"Hi, welcome to Super Baby World. How can I help you ladies?", Jasmine turned around as she heard a smooth male voice coming from the next aisle. It was the voice she instantly recognized, deep but young, laced with that funny accent.
She took a short peek, and sure enough, she recognized his tall figure. He was patiently explaining different kinds and sizes of diapers to a couple of young women. Just as she wanted to hide back into her aisle and make her mom move along in order to avoid awkwardly meeting Jackson, her mom unwilling betrayed her.
"Jasmine! Find help – I can't reach that bedding set!", the voice was loud enough, and Jackson slowly turned around and smiled mischievously at Jasmine's suddenly pale face.
"I'll be with you in a second", he said in that strange way of his, as if what he says has more meanings.
Jasmine just sighed. Ever since their weird conversation in school, when they first met, and then bumping into him and his mom in this very same store, he seemed to be everywhere. He just kept on emerging everywhere she was – suddenly he was taking some of the same classes she was attending, and when she had her outdoor cheerleading practice, she noticed him playing soccer in the school team on the next field. He seemed to be playing well, too – must be some European thing. Also, during lunch, he somehow managed to sit on a position in which he always had a clear view of her, and she just knew he was creepily staring at her. All the time. The annoying thing was, every time she looked to check if he was actually staring, he seemed to be doing something else.
"Hello there", his velvety voice startled her, and she quickly turned to glare at him, but found herself staring at nothing. Embarrassed, she realized he greeted her mother.
"Yes, hi, could you reach these bedding sets, the ones with the little cows?", her mother asked, and then she finally noticed the young man that seemed somehow familiar, "Oh! Aren't you the boy who was here with his mom the last time? I thought you said you didn't work here?"
"You are correct", Jackson put on his most polite and reassuring smile, "But I realized the store was looking for help, and I desperately need a job – college won't be cheap, you know. And my mom's expecting, so I guess I better make myself familiar with all this baby stuff."
"Oh my. That is really praiseworthy.", Jasmine's mom nodded and her eyes shone with that "what-a-nice-and-handsome-boy" shine. That was, of course, what Jackson aimed for, but he knew that measure was crucial – he should not overdo it. So, before the mom had any chance to ask him questions that would give him opportunity to brag any more, he quickly reached for the bedding sets.
"Those are pretty good – and rather expensive.", he explained, "But look at this set, it's on sale, and it's the same quality, even the same manufacturer."
"So why is it on sale, if it's just as good?", Jasmine asked somewhat snippy. She felt annoyed, since she was left out of the conversation. And then she felt even more annoyed, because why should she care if he's ignoring her..?
"It's last year's design. Apparently, little..uh, monkeys", he chuckled as he inspected the bedding's colourful design, "were quite the scream last year. This year, it's cows."
"Thanks for the tip! I'll take two..with the monkeys.", Jasmine's mom decided, "I'm glad you work here, it's nice to see young people being so caring."
"Thank you. I hope I'll see you again soon. We have a sale on high chairs next week.", Jackson smiled with a dose of professionalism. Just as both of them turned to walk away, his charming voice ringed once again, "See you at school, Jasmine."
Jasmine shuddered a bit, and just gave him a short nod over her shoulder. There was something creepy and sinister about this boy. And it made him even more attractive.
….
It was early morning, but Sonja was already up. Her little belly and its inhabitant were demanding pancakes-tons of them, too. On the other hand, she didn't sleep that well last night. First of all, ever since Jack popped the question, her mind was buzzing with images of wedding ceremonies, dresses, etc. – but she was sure Jack wouldn't want any of that traditional stuff. He would probably do something Vegas-style: just a quick "I do" and we're done. She had to ask him about it, though. The thing is, which is also the reason why she didn't sleep that well, he didn't come home last night. He went out last afternoon, grumbling something about "taking care of business" on his way out, slamming the door as usual and scaring poor Gadni, and he was still a no-show. Usually, he would be back every night – sometimes just minutes before dawn, but sooner or later, Sonja would feel his hands touching her, and his peculiar and intoxicating scent would wash over her, making her feel happy and secure all over.
But not this night. Dawn came and went, replaced by a relatively sunny morning. And no Jack.
Sonja stapled her pancakes on a plate and turned on the TV. She felt a bit worried, but wouldn't admit it to herself. The TV would help her to distract those worries.
…and off course it had to be a local news station. With her mouth full, she forgot how to chew when she saw her fiancée on the news. "JOKER CAPTURED", it said in big letters, and an important looking news anchor was reading the news about how Gotham's finest captured the crazed terrorist known only as the Joker. They actually had very brief footage of the police dragging Jack into a police station, and that bastard had the audacity to turn towards the news camera and yell "Don't worry, honey, I'll be home by dinner!" and then laugh maniacally.
"Fucking ASSHOLE!", Sonja spat out the bits of pancake and started sobbing all over the plate.
How could he? How dared he get arrested now? She is pregnant, for God's sake! She's vulnerable. And the kid's there, too, all alone. Poor Sonja, and poor Jackson, and poor Gadni, as well. And poor baby in the belly. And then he jokes about that, too! I'll be home by dinner. IDIOT!
"Kaj je bilo, mama?" ("What is it, mom?"), Jackson entered the kitchen, ready for school.
"Tatu su uhapsili." ("Dad got arrested."), she cried and felt actual embarrassment. I'm sorry, son, for not being able to provide you with a normal father, but a make-up wearing homicidal maniac.
"A, jebi ga." ("Well, fuck it."), Jackson just shrugged his shoulders and then stared at the pancakes.
"Ne psuj." ("Don't swear."), Sonja chided and then pushed the plate towards him, tears still rolling down her face.
"Mom, this can't be such a shock for you, right?", Jackson slipped into English – he was trying to use the language as much as possible.
"He left me."
"Mom, he didn't leave you, he got arrested."
"It's the same. If he really loved me, he wouldn't have even risked getting arrested, especially now, when I'm pregnant!", Sonja argued.
"Mom…?", Jackson raised one eyebrow at her, and smiled a bit, "Don't be such a girl."
The TV played the segment of Jack getting dragged into the police station again. Jackson watched closely, then laughed, and then he said, "He'll be home by dinner, mom. Obviously. Take it easy. I have soccer practice after school. See you in the evening."
And bang, he closed the door after him, leaving Sonja alone. Sonja felt a bit relieved by his easy-going attitude. Jackson was probably right. Jack would come home soon. He basically said so. He would return any minute. Any minute now…
…but minutes turned into hours, and then the entire afternoon passed. Sonja made dinner – as if Jack was about to waltz into the house just about right now – but the dinner went cold. Jackson came home, expressed surprise that Jack still isn't here, but assured Sonja that he would come home as soon as he can. Sonja put on a brave face, but with every minute passing by, new fears crept into her heart. What if they already sent him into some high security prison? Or into a mental institution? What if they pumped him full of medication? What if they're beating him?
Long after Jackson's retreated to his room, Sonja sat at the kitchen table, staring at the cold food. Images of his broken body, bloodied and bruised, tormented her mind. Big, fat tears rolled down her face and dropped on the table, forming a respectable pool.
Her vision blurred, she didn't notice the tall figure leaning on the kitchen door frame.
"Sorry I'm late", his unmistakeable voice rang through the silence.
Her head shot up, and she hastily wiped the tears from her eyes in order to see if it was really him.
"I thought you…", Sonja said, and then her voice broke as she started sobbing again.
"Didn't you see the news – I told you I'd be back.", he quickly embraced her, pulling her up from the chair.
"I saw, but..", she managed to answer partially, but heavy sobs were rattling her body.
"Sonja, relax – it's ok. Everything's fine."
"How could you-?!", she started hitting him wherever she could, a wave of anger surging through her body, "You can't get arrested – not now! You can't get sloppy now!"
"Excuse me, what?", he chuckled as he quickly grabbed her arms, "Don't tell me you think that the pigs actually managed to catch me? Really?"
The look of confusion in her eyes was satisfying enough.
"No, my fair lady. I got arrested because I wanted to get arrested.", he smiled dominantly, "The cops had something I wanted..so I took it."
A/N: Hey there, I'm sorry for not updating sooner. It was a very nasty combination of lack of time and - what's even worse - lack of inspiration. I hope I'll do better from now on.