Learning To Deal

Classic Jane and Billy

After my attempt at a talk with Jane went nowhere I decided I should get ready for school too. While she was in the shower I grabbed some clothes from the white drawer and laugh at how Jane always took care of me. I hold my clothes and smile down at them knowing she put them away knowing I would need them. She's always looking out for me and I don't understand why she can't share this problem she's having with me. Maybe she just needs more time.

I get dressed quickly trying to ignore the nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. She needs somebody and I obviously can't help her. Just then Ben pops into my mind and I go and find him. I leave Jane's room and see just the person I was looking for eating cereal and reading the comics in the paper. I decided to talk to him quickly before Jane came out of the bathroom.

"Hey there Ben, getting some quality reading done I see." I could always joke with Ben because in a lot of ways he's been a better brother to me than my own. He didn't even look up to respond, "Pshh yeah. Garfield is wise and insightful. There he goes again eating something he shouldn't…" Ben starts chuckling and I couldn't help but laugh with him.

I need to talk to him fast before I lose my nerve, or worse, Jane comes out. "Hey uh Ben… Have you noticed anything different about Jane?" He looked up at me and kind of tilted his head to the side in thought. "Well, yeah. Actually now that you mention it I noticed how she was dressing the night she got back. It's so not Jane." So he noticed too? I lean in over the table making my gestures more dramatic, "Right? What's going on with her Ben? She won't talk to me and we both know something's eating away at her." Ben put down his paper and looked like he didn't know what to say. Then he spoke, "She'll tell you eventually Billy because she always does. Just be patient. I know she won't be like this forever because dressing like this is killing her. I'm pretty sure I saw her making googley eyes as a pair of green pants yesterday. Green pants Billy." I laugh at Ben's brotherly attention. "Yeah I think you're right. This whole out of a job thing is driving her nuts huh?" It was his turn to laugh and then he said, "Or something like that."

Just then Jane came out of the bathroom with gray jeans on and a black shirt that was too big for her. It was then when I looked at her face that I noticed it and what I noticed was my hope. On her ears were very small, smaller than a pea sized earrings and they were red.

"Breakfast Jane?" Ben asked. Jane shrugged in response, "No I think I'm just going to grab an apple so we can get going. We'll see you there right?" She walked into the small kitchen area and picked an apple out of the bowl. Ben looked at his watch, "Yeah I have a few more minutes. I'll see you there." Jane pecked him on the cheek and grabbed her bag from the couch. I get up and follow her. I check my hair one last time before leaving making sure it's perfect.

"Billy stop looking at yourself, come on!" Jane yelled to me from outside through the open door. She was hilarious when she grew impatient. I yell back while still fixing my hair, "Everyone else get to look at this god-like body so I should get to every now and then!" I fix the last strand and head outside. She was smiling which was a good sign and then she's laughing while she talks with full sarcasm, "I am so sorry I forgot my best friend was the next Adonis." We climb in the car and make fun of me and my personal hair care routines all the way to school. As we're climbing out of the car I say, "You know one day you will appreciate how much I love my hair." She snorted and I loved it. This moment was classic Jane and Billy. I missed this and it feels nice to have a small moment.

I see her look over my shoulder and then she says, "Well I'll see you later." And she waves and walks away. "Wait Jane," I call. She turns. "It's Monday are we gonna still have our Thai and movie night?" She smiled, "Of course. But I pick the movie this time, last time you had to talk me to sleep after that horrible horror movie." I laugh remembering the moment. "You were perfectly safe, I was right there." She started walking away again, but called over her shoulder, "I'm picking the movie, Nutter." I couldn't help but smile because Jane very rarely used my last name, but for some reason it felt so personal coming from her.

As I'm thinking about Jane I feel arms snake around my torso and lips brush my neck, "Hey stranger." Zoe whispered. It sent shivers down my spine, but not in a good way. I turn around while in her grasp, "Hey Zo." I kissed her temple. "Where have you been?" She asks. I mentally slap myself for ignoring all her calls and texts because she will surely get upset when I tell her where I've been.

"I've been staying with Jane. Now don't get mad," I say quickly. "She's going through something and I don't know what it is, but it's kind of bad. She's different and I'm worried about her, Zo." She looked up at me and showed no clear emotion. She didn't look angry and she didn't look sad, but she definitely didn't look happy either. She seemed to be thinking and after a moment she spoke, "I'm not mad, don't worry. It's good you're there for her. I'm going to class now though so we can talk later." I nodded and she left in the direction of her first class. I grabbed my stuff out of the back and headed in my own direction to class. Something tells me that was too easy.