Sorry it's been a while, I was away on holiday and skiing doesn't really leave much free writing time

Enjoy x

Alex was twiddling his thumbs absently as he sat on the white sofa at Escala. Everyone was out except from Jess, who had just put Harry down for a nap when Alex arrived, saying he had to speak to her.

It was clearly something important and she came and sat opposite him, looking closely at the troubled expression on his face.

'Jess...I need to talk to you about something'. She simply nodded, leaning back in the sofa slightly as he filled the long, awkward silence.

'I...I have been offered to partner on some work of an old friend of mine...it's an incredible opportunity, but...It's based at Harvard University- which is a long way away'.

Jess simply nodded 'when do you leave?'.

'Two weeks, or before of I get the apartment I've gone for'.

'Have you told Christian?'.

'Yes, he said he was going to make other plans for you…I don't know exactly what, he didn't say'.

It was so stilted and awkward that Alex wanted to look away, but didn't know what to do instead.

'Look, Jess, I'm sorry-'.

She cut him off quickly 'Don't be sorry Alex. This is an incredible opportunity, I'll be fine without you, okay? Christian will look after me and Harry, we'll be fine'.
She stood up sharply 'I'll see you when you get back'.

Alex was about to speak but Harry took this opportunity to start calling for his mother, an opportunity Jess took.

'I have to go and look after my son'.

Alex knew there was no point in saying anything to Jess, the awkward, cold look she had given him was more than enough to tell him to leave and stay away for at least a few days.

He left the apartment, not really sure what to do or say.

Christian and Ana arrived back home several hours later, clearly having had a minor argument, as they weren't really talking and both made a beeline for other ends of the apartment.

Jess was sitting in Harry's playroom with him, reading and teaching him from a book Mia had given her.

Later, Christian found her sitting on the sofa, reading an old copy of Dorian Grey. 'Where's Harry?'.

'Sleeping, he's had a long day at nursery, I fed him already'. He nodded 'Okay, dinner is ready'.

She nodded, put the book down and sat at the table with Ana and Christian, spooning food onto her plate before Christian had a go at her.

'So…Alex told me he's leaving'. Christian glanced up 'mmm, well, we both agreed that you have made a lot of progress in a short time, and I want you to attend Christ Emmanuel School'.

Jess blinked, looking blank.

Christian smiled 'it's the best school in the City, well in the State probably, they said you can start on Friday'.

Jess was toying with her pasta 'so…there are going to be tons of stuck up rich kids there'. It wasn't exactly a question, she was telling Christian that she didn't exactly approve, her eyes dark.

'It's a private school, if that's what you're asking'. Jess forked some pasta sharply, scraping the utensil angrily over the plate. 'I've run away from or been kicked out of every school I've attended since I was ten….what makes you think this will be any different?'.

Christian sighed 'because you promised me you would try'.

She took a huge mouthful of the pasta, grumbling and scowling at the table as Christian and Ana ignored each other very obviously.

After a long silent pause, Jess swallowed her food and looked up 'am I going to have to wear a uniform?'.

'Yeah, it's the blue blazers that girl downstairs has'. Jess rolled her eyes and picked up her pasta and fork, standing up. 'I'll me sulking in my room, Harry will probably wake up soon. I'll get an earl night'.

Christian smirked slightly and Jess stalked out of the room.

'Ana…is something wrong?'.

They were the only two in the room but she acted as though she hadn't heard him.

Jess ate her food, watched some Steve Wilkos episodes, put Harry back to sleep and was quickly asleep herself not long after.

She didn't leave her suite all evening, unaware of the argument that was happening at the other end of the apartment. By midnight, Ana had stormed out of Escala, telling Christian she didn't want to see him ever again.

Jess however, simply slept through everything, unaware of how the next two days would turn out.

Let me know what you think, please review.

x