Stereo Heart

Chapter two - Castle on the Hill

The long day is coming to an end and too many things have already happened: Mark wants to talk about something big, Yaz has been acting strange and Bill has brought a new acquaintance into the group. Jamie just wants to close her eyes and rest her mind which is still processing everything such as an infinite loop. But she can't do it for obvious reasons: she's driving the car home with Mark sitting on the passenger side and trying to find some decent songs on the radio. Both are free from their work uniforms but certainly quite tired since in the afternoon the café was full of customers. The blonde is silent with a tired but neutral expression on her face and she is focused on the way back home. The same house on the outskirts of London they've shared for about five years.

"I seriously need a couple of beers" Mark murmurs without looking at her but rather continues his search on the radio.

"Mh mh" Jamie simply replies mechanically with a tired air and her mind lost in who knows what thought. Unreachable for Mark, who becomes more concerned to notice that something important is happening in the mind of what he considers as a sister.

"Doc, are you okay? You're weirder than usual today and this worries me. " he stops zapping the radio and relaxes his back in the seat in order to better analyze his friend. A very worried frown takes shape on the guy's face.

The blonde takes a deep breath which she slowly releases and throws a reassuring glance at Mark while nodding her head a couple of times. "Yep, I feel good. Just a little tired, it's been a long day. "

"Are you sure? You can talk about anything you want with me. No secrets, no lies and only sincerity, we promised to feel good and to take care of each other "he feels the need to remind her because something seems to be definitely not going the right way.

Doc, If you don't say something reasonable he won't let the conversation drop. It's Mark, you can't hide anything from him, he'll find out you're lying. Even if you've been good at suffering in silence all this time, you can't always be a rock. A moment of break comes for everyone, right? Need to put the pieces back together. I can do it, I do it always, every day and I will continue for his sake. Because he doesn't deserve anything of what I'm doing to him, any lie. But we can't choose love, so I will be the only one to pay the price of this burden because it is my fault if every minute spent with Yaz gives me more life than a whole day spent with the rest of the world.

The car slows down and Jamie tries to say something. "I'm just thinking more... about me, where I am, where we are and what the future holds. Maybe there's something important for me around the corner or along the road, maybe not... I mean, you have Yaz and she... she is a wonderful friend." There is some hesitation in the words used and fear of unveiling these little truths. Not the whole truth but in short, she is giving him something valid based on what he asked for. "You're lucky." She tries to give him a playful look despite her bleeding heart, she loves him infinitely. "Oh yeah, sure, she's lucky too...!" She tries to slacken the tension accumulated by that intense admission with that joke and a laugh at her friend.

"Oh, thank you, you're very kind to recognize some qualities in me, uh..." Mark plays the joke along, trying to gently hit his knee against Jamie's one but also paying attention to the gear shift.

"Oh hey! Careful, I'm trying to bring us back home safe and sound!" She pretends to swerve something on the way just to scare him but the car is moving slowly, so... "Ahhh remind me why we've settled so far away from the shop?"

"Oh yeah, pretty face. Because outside of the city we can afford a house just for us and decently spacious. Or maybe we prefer to come back to that hobbit hole flat?"

Jamie replies with an annoyed sneer "Yeah, you're right" and she sonorously grumbles.

"Doc..." Mark is serious again and his tone of voice is full of affection for his friend. He puts his hand on Jamie's hand - the closest one to him despite the wheel - for a quick squeeze in order to not distract her from driving. "I am sure that the universe has something for you. Something huge, something which takes your breath away because you are you... you are an overwhelming hurricane and if something amazing is not going to happen to you, well... then all is a big shit!" He looks at her even if she is focused on the route.