," I said, ready to tell her how I felt. "From the moment I saw…"

"Stop," She said, holding up a slightly trembling hand. "I don't want some story, when three months down the line I will mean no more to you than what Lorelei does now."

I shook my head. The idea that Teresa could compare herself to Lorelei like that was ridiculous. Lorelei was nothing compared to Teresa. "It's not like that. Lorelei never really meant anything to me. I pitied her, but that was it."

She frowned. "I don't believe you."

"Teresa, please." I felt the need to beg for her affections.

I took a step towards her, but she just turned away. She didn't trust my intentions, that much was clear. "Prove to me that this isn't some sick joke – that this is real – and maybe I'll give you a chance."

Patrick's face darkened. The mere mention that I would hurt her and break her like that sickened me to the core. "I would never hurt you that way."

She looked up into my eyes, a stubborn set to her chin. "Prove it, Patrick Jane."

Her eyes glinted emerald steel. I felt the determination rise. "Trust me, Teresa. I will. I will prove it, because you're worth it to me."

She searched my face, obviously looking for signs that I was playing around with her, but all she would see was a fierce determination. That was all I felt. She swallowed, and watched as I took a step back. I needed to go before I did something reckless. I turned and walked to the door. I had one more thing to say before I left. I paused with my hand on the doorframe. "By the way," I said, maintaining an air of nonchalance. "You gave Lorelei one hell of a black eye. It was a pretty good shot. I came around the corner as she attacked you. You had hit her before I could take two steps."

I watched her grin vindictively. "Serve's her right."

I laughed. Raising three brothers and dealing with her father had taught her some useful skills. I decided to leave her for the evening. "Good night, Teresa. Sleep well, darling."

She blushed furiously, and I strode from the room laughing.

I drove home deep in thought. Proving myself to Teresa would be tough, but I knew that I had to try. I owed it to her to show her that I was different, and that she could trust me. I suddenly couldn't wait for the following Monday.

A/N: I hope this long chapter has made up for me abandoning you. Please leave a review and tell me how I'm doing. Thanks.