Stereo Heart

Chapter One - Shivers

There are things that are difficult to piece together and Jamie knows this all too well. But when you have to choose between your happiness and the one of a person you love, this is a whole other mess you don't want to dive into. But, what if it happens anyway? What if you try to resist but it's not enough? What if falling in love with someone is something that you can't just stop like a stereo?

"Jamie? "

"..."

"Mate..."

Just two minutes and there she is... Time never lies...

"Oh, come on! What are you dreaming on, Jam?"

"Uhm? What?"

Jamie looks around as if she had seriously awakened from a dream and, only now, she perceives the voice of Mark, the Master as his friends call him, and also frames the indian traits, the olive skin, that distinguish the guy. He is dressed just like her, in the apron of the café and pastry shop they decided to start together just a couple of years ago; in the center of the apron stands "TimeLords", the brand that gives the place its name.

"I really don't know why you're so weird in last times" Mark resumes with a mocking air turned towards the partner.

"What?" Jamie on the other hand swallows with a considerable effort as she lowers her gaze in agitation like a deer caught off guard in the middle of the road by the headlights of a car that suddenly jumped out. The two big green eyes may appear even bigger at this very moment.

Mark looks at her confused and she tries to cover it all up looking for something to do, bending over to get the boxes full of sweets right in the back of the counter where they are both.

"I need to talk to you about something big, I need to know that you are with me in this, Jamie ... you're like a sister to me" Mark can't stop looking forward to Jamie trying to find her green big eyes .

"... I do" there is uncertainty in the tone of Jamie who is on his knees and looks at him from below, stopping from what she is doing, which is transferring the sweets from one box to another for shipping. She swallows with great effort, as if she already sensed something under his skin or perhaps she has known his friend for too long and that look of him reveals more than necessary.

"I am, always, with you and you know that" she resumes noting the previous hesitation in her own tone so as to invite the friend to continue with greater confidence.

"I think ..." he gasps. " No, not really..." he gasps again and looks to Jamie face. "I am sure that she is the one, Jamie" he concludes with greater certainty.

Gosh no, please, please don't say that. You can't. Of course he can, stupid Doctor. She isn't yours, she is your best friend's girlfriend, so he can do what he wants despite what you'll suffer for like the rest of your life and it's all your fault. You had to tell him so many times ago about your feelings.

"Oh come on, Jamie, again far away from me?" he blows air out of his nostrils in frustration.

"No, no, I am here!" she tries to show a smile that is more like an indecipherable grimace and in fact she lowers herself trying to grab a complete box, just to deal again with other things to do.

"So ... she is the one!" she repeats Mark's words, trying to be enthusiastic and then inviting him to continue but ...

"Who is she?" a third voice enters the dialogue surprising the two friends in the middle of the conversation. Apparently, someone arrived right inside the venue and the two owners didn't even notice.