'What a wicked game you play, to make me feel this way'
The first time his phone rang, Pierre didn't hear it. He was spending some time with the other drivers, celebrating the end of the season. After all the time they had spent together, racing on the track, it was a way to blow off some steam and let go for a moment.
When the phone rang for a second time, Pierre was at the bar. He'd left his phone on the table where he'd been drinking. The screen lit up and the sound of his ringtone caught the attention of Charles. Taking the phone in his hand, Charles saw the name of Pierre's girlfriend on the screen. He watched as it stopped, Charles looked over at Pierre, he was standing a little too close to a blonde. Then the phone rang again, Charles glanced down and saw her name again. He answered the phone, dragging his thumb across the screen before lifting it to his ear, "Hello?"
"Pierre?" The small voice of Jade sounded shaky, almost like she had been crying. "I'm so sorry," she obviously didn't realise who was on the other end of the line, her mind scattered due to what was happening with her right now.
"Jade, it's Charles," he explained quickly. He got up from his seat heading to the bar, listening to small sniffles on the other end of the phone. "I'm just getting Pierre now."
The blonde woman next to Pierre looked up at him with a smile on her lips, "What are your plans for the summer?" She didn't notice the other driver approaching, nor did she notice the stares she was getting from around the room.
Placing his hand on Pierre's shoulder, Charles felt him jump a little beneath his touch before looking at his friend. "It's Jade," Charles offered the phone over with an unreadable look on his face.
Pierre almost snatched his phone, lifting it to his ear hearing the sounds of distress on the line. "Jade?" He spoke as he moved away from the bar, away from the loudness of the room and other people. Guilt set in, he was here having fun, enjoying the attention he was receiving and Jade was at home, alone and from the sounds of it, she was distressed.
"Pierre?" She questioned, wanting to make sure it was actually him this time.
"It's me," he reassured her. "What's happened? Are you okay?" He stepped outside into the cold night. "Jade?"
Her small cries were loud in his ear, he could hear the echo of the sounds in the room she was in. "I'm so sorry," she whimpered before sniffling.
Pierre looked out in the car park, his eyes not really looking at anything in particular, he just needed to look at something. "Is it the baby?" He asked her quietly, hoping he was wrong. She didn't answer, instead the sounds got a little louder confirming his fears. "Jade," he tried to get her attention but he knew there was nothing he could say that would comfort her. "I love you," he told her hoping she was taking in what he was saying.
Through her sobs, Pierre heard her say some words. "She's gone."
Pierre felt his own tears in his eyes as he heard those words. "I'm coming home," he told her unable to say anything else. There was a pain in his gut which prevented him from speaking any more. He was afraid if he spoke, it would give away how he was feeling, and he knew he had to be strong for Jade.
The young woman didn't speak again, all Pierre could hear was her cries. He wanted nothing more than to be home with her, to hold her and comfort her. She was miles away, she was probably alone wherever she was.
He didn't know how much longer he listened before the line finally went dead. Pierre pulled away from the phone, he tried to call her back but she didn't answer leaving him concerned for her well being.
"There you are!" Charles caught up with Pierre who was leaning against the cold outside wall. AS Charles approached him, Pierre looked in his direction, his face giving away the fact that there was a problem. "What's happened? Is Jade okay?"
Looking down at the ground, Pierre took in a deep shaky breath. "I've got to go," Pierre spoke finally, his voice sounded upset as he ran his hands through his hair.
"What's going on?" Charles stood in front of his friend. "Pierre?"
He felt the tears fall from his eyes as he hunched over, the wetness hitting the ground before he straightened up and made eye contact with his close friend. "I've got to get to Jade," he said not knowing how to explain what was happening in his life right now. He'd kept the pregnancy a secret, they were still early in the stages, only hitting the 18 week mark in the last few days. It was easier to keep it to themselves, not wanting the press attention and the comments on social media. He tried to walk away, his mind on Jade as he thought of nothing else.
"Stop!" Charles halted his friend as he grew concerned. "What's happened? Nothing can be that bad that you need to go right now."
Turning to looked at his friend, Pierre didn't care if Charles saw his falling tears. There was little words that left Pierre's mouth as Charles embraced him, pulling him into a hug, just to let him know he cared and he didn't need to speak if he wasn't ready. Pierre wasn't ready to speak yet, but at this moment in time he was grateful for the comfort, needing that human touch.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
